Notes: Highly oriented crystalline layers of Bi4(Sr,Ca)3Cu4O16+x high Tc superconductors were produced by the devitrification of aerosol suspensions of glasses prepared from the mixed oxides when the suspensions were brought into rapid contact with heated silver substrates. The best magnetic susceptibility signals, produced by superconductivity at 77 K, were obtained when the glass was rapidly heated to about 850 °C from room temperature. The deposited layers are composed of a nearly pure superconductive phase in the form of flat platelets up to several hundred microns in diameter that are oriented with the c axis normal to the substrate. The addition of a small amount of Pb to the glass lowers the optimum deposition temperature and improves the crystal morphology.

Notes: SUMMARY: The role of cuticle (mucoprotein layer on the egg shell) in preventing spoilage of eggs by microorganisms was studied. Eggs collected from the uterus or eggs treated with 5% EDTA solution to remove cuticle spoiled at a much faster rate than the normally laid eggs. The weight of the egg shell and its membranes did not affect the spoilage of eggs collected from the uterus. The protection provided by the cuticle was found to last at least up to 96 hr after the eggs are laid.

Notes: SUMMARY: The area most prone to infection and consequent spoilage of eggs was identified. Different areas of the egg were coated with paraffin wax. The waxed eggs were exposed to infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and spoilage studied by ultraviolet light candling. The blunt end was found to be most vulnerable followed by the equitorial region and the small end.

Notes: Abstract Ethanol and other short-chain alcohols elicit a number of cellular responses that are potentially cytotoxic and, to some extent, independent of cell type. Aberrations in phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism, changes in the cellular redox state, disruptions of the energy state, and increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites have been implicated in cellular damage resulting from acute or chronic exposure to short-chain alcohols. Resulting disruptions of intracellular signaling cascades through interference with the synthesis of phosphatidic acid, decreases in phosphorylation potential and lipid peroxidation are mechanisms by which solvent alcohols can affect the rate of cell proliferation and, consequently, cell number. Nonoxidative metabolism of short-chain alcohols, including phospholipase D-mediated synthesis of alcohol phospholipids, and the synthesis of fatty acid alcohol esters are additional mechanisms by which alcohols can affect membrane structure and compromise cell function.

Notes: The weight proportions and proximate composition of fillets and remains after filleting of carp, silver carp and hake were investigated with a view to further processing of these fish, which are usually sold whole or gutted in the fresh or frozen state.From the percentage of fillets obtainable, the proximate composition of the fillets, the remains after filleting, and the organoleptic qualities of the flesh, it is concluded that hake and silver carp fillets, and a combination of their deboned flesh, offer good possibilities for producing high-quality convenience products that could lead to increased consumption of these fish in Israel.

Notes: Background Previous studies comparing the corticosteroids fluticasone propionate (FP) and budesonide (BUD) in both perennial and seasonal rhinitis have shown no consistent difference between treatments. However, the therapeutic outcomes may have been influenced by study design.Objective To compare the effect of FP aqueous nasal spray (ANS; 200 µg/day) with BUD reservoir powder device (RPD; 200 µg/day) on rhinitis symptoms, productivity loss and device preference in patients with perennial rhinitis.Methods After a 2-week run-in period, 440 patients were randomized to receive either FPANS, BUD RPD or matched placebo (ANS or RPD) for 8 weeks, followed by an open-label 4-week follow-up treatment with FPANS. Patients completed diary card visual analogue scores for nasal symptoms, and questionnaires on satisfaction with the treatment and preferred choice of device.Results During weeks 1–4, the visual analogue total nasal symptom scores (VATNS) in the FPANS group were significantly lower than scores in the BUD RPD group (mean difference =−17.8; 95% CI = −34.4, −1.3; P = 0.036). FPANS also significantly reduced the VATNS compared with the ANS placebo at all time-points assessed (P ≤ 0.005). BUD RPD did not significantly differ from the RPD placebo at weeks 5–8 (P = 0.167), or the ANS placebo at any time-point (P ≤ 0.151). Over the 8-week treatment period FPANS was significantly more effective than BUD RPD at reducing sneezing (mean difference =−4.4; 95% CI = −8.6, −0.3; P = 0.036) and nasal itching (mean difference =−5.3; 95% CI = −9.9, −0.8; P = 0.022), and was significantly superior to the ANS placebo for all symptoms assessed at weeks 1–4 and 1–8 (P 〈 0.016). At the same time-points BUD RPD was no better at alleviating nasal itching than the RPD placebo (P ≤ 0.306), and compared with the ANS placebo, significantly reduced only one symptom; nasal blockage (P ≤ 0.016). After 8 weeks of treatment, patients preferred the ANS device to the RPD (P 〈 0.001), and at 12 weeks a significantly greater number of patients were satisfied with FPANS treatment compared with BUD RPD (P = 0.0019) or the respective placebos (P = 0.0001).Conclusion FPANS and BUD RPD are effective therapies with a good safety profile for the treatment of perennial rhinitis but, in this direct placebo-controlled comparison, FPANS was more efficacious than BUD RPD, and the patients preferred the ANS device to the RPD.

