Adsorption by soil of water-soluble phosphate from earthworm casts

Summary The equilibrium solution phosphate concentrations of mixtures of surface wormcasts and soil obtained from different depths were measured and from these concentrations, indices of the immobilization, by soil, of soluble phosphate from the wormcasts were derived. These were found to correlate with the nett P-adsorption capacity of soil taken from the same depths. It is suggested that the decrease in availability of soluble phosphate from wormcasts with increase in depth may result from an increase in adsorptive capacity for phosphate by the surrounding soil.     

Azo-reductase activated budesodine prodrugs for colon targeting

Budesodine is a synthetic glurocorticoid that undergoes substantial first pass metabolism, limiting systemic exposure. Its use in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease would benefit from a targeting strategy that could lead to a local topical effect, improving safety and increasing anti-inflammatory efficacy. A two-step prodrug strategy involving azoreduction/cyclization that we developed previously for prednisolone is here applied with some variations to budesonide. The budesodine prodrugs were tested using an in vitro azoreductase assay simulating human colonic microflora. The kinetics of amino steroid ester cyclization and its pH dependence was also evaluated. The stability of the prodrugs systems in simulated human duodenal and gastric fluid was evaluated to determine the likelihood of intact intestinal transit. The propionic acid derived prodrug 3 undergoes rapid activation by Clostridium perfingens and its putative reduction product cyclizes with acceptable rapidity when synthesized independently. These properties of 3 suggest that it has potential in management of ulcerative colitis.     

α-(15-Hydroxyhexadecyl)itaconic acid from Usnea aliphatica

The structure of a new aliphatic acid from Usnea aliphatica was established by spectroscopic and chemical methods as α- (15-hydroxyhexadecyl)itaconic acid.     

Mass distribution in the fronds of macrocystis pyrifera from New Zealand and California

The mass distribution along the fronds of Macrocystis is examined for plants collected from California and New Zealand. Analysis of fronds classified according to length and condition yields polynomial curves for cumulative mass as a function of distance above the holdfast. Models for this functional relationship are discussed. Similarities and differences between the deep-water California plant and the shallow-water New Zealand plant are highlighted.     

Isolation and characterization of novel microsatellite markers from the Australian tiger snakes (Elapidae: Notechis) and amplification in the closely related genus Hoplocephalus

We provide details of seven microsatellite loci (out of 20 primer pairs designed) that exhibited the cleanest and strongest banding patterns for the Eastern tiger snake Notechis scutatus. These loci were used to screen 76 individuals from across the geographical range of N. scutatus and a further 14 individuals of the closely related and endangered broadheaded snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides. We observed large numbers of alleles per locus (14–52) and relatively high levels of heterozygosity (0.270–0.696) within the N. scutatus sample. These markers are also likely to be informative for work on H. bungaroides.     

Population genetic differentiation and multiple paternity determined by novel microsatellite markers from the Mountain Log Skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii)

A total of 15 microsatellite primer pairs were developed from the Mountain Log Skink, Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii. Nine were used to screen 46 individuals from four populations, and a representative from P. spenceri and P. pagenstecheri. Seven of the loci exhibited large allele variation (16–30) and high heterozygosity (0.24–0.82), and the three populations were genetically differentiated. The markers were also used to screen 36 clutches of known maternity and identified high levels of multiple paternity clutches (57%). The primers developed will provide useful markers for the study of population biology and mating system of these lizards.