Gene Mutation Profiles in Primary Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma of Central Nervous System: Next Generation Sequencing Analyses

The existence of a potential primary central nervous system lymphoma-specific genomic signature that differs from the systemic form of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been suggested, but is still controversial. We investigated 19 patients with primary DLBCL of central nervous system (DLBCL CNS) using the TruSeq Amplicon Cancer Panel (TSACP) for 48 cancer-related genes. Next generation sequencing (NGS) analyses have revealed that over 80% of potentially protein-changing mutations were located in eight genes (CTNNB1, PIK3CA, PTEN, ATM, KRAS, PTPN11, TP53 and JAK3), pointing to the potential role of these genes in lymphomagenesis. TP53 was the only gene harboring mutations in all 19 patients. In addition, the presence of mutated TP53 and ATM genes correlated with a higher total number of mutations in other analyzed genes. Furthermore, the presence of mutated ATM correlated with poorer event-free survival (EFS) (p = 0.036). The presence of the mutated SMO gene correlated with earlier disease relapse (p = 0.023), inferior event-free survival (p = 0.011) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.017), while mutations in the PTEN gene were associated with inferior OS (p = 0.048). Our findings suggest that the TP53 and ATM genes could be involved in the molecular pathophysiology of primary DLBCL CNS, whereas mutations in the PTEN and SMO genes could affect survival regardless of the initial treatment approach.     

Synthesis of amphiphilic triblock copolymers and application for morphology control of calcium carbonate crystals

A series of amphiphilic triblock copolymers poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PEG-b-PAA-b-PnBA) differing only in the relative block lengths were synthesized by the acid-catalyzed elimination of the tert-butyl groups from poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PEG-b-PtBA-b-PnBA), which was synthesized by atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The degree of polymerization, molecular weight and percentage of hydrolysis of the product PEG-b-PAA-b-PnBA were studied by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF-MS). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the aggregation states of copolymers in water solution. The radii of the copolymer micelles shrink as Ca²⁺ is introduced into the solutions. The crystallization behaviors of calcium carbonate controlled by copolymer 1 (PEG₁₁₂-b-PAA₈₆-b-PnBA₆₀) and copolymer 2 (PEG₁₁₂-b-PAA₄₀-b-PnBA₇₂) differing mainly in the length of PAA block were systematically studied. It was found that the crystallization products are composed of calcite and vaterite, and the ratio of vaterite to calcite increases with increasing the concentration of copolymer 1. For copolymer 2, however, only calcite is obtained at all the concentration range investigated in this work.     

Calorimetric study of quinoline interaction with o-phenylphenol and coal-derived asphaltenes

A calorimetric method is presented for the simultaneous evaluation of equilibrium constant, K, and molar enthalpy, ΔH^o, for 1:1 adduct formation of quinoline (Qu) with coal-derived asphaltenes in solvent benzene. Asphaltene (A), together with its acid/neutral (AA), and base (BA) fractions used in this study were isolated from a centrifuged liquid product (CLP) sample prepared from Kentucky hvAb coal at 27.6 MPa hydrogen pressure and 723 K, with reactor charged with glass pellets. The computed K values for the interaction of Qu and A, AA, and BA are, within experimental error, the same, 18–19 dm³ mol^?1; whereas there is large variation in the ΔH^o values (Qu-A, ?16.92 ± 0.21 kJ mol^?1; Qu-AA, ?14.74 ± 0.04 kJ mol^?1; Qu-BA, ?11.76 ± 0.04 kJ mol^?1). For Qu-A and Qu-AA systems, hydrogen-bonding occurs between the aromatic phenols (present in A and AA) and quinoline, which is a strong hydrogen-bond acceptor, in addition to other molecular interactions. The hydrogen-bonding interaction in the Qu-BA system is lacking because both Qu and BA are hydrogen-bond acceptors. Since asphaltenes are really mixtures, we have taken a pure compound, o-phenyl-phenol (OPP), and obtained thermodynamic parameters for its interaction with quinoline (Qu). OPP was chosen to represent the aromatic phenols found in coal liquefaction products. Results obtained are: K (dm³ mol^?1): 10.4 (in CS₂), 6.2 (in CCl₄); ΔH^o (kJ mol^?1): ?31.40 (inCS₂) ?27.80 (inCCl₄). The solvent effect is apparent. By using o-phenylanisole as a model non-hydrogen-bonding donor (Dietz Blaha, Li J. Chem. Thermodynamics, 1977, 9, 783), the relative contribution of H-bond to π-interactions in the total enthalpy change for the OPP—Qu system is estimated to be 3:1.     

