One-range addition theorems for combined Coulomb and Yukawa like central and noncentral interaction potentials and their derivatives

In this work we present the combined one-range addition theorems for arbitrary Coulomb and Yukawa like central and noncentral interaction potentials and their first and second derivatives occurring in the Hartree–Fock–Roothaan approximation and explicitly correlated methods, and also in the study of electric field and its gradient induced by electrons at the nuclei of a molecule. The relationships obtained for addition theorems are valid for the arbitrary parameters of potentials. PACS: 21.60.-n, 21.60.Gx AMS Subject classification: 81-V55, 81V45     

Use of addition theorems in evaluation of multicenter nuclear-attraction and electron-repulsion integrals with integer and noninteger n Slater-type orbitals

Multicenter integrals appearing in the Hartree–Fock–Roothaan equations for molecules are calculated using different kinds of series expansion formulas obtained from the expansions of integer and noninteger n Slater-type orbitals, in terms of Ψ ^α -exponential-type orbitals (where α=1, 0, –1, –2,...) at a displaced center, that form complete orthonormal sets and are represented by linear combinations of integer n Slater-type orbitals. The convergence of these series is tested by calculating concrete cases. The accuracy of the results is quite high for quantum numbers, screening constants, and location of orbitals. Received: 13 February 2002 / Accepted: 11 March 2002 / Published online: 4 July 2002     

Calculation of multicenter electronic attraction,electric field and electric field gradient integrals of Coulomb potential over integer and noninteger <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> Slater orbitals

With the help of complete orthonormal sets of - ETOs, where = 1,0, – 1, – 2, ... a large number of series expansion formulas for the multicenter electronic attraction (EA), electric field (EF) and electric field gradient (EFG) integrals of integer and noninteger n Slater type orbitals (ISTOs and NISTOs) is established through the overlap integrals with the same screening constants and the new central and noncentral interaction potentials depending on the coordinates of the nuclei of a molecule are introduced. The convergence of the series is tested by calculating concrete cases for arbitrary quantum numbers, screening constants and location of ISTOs and NISTOs.     

The role of electric interaction in the retention index cencept. Universal interaction indices for GLC,HPLC and TLC

Summary New electric interaction indices are proposed which can universally be used in GLC, HPLC and TLC. These indices can easily be calculated from a variety of the commonly used retention parameters, such as Kováts' retention indices, relative retention times, capacity factors, or R_F values, and the average molecular polarizabilities of the reference compounds. Calculation examples for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes are given. Application of the electric interaction indices for studying the retention mechanism is demonstrated.     

Mass analysed collisional activation mass spectra of organic salt cations produced by field desorption linked magnetic and electric field scanning

The collisional activation mass spectra of some organic salt cations produced by field desorption are reported. The principal fragmentations of these ions are discussed. The collisional activation mass spectra were obtained, with good mass resolution, by linked scanning of the electric and magnetic fields in a double focusing mass spectrometer.     

Accurately solving the electronic Schrodinger equation of atoms and molecules using explicitly correlated (r12-) multireference configuration interaction. VII. The hydrogen fluoride molecule

We compute the potential-energy curve of the hydrogen fluoride molecule (HF) using a novel variant of the explicitly correlated multireference averaged coupled-pair functional method with a carefully selected basis set and reference space. After correcting for scalar relativistic effects and spin-orbit coupling, the potential is used to compute the dissociation energy, the equilibrium bond distance, the harmonic frequency, the anharmonicity, and the vibrational levels up to the dissociation limit. The errors in the equilibrium geometry constants compare favorably with the most elaborate (single reference) calculations of the literature. Starting at the region of RA/angstroms approximately 2,...,3, where the covalent HF bond begins to break and where single-reference methods become impractical, our potential begins to slightly underestimate the atomic interaction, which is reflected in an estimated error in the well depth of -0.2 kcal/mol.     

