Enhancement of fungicidal and insecticidal activity by reductive alkylation of chitosan

A series of N-alkyl chitosan (NAC) derivatives were synthesized using a reductive alkylation reaction to examine their fungicidal and insecticidal activity. The chemical structures were characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and the degree of substitution (DS) ranged from 0.02 to 0.37. Their fungicidal activity was evaluated against the grey mould Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast pathogen Pyricularia grisea Sacc [Teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr] by a radial growth bioassay. It was of interest that most of the NAC derivatives were more active against both fungi than chitosan itself. The most active derivative was N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)chitosan with EC50 values of 0.031 and 0.23 g L(-1) against B. cinerea and P. grisea respectively. In addition, some derivatives, at higher concentrations up to 1.0 g L(-1), inhibited the mycelial growth and spore formation of P. grisea. Bioassays against larvae of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with the NAC derivatives at a rate of 5.0 g kg(-1) in artificial diet demonstrated that N-(3-phenylbutyl)chitosan was the most active compound. In addition, N-propylchitosan, N-undecanylchitosan and N-(3-phenylpropyl)chitosan derivatives strongly inhibited larval weight gain in S. littoralis, with respective reductions of 76, 66 and 65% after 4 days of feeding on treated diet.     

Otters and Anglers Can Share the Stream! The Role of Social Science in Dissuading Negative Messaging About Reintroduced Predators

The reintroduction of mammalian predators often has been met with controversy among citizens near reintroduction sites primarily because of concern for predation of livestock, pets, and game species. The river otter (Lontra canadensis) is an example of a predator widely reintroduced in the United States that has in some cases been negatively depicted in the media because of its predatory habits (i.e., fish eating). The reintroduction of river otters in Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois was followed by negative media messages pertaining to otters preying on fish. In contrast, the reintroduction of river otters in Pennsylvania (PA) was accompanied by positive media portrayals and overwhelming public support. This opinion piece reviews factors that likely contributed to public acceptance of river otter reintroduction in PA, emphasizing the importance of applying social science theories and methodologies as a basis for determining and accurately depicting public attitudes toward the reintroduction of mammalian predators.     

High-resolution crystal structure of an engineered human beta2-adrenergic G protein-coupled receptor

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors constitute the largest family of eukaryotic signal transduction proteins that communicate across the membrane. We report the crystal structure of a human beta2-adrenergic receptor-T4 lysozyme fusion protein bound to the partial inverse agonist carazolol at 2.4 angstrom resolution. The structure provides a high-resolution view of a human G protein-coupled receptor bound to a diffusible ligand. Ligand-binding site accessibility is enabled by the second extracellular loop, which is held out of the binding cavity by a pair of closely spaced disulfide bridges and a short helical segment within the loop. Cholesterol, a necessary component for crystallization, mediates an intriguing parallel association of receptor molecules in the crystal lattice. Although the location of carazolol in the beta2-adrenergic receptor is very similar to that of retinal in rhodopsin, structural differences in the ligand-binding site and other regions highlight the challenges in using rhodopsin as a template model for this large receptor family.     

Near--Atomic Resolution Imaging of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Molecules on Graphite by STM

Near-atomic resolution images of a two-dimensional heteroepitaxial crystal composed of the relatively "functionally rich" chiral liquid crystal mesogen MDW 74 on graphite have been obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). This work is aimed at developing an improved understanding of the commercially crucial phenomenon of liquid crystal alignment by studying well-characterized surfaces. Herein is reported molecular-level characterization of the surface underlying a ferroelectric liquid crystal in situ, a requisite starting point for understanding the liquid crystal-solid interface at the molecular level. The results are also important in the context of developing a model for the molecular. origins of the contrast observed in STM images of organic monolayers on conductor surfaces. The data and analysis provide strong evidence that neither frontier orbital alone (highest occupied or lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) is sufficient to describe the observed tunneling efficiency.