Decrease of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 counts during dry-aging of beef but potential growth of Listeria monocytogenes under certain dry-aging conditions.

Dry-aging of beef comprises the storage of carcasses and (sub)primal cuts at a low temperature and relative humidity for a prolonged period, aiming to increase the sensory quality of meat. Limited data are available on the survival and potential growth of pathogens on the surface of beef during dry-aging. Therefore, this study evaluates the changes in Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes counts during dry-aging. A mixture of pathogenic strains was inoculated on the surface of beef loins, which were stored under four different process conditions (2 °C and 6 °C × relative humidity 75 and 85% during 42 days). Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 counts significantly decreased during dry-aging. The daily reductions varied from -0.07 to -0.14 log10 CFU and from -0.09 to -0.14 log10 CFU, respectively, depending on the loin, matrix and condition. The reduction of L. monocytogenes was slower, with a maximum of -0.07 log10 CFU/day. L. monocytogenes counts increased with 1.0 log10 CFU on the lean meat of one loin with pH > 6.0 at the end of dry-aging, indicating that this pathogen can potentially grow under certain dry-aging conditions.

Balance Assessment of Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

This study aimed to assess the balance function in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) using different tests to assess vestibulospinal pathway and tests to assess vestibular system and to compare the result obtained with those of children with normal hearing sensitivity. Detailed balance assessment was done for 15 children with severe to profound SNHL and 15 children with normal hearing sensitivity in the age range of 6-10 years. The audiological evaluation included pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, immittance evaluation, otoacoustic emission, vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cervical VEMP and ocular VEMP), and tests to assess vestibulospinal pathway and cerebellar function, such as Romberg test, Fukuda stepping test, Tandem gait test, and Finger-to-nose test. cVEMP and oVEMP were absent in 8 ears (27%) of a total of 30 ears with SNHL. Statistical analysis shows no significant difference between latency and amplitude of cVEMP peaks and latency of oVEMP peaks across groups. Significant reduction of oVEMP peaks amplitude was seen in children with SNHL compared to children with normal hearing. Fukuda stepping test showed an abnormal response in 2 children with SNHL (13%) and one child could not perform tandem gait test (7%). Children with SNHL showed an evident abnormality on the balance assessment test results. The abnormal function of the vestibular system and the vestibulospinal pathway can compromise the child's motor development and thus needs investigation early in life.

Synthesis, growth and characterisations of semi-organic nonlinear optical crystal glycine barium nitrate (GBN).

Transparent crystal of glycine barium nitrate (GBN) has been grown from aqueous solution by slow evaporation technique at room temperature. Powder XRD study reveals the crystalline nature of the grown sample. Single crystal XRD study shows that the GBN belongs to orthorhombic crystal system. FTIR spectral study confirms the presence of the functional groups in the grown crystal. The presence of wide transparency window in the UV-visible region makes GBN crystal suitable for opto-electronic device applications. The grown sample has SHG efficiency is 0.8 times that of standard KDP crystal. Dielectric studies reveal that both dielectric constant and dielectric loss decreases with increase in frequency. Photoconductivity study confirms the negative photoconducting nature of the crystal.