Search results for: physical chemistry
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Optimization of the UNRES Force Field by Hierarchical Design of the Potential-Energy Landscape. 3. Use of Many Proteins in Optimization
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Global Optimization-Based Method for Deriving Intermolecular Potential Parameters for Crystals
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Reply to “Comment on ‘Crystal Structure Prediction by Global Optimization as a Tool for Evaluating Potentials: Role of the Dipole Moment Correction Term in Successful Predictions'” by B. P. van Eijck and J. Kroon
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Chemical Vapor Transport Route toward Black Phosphorus Nanobelts and Nanoribbons
PublicationChemical vapor transport (CVT) method is widely used for bulk black phosphorus (BP) fabrication. In this work, we demonstrate that CVT provides a route for the fabrication of BP nanoribbons and nanobelts. This method consists of a two-step procedure, including initial BP column growth using the CVT technique, followed by ultrasonic treatment and centrifugation. The obtained nanostructures preserve BP column dimensions, forming...
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Potential of Mean Force of Hydrophobic Association: Dependence on Solute Size
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Parametrization of Backbone−Electrostatic and Multibody Contributions to the UNRES Force Field for Protein-Structure Prediction from Ab Initio Energy Surfaces of Model Systems
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Optimization of the UNRES Force Field by Hierarchical Design of the Potential-Energy Landscape. 2. Off-Lattice Tests of the Method with Single Proteins
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Extension of the UNRES Coarse-Grained Force Field to Membrane Proteins in the Lipid Bilayer
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Simple Physics-Based Analytical Formulas for the Potentials of Mean Force for the Interaction of Amino Acid Side Chains in Water. 3. Calculation and Parameterization of the Potentials of Mean Force of Pairs of Identical Hydrophobic Side Chains
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Simple Physics-Based Analytical Formulas for the Potentials of Mean Force for the Interaction of Amino Acid Side Chains in Water. IV. Pairs of Different Hydrophobic Side Chains
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Reply to “Comment on ‘Molecular Origin of Anticooperativity in Hydrophobic Association'”
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Radiative lifetime of a BODIPY dye as calculated by TDDFT and EOM-CCSD methods: solvent and vibronic effects
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Programmed metalloporphyrins for self-assembly within light-harvesting stacks: 5,15-dicyano-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-porphyrinato zinc(II) and its push-pull 15-N,N-dialkylamino-5-cyano congeners obtained by a facile direct amination.
PublicationThe title dicyano compound was synthesized via cyanation and it self-assembles in nonpolar solvents giving red-shifted and broad absorption maxima just as the bacteriochlorophylls which are encountered in the light-harvesting organelles of early photosynthetic bacteria. In the crystal, stacks are formed through a hierarchic combination of π-stacking and a CNZn electrostatic interaction. Push−pull 15-N,N-dialkylamino-5-cyano congeners...
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Application of the tetraphenylphosphonium tetraphenylborate (TPTB) assumption to the thermodynamic properties of solvated ions in dimethylsulfoxide
PublicationW niniejszej pracy za pomocą spektroskopii ATR FTIR sprawdzano możliwość zastosowania tetrafenyloboranu tetrafenylofosfoniowego w metodzie elektrolitu wzorcowego, służącej do podziału wielkości termodynamicznych elektrolitów w dimetylosulfotlenku na udziały jonowe. Jednoznacznie stwierdzono, że poza termodynamiczne założenie o identycznych oddziaływaniach jonów w elektrolicie wzorcowym z cząsteczkami DMSO jest nieprawdziwe. Uzyskane...
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Photosensitization of TiO2 and SnO2 by Artificial Self-Assembling Mimics of the Natural Chlorosomal Bacteriochlorophylls
PublicationOf all known photosynthetic organisms, the green sulfur bacteria are able to survive under the lowest illumination conditions due to highly efficient photon management and exciton transport enabled by their special organelles, the chlorosomes, which consist mainly of self-assembled bacteriochlorophyll c, d, or e molecules. A challenging task is to mimic the principle of self-assembling chromophores in artificial light-harvesting...
