Travelling waves in dilatant non-Newtonian thin films

We prove the existence of a travelling wave solution for a gravity-driven thin film of a viscous and incompressible dilatant fluid coated with an insoluble surfactant. The governing system of second order partial differential equations for the film's height h and the surfactant's concentration γ are derived by means of lubrication theory applied to the non-Newtonian Navier–Stokes equations.     

Irreversible Structural Changes of Copper Hexacyanoferrate Used as a Cathode in Zn-Ion Batteries

The structural changes of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF), a Prussian blue analogue, which occur when used as a cathode in an aqueous Zn-ion battery, are investigated using electron microscopy techniques. The evolution of Zn_xCu_1−xHCF phases possessing wire and cubic morphologies from initial CuHCF nanoparticles are monitored after hundreds of cycles. Irreversible introduction of Zn ions to CuHCF is revealed locally using scanning transmission electron microscopy. A substitution mechanism is proposed to explain the increasing Zn content within the cathode material while simultaneously the Cu content is lowered during Zn-ion battery cycling. The present study demonstrates that the irreversible introduction of Zn ions is responsible for the decreasing Zn ion capacity of the CuHCF cathode in high electrolyte concentration.     

The evolution and future of influenza pandemic preparedness

The influenza virus is a global threat to human health causing unpredictable yet recurring pandemics, the last four emerging over the course of a hundred years. As our knowledge of influenza virus evolution, distribution, and transmission has increased, paths to pandemic preparedness have become apparent. In the 1950s, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a global influenza surveillance network that is now composed of institutions in 122 member states. This and other surveillance networks monitor circulating influenza strains in humans and animal reservoirs and are primed to detect influenza strains with pandemic potential. Both the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO have also developed pandemic risk assessment tools that evaluate specific aspects of emerging influenza strains to develop a systematic process of determining research and funding priorities according to the risk of emergence and potential impact. Here, we review the history of influenza pandemic preparedness and the current state of preparedness, and we propose additional measures for improvement. We also comment on the intersection between the influenza pandemic preparedness network and the current SARS-CoV-2 crisis. We must continually evaluate and revise our risk assessment and pandemic preparedness plans and incorporate new information gathered from research and global crises.Subject terms: Influenza virus, Infectious diseases     

Titanium Salalen Catalyzed Enantioselective Benzylic Hydroxylation

The titanium complex of the cis-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (cis-DACH) derived Berkessel-salalen ligand is a highly efficient and enantioselective catalyst for the asymmetric epoxidation of terminal olefins with hydrogen peroxide (“Berkessel-Katsuki catalyst”). We herein report that this epoxidation catalyst also effects the highly enantioselective hydroxylation of benzylic C−H bonds with hydrogen peroxide. Mechanism-based ligand optimization identified a novel nitro-salalen Ti-catalyst of the highest efficiency ever reported for asymmetric catalytic benzylic hydroxylation, with enantioselectivities of up to 98 % ee, while overoxidation to ketone is marginal. The novel nitro-salalen Ti-catalyst also shows enhanced epoxidation efficiency, as evidenced by e.g. the conversion of 1-decene to its epoxide in 90 % yield with 94 % ee, at a catalyst loading of 0.1 mol-% only.     

Chemical Validation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphopantetheine Adenylyltransferase Using Fragment Linking and CRISPR Interference**

The coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis pathway has attracted attention as a potential target for much-needed novel antimicrobial drugs, including for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), the lethal disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Seeking to identify inhibitors of Mtb phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (MtbPPAT), the enzyme that catalyses the penultimate step in CoA biosynthesis, we performed a fragment screen. In doing so, we discovered three series of fragments that occupy distinct regions of the MtbPPAT active site, presenting a unique opportunity for fragment linking. Here we show how, guided by X-ray crystal structures, we could link weakly-binding fragments to produce an active site binder with a K_D <20 μM and on-target anti-Mtb activity, as demonstrated using CRISPR interference. This study represents a big step toward validating MtbPPAT as a potential drug target and designing a MtbPPAT-targeting anti-TB drug.     

Light-Driven Catalyst-Free Access to Phthalazines: Entry to Antiviral Model Drugs by Merging Domino Reactions**

We report the development of a metal-free four-step one-pot synthetic strategy to access high-value functionalized phthalazines using o-methyl benzophenones as starting compounds. Combining a light-mediated enolization of o-methyl benzophenones/Diels-Alder reaction domino process with a subsequent deprotection/aromatization domino reaction in one-pot leads to sustainable and efficient organic synthesis. The tangible advantages, i. e., absence of catalysts or additives, utilization of commercially available and/or easily accessible substrates, mild reaction conditions, simplicity, and single work-up procedure, make this combined process highly appealing for the direct construction of various 1-aryl-phthalazines. Importantly, in vitro bioactivity evaluation of these newly prepared heterocyclic compounds demonstrated a strong antiviral efficacy against major human pathogens like HCMV and SARS-CoV-2.     

Different Complexation Behavior of P‐Functionalized Ferrocene Derivatives Towards SnCl2, SnCl4 and SnPh2Cl2: Auto‐ionization and Redox‐Type Reactions

The novel phosphonyl‐substituted ferrocene derivatives [Fe(η⁵‐Cp)(η⁵‐C₅H₃{P(O)(O‐iPr)₂}₂‐1,2)] ( Fc^1,2 ) and [Fe{η⁵‐C₅H₄P(O)(O‐iPr)₂}₂] ( Fc^1,1′ ) react with SnCl₂, SnCl₄, and SnPh₂Cl₂, giving the corresponding complexes [(Fc^1,2)₂SnCl][SnCl₃] ( 1 ), [{(Fc^1,1′)SnCl₂}_n] ( 2 ), [(Fc^1,1′)SnCl₄] ( 3 ), [{(Fc^1,1′)SnPh₂Cl₂}_n] ( 4 ), and [(Fc^1,2)SnCl₄] ( 5 ), respectively. The compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR and IR spectroscopy, ³¹P and ¹¹⁹Sn CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopy, cyclovoltammetry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and single‐crystal as well as powder X‐ray diffraction analyses. The experimental work is accompanied by DFT calculations, which help to shed light on the origin for the different reaction behavior of Fc^1,1′ and Fc^1,2 towards tin(II) chloride.