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Digital transformation begins now for Food Engineering

Beginning with our July issue, Food Engineering will be a 100% digital publication.




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Digital transformations require honest communication, admission of mistakes

Having honest and direct communication about what is and isn’t working is the difference between success and failure.




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The protein system transformation

It’s no surprise that alternative meat products are popping up everywhere these days. In fact, they have grown so much that Ernst & Young data predicts alternative meat could see 40% market share by volume by 2040 in the United States.




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Digital transformation relies on smart sensor data and human inputs

Without sensor data, you can’t control a process—much less begin a digital transformation at your facility. KPIs (Key performance indicators) are a way to measure how your process, packaging or even your palletizing areas are performing, but to get these KPIs requires sensor data.




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Make Maintenance Part of Your Digital Transformation Strategy

Even though new processing and packaging equipment today has maintenance tools built in, proper planning and integration into an enterprise maintenance management system makes repair activities easier to track and helps prevent a stockroom full of expensive parts that are never needed.




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Florim Stone Large-Format Tile Honored with Green Good Design Award for Sustainable Design

Florim has achieved another significant milestone, with its brand Florim stone receiving the prestigious international Green Good Design Awards 2024. 




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Raimondi Bridge Wet Saws Capable of Cutting Large Format Tiles Up to 330 cm

The Raimondi LAB330 and LAB270 bridge wet saws are capable of cutting large format tiles up to 330 cm (10.8’).




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Three New Large-Format Porcelain Tile Collections from Nemo Tile + Stone

Bryce, Blake, and Madison are Nemo Tile + Stone's new large-format porcelain tile collections. 




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Case Study: A Cozy, Hospitality-Inspired Office Transformation

BNP Media, the parent company of Floor Trends & Installation, moved to a 5,000-square-foot office in downtown Birmingham, Michigan, embracing a hybrid work model. The remodeled space features wood-look LVT by Shaw Contract and textural carpet by Interface for a hospitality-inspired feel. 




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Evaluation and selection of the quality of internal doors for buildings using building information modeling building information modeling (BIM)

The selection of building materials from various available alternatives is a critical process affected by many complicated factors. Every single element in a building has a specific function to perform. This necessitates a proper selection of material from the various available alternatives, which generally differ in their quality, performance, and cost. To make the most practical choice, th...




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What difference does it make? Exploring the transformative potential of everyday climate crisis activism by children and youth.

Children's Geographies; 06/01/2021
(AN 151284202); ISSN: 14733285
Academic Search Premier




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Anchors and thresholds in the formation of a transnational sense of belonging of migrant children in Poland.

Children's Geographies; 06/01/2023
(AN 164286254); ISSN: 14733285
Academic Search Premier






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“I Don’t Just Take Whatever They Hand to Me”: How Women Recently Released from Incarceration Access Internet Health Information

Volume 34, Issue 5, September-October 2024, Page 306-322. Read the full article ›

The post “I Don’t Just Take Whatever They Hand to Me”: How Women Recently Released from Incarceration Access Internet Health Information was curated by information for practice.



  • Journal Article Abstracts


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The role of misinformation in the 2024 election

The election is over, but rumors, lies and misinformation are here to stay. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the role misinformation played in the election and how we can protect ourselves from it.




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Think Tank launches new SMART formats to help brands elevate their packaging design

Think Tank, the UK bespoke packaging design agency, is launching new SMART packaging formats designed to help brands elevate their packaging design and boost their commercial reach.



  • Retail Supply Chain

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Almost half of UK SMBs have faced a significant business setback due to misinformation or fake reviews

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK are facing significant challenges in today’s digital landscape, with misinformation, fake reviews and inadequate search and engagement tools putting them at a serious disadvantage compared to larger competitors.




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KIOSK Information Systems Europe boosts business development and customer support with new staff

The Posiflex Group has responded to rising demand from customers in Europe by recruiting a seasoned executive to boost the European sales and marketing operations in its KIOSK subsidiary, a manufacturer of kiosks and interactive displays.




