Predictability and model selection in the context of ARCH models

Most of the methods used in the ARCH literature for selecting the appropriate model are based on evaluating the ability of the models to describe the data. An alternative model selection approach is examined based on the evaluation of the predictability of the models in terms of standardized prediction errors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Radio-frequency controllable quantum interference in Mössbauer spectroscopy

The role of quantum interference (QI) in spectra of the resonant Mössbauer scattering is investigated. As a mechanism ensuring the QI conditions, the radio-frequency (RF) mixing of the spin sublevels of the excited nuclear state is considered. It is shown that QI leads to a significant intensity redistribution of the elastic and Raman scattering.     

Ultra-high energy cosmic rays and prompt TeV gamma rays from gamma ray bursts

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) have been proposed as one possible class of sources of the ultrahigh energy cosmic ray (UHECR) events observed up to energies ≳ 10²⁰ eV. The synchrotron radiation of the highest energy protons accelerated within the GRB source should produce gamma rays up to TeV energies. Here we briefly discuss the implications on the energetics of the GRB from the point of view of the detectability of the prompt TeV γ-rays of proton-synchrotron origin in GRBs in the up-coming ICECUBE muon detector in the south pole.     

Investigation of gas chromatographic interaction mechanism on permethylated cyclodextrins by molecular modelling

Summary The capillary gas chromatographic retention behavior of -pinene and tricyclene has been investigated on stationary phases of different polarities. On all but one of the columns employed, tricyclene eluted before -pinene; only permethylated -cyclodextrins dissolved in moderately polar polisiloxanes gave a reversed elution order. The intermolecular interactions which caused the unexpected retention behavior were investigated in detail, applying methods of computer simulation. To achieve this, we have developed a calculation algorithm on the basis of molecular mechanical optimizations and programmed it in a macro. This makes it possible to systematically investigate a given configuration space in which all the possible interactions can take place. It was shown that permethylated -cyclodextrin as host molecule for both guest molecules offers an optimum cavity size. As a result the number of energetically favorable contacts between host and guest molecules as well as the strength of the interactions in this stationary phase were larger. As a consequence the elution order, normally only influenced by the vapor pressure of the compounds at a given temperature, was changed. Nonspecific interactions played an especially important role for these kinds of substances.     

Molecular orbital studies on the conformation of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)

In distinction to Extended Hückel Theory which predicts as the most stable conformation of free zwitterionic GABA a totally extended form, PCILO and SCF ab initio studies show that the intrinsically preferred conformation of the isolated molecule is a highly folded one, resulting from strong interactions between the two charged ends. Computations are also carried out for hydrated GABA in the supermolecule approach allowing moreover for the flexibility of binding of some of the water molecules of the first hydration shell. They predict the coexistence in solution of a large number of conformations showing different degrees of folding (or extension), a result confirmed by recent NMR studies. This and a number of similar results show that we have to adapt our thinking on the role of conformations in pharmacological activity to this situation, which was frequently obscured by the more abundant results of X-ray crystallography yielding a single conformation.     

Linear silver clusters in aqueous solution (clusterites): radiation-induced chemical synthesis and properties

The formation and properties of the products of the radiation-induced chemical reduction of silver ions in aqueous solutions containing sodium polyacrylate were investigated. The absorption spectra of these species exhibit a band at 290 mn and a band in the visible region. The latter shifts from 470 nm to -800 nm with time or after the addition of silver ions. The species obtained (clusterites) arc linear silver clusters bound to the carboxyl groups of the ion exchanger. The red shift of the visible band is due to the increase in their size. The mechanism of the formation and the structure of the clusterites are discussed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1429–1435, June, 1996.     

Enantiomer differentiation in intramolecular carbon—hydrogen insertion reactions of racemic secondary alkyl diazoacetates catalyzed by chiral dirhodium(ii) carboxamidates

Highly efficient kinetic resolution of racemic secondary alkyl diazoacetates in intramolecular carbon-hydrogen insertion reactions has been achieved using chiral dirhodium(ii) carboxamidates. Products formed from catalytic diazo decomposition of racemic 2-octyl diazoacetate and, separately, its (2R)- and (2S)-enantiomeric forms, as well as bothcis- andtrans-2-methylcyclohexyl diazoacetates, have been systematically evaluated. Enantioselectivities up to 99 %ee have been obtained for -lactone formation. -Lactone production has been observed and, although minor with cyclohexyl diazoacetates, is the major insertion pathway for diazo decomposition of 2-octyl diazoacetate.Dedicated to Academician of the RAS N. S. Zefirov (on his 60th birthday).Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1798–1803, September, 1995.Financial support for this research from the National Institutes of Health (GM 46503) and the National Science Foundation of the United States is gratefully acknowledged. We thank D. A. Pierson for her preparation of 2-methylcyclohexyl diazoacetates and preliminary studies of their diazo decomposition and A. Melekhov from the Higher College of Chemistry for his preparation and catalytic studies of rac-2-octyl diazoacetate.     

On the electrostatic and steric similarity of lactam compounds and the natural substrate for bacterial cell-wall biosynthesis

Summary Electrostatic and structural properties of a set of -lactam, -lactam and nonlactam compounds have been analyzed and compared with those of a model of the natural substrate d-alanyl-d-alanine for the carboxy- and transpeptidase enzymes. This first comparison of the electrostatic properties has been based on a distributed multipole analysis of high-quality ab initio wave functions of the substrate and potential antibiotics. The electrostatic similarity of the substrate and active compounds is apparent, and contrasts with the electrostatic properties of the noninhibitors. This has been quantified to give a reasonable correlation with the MIC (Minimum Concentration for Inhibition) and with kinetic data (k₂/K) in accordance with the model for interaction of the lactam compounds with dd-peptidase. These correlations provide a better prediction of antibacterial activity than purely structural criteria.     

ESR spectra of γ-irradiated samples of iron(iii) binuclear complexes

-Irradiation of -oxo-bridged binuclear iron complexes Fe^III ₂OL _n in a glycerol or dimethylformamide matrix at 77 K affords unstable mixed-valence Fe^IIF^III forms resulting from the transfer of a mobile electron generated by the ionizing radiation. These nonequilibrium forms retain the ligand environment of the original complexes, and their ESR spectra at 77–200 K are characterized by an asymmetric signal with an axially anisotropicg-factor, which is in agreement with the spectra of the Fe^IIFe syu forms obtained by chemical reduction.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 869–871, April, 1996.