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The stability of poly (vinyl chloride) when mixed with Acid Red4, morin and methyl blue in different concentrations has been studied by employing differential thermal analysis. It is evident from the results that the presence of these dyes imparts a stabilizing effect on the polymer. The stabilization effect has been reported as heat of reaction for the main decomposition process of PVC.

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The in vitro anti-fungal activity of twelve commercially available essential oils were tested against five pathogenic species of yeasts (Candida albicans, C. stellatoidea, C. tropicalis, Torulopsis candida and T. versitilis) using the paper disc plate method. Trosyd (tioconazole) was taken as standard inhibitor. From the investigated oils, five exhibited various degrees of inhibition to all test yeasts; these were cinnamon, clove, horseradish, marjoram and peppermint. Cinnamon is the most effective oil in front of all pathogenic yeasts studied and C. tropicalis has shown the greatest degree of sensitivity to this oil. On the other hand, cacao oil exhibited weak suppressive effect against C. stellatoidea only.

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A yeast capable of growth on n-decane as the sole source of carbon with production of appreciable quantities of biosurfactant has been isolated from soil and identified as Saccharomyces uvarum. The surface activity of the culture medium was attributed to lipids which were extracted and fractionated using column and thin-layer chromatograph. The lipid content of each fraction was characterized as phospholipids, triglyceride, and a small amount of palmitic acid using infrared spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. The amount of surfactant produced correlated with cell number, pH of cultures liquid and decane concentration.

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The purpose of the study is to investigate cognitive changes in hyperlipidemic patients by means of event-related potentials (ERPs). ERPs of twenty hyperlipidemic patients and age-matched healthy controls were measured by applying infrequent and frequent stimuli as red and green lights respectively. The infrequent stimulus had a 15% probability. ERPs were recorded in two different experimental conditions that the infrequent stimulus was counted (Test 1) or uncounted (Test 2). P3b amplitudes of both groups were decreased significantly in Test 2 compared to Test 1. N2, P3a and P3b latencies of the count stimulus condition (Test 1) were found to be prolonged in the hyperlipidemic group. In addition, peak-to-peak amplitudes of P3b were observed to be decreased (F=5.84, p<0.3).

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Six different phenacyl halide derivative of -picoline were synthesized and studied for their antibacterial activity against twenty four gram negative and twelve gram positive microorganisms. Compound I, III and IV showed almost broad spectrum activity, whereas rest of three compounds did not exhibit so promising results. Spectroscopic techniques, such as 1H-NMR, EIMS, UV and IR spectroscopy were utilized for their structure elucidation.

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Impact of acid mist on the growth of Eucalyptus sp. and Pongamia pinnata was studied. The height, number of leaves and circumference of the above species were badly affected by the acid mist. The biomass accumulation of Eucalyptus sp. and P. pinnata was less at pH 3.0 and 4.0, but slightly increased at pH 5.0 and 6.0 in P. pinnata only. The maximum dry biomass was found at pH 7.0. The leaf area of Eucalyptus sp. and P. pinnata was also reduced at all pH levels, except in P. pinnata at ph 5.0, where it showed some 12.2 percent increase over pH 7.0.

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A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the quantitative determination of tocopherol vitamers (, T and ) in different seed oils. After saponification the oil samples and extracts in n-hexane, tocopherol vitamers were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC with fluorimetric detector. Assay of tocopherol vitamers added to margarine resulted in •97% recovery, showing high precision of the method. The tocopherol vitamers were eluted isocratically by an eluent containing 95% hexane, 5% diethyl ether, at a pump flow rate of 1.5 ml/min. A silica column (Si-60) with a temperature of 45°C was used. The method developed in this investigation enables better separation of the tocopherol vitamers and their quantitative analysis in seed oils.

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Thirteen selected peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) lines and cultivars from the local germplasm collection were evaluated in two years in Serdang, Malaysia, to compare their performance and to estimate heritability of some of the important traits on the crop. The lines and cultivars were found to reveal quite a wide range of performance and genetic variability, as they were obtained from various different countries. Number of pods per plant, which showed high heritability and was positively correlated with yield, was identified to be a good criterion for selection to improve yield in peanut breeding. The lines and cultivars evaluated showed good potential for genetic studies and breeding programmes in the country.

