Toward an accurate and efficient semiclassical surface hopping procedure for nonadiabatic problems

The derivation of a semiclassical surface hopping procedure from a formally exact solution of the Schrodinger equation is discussed. The fact that the derivation proceeds from an exact solution guarantees that all phase terms are completely and accurately included. Numerical evidence shows the method to be highly accurate. A Monte Carlo implementation of this method is considered, and recent work to significantly improve the statistical accuracy of the Monte Carlo approach is discussed.     

An activation mechanism for ATP cleavage in muscle.

Evidence for a proposed activation mechanism is summarized. The low rate of ATP cleavage in the resting state of muscle is considered to result from the formation of a stable ring structure involving the two essential sulfhydryl groups on each myosin head and MgATP. Activation is thought to occur by interaction of actin in the vicinity of one of the essential sulfhydryl groups. Thus opening the stable ring leading to rapid dissociation of split products. This idea is consistent with the kinetic scheme of ATP cleavage developed recently by other workers and allows a prediction of the shift in population of intermediate states with changes in solvent conditions. It is also supported by our recent studies on the spatial geometry of the ring. The possibility that other nucleophilic groups may replace the sulfhydryl groups in other contractile systems is considered. The relevance of the ring structure to the tension generating event is discussed on the basis of recent measurements of the rate of contraction of modified (SH1-blocked) actomyosin threads. Results indicate the ability to form the ring structure is an essential requirement of the contractile process in these systems, and, moreover, that single, modified heads of myosin can act independently to produce the same rate of contraction as native myosin. This latter finding suggests that the myosin duplex exhibits some type of negative cooperativity in the contractile process.     

Energy migration and transfer in poly(phenylacetylene)

Studies have been made of energy migration and transfer in dilute solutions of poly(phenylacetylene). In fluid media, “down-chain” energy migration is very efficient (being limited only by chain length in the system studied); however, in a rigid matrix, the energy migration rate is significantly lower. It is suggested that segmental rotation in a fluid environment brings neighbouring chain units into conformations suitable for resonance energy transfer and also breaks conjugated sequences functioning as exciton “traps”. The broad absorption spectrum (and relatively high extinction coefficients) coupled with the efficient transfer of the energy make these substances very efficient energy transfer additives in polymer systems.     

Influence of foreign materials upon the thermal decomposition of dolomite,calcite and magnesite part I. Influence of sodium chloride

The influence of sodium chloride on the course of thermal decomposition of calcite, magnesite and dolomite was studied partly under dynamic, and partly under quasi-isothermal heating conditions. Four different types of sample holders were applied in the experiment, i.e., the partial pressure of carbon dioxide was also different in the four cases. It was found that the presence of sodium chloride reduced the decomposition temperature in every case. The extent of this reduction amounted to about 10°C in the case of calcite, 40–80°C in the case of magnesite, and 10–40°C and 10–20°C for the first and second decomposition stages, respectively, of dolomite.     

Atomic-absorption spectrometric determination of cobalt,nickel, and copper in geological materials with matrix masking and chelation-extraction

An atomic-absorption spectrometric method is reported for the determination of cobalt, nickel, and copper in a variety of geological materials including iron- and manganese-rich, and calcareous samples. The sample is decomposed with HP-HNO₃ and the residue is dissolved in hydrochloric acid. Ammonium fluoride is added to mask iron and 'aluminum. After adjustment to pH 6, cobalt, nickel, and copper are chelated with sodium diethyl-dithiocarbamate and extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone. The sample is set aside for 24 h before analysis to remove interferences from manganese. For a 0.200-g sample, the limits of determination are 5–1000 ppm for Co, Ni, and Cu. As much as 50% Fe, 25% Mn or Ca, 20% Al and 10% Na, K, or Mg in the sample either individually or in various combinations do not interfere. Results obtained on five U.S. Geological Survey rock standards are in general agreement with values reported in the literature.     

ESR studies of the state of Ti3+ and Ti2+ in Ti?Mg catalysts for olefin polymerization

ESR studies have revealed that in Ti–Mg catalysts after interaction with organoaluminium compounds, the Ti³⁺ ions formed are present mainly as TiCl₃ associates. Isolated Ti³⁺ ions of various types are also detected. Part of titanium ions is in the divalent state and provides an ESR signal after oxidation by water to the trivalent state in the form of Ti³⁺ ordered by cooperative Jahn-Teller interaction.

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, - , Ti³⁺ TiCl₃. Ti³⁺ . Ti³⁺ - -.

     

Elemental analysis of fertilizer by fast neutron activation

A simple and accurate technique has been developed to analyse the commercial fertilizers for phosphorous, potassium, chlorine, magnesium and silicon. The method is based on the fast neutron activation.     

Effect of actin concentration on the structure of actin-containing liposomes

Liposomes encapsulating monomeric actin (G-actin) were produced via extrusion through 400 and 600 nm pore diameter polycarbonate membranes in low ionic strength buffer (G-buffer). After actin-containing liposomes were subjected to high ionic strength polymerization buffer (F-buffer), morphological changes in the structure of actin-containing liposomes were studied using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AFFF) coupled with multiangle static light scattering (MASLS). The general shape of these liposomes was initially determined by fitting three form factors, which describe the angular distribution of scattered light from a spherical thin shell, thin disk, and thin rod, to the experimentally measured light scattering spectra to regress the dimensions of the liposomes corresponding to the proposed geometry. Light scattering spectra that yielded a best fit to the thin disk model were analyzed further and fit to the ellipsoidal of revolution form factor to regress both the major and minor axis dimensions. The results of this analysis showed that actin-containing liposomes extruded through 400 and 600 nm pore diameter membranes in F-buffer, at a low actin concentration (0.1 mg/mL), assumed a spherical shape, which is also the case for plain liposomes (no actin present) in G-buffer and F-buffer. When the actin concentration was increased to 1 mg/mL, the polymerizing actin filaments stretched the initially spherical liposome into a disklike shape. However, when the actin concentration was further increased to 5 mg/mL, the liposomes reverted back to a spherical shape.     

NMR experiments on acetals—XXXVII: NMR spectral study of cis-, and trans-6-methyl-4-r-1,3-oxaselenans

The NMR spectral parameters are reported for cis-, and trans-6-Me-4-alkyl-1,3-oxaselenans with the aid of the INDOR- technique. Low temperature studies show the conformational equilibrium in the trans series to be pronouncedly one-sided and a value for the inversion barrier has been obtained.