Early Stages Of Research Research Articles

Cost-of-living: the impact on emotional support for young Londoners

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the ways in which the cost-of-living crisis affected emotional support access and availability among multiply-marginalised UK-based youth. Design/methodology/approach This study reports findings from early stages of a multiphase youth participatory action research (YPAR) project. In all, 12 young residents of Tower Hamlets London (ages 16–22 years) employed as peer researchers conducted 14 focus groups with 44 residents of Tower Hamlets over a six-month period. Data were analysed using principles of reflective thematic analysis. Findings Analyses produced salient themes that identified barriers to obtaining emotional support from parents and carers, described the utility of diverse support networks and elucidated the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on emotional support and youth well-being. Research limitations/implications This study has several limitations pertaining primarily to study design, sample size and sample composition that limit generalizability of findings. The findings indicate that the cost-of-living crisis markedly constrained the participants’ access to and availability of formal and informal support from others. Practical implications The findings from this research will influence the design and delivery of policy and services to better meet the needs and experiences of UK-based young people and their families. Social implications This project has the potential to increase understanding of how families can provide effective emotional support to young people and so improve the lives of Londoners now and in the future. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ study, this study is the first to use a YPAR approach to exploring the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on UK-based youth.

Mixed-Functions IoT devices: a Regulatory and Liability Requirements’ Maze. A First Overview

Abstract This early-stage research article intends to explore the regulatory and liability requirements of a not yet fully developed subset of consumer Internet of Things (IoT) objects: the mixed-functions IoT devices. These objects could be wearables or not but could perform an e-health function, such as measuring your heartbeat, as well as consumer functions, such as displaying chat notifications. I argue that these mixed-functions devices will play an important role within smart homes as they will interact with new medical IoT devices to carry on rehabilitation and other medical functions at home. That is why it is important to start mapping down all the regulatory and liability requirements that might interest mixed-functions IoT device developers for them to understand which thread to follow in this regulatory and liability requirements maze.

Application of Drug Delivery System Based on Nanozyme Cascade Technology in Chronic Wound.

Chronic wounds are characterized by long-term inflammation, including diabetic ulcers, traumatic ulcers, etc., which provide an optimal environment for bacterial proliferation. At present, antibiotics are the main clinical treatment method for chronic wound infections. However, the overuse of antibiotics may accelerate the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, which poses a significant threat to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies for bacterial infections. Nanozyme-based antimicrobial therapy (NABT) is an emerging antimicrobial strategy with broad-spectrum activity and low drug resistance compared to traditional antibiotics. NABT has shown great potential as an emerging antimicrobial strategy by catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with its enzyme-like catalytic properties, producing a powerful bactericidal effect without developing drug resistance. Nanozyme-based cascade antimicrobial technology offers a new approach to infection control, effectively improving antimicrobial efficacy by activating cascades against bacterial cell membranes and intracellular DNA while minimizing potential side effects. However, it is worth noting that this technology is still in the early stages of research. This article comprehensively reviews wound classification, current methods for the treatment of wound infection, different types of nanozymes, the application of nanozyme cascade reaction technology in antimicrobial therapy, and future challenges and prospects.

The public use of early-stage scientific advances in carbon dioxide removal: a science-technology-policy-media perspective

Abstract While Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) solutions are considered essential to meet Paris Agreement objectives and curb climate change, their maturity and current ability to operate at scale are highly debated. The rapid development, deployment, and diffusion of such methods will likely require the coordination of science, technology, policy, and societal support. This article proposes a bibliometric approach to quantify the public use of early-stage research in CDR. Specifically, we employ generalized linear models to estimate the likelihood that scientific advances in eight different carbon removal solutions may induce (i) further production of scientific knowledge, (ii) technological innovation, and (iii) policy and media discussion. Our main result is that research in CDR is of significant social value. CDR research generates significant, positive, yet heterogeneous spillovers within science and from science to technology, policy, and media. In particular, advances in Direct Air Capture spur further research and tend to result in patentable technologies, while Blue Carbon and Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage appear to gain relative momentum in the policy and public debate. Moreover, scientific production and collaborations cluster geographically by type of CDR, potentially affecting long-term carbon removal strategies. Overall, our results suggest the existence of coordination gaps between science, technology, policy, and public support.

