The feasibility of posture and movement detection by accelerometry

The discrimination of postures and movements using a minimal set of uniaxial accelerometers was investigated. Postures and movements were distinguished on the bitsis of the high-pm filtered, rectified and low pass filtered signal of one accelerometer. Postures were discriminated by combining the constant valued signals of the accelerometers, mounted on different segments of the body. One sensor mounted ndiully on the trunc and one mounted radially or tangentially on the upper leg appeared to be suficient to discriminate shnding, sitting and lying. Methods are proposed for the discrimination of different cyclical movements

Antimicrobial effects of colloidal silver washes against Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on fresh beef

Beef carcasses and fresh fabricated beef products potentially can be contaminated with disease causing microorganisms (pathogens) via animal dressing procedures and contamination from the plant environment or workers. Concentrated efforts have been made by the meat industry to develop and implement a wide array of strategies to control such contamination. Spraying beef flank (Rectus abdominus) samples with 32 ppm colloidal silver (ASAP®, American Biotech Labs) solution for 20 seconds reduced Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 numbers by greater than 90% after 4 hours. Inoculated samples treated with 22 ppm colloidal silver, 22 ppm colloidal silver plus 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, 10 ppm colloidal silver, or 10 ppm colloidal silver plus potassium persulfate had moderate to slight pathogen reductions compared with those treated with 32 ppm colloidal silver. Although not yet approved for use on foods (but approved for other human health applications), a colloidal silver rinse implemented in conjunction with other antimicrobial intervention technologies during the beef carcass conversion and/or fabrication processes could be an effective strategy against Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. Further studies should be conducted on colloidal silver’s antimicrobial effectiveness on lean tissues versus adipose tissue, and on sensory and functional effects on fresh meat products during storage

Survey of cooking practices and methods for beef steaks and roasts

To support the development of Good Manufacturing Practices for the use of mechanical tenderization in the meat processing industry, a questionnaire was distributed to home, retail, and institutional preparers of beef steaks and roasts. Five hundred individuals in the United States were surveyed on their cooking practices and methods for preparing steaks and roasts. The survey was circulated to individuals from seven states, and consisted of nine questions that addressed where and how participants cooked steaks and roasts. Survey participants were directed to answer all questions that pertained to them and their methods for cooking of steaks and roasts. Results indicated that most participants used color as an indicator of doneness of steaks, whereas cooking time was most often used to indicate doneness of roasts. None of those who were surveyed knew the recommended minimum internal temperature (145°F) for cooking steaks or roasts

Evaluation of the GrovacTM system for decontamination of retail beef trimmings to control E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella

The Grovac™ intervention system was evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella inoculated on the surfaces of beef trimmings. Designed to be used in a batch process, the Grovac™ system involves treating beef trimmings in a mixture of citric acid and a hypotonic salt solution while tumbling under vacuum. Beef trimmings were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella, then subjected to no treatment, water with a 1-hour drain treatment, water with an overnight drain treatment, Grovac™ with a 1-hour drain treatment, and Grovac™ with an overnight drain treatment. Data indicated that the Grovac™ system may be a viable method for retailers to use with in-house beef grinding operations to reduce E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella risks. Reductions in these pathogen populations were 85 and 80%, respectively, after draining for 18 hours at 36°F

Evaluation of exterior sanitary garments for meat plant employees for control of microbial contamination

Disposable frocks, manufactured by Precise Systems, LLC, and made of an innovative clothing material formed by an inner layer of a spun-bond polypropylene material reinforced by an outer layer of polyethylene, were compared with the cotton/polyester materials used in frocks typically worn in food plants today. The growth and absorption of bacteria on these materials were compared as an indicator of the sanitary conditions of the disposable frocks. These materials were cut into 2 x 2- inch pieces and were inoculated with generic Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. Samples were collected after allowing microorganisms to attach for 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. In most instances, the cotton/polyester absorbed and maintained the initial inoculation rate over the sampling times. Polypropylene was somewhat absorbent, but contamination rates were slightly lower than on cotton/polyester. Polyethylene material was non-absorbent and performed the best, especially with Listeria monocytogenes. The data indicate that the non-absorbent property of polyethylene does not provide a reservoir for microorganisms, allows run-off, and therefore potentially reduces the opportunity for cross-contamination of food products

Modelling the integration of myocardial regional perfusion and function

The purpose of the study is to describe a method for the investigation of myocardial kinetics (wall motion or wall thickening) to define myocardial perfusion characteristics further. The data are myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomographic images gated in eight time bins, following the administration of a99Tcm-labelled perfusion agent. Wall motion is defined by the phase and amplitude of the centripetal motion of the first moment of the myocardial count rate density distribution along a radius originating in the centre of the left ventricular cavity. Wall thickening is defined by phase and amplitude of the changes in the second moment of the density distribution along the radius multiplied by the maximum density. Wall motion amplitude was abnormal in 28% of transient and 43% of fixed perfusion abnormalities, phase delays were present in 28 and 57%, respectively. Wall thickening was abnormal in amplitude in 14% of transient and 86% of fixed perfusion abnormalities. We conclude that the positive predictive value of wall-thickening abnormalities relative to fixed perfusion abnormalities is high (86%). Whether fixed perfusion defects with normal wall thickening represent viable myocardium remains to be investigated. © 1994 Chapman and Hall Ltd.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

PCC and COBRA-FISH a new tool to characterize primary cervical carcinomas: To assess hall-marks and stage specificity

A newly developed assay based on chemically induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) and multi-color combined binary ratio labeling (COBRA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques have been implemented in order to investigate for the first time for recurrent cytogenetic aberrations in primary cervical carcinoma (derived directly from biopsies) at different stages of progression. The cytogenetic profiles of 17 biopsies derived from 14 and 3 cervical cancer patients with squamous-cell carcinomas (Sq) and with adenocarcinomas (Ad), respectively, were assessed. Frequencies of both structural as well as numerical aberrations were found to be higher in Sq than in Ad. The analysis revealed that even in early tumors stages (IB1) have a higher frequency of chromosome-losses and -gains as well as chromosomal alterations as compared to normal cells. A positive trend was found between stage advancement of cervical tumors and the frequency of numerical and structural aberrations. No specific and common chromosomal abnormality (e.g. distinct clones of translocation) was found among cervical carcinoma at the different stages (IB1, IIA and IIB). However, a distinct difference was found between stage IIIB and lower tumor stages, as all analyzed IIIB samples revealed a near tetraploid karyotype. Furthermore, all studied metaphases were aberrant and had a high frequency of translocations. PCC-COBRA-FISH characterization of a common type of an established culture from cervical carcinoma CSCC-1 revealed a triploidy/tetraploidy karyotype with several structural aberrations. In general, no similarity was found between this model and early stages of primary tumors. The newly established assay has a novel potential and can reveal the original status of primary tumors at different stages. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Toxicogenomics and risk assessmen