Synthesis of PAA-g-PNIPAM well-defined graft polymer by sequential RAFT and SET-LRP and its application in preparing size-controlled super-paramagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a stabilizer

A series of well-defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers, poly(acrylic acid)-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PAA-g-PNIPAM), was employed as a novel water-soluble coating for constructing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The copolymer was synthesized via a three-step procedure: firstly, a well-defined hydrophobic PtBA-based backbone, poly(tert-butyl 2-((2-chloropropanoyloxy)-methyl)acrylate)-co-poly(tert-butyl acrylate), (PtBCPMA₁₉-co-PtBA₁₈), was prepared through RAFT copolymerization of a new trifunctional acrylic monomer, tert-butyl 2-((2-chloropropanoyloxy)methyl)acrylate and tert-butyl acrylate; secondly, taking this backbone as a macroinitiator to initiate SET-LRP of N-isopropylacrylamide resulted in well-defined (poly(tert-butyl 2-((2-chloropropanoyloxy)methyl)-acrylate)-co-poly(tert-butyl acrylate))-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) ((PtBCPMA-co-PtBA)-g-PNIPAM) amphiphilic graft copolymers with relatively narrow polydispersities (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.31); thirdly, handling (PtBCPMA-co-PtBA)-g-PNIPAM in acidic conditions afforded PAA-g-PNIPAM graft copolymers. The resulting PAA-g-PNIPAM copolymers were directly utilized as a polymeric stabilizer in the preparation of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The particle size can be readily tuned in the range of 12.1–23.2 nm by varying the amount of PAA-g-PNIPAM copolymer or the length of PNIPAM side chain. Besides, the structure and properties of prepared Fe₃O₄/polymer nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, TEM, and magnetic measurement in detail.     

Effect of surfactants on liquid-side mass transfer coefficients

In the present paper, the effect of liquid properties (surfactants) on bubble generation phenomenon, interfacial area and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient was investigated. The measurements of surface tension (static and dynamic methods), of critical micelle concentration (CMC) and of characteristic adsorption parameters such as the surface coverage ratio at equilibrium (s_e) were performed to understand the effects of surfactants on the mass transfer efficiency. Tap water and aqueous solutions with surfactants (cationic and anionic) were used as liquid phases and an elastic membrane with a single orifice as gas sparger. The bubbles were generated into a small-scale bubble column. The local liquid-side mass transfer coefficient (k_L) was obtained from the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k_La) and the interfacial area (a) was deduced from the bubble diameter (D_B), the bubble frequency (f_B) and the terminal bubble rising velocity (U_B). Only the dynamic bubble regime was considered in this work (Re_OR=150-1000 and We=0.002-4).This study has clearly shown that the presence of surfactants affects the bubble generation phenomenon and thus the interfacial area (a) and the different mass transfer parameters, such as the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k_La) and the liquid-side mass transfer coefficient (k_L). Whatever the operating conditions, the new k_La determination method has provided good accuracy without assuming that the liquid phase is perfectly mixed as in the classical method. The surface coverage ratio (s_e) proves to be crucial for predicting the changes of k_L in aqueous solutions with surfactants.     

Block copolysiloxanes and their complexation with cobalt nanoparticles

Block copolysiloxanes have been prepared and utilized to form complexes of cobalt nanoparticles encased in the copolymers. The coated nanoparticles could be dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to afford PDMS ferrofluids.Poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-methylvinylsiloxane) (PDMS-b-PMVS) diblock copolymers were synthesized via anionic living polymerization with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. The PMVS blocks were functionalized with trimethoxysilethyl or triethoxysilethyl pendent groups to yield poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-(methylvinyl-co-methyl(2-trimethoxysilethyl)siloxane) (PDMS-b-(PMVS-co-PMTMS)) or poly(dimethylsiloxane-b-(methylvinyl-co-methyl(2-triethoxysilethyl)siloxane) (PDMS-b-(PMVS-co-PMTES)) copolymers, respectively.Stable suspensions of mostly superparamagnetic cobalt nanoparticles were prepared in toluene in the presence of PDMS-b-(PMVS-co-PMTMS) and PDMS-b-(PMVS-co-PMTES) copolymers via thermolysis of Co₂(CO)₈. TEM micrographs showed non-aggregated cobalt nanoparticles with mean particle diameters ranging from ≈10-15 nm. Specific saturation magnetizations of the cobalt-copolymer complexes ranged from ∼40-110 emu g⁻¹ of cobalt.     