Notes: Several extraction procedures were tested to lighten the color and improve textural characteristics of mechanically deboned turkey meat. An extensive extraction of heme pigments was achieved when 0.04M phosphate buffer with a pH of 8.0 was used. Lightness of MDTM increased by 51. I%, redness decreased by 64.0%, and yellowness increased by 26.0% over untreated raw MDTM when measured objectively. Sensory analyses of cooked patties made from extracted MDTM from necks and ground turkey breast indicated that breast meat products could be formulated with 5–20% washed MDTM without significantly affecting overall sensory quality.

Notes: A method for producing a dehydrated, salted fish-soy product was developed. The best results were obtained when mechanically deboned flounder meat from headed and gutted fish frames (“racks”) was thoroughly mixed with salt (30% of the meat weight), soybean curd (20% of the meat weight) and the mixture was subjected to a pressure of 75 psi to remove juices and form cohesive cakes. The cakes were dried at 50°C for 8 hr to give a final product of 49.8% crude protein, 14.4% moisture, 21.1% salt and 5.3% crude fat. The salt was effectively removed from the product in preparation for consumption by bringing the fish-soy cake to a boil in three changes of water. Such a product can be made economically with the use of simple equipment and therefore could serve as an inexpensive protein for the developing countries. Further development work and appropriate acceptance trials with a given target population seem desirable.

Notes: Using a mechanical deboner (Beehive), over 60% edible flesh was obtained from the “racks” (headed and gutted fish frames obtained as filleting waste). However, this meat developed an unattractive color during frozen storage and undesirable organoleptic changes occurred. The effectiveness of a combination of antioxidants, chelating agents and polyphosphates in retarding the development of rancidity, color deterioration and decrease of protein extractability in mechanically deboned flounder meat (MDFM) during frozen storage was studied. The most effective treatment to minimize undesirable change was a 1 min dip of the racks, prior to deboning, in a pH 4.5 solution of 0.5% each of ascorbic and citric acids and 0.2% each of Na2EDTA and Kena (Calgon), followed by a postdeboning addition of 0.3% each of ascorbic and citric acids and 0.2% each of Kena and Na2 EDTA.

Notes: Albumen from eggs of a strain of White Leghorn hens was treated with various proteolytic enzymes (papain, ficin, protease, bromelin and trypsin) for 18 hr at 34°C. Following enzyme treatment the nonprotein nitrogen, measured as moles of tyrosine released per minute, was found to range from 1.1 × to 10-3 4.8 × 10-3. All treatments were found to cause some changes in the electrophoretic behavior of albumen. The pH of enzyme-treated albumen ranged from 6.2 (protease) to 8.4 (trypsin). Enzymatic treatment of albumen, with the exception of papain, improved angel food cake volumes from 3 .9%). In gcneral, enzyme-treated albumen showed a 6–16% increase in foam volume; however, the foam stability was inferior compared to the control.