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Impression materials used in the various phases of denture construction may be classified as being rigid, thermoplastic, or elastic substances. Elastic impression materials are those that remain in an elastic or flexible state after they have been removed from the mouth. The elastic impression materials are most generally used for the making of impressions for removable partial dentures, immediate dentures, and crowns and fixed partial dentures when tooth and tissue undercuts and surface detail must be recorded with accuracy. Properties of clinical interest are (1) toxicity, (2) color of the base and accelerator, (3) time required for mixing, (4) working time, (5) consistency, (6) permanent deformation during removal, (7) dimensional stability, (8) flow after setting, (9) flexibility, (10) reproduction of detail, (11) compatibility with die and model materials and (12) deterioration during storage of the unmixed material. These properties are important in choosing a material.

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The purpose of this study was to assess the antimicrobial effect of Duraphat, a fluoride varnish. The Duraphat-treated human enamel specimens were mounted on one side of maxillary removable space-maintainers with the untreated ones on opposite sides as control specimens. After 24 hours and one week the amount and nature of plaque accumulation were examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The majority of the organisms were found to be coccal following the examinations made on specimens at 24 hours. T here seemed to be no significant difference in the amount of plaque accumulations between the experimental and control specimens at 24 hours. After one week however a thick layer of bacteria was observed to cover enamel surfaces, which was less dense on Duraphat-treated specimens compared to those of the control cases.

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The batch kinetics of thorium ions adsorption on activated charcoal from aqueous solution has been investigated at temperatures within the range of 283-313K and concentration (0.5-3.0 g/1). The thorium ions adsorption obeys a first order rate law, with an activation energy 13.40 kJ/mol. Various thermodynamic quantities (namely H, S, G) were computed from the equilibrium constant, kc values calculated at different temperatures. The results indicate that the process has an endothermic heat of adsorption. Moreover, thorium ions adsorption obeys the Freundlich and Langmuir equations especially the latter provide the better fit over the entire range of concentration studied.

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A case of paratesticular leiomyosarcoma, occurring in a 65 year-old male patient, is reported. The tumor was respected with high inguinal ligation and orchidectomy. There was no attachment to the scrotal wall, testis or spermatic cord. Histologically, the tumor was identical to leiomyosarcoma showing a typical morphological appearance of smooth muscle tumor. The immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features are discussed. There was no evidence of tumor after 7 months. Leiomyosarcomas arising in a paratesticular region is quite uncommon.

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Silent cardiac involvement in rheumatic disease was studied in 61 patients with various rheumatic diseases and 15 healthy controls by noninvasive methods, including electrocardiogram, M-mode and 2 dimensional echocardiography, and systolic time intervals. Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondiylitis showed prolongation of QTc and QRS, respectively. Systolic time intervals were equal in both groups. A significant increase in left ventricular mass was found in patients with rheumatic diseases. Therefore we can conclude that these results support the silent cardiac involvement in rheumatic diseases.

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The high-altitude pulmonary arterial hypertension is discovered approximately at 45.7 percent of permanent inhabitants of Tien-Shan and Pamir and at 6.8 percent it is complicated by right heart failure. To investigate the especialities of pulmonary circulation at highlanders with normal and elevated pulmonary arterial pressure we studied 61 residents of Tien-Shan, living at 2800-3200 meters above sea level. The subjects were apparently healthy male volunteers aged 16 to 50 years, who underwent right-sided heart catheterization. Levels of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (systolic PPA ) (22.7 ± 3.38 mmHg) and mean PPA (14.5 ± 3.47 mmHg) at first group of highlanders were within the normal range, whereas the levels of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were increased (220.7 ± 40.8 dyn/sec/cm-5, p<0.05). At highlanders of second group the levels of systolic PPA (34.7 ± 7.30 mmHg) and mean PPA (22.9 ± 7.50 mmHg) turned out to be higher than at highlanders of first group approximately of 53 and 58%. The levels of PVR were significantly higher (p<0.001) than at previous group. These findings suggest that among permanent high-altitude residents take place hidden form pulmonary arterial hypertension that consistent with our previous hypothesis that among highlanders there are individuals with normal and high sensitivity to exogenous hypoxia which reflect the changes of neurohumoral regulation of pulmonary circulation.

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Free radicals have recently acquired great importance in pathogenesis of an array of diseases. In this report we present the results of two series of rat experiments in which tissue concentrations of malondialdehyde and zinc were investigated. In the first series of experiments the animals were given normal rat chow and tap water ad lib while the second group received zinc deficient diet and deionized water. Signs of zinc deficiency developed beginning the end of two weeks at which time the animals were sacrificed and the samples taken. Tissue zinc and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were determined.
It was found that the zinc content in the kidney and the liver was significantly reduced in the experimental group (p<0.05). MDA concentrations were however higher in the brain and the heart of the experimental animals (p<0.05).

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