Trapping of projectiles in fixed scatterer calculations

Zeitschrift für Physik A Hadrons and nuclei - We study multiple scattering off nuclei in the closure approximation. Instead of reducing the dynamics to one particle potential scattering, the...     

Limits for two-photon ande + e − decay widths of positron-electron scattering resonances for√s=1.78 to 1.92 MeV

Motivated by the observation of energy- and momentum-correlatede ⁺ e ^? pairs in heavy ion collisions, a search for resonances ine ⁺ e ^? scattering at the corresponding energies has been made. Thee ⁺ e ^? decay channel is analyzed in a time window from ～ 10^?13 s to ～ 10^?11 s with a set-up optimized for low-background detection of delayede ⁺ e ^? decays. The two-photon decay channel of a hypothetical resonance is investigated by measuring the two-photon annihilation-in-flight excitation function. New upper limits for the partiale ⁺ e ^? decay width Γ_ee of a few meV are derived for total centre-of-mass energies √s between 1.78 and 1.92 MeV, taking into account the dilepton as well as the two-photon decay of a neutral resonance.     

Robust Solution to Fuzzy Identification Problem with Uncertain Data by Regularization

This study considers the robust identification of the parameters describing a Sugeno type fuzzy inference system with uncertain data. The objective is to minimize the worst-case residual error using a numerically efficient algorithm. The Sugeno type fuzzy systems are linear in consequent parameters but nonlinear in antecedent parameters. The robust consequent parameters identification problem can be formulated as second-order cone programming problem. The optimal solution of this second-order cone problem can be interpreted as solution of a Tikhonov regularization problem with a special choice of regularization parameter which is optimal for robustness (Ghaoui and Lebret (1997). SAIM Journal of Matrix Analysis and Applications 18, 1035–1064). The final regularized nonlinear optimization problem allowing simultaneous identification of antecedent and consequent parameters is solved iteratively using a generalized Gauss–Newton like method. To illustrate the approach, several simulation studies on numerical examples including the modelling of a spectral data function (one-dimensional benchmark example) is provided. The proposed robust fuzzy identification scheme has been applied to approximate the physical fitness of patients with a fuzzy expert system. The identified fuzzy expert system is shown to be capable of capturing the decisions (experiences) of a medical expert.     

Reduced and excited states of the intermediates (alpha-diimine)(C5R5)Rh in hydride transfer catalysis schemes: EPR and resonance Raman spectroscopy, and comparative DFT calculations of Co, Rh and Ir analogues

The electronic structures of the highly air-sensitive intermediates (N[caret]N) (C(5)Me(5))Rh, (N[caret]N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpym), 2,2'-bipyrazine (bpz) and 3,3'-bipyridazine (bpdz)) of hydride transfer catalysis schemes were studied through resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy and through EPR of the reduced forms [(N[caret]N) (C(5)Me(5))Rh](.-). The rR results are compatible with a predominant MLCT character of the lowest excited states [ (N[caret]N) (C(5)Me(5))Rh]*, and the EPR spectra of the reduced states reveal the presence of anion radical ligands, (N[caret]N) (.-), coordinated by unusually electron rich rhodium(i) centres. The experimental results, including the assignments of electronic transitions, are supported by DFT calculations for the model compounds [(N[caret]N)(C(5)H(5))Rh](o)/(.-), (N[caret]N) = bpy or bpym. The calculations confirm a significant but not complete mixing of metal and ligand orbitals in the lowest unoccupied MO which still retains about 3/4 pi* (N[caret]N) character. DFT calculations on (bpy)(C(5)H(5))M and [(bpy)(C(5)H(5))ClM](+), M = Co, Rh, Ir, agree with the experimental results such as the differences between the homologues, especially the different LUMO characters of the precursor cations in the case of Co-->d(M)) and Rh or Ir (-->pi*(bpy)).     

A microarray enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for autoimmune diagnostics

In order to quantify autoantibodies in the sera of patients with autoimmune disease, we have created a microarray-based immunoassay that allows the simultaneous analysis of 18 known autoantigens. The microarrays contain serial dilutions of the various antigens, thereby allowing accurate determination of autoantibody titer using minimal amounts of serum. The assay is very sensitive and highly specific: as little as 40 fg of a known protein standard can be detected with little or no cross-reactivity to nonspecific proteins. The signal intensities observed from serial dilutions of immobilized antigen correlate well with serial dilutions of autoimmune sera. Miniaturized and highly parallelized immunoassays like these will reduce costs by decreasing reagent consumption and improve efficiency by greatly increasing the number of assays that can be performed with a single serum sample. This system will significantly facilitate and accelerate the diagnostics of autoimmune diseases and can be adapted easily to any other kind of immunoassay.     

