Two Sri Lankan cases of identified sea snake bites, without envenoming.

Sea snakes are among the most venomous creatures encountered around coasts and reefs, in estuaries, rivers and at sea. Their venoms are more toxic than those of land snakes. However, they are rarely aggressive or menacing. Bites have become unusual with the advent of modern fishing methods but the two encounters we report, in the Indian Ocean off the shores of Sri Lanka, emphasise that sea snake bites may not result in envenoming.     

Synthesis of two potent glucocorticoid receptor agonists labeled with carbon‐14 and stable isotopes

Two potent glucocorticoid receptor agonists were prepared labeled with carbon‐14 and with stable isotopes to perform drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and bioanalytical studies. Carbon‐14 labeled (1) was obtained from an enantiopure alkyne (5) via a Sonogashira coupling to a previously reported 5‐amino‐4‐iodo‐[2‐¹⁴C]pyrimidine [¹⁴C]‐(6), followed by a base‐mediated cyclization (1) in 72% overall radiochemical yield. Carbon‐14 labeled (2) was prepared in five steps employing a key benzoic acid intermediate [¹⁴C]‐(13), which was synthesized in one pot from enolization of trifluoromethylketone (12), followed by bromine–magnesium exchange and then electrophile trapping reaction with [¹⁴C]‐carbon dioxide. A chiral auxiliary (S)‐1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethylamine was then coupled to this acid to give [¹⁴C]‐(15). Propargylation and separation of diastereoisomers by crystallizations gave the desired diastereomer [¹⁴C]‐(17) in 34% yield. Sonogashira coupling to iodopyridine (10) followed by cyclization to the azaindole [¹⁴C]‐(18) and finally removal of the chiral auxiliary gave [¹⁴C]‐(2) in 7% overall yield. For stable isotope syntheses, [¹³C₆]‐(1) was obtained in three steps using [¹³C₄]‐(6) and trimethylsilylacetylene‐[¹³C₂] in 26% yield, while [²H₅]‐(2) was obtained by first preparing the iodopyridine [²H₅]‐(10) in five steps. Then, Sonogashira coupling to chiral alkyne (24) and cyclization gave [²H₅]‐(2) in 42% overall yield.     

A model for combined targeting and tracking tasks in computer applications

Current models for targeted-tracking are discussed and shown to be inadequate as a means of understanding the combined task of tracking, as in the Drury’s paradigm, and having a final target to be aimed at, as in the Fitts’ paradigm. It is shown that the task has to be split into components that are, in general, performed sequentially and have a movement time component dependent on the difficulty of the individual component of the task. In some cases, the task time may be controlled by the Fitts’ task difficulty, and in others, it may be dominated by the Drury’s task difficulty. Based on an experiment carried out that captured movement time in combinations of visually controlled and ballistic movements, a model for movement time in targeted-tracking was developed.     

A new begomovirus–betasatellite complex is associated with chilli leaf curl disease in Sri Lanka

Leaf curl disease of chilli (LCDC) is a major constraint in production of chilli in the Indian subcontinent. The objective of this study was to identify the begomovirus species occurring in chilli in Sri Lanka, where the LCDC was initially recorded in 1938. The virus samples were collected from the North Central Province, the major chilli growing region in Sri Lanka with a history of epidemic prevalence of LCDC. The virus could be readily transmitted by Bemisia tabaci to chilli, tomato and tobacco, where vein clearing followed by leaf curl developed. The genome analysis of two isolates obtained from two distantly located fields showing 100 % LCDC, revealed that the DNA-A genome (2754 nucleotides) shared 89.5 % sequence identity with each other and 68.80–84.40 % sequence identity with the other begomoviruses occurring in the Indian subcontinent. The closest identity (84.40 %) of the virus isolates was with Tomato leaf curl Sri Lanka virus (ToLCLKV). The results support that a new begomovirus species is affecting chilli in Sri Lanka and the name Chilli leaf curl Sri Lanka virus (ChiLCSLV) is proposed. Recombination analysis indicated that ChiLCSLV was a recombinant virus potentially originated from the begomoviruses prevailing in southern India and Sri Lanka. The genome of betasatellite associated with the two isolates consisted of 1366 and 1371 nucleotides and shared 95.2 % sequence identity with each other and 41.50–73.70 % sequence identity with the other betasatellite species. The results suggest that a new begomovirus betasatellite, Chilli leaf curl Sri Lanka betasatellite is associated with LCDC in Sri Lanka. This study demonstrates a new species of begomovirus and betasatellite complex is occurring in chilli in Sri Lanka and further shows that diverse begomovirus species are affecting chilli production in the Indian subcontinent.     

An efficient synthesis of [13C6]‐3,5‐dichloroaniline

3,5‐Dichloroaniline is commonly found in many compounds with pharmacological and other biological activities. [¹³C₆]‐Aniline or its hydrochloride salt was converted in three steps to [¹³C₆]‐3,5‐dichloroaniline, which can be incorporated in compounds of interest and used as internal standards in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) studies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.