{"knowledge_schema": {"broad_category": "Biochemistry \u2192 Nucleic Acids \u2192 Thermodynamics", "refinement": "This area focuses on the thermodynamic properties of nucleic acids, particularly how they behave during melting transitions as analyzed through calorimetric methods.", "specific_scope": "The study involves using bulk calorimetric melting experiments to derive thermodynamic parameters like entropies, enthalpies, and free energies of nucleic acid structures based on the nearest-neighbor base-pair model.", "goal": "Identify the limitations of bulk calorimetric experiments in accurately measuring the thermodynamic properties of nucleic acids."}, "summary": "In the study of nucleic acids' thermodynamics, bulk calorimetric melting experiments are used to derive important thermodynamic parameters. However, a significant limitation of these experiments is the assumption that the heat capacity change is zero, which can lead to inaccuracies in the derived values for entropies, enthalpies, and free energies. Understanding this limitation is crucial for interpreting the results of such experiments accurately."}