Everything below concerns reversed-phase HPLC. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Updated 2026-08-01. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
The peptide is prone to several degradation pathways. Oxidation of the methionine residue produces a sulfoxide that elutes close to the parent peak in many chromatographic systems. Hydrolysis of peptide bonds and deamidation of susceptible residues in related sequences also reduce purity over time. Lyophilised material kept dry at minus twenty degrees Celsius and shielded from light is the most stable form commonly described in laboratory practice.
Material sold for laboratory use varies widely in stated purity and documentation. A certificate of analysis should list the analytical method, the column and detector used, and the observed purity value. Independent verification by an outside laboratory is the practical way to confirm identity when documentation is absent or internally inconsistent. Regulatory status differs by country, and a product legal in one jurisdiction may be unapproved or controlled in another.
Semax is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide whose sequence extends the ACTH(4-10) fragment with a C-terminal proline-glycine-proline tripeptide. The commonly cited sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, giving a molecular formula near C37H51N9O10S and a molecular weight close to 813.9 g/mol. It belongs to the broader class of synthetic ACTH fragments studied for central nervous system effects rather than for adrenal steroid stimulation. In practice the material appears as a lyophilized white powder for laboratory work or as a dilute saline solution in clinical settings.
Development is attributed to researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow during the early 1980s, building on earlier Soviet work with ACTH fragments. Russian regulatory approval followed for intranasal use, and the compound has remained commercially available there for decades. Most published human data originate from Russian and, later, some Eastern European clinical reports, which are not always accessible in English translation. Outside that region the material is generally handled as a research chemical rather than a licensed medicine.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Lyophilised solid |
| Solubility class | Freely soluble in water | Also dissolves in aqueous buffers |
| Typical storage temperature | -20 °C | Dry, desiccated, protected from light |
| Typical analytical method | RP-HPLC with UV detection | Often paired with LC-MS |
| Water content | Reported as Karl Fischer value | Freeze-dried material is hygroscopic |
Published studies are dominated by animal models of stroke, ischemia, and cognitive impairment, with a smaller number of human trials conducted in Russia. Many of the human reports are small, single-center, and published in Russian-language journals, which limits independent scrutiny. Outcome measures vary between studies and often rely on clinician-rated scales rather than objective biomarkers. Systematic reviews have noted the methodological weaknesses and called for larger, preregistered trials before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Claims about enhanced focus, memory, or mood in healthy people rest mostly on anecdotal reports and community discussion rather than on controlled data. It remains unclear whether any cognitive benefit observed in patients recovering from brain injury would extend to uninjured users. Dose-response relationships, long-term safety, and interactions with other drugs are not well characterized in the peer-reviewed literature. Questions about optimal route of administration and treatment duration likewise remain open.
Semax binds to melanocortin receptors and is thought to influence neuronal survival and plasticity rather than to act through the adrenal axis. Laboratory work has shown increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in treated tissue. Changes in c-Fos, a marker of neuronal activation, have also been reported. Because the peptide is rapidly degraded by peptidases, its effects are generally attributed to downstream signaling cascades rather than to sustained receptor occupancy.
Clinical reports describe use in ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, optic nerve conditions, and cognitive complaints, but most of these studies are small and were conducted in a single region. Systematic reviews have generally described the evidence base as limited in size and variable in methodological quality. Randomised controlled data suitable for international regulatory assessment are scarce. As a result, major treatment guidelines outside Russia do not include the peptide, and interest in it remains largely research-driven rather than routine clinical.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It is described in the literature as an analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short N-terminal portion of adrenocorticotropic hormone that retains some neurotropic activity without the full hormonal effects of the parent peptide. The molecule carries a methionine residue at the N-terminus and two proline residues near the C-terminus, features that shape both its interactions with receptor systems and its chemical stability. The free peptide corresponds to the formula C37H51N9O10S and a molecular mass near 813.9 Da.
The compound was developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, where it emerged from research on short ACTH fragments and their effects on the central nervous system. Russian pharmaceutical listings describe it as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent, most often formulated as nasal drops. It is not a marketed medicine in the United States or the European Union, and no pharmacopoeial monograph covers it. Consequently, most published clinical experience with the substance originates from a small number of research centres, mainly in Russia and neighbouring countries.
