Systematic event generator tuning for the LHC

In this article we describe Professor, a new program for tuning model parameters of Monte Carlo event generators to experimental data by parameterising the per-bin generator response to parameter variations and numerically optimising the parameterised behaviour. Simulated experimental analysis data is obtained using the Rivet analysis toolkit. This paper presents the Professor procedure and implementation, illustrated with the application of the method to tunes of the Pythia 6 event generator to data from the LEP/SLD and Tevatron experiments. These tunes are substantial improvements on existing standard choices, and are recommended as base tunes for LHC experiments, to be themselves systematically improved upon when early LHC data is available.     

Linear dependence in basis-set calculations for extended systems

The problem of linear dependence in basis-set calculations for extended systems is discussed. We show that the problem is intrinsic in three-dimensionally extended systems, but is not as serious in systems with extension in fewer dimensions. The possibility of choosing suitable basis sets that avoid linear dependence is discussed. It is shown that for systems extended in three dimensions in which the orbitals near the Fermi-level are well described by plane waves a mixed atomicorbital/plane-wave (AO –PW ) basis set with tight orbitals to describe the cores avoids the problem in the most efficient way. Numerical experiments with 1s Slater-type orbitals and plane waves on a simple cubic lattice are presented for illustration. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ion‐Mobility Mass Spectrometry for the Rapid Determination of the Topology of Interlocked and Knotted Molecules

A rapid screening method based on traveling‐wave ion‐mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) combined with tandem mass spectrometry provides insight into the topology of interlocked and knotted molecules, even when they exist in complex mixtures, such as interconverting dynamic combinatorial libraries. A TWIMS characterization of structure‐indicative fragments generated by collision‐induced dissociation (CID) together with a floppiness parameter defined based on parent‐ and fragment‐ion arrival times provide a straightforward topology identification. To demonstrate its broad applicability, this approach is applied here to six Hopf and two Solomon links, a trefoil knot, and a [3]catenate.     

Microarray-based in vitro evaluation of DNA oligomer libraries designed in silico.

We report on the microarray-based in vitro evaluation of two libraries of DNA oligonucleotide sequences, designed in silico for applications in supramolecular self-assembly, such as DNA computing and DNA-based nanosciences. In this first study which is devoted to the comparison of sequence motif properties theoretically predicted with their performance in real-life, the DNA-directed immobilization (DDI) of proteins was used as an example of DNA-based self-assembly. Since DDI technologies, DNA computing, and DNA nanoconstruction essentially depend on similar prereguisites, in particular, large and uniform hybridization efficiencies combined with low nonspecific cross-reactivity between individual sequences, we anticipate that the microarray approach demonstrated here will enable rapid evaluation of other DNA sequence libraries.     

BSE control: detection of gelatine-derived peptides in animal feed by mass spectrometry

The epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is thought to have resulted from feeding scrapie-infected sheep to cattle. This has led to a ban of feeding animals with "processed animal protein"(PAP). We report a novel approach for the mass spectrometric detection of PAP contamination in animal feedstuffs by detecting gelatine, a derivative of the major animal protein collagen. A method was developed to hydrolyse gelatine standards with hydrochloric acid, followed by detection of the derived hydrolytic peptides at m/z 828, 915, 957 and 1044 by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS). The marker peptides can be detected at concentrations of 100 ng ml(-1) gelatine in water with MALDI. The procedure was adapted to obtain a suitable peptide map of gelatine extracted from spiked feed. The ratio of signal area of the gelatine-derived peptide at m/z 1044 to the internal standard at m/z 556 is shown to relate to the total amount of gelatine present in the sample.     

THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS OF STRUCTURES AND VIBRATIONAL INFRARED FREQUENCIES. I. MERCAPTANS AND SULFIDES

Abstract

We report the computed equilibrium geometries and vibrational infrared frequencies of a group of thirteen mercaptans and sulfides. The computations were based on the Gaussian 86 Program Package utilizing 3-21G basis sets. The theoretical bond distances and bond angles are in agreement with the available experimental data. The agreement between computed frequencies and available experimental values seems reasonable. We also used the computations as guidelines for the assignment of available experimental infrared frequencies. We believe that it is possible to make reliable frequency predictions by combining computations with available experimental data for groups of similar molecules. However, it is necessary to introduce different correction factors for different types of vibrational modes if we use 3-21G basis sets.     

Osmium(II)-Phthalocyanine: Darstellung und Eigenschaften von Di(acido)phthalocyaninatoosmaten(II)

Osmium(II) Phthalocyanines: Preparation and Properties of Di(acido)phthalocyaninatoosmates(II) “H[Os(X)₂Pc^2?]” (X = Br, Cl) reacts in basic medium or in the melt with (ⁿBu₄N)X forming less stable, diamagnetic, darkgreen (ⁿBu₄N)₂[Os(X)₂Pc^2?]. Similar dicyano and diimidazolido(Im) complexes are formed by the reaction of “H[Os(Cl)₂Pc^2?]” with excess ligand in the presence of [BH₄]^?. The cyclic voltammograms show up to three quasireversible redoxprocesses: E_1/2(I) = 0.13 V (X = CN), ?0.03 V (Im), ?0.13 V (Br) resp. ?0.18 V (Cl) is metal directed (Os^II/III), E_1/2(II) = 0.69 V (Cl), 0.71 V (Br), 0.83 V (CN), 1.02 V (Im) is ligand directed (Pc^2?/?) and E_1/2(III) = 1.17 V (Cl) resp. 1.23 V (Br) is again metal directed (Os^III/IV). Between the typical “B” (～16.2 kK) and “Q” (～29.4 kK), “N regions” (～34.1 kK) up to seven strong “extra bands” of the phthalocyanine dianion (Pc^2?) are observed in the uv-vis spectrum. Within the row CN > Im > Br > Cl, most of the bands are shifted slightly, the “extra bands” considerably more to lower energy in correlation with E_1/2(I). The vibrational spectra are typical for the Pc^2? ligand with D_4h symmetry. M.i.r. bands at 514, 909, 1 173 and 1 331 cm^?1 are specific for hexa-coordinated low spin Os^II phthalocyanines. In the resonance Raman (r.r.) spectra polarized, depolarized or anomalously polarized deformation and stretching vibrations of the Pc^2? ligand will be selectively enhanced, if the excitation frequency coincides with “extra bands”. With excitation at ～19.5 kK the intensity of the symmetrical Os? X stretching vibration at 295 cm^?1 (X = Cl), 252 cm^?1 (X = Im) and 181 cm^?1 (X = Br) is r.r. enhanced, too. The asymmetrical Os? X stretching vibration is observed in the f.i.r. spectrum at 345 cm^?1 (X = CN), 274 cm^?1 (X = Cl), 261 cm^?1 (X = Im) and 200 cm^?1 (X = Br).     

The Aza‐Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reaction: A Mechanistic and Kinetic Study

The aza‐Morita‐Baylis–Hillman (aza‐MBH) reaction has been studied in a variety of solvents, a selection of imine substrates and with various combinations of PPh₃ and para‐nitrophenol as the catalyst system. The measured kinetic data indicates that the effects of solvent and protic co‐catalyst are strongly interdependent. These results are most easily reconciled with a mechanistic model involving the reversible protonation of zwitterionic intermediates in the catalytic cycle, which is also supported by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical studies.