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Here, we perform structural, thermodynamic, and kinetics tests of the Kirkwood-Buff-derived force field, KBFF20, for peptides and proteins developed in the previous article. The physical/structural tests measure the ability of KBFF20 to capture the experimental J-couplings for small peptides, to keep globular monomeric and oligomeric proteins folded, and to produce the experimentally relevant expanded conformational ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins. The thermodynamic-based tests probe KBFF20's ability to quantify the preferential interactions of sodium chloride around native β-lactoglobulin and urea around native lysozyme, to reproduce the melting curves for small helix- and sheet-based peptides, and to fold the small proteins Trp-cage and Villin. The kinetics-based tests quantify how well KBFF20 can match the experimental contact formation rates of small, repeat-sequence peptides of variable lengths and the rotational diffusion coefficients of globular proteins. The results suggest that KBFF20 is naturally able to reproduce properties of both folded and disordered proteins, which we attribute to the use of the Kirkwood-Buff theory as the foundation of the force field's development. However, we show that KBFF20 tends to lose some well-defined secondary structural elements and increases the percentage of coil regions, indicating that the perfect balance of all interactions remains elusive. Nevertheless, we argue that KBFF20 is an improvement over recently modified force fields that require ad hoc interventions to prevent the collapse of intrinsically disordered proteins.

A new classical nonpolarizable force field, KBFF20, for the simulation of peptides and proteins is presented. The force field relies heavily on the use of Kirkwood-Buff theory to provide a comparison of simulated and experimental Kirkwood-Buff integrals for solutes containing the functional groups common in proteins, thus ensuring intermolecular interactions that provide a good balance between the peptide-peptide, peptide-solvent, and solvent-solvent distributions observed in solution mixtures. In this way, it differs significantly from other biomolecular force fields. Further development and testing of the intermolecular potentials are presented here. Subsequently, rotational potentials for the ϕ/ψ and χ dihedral degrees of freedom are obtained by analysis of the Protein Data Bank, followed by small modifications to provide a reasonable balance between simulated and observed α and β percentages for small peptides. This, the first of two articles, describes in detail the philosophy and development behind KBFF20.

We present a simple model to explain the limiting behavior of many thermodynamic properties of pure classical fluids as one approaches the critical point. The model consists of four main aspects: (i) a focus on the thermodynamic properties as described by Fluctuation Solution Theory (FST); (ii) the removal of all intramolecular energy contributions from the FST expressions; (iii) particle fluctuations (and not the energy fluctuations) dominate the thermodynamics close to the critical point; and (iv) the equipartition theorem applies to the resulting low frequency collective modes of the fluid at the critical point. Using this approach, we predict and compare the thermodynamic results for 121 pure fluids as provided by accurate equations of state. The model explains why some ratios of diverging thermodynamic properties remain finite at the critical point, and reliably predicts the value of these ratios for equations of state that mimic both mean field and Ising system types, suggesting universal behavior.

Rumen microbiome composition and functionality is linked to animal feed efficiency, particularly for bovine ruminants. To investigate this in sheep, we compared rumen bacterial and archaeal populations (and predicted metabolic processes) of sheep divergent for the feed efficiency trait feed conversion ratio (FCR). In our study 50 Texel cross Scottish Blackface (TXSB) ram lambs were selected from an original cohort of 200 lambs. From these, 26 were further selected for experimentation based on their extreme FCR (High Feed Efficiency, HFE = 13; Low Feed Efficiency, LFE = 13). Animals were fed a 95% concentrate diet ad libitum over 36 days. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to investigate the rumen bacterial and archaeal communities in the liquid and solid rumen fractions of sheep divergent for FCR. Weighted UniFrac distances separated HFE and LFE archaea communities from the liquid rumen fraction (Permanova, P < 0.05), with greater variation observed for the LFE cohort (Permdisp, P < 0.05). LFE animals exhibited greater Shannon and Simpson diversity indices, which was significant for the liquid rumen fraction (P < 0.05). Methanobrevibacter olleyae (in liquid and solid fractions) and Methanobrevibacter millerae (liquid fraction) were differentially abundant, and increased in the LFE cohort (P.adj < 0.05), while Methanobrevibacter wolinii (liquid fraction) was increased in the HFE cohort (P.adj < 0.05). This suggests that methanogenic archaea may be responsible for a potential loss of energy for the LFE cohort. Bacterial community composition (Permanova, P > 0.1) and diversity (P > 0.1) was not affected by the FCR phenotype. Only the genus Prevotella 1 was differentially abundant between HFE and LFE cohorts. Although no major compositional shifts of bacterial populations were identified amongst the feed efficient cohorts (FDR > 0.05), correlation analysis identified putative drivers of feed efficiency with Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 (liquid, rho = −0.53; solid, rho = −0.56) and Olsenella (solid, rho = −0.40) exhibiting significant negative association with FCR (P < 0.05). Bifidobacterium and Megasphaera showed significant positive correlations with ADG. Major cellulolytic bacteria Fibrobacter (liquid, rho = 0.43) and Ruminococcus 1 (liquid, rho = 0.41; solid, rho = 41) correlated positively with FCR (P < 0.05). Our study provides evidence that feed efficiency in sheep is likely influenced by compositional changes to the archaeal community, and abundance changes of specific bacteria, rather than major overall shifts within the rumen microbiome.

