Natural and Semisynthetic Immunomodulatory Luakuliide Labdane Diterpenoids.

Spectroscopy-guided isolation of extracts of the Tongan marine sponge cf. (Lamarck, 1814) has resulted in the reisolation of the labdane diterpenoid luakuliide A () and one new congener, luakulialactam A (). In addition to establishing the absolute configuration of , synthetic modifications to the luakuliide framework at key positions has created a set of six derivatives (-) which were used to interrogate a structure-activity relationship relating to the immunomodulatory effects of luakuliide A.

Complete Genome Sequences of Phages EarickHC, Figueroism, FinalFrontier, SBlackberry, Skylord, and Slay isolated using .

Phages EarickHC, Figueroism, FinalFrontier, SBlackberry, Skylord, and Slay were isolated from soil samples collected around Southern California using the host All six phages are lytic and have a siphoviral morphology. Genomes are 39,843 to 52,992 bp in length and contain 58 to 91 protein coding genes.

Cholinergic regulation of decision making under risk of punishment.

The ability to choose between options that differ in their risks and rewards depends on brain regions within the mesocorticolimbic circuit and regulation of their activity by neurotransmitter systems. Dopamine neurotransmission in particular plays a critical role in modulating such risk-taking behavior; however, the contribution of other major modulatory neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, is not as well-defined, especially for decision making in which the risk associated with more rewarding outcomes involves adverse consequences. Consequently, the goal of the current experiments was to examine how cholinergic signaling influences decision making involving risk of explicit punishment.

Advancing mitochondrial therapeutics: Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of pyrazole-based inhibitors targeting the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier.

Inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate transport via the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) has shown beneficial effects in treating metabolic diseases, certain cancers, various forms of neurodegeneration, and hair loss. These benefits arise either from the direct inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism or from the metabolic rewiring when pyruvate entry is inhibited. However, current MPC inhibitors are either nonspecific or possess poor pharmacokinetic properties.

Social cognition in acquired brain injury: adaptation and validation of the Brief Assessment of Social Skills (BASS).

Background: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is associated with social cognitive impairments, yet these impairments are often overlooked during clinical assessments. There are few validated and clinically appropriate measures of social cognition in ABI. The current study examined the validity of the Brief Assessment of Social Skills (BASS) in measuring social cognition following ABI.