Some geometrical aspects of semidefinite linear complementarity problems

This article studies some geometrical aspects of the semidefinite linear complementarity problem (SDLCP), which can be viewed as a generalization of the well-known linear complementarity problem (LCP). SDLCP is a special case of a complementarity problem over a closed convex cone, where the cone considered is the closed convex cone of positive semidefinite matrices. It arises naturally in the unified formulation of a pair of primal-dual semidefinite programming problems. In this article, we introduce the notion of complementary cones in the semidefinite setting using the faces of the cone of positive semidefinite matrices and show that unlike complementary cones induced by an LCP, semidefinite complementary cones need not be closed. However, under R₀-property of the linear transformation, closedness of all the semidefinite complementary cones induced by L is ensured. We also introduce the notion of a principal subtransformation with respect to a face of the cone of positive semidefinite matrices and show that for a self-adjoint linear transformation, strict copositivity is equivalent to strict semimonotonicity of each principal subtransformation. Besides the above, various other solution properties of SDLCP will be interpreted and studied geometrically.     

Observation of hydrogen induced intermediate borides in PrFeB based alloys by Mössbauer effect spectroscopy

In the present work, a quantitative analysis of the phase compositions by Mössbauer effect spectroscopy of solid and conventional hydrogen disproportionated Pr_13.7Fe_80.3B_6.0 and Pr_13.7Fe_63.5Co_16.7Zr_0.1B_6.0 alloys was carried out. Significant amounts of intermediate borides t-Fe₃B and Pr(Fe, Co)₁₂B₆ were detected after solid hydrogen disproportionation treatment in Pr_13.7Fe_80.3B_6.0 and Pr_13.7Fe_63.5Co_16.7Zr_0.1B_6.0 alloys, respectively. After conventional hydrogenation–disproportionation–desorption–recombination treatment these phases were not detected and in no case residual Pr₂Fe₁₄B-phase was found. It was observed that the amount of intermediate borides after disproportionation can be correlated with the degree of texture after recombination at various temperatures.     

Characterization of supercommuting matrices

For a given n-by-n matrix A, we consider the set of matrices which commute with A and all of whose principal submatrices commute with the corresponding principal submatrices of A. The properties of this set are examined, with particular attention to its dimension.     

Enlarged symmetry groups of finite-size clusters with periodic noundary conditions

Any system that approximates an infinite lattice by a family of finite clusters (with periodic boundary conditions) passes through an intermediate region with enlarged (hidden) symmetry as the system size is increased. The hidden symmetry allows for extra degeneracies and level crossings and has application to exact-diagonalization studies, Monte Carlo simulations, lattice gauge theories, and renormalization group calculations.     

Uptake and excretion of total inorganic arsenic by the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris

Arsenic-tolerant freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris which had been collected from an arsenicpolluted environment were tested for uptake and excretion of inorganic arsenic. Approximately half the quantity of arsenic taken up by C. vulgaris was estimated to be adhered to the extraneous coat (10 wt %) of the cell. The remainder was bioaccumulated by the cell. Both adhered and accumulated arsenic concentrations increased with an increase in arsenic(V) concentration of the aqueous phase. Arsenic(V) accumulation was affected by the growth phse: arsenic was most actively accumulated when the cell was exposed to arsenic during the early exponential phase and then accumulation decreased with an increase in culture time exposed to arsenic. The alga grew well in the modified Detmer (MD) medium containing 1 mg As(III) dm^?3 and the growth curve was approximated by a ‘logistic equation’. Arsenic(III) was accumulated up to the second day of the culture time and arsenic(III) accumulation decreased with an increase in the culture time after that. Arsenic accumulation was also largely affected by various nutrients, especially by managanese, iron and phosphorus compounds. A modified MD medium with the three nutrients was proposed for the purpose of effective removal of arsenic from the aqueous phase. Using radioactive arsenate (Na₂H⁷⁴AsO₄), the arsenic accumulated was found to be readily excreted under conditions which were unfavourable for the multiplication of C. vulgaris.     

