High-pressure polymorphism of titanium dioxide

X-ray diffraction studies made in situ under conditions of high pressure and high temperature revealed the direct transition of rutile to the alpha lead dioxide form in titanium dioxide. Compressibility studies of this alpha lead dioxide form at room temperature showed anomalous behavior in that its molar volume converges close to, but not equal to, that of the rutile form. Under this circumstance an unexpectedly large error appears in the calculations of the equilibrium pressure for the two forms at 298 degrees K.     

Preliminary clinical observations on the use of piroxicam in the management of rectal tubulopapillary polyps

Rectal tubulopapillary polyps were diagnosed in eight dogs following proctoscopy and mucosal pinch biopsy. Histological examination of the pinch biopsies revealed evidence of malignant transformation in three of the cases. The remaining cases were diagnosed as benign polyps. Inflammatory changes were observed in four cases. Seven dogs were treated with piroxicam suppositories and one with oral piroxicam. All dogs were re-examined after four to six weeks of piroxicam therapy and the extent of haematochezia, tenesmus and faecal mucus production was reduced in all cases. The owners of seven of the dogs considered the improvement in clinical signs to be good or excellent. Cases with and without evidence of inflammation responded equally well. This finding supports the hypothesis that piroxicam has an antineoplastic effect due to apoptosis and alteration in the cell cycle. Medical management with piroxicam may provide a non-invasive treatment option for dogs with rectal polyp formation in which surgical treatment is likely to be associated with complications such as incontinence, infection and wound breakdown, or where the owner declines such treatment.     

The occurrence of equine arteritis virus in Australia

This paper reports the first isolation of equine arteritis virus (EAV) in Australia and serological evidence of exposure to EAV in Australian horses. Twelve Standardbred stallions imported from North America were found to shed EAV in semen. One hundred and seven stallions were tested for serum antibodies to EAV and 73% of Standardbred stallions tested were seropositive as compared to 8% of Thoroughbred stallions. Serum antibody was detected in 71% of Standardbred mares, 6% of Standardbred racehorses and 1% of Thoroughbred mares and racehorses. Examination of stored serums demonstrated that EAV had been present in Australia since at least 1975.     

Transient renal tubulopathy in a Labrador retriever.

A four-month-old male Labrador retriever was presented for polyuria, polydipsia and persistent euglycaemic glucosuria. On referral, diagnostic tests demonstrated abnormal fractional excretions of electrolytes, increased urinary excretion of selected amino acids, mild renal tubular acidosis and mild proteinuria, indicating renal tubular dysfunction. Pyelonephritis was suspected and potentiated amoxycillin was administered. On re-evaluation at six months of age, the dog was no longer polyuric or polydipsic and the metabolic abnormalities associated with the tubulopathy had resolved. Transient Fanconi's syndrome has not previously been reported in small animals. This report demonstrates the potential for recovery of function in cases presenting with renal tubulopathies.     

Organic Glasses: A New Class of Photorefractive Materials

The performance of amorphous organic photorefractive (PR) materials in applications such as optical data storage is generally limited by the concentration of active molecules (chromophores) that can be incorporated into the host without forming a crystalline material with poor optical quality. In polymeric PR systems described previously, performance has been limited by the necessity of devoting a large fraction of the material to inert polymer and plasticizing components in order to ensure compositional stability. A new class of organic PR materials composed of multifunctional glass-forming organic chromophores is described that have long-term stability and greatly improved PR properties.     

Predatory Dinosaurs from the Sahara and Late Cretaceous Faunal Differentiation

Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) fossils discovered in the Kem Kem region of Morocco include large predatory dinosaurs that inhabited Africa as it drifted into geographic isolation. One, represented by a skull approximately 1.6 meters in length, is an advanced allosauroid referable to the African genus Carcharodontosaurus. Another, represented by a partial skeleton with slender proportions, is a new basal coelurosaur closely resembling the Egyptian genus Bahariasaurus. Comparisons with Cretaceous theropods from other continents reveal a previously unrecognized global radiation of carcharodontosaurid predators. Substantial geographic differentiation of dinosaurian faunas in response to continental drift appears to have arisen abruptly at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous.     

Enthalpy of transformation of a high-pressure polymorph of titanium dioxide to the rutile modification

The enthalpy of transformation of a high-pressure form of titanium dioxide, which has the alpha lead dioxide structure, to the rutile modification was measured by the method of "transposed temperature-drop calorimetry." For the reaction, titanium dioxide (alpha lead dioxide form) transforming to rutile, the change in the heat content is -0.76 +/- 0.17 kilocalorie per mole. From this value and the volume change (+ 2.8 percent) associated with the transformation, we estimate the equilibrium pressure at 294 degrees K to be 60 +/- 20 kilobars.