Hybrid abstractions of affine systems

This paper considers the problem of building a set of hybrid abstractions for affine systems in order to compute over approximations of the reachable space. Each abstraction is based on a decomposition of the continuous state space that is defined by hyperplanes generated by linear combinations of two vectors. The choice of these vectors is based on consideration of the dynamics of the system and uses, for example, the left eigenvectors of the matrix that defines these dynamics. We show that the reachability calculus can then be performed on a combination of such abstractions and how its accuracy depends on the choice of hyperplanes that define the decomposition.     

EFFECTS OF BOUND MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES ON THE DECAY OF THE PHOTOTRANSFORMATION INTERMEDIATES I1,21700 FROM NATIVE Avena PHYTOCHROME*

Abstract–Thc kinetics of the microsecond phototransformation intermediates of 124 kDa Avena phytochrome (1700^1,2) were studied in the prcsence of bound monoclonal antibodies at various temperatures. A global analysis was applied to the decays at all wavelengths at each temperature in order to derive the rate constants and the decay-associated spectra of the three decay components. Monoclonal antibodies bound to specific epitopes altered the Arrhenius parameters of both 1700^1,2 decay components. The strongest influence on these parameters was observed with OAT 8 (epitope between residues 624 and 686), which decreased by more than 50% the activation parameters of both components. This decrease is interpreted to result from an increased flexibility induced by this antibody in the ground state or in the transition state of bonds changing during the decay of both 1700 transients. Thus, the OAT 8 cpitope appears to be functionally important during the decay of the 1700^1,2 intermediates. For the case of 1100¹ bound OAT 23 and OAT 25 (epitopes between residues 1 and 66) reduced even further the relatively small flexibility of these bonds in the red light-absorbing form of phytochrome (P1) without antibodies, as reflected by the high preex-ponential factors for its decay. This resulted also in higher activation energies for this decay in the presence of the antibodies. Thus, the amino-terminus should act as a rigid spacer of the chromophore cavity without affecting it during the microsecond transformation, because the Arrhenius parameters for these decays are similar to those for small phytochrome. The possible implications of the influence of the various antibodies on the bleaching remaining after the decay of 1700^1,2 are discussed.     

Synthesis of new fundamental heterocycles. Part VII. Synthesis of 2-azaxanthene

2-Azaxanthone ( 5 ) has been conveniently prepared by condensation of the morpholine enamine of 1-benzyl-4-piperidone witli salicylaldehyde followed by chromium trioxide oxidation and subsequent aromatization. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of 5 afforded the new fundamental heterocycle 2-azaxanlhene.     

Single-ion magnetism in the extended solid-state: insights from X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy

Large single-ion magnetic anisotropy is observed in lithium nitride doped with iron. The iron sites are two-coordinate, putting iron doped lithium nitride amongst a growing number of two coordinate transition metal single-ion magnets (SIMs). Uniquely, the relaxation times to magnetisation reversal are over two orders of magnitude longer in iron doped lithium nitride than other 3d-metal SIMs, and comparable with high-performance lanthanide-based SIMs. To understand the origin of these enhanced magnetic properties a detailed characterisation of electronic structure is presented. Access to dopant electronic structure calls for atomic specific techniques, hence a combination of detailed single-crystal X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies are applied. Together K-edge, L_2,3-edge and Kβ X-ray spectroscopies probe local geometry and electronic structure, identifying iron doped lithium nitride to be a prototype, solid-state SIM, clean of stoichiometric vacancies where Fe lattice sites are geometrically equivalent. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure and angular dependent single-crystal X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy measurements determine Fe^I dopant ions to be linearly coordinated, occupying a D_6h symmetry pocket. The dopant engages in strong 3dπ-bonding, resulting in an exceptionally short Fe–N bond length (1.873(7) Å) and rigorous linearity. It is proposed that this structure protects dopant sites from Renner–Teller vibronic coupling and pseudo Jahn–Teller distortions, enhancing magnetic properties with respect to molecular-based linear complexes. The Fe ligand field is quantified by L_2,3-edge XAS from which the energy reduction of 3d_z² due to strong 4s mixing is deduced. Quantification of magnetic anisotropy barriers in low concentration dopant sites is inhibited by many established methods, including far-infrared and neutron scattering. We deduce variable temperature L₃-edge XAS can be applied to quantify the J = 7/2 magnetic anisotropy barrier, 34.80 meV (∼280 cm⁻¹), that corresponds with Orbach relaxation via the first excited, M_J = ±5/2 doublet. The results demonstrate that dopant sites within solid-state host lattices could offer a viable alternative to rare-earth bulk magnets and high-performance SIMs, where the host matrix can be tailored to impose high symmetry and control lattice induced relaxation effects.

