Synthesis of phosphorylated 3,4-branched trisaccharides corresponding to LPS inner core structures of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae

2-(N-Benzyloxycarbonyl)aminoethyl 7-O-acetyl-6-O-allyl-2-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-l-glycero-α-d-manno-heptopyranosyl-(1→3)-[2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-6,7-di-O-acetyl-2-O-benzyl-l-glycero-α-d-manno-heptopyranoside, a spacer-equipped protected derivative of the common 3,4-branched diheptoside trisaccharide structure of the lipopolysaccharide core of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae has been synthesized. The protecting group pattern installed allows regioselective introduction of phosphoethanolamine residues in the 3- and 6-position of the second heptose unit in accordance with native structures. From this intermediate the 3-and 6-monophosphoethanolamine as well as the non-phosphorylated deprotected trisaccharides have been synthesized to be used in evaluation of antibody binding specificity and in investigation of the substrate specificity of glycosyl transferases involved in the biosynthesis of LPS core structures.     

Some dermatoglyphic traits in breast carcinoma

The finger and palmar prints of 60 women with breast carcinoma were studied. The results were compared with two groups of healthy women, the first consisted of old women and the second of young women. The dermatoglyphics seem to be of little use in the diagnosis of cancers of ectodermic origin. Supported by M.P.I. 60%, 1983     

Application of the Red List Index as an indicator of habitat change

For the first time ever, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Index for habitat types was calculated for an entire country, Finland. The RLIs were based on species threat assessments from 2000 and 2010 and included habitat definitions for all 10,131 species of 12 organism groups. The RLIs were bootstrapped to track statistically significant changes. The RLI changes of species grouped by habitats were negative for all habitat types except for forests and rural biotopes which showed a stable trend. Trends of beetles and true bugs were positive in rural and forest habitats. Other 16 observed trends of species group and habitat combinations were negative. Several trends observed were in accordance with studies focusing on particular taxa and habitats, and drivers for their change. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the RLI as a tool for observing habitat change based on species threat assessment data.     

Accuracies in Po-210 determination for lead-210 dating

Various laboratory techniques have been utilized worldwide for measuring lead-210 in sub-recent deposits through its grand-daughter product polonium-210. Isotope dilution alpha spectrometry proved a suitable tool for absolute determination of lead-210 for the dating of aquatic deposits. Moreover, isotope dilution alpha spectrometry along with speciation experiments can be used to resolve depositional anomalies arising from supported lead-210/Ra-226 disequilibrium levels and unsupported lead-210 mobile fractions. Isotope dilution alpha spectrometry of sub-recent sediment and peat deposits has been critically evaluated for more than ten years. Our results show that type, size and composition of deposits analyzed as well as radiochemical procedures used, together with alpha counting techniques, are important factors influencing lead-210 determinations and tailing corrections using its granddaughter product polonium-210. Optimization of these parameters is of prime importance to achieve economic and accurate analyses, especially at low lead-210 concentrations and small sample sizes.     

Facultative sex allocation in snow skink lizards (Niveoscincus microlepidotus)

Mathematical models suggest that reproducing females may benefit by facultatively adjusting their relative investment into sons vs. daughters, in response to population‐wide shifts in operational sex ratio (OSR). Our field studies on viviparous alpine skinks (Niveoscincus microlepidotus) document such a case, whereby among‐ and within‐year shifts in OSR were followed by shifts in sex allocation. When adult males were relatively scarce, females produced male‐biased litters and larger sons than daughters. The reverse was true when adult males were relatively more common. That is, females that were courted and mated by few males produced mainly sons (and these were larger than daughters), whereas females that were courted and mated by many males produced mainly daughters (and these were larger than sons). Maternal body size and condition also covaried with sex allocation, and the shifting pattern of sexual size dimorphism at birth may reflect these correlated effects rather than a discrete component of an evolved sex‐allocation strategy.