A fraction with bradykinin potentinating activity was chemically isolated from the venom of the Egyptian scorpion Buthus occitanus. The pharamacological activity of the fraction (BPF) was bioassayed by the ability to potentiate added BK on the isolated guinea pig ileum as well as its inhibitory activity on ACE. The mode of action of this fraction on gonads of immature female guinea pigs was measured. The fraction was i.p. injected 1 ug/g body weight for five times in animalsat successive time intervals of 7 days each. Total body, ovaries, and uterine tissue weights were significantly increased as well as uterine total protein, RNA and cyclic nucleotides contents. Concomitantly, PGE2 level showed a significant elevation in both uterine and ovarian tissues. The uterine tissue homogenates in vitro showed an enhancing effect in response to the added fraction (1 ug/ml) and BK (i ug/ml) for PG biosynthesis from radiolabelled precursor 14 C-linoleic acid into its labelled metabolites AA, PGD2, TxB2, PGE1, PGF1 a and 6-keyo PGF1a.This enhancement effect was abolished in the presence of BK inhibitor , but the labelled PGF2a was still high. The results clearly indicate that the increase of PGs resulting from both in vivo & in vitro experiment may contribute to the inhibition of ACE and potentiation of exogenous and endognous BK.

The aging processes in Al-Mg-Si alloys have been studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), microhardness measurements (HV) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Five processes have been detected by the DSC curves and HV behaviour. In the DSC curves, four exothermic and one endothermic reactions are developed. The sequence of processes are Guinier-Preston (G.P.) zones, dissolution of the G.P. zones, intermediate precipitation of W'-phase, precipitation of W -phase and precipitation of the stable b'-phase + Si particles. The activation energies associated with the processes have been determined by using Kissinger method. Consequently, the nucleation mechanism of the precipitates can be explained. These phases are confirmed by XRD analysis.

The fine-scale precipitates, that occurs during aging, the supersaturated Al–1.0 at.% Mg–x at.% Si (x = 0.6, 1.0 and 1.6) alloys have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The strength of the alloys increases as a high density of very fine β″ coherent and β′ semicoherent precipitates nucleate. The precipitates compositions have been determined by analyzing the X-ray diffraction (XRD) charts, by using Scherrer equation. The obtained results showed that the β″ and β′ precipitates size lies in the nanometer range (from 5 nm to 32 nm). In addition, increasing Si concentration has exhibited an increase in the density of the precipitates, which fortifies the physical properties.