Organocatalysis using Bifunctional Aminoboronic Acids – Application to the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

The organocatalytic iminium activation strategy acting cooperatively with a Lewis acidic group has been applied to the development of a novel generation of proline-based aminoboronic acid catalysts. Key steps for their synthesis included (-)-sparteine mediated asymmetric deprotonation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine, copper(I) catalysed borylation of alkylhalides and catalysed hydroboration of alkenes. The evaluation of the first proline-based aminoboronic acids is described in the context of organocatalysed aldol reactions between p-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetone. Enhanced reactivity and enantioselectivity observed in the presence of a boronate ester analogue of the catalyst resulted in further examination regarding the role of the esterification diol in these organocatalytic reactions. Notably, 11B NMR studies have been assessed, allowing the evaluation of different diols in terms of stability and Lewis acid tuning, and plausible identification of the catalytic species present. The feasibility of the catalyst under optimised reaction conditions was demonstrated in the aldol reaction of different substrates. Extended mechanistic studies lead to the proposal of a catalytic cycle in which a highly organised transition state plays a key role for both the reactivity and enantioselectivity observed. Finally, strategies employed to further examine both reactivity and asymmetric induction of the free boronic acid catalyst are discussed, examing the carbon length chain between the secondary amine moiety and the boronic acid group of the catalyst

POLITICAL LEANINGS AND ATTITUDES OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALITY

The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of students of the School of Physical Education and Sports Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens towards homosexuality in relation to their political leanings. The sample consisted of 557 undergraduate students. The Greek version of Herek’s (1994) Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men (ATLG) scale is used in this study with two factors, one for male homosexuality and one for female. The independent variables surveyed were gender, age, sexual orientation, and political leanings. A univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Scheffe test were used wherever it was needed, for the detection of significant statistical differences between the three levels of the political leaning factor. The analysis of the results showed that political leanings influence attitudes towards homosexuality: left-wing oriented students showing greater acceptance of homosexuality; right-wing students more negative attitudes; students oriented towards the center displaying more moderate attitudes, ranging between those of the right-wing and left-wing

On improving the operational performance of the Cyprus coastal ocean forecasting system

Modeling oceans is computationally expensive. Rising demands for speedier and higher resolution forecasts, better estimations of prediction uncertainty, and need for additional modules further increase the costs of computation. Parallel processing provides a viable solution to satisfy these demands without sacrificing accuracy or omitting any physical phenomena. Our objective is to develop and implement a parallel version of Cyprus Coastal Ocean Forecasting and Observing System (CYCOFOS) hydrodynamic model for the Eastern Mediterranean Levantine Sea using Message Passing Interface (MPI) that runs on commodity computing clusters running open source software. The parallel software is constructed in a modular fashion to make it easy to integrate end-user applications in the future. Parallelizing CYCOFOS also enables us to run multiple simulations using different parameters, and initial and boundary conditions to improve the accuracy of the model forecasts, and reduce uncertainty

Synthesis of tertiary enamides by Ag2CO3-promoted Pd-catalyzed alkenylation of acyclic secondary amides

A Pd-catalyzed methodology for the preparation of tertiary enamides from acyclic secondary amides and bromo acrylates under mild reaction conditions has been developed using [Pd2(dba)3], XantPhos, and Ag2CO3 as a base. The reaction occurs through a stereospecific metal-mediated oxidative-insertion mechanism

Compounds enhancing human sperm motility identified using a high-throughput phenotypic screening platform

STUDY QUESTION: Can a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform facilitate male fertility drug discovery? SUMMARY ANSWER: An HTS platform identified a large number of compounds that enhanced sperm motility. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Several efforts to find small molecules modulating sperm function have been performed but none have used high-throughput technology. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Healthy donor semen samples were used and samples were pooled (3–5 donors per pool). Primary screening was performed singly; dose–response screening was performed in duplicate (using independent donor pools). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Spermatozoa isolated from healthy donors were prepared by density gradient centrifugation and incubated in 384-well plates with compounds (6.25 μM) to identify those compounds with enhancing effects on motility. Approximately 17 000 compounds from the libraries, ReFRAME, Prestwick, Tocris, LOPAC, CLOUD and MMV Pathogen Box, were screened. Dose–response experiments of screening hits were performed to confirm the enhancing effect on sperm motility. Experiments were performed in a university setting. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: From our primary single concentration screening, 105 compounds elicited an enhancing effect on sperm motility compared to dimethylsulphoxide-treated wells. Confirmed enhancing compounds were grouped based on their annotated targets/target classes. A major target class, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, were identified, in particular PDE10A inhibitors as well as number of compounds not previously known to enhance human sperm motility, such as those related to GABA signalling. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Although this approach provides data about the activity of the compound, it is only a starting point. For example, further substantive experiments are necessary to provide a more comprehensive picture of each compound’s activity, the effect on the kinetics of the cell populations and subpopulations, and their potential mechanisms of action. Compounds have been tested with prepared donor spermatozoa, incubated under non-capacitating conditions, and only incubated with compounds for a relatively short period of time. Therefore, the effect of compounds under different conditions, for example in whole semen, for longer incubation times, or using samples from patient groups, may be different and require further study. All experiments were performed in vitro. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This phenotypic screening assay identified a large number of compounds that increased sperm motility. In addition to furthering our understanding of human sperm function, for example identifying new avenues for discovery, we highlight potential compounds as promising start-point for a medicinal chemistry programme for potential enhancement of male fertility. Moreover, with disclosure of the results of screening, we present a substantial resource to inform further work in the field. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Universities Life Science Alliance. C.L.R.B. is Editor for RBMO. C.L.R.B. receives funding from Chief Scientists Office (Scotland), ESHRE and Genus PLC, consulting fees from Exscientia and lecture fees from Cooper Surgical and Ferring. S.M.d.S. is an Associate Editor of Human Reproduction, and an Associate Editor of Reproduction and Fertility. S.M.d.S. receives funding from Cooper Surgical and British Dietetic Society. No other authors declared a COI

