Nanocrystalline diamond microspikes increase the efficiency of ultrasonic cell lysis in a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip

This research demonstrates that use of Nanocrystalline Diamond (NCD) microspikes in a microfluidic chamber increases the efficiency of mechanical cell lysis, as compared to a standard microfluidic surface such as glass. Microspikes made of nanocrystalline diamond were fabricated using standard MEMS techniques, and were incorporated in microfluidic chamber developed as part of a lab on a chip system. Mechanical cell lysis was performed on B16-F10 (ATCC CRL-6475) murine melanoma cells using ultrasonic vibration and the efficiency of cell lysis was determined. The microspikes puncture the cell membranes on collision greatly increasing the efficiency of cell lysis (about 400% as per fluorescence measurements) as compared to a non-textured glass surface. The effect of using cell disruption glass beads during ultrasonic lyses was also explored. This methodology of cell disruption could potentially make mechanical cell lysis a viable and preferred lysis option for lab-on-a-chip applications.     

Composition-independent Curie point (Tc) in ferroelectric (1 − x)PbTiO3–xBi(Li1/2Nb1/2)O3 solid solution

A new ferroelectric solid solution (1 − x)PbTiO₃–xBi(Li_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ has been explored to develop high-temperature piezoelectric material. An interesting observation has been found regarding its Curie point (T_C) and tetragonal lattice strain (c/a − 1). With increasing composition (x), the Curie point (T_C) decreases up to x = 0.10 and thereafter remains constant. In concurrence with the T_C, the tetragonal lattice strain (c/a − 1) follows a similar trend. Neutron powder diffraction analysis suggests this anomalous behavior is due to the robust off-centering characteristic of the Bi⁺³ ion 6S² lone pair effect at the A-site compared to ions at B-site.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cryorolled Aluminum Alloy AA2219 in Different Thermomechanical Processing Conditions

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - In the present study, aluminum alloy AA2219-T87 bars were cryorolled to various amounts of deformation in two pre-deformation conditions: (1) without...     

Predicting Potential SARS-COV-2 Drugs—In Depth Drug Database Screening Using Deep Neural Network Framework SSnet,Classical Virtual Screening and Docking

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 has altered life on a global scale. A concerted effort from research labs around the world resulted in the identification of potential pharmaceutical treatments for CoVID-19 using existing drugs, as well as the discovery of multiple vaccines. During an urgent crisis, rapidly identifying potential new treatments requires global and cross-discipline cooperation, together with an enhanced open-access research model to distribute new ideas and leads. Herein, we introduce an application of a deep neural network based drug screening method, validating it using a docking algorithm on approved drugs for drug repurposing efforts, and extending the screen to a large library of 750,000 compounds for de novo drug discovery effort. The results of large library screens are incorporated into an open-access web interface to allow researchers from diverse fields to target molecules of interest. Our combined approach allows for both the identification of existing drugs that may be able to be repurposed and de novo design of ACE2-regulatory compounds. Through these efforts we demonstrate the utility of a new machine learning algorithm for drug discovery, SSnet, that can function as a tool to triage large molecular libraries to identify classes of molecules with possible efficacy.     

润肤剂皮肤感觉性能的评估(英)

研究了不同物理化学结构（分子有无极性、不饱和度、分子链中有无分支及其分支位置和分子的大小等）的性质在皮肤表层的相互作用机理,即润肤剂的皮肤感觉性能。以矿油为参照物,采用原始评价、对比评价和总结评价的评价方法对不同化学结构物质的轻柔感和油亮感进行了详细评估。研究结果表明,物理化学特性明显影响润肤剂的轻柔感和油亮感,例如类似碳氢化合物的非极性物质相对于极性物质要粘稠些;异构烷是轻柔和光滑;带分支链的不