Highly pure measles virus generated by combination of salt-active nuclease treatment and heparin affinity chromatography

Highly purified virus preparations are essential for accurate activity and potency determination. This requires simple and efficient purification methods, especially in the early stages of research and development. While heparin affinity chromatography has been already successfully used for the purification of several enveloped viruses and virus-like particles, we extended its use to purification of very sensitive measles virus. The performance of heparin and heparin-like affinity chromatography was evaluated for the purification of recombinant measles virus, a large and labile enveloped virus used as vaccine or cancer therapy. Since DNA, particularly in the form of chromatin is a critical impurity in enveloped virus preparations, the effect of integration of an endonuclease (Benzonase® or M-SAN) treatment prior to chromatography was also investigated.Both, Capto™ DeVirS (heparin-like) and Capto™ Heparin were able to capture measles viruses directly from clarified cell culture supernatant. Despite capturing 100% of infectious measles virus, low recovery (8%) was observed for Capto™ DeVirS. For Capto™ Heparin recoveries up to 85% were observed. The combination of M-SAN with Capto™ Heparin enabled the production of highly purified measles virus with a yield of 62% and a final purity of 10.2 ng dsDNA per dose (1×105), outperforming the processes without endonuclease treatment with a yield of 18%, and a purity of 66.7 ng dsDNA/dose or using Benzonase® with a yield of 38% and a purity of 21.2 ng dsDNA/dose. As the developed method is simple and scalable it could also be integrated in a downstream process train for measles virus manufacturing.

Structural Insights and Biological Activities of Furan-Based Drugs in the Treatment of Human Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases present significant public health challenges, driving the search for innovative therapeutic strategies. This review explores the neuroprotective potential of furan-containing compounds, which are derived from various natural and synthetic sources. These compounds are observed for their diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. By scavenging free radicals and mitigating oxidative stress, they address a key aspect of neurodegeneration. Additionally, furan derivatives modulate inflammatory pathways, potentially reducing neuroinflammation, a critical factor in the progression of these disorders. The review also highlights the impact of these compounds on neuronal survival and regeneration, suggesting their role in promoting neurogenesis and enhancing neuronal plasticity. Their interactions with neurotransmitter systems further support their neuroprotective effects, particularly in maintaining synaptic function and neurotransmission. The potential applications of furan-containing compounds are discussed concerning specific neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Insights from preclinical studies and in vitro experiments underscore their therapeutic promise across various experimental models. While still in the early stages of research, the evidence suggests that furan-containing compounds could be valuable in developing effective interventions for neurodegenerative diseases. This review emphasizes the need for further investigation into these compounds to realize their potential as neuroprotective agents fully.

Abstract B163: Researcher, Clinician, and Community Focus Groups to Inform an Understanding of Cancer Disparities in the Transgender and Gender Diverse

