Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) Encode Relevant Problem Features in a Tool-Using Task.

Two important elements in problem solving are the abilities to encode relevant task features and to combine multiple actions to achieve the goal. The authors investigated these 2 elements in a task in which gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) had to use a tool to retrieve an out-of-reach reward. Subjects were able to select tools of an appropriate length to reach the reward even when the position of the reward and tools were not simultaneously visible. When presented with tools that were too short to retrieve the reward, subjects were more likely to refuse to use them than when tools were the appropriate length. Subjects were proficient at using tools in sequence to retrieve the reward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Protecting the infrastructure with thermal spray coatings—Technical note

Thermal sprayed aluminum and zinc provide long-term (> 20 years to first maintenance) corrosion control coatings. However, this application is usually more expensive than painting or galvanizing if thermal spraying (metallizing) is not integrated into the design and fabrication phases of new construction and repair projects. Aluminum and zinc metallized coatings are tough enough to withstand fabrication, transportation, and assembly operations. The improved capabilities and productivity of metallizing equipment for aluminum and zinc spraying are a major factor in their current cost competitiveness. The net result is that the cost difference between metallizing, paint, and galvanizing is getting closer every day. Even though the initial application cost of metallizing may be higher, the life cycle cost (LCC) and average equivalent annual costs (AEAC) are lower than paint coating systems. Metallizing LCCs, when properly engineered into the construction schedule, are equal to or less than paint coating LCCs. This article summarizes some metallizing considerations for installing improved corrosion control coating systems in new construction and in maintenance and repair of infrastructure. Editor’s Note: The following constants have been used to convert between English and Metric dimensions: 1ft²-0.0929 m²; 1lb/ft²-4.89 kg/m²; 1 mil=0.025mm. Presented at the 5th National Thermal Spray Conference (NTSC-93), Infrastructure Maintenance and Repair Session, 10 June 1993, Anaheim, CA.     

Young's modulus repeatability assessment using cycling compression loading on cancellous bone

For various applications, precision of the Young's modulus of cancellous bone specimens is needed. However, measurement variability is rarely given. The aim of this study was to assess the Young's modulus repeatability using a uniaxial cyclic compression protocol on embedded specimens of human cancellous bone. Twelve specimens from 12 human calcanei were considered. The specimens were first defatted and then 1 or 2 mm at the ends were embedded in an epoxy resin. The compression experiment consists in applying 20 compressive cycles between 0.2 per cent and 0.6 per cent strain with a 2 Hz loading frequency. The coefficient of variation of the current protocol was found to be 1.2 percent. This protocol showed variability similar to the end-cap technique (considered as a reference). It can be applied on porous specimen (especially human bone) and requires minimal bone length to limit end-artifact variability. The current method could be applied in association with noninvasive measurements (such as ultrasound) with full compatibility. This possibility opens the way for bone damage follow-up based on Young's modulus monitoring.     

Effectiveness of Cross-Flow Microfiltration for Removal of Microorganisms Associated with Unpasteurized Liquid Egg White from Process Plant

ABSTRACT:  Thermal preservation is used by the egg industry to ensure the microbiological safety of liquid egg white (LEW); however, it does not eliminate all microorganisms and impairs some of the delicate functional properties of LEW. In this study, a pilot-scale cross-flow microfiltration (MF) process was designed to remove the natural microflora present in commercial LEW, obtained from a local egg-breaking plant, while maintaining the nutritional and functional properties of the LEW. LEW, containing approximately 10^{6 ± 1.7} colony forming units (CFU) per milliliter of total aerobic bacteria, was microfiltered using a ceramic membrane with a nominal pore size of 1.4 μm, at a cross-flow velocity of 6 m/s. To facilitate MF, LEW was screened, homogenized, and then diluted (1 : 2, w/w) with distilled water containing 0.5% sodium chloride. Homogenized LEW was found to have a threefold lower viscosity than unhomogenized LEW. Influence of MF temperature (25 and 40 °C) and pH (6 and 9) on permeate flux, transmission of egg white nutrients across the membrane, and microbial removal efficiency were evaluated. The pH had a significantly greater influence on permeate flux than temperature. Permeate flux increased by almost 148% when pH of LEW was adjusted from pH 9 to pH 6 at 40 °C. Influence of temperature on permeate flux, at a constant pH, however, was found to be inconclusive. Microbial removal efficiency was at least 5 log₁₀ CFU/mL. Total protein and SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that this MF process did not alter the protein composition of the permeate, compared to that of the feed LEW, and that the foaming properties of LEW were retained in the postfiltered samples.     

A discrete, stochastic model and correction method for bacterial source tracking

We have developed a model to test several underlying assumptions of bacterial source tracking (BST) when the BST method is based on detection of discrete genetic markers from source-specific bacteria. The model consists of an environment and discrete-time input signals that represent sources of contamination partitioned into marker-bearing and nonmarker-bearing units "shed" into the environment. Simulations run for different types of environmental contamination patterns indicate that if hosts shed different percentages of BST markers, the environment cannot be accurately characterized unless a correction method is used. The correction method, which requires the solution to a linear system, reduces the mean error in estimating the proportions of host contamination to below 3%. The effectiveness of the method depends on accurate knowledge of the occurrence and prevalence of markers in the various hosts; this may be a challenging task, especially if these values vary across populations in space and time. In addition, the correction method does not compensate for environments with low-density or unmixed contamination. In conclusion, our simulations highlight several fundamental challenges that may prevent absolute quantification of fecal input using discrete marker BST.     