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China (Shenzhen) Cross Border E-commerce Fair set to unveil innovation and digital transformation this September

With e-commerce leaders such as Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, and TikTok on hand to share insights at the China (Shenzhen) Cross Border E-commerce Fair (CCBEC) from 11 – 13 September 2024, the show will welcome nearly 1,500 exhibitors from around the globe.




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Catina Latham, PhD, named UChicago Medicine's new Senior Vice President for Community Health Transformation and Chief Equity Officer

Catina Latham, PhD, will succeed Brenda Battle as UChicago Medicine's Senior Vice President for Community Health Transformation and Chief Equity Officer





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Structural transformations and stability of benzo[a]pyrene under high pressure

This study explores the high-pressure behavior of benzo[a]pyrene, revealing two previously unknown polymorphs at 4.8 and 7.1 GPa. These findings enhance our understanding of the structural dynamics and stability of polycyclic aromatic hydro­carbons under extreme conditions.




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Seed layer formation by deposition of micro-crystallites on a revolving substrate: modeling of the effective linear elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric coefficients

The rotating substrate method of crystallite deposition is modeled, allowing computation of effective material coefficients of the layers resulting from the averaging. A worked numerical example particularized to 6mm ZnO is provided.




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Contrasting conformational behaviors of molecules XXXI and XXXII in the seventh blind test of crystal structure prediction

Accurate modeling of conformational energies is key to the crystal structure prediction of conformational polymorphs. Focusing on molecules XXXI and XXXII from the seventh blind test of crystal structure prediction, this study employs various electronic structure methods up to the level of domain-local pair natural orbital coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [DLPNO-CCSD(T1)] to benchmark the conformational energies and to assess their impact on the crystal energy landscapes. Molecule XXXI proves to be a relatively straightforward case, with the conformational energies from generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional B86bPBE-XDM changing only modestly when using more advanced density functionals such as PBE0-D4, ωB97M-V, and revDSD-PBEP86-D4, dispersion-corrected second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (SCS-MP2D), or DLPNO-CCSD(T1). In contrast, the conformational energies of molecule XXXII prove difficult to determine reliably, and variations in the computed conformational energies appreciably impact the crystal energy landscape. Even high-level methods such as revDSD-PBEP86-D4 and SCS-MP2D exhibit significant disagreements with the DLPNO-CCSD(T1) benchmarks for molecule XXXII, highlighting the difficulty of predicting conformational energies for complex, drug-like molecules. The best-converged predicted crystal energy landscape obtained here for molecule XXXII disagrees significantly with what has been inferred about the solid-form landscape experimentally. The identified limitations of the calculations are probably insufficient to account for the discrepancies between theory and experiment on molecule XXXII, and further investigation of the experimental solid-form landscape would be valuable. Finally, assessment of several semi-empirical methods finds r2SCAN-3c to be the most promising, with conformational energy accuracy intermediate between the GGA and hybrid functionals and a low computational cost.




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Structural and biochemical characterization of the M405S variant of Desulfovibrio vulgaris formate dehydrogenase

Molybdenum- or tungsten-dependent formate dehydrogenases have emerged as significant catalysts for the chemical reduction of CO2 to formate, with biotechnological applications envisaged in climate-change mitigation. The role of Met405 in the active site of Desulfovibrio vulgaris formate dehydrogenase AB (DvFdhAB) has remained elusive. However, its proximity to the metal site and the conformational change that it undergoes between the resting and active forms suggests a functional role. In this work, the M405S variant was engineered, which allowed the active-site geometry in the absence of methionine Sδ interactions with the metal site to be revealed and the role of Met405 in catalysis to be probed. This variant displayed reduced activity in both formate oxidation and CO2 reduction, together with an increased sensitivity to oxygen inactivation.




