From a Network of Computed Reaction Enthalpies to Atom‐Based Thermochemistry (NEAT)

A simple and fast, weighted, linear least‐squares refinement protocol and code is presented for inverting the information contained in a network of quantum chemically computed 0 K reaction enthalpies. This inversion yields internally consistent 0 K enthalpies of formation for the species of the network. The refinement takes advantage of the fact that the accuracy of computed enthalpies depends strongly on the quantum‐chemical protocol employed for their determination. Different protocols suffer from different sources of error; thus, the reaction enthalpies computed by them have “random” residual errors. Since it is much more natural for quantum‐chemical energy and enthalpy results, including reaction enthalpies, to be based on the electronic ground states of the atoms and not on the historically preferred elemental states, and since these two possible protocols can be converted into each other straightforwardly, it is proposed that first‐principles thermochemistry should employ the ground electronic states of atoms. In this scheme, called atom‐based thermochemistry (AT), the enthalpy of formation of a gaseous compound corresponds simply to the total atomization energy of the species; it is always positive, and it reflects the bonding strength within the molecule. The inversion protocol developed and based on AT is termed NEAT, which represents the fact that the protocol proceeds from a network of computed reaction enthalpies toward atom‐based thermochemistry, most directly to atom‐based enthalpies of formation. After assembling a database that consisted of 361 ab initio reactions and reaction enthalpies involving 188 species, collected from 31 literature sources, the following dependable 0 K atom‐based enthalpies of formation, Δ_f${H{{{\rm AT}\hfill \atop 0\hfill}}}$ , all in kJ mol^?1, have been obtained by means of NEAT: H₂=432.07(0), CH=334.61(15), NH=327.69(25), OH=425.93(21), HF=566.13(31), CO=1072.08(28), O₂=493.51(34), CH₂=752.40(21), H₂O=918.05(20), HO₂=694.53(32), CO₂=1597.77(40), CH₃=1209.64(29), NH₃=1157.44(33), C₂H₂=1625.78(40), and CH₄=1641.68(40), in which the uncertainty values given in parentheses represent 95 % confidence intervals. The average deviation of these values from the well‐established active thermochemical tables (ATcT) values is a mere 0.25 kJ mol^?1, with a maximum deviation of 0.7 kJ mol^?1. This shows that the use of a large number of ab initio reaction enthalpies within a NEAT‐type protocol has considerable advantages over the sequential utilization of the ab initio information.     

Computational aspects of simplex and MBU-simplex algorithms using different anti-cycling pivot rules

Abstract

Several variations of index selection rules for simplex-type algorithms for linear programming, like the Last-In-First-Out or the Most-Often-Selected-Variable are rules not only theoretically finite, but also provide significant flexibility in choosing a pivot element. Based on an implementation of the primal simplex and the monotonic build-up (MBU) simplex method, the practical benefit of the flexibility of these anti-cycling pivot rules is evaluated using public benchmark LP test sets. Our results also provide numerical evidence that the MBU-simplex algorithm is a viable alternative to the traditional simplex algorithm.     

Time shifted aliasing error upper bounds for truncated sampling cardinal series

Time shifted aliasing error upper bound extremals for the sampling reconstruction procedure are fully characterized. Sharp upper bounds are found on the aliasing error of truncated cardinal series and the corresponding extremals are described for entire functions from certain specific Lp, p>1, classes. Analogous results are obtained in multidimensional regular sampling. Truncation error analysis is provided in all cases considered. Moreover, sharpness of bounding inequalities, convergence rates and various sufficient conditions are discussed.     

Some Global Optimization Problems on Stiefel Manifolds

Optimization on Stiefel manifolds was discussed by Rapcsák in earlier papers, and some global optimization methods were considered and tested on Stiefel manifolds. In the paper, test functions are given with known global optimum points and their optimal function values. A restriction, which leads to a discretization of the problem is suggested, which results in a problem equivalent to the well-known assignment problem.     

Interval method for bounding level sets: Revisited and tested with global optimization problems

An interval method for bounding level sets, modified to increase its efficiency and to get sharper bounding boxes, is presented. The new algorithm was tested with standard global optimization test problems. The test results show that, while the modified method gives a more valuable, guaranteed reliability result set, it is competitive with non-interval methods in terms of CPU time and number of function evaluations.This work was supported by Grant OTKA 1074/1987, and in part by DAAD Fellowship No. 314/108/004/8 during the author's stay at Düsseldorf University.     

Impedimetric Detection of DNA Damage with the Sensor Based on Silver Nanoparticles and Neutral Red

Novel electrochemical DNA‐sensor based on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Ag nanoparticles, Neutral red covalently attached to its surface and native DNA adsorbed on modifier coating was developed for the estimation of DNA damage on example of model system based on Fenton reagent. As was shown, the oxidation process resulted in synchronous increase of electron transfer resistance and capacitance measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The contribution of each sensor component on the signal was specified and sensitivity estimated against similar surface coatings. The shift of EIS parameters was found to be higher than that of similar biosensors reported. The DNA sensor was tested on the estimation of antioxidant capacity of green tea infusions again the results of coulometric titration with electrogenerated bromine.     

Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART‐MS) of highly non‐polar low molecular weight polyisobutylenes

Low molecular weight polyisobutylenes (PIB) with chlorine, olefin and succinic acid end‐groups were studied using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART‐MS). To facilitate the adduct ion formation under DART conditions, NH₄Cl as an auxiliary reagent was deposited onto the PIB surface. It was found that chlorinated adduct ions of olefin and chlorine telechelic PIBs, i.e. [M + Cl]^? up to m/z 1100, and the deprotonated polyisobutylene succinic acid [M? H]^? were formed as observed in the negative ion mode. In the positive ion mode formation of [M + NH₄]⁺, adduct ions were detected. In the tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of [M + Cl]^?, product ions were absent, suggesting a simple dissociation of the precursor [M + Cl]^? into a Cl^? ion and a neutral M without fragmentation of the PIB backbones. However, structurally important product ions were produced from the corresponding [M + NH₄]⁺ ions, allowing us to obtain valuable information on the arm‐length distributions of the PIBs containing aromatic initiator moiety. In addition, a model was developed to interpret the oligomer distributions and the number average molecular weights observed in DART‐MS for PIBs and other polymers of low molecular weight. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.