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Search results for: ION CHANNELS
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Cell Membrane Transport Mechanisms: Ion Channels and Electrical Properties of Cell Membranes
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A graphene-based nanostructure with expanded ion transport channels for high rate Li-ion batteries
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Self-assembly, stability and conductance of amphotericin B channels: bridging the gap between structure and function
PublicationAmphotericin B (AmB), one of the most powerful but also toxic drugs used to treat systemic mycoses, is believed to selectively permeabilize fungal cell membranes to ions in a sterol-dependent manner. Unfortunately, the structure of the biologically active AmB channels has long eluded researchers, obstructing the design of safer alternatives. Here, we investigate the structural and thermodynamic aspects of channel formation, stability,...
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Signature of Oxide-Ion Conduction in Alkaline-Earth-Metal-Doped Y3GaO6
PublicationWe have studied alkaline-earth-metal-doped Y3GaO6 as a new family of oxide-ion conductor. Solid solutions of Y3GaO6 and 2% −Ca2+-, −Sr2+-, and −Ba2+-doped Y3GaO6, i.e., Y(3−0.06)M0.06GaO6−δ (M = Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+), were prepared via a conventional solid-state reaction route. X-ray Rietveld refined diffractograms of all the compositions showed the formation of an orthorhombic structure having the Cmc21 space group. Scanning electron...
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Hard carbon derived from rice husk as low cost negative electrodes in Na-ion batteries
PublicationHere, we report the synthesis of hard carbon materials (RH) made from natural rice husk through a single pyrolysis process and their application as an anode in sodium-ion batteries. The studies show that the electrochemical properties of RHs are affected by the treatment temperatures, which determine the materials morphology, in particular, their degree of graphitization and extent of continuous channels (nanovoids). The latter...
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Validation of atmospheric aerosols parallel sampling in a multifold device
PublicationIn this work, particulate matter was collected using an active sampling system consisting of a PM10 (<10 μm) inlet coupled to a multifold device containing six channels, connected to a vacuum pump. Each channel was equipped with a filter holder fitted with adequately chosen filters. The system was fixed on a metallic structure, which was placed on the roof of the laboratory building, at the Faculty of Sciences, in Lisbon. Sampling...
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Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization and ionic fragmentation of the isoxazole molecules
PublicationThe photofragmentation of the isoxazole molecules producing ionized atomic and molecular fragments was investigated in the photon energy range of 9e32 eV, using synchrotron radiation excitation combined with ion time-of-flight spectrometry. Twenty-one well resolved cations were identified in the mass spectra of the isoxazole, and their appearance energies were determined. The yield curves of these cations were obtained in the photon...
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Dissociative electron attachment to benzoic acid (C7H6O2)
PublicationThe dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to benzoic acid (C6H5COOH) has been studied using an experimental crossed beam setup of a quadrupole mass spectrometer and a trochoidal electron monochromator. Relative partial cross sections for the DEA to produce negative ion fragments show the main channels for dissociation. The comparison of the present results with the ultraviolet photoelectron spectrum of benzoic acid [J. Meeks,...
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The Role of Electron Transfer in the Fragmentation of Phenyl and Cyclohexyl Boronic Acids
PublicationIn this study, novel measurements of negative ion formation in neutral potassium-neutral boronic acid collisions are reported in electron transfer experiments. The fragmentation pattern of phenylboronic acid is comprehensively investigated for a wide range of collision energies, i.e., from 10 to 1000 eV in the laboratory frame, allowing some of the most relevant dissociation channels to be probed. These studies were performed in...
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Validation of atmospheric aerosols sampling in equivalent fractions
PublicationPhysical properties and chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols are of extreme importance, in many fields of interest, namely the Environment even with legal implications. Atmospheric sampling poses inherent problems with consequent demands on sampling optimisation, with sampling strategies requiring validation. In this work a study was conducted aiming at validating the collection of atmospheric aerosols in equivalent fractions....
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Two-body dissociation of isoxazole following double photoionization – an experimental PEPIPICO and theoretical DFT and MP2 study
PublicationThe dissociative double photoionization of isoxazole molecules has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The experiment has been carried out in the 27.5–36 eV photon energy range using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation excitation combined with ion time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometry and photoelectron–photoion–photoion coincidence (PEPIPICO) technique. Five wellresolved two-body dissociation channels have...
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Self-Association of Amphotericin B: Spontaneous Formation of Molecular Structures Responsible for the Toxic Side Effects of the Antibiotic
PublicationAmphotericin B (AmB) is a lifesaving antibiotic used to treat deep-seated mycotic infections. Both the pharmaceutical activity and highly toxic side effects of the drug rely on its interaction with biomembranes, which is governed by the molecular organization of AmB. In the present work we present detailed analysis of self-assembly of AmB molecules in different environments, interesting from the physiological standpoint, based...
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H2O˙+ and OH+ reactivity versus furan: experimental low energy absolute cross sections for modeling radiation damage
PublicationRadiotherapy is one of the most widespread and efficient strategies to fight malignant tumors. Despite its broad application, the mechanisms of radiation-DNA interaction are still under investigation. Theoretical models to predict the effects of a particular delivered dose are still in their infancy due to the difficulty of simulating a real cell environment, as well as the inclusion of a large variety of secondary processes. This...
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A mechanistically approached review upon assorted cell lines stimulated by athermal electromagnetic irradiation
PublicationThe probable influence of electromagnetic irradiation on cancer treatment has been deduced from the interaction of artificial electromagnetic emissions with biological organisms. Nonetheless, the suspected health effects induced by electromagnetic-based technology imply that such a treatment may contaminate the adjacent healthy cells. Thus, gaining mechanistic insights into the problem is required to avoid athermal health hazards....
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How do sterols determine the antufungal activitiy of amphotericin B? Free energy of binding between the drug and its membrane targets.
PublicationAmphotericin B (AmB) is a well-known polyene antibiotic used to treat systemic fungal infections. It is commonly accepted that the presence of sterols in the membrane is essential for the AmB biological activity, that is, for the formation of transmembrane ion channels. The selective toxicity of AmB for fungal cells is attributed to the fact that it is more potent against fungal cell membranes containing ergosterol than against...