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Concentration-Dependent Fluorescence Properties of Rhodamine 6G in Titanium Dioxide and Silicon Dioxide Nanolayers
PublicationWytworzono cienkie warstwy zawierające rodaminę 6G w dwutlenku tytanu (R6G/TiO2) i w dwutlenku krzemu (R6G/SiO2) stosując metodę zol-żel. Badane były dwa rodzaje matryc, w których domieszkowano barwnik rodamina 6G (R6G) o różnych koncentracjach. Został stwierdzony istotny wpływ koncentracji barwnika na widma absorpcji i emisji oraz na czasowo rozdzielone widma fluorescencji. W szczególności stwierdzono znacznie mniejszą zdolność...
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Local Ordering Changes in Pt-Co Nanocatalyst Induced by Fuel Cell Working Conditions
PublicationPraca poświęcona jest szczegółowej analizie zmian w lokalnej strukturze atomowej i elektronowej nanocząstek Pt-Co pracujących jako katalizatory w polimerowych ogniwach paliwowych wywołanych cyklicznie zmieniającymi się warunkami pracy ogniwa. Do analizy wykorzystano badania XAS realizowane ex-situ i in-situ, XRD i TEM. Analizując widma XAFS wzięto pod uwagę możliwy wpływ nieporządku chemicznego oraz redukcję liczb koordynacyjnych...
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Limonene: electronic state spectroscopy by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption, electron scattering, He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations
PublicationZbadano limonen metodami spektroskopii absorpcyjnej, elektronowej, fotojonizacyjnej. Wyniki porównano z obliczeniami ab initio. Otrzymano strukturę wibracyjną molekuły.
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A Novel Ru(II) Polypyridine Black Dye Investigated by Resonance Raman Spectroscopy and TDDFT Calculations
PublicationThe optical properties of a new(bipyridine)2Ru(4H-imidazole) complex presenting a remarkablebroad absorption in the visible range are investigated. Thestrong overlap of the absorption with the solar radiationspectrum renders the studied complex promising as a blackabsorber and hence as a starting structure for applications inthe field of dye-sensitized solar cells. The correlations betweenstructural and electronic features for...
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Theoretical Design of the Molecular Structure of Bent-Core Mesogens with Large Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties
PublicationABSTRACT: The first hyperpolarizability of two series of moleculeswith bent-shaped structures has been calculated at the ab initio level.The two series consist of carboxyl derivatives for which somemolecules are known to exhibit banana phases and of their sulfinatehomologues that have not been synthesized yet. The final purpose isto reveal the relevance or not in synthesizing these latter molecules.The strategy is based on reporting...
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Structural Control of Photoinduced Dynamics in 4H-Imidazole- Ruthenium Dyes
PublicationThe photoinduced dynamics of a series ofterpyridine 4H-imidazole-ruthenium complexes, which constitutea new family of panchromatic dyes, is investigated. Thedynamics involves two excited states localized within the 4Himidazolesphere. Upon MLCT excitation, an excited state ispopulated, which is localized on the central part of the 4Himidazoleligand caused by its nonplanar conformation. Thepopulation of the second excited state is...
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On the Possibility of the Amphotericin B-Sterol Complex Formation in Cholesterol- and Ergosterol-Containing Lipid Bilayers: A Molecular Dynamics Study
PublicationAmphotericin B (AmB) is a well-known membrane-active antibiotic that has been used to treat systemicfungal infections for more than 45 years. Therapeutic application of AmB is based on the fact that it is moreactive against ergosterol-containing membranes of fungal cells than against mammalian membranes withcholesterol. In this paper, we examine the hypothesis according to which the selectivity of the AmB's membraneaction originates...
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Electron attachment and electron iozization of acetic acid clusters embedded in helium nanodroplets
PublicationThe effect of incident electrons on acetic acid clusters is explored for the first time. The acetic acid clusters are formed inside liquid helium nanodroplets and both cationic and anionic productsejected in to the gas phase aredetected by mass spectrometry.
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A XAS study of a highly diluted Pt electrocatalyst operating in PEM fuel cells
PublicationWe present an X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study of a low Pt content catalyst layer(Pt loading 0.1 mg c2) operating at the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC). This catalyst is based on the use of a mesoporous inorganic matrix as a support forthe catalyst Pt nanoparticles. Due to the high Pt dilution, in situ measurements of itsstructural properties by XAS are challenging and suitable experimental strategies...
