Protein Conformation of a Lattice Model Using Tabu Search

We apply tabu search techniques to the problem of determining the optimal configuration of a chain of protein sequences on a cubic lattice. The problem under study is difficult to solve because of the large number of possible conformations and enormous amount of computations required. Tabu search is an iterative heuristic procedure which has been shown to be a remarkably effective method for solving combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper, an algorithm is designed for the cubic lattice model using tabu search. The algorithm has been tested on a chain of 27 monomers. Computational results show that our method outperforms previously reported approaches for the same model.     

The synthesis,characterization, and weathering behavior of polycarbonates derived from bis(P-hydroxyphenyl) dimethylsilane (BPSI)

Polycarbonates and copolycarbonates based on BPSi and BPA were easily made using the standard interfacial technique. Molecular weight and NMR data indicate that up to 4 mol % of the BPSi decomposes during polymerization via a base-catalyzed rearrangement of BPSi to arylsiloxanes. Oxygen index studies show an increased flame resistance with increasing BPSi monomer content. DSC measurements show a decrease in glass transition with BPSi monomer concentration while TGA shows an increase in char residue with BPSi monomer content. In addition, TGA indicates no change in either thermal or thermooxidative stability with the relative BPSi/BPA concentrations. Outdoor weathering of BPSi PC and BPA PC films indicates that BPSi PC is ca. 5 times more weathering resistant than BPA PC. This latter result can be attributed to a combination of BPSi PC's lower UV absorptivity, higher water repellency, and lower likelihood for side chain photooxidation. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Anisotropic alpha-emission in the223Ra decay chain

Anisotropic α-emission from nuclei in the decay chain from²²³Ra to²⁰⁷Tl has been observed using low temperature nuclear orientation in combination with high resolution α-detection at 4.2 K. Information on partial wave amplitudes as well as hyperfine interactions has been extracted.     

Giant dipole resonance in55Mn* studied with the BGO detector

High-energy gamma-rays emitted in the decay of the giant dipole resonance built on excited states of⁵⁵Mn nucleus were measured with a bismuth germanate detector. Resonance parameters were extracted from the fits to the experimental spectra. Two new high-energy calibration points originating from slow-neutron capture in germanium isotopes of bismuth germanate crystal are proposed for large-volume BGO detectors.     

Systematic studies of positron production in heavy-ion collisions near the Coulomb barrier

We present the results obtained from systematic studies of positron creation for a series of heavy-collision systems, with united chargeZ _u =Z ₁ +Z ₂ ranging fromZ _u =164 (Pb + Pb) toZ _u =184 (U+U) at bombarding energies close to the Coulomb barrier, using the Orangeβ-spectrometer at GSI. For each collision system studied, the dominating continuous distributions due to quasiatomic and nuclear positron emission are determined accurately. This is essential in obtaining the characteristics of the still unexplained monoenergetic positron lines which appear in the energy range between 200 keV and 400 keV. Our results are compared with coupled-channels calculations for quasi-atomic positron creation. The latter describe quite well the global features of the measured spectra, but overestimate systematically their absolute values. From the comparison, a common normalization factor of about 0.75 can be established for the calculated spectra. In particular, the dependence onZ _u of the measured emission probabilities was found to follow a power law (∝Z _u ^195±1), in fair agreement with the theoretical prediction.     

Thermostimulated luminescence and extended afterglow of NaI-Tl crystals

Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 259–263, February, 1992.     

The kinetics of the (5 × 20) → (1 × 1) structural transition for Au(100)

The kinetics of the anion-induced (5 × 20) → (1 × 1) surface structural transition of reconstructed Au(100) electrodes was studied in sulfate-containing solutions by current transients. It is shown that lifting of the reconstruction follows a nucleation-and-growth type behavior which can be described by the Avrami equation. Moreover, for high positive potentials, i.e., high anion coverages, the current-transient analysis reveals instantaneous nucleation, whereas for low transition overpotentials and long transition times a mechanism with constant transition rate prevails. Apparent activation energies, which depend strongly on the electrode potential, are derived from the temperature dependence of the Avrami plots.