Spin conversion of positronium in paramagnetic solutions studied by age-momentum-correlation method

Correlated measurement of the lifetime and of the lineshape of the 511 keV annihilation radiation of positrons (age-momentum correlation, AMOC) has become a powerful tool for investigating reactions of positron or positronium in condensed matter as a function of time. The beam-based ⁺ AMOC method installed at the Stuttgart relativistic positron beam facility (E _kin ^e+ 4MeV) offers substantial advantages over the conventional E coincidence technique resulting in a fast data taking due to the unity detection efficiency of the ⁺ scintillator which provides the start signal for the lifetime measurement. In this paper the application of AMOC to positronium chemistry is illustrated by the study of spin conversion of positronium in the system methanol/HTEMPO as a function of HTEMPO (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, a paramagnetic solute) concentration. The same technique can be applied to other systems and other reactions in positronium chemistry, e. g., oxidation or complex formation.     

Ein Oxid neuen Typs: Kli4[AlO4]

New Oxoaluminate KLi₄[AlO₄] Transparent and colourless single crystals of Kli₄[AlO₄] have been prepared for the first time by heating mixtures of Li₅AlO₄ and K₂O in the ratio 1:5 [Ni-tube, 950°C, 50 d]. The structure determination [four-circle diffractometer, MoKα, 1699 of 2427 I₀ (hkl), R = 7.41%, R_w = 4.3%] proves the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 554.4(3), b = 1544.1(7), c = 1103.3(6) pm, β = 109.71(5)°, parameters see text. Characterizing are “isolated” AlO₄ groups with symmetry nearly T_d. The Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, and Effective Coordination Numbers, ECoN, these via Mean Fictive Ionic Radii, MEFIR, have been calculated.     

An improved OPLS-AA force field for carbohydrates

This work describes an improved version of the original OPLS-all atom (OPLS-AA) force field for carbohydrates (Damm et al., J Comp Chem 1997, 18, 1955). The improvement is achieved by applying additional scaling factors for the electrostatic interactions between 1,5- and 1,6-interactions. This new model is tested first for improving the conformational energetics of 1,2-ethanediol, the smallest polyol. With a 1,5-scaling factor of 1.25 the force field calculated relative energies are in excellent agreement with the ab initio-derived data. Applying the new 1,5-scaling makes it also necessary to use a 1,6-scaling factor for the interactions between the C4 and C6 atoms in hexopyranoses. After torsional parameter fitting, this improves the conformational energetics in comparison to the OPLS-AA force field. The set of hexopyranoses included in the torsional parameter derivation consists of the two anomers of D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-galactose, as well as of the methyl-pyranosides of D-glucose, D-mannose. Rotational profiles for the rotation of the exocyclic group and of different hydroxyl groups are also compared for the two force fields and at the ab initio level of theory. The new force field reduces the overly high barriers calculated using the OPLS-AA force field. This leads to better sampling, which was shown to produce more realistic conformational behavior for hexopyranoses in liquid simulation. From 10-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of alpha-D-glucose and alpha-D-galactose the ratios for the three different conformations of the hydroxymethylene group and the average (3)J(H,H) coupling constants are derived and compared to experimental values. The results obtained for OPLS-AA-SEI force field are in good agreement with experiment whereas the properties derived for the OPLS-AA force field suffer from sampling problems. The undertaken investigations show that the newly derived OPLS-AA-SEI force field will allow simulating larger carbohydrates or polysaccharides with improved sampling of the hydroxyl groups.     

Molecular dynamics and alignment studies of silica-filled 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal

A comprehensive study of the dielectric properties of 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal filled with silica particles (particle size 30–80 nm, concentration 2, 3, 5, 10 and 15 wt%). Dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 100 to 10 7 Hz was applied to investigate the influence of the filler on the dynamic behaviour of the liquid crystal molecules in both the nematic and isotropic phases. In this frequency range one relaxation process is observed (at f>10⁶ Hz). The dynamical behaviour of the 5CB liquid crystal is described by the Cole-Cole relaxation function. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time obeys the empirical Arrhenius equation. The activation energies are approximately 75 kJ mol¹ for the pure 5CB sample in the nematic phase and 50 kJ mol¹ for the 5 wt% silica-filled 5CB sample. These values are compared with the corresponding literature values. The reversible electro-mechanical response of these samples under the influence of an applied a.c. electric field is investigated.