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Degradation of added folic acid and native folates in micronutrient-fortified corn masa and tortillas was evaluated using masa prepared from either nixtamalized corn flour or fresh nixtamal. Variations in masa pH, masa holding time at an elevated temperature, and iron source failed to show significant differences in folate loss in corn flour masa prepared in the laboratory. Masa was subsequently prepared from fresh nixtamal in a commercial mill in Mexico, and fortified with one of two different micronutrient premixes containing iron, zinc, B-vitamins, and either unencapsulated or lipid-encapsulated folic acid. Folate loss in commercial masa increased significantly with prebake masa holding time for both premixes. Unencapsulated folic acid showed a 73% loss after 4 hr of holding, compared to 60% loss for encapsulated. The difference was statistically significant, indicating a protective effect from the lipid coating. No significant differences in folate levels were found between prebake masa and baked tortillas. Holding baked tortillas for up to 12 hr also had no effect on folate levels. Native folate showed no significant losses throughout the process. Results from the commercial tortilla mill indicate that most of the loss in added folic acid occurs during prebake holding of masa, possibly from microbial degradation.

Nixtamalization is the process of steeping dried corn in hot water with calcium hydroxide (lime) with subsequent removal of all or most of the pericarp through washing. The resulting product is called nixtamal. Approximately 60% of corn tortillas in Mexico are produced from nixtamal, with the remainder prepared from nixtamalized corn flour. Nixtamal was fortified with micronutrient premix containing iron, zinc, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin. Premix composition followed a proposed Mexican regulation for corn flour fortification, adjusted for moisture. Effects of premix on masa adhesiveness, hardness, and pH, as well as tortilla sensory properties, stretchability, rollability, and color were measured. Micronutrient levels were tested in the dry corn, nixtamal, masa, and tortillas. There were no significant differences in masa texture or pH, tortilla rollability, or consumer acceptance of tortillas when comparing unfortified control and fortified treatments. Added thiamin was almost entirely degraded during processing. Folic acid and riboflavin decreased 26 and 45%, respectively, through the masa-tortilla manufacturing process. Niacin showed no significant loss. Despite processing losses, fortification resulted in significant nutrient increases compared with control tortillas. Folic acid increased 974%, riboflavin increased 300%, niacin increased 141%, iron increased 156%, and zinc increased 153% in fortified tortillas.

Cultured pigment epithelial cells of the fetal human retina secrete a protein, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), that induces a neuronal phenotype in cultured human retinoblastoma cells. Morphological changes include the induction of an extensive neurite meshwork and the establishment of corona-like cellular aggregates surrounding a central lumen. The differentiated cells also show increases in the expression of neuron-specific enolase and the 200-kDa neurofilament subunit. Amino acid and DNA sequence data demonstrate that PEDF belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family. The PEDF gene contains a typical signal-peptide sequence, initiator methionine codon, and polyadenylylation signal and matches the size of other members of the serpin superfamily (e.g., alpha 1-antitrypsin). It lacks homology, however, at the putative serpin reactive center. Thus, PEDF could exert a paracrine effect in the embryonic retina, influencing neuronal differentiation by a mechanism that does not involve classic inhibition of serine protease activity.

INTRODUCTION The very susceptibility of the monkey to measles virus which makes it such a useful test animal poses special problems. Measles antibodies will develop quickly in large or small groups of monkeys insufficiently isolated from monkeys, man, and possibly other vectors of measles virus. Isolation must be maintained from the time of capture until the end of the laboratory tests.This report describes the adaptation and use of gnotobiotic equipment for isolation of cynomolgus monkeys from measles virus. Though this technique has only been used for a short time in the laboratory, it appears that continuous isolation of monkeys from measles and other viruses after capture is possible.The prerequisites of the design were simplicity and efficiency of daily operation and effective filtration of air-borne virus. The Lobund Institute was approached for help in designing acceptable equipment. After assembly of the unit in their laboratories, it was brought to

Dysphasia or difficult speech is to be distinguished from aphasia or absent speech. As a rule, dysphasia means difficulties that are central in origin as distinguished from those caused by peripheral lesions, such as difficulty in moving the jaw (dysarthia) or laryngeal disease (dysphonia).Under the term dysphasia would be classified both stammering and stuttering. I have never encountered either of these difficulties in Little's disease and therefore I will not discuss them. In patients with cortical injuries, I have observed two types of disability: (1) difficulty in making certain sounds, for instance, sw in "sweet," or in giving the rough sound to a vowel, such as h in "hello"; (2) difficulty in slipping rapidly and easily from syllable to syllable. The latter disability may be obvious when the second sound is a repetition of the first, as in "mama"; but it is much more likely to be enhanced when

Sudden phase anomalies produced by solar flares have been observed simultaneously on several long VLF propagation paths. The paths providing useful data are NBA (18 kc/s) Panama to Boulder, Colorado; to Maui, Hawaii; to Frankfort, Germany; and to College, Alaska; and GBR (16 kc/s) Rugby, England, to Boulder; and NPG (18.6 kc/s) Seattle to College, Alaska. The observations show that during a solar flare the magnitude of the mean change of reflection height Δhon each sunlit path can apparently be related to the mean of log sec χ along the path, where χ is the solar zenith angle. Different flares, however, produce different curves of Δhversus the mean of log sec χ. These results are discussed in terms of a layer produced below the normal height of reflection, and the energy (wavelength) and intensity (flux density) of the X rays that produced the new layer are estimated.

Dislocations of the costovertebral joints are surprisingly rare. Stimson, who had not seen one himself, found only ten recorded instances, all of which antedated the discovery of the roentgen rays. A review of the Index Catalogue of the Library of the Surgeon General's office, the Index Medicus, the Quarterly Cumulative Index Medicus and various surgeries added only two other cases. The fact that no cases have been reported since the discovery of the x-rays aroused our suspicion as to the rarity of the condition, but inquiry among a number of the principal orthopedic surgeons and roentgenologists of California revealed only one who thought he had seen a dislocated rib. It would seem patent, therefore, that the condition is indeed rare.The following instance occurred in practice during the present year:I. W. F., a man, aged 55, was riding on the left rear seat of a car when it overturned

Pain arising from bodily positions must be distinguished from postural discomfort. Posture, physiologically speaking, is the active maintenance of an animal's station in its environment. It is a manifestation of muscular activity sustained largely by proprioceptive reflexes in accordance with inherited nervous patterns, modified by social customs and personal approbations or taboos. It connotes resistance to external forces, such as air currents and gravity. Position, on the other hand, is imposed on a part, and the station is maintained by passive factors. It connotes relaxation and rest. In bed, when one puts one's hands over one's head the arms lie inertly on the pillow. They have position, not posture, because they are not muscularly active but at rest.Pain may arise from the position imposed on a part if the position is long or frequently maintained. For example, there may be pain in the region of the internal lateral ligament

The article presents the report about the lecture program of the British Kinematograph Society in Leeds, England for 1958-1959 presented during the Society's annual convention on March 23, 1959. The program include lectures, studio visits at Gaumont and the British Broadcasting Corp. television studios in Manchester, and a dinner party.