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We present a systematic investigation of thermodynamic stability, phase-reaction, and chemical activity of Al containing disordered Ti2(Al-Ga)C MAX phases using machine-learning driven high-throughput framework to understand the oxidation resistance behavior with increasing temperature and exposure to static oxygen. The A-site (at Al) disordering in Ti2AlC MAX (M=Ti, A=Al, X=C) with Ga shows significant change in the chemical activity of Al with increasing temperature and exposure to static oxygen, which is expected to enable surface segregation of Al, thereby, the formation of Al2O3 and improved oxidation resistance. We performed in-depth convex hull analysis of ternary Ti–Al–C, Ti–Ga–C, and Ti–Al–Ga–C based MAX phase, and provide detailed contribution arising from electronic, chemical and vibrational entropies. The thermodynamic analysis shows change in the Gibbs formation enthalpy (ΔGform) at higher temperatures, which implies an interplay of temperature-dependent enthalpy and entropic contributions in oxidation resistance Ga doped Ti2AlC MAX phases. A detailed electronic structure and chemical bonding analysis using crystal orbital Hamilton population method reveal the origin of change in phases stability and in oxidation resistance in disorder Ti2(Al1−xGax)C MAX phases. Our electronic structure analysis correlate well with the change in oxidation resistance of Ga doped MAX phases. We believe our study provides a useful guideline to understand to role of alloying on electronic, thermodynamic, and oxidation related mechanisms of bulk MAX phases, which can work as a precursor to understand oxidation behavior of two-dimensional MAX phases, i.e., MXenes (transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local acidification of stroma is proposed to favour pre-metastatic niche formation but the mechanism of initiation is unclear. We investigated whether Human Melanoma-derived exosomes (HMEX) could reprogram human adult dermal fibroblasts (HADF) and cause extracellular acidification. HMEX were isolated from supernatants of six melanoma cell lines (3 BRAF V600E mutant cell lines and 3 BRAF wild-type cell lines) using ultracentrifugation or Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). Rapid uptake of exosomes by HADF was demonstrated following 18 hours co-incubation. Exposure of HDAF to HMEX leads to an increase in aerobic glycolysis and decrease in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in HADF, consequently increasing extracellular acidification. Using a novel immuno-biochip, exosomal miR-155 and miR-210 were detected in HMEX. These miRNAs were present in HMEX from all six melanoma cell lines and were instrumental in promoting glycolysis and inhibiting OXPHOS in tumour cells. Inhibition of miR-155 and miR-210 activity by transfection of miRNA inhibitors into HMEX reversed the exosome-induced metabolic reprogramming of HADF. The data indicate that melanoma-derived exosomes modulate stromal cell metabolism and may contribute to the creation of a pre-metastatic niche that promotes the development of metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]