A Comparative Study of Sheep Breeds: Fattening Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Chemical Composition and Quality Attributes.

Fattening performance, Carcass characteristics, chemical composition, and meat quality were evaluated in three sheep breeds: Awassi, Harri, and Najdi. Forty-five lambs of similar weight and age were raised for 90 days under similar conditions. The Harri and Najdi breeds had higher dressing-out percentages than Awassi sheep. The Awassi and Harri breeds had thicker backfat than the Najdi breed. No significant difference was found in moisture, protein, and intramuscular fat among the breeds. However, the Harri breed had a higher ash content than the Awassi and Najdi breeds. The Najdi breed had higher ultimate pH and lower cooking loss than the Awassi and Harri breeds. Awassi and Harri sheep had a higher myofibril fragmentation index, longer sarcomere length, and lower hardness and chewiness than Najdi sheep. Subjectively, no significant differences were detected between the breeds, except for flavor intensity while the Awassi sheep were rated in between and not significantly different. In conclusion, breed affected carcass characteristics, meat composition, and the quality of sheep. The dressing yield was higher in Harri and Najdi than Awassi sheep. Awassi sheep showed superior meat quality characteristics followed by Harri sheep. However, Najdi sheep had the best cooking loss percentage and flavor intensity score.

Growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of broilers fed a low-energy diet supplemented with a multienzyme preparation.

The effect of a low-ME diet with a multienzyme (Kemzyme Plus, Kemin, Des Moines, IA) blend on performance, meat quality, and carcass traits was evaluated in Hubbard broiler chicks. A total of 120 Hubbard broiler chicks were allocated to the following 4 experimental groups and every group was separated into 6 replicates, with 5 birds per replicate: control (3,180 kcal/kg of ME), control + 0.50 g/kg diet of enzyme (Cont-Enz), low-ME diet (3,080 kcal/kg), and low-ME + 0.50 g/kg diet of enzyme (low-ME-Enz). The trail lasted for 16 D (32 to 48 D of age). No significant differences in growth parameters or carcass traits were observed among treatments. However, liver weight increased with the low-ME-Enz diet (P = 0.038). The low-ME diet recorded the highest weight for the bursa (P = 0.043) and thymus (P = 0.019). Dietary treatments had significant impacts on the length of duodenum, ileum, and cecum, as well as the weight of duodenum. The length of duodenum, ileum, and cecum increased with enzyme supplementation. The myofibril fragmentation index was lower with the Cont-Enz, low-ME, and low-ME-Enz diets than with the control diet (P = 0.043). The shear force increased with the low-ME-Enz diet (P = 0.022) than the control diet. Dietary treatments influenced breast meat yellowness (P = 0.019), whereas the low-ME diet had the lowest yellowness at the slaughtering age. The dietary treatments affected the breast meat pH (P = 0.001), with the control diet having the highest pH value after 24 hours. Thus, there was no effect of low-ME or enzyme supplementation to the control or low-ME diet on growth performance or carcass yield. However, feeding a low-ME diet or Cont-Enz preparation influenced organ and small intestine weights and meat characteristics.

Predictive value of ultrasound imaging in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions taking biopsy results as the standard.

BACKGROUND: Breast lesions (BLs) are abnormal swellings within the breast. The importance lies in need to exclude breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: Due to the role of ultrasound (US) imaging in evaluating of BLs, this study was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of US imaging for differentiating benign from malignant BLs and to assess the need of biopsy in BLs. METHOD: A retrospective review of diagnostic results of 134 patients with BLs. All patients underwent breast US imaging and US-guided biopsy for cytology or histopathology. The results of both were compared. RESULTS: Out of 134 patients were included in this study, the mean age was 38.45 ± 15.82 years (range, 18-90 years), and all patients were female. BLs were benign in 99 cases (73.9%) and malignant in 35 cases (26.1%). Among 98 patients with BLs diagnosed benign with US, 96.9% were confirmed benign with biopsy results and only 3.1% were malignant. The overall sensitivity of US imaging for discriminating of benign BLs was 95.95%, with a specificity of 91.42%, and positive predictive value of 96.94%. The results revealed strong compatibility between diagnoses by US imaging and biopsy results (P < 0.001), the measure of agreement kappa = 0.866, and the Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.866. CONCLUSION: US imaging is a highly valuable imaging method in differentiating benign from malignant BLs. It usually predicts the benign nature of BLs with excellent diagnostic accuracy. US-guided fine-needle aspiration and core-needle biopsies are not necessary in most cases of BLs.

Effects of stock, sex, and muscle type on carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes of parent broiler breeders and broiler chickens.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of using breeder parents (434-days-old) and broiler chickens (37 D of age) from Ross 308 on meat quality parameters and carcass characteristics; sex and muscle type were also estimated. Carcass assessment involved hot carcass weight, carcass yield, and cuts (breast, legs, wings, back, and shoulder). A total of 120 birds were divided into 2 groups (60 birds from each stock), each stock contain equal number of sexes (30 males and 30 females), and further divided into 6 replicates, so that there were 5 birds in each replicate. The birds were fed ad libitum. A sample of 30 birds (male, n = 15 and female, n = 15) from each group was slaughtered for assessing carcass and physical characteristics. Sensory analysis was carried out on each group after boiling or roasting the bird. Live weight, carcass weight and yield, breast weight, legs, wings, and back weights and yield were higher (P < 0.001) for breeder parents when compared to broilers, with the exception of breast percentage. Moreover, better carcass characteristics were observed in males than in females. Parent stock had better water-holding capacity and myofibrillar fragmentation whereas broilers had more tender meat than breeders. Moreover, cooking loss and other sensory characters were not significant between the two groups; however, females had more tender pectoral muscles and more myofibrillar fragmentation than males. We concluded that parent breeders had better carcass characteristics than broiler chickens. The broiler chickens of Ross 308 and female birds had better meat quality than parent breeders.

Chemical composition and structural characteristics of Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) m. longissimus thoracis.

Saudi Arabian camels of four breeds (6 animals per breed) were used to evaluate characteristics and quality of their meat. Chemical composition, fibre cross sectional area, collagen content, muscle metabolism, cooking loss, pH at 24 h post mortem, colour values (except redness) and shear force of Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle did not differ between the breeds. Elevated pH values and short sarcomeres reduced overall tenderisation, with a difference between myofibril fragmentation index (P<0.001) and sarcomere length (P<0.05) between breeds. A positive correlation was observed between the activities of the mitochondrial enzymes (r>0.49), between the glycolytic activities (PFK and LDH) (r=0.61) and between Myosin Heavy Chain IIa and LDH activity. The intramuscular fat content was positively associated with redness and muscle oxidative metabolism, whereas shear force had a slight positive association with collagen content and muscle glycolytic metabolism and a negative association with muscle oxidative metabolism and muscle fibre area.

"Realisation of the becquerel"--reducing the impact of equipment failure.

The goal of the CCRI(II) "Realisation of the becquerel" project is to design a reproducible radioactivity standard which will increase the robustness of the current international reference system for radioactivity measurements. Tests performed with a first prototype ionisation chamber of this project, built in 2005, are presented. Based on experience with the first prototype, a new design was proposed in 2010 aiming at achieving the very ambitious project goals. The article discusses the status of the project and the advantages of the new design.

Half-lives of 221Fr, 217At, 213Bi, 213Po and 209Pb from the 225Ac decay series.

The half-lives of (221)Fr, (217)At, (213)Bi, (213)Po, and (209)Pb were measured by means of an ion-implanted planar Si detector for alpha and beta particles emitted from weak (225)Ac sources or from recoil sources, which were placed in a quasi-2π counting geometry. Recoil sources were prepared by collecting atoms from an open (225)Ac source onto a glass substrate. The (221)Fr and (213)Bi half-lives were determined by following the alpha particle emission rate of recoil sources as a function of time. Similarly, the (209)Pb half-life was determined from the beta particle count rate. The shorter half-lives of (217)At and (213)Po were deduced from delayed coincidence measurements on weak (225)Ac sources using digital data acquisition in list mode. The resulting values: T1/2((221)Fr)=4.806 (6) min, T1/2((217)At)=32.8 (3)ms, T1/2((213)Bi)=45.62 (6)min, T1/2((213)Po)=3.708 (8) µs, and T1/2((209)Pb)=3.232 (5)h were in agreement only with the best literature data.

Decay data measurements on 213Bi using recoil atoms.

