Conformation and Dynamics of the Cyclic Lipopeptide Viscosinamide at the Water-Lipid Interface.

Cyclic lipodepsipeptides or CLiPs from are secondary metabolites that mediate a wide range of biological functions for their producers, and display antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Direct interaction of CLiPs with the cellular membranes is presumed to be essential in causing these. To understand the processes involved at the molecular level, knowledge of the conformation and dynamics of CLiPs at the water-lipid interface is required to guide the interpretation of biophysical investigations in model membrane systems.

Singlet-oxygen oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in continuous flow.

Singlet-oxygen oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was performed in continuous flow mode using rose Bengal as photosensitizer. The resulting butenolide (H(2) MF) was formed selectively in high yield. The procedure proved to be scalable and applicable to related bio-based furfurals.

Above- and belowground herbivory jointly impact defense and seed dispersal traits in Taraxacum officinale.

Plants are able to cope with herbivores by inducing defensive traits or growth responses that allow them to reduce or avoid the impact of herbivores. Since above- and belowground herbivores differ substantially in life-history traits, for example feeding types, and their spatial distribution, it is likely that they induce different responses in plants. Moreover, strong interactive effects on defense and plant growth are expected when above- and belowground herbivores are jointly present.

Alexithymia and posttraumatic stress: subscales and symptom clusters.

This study examined the relationship between the emotion-regulating factor alexithymia and the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after critical incidents in a nonclinical sample of 136 nurses and ambulance personnel working in military facilities. The results showed that alexythima accounts for variance in PTSD symptoms. Breaking PTSD into its 4 symptom clusters, alexithymia was found to predict numbing and hyperarousal symptoms but not avoidance or reexperiencing symptoms.