Abstract Background: A growing number of Americans identify as transgender or gender diverse (TGD). This population experiences barriers and challenges across to socio-ecological spectrum including healthcare. Simultaneously, there is limited data on cancer in TGD persons. While advances in data-capture provide promising opportunity for future research, a comprehensive understanding of cancer disparities for the TGD community is needed to inform clinically and socially relevant research questions – particularly on cancer prevention, risk, screening, and treatment. Our study aimed to develop a transdisciplinary (TDS) academic-community team to create a shared understanding of factors associated with cancer disparities in the TGD population with aid from discussion sessions and interviews with researchers, clinicians, and community members. Methods: The TDS team engaged in literature reviews and discussion to ground their collective understanding. The team also conducted focus groups and interviews with researchers, clinicians, and community members (N=55) to enrich the team’s understanding of factors associated with cancer disparities. Data were summarized and thematized and groups were compared. Results: Community organizations/members noted systemic issues such as insufficient training of healthcare providers and staff, individual mistrust, and not believing they would live long enough to worry about cancer development. Providers identified personal uncertainty working with TGD patients, knowledge of appropriate recommendations for cancer screening, and individual risk behaviors (i.e. tobacco and alcohol use) as potential causes for cancer disparities. Researchers indicated they had not considered including TGD individuals as a specific subject population, were unsure how to study given lack of mouse models for early-stage research and acknowledged the opportunity for future study inclusion. Further, community members discussed the persistent stress of existing as a TGD person during a time of increasingly aggressive anti-TNB legislation and social attitudes. Healthcare providers and researchers reflected on the behavioral and physiological impact of stress on an individual’s health and cancer risk. Conclusion: The findings from our focus groups elucidated areas of shared understanding between the three different audiences; however, they also highlighted concepts that were not shared which offer opportunities for further collaboration and learning by key stakeholders. Through our TDS and collaborative approach, we will continue deep learning between team members to identify specific research questions to address the root causes of TGD cancer disparities through TDS collaboration and innovative research. Citation Format: Tobi Cawthra, Chandler Cortina, laura Pinsoneault, Michael Munson, Andrew Petroll, Melinda Stolley. Researcher, Clinician, and Community Focus Groups to Inform an Understanding of Cancer Disparities in the Transgender and Gender Diverse [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B163.

You Work for Us Now: Concentration in University-Performed Defense R&D

ABSTRACT Concentration in university research funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) has been rising in recent years, deviating from the steady levels of concentration in other federally-funded university research. The purpose of this paper is to explain that rise in concentration. When the DOD funds defense-specific R&D projects, there are two priorities affecting bureaucratic incentives: 1) Coordination incentivizes steering research toward specific technological ends, and 2) Security incentivizes actively limiting risks of information leakage. Sole source research center contracts make the necessary coordination and monitoring easier to achieve. As demand for projects that require more coordination and security increases, spending is allocated to sole source research centers leading to increasing concentration. Spending on military research projects awarded to universities such as aircrafts rapidly increased from 2008 to 2020 with much of that spending accruing to DOD-sponsored university research centers. Over that period, the share of obligations awarded to the 16 universities that manage DOD research centers rose from 37 percent in 2008 to 59 percent in 2020. This paper contributes to our understanding of the conditions under which policy makers choose to deviate from using grants to fund early-stage research and concentrate funding in a select group of performers.

Temperature- and gate voltage-dependent I–V modeling of GaN HEMTs based on ASM-HEMT

Abstract In this paper, a temperature and gate voltage dependent current-voltage (I-V) model for Gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) devices is studied. In order to help researchers and designers simulate devices in the absence of experimental data and improve parameter extraction efficiency, the temperature and gate voltage dependence of mobility are discussed and incorporated into the proposed model which is revised from the standard advanced SPICE model (ASM) for GaN HEMTs. The mobility variations with gate voltage from -2 V to 6 V and temperature from 10 K to 1000 K are analyzed. The simulation results of our model are compared with the standard ASM-HEMT model, and the output and transfer characteristics of the device from 270 K to 420 K are simulated. Thereby, our model may simulate various applications of GaN HEMTs at different gate voltages and temperatures in the early stages of design and research.

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model of OATP1B Substrates with a Nonlinear Mixed Effect Approach: Estimating Empirical In Vitro-to-In Vivo Scaling Factors.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are valuable for translating in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) data to predict clinical pharmacokinetics, and can enable discovery and early clinical stages of pharmaceutical research. However, in predicting pharmacokinetics of organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B substrates based on in vitro transport and metabolism data, PBPK models typically require additional empirical in vitro-to-in vivo scaling factors (ESFs) in order to accurately recapitulate observed clinical profiles. As model simulation is very sensitive to ESFs, a critical evaluation of ESF estimation is prudent. Previously studies have applied classic 'two-stage' and 'naïve pooled data' approaches in identifying a set of compound independent ESFs. However, the 'two-stage' approach has the parameter identification issue in separately fitting data for individual compounds, while the 'naïve pooled data' approach ignores interstudy variability, leading to potentially biased ESF estimates. In this study, we have applied a nonlinear mixed-effect approach in estimating ESF of the PBPK model and incorporated additional data from 86 runs of in vitro uptake assay and 49 clinical studies of 12 training compounds in model development to further enhance the translation of in vitro data to predict the pharmacokinetics of OATP1B substrate drugs. To test predication accuracy of the model, a 'leave-one-out' analysis has been performed. The established model can reasonably describe the clinical observations, with both mean values and interstudy variabilities quantified for ESF and volume of distribution parameters. The mean estimates are largely consistent with values in the previous reports. The interstudy variabilities of these parameters are estimated to be at least 50% (as coefficient of variation). Most compounds can be reasonably predicted in the 'leave-one-out' analysis. This study improves the confidence in predicting the pharmacokinetics of OATP1B substrates in individual studies of small sample sizes, and quantifies the variability associated with the prediction.