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X-ray crystal structure of a designed rigidified imaging scaffold in the ligand-free conformation

Imaging scaffolds composed of designed protein cages fused to designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) have enabled the structure determination of small proteins by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). One particularly well characterized scaffold type is a symmetric tetrahedral assembly composed of 24 subunits, 12 A and 12 B, which has three cargo-binding DARPins positioned on each vertex. Here, the X-ray crystal structure of a representative tetrahedral scaffold in the apo state is reported at 3.8 Å resolution. The X-ray crystal structure complements recent cryo-EM findings on a closely related scaffold, while also suggesting potential utility for crystallographic investigations. As observed in this crystal structure, one of the three DARPins, which serve as modular adaptors for binding diverse `cargo' proteins, present on each of the vertices is oriented towards a large solvent channel. The crystal lattice is unusually porous, suggesting that it may be possible to soak crystals of the scaffold with small (≤30 kDa) protein cargo ligands and subsequently determine cage–cargo structures via X-ray crystallography. The results suggest the possibility that cryo-EM scaffolds may be repurposed for structure determination by X-ray crystallography, thus extending the utility of electron-microscopy scaffold designs for alternative structural biology applications.




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Structures of Brucella ovis leucine-, isoleucine-, valine-, threonine- and alanine-binding protein reveal a conformationally flexible peptide-binding cavity

Brucella ovis is an etiologic agent of ovine epididymitis and brucellosis that causes global devastation in sheep, rams, goats, small ruminants and deer. There are no cost-effective methods for the worldwide eradication of ovine brucellosis. B. ovis and other protein targets from various Brucella species are currently in the pipeline for high-throughput structural analysis at the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets. Furthermore, the wealth of structures generated are effective tools for teaching scientific communication, structural science and biochemistry. One of these structures, B. ovis leucine-, isoleucine-, valine-, threonine- and alanine-binding protein (BoLBP), is a putative periplasmic amino acid-binding protein. BoLBP shares less than 29% sequence identity with any other structure in the Protein Data Bank. The production, crystallization and high-resolution structures of BoLBP are reported. BoLBP is a prototypical bacterial periplasmic amino acid-binding protein with the characteristic Venus flytrap topology of two globular domains encapsulating a large central cavity containing the peptide-binding region. The central cavity contains small molecules usurped from the crystallization milieu. The reported structures reveal the conformational flexibility of the central cavity in the absence of bound peptides. The structural similarity to other LBPs can be exploited to accelerate drug repurposing.




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In situ characterization of stresses, deformation and fracture of thin films using transmission X-ray nanodiffraction microscopy

The use of hard X-ray transmission nano- and microdiffraction to perform in situ stress and strain measurements during deformation has recently been demonstrated and used to investigate many thin film systems. Here a newly commissioned sample environment based on a commercially available nanoindenter is presented, which is available at the NanoMAX beamline at the MAX IV synchrotron. Using X-ray nanoprobes of around 60–70 nm at 14–16 keV and a scanning step size of 100 nm, we map the strains, stresses, plastic deformation and fracture during nanoindentation of industrial coatings with thicknesses in the range of several micrometres, relatively strong texture and large grains. The successful measurements of such challenging samples illustrate broad applicability. The sample environment is openly accessible for NanoMAX beamline users through the MAX IV sample environment pool, and its capability can be further extended for specific purposes through additional available modules.




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A thermal deformation optimization method for cryogenically cooled silicon crystal monochromators under high heat load

A method to optimize the thermal deformation of an indirectly cryo-cooled silicon crystal monochromator exposed to intense X-rays at a low-emittance diffraction-limited synchrotron radiation source is presented. The thermal-induced slope error of the monochromator crystal has been studied as a function of heat transfer efficiency, crystal temperature distribution and beam footprint size. A partial cooling method is proposed, which flattens the crystal surface profile within the beam footprint by modifying the cooling contact area to optimize the crystal peak temperature. The optimal temperature varies with different photon energies, which is investigated, and a proper cooling strategy is obtained to fulfil the thermal distortion requirements over the entire photon energy range. At an absorbed power up to 300 W with a maximum power density of 44.8 W mm−2 normal incidence beam from an in-vacuum undulator, the crystal thermal distortion does not exceed 0.3 µrad at 8.33 keV. This method will provide references for the monochromator design on diffraction-limited synchrotron radiation or free-electron laser light sources.




