Fitted electronic density functions from H to Rn for use in quantum similarity measures: cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) complex as an application example

A consistent set of fitted electronic density functions was generated for the elements from hydrogen to radon using an algorithm based on the elementary Jacobi rotations (EJR) technique. The main distinguishing attribute of this fitting procedure is the production of approximated electronic density functions with positive definite expansion coefficients; in this way, the statistical meaning of the probability distribution is preserved. The methodology, which was fully described previously, was modified in this work to improve and accelerate the fitting procedure. This variation concerns the optimization method employed to obtain the optimal angle of the EJR, implementing an algorithm based on a Taylor series expansion. Additionally, a new 1S-Type Gaussian basis set for atoms H to Rn is presented, that was fitted from a primitive basis set of Huzinaga. Fitted density functions facilitate theoretical calculations over large molecules and may be employed in many areas of computational chemistry, for example, in quantum similarity measures (QSM). To verify the basis set, a sound example related to QSM applications is given. This corresponds to the comparison of experimental structures obtained from X-ray determination for cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) complex with optimized molecular geometries using several theoretical methods to quantify the differences between the analyzed levels of theory. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 20: 911–920, 1999     

Heat capacities of solid copoly(amino acid)s

Recently heat capacities C_p of poly(amino acid)s of all naturally occurring amino acids have been determined. In a second step the heat capacities of four copoly(amino acid) s are studied in this research. Poly(L -lysine · HBr-alanine), poly(L -Lysine · HBr-phenylalanine), poly(sodium-L -glutamate-tyrosine), and poly(L -proline-glycine-proline) heat capacities are measured by differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range 230–390 K. This is followed by an analysis using approximate group vibrations and fitting the C_p contributions of the skeletal vibrations of the corresponding homopolymers to a two-parameter Tarasov function. Good agreement is found between experiment and calculation. Predictions of heat capacities based on homopoly(amino acid)s are thus expected to be possible for all polypeptides, and enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs functions for the solid state can be derived.     

Double Elimination Voltammetry of Short Oligonucleotides

In connection with adsorptive stripping (AdS) technique, elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) in double mode was successfully employed in the analysis of homo‐ODNs: 5′‐AAA AAA AAA‐3′ (dA₉) and 5′‐CCC CCC CCC‐3′ (dC₉), and hetero‐ODNs: 5′‐CCC AAA CCC‐3′ (H3), 5′‐CAC CAC CAC‐3′ (H4), and 5′‐ACC CAC CCA‐3′ (H9) on hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Analogously to single EVLS function E4 (conserving the diffusion current I_d and eliminating kinetic and charging currents I_k, I_c) for the electroactive substance adsorbed, the double EVLS function E4 yields well readable peak‐counterpeaks of reducible nucleic acid bases (adenine A and cytosine C). In comparison with single EVLS these peak‐counterpeaks are higher by more than one order of magnitude (twenty times for dA₉, fourteen times for dC₉, from eight to sixteen times for hetero‐ODNs). The increase of reduction signals with higher resolution was also observed using other two EVLS functions in double mode, the functions E5 eliminating I_c and I_d, but conserving I_k and E6 eliminating I_d and I_k, but conserving I_c. The amplifications of double /single EVLS signals of A and C range from 3.4 to 8.4, and from 3.1 to 8.3 for E5 and E6, respectively. It was proved that AdS double EVLS offers a new, fast, simple and inexpensive electroanalytical tool, which can be considered as a device not only for very good resolution of A and C in ODNs, but also for sensitive detection of changes in the primary structure of nucleic acid bases in ODN chains, depending on experimental conditions, such as pH, temperature, and time and potential of accumulation.     

Calculations of Energy-Loss Function for 26 Materials

We present a fitting calculation of energy-loss function for 26 bulk materials, including 18 pure elements (Ag, Al, Au, C, Co, Cs, Cu, Er, Fe, Ge, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pd, Pt, Si, Te) and 8 compounds (AgCl, Al₂O₃, AlAs, CdS, SiO₂, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe) for application to surface electron spectroscopy analysis. The experimental energy-loss function, which is derived from measured optical data, is fitted into a finite sum of formula based on the Drude-Lindhard dielectric model. By checking the oscillator strength-sum and perfectscreening-sum rules, we have validated the high accuracy of the fitting results. Furthermore, based on the fitted parameters, the simulated reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectrum shows a good agreement with experiment. The calculated fitting parameters of energy loss function are stored in an open and online database at http://micro.ustc.edu.cn/ELF/ELF.html.     

Non-invasive analysis of swelling in polymer dispersions by means of time-domain(TD)-NMR

In this contribution, we discuss the potential of low-field time-domain(TD)-NMR to study the swelling of (aqueous) polymer dispersions by a volatile solvent. Due to the sensitivity of transverse relaxation times (T₂) to swelling-induced changes in the molecular dynamics of the polymer component, the effects of swelling can be measured without spectral resolution. The measurement is performed on polymer dispersions in native state with solids contents around 50% in a non-invasive way without separating the polymeric phase and the water phase from each other. Using acetone in two polyurethane (PU) dispersions with different hard phase contents, we explore the sensitivity of the method and present a data evaluation strategy based on multicomponent fitting and proton balancing. Furthermore, we report exchange continualization as a further effect that needs to be taken into account for correct interpretation of the data.     

Reaction hazard analysis for the thermal decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of sodium hydroxide

Organic peroxides have caused many serious explosions and fires that were promoted by thermal instability, chemical pollutants, and even mechanical shock. Cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) has been employed in polymerization and for producing phenol and dicumyl peroxide (DCPO). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to assess the thermal hazards associated with CHP contacting sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Thermokinetic parameters, such as exothermic onset temperature (T ₀), peak temperature (T _max), and enthalpy (ΔH) were obtained. Experimental data were obtained using DSC and curve fitting using thermal safety software (TSS) was employed to obtain the kinetic parameters. Isothermal microcalorimetry (thermal activity monitor, TAM) was used to investigate the thermal hazards associated with storing of CHP and CHP mixed with NaOH under isothermal conditions. TAM showed that in the temperature range from 70 to 90°C an autocatalytic reaction occurs. This was apparent in the thermal curves. Depending on the operating conditions, NaOH may be one of the chemicals or catalysts incompatible with CHP. When CHP was mixed with NaOH, the T ₀ is lower and reactions become more complex than those associated with assessment of the decomposition of the pure peroxide. The data by curve fitting indicated that the activation energy (E _a) for the induced decomposition is smaller than that for decomposition of CHP in the absence of hydroxide.     

Backscattering light detection of nucleic acids with tetraphenylporphyrin-Al(III)-nucleic acids at liquid/liquid interface

A backscattering light (BSL) detection assembly is constructed and applied to the determination of nucleic acids with high sensitivity and selectivity based on the measurements of BSL signals at water/tetrachloromethane (H₂O/CCl₄) interface. In aqueous medium of pH 3, the binary complex of of Al(III)-DNAs could be formed by the interaction of Al(III) with the phosphate group of DNAs, which then could interact with tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) in tetrachloromethane through liquid/liquid interaction, forming a ternary complex of TPP-Al(III)-DNAs at the interface. It was observed that greatly enhanced BSL signals occurred with maximum peak at 469 nm when the ternary complex of TPP-Al(III)-DNAs were absorbed to the liquid/liquid interface. The enhanced backscattering light intensity (I_BSL) is in proportion to the concentration of calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) and fish sperm DNA (fsDNA) in the range of 0.6-1200 ng ml⁻¹ and 1.1-1200 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. The limits of determination (3σ) are 60 pg ml⁻¹ and 110 pg ml⁻¹, correspondingly. Artificial samples with highly interference backgrounds were determined with the recovery ranging from 94.5 to 106.7%, and relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) less than 2.40%.     

Competition of copper and/or calcium in nickel–pectin interaction by potentiometric and voltammetric techniques

The interaction between nickel and pectin extracted from citrus fruit was studied in 0.10 M KNO₃, at pH 5.5 and 25 °C. Differential pulse and/or square wave polarography were used to determine free nickel. For a high coverage degree (θ) of the pectin by the metal ion a good fitting was observed between experimental results and the model that includes both complex species, ML and ML₂ (M for the metal ion and L for the ligand). In the ML₂ species, Ni(II) interacts with two carboxylate groups of different chains, resulting in an inter-chain association. For low θ values, the formation of ML₂ is hindered due to the repulsion between the negative charges of carboxylic groups in two independent segments of pectin. The influence of calcium or copper ions on the free nickel concentration, in the presence of pectin, may lead to a decrease in free nickel concentration, contrary to what would be expected from direct competition between Ca(II) or Cu(II) and Ni(II) for the pectin binding sites. This is due to the partial neutralisation of the negative carboxylic charges by the positive charges of the divalent cations, which favours NiL₂ formation through the association of independent chains.     

An investigation into the self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) of superconducting ceramics by thermal methods

The SHS route is based on the well-known thermite reaction, in which a strongly exothermic reaction can sustain itself and propagate in the form of a combustion wave until the reactants have been completely consumed. The successful application of the method to the synthesis of superconducting ceramics of stoichiometry RBa₂Cu₃O_y (R=Y, Er, Yb) is reported. The 123 phase was obtained when pellets of R₂O₃, BaO₂ and Cu metal in the correct proportions were dropped into a heater held at 800°C in an oxygen atmosphere and left there for only 10 minutes. Thermal methods (DSC and DTA) are excellent techniques with which to investigate the dependence of the reaction on heating rate, atmosphere and starting composition.     

Thermal and crystallization characteristics of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene naphthalate) blends

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)/poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) blends were miscible in the amorphous state in all of the blend compositions studied, as evidenced by a single, composition-dependent glass transition temperature (T_g) observed for each blend composition. The variation in the T_g value with the blend composition was well predicted by the Gordon-Taylor equation, with the fitting parameter being 0.57. The cold-crystallization peak temperature decreased with increasing PTT content, while the melt-crystallization peak temperature decreased with increasing amount of the minor component. The subsequent melting behavior after both cold- and melt-crystallization exhibited melting point depression, in which the observed melting temperatures decreased with increasing amount of the minor component. During melt-crystallization, both components in the blends crystallized concurrently just to form their own crystals. The blend with 60% w/w of PTT exhibited the lowest total apparent degree of crystallinity.     

Finite difference modeling of the gas transport process in glassy polymers

Finite difference modeling has been used to predict the results of gas transport experiments for a concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient. Experiments on the transport of CO₂ in poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene naphthalate) had previously shown a difference between the effective diffusion coefficients for absorption and desorption runs of a double-sided experiment, but this effect had not been seen for single-sided experiments. The finite difference calculations show that such results are to be expected, and the parameters included in the models that attempt to describe the diffusion process in glassy polymers, such as the dual-mode model, and which lead to concentration-dependent diffusion coefficients, can be found by fitting the experimental data for the double-sided experiment using finite difference modeling. The dependence of the effective diffusion coefficient on pressure for the single-sided experiment can be correctly predicted using results from the double-sided experiment for an identical sample. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microstructure of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-isopropyl acrylate) studied by 13C NMR

The distribution of configurational–compositional sequences of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-isopropyl acrylate) (PMMA/iPrA) has been determined from the carbonyl and β-CH₂ signals in the 100?MHz ¹³C NMR spectra of the copolymer. The carbonyl signal provided information on configurational–compositional sequences up to heptads, whereas β-CH₂ signals offered complementary information on even sequences up to hexads. The assignment of the sequences to the respective signals was based on a comparison with the spectra of respective homopolymers, that is, PMMA and PiPrA followed by a computer simulation applying an incremental calculation of chemical shifts of the individual sequences.     

Bismuth film electrodes for the study of metal thiolate complexation: An alternative to mercury electrodes

A comparative study of the usual static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) and the bismuth film electrode (BiFE) as applied to the analysis of metal complexation by thiol-rich peptides is done. Preliminary experiments on BiFE by differential pulse voltammetry showed that Cd(II) and Pb(II)-ions behave in a similar way as using stripping voltammetry and stripping chronopotentiometry with regard to some splitting effects of the signals. Additionally, on BiFE glutathione (GSH) and some phytochelatins (PC_n) produce quite irregular signals related to the anodic oxidation of bismuth, which restricted the studies to a narrower concentration range than on SMDE. In the presence of both metal ion and peptide the same characteristic signals were observed on BiFE and SMDE, but better resolution was achieved in the first one, allowing a qualitative analysis of the complexation process for the Pb-GSH system which was not possible on SMDE. This suggests that BiFE may be a complementary tool to Hg electrodes, if not a valuable alternative, in the study of metal complexation.     

Application of Elimination Voltammetry to the Resolution of Adenine and Cytosine Signals in Oligonucleotides II. Hetero‐Oligodeoxynucleotides with Different Sequences of Adenine and Cytosine Nucleotides

Elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) was applied to the resolution of reduction signals of adenine (A) and cytosine (C) residues in short synthetic hetero‐oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with different sequences of A and C. The EVLS evaluation required linear sweep voltammograms measured on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) at different scan rates. Compared to linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and usual voltammetric methods the EVLS is capable of resolving the overlapped A and C signals, specifically by using the elimination function which eliminates the charging and kinetic currents (I_c, I_k) and conserves the diffusion current (I_d). Since for an adsorbed electroactive substance this elimination function yields a well readable peak–counterpeak signal, the adsorptive stripping (AdS) procedure was favorably used. The adsorption of ODNs was carried out at ?0.1 V for accumulation time of 120 s under stirring. It was found that heights and potentials of LSV signals were affected by ODNs concentrations, pH, scan rates, time of accumulation, and stirring speed during the adsorption. While on LSV curves the only one reduction peak of A and C residues was observed in all ODNs, the EVLS yielded two separated peaks in dependence on A, C sequences and pH. Our results showed that the EVLS in connection with the AdS procedure is a useful tool for qualitative and quantitative studies of short ODNs and a promising sensitive method for the development of electrochemical sensor following the ODN sequences.     

高氯酸盐与十六烷基三甲基溴化铵作用的光散射

利用光散射光谱法研究了高氯酸根和阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)的作用。 在酸性条件下,高氯酸根和CTAB通过静电作用形成离子缔合物,导致体系光散射强度增强。 环境水样中的常见阴离子如Cl^-、Br^-、ClO₃^-、NO₃^-和PO₄^3-等与CTAB单独作用时其光散射强度很弱,而当它们与高氯酸根同时存在时,由于协同作用使体系散射强度发生改变。 以Cl^-为例,借助动态光散射测定,初步探讨了体系协同作用的机理。     

Analysis of exponent values in Gaussian‐type functions for development of protonic and deuteronic basis functions

We analyzed the exponent (α) values in Gaussian‐type functions (GTF) for protons and deuterons in BH₃, CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, HF, and their deuterated molecules for the development of nuclear basis functions, which are used for molecular orbital (MO) calculations that directly include nuclear quantum effects. The optimized α (α_opt) value in the single s‐type ([1s]) GTF for protons is changed due to the difference in flexibility of the electronic basis sets. The difference between the energy obtained by using the α_opt value for each molecule and that obtained by using the average α (α_ave) value for these exponents with the 6‐31G(d,p) electronic basis function is only 2 × 10^?5 a.u. The α_ave values of protonic and deuteronic [1s] GTFs by the present calculation are 24.1825 and 35.6214, respectively. We found that the α_ave values enable the evaluation of the total energy and the geometrical changes in hydrogen bonding, such as O…H? O, O…H? N, and O…H? C, while the α_opt value became small by forming a hydrogen bond. The result using only the [1s] GTF for the protonic and deuteronic basis functions is sufficient to explain the differences of energy and geometry induced by the H/D isotope effect, although the total energy of ～5 × 10^?4 a.u. was improved by using the s‐, p‐, and d‐type ([1s1p1d]) GTFs for protons and deuterons. We clearly demonstrate that the protonic and deuteronic basis functions based on the α_ave value enable us to apply the method to other sample molecules (glycine, malonaldehyde, and formic acid dimer). The protonic and deuteronic basis functions we developed treat the quantum effects of protons and deuterons effectively and extend the application range of the MO calculation to include nuclear quantum effects. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

A novel optical thrombin aptasensor based on magnetic nanoparticles and split DNAzyme

In this paper, we report a novel and sensitive optical sensing protocol for thrombin detection based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and thrombin aptamer, employing split HRP-mimicking DNAzyme halves as its sensing element, which can catalyze the H₂O₂-mediated oxidation of the colorless ABTS into a blue-green product. A single nucleotide containing the recognition element and sensing element is utilized in our protocol. The specific recognition of thrombin and its aptamer leads to the structure deformation of the DNA strands and causes the split of the DNAzyme halves. Therefore, the decrease of absorption spectra can be recorded by the UV–visible Spectrophotometer. DNA-coated MNPs are utilized to separate the interferential materials from the analyst, thus making this assay can be applied in the detection of thrombin in complex samples, such as human plasma. This original, sensitive and cost-effective assay showed favorable recognition for thrombin. The absorbance signals with the concentration of thrombin over a range from 0.5 to 20 nM and the detection limit of thrombin was 0.5 nM. The controlled experiments showed that thrombin signal was not interfered in the presence of other co-existence proteins.     

Alkyl‐Tethered Bis‐Phosphoryl Compounds with two 1,3,2‐Benzodiazaphosphorinone Units; Oxidation,Complexation, and X‐Ray Structure Analysis of Selected Compounds

The reaction of the bis‐chlorophosphines 1 a – 1 d with bis(2‐chloroethyl)amine hydrochloride in the presence of triethylamine and with various trimethylsilylamines led to a new class of bis‐phosphorus ligands 2 a – 2 c and 3 a – 3 g . ³¹P‐NMR studies suggested that the bis‐phosphorus ligands undergo rotation reactions about the alkyl bridge in polar solvents. Compounds 2 a – 2 c showed initially only one sharp singlet each in their ³¹P‐NMR spectra. After a few days at room temperature, two signals were observed. Similar results were observed for 3 a – 3 g . In the solid state, the two phosphorus atoms in 2 c are not equivalent, as was confirmed by the observation of two signals in the solid state ³¹P‐NMR spectrum. Oxidation reactions of 2 a – 2 c by the hydrogen peroxide‐urea 1 : 1 adduct (NH₂)₂C(:O) · H₂O₂ led to the formation of the corresponding phosphoryl compounds 4 a – 4 c . Reaction of 2 a and 3 a with Pt[COD]Cl₂ (COD = 1.5‐Cyclooctadiene) furnished the complexes 5 and 6 . The NMR spectra suggested that the two chlorine atoms are in cis position. X‐ray structure analyses were conducted for 2 a , which exhibits twofold symmetry; 2 c , which is linked into dimers by hydrogen bonds C–H…O; and 6 , confirming the cis configuration.