Triplet correlations play a central role in our understanding of fluids and their properties. Of particular interest is the relationship between the pair and triplet correlations. Here we use a combination of Fluctuation Solution Theory and experimental pair radial distribution functions to investigate the accuracy of the Kirkwood Superposition Approximation (KSA), as given by integrals over the relevant pair and triplet correlation functions, at a series of state points for pure water using only experimental quantities. The KSA performs poorly, in agreement with a variety of other studies. Several additional approximate relationships between the pair and triplet correlations in fluids are also investigated and generally provide good agreement for the fluid thermodynamics for regions of the phase diagram where the compressibility is small. A simple power law relationship between the pair and triplet fluctuations is particularly successful for state points displaying low to moderately high compressibilities.

An accurate depiction of electrostatic interactions in molecular dynamics requires the correct number of ions in the simulation box to capture screening effects. However, the number of ions that should be added to the box is seldom given by the bulk salt concentration because a charged biomolecule solute will perturb the local solvent environment. We present a simple method for calculating the number of ions that requires only the total solute charge, solvent volume, and bulk salt concentration as inputs. We show that the most commonly used method for adding salt to a simulation results in an effective salt concentration that is too high. These findings are confirmed using simulations of lysozyme. We have established a web server where these calculations can be readily performed to aid simulation setup.

The structure of novel binary nanosponges consisting of (cholesterol-(K/D)nDEVDGC)3-trimaleimide units possessing a trigonal maleimide linker, to which either lysine (K)20 or aspartic acid (D)20 are tethered, has been elucidated by means of TEM. A high degree of agreement between these findings and structure predictions through explicit solvent and then coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has been found. Based on the nanosponges' structure and dynamics, caspase-6 mediated release of the model drug 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the binary (DK20) nanosponges have been found to be virtually non-toxic in cultures of neural progenitor cells. It is of a special importance for the future development of cell-based therapies that DK20 nanosponges were taken up efficiently by leucocytes (WBC) in peripheral blood within 3 h of exposure. The percentage of live cells among the WBC was not significantly decreased by the DK20 nanosponges. In contrast to stem cell or leucocyte cell cultures, which have to be matched to the patient, autologous cells are optimal for cell-mediated therapy. Therefore, the nanosponges hold great promise for effective cell-based tumor targeting.

Life in the deep sea exposes enzymes to high hydrostatic pressure, which decreases their stability. For survival, deep sea organisms tend to accumulate various osmolytes, most notably trimethylamine N-oxide used by fish, to counteract pressure denaturation. However, exactly how these osmolytes work remains unclear. Here, a rigorous statistical thermodynamics approach is used to clarify the mechanism of osmoprotection. It is shown that the weak, nonspecific, and dynamic interactions of water and osmolytes with proteins can be characterized only statistically, and that the competition between protein-osmolyte and protein-water interactions is crucial in determining conformational stability. Osmoprotection is driven by a stronger exclusion of osmolytes from the denatured protein than from the native conformation, and water distribution has no significant effect on these changes at low osmolyte concentrations.