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Image registration for in situ X-ray nano-imaging of a composite battery cathode with deformation

The structural and chemical evolution of battery electrodes at the nanoscale plays an important role in affecting the cell performance. Nano-resolution X-ray microscopy has been demonstrated as a powerful technique for characterizing the evolution of battery electrodes under operating conditions with sensitivity to their morphology, compositional distribution and redox heterogeneity. In real-world batteries, the electrode could deform upon battery operation, causing challenges for the image registration which is necessary for several experimental modalities, e.g. XANES imaging. To address this challenge, this work develops a deep-learning-based method for automatic particle identification and tracking. This approach was not only able to facilitate image registration with good robustness but also allowed quantification of the degree of sample deformation. The effectiveness of the method was first demonstrated using synthetic datasets with known ground truth. The method was then applied to an experimental dataset collected on an operating lithium battery cell, revealing a high degree of intra- and interparticle chemical complexity in operating batteries.




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Modelling the power threshold and optimum thermal deformation of indirectly liquid-nitro­gen cryo-cooled Si monochromators

Maximizing the performance of crystal monochromators is a key aspect in the design of beamline optics for diffraction-limited synchrotron sources. Temperature and deformation of cryo-cooled crystals, illuminated by high-power beams of X-rays, can be estimated with a purely analytical model. The analysis is based on the thermal properties of cryo-cooled silicon crystals and the cooling geometry. Deformation amplitudes can be obtained, quickly and reliably. In this article the concept of threshold power conditions is introduced and defined analytically. The contribution of parameters such as liquid-nitro­gen cooling efficiency, thermal contact conductance and interface contact area of the crystal with the cooling base is evaluated. The optimal crystal illumination and the base temperature are inferred, which help minimize the optics deformation. The model has been examined using finite-element analysis studies performed for several beamlines of the Diamond-II upgrade.




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A closer look at high-energy X-ray-induced bubble formation during soft tissue imaging

Improving the scalability of tissue imaging throughput with bright, coherent X-rays requires identifying and mitigating artifacts resulting from the interactions between X-rays and matter. At synchrotron sources, long-term imaging of soft tissues in solution can result in gas bubble formation or cavitation, which dramatically compromises image quality and integrity of the samples. By combining in-line phase-contrast imaging with gas chromatography in real time, we were able to track the onset and evolution of high-energy X-ray-induced gas bubbles in ethanol-embedded soft tissue samples for tens of minutes (two to three times the typical scan times). We demonstrate quantitatively that vacuum degassing of the sample during preparation can significantly delay bubble formation, offering up to a twofold improvement in dose tolerance, depending on the tissue type. However, once nucleated, bubble growth is faster in degassed than undegassed samples, indicating their distinct metastable states at bubble onset. Gas chromatography analysis shows increased solvent vaporization concurrent with bubble formation, yet the quantities of dissolved gasses remain unchanged. By coupling features extracted from the radiographs with computational analysis of bubble characteristics, we uncover dose-controlled kinetics and nucleation site-specific growth. These hallmark signatures provide quantitative constraints on the driving mechanisms of bubble formation and growth. Overall, the observations highlight bubble formation as a critical yet often overlooked hurdle in upscaling X-ray imaging for biological tissues and soft materials and we offer an empirical foundation for their understanding and imaging protocol optimization. More importantly, our approaches establish a top-down scheme to decipher the complex, multiscale radiation–matter interactions in these applications.




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In situ characterization of stresses, deformation and fracture of thin films using transmission X-ray nanodiffraction microscopy. Corrigendum

Errors in variable subscripts, equations and Fig. 8 in Section 3.2 of the article by Lotze et al. [(2024). J. Synchrotron Rad. 31, 42–52] are corrected.