Evaluation of 27Al and 51V electric field gradients and the crystal structure for aluminum orthovanadate (AlVO4) by density functional theory calculations

Three sets of crystal-structure data reported for AlVO(4) from two powder-XRD studies and a density functional theory (DFT) investigation, employing the Vienna ab initio simulation package (VASP), have been examined and refined using the DFT structure-optimization scheme implemented in the WIEN2k software. The crystal structures are evaluated on the basis of (27)Al and (51)V quadrupole coupling parameters recently reported for AlVO(4), employing the corresponding electric-field gradient (EFG) tensor elements obtained from the DFT calculations. The DFT calculations provide a reliable assignment of the (27)Al/(51)V resonances from three distinct Al and three V environments to the specific crystallographic sites in the asymmetric unit for AlVO(4). An improved agreement between experimental quadrupole tensor elements and calculated EFG tensors is achieved after the DFT structure optimizations and consistent results are obtained using the three different structures as starting points. The improvement of the structural data is also supported by an evaluation of the Al-O and V-O bond lengths before and after DFT structure optimization. The (51)V nuclear quadrupole moment, |Q((51)V)| = 4.8 +/- 0.1 fm(2), derived from the present analysis, represents a value of higher accuracy than earlier reported Q((51)V) values. The origin of the (27)Al and (51)V EFGs are investigated by an evaluation of the orientations of the EFG tensors in the crystal frame and by an examination of the individual contributions from the valence electrons and the surrounding lattice. The latter investigation shows that the magnitude and orientation of the tensors are largely determined by the p-p((27)Al) and p-p, d-d((51)V) orbital contributions to the valence electrons, while the lattice part only gives a minor contribution for both nuclei.     

Electrostatic potential and electric field mapping of some sweeteners of the suosan series: A search for the structure–activity relationship

Electrostatic potential and electric field maps of some suosan series of sweeteners have been studied. Geometries optimized using the MNDO molecular orbital method and charge distributions obtained by the Mulliken population analysis were employed in the calculations. Sweetness potencies of the molecules were compared with electrostatic potentials and electric field strengths near the terminal COOH group. The observed sweetness potencies of the compounds and calculated electric fields near the carbonyl oxygen of the COOH group are found to be strongly correlated. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Configuration interaction calculation of the potential curves for the C3 molecule in its ground and lowest-lying Πu states

Ab initio SCF and Cl calculations are reported for the C₃ molecule using a basis set of double-zeta plus polarization quality. Potential curves are obtained for the symmetric stretch and bending and antisymmetric stretch vibrational coordinates for the ground and 3σ_u → l π_g^3,1Π_u excited states of this system in order to calculate the intensity distributions for the associated electronic transitions. The calculated T₀ value for the ¹Π_u ← X?¹ ∑⁺_g transition of 3.03 eV is in quite good agreement with the location of the origin of the 4050 Å (3.06 eV) band system in C₃, confirming its previous assignment to this electronic transition; the lifetime of the ¹H_u upper state is also obtained in the CI treatment. A value of 2.04 eV is calculated for the corresponding ³Π_u ← X?¹ ∑⁺_g origin, which result in turn suggests that the weak feature starting at 2.10 eV (5900 Å) should be assigned thereto.     

A general formalism of deriving the pair potential of polymer chains for arbitrary interaction potentials between isolated chain segments at and close to the theta-point

A formalism has been worked out which allows to transform any non-punctiform segment-segment potential of isolated polymer segments ε of fairly short-ranged character into the pair-potentialU operating between linear polymer chains with a certain reference to the arguments as they have been originally put forward byFlory andKrigbaum. Although no restrictions are made in the derivation as to the repulsive or attractive contribution of the segment-segment potential ε because of some known general deficiencies of theFlory-Krigbaum treatment for exclusively repulsive interaction, the resulting equations are primarily intended to describe the thermodynamic situation at and close to the θ-point where repulsion and attraction—though working at different ranges of segment separation—cancel. As the equation derived is somewhat complicated two different approximate forms have been developed: The first one is based on aTaylor series expansion retaining terms up to the fourth order which allows to characterizeU by the second and the fourth moment of the pair segment-segment distribution function, β and γ (β being the so-called binary cluster integral of segment-segment interaction, which is considered to be zero for θ-conditions). In this caseU may be represented by an expression of the general form $$U/kT = A(1 - BR^2 )\exp \{ - bR^2 \} .$$ The second method is based on a separate integration over the repulsive and attractive ranges of ε giving the repulsive (U ₊) and the attractive (U _?) part ofU finally after some approximations leading to an equation of the general form $$U/kT = (U_ + + U_ - )/kT = A_1 \exp \{ - b_1 R^2 \} - A_2 \exp \{ - b_2 R^2 \} .$$ In both cases the knowledge of the exact form of ε is dispensable, only β and γ—or for the second case their repulsive (β₊ and γ₊) and attractive (β_? and γ_?) parts have to be known. It is shown that the approximations are in excellent accordance with the exact form so that they may be conveniently used to describe pair potentials of polymer chains and to analyze pair potentials of segment-segment interactions under the limitations and conditions indicated.     

