Effect of Marination upon Mineral Content and Tenderness of Beef

This study compared marinated and nonmarinated beef to determine differences in semimembranosus muscle tenderness and selected mineral content. The minerals analyzed were iron, zinc, magnesium and sodium. Marination resulted in a significantly more tender muscle, as determined by shear values and trained panel evaluations. Mineral content was significantly affected by marination with substantial losses of iron, zinc, and magnesium and increased sodium. Marination would be a feasible method of enhancing tenderness of more economical cuts of beef; however, the subsequent loss and/or gain of minerals should be considered.     

Comparison of the Surface Charge Behavior of Commercial Silicon Nitride and Silicon Carbide Powders

The adsorption and desorption of protons from aqueous solution onto the surfaces of a variety of commercial silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders has been examined using a surface titration methodology. This method provides information on some colloidal characteristics, such as the point of zero charge (pzc) and the variation of proton adsorption with dispersion pH, useful for the prediction of optimal ceramic-processing conditions. Qualitatively, the magnitude of the proton adsorption from solution reveals small differences among all of the materials studied. However, the results show that the pzc for the various silicon nitride powders is affected by the powder synthesis route. Complementary investigations have shown that milling can also act to shift the pzc exhibited by silicon nitride powder. Also, studies of the role of the electrolyte in the development of surface charge have indicated no evidence of specific adsorption of ammonium ion on either silicon nitride or silicon carbide powders.     

Methods for Estimating Oxygen Demand of Liquid Peach Waste

SUMMARY— The amount of total solids (TS) in liquid peach waste has high correlations with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), and determination of TS required less time, equipment, and technique than the other methods for estimating oxygen demand. In a small number of observations, removing large suspended particles from the waste by filtering or settling decreased COD, but the treatment effects on BOD were inconsistent. BOD changed with time at temperatures above freezing, but COD did not.     

Edematogenic and myotoxic activities of the duvernoy’s gland secretion of <i>Philodryas olfersii</i> from the north-east region of Argentina

Philodryas olfersii is found in South America, from Amazonas to Patagonia. It is important to characterize the venom of P. olfersii, who inhabits the North-East region of Argentina, since snake venoms are known to exhibit considerable variability in composition and biological activities. In this work, mice weighing 18-20 g (n = 4 for each experimental group) were used. For the edematogenic activity mice were injected s.c. in the right foot pad with 50 µl of solutions containing different amounts of venom, whereas the left foot pad was injected with 50 µl of PBS. Two hours after injection mice were killed by cervical dislocation and both feet were cut off and weighed individually. For the myotoxic activity mice were injected i.m. with 100 µl of solutions containing 40 µg of venom. Blood samples were extracted after 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 24 h of venom injection to determinate serum CPK activity and mice were sacrificed at the same time intervals to obtain the inoculated gastrocnemius muscle. They were fixed with Bouin solution and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin. Results showed that P. olfersii venom exhibits a high edematogenic activity (MED = 0.31 µg) and a moderate myotoxic activity. Myonecrosis reached its highest level after 12 h of venom injection as shown by plasmatic CPK levels (5,401 ± 330 IU/l) and microscopic assay. It demonstrates the potential toxicity of the venom of P. olfersii, who inhabits the North-East region of Argentina. It also reinforces the original warning concerning the potential danger of bites by colubrids.     

Lipid composition of light and dark flesh from sockeye salmon

The five major lipid classes present in the light and dark flesh of 22 freshly caught sockeye salmon were separated by thin layer chromatography on silica gel using a two-stage development. Each class was then quantitatively analysed for fatty acid composition using gas chromatography. The dark flesh contains over eight times more lipid than does light flesh, and has a greater proportion of triglycerides and monounsaturated fatty acids. The predominant phospholipid in the light flesh is phosphatidylcholine, whereas in dark flesh it is phosphatidylethanolamine. Both light and dark flesh are rich sources of the nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids.     

The ToF system for the PAMELA experiment: In flight performances

A Time of Flight (ToF) scintillator system has been developed for the PAMELA satellite-borne cosmic ray experiment. The main scientific goal of the experiment is the measurement of the antiproton and positron fluxes in the cosmic radiation over large energy ranges. The ToF system provides the fast trigger to the experiment, the rejection of albedo particles and the possibility to distinguish electrons from antiprotons up to about 1.5 GeV.In this paper we describe the performances of the ToF system measured on flight data.     

Evaluating the potential eye irritancy of shampoos

Experience in a large manufacturing unit showed that splashes of undiluted shampoo only produced transient effects in the eyes of production and packaging staff; over the same period, very few complaints of eye irritation were received from shampoo users, none of which were of a serious nature. Predictive testing is needed to make sure that new formulations are not severe eye irritants though rabbit eye testing may tend to exaggerate the likely human response. Detergent concentration is the principal factor influencing findings in the rabbit eye and an active matter content of 2.5–3.0% (usually representing a 20% aqueous dilution of shampoo) gives the best discrimination between formulations whilst producing no signs of distress in the animals; for typical anionic shampoos, testing at this concentration is recommended, without subsequent rinsing. Rabbit eye tests should never be conducted at higher concentrations until their innocuousness at 20% dilution has been shown and, even then, stronger preparations should only be instilled if they contain new ingredients for which the potential risk in human use are unknown. Conduct of all rabbit eye testing as a comparison with a ‘control’ formulation of equivalent concentration, known to be well tolerated under market conditions, is recommended. For preliminary screening, an in vitro test using freshly-isolated buccal mucosa cells from human volunteers may be useful, irritancy being assessed by the proportion of cells showing loss of visible nuclei when examined by phase-contrast microscopy. Evaluation de l'irritation oculaire par les shampooings