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Mol­ecular structure and selective theophylline com­plexation by conformational change of diethyl N,N'-(1,3-phenyl­ene)dicarbamate

The receptor ability of diethyl N,N'-(1,3-phenyl­ene)dicarbamate (1) to form host–guest com­plexes with theophylline (TEO) and caffeine (CAF) by mechanochemistry was evaluated. The formation of the 1–TEO com­plex (C12H16N2O4·C7H8N4O2) was preferred and involves the conformational change of one of the ethyl carbamate groups of 1 from the endo conformation to the exo conformation to allow the formation of inter­molecular inter­actions. The formation of an N—H⋯O=C hydrogen bond between 1 and TEO triggers the conformational change of 1. CAF mol­ecules are unable to form an N—H⋯O=C hydrogen bond with 1, making the conformational change and, therefore, the formation of the com­plex impossible. Conformational change and selective binding were monitored by IR spectroscopy, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The 1–TEO com­plex was characterized by IR spectroscopy, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.




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Formation of extended polyiodides at large cation templates

By studying the structures of (μ-1,4,10,13-tetra­thia-7,16-di­aza­cyclo­octa­deca­ne)bis[iodidopalladium(II)] diiodide penta­(diiodine), [Pd2I2(C12H26N2S4)](I)2·5I2 or [Pd2I2([18]aneN2S4)](I)2·(I2)5, and 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexa­oxa-1,10-diazo­niabi­cyclo­[8.8.8]hexa­cosane triiodide iodide hemi­penta­(diiodine) di­chloro­methane mono­solvate, C18H38N2O62+·I3−·I−·2.5I2·CH2Cl2 or [H2([2.2.2]cryptand)](I3)(I)(I2)2.5·CH2Cl2, we confirm the structural variety of extended polyiodides achievable upon changing the shape, charge and dimensions of the cation template, by altering the synthetic strategy adopted and/or the experimental conditions. Although it is still often difficult to characterize discrete [I2m+n]n− polyiodides higher than I3− on the basis of structural parameters, such as I—I bond distances, FT–Raman spectroscopy appears to identify them as aggregates of I2, I− and (symmetric or slightly asymmetric) I3− building blocks linked by I⋯I inter­actions of varying strengths. However, because FT–Raman spectroscopy carries no information about the topological features of extended polyiodides, the two techniques should therefore be applied in combination to enhance the analysis of this kind of compounds.




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Formation of a di­iron–(μ-η1:η1-CN) com­plex from aceto­nitrile solution

The activation of C—C bonds by transition-metal com­plexes is of continuing inter­est and aceto­nitrile (MeCN) has attracted attention as a cyanide source with com­paratively low toxicity for organic cyanation reactions. A di­iron end-on μ-η1:η1-CN-bridged com­plex was obtained from a crystallization experiment of an open-chain iron–NHC com­plex, namely, μ-cyanido-κ2C:N-bis­{[(aceto­nitrile-κN)[3,3'-bis­(pyridin-2-yl)-1,1'-(methyl­idene)bis­(benzimidazol-2-yl­idene)]iron(II)} tris­(hexa­fluoro­phos­phate), [Fe2(CN)(C2H3N)2(C25H18N6)2](PF6)3. The cyanide appears to originate from the MeCN solvent by C—C bond cleavage or through carbon–hy­dro­gen oxidation.




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Managing macromolecular crystallographic data with a laboratory information management system

Protein crystallography is an established method to study the atomic structures of macromolecules and their complexes. A prerequisite for successful structure determination is diffraction-quality crystals, which may require extensive optimization of both the protein and the conditions, and hence projects can stretch over an extended period, with multiple users being involved. The workflow from crystallization and crystal treatment to deposition and publication is well defined, and therefore an electronic laboratory information management system (LIMS) is well suited to management of the data. Completion of the project requires key information on all the steps being available and this information should also be made available according to the FAIR principles. As crystallized samples are typically shipped between facilities, a key feature to be captured in the LIMS is the exchange of metadata between the crystallization facility of the home laboratory and, for example, synchrotron facilities. On completion, structures are deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and the LIMS can include the PDB code in its database, completing the chain of custody from crystallization to structure deposition and publication. A LIMS designed for macromolecular crystallography, IceBear, is available as a standalone installation and as a hosted service, and the implementation of key features for the capture of metadata in IceBear is discussed as an example.




