Validation of the integrated upward–horizontal–downward wicking test for providing intensive properties of textile fabrics

Traditional wicking tests provide information that is specific to the test fluid, apparatus, and conditions. As a result, this information cannot be used to make predictions about wicking rates beyond the respective test parameters. In contrast, a new upward–horizontal–downward (UHD) wicking test has been presented that provides intensive properties of fabrics in the form of permeability (k) and effective capillary radius (R _c) as functions of saturation (S). The UHD test was developed using water as the test fluid. If the k–S–R _c relationships are truly intrinsic to a given fabric, then they should not depend on the test fluid. Here, we conducted the UHD test on a knit fabric using three different test fluids characterized by different surface tensions, densities, and viscosities: dodecane, tetradecane, and hexadecane. All fluids fall on the same k vs. S and k vs. R _c curves, proving that these curves are intrinsic characteristics of the fabric. We then used the k–S–R _c properties to successfully predict the in-plane horizontal and downward wicking rates of two different fluids, octanol and water, in the fabric. These results validate the UHD wicking test as a method for providing intensive properties of textile fabrics which can then be used for predicting wicking rates.     

The importance of transformations for traceability – A case study of lamb and lamb products

Vertical product information flow is important with regard to consumers’ perceptions of the meat which they buy. When research and analysis of traceability is carried out it is often found that critical points where information is systematically lost are encountered in the transformations of the resources. This study describes how lamb meat can be both tracked and traced through a lamb meat producer (company A). At company A 60% of the resource transformations were shown to be additions, mixing and splitting, these are considered to be those which produce the most critical traceability points. After an analysis of the current traceability system at company A suggested improvements were made. With regard to granularity of traceability they cannot trace individual animals during production, but rather a set of animals. The smallest traceable resource unit (TRU) company A can trace back to be a set of (identifiable) animals from one specific farm.     

Enzymatic scouring and bleaching of cotton terry fabrics – opportunity of the improvement on some physicochemical and mechanical properties of the fabrics

In the present study, an attempt was made to treat cotton terry fabrics with alkaline pectinase enzyme and observe the effects on the properties including the degree of whiteness, water absorbency, pill formation, weight loss after abrasion, tenacity at maximum load, degree of polymerization (DP), and hand feeling of the fabric. The enzymatic treatment of cotton terry fabrics had a positive influence on some of their properties. The degree of damage of cotton terry fabrics after 20 washings in a domestic washing machine was determined by analyzing the tenacity at maximum load, weight loss after abrasion, fabric hand feeling, and the DP. Enzymatic-scoured fabrics had a higher resistance to abrasion, a lower decrease in the DP, and a higher rating of the fabric hand feeling compared with alkaline-scoured fabrics. Enzymatic processing was accompanied by a significant lower demand of energy and water. Consequently, at these processes arises the lowest amount of effluents and the produced wastewater is biodegradable. This study attempted to introduce enzymatic scouring (ES) and bleaching with peracetic acid (PAA) of the cotton terry fabrics.     

A novel printing method to enhance the fixation of reactive dyes on wool–polyamide fabrics

The aim of this paper is to explain how colour fastness results are improved as a result of increasing the degree of fixation of reactive dyes on wool, polyamide and wool–polyamide blend fabrics. Wool–polyamide blend fabrics were printed with two different types of reactive dyes, e.g. monochlorotriazine and vinylsulphone. Trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) was added to the printing paste for controlling the pH level during the fixation process to get a maximum colour yield and a maximum dye fixation on the two components of the blend, e.g. wool and polyamide. In order to accelerate the reaction rate, a quaternising agent, e.g. triethylamine (TEA) was also added to the printing paste. The factors that may affect the efficiency of printing method, e.g. the concentration of TCAA, urea, wetting agent, TEA, steaming time and temperature were studied in detail.     