Formation of nanostructures in thermosets containing block copolymers: From self-assembly to reaction-induced microphase separation mechanism

In this work, we investigated the effect of formation mechanisms of nanophases on the morphologies and thermomechanical properties of the nanostructured thermosets containing block copolymers. Toward this end, the nanostructured thermosets involving epoxy and block copolymers were prepared via self-assembly and reaction-induced microphase separation approaches, respectively. Two structurally similar triblock copolymers, poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(butadiene-co-styrene)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-b-PBS-b-PCL) and poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene-co-ethylethylene-co-styrene)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-b-PEEES-b-PCL) were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) with α,ω-dihydroxyl-terminated poly(butadiene-co-styrene) (HO-PBS-OH) and α,ω-dihydroxyl-terminated poly(ethylene-co-ethylethylene-co-styrene) (i.e., HO-PEEES-OH) as the macromolecular initiators, respectively; the latter was obtained via the hydrogenation reduction of the former. Both the triblock copolymers had the same architecture, the identical composition and close molecular weights. In spite of the structural resemblance of both the triblock copolymers, the formation mechanisms of the nanophases in the thermosets were quite different. It was found that the formation of nanophases in the thermosets containing PCL-b-PBS-b-PCL followed a reaction-induced microphase separation mechanism whereas that in the thermosets containing PCL-b-PEEES-b-PCL was in a self-assembly manner. The different formation mechanisms of nanophases resulted in the quite different morphologies, glass transition temperatures (T_g's) and fracture toughness of the nanostructured thermosets.     

Effects of Polymorphisms in Pepsinogen (PEP), Amylase (AMY) and Trypsin (TRY) Genes on Food Habit Domestication Traits in Mandarin Fish

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) have a peculiar feeding habit of only accepting live fish prey and refusing dead prey and artificial diets. However, previous research has shown that some individuals accept dead prey after gradual domestication. Digestive enzymes are correlated with feeding habits in fish. In the current study, SNPs in the mandarin fish genes for pepsinogen (PEP), amylase (AMY), and trypsin (TRY) were evaluated for associations with feeding habits in domesticated mandarin fish by scanning their complete genomic sequence. In total, two SNPs were found in PEP, one was found in TRY, and none were found in AMY. The D1(CTCC) and D5(TTTT) diplotypes in the PEP gene tended to show strong effects on the feeding habits of domesticated fish (p < 0.01). The results indicate that PEP may be associated with the genetic mechanism for feeding habits in mandarin fish, and the D1(CTCC) and D5(TTTT) diplotypes in the PEP gene may be useful markers for selecting mandarin fish with appropriate feeding habits for domestication.     

Preparation and characterization of Luminescent nanostructured Gd2O3-Y2O3:Eu synthesized by the solution combustion process

Microwave-assisted combustion of Europium doped Y₂O₃–Gd₂O₃ was investigated using glycine, glucose, glycerol and citric acid as organic fuel. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) techniques were used to characterize the nanostructured Gd₂O₃-Y₂O₃:Eu. The average crystallite size was in the range of 15 to 45nm. The formation of sponge-like morphologies was confirmed by SEM-TEM images and optimized with glucose and glycine fuels. Glycine fuel was enhanced specific surface area of synthesized sample (7.11 m²/g) as compared to other organic fuel. Gd 4d, Gd 3d and Y 3d peaks were appeared as a strong XPS signal which indicated complete oxidation of Gd and Y in sample. The main emission peaks of photoluminescence spectra which are related to the electric and magnetic dipole transitions were in ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ (610 nm) and ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ (590nm) electron transitions. Glycine sample as a fuel earned the highest emission intensity of red appearance in CIE diagram by one-step combustion synthesis. Photoluminescence property europium doped Y₂O₃-Gd₂O₃ was improved using glycine as a fuel.     

Facile synthesis of diphenylethylene end-functional polyisobutylene and its applications for the synthesis of block copolymers containing poly(methacrylate)s

The convenient synthesis of methoxy-free 1,1-diphenylethylene end-functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB-DPE) has been accomplished by capping living PIB with 1,4-bis(1-phenylethenyl)benzene, followed by hydride transfer reaction with tributylsilane. The proposed method eliminates the need for methylation of the capped living PIB in which large excess of dimethylzinc must be used, resulting in a large amount of inorganic salt contamination. The obtained PIB-DPE was quantitatively lithiated with 1.5-fold excess n-butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at room temperature. The methine proton at the chain end remained intact during the lithiation procedure. The resulting macroanion efficiently initiated the polymerization of alkyl methacrylates. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-b-PIB-b-PMMA, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-b-PIB-b-PHEMA and poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (P^tBMA)-b-PIB-b-P^tBMA have been prepared with high blocking efficiency by the proposed methodology. Complete hydrolysis of P^tBMA-b-PIB-b-P^tBMA into poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)-b-PIB-b-PMAA was realized in THF/1,4-dioxane, as confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and DSC analyses.     

