Geometry optimization in ab initio SCF calculations: Part IV. Energy barriers and dipole moments obtained with floating orbital geometry optimization (FOGO)

The floating orbital geometry optimization (FOGO) described previously is applied to H₂O₂, NH₃, HNC, HNO, HNCO, and CH₃OH. In the FOGO method we apply two analytically calculated energy gradients in a variable metric method. Some orbitals are no longer fixed on the corresponding nuclei, but their position is optimized simultaneously with the nuclear coordinates. It is shown that relative energies (e.g. rotational barriers) are obtained with similar accuracy to basis sets including polarization functions. Further, it is confirmed that FOGO yields excellent dipole moments. The FOGO method involves a considerable time saving compared to conventional calculations with DZ + P basis sets.     

A Structural Basis of Light Energy and Electron Transfer in Biology (Nobel Lecture)

Aspects of intramolecular light energy and electron transfer are discussed for three protein cofactor complexes whose three-dimensional structures have been elucidated by X-ray crystallography: the light harvesting phycobilisomes of cyanobacteria, the reaction center of purple bacteria, and the blue multi-copper oxidases. A wealth of functional data is available for these systems which allows specific correlations to be made between structure and function and general conclusions to be drawn about light energy and electron transfer in biological materials.     

CdO auf Cadmiumanoden in Alkalihydroxidlösungen??

Anodic films formed potentiostatically in 1M NaOH on Cadmium electrodes were examined by means of electron diffraction under carefully controlled conditions. Glancing incidence electron diffraction indicates the presence of Cd(OH)₂ on the electrolyte side of the film and of CdO on the metal side. Transmission electron diffraction of thin isolated films indicates only Cd(OH)₂ in films formed below the Flade-potential of the CdO electrode, but CdO along with Cd(OH)₂ above the Flade-potential. In these films selected area diffraction reveals spots consisting exclusively of a very thin oxid layer.     

Equilibrium conformations of polymer chains Part II. Conformons in networks

With regard to the ideal network it is shown that the concept ofN non-interacting polymer chains can be transformed in a problem of non interacting excitations (called conformons) for rubber elasticity. Modelling the interaction on permanent crosslinks as a scattering problem and taking the finite chain length into account, an interpretation of the second Mooney coefficient can be given. There is some evidence that the junctions move by constrained self diffusion.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. W. Ruland on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Atomic absorption inhibition titration of orthophosphate and polyphosphates

The atomic absorption inhibition titration of phosphates was studied for two types of burner. Dependence on gas Flow-rates was observed. The method with a pre-mix burner was employed to determine phosphate in surface and waste waters. The results are compared with those by the standard method. The proposed method was found to be rapid, simple and accurate.     

Determination of polar organic compounds by potentiometry at an anodically pretreated nickel oxide electrode

The open-circuit potential drop of an oxidatively pretreated nickel electrode in 0.1 M NaOH was used to develop a technique for the determination of alcohols, amino acids, carbohydrates, etc., in aqueous solution. The electrode pretreatment consisted of the formation of nickel hydrated oxides on the electrode surface with an oxidation state > 2. Both electrochemical and chemical pre-oxidation of the electrode surface were examined. The analytical signal was the enhancement of the potential drop corresponding to analyte concentration. The analytical signal was linearly related to the logarithm of the analyte concentration. The limits of determination ranged from 1 mM for low-molecular-weight to 0.02 mM for alkyl polyether alcohols. The flow-injection technique allows convenient pretreatment and direct observation of the analytical signal. Interferences from chloride and calcium can be readily eliminated by excluding them during electrode pretreatment. Potentiometric measurements were correlated with amperometric anodic responses at the nickel oxide electrode, allowing an unusual direct comparison of the two methods.     

Factors determining the performance of triple quadrupole, quadrupole ion trap and sector field mass spectrometers in electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of oligonucleotides. 1. Comparison of performance characteristics

The performance of triple-stage quadrupole (TSQ), quadrupole ion trap (QIT), and double focusing sector field (DFSF) mass spectrometers for the generation of fragment ions to obtain sequence information about oligonucleotides was compared. Upon electrospray ionization (ESI), the charge-state distribution of candidate precursor ions not only varied significantly with the type of mass spectrometer, but also with the size and sequence of the investigated oligonucleotides. While concentration limits of detection for an octanucleotide were in the 100 pmol/L range on the QIT and in the 5-10 nmol/L range on the TSQ and DFSF instruments, those of a 24-mer were in the 2-13 nmol/L range on all three instruments. Reproducibility of mass determination, an important prerequisite for reliable identification of fragment ions, was highest on the TSQ with 0.0037% relative standard deviation over three days. Finally, the tandem mass spectra of a dimethoxytritylated pentanucleotide recorded on the three instruments were compared. Relatively simple spectra dominated by complete series of fragment ions of the (a-B) and w type were obtained on the QIT. Complete series of (a-B) and w ions were also observed on the TSQ. However, additional fragments belonging to the b, c, d, x and z series were found in the spectrum. In the spectrum recorded after in-source fragmentation in the DFSF, only fragments corresponding to the loss of a nucleobase and a complete series of w ions were observed. All three mass spectrometers were suitable for the generation of fragment ions, from which the complete nucleotide sequence of the pentanucleotide could be deduced.     

Prediction of partition coefficients in ternary liquid-liquid systems as a function of the phase system composition by factor analysis for

The measured partition data of 26 steroids for six different compositions of ternary liquid-liquid systems consisting of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, ethanol and water are used in calculations of partition data for new phase system compositions. It was possible to reproduce the original data and to verify new experimental data by this calculation with high accuracy. Calculations were done in three ways. In the first, non-linear regression of the partition coefficients as a function of the phase system composition was examined. With this classical approach it is possible to calculate the values of the partition coefficients, solute by solute, with good accuracy. In the second approach, principal component factor analysis was used. The phase system-specific factors for further phase system compositions were calculated with a non-linear regression of these factors on the phase system composition. In combination with the solute-specific factors, the values of the partition coefficients for all solutes in any phase system composition could be predicted with excellent accuracy. In the third approach, target transformation factor analysis was applied. A relationship between the partition coefficient and the phase system composition was established on the basis of either the phase system composition itself or a simple function of it. This method also gave very accurate predictions of known and unknown partition coefficients.     

Use of γ-γ Coincidence Spectrometry in the Geochemical Study of Diamictites from South Africa

We used - coincidence spectrometry to investigate the possible presence of a meteoritical component in 27 samples of South African diamictites. Recently, several studies have suggested that some tillites/diamictites may represent impact breccias, but a petrographical study by our group found no evidence for the presence of impact-characteristic shocked minerals. The siderophile elements, such as Cr, Co, Ni, and, especially, the platinum group elements, have high abundances in meteorites, but low abundances in terrestrial crustal rocks. The Ir content of the diamictites was measured with the new iridium coincidence spectrometer (ICS) at the University of Vienna, with detection limits of around 0.02 ppb. No enrichments in the contents of Ir and other siderophile elements compared to average crustal concentrations were found; thus, no unequivocal evidence for an impact origin of these diamictites of the South African Dwyka Group can be documented.