Efficiency scenarios of charcoal production and consumption – a village case study from Western Tanzania

Availability and access to energy is strongly linked to food security as cooking is needed to make foods ready for consumption. Without access to energy, there is no food security. In rural Tanzania, the population strongly depends on traditional biofuels such as firewood and charcoal. Under the pressure of population growth, energy demand will substantially increase in the next decades. The potential of improved efficiency in charcoal production and efficient cooking stoves were evaluated using scenario analysis. For quantitative data collection, a household survey was conducted in Laela village (2010). The sampling process was based on relative income classes (ICs) defined by local representatives and extending  from “rich” (IC 1) to “below self-sufficiency” (IC 4). Based on quantitative survey data, we calculated the quantity of pre-carbonised fuelwood associated with charcoal consumption for ICs in order to display specific consumption patterns. Further, we applied scenario analysis and projected charcoal consumption by 2030 including population growth (+3.41%/year), improved kiln efficiencies (11.1%–20%) and different dissemination rates of efficient stoves (0%–100%). Results of consumption patterns showed that fuelwood consumption in IC 1 was twice that of IC 4, when a conversion efficiency of 11.1% was applied. Calculations of the scenario analyses showed that overall energy consumption will almost double by 2030. The combined approach of a moderate improvement of conversion efficiency (15.6%) combined with a dissemination rate for energy efficient stoves of 50% would overcome the effect of population growth in projected energy consumption and offer a means of coping with future bioenergy demands.     

Reaction kinetics study of α-amylase in the hydrolysis of starch size on cotton fabrics

A study of tension surging and of the properties of the resultant yarns is reported. Tension profiles are discussed and assigned to three modes of operation, namely, pre-surging, surging, and post-surging. The critical conditions for these three modes and the wavelengths and amplitude of tension surging are investigated. The insertion of twist is examined, and it is shown that, not only is the surging mode unstable, hut there is also a higher-frequency instability in the post-surging mode. On the basis of the results obtained from routine tests for textured yarns, it is confirmed that the quality of the yarns resulting from both surging and post-surging modes is not acceptable.     

Treatment of cattle hides with Shellac-in-ethanol solution to reduce bacterial transferability – A preliminary study

A solution of natural, food-grade resin (Shellac) in ethanol was evaluated to treat samples of visually clean and dry cattle hides with the aim to reduce bacterial removability from the hides by swabbing. Hide treatment by 23% Shellac-in-ethanol solution reduced sponge-swabbing recoveries of general microflora (TVC) by a factor of 6.6 logs (>1000-fold larger than the 2.9 log reduction observed by ethanol alone), and of generic Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae by factors of at least 2.9 and 4.8 logs, respectively. These reductions were superior to those achieved by a sanitizer rinse-vacuum hide treatment. Significantly greater reductions of TVC recoveries from hides were achieved when using higher Shellac concentrations (23 and 30% rather than 4.8–16.7%) and when Shellac solution temperatures were 20–40 °C rather than 50–60 °C. Furthermore, the Shellac-based treatment also markedly reduced the E. coli O157 prevalence (3.7-fold reduction) on natural, uninoculated hides, as well as the counts of E. coli O157 on artificially inoculated hides (2.1 log reduction). This preliminary study indicated that a “bacterial on-hide immobilisation” approach to reducing transmission of microorganisms from cattle hide is promising and so will be further explored.     

Prevalence and diversity of histamine-forming Lactobacillus parabuchneri strains in raw milk and cheese – A case study

In the present case study, we investigated the causes of consistently elevated histamine content in raw milk cheeses from a Swiss cheese dairy. Screenings of milk samples from 67 farmers revealed that 19.1% of the raw milk samples were contaminated with histamine-forming bacteria. Lactobacillus parabuchneri was detected in 97.4% of contaminated milk samples. The population density of L. parabuchneri was almost always below the limit of quantification of the qPCR method used. Genotyping of 469 isolates provided detailed insight into the diversity of L. parabuchneri in contaminated milks and cheeses. The results of the trace-back study clearly demonstrated that several milk suppliers were responsible for the histamine problem at the cheese dairy under study. Systematic controls of milking systems allowed persistent contamination sources of L. parabuchneri at the farm level to be identified and eliminated and thereby to reduce the percentage of contaminated milks to 8.5% within the study period.     

A comparison of methods for analyzing multivariate sensory data in designed experiments – A case study of salt reduction in liver paste

This paper presents a comparison of different methods for analyzing designed experiments. The methods used are based on PCA, PLS and ANOVA, used either separately or in combination. Special emphasis will be on how to obtain information about medium and less important factors in the presence of very dominating ones. It will be shown that this could be done by splitting the dataset in two. Our propositions will be illustrated on a data set obtained for studying the effect of salt reduction in liver paste.     