In this work, (213)Bi has been separated from an open (225)Ac source by collecting recoil atoms onto a glass plate in vacuum. The activity of such recoil sources has been measured as a function of time, using an ion-implanted planar Si detector in quasi-2π geometry. From these measurements, a new half-life value of T1/2((213)Bi)=45.62 (6)min was derived. Additionally, high-resolution alpha-spectrometry measurements were performed at a solid angle of 0.4% of 4πsr, to verify the energies and emission probabilities of the α-emissions from (213)Bi. Using (225)Ac, (221)Fr, (217)At and (213)Po peaks as reference peaks, the measured (213)Bi α-peak energies at Eα,0=5878 (4)keV and Eα,1=5560 (4)keV were about 10keV higher than validated data. The relative α-particle emission probabilities of (213)Bi, Pα,0=0.9155 (11) and Pα,1=0.0845 (11), and the (213)Bi alpha branching factor, Pα=1-Pß=2.140 (10)%, are compatible with recommended values, but have a higher accuracy.

Measurement of the 225Ac half-life.

The (225)Ac half-life was determined by measuring the activity of (225)Ac sources as a function of time, using various detection techniques: α-particle counting with a planar silicon detector at a defined small solid angle and in a nearly-2π geometry, 4πα+ß counting with a windowless CsI sandwich spectrometer and with a pressurised proportional counter, gamma-ray spectrometry with a HPGe detector and with a NaI(Tl) well detector. Depending on the technique, the decay was followed for 59-141 d, which is about 6-14 times the (225)Ac half-life. The six measurement results were in good mutual agreement and their mean value is T(1/2)((225)Ac)=9.920 (3)d. This half-life value is more precise and better documented than the currently recommended value of 10.0 d, based on two old measurements lacking uncertainty evaluations.

Measurement of the 230U half-life.

The (230)U half-life was determined by measuring the decay curve of (230)U sources by various nuclear detection techniques: α-particle counting at a defined small solid angle; 4πα+ß counting with a windowless CsI sandwich spectrometer, a liquid scintillation counter and a pressurised proportional counter; gamma-ray spectrometry with a HPGe detector and nearly-2π α-particle counting with an ion-implanted silicon detector. Depending on the technique, the decay was followed for 100-200 d, which is 5-10 times the (230)U half-life. The measurement results of the various techniques were in good mutual agreement. The mean value, T(1/2)((230)U)=20.23 (2) d, is lower than the literature value which is based on one measurement in 1948 and resulted in a half-life value of 20.8d without statement of uncertainty. A correction for the ingrowth of the long-lived (210)Pb and its daughter products may have been overlooked in the past.

Measurement of the 226Th and 222Ra half-lives.

The half-lives of (226)Th and (222)Ra were measured by counting alpha-particle emissions from sources as a function of time. The (226)Th sources were prepared from an open (230)U source, capturing recoil atoms after alpha-particle decay on glass disks or even directly onto a detector. Similarly, the (222)Ra sources were obtained by self-transfer of recoil atoms from (226)Th sources. The activity measurements were performed in (nearly-)2π geometry with an ion-implanted silicon detector. The decay curves were analysed in different ways, incl. moment analysis, trying to avoid the pitfalls of bias of least-squares fits to Poisson distributed data. The observed half-life values are T(1/2)((226)Th)=30.70 (3) min and T(1/2)((222)Ra)=33.6 (4) s. Literature values show some inconsistency.

High-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry of the 230U decay series.

High-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry was performed on the (230)U decay series. A (230)U source was prepared on a stainless steel disc by electrodeposition in an ammonium nitrate solution. Spectrometry of the alpha-particle energy spectrum was performed with ion-implanted planar silicon detectors in vacuum. A set of alpha emission probabilities is presented for (230)U and (226)Th. The measured peak intensities were corrected mathematically for coincidental detection of alpha-particles and conversion electrons emitted in the same decay. A good agreement with literature data was observed. The uncertainty budget and the correlation matrix are presented. The validity of the alpha-particle energies was tested and could be confirmed for most peaks within a few keV, but discrepancies were found for the 2nd peak of (226)Th and the main peak of (218)Rn.

Measurements of the half-life of 214Po and 218Rn using digital electronics.

The half-lives of (214)Po and (218)Rn have been measured. The radionuclides were produced in the decay of a (230)U source and the emitted alpha-particles were measured in nearly-2π geometry with an ion-implanted planar silicon detector. The data acquisition was performed with a digitiser operated in list mode, saving the energy and time of detection (10 ns precision timestamp) of each event. The half-lives were deduced from the time differences between the alpha-decays populating the nuclide of interest and those corresponding to its decay. Different methods were applied, based on delayed coincidence counting and time-interval distribution analysis. The resulting half-lives are 33.75 (15) ms for (218)Rn and 164.2 (6) µs for (214)Po, both in agreement with some of the literature values, and obtained with higher precision in this work.