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Effect of Polymerization Statistics on the Electronic Properties of Copolymers for Organic Photovoltaics
PublicationStatistical block copolymers, composed of donor (D) and acceptor (A) blocks, are a novel type of material for organic photovoltaics (OPVs) devices. In particular a new series of polymers based on PBTZT-stat-BDTT-8, recently developed by Merck, offers high solubility in different solvents, and a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) in different device architectures. Although it is known that the electronic properties of these...
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Unique agreement of experimental and computational infrared spectroscopy: a case study of lithium bromide solvation in an important electrochemical solvent
PublicationInfrared (IR) spectroscopy is a widely used and invaluable tool in the studies of solvation phenomena in electrolyte solutions. Using state-of-the-art chemometric analysis of a spectral series measured in a concentration-dependent manner, the spectrum of the solute-affected solvent can be extracted, providing a detailed view of the structural and energetic states of the solvent molecules influenced by the solute. Concurrently,...
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How water mediates the long-range interactions between remote protein molecules
PublicationThe high crowding of macromolecules in the cytoplasm affects the processes that occur inside a living cell. It can, for example, promote the forming of various loosely connected structures of proteins. It also means that bulk water is, essentially, not present there. The relatively thin layer of solvent that separates macromolecules may be able to participate in the long-range interactions between them and make them respond to...
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Multicomponent ionic liquid CMC prediction
PublicationWe created a model to predict CMC of ILs based on 704 experimental values published in 43 publications since 2000. Our model was able to predict CMC of variety of ILs in binary or ternary system in a presence of salt or alcohol. The molecular volume of IL (Vm), solvent-accessible surface (Sˆ), solvation enthalpy (DsolvGN), concentration of salt (Cs) or alcohol (Ca) and their molecular volumes (Vms and Vma, respectively) were chosen...
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Highly Visible-Light-Photoactive Heterojunction Based on TiO2 Nanotubes Decorated by Pt Nanoparticles and Bi2S3 Quantum Dots
PublicationA heterojunction with excellent visible light response and stability based on titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2 NTs), bismuth sulfide quantum dots (Bi2S3 QDs), and platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) is proposed. Both Pt NPs (3.0 ± 0.2 nm) and Bi2S3 QDs (3.50 ± 0.20 nm) are well distributed on the (i) top parts, (ii) inner walls, and (iii) outer walls of the TiO2 NTs. Visible-light-induced photoreaction was initialized by excitation...
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Diamond-Phase (Sp3-C) Rich Boron-Doped Carbon Nanowalls (Sp2-C): A Physico-Chemical And Electrochemical Properties
PublicationThe growth of B-CNW with different boron doping levels controlled by the [B]/[C] ratio in plasma, and the influence of boron on the obtained material’s structure, surface morphology, electrical properties and electrochemical parameters, such as -ΔE and k°, were investigated. The fabricated boron-doped carbon nanowalls exhibit activity towards ferricyanide redox couple, reaching the peak separation value of only 85 mV. The flatband...
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Electronic structure and time-dependent description of rotational predissociation of LiH
PublicationThe adiabatic potential energy curves of the ^1Sigma+ and ^1Pi states of the LiH molecule were calculated. They correlate asymptotically to atomic states, such as 2s + 1s, 2p + 1s, 3s + 1s, 3p + 1s, 3d + 1s, 4s + 1s, 4p + 1s and 4d + 1s. A very good agreement was found between our calculated spectroscopic parameters and the experimental ones. The dynamics of the rotational predissociation process of the 1^1Pi state were studied...
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Water-mediated influence of a crowded environment on internal vibrations of a protein molecule
PublicationThe influence of crowding on the protein inner dynamics is examined by putting a single protein molecule close to one or two neighboring protein molecules. The presence of additional molecules influences the amplitudes of protein fluctuations. Also, a weak dynamical coupling of collective velocities of surface atoms of proteins separated by a layer of water is detected. The possible mechanisms of these phenomena are described....
