Vania Calandrini

Bio: Vania Calandrini is an academic researcher from Forschungszentrum Jülich. The author has contributed to research in topics: Brownian dynamics & Quasielastic neutron scattering. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 36 publications receiving 476 citations. Previous affiliations of Vania Calandrini include University of Parma & Centre national de la recherche scientifique.

nMoldyn - Interfacing spectroscopic experiments, molecular dynamics simulations and models for time correlation functions

Abstract: This article gives an introduction into the program nMoldyn, which has been originally conceived to support the interpretation of neutron scattering experiments on complex molecular systems by the calculation of appropriate time correlation functions from classical and quantum molecular dynamics simulations of corresponding model systems. Later the functionality has been extended to include more advanced time series analyses of molecular dynamics trajectories, in particular the calculation of memory functions, which play an essential role in the theory of time correlation functions. Here we present a synoptic view of the range of applications of the latest version of nMoldyn, which includes new modules for a simulation-based interpretation of data from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, far infrared spectroscopy and for protein secondary structure analysis.

Fractional protein dynamics seen by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: Relating molecular dynamics simulation and experiment

Abstract: We propose a fractional Brownian dynamics model for time correlation functions characterizing the internal dynamics of proteins probed by NMR relaxation spectroscopy. The time correlation functions are represented by a broad distribution of exponential functions which are characterized by two parameters. We show that the model describes well the restricted rotational motion of N-H vectors in the amide groups of lysozyme obtained from molecular dynamics simulation and that reliable predictions of experimental relaxation rates can be obtained on that basis.

Diffusive dynamics of water in tert-butyl alcohol/water mixtures.

Abstract: Quasielastic neutron scattering has been used to investigate the dynamical behavior of H2O in water/tert-butyl alcohol solutions. The measurements were made at fixed temperature (293 K) as a function of tert-butyl alcohol molar fraction, x, in the range 0–0.042. The data have been compared to those of pure water in the temperature range 269–293 K. The effect of tert-butyl alcohol addition on water dynamics is equivalent to that obtained by lowering the temperature of pure water by an amount proportional to the alcohol concentration. The temperature dependence of the diffusivity parameters in pure water and their concentration dependence in tert-butyl alcohol/water solutions can be rescaled to a common curve attributing to each solution a concentration-dependent “structural temperature” lower than the actual thermodynamic one. These results can be understood in terms of Stillinger’s picture of water structuring and of other more recent theoretical pictures that emphasize the influence of the geometrical pr...

Conformational transition of DNA bound to Hfq probed by infrared spectroscopy

Abstract: Hfq is a bacterial protein involved in RNA metabolism. Besides this, Hfq's role in DNA restructuring has also been suggested. Since this mechanism remains unclear, we examined the DNA conformation upon Hfq binding by combining vibrational spectroscopy and neutron scattering. Our analysis reveals that Hfq, which preferentially interacts with deoxyadenosine rich sequences, induces partial opening of dA-dT sequences accompanied by sugar repuckering of the dA strand and hence results in a heteronomous A/B duplex. Sugar repuckering is probably correlated with a global dehydration of the complex. By taking into account Hfq's preferential binding to A-tracts, which are commonly found in promoters, potential biological implications of Hfq binding to DNA are discussed.

Signal analysis

Abstract: dix A. Even if you don’t choose to memorize them this system aids in reference and retreival of important formulas. The book was compiled from notes developed during eight years of teaching a graduate course on the subject and was used as a text. Thus it has been student tested. Appendix F contains a number of problems, grouped to be used on a chapter by chapter basis The problems are designed to illustrate practical applications of the text material. The parts of this book of most interest and value to the EMC engineer will be the chapters on Thermal Noise, Antennas, Propagation and Transmission Lines, and Reflection and Refraction. This is not to downpade the chapters on Statistics and Its Applications, Signal Processing and Detection, and Some System Characteristics which also contain much potentially useful materials. Additional plus values for the book include a list of 40 references, a table of symbols used throughout the book, and a subject index. Some readers may find the condensed type and close line spacing hard to read. It was apparently set up by typewriter using an elite type face with single line spacing. When reduced down to a 6 by 9 5 inch size page it is too crowded for easy reading. In spite of this shortcoming your reviewer recommends this book as a worthwhile reference in this field of interest.

TRAVIS-A free analyzer for trajectories from molecular simulation.

Abstract: TRAVIS (“Trajectory Analyzer and Visualizer”) is a program package for post-processing and analyzing trajectories from molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations, mostly focused on molecular condensed phase systems. It is an open source free software licensed under the GNU GPL, is platform independent, and does not require any external libraries. Nine years after the original publication of TRAVIS, we highlight some of the recent new functions and features in this article. At the same time, we shortly present some of the underlying algorithms in TRAVIS, which contribute to make trajectory analysis more efficient. Some modern visualization techniques such as Sankey diagrams are also demonstrated. Many analysis functions are implemented, covering structural analyses, dynamical analyses, and functions for predicting vibrational spectra from molecular dynamics simulations. While some of the analyses are known since several decades, others are very recent. For example, TRAVIS has been used to compute the first ab initio predictions in the literature of bulk phase vibrational circular dichroism spectra, bulk phase Raman optical activity spectra, and bulk phase resonance Raman spectra within the last few years.