Civilization Approach in Economic Researches

The proposed article presents the author’s view on how the civilizational approach to the analysis of economic processes developed and what it consisted of in various predominantly Russian-language literary sources of the 19th century. The author recognizes that the volume of sources containing evidence of such an approach is immense, so he focuses on those that he considers the most important and indicative for assessing the contribution of Russian science to the development of such a methodology of economic analysis, as well as the modern concept of human economy, to which some of the author’s earlier works were devoted. In the author’s opinion, the civilization approach already at the early stages of economic research helped to bring out non-material, cultural-psychological and moral aspects of economic behavior and formation of economic institutions. Most studies of the impact of civilizational development on the economy demonstrate a certain one-directionality, that is, they are built in the logic of a hierarchical world order: civilized nations are at the top of the pyramid of development, and uncivilized, barbaric nations are located somewhere at its base. The civilizational approach allows us to abandon the “economism”, which has become a template, based on the exclusive recognition of the primacy of material factors of social development. In addition, in the author’s opinion, there is an opportunity to raise the question of the correctness of the multipolarity concept, which can no longer describe in detail the formation of a new world order. The civilizational approach gives a chance to assess the processes of globalization and fragmentation in a new way, not as antagonistic processes, but as mutually conditioned. In general, the future development of a multi-civilizational world order and its conflict-free nature will be largely determined by the willingness of representatives of primarily Western civilization to recognize the need to gradually abandon the paradigm of universality of social development conditions in favor of manners identity paradigm, uniqueness of economic structure and behavior, and the importance of identity for economic development.

(Energy Technology Division Graduate Student Award sponsored by BioLogic) In-Situ Diagnostic Tools and Analysis to Identify Root Causes for Voltage Losses in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

Water electrolysis has been getting significant attention worldwide as a leading technology that allows for the storage of renewable energy in the form of hydrogen. Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) have emerged in recent years as a possible low-cost and high performance alternative to traditional alkaline electrolyzers (AWEs) and proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMWEs). AEMWEs can potentially offer the complimentary benefits of the two developed technologies, namely high current density, pressurized cell operation, the use of platinum group metal (PGM) free electrocatalysts, and the ability to use earth abundant cheap materials for other cell components [1-2]. AEMWEs are currently in an early research and development stage. Most of the attention has been focused on the development of new polymers, electrocatalysts and other component materials [3-4]. Such materials are generally reported to offer high performance and durability, evaluated using standard ex-situ electrochemical techniques. Integration of these materials in actual water electrolyzer system often does not translate linearly into long life and high performance, and understanding material behavior in the real operating conditions is essential for their large-scale deployment. In-situ performance evaluation and diagnostic tools help analyze the contributions from individual components at membrane electrode assembly (MEA) level [5-7]. Differentiating kinetic, ohmic, transport as well as the catalyst layer overpotential contributions may lead a way for enhancing overall device performance and degradation. For instance, high IEC, water uptake and conductivity of polymer membranes and ionomers are desirable, however, may not linearly translate in high in-situ performance. Excessive swelling of the membrane and/or ionomer may dominate, increasing the charge transfer resistance, subsequently lowering the overall device performance [8]. In this presentation, a combination of methods – electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammograms (CVs), I-V scans and constant current / voltage hold – are used to evaluate device performance and separate individual voltage losses caused by each MEA component. These tools help pinpoint the shortcomings of individual components that lead to losses in cell performance or degradation, allowing for new control strategies to be developed.