The dispersal flight of Tribolium castaneum – A field test of laboratory generated predictions

The reasons for Tribolium castaneum undertaking dispersal flight in the field are poorly known. The research reported here was designed to test, in the field, the predictions generated from our previous laboratory study about the dispersal flight of T. castaneum beetles. The results of that laboratory study suggested that younger beetles with large bodies and higher fat content tend to fly more frequently, and female flyers are likely to live longer with a higher lifetime fecundity relative to those beetles that remain. These predictions were tested by sampling beetles flying within storage and at various distances (20 and 300 m) from a large population infesting stored cotton seed. Beetles were also collected directly from the infested cotton seed as a representation of ‘resident beetles’. Of the adults collected, a subset was weighed and measured, and others were tested for their fecundity, fat content and lipofuscin levels. The survival and total fecundity of females (until day 105 post-emigration) was statistically similar across the treatments, but access to males later in life (i.e. after day 105), to a subset of females from each treatment, increased their fecundity (except for those trapped at 300 m). The majority of females that were caught dispersing are presumed to be relatively young, multiply mated, and produced numerous offspring (mean = 307.3) in the absence of males. Fat content was significantly higher across flying beetles (both sexes) trapped at 2 m (within the shed) compared to flying beetles trapped at longer distances. Flight propensity was evidently not influenced by sex, weight or body size. The lipofuscin intensities of flyers was generally significantly higher than those of resident males and females, although a reliable estimate of their age would add significant value to spatio-temporal studies in these beetles. These findings have implications for management of phosphine resistance.     

Time resolved fluorescence of milk powders – A pilot study

The investigation of the authenticity and classification of milk powder is particularly important. The use of time-resolved fluorescence could help develop a new method to assist milk powder classification and assess composition. This study used static and time-resolved fluorescence to differentiate powder milk samples. We observed fluorescence lifetimes of (in ns) 1.5 ± 0.2, 3.5 ± 0.2 and 6.0 ± 0.2 for skimmed; 1.3 ± 0.2, 3.3 ± 0.2 and 6.0 ± 0.4 for whole; and 1.4 ± 0.2, 3.4 ± 0.3 and 6.0 ± 0.4 for semi-skimmed powder milk at 270/335 nm excitation/emission. In addition, we observed fluorescence lifetimes of (in ns) 1.4 ± 0.1, 6.4 ± 0.2 and 14.8 ± 1.1 for skimmed; 1.6 ± 0.2, 6.8 ± 0.2 and 29.5 ± 1.7 for whole; and 1.7 ± 0.1, 6.8 ± 0.2 and 26.1 ± 1.3 for semi-skimmed powder milk at 315/468 nm excitation/emission. Employing analysis of variance, we differentiated all powder samples and achieved accuracy of 100% by discriminant analysis at 315/468 nm excitation/emission fluorescence. These results indicate that time-resolved fluorescence can assist in the classification of powder milk and its composition.     

The impact of product category knowledge on consumer use of extrinsic cues – A study involving agrifood products

In this paper, we analyse the importance of consumer knowledge and its moderating effect on the use of extrinsic cues to make product choices within the white asparagus category. Our experimental design uses 18 screens showing options made from different combinations of brand, origin and price cues. The design uses three knowledge measures: experience in the product category, subjective knowledge and objective knowledge. The results are analysed by means of a multinomial logit model, enabling us to assess the importance of the various cues and interactions between these and knowledge. The results show that knowledge has different effects on the perceived importance of brand and origin. Among other effects, we show that less experienced consumers tend to rely more on origin labels, while the more experienced focus predominantly on brands.     

Simulation modelling and risk assessment as tools to identify the impact of climate change on microbiological food safety – The case study of fresh produce supply chain

The current quality assurance and control tools and methods to prevent and/or to control microbiological risks associated with fresh produce are challenged due to the following pressures upon the food supply chain, i.e. changing consumption patterns, globalization and climate change. It demonstrates the need for scientific research and development of new and/or improved tools, techniques and practices to adapt the current risk management systems. In this paper, a conceptual research approach is presented to analyse the complexity of the climate change and globalization challenge on the fresh produce supply chain taken as a case study. The factors which affect the vulnerability of the fresh produce chain demand a multidisciplinary research approach. The proposed knowledge-based modelling system is believed to be a most appropriate way to identify problems and to offer solutions to monitor and prevent microbiological food safety risks during all phases of food production and supply. To explore the potential impact of climate change and globalization, baseline information can be obtained by surveillance and performance measurement of implemented food safety management systems. Simulation of climate change scenarios and the logistic chain of fresh produce, along with mathematical models to optimize packaging technology to maintain quality and safety of fresh produce are tools to provide insights in the complex dynamic ecosystem. They are the basis for elaboration of risk assessment studies to scientifically support management options and decisions to new microbiological threats related to globalization and climate change in the fresh produce supply chain. This research concept as such will contribute to develop strategies in order to guarantee the (microbiological) food safety of fresh produce on the long term.     

