Adducts of Rh2[MTPA]4 with some phosphine chalcogenides: nature of binding and ligand exchange

Adducts of four phosphine chalcogenides with the chiral dirhodium complex ([Rh-Rh]) were investigated by variable-temperature 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy in order to compare their properties as axial ligands. Whereas the selenide (1) and the sulfide (2) are strong ligands with electrostatic attraction and, in addition, a significant orbital (HOMO-LUMO) interaction, the phosphine oxide compounds (P=O) bind primarily via electrostatic attraction and are relatively weak donors. Moreover, the overall bond strength in these adducts depends on steric congestion around the P=O group.     

Selective alterations of the antibody response to HIV-1

HIV infection leads to progressive alterations of humoral immune functions, including B-cell hyperplasia, hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated autoantibody titers, a poor response to neoantigens and mitogens, polyclonal B-cell activation, monoclonal gammopathies, and a significant deterioration of the antigen-specific humoral response. There is also an important isotypic imbalance of the antibody (Ab) response in the systemic compartment and a profound modification of mucosal immune functions. These abnormalities may contribute to disease progression and development of opportunistic infections, despite the presence of serum-neutralizing anti-HIV Abs. Equally important are the abnormal selection mechanisms of the Ab repertoire that seem to be responsible for B-cell clonal deletions. The V_H3 gene family, which encodes for approx 50% of immunoglobulins expressed by peripheral B-cells from normal adults, is underrepresented in human monoclonal antibodies to HIV-1 and in the peripheral B-cells of AIDS patients. These abnormalities, together with features of germinal center alteration, could be responsible for the clonal elimination of a subset of B-cells, and could contribute to HIV pathogenesis.     

Synthesis and Stereochemistry of New Bis(1,3-Oxathian-2-yl) Derivatives: Epimerisation and Chair–Twist Equilibria

The synthesis and stereochemistry of some new bis(1,3-oxathian-2-yl) derivatives are reported. The conformational behavior of these compounds and the orientation of their substituents are deduced from the NMR spectra, from the X-ray crystal structures of two compounds and from the ab-initio level calculations. The epimerization of diastereoisomers and the chair ⇌ 22,5-twist equilibria were studied by variable temperature NMR.     

Comments on the primary and scatter dose-spread kernels used for convolution methods

The basic primary and scatter dose-spread kernels used for convolution methods are usually produced by Monte Carlo simulations with the interaction point forced to the center of a large water phantom. However, it is still not clear whether such Monte Carlo based kernels allow accurate dose calculations with a wide range of field sizes and depths, especially in thorax phantoms. Using the differential primary and scatter concept, this paper proposes another type of basic kernel, with which perfectly accurate primary and scatter absorbed dose calculations can be performed under conditions that the beam is parallel, the incident beam intensity is uniform within and zero outside the field, and the primary beam attenuation coefficient along raylines is not a function of depth and off-axis distance.     

Synthetic,spectroscopic, and structural Studies on Lanthanide Complexes of Diphosphazane Dioxide Ligands

Lanthanide nitrate complexes of diphosphazane dioxides Ph₂P(O)N(Prⁱ)P(O)Ph₂ ( 1 ) and (PhO)₂P(O)N(Me)P(O)(OPh)₂ ( 2 ) have been synthesised and studied by conductometry, IR, multinuclear NMR spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction. Ligand 2 is accessible by two different methods, viz., by direct oxidation of the phosp(III)azane ligand or by starting from phosph(V)azane chloro precursor. The structure of 2 is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data for 2 : Triclinic, Space group P1 , a = 10.078(1), b = 10.575(3), c = 12.364(4) Å, α = 75.70(2)°, α = 75.56(1)°, γ = 77.68(1)°, Z = 2, V = 1 220 ų; structure refined to R_F = 0.0459 on 3 495 data with F > 3σ(F). The diphosphazane dioxide ligand exhibits trans geometry in the solid state. The structure of a lanthanide complex, [Pr(NO₃)₃( 2 )₂] ( 14 ) is also determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data for 14 : Trigonal, Space group P3₂, a = b = 15.710(2), c = 40.067(2) Å, Z = 6, V = 8 564 ų; structure refined to R_F = 0.0430 on 8 077 data with F > 5σ(F). The two diphosphazane dioxide ligands and the nitrate groups are coordinated to praseodymium in a bidentate chelate fashion. The geometry around the ten coordinated metal is distorted bicapped square antiprism.     

