Branch-and-bound as a higher-order function

The branch-and-bound paradigm is presented as a higher-order function and illustrated by instantiations, providing two well-known branch-and-bound algorithms for the Steiner tree problem in graphs and one for the travelling salesman problem. We discuss the advantages of such a specification and various issues arising from sequential and parallel implementations of branch-and-bound kernels.     

A comparative study of surface‐enhanced Raman scattering from silver‐coated anodic aluminum oxide and porous silicon

Three types of Ag‐coated arrays from porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) were prepared and studied as substrates for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). They were compared with Ag‐coated porous silicon (PSi) samples. AAO‐based substrates were prepared by the vapor deposition of silver directly onto the surface of porous AAO with different morphologies of the pores, whereas SERS‐active island films on the PSi were prepared by immersion plating. The resulting metallic nanostructures were characterized by UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal evaporation leads to the formation of granular arrays of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of AAO. SERS activity of the substrates was tested using water‐soluble cationic Zn(II)‐tetrakis (4‐N‐methylpyridyl) porphyrin (ZnTMPyP4) as a probe molecule. The results indicate that all AAO‐based substrates studied here exhibit some degree of SERS activity. Noteworthy, for excitation at 532 nm, signals from AAO‐based substrates were comparable with those from the PSi‐based ones, whereas for 441.6 nm excitation they were about twice higher. The strongest SERS‐enhancement at 441.6 nm excitationwas provided by the AAO substrates with silver deposited on the monolith (originally nonporous) side of AAO. Preferential SERS‐enhancement of the bands ascribed to the vibrations of the N‐methylpyridinium group of ZnTMPyP4 when going to blue excitation was found. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper(I) complexes with a dibasic nitrogen and phosphorus ligand: Synthesis,n.m.r. and crystal structure characterizations of Cu(Ph2PCH2NPh2)2X (X = Cl,NO3)

Summary The reaction of CuCl or CuX₂ (X = Cl or NO₃) with NPm (diphenylphosphinodiphenylaminomethane) yields molecular P-bonded copper(I) complexes of general formula CuL₂X. These complexes are isostructural. For both complexes the coordination geometry around the copper atom is almost trigonal planar and in the nitrato complex the NO₃ group is monodentate. The n.m.r. studies at various temperature show the strong coordinating property of NPm since no evidence of any dissociation occurs.     

Solvolysis of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of asymmetric ligands: Synthesis and structural characterization of [Pd(AMP)(dmso)Cl]BF4 and [Pt(AMP)(dmso)Cl]ClO4

Treatment of [M(AMP)Cl₂] (M = Pt^II, Pd^II; AMP = 2-aminomethylpyridine) with 1 mole of AgX (X = ClO₄, BF₄, PF₆) in dmso yields [M(AMP)(dmso)Cl]X. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations of the Pd^II and Pt^II complexes indicate that dmso is S-bondedtrans to the pyridyl ring in both complexes. (2-Aminomethylpyridine)chloro(dimethylsulphoxide-S) palladium(II) tetrafluoroborate.     

SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF HYPERICIN IN HUMAN CANCER CELLS

Confocal laser microspectrofluorometric measurements on human T47D mammary tumor cells have been performed to assess the intracellular distribution of hypericin within the various cell compartments: cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. Confocal fluorescence measurements obtained from microvolumes (? 1 μm³) located within the three sites of interest show that, while being primarily located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm after a short-term incubation in a 10^?6M hypericin-containing culture medium, hypericin actually reaches the inside of the cell nucleus after a long-term incubation (210 min). Moreover, owing to the relative fluorescence quantum yields of hypericin determined in vitro when the molecule interacts with DNA, membrane and protein model systems, it is assumed that there is a significant accumulation of the drug into the cell nucleus. Consequently, the nucleus has to be considered as a possible target for the toxic action of hypericin.     

Validation of a bioanalytical method for the quantification of a therapeutic peptide, ramoplanin, in human dried blood spots using LC-MS/MS

A method has been developed and validated for the quantification of ramoplanin, a 2554 Da peptide antibiotic, in human dried blood spots using high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The validation data meet FDA acceptance criteria for bioanalytical assays and cover the quantification of ramoplanin over the range 10–5000 ng/mL. The assay determines ramoplanin at the same lower limit of quantification as conventional liquid sample methods. Dried blood spot analysis provides an approach for quantification of peptide therapeutics and delivers significant benefits for sample collection and handling and also sample cleanup over conventional plasma and serum assays. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sum-over-states calculation of the nuclear spin coupling constant of hydrogen fluoride

The calculations of the spin-spin coupling constant of HF using extended-basis SCF orbitals which were made originally by Kato and Saika have been re-investigated. The calculated coupling constant is still found to be positive (836 hz) if the approximations introduced by Kato and Saika for the excited state energies are removed. Configuration interaction amongst the excited states does not significantly improve the convergence of the sum-over-state expression for J. It is shown that there should be an isotope effect on the reduced coupling constant which is largely determined by the anharmonic terms of the potential.     

Raman spectra of tetrapyrrole photosensitizer chlorin <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis><Subscript>6</Subscript> and their interpretation

The resonance and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of chlorin e 6 trisodium salt in aqueous solutions, solid films, and adsorbed on the silver-coated surface of porous silicon are presented. Using the quantum-mechanical density functional method, the geometric structure and vibrational frequencies of the chlorin e ₆ molecule are calculated and the Raman spectrum of this molecule is interpreted for the first time. The geometry of sorption of chlorin e ₆ on the surface of a nanostructured silver film is considered based on a comparative analysis of the resonance Raman and SERS Raman spectra in the approximation of a short-range mechanism of Raman scattering enhancement.     

Solid-state 13C NMR and quantum chemical investigation of metal diene complexes

This paper presents novel measurements and calculations of the olefinic (13)C chemical shift tensor principal values in several metal diene complexes. The experimental values and the calculations show shifts as large as 70 ppm with respect to the values in the parent olefinic compounds. These shifts are highly anisotropic, with the largest ones observed in the less shielded principal components and the smallest ones in the most shielded principal components of the tensor. The orientations of the principal components of the tensors remain, within 10 degrees , at their directions in ethylene and other olefinic compounds. The calculations, performed using the GIAO method and the LanDZ pseudopotential basis set, show good agreement with the experiments, and were used to establish definite evidence for the existence of a Cl-bridge structure in the bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (BCHD)dichlororuthenium(II) polymer.     

An annulus diffeomorphism with non-Denjoy minimal sets

We construct an annulus diffeomorphism with the property that a countably dense set of irrational rotation numbers are represented only by pseudocircles on which the diffeomorphism acts minimally but is not semi-conjugate to rigid rotation on the circle. This answers a question of Boyland about whether such behavior is possible only at the maximum or minimum of the rotation set.