Quality documentation for research-grade peptide usually includes a certificate of analysis stating purity, identity, and residual counterion content. Batch-to-batch variation in purity and salt form is a recognized issue, and comparisons across suppliers require attention to the exact counterion, for example acetate versus trifluoroacetate. Sequence verification by tandem mass spectrometry provides stronger evidence than a single mass measurement. For any study reporting biological results, the analytical method and the measured purity should be stated explicitly. Independent verification of supplier claims is considered good practice.
Semax is supplied as a lyophilized powder that appears white to off-white. It dissolves readily in water, phosphate-buffered saline, and other aqueous media, which simplifies preparation of working solutions for laboratory use. The nasal products registered in Russia are dilute aqueous solutions, typically around 0.1 percent peptide by weight. Organic solvents are rarely necessary and can complicate handling. Because the peptide is hygroscopic, weighing should be performed quickly and with minimal exposure to ambient humidity.
=== Physics === Candlepower (cp), a measure of luminous intensity Centipoise (cP), a unit of viscosity CP symmetry, in particle physics, the product of charge conjugation and parity Cp, the specific heat capacity at constant pressure Pressure coefficient (Cp), a parameter for studying the flow of fluids Center of pressure (fluid mechanics), the point where the total sum of a pressure field acts on a body
An allegation spread in conservative media that SVB had donated over $73 million to the "BLM Movement & Related Causes," citing a database that had been created by a conservative organization to purportedly show "who funded the BLM riots". Analysis by Talking Points Memo found the database actually showed corporate donations to a variety of diversity programs that had no apparent relationship to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Associated Press also investigated claims that the collapse was caused by a "woke agenda" and found that there was no evidence to support the claims. Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina criticized other members of Congress for politicizing the bank's failure and urged caution in making public comments that could affect the market.
NY Mag unfavorably compared the user workflow of agent-based web browsers to Amazon Alexa, which was "software talking to software, not humans talking to software pretending to be humans to use software." The same outlet described web browser agents and computer-use agents as an attempt to "click-farm the entire economy." Agents have been linked to the dead Internet theory due to their ability to both publish and engage with online content. Agents may get stuck in infinite loops. Since many inter-agent protocols are being developed by large technology companies, there are concerns that those companies could use these protocols to benefit themselves. A June 2025 Gartner report accused many projects described as agentic AI of being rebrands of previously released products, terming the phenomenon "agent washing". Researchers have warned about the impact of providing AI agents access to cryptocurrency and smart contracts. During a vibe coding experiment, a coding agent by Replit deleted a production database during a code freeze, "[covered] up bugs and issues by creating fake data [and] fake reports" and responded with false information. A user of Google Antigravity reported that, when the user attempted to use the system to delete cache, the system responded by deleting the user's D hard drive. In July 2025, PauseAI referred OpenAI to the Australian Federal Police, accusing the company of violating Australian laws through ChatGPT agent due to the risk of assisting the development of biological weapons.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Une ville célèbre, l’Angora ou l’antique Ancyre (A Famous city, the Angora or the Antik Ancyra) == In 1923, at the same time as publishing L’Art islamique, Raymond published a volume on the treasures of Turkey, Une ville célèbre, l’Angora ou l’antique Ancyre (A Famous City, Angora or Antique Ancyra) once again with Schulz. It also discusses the history of Ankara. This book is dedicated to the memory of Pierre Loti. The book was reviewed in a 1926 edition of Revue des études byzantines by L. Barral, who called it "abundantly but unevenly illustrated". He praised Raymond's plan of the town of Yeni-Chéir, and twelve plates of the Temple of Augustus and Rome, particularly two where Raymond had "attempted an interesting reconstruction of the same temple transformed into a church".
