New Trends in Quantum Systems in Chemistry and Physics - Volume 2 Advanced Problems and Complex Systems Paris, France, 1999 (Progress in Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, Volume 7)

These two volumes collect thirty-eight selected papers from the scientific contributions presented at the Fourth European Workshop on Quantum Systems in Chemistry and Physics (QSCP-IV), held in Marly-le-Roi (France) in April 22-27, 1999. A total of one hundred and fifteen scientists attended the workshop, 99 from Europe and 16 from the rest of the world. They discussed the state of the art, new trends, and future evolution of the methods and applications. The workshop was held in the old town of Marly-le-Roi, which lies to the West of Paris between the historic centres of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Versailles. Participants were housed at the National Youth Institute, where over sixty lectures were given by l- ding members of the scientific community; in addition, over sixty posters were presented in two very animated sessions. We are grateful to the oral speakers and to the poster p- senters for making the workshop such an stimulating experience. The social programme was also memorable – and not just for the closing banquet, which was held at the French Senate House. We are sure that participants will long remember their visit to the 'Musée des Antiquités Nationales': created by Napoleon III at the birthplace of Louis XIV, this museum boasts one of the world finest collections of archeological artifacts. The Marly-le-Roi workshop followed the format established at the three previous meetings, organized by Prof. Mitochondria from mammalian tissues possess an elaborate system for 2+ 2+ transporting Ca across their inner membrane which consists of Ca import, 2+ via the Ca uniporter, in response to the mitochondrial membrane 2+ + potential?? and of Ca release by an antiport system in exchange for H + 9,23 or Na (see Fig. l). Because the uniporter is dependent upon the external 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ Ca concentration ([Ca ]), mitochondria accumulate Ca until the [Ca ] o o 2+ decreases to the level at which the uniporter activity balances the Ca efflux. 2+ The [Ca ] at which the uniporter and efflux activities are equal is defined o the “setpoint” andcorresponds to values between 0.3-3μM. 2+ Figure 1. The Ca transport system of the inner membrane of mammalian mitochondria. U, + 2+ + + uniporter. I, Na -independent efflux mechanism or Ca /2H exchanger. D, Na -dependent 2+ + efflux mechanism or Ca /2Na exchanger. PTP, permeability transition pore. FP, 11 flavoprotein.?? membrane potential.? pH gradient. Adapted from. This volume is the proceedings of the International Taurine Symposium 1999: Expanding the Circle, an official Satellite Symposium of the 17th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Neurochemistry, held on August 3--8, 1999, in Siena, Italy. Taurine, which is a naturally occurring compound, protects the cell against a variety of harmful insults, and the compound may be vital for the normal function and survival of cells and tissues. These aspects, together with the potential value of taurine in enhancing normal function and protecting against age-related diseases, will be highlighted in this volume by distinguished international aspects in this important and rapidly developing area Based on contributions to the fourth European Quantum Systems in Chemistry and Physics workshop held in France, in 1999, this first volume includes the following topics: density matrices and density functionals, electron correlation effects, relativistic formulations and effects, valence theory and nuclear motion. This volume covers a broad spectrum of scientific research work from quantum-mechanical many-body methods to important applications and computational developments, and from atoms and molecules to condensed matter. Topics include response theory, reactive collisions and condensed matter v. 1. Basic problems and model systems v. 2. Advanced problems and complex systems.