Gamma-ray fast-timing coincidence measurements from the 18O+18O fusion-evaporation reaction using a mixed LaBr3-HPGe array.

We report on a gamma-ray coincidence analysis using a mixed array of hyperpure germanium and cerium-doped lanthanum tri-bromide (LaBr3:Ce) scintillation detectors to study nuclear electromagnetic transition rates in the pico-to-nanosecond time regime in 33,34P and 33S following fusion-evaporation reactions between an 18O beam and an isotopically enriched 18O implanted tantalum target. Energies from decay gamma-rays associated with the reaction residues were measured in event-by-event coincidence mode, with the measured time difference information between the pairs of gamma-rays in each event also recorded using the ultra-fast coincidence timing technique. The experiment used the good full-energy peak resolution of the LaBr3:Ce detectors coupled with their excellent timing responses in order to determine the excited state lifetime associated with the lowest lying, cross-shell, Iπ=4- "intruder" state previously reported in the N=19 isotone 34P. The extracted lifetime is consistent with a mainly single-particle M2 multipolarity associated with a f7/2→d5/2 single particle transition.

Eye protection for ultraviolet B phototherapy and psoralen ultraviolet A patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We tested eye protection used for phototherapy patients. The study also established current practice concerning eye protection in a sample of UK phototherapy units. METHODS: The ultraviolet (UV) transmission spectra of 30 'UV protective' contact lenses were measured at 5 nm intervals between 290 and 400 nm. Sunglasses, small UV goggles and UV visors were tested between 270 and 420 nm. We surveyed the use of eye protection during phototherapy in 78 UK phototherapy units. RESULTS: All samples of sunglasses, eye protection goggles, visors and sunglasses comfortably passed previously published arbitrary limits of acceptability. Most contact lenses showed some protection in the UVB, but most had little or no UVA protection. Of 78 UK phototherapy units 21 (33%) use tinted goggles during UV exposures, two (3%) use a visor only, 28 (43%) use both and nine (14%) use clear plastic (probably polycarbonate) goggles. CONCLUSIONS: UV transmission for sunglasses and contact lenses is lower compared with samples tested 10 years ago. All samples of glasses, goggles and visors tested provided adequate protection in the UV range according to published arbitrary limits of acceptability. Most contact lenses did not provide significant UV protection in the UVA range.

High-efficiency fast scintillators for "optical" soft x-ray arrays for laboratory plasma diagnostics.

Scintillator-based "optical" soft x-ray (OSXR) arrays have been investigated as a replacement for the conventional silicon (Si)-based diode arrays used for imaging, tomographic reconstruction, magnetohydrodynamics, transport, and turbulence studies in magnetically confined fusion plasma research. An experimental survey among several scintillator candidates was performed, measuring the relative and absolute conversion efficiencies of soft x rays to visible light. Further investigations took into account glass and fiber-optic face-plates (FOPs) as substrates, and a thin aluminum foil (150 nm) to reflect the visible light emitted by the scintillator back to the optical detector. Columnar (crystal growth) thallium-doped cesium iodide (CsI:Tl) deposited on an FOP, was found to be the best candidate for the previously mentioned plasma diagnostics. Its luminescence decay time of the order of approximately 1-10 micros is thus suitable for the 10 micros time resolution required for the development of scintillator-based SXR plasma diagnostics. A prototype eight channel OSXR array using CsI:Tl was designed, built, and compared to an absolute extreme ultraviolet diode counterpart: its operation on the National Spherical Torus Experiment showed a lower level of induced noise relative to the Si-based diode arrays, especially during neutral beam injection heated plasma discharges. The OSXR concept can also be implemented in less harsh environments for basic spectroscopic laboratory plasma diagnostics.

Receptors specific for the carboxyl-terminal region of parathyroid hormone on bone-derived cells: determinants of ligand binding and bioactivity.

