A fluorescent amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)-peptide-fluorophore-peptide-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-Pep-F-Pep-PEG) triblock conjugate with a hydrophobic fluorophore moiety at the centre of the chain is synthesized by "grafting to" technique based on Schiff-base coupling chemistry. The conjugate is characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The aqueous solution of the triblock conjugate emits blue light and exhibits a fluorescence emission band at 430 nm. The amphiphilic conjugate molecules undergo self-assembly into micelles (D ≈ 15-20 nm) in aqueous solution as confirmed from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The critical aggregation concentration is determined by pyrene fluorescence assay and is found to be 0.051 mg mL(-1) . The highly stable and low toxic fluorescent PEG-Pep-F-Pep-PEG conjugate micelles are used for imaging of HeLa cells.
ObjectivesThere is a concern worldwide that efforts to address the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have affected the frequency and intensity of domestic violence against women. Residents of urban informal settlements faced particularly stringent conditions during the response in India. Counsellors spoke with registered survivors of domestic violence in Mumbai, with two objectives: to understand how the pandemic and subsequent lockdown had changed their needs and experiences, and to recommend programmatic responses.DesignQualitative interviews and framework analysis.SettingA non-government support programme for survivors of violence against women, providing services mainly for residents of informal settlements.ParticipantsDuring follow-up telephone counselling with survivors of violence against women who had previously registered for support and consented to the use of information in research, counsellors took verbal consent for additional questions about the effects of COVID-19 on their daily life, their ability to speak with someone, and their counselling preferences. Responses were recorded as written notes.ResultsThe major concerns of 586 clients interviewed between April and July 2020 were meeting basic needs (financial stress, interrupted livelihoods and food insecurity), confinement in small homes (family tensions and isolation with abusers) and limited mobility (power imbalances in the home and lack of opportunity for disclosure and stress relief). A major source of stress was the increased burden of unpaid domestic care, which fell largely on women.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has increased the burden of poverty and gendered unpaid care. Finance and food security are critical considerations for future response, which should consider inequality, financial support, prioritising continued availability of services for survivors of violence and expanding access to social networks. Decision-makers must be aware of the gendered, intersectional effects of interventions and must include residents of informal settlements who are survivors of domestic violence in the planning and implementation of public health strategies.
The theory and practice of oxynitride glass synthesis and property evaluation came into effect since late 70's. Its importance lies in the fact of its formation at the grain-boundary of synthesized silicon-nitride ceramics with additives. Earlier, heating an oxide glass with NH 3 and/or N 2 was the route to obtain oxynitride glass. Later on greater amount of nitrogen retention was made possible using AlN or Si 3 N 4 as batch material. Silicate, borate and phosphate systems were studied in isolation or in conjugation. Melting temperature of such glasses varied from 1500-1800°C. Different technological developments regarding furnace atmosphere, temperature, compositions etc have been discussed towards a successful synthesis with a thermodynamic approach. Nitrogen content in glass as high as 36⋅ ⋅8 eq% has been reported by the application of an overpressure of 30 atm N 2. Different physical and chemical properties have been discussed in relation to nitrogen content in glass. Structural aspects have been considered with respect to XPS and IR spectroscopic studies. Finally some points have been highlighted towards some potential applications.
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