Preparation of amino-substituted indenes and 1,4-dihydronaphthalenes using a one-pot multireaction approach: total synthesis of oxybenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids

Allylic trichloroacetimidates bearing a 2-vinyl or 2-allylaryl group have been designed as substrates for a one-pot, two-step multi-bond-forming process leading to the general preparation of aminoindenes and amino-substituted 1,4-dihydronaphthalenes. The synthetic utility of the privileged structures formed from this one-pot process was demonstrated with the total synthesis of four oxybenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, oxychelerythrine, oxysanguinarine, oxynitidine, and oxyavicine. An intramolecular biaryl Heck coupling reaction, catalyzed using the Hermann–Beller palladacycle was used to effect the key step during the synthesis of the natural products

Canary Islands (NE Atlantic) as a biodiversity "hotspot" of Gambierdiscus: Implications for future trends of ciguatera in the area

In the present study the geographical distribution, abundance and composition of Gambierdiscus was described over a 600 km longitudinal scale in the Canary Islands. Samples for cell counts, isolation and identification of Gambierdiscus were obtained from five islands (El Hierro, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote). Average densities of Gambierdiscus spp. between 0 and 2200 cells g−1 blot dry weight of macrophyte were recorded. Morphological (light microscopy and SEM techniques) and molecular analyses (LSU and SSU rDNA sequencing of cultures and single cells from the field) of Gambierdiscus was performed. Five Gambierdiscus species (G. australes, G. caribaeus, G. carolinianus, G. excentricus and G. silvae), together with a new putative species (Gambierdiscus ribotype 3) were identified. These results suggest that some cases of CFP in the region could be associated with the accumulation of ciguatoxins in the marine food web acquired from local populations of Gambierdiscus. This unexpected high diversity of Gambierdiscus species in an area which a priori is not under risk of ciguatera, hints at an ancient settlement of Gambierdiscus populations, likely favored by warmer climate conditions in the Miocene Epoch (when oldest current Canary Islands were created), in contrast with cooler present ones. Currently, warming trends associated with climate change could contribute to extend favorable environmental conditions in the area for Gambierdiscus growth especially during winter months.Postprin

Reclaim the Non- places. : Superimposing an Urban Device into the cityscape of Umeå.

“Reclaiming the non- places” is an ambition to activate underutilized urban spaces- normally referred to as “non- places”. Non- place is a term founded by philosopher Marc Augé, describing places characterized by anonymity, such as airports, hotels, motorways etc… Based on this information, one could find new examples of non- places in Umeå. As a student, the main campus of Umeå became an interesting site to investigate. How could I improve this site architecturally, by introducing my notion of the non- place?  When inventing a spatial programme, it felt logic to relate the function of the structure to the function of the site. Therefore, I decided the programme to be about learning.  However, I don’t want to replicate the logic of the typical learning environment, I imagine that my proposal could rethink the learning experience.  We are all aware that seminars and lectures can become boring, even if the subject itself is interesting. As human beings, we are not meant to sit still for too long. Therefore, the typical classroom is poorly designed.  My ambition is to create a free learning environment where people can learn and move at the same time. I believe that “learning by moving” could be a better tool than “learning by sitting down”. I also have a futuristic viewpoint on the project. What technologies could enhance the learning experience?  I want the learning process to be an active experience that touch all the senses.

Reclaim the Non- places. : Superimposing an Urban Device into the cityscape of Umeå.

“Reclaiming the non- places” is an ambition to activate underutilized urban spaces- normally referred to as “non- places”. Non- place is a term founded by philosopher Marc Augé, describing places characterized by anonymity, such as airports, hotels, motorways etc… Based on this information, one could find new examples of non- places in Umeå. As a student, the main campus of Umeå became an interesting site to investigate. How could I improve this site architecturally, by introducing my notion of the non- place?  When inventing a spatial programme, it felt logic to relate the function of the structure to the function of the site. Therefore, I decided the programme to be about learning.  However, I don’t want to replicate the logic of the typical learning environment, I imagine that my proposal could rethink the learning experience.  We are all aware that seminars and lectures can become boring, even if the subject itself is interesting. As human beings, we are not meant to sit still for too long. Therefore, the typical classroom is poorly designed.  My ambition is to create a free learning environment where people can learn and move at the same time. I believe that “learning by moving” could be a better tool than “learning by sitting down”. I also have a futuristic viewpoint on the project. What technologies could enhance the learning experience?  I want the learning process to be an active experience that touch all the senses.

