Examining the generalizability of research findings from archival data

This initiative examined systematically the extent to which a large set of archival research findings generalizes across contexts. We repeated the key analyses for 29 original strategic management effects in the same context (direct reproduction) as well as in 52 novel time periods and geographies; 45% of the reproductions returned results matching the original reports together with 55% of tests in different spans of years and 40% of tests in novel geographies. Some original findings were associated with multiple new tests. Reproducibility was the best predictor of generalizability—for the findings that proved directly reproducible, 84% emerged in other available time periods and 57% emerged in other geographies. Overall, only limited empirical evidence emerged for context sensitivity. In a forecasting survey, independent scientists were able to anticipate which effects would find support in tests in new samples

Synthesis and antiviral activity of acyclic nucleosides with a 3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl or 4(R)-methoxy-3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl side chain

Optically pure acyclic nucleoside analogues with a 3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl or 4(R)-methoxy-3(S),5-dihydroxypentyl side chain were synthesized starting from 2-deoxy-D-ribose. The acyclic nucleosides were obtained by alkylation of the bases with the mesylates 16 and 17. Of these series of novel nucleoside analogues only 9-[3(S),5-dihydroxypent-1-yl]guanine (6d) showed marked antiviral activity. It inhibited the cytopathogenicity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) at a concentration of 0.4-0.6-mu-g/mL, which thus points to a greater antiviral activity than recently reported for the mixture of the R and S enantiomers (12.5-mu-g/mL). In contrast with 6d, its 4(R)-methoxy derivative 7d did not show antiviral activity, which implies that the 4'-methoxy group is unable to mimic the 1',4'-oxygen bridge of the normal furanose ring.status: publishe

Synthesis and antiherpes virus activity of 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleosides

The synthesis of 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleosides is described. These nucleoside analogues were obtained by alkylation of the heterocyclic bases with the tosylate 10 or by alkylation of the bases with the alcohol 12 under Mitsunobu conditions. The compounds were evaluated for antiviral and cytostatic activity. Highly selective activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) was noted for 1,5-anhydro-2,3-dideoxy-2-(5-iodouracil-1-yl)-D-arabino-hexitol 4b at a concentration of 0.07 microgram/mL. This activity must be dependent on a specific phosphorylation by the virus-encoded thymidine kinase (TK), since compound 4b was inactive against TK-deficient mutants of HSV-1. The corresponding cytosine 4c and guanine 4e analogues showed activity against HSV-1, HSV-2, and other herpes viruses (i.e. cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus) at concentrations well below the cytotoxicity threshold (2 and 20 micrograms/mL, respectively). At these concentrations, compounds 4c and 4e proved also inhibitory to the growth of human T-cells (i.e. MT-4, CEM, MOLT-4).status: publishe