A Sensory Panel and Chemical Analysis of Certain Beef Chuck Muscles

Sensory panel and Warner-Bratzler Shear (WBS) values of nine muscles (biceps brachii, complexus, deep pectoral, infraspinatus, longissimus, rhomboideus, serratus ventralis, supraspinatus and triceps brachii) from the beef chuck. The deep pectoral, infraspinatus and rhomboideus were used to determine myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), and the infraspinatus and rhomboideus were used to study myofibrillar protein degradation. The infraspinatus was scored the most tender and palatable, and the rhomboideus was scored least tender and palatable. Greater protein degradation differences were observed in myofibrils isolated from the infraspinatus muscle than in those from the rhomboideus for the proteins titin, nebulin and troponin-T.     

Theory of diaphragm structure and shape

The muscle bundles of the diaphragm form a curved sheet that extends from the chest wall to the central tendon. Each muscle bundle exerts a force in the direction of its curvature; the magnitude of this force is proportional to the curvature of the bundle. The contribution of this force to transdiaphragmatic pressure is maximal if the direction of bundle curvature is orthogonal to the surface and the curvature is maximal. That is, the contribution of muscle tension to transdiaphragmatic pressure is maximal if the muscle bundles lie along lines that are both geodesics and lines of maximal principal curvature of the surface. A theory of diaphragm shape is developed from the assumption that all muscle bundles have these optimal properties. The class of surfaces that are formed of line elements that are both geodescis and lines of principal curvature is described. This class is restricted. The lines that form the surface must lie in planes, and all lines must have the same shape. In addition, the orientation of the lines is restricted. An example of this class that is similar to the shape of the canine diaphragm is described, and the stress distribution in this example is analyzed.     

RESIDUES OF p, p'-DDE AND DICOFOL IN MILK OF DAIRY COWS FED COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED APPLE POMACE

Residues of the miticide, dicofol, used in orchards, as well as p,p'-DDE a metabolite of p,p'-DDT present as an impurity in dicofol, were found in each commercial apple pomace sampled at several locations in Central New York. Traces of dicofol and p,p'-DDE were found in milk when cows were experimentally fed one of the pomaces for 9 days. These compounds were also detected in the milk of cows which had been fed by a dairy farmer on a practical basis for several months. It was judged that the milk residues were too low to be of health significance to consumers.     

Measurement of Papaya Maturity by Delayed Light Emission

Papaya at five stages of maturity were evaluated for differences in intensity of delayed light emission (DLE), chlorophyll, β-carotene and Hunter color values. Results showed there were high correlations between DLE intensity and chemical and physical properties that relate to papaya maturity. DLE has a high potential as a rapid screening technique for identifying papayas which are one-half ripe and riper.     

The strategic agenda for community health care organizations

This article proposes a vision, strategies, and structure for the organizations that will replace community hospitals. The vision must embrace health rather than health care, and cost reduction as an explicit, measured goal. Strategies must include immediate cost savings, but also longer-term revision of organizations, wage structures, prevention, and medical attitudes. Structures must assure local stakeholders their voice in health issues.     

Attempting to fathom the unfathomable: descriptive views of spirituality

PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term efficacy of awareness programs (AP) in reducing coronary heart disease risk factors (CHDRF). METHODS: High risk hypercholesterolemic patients were divided in 2 groups during 16 weeks. Group A (n = 417, 54.3 +/- 10.0 years, 55% males) received verbal and written orientation on CHDRF control, and group B (n = 180, 54.4 +/- 10.9 years, 45% males) received only verbal orientation. All participants received pravastatin 10 mg q.d. for 12 weeks. The evolution of body weight, arterial pressure, lipid profile, Castelli's I and II indexes (TC/HDL and LDL/HDL), and Framingham scores were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, A had a lower HDL-C (40.0 +/- 11.0 vs 43.0 +/- 11.0 mg/dl, p = 0.013) and a higher index I (8.2 +/- 3.0 vs 7.6 +/- 2.3, p = 0.008) than B. After 16 weeks, A had greater change than B in TC (-28.0 vs -25.0, p < 0.05), LDL-C (-29.0 vs -27.6, p < 0.05), HDL-C levels (+13.7 vs +10.8, p < 0.05) and in the Castelli's Index (-39.0 vs -33.0; p < 0.05). In both groups pravastatin use potentialized the effects of diet on the lipid profile. CONCLUSION: The AP seemed to be more effective than verbal orientation alone in CHDRF reduction at short-term.     

Homologous recombination of a flanking repeat gene cluster is a mechanism for a common contiguous gene deletion syndrome

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS), caused by del(17)p11.2, represents one of the most frequently observed human microdeletion syndromes. We have identified three copies of a low-copy-number repeat (SMS-REPs) located within and flanking the SMS common deletion region and show that SMS-REP represents a repeated gene cluster. We have isolated a corresponding cDNA clone that identifies a novel junction fragment from 29 unrelated SMS patients and a different-sized junction fragment from a patient with dup(17)p11.2. Our results suggest that homologous recombination of a flanking repeat gene cluster is a mechanism for this common microdeletion syndrome.