Publications by authors named "D R Townsend"
Various 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- 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.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance use disorder but there is incomplete knowledge of the underlying molecular etiology. Here, we examined the cytosolic proteome from the nucleus accumbens core (NAcC) of ethanol drinking rhesus macaques to identify ethanol-sensitive signaling proteins. The targets were subsequently investigated using bioinformatics, genetic, and pharmacological manipulations in mouse models of ethanol drinking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF