Chemical Proteomics and Phenotypic Profiling Identifies the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor as a Molecular Target of the Utrophin Modulator Ezutromid

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal muscle‐wasting disease arising from mutations in the dystrophin gene. Upregulation of utrophin to compensate for the missing dystrophin offers a potential therapy independent of patient genotype. The first‐in‐class utrophin modulator ezutromid/SMT C1100 was developed from a phenotypic screen through to a Phase 2 clinical trial. Promising efficacy and evidence of target engagement was observed in DMD patients after 24 weeks of treatment, however trial endpoints were not met after 48 weeks. The objective of this study was to understand the mechanism of action of ezutromid which could explain the lack of sustained efficacy and help development of new generations of utrophin modulators. Using chemical proteomics and phenotypic profiling we show that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a target of ezutromid. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that ezutromid binds AhR with an apparent K_D of 50 nm  and behaves as an AhR antagonist. Furthermore, other reported AhR antagonists also upregulate utrophin, showing that this pathway, which is currently being explored in other clinical applications including oncology and rheumatoid arthritis, could also be exploited in future DMD therapies.     

Enhancing the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Activity of Platinum Electrodes in Alkaline Media Using Nickel–Iron Clusters

Herein, we demonstrate an easy way to improve the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of Pt electrodes in alkaline media by introducing Ni–Fe clusters. As a result, the overpotential needed to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 in H₂‐saturated 0.1 m KOH is reduced for the model single‐crystal electrodes down to about 70 mV. To our knowledge, these modified electrodes outperform any other reported electrocatalysts tested under similar conditions. Moreover, the influence of 1) Ni to Fe ratio, 2) cluster coverage, and 3) the nature of the alkali‐metal cations present in the electrolyte on the HER activity has been investigated. The observed catalytic performance likely originates from both the improved water dissociation at the Ni–Fe clusters and the subsequent optimal hydrogen adsorption and recombination at Pt atoms present at the Ni–Fe/Pt boundary.     

Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence in a Y3N@C80 Endohedral Fullerene: Time‐Resolved Luminescence and EPR Studies

The endohedral fullerene Y₃N@C₈₀ exhibits luminescence with reasonable quantum yield and extraordinary long lifetime. By variable‐temperature steady‐state and time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that above 60 K the Y₃N@C₈₀ exhibits thermally activated delayed fluorescence with maximum emission at 120 K and a negligible prompt fluorescence. Below 60 K, a phosphorescence with a lifetime of 192±1 ms is observed. Spin distribution and dynamics in the triplet excited state is investigated with X‐ and W‐band EPR and ENDOR spectroscopies and DFT computations. Finally, electroluminescence of the Y₃N@C₈₀/PFO film is demonstrated opening the possibility for red‐emitting fullerene‐based organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs).     

Total Synthesis of Pulvomycin D

A synthetic route to the pulvomycin class of natural products is presented, which culminated in the first synthesis of a pulvomycin, pulvomycin D. Key elements of the strategy include a pivotal aldol reaction which led to bond formation between the C24-C40 and the C8-C23 fragment. The remaining C1-C7 fragment was attached by a Yamaguchi esterification completing the assembly of the 40 carbon atoms within the main skeleton. Ring closure to the 22-membered lactone ring was achieved in the final stages of the synthesis by a Heck reaction. The completion of the synthesis required the removal of six silyl protecting groups in combination with olefin formation at C26-C27 by a Peterson elimination.     

X-ray diffraction effects from 2H crystals undergoing transformation to the 4H structure by the shear mechanism

The 2H or ABAB… structure may be transformed to the 4H or ABCB… structure if deformation faults occur in a non-random manner. The theory of X-ray diffraction from one-dimensionally disordered crystals undergoing the 2H → 4H structural transformation by the deformation mechanism is developed. For this it is necessary to consider that the faults are not distributed entirely at random but tend to occur in such a manner as to statistically create a 4H structure. The X-ray diffraction effects are predicted.     

An Exploratory Study on the Complexity and Machine Learning Predictability of Stock Market Data

This paper shows if and how the predictability and complexity of stock market data changed over the last half-century and what influence the M1 money supply has. We use three different machine learning algorithms, i.e., a stochastic gradient descent linear regression, a lasso regression, and an XGBoost tree regression, to test the predictability of two stock market indices, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) Composite. In addition, all data under study are discussed in the context of a variety of measures of signal complexity. The results of this complexity analysis are then linked with the machine learning results to discover trends and correlations between predictability and complexity. Our results show a decrease in predictability and an increase in complexity for more recent years. We find a correlation between approximate entropy, sample entropy, and the predictability of the employed machine learning algorithms on the data under study. This link between the predictability of machine learning algorithms and the mentioned entropy measures has not been shown before. It should be considered when analyzing and predicting complex time series data, e.g., stock market data, to e.g., identify regions of increased predictability.     

Stabilization strategies for some reaction–diffusion systems

A two-component reaction–diffusion system is considered. The question of stabilizing to zero one of the components of the solution via an internal control acting on a small subdomain and preserving nonnegativity of both components is investigated. Our results apply to predator–prey systems.     

ThSi2 Type Ytterbium Disilicide and its Analogues YbTxSi2–x (T = Cr,Fe, Co)

YbSi₂ and the derivatives YbT_xSi_2–x (T = Cr, Fe, Co) crystallizing in the α‐ThSi₂ structure type were obtained as single crystals from reactions run in liquid indium. All silicides were investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, I4₁/amd space group and the lattice constants are: a = 3.9868(6) Å and c = 13.541(3) Å for YbSi₂, a = 4.0123(6) Å and c = 13.542(3) Å for YbCr_0.27Si_1.73, a = 4.0142(6) Å and c = 13.830(3) Å for YbCr_0.71Si_1.29, a = 4.0080(6) Å and c = 13.751(3) Å for YbFe_0.34Si_1.66, and a = 4.0036(6) Å, c = 13.707(3) Å for YbCo_0.21Si_1.79. YbSi₂ and YbT_xSi_2–x compounds are polar intermetallics with three‐dimensional Si and M (T+Si) polyanion sub‐networks, respectively, filled with ytterbium atoms. The degree of substitution of transition metal at the silicon site is signficant and leads to changes in the average bond lengths and bond angles substantially.