Index minimization of differential-algebraic equations in hybrid analysis for circuit simulation

Modern modeling approaches for circuit analysis lead to differential-algebraic equations (DAEs). The index of a DAE is a measure of the degree of numerical difficulty. In general, the higher the index is, the more difficult it is to solve the DAE. The index of the DAE arising from the modified nodal analysis (MNA) is determined uniquely by the structure of the circuit. Instead, we consider a broader class of analysis method called the hybrid analysis. For linear time-invariant electric circuits, we devise a combinatorial algorithm for finding an optimal hybrid analysis in which the index of the DAE to be solved attains the minimum. The optimal hybrid analysis often results in a DAE with lower index than MNA.      

Generation of a novel monoclonal antibody against cortisol-[C-4]-bovine serum albumin conjugate: application to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for urinary and serum cortisol.

Measurement of cortisol levels in body fluids is important for monitoring pituitary gland and adrenal functions. To develop a specific and standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a novel monoclonal anti-cortisol antibody has been generated using a reasonably designed haptenic derivative. Spleen cells were prepared from the BALB/c or A/J mouse, which had repeatedly been immunized with a conjugate of 4-(2-carboxyethylthio)cortisol (CET) and bovine serum albumin, to be fused with P3/NS1/1-Ag4-1 myeloma cells. After four fusion experiments, one hybridoma clone secreting a practical antibody has been established. The resulting monoclonal antibody CS#38 (isotype gamma1, kappa) showed an affinity constant (K(a)) for cortisol of 1 x 10(9) M(-1) and provided a practical calibration curve (detection limit, 0.26 ng per assay) in a homologous ELISA system employing horseradish peroxidase-labeled CET as a labeled antigen. Cross-reactivities with related C-21 steroids were acceptably low: 11-deoxycortisol (4.3%), cortisone (4.0%), corticosterone (1.9%), progesterone (1.6%), 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (12%), 6beta-hydroxycortisol (8.4%), and tetrahydrocortisol (< 0.1%). Urinary and serum cortisol levels of healthy volunteers were determined by this method after methylene chloride extraction to be 39.0 +/- 17.0 microg/day (n = 7) and 80.8 +/- 38.9 ng/mL (n = 10), respectively, both of which are in the reference range.     

Synthesis of 2-substituted 4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-3-furancarboxylates using acylative intramolecular cyclization of sulfonium salts

A simple and efficient synthesis of 4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-3-furancarboxylates using an acylative intramolecular cyclization of sulfonium salts is described. The reaction involved the efficient formation of a mixed anhydride between a linear carboxylic acid and trifluoroacetic anhydride in the presence of N-methylimidazole, followed by the sequential conversion into a highly reactive acylammonium species in situ. This procedure is easily handled, uses readily available inexpensive reagents, and provides a variety of 2-substituted 4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-3-furancarboxylates.     

Discovery of Hexagonal Structured Pd–B Nanocrystals

We report on hexagonal close-packed (hcp) palladium (Pd)–boron (B) nanocrystals (NCs) by heavy B doping into face-centered cubic (fcc) Pd NCs. Scanning transmission electron microscopy–electron energy loss spectroscopy and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated that the B atoms are homogeneously distributed inside the hcp Pd lattice. The large paramagnetic susceptibility of Pd is significantly suppressed in Pd–B NCs in good agreement with the reduction of density of states at Fermi energy suggested by X-ray absorption near-edge structure and theoretical calculations.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of luminescent mononuclear and dinuclear gold(I) complexes with ethynyl-substituted phenanthrolines

A novel asymmetric dinuclear gold(I) complex with 3,6-diethynylphenanthroline, 3,6-bis{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}₂-phen, has been synthesized from Au(PPh₃)Cl (PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine) and 3,6-diethynyl-1,10-phenanthroline. The asymmetrical dinuclear gold(I) complex, 3,6-bis{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}₂-phen, demonstrated a weak phosphorescence assignable to the metal-perturbed ³ π–π* transition in the long wavelength region compared to an intense emission of the symmetrical dinuclear complex with 3,8-diethynylphenanthroline, 3,8-bis{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}₂-phen. A similar tendency of phosphorescent bands for the mononuclear gold(I) complexes with 5-ethynylphenanthroline, 5-{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}-phen, and 3-ethynylphenanthroline, 3-{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}-phen was observed. The absorption bands assignable to the π–π*(C≡Cphen) transition and phosphorescent emission assignable to the metal-perturbed ³ π–π* transition for these four gold(I) complexes were reasonably consistent with the results calculated by DFT and TD-DFT.     

A thermodynamic consistency test for the binary constant-temperature VLE data using numerically optimized binary parameters

A thermodynamic consistency (TC) test for the constant-temperature VLE data was investigated by numerically optimizing the binary parameters of the activity coefficient equations to satisfy the Gibbs–Duhem (GD) equation. It was shown that the one parameter Margules equation can best satisfy the GD equation, even if significant experimental errors are involved. A thermodynamic consistency (TC) criterion was defined using the one parameter Margules equation. The TC criterion showed that, of the 37 alkane–alkane, 18 methanol–water and 44 ethanol–water binaries, 36, 16 and 1 binaries are reliable, respectively. Simple liquid mixtures meet the TC criterion.