Light scattering by single erythrocyte: Comparison of different methods

In this paper we investigate the capabilities of different light scattering programs for light scattering simulation of the single human red blood cell, also known as erythrocyte. Knowledge of the scattering properties can help to solve the inverse problem of classifying erythrocytes according to size and shape using measured scattering diagrams. We compare the different programs by presenting the corresponding scattering diagrams. Then we give an overview of computation times and point out the different characteristics of the methods.     

New lead(II) complexes with N,S-ligands,including a lead pyrazolonate with unusual packing flexibility

The reaction of lead(II) acetate in methanol with thiosemicarbazones derived from β-keto esters and β-keto amides (HTSCs) afforded two lead(II) thiosemicarbazonates and numerous homoleptic ([PbL₂]) and/or heteroleptic ([Pb(OAc)L]) complexes containing deprotonated pyrazolones L⁻ formed by metal-induced cyclization of the starting HTSC ligands. All the complexes isolated were characterized by IR spectroscopy in the solid state and by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy in DMSO solution; in addition, crystals containing [Pb(L⁶)₂] and [Pb(L⁷)₂] were examined by X-ray crystallography. [Pb(L⁶)₂] · 0.5H₂O · 0.3MeOH (HL⁶ = 4-ethyl-2,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothiamide) showed three types of molecule with significant structural differences that appear to be determined by packing interactions. In all three molecules the Pb?Pb distances are very short [3.6096(8)–3.7562(8) Å], but density-functional-theoretic calculations at the B3LYP level do not support the existence of Pb–Pb bonds. In [Pb(L⁷)₂] (HL⁷ = N-ethyl-2,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothiamide) all the molecules are of a single type, and they are linked in a three-dimensional network by weak intermolecular Pb?O bonds.     

Conformational analysis of model compounds of vitamin D by theoretical calculations

A conformational analysis of two model compounds of vitamin D was carried out by means of theoretical computations, Ab initio calculations were carried out using the standard 6-31G* basis set at the Hartree–Fock (HF) level of theory. In addition, the Møller–Plesset (MP2) correlation treatment was applied on the simplest model. Semiempirical calculations were also performed using the AM1 Hamiltonian. The results predict stable A-ring twist forms with energies in the order of 4–6 kcal/mol relative to the global minimum, significantly higher than those reported from molecular mechanics calculations. In addition, a folded conformation was found by the HF optimizations; however, its stability is predicted to be very poor. Comparison of the theoretical results with experimental data is discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18 : 1647–1655, 1997     

Ab initio and RRKM study of the HCN/HNC elimination channels from vinyl cyanide

Ab initio CCSD and CCSD(T) calculations with the 6-311+G(2d,2p) and the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis sets were carried out to characterize the vinyl cyanide (C(3)H(3)N) dissociation channels leading to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and its isomer hydrogen isocyanide (HNC). Our computations predict three elimination channels giving rise to HCN and another four channels leading to HNC formation. The relative HCN/HNC branching ratios as a function of internal energy of vinyl cyanide were computed using RRKM theory and the kinetic Monte Carlo method. At low internal energies (120 kcal/mol), the total HCN/HNC ratio is about 14, but at 148 kcal/mol (193 nm) this ratio becomes 1.9, in contrast with the value 124 obtained in a previous ab initio/RRKM study at 193 nm (Derecskei-Kovacs, A.; North, S. W. J. Chem. Phys.1999, 110, 2862). Moreover, our theoretical results predict a ratio of rovibrationally excited acetylene over total acetylene of 3.3, in perfect agreement with very recent experimental measurements (Wilhelm, M. J.; Nikow, M.; Letendre, L.; Dai, H.-L. J. Chem. Phys.2009, 130, 044307).     

Accurate velocity reconstruction for Discontinuous Galerkin approximations of two-phase porous media flows

We consider Discontinuous Galerkin approximations of two-phase, immiscible porous media flows in the global pressure/fractional flow formulation with capillary pressure. A sequential approach is used with a backward Euler step for the saturation equation, equal-order interpolation for the pressure and the saturation, and without any limiters. An accurate total velocity field is recovered from the global pressure equation to be used in the saturation equation. Numerical experiments show the advantages of the proposed reconstruction. To cite this article: A. Ern et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 347 (2009).     

Study of charmless hadronic B meson decays to pseudoscalar-vector final states

We report results of searches for charmless hadronic B meson decays to pseudoscalar( pi(+/-), K+/-, pi(0), or K(0)(S))-vector( rho, K(*), or omega) final states. By using 9.7x10(6) BB pairs collected with the CLEO detector, we report the first observation of B(-)--->pi(-)rho(0), B(0)-->pi(+/-)rho(-/+), and B(-)-->pi(-)omega, which are expected to be dominated by hadronic b-->u transitions. The measured branching fractions are (10.4(+3.3)(-3.4)+/-2.1)x10(-6), (27.6(+8.4)(-7.4)+/-4.2)x10(-6), and (11.3(+3.3)(-2.9)+/-1. 4)x10(-6), respectively. Branching fraction upper limits are set for all of the other decay modes investigated.     

Pair-breaking in kondo superconductors

An earlier theory for superconductors with magnetic impurities is extended by taking into account explicitly the energy dependence of pair breaking. Results on the transition temperature and the specific heat jumps are in very good agreement with experimental data on (La_1-cCe_c)Al₂.     

Molecular mechanics study of conformational trends in simple alcohols and ethers. II. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding

In this article we present an extension of our modified MM2(80) force field MM2MOD in which a potential function for hydrogen bonding in alcohols and ethers is included. The results of applying MM2(85), MM2(87), and MM2MOD on ethylene glycol, 2-methoxyethanol and 1,3-propanediol are reported and compared with available experimental data and ab initio results. It is concluded that hydrogen bonding plays an important role in determining the molecular conformations of these systems. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.