Kultur- und Tourismusnetzwerke als Motor für die Entwicklung ländlicher Regionen : untersucht am Beispiel der Verbandsgemeinde Altenkirchen (Westerwald)

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La escritura y la creación del pasado (fragmentos). Historias. Revista de la Dirección de Estudios Históricos. Num. 66-67 (2007) enero-agosto

Fragmentos del epílogo del libro The Future of the Past (Picador, 2002). Traducción de Antonio Saborit.Habrá los que digan que, en sentido estricto, no existe. El pasado es únicamente el recuerdo o el remanente de cosas que ahora existen en el momento actual, una construcción mental que con frecuencia sirve a las necesidades de la hora presente en lugar de corresponder a alguna “verdad” histórica. “La historia es hojarasca”, dijo Henry Ford, expresando una opinión común en Estados Unidos, país que se imagina a sí mismo como una nueva sociedad orientada hacia el futuro, de personas que se han formado por su cuenta y que tienen una suspicacia pragmática ante la excesiva preocupación por el pasado. Y sin embargo, acaso porque vivimos en una época de cambios tan rápidos, la historia tiene una enorme capacidad para provocar emociones

Selective attention by priming in host search behavior of 2 generalist butterflies

We show that females of 2 generalist butterflies improve their search efficacy after previous encounters of the same host in a way similar to search-image formation, especially if the butterfly-host relationship is historically old. Thus, by targeting a single host at a time, host search efficacy may be improved and constitute a selection pressure for specialization. This result can help explain the evolutionary trend toward host specialization in phytophagous insects that is not well understood. Abstract In phytophagous insects such as butterflies, there is an evolutionary trend toward specialization in host plant use. One contributing mechanism for this pattern may be found in female host search behavior. Since search attention is limited, generalist females searching for hosts for oviposition may potentially increase their search efficacy by aiming their attention on a single host species at a time, a behavior consistent with search image formation. Using laboratory reared and mated females of 2 species of generalist butterflies, the comma, Polygonia c-album, and the painted lady, Vanessa cardui (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), we investigated the probability of finding a specific target host (among nonhost distractors) immediately after being primed with an oviposition experience of the same host as compared with different host in indoor cages. We used species-specific host plants that varied with respect to growth form, historical age of the butterfly-host association, and relative preference ranking. We found improved search efficacy after previous encounters of the same host for some but not all host species. Positive priming effects were found only in hosts with which the butterfly has a historically old relationship and these hosts are sometimes also highly preferred. Our findings provides additional support for the importance of behavioral factors in shaping the host range of phytophagous insects, and show that butterflies can attune their search behavior to compensate for negative effects of divided attention between multiple hosts

Host priming data of two generalist butterflies

the file contains the behavioral data of all three experiments used in survival analyses included in the study “Selective attention by priming in host search behavior of two generalist butterflies” By Gamberale-Stille, G. et al

Data from: Experience-dependent mushroom body plasticity in butterflies: consequences of search complexity and host range

An ovipositing insect experiences many sensory challenges during her search for a suitable host plant. These sensory challenges become exceedingly pronounced when host range increases, as larger varieties of sensory inputs have to be perceived and processed in the brain. Neural capacities can be exceeded upon information overload, inflicting costs on oviposition accuracy. One presumed generalist strategy to diminish information overload is the acquisition of a focused search during its lifetime based on experiences within the current environment, a strategy opposed to a more genetically determined focus expected to be seen in relative specialists. We hypothesized that a broader host range is positively correlated with mushroom body (MB) plasticity, a brain structure related to learning and memory. To test this hypothesis, butterflies with diverging host ranges (Polygonia c-album, Aglais io and Aglais urticae) were subjected to differential environmental complexities for oviposition, after which ontogenetic MB calyx volume differences were compared among species. We found that the relative generalist species exhibited remarkable plasticity in ontogenetic MB volumes; MB growth was differentially stimulated based on the complexity of the experienced environment. For relative specialists, MB volume was more canalized. All in all, this study strongly suggests an impact of host range on brain plasticity in Nymphalid butterflies