The long wave-length limit of electric and magnetic multipoles radiation from the absorption of charged particles by complex nuclei

A current responsible for the absorption of charged particles from complex nuclei is defined in such a way that the continuity equation is valid also in the presence of a complex potential. Then the long wave-length limit is derived for the multipoles of the radiation of this current using only general arguments. In particular it is shown that if the potential is spherically symmetric all the magnetic multipoles are zero in this limit.     

Superbroadcasting of harmonic oscillators mixed states

We consider the problem of broadcasting quantum information encoded in the displacement parameter for an harmonic oscillator, from N to M > N copies of a thermal state. We show the Weyl-Heisenberg covariant broadcasting map that optimally reduces the thermal photon number, and we prove that it minimizes the noise in conjugate quadratures at the output for general input states. We find that from two input copies broadcasting is feasible, with the possibility of simultaneous purification (superbroadcasting). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Engineering the properties of D-amino acid oxidases by a rational and a directed evolution approach

D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) is a FAD-containing flavoprotein that dehydrogenates the D-isomer of amino acids to the corresponding imino acids, coupled with the reduction of FAD. The cofactor then reoxidizes on molecular oxygen and the imino acid hydrolyzes spontaneously to the alpha-keto acid and ammonia. In vitro DAAO displays broad substrate specificity, acting on several neutral and basic D-amino acids: the most efficient substrates are amino acids with hydrophobic side chains. D-aspartic acid and D-glutamic acid are not substrates for DAAO. Through the years, it has been the subject of a number of structural, functional and kinetic investigations. The most recent advances are represented by site-directed mutagenesis studies and resolution of the 3D-structure of the enzymes from pig, human and yeast. The two approaches have given us a deeper understanding of the structure-function relationships and promoted a number of investigations aimed at the modulating the protein properties. By a rational and/or a directed evolution approach, DAAO variants with altered substrate specificity (e.g., active on acidic or on all D-amino acids), increased stability (e.g., stable up to 60 degrees C), modified interaction with the flavin cofactor, and altered oligomeric state were produced. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the most recent research on the engineering of DAAOs to illustrate their new intriguing properties, which also have enabled us to pursue new biotechnological applications.     

Weak intermolecular interactions in an ionically bound molecular adsorbate: cyclopentadienyl/Cu(111)

The dissociative adsorption of cyclopentadiene (C(5)H(6)) on Cu(111) yields a cyclopentadienyl (Cp) species with strongly anionic characteristics. The Cp potential energy surface and frictional coupling to the substrate are determined from measurements of dynamics of the molecule together with density functional calculations. The molecule is shown to occupy degenerate threefold adsorption sites and molecular motion is characterized by a low diffusional energy barrier of 40±3 meV with strong frictional dissipation. Repulsive dipole-dipole interactions are not detected despite charge transfer from substrate to adsorbate.     

Random propene/4‐methyl‐1‐pentene copolymers synthesized with C2 symmetric highly isospecific metallocenes

Propene (P)/4‐methyl‐1‐pentene (Y) copolymers in a wide range of composition were prepared with isospecific single center catalysts, rac‐Et(IndH₄)₂ZrCl₂ ( EBTHI ), rac‐Me₂Si(2‐Me‐BenzInd)₂ZrCl₂ ( MBI ), and rac‐CH₂(3‐^tBuInd)₂ZrCl₂ ( TBI ). ¹³C NMR analysis of copolymers and statistical elaboration of microstructural data at triad level were performed. Unprecedented and surprising results are here reported. Random P/Y copolymers were prepared with the most isospecific catalyst, TBI , that is known to prepare ethene/propene and ethene/4‐methyl‐1‐pentene copolymers with long homosequences of both comonomers, whereas longer homosequences of both comonomers were observed in copolymers from the less enantioselective metallocenes EBTHI and MBI . These findings, which are against what is acknowledged in the field, can pave the way for the preparation on a large scale of random propene‐based copolymers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2575–2585     

On the ethylene-norbornene copolymerization mechanism

Results of our studies on polymerization kinetics and tests of copolymerization statistical models of ethylene-norbornene (E-N) copolymers obtained on the basis of microstructures determined by ¹³C NMR analysis are reported. Ethylene-norbornene (E-N) copolymers were synthesized by catalytic systems composed of racemic isospecific metallocenes, i-Pr[(3Prⁱ-Cp)(Flu)]ZrCl₂ or a constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) and methylaluminoxane. Polymerization kinetics revealed that E-N copolymerization is quasi living under standard polymerization conditions. Calculations of the number of active sites and of chain propagation and chain transfer turnover frequencies indicate that the metal is mainly in the Mt-N* state, while the Mt-E* state contributes more to transfer and propagation rates. The first-order and the second-order Markov statistics have been tested by using the complete tetrad distribution obtained from ¹³C NMR analysis of copolymer microstructures. The root-mean-square deviations between experimental and calculated tetrads demonstrate that penultimate (second-order Markov) effects play a decisive role in E-N copolymerizations. Results show clues for more complex effects depending on the catalyst geometry in copolymers obtained at high N/E feed ratios. Comonomer concentration was shown to have a strong influence on copolymer microstructure and copolymer properties. The copolymer microstructure of alternating isotactic copolymers obtained with i-Pr[(3Prⁱ-Cp)(Flu)]ZrCl₂ have been described at pentad level. Second-order Markov statistics better describes also the microstrucure of these copolymers.     

Stereochemistry of the initiation step in Ziegler-Natta catalysts containing dialkyl propane diethers: A tool for distinguishing the role of internal and external donors

The results of a study on a new generation of MgCl₂ supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts that contain dialkyl propane diethers as internal donors and produce highly stereospecific polypropene even without any external donor are presented. The results concerning three different catalysts containing 2,2-diisobutyl-1,3-dimethoxy propane (DIBDMP), 2,2-dicyclopentyl-1,3-dimethoxy propane (DCPDMP) and 2-ethyl,2-butyl-1,3-dimethoxy propane (EBDMP) as internal donors are compared. The same donors have also been studied by using them as external donors with a catalyst contaning diisobutyl phthalate as internal donor. The present results, along with previously obtained findings on traditional supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts, permit a general comprehension of the role of internal and external donors.