Reduction of fine airborne particulates (PM3) in a small city centre office, by altering electrostatic forces.

A two stage intervention study was carried out to establish the degree to which a newly developed, electrostatic air cleaning (EAC) system can improve indoor air quality (IAQ) by reducing the number of airborne fine particles. The IAQ and how employees in a city centre office (49 m2) perceived it, was monitored from May until November 1998. The number of fine particles, PM3 (0.3-3.0 microm); number of coarse particles, PM7 (3.0-7.0 microm); number of small positive and negative air ions; relative humidity and temperature were recorded in and out of doors. To assess the employees' perception of any changes in their work environment, a questionnaire was completed. Number of particles, relative humidity and temperature were also recorded in a nearby office, equipped with an identical air processor, where no interventions were made. The results from the first intervention (Stage 1), comparing number of airborne particles outdoors to indoors, gave a 19% reduction for PM3 and a 67% reduction for PM7 (P < 0.001). The reduction in PM3 was inconsistent and not statistically significant (P = 0.3). The reduction in PM7 from outdoors and the removal of PM7 created indoors was achieved by optimizing the existing air moving equipment. The results from the second intervention (Stage 2--with EAC units installed) comparing indoor to outdoor values, gave a further reduction in PM3 of 21% (P < 0.001) and a further 3% reduction for PM7 (P > 0.05). Therefore, at the end of Stage 2, the total reductions in particles from outdoors to indoors were 40% for PM3 and 70% for PM7 (P < 0.001). The Stage 2 results strongly suggest that electrostatic forces, created by the EAC unit(s) improved the removal of PM3, with no further significant improvement in the reduction of PM7. The questionnaire indicated an improvement in the IAQ, as perceived by the employees. The results suggest that the EAC system is effective in reducing PM3 and thereby improving IAQ in an urban office.

Clinical and endocrinological investigation of possible ovulatory failure in a dairy cow.

Ovulatory failure was diagnosed in a cow by repeated rectal palpation. The follicle continued to increase in size accompanied by a thickening of the wall and retention of fluid in the central cavity. Plasma hormone profiles showed normal preovulatory oestradiol and luteinising hormone peaks. Four days later progesterone concentrations rose and were maintained for 14 days before falling to baseline concentrations as in a normal luteal phase. Twenty-two days after the luteinising hormone peak, the animal returned to oestrus.

Evaluation of some Mannich bases derived from substituted acetophenones against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia and on respiration in isolated rat liver mitochondria.

Series of 3-dimethylamino-1-aryl-1-propanone hydrobromides (IV) and 3-dimethylamino-2-dimethylaminomethyl-1-aryl-1-propanone dihydrobromides (V) were synthesized. Evaluation of these derivatives against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia growth revealed that two compounds show promise as antineoplastic agents. Compounds of the V series were unstable in phosphate buffer (in contrast to series IV), and when the same nuclear substituent was present in both series of compounds, V was approximately 100 times more active than IV in both the stimulation and inhibition of respiration of mitochondria isolated from rat liver cells. Representatives from both series showed that respiration in mitochondria was affected by changing the pH of the aqueous buffer from 7.4 to 6.9 or 6.4 and by reducing the temperature from 37 degrees to 20 degrees. The compounds showed reactivity toward a biomimetic thiol.

Radioimmunoassay of hexoestrol residues in faeces, tissues and body fluids of bulls and steers.

A fast, reliable and sensitive radioimmunoassay method using either 3H-hexoestrol or a 125I-hexoestrol derivative as the competitive radioligand has been developed for the measurement of residues of hexoestrol in faeces. The blank value for untreated cattle was 113 +/- 98 pg/g faeces, the intra-assay coefficient of variation 10.8 per cent, interassay coefficient of variation 11.1 per cent and recovery of 3H-hexoestrol added to faeces was 58.7 per cent. The concentration of hexoestrol in faeces was measured in 18 steers and 14 bulls at regular intervals after implantation of 36, 45 and 60 mg of hexoestrol. Residues were detected in all samples up to 104 days after implantation and in nine out of 13 samples taken 111 to 153 days after implantation. Residues of hexoestrol were also measured in edible tissues and body fluids of 14 bulls and eight steers slaughtered between 90 and 153 days after implantation of 45 mg hexoestrol. The percentages of samples containing residues were 82, 73, 64, 82 and 27 per cent for bile, urine, liver, kidney and muscle, respectively.

Distribution of hexoestrol residues in caponised chickens.

A radioimmunoassay method is described for the detection and measurement of residues of hexoestrol and other stilbenes in tissues of poultry. The residues following caponisation with 12 mg hexoestrol were measured in leg muscle, liver, visceral fat and neck 44 days after implantation. They were significantly greater than values obtained from eight untreated control birds. The mean values obtained in the caponised chickens ranged from 471 pg/g net weight of leg muscle to 584,500 pg/g of tissue from the upper neck region, which included the site of implantation. Control values in untreated birds fell within the range of 8 pg/g in leg muscle to 44 pg/g in liver tissue.

Plasma concentrations of ovarian hormones during the oestrous cycle of the sheep and cow.

Measurements were made of the plasma concentrations of testosterone, progesterone and oestradiol-17 beta during the oestrous cycle of the ewe, and of the plasma concentrations of testosterone and progesterone during the oestrous cycle of the heifer. The maximum concentration of progesterone in the heifer was nearly twice that in the ewe. The maximum concentration of testosterone was similar in both species and occurred at the onset of luteolysis; in the ewe the peak concentration of 19.5 ng/ml plasma was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) than the concentrations of testosterone measured during the remainder of the oestrous cycle.