Stereodynamics Study of the Reaction of O(3P) with CH4 (v = 0, j = 0)

A new London-Eyring-Polanyi-Sato (LEPS) potential energy surface (PES) is used in the O + CH₄ → OH + CH₃ reaction via the quasiclassical trajectory method (QCT). Comparing with the experiments and the former ab initio calculations, the new LEPS PES describes the actual potential energy surface of the O + CH₄ reaction successfully. The four polarization dependent “generalized” differential cross sections (PDDCS) are presented in the center of mass frame. In the meantime, the distribution of dihedral angle [P(φ_r), the distribution of angle between k and j′ (P(θ_r)] and the angular distribution of product rotational vectors in the form of polar plots in θ_r and φ_r (P(θ_r, φ_r) are calculated. The isotope effect for the reactions O + CD₄ is also calculated. These results are in good agreement with the experiments.     

Determination and prediction of Kow and dimensionless Henry's constant (H) for 6 ether compounds at several temperatures

The octanol–water partition coefficient (K_ow) and air–water partition coefficient (K_aw) as well as the dimensionless Henry's constant (H) are used to calculate the transport and fate of chemicals in the environment or eco-system. In this work, the K_ow and the H were measured for 6 ether compounds; di-n-butyl ether (DBE), di-isopropyl ether (DIPE), tert-butyl ethyl ether (ETBE), tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE), propyl vinyl ether (PVE) and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME) at 4 different temperatures. The K_ow was directly measured by using a conventional slow stirring (SS) method, while the H was measured using headspace gas chromatography (HSGC). Additionally, the measured K_ow and H values were compared with the predicted values by the fragment constant method or HENRYWIN program approaches.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (l-lactide)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) triblock copolymer

A biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PLLA-b-PLGA) was obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(l-lactide)-b-poly(γ-benzyl-l-glutamic acid) (PEG-b-PLLA-b-PBLGA) synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxyanhydride of γ-benzyl-l-glutamate (BLG-NCA) with amino-terminated MPEG-b-PLLA-NH₂ as a macroinitiator. MPEG-b-PLLA-NH₂ converted from MPEG-b-PLLA-OH first reacted with tert-Butoxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanine (Phe-^NBOC) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and then deprotected the tert-butoxycarbonyl group. MPEG-b-PLLA-OH was prepared by ROP of l-lactide with monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) in the presence of stannous octoate. The triblock copolymer and its diblock precursors were characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, GPC and DSA (drop shape analysis) measurements. The lengths of each block polymers could be tailored by molecular design and the ratios of feeding monomers. The triblock polymer PEG-b-PLLA-b-PLGA containing carboxyl groups showed obviously improved hydrophilic properties and could be a good potential candidate as a drug delivery carrier.     

Physicochemical study by multi-angle light scattering of water-soluble methacryloylaminophenylarsonate copolymers

The properties of aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes of sodium o- and p-methacryloylaminophenylarsonate (o- and p- MAPHA-Na) with acrylamide (AAD) or sodium methacrylate (MA-Na): poly(sodium o-methacryloylaminophenylarsonate) (poly(o-MAPHA-Na)), poly(sodium o-methacryloylaminophenylarsonate-co-acrylamide) (poly(o-MAPHA-Na-co-AAD)) (26:74), poly(sodium o-methacryloylaminophenylarsonate-co-sodium methacrylate) (poly(o- MAPHA-Na-co-AM-Na) (35:65) and (14:86), and poly(sodium p-methacryloylaminophenylarsonate-co-sodium methacrylate) (poly(p- MAPHA-Na-co-AM-Na)) (34:66) were studied by off-line, multi-angle light scattering, and in-line using size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scattering (SEC-MALS) and refractometric (RI) detection. The M_w value corresponding to the homopolymer poly(o-MAPHA-Na) was 1,300,000 g/mol and for the copolymers the M_w and gyration radius values were decreased when the AAD or AM-Na comonomer composition increased. The macromolecular parameters obtained using SEC-MALS were in agreement with the values measured in the off-line mode. Also, SEC-MALS experiments allowed examination of the radius of gyration-M_w relationship in order to determine the polyelectrolyte conformation (ρ) in solution; these values fell between 0.7-0.53, indicating that the polyelectrolytes are random coils at θ-conditions. In addition, the effect of the pH on the macromolecular parameters was evaluated. At pH 4.5, the M_w and gyration radius values corresponding to poly(o-MAPHA-Na) and poly(o-MAPHA-Na-co-AAD) (26/74) remained very close to those measured at pH 7. However, <r _g ²?>?values for poly(o-MAPHA-Na-co-AM-Na) copolymers at pH 4.5 were less than pH 7, indicating that the presence of AM-Na reduced the size of the copolymer through intermolecular interactions.     

Molecular Systematics of Genus Atractylodes (Compositae,Cardueae): Evidence from Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and trnL-F Sequences

To determine the evolutionary relationships among all members of the genus Atractylodes (Compositae, Cardueae), we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of one nuclear DNA (nrDNA) region (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and one chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) region (intergenic spacer region of trnL-F). In ITS and ITS + trnL-F trees, all members of Atractylodes form a monophyletic clade. Atractylodes is a sister group of the Carlina and Atractylis branch. Atractylodes species were distributed among three clades: (1) A. carlinoides (located in the lowest base of the Atractylodes phylogenetic tree), (2) A. macrocephala, and (3) the A. lancea complex, including A. japonica, A. coreana, A. lancea, A. lancea subsp. luotianensis, and A. chinensis. The taxonomic controversy over the classification of species of Atractylodes is mainly concentrated in the A. lancea complex. In base on molecular results, the intraspecific division of Atractylodes lancea is not supported, and A. coreana should be treated as a synonym A. chinensis.     

Self-assembly of pH-responsive and fluorescent comb-like amphiphilic copolymers in aqueous media

“Comb-like” graft copolymers, consisting of a poly((N-vinylcarbazole)-co-(4-vinylbenzyl chloride)) (P(NVK-co-VBC)) copolymer backbone from free radical polymerization and poly(((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-co-(tert-butyl acrylate)) (P(DMAEMA-co-tBA)) side chains from atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), were hydrolyzed to produce the acrylic acid (AAc)-containing “comb-like” graft copolymers of P(NVK-co-VBC)-comb-P(DMAEMA-co-AAc). The amphiphilic copolymers possess a fluorescent hydrophobic P(NVK-co-VBC) backbone and pH-sensitive hydrophilic P(DMAEMA-co-AAc) side chains. Arising from acid-base interaction of the hydrophilic side chains, the copolymers can self-assemble into pH-responsive fluorescent and multi-walled hollow vesicles of well-defined morphology in aqueous media. The size and layered wall thickness of the vesicles are also dependent on the length of the copolymer side chains, while the number of wall layers is dependent on the concentration of the vesicles in the aqueous media. In comparison, a N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm)-containing comb-like amphiphilic copolymer (P(NVK-co-VBC)-comb-P(NIPAAm-co-DMAEMA)) of similar structure, albeit with non-interacting hydropholic side chains, self-assembles only into temperature and pH-responsive single-shelled hollow nanoparticles in aqueous media.     

Synthesis and field testing of enantiomers of 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxydienes as sex attractants for geometrid moths

Stereoselective syntheses of chiral C₁₇ to C₂₁ 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxydienes were developed. Field tests of the enantiomerically enriched epoxides as components of synthetic sex attractant lures were carried out, and those with C₁₇ and C₁₉ chain lengths, particularly, were attractive to male moths of several species. Moths were usually specifically attracted by one of a pair of enantiomers, and the opposite enantiomer could actually be a behavioral antagonist. Males belonging to nine species of Geometridae were captured.Probole amicaria (Herrich-Schäffer) males were taken in traps baited with the mixture (6Z,9Z,3S,4R)-epoxy-nonadecadiene (6Z,9Z,3S,4R-epoxy-19∶H) + 3Z,9Z,6R,7S-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-19∶H(9∶1∶8). Other species responding to the C₁₉ compounds included (attractant components follow in parentheses);Sicya macularia (Harris) (6Z,9Z,3S,4R-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-19∶H),Anavitrinella pampinaria (Guenée) (6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,9Z,6S,7R-epoxy-19∶H), andLycia ursaria (Walker) (6Z,9Z-3S, 4R-epoxy-19∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-19∶H). Males of the following species were captured byC ₁₇ epoxides:Itame occiduaria (Packard) (6Z,9Z,3R,4S-epoxy-17∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-17∶H),Itame brunneata (Thunberg) (6Z,9Z,3S,4R-epoxy-17∶H),Epelis truncataria (Walker) (both enantiomers of 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxy-17∶H),Semiothisa ulsterata (Pearsall) (3Z,9Z-6S,7R-epoxy-17∶H), andS. signaria dispuncta (Walker) (3Z,9Z-cis-6,7-epoxy-17∶H + 3Z,6Z,9Z-17∶H). The interactions among enantiomers and regioisomers are discussed as a mechanism by which cross attraction between sympatric species is limited.