Calorimetry Instrumentation and Biophysics

量热法是一种灵敏的生物物理技术，可以用来研究聚合、构象变化、相变和其他分子相互作用。专利传导量热法正被应用于与NIH内部和外部科学家的合作研究项目。用于同时测量热容和导热系数的两种研究原型仪器正在评估中，以供进一步开发和应用。仪器仪表的一个具体目标是通过更新操作系统、数据采集子系统以及校准和数据分析子系统来提高这些仪器的可用性。这种量热方法的发展使几个生物医学研究应用受益，包括胶原纤维结构和功能(NICHD)、膜脂质体的热力学性质(NIAMS)和肌动蛋白聚合(马里兰大学)。在本报告所述期间，在DBEPS的支持下，对仪器的硬件和软件数据采集系统进行了升级，以更好地满足国家卫生研究院的研究需要。

Calorimetry is a sensitive biophysical technique that allows investigation into polymerizations, conformational changes, phase transitions, and other molecular interactions. Patented conduction calorimetry is being applied to collaborative research projects with both NIH intramural and extramural scientists. Two research prototype instruments, for simultaneous heat capacity and thermal conductivity measurements, are being evaluated for further development and applications. A specific instrumentation aim is to improve the usability of these instruments by updating the operating systems, the data collection subsystem, and the calibration and data analysis subsystems. This calorimetric method development has benefited several biomedical research applications, including the studies of collagen fiber structure and function (NICHD), thermodynamic properties of membrane liposomes (NIAMS), and actin polymerization (University of Maryland). Under DBEPS' support in this reporting period, the instruments have been upgraded in both hardware and software data acquisition systems to better meet the research needs at NIH.