Ferrocene Constrained Helical Peptides via On-Resin Cyclization

Previous research within the Curran group has demonstrated that ferrocene may be used as an organometallic constraint to induce the formation of α-helices in short peptides which traditionally possess undefined conformations. Through strategic placement of lysine residues at the i and i+3 positions within the peptide, such a constraint was accomplished via the crosslinking of the lysine side chains to ferrocene dicarboxylic acid chloride in solution phase synthesis. The aim of this work was to develop a method for solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) for the synthesis of these ferrocene-constrained helices. In particular, we seek to develop a method in which the nascent peptide can be cyclized while it is still anchored to the resin. For the synthesis, Fmoc-protected amino acids were utilized to afford the pentapeptide Ac-Lys(Aloc)-Ala-Val-Lys(Aloc)-Gly-NH2. For the synthesis, Fmoc-protected amino acids and Aloc side chain protecting groups were utilized due to the mild conditions under which they are removed. This allowed the use of a Rink Amide AM resin, which is cleaved under acidic conditions. In this study it was found that on resin Pd0 catalyzed Aloc removal required very specific conditions and work up for efficient deprotection. Additionally, Fmoc-protected amino acids were utilized in an analogous manner to afford the pentapeptide Ac-Lys(Z)-Ala-Val-Lys(Z)-Gly-NH2. The Z-protected pentapeptide was then removed from the resin, hydrogenated using Pd on C and subsequently cyclized with 1,1’-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid chloride. Results from on-resin cyclization indicate that a new approach must be developed in order to accomplish on-resin cyclization. Future work includes the use of different resins, different protecting groups, and different removal conditions for optimization. In solution phase, the ferrocene coupling, the data indicates that a peptide dimer with a single ferrocene was formed due to incomplete Z protecting group removal. Future work in solution phase includes hydrogenation and cyclization optimization

The Host Home Program Model for LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Program Evaluation

Youth homelessness is continually on the rise throughout the United States. While youth in general who are experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for victimization, chemical use/abuse, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at much higher risk for these barriers to well-being, among others. This study evaluated one program that specifically serves LGBTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness. Using a qualitative design, individuals involved in the program were asked to fill out surveys and provide feedback about how the program meets its stated goals of providing shelter, meeting basic needs, and fostering a sense of community for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, this study looked at how this program builds strength and resiliency for youth by fostering a sense of positive self-identity and increasing external supports for youth. The findings of this study indicate that this program model meets its stated goals by providing youth with outside the system supports in the form of volunteer host homes and providing ongoing case management and goal-planning with youth. The findings also suggest that the program\u27s focus on self-determination and community-based efforts from caring adults has a significantly positive impact on youth who participate in the program. These findings emphasize the importance of access to stable housing, external supports, and the development of positive self-identity for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness who are working towards achieving stable housing

The Host Home Program Model for LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Program Evaluation

Youth homelessness is continually on the rise throughout the United States. While youth in general who are experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for victimization, chemical use/abuse, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at much higher risk for these barriers to well-being, among others. This study evaluated one program that specifically serves LGBTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness. Using a qualitative design, individuals involved in the program were asked to fill out surveys and provide feedback about how the program meets its stated goals of providing shelter, meeting basic needs, and fostering a sense of community for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. Additionally, this study looked at how this program builds strength and resiliency for youth by fostering a sense of positive self-identity and increasing external supports for youth. The findings of this study indicate that this program model meets its stated goals by providing youth with “outside the system” supports in the form of volunteer host homes and providing ongoing case management and goal-planning with youth. The findings also suggest that the program’s focus on self-determination and community-based efforts from caring adults has a significantly positive impact on youth who participate in the program. These findings emphasize the importance of access to stable housing, external supports, and the development of positive self-identity for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness who are working towards achieving stable housing

A systematic review of protocol studies on conceptual design cognition: design as search and exploration

This paper reports findings from the first systematic review of protocol studies focusing specifically on conceptual design cognition, aiming to answer the following research question: What is our current understanding of the cognitive processes involved in conceptual design tasks carried out by individual designers? We reviewed 47 studies on architectural design, engineering design and product design engineering. This paper reports 24 cognitive processes investigated in a subset of 33 studies aligning with two viewpoints on the nature of designing: (V1) design as search (10 processes, 41.7%); and (V2) design as exploration (14 processes, 58.3%). Studies on search focused on solution search and problem structuring, involving: long-term memory retrieval; working memory; operators and reasoning processes. Studies on exploration investigated: co-evolutionary design; visual reasoning; cognitive actions; and unexpected discovery and situated requirements invention. Overall, considerable conceptual and terminological differences were observed among the studies. Nonetheless, a common focus on memory, semantic, associative, visual perceptual and mental imagery processes was observed to an extent. We suggest three challenges for future research to advance the field: (i) developing general models/theories; (ii) testing protocol study findings using objective methods conducive to larger samples and (iii) developing a shared ontology of cognitive processes in design