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Local Structure and Stability of SEI in Graphite and ZFO Electrodes Probed by As K-edge Absorption Spectroscopy
PublicationThe evolution of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during the first Li uptake in advanced Li-ion electrodes is studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The As atoms present in the electrolyte solution were used as a local probe for monitoring the SEI growth on different electrodes. High-quality As K-edge spectra were collected in fluorescence mode for a set of graphite and carbon-coated ZnFe2O4 electrodes. XAS measurements...
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Superconductivity in CaBi2
PublicationSuperconductivity is observed with critical temperature Tc = 2.0 K in self-flux-grown single crystals of CaBi2. This material adopts the ZrSi2 structure type with lattice parameters a = 4.696(1) Å, b = 17.081(2) Å and c = 4.611(1) Å. The crystals of CaBi2 were studied by means of magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and electrical resistivity measurements. The heat capacity jump at Tc is DC/gTc = 1.41, confirming bulk superconductivity;...
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Hydroperoxyl radical and formic acid formation from common DNA stabilizers upon low energy electron attachment
Publication2-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (TRIS) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) are key components of biological buffers and are frequently used as DNA stabilizers in irradiation studies. Such surface or liquid phase studies are done with the aim to understand the fundamental mechanisms of DNA radiation damage and to improve cancer radiotherapy. When ionizing radiation is used, abundant secondary electrons are formed...
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Dissociative electron attachment and anion-induced dimerization in pyruvic acid
PublicationWe report partial cross sections for the dissociative electron attachment to pyruvic acid. A rich fragmentation dynamics is observed. Electronic structure calculations facilitate the identification of complex rearrangement reactions that occur during the dissociation. Furthermore, a number of fragment anions produced at electron energies close to 0 eV are observed, that cannot originate from single electron-molecule collisions....
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General Mechanism of Osmolytes’ Influence on Protein Stability Irrespective of the Type of Osmolyte Cosolvent
PublicationThe stability of proteins in an aqueous solution can be modified by the presence of osmolytes. The hydration sphere of stabilizing osmolytes is strikingly similar to the enhanced hydration sphere of a protein. This similarity leads to an increase in the protein stability. Moreover, the hydration sphere of destabilizing osmolytes is significantly different. These solutes generate in their surroundings so-called “structurally different...
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Influence of temperature and interactions with ligands on dissociation of dsDNA and ligand-dsDNA complexes of various types of binding : an electrochemical study.
PublicationSeveral medicinally important compounds that bind to dsDNA strands via intercalation (C-1311, C-1305, EtBr), major groove binding (Hoechst 33258) and covalent binding (cis-Pt) were examined. The obtained results suggest that both the transfer of conformation B to C and the denaturation process, for the ligand-dsDNA complexes, except for covalently bound cis-Pt, took place at higher temperatures compared to the unbound helix. Furthermore,...
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Modification of Titanium (IV) Dioxide with Small Silver Nanoparticles: Application in Photocatalysis
PublicationThe surface of commercial TiO2 compounds (P25 and ST01) has been modified with Ag nanoparticles induced by radiolysis. On P25, the Ag nanoclusters are very small (1−2 nm) and homogeneous in size while on ST01, two populations of nanoparticles are obtained, small nanoparticles (1−2 nm) and larger ones (mean diameter 7 to 12 nm depending on the silver loading). The photocatalytic properties of Ag-modified TiO2 have been studied for...
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Specific Binding of Cholesterol to the Amyloid Precursor Protein: Structure of the Complex and Driving Forces Characterized in Molecular Detail
PublicationC99 is the C-terminal membrane-bound fragment of the amyloid precursor protein that is cleaved by γ-secretase to release Aβ peptides, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Specific interactions of C99 with cholesterol have been proposed to underlie the recognized role of cholesterol in promoting amyloidogenesis. By using molecular dynamics simulations, we studied cholesterol binding to C99 in a lipid bilayer. We determined...
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A spectroscopic study of the cis/trans-isomers of penta-2,4-dienoic acid attached to gold nanoclusters
PublicationIn this theoretical work, we present a spectroscopic analysis of the cis/trans-isomers of a molecular switch, penta-2,4-dienoic acid, attached to gold clusters of different size (1, 2 and 20 gold atoms). We have simulated 4 different spectroscopic techniques: Infrared spectroscopy, normal Raman scattering, absorption spectra and resonance Raman scattering. We discuss how the position and the conformation of the molecule determine...