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Comparison of two crystal polymorphs of NowGFP reveals a new conformational state trapped by crystal packing

Crystal polymorphism serves as a strategy to study the conformational flexibility of proteins. However, the relationship between protein crystal packing and protein conformation often remains elusive. In this study, two distinct crystal forms of a green fluorescent protein variant, NowGFP, are compared: a previously identified monoclinic form (space group C2) and a newly discovered ortho­rhombic form (space group P212121). Comparative analysis reveals that both crystal forms exhibit nearly identical linear assemblies of NowGFP molecules interconnected through similar crystal contacts. However, a notable difference lies in the stacking of these assemblies: parallel in the monoclinic form and perpendicular in the orthorhombic form. This distinct mode of stacking leads to different crystal contacts and induces structural alteration in one of the two molecules within the asymmetric unit of the orthorhombic crystal form. This new conformational state captured by orthorhombic crystal packing exhibits two unique features: a conformational shift of the β-barrel scaffold and a restriction of pH-dependent shifts of the key residue Lys61, which is crucial for the pH-dependent spectral shift of this protein. These findings demonstrate a clear connection between crystal packing and alternative conformational states of proteins, providing insights into how structural variations influence the function of fluorescent proteins.




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Conformation–aggregation interplay in the simplest aliphatic ethers probed under high pressure

The structures of the simplest symmetric primary ethers [(CnH2n+1)2O, n = 1–3] determined under high pressure revealed their conformational preferences and intermolecular interactions. In three new polymorphs of di­ethyl ether (C2H5)2O, high pressure promotes intermolecular CH⋯O contacts and enforces a conversion from the trans–trans conformer present in the α, β and γ phases to the trans–gauche conformer, which is higher in energy by 6.4 kJ mol−1, in the δ phase. Two new polymorphs of di­methyl ether (CH3)2O display analogous transformations of the CH⋯O bonds. The crystal structure of di-n-propyl ether (C3H7)2O, determined for the first time, is remarkably stable over the whole pressure range investigated from 1.70 up to 5.30 GPa.




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Comprehensive encoding of conformational and compositional protein structural ensembles through the mmCIF data structure

In the folded state, biomolecules exchange between multiple conformational states crucial for their function. However, most structural models derived from experiments and computational predictions only encode a single state. To represent biomolecules accurately, we must move towards modeling and predicting structural ensembles. Information about structural ensembles exists within experimental data from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. Although new tools are available to detect conformational and compositional heterogeneity within these ensembles, the legacy PDB data structure does not robustly encapsulate this complexity. We propose modifications to the macromolecular crystallographic information file (mmCIF) to improve the representation and interrelation of conformational and compositional heterogeneity. These modifications will enable the capture of macromolecular ensembles in a human and machine-interpretable way, potentially catalyzing breakthroughs for ensemble–function predictions, analogous to the achievements of AlphaFold with single-structure prediction.




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Structure–property relationship of a complex photoluminescent arylacetylide-gold(I) compound. I: a pressure-induced phase transformation caught in the act

A pressure-induced triclinic-to-monoclinic phase transition has been caught `in the act' over a wider series of high-pressure synchrotron diffraction experiments conducted on a large, photoluminescent organo-gold(I) compound. Here, we describe the mechanism of this single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition, the onset of which occurs at ∼0.6 GPa, and we report a high-quality structure of the new monoclinic phase, refined using aspherical atomic scattering factors. Our case illustrates how conducting a fast series of diffraction experiments, enabled by modern equipment at synchrotron facilities, can lead to overestimation of the actual pressure of a phase transition due to slow transformation kinetics.