(Invited) The Science of Scale-up: Accelerating CO2 Electrolyzer Development

CO2 electrolysis has attracted significant industry interest given its potential to decarbonize production of top 5 commodities like ethylene, methanol, and propylene. However, defining a critical path for CO2 electrolyzer scale-up and deployment remains a challenge as it is a nascent disruptive technology. Here, I will briefly describe how we collaborated with industry to develop a risk assessment protocol that exposes researchers to a use-inspired mindset for early-stage research in lab environments. We identified and prioritized 87+ risks towards CO2 electrolyzer scale-up and deployment, defining a critical path that emphasizes improving electrolyzer durability and reliability. I’ll discuss experimental outcomes from shifting our project plan towards managing water and salt in CO2 electrolyzers. Finally, I will provide examples of how we have developed integrated physics-based modeling and analysis frameworks that inform electrolyzer operation.

AnNoBrainer, An Automated Annotation of Mouse Brain Images using Deep Learning.

Annotation of multiple regions of interest across the whole mouse brain is an indispensable process for quantitative evaluation of a multitude of study endpointsin neuroscience digital pathology. Prior experience and domain expert knowledge are the key aspects for image annotation quality and consistency. At present, image annotation is often achieved manually by certified pathologists or trained technicians, limiting the total throughput of studies performed at neuroscience digital pathology labs. It may also mean that simpler and quicker methods of examining tissue samples are used by non-pathologists, especially in the early stages of research and preclinical studies. To address these limitations and to meet the growing demand for image analysis in a pharmaceutical setting, we developed AnNoBrainer, an open-source software tool that leverages deep learning, image registration, and standard cortical brain templates to automatically annotate individual brain regions on 2D pathology slides. Application of AnNoBrainer to a published set of pathology slides from transgenic mice models of synucleinopathy revealed comparable accuracy, increased reproducibility, and a significant reduction (~ 50%) in time spent on brain annotation, quality control and labelling compared to trained scientists in pathology. Taken together, AnNoBrainer offers a rapid, accurate, and reproducible automated annotation of mouse brain images that largely meets the experts' histopathological assessment standards (> 85% of cases) and enables high-throughput image analysis workflows in digital pathology labs.

The IMS Library: from IN-Stock to Virtual.

A chemical library is a key element in the early stages of pharmaceutical research. Its design encompasses various factors, such as diversity, size, ease of synthesis, aimed at increasing the likelihood of success in drug discovery. This article explores the collaborative efforts of computational and synthetic chemists in tailoring chemical libraries for cost-effective and resource-efficient use, particularly in the context of academic research projects. It proposes chemoinformatics methodologies that address two pivotal questions: first, crafting a diverse panel of under 1000 compounds from an existing pool through synthetic efforts, leveraging the expertise of organic chemists; and second, expanding pharmacophoric diversity within this panel by creating a highly accessible virtual chemical library. Chemoinformatics tools were developed to analyse initial panel of about 10,000 compounds into two tailored libraries: eIMS and vIMS. The eIMS Library comprises 578 diverse in-stock compounds ready for screening. Its virtual counterpart, vIMS, features novel compounds guided by chemists, ensuring synthetic accessibility. vIMS offers a broader array of binding motifs and improved drug-like characteristics achieved through the addition of diverse functional groups to eIMS scaffolds followed by filtering of reactive or unusual structures. The uniqueness of vIMS is emphasized through a comparison with commercial suppliers' virtual chemical space.

Biomarkers for Diagnosing and Treating Fetal Growth Restriction.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR), a common obstetric complication, significantly increases the risks of fetal intrauterine death and neonatal death, and fetuses with growth restriction are prone to cognitive retardation and various diseases in adulthood. The early determination of FGR risk is contentious in clinical research, and few indicators are available for the early prediction and diagnosis of FGR. This review focuses on the prediction and diagnosis of FGR, as well as the significance of biomarkers for FGR, such as those related to gene regulation, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and inflammation. Although many of these biomarkers are still in the early stages of research, they are good predictors of the threats to fetal health and safety, and they provide new insights for the treatment of FGR.

Environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters and reclaimed water from catalan main river basins

Aquatic pollution from pharmaceuticals is a growing environmental concern globally, particularly in Catalonia's primary water bodies, the Llobregat and Besòs rivers. This study investigates pharmaceutical residues in reclaimed water effluents from the Llobregat River and a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the Besòs River, critical contributors to the region's water resources. Employing LC-MS/MS, 85 pharmaceutical residues were monitored, revealing elevated concentrations of tramadol, losartan, and gemfibrozil, commonly prescribed drugs in Catalonia. Surprisingly, downstream concentrations exceeded upstream levels significantly, indicating the adverse impact of reclaimed water on water quality. Furthermore, evaluation of WWTP efficiency displayed varying removal rates, from 10 % to 99.8 %, highlighting treatment inadequacies for certain compounds. Predictive environmental concentrations (PECs) aligned closely with measured values, affirming the utility of predictive models in early-stage research. Risk assessment via the risk quotient (RQ) method identified atorvastatin and chlorpromazine as surpassing toxicity thresholds.This study underscores the urgent need to address pharmaceutical contamination in urban rivers and reclaimed waters in Catalonia. By highlighting treatment inefficacies and potential ecological risks, it contributes to the development of sustainable water management strategies and environmental conservation efforts in the region. Efforts should focus on continuously monitoring specific compounds, evaluating their individual toxicity, and implementing appropriate remediation techniques in WWTPs to safeguard water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

Above the roads: Unleashing unmanned aerial vehicles and image processing for traffic analysis

Road traffic surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles is a practice that can be found especially in the field of intelligent vehicle management, which is still in the early stages of research and application. This paper presents three methods of analyzing traffic data. One method is a conventional one, based on Doppler radar detection and the other two methods analyze images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles, being based on deep learning techniques. After acquiring the images, they went through a complex processing process to eliminate noise and improve the clarity of the image, then the identification of the vehicles was done by recognizing moving objects and highlighting them either through a bounding box or through labelling. The quality of images obtained from unmanned aerial vehicles is similar to the quality of images obtained from fixed surveillance cameras. The comparative analysis of the results obtained through image processing, together with those obtained through a conventional method of traffic analysis, the Doppler radar, highlighted the fact that video detection used in intelligent vehicle management is a method that both researchers and local authorities can rely on the performance of traffic studies or the analysis of traffic incidents and accidents.

Challenges and Opportunities with Antibiotic Discovery and Exploratory Research.

Discovery and exploratory research can identify new antibiotics and biological targets. However, failure rates are high, and funding is insufficient to solve the scientific challenges and attract researchers to antibacterial R&D. Novel methods, including artificial intelligence, have been applied to early-stage research, but these have yet to deliver new antibiotics. The Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) is investing in discovery and exploratory research and an R&D education and outreach program. GARDP's efforts, including application of novel R&D methods and new global networks of R&D researchers to develop new antibiotics, is helping address antimicrobial resistance sustainably over the long-term.

Challenges in Peptide Solubilization - Amyloids Case Study.

Peptide science has been a rapidly growing research field because of the enormous potential application of these biocompatible and bioactive molecules. However, many factors limit the widespread use of peptides in medicine, and low solubility is among the most common problems that hamper drug development in the early stages of research. Solubility is a crucial, albeit poorly understood, feature that determines peptide behavior. Several different solubility predictors have been proposed, and many strategies and protocols have been reported to dissolve peptides, but none of them is a one-size-fits-all method for solubilization of even the same peptide. In this review, we look for the reasons behind the difficulties in dissolving peptides, analyze the factors influencing peptide aggregation, conduct a critical analysis of solubilization strategies and protocols available in the literature, and give some tips on how to deal with the so-called difficult sequences. We focus on amyloids, which are particularly difficult to dissolve and handle such as amyloid beta (Aβ), insulin, and phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs).