Chirality of synergistic sex pheromone components of the western hemlock looperLambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa (HULST) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Bakers' yeast reduction of (2E)-3-(2-furanyl)-2-methyl-2-propenal yielded the synthetic intermediate, (2S)-3-(2-furanyl)-2-methylpropanol, of high chiral purity (>97% ee) for the synthesis of the enantiomers of 2,5-dimethylheptadecane and 7-methylheptadecane, two synergistic sex pheromone components of the western hemlock looper (WHL),Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa Hulst. In electrophysiological bioassays, (7S)- but not (7R)-7-methylheptadecane elicited strong antennal responses by male WHL antennae. In field trapping experiments, addition of (7S)- but not (7R)-7-methylheptadecane to (5R,11S)-5,11-dimethylheptadecane, the major sex pheromone component of WHL, increased attraction. Attraction to (5R,11S)-5,11-dimethylheptadecane in combination with (7S)-7-methyiheptadecane was further enhanced by the addition of (5S)- but not (5R)-2,5-dimethylheptadecane. Similarly, attraction to (5R,11S)-5,11-dimethylheptadecane combined with (5S)-2,5-dimethylheptadecane increased when 7S- but not (7R)-7-methylheptadecane was added as a third component. We conclude that (7S)-7-methylheptadecane and (5S)-2,5-dimethylheptadecane are the synergistic sex pheromone components of WHL. The synthetic methodology described is applicable to the synthesis of chiral methyl-branched pheromones in other orders of the Insecta, particularly Coleoptera, Diptera and Orthoptera.     

Effect of pre-existing substructures on the fatigue properties of pure aluminium

Pure aluminium was thermomechanically treated (cold rolled to 80% reduction of thickness and annealed at 200° C for various lengths of time) in order to obtain different kinds of substructures. These aluminium specimens were then fatigued with a stress amplitude of 9×10³ psi or 90% of their ultimate tensile strength. The substructures of the specimens before and after fatigue were compared with each other and were then correlated to their fatigue property. The size and shape of substructure introduced by fatigue depend on the pre-existing substructure formed by thermomechanical treatment. The sub-boundaries of the fatigued specimen are not as well-defined as the pre-existing subgrain. The substructure size of the fatigued specimen increases initially with annealing time and then reaches a saturation value (2.32 m) when the annealing time is longer than 2 h. A peak value of fatigue life against the annealing time was found if the stress amplitude of fatigue is 90% of the ultimate tensile strength. The peak value also occurs at an annealing time of 2 h. The reason why the specimen annealed for 2 h possesses the optimum fatigue and property is discussed in terms of the substructures before and after fatigue.     

Directed evolution for the development of conformation-specific affinity reagents using yeast display

Yeast display is a powerful tool for increasing the affinity and thermal stability of scFv antibodies through directed evolution. Mammalian calmodulin (CaM) is a highly conserved signaling protein that undergoes structural changes upon Ca(2+) binding. In an attempt to generate conformation-specific antibodies for proteomic applications, a selection against CaM was undertaken. Flow cytometry-based screening strategies to isolate easily scFv recognizing CaM in either the Ca(2+)-bound (Ca(2+)-CaM) or Ca(2+)-free (apo-CaM) states are presented. Both full-length scFv and single-domain VH only clones were isolated. One scFv clone having very high affinity (K(d) = 0.8 nM) and specificity (>1000-fold) for Ca(2+)-CaM was obtained from de novo selections. Subsequent directed evolution allowed the development of antibodies with higher affinity (K(d) = 1 nM) and specificity (>300-fold) for apo-CaM from a parental single-domain clone with both a modest affinity and specificity for that particular isoform. CaM-binding activity was unexpectedly lost upon conversion of both conformation-specific clones into soluble fragments. However, these results demonstrate that conformation-specific antibodies can be quickly and easily isolated by directed evolution using the yeast display platform.     

Competitive Effects of Trichloroethylene on Cr(VI) Removal by Zero-Valent Iron

Eleven columns were set up under various groundwater geochemistry conditions to investigate the competitive effect of trichloroethylene (TCE) on hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] removal by zero-valent iron (Fe0). They were found to be electron competitors in the redox reactions. In the presence of TCE, the Cr(VI) removal capacities of Fe0 were decreased by about 40% when compared with their respective Cr(VI) removal capacities with identical groundwater geochemistry but without TCE. The specific reaction rate constant (kSA) of TCE was decreased by about 50% when Cr(VI) was singly applied. The kSA of TCE was further decreased by 75% in the presence of both Cr(VI) and carbonate. However, there was no apparent effect on the kSA of TCE when Cr(VI), hardness and carbonate were all present. It revealed that TCE was a stronger electron competitor of Cr(VI) and the degradation of TCE became more favorable when both hardness and carbonate were present. This suggests that the passivated precipitates formed on the Fe0 surface in the presence of both hardness and carbonate may significantly affect the Cr(VI) removal by Fe0 but has insignificant effect on the TCE removal.     

Attributions and Anger in Early Marriage: Wives Are Event-Dependent and Husbands Are Schematic.

Two types of attribution believed to predict anger in married couples were investigated. Wives' anger was expected to be predicted by event-dependent attributions, appraisals based on the unique aspects of one's current situation. Husbands' anger was expected to be predicted by schematic attributions, appraisals based on one's global sentiment in the relationship. Seventy-seven recently married couples attended 2 assessment sessions, and each couple identified 4 incidents pertaining to unresolved relationship issues. Participants rated their event-dependent attributions and their anger prior to a discussion for each incident. They also completed questionnaires regarding schematic attributions and relationship sentiment. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to distinguish between the 2 types of attribution. Strong support was found for the expected gender differences. Results suggest that wives are particularly attentive to the details of interpersonal interaction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)