Strong and tough fibers Dragline spider silk is known for its combination of strength and toughness, but this combination has been hard to replicate in synthetic fibers. Liao et al. electrospun polyacrylonitrile- co -methyl acrylate fibers modified with a small amount of poly(ethylene glycol) bisazide (PEG-BA) (see the Perspective by Fox). After collecting the electrospun yarn, it was annealed under tension that both aligned the small fibers and cross-linked them together via the PEG-BA. As hoped, the overall properties were comparable to those of spider silk. Science , this issue p. 1376 ; see also p. 1314

By definition, the distinction between a gas and a liquid ceases to exist beyond the critical point for pure fluids. Nevertheless, there remains a strong desire to attribute gas-like or liquid-like behavior to fluids corresponding to different parts of the supercritical region, especially as this becomes important for understanding and designing the properties of supercritical fluids. Here, we use a combination of fluctuation solution theory and accurate equation of state data to elucidate an easily accessible dividing line and corresponding transition regime between liquid-like and gas-like behavior in the supercritical region of all pure fluids. Liquid-like behavior in the supercritical region is characterized by a negative skewness in the particle number distribution for an equivalent open system, indicating that particle deletion is favored for liquids, whereas gas-like behavior is characterized by a positive skewness, indicating that particle insertion is favored for gases. Identical behavior is observed either side of the liquid-vapor line. The possible consequences for the behavior of fluids at the critical point are also discussed.

Preferential solvation has become a useful tool to help characterize and understand the properties of liquid mixtures. Here, we provide a new quantitative measure of preferential solvation in binary and ternary mixtures that uses Kirkwood-Buff integrals as input, but differs from traditional measures. The advantages of the new measure are highlighted and compared with established literature approaches. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to further investigate the nature of binary mixtures, as described by the new and existing measures of preferential solvation. It is shown that the new measure of preferential solvation is rigorous, has a simple physical interpretation, can be easily related to the underlying thermodynamic properties of the mixture, and naturally leads to zero values for ideal mixtures.

Polymer-solvent compound formation, occurring via co-crystallization of polymer chains and selected small-molecular species, is demonstrated for the conjugated polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) and a range of organic solvents. The resulting crystallization and gelation processes in PFO solutions are studied by differential scanning calorimetry, with X-ray diffraction providing additional information on the resulting microstructure. It is shown that PFO-solvent compounds comprise an ultra-regular molecular-level arrangement of the semiconducting polymer host and small-molecular solvent guest. Crystals form following adoption of the planar-zigzag β-phase chain conformation, which, due to its geometry, creates periodic cavities that accommodate the ordered inclusion of solvent molecules of matching volume. The findings are formalized in terms of nonequilibrium temperature–composition phase diagrams. The potential applications of these compounds and the new functionalities that they might enable are also discussed., Journal of Polymer Science. Part B, Polymer Physics, 53 (21), ISSN:0887-6266, ISSN:0098-1273, ISSN:1099-0488

Solution-crystallization is studied for two polyfluorene polymers possessing different side-chain structures. Thermal analysis and temperature-dependent optical spectroscopy are used to clarify the nature of the crystallization process, while X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy reveal important differences in the resulting microstructures. It is shown that the planar-zigzag chain conformation termed the β-phase, which is observed for certain linear-side-chain polyfluorenes, is necessary for the formation of so-called polymer-solvent compounds for these polymers. Introduction of alternating fluorene repeat units with branched side-chains prevents formation of the β-phase conformation and results in non-solvated, i.e. melt-crystallization-type, polymer crystals. Unlike non-solvated polymer crystals, for which the chain conformation is stabilized by its incorporation into a crystalline lattice, the β-phase conformation is stabilized by complexation with solvent molecules and, therefore, its formation does not require specific inter-chain interactions. The presented results clarify the fundamental differences between the β-phase and other conformational/crystalline forms of polyfluorenes., Journal of Polymer Science. Part B, Polymer Physics, 53 (21), ISSN:0887-6266, ISSN:0098-1273, ISSN:1099-0488

Recent advances in fluctuation solution theory (FST) have provided access to information concerning triplet fluctuations and integrals, in addition to the established pair fluctuations and integrals, for liquids and liquid mixtures using both experimental and simulation data. Here, FST is used to investigate pair and triplet correlations for (i) pure water as provided by experiment and simulation using both polarizable and nonpolarizable water models, (ii) liquid mixtures of methanol and water as provided by experiment and simulation, and (iii) native and denatured states of proteins as provided by simulation. The last application is particularly powerful, as it provides exact equations for the volume, enthalpy, compressibility, thermal expansion, and heat capacity of a single protein form provided by a single simulation. In addition, a discussion of the quality of the integrals obtained from experiment and simulation is provided. The results clearly illustrate that FST can be a powerful tool for the analysis and interpretation of both experimental and simulation data in complex liquid mixtures, including biomolecular systems, and that current simulation protocols can provide reliable values for the pair and triplet correlations and integrals.