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Puckering effects of 4-hy­droxy-l-proline isomers on the conformation of ornithine-free Gramicidin S

The cyclic peptide cyclo(Val-Leu-Leu-d-Phe-Pro)2 (peptide 1) was specifically designed for structural chemistry investigations, drawing inspiration from Gramicidin S (GS). Previous studies have shown that Pro residues within 1 adopt a down-puckering conformation of the pyrrolidine ring. By incorporating fluoride-Pro with 4-trans/cis-isomers into 1, an up-puckering conformation was successfully induced. In the current investigation, introducing hy­droxy­prolines with 4-trans/cis-isomer configurations (tHyp/cHyp) into 1 gave cyclo(Val-Leu-Leu-d-Phe-tHyp)2 methanol disolvate monohydrate, C62H94N10O12·2CH4O·H2O (4), and cyclo(Val-Leu-Leu-d-Phe-cHyp)2 monohydrate, C62H94N10O12·H2O (5), respectively. However, the puckering of 4 and 5 remained in the down conformation, regardless of the geometric position of the hydroxyl group. Although the backbone structure of 4 with trans-substitution was asymmetric, the asymmetric backbone of 5 with cis-substitution was unexpected. It is speculated that the anti­cipated influence of stress from the geometric positioning, which was expected to affect the puckering, may have been mitigated by inter­actions between the hydroxyl groups of hy­droxy­proline, the solvent mol­ecules, and peptides.




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Marine Mineral Formations in the Arctic Ocean Challenge Existing Geologic Theories

A new study from USGS describes a previously unknown process of marine mineral formation in the Arctic Ocean, driven by frictional heating along tectonic faults rather than by hydrothermal activity. 




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Medical Co. Ready for a Transformative F2025

Source: Dr. Douglas Loe 11/05/2024

The Leede Financial Inc. analyst also noted that while F2024 is a transition year for Profound Medical Corp. (PROF:NASDAQ; PRN:TSX), F2025 is expected to be transformative for U.S. TULSA-PRO adoption. rates.

Leede Financial Inc. analyst Dr. Douglas Loe, in a research report published on November 4, 2024, maintained a Buy rating on Profound Medical Corp. (PROF:NASDAQ; PRN:TSX) with a price target of US$18.00. The report follows Profound's announcement that its TULSA-PRO device will receive a Category One CPT code from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Loe highlighted the significance of the reimbursement update, stating, "We have long viewed device-specific U.S. reimbursement codes for TULSA-PRO to be integral to its broader adoption in urology/oncology markets, and today's update thus solidifies TULSA-PRO's status on that theme."

The analyst emphasized the favorable reimbursement rates, noting, "Hospitals/ASCs will be reimbursed at the Medicare average of US$12,992/US$10,728 per procedure. This is sufficient economic incentive in our view to drive TULSA-PRO installed base and procedure volume growth in F2025 and thereafter."

Regarding growth projections, Loe stated, "Our model assumes that consolidated revenue/EBITDA/EPS in F2025 of US$34.9M/(US$3.9M)/(US$0.20/shr), but then lifting substantially on all metrics to US$59.1M/US$14.7M/US$0.10/shr in F2026 and then to US$95.5M/US$38.1M/US$1.05/shr in F2027."

The report highlighted potential strategic interest, with Loe noting, "We expect urology-focused suitors to show tangible interest in Profound as the annual top-line performance approaches US$100M on a run-rate basis, which our model projects by FH227."

Leede Financial's valuation methodology combines multiple approaches. Loe explained, "Our valuation still based on NPV (20% discount rate) and multiples of our F2027 EBITDA/fd EPS forecasts (US$38.1M & US$1.05/shr, respectively), with our EV calculation incorporating FQ224 balance sheet data (cash of US$34.1M, total debt of US$6.0M) and fully-diluted S/O of 26.0M."