Comparing differentiation of xylene isomers by electronic ionization, chemical ionization and self-ion/molecule reactions and the first observation of methyne addition ions for xylene isomers in self-ion/molecule reactions for non-nitrogenated compounds

This study presents the self-ion/molecule reaction (SIMR) spectra of three xylene isomers, and proposes an approach to differentiating them based on observed differences in relative abundances of ions formed by SIMR in an internal source ion trap instrument. It also demonstrates the applicability of SIMR for isomer discrimination, which is better than electron ionization (EI) and dimethyl ether chemical ionization (DME CI) in an ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS) since no CI reagent, metal ions or internal standards are required to perform SIMR. The merits of the new method for distinguishing isomers are that it is simple, rapid and economic. To date, methyne addition products ([M+13](+) ions) have been observed for several nitrogenated compounds including aza-crown ethers, aniline and dopamine from SIMR in the ITMS. The xylene isomers are, however, the first three non-nitrogenated compounds that have been shown to produce the methyne addition ions in SIMR.     

Evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of chitosan as a potential carrier for rifampicin, using voltammetric and spectrophotometric techniques

Rifampicin is an antibiotic which, on a carbon paste electrode, shows an oxidation response of 0.492 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) at pH 7.0, due to the electroactivity of the hydroquinone group. Interaction of rifampicin with chitosan is strongly dependent on pH, species concentrations and contact time between the latter. Compared to the carbon paste electrode, electrodes modified with chitosan showed greater sensitivity, with optimum voltammetric profile obtained at pH 8.0. Spectrophotometric measurements indicate that rifampicin is strongly absorbed by chitosan at pH less than the pKa of the pharmaceutical, such behaviour being favourable for the use of chitosan as a carrier for the controlled release of rifampicin in the intestinal tract.     

Investigation of plasmas produced by laser ablation using single and double pulses for food analysis demonstrated by probing potato skins

We report on investigations of plasmas produced by laser ablation of fresh potatoes using infrared nanosecond laser radiation. A twin laser system consisting of two Nd:YAG oscillators was used to generate single or double pulses of adjustable interpulse delay. The potatoes were irradiated under ambient air with moderate pulse energies of about 10 mJ. The expansion dynamics of the ablation plume was characterized using fast imaging with a gated camera. In addition, time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy was applied to study the spectral line emission of the various plasma species. The electron density was deduced from Stark broadening, and the plasma temperature was inferred from the relative emission intensities of spectral lines. The relative concentrations of metals were estimated from the comparison of the measured emission spectra to the spectral radiance computed for a plasma in local thermal equilibrium. It is shown that the plasma produced by double pulses has a larger volume and a lower density. These properties lead to an increase of the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of 2 and thus to an improved measurement sensitivity.     

Evaluation of several two-step scoring functions based on linear interaction energy, effective ligand size, and empirical pair potentials for prediction of protein-ligand binding geometry and free energy

The performances of several two-step scoring approaches for molecular docking were assessed for their ability to predict binding geometries and free energies. Two new scoring functions designed for "step 2 discrimination" were proposed and compared to our CHARMM implementation of the linear interaction energy (LIE) approach using the Generalized-Born with Molecular Volume (GBMV) implicit solvation model. A scoring function S1 was proposed by considering only "interacting" ligand atoms as the "effective size" of the ligand and extended to an empirical regression-based pair potential S2. The S1 and S2 scoring schemes were trained and 5-fold cross-validated on a diverse set of 259 protein-ligand complexes from the Ligand Protein Database (LPDB). The regression-based parameters for S1 and S2 also demonstrated reasonable transferability in the CSARdock 2010 benchmark using a new data set (NRC HiQ) of diverse protein-ligand complexes. The ability of the scoring functions to accurately predict ligand geometry was evaluated by calculating the discriminative power (DP) of the scoring functions to identify native poses. The parameters for the LIE scoring function with the optimal discriminative power (DP) for geometry (step 1 discrimination) were found to be very similar to the best-fit parameters for binding free energy over a large number of protein-ligand complexes (step 2 discrimination). Reasonable performance of the scoring functions in enrichment of active compounds in four different protein target classes established that the parameters for S1 and S2 provided reasonable accuracy and transferability. Additional analysis was performed to definitively separate scoring function performance from molecular weight effects. This analysis included the prediction of ligand binding efficiencies for a subset of the CSARdock NRC HiQ data set where the number of ligand heavy atoms ranged from 17 to 35. This range of ligand heavy atoms is where improved accuracy of predicted ligand efficiencies is most relevant to real-world drug design efforts.     

