Measurement of fluorescence decay of crude oil: a potential technique to identify oil slicks

The single photon counting technique has been used to measure the decay time for several Kuwaiti crude and refined oils. Fluorescent characteristics of two different bunker oils from widely separate geographic areas have been studied. Laser induced fluorescent data for the crude oil samples are compared with the decay time results to evaluate the potential of these techniques for the identification of oil sticks in the marine environment. Response of the oil film thickness to various excitation wavelengths from a CW Ar ion laser and a pulsed xenon lamp has been investigated.

Preliminary studies on the inhibitory effect of novel Pd(II) complexes of vitamin B6 on cell divisions

Two novel complexes of Pd(II) involving vitamin B6 compounds have been synthesized. They are compatible with the compositions Pd(P.H.)2 C2(P = pyridoxol) and Pd(PL.H)2 C2(PL = pyridoxal). The complexes inhibited the growth as well as the biosynthesis of RNA, DNA, and protein of E. coli B-766. Photoacoustic spectral (PAS) measurements showed that the complexes bound to DNA of the bacteria and were present only in the kidney of treated mice. The complexes inhibited the incorporation of 3H-thymidine as well as 14C-leucine in the DNA and protein, respectively, of liver cell cultures (BL8L). The inhibition of cell division of Walker-S-cells and human lymphocytes by the complexes was highly significant.