In this first part of a two-part report, some aspects of the volumetric behavior of bone cement during its curing process are examined as a prelude to an analysis for the transient and residual stresses and displacements in stem fixation systems. Experiments show that stress generation in the cement is associated with its temperature while curing and that during the cooling phase, the stresses are mainly due to thermal as opposed to bulk shrinkage. The appropriate coefficient of thermal expansion of bone cement has been evaluated from measurements in a simulated fixation system in conjuction with a thermoelastic analysis.

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A Myagropsis myagroides (Mm) methanol extract showed α-amylase inhibitory activity of 13% at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Results showed that the hexane fraction from the Mm methanol extract exhibited α-amylase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 4.24 mg/ml. The hexane fraction was separated using silica-gel column chromatography, and six subfractions were obtained. The fraction eluted with CHCl3:MeOH = 50:1 showed the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.72 mg/ml. This fraction was purified using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and an octadecyl silica (ODS) Sepak cartridge, obtaining seven subfractions. Fraction (Fr.) 4 also showed a strong α-amylase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.75 mg/ml. Fr. 4 was purified by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and ODS Sepak cartridge, obtaining six subfractions. Fr. 4-2 was identified as sargachromanol I with an IC50 value of 0.40 mg/ml, and the inhibition pattern analyzed from Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed it to be an uncompetitive inhibitor. These results suggest that Mm has potential as a natural antidiabetes agent.

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An alginate degrading enzyme from the Vibrio crassostreae PKA 1002 strain was used to hydrolyze the water extract of Sargassum thunbergii. To obtain the optimum degrading conditions for the S. thunbergii water extract, the mixture of the water extract and enzyme was incubated at 30 o C for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, and its alginate degrading ability was measured by reducing sugar and viscosity. A temperature of 30 o C for a period of 6 h was found to be the optimal condition for the enhancement of the alginate's degrading ability. The pH of the enzymatic hydrolysate was not significantly different from that of the water extract. Overall lightness decreased, but redness and yellowness increased after enzymatic hydrolysis. Total phenolic compounds did not differ between the water extract and the enzymatic hydrolysate. DPPH radical scavenging activity and the reducing power of the enzymatic hydrolysate were lower than those of the water extract. However, the chelating effect of the enzymatic hydrolysate (80.08% at 5 mg/ml) was higher than that of the water extract (62.29%). These results indicate that the enzymatic hydrolysate possesses an anti-oxidant activity by way of the action of the chelating effect.