PTH comprises 84 amino acids of which the first 34 are sufficient for full activation of the classical PTH/PTHrP receptor, the type 1 PTH receptor. It is known that multiple carboxyl (C)-terminal fragments of PTH are present in the blood and that they comprise the majority of circulating PTH. C-PTH fragments, previously regarded as by-products of PTH metabolism, are directly secreted by the parathyroid glands or arise from the peripheral cleavage of the intact hormone. Compelling evidence now strongly suggests that these C-PTH fragments mediate biological effects via activation of a receptor that specifically recognizes the C-terminal portion of intact PTH, and this receptor is therefore named the carboxyl-terminal PTH receptor (CPTHR). We have previously reported that osteocytes abundantly express this novel receptor and that its activation is involved in cell survival and communication. Here we report the characterization of determinants of PTH that are required for high-affinity binding to the CPTHR. Using synthetic PTH peptides harboring alanine substitution or truncations, we showed the existence of discrete binding domains and critical residues within the intact hormone. We have furthermore identified eight amino acids within the PTH sequence that play key roles in optimizing the binding affinity of C-PTH fragments to CPTHRs. These include the tripeptide sequence Arg(25)-Lys(26)-Lys(27), the dibasic sequence Lys(53)-Lys(54), and three additional residues within the PTH (55-84) sequence, Asn(57), Lys(65), and Lys(72). Functional analysis of these residues demonstrated a strong correlation between binding affinity and biological effect and points to a potential role of CPTHR activation in regulating bone cell survival.

Restriction endonuclease characterization of resistant plasmids in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from children in the Sudan.

The investigation of plasmid similarity is an important component in the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and in the detection of epidemic plasmids. The use of restriction endonucleases in the classification of transferable, multiply-resistant plasmids from faecal Enterobacteriaceae isolated at the Children's Emergency Hospital, Khartoum was investigated. Twenty-four transconjugant plasmids, coding for 11 different resistance patterns, each of molecular weight 62 MDa, were studied using four restriction enzymes; Pst I, EcoR I, Hind III and Ava II. Fifteen different digest profiles were obtained. Restriction profiles discriminated between plasmids with differing resistance patterns and demonstrated homology of plasmids with common resistance patterns. Restriction endonuclease digest patterns provide a potentially rapid and reproducible method of plasmid classification, that could contribute towards surveillance systems in tropical countries with a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance.

Protein-energy malnutrition in northern Sudan: clinical studies.

The medical history, clinical features and investigations of 145 children with kwashiorkor were compared with 113 marasmic kwashiorkor, 158 marasmic children and 186 nutritionally normal controls of similar age admitted to hospital in Khartoum. Factors in the group with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) which could relate to aetiology include: a history of prolonged illness and anorexia, frequent and prolonged episodes of diarrhoea and recent measles. The delay in achievement of developmental milestones in PEM children probably reflects the frequent and chronic illnesses in this group. An episode of previous oedema was reported in 22 per cent of marasmic kwashiorkor, 12 per cent of kwashiorkor and 12 per cent of marasmic children. Though hair and mucosal changes and enlarged liver were more common in the marasmic kwashiorkor and kwashiorkor groups, they were also common in marasmic children. There was no significant difference in behaviour (apathy, irritability, anorexia) between kwashiorkor and marasmic children. The classical skin changes of kwashiorkor were only seen in the oedematous children. The mortality was 19 per cent in kwashiorkor, 35 per cent in marasmic kwashiorkor, and 14.5 per cent in the marasmic group. The major differences between marasmus and kwashiorkor children were that the kwashiorkor children were reported larger at birth, achieved more normal developmental milestones, were taller and had larger head circumference than the marasmic children. The implications of these findings in relation to aetiology are discussed.

Protein-energy malnutrition in northern Sudan: prevalence, socio-economic factors and family background.

The socio-economic and family background and the nutrition of 145 children with kwashiorkor admitted to hospital in Khartoum over a 2-year period were compared with 113 marasmic kwashiorkor, 158 marasmic, and 186 nutritionally normal controls of similar age. Peak admissions for kwashiorkor were in the wet and post-wet season and the mean (SD) age was 1.6 (0.6) months. Mothers of malnourished children were more likely to be pregnant, and had poorer housing, sanitation and water supply, a lower income and food expenditure and less education than controls. Mothers of controls breastfed their children longer, introduced mixed feeding earlier, offered a wider variety of foods, and were more likely to have had their infants immunized. Neither family instability nor cultural practices which result in separation of children from their mothers appear to have an important role in protein-energy malnutrition in the Sudan. Families of kwashiorkor children had a higher food expenditure and better maternal education than marasmic children. There was no significant difference between the two groups in duration of breastfeeding or in the age of introduction of mixed diet. However, kwashiorkor children appeared to be offered more meat. Differences in food availability could account for the relative retardation of growth and lack of subcutaneous fat in marasmus compared to kwashiorkor.