A validated method for cholesterol determination in turkey meat products using relative response factors

The objective of this study was to develop a precise and accurate method to quantify cholesterol in turkey meat products using relative response factors, based on a modification of a previously published method for plant sterols determination. Validation was performed using neat solutions to determine linearity, precision, and accuracy. The method was linear in the concentration range considered (1–20 µg/mL, r2 ≥ 0.991). Precision and accuracy were within the acceptability guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for method validation (<20% relative standard deviation (RSD) at the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and <15% RSD for other standards). Turkey meat was spiked with cholesterol at two levels (low = 3 µg/mL and high = 18 µg/mL), either before or after saponification, to establish the recovery and matrix effects. Recovery ranged from 94% to 105%, with a mean value of 105% at the low spike level and 95% at the high spike level. No significant matrix effects were found (90% to 112% recovery). This method is reliable for the quantification of cholesterol in turkey meat products in the range 0.4–8 mg/g

Assessing the effects of the first 2 years of industry-led badger culling in England on the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in 2013–2015

Culling badgers to control the transmission of bovine tuberculosis (TB) between this wildlife reservoir and cattle has been widely debated. Industry-led culling began in Somerset and Gloucestershire between August and November 2013 to reduce local badger populations. Industry-led culling is not designed to be a randomised and controlled trial of the impact of culling on cattle incidence. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor the effects of the culling and, taking the study limitations into account, perform a cautious evaluation of the impacts. A standardised method for selecting areas matched to culling areas in factors found to affect cattle TB risk has been developed to evaluate the impact of badger culling on cattle TB incidence. The association between cattle TB incidence and badger culling in the first two years has been assessed. Descriptive analyses without controlling for confounding showed no association between culling and TB incidence for Somerset, or for either of the buffer areas for the first two years since culling began. A weak association was observed in Gloucestershire for Year 1 only. Multivariable analysis adjusting for confounding factors showed that reductions in TB incidence were associated with culling in the first two years in both the Somerset and Gloucestershire intervention areas when compared to areas with no culling (IRR: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.72-0.87, p<0.001 and IRR: 0.42, 95%CI: 0.34-0.51, p<0.001 respectively). An increase in incidence was associated with culling in the 2 km buffer surrounding the Somerset intervention area (IRR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.09-1.75, p=0.008), but not in Gloucestershire (IRR: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.77-1.07, p=0.243). As only two intervention areas with two years’ of data are available for analysis, and the biological cause-effect relationship behind the statistical associations is difficult to determine, it would be unwise to use these findings to develop generalisable inferences about the effectiveness of the policy at present

In vivo pharmacology and anti-tumour evaluation of the tyrphostin tyrosine kinase inhibitor RG13022.

Amplification and increased expression of many growth factor receptors, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been observed in human tumours. One therapeutic strategy for overcoming EGF autocrine control of tumour growth is inhibition of EGFR protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). A series of low molecular weight molecules have been identified which inhibit the EGFR PTK in vitro and demonstrate antiproliferative activity against human cancer cell lines with high expression of EGFR. A significant growth delay in squamous cancer xenografts has been reported for one of these compounds, the tyrphostin RG13022. Based on these encouraging results, we sought to confirm the activity of RG13022 in vivo and relate the effects to the in vivo plasma disposition. RG13022 and three additional peaks were detected by HPLC following intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg kg-1 RG13022 in MF1 nu/nu mice. RG13022 demonstrated rapid biexponential elimination from plasma with a terminal half-life of 50.4 min. RG13022 plasma concentrations were less than 1 microM by 20 min post injection. A primary product was identified as the geometrical isomer (E)-RG13022. Both RG13022 and its geometrical isomer inhibited DNA synthesis in HN5 cells after a 24 h in vitro incubation (IC50 = 11 microM and 38 microM respectively). Neither RG13022 nor its geometrical isomer displayed significant cytotoxicity. RG13022 had no influence on the growth of HN5 tumours when administered chronically, starting either on the day of tumour inoculation or after establishment of tumour xenografts. The rapid in vivo elimination of RG13022 has potential significance to the development of this and other related tyrphostin tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as plasma concentrations fell below that required for in vitro activity by 20 min post injection. The lack of in vivo tumour growth delay suggests that a more optimal administration schedule for RG13022 would include more frequent injections or continuous administration. An improved formulation for RG13022 is therefore required before further development of this or other similar protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors can be made. Alternative strategies should also be sought which display longer lasting in vivo exposures

