QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF TEXTURE CHANGE IN COD MUSCLE DURING FROZEN STORAGE

The textural deterioration of cod muscle during frozen storage was investigated by objective measurement using the Instron Universal Testing Machine. The rates of texture change as a function of storage time revealed that the increased toughness and decreased cohesiveness could be described by a first-order relationship. Higher storage temperatures resulted in more rapid rates of textural deterioration. Larger activation energy constants for toughness of cod muscle as compared to cohesiveness indicated that toughening was more temperature dependent than cohesiveness. The increased toughness and the decreased cohesiveness of frozen-stored fish appeared to be related to the protein denaturation of the cod muscle and the loss of water-holding capacity, respectively.     

Influence of the duty cycle on structural and mechanical properties of oxide layers on Al-1050 by a plasma electrolytic oxidation process

Oxide layers were prepared on Al-1050 substrates by an environmentally friendly plasma electrolytic oxidation process using an alkaline solution of Na₂SiO₃ (8 g/L) and NaOH (3 g/L) as the electrolyte. The effects of three different duty cycles (20%, 40%, and 60%) on the structure and hardness of the oxides were investigated. XRD analysis revealed that the oxides were mainly composed of α-Al₂O₃, γ-Al₂O₃, and mullite. The proportion of each phase depended on various electrical parameters, such as the duty cycle and frequency. The morphology, thickness, and the elemental distribution of the oxides were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The thicknesses of the oxides were found to vary from 20 μm to more than 60 μm for various duty cycles, when identical treatment durations were used. The oxidation treatment also resulted in good adhesion between the oxide layer and the substrate. SEM images indicated that the oxide layers formed at the 60% duty cycle exhibited relatively coarser surfaces with larger pore sizes and sintering particles, and slower growth rates than did those formed at the 20% duty cycle, under identical treatment durations. The oxides prepared at the 20% duty cycle showed smooth surfaces. The oxides layers were found to improve the micro-hardness of Al-1050. In particular, the oxide layers formed at the 40% duty cycle exhibited relatively better micro-hardness owing to their compact microstructures.     

Surface effects of hybrid vibration-assisted femtosecond laser system for micro-hole drilling of copper substrate

The ultrafast laser based hybrid machining system was studied and a novel approach was demonstrated to improve laser machining quality on metals by vibrating the optical objective lens with a low frequency (500 Hz) and various displacements (0-16.5 μm) during a femtosecond laser machining process.The laser used in this experiment is an amplified Ti:sapphire femtosecond (10-15 s) laser system that generates 100 femtosecond pulses having an energy of 3.5 mJ/pulse with a 5 kHz repetition rate at a central wavelength of 790 nm.It is found that both the wall surface finish of the machined structures and the aspect ratio obtained using the frequency vibration assisted laser machining are improved compared with those derived via laser machining without vibration assistance.     

Investigation of the drying temperature dependence of the orientation in sol–gel processed PZT thin films

The crystal orientations of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films have been investigated by using various drying temperatures in the sol–gel process. The films were dried at different temperatures between 310 and 350°C for pyrolysis and then were heat treated at 650°C using rapid thermal annealing (RTA). TG/DTA and FTIR spectroscopy were used to detect the remnants of organic materials in the thin films prior to the final heat treatment. In order to examine the relationship between the film orientation and the remaining organic materials for the prior and final heat treatment, the films were fabricated with different coating cycles and dried for different holding times and then annealed at 650°C. The preferred orientations were investigated using X-ray diffraction. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Surimi-Starch Interactions Based on Mixture Design and Regression Models

Interaction effects of starch mixtures within surimi gels were investigated by modified distance-based design and analyzed by linear and nonlinear backward regression models. Nonlinear regression model showed highly significant interaction terms of starch-surimi, starch-water, and starchstarch. The response trace plot revealed that shear stress and shear strain were quite sensitive to changes in amounts of starch components. Optimum solution with combinations of various starches, surimi, and water was provided using linear and nonlinear programming.     

Fabrication of curved micro structures on photoresist layer

A novel fabrication process for micro patterns with curvature was introduced. The curved structures were made by compensating rectangular micro structures with liquid photoresist layer. Because of the surface tension of the liquid in micro scale, various shapes of meniscus can be made on the micro channels. The micro channels were made on the silicon substrate in advance, and then the liquid layer was coated on the micro channels. From the nature of liquid behavior, the curved patterns with smooth surface are obtained, which cannot be made easily with the conventional mechanical machining, as well as with the microfabrication processes, such as wet and dry etching. With this principle, it is expected that the smooth and curved surfaces can be made by simple processes and the results can be applied widely, such as optical patterns.     

Correlation Between Oxidative Deterioration of Unsaturated Lipid and n-Hexanal during Storage of Brown Rice

n-Hexanal in the headspace over cooked brown rice stored at 5°C and 35°C for 0, 4, 8 and 12 months was determined by a gas chromatographic method using modified direct vapor injection. The off-flavors of stored brown rice were evaluated by n-hexanal and oxidized linoleic acid analysis. The amount of n-hexanal was found to be linearly proportional to the amount of oxidized linoleic acid (correlation coefficient, 0.99). Therefore, the simple and rapid method of vapor injection gas chromatography can be used for determining n-hexanal in the headspace vapor over cooked brown rice. Thus, the off-flavor of the stored brown rice resulting from lipid oxidation can be detected indirectly.     

Magnetic Treatment of Milk and Surface Treatment of Plate Heat Exchangers: Effects on Milk Fouling

After milk property effect was eliminated, relative fouling rates of electropolished stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, titanium, polysiloxane and Teflon were 0.99,1.00,1.01,1.14, and 1.20, respectively. No significant reduction of cleaning time was found on the Teflon-coated plate although Teflon had significantly larger contact angles in both surface-water-air and surface-water-octane than did stainless steel. Magnetic field treatment of milk and calcium phosphatase solution did not significantly affect fouling rates or type of calcium phosphate crystals in deposits.