The analyst also noted that while F2024 is a transition year, F2025 is expected to be transformative for U.S. TULSA-PRO adoption rates.

In conclusion, Leede Financial's maintenance of its Buy rating and US$18 price target reflects confidence in Profound Medical's growth potential following the favorable reimbursement update. The share price at the time of the report of US$7.35 represents a potential return of approximately 145% to the analyst's target price, highlighting the significant upside potential as the company advances its commercialization efforts.

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Disclosures for Leede Financial Inc., Profound Medical Corp., November 4, 2024

Important Information and Legal Disclaimers Leede Financial Inc. (Leede) is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). This document is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular investing strategy. Data from various sources were used in the preparation of these documents; the information is believed but in no way warranted to be reliable, accurate and appropriate. All information is as of the date of publication and is subject to change without notice. Any opinions or recommendations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Leede. Leede cannot accept any trading instructions via e-mail as the timely receipt of e-mail messages, or their integrity over the Internet, cannot be guaranteed. Dividend yields change as stock prices change, and companies may change or cancel dividend payments in the future. All securities involve varying amounts of risk, and their values will fluctuate, and the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates will also impact your investment returns if measured in Canadian Dollars. Past performance does not guarantee future returns, investments may increase or decrease in value, and you may lose money. Leede employees may buy and sell shares of the companies that are recommended for their own accounts and for the accounts of other clients. Disclosure codes are used in accordance with Policy 3600 of CIRO.

Dissemination All final research reports are disseminated to existing and potential institutional clients of Leede Financial Inc. (Leede) in electronic form to intended recipients thorough e-mail and third-party aggregators. Research reports are posted to the Leede website and are accessible to customers who are entitled to the firm’s research. Reproduction of this report in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Research Analyst Certification The Research Analyst(s) who prepare this report certify that their respective report accurately reflects his/her personal opinion and that no part of his/her compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views as to the securities or companies. Leede Financial Inc. (Leede) compensates its research analysts from a variety of sources and research analysts may or may not receive compensation based upon Leede investment banking revenue. Canadian Disclosures This research has been approved by Leede Financial Inc. (Leede), which accepts sole responsibility for this research and its dissemination in Canada. Leede is registered and regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Canadian clients wishing to effect transactions in any designated investment discussed should do so through a Leede Registered Representative.

U.S. Disclosures This research report was prepared by Leede Financial Inc. (Leede). Leede is registered and regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). This report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities discussed herein. Leede is not registered as a broker-dealer in the United States and is not subject to U.S. rules regarding the preparation of research reports and the independence of research analysts. Any resulting transactions should be effected through a U.S. broker-dealer.

( Companies Mentioned: PROF:NASDAQ; PRN:TSX, )




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Information Security: Harnessing the Overlooked Source for SMB Competitive Advantage

On-Demand Webinar >  Watch Now!>>SPONSORED BY: AT&TWatch this FREE on-demand webinar to learn how to make the connections between information security and competitive success for yo...




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Catawba County makes information on traffic incident locations available via Twitter.

Catawba County has upgraded a feed from its 911 Center of the information on calls regarding traffic incidents. The feed shows the type of incident reported, such as a vehicle accident, stranded motorist or vehicle fire, and gives the location of the incident. Only traffic related incidents are reported through this feed.




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Catawba County Children's Agenda Planning Committee releases report after two years of gathering information.

The committee compiled existing information about the status of children in the county. It also held public meetings and surveyed members of the public about their priorities and ideas. The committee found that most children in the county are well-cared for, but that a substantial number are falling through the cracks. A major cause of concern is the large number of children living in poverty.




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Catawba County Facts and Figures page gives wealth of information in many categories

Catawba County has launched a performance dashboard, a program that will be the gateway for hundreds of pieces of data on dozens of topics related to the County government, demographics and quality of life. Catawba County Facts and Figures, offers users a choice of exploring data grouped into eight broad categories.