Abstract: The present invention relates to lubricous coating compositions comprising as active material natural or synthetic jojoba oil which is optionally partially or completely hydrogenated and/or isomerized, and a solvent or a dispersing system (an organic liquid in which the jojoba oil is immiscible and dispersing agent(s)). The solvent is water or any organic liquid or a mixture of organic liquids that are capable to dissolve molecularly, at least partly, the jojoba oil. The dispersing system comprises jojoba oil immiscible organic liquid(s) together with dispersing agent(s) that enable homogeneous dispersion of the jojoba oil in it. The composition is preferably used for coating a substrate which is selected among polymers or plastics or naturally occurring macromolecules with high hydrophobicity or with low or medium surface energy.

Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing a patient's proneness to develop kidney tones of the calcium oxalate type, which comprises forming an aqueous reaction medium comprising from about 5 to about 20% by volume of a sample of the patient's urine, said medium having an ionic strength of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 and containing calcium ions at a concentration of from about 1 to about 5 mM/l and oxalate ions at a concentration of from about 1 to about 7 mM/l; measuring by means of a calcium ion-specific electrode the rate of decrease of the calcium ion concentration and comparing the thus measured rate with the corresponding rate determined with a reference sample of normal urine. A kit for carrying out the above method is also provided.

Abstract: Oil products and a high nitrogen content residue are obtained by growing halophilic algae in saline solution, harvesting an algae-salt water slurry, solvent extracting said slurry, and recovering the product and residue. Use of a growth promoting enzyme, salt concentration gradients for harvesting, and water insoluble solvents at elevated temperatures are preferred.