Taking advantage of synchrotron light source methods, we present the geometric and electronic structure of iron doped in lithium nitride.     

Separation and identification of the 4-hydroxyantipyrine sulphoconjugate.

In a previous study we observed, during separation of total antipyrine metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography and after enzymatic hydrolysis, an unidentified peak corresponding to an ionic compound with pyrazolinone features. In the present study, this compound was identified as the 4-hydroxyantipyrine sulphoconjugate, and its structure was definitively confirmed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis and by the use of pure synthetic substance. We also demonstrated the inhibitory effect of sodium metabisulphite, a necessary preservative of urinary samples, on hydrolysis of this conjugate in the presence of sulphatases from Helix pomatia or Aerobacter aerogenes. This inhibitory effect makes it impossible to perform a global assay of antipyrine metabolites after enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis and confirms the value of direct assay of the 4-hydroxyantipyrine sulphoconjugate.     

An Analytical Study of Molecular Transport in a Zeolite Crystallite Bed

Analytical solutions of the diffusion equations to obtain the diffusant concentrations in the macro- and micropores which constitute the pore system of a zeolite bed are presented. The parameter which determines the influence of each pore type on the evolution of the adsorbate/adsorbant system towards the equilibrium state is described. Examples are given to illustrate a qualitative and quantitative study based on the curves obtained from these equations.     

PHOTOTRANSFORMATION KINETICS OF UNDEGRADED OAT AND PEA PHYTOCHROME INITIATED BY LASER FLASH EXCITATION OF THE RED-ABSORBING FORM

Abstract— Phototransformation at 2°C of the red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pr) to the far-redabsorbing form (Pfr) was studied with both undegraded oat ( Avena sativa L., cv. Garry) and undergraded pea Pisum sativum L., cv. Alaska) phytochrome. Phototransformation was initiated by a 15-ns laser pulse with maximum emission near 600 nm and output power of 30 mJ. The first resolvable transformation intermediate exhibited relative to Pr a maximum absorbance increase near 700 nm and was fully present at the earliest time measured, which was 60 ns after the flash. This intermediate absorbance decayed by two reactions for oat phytochrome (half-lives of 11 and 140 μs assuming parallel reactions) and by three for pea phytochrome (half-lives of 14, 280 and 1600 μs assuming parallel reactions). The kinetics of the slowest reaction for pea phytochrome, however, might be somewhat distorted by an instrument artifact. The appearance of the far-red-absorbing phytochrome, as monitored by absorbance increase at 720 nm, occurred by at least two reactions for both oat (half-lives of 47 and 250 ms assuming parallel reactions) and pea (half-lives of 170 and 770 ms assuming parallel reactions) phytochrome. The possibility of slower reactions was not tested. Assays for possible proteolysis of the phytochrome samples studied here indicated that the presence of degraded phytochrome could not account for the observed multiphasic kinetics except possibly for one phase of the triphasic intermediate decay seen with pea phytochrome.     

Time-dependent density functional theory molecular dynamics simulation of doubly charged uracil in gas phase

We use time-dependent density functional theory and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics methods to investigate the fragmentation of doubly ionized uracil in gas phase. Different initial electronic excited states of the dication are obtained by removing electrons from different inner-shell orbitals of the neutral species. We show that shape-equivalent orbitals lead to very different fragmentation patterns revealing the importance of the intramolecular chemical environment. The results are in good agreement with ionion coincidence measurements of uracil collision with 100 keV protons.