Retail yield and fabrication times for veal as influenced by purchasing options and merchandising styles

Twenty-nine selected styles of subprimals or sections of veal were obtained from a commercial facility to assist in the development of a support program for retailers. They were fabricated into bone-in or boneless retail cuts and associated components by trained meat cutters. Each style selected (n = 6) was used to generate mean retail yields and labor requirements, which were calculated from wholesale and retail weights and processing times. Means and standard errors for veal ribs consisting of five different styles (n = 30) concluded that style #2, 7-rib 4 (10 cm) x 4 (10 cm), had the lowest percentage of total retail yield (P < .05) owing to the greatest percentage of bone. Furthermore, rib style #2 required the longest total processing time (P < .05). Rib styles #3, 7-rib chop-ready, and #5, 6-rib chop ready, yielded the greatest percentage of total retail yield and also had the shortest total processing time (P < .05). Within veal loins, style #2, 4 (10 cm) x 4 (10 cm) loin kidney fat in, had the greatest percentage fat (P < .05). Loin styles #2 and #3, 4 (10 cm) x 4 (10 cm) loin special trimmed, generated more lean and fat trimmings and bone, resulting in lower percentage of total retail yields than loin style #1, 0 (0 cm) x 1 (2.5 cm) loin special trimmed (P < .05). Results indicated that bone-in subprimals and sections required more processing time if fabricated into a boneless end point. In addition, as the number of different retail cuts increased, processing times also increased.     

Evidence for the presence of pro-oxytocin/neurophysin-converting enzyme in the human ovary

The activity of pro-oxytocin/neurophysin (pro-OT/Np)-processing enzymes was determined in human granulosa cells, follicular fluids and purified secretory granules of corpora lutea. We detected the presence of an endoprotease which releases OT-Gly10-Lys11-Arg12 on cleavage of the synthetic pro-OT/Np(1-20) peptide after the dibasic Lys11-Arg12 doublet. This endoprotease was inhibited by EDTA, but was not affected by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and pepstatin. Enzymatic activity was markedly reduced by replacement of L-Arg by D-Arg in the basic amino acid doublet of the substrate. The molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated to be 60 kDa. These features closely resembled those of the endoprotease identified in the bovine pituitary. The endoprotease is a metalloenzyme, specific for the Lys-Arg doublet. We also detected a carboxypeptidasic activity, inhibited by guanidinoethane-mercaptosuccinic acid. In the light of our previous detection of the processing intermediates, OT-Gly-Lys-Arg, OT-Gly-Lys and OT-Gly, in human ovary, these observations are in favour of a pro-OT/Np-processing pathway in the human ovary comparable with that in the bovine ovary. Moreover, these results confirm that oxytocin post-translational processing occurs in the human ovary and strongly suggest that pro-OT/Np is synthesized locally.     

Neutron scattering as a probe of particle-like excitations in superfluid4He: A model calculation

In the microscopic theory of Bose-condensed liquids, the condensate wave function leads to a coupling of the density fluctuations and the single-particle excitations. A simple parametrized model of this based on coupling weakly damped zero-sound modes with strongly damped free-particle-like excitations Q ²/2m* explains why the phonon-roton resonance inS(Q, ) for superfluid⁴He exists above and belowT but only plays the role of an elementary excitation belowT . It is pointed out that this model also predicts thatS(Q, ) should exhibit a weak, low-frequency peak centered atQ ²/2m*, with weight roughly proportional to the condensate fractionn ₀. As a stimulus to further experimental searches for this branch, some model calculations are given forS(Q, ) forQ1 Å^–1.     

Preparation and characterization of surfactant‐free stimuli‐sensitive microgel dispersions

A surfactant‐free method to produce responsive polymer microgels is introduced. As an example, poly(methacrylic acid) hydrogels with varying crosslinking density have been synthesized in bulk and then chopped using a high shear mechanical cutter to form microgel particles dispersed in water. The mechanical cutting technique enables the concentration and particle size distribution of the microgel suspensions to be easily controlled, therefore making the rheology of the suspensions tuneable. The particle size distribution of the dispersions, characterized using light scattering, was dependent on the speed and duration of mechanical cutting. The particle size distribution also depended on the degree of crosslinking of the hydrogel. The higher the crosslinking density, the lower the average mean diameter of the resulting microgel particles. The lower the crosslinking density of the hydrogel, the larger the difference between the maximum and minimum particle size. The time to complete swelling of the particles upon change in pH was measured to be up to 45 s, depending on the particle size. The rheology of the resulting suspensions as a function of pH was investigated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 104: 1912–1919, 2007     

Catalytic Materials for High-Temperature Combustion

Catalytic combustion, as an alternative to conventional thermal combustion, has received considerable attention during the past decade. Research efforts have been promoted by the need to meet governmental demands concerning pollution and the wish to use energy sources more efficiently. The two main advantages offered by catalytic combustors over flame combustors apply to these goals:

1. Catalytic combustion can be carried out over a wide range of fuel concentrations in air and at low temperatures.
2. These low temperatures result in attaining NO, emission levels substantially lower than possible with conventional combustors.

     

Hydrogenation of soybean oil with copper catalysts containing small amounts of nickel catalysts

Reaction rates, linolenate/linoleate reaction selectivity,trans formation, and conjugated diene formation were determined for mixed commerical catalysts containing 0.5, 1, 2, 10, and 20 parts nickel catalyst (25% nickel) per 1000 parts copper chromite catalyst (ppt) and at catalyst concentrations in the oil of 1.0, 0.5, and 0.25%. The rate of hydrogenation increased as the amount of nickel increased. Addition of 0.5, 1, and 2 ppt nickel catalyst to copper chomite catalyst resulted in a small decrease in selectivity compared with straight copper chromite. When soybean oil was hydrogenated with these mixed catalysts sufficiently to reduce linolenate to 0, iodine values were 102–108 compared to 109–112 for straight copper chromite and to less than 80 for straight nickel. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, New Orleans April 1973. ARS, USDA.     

Ventilation of a dead-end duct having a porous barrier

Analytic expressions for the flow and pressure in a dead-end duct which has loss of fluid through a porous wall are developed. The presence of an obstruction or auxiliary fan at the end of the duct is included. In either case there is a maximum permissible length of duct. As the duct length approaches this maximum, the main supply fan power and flow increase dramatically. There is no recirculation within the duct when there is an obstruction at the end of the duct. If an auxiliary fan is used, there is always recirculation. However the use of an auxiliary fan can yield major savings in total power requirements.     

Production of linolenic acid from linseed oil

Linolenic acid of more than 95% purity was produced by liquid-liquid extraction of linseed oil fatty acids with wet furfural and hexane in a Podbielniak centrifugal extractor. The minimum ratio of furfural to linseed acids to obtain this purity was 10 to 1. There was no significant change in product purity for solvent ratios between 10 and 15, operating temperatures from 90° to 110°F., and furfural moisture contents between 1.0 and 2.8%. When the solvent ratio is reduced to 8 or the furfural moisture to 0.2%, purity decreases. Oxidation of linseed acids before extraction also results in decreased separation. An estimate based on pilotplant data indicates a “cost to make” (excluding administrative and selling expenses, profit, income taxes, and interest on investment) of 18.0 cents per pound of 97% linolenic acid for a process which includes hydrolyzing linseed oil, separating the fatty acids by liquid-liquid extraction, recovering solvents by distillation, and distilling the fatty acid products. Potential uses for linolenic acid are reviewed.