The assessment of carcass composition of Awassi male lambs by real-time ultrasound at two different live weights

The accuracy of ultrasonography to measure fat thickness (FT) and longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) traits (area, depth and width) in live Awassi male lambs and predict carcass FT and LM traits was studied.Twenty six Awassi male lambs were randomly divided into light (L) (n = 13) and heavy (H) (n = 13) finishing lambs. Slaughter weight of lambs in L and H groups were 40 and 45 kg, respectively. FT and LM traits, cross-sectional area between the 12th and 13th rib were measured using real-time ultrasound in vivo and on the carcass after slaughter. All ultrasound and carcass measurements were the same except live weight (LW) (P < 0.001), cold carcass weight (CCW) (P < 0.001) and carcass LM width (P < 0.05). Overall, correlation coefficients between ultrasound and carcass FT, LM depth, width and area were 0.79, 0.82 (P < 0.001); 0.60, 0.58 (P < 0.05); 0.48, −0.17 (P > 0.05) and 0.89, 0.87 (P < 0.001), respectively, for lambs in L and H groups. The introduction of ultrasound FT and ultrasound LM area as independent variables in addition to LW in the multiple regression equations further improved the variations for carcass FT (84%, 71%), carcass LM area (79%, 79%), CCW (72%, 65%) for lambs in light and heavy groups whereas no improvement was observed for carcass yield.These results indicate that in vivo ultrasound FT and measurement of the LM area in association with LW could be used to estimate carcass FT, carcass LM area and CCW in different LW Awassi lambs.     

Effect of spontaneous breathing trial duration on outcome of attempts to discontinue mechanical ventilation. Spanish Lung Failure Collaborative Group

The duration of spontaneous breathing trials before extubation has been set at 2 h in research studies, but the optimal duration is not known. We conducted a prospective, multicenter study involving 526 ventilator-supported patients considered ready for weaning, to compare clinical outcomes for trials of spontaneous breathing with target durations of 30 and 120 min. Of the 270 and 256 patients in the 30- and 120-min trial groups, respectively, 237 (87.8%) and 216 (84.8%), respectively, completed the trial without distress and were extubated (p = 0.32); 32 (13.5%) and 29 (13.4%), respectively, of these patients required reintubation within 48 h. The percentage of patients who remained extubated for 48 h after a spontaneous breathing trial did not differ in the 30- and 120-min trial groups (75.9% versus 73.0%, respectively, p = 0.43). The 30- and 120-min trial groups had similar within-unit mortality rates (13 and 9%, respectively) and in-hospital mortality rates (19 and 18%, respectively). Reintubation was required in 61 (13.5%) patients, and these patients had a higher mortality (20 of 61, 32.8%) than did patients who tolerated extubation (18 of 392, 4.6%) (p < 0.001). Neither measurements of respiratory frequency, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation during the trial, nor other functional measurements before the trial discriminated between patients who required reintubation from those who tolerated extubation. In conclusion, after a first trial of spontaneous breathing, successful extubation was achieved equally effectively with trials targeted to last 30 and 120 min.     

A Comparative Study Between Labeling and Reality: The Case of Phytochemical Composition of Commercial Pomegranate‐Based Products

Manufacturers are deeply involved in the development of new pomegranate‐based products, which have acquired great prestige due to many studies proving their potential health benefits. Commercial pomegranate products including capsules and supplements and juices and nectars were assayed. The contents of the key phytochemical compounds (punicalagin, ellagic acid, and total polyphenolic content) and the associated antioxidant capacity (DPPH^?, ABTS^?+, and FRAP) were analyzed. The experimental ranges of punicalagin and ellagic acid contents were 0.96 to 308 mg/g and 0.09 to 13.1 mg/g, respectively. Punicalagin content was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with DPPH^? and total polyphenolic content values. No significant (P > 0.05) correlation was observed among ellagic acid with the antioxidant capacity. The labeling standardization of these products is necessary due to the wide variability among “theoretically” similar pomegranate‐based products.     