Simulations of protein thermodynamics are generally difficult to perform and provide limited information. It is desirable to increase the degree of detail provided by simulation and thereby the potential insight into the thermodynamic properties of proteins. In this study, we outline how to analyze simulation trajectories to decompose conformation-specific, parameter free, thermodynamically defined protein volumes into residue-based contributions. The total volumes are obtained using established methods from Fluctuation Solution Theory, while the volume decomposition is new and is performed using a simple proximity method. Native and fully extended ubiquitin are used as the test conformations. Changes in the protein volumes are then followed as a function of pressure, allowing for conformation-specific protein compressibility values to also be obtained. Residue volume and compressibility values indicate significant contributions to protein denaturation thermodynamics from nonpolar and coil residues, together with a general negative compressibility exhibited by acidic residues.

A novel type of supramolecular aggregate, named a “nanosponge” was synthesized through the interaction of novel supramolecular building blocks with trigonal geometry. The cholesterol-(K/D) n DEVDGC) 3 -trimaleimide unit consists of a trigonal maleimide linker to which homopeptides (either K or D) of variable lengths (n = 5, 10, 15, 20) and a consensus sequence for executioner caspases (DEVDGC) are added via Michael addition. Upon mixing in aqueous buffer cholesterol-(K) n DEVDGC) 3 -trimaleimides and a 1:1 mixture of cholesterol-(K/D) n DEVDGC) 3 -trimaleimides form stable nanosponges, whereas cholesterol-(D) n DEVDGC) 3 -trimaleimide is unable to form supramolecular aggregates with itself. The structure of the novel nanosponges was investigated through explicit solvent and then coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The nanosponges are between 80 nm and several micrometers in diameters and virtually non-toxic to monocyte/macrophage-like cells.

Tensile deformation was applied to the naturally produced poly-γ-glutamic acid, which can be enzymatically degraded and is, therefore, of interest for biomedical use. However, natural polyamino acids have a similar chemical structure to synthetic polyamides (“nylons”), which are known to feature strong inter-molecular hydrogen bonding that prevents large-scale molecular motion in their solid state. Through esterification, this hydrogen bonding was partially shielded, allowing orientation of the polyamino acid macromolecules through tensile deformation. An increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength was achieved of solution-cast films of the chemically modified poly-γ-glutamic acids, consistent with enhanced uniaxial polymer chain orientation. The latter was confirmed by both wide-angle X-ray scattering and polarized Raman spectroscopy. The films thus produced were found to be non-cytotoxic. These mechanically tailorable, biocompatible polymers may be excellent candidates for use in musculoskeletal tissue engineering applications that have different loading requirements within the body.

Fluctuation Solution Theory: A Primer Paul E. Smith, Enrico Matteoli, and John P. O'Connell Global and Local Properties of Mixtures: An Expanded Paradigm for the Study of Mixtures Arieh Ben-Naim Preferential Solvation in Mixed Solvents Yizhak Marcus Kirkwood-Buff Integrals in Fully Miscible Ternary Systems: Thermodynamic Data, Calculation, Representation, and Interpretation Enrico Matteoli, Paolo Gianni, and Luciano Lepori Accurate Force Fields for Molecular Simulation Elizabeth A. Ploetz, Samantha Weerasinghe, Myungshim Kang, and Paul E. Smith Fluctuation Solution Theory Properties from Molecular Simulation Jens Abildskov, Rasmus Wedberg, and John P. O'Connell Concentration Fluctuations and Microheterogeneity in Aqueous Mixtures: New Developments in Analogy with Microemulsions Aurelien Perera Solvation Phenomena in Dilute Solutions: Formal Results, Experimental Evidence, and Modeling Implications Ariel A. Chialvo Molecular Thermodynamic Modeling of Fluctuation Solution Theory Properties John P. O'Connell and Jens Abildskov Solubilities of Various Solutes in Multiple Solvents: A Fluctuation Theory Approach Ivan L. Shulgin and Eli Ruckenstein Why Is Fluctuation Solution Theory Indispensable for the Study of Biomolecules? Seishi Shimizu Osmophobics and Hydrophobics: The Changing Landscape of Protein Folding Matthew Auton and B. Montgomery Pettitt References Index

Fluctuation Solution Theory provides relationships between integrals of the molecular pair total and direct correlation functions and the pressure derivative of solution density, partial molar volumes, and composition derivatives of activity coefficients. For dense fluids, the integrals follow a relatively simple corresponding-states behavior even for complex systems, show welldefined relationships for infinite dilution properties in complex and near-critical systems, allow estimation of mixed-solvent solubilities of gases and pharmaceuticals, and can be expressed by simple perturbation models for densities and gas solubilities, including ionic liquids and complex mixtures such as coal liquids. The approach is especially useful in systems with strong nonidealities. This chapter describes successful application of such modeling to a wide variety of systems treated over several decades and suggests how to test Equation of State mixing rules.