Studies relating to spore germination in Agaricus campestris L. ex Fr

Abstract Not Provided

Systematic literature review of hand gestures used in human computer interaction interfaces

Gestures, widely accepted as a humans' natural mode of interaction with their surroundings, have been considered for use in human-computer based interfaces since the early 1980s. They have been explored and implemented, with a range of success and maturity levels, in a variety of fields, facilitated by a multitude of technologies. Underpinning gesture theory however focuses on gestures performed simultaneously with speech, and majority of gesture based interfaces are supported by other modes of interaction. This article reports the results of a systematic review undertaken to identify characteristics of touchless/in-air hand gestures used in interaction interfaces. 148 articles were reviewed reporting on gesture-based interaction interfaces, identified through searching engineering and science databases (Engineering Village, Pro Quest, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science). The goal of the review was to map the field of gesture-based interfaces, investigate the patterns in gesture use, and identify common combinations of gestures for different combinations of applications and technologies. From the review, the community seems disparate with little evidence of building upon prior work and a fundamental framework of gesture-based interaction is not evident. However, the findings can help inform future developments and provide valuable information about the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches. It was further found that the nature and appropriateness of gestures used was not a primary factor in gesture elicitation when designing gesture based systems, and that ease of technology implementation often took precedence

A novel systematic approach for analysing exploratory design ideation

Two kinds of design ideation process may be distinguished in terms of the problems addressed: (i) solution-focused, i.e. generating solutions to address a fixed problem specifying a desired output; and (ii) exploratory, i.e. considering different interpretations of an open-ended problem and generating associated solutions. Existing systematic analysis approaches focus on the former; the literature is lacking such an approach for the latter. In this paper, we provide a means to systematically analyse exploratory ideation for the first time through a new approach: Analysis of Exploratory Design Ideation (AEDI). AEDI involves: (1) open-ended ideation tasks; (2) coding of explored problems and solutions from sketches; and (3) evaluating ideation performance based on coding. We applied AEDI to 812 concept sketches from 19 open-ended tasks completed during a neuroimaging study of 30 professional product design engineers. Results demonstrate that the approach provides: (i) consistent tasks that stimulate problem exploration; (ii) a reliable means of coding explored problems and solutions; and (iii) an appropriate way to rank/compare designers’ performance. AEDI enables the benefits of systematic analysis (e.g. greater comparability, replicability, and efficiency) to be realised in exploratory ideation research, and studies using open-ended problems more generally. Future improvements include increasing coding validity and reliability

Template MRI scans reliably approximate individual and group-level tES and TMS electric fields induced in motor and prefrontal circuits

BackgroundElectric field (E-field) modeling is a valuable method of elucidating the cortical target engagement from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), but it is typically dependent on individual MRI scans. In this study, we systematically tested whether E-field models in template MNI-152 and Ernie scans can reliably approximate group-level E-fields induced in N = 195 individuals across 5 diagnoses (healthy, alcohol use disorder, tobacco use disorder, anxiety, depression).MethodsWe computed 788 E-field models using the CHARM–SimNIBS 4.0.0 pipeline with 4 E-field models per participant (motor and prefrontal targets for TMS and tES). We additionally calculated permutation analyses to determine the point of stability of E-fields to assess whether the 152 brains represented in the MNI-152 template is sufficient.ResultsGroup-level E-fields did not significantly differ between the individual vs. MNI-152 template and Ernie scans for any stimulation modality or location (p > 0.05). However, TMS-induced E-field magnitudes significantly varied by diagnosis; individuals with generalized anxiety had significantly higher prefrontal and motor E-field magnitudes than healthy controls and those with alcohol use disorder and depression (p < 0.001). The point of stability for group-level E-field magnitudes ranged from 42 (motor tES) to 52 participants (prefrontal TMS).ConclusionMNI-152 and Ernie models reliably estimate group-average TMS and tES-induced E-fields transdiagnostically. The MNI-152 template includes sufficient scans to control for interindividual anatomical differences (i.e., above the point of stability). Taken together, using the MNI-152 and Ernie brains to approximate group-level E-fields is a valid and reliable approach