Agar plate method for detecting microorganisms which produce equilin and other estrogens from various steroids

The intense red color produced by a reagent specific for xi(7)-estrogens is used to directly detect microorganisms which produce these estrogens from various steroids.

Modulation of a general periodic object with triangular waveform by a narrow rectangular aperture with amplitude filters

Imagery of a general periodic triangular wave object formed by an aberration-free narrow rectangular aperture (slit) with tapered illumination, has been investigated. The system is assumed to be operating in incoherent light. Results have been presented for the far field intensity distribution in the diffraction images and the general triangular wave response of the system. An object function which gives a wave response nearly similar to that of sine wave has been pointed out.

Hydrolysis of phenoxymethyl penicillin into 6-amino-penicillanic acid with spores of fusaria

Hydrolysis of phenoxymethyl penicillin into 6-aminopenicillanic acid with spores of fusaria was studied.

Improved three-beam interferometric method

Three-beam interference has been investigated, in order to obtain an intensity distribution that enables more accurate determination of small phase changes by photometric null setting criterion. A phase change in the interfering beam makes the adjacent fringes unequal in brightness as well as in thickness so that the form discrimination property of the eye assists its brightness discrimination property, thereby increasing the accuracy of measurements to lambda/450. A simple experimental arrangement to demonstrate the results of analytical study is presented.

11 alpha-hydroxylation of steroids by spores of Aspergillus ochraceus

Spores of A. ochraceus were used to transform a variety of steroids into their 11α-hydroxy derivatives. Physicochemical data of some new 11α-hydroxy derivatives are presented. Specificity of A. ochraceus in relation to steroid transformations is discussed.

Large-scale transformation of steroids by fungal spores

Spores of Aspergillus ochraceus and Septomyxa affinis were produced on a large scale by surface sporulation on moist wheat bran and barley. 11alpha-Hydroxylation of progesterone and Reichstein's compound S by spores of A. ochraceus and 1-dehydrogenation of compound S by spores of S. affinis were carried out in 5-liter fermentors. It was shown that, above a certain minimum, increase in aeration and agitation did not significantly affect steroid conversion. The industrial feasibility of the spore process was further demonstrated by 11alpha-hydroxylation of 6alpha-fluoro-16alpha,17alpha-dihydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione in a modified 200-gal stainless-steel vessel with spores of A. ochraceus. Strict aseptic conditions are not necessary, either during harvesting of spores or during steroid transformation.