Solution 1H and 13C NMR of new chiral 1,4‐oxazepinium heterocycles and their intermediates from the reaction of 2,4‐pentanedione with α‐L‐amino acids and (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycinol

The reaction of 2,4‐pentanedione ( 1 ) with (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycine methyl ester ( 2 ), (R)‐(—)‐2‐phenylglycinol ( 3 ) and the proteinogenic amino acids (2S,3R)‐(—)‐2‐amino‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid (L ‐threonine) ( 4 ) and (R)‐(—)‐2‐amino‐3‐mercaptopropionic acid (L ‐cysteine) ( 5 ) methyl esters was investigated. The corresponding enamines 6 , 7 and 8 were isolated and characterized spectroscopically whereas 9 , which is unstable, was transformed in situ into 13 . Treatment of 7 , 8 and 9 with boron trifluoride etherate afforded the new [1,4]oxazepines 10 , 11 and [1,4]thiazepine ( 12 ) as their BF₃O^? salts. The structures of the enamines and their corresponding seven‐membered heterocycles were assessed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Variable‐temperature experiments revealed different molecular mobility behavior among these heterocycles. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Overloaded elution band profiles of ionizable compounds in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography: Influence of the competition between the neutral and the ionic species

The parameters that affect the shape of the band profiles of acido‐basic compounds under moderately overloaded conditions (sample size less than 500 nmol for a conventional column) in RPLC are discussed. Only analytes that have a single pK_a are considered. In the buffer mobile phase used for their elution, their dissociation may, under certain conditions, cause a significant pH perturbation during the passage of the band. Two consecutive injections (3.3 and 10 μL) of each one of three sample solutions (0.5, 5, and 50 mM) of ten compounds were injected on five C₁₈‐bonded packing materials, including the 5 μm Xterra‐C₁₈ (121 Å), 5 μm Gemini‐C₁₈ (110 Å), 5 μm Luna‐C₁₈(2) (93 Å), 3.5 μm Extend‐C₁₈ (80 Å), and 2.7 μm Halo‐C₁₈ (90 Å). The mobile phase was an aqueous solution of methanol buffered at a constant _W^WpH of 6, with a phosphate buffer. The total concentration of the phosphate groups was constant at 50 mM. The methanol concentration was adjusted to keep all the retention factors between 1 and 10. The compounds injected were phenol, caffeine, 3‐phenyl 1‐propanol, 2‐phenyl butyric acid, amphetamine, aniline, benzylamine, p‐toluidine, procainamidium chloride, and propranololium chloride. Depending on the relative values of the analyte pK_a and the buffer solution pH, these analytes elute as the neutral, the cationic, or the anionic species. The influence of structural parameters such as the charge, the size, and the hydrophobicity of the analytes on the shape of its overloaded band profile is discussed. Simple but general rules predict these shapes. An original adsorption model is proposed that accounts for the unusual peak shapes observed when the analyte is partially dissociated in the buffer solution during its elution.     

Gradient‐enhanced one‐dimensional pulse schemes for quaternary and methylene carbon detection

Gradient‐enhanced pulse schemes are presented for the detection of quaternary and methylene carbons. The new pulse schemes permit the detection of quaternary and methylene (—CH₂) carbons or CH₂ carbons alone from a single experiment. Efficient suppression of CH and CH₃ carbons in all the pulse schemes is achieved by creating their antiphase magnetization and then dephasing using gradients. In the pulse schemes for detection of only CH₂ carbons, the quaternary carbons are also suppressed either by dephasing using gradients or by rendering them unobservable by retaining in longitudinal order. The experimental results of the gradient pulse schemes are demonstrated on cholesteryl acetate and cyclosporin A. These one‐dimensional techniques, because of their simplicity and the ease of performing the experiments, can be important for routine chemical applications. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assignment of chemical shifts in benzohydroxamic acid and structure of its silylated derivatives by 15N enrichment

¹⁵N isotopic enrichment was necessary for the unequivocal assignment of the ¹H NMR lines to the protons in the NH–OH fragment of benzohydroxamic acid, BHXA, C₆H₅CONHOH, in dry dimethyl sulfoxide solutions. The assignment [δ(NH) = 11.21, δ(OH) = 9.01, ¹J(¹⁵N,¹H) = 102.2 Hz, ²J(¹⁵N,¹H) <1.5 Hz], which is opposite to that used by other authors, confirms the assignment extended to BHXA by Brown and co‐workers from the spectra of acetohydroxamic acid. The enrichment allowed also assignment of the ²⁹Si lines in the spectra of disilylated benzohydroxamic acid, (Z)‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyl N‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxybenzoimidate (2) and (Z)‐tert‐butyldiphenylsilyl N‐tert‐butyldiphenylsilyloxybenzoimidate (3), and confirmed structure of the monosilylated products, N‐tert‐butyldiphenylsilyloxybenzamide (4) and N‐tert‐butyldiphenylsilyloxy benzoimidic acid (5). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.