A study by a genetic algorithm for optimizing the arrangement of the fibers on the damage to the fiber–matrix interface of a composite material

The objective of this work is to optimize the arrangement of the fibers to reduce damage to the fiber matrix interface of a composite material. The results obtained by the genetic algorithm based on the volume fraction of reinforcement show a good agreement between numerical simulation and the actual behavior of both materials T300/914 and PEEK/APC2, however, it would be interesting to see the effect of thermal stress on the optimization of the arrangement by the molecular dynamics method.     

A comparison of the metabolic profile on intact tissue and extracts of muscle and liver of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) – Application to a short feeding study

The metabolite profiles from muscles and livers of Atlantic salmon were investigated using high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-NMR) spectroscopy of aqueous extracts and magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy of intact tissues. Comparison of the data showed that most small metabolites present in the aqueous extracts were also identified in the Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) MAS NMR spectra of the intact tissues. Not only the total omega-3 fatty acid content, but also the EPA and DHA content, in the muscle and liver tissues could be calculated directly from the diffusion-edited MAS NMR spectra without the need for lipophilic extraction. The effect of replacing a normal fish meal during a period of 3 months with a diet containing 20% zygomycete was also investigated by multivariate analysis of the NMR spectra. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to study the small metabolites distribution in the aqueous extracts of liver and muscles, and revealed that the feed containing zygomycete could have an influence on the metabolites profiles of juvenile Atlantic salmon.     

Food processing a tool to pesticide residue dissipation – A review

Food safety is an area of growing worldwide concern on account of its direct bearing on human health. The presence of harmful pesticide residues in food has caused a great concern among the consumers. Hence, world over to tackle food safety issues, organic farming is being propagated. However, due to several reasons, diffusion and acceptance of this approach in developing countries has been very slow. Therefore, it is important in the transient phase that some pragmatic solution should be developed to tackle this situation of food safety. Food processing treatments such as washing, peeling, canning or cooking lead to a significant reduction of pesticide residues. In this background this paper reviews the common food processing operations along with the degree of residue removal in each process. The processes reviewed include: baking, bread making, dairy product manufacture, drying, thermal processing, fermentation, freezing, infusion, juicing, malting, milling, parboiling, peeling, peeling and cooking, storage, storage and milling, washing, washing and cooking, washing and drying, washing and peeling, washing peeling and juicing and wine making. Extensive literature review demonstrates that in most cases processing leads to large reductions in residue levels in the prepared food, particularly through washing, peeling and cooking operations.     

Effect of multiple extrinsic cues on consumers’ willingness to buy apples: A scenario-based study

Price, origin, and type of production are all known to influence consumer choices when it comes to fresh food. However, the interactions between these factors have received limited attention in the food choice literature. With the growth of online grocery shopping services, another under-investigated issue is the willingness to buy (WTB) fresh food products sold online. Our aim was to partially fill these gaps, by applying a scenario-based methodology. We exposed 324 individuals to 54 scenarios describing a situation in which a character goes to buy apples. The scenarios featured all possible combinations of four within-participants factors: purchase site (traditional market or online grocery shopping service), origin (within 50 km of the character’s home, elsewhere in France, or foreign country), price (low, average, or high), and type of production (organic, sustainable or conventional farming). For each scenario, participants rated their WTB for the apples on sale. Analyses conducted on the whole sample showed that consumers’ WTB was higher for locally grown, organic, and low-priced apples. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed three consumer segments with different behavioral profiles. Price-sensitive consumers’ WTB was higher for imported apples at a low price than for local apples at a high price. Non-online consumers unconditionally rejected the online grocery shopping service regardless of the apples’ price, origin, and type of production. Organic consumers were more willing to buy imported organic apples than domestic conventional ones. Hence, consumers’ preferences for domestic products should be interpreted in the light of factors such as price and type of production.