Dynamic light scattering of an ionic SDS micellar solution under an AC electric field

The phase separation behavior of near-critical ionic sodium-dodecyl-sulfate (SDS) micellar solution under a sinusoidal electric field was investigated by phase-contrast optical microscopy and by the small-angle dynamic light scattering method. The sinusoidal electric field significantly deformed the concentration domains and shifted the phase separation temperature. The autocorrelation function under a sinusoidal electric field was measured in the vicinity of a phase separation temperature range of 0.10 K < T_p – T < 0.97 K, where T_p – T is the temperature distance from the phase separation temperature in quiescent state T_p. The correlation function with an oscillatory part in the longer correlation time region was observed. The occurrence of the oscillatory mode, which depended on both the applied field frequency and the ambient temperature, indicates deformation of concentration fluctuation domains by dynamical coupling between the phase separation and the applied sinusoidal electric field. Received: 9 June 2000 Accepted: 31 August 2000     

Calculation of three-center electric and magnetic multipole moment integrals using translation formulas for Slater-type orbitals

 By the use of translation formulas for the expansion of Slater-type orbitals (STOs) in terms of STOs at a new origin, three-center electric and magnetic multipole moment integrals are expressed in terms of two-center multipole moment integrals for the evaluation of which closed analytical formulas are used. The convergence of the series is tested by calculating concrete cases. Computer results with an accuracy of 10⁻⁷ are obtained for 2^ν– pole electric and magnetic multipole moment integrals for 1≤ν≤5 and for arbitrary values of screening constants of atomic orbitals and internuclear distances. Received: 28 October 1999 / Accepted: 15 February 2000 / Published online: 5 June 2000     

Multireference perturbation CI IV. Selection procedure for one-electron properties

We present in this paper a modification of the selection procedure, within the CIPSI algorithm, specifically intended for the calculation of one-electron properties. In this new procedure the determinants are selected following their contribution to a certain one-electron property. As test cases we report the calculation of the electric dipole of carbon monoxide and of the hyperfine coupling constants of the CH₃ radical. Received: 20 August 2000 / Accepted: 2 October 2000 / Published online: 21 December 2000     

Contracted basis sets for electrical property calculations derived from Second-order Møller–Plesset theory atomic natural orbitals

 Using established methods based on correlated atomic natural orbitals (ANOs), sets of contracted polarization functions are derived for use in calculations of atomic and molecular electrical properties (especially electric moments, dipole polarizabilities and related property hypersurfaces). Through test calculations on Ne, Ar, NH₃ and CO₂, these polarization functions are shown to reproduce the accuracy of larger basis sets, to incorporate dynamical electron correlation effects and are economical to use in conjunction with sophisticated electron-correlation treatments. We also show how triple-zeta polarized ANO and double-zeta polarized ANO basis sets are constructed from these contracted polarization functions for use in the calculation of reliable zero-point vibrational averages of electrical properties. Received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 15 February 2000 / Published online: 12 May 2000     

Interaction of partially ionized poly(acrylic acid) with a surfactant counterion at constant pH values

Binding of a cationic surfactant ion, dodecylpyridinium ion, to poly(acrylic acids) of low charge densities was examined by potentiometry using surfactant-selective electrodes in the solutions, where the pH was kept constant by employing a pH buffering system. The binding of the surfactant counterions was thus able to be studied at a constant pH during the binding process. The binding took place in two steps, the first cooperative binding step and the second gradual binding step. The critical association concentration decreased as the pH increased, indicating the predominant role of the electric interaction in the binding. The binding isotherms obtained at different but constant pH values were analyzed by the matrix method, taking into account the nearest-neighbor interactions among three different kinds of sites on the polymer: ionized, protonated, and surfactant-bound. The theoretical analysis could describe only the first step but could not explain the second step. A relatively large cooperativity parameter, u, was found for the first step and it can be between 3 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁴. When the ionic strength was decreased tenfold, the cooperativity of the binding decreased (u∼1 × 10³). The binding constants of the isolated site were 5.5–6.0 × 10⁴ kg mol⁻¹ and slightly increased to 6.5 × 10⁴ kg mol⁻¹ as the ionic strength decreased. The deviation of the second step from the theoretical analysis was supposed to arise from a change of proton dissociation constant in the nonpolar space formed by the bound surfactants. Received: 29 November 2000/Accepted: 24 January 2001     

