The role of attribution processes in conformity and dissent: Revisiting the Asch situation.

In an investigation of S. E. Asch's (1955) findings regarding the role of attribution processes in mediating conformity and dissent, 160 undergraduates listened to 24 pairs of tones and after each pair judged which tone was longer in duration. In a control condition, Ss simply wrote private judgments after hearing each pair of tones. As predicted, the majority's impact was minimal when differences in judgment could readily be attributed to corresponding differences in potential payoffs. The majority's influence increased when the only satisfactory explanation for disagreement demanded the postulation of differences between the "priorities" of the dissenter and those of the group. Conformity pressures became most intense when there was no satisfactory explanation and dissent could be attributed only to serious perceptual incapacity on the part of the dissenter or of the majority. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cephalocranial disproportion. A complication of the treatment of hydrocephalus in children

Eight children with hydrocephalus showed signs of posterior fossa tonsillar impaction despite arrest of the hydrocephalus and patency of their CSF shunts. Contrast studies performed because of their clinical deterioration demonstrated cerebellar tonsillar herniation, and at posterior fossa decompression, this was confirmed in all cases. Improvement followed decompression. The pathogenesis of a state of cephalocranial disproportion following successful treatment of hydrocephalus resulting in symptomatic tonsillar herniation, is discussed.     

The cell surface of Trypanosoma musculi bloodstream forms. II. Lectin and immunologic studies

Report is given on a metabolic investigation with non-radioactive and 14C-labelled methiothepin(1-[10',11'-dihydro-8'-(methylthio)-dibenzo mean value of b,f thiepin-10'yl]-4-methyl-piperazine) in rat, dog, and man. After i.p. and oral administration of the drug to the rat, the metabolites of methiothepin were excreted fecally. In the same species, a considerable biliary secretion of the compounds has been demonstrated. In dog and in man, excreted metabolites have been found both in urine and feces after oral application of the drug. The biotransformation of methiothepin within the species investigated proceeds via hydroxylation, sulfoxidation, O-methylation, N-demethylation, N-oxidation and formation of conjugates. The large number of metabolites is due to the various sites of action within the molecule, that are accessible to in vivo oxidation. Of a large number of isolated positionally isomeric compounds, merely the basal structures could be clarified. Possibly the mode of biotransformation to which methiothepin is subjected in the organism, proves determinant for the way of excretion. In the rat, all metabolites are hydroxylated and reach the intestinal tract as conjugates with the bile. In dog and man, however, non-hydroxylated, sulfoxidized metabolites were likewise found, which were excreted mainly renally in both species.     

Cytogenetic variants in holoprosencephaly. Report of a case and review of the literature

A new infant with classical features of holoprosencephaly and multiple extracranial malformations was found to have abnormal karyotype: 47, XX, + 13. Although trisomy D has been reported in a few cases, our case is the first, to our knowledge, in which positive identification of trisomy 13 was made by banding technique in cebocephaly.     

Diazepam-ketamine anaesthesia for open heart surgery "micro-mini" drip administration technique

Two hundred open heart cases anaesthetized with a combination of diazepam-ketamine using "Micro-Mini" drip administration technique were presented. The results were eminently desirable, and in the opinion of the authors are a notable improvement over other methods for all types of cardiovascular surgery including most advanced heart diseases. The advantages of this anaesthetic method for cardiovascular surgery are as follows: 1. Effects on cardiovascular system are minimal.--2. Respiratory depression is negligible.--3. There is no increase in salivation or muscle tone.--4. Induction and maintenance of anaesthesia are simple and smooth.--5. Anaesthesia can be maintained, using a high concentration of oxygen alone, by a slight increase in rate of ketamine administration whenever necessary.--6. Post-anaesthetic psychotomimetic effects are negligible.--7. Nearly 100% of patients have excellent amnesia.--8. It has a wide margin of safety.--9. This technique has proved highly acceptable to patients and surgeons. We feel ketamine should be used in small dosages continuously administered with either "Micro-Mini" drip infusion or infusion pump. Ketamine given in this fashion should be regarded as an analgesic.     

First evaluation of unfermented and fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) in preventing lipid oxidation in meat products

This study consisted of two trials aiming to evaluate, for the first time, the antioxidant potential of rooibos in meat products. With this purpose, the first trial evaluated three unfermented (green) rooibos forms (dried leaves, water extract, freeze-dried extract) added at 2% inclusion level to ostrich meat patties on an 8-day shelf-life trial. A Control group without green rooibos inclusion was also considered. The second trial evaluated the addition of different concentrations (0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%) of a fermented rooibos extract to nitrite-free ostrich salami. The 2% green rooibos inclusion considerably lowered the TBARS content of ostrich patties, in this way extending their shelf-life. The fermented form (0.5% and 1%) was also effective in delaying lipid oxidation in ostrich salami until 15 days of ripening. The antioxidant potential of both green and fermented forms of rooibos in meat products was confirmed, even if its effect on lipid oxidation requires further study and long-term effects are not yet fully understood.     

Fall-grown oat to extend the fall grazing season for replacement dairy heifers

Our objective was to assess the pasture productivity and forage characteristics of 2 fall-grown oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars, specifically for extending the grazing season and reducing reliance on harvested forages by replacement dairy heifers. A total of 160 gravid Holstein heifers (80 heifers/yr) were stratified by weight, and assigned to 1 of 10 identical research pens (8 heifers/pen). Initial body weights were 480 ± 43.5 kg in 2011 and 509 ± 39.4 kg in 2012. During both years of the trial, four 1.0-ha pasture replicates were seeded in August with Ogle oat (Schumitsch Seed Inc., Antigo, WI), and 4 separate, but similarly configured, pasture replicates were seeded with Forage Plus oat (Kratz Farms, Slinger, WI). Heifer groups were maintained as units, assigned to specific pastures, and then allowed to graze fall-oat pastures for 6 h daily before returning to the barn, where they were offered a forage-based basal total mixed ration. Two heifer groups were retained in confinement (without grazing) as controls and offered the identical total mixed ration as pasture groups. During 2011, available forage mass increased with strong linear and quadratic effects for both cultivars, peaking at almost 9 Mg/ha on October 31. In contrast, forage mass was not affected by evaluation date in 2012, remaining ≤2,639 kg/ha across all dates because of droughty climatic conditions. During 2012, Ogle exhibited greater forage mass than Forage Plus across all sampling dates (2,678 vs. 1,856 kg/ha), largely because of its more rapid maturation rate and greater canopy height. Estimates of energy density for oat forage ranged from 59.6 to 69.1% during 2011, and ranged narrowly from 68.4 to 70.4% during 2012. For 2011, responses for both cultivars had strong quadratic character, in which the most energy-dense forages occurred in mid November, largely due to accumulation of water-soluble carbohydrates that reached maximum concentrations of 18.2 and 15.1% for Forage Plus and Ogle, respectively. Across the 2-yr trial, average daily gain for grazing heifer groups tended to be greater than heifers remaining in confinement (0.85 vs. 0.74 kg/d), but both management strategies produced weight gains within reasonable proximity to normal targets for heifers in this weight range. Fall-grown oat should be managed as stockpiled forage for deferred grazing, and good utilization of fall-oat forage can be accomplished by a one-time removal of standing forage, facilitated by a single lead wire advanced daily to prevent waste.     

Sensory and functional meat quality characteristics of pork derived from three halothane genotypes

The effect of the halothane gene in pigs on the meat and sensory qualities thereof were determined. Meat derived from 60 Landrace×Large White pigs of three halothane genotypes was used. The sensory qualities, cooking loss, colour, shear value and proximate analysis of the cooked pork loin roasts were determined. The three genotypes did not differ significantly (P>0.05) with regard to the colour of the cooked meat, percentage cooking loss and percentage moisture. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between the genotypes in the percentage protein, ash and fat. Meat from the three genotypes also differed significantly (P<0.05) in juiciness, an analytical sensory panel scored the juiciness of meat from the NN-genotype the highest with a value of 71.3 when using a structured line scale. Meat from the nn-genotype had the lowest score for juiciness (62.8). Meat from the three genotypes did not differ significantly (P>0.05) with regard to tenderness, pork flavour and no mealiness. Correlation values showed a positive correlation (r=0.46, P<0.05) between juiciness and tenderness. These results indicate that the inclusion of the halothane gene in pig production programmes results in meat with an inferior quality and it can be recommended to exclude the halothane positive genotype from any pig production system where fresh pork quality is considered a primary goal.     

Use of bacteriocin-producing starter cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus curvatus in production of ostrich meat salami

Ostrich meat salami was produced by using Lactobacillus plantarum strain 423 and Lactobacillus curvatus strain DF126. The strains produce the bacteriocins plantaricin 423 and curvacin DF126, respectively. The specific activity of plantaricin 423 in MRS broth at 30?°C increased as the pH decreased from 6.5 to 3.5, but activity subsequently decreased. The activity of curvacin DF126 increased under the same conditions, but remained stable for the duration of the growth cycle. Maximum curvacin DF126 and plantaricin 423 activity levels were recorded at a culture pH of around 4. The spectra of antimicrobial activity recorded for plantaricin 423 and curvacin DF126 were similar. Neither of the two bacteriocins inhibited the growth of Micrococcus sp. MC50 and did not have any inhibitory effect on either of the producer strains. Curvacin DF126 and plantaricin 423 inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes in salami meat. However, after 15 h of fermentation the viable count of L. monocytogenes LM1 increased, probably due to a decrease in activity of the bacteriocins and/or the development of resistant bacterial cells. This is the first report on the inhibition of L. monocytogenes in ostrich meat salami by using bacteriocinogenic starter cultures.