Ten simple rules for establishing a mentorship programme

In recent years, a wide variety of mentorship programmes targeting issues that cannot be addressed through traditional teaching and learning methods alone have been developed. Mentoring plays significant roles in the growth and development of both mentors and mentees, and the positive impacts of mentoring have been well documented. Mentorship programmes are therefore increasingly being implemented in a wide variety of fields by organisations, academic institutes, businesses, and governments. While there is a growing body of literature on mentoring and mentorship programmes, gaining a clear overview of the field is often challenging. In this article, we therefore provide a concise summary of recommendations to consider when designing and establishing mentorship programmes. These recommendations are based on the collective knowledge and experiences of 4 different emerging and established mentorship programmes and can be adapted across various mentorship settings or contexts.     

Synthesis of 2-Deoxy-4-thio-D-ribofuranose and Its 3-Azido Analogue from L-Arabinose; Intermediates in the Synthesis of 4′-Thiodeoxynucleosides

Abstract

1-O-Acetyl-3,5-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-4-thio-α,β-D-ribofuranose and its 3-azido analogue have been prepared by an efficient route starting from L-arabinose. A key intermediate in this route is 2-deoxy-4,5-O-isopropylidene-L-erythro-pentose dibenzyl dithioacetal which is readily substituted in the 3-position thus offering extensive scope for the synthesis of 3-substituted 2-deoxy-4-thio-α,β-D-ribofuranoses and subsequent nucleoside derivatives.     

Steroid UDP glucuronosyltransferases

The glucuronidation of steroids is a major process necessary for their elimination in the bile and urine. In general, steroid glucuronides are biologically less reactive than their parent steroids. However, in some cases often associated with disease and steroid therapy, more reactive or toxic glucuronides may be formed. The concentrations of specific steroid glucuronides in the blood may also indicate hormonal imbalances and may funnction as diagnostic markers of genetic defects in steroid synthesis and metabolism. In this review, the forms of UDP glucuronosyltransferase involved in steroid glucuronidation are described in terms of their specificities, functional domains and regulation. The available evidence suggests that steroid glucuronidation is mainly carried out by members of the UGT2B subfamily which are encoded by genes containing 6 exons. Members of this subfamily exhibit a regioselectively in their glucuronidation of steroids that is mediated by domains in the amino-terminal half on the protein encoded by exons 1 and 2. Although much of this review will describe studies in the rat, preliminary evidence indicates that a similar situation may exist in humans.     

Seasonal and spatial variation in the reproductive biology of the dwarf seahorse Hippocampus zosterae

Factors associated with the reproductive ecology of the dwarf seahorse Hippocampus zosterae were investigated. Fish from a Tampa Bay (FL, USA) seagrass ecosystem were collected, photographed and returned to the wild, with photos analysed to determine patterns of body size, density, sex ratio and reproductive state across site and season to understand the population dynamics of H. zosterae over time. Animal density did not vary significantly with site and season, indicating there is little evidence of seasonal migration in this species. Densities reported in this study were higher than the mean density for all seahorse species Hippocampus spp. There was no sexual dimorphism in body length and both sexes reached sexual maturity at the same size. The ratio of gravid to non-gravid males was found to shift by season but not by site, with breeding detected year-round in this population compared with populations further north in their range. Peak breeding (70% gravid males) was observed in the late summer–autumn (August–October) in the site furthest from shore. The largest fish for both sexes were recorded during the summer and autumn months in the mid-shore, deepest site. Sex ratio shifted by site with even sex ratios near the shore but significantly female-biased sex ratios detected at sites near open water. Lastly, an increase in marking dates with decreased time intervals between collections did not yield a higher recapture rate, compared with sampling in 2010. However, the Tampa Bay population of dwarf seahorses demonstrated stable densities across 3 years with year-round breeding, indicating that it is a robust population worthy of long-term monitoring for conservation efforts.