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Self-healing mechanism of metallopolymers investigated by QM/MM simulations and Raman spectroscopy
PublicationThe thermally induced self-healing mechanisms in metallopolymers based on bisterpyridine complexes of iron(II) sulfate and cadmium(II) bromide, respectively, were studied by means of combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations and Raman spectroscopy. Two possible healing schemes, one based on a decomplexation of the cross-linking complexes and a second one relying on the dissociation of ionic clusters,...
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Are stabilizing osmolytes preferentially excluded from the protein surface? FTIR and MD studies
PublicationInteractions between osmolytes and hen egg white lysozyme in aqueous solutions were studied by means of FTIR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics. A combination of difference spectra method and chemometric analysis of spectroscopic data was used to determine the number of osmolyte molecules interacting with the protein, and the preferential interaction coefficient in presented systems. Both osmolytes – L-proline and trimethylamine-N-oxide...
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Water-mediated long-range interactions between the internal vibrations of remote proteins
PublicationIt is generally acknowledged that the mobility of protein atoms and the mobility of water molecules in the solvation layer are connected. In this article, we answer the question whether a similar interdependence exists between the motions of atoms of proteins separated by the hydration layers of variable thickness. The system consisted of a kinesin catalytic domain and a tubulin dimer. It was studied using molecular dynamics simulations....
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In situ spectroelectrochemical and theoretical study on the oxidation of a 4H-imidazole-ruthenium dye adsorbed on nanocrystalline TiO2thin film electrodes
PublicationTerpyridine 4H-imidazole-ruthenium(ii) complexes are considered promising candidates for use as sensitizers in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by displaying broad absorption in the visible range, where the dominant absorption features are due to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. The ruthenium(iii) intermediates resulting from photoinduced MLCT transitions are essential intermediates in the photoredox-cycle...
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Local Dye Concentration and Spectroscopic Properties of Monomer−Aggregate Systems in Hybrid Porous Nanolayers
PublicationAnalysis of absorption, fluorescence, and time-resolved emission spectra of rhodamine 6G in hybrid porous nanolayers at high dye concentration allowed identification of two fluorescent species: monomers and fluorescent aggregates. The method of determination of mean local concentration of aggregates in matrices is proposed based on the energy transfer process between monomers and fluorescent aggregates. Evaluation of aggregate...
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Properties of water in the region between a tubulin dimer and a single motor head of kinesin
PublicationA kinesin is a molecular motor that can perform movement on a microtubule track in a stepping-like manner. This motion is connected with processes of association and dissociation of kinesin and tubulin. Water is an important participant in these kinds of molecular interactions. This is why we have decided to investigate the dynamical and structural properties of water in the region between the kinesin catalytic domain and the tubulin...
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Influence of Osmolytes on Protein and Water Structure: A Step To Understanding the Mechanism of Protein Stabilization
PublicationResults concerning the thermostability of hen egg white lysozyme in aqueous solutions with stabilizing osmolytes, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), glycine (Gly), and its N-methyl derivatives, N-methylglycine (NMG), N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG), and N,N,N-trimethylglycine (betaine, TMG), have been presented. The combination of spectroscopic (IR) and calorimetric (DSC) data allowed us to establish a link between osmolytes’ influence on...
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Determination of Local Dye Concentration in Hybrid Porous Silica Thin Films
PublicationThe idea of determination of local dye concentration in a nanoporous matrix is proposed based on donor − acceptor energy transfer. The method was tested for a Rhodamine 110 − Rhodamine 101 system in silica and methylated silica nanolayers. Evaluation of acceptor (Rhodamine 101) local concentration was carried out by comparing the results of Monte Carlo simulation of energy transfer from donor (Rhodamine 110) to acceptor (Rhodamine...
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Why the Solvation Water around Proteins Is More Dense than Bulk Water
PublicationThe main aim of this work is to propose a rational explanation of the commonly observed phenomenon of increasing water density within solvation shell of proteins. We have observed that the geometry of the water–water hydrogen bond network within solvation layer differs from the one in bulk water, and it is the result of interactions of water molecules with protein surface. Altered geometry of the network reflects changes in the...