Publications by authors named "D E Townsend"
Two decades of imaging photoelectron circular dichroism: from first principles to future perspectives.
Phys Chem Chem Phys
January 2025
There has been a significant recent surge in the number of studies interrogating chiral molecules in the gas phase using photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) and related techniques. These investigations have revealed new fundamental insights into the structure and dynamics of chiral species and, furthermore, have the potential to revolutionize the field of chiral analysis for more practical and industrial applications. As it has been just over 20 years since the first PECD imaging experiments were demonstrated - and 10 years since the last dedicated general perspective article on the topic - a new overview now seems extremely timely.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVarious photoactive molecules contain motifs built on aza-aromatic heterocycles, although a detailed understanding of the excited state photophysics and photochemistry in such systems is not fully developed. To help address this issue, the non-adiabatic dynamics operating in azanaphthalenes under hexane solvation was studied following 267 nm excitation using ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. Specifically, the species quinoline, isoquinoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, 1,6-naphthyridine, and 1,8-naphthyridine were investigated, providing a systematic variation in the relative positioning of nitrogen heteroatom centres within a bicyclic aromatic structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cigarette smoking is a recognized risk factor for orthopedic disorders, particularly intervertebral disc (IVD) degenerative disease. However, the IVD pathophysiology, especially the spatial-temporal remodeling progression in the context of cigarette smoking, remains unclear. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap through a quantitative assessment of IVD structural composition and diffusion properties using a Sprague-Dawley rat model.
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- Researchers used computer predictions to design antiviral compounds targeting specific proteins (Nsps) in the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for mRNA maturation and immune evasion.
- The compound Chromenephenylmethanone-1 (CPM-1), selected for its high specificity, was synthesized and tested, showing impressive results with 98.9% inhibition of the virus and no harmful effects on cells.
- This study highlights the effectiveness of computational modeling in discovering and developing new antiviral drugs against COVID-19.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between changes in β-amyloid (Aβ) levels and cognitive decline over time, highlighting that Aβ accumulation is linked to subsequent cognitive deterioration in older adults.
- Researchers utilized sophisticated statistical models on data from a long-term study of 352 cognitively normal older participants, revealing that short-term changes in Aβ are more impactful on cognition than traditional measurements of Aβ burden and tau levels.
- Contrary to previous findings, the study found no significant link between tau levels in the medial temporal lobe and cognitive performance, suggesting that understanding cognitive decline requires looking at dynamic changes rather than static measures.