An assessment of pasteurization treatment of water, media, and milk with respect to Bacillus spores

This study evaluated the ability of spore-forming Bacillus spp. to resist milk pasteurization conditions from 72 to 150 degrees C. Spores from the avirulent surrogate Sterne strain of Bacillus anthracis, as well as a representative strain of a common milk contaminant that is also a pathogen, Bacillus cereus ATCC 9818, were heated at test temperatures for up to 90 min in dH2O, brain heart infusion broth, or skim milk. In skim milk, characteristic log reductions (log CFU per milliliter) for B. anthracis spores were 0.45 after 90 min at 72 degrees C, 0.39 after 90 min at 78 degrees C, 8.10 after 60 min at 100 degrees C, 7.74 after 2 min at 130 degrees C, and 7.43 after 0.5 min at 150 degrees C. Likewise, log reductions (log CFU per milliliter) for viable spores of B. cereus ATCC 9818 in skim milk were 0.39 after 90 min at 72 degrees C, 0.21 after 60 min at 78 degrees C, 7.62 after 60 min at 100 degrees C, 7.37 after 2 min at 130 degrees C, and 7.53 after 0.5 min at 150 degrees C. No significant differences (P < 0.05) in thermal resistance were observed for comparisons of spores heated in dH2O or brain heart infusion broth compared with results observed in skim milk for either strain tested. However, spores from both strains were highly resistant (P < 0.05) to the pasteurization temperatures tested. As such, pasteurization alone would not ensure complete inactivation of these spore-forming pathogens in dH2O, synthetic media, or skim milk.     

Gravity and solidity in four great ape species (Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus): Vertical and horizontal variations of the table task.

Three experiments modeled after infant studies were run on four great ape species (Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus) to investigate their reasoning about solidity and gravity constraints. The aims were: (a) to find out if great apes are subject to gravity biased search or display sensitivity for object solidity, (b) to check for species differences, and (c) to assess if a gravity hypothesis or more parsimonious explanations best account for failures observed. Results indicate that great apes, unlike monkeys, show no reliable gravity bias, that ape species slightly differ in terms of their performance, and that the errors made are best explained by a gravity account. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of pH on survival, thermotolerance, and verotoxin production of Escherichia coli O157:H7 during simulated fermentation and storage

Heat treatment is increasingly being introduced to fermented meat processing, since the acid tolerance properties of Escherichia coli O157:H7 can permit this organism to survive traditional processing procedures. This study investigated the effect of growth pH and fermentation on the thermotolerance at 55 degrees C of E. coli O157:H7 in a model fermented meat system. E. coli O157:H7 (strain 380-94) was grown at pH 5.6 or 7.4 (18 h at 37 degrees C), fermented to pH 4.8 or 4.4 in brain heart infusion broth, and stored for 96 h. Cells grown at pH 5.6 had higher D values at 55 degrees C (D55 degrees C) than cells grown at pH 7.4 (P < 0.001). Cells fermented to pH 4.8 had higher D55 degrees C than those fermented to pH 4.4 (P < 0.001). Cells fermented to pH 4.8 demonstrated an increase in D55 degrees C during storage (P < 0.001), whereas cells fermented to pH 4.4 showed a decrease in D55 degrees C during the same period (P < 0.001). The effect of growth pH on verotoxin production by E. coli O157:H7 was assessed using the verotoxin assay. Cells grown at pH 5.6 had lower verotoxin production then cells grown at pH 7.4. This effect was not sustained over storage. These results indicate that a lower growth pH can confer cross-protection against heat. This has implications for the production of acidic foods, such as fermented meat, during which a heating step may be used to improve product safety.     

Factors affecting reproductive performance of dairy cows first inseminated after five weeks postpartum

Various factors influencing reproduction of 307 Holstein cows were evaluated. Sources of variation of several measures were estrous certainty, time of day of detected estrus and insemination, method of thawing semen, ease of cervix penetration, presence of clear mucus at insemination, service number, service sire, inseminator, age of cow, maximum ambient temperature on the service date, and milk yield. Interval to first service of older cows was longer than of younger cows and shorter for cows with higher milk yield. Conception rate was higher for inseminations before noon than after noon and tended to be lower at inseminations when milk yield was at the extremes (low or high). Rate of conception was similar for cows whether inseminated at early or later postpartum intervals. More services were required by cows that were inseminated when milk yield was at the extremes (low or high). Fewer days open were associated with fewer total services and younger age at conception. Cows inseminated with semen thawed in hot (65 degrees C, 7 to 10 s) or warm (35 degrees C, 30 s) water conceived earlier postpartum than did those inseminated with semen thawed in the cow. Submitting cows for insemination after detection of standing estrus, mounting activity, or less certain symptoms of estrus had no adverse effect on fertility or days open.