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Electrical stimulation (ES) of beef carcasses soon after death has an accelerated tenderising effect on the musculature, under conditions of slow cooling (8 h at 16°C and then storage in still air at 1°C). The effect is large in the LD muscles, reducing the shear force on day 1 of storage from 11 to 6 kg; on day 14, the difference is still 3·3 kg. These differences would be detected by taste panels. The St muscles show a similar, but less pronounced, effect which would probably not be detected by taste panels. The accelerated tenderisation due to ES can be accounted for by the higher temperatures obtaining in stimulated muscles at the onset of rigor. Rapid cooling soon after death reduces the effect almost to zero. Hence, the extra tenderisation cannot be due to muscle damage during ES. Histological examination shows that stimulated muscles have longer sarcomeres than the controls; they do not exhibit damage. However, with slow cooling, irregular bands of denatured sarcoplasmic protein are deposited within the fibres of stimulated muscles, similar to those found in PSE pig muscles. There is also some shortening of sarcomeres in the region of the bands. The protein is deposited on the myofibrillar surfaces. In spite of the PSE-like appearance, there is no significant increase in drip from the stimulated muscles at 48 h after death.

Supersonic argon beams containing clusters of from 1 to 100 potassium atoms show magnetic deflection patterns with three components: atoms, undeflectable clusters comprising mainly even numbers of atoms, and clusters with odd numbers of atoms. The magnetic moments of the light odd clusters are approximately 1..mu../sub B/.

From ninety-five to ninety-nine per cent of the uranium was extracted from brannerite concentrates by digesting the sample with concentrated sulfuric acid and then leaching with water, using one ton of acid per ton of concentrate. Precipitates containing from sixteen to forty-eight per cent U{sub 3)O{sub 8} were obtained from pregnant solutions. Further research on the precipitation of uranium and the recovery of wolfram is needed to determine the proper treatment. (auth)

Discusses most critical measurements in multistage flash seawater distillation plants; pH and dissolved oxygen in feed and their associated control systems and the continuing acquisition and evaluation of corrosion data. The use of central processor to aid evaluation of date is described and practices recommended to enhance performance and security are given.