The temporary slowdown in large-scale surface warming during the early 2000s has been attributed to both external and internal sources of climate variability. Using semiempirical estimates of the internal low-frequency variability component in Northern Hemisphere, Atlantic, and Pacific surface temperatures in concert with statistical hindcast experiments, we investigate whether the slowdown and...

We describe a procedure for the generation of chemically accurate computer-simulation models to study chemical reactions in the condensed phase. The process involves (i) the use of a coupled semiempirical quantum and classical molecular mechanics method to represent solutes and solvent, respectively; (ii) the optimization of semiempirical quantum mechanics (QM) parameters to produce a computati...

We have developed a simple convergent procedure for the synthesis of molecular rotors consisting of a central aromatic group coupled with two axially positioned ethynyltriptycenes. Molecular rotors with 1,4-phenylene (1), 1,4'-1,1'-biphenylene (2), 9,10-anthracenylene (3), and 2,7-pyrenylene (4) groups were prepared by Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling of ethynyl triptycenes with the corresponding dibro...

The P—S bond cleavage process in the hydroperoxidolysis of a model system for the nerve agent VX was studied using ab initio and semiempirical molecular orbital methods. Aqueous solvation effects were included through single-point calculations using the semiempirical SM5.2PD/A continuum solvation model and geometries optimized at the HF/MIDI! level of theory. The predominant pathway for P—S bon...

Using molecular mechanics (MM2, MM3) and semiempirical molecular orbital methods (EHMO, AMI, PM3) the relative energies were estimated from models for the tetrahedral intermediates in N->0 and o~N acyl migration in diastereoisomers of 3-amino-1,2,3triphenylpropanol to check the necessity of invoking a stereoe!ectronic effect to explain their reactivities . The molecular mechanics results correc...

The quality of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models depends on the quality of their constitutive elements including the biological activity, statistical procedure applied, and the physicochemical and structural descriptors. The aim of this study was to assess the comparative use of ab initio and semiempirical quantum chemical calculations for the development of toxicologic...

Calculations are performed on several aspects of the luminescence of pure CsI and CsI: Na. These include electronic-structure calculations by both pseudopotential and semiempirical molecular-orbital methods, as well as lattice-configuration studies. The results suggest that the main observed emission in CsI: Na at 2.95 eV involves the recombination of a self-trapped exciton immediately adjacent...