Basis-independent potential energy curves for the neutral diatomics of Li,Na and K evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock and different density functional potentials

Summary The solution of the Schrödinger equation for diatomic molecules when the finite element method is used gives the possibility to evaluate highly accurate basis-independent potential energy curves. In this work such types of numerically accurate potential energy curves on the HF level have been evaluated for Li₂, Na₂ and K₂ and could be used as benchmarks in the optimization of basis sets. A comparison between recent LCAO HF calculations in which extended basis sets are used and the accurate values determined in this work show that there is a difference in total energy of 4×10^–5 and 10^–3 a.u. for Li, Li₂, and Na, Na₂, respectively. Evaluated dissociation energies are, however, due to the cancellation of numerical errors in much better agreement. Further, it is found that different exchange correlation potentials for the heavier molecules such as those given by von Barth-Hedin and Vosko, Wilk and Nusair reproduce experimental properties such as dissociation energies, vibrational frequencies almost as well as those achieved with advanced CI methods. TheX potential gives accurate bond lengths for Na₂ and K₂, whereas the dissociation energies are too small.     

Characterization of a β-glucanase produced by Rhizopus microsporus var. microsporus, and its potential for application in the brewing industry

Background  

In the barley malting process, partial hydrolysis of β-glucans begins with seed germination. However, the endogenous 1,3-1,4-β-glucanases are heat inactivated, and the remaining high molecular weight β-glucans may cause severe problems such as increased brewer mash viscosity and turbidity. Increased viscosity impairs pumping and filtration, resulting in lower efficiency, reduced yields of extracts, and lower filtration rates, as well as the appearance of gelatinous precipitates in the finished beer. Therefore, the use of exogenous β-glucanases to reduce the β-glucans already present in the malt barley is highly desirable.     

Determination of the rα structure corrected for correlated deformation and of the bond contributions to the degree of order of 1,3-butadiene by NMR of the partially oriented molecule

Protons with¹³C-satellite spectra from 1,3-butadiene dissolved in four different liquid-crystal solvents have been analyzed. The observed direct couplings, corrected for harmonic vibration as well as for correlated deformation, show that the trans isomer is dominant but that there must be a low concentration (2%) of a second rotamer, probably close to cis. The structure of the trans isomer is determined and the bond contributions to the order tensor are measured.     

Evaluation of surface charge density and surface potential by electrophoretic mobility for solid lipid nanoparticles and human brain-microvascular endothelial cells

Electrophoretic mobility, zeta potential, surface charge density, and surface potential of cacao butter-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and human brain-microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) were analyzed in this study. Electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential were determined experimentally. Surface charge density and surface potential were evaluated theoretically via incorporation of ion condensation theory with the relationship between surface charge density and surface potential. The results revealed that the lower the pH value, the weaker the electrostatic properties of the negatively charged SLN and HBMEC. A higher content of cacao butter or a slower stirring rate yielded a larger SLN and stronger surface electricity. On the contrary, storage led to instability of SLN suspension and weaker electrical behavior because of hydrolysis of ionogenic groups on the particle surfaces. Also, high H+ concentration resulted in excess adsorption of H+ onto HBMEC, rendering charge reversal and cell death. The largest normalized discrepancy between surface potential and zeta potential occurred at pH = 7. For a fixed biocolloidal species, the discrepancy was nearly invariant at high pH value. However, the discrepancy followed the order of electrical intensity for HBMEC system at low pH value because mammalian cells were sensitive to H+. The present study provided a practical method to obtain surface charge properties by capillary electrophoresis.