Characterization and Identification of Raw Beef, Pork, Chicken and Turkey Meats by Electrophoretic Patterns of Their Sarcoplasmic Proteins

Electrophoretic patterns of fresh beef, pork, chicken, and turkey sarcoplasmic proteins were studied using thin layer agarose gel electro-phoresis. Creatine kinase isozyme MM and myoglobin bands were used to identify the species. Binary mixtures (5/95, 25175, 50150, 751 25, 9515, % by weight of each species) were also examined by their electrophoretic and densitometric patterns. Electrophoretic patterns remained stable at elevated pH (7.5), but were affected by low pH (4.7). The relative ratios of the bands which characterized each species changed in proportion to the species content in each binary mixture. These ratios make it possible to predict the approximate fraction of each species present in such mixtures.     

Mutation analysis for prenatal diagnosis of hereditary tyrosinaemia type 1

Presentation of 11 cases of retroperitoneal sarcoma. Mean time from the beginning of symptoms to diagnosis is 6 months. The primary complementary study is CT. Surgery was performed in all cases, using complete resection in 6 cases, and partial resection in 5. Ten patients relapsed. 9 of which were treated with surgical rescue, in one or more occasions; chemotherapy was added in 6 cases and radiotherapy in 7. Survival at five years is 68%, with a mean follow-up of 66 months.     

Phase Transitions of Wheat Starch-Water Systems Containing Polydextrose

Equivalent concentrations of polydextrose and sucrose had similar effects on phase transitions of wheat starch-water systems. Onset and peak gelatinization temperatures were increased similarly with the two solutes. This was true with varied water:starch ratios, varied concentrations of solute, and for batters prepared with the two solutes. Acesulfame K, cyclamate, and saccharin at low levels, as might be used in food products, had little effect on phase transitions of starch-water-solute systems.     

PREDICTING INTERNAL TEMPERATURE RESPONSE TO CONDUCTION-HEATING OF ODD-SHAPED SOLIDS

Heat penetration experiments were carried out in a hot water bath with small blocks of a solid polycarbonate material cut into various shapes (cylinder, cube and oval) to obtain heat penetration factors for each shape. These factors, along with characteristic dimensions from the odd shapes were then used in the finite cylinder heat transfer model to predict accurately the temperature at the center of each block in response to measured dynamic bath temperatures. Results showed sufficiently good agreement between predicted and measured center temperature profiles to justify use of the finite cylinder model for rapid evaluation of process deviations in thermal processing of foods in odd-shaped containers.     

Thermal shock behaviour of Al2O3-SiC composites made by directed melt oxidation of Al-alloy

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Grain growth of copper films prepared by chemical vapour deposition

Copper films having thickness 600 nm were prepared on TiN using chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The deposited films were annealed at various temperatures (350–550°C) in Ar and H₂(10%)-Ar ambients. The changes in the grain size of the films upon annealing were investigated. Annealing in an H₂(10%)-Ar ambient produced normal grain growth; annealing in an Ar ambient caused grain growth to stop at 550°C. The grain size followed a monomodal distribution and the mean size increased in proportion to the square root of the annealing time, indicating the curvature of the grain is the main driving force for grain growth. Upon annealing at 450°C for 30 min in an H₂(10%)-Ar ambient, the average grain size of the film increased from 122 nm to 219 nm, and the resistivity decreased from 2.35 μΩ cm to 2.12 μΩ cm at a film thickness of 600 nm. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An agile manufacturing workcell design

This paper introduces a design for agile manufacturing worked Is intended for light mechanical assembly of products made from similar components (i.e., parts families). We define agile manufacturing as the ability to accomplish rapid changeover from the assembly of one product to the assembly of a different product. Rapid hardware changeover is made possible through the use of robots, flexible part feeders, modular grippers, and modular assembly hardware. The division of assembly, feeding, and unloading tasks between multiple robots is examined with prioritization based upon assembly time. Rapid software changeover will be facilitated by the use of a real-time, object-oriented software environment utilizing graphical simulations for off-line software development. An innovative dual VMEbus controller architecture permits an open software environment while accommodating the closed nature of most commercial robot controllers. These agile features permit new products to be introduced with minimal downtime and system reconfiguration.