Utility of plasma GFAP as a secondary endpoint for clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease
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X-ray microscopy is increasingly used in biology, but in most cases only in a qualitative way. We present here a 3D correlative cryo Xray microscopy approach suited for the quantification of molar concentrations and structure in native samples at nanometer scale. The multi-modal approach combines X-ray fluorescence and X-ray holographic nanotomography on ‘thick’ frozen-hydrated cells. Applied to complex macrophage cells, we extract the quantification of major and minor elements, as well as the density, in the different organelles. The intracellular landscape shows remarkable elemental differences. This novel analytical microscopy approach will be of particular interest to investigate complex biological and chemical systems in their native environment.
Atomically dispersed organometallic clusters can provide well-defined nuclearity of active sites for both fundamental studies as well as new regimes of activity and selectivity in chemical transformations. More recently, dinuclear clusters adsorbed onto solid surfaces have shown novel catalytic properties resulting from the synergistic effect of two metal centers to anchor different reactant species. Difficulty in synthesizing, stabilizing, and characterizing isolated atoms and clusters without agglomeration challenges allocating catalytic performance to atomic structure. Here, we explore the stability of dinuclear rhodium and iridium clusters adsorbed onto layered titanate and niobate supports using molecular precursors. Both systems maintain their nuclearity when Statistical analysis of HAADF-STEM images revealed that rhodium and iridium dimers had mean cluster-to-cluster distances very similar to what is expected from a random distribution of atoms over a large area, indicating that they are dispersed without aggregation. The stability of dinuclear rhodium clusters supported on titanate nanosheets was also investigated by X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), DRIFTS, and first-principles calculations. Both X-ray absorption spectroscopy and HAADF-STEM simulations, guided by density functional theory (DFT)-optimized structure models, suggested that rhodium dimers adsorb onto the nanosheets in an end-on binding mode that is stable up to 100 degrees C under reducing conditions. Finally, this study highlights that crystalline nanosheets derived from layered metal oxides can be used as model supports to selectively stabilize dinuclear clusters, which could have implications for heterogeneous catalysis.
β-coronavirus (CoVs) alone has been responsible for three major global outbreaks in the 21st century. The current crisis has led to an urgent requirement to develop therapeutics. Even though a number of vaccines are available, alternative strategies targeting essential viral components are required as a backup against the emergence of lethal viral variants. One such target is the main protease (Mpro) that plays an indispensable role in viral replication. The availability of over 270 Mpro X-ray structures in complex with inhibitors provides unique insights into ligand–protein interactions. Herein, we provide a comprehensive comparison of all nonredundant ligand-binding sites available for SARS-CoV2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV Mpro. Extensive adaptive sampling has been used to investigate structural conservation of ligand-binding sites using Markov state models (MSMs) and compare conformational dynamics employing convolutional variational auto-encoder-based deep learning. Our results indicate that not all ligand-binding sites are dynamically conserved despite high sequence and structural conservation across β-CoV homologs. This highlights the complexity in targeting all three Mpro enzymes with a single pan inhibitor.
The power of quantum chemistry to predict the ground and excited state properties of complex chemical systems has driven the development of computational quantum chemistry software, integrating advances in theory, applied mathematics, and computer science. The emergence of new computational paradigms associated with exascale technologies also poses significant challenges that require a flexible forward strategy to take full advantage of existing and forthcoming computational resources. In this context, the sustainability and interoperability of computational chemistry software development are among the most pressing issues. In this perspective, we discuss software infrastructure needs and investments with an eye to fully utilize exascale resources and provide unique computational tools for next-generation science problems and scientific discoveries.
We propose a method to compute free-energy differences from nonadiabatic alchemical transformations by using flow-based generative models. The method, nonadiabatic force matching, hinges on estimating the dissipation along an alchemical switching process in terms of a nonadiabatic force field that can be learned through stochastic flow matching. The learned field can be used in conjunction with short-time trajectory data to evaluate upper and lower bounds on the alchemical free energy that variationally converge to the exact value if the field is optimal. Applying the method to evaluate the alchemical free energy of atomistic models shows that it can substantially reduce the simulation cost of a free-energy estimate at a negligible loss of accuracy when compared with thermodynamic integration.
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High-entropy oxides (HEOs) offer exceptional compositional flexibility and structural stability, making them promising materials for energy and catalytic applications. Here, in this study, we investigate Sr doping effects on B-site cation oxidation states, local composition, and structure in epitaxial La 1–x Sr x (Cr 0.2 Mn 0.2 Fe 0.2 Co 0.2 Ni 0.2 )O 3 thin films. X-ray spectroscopies reveal that Sr doping preferentially promotes Cr oxidation from Cr 3+ to Cr 6+ , partially oxidizes Co and Ni, while leaving Mn 4+ and Fe 3+ unchanged. Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows pronounced Cr segregation, with depletion at the interface and enrichment at the surface, along with partial amorphization in heavily Sr-doped samples. This segregation is likely driven by oxidation-induced migration of smaller, high-valence Cr cations during growth. These findings highlight the critical interplay between charge compensation, local strain, and compositional fluctuations in HEOs, indicating that precise control over growth conditions is critical for tuning their surface composition and electronic structure toward more robust electrocatalyst design.
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A combination of depth-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (DRCLS) and X-ray photoemission depth profiling (XPS) measured the pronounced changes in both the electronic density of states and lithium composition near the nanoscale LixV2O5/LiPON interface. DRCLS studies of electrochemically lithiated bare V2O5 and the sputterdeposited V2O5 plus LiPON overlayer electrochemically lithiated in stages both showed that in the bulk the luminescence intensity of the “split-off” hybridized bonding density of states was anticorrelated with XPSmeasured Li content, decreasing as the Li content increased. However, the LiPON overlayer was found to modify the band structure of the underlying LixV2O5 (LVO) to a depth of at least 30 nm beneath the V2O5 interface. DRCLS spectra near the electrochemically lithiated LiPON/ LVO interface showed a significant intensity of the split-off band, implying a low Li content. However, XPS depth profiling revealed a pronounced negative gradient of Li extending from a maximum Li content at the intimate LiPON boundary to its lowest content of ∼30 nm into the V2O5 in the same region, indicating a strong interaction between band structure and Li electrochemical potential near this heterojunction. These results provide evidence for substantial effects on the local band structure near an electrolyte/cathode interface and insights into the electrochemical interface behavior of solid-state batteries in general.
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