The bodily experience of cerebral palsy: a journey to self-awareness.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to describe the lived bodily experience of cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: This was a descriptive phenomenological inquiry. Ten participants were interviewed about their bodily experiences of living with CP. Interviews were semi-structured around pain and fatigue. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes. RESULTS: The bodily experience of CP centered on issues of fatigue and pain as a feeling of muscle soreness. An overwhelming amount of the discussion on fatigue emphasized the fatigue that occurs with walking and prolonged activity. Self-awareness of the individuals\u27 own bodies and adapting activity to continue to participate in various aspects of their lives emerged as the most important theme. Some participants used strategies to manage their pain or fatigue; other participants were not yet fully aware of how to recognize signs of fatigue and/or how to adapt their activities. CONCLUSIONS: Self-awareness appears to be an important process to be fostered by service providers and parents. Specifically, encouraging youth with CP to be aware of their own bodies and the effects (positive and negative) of activity on pain and fatigue should be incorporated into transition programs as the individual becomes responsible for his or her own health care needs. Implications for Rehabilitation Fatigue is a major concern for some youth and young adults with cerebral palsy. Adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy use a variety of techniques (including adapting or restricting activity and building in rest breaks) to manage fatigue. The process of self-awareness should be fostered by health care professionals leading up to and during transition from pediatric to adult care. Clinical conversations should explore the role of exercise, adaptive equipment, rest and other strategies for dealing with fatigue with a focus on understanding each client\u27s needs individually

Magnetic Order in the Double Exchange Model in Infinite Dimensions

We studied magnetic properties of the double exchange (DE) model with S=1/2 localized spins at T=0, using exact diagonalization in the framework of the dynamical mean field theory. Obtained phase diagram contains ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. Comparing the phase diagram with that of the DE model with classical localized spins, we found that the quantum fluctuations of localized spins partly destabilize the ferromagnetism and expand the paramagnetic phase region. We found that phase separations occur between the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases as well as the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic ones.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, 9 eps-figure

Effect of castration and age at slaughter on sensory perception of lamb meat

peer-reviewedThis study assessed the effect of castration and slaughter age (196–385 days old) on sensory quality of lamb meat from two sheep breeds (Scottish Blackface, SB; Texel x Scottish Blackface, TxSB). Results obtained using a trained sensory panel showed small but statistically significant differences due to castration, with rams having higher scores for Intensity of Lamb Aroma, Animal Smell/Farm Smell, Woolly Aroma, Rancid Aroma, Manure/Faecal Aroma, Sweaty Aroma and Off-flavours. SB lamb had higher scores for Intensity of Lamb Aroma, Lamb Flavour, Lamb Aftertaste, Tenderness and Juiciness. Age effects on sensory attributes were not linear and significant age × gender interactions were observed. The number of samples considered “extreme” in undesirable flavour attributes was higher among rams and T × SB animals. The impact of the sensory differences on consumer acceptability of lamb remains to be established

Electronic structure and resistivity of the double exchange model

The double exchange (DE) model with quantum local spins S is studied; an equation of motion approach is used and decoupling approximations analogous to Hubbard's are made. Our approximate one-electron Green function G is exact in the atomic limit of zero bandwidth for all S and band filling n, and as n->0 reduces to a dynamical coherent potential approximation (CPA) due to Kubo; we regard our approximation as a many-body generalisation of Kubo's CPA. G is calculated self-consistently for general S in the paramagnetic state and for S=1/2 in a state of arbitrary magnetization. The electronic structure is investigated and four bands per spin are obtained centred on the atomic limit peaks of the spectral function. A resistivity formula appropriate to the model is derived from the Kubo formula and the paramagnetic state resistivity rho is calculated; insulating states are correctly obtained at n=0 and n=1 for strong Hund coupling. Our prediction for rho is much too small to be consistent with experiments on manganites so we agree with Millis et al that the bare DE model is inadequate. We show that the agreement with experiment obtained by Furukawa is due to his use of an unphysical density of states.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures, submitted to J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

Effect of Cold Plasma on Meat Cholesterol and Lipid Oxidation

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a novel non-thermal technology with potential applications in inactivating microorganisms in food products. However, its impact on food quality is not yet fully understood. The aim of this research is to study the impact of in-package plasma technology on the stability of cholesterol and total lipid in four different types of meat (beef, pork, lamb and chicken breast). Additionally, any changes in the primary or secondary lipid oxidation, which is undesirable from a health perspective, is investigated. CAP was not found to have any impact on the cholesterol or lipid content. However, higher peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values were found for the treated samples, indicating that plasma can induce the acceleration of primary and secondary lipid oxidation. Finally, color was not affected by the treatment supporting the suitability of the technology for meat products

Spin Wave Theory of Double Exchange Ferromagnets

We construct the 1/S spin-wave expansion for double exchange ferromagnets at T=0. It is assumed that the value of Hund's rule coupling, J_H, is sufficiently large, resulting in a fully saturated, ferromagnetic half-metallic ground state. We evaluate corrections to the magnon dispersion law, and we also find that, in contrast to earlier statements in the literature, magnon-electron scattering does give rise to spin wave damping. We analyse the momentum dependence of these quantities and discuss the experimental implications for colossal magnetoresistance compounds.Comment: 4 pages, Latex-Revtex, 2 PostScript figures. Minor revisions, references added. See also cond-mat/990921