Simulations of water and methanol mixtures using polarizable force fields (FFs) for methanol (COS/M and CPC) and water (COS/G2) were performed and compared to experiment and also to a nonpolarizable methanol (KBFF) model with SPC/E water in an effort to quantify the importance of explicit electronic polarization effects in bulk liquid mixtures and vapor-liquid interfaces. The bulk liquid mixture properties studied included the center of mass radial distribution functions, Kirkwood-Buff integrals (KBIs), volumetric properties, isothermal compressibility, enthalpy of mixing, dielectric constant, and diffusion coefficients. The vapor-liquid interface properties investigated included the relative surface probability distributions, surface tension, excess surface adsorption, preferred surface molecule orientations, and the surface dipole. None of the three FFs tested here was clearly superior for all of the properties examined. All the force fields typically reproduced the correct trends with composition for both the bulk and interfacial system properties; the differences between the force fields were primarily quantitative. The overall results suggest that the polarizable FFs are not, at the present stage of development, inherently better able to reproduce the studied bulk and interfacial properties-despite the added degree of explicit transferability that is, by definition, built into the polarizable models. Indeed, the specific parametrization of the FF appears to be just as important as the class of FF.

ClpB reactivates aggregated proteins in cooperation with DnaK/J. The ClpB monomer contains two nucleotide-binding domains (D1, D2), a coiled-coil domain, and an N-terminal domain attached to D1 with a 17-residue-long unstructured linker containing a Gly-Gly motif. The ClpB-mediated protein disaggregation is linked to translocation of substrates through the central channel in the hexameric ClpB, but the events preceding the translocation are poorly understood. The N-terminal domains form a ring surrounding the entrance to the channel and contribute to the aggregate binding. It was suggested that the N-terminal domain's mobility that is maintained by the unstructured linker might control the efficiency of aggregate reactivation. We produced seven variants of ClpB with modified sequence of the N-terminal linker. To increase the linker's conformational flexibility, we inserted up to four Gly next to the GG motif. To decrease the linker's flexibility, we deleted the GG motif and converted it into GP and PP. We found that none of the linker modifications inhibited the basal ClpB ATPase activity or its capability to form oligomers. However, the modified linker ClpB variants showed lower reactivation rates for aggregated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and firefly luciferase and a lower aggregate-binding efficiency than wt ClpB. We conclude that the linker does not merely connect the N-terminal domain, but it supports the chaperone activity of ClpB by contributing to the efficiency of aggregate binding and disaggregation. Moreover, our results suggest that selective pressure on the linker sequence may be crucial for maintaining the optimal efficiency of aggregate reactivation by ClpB.

Dichlorodibutylstannane, dichlorodioctylstannane and dichlorodiphenylstannane were reacted with different amounts of sodium in liquid ammonia. At a molar ratio of R2SnCl2/Na of 1:2, polystannanes precipitated, in some cases accompanied by cyclic oligostannanes. The products resulting from mixtures with R2SnCl2/Na ratios of 1:3 to 1:10 were soluble and, hence, could be studied in-situ in liquid ammonia with 119Sn NMR spectroscopy. The compounds obtained, tin hydrides of the type R2SnH− and in certain cases distannides of the composition R4Sn22−, formed essentially independent of the R2SnCl2/Na ratio; this, in contrast to views expressed in the literature. Our experiments showed that the chemical structure of the in-situ generated species did not permit to draw conclusions about the composition of the reaction products with bromoethane and vice versa – a practice commonly described. Furthermore, we observed migration of the butyl groups both in-situ during the reaction of dichlorodibutylstannane with sodium in liquid ammonia, as well as in the final reaction product. By contrast in the case of the phenyl substituent, migration was detected not during the chemical event in liquid ammonia, but only in the compounds formed. These observations imply a different mechanism for butyl and phenyl group migration.