Effect of nucleation mechanism on complex poly(L‐lactide) nonisothermal crystallization process,part 2: Crystallization kinetics analysis

In the first part of this article, we reported the crystalline memory effect on the nonisothermal crystallization of poly(L ‐lactide). The experiments were carried out by using polymer single crystals growth from dilute solution as standard starting material. In this article (Part II), we have analyzed in detail the effect of the melting condition on the overall crystallization kinetics by applying the Nakamura‐Avrami model to DSC results. The absence or the low concentration of foreign infusible heterogeneous nuclei in our system allowed us to exalt the self‐nuclei role in polymer crystallization, to follow their concentration decrease during the melting process and to find the limiting melting temperature for their disappearance. Below such a temperature, a stable equilibrium number of self‐nuclei was observed, probably deriving from ordered structures, persisting in the melt, and originated from the single crystals thickening process during the polymer dynamic melting in the DSC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Sensory Quality of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Arils and Rind as Affected by Drying Method

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of: (1) freeze drying, (2) convective drying (50, 60, or 70 °C), (3) vacuum–microwave drying (240, 360, or 480 W), and (4) a combined method of convective pre-drying and vacuum–microwave finish drying in the processing of pomegranate arils and rind. The quality parameters under study included sugars and organic acids, punicalagins and ellagic acid, total polyphenols, total antioxidant activity, and sensory quality. In general, drying led to a reduction in all studied parameters; however, the behavior of arils and rind was different. Vacuum–microwave drying at 240 or 360 W was the best drying treatment for arils, while rind required freeze drying or soft conditions of convective drying (50 °C). Further research is needed to obtain proper results with convective pre-drying and vacuum–microwave finish drying of arils and rind. With proper selection of the drying protocol, high-quality dried arils will be available for consumers; these arils will be characterized by high contents of fructose (25 g 100 g^?1), phytic acid (2.2 g 100 g^?1), punicalagins (0.57 mg g^?1), total polyphenols (1.6 mg eq gallic acid g^?1), high antioxidant capacity (0.6 mg eq Trolox g^?1), and high intensities of garnet color, sweetness, sourness, and fresh pomegranate aroma. Besides, dried rind with very high contents of active compounds (123 mg g^?1 of punicalagins and 108 mg eq gallic acid g^?1) and high antioxidant capacity (26 mg eq Trolox g^?1) will be also available as functional material.     

Martensite Aging Effect and Thermal Cyclic Characteristics in Ti-Pd and Ti-Pd-Ni High Temperature Shape Memory Alloys

The effect of thermal cycling and aging in martensitic state in Ti-Pd-Ni alloys were investigated by DSC and TEM observations. It is shown that the thermal cycling causes the decreases in M, and Af temperatures in Ti50Pd50-xNix (x=10, 20, 30) alloys, but no obvious thermal cycling effect was observed in Ti50Pd50Pd40Ni10 alloys and the aging effect shows a curious feature, i.e., the Af temperature does not saturate even after relatively long time aging, which is considered to be due to the occurrence of recovery recrystallization during aging.     

Medium wave DRM field trials in Brazil – Some daytime and nighttime results in urban environment

The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) system broadcasts audio in the frequency band below 174 MHz  and . In this experiment in urban areas in Brazil, a hybrid signal composed of an analog AM signal and a digital DRM30 signal, with the same content, were broadcasted in diurnal and nocturnal transmissions. This paper describes the experimental setup, which employs the spectral shaping technique in simulcast transmission [14], and presents some results of medium wave propagation measurements campaigns that are being carried out in Brazil. The experiment is part of a series of field trials that are being conducted by the Brazilian Government which includes campaigns at MW, HF and VHF frequency bands.     

Pharmacological characterization of nociceptin receptor: an in vitro study

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat, even for tumours localized to the pancreas. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-thermal technique for producing localized tissue necrosis with light after prior administration of a photosensitizing drug and it could have a role in the local treatment of these cancers. We studied PDT in a transplanted cancer in the hamster pancreas using the photosensitizer mTHPC (meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin). Fluorescence microscopy showed maximum levels of mTHPC in normal pancreas 2-4 days after sensitization and in tumour at 4-5 days. For PDT, animals were given 0.1 or 0.3 mg kg(-1) mTHPC and the tumour was treated at laparotomy 2 or 4 days later with red light (50 J at 650 nm, continuous or fractionated) delivered via a single fibre touching the tumour surface. The maximum zone of tumour necrosis (seen 3 days after PDT) was 8.7 mm in diameter with continuous irradiation, increasing to 12.4 mm with light fractionation (four equal fractions with 3 min between fractions). The main complication was sealed duodenal perforation, seen in 3 of 16 animals, probably due to inadequate shielding of the duodenum from the light. The duodenal problems seen in hamsters are unlikely to cause trouble in the much thicker human duodenum. PDT tumour necrosis in this animal model has now been shown with a range of photosensitizers, but mTHPC is attractive as it is likely to produce the largest volumes of necrosis around each treatment point with short light exposure times. This technique could have a role in the treatment of localized cancers of the pancreas in patients unsuitable for surgery and can now be considered for preliminary clinical trials.