A Branched Pore Model Analysis for the Adsorption of Acid Dyes on Activated Carbon

A new branched-pore adsorption model has been developed using an external mass transfer coefficient, K _f, an effective diffusivity, D _eff, a lumped micropore diffusion rate parameter, K _b, and the fraction of macropores, f, to describe sorption kinetic data from initial adsorbent-adsorbate contact to the long-term adsorption phase. This model has been applied to an environmental pollution problem—the removal of two dyes, Acid Blue 80 (AB80) and Acid Red 114 (AR114), by sorption on activated carbon. A computer program has been used to generate theoretical concentration-time curves and the four mass transfer kinetic parameters adjusted so that the model achieves a close fit to the experimental data. The best fit values of the parameters have been determined for different initial dye concentrations and carbon masses. Since the model is specifically applicable to fixed constant values of these four parameters, a further and key application of this project is to see if single constant values of these parameters can be used to describe all the experimental concentration-time decay curves for one dye-carbon system.The error analysis and best fit approach to modeling the decay curves for both dye systems show that the correlation between experimental and theoretical data is good for the fixed values of the four fitted parameters. A significantly better fit of the model predictions is obtained when K _f, K _b and f are maintained constant but D _eff is varied. This indicates that the surface diffusivity may vary as a function of surface coverage.     

离散小波变换-遗传算法-交互检验法用于近红外光谱数据的高倍压缩与变量筛选

用遗传算法(GA)与交互检验(CV)相结合建立了一种用于对近红外光谱(NIR)数据及其离散小波变换(DWT)系数进行变量筛选的方法，并应用于烟草样品中总挥发碱和总氮的同时测定。结果表明：NIR数据经DWT压缩为原始大小的3．3％时基本没有光谱信息的丢失；有效的变量筛选可以极大地减少模型中的变量个数，降低模型的复杂程度，改善预测的准确度。     

Distributed Gaussian discrete variable representation

A discrete variable representation (DVR) made from distributed Gaussians g_n(x) = e, (n = ?∞, …, ∞) and its infinite grid limit is described. The infinite grid limit of the distributed Gaussian DVR (DGDVR) reduces to the sinc function DVR of Colbert and Miller in the limit c → 0. The numerical performance of both finite and infinite grid DGDVRs and the sinc function DVR is compared. If a small number of quadrature points are taken, the finite grid DGDVR performs much better than both infinite grid DGDVR and sinc function DVR. The infinite grid DVRs lose accuracy due to the truncation error. In contrast, the sinc function DVR is found to be superior to both finite and infinite grid DGDVRs if enough grid points are taken to eliminate the truncation error. In particular, the accuracy of DGDVRs does not get better than some limit when the distance between Gaussians d goes to zero with fixed c, whereas the accuracy of the sinc function DVR improves very quickly as d becomes smaller, and the results are exact in the limit d → 0. An analysis of the performance of distributed basis functions to represent a given function is presented in a recent publication. With this analysis, we explain why the sinc function DVR performs better than the infinite grid DGDVR. The analysis also traces the inability of Gaussians to yield exact results in the limit d → 0 to the incompleteness of this basis in this limit. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Semi‐classical formulation of time‐dependent discrete variable representation method

In this article, we apply a novel time‐dependent discrete variable representation (TDDVR) method proposed by Barkakaty and Adhikari to investigate tunneling through an Eckart barrier. This semi‐classical method is theoretically rigorous and straightforward to implement. Among the TDDVR formulations, this report presents the first derivation of a rigorous form of quantum force (QF) for the present perspective. The validity of this semi‐classical approach is demanded based on the excellent agreement of the tunneling probability with the corresponding quantum results. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Fermentation characteristics and the dynamic trend of chemical components during fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata

As a representative of traditionally fermented Chinese medicine, Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF) shows the functions of invigorating the spleen and stomach and promoting digestion, which plays an important role in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The fermentation mechanism and the key factors that affect the quality of MMF have not been revealed yet, which has become an urgent issue that limits its clinical application. This article aims to systematically and comprehensively reveal the transformation of physical properties and the dynamic trend of chemical components including substrate components, volatile components, and lactic acid as anaerobic fermentation product during MMF fermentation. Along with obvious hyphae growth observed for MMF, the weight of MMF decreased, and the moisture and temperature increased. Through the quantified 14 components from substrate, ferulic acid increased from 45.53 ± 6.94 to 141.89 ± 78.40 μg/g, while glycosides and phenolic acids declined except caffeic acid. Also, within the 66 volatile components analyzed, alcohols and acids increased, while aldehydes and ketones decreased. Lactic acid was not detected in the fermentation substrate, but an apparent increase in lactic acid content was observed along with the increased fermentation days, resulting in 2.54 ± 0.15 mg/g on day 8. Based on the tested components, the fermentation process of MMF was discriminated into three distinct stages by principal component analysis, and an optimal fermentation time of four days was proposed. The results of this study will be of great significance to clarify the characteristics of fermentation and conduce to improving quality standards of MMF.