Photochemical Rearrangements of 6/5 -Fused Cross-conjugated Cyclohexadiensnes in Protic Solvents

Irradiation of the ring A unsubstituted 6/5-fused cross-conjugated cyclohexadienone (1a) and its 2-methyl derivative (1b) in methanolic acetic acid yields, in addition to other products, novel tricyclononane derivatives which have been assigned the structures (3a) and (3b)

Student Veterans

This article explores advantages and obstacles student veterans face in transitioning to an academic setting. Focus groups were conducted with student veterans to explore their interactions with students, faculty, and administrators. Emergent themes included advantages such as maturity, focus, and strength of camaraderie with fellow student veterans. The primary obstacle was difficulty blending in with civilians. These themes are discussed as they compared to previous research and for ways that ongoing dialogue with our student veterans can enhance supportive practices

Modelling transitions between egalitarian, dynamic leader and absolutist power structures

Human groups show a variety of leadership dynamics ranging from egalitarian groups with no leader, to groups with changing leaders, to absolutist groups with a single long-term leader. Here, we model transitions between these different phases of leadership dynamics, investigating the role of inequalities in relationships between individuals. Our results demonstrate a novel riches-to-rags class of leadership dynamics where a leader can be replaced by a new individual. We note that the transition between the three different phases of leadership dynamics resembles transitions in leadership dynamics during the Neolithic period of human history. We argue how technological developments, such as food storage and/or weapons which allow one individual to control large quantities of resources, would mean that relationships became more unequal. In general terms, we provide a model of how individual relationships can affect leadership dynamics and structures

Vaccine-induced skewing of T cell responses protects against Chikungunya virus disease

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infections can cause severe and debilitating joint and muscular pain that can be long lasting. Current CHIKV vaccines under development rely on the generation of neutralizing antibodies for protection; however, the role of T cells in controlling CHIKV infection and disease is still unclear. Using an overlapping peptide library, we identified the CHIKV-specific T cell receptor epitopes recognized in C57BL/6 infected mice at 7 and 14 days post-infection. A fusion protein containing peptides 451, 416, a small region of nsP4, peptide 47, and an HA tag (CHKVf5) was expressed using adenovirus and cytomegalovirus-vectored vaccines. Mice vaccinated with CHKVf5 elicited robust T cell responses to higher levels than normally observed following CHIKV infection, but the vaccine vectors did not elicit neutralizing antibodies. CHKVf5-vaccinated mice had significantly reduced infectious viral load when challenged by intramuscular CHIKV injection. Depletion of both CD

Presence of 5-hydroxyguaiacyl units as native lignin constituents in plants as seen by Py-GC/MS

Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, P.O. Box 1052, 41080-Seville, Spain 2Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain E-mail address: [email protected] (J.C. del Río)The presence of 5-hydroxyguaiacyl moieties in the lignin from several plants has been assessed by Py-GC/MS. Different woody (eucalypt) and nonwoody (flax, hemp, kenaf, jute, sisal and abaca) angiosperms were selected for this study. The pyrolysis of whole fibers released lignin-derived products with p-hydroxyphenyl, guaiacyl and syringyl structures. Indeed, a series of compounds having a 5-hydroxyguaiacyl nuclei, including 3-methoxycatechol, 5-vinyl-3-methoxycatechol and 5-propenyl-3-methoxycatechol, were detected and identified in all samples, although in lower amounts than the normal guaiacyl and syringyl compounds. The analysis of the lignins isolated from the same plants also indicated the presence of 5-hydroxyguaiacyl moieties in the isolated lignins. These compounds are supposed to arise from the pyrolysis of 5-hydroxyguaiacyl moieties, which are supposed to be native constituents of lignin in plants forming benzodioxane substructures.This study has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (MCyT) and FEDER funds (project AGL2005-01748) and the EU project BIORENEW (NMP2-CT-2006-026456). We thank CELESA S.A. (Tortosa, Spain) for providing the nonwoody plant samples, and ENCE for providing the eucalypt wood sample.Peer reviewe

Age, Growth, and Mortality of Atlantic Tripletail in the North-Central Gulf of Mexico

In the southeastern USA and the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Atlantic Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis are increasingly targeted by recreational anglers, indicating that stock status should be assessed. A critical need for such assessments is age-specific data; however, previous studies have drawn conflicting conclusions regarding the most appropriate structure for aging. Moreover, growth parameters and mortality rates for GOM Atlantic Tripletail are unknown. Therefore, the goals of this study were to (1) evaluate sagittal otoliths and first dorsal spines as aging structures; (2) model combined and sex-specific growth; and (3) estimate mortality rates for GOM Atlantic Tripletail. From 2012 to 2019, Atlantic Tripletail (N = 230, including a near-record-size specimen) were collected from the north-central GOM via hook and line and were aged using otoliths and first dorsal spines. Total length ranged from 212 to 940 mm, and age ranged from 0.07 to 5.27 years. Otoliths produced higher percent agreement (95.0%) and lower average percent error (3.0%) between readers compared to spines (82.9% and 6.5%, respectively). The von Bertalanffy growth parameters differed slightly between the otolith-based data (mean asymptotic length [L∞] = 762.42 mm, Brody growth rate coefficient [k] = 0.69 year−1, and hypothetical age at which length equals zero [t0] = −0.58 year) and spine-based data (L∞ = 718.83 mm, k = 0.79 year−1, and t0 = −0.56 year). For both otolith- and spine-based sex-specific data, the best-fitting version of the von Bertalanffy growth function permitted L∞ to vary by sex. Chapman– Robson estimates of instantaneous total mortality rate and total annual mortality rate were 1.15 and 68.66%, respectively. Based on empirical, life history-based methods, the instantaneous natural mortality rate was estimated at 0.75–0.97 and the instantaneous fishing mortality rate was estimated at 0.18–0.45, suggesting low levels of exploitation. These growth parameters and mortality estimates will provide information for future stock assessments, thereby ensuring sustainability of the GOM stock of Atlantic Tripletail

Unique opportunities for NMR methods in structural genomics

This Perspective, arising from a workshop held in July 2008 in Buffalo NY, provides an overview of the role NMR has played in the United States Protein Structure Initiative (PSI), and a vision of how NMR will contribute to the forthcoming PSI-Biology program. NMR has contributed in key ways to structure production by the PSI, and new methods have been developed which are impacting the broader protein NMR community

Unique opportunities for NMR methods in structural genomics

This Perspective, arising from a workshop held in July 2008 in Buffalo NY, provides an overview of the role NMR has played in the United States Protein Structure Initiative (PSI), and a vision of how NMR will contribute to the forthcoming PSI-Biology program. NMR has contributed in key ways to structure production by the PSI, and new methods have been developed which are impacting the broader protein NMR community