The optical and electrophysical properties of a new nanoheterogeneous material prepared by mixing nanoparticles of p-type (Cu2S) and n-type (CdS) semiconductors are studied in this work. Different manners of mixing nanoparticles are used to obtain a material whose properties are most attractive for use in photovoltaics and photonics. The mixtures of the two types of nanoparticles show optical properties such as optical absorption and photoluminescence that are very different from those of separate components. A model explaining, in part, the features of the optical properties of the nanoparticle mixtures is suggested to describe the features of charge photogeneration in these nanoheterogeneous materials.

The activity and function of many macromolecules in cellular environments are coupled with the binding of divalent ions such as calcium or magnesium. In principle, computer simulations can be used to understand the molecular level aspects of how many important macromolecules interact with ions. However, most of the force fields currently available often fail to accurately reproduce the properties of divalent ions in aqueous environments. Here we develop classical non-polarizable force fields for the aqueous alkaline earth metal halides (MX(2)), where M = Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+) and X = Cl(−), Br(−), I(−), which can be used in bimolecular simulations and which are compatible with the Simple Point Charge/Extended (SPC/E) water model. The force field parameters are specifically developed to reproduce the experimental Kirkwood-Buff integrals for aqueous solutions and thereby the experimental activity derivatives, partial molar volumes, and excess coordination numbers. This ensures that a reasonable balance between ion-ion, ion-water, and water-water distributions is obtained. However, this requires a scaling of the cation to water oxygen interaction strength in order to accurately reproduce the integrals. The scaling factors developed for chloride salts are successfully transferable to the bromide and iodide salts. Use of these new models leads to reasonable diffusion constants and dielectric decrements. However, the performance of the models decreases with increasing salt concentration (>4m), and simulations of the pure crystals exhibited unstable behavior.

BACKGROUND: Depression and suicidality are frequently reported in patients with psychosis and schizophrenia, but the grief process that may be associated with this illness has not been systematically studied. In this study, we examined whether patients diagnosed with psychosis identify, grieve, and mourn losses engendered by the illness. METHOD: 24 patients diagnosed with psychosis in the past five years were surveyed to indicate whether their illness led to losses, and to describe their responses to the losses. Psychosis-related perceived losses were surveyed using three subscales of a loss and grief questionnaire (loss of self, self-care, and roles). Their relationship with beliefs about the illness, symptomatology, coping style, and self-efficacy and insight was studied. RESULTS: 23 (96%) patients named specific losses, and 16 patients (67%) reported feelings associated with grief and mourning. More than half reported loss of self-esteem at the onset of illness and only half saw themselves as having im...

It has been known for over a century that the presence of cosolvents such as urea and formamide can alter the morphology of NaCl crystals grown from solution. To help understand this effect we have been developing a theoretical approach based on the Kirkwood-Buff (KB) theory of solutions, and have combined this with computer simulations of the interation of urea with different crystal faces of NaCl. In this way one can predict the effect of urea on the thermodynamic stability of different NaCl faces, with atomic level detail provided by the simulations. We observe that urea is preferentially excluded from 100 and 111 crystal faces, but is less excluded from 111 faces which present chloride ions at the surface. The results indicate that the 111 face is stabilized in urea solutions and promotes the formation of octahedral over cubic NaCl crystals. The approach is totally general and can be applied to understand a variety of interfacial properties. Furthermore, we apply KB theory to study several other issues regarding the simulation of crystal growth.

This paper presents the synthesis and properties of 1,3,5-benzenetrisamides with a particular focus on structure-efficiency relationships of nucleation and optical property enhancement of isotactic poly(propylene) (i-PP). A family of twenty 1,3,5-benzenetrisamide derivatives was synthesized, in which the direction of the amide linkage between the core and the peripheral substituents, as well as their length (C-3 to C-6) and flexibility were systematically varied. Dissolution- and recrystallization temperatures of the additives in the polymer melt, the crystallization temperature of i-PP, and the optical properties clarity and haze were determined in the additive concentration range from 200 to 2 500 ppm. Within the reported series of compounds, few exhibited very good nucleating and clarification abilities, only one with outstanding characteristics, whereas other, very closely related derivatives were found to be incapable to nucleate or clarify i-PP, although, intriguingly, most are structural isomers. We conclude that it is the particular chemical structure of the additive that determines its crystallization/self-assembly process, and, therewith, the structure of the heterogeneous nuclei, and at a higher hierarchical level the morphology of the poly(propylene) solid state and its final properties; and, hence, that a predictive understanding is still elusive.