In-silico exploration of noble gas dimer enforced by noncovalent interaction

Density functional calculations have been carried out to investigate the possibility of trapping of noble gas dimers by cyclo[18]carbon dimer. Parallel-displaced conformation of the cyclo[18]carbon dimer is found to be the minimum energy structure. Noncovalent interaction is found to hold the noble gas dimers. The lighter noble gases (He, Ne) posses weaker attractive interactions while the heavier one (Ar, Kr) are held by stronger attractive interactions forming genuine bonds. Each of the noble gas atoms in turn forms noncovalent interaction with the cyclo[18]carbon monomers. The bond dissociation energy of the noble gas dimers dramatically increases inside the cyclo[18]carbon dimer. Energy decomposition analysis reveals that dispersion plays the major role toward the stabilization energy.     

Effect of biological confinement on the photophysics and dynamics of a proton-transfer phototautomer: an exploration of excitation and emission wavelength-dependent photophysics of the protein-bound drug

The present work demonstrates the effect of biological confinement on the photophysics and dynamics of a bio-active drug molecule viz., 5-chlorosalicylic acid (5ClSA). 5ClSA is a potential candidate exhibiting Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) reaction and thereby generating the phototautomer (i.e. proton transferred keto form) in the excited state. Given the pK(a) of 5ClSA (around 2.64), the anionic form of the drug molecule is expected to be the interacting species with the protein under the experimental conditions (buffered solution of pH 7.40). The ESIPT photophysics of the drug (5ClSA anion) is found to be remarkably modified within the confined bio-environment of a model transport protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in terms of remarkable emission intensity enhancement coupled with a discernible red-shift of the emission maximum wavelength. Such considerable modification of the ESIPT photophysics of the 5ClSA anion has been exploited to determine the drug-protein binding strength (as characterized by the binding constant K (±10%) = 6.11 × 10(2) M(-1)). The present work also delves into evaluation of the probable binding location of the drug within the biomacromolecular assembly of the protein by a blind docking simulation technique, which reveals hydrophobic subdomain IIA to be the probable binding site of the drug. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy delineates the effect of drug binding on the protein secondary structure in terms of decrease of α-helical content of BSA with increasing drug concentration. Apart from this, the excitation-emission matrix fluorescence technique is found to hint at the effect on protein tertiary structure upon binding to the drug. Chaotrope-induced protein denaturation has been explored to complement the findings on the binding interaction process. The modulated dynamics of the proton transfer phototautomer of the 5ClSA anion within the biological confinement is also investigated in this context to explore the slower rate of solvent-relaxation dynamics.     

Spectral deciphering of the interaction between an intramolecular hydrogen bonded ESIPT drug, 3,5-dichlorosalicylic acid, and a model transport protein

The present work demonstrates a detailed characterization of the interaction of a bio-active drug molecule 3,5-dichlorosalicyclic acid (3,5DCSA) with a model transport protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). The drug molecule is a potential candidate exhibiting Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) reaction and the modulation of ESIPT photophysics within the bio-environment of the protein has been exploited spectroscopically to monitor the drug-protein binding interaction. Apart from evaluating the binding constant (K (±10%) = 394 M(-1)) the probable location of the neutral drug molecule within the protein cavity (hydrophobic subdomain IIA) is explored by AutoDock-based blind docking simulation. The rotational relaxation dynamics of the drug within the protein has been interpreted on the lexicon of the two-step and wobbling-in-cone model. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy delineates the effect of drug binding on the protein secondary structure in terms of decrease of α-helical content of BSA with increasing drug concentration. Also the esterase activity of the drug:protein conjugate system is found to be reduced in comparison to the native protein.     

Generalized Second Law of Thermodynamics on the Event Horizon for Interacting Dark Energy

Here we are trying to find the conditions for the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics (GSLT) assuming the first law of thermodynamics on the event horizon in both cases when the FRW universe is filled with interacting two fluid system- one in the form of cold dark matter and the other is either holographic dark energy or new age graphic dark energy.     

Time-domain modeling of high-speed interconnects by modified methodof characteristics

In this paper, a new model of lossy transmission lines is presented for the time-domain simulation of high-speed interconnects. This model is based on the modified method of characteristics (MMC). The characteristic functions are first approximated by applying lower order Taylor series in the frequency domain, and then a set of simple recursive formulas are obtained in the time domain. The formulas, which involve tracking performances between two ends of a transmission line, are similar to those derived by the method of characteristics for lossless and undistorted lossy transmission lines. The algorithm, based on the proposed MMC model, can efficiently evaluate transient responses of high-speed interconnects. It only uses the quantities at two ends of the lines, requiring less computation time and less memory space than required by other methods. Examples indicate that the new method has high accuracy and is very efficient for the time-domain simulation of interconnects in high-speed integrated circuits