=== Khartoum massacre === In early June 2019, following al-Burhan's and Hemedti's visits to the Egyptian, UAE and Saudi leaders, the Sudanese Security Forces and Rapid Support Forces, including Janjaweed militias, led by al-Burhan and his deputy cracked down on peaceful protests in Sudan, starting with the 3 June Khartoum massacre. Human rights groups said that peaceful protesters were killed and about forty of the bodies were thrown in the river Nile, hundreds were tortured, violated and raped in the streets of Khartoum. Al-Burhan's talks with the opposition on forming a combined government were then cancelled. During the days that followed, the TMC arrested several of the opposition leaders. Iyad el-Baghdadi interpreted the decision-making by the TMC under al-Burhan's leadership as being strongly influenced by the general context of the Saudi, UAE and Egyptian leaders being afraid of democratic movements. Mahmoud Elmutasim, a political activist and doctor who graduated from the University of Khartoum, similarly stated that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are opposed to the existence of democracies in the Middle East, since if "the idea of democracy itself [should] ever take root, or become widespread in the Middle East," then it would constitute a threat to the governmental systems of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
=== Protein transport === Secretory proteins, mostly glycoproteins, are moved across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Proteins that are transported by the endoplasmic reticulum throughout the cell are marked with an address tag called a signal sequence. The N-terminus (one end) of a polypeptide chain (i.e., a protein) contains a few amino acids that work as an address tag, which are removed when the polypeptide reaches its destination. Nascent peptides reach the ER via the translocon, a membrane-embedded multiprotein complex. Proteins that are destined for places outside the endoplasmic reticulum are packed into transport vesicles and moved along the cytoskeleton toward their destination. In human fibroblasts, the ER is always co-distributed with microtubules and the depolymerisation of the latter cause its co-aggregation with mitochondria, which are also associated with the ER. The endoplasmic reticulum is also part of a protein sorting pathway. It is, in essence, the transportation system of the eukaryotic cell. The majority of its resident proteins are retained within it through a retention motif. This motif is composed of four amino acids at the end of the protein sequence. The most common retention sequences are KDEL for lumen-located proteins and KKXX for transmembrane proteins. However, variations of KDEL and KKXX do occur, and other sequences can also give rise to endoplasmic reticulum retention. It is not known whether such variation can lead to sub-ER localizations.
Since radon is a colorless, odorless gas, the only way to know how much is present in the air or water is to perform tests. In the US, radon test kits are available to the public at retail stores, such as hardware stores, for home use, and testing is available through licensed professionals, who are often home inspectors. Efforts to reduce indoor radon levels are called radon mitigation. In the US, the EPA recommends all houses be tested for radon. In the UK, under the Housing Health & Safety Rating System, property owners have an obligation to evaluate potential risks and hazards to health and safety in a residential property. Alpha-radiation monitoring over the long term is a method of testing for radon that is more common in countries outside the United States.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
A study on the composition of the Late Pleistocene carnivoran and ungulate assemblage from the Fusong Xianren Cave (Jilin, China), including common representatives of the Mammuthus-Coelodonta fauna from northeastern China, is published by Liu et al. (2026). Rose et al. (2026) provide new information on the forelimb anatomy of Eurotamandua joresi, interpreted as supporting its affinities with Palaeanodonta. Evidence from micro-computed tomography of the skeleton of Eurotamandua joresi supporting its affinities with palaeanodonts is presented by Rose et al. (2026). Cabasés Bru et al. (2026) study the anatomy of virtual brain endocasts of Metacheiromys marshi, and report evidence that petrosal lobules (controlling eye movements during locomotion) and olfactory bulbs of the studied mammal were larger than in extant pangolins, as well as evidence of presence of well developed orbital gyrus which might be related to the use of a protrusile tongue in mammals specialized in myrmecophagy. Chatar et al. (2026) report evidence from the study of tribosphenic carnassial teeth of hyaenodonts and extant and extinct members of Carnivoramorpha indicative of a trade-off during the evolution of vast majority of the studied mammals resulting in prioritization of either shearing or crushing function of the studied teeth, with only minority of predatory mammals evolving optimized dual function of carnassial teeth.
Harman trademarked the phrase "It's finger lickin' good", which eventually became the company slogan. He also introduced the "bucket meal" in 1957 (14 pieces of chicken, five bread rolls and a pint of gravy in a cardboard bucket). Serving their signature meal in a paper bucket was to become an iconic feature of the company. By 1963, there were 600 KFC restaurants, making the company the largest fast food operation in the United States. KFC popularized chicken in the fast food industry, diversifying the market by challenging the dominance of the hamburger. With significant growth in tow, the fledgling Kentucky Fried Chicken decided in 1964 that they would begin offering franchise opportunities beyond the Atlantic, and landed on the United Kingdom as its entry point into Europe. As such, the first British KFC eatery opened its doors at 92 Fishergate in Preston, Lancashire, on May 1, 1965, and still operates today. Pat Grace met with Sanders at his holiday home near Toronto, Canada, and agreed to franchise the brand in Ireland. In 1970 Grace returned to Ireland after a number of years in Canada to open his first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in Phibsboro shopping center in Dublin. Eventually he opened another six restaurants located in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. After disagreements over cost cutting with KFC management in the early 1980s, the Irish restaurants were renamed to Pat Grace's Famous Fried Chicken reportedly retaining the original recipe. These stores were closed in the late 1980s.
Milan Mrksich (born 15 August 1968) is an American chemist. He is the Henry Wade Rogers Professor at Northwestern University with appointments in chemistry, biomedical engineering and cell & developmental biology. He also served as both the founding director of the Center for Synthetic Biology and as an associate director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern. Mrksich also served as the Vice President for Research of Northwestern University. His research involves the chemistry and synthesis of surfaces that contact biological environments. His laboratory has pioneered several technologies, including strategies to integrate living cells with microelectronic devices, methods to enable high throughput assays for drug discovery, and approaches to making synthetic fusion proteins for applications as therapeutics. Most notably, he developed the SAMDI-MS biochip technology that allows for high-throughput quantification of surface-based biochemical assays using MALDI mass spectrometry. Through SAMDI-MS, Mrksich has become a leader in using label-free technology for drug discovery, founding the company SAMDI Tech in 2011 that primarily serves global pharmaceutical companies. His work has been described in over 240 publications (h-index 98), 500 invited talks, and 18 patents.
== Nicholson atom theory == In 1911 John William Nicholson published a model of the atom based on classical electrodynamics along the lines of J.J. Thomson's plum pudding model but with the negative electrons orbiting a positive nucleus rather than circulating in a sphere. To avoid immediate collapse of this system he required that electrons come in pairs so the rotational acceleration of each electron was matched across the orbit. Nicholson developed his model based on the analysis of astrophysical spectroscopy. He connected the observed spectral line frequencies with the orbits of electrons in his atoms. The connection he adopted associated the atomic electron orbital angular momentum with the Planck constant. Whereas Planck focused on a quantum of energy, Nicholson's angular momentum quantum relates to orbital frequency. This new concept gave Planck constant an atomic meaning for the first time. Nicholson's model is rarely discussed today but it heavily influenced the important Bohr quantum atom model. Nicholson's spectral results were in good agreement with experiment, forcing Bohr to address these results in his subsequent theory. By 1913 Bohr had already shown, from the analysis of alpha particle energy loss, that hydrogen had only a single electron not a matched pair required by Nicholson's model. In his 1913 paper on atoms, Bohr cites Nicholson as finding quantized angular momentum important for the atom. Bohr quantization would associate emission with differences in the energy levels hydrogen rather than being directly related to the orbital frequency.
It also turns out the BLOSUM computer code written by Henikoff and Henikoff does not exactly match the description in their paper. Surprisingly, this commonly used "wrong" version has better search performance.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is the standard method, with detection in the ultraviolet range. Peak area percentage yields a purity figure for the main component. Mass spectrometry is normally run alongside to confirm molecular identity.
Dry lyophilised powder is generally kept at minus twenty degrees Celsius, protected from light and moisture. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided because they encourage aggregation and moisture uptake. Solutions are less stable than the solid form and degrade faster at room temperature.
A certificate documents what the supplier measured, not what an independent party confirmed. Methods, instruments and acceptance criteria can differ between suppliers. Third-party testing is the usual way to resolve discrepancies.
It is a short synthetic peptide built from seven amino acids: methionine, glutamic acid, histidine, phenylalanine and three prolines. The sequence derives from the 4-10 fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone with an added proline-glycine-proline tail. No plant or animal extract is involved; the material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis.