Separation of a compound effective against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails from the filtrate of Penicillium janthinellum

Biomphalaria alexandrina snails, as intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis, play a central role in dissemination of the disease. Control of these snails by chemical molluscicides adversely affects the aquatic environment, causing toxic and carcinogenic effects on non-target organisms. Searching for promising substances from biological origin becomes an urgent need to overcome these drawbacks. Screening tests were carried out on 236 fungal genera isolated from the habitat of freshwater snails in four Egyptian governorates. Twenty species were effective against B. alexandrina snails, but the most potent was Penicillium janthinellum as the value of LC₅₀ was 1.03%. Chemical analyses of this filtrate resulted in the separation of a compound effective against snails; it was identified as methyl gallate. Protein electrophoresis showed that both fungal filtrate and methyl gallate affect the protein pattern of snails’ haemolymph. Little or no mortality of Daphnia pulex individuals was observed after their exposure to sub lethal concentrations of each treatment.     

Coating protection of loaded RC columns to resist elevated temperature

The objective of the present research work is to determine the effect of different coating types with different thicknesses on the residual load capacities of reinforced concrete loaded column models when subjected to symmetrical temperature rise up to 650 °C for 30 min. Seventeen RC column specimens with concrete cover 1.0 cm and a specimen dimensions 10×15×70 cm³ were cast and reinforced with 4∅6 mm longitudinal reinforcement and 7∅3.5 mm stirrups equally distributed along the height. The concrete mix is designed to give characteristic strength, f_cu, of 25 MPa. Siliceous gravel aggregate has been used in preparing the concrete mix. Among the 17 column models, there are two uncoated specimens. One of them was tested directly in ambient temperature and the other was exposed to elevated temperature up to 650 °C for 30 min. The remaining 15 specimens are divided into five groups. Each group is used to investigate certain type of coating. Five different types of coating have been used in this study namely traditional-cement plaster, perlite-cement, vermiculite-cement, LECA-cement and perlite–gypsum. Three different thicknesses of each type of coating have been used in this study 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 cm. Every column specimen was equipped with eight thermocouples to measure the temperature distributions inside the specimen at mid height. An electric furnace has been used in this work. Every specimen was exposed to the simultaneous effect of the axial service load and temperature of 650 °C for 30-min period. The readings of applied loads and thermocouples were recorded at 5-min interval. Testing the columns after cooling to obtain their residual axial load capacity showed that, perlite proves to be the most effective plaster in increasing the loaded column's resistance to elevated temperature. Specimens coated with vermiculite cement came in the second place. Specimens coated with LECA-cement came in the third place. Finally, specimens coated with traditional-cement came in the last place.     

Investigating Factors Affecting Water-In-Diesel Fuel Nanoemulsions

In this work, water-in-diesel fuel nanoemulsions were prepared with mixed nonionic surfactants. Several mixtures of sorbitan monooleate and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, with different Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) values (9.6, 9.8, 10, 10.2 and 10.4) were prepared to achieve the optimal HLB value. Three mixed surfactant concentrations were prepared at 6, 8 and 10 wt% to identify the optimum concentration. Five emulsions with different water contents: 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 % (wt/wt) were prepared using a high energy method under the optimum conditions (HLB = 10 and mixed surfactant concentration = 10 %). The effect of the HLB value, mixed surfactant concentration and water content on the droplet size has been studied. The interfacial tension and thermodynamic properties of the individual and the blended emulsifiers were investigated. Droplet size of the prepared nanoemulsions was determined by dynamic light scattering and the nanoemulsion stability was assessed by measuring the variation of the droplet size as a function of time. From the results obtained, it was found that the mean droplet size was formed between 49.5 and 190 nm depending on the HLB value, surfactant concentration and water content of the blended emulsifiers.     

Preoperative radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid

Ninety-seven patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid have been treated with high dose (5000-6000 rad) preoperative irradiation from 1960 through 1972 at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center. Fifty-seven were initially clinically resectable and 40 were initially inoperable. Forty of the 57 initially clinically resectable patients had "curative" resections and are at risk for more than 5 years. An increase in 5-year survival (from 38% to 53%) and an absence of pelvic recurrence have occurred in those patients receiving preoperative irradiation and "curative" resection. Four of the 40 initially inoperable patients are alive without tumor. Three of the four survivors had irradiation and surgery; one had irradiation only. An additional four patients had no evidence of tumor at death. Tumor was totally sterilized by irradiation and nine patients and reduced to microfocal extent in an additional three of the 97 patients. Incidence of complications was no greater than has been reported in a surgical series from the same institution.     

Rate-dependent transient extrusion

Plane strain slip line field solutions are developed for deformation at the edge of a cylindrical billet when this is backward extruded to form a thin-walled cup. The extrusion pressure for a perfectly plastic material is then derived assuming homogeneous compression in the centre of the billet. A geometric factor, derived from the slip line field, is identified which permits the extrusion pressure to be determined for a nonlinear viscous material.Theoretical results agree well with recent experimental data on back extrusion of highly rate-sensitive superplastic alloys. It is shown that an apparent steady state exists in the process and that extrusion pressure increases with ram speed with a rate index approximately equal to that of the material. The punch profile shape has a greater effect on extrusion pressure for viscous materials than for perfectly plastic ones. The method of analysis appears to have a generality beyond the particular process considered and may be used to optimize extrusion equipment designs.     

Intermediate-grade lymphomas treated with cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin- vincristine-prednisone-bleomycin alternated with cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-etoposide-dexamethasone. Application of prognostic models to data analysis

BACKGROUND: Numerous treatment strategies have been tried with the aim of improving results for patients with intermediate-grade lymphomas (IGL) over those achieved with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (CHOP-Bleo), and numerous prognostic models have been developed to identify and separate risk groups. This study reports on a new protocol for Ann Arbor Stages II-IV IGL that consists of CHOP-Bleo alternated with a new regimen of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, etoposide, and dexamethasone (CMED) and radiation therapy and demonstrates the usefulness of prognostic models for identifying risk groups and comparing treatment programs. METHODS: One hundred seventy patients with Ann Arbor Stages II-IV IGL were treated with alternating cycles of CHOP-Bleo and CMED for a total of 12 cycles. Involved field radiation therapy was interspersed with courses of chemotherapy for patients with Stage II and Stage III disease. Results were analyzed and compared with those of the authors' previous study of CHOP-Bleo and radiation therapy using the Ann Arbor staging system, their earlier prognostic model, and the recently published International Index. RESULTS: A complete remission occurred in 78% of the patients. The overall 5-year survival rate was 67%. Survival was better for patients with Ann Arbor Stage II disease (80%) than for those with Stage III or Stage IV (67% and 58%, respectively). High tumor burden, above-normal levels of serum lactic dehydrogenase, serum beta 2-microglobulin, and Ann Arbor Stage IV disease were adverse factors. The International Index and the authors' earlier prognostic model separated four prognostic groups. CHOP-Bleo/CMED was generally well tolerated. Neutropenic fever was the major complication that occurred in 25 patients during treatment. Six of these patients died of sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that CHOP-Bleo/CMED is a well-tolerated regimen that produced better results than those reported for a former study that used CHOP-Bleo alone. Further, results for CHOP-Bleo/CMED compared favorably with those of other second- and third-generation regimens. The study also validated the usefulness of prognostic models and, in particular, the new International Index for identifying risk groups.     

Clinical experience in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy

Clinical experience of arthroscopy in 12 temporomandibular joints with a clinical diagnosis of closed lock was described. There were 10 patients and all were females with a mean age of 31.2 years (range 20 to 59 years). The antero-lateral approach was used for entry into 11 joints. The clinical findings were adhesions (64%), fibrillation (64%), anterior displacement of disc (36%) and scuffing of the articular surface of the glenoid fossa (9%). Two of the joints that had arthrocentesis prior to arthroscopy did not show any different findings from the rest. Of the 8 patients who had pre-arthroscopy pain, 7 patients (88%) had reduction of the symptom. Three patients (38%) had complete resolution of pain. The range of mouth opening (measured as maximal incisor opening) increased in all patients two weeks following arthroscopy. The average change in maximal incisor opening was 40.3% with a range of 22% to 85%. The mean follow-up was 34 months (range 4 to 68 months).     

Cytokines in human breast milk

Out of the total number at 200 suspected cases of otomycoses consisting of 40 malnourished and 160 apparently healthy children examined in this study between the months of July and August in Edo State, 64 Cases (32%) were identified to be of fungal aetiology on the basis of positive culture and careful microscopic examination. The state at protein energy malnourishment was deterwined using physicians' comments in their case files. The fungal agents isolated were Aspergillus niger 28 (43.8%); A. fumigatus 4 (25%); Fusarium solari 4 (6.3%); Candida albicans 8 (12.5%); and Hendersonula teruloidea types torn B 5 (6.3%). Of these isolates, A. niger having an solation rate of (43.8%) was found to be the most predominant fungal species associated with otomycosis.