Abstract: Halophilic bacteria have been shown to cause red heat on brine-cured hides, resulting in extensive damage to leather made from the hides. The addition of bile salts to raceways or to hides directly has been found to prevent the occurrence of red heat by inhibiting the growth of the halophilic bacteria. Bile salt solutions were added to cultures of Haloarcula hispanica, Haloferax gibbonsii and Haloferax mediterranei. Fresh hides were also cured in brine containing halobacteria and bile salts. In both instances, the presence of bile salts inhibited the growth of halobacteria, and hides cured in the presence of halobacteria did not develop red heat.

Abstract: The bioavailability of pharmaceutical agents susceptible to oxidation of cytochrome P-450, particularly anti-hypertensive dihydropyridines such as felodopine or nifedipine can be increased by administering, before, during or after the administration of the pharmaceutical agent, a flavonoid in the aglycone or glycoside form. This conjoint administration has the effect of prolonging the bioavailability of and so reducing the amount of pharmaceutical agent that needs to be administered. Grapefruit juice has been found to be a suitable source of the flavonoid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a target tracking system comprising two identical stationary and mutually distant sub-systems (5, 6), each sub-system including a laser source (7, 8) and two perpendicularly pivotable mirrors (10, 11), such that a laser beam can be directed by each sub-system towards the moving target (4). Each sub-system further includes a lateral effect photodetector (18) receiving the light beam after its reflection on the target, which is a reflecting target (4) of the cat's eye type. The pivot positions of the mirrors (10, 11) are adjustable in accordance with control signals derived from the detector (18) such that the respective beam tends to approach the center of the target (4) and that it is reflected in itself. Each mirror is pivoted by a brushless DC motor (12, 13). The common pivot shaft of the motor and of the mirror is further coupled to a digital angle encoder (16, 17) which delivers signals to calculator means (27, 29) for evaluating the present 3D coordinates of the target.

Abstract: Methods of treating fresh animal hides and skins with compositions containing butyl carbitol and other compounds have been found to preserve the hides and skins.