Effect of information transmission on cooperative behavior

Considering the fact, in the real world, that information is transmitted with a time delay, we study an evolutionary spatial prisoner's dilemma game where agents update strategies according to certain information that they have learned. In our study, the game dynamics are classified by the modes of information learning as well as game interaction, and four different combinations, i.e. the mean-field case, case I, case II and local case, are studied comparatively. It is found that the time delay in case II smoothes the phase transition from the absorbing states of C (or D) to their mixing state, and promotes cooperation for most parameter values. Our work provides insights into the temporal behavior of information and the memory of the system, and may be helpful in understanding the cooperative behavior induced by the time delay in social and biological systems.

A novel nanometer-scale "gold electrode-molecular wires-silver" junction: An efficient test bed for electrochemical investigation of electron transportation through molecular wires in self-assembled monolayers

A novel "gold electrode-molecular wires-silver" junction was facilely fabricated for electrochemical study on the electron transportation through molecular wires. Rapid electron transportation through this sandwich-like structure was indeed observed by cyclic voltammograms and ac impedance measurements. Since rather reproducible and reliable results are easily available by electrochemical techniques, it would be an efficient and reliable test bed for electrochemical investigation of charge transportation through molecular wires in self-assembled monolayers on electrodes.

Single-molecule dynamics reveals cooperative binding-folding in protein recognition

The study of associations between two biomolecules is the key to understanding molecular function and recognition. Molecular function is often thought to be determined by underlying structures. Here, combining a single-molecule study of protein binding with an energy-landscape-inspired microscopic model, we found strong evidence that biomolecular recognition is determined by flexibilities in addition to structures. Our model is based on coarse-grained molecular dynamics on the residue level with the energy function biased toward the native binding structure ( the Go model). With our model, the underlying free-energy landscape of the binding can be explored. There are two distinct conformational states at the free-energy minimum, one with partial folding of CBD itself and significant interface binding of CBD to Cdc42, and the other with native folding of CBD itself and native interface binding of CBD to Cdc42. This shows that the binding process proceeds with a significant interface binding of CBD with Cdc42 first, without a complete folding of CBD itself, and that binding and folding are then coupled to reach the native binding state.

Metal-containing molecular wires and their electron transportation properties

Metal-containing conjugated bisthioester 1 was synthesized. It was fabricated into "gold electrode - molecular wires monolayers - gold nanoparticles" junction using self-assembly and nanoparticles deposition techniques. The junction is suitable for investigating the electron transportation property of molecular wires.