Determination of Shelf Life of Sous Vide Salmon (Salmo Salard) Based on Sensory Attributes

ABSTRACT:  Sous vide  technology permits precooked dishes of high sensory and nutritional quality to be obtained with a longer shelf life than is possible using other cooking–cooling methods. Salmon portions (200 g; 0.5, w:w; greased with olive oil) were par-roasted (300 °C/3 min), cooked using  sous vide  technology (80 °C/43 min), and maintained in anaerobic conditions at 2 °C for 0, 4, 8, 12, 15, 18, 22, and 25 d. At each control day,  Enterobacteriaceae  counts were made and the attributes of sensory spoilage were determined (3 visual, 2 odor, 2 flavor, and 3 texture attributes) by a panel of trained judges. A loss of smell, taste, color, and juiciness was detected during storage, along with the appearance of off-odors and off-flavors. The shelf life of the  sous vide  salmon based on sensory analysis was established at 18 d.     

Effect of ozone on bacterial flora in poultry during refrigerated storage

The effect of ozone on the microbiological and sensory quality of poultry during refrigerated storage was studied. Ozone facilitates the oxidation of lipids, but no alterations were observed in the sensory characteristics of the meat. Ozone has a pronounced effect on the flora causing deterioration and hence prolongs the useful life of poultry in refrigerated storage. It was also observed to exert a powerful bactericidal effect on coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella.     

Harmonic/noise ratio and spectrographic analysis in vocal abuse pathology

To evaluate the use of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in multiple myeloma (MM) we performed a prospective study of 34 patients with newly diagnosed MM. Most patients had advanced disease and all but two patients had osteolytic bone destructions and/or pathological fractures. Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and hip were measured using a Hologic QDR-1000 scanner. Collapsed vertebrae were not excluded from analysis. Data from 289 healthy Danish volunteers aged 21-79 yr were used for calculation of Z-scores. Lumbar spine BMC (Z-score -0.46 +/- 0.23, p = 0.05) and lumbar spine BMD (Z-score -0.56 +/- 0.23, p = 0.02) were significantly reduced in MM patients, whereas no reduction was seen in hip BMC or BMD. Collapsed vertebrae had marked reduced BMD (Z-score -1.34 +/- 0.22, p < 0.001), as had non-fractured vertebrae in the same individuals (Z-score -1.42 +/- 0.25, p < 0.001). Lumbar spine BMD correlated with radiologically assessed bone morbidity (r -0.37, p = 0.03) and stronger with the incidence of vertebral fractures (r -0.64, p < 0.001). Thus, osteopenia of the back is common in multiple myeloma and correlates with an increased incidence of fractures. DXA may identify subjects with increased risk of vertebral fractures for more intensive chemotherapeutic or anti-resorptive treatment.     

Thermal conductivity of five hydrocarbons along the saturation line

The paper presents the results of new, absolute measurements of the thermal conductivity of five alkanes as a function of temperature at their saturation vapor pressure. The alkanes studied include the four normal alkanes n-octane, n-nonane, n-undecane, and n-tetradecane as well as the branched alkane, iso-octane. The results, which extend over the temperature range 282–373 K, have an estimated uncertainty limit of 1.5% deriving mainly from a correction for the effects of radiation absorption in the measurement process. The results are employed to generate effective core volumes for the fluids studied which may be employed to predict the density dependence of the thermal conductivity by means of an existing correlation.     

Slug, a zinc finger gene previously implicated in the early patterning of the mesoderm and the neural crest, is also involved in chick limb development

The great advances made over the last few years in the identification of signalling molecules that pattern the limb bud along the three axes make the limb an excellent model system with which to study developmental mechanisms in vertebrates. The understanding of the signalling networks and their mutual interactions during limb development requires the characterisation of the corresponding downstream genes. In this study we report the expression pattern of Slug, a zinc-finger-containing gene of the snail family, during the development of the limb, and its regulation by distinct axial signalling systems. Slug expression is highly dynamic, and at different stages of limb development can be correlated with the zone of polarizing activity, the progress zone and the interdigital areas. We show that the maintenance of its expression is dependent on signals from the apical ectodermal ridge and independent of Sonic Hedgehog. We also report that, in the interdigit, apoptotic cells lie outside of the domains of Slug expression. The correlation of Slug expression with areas of undifferentiated mesenchyme at stages of tissue differentiation is consistent with its role in early development, in maintaining the mesenchymal phenotype and repressing differentiation processes. We suggest that Slug is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that lead to the maintenance of the progress zone.     

Usefulness of the genetic study in the diagnosis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid

Germ-line mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) and with familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Detection of these mutations allows the identification of the affected kindred members, who will develop medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in 100% of cases. We studied 24 patients of two kindreds (MEN 2A and FMTC). Basal calcitonin levels and pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin were measured in all patients. The RET mutations were detected by DNA analysis. The RET mutations were identified in 14 patients. Two of them had been operated in the past, 2 refused operation and 4 were living abroad. In the 6 remaining, only one showed a thyroid mass, basal calcitonin was normal in all patients except one, and pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin was negative in 2 patients. Total thyroidectomy was performed in all cases. Histology showed C-cell hyperplasia in all patients and MTC in 5 of them. In MEN 2A and FMTC DNA analysis allows the identification of RET mutation carriers, in which presymptomatic thyroidectomy allows and improvement in survival.     

Thermal conductivity of toluene in the temperature range 35–90°C at pressures up to 600 MPa

New, absolute measurements of the thermal conductivity of liquid toluene are reported. The measurements extend over the temperature range 35–90°C and the pressure range 0.8–600 MPa. A new analytic evaluation of the contribution of radiation in an absorbing emitting fluid to the measurement process is presented. This analysis indicates that the thermal conductivity determined in a transient hot-wire instrument is the radiation-free value. As a consequence it is possible to assert that the overall uncertainty in the experimental data is one of ± 0.3%. A comparison of the data with the results of independent measurements by the same technique shows that the various sets of data are consistent within their mutual uncertainty.