Development of urea-bridged cyclic dominant negative pneumococcus competence-stimulating peptide analogs.

Cyclization is a widely used approach to exert conformational restraint on linear peptide sequences. Herein, urea bridge chemistry was deployed to achieve side chain-to-side chain peptide cyclization on the CSP1-E1A peptide scaffold. To determine the effects of ring size and bridge position on the overall peptide conformation and find the ideal area within the CSP sequence for cyclization, we performed biological evaluation as well as secondary structure analysis on all the cyclic analogs.

Further characterization of adrenocortical and thyroid hormone concentrations of leatherback turtles () under various stressors, including validation of a plasma aldosterone assay.

Leatherback turtles () are endangered by anthropogenic threats. Characterizing the physiologic response of leatherback turtles under various stressors may inform conservation strategies. In this study, a commercially available enzyme immunoassay for aldosterone was validated for leatherback turtle plasma, and it was used with previously validated assays for corticosterone and free thyroxine (fT4) to evaluate the physiologic status of leatherback turtles that were entangled in fishing gear, stranded on shore, nesting or intentionally captured at sea during ecologic studies.

International Application of the Working With Older Adult Scale.

The workforce is not prepared to meet the needs of the number of older adults (OAs) across the globe. The study examines the Theory of Planned Behavior via the Working with Older Adults Scale (WOAS) in a group of university-aged international students to better understand global perceptions of working with older adults. We also compared North American and International students' attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and intention to work with older adults.

Persistent adaptations in sensorimotor interneuron circuits in the motor cortex with a history of sport-related concussion.

Recent studies highlight a persistent increase in subsequent injury risk following a sport-related concussion (SRC) despite clinical recovery. However, markers of persistent alterations in sensorimotor integration have yet to be identified. One possibility is that compensatory adaptation following SRC may only be unmasked during transient periods of high task complexity in specific sensorimotor circuits.