HACCP certification of food services in Philippine inter-island passenger vessels

This paper presents the efforts of the Bureau of Quarantine and International Health Surveillance (BQIHS), Department of Health (DOH), Philippines to launch a Good Manufacturing Procedure (GMP)–Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certification Program for food services operating in Philippine inter-island water vessels. The BQIHS improved its food sanitation audit system for inter-island ships by including in its traditional walk-through evaluation of GMP the review of documents for both GMP and HACCP, and the verification of HACCP implementation. The BQIHS is now identified as a GMP–HACCP certification provider to specific sectors of the local food service industry on a national level.     

Effect of chemical phosphorylation on solubility of buffalo milk proteins

Buffalo milk proteins (casein, co-precipitate or whey protein concentrate) were phosphorylated with phosphorus oxychloride (POCl₃) at three different pH values (5.0, 7.0 and 9.0). The solubilities of phosphorylated milk proteins were examined over the pH range 3.0–9.0 in water and ionic (0.1 m NaCl or 10–70 mm Ca²⁺) systems. The solubilities of buffalo milk proteins decreased at pH 3.0, while there was an increase in the solubilities of casein and co-precipitate near their isoelectric points upon phosphorylation. Solubilities of these phosphorylated milk proteins were pH dependent in 0.1 m NaCl but there was a decrease in their solubilities with increase in calcium ion concentration. This alteration could be due to the shifting of isoionic points of phosphorylated buffalo milk proteins towards acidic pH.     

Simulation of humidity control and greenhouse temperature tracking in a growth chamber using a passive air conditioning unit

In this paper, we define a dynamic discrete model of a passive air conditioning unit, without the more typical compression or absorption-refrigeration cycle. The unit is composed of heat exchangers, a positioning system and humid corrugated pads. The aim of the study was to follow the temperature in a greenhouse and to replicate it with a desired and stable relative humidity in a ventilated growth chamber. A control law, based on a quadratic criterion and dynamic programming, taking output error and energy consumption minimisation into account, was used to control the behaviour of the unit in spite of air intake disturbances. The results of the simulation indicate that the air conditioning unit can produce a variable climate in the growth chamber, with a wide range of relative humidity setpoints.     

Membrane based detection of genetically modified organisms in some representatives food

Recently, DNA-based techniques became very common for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products. For rapid and easy detection of GMOs, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening methods, which amplify common transgenic elements, are applied in routine analysis. Incorporation of PCR and membrane method introduced in this study offer an alternative detection of GMOs. In this study, a total of 32 samples and three certified reference materials were tested for the existence of the 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and 5-enol-pyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene residues. Dot blot screening system introduced in this study can be routinely used as a semi-quantitative screening of GMOs.     

Size-controlled preparation of polyelectrolyte-protected gold nanoparticles by natural sunlight radiation

By radiating a linear polyethylenimine–HAuCl₄ aqueous solution with natural sunlight, we obtained polyelectrolyte-protected gold nanoparticles, and the size of such gold nanoparticles can be controlled by varying the molar ratio of polyelectrolyte to gold.     

Deformation behaviour of iron-doped alumina

Compressive creep tests in air were carried out on 1 cat.% Fe-doped alumina at a temperature T=1400 °C. Iron doping affected the plastic deformation by different ways in relation with Fe²⁺ cations population. Fe²⁺ cations sped up the deformation rates. FeAl₂O₄ spinel precipitates were identified and they were found (i) to interact with alumina grain boundaries (ii) to limit the grain growth within a range of strain. The Fe²⁺ cations underwent oxidation and this resulted in the dissolution of the some precipitates and in the decrease of deformation rates. It was suggested that deformation sped up this evolution through mass transport and that time was not a dominating parameter.     

Electrochemical characteristics of heme proteins in hydroxyethylcellulose film

A stable film made from hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode was employed for incorporating hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the electrochemical characteristics of the proteins were studied correspondingly. Experimental results revealed that HEC film could greatly accelerate electron transfer between the proteins and electrode, and the proteins showed a thin layer electrochemical behavior in the film. Moreover, all the proteins in the film exhibited good catalytic activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the low H₂O₂ concentration range. In the high concentration range, H₂O₂ would exhibit toxicity effect on the proteins. The electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic abilities of the three heme proteins in HEC film have been compared, and the optimal conditions for H₂O₂ biosensor fabrication have been obtained.