Effect of air temperature and velocity on moisture diffusivity in relation to physical and sensory quality of dried pumpkin seeds

Understanding the effect of drying process parameters on food quality is helpful in process optimization and control. The objective of this work is to understand the effect of mild and harsh effective moisture diffusivity (D_eff), varied by air temperature and velocity, of drying processes on the physical and sensory quality of flat food products. Pumpkin seeds were selected as a food representative. It was found that increments of air temperature and velocity resulted in increased D_eff and brown color on seed hull surfaces and embryos, but decreased hardness of seed embryos. Changes in taste and aroma of seed embryos were able to be sensed. Indicating that D_eff is related to seed physical quality. Similar phenomena occurred with both tray and fluidized bed drying. Air temperature, velocity, and D_eff should be controlled to ensure the best dried flat food products. Mild drying conditions are potentially preferred for good physical and sensory quality.     

Simulation of Voltage and Current Distributions in Transmission Lines Using State Variables and Exponential Approximation

A new method for simulating voltage and current distributions in transmission lines is described. It gives the time domain solution of the terminal voltage and current as well as their line distributions. This is achieved by treating voltage and current distributions as distributed state variables (DSVs) and turning the transmission line equation into an ordinary differential equation. Thus the transmission line is treated like other lumped dynamic components, such as capacitors. Using backward differentiation formulae for time discretization, the DSV transmission line component is converted to a simple time domain companion model, from which its local truncation error can be derived. As the voltage and current distributions get more complicated with time, a new piecewise exponential with controllable accuracy is invented. A segmentation algorithm is also devised so that the line is dynamically bisected to guarantee that the total piecewise exponential error is a small fraction of the local truncation error. Using this approach, the user can see the line voltage and current at any point and time freely without explicitly segmenting the line before starting the simulation.     

Broad distribution of enterotoxin genes (hblCDA, nheABC, cytK, and entFM) among Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus as shown by novel primers

Eight new pairs of PCR primers were designed and efficiently detect eight toxin genes (hblC, hblD, hblA, nheA, nheB, nheC, cytK, and entFM) in 411 B. cereus strains (121 food- and 290 soil isolates) and 205 B. thuringiensis strains (43 serovars, 10 food- and 152 soil isolates). According to the presence of these eight toxin genes, they were divided into four groups among the total 616 isolates. In Group I, all eight genes occurred simultaneously in 403 (65.42%) isolates, while Group II (134 isolates or 21.75%) and Group III (46 isolates or 7.47%) were devoid of hblCDA and cytK, respectively. In Group IV, there were thirty-three isolates which lacked both hblCDA and cytK. The presence of hblCDA in B. thuringiensis strains (86.80%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in B. cereus strains (66.18%) whereas no significant difference in nheABC, cytK and entFM occurrence was detected between both bacterial groups. Both nheABC and entFM genes were found in all B. cereus and B. thuringiensis strains (616 strains in total), while the cytK gene could be detected in 365 (88.80%) of the B. cereus and 172 (83.90%) of the B. thuringiensis strains. None of the 616 tested strains showed the presence of only a single or two genes in either the hbl or nhe operons. The eight primer pairs designed for this multiplex PCR allowed rapid detection of eight toxin genes from boiled cells with high sensitivity, gave 100% reproducibility, and did not cross-react to 32 other bacterial strains.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Cinnamaldehyde and Eugenol and Their Activity after Incorporation into Cellulose‐based Packaging Films

Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against 10 pathogenic and spoilage bacteria and three strains of yeast, using an agar‐well diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these compounds were determined using an agar dilution method. Finally, cinnamaldehyde‐incorporated and eugenol‐incorporated methyl cellulose films were prepared to obtain active antimicrobial packaging materials. These antimicrobial cellulose‐based packaging films were investigated for antimicrobial activity against target microorganisms using both an agar‐disc diffusion technique and a vapour diffusion technique. At a concentration of 50 µl/ml, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol revealed antimicrobial activity against all test strains. They showed zones of inhibition, ranging from 8.7 to 30.1 mm in diameter. Eugenol and cinnamaldehyde possessed ‘moderate?strong inhibitory’ and ‘strong?highly strong inhibitory’ characteristics, respectively. With MICs of 0.78?50 µl/ml, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol also inhibited the growth of all test microorganisms. Among the test microorganisms, Aeromonas hydrophila and Enterococcus faecalis were the most sensitive to cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. Cinnamaldehyde showed lower MICs against all test strains than those of eugenol. In an agar‐disc diffusion assay, cellulose‐based film containing cinnamaldehyde or eugenol totally failed to exhibit a clear inhibitory zone. However, it showed positive activity against all selected test strains in terms of size and enumeration of microbial colonies in a vapour diffusion assay. This study shows the potential use of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol for application in antimicrobial packaging film or coating. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficacy of polyethylene-based antimicrobial films containing principal constituents of basil

The feasibility of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-based films containing linalool or methylchavicol as antimicrobial (AM) packages to retard microbial growth on food surfaces was investigated. The AM LDPE-based films were tested for inhibition against selected microorganisms. Both compounds retained their AM activity, after an extrusion film-blowing process, against Escherichia coli in solid medium. Cheddar cheese was wrapped with the AM films and the packaged cheese samples were stored at 4 °C. The changes in the mesophilic aerobic bacteria and coliform, as well as yeast and mould counts were monitored. In addition, cheese samples inoculated with E. coli or Listeria innocua were wrapped with the AM films, stored at refrigerated (4 °C) or at abuse (12 °C) temperatures and the count of these microorganisms was monitored as a function of time. The results showed an inhibitory effect of these AM films against microbial growth in naturally contaminated cheese and in inoculated samples. The effect on suppression of E. coli and L. innocua growth was more pronounced at the abuse temperature. Methylchavicol-LDPE-based film exhibited a higher efficacy of inhibition than that of linalool-LDPE-based film. In addition, a sensory evaluation was performed with regards to possible taint in the flavour of the cheese. Taint in flavour as affected by linalool or methylchavicol was not significantly detectable by the panelists at the end of the storage period of 6 weeks. This study shows the potential use of polymeric films containing the principal constituents of basil as the AM components for enhancing quality and safety of cheeses.     

Improved Reservoir Operation Using Hybrid Genetic Algorithm and Neurofuzzy Computing

A hybrid genetic and neurofuzzy computing algorithm was developed to enhance efficiency of water management for a multipurpose reservoir system. The genetic algorithm was applied to search for the optimal input combination of a neurofuzzy system. The optimal model structure is modified using the selection index (SI) criterion expressed as the weighted combination of normalized values of root mean square error (RMSE) and maximum absolute percentage of error (MAPE). The hybrid learning algorithm combines the gradient descent and the least-square methods to train the genetic-based neurofuzzy network by adjusting the parameters of the neurofuzzy system. The applicability of this modeling approach is demonstrated through an operational study of the Pasak Jolasid Reservoir in Pasak River Basin, Thailand. The optimal reservoir releases are determined based on the reservoir inflow, storage stage, sideflow, diversion flow from the adjoining basin, and the water demand. Reliability, vulnerability and resiliency are used as indicators to evaluate the model performance in meeting objectives of satisfying water demand and maximizing flood prevention. Results of the performance evaluation indicate that the releases predicted by the genetic-based neurofuzzy model gave higher reliability for water supply and flood protection compared to the actual operation, the releases based on simulation following the current rule curve, and the predicted releases based on other approaches such as the fuzzy rule-based model and the neurofuzzy model. Also the predicted releases based on the newly developed approach result in the lowest amount of deficit and spill indicating that the developed modeling approach would assist in improved operation of Pasak Jolasid Reservoir.     

Long-Term Behavior of Fixated Flue Gas Desulfurization Material Grout in Mine Drainage Environments

In this research, we examine the long-term ( ～ 4 years) behavior of fixated flue gas desulfurization (FGD) material grout following placement within the Roberts–Dawson underground coal mine. Surface water and groundwater samples were collected to examine the impact of grouting on water quality, and core samples were obtained to assess the geochemical stability of the grout material. Surface water samples collected from the main seep at the Roberts–Dawson mine indicated that 4 years after grout placement the long-term fluxes of acidity, iron, sulfur, and calcium were slightly elevated compared to pregrout conditions. The long-term discharge of these constituents was likely due to continued dissolution of grout material (for Ca and S) as well as changes in flow paths and subsequent solubilization of metal salts accumulated within the mine voids (for acidity, Fe, Al, and S). Although the fluxes of these elements were elevated, no measurable deleterious impact was observed for the underlying groundwater or adjacent surface water reservoir. Groundwater samples collected from monitoring wells installed within the grout material indicated that acid mine drainage waters were neutralized by the grout material. Mineralogical analyses demonstrated minimal penetration of mine drainage water into the high strength fixated FGD material grout, and little weathering of the material was observed. These data indicate that the high strength fixated FGD material grout injected into the Roberts–Dawson mine was geochemically stable and could locally neutralize mine drainage waters. However, more complete grouting and more extensive mine flooding is likely needed in order to bring about significant improvements in seep water quality.     

Active Packaging Technologies with an Emphasis on Antimicrobial Packaging and its Applications

ABSTRACT: In response to the dynamic changes in current consumer demand and market trends, the area of Active Packaging (AP) is becoming increasingly significant. Principal AP systems include those that involve oxygen scavenging, moisture absorption and control, carbon dioxide and ethanol generation, and antimicrobial (AM) migrating and nonmigrating systems. Of these active packaging systems, the AM version is of great importance. This article reviews: (1) the different categories of AP concepts with particular regard to the activity of AM packaging and its effects on food products, (2) the development of AM and AP materials, and (3) the current and future applications of AM packaging.     

The role of an anode microporous layer in direct ethanol fuel cells at different ethanol concentrations

Ethanol crossover and ethanol electrooxidation kinetic effects on direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) performance were determined at different ethanol feed concentrations for cells fabricated with and without an anode microporous layer (MPL). Several characterization techniques were used, including cell performance curves, anode polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and ethanol crossover by the voltammetric method. It was found that the optimum ethanol feed concentration depended on the anode structure design and the cell current density operation. A microporous layer could reduce ethanol crossover but induced high mass transfer resistance, resulting in a slow ethanol electrooxidation reaction rate. However, ethanol crossover was not the dominant factor affecting DEFC performance for the ethanol feed concentration range (0.5–5.0 M) studied. The MEA without an anode MPL exhibited better performance than the one with an MPL for the entire range of ethanol concentration.     

Loss of AM additives from antimicrobial films during storage

Films based on linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) containing linalool or methylchavicol were prepared by extrusion film blowing. Film rolls of LLDPE containing linalool or methylchavicol were stored at ambient temperature for 1 year. Samples of these films were then evaluated for the amount of linalool or methylchavicol retained and for their antimicrobial (AM) activity by the agar disc diffusion assay. In addition, film rolls of LDPE-EVA (LDPE-ethylene vinyl acetate) containing linalool or methylchavicol were stored at 25 and 35 °C. Samples of these films were periodically collected to quantify the amount of linalool or methylchavicol retained as a function of time. For the AM LLDPE films, a decrease in additive retention was observed but there was no statistically significant difference in their AM activity against Escherichiacoli at the beginning and after 1 year of storage. For the AM LDPE-EVA films, the amount of additive in the film decreased with time and the additive retention in all films tended to deviate from the theoretical first-order decay. These findings suggest that an amount of linalool or methylchavicol that is sufficient to maintain AM activity remained in the polymeric matrix after the storage period. This study confirms the potential use of polymeric films containing basil constituents as AM films for enhancing quality and safety as well as the extension of the shelf life of foods.