Use of cluster expansion techniques in quantum chemistry. A linear response model for calculating energy differences

In this paper we have reviewed the theoretical framework of the coupled-cluster (cc) based linear response model as a tool for directly calculating energy differences of spectroscopic interest like excitation energy (ee), ionisation potential (ip) or electron affinity (ea). In this model, the ground state of a many-electron system is described as in a coupled cluster theory for closed shells. The electronic ground state is supposed to interact with an external photon field of frequencyw, and the poles of the linear response function as a function ofw furnish with the elementary excitations of the system. Depending on the general form of the coupling term chosen, appropriate difference energies like ee, ip or EA may be generated. Pertinent derivations of the general working equations are reviewed, and specific details as well as approximations for ee, ip or ea are indicated. It is shown that the theory bears a close resemblance to the equation of motion (eom) method but is superior to the latter in that the ground state correlation is taken to all orders and may be looked upon as essentially a variant of renormalisedtda. A perturbative analysis elucidating the underlying perturbative structure of the formulation is also given which reveals that the theory has a hybrid structure: the correlation terms are treated akin to an open shellmbpt, while the relaxation terms are treated akin to a Green function theory. A critique of the methodvis-a-vis other cc-based approaches for difference energies forms the concluding part of our review.     

Optimization of culture parameters for production of podophyllotoxin in suspension culture of Podophyllum hexandrum

The root explants of the germinated seedlings of Podophyllum hexandrum were grown in MS medium supplemented with indole acetic acid (IAA) (2 mg/L) and activated charcoal (0.5%), and healthy callus culture was obtained after incubation for 3 wk at 20°C. The cultivation of plant cells in shake flask was associated with problems such as clumping of cells and browning of media, which were solved by the addition of pectinase and polyvinylpyrrolidone. The effect of major media components and carbon source was studied on the growth and podophyllotoxin production in suspension culture. It was found that glucose was a better carbon source than sucrose and that NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio (total nitrogen concentration of 60 mM) and PO₄ ³⁻ did not have much effect on the growth and product formation. The relative effect of culture parameters (inoculum level, pH, IAA, glucose, NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ⁻ ratio, and PO₄ ³⁻) on the overall growth and product response of the plant cell suspension culture was further investigated by Plackett-Burman design. This indicated that inoculum level, glucose, IAA, and pH had significant effects on growth and production of podophyllotoxin. To identify the exact optimum concentrations of these parameters on culture growth and podophyllotoxin production, central composite design experiments were formulated. The overall response equations with respect to growth and podophyllotoxin production as a function of these culture parameters were developed and used to determine the optimum concentrations of these parameters, which were pH 6.0, 1.25 mg/L of IAA, 72 g/L of glucose, and inoculum level of 8 g/L.     

Determination of Copper at a Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Langmuir–Blodgett Film of p‐tert‐Butylthiacalix[4]arene

A new type of voltammetric sensor, Langmuir–Blodgett film of p‐tert‐butylthiacalix[4]arene modified glassy carbon electrode, was advanced and used for determining copper at trace levels by differential pulse stripping voltammetry. Calibration plot was found to be linear in the range of 2×10^?8 M to 5×10^?6 M; the detection limit was 2×10^?9 M. Possible recognition mechanism was also discussed. From determination of Copper in real samples (river, lake and tap water) it can be concluded that the method is rapid, sensitive in determining of copper and can be used in the analysis of natural water samples.     

Variable Mott-Schottky plots acquisition by potentiodynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Potentiodynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy provides extraction of potential-dependent space charge layer capacitance from potentiodynamic impedance spectra of non-stationary semiconductor–electrolyte interface. The new technique has been applied for acquisition of Mott-Schottky plots of cathodically treated TiO₂ anodic films. Cathodic treatment in 1 M H₂SO₄ increases donor density and flat band potential of TiO₂. Freshly doped films show hysteresis in the space charge layer capacitance in cyclic potential scans. The subsequent cycling eliminates the hysteresis but preserves the greater part of the doping effect. Presented at the 4th Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Greifswald, 13–16 March 2005     

Development and prevalidation of a method for phenol determination by solid-phase spectrophotometry

A simple, sensitive and rapid solid-phase spectrophotometric procedure was developed for the determination of traces of phenol with 4-aminoantipyrine as a reagent (AAP-SPS), and the optimal experimental conditions were established. This method was performed by sorption and direct absorbance measurements of the product phenol-AAP sorbed on the anion-exchanger Dowex 1-X4 (0.2 g) at 495 nm (absorption maximum) and 700 nm (non-absorption wavelength). The sensitivity offered by the AAP-SPS procedure was higher by a factor of 40 compared with the respective conventional spectrophotometric method. Metrological characteristics were established using a prevalidation strategy. The AAP-SPS procedure is characterized by a linear calibration function in the working range of 0.05–0.50 μmol, low standard deviation of procedure (±0.012), low limit of determination (0.021 μmol), and favorable random (±0.85 to ±11.27%) and systematic deviations (−4.55 to +11.50%). Moreover, the accuracy of the system investigated by the recovery test is acceptable (99–102%). Favorable working and performance characteristics make the new SPS method ideal for phenol monitoring in pharmaceutical preparations as well as other matrices.     

Effects of Lead on Temporal Response Properties of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Developing Rats

Neonatal rats have taken in lead, during the period from their parturition to their weaning, from the milk of dams fed with water containing 0.2% lead acetate solutions. The alterations in the temporal response properties of retinal ganglion cells in adult rats (90 days) following the lead exposure at their developing stage have been studied. The results of this investigation demonstrate that the lead exposure in neonatal rats causes decreases in the optimal temporal frequency, bandwidth at half amplitude, temporal resolution and response phase of the retinal ganglion cells in adult rats. Compared with the sustained cells, the transient cells have a much greater alteration in temporal response properties.     

Microporous, fast response cellulose ether hydrogel prepared by freeze-drying

A simple and effective method of preparing fast-response gels is developed. The freeze-drying and subsequent rehydration of thermosensitive gels alters the microstructural properties of the gels in a way that leads to rapid shrinking rates. Microporous hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) gels were created by this method to investigate the influence of the process on the swelling and shrinking kinetics of the gels in response to temperature changes. Micropores of different size ranges were produced by freezing gels with different amounts of water at −20 °C. Water content was the key factor to control the microporosity and the shrinking rates of gels. After the freezing treatment, an effective diffusion coefficient for shrinking could be determined by fitting Fick's law to the data (5.2 × 10⁻⁴ cm²/s). This was an increase of two orders of magnitude over that of the untreated, non-porous gel (6.0 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s). The magnitude of the shrinking coefficient indicates that the shrinking rate of the microporous gel is probably limited by the convective flow, as unsteady flow through porous media follows the same differential equation as Fick's law, but with much greater transport coefficients, as observed here. Physically, the shrinking rate may be determined by the level of interconnected-cells in a microporous structure present at the beginning of shrinking process because the convection through the interconnected-cells is estimated to be much slower than the polymer network diffusion rate of the struts of micropores (0.1–3.0 μm) as well as heat transfer.     

Photocurrent generation in multilayer self-assembly films fabricated from water-soluble poly(phenylene vinylene)

A novel, water-soluble, cationic PPV derivative poly[(2,5-bis(3-bromotrimethylammoniopropoxy)-phenylene-1,4-divinylene)-alt-1,4-(2,5-bis(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy))phenylene vinylene] (BH-PPV) has been synthesized by a Heck coupling reaction. Multilayered assemblies of the BH-PPV and the sodium salt of hexa(sulfobutyl)fullerenes (C(60)-HS) were fabricated successfully by an alternate deposition technique. The multilayer structures were studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, small angle X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The photoinduced charge transfer property of the self-assembled multilayer film was also measured by a three-electrode cell technique. A steady and rapid cathodic 5.5 microA cm(-2) photocurrent response was measured as the irradiation of the multilayer film was switched on and off. Importantly, the response of on/off cycling is prompt and reproducible. A possible mechanism for the electron-transfer process is proposed.     

Electrochemical response of ascorbic acid at conducting and electrogenerated polymer modified electrodes for electroanalytical applications: a review

The present short review deals with electroanalytical aspects of electrochemical response of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) at conducting and electrogenerated polymer modified electrodes. Two main topics are considered: (i) electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbate at conducting polymer modified electrodes, leading to electroanalytical techniques for ascorbate assay, and (ii) retardation of ascorbate penetration through a layer of electrogenerated polymers, leading to permselective coatings and their diverse uses, especially for biosensing devices.     

主动冷却点阵夹层防热结构温度响应计算模型北大核心CSCD

针对点阵夹层结构主动热防护问题,建立了夹层结构面板和芯体导热与冷却剂对流耦合的非稳态传热理论模型,利用有限体积法离散控制方程并在MATLAB中进行了迭代求解.模型首次考虑了面板与夹芯杆之间的收缩热阻,并利用分离变量法得到了收缩热阻的近似解析解.基于单胞模型和周期性边界条件,模拟得到了模型所需的表面对流传热系数h_(b)和h_(fin).最后,选取多单胞计算工况进行数值模拟和理论模型对比,并讨论了收缩热阻对模型预测精度的影响.结果表明:理论模型能够准确预测夹层结构及内部流体的温度变化,理论与仿真之间的最大误差不超过1%;随着外加热流密度不断增大,忽略收缩热阻使得计算结果造成的误差不断增大;与数值模拟相比,理论模型可显著地减少计算时间并节省计算资源,尤其适用于非均匀、非稳态复杂热载荷下点阵夹层结构的温度响应计算.