Sperm Toolbox-A selection of small molecules to study human spermatozoa

Male contraceptive options and infertility treatments are limited, and almost all innovation has been limited to updates to medically assisted reproduction protocols and methods. To accelerate the development of drugs that can either improve or inhibit fertility, we established a small molecule library as a toolbox for assay development and screening campaigns using human spermatozoa. We have profiled all compounds in the Sperm Toolbox in several automated high-throughput assays that measure stimulation or inhibition of sperm motility or the acrosome reaction. We have assayed motility under non-capacitating and capacitating conditions to distinguish between pathways operating under these different physiological states. We also assayed cell viability to ensure any effects on sperm function are specific. A key advantage of our studies is that all compounds are assayed together in the same experimental conditions, which allows quantitative comparisons of their effects in complementary functional assays. We have combined the resulting datasets to generate fingerprints of the Sperm Toolbox compounds on sperm function. The data are included in an on-line R-based app for convenient querying.</p

Sperm Toolbox-A selection of small molecules to study human spermatozoa

Male contraceptive options and infertility treatments are limited, and almost all innovation has been limited to updates to medically assisted reproduction protocols and methods. To accelerate the development of drugs that can either improve or inhibit fertility, we established a small molecule library as a toolbox for assay development and screening campaigns using human spermatozoa. We have profiled all compounds in the Sperm Toolbox in several automated high-throughput assays that measure stimulation or inhibition of sperm motility or the acrosome reaction. We have assayed motility under non-capacitating and capacitating conditions to distinguish between pathways operating under these different physiological states. We also assayed cell viability to ensure any effects on sperm function are specific. A key advantage of our studies is that all compounds are assayed together in the same experimental conditions, which allows quantitative comparisons of their effects in complementary functional assays. We have combined the resulting datasets to generate fingerprints of the Sperm Toolbox compounds on sperm function. The data are included in an on-line R-based app for convenient querying.</p

Methods on LDL particle isolation, characterization, and component fractionation for the development of novel specific oxidized LDL status markers for atherosclerotic disease risk assessment

The present study uses simple, innovative methods to isolate, characterize and fractionate LDL in its main components for the study of specific oxidations on them that characterize oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) status, as it causatively relates to atherosclerosis-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. These methods are: (a) A simple, relatively time-short, low cost protocol for LDL isolation, to avoid shortcomings of the currently employed ultracentrifugation and affinity chromatography methodologies. (b) LDL purity verification by apoB100 SDS-PAGE analysis and by LDL particle size determination; the latter and its serum concentration are determined in the present study by a simple method more clinically feasible as marker of CVD risk assessment than nuclear magnetic resonance. (c) A protocol for LDL fractionation, for the first time, into its main protein/lipid components (apoB100, phospholipids, triglycerides, free cholesterol, and cholesteryl esters), as well as into LDL carotenoid/tocopherol content. (d) Protocols for the measurement, for the first time, of indicative specific LDL component oxidative modifications (cholesteryl ester-OOH, triglyceride-OOH, free cholesterol-OOH, phospholipid-OOH, apoB100-MDA, and apoB100-DiTyr) out of the many (known/unknown/under development) that collectively define oxLDL status, which contrasts with the current non-specific oxLDL status evaluation methods. The indicative oxLDL status markers, selected in the present study on the basis of expressing early oxidative stress-induced oxidative effects on LDL, are studied for the first time on patients with end stage kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis, selected as an indicative model for atherosclerosis associated diseases. Isolating LDL and fractionating its protein and main lipid components, as well as its antioxidant arsenal comprised of carotenoids and tocopherols, paves the way for future studies to investigate all possible oxidative modifications responsible for turning LDL to oxLDL in association to their possible escaping from LDL’s internal antioxidant defense. This can lead to studies to identify those oxidative modifications of oxLDL (after their artificial generation on LDL), which are recognized by macrophages and convert them to foam cells, known to be responsible for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that lead to the various CVDs