Energy decomposition in the topological theory of atoms in molecules and in the linear combination of atomic orbitals formalism: a note

 It is shown that the molecular energy calculated at the self-consistent-field level can be strictly expressed as a sum of one- and two-atom energy components in the framework of Bader's topological theory of atoms in molecules (AIM). The expressions of our recent “chemical energy component analysis” can be obtained from the AIM ones as some linear combination of atomic orbitals mappings of the integrations over the atomic basins. Received: 15 June 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000 / Published online: 19 January 2001     

A fast algorithm to compute atomic charges based on the topology of the electron density

This work proposes a novel algorithm to compute atomic charges as defined by the theory of “atoms in molecules” (AIM). Using the divergence theorem it is possible to express the 3D volume integral over an atomic basin purely in terms of 2D surface integrals. Hence, it can be proven that an atomic charge is equal to the flux of the electric field of the whole molecule through the atom's complete boundary. This boundary consists of the interatomic surfaces and the so-called outeratomic surface, which is the open side of the atom. When fine-tuned the algorithm can generate atomic charges in the order of minutes without introducing any approximations. Moreover, the problem of the geometrical cusp occurring in atomic basins and that of multiple intersections is also eliminated. The computational overhead of computing the electric field (which is analytical) is compensated by the gain in computing time by eliminating one dimension of quadrature. The proposed algorithm opens an avenue to invalidate the oft-quoted drawback that AIM charges are computationally expensive. We explain the details of the implementation in MORPHY01 and illustrate the novel algorithm with a few examples. Received: 1 June 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000 / Published online: 23 January 2001     

Shear induced aggregation of a pectin stabilised emulsion in two dimensions

Shear induced aggregation of a Pectin stabilised emulsion trapped at the air-liquid interface was studied in a Couette system by video enhanced microscopy. From dimension analysis, Brownian motion was identified to enhance the probability of bond formation. The characteristic time scale of aggregation was found to scale as t_c ∼ η/φ rather than t_c ∼ 1/γ˙φ as expected for orthokinetic aggregation. The structure of very large clusters showed strongly rearranged strands and fractal scaling for low γ˙ and φ, analysed by density auto-correlation. At high γ˙ and φ, the cluster was dominated by larger drops and no fractal scaling could be determined for the accessible length scales. Received: 7 June 2000 Accepted: 1 August 2000     

Transient excitation behavior of a donor–acceptor–acceptor Auger molecule in a semiconductor host

Under the particular situation of highly doped and almost compensated semiconductors, a new kind of bound state happens at high external excitation levels, which is formed of a close donor–acceptor molecule and a neighboring second donor or acceptor. The de-excitation behavior of such a bound state resembles characteristics known from Auger transitions and for this reason it is called an Auger molecule. The existence region of Auger molecules is determined in silicon-doped Ga_{1− x} Al _x As by electron-beam excited luminescence measurements at low temperature. The main peak position and the luminescence intensity of the donor–acceptor recombination channel turn out to be affected in a characteristic manner by the existence of Auger molecules at high excitation levels. An analysis of corresponding rate coefficients for the reproduction of experimental results is also presented. Received: 14 September 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 2000 / Published online: 21 June 2000     

Recognizing a triple bond between main group atoms

The electron pair density, in conjunction with the theory of an atom in a molecule, enables one to unambiguously determine the nature of the bonding between the gallium atoms in bent [HGa-GaH]²⁻. The Ga-Ga bonding in the dianion at the experimental bond length is found to be the result of the sharing of two electron pairs at the Hartree-Fock level of theory, the level consistent with the Lewis model of the electron pair. Received: 27 July 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000 / Published online: 19 January 2001     

Intramolecular coupling study on nonlinear optical signals

 In this contribution, we have introduced intramolecular coupling in order to study possible modifications in the topology of the resonances associated with the four-wave mixing signal emerging as a consequence of incorporating the permanent dipole moments when the rotating-wave approximation is not included. Received: 17 September 1999 / Accepted: 9 March 2000 / Published online: 21 June 2000     

Sorption-Catalytic Determination of Imazapyr on a Copper-Containing Sorbent

 Sorption of copper on filter-paper with chemically attached hexamethylenediamino-groups (HMDA-filter) allows to obtain the sorbent (Cu/HMDA-filter) stable in respect to desorption of copper. A nitrogen-containing herbicide imazapyr (imaz) is retained on Cu/HMDA-filters at pH 5.5–7.0 forming a relatively stable complex. Imazapyr is determined directly on the sorbent by its activating effect in the oxidation of hydroquinone with H₂O₂ catalyzed by Cu(II) with the formation of a product absorbing at 490 nm. The copper ions serve both to preconcentrate imazapyr and to catalyze the indicator reaction. The use of 1-μL sample aliquots pipetted onto the Cu/HMDA-filters allows to determine 1 × 10⁻³–0.03 μmol of imazapyr, whereas preconcentration of the analyte by pumping of its solution through the same sorbent expands the linear range to 1 × 10⁻⁴–1 × 10⁻¹ μmol of imazapyr. When the indicator reaction is carried out in solution, the range of activating action of imazapyr is narrower (0.06–0.1 μmol a for a solution volume of 10 mL). The determination is selective: 5–100-fold amounts of amines, aminoacids, carboxylic acid derivatives and other model compounds do not interfere. Soil extracts and carrot juice samples spiked with imazapyr have been analyzed. Received January 10, 2000. Revision July 28, 2000.     

A density functional theory study of the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the domino cycloaddition reactions of nitroalkenes with substituted alkenes

The chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the domino intermolecular [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitroalkenes with substituted alkenes, vinyl ethers as electron-rich alkenes and vinyl ketones as electron-poor alkenes, have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G^* basis set. These domino processes comprise two consecutive cycloaddition reactions: the first one is an intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of the vinyl ether to the nitroalkene to give a nitronate intermediate, which then affords the final nitroso acetal adduct through an intermolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with the vinyl ketone. The two consecutive cycloadditions present total chemoselectivity and ortho regioselectivity. While first [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction takes place along the attack of the electron-rich alkene to nitroalkene, the [3 + 2] one takes place along the attack of the electron-poor alkene to the corresponding nitronate intermediate. This DFT study is in complete agreement with the experimental results. Received: 16 September 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 2000 / Published online: 2 May 2000     

Recombination of silicon ions by electron capture from atomic hydrogen and helium

 Ab initio potential-energy curves and coupling matrix elements of the Σ and Π molecular states involved in the collision of the Si²⁺, Si³⁺ and Si⁴⁺ multicharged ions on atomic hydrogen and helium have been determined by means of configuration interaction methods. The total and partial electron capture cross sections have been determined using a semiclassical or a quantal approach in the 0.002–0.1 au velocity range. A detailed comparison with very recent theoretical and experimental rate coefficient results is made. Received: 14 September 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 2000 / Published online: 2 May 2000     

Determination of the diffusion coefficient of water into atelocollagen type I thin films by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

 The diffusion coefficient of water into thin polymer layers of glutar aldehyde cross-linked atelocollagen type I matrix (sample 1, the typical layer thickness was about 0.065 × 10⁻³ m) at 23 °C was 1.142 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹. At twice the concentration of the cross-linking agent (sample 2) the diffusion coefficient was 2.795 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹. This increase was attributed to the more ordered morphology and the creation of ordered microvoids in the film. A larger surface area is then available for the transport of diffusing molecules, allowing a higher penetration rate of the solvent. Received: 11 January 2000/Accepted: 6 May 2000     

Microemulsion polymerization of styrene using a polymerizable nonionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant

High polymer/surfactant weight ratios (up to about 15:1) of polystyrene microlatexes have been successfully produced by microemulsion polymerization using a small amount of polymerizable surfactant, ω-methoxypoly(ethylene oxide)₄₀ undecyl α-methacrylate macromonomer (PEO-R-MA-40), and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). After generating “seeding particles” in a ternary microemulsion containing only 0.2 wt% CTAB and 0.1 wt% styrene, the additional styrene containing less than 1 wt% PEO-R-MA-40 was added dropwise to the polymerized microemulsion for a period of about 4 h at room temperature. PEO-R-MA-40 copolymerized readily with styrene. The stable microlatexes were bluish-transparent at a lower polymer content and became bluish-opaque at a higher polymer content. Nearly monodisperse latex particles with diameters ranging from 50 to 80 nm and their molar masses ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 × 10⁶ g/mol could be obtained by varying the polymerization conditions. The dependence of the number of particles per milliliter of microlatex, the latex particle size and the copolymer molar mass on the polymerization time is discussed in conjunction with the effect of the macromonomer concentration. Received: 25 October/2000 Accepted: 2 February 2001     

A generalized Langevin dynamics approach to model solvent dynamics effects on proteins via a solvent-accessible surface. The carboxypeptidase A inhibitor protein as a model

A generalized Langevin dynamics (GLD) scheme is derived for (bio)macromolecules having internal structure, arbitrary shapes and a size larger than solvent molecules (i.e. proteins). The concept of solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) is used to incorporate solvent effects via external forces thereby avoiding its explicit molecular representation. A simulation algorithm is implemented in the GROMOS molecular dynamics (MD) program including random forces and memory effects, while solvation effects enter via derivatives of the surface area. The potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI), a small protein, is used to numerically test the approach. This molecule has N- and C-terminal tails whose structure and fluctuations are solvent dependent. A 1-ns MD trajectory was analyzed in depth. X-ray and NMR structures are used in conjunction with MD simulations with and without explicit solvent to gauge the quality of the results. All the analyses showed that the GLD simulation approached the results obtained for the MD simulation with explicit simple-point-charge-model water molecules. The SASAs of the polar atoms show a natural exposure towards the solvent direction. A FLS solvent simulation was completed in order to sense memory effects. The approach and results presented here could be of great value for developing alternatives to the use of explicit solvent molecules in the MD simulation of proteins, expanding its use and the time-scale explored. Received: 2 February 2000 / Revised: 12 March 2000 / Accepted: 26 May 2000 / Published online: 2 November 2000     

Analysis of the RGD sequence in protein structures: comparison to the conformations of the RGDW and DRGDW peptides determined by molecular dynamics simulations

Geometric properties of the RGD sequence in a data set of protein crystal and NMR structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank were examined to identify structural characteristics that are related to cell adhesion activity. Interatomic distances and dihedral angles are examined. These geometric measures are then used in an analysis of the conformations of the RGDW and _DRGDW peptides obtained from molecular dynamics simulations (Stote RH, et al. (2000) J Phys ChemB 104:1624). This analysis leads to the suggestion that differences in the accessible conformations contribute to the difference in biological activity between the RGDW and the _DRGDW peptides. Received: 15 August 2000 / Accepted: 4 October 2000 / Published online: 21 March 2001     

Electrical characterization of poly(3-methylthiophene) electrosynthesized onto a tin-oxide substrate

We have investigated poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMeT) thin films electrochemically synthesized directly onto a tin-oxide (TO) electrode. We find that the PMeT film thickness depends linearly on the charge density used during the electropolymerization. We have demonstrated that the current transport in PMeT films (solid phase) is space-charge limited or controlled by thermionic emission, depending on the electrode material. Using TO/PMeT/Ni devices we estimate the positive charge carrier mobility in PMeT to be around 4 × 10⁻⁴ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, and the potential barrier height for positive charge carrier injection at the Al/PMeT interface to be 0.17 eV. Received: 6 December 1999 / Accepted: 24 February 2000     

A study of DNA tethered to a surface by an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation

 In order to understand the structure of DNAs and their interactions when on microarray surfaces, we performed the first all-atom molecular dynamics simulation of DNA tethered to a surface. On the surface, the binding of the DNA was enhanced, and its average equilibrium conformation was the B form. The DNA duplex spontaneously tilted towards its nearest neighbor and settled in a leaning position with a interaxial distance of 2.2 nm. This close packing of the DNAs, which affects both in situ synthesis and deposition of probes on microarray surfaces, can thus be explained by salted-induced colloidlike DNA–DNA attractions. Received: 30 November 2000 / Accepted: 7 February 2001 / Published online: 22 May 2001