A comparative study of Ferula hermonis root extracts and sildenafil on copulatory behaviour of male rats.

The effect of 600 mg/kg given by oral route to rats of Ferula hermonis roots extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water) was evaluated on sexual behaviour of male rats. Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts produced a significant decrease in both the mount rate (MR) and the intromission rate (IR), significant prolongation of intromission latency (IL) was observed when these extracts were compared with both controls and sildenafil. Methanolic extract produced a significant increase in MR while no effect has been observed on IR or IL in comparison with control. The effect of water extract was not significantly different from controls for the MR and IR, but there was a significant prolongation in the IL.

Economic Study of the Tunable Electron Beam Plasma Reactor for Volatile Organic Compound Treatment.

A tunable electron beam generated plasma system has been developed for selective cold plasma treatment of dilute concentrations (1-3,000 ppm range) of hazardous compounds in gaseous waste treatment. This system, referred to as the Tunable Hybrid Plasma (THP), has shown a high degree of efficiency and effectiveness in both laboratory and field tests. Decomposition energy requirements are in the 100 eV per molecule range for treatment of carbon tetrachloride and 10 eV for treatment of trichloroethylene. A cost comparison has been made between the Tunable Hybrid Plasma (THP) technology and three conventional technologies used for emission control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs): granular activated carbon, thermal incineration, and catalytic oxidation. In addition to its environmentally attractive features, THP technology has the potential to be lower cost than other technologies over a range of concentrations and flow rates. Cost projections for the THP system for decomposition of trichloroet-hylene are around 50 cents/lb for initial concentrations in the few hundred ppm range and flow rates of 5,000 cfm or greater and around $1/lb for 1,000 cfm flow rates. Cost projections for carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethane decomposition using the THP technology are several dollars per pound. The costs for THP treatment are generally significantly lower than costs for use of granular activated carbon and are also quite competitive with costs for thermal incineration and catalytic oxidation.