Microbiological and biochemical quality of grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma) stored in dry ice and water ice

The changes in the microbiological and biochemical quality of grouper (Epinephelus chlorostigma) stored in dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) were investigated. Fresh fish stored in dry ice at the ratio of 1:1 (wt/wt) were found to be organoleptically suitable for consumption when they were stored for 30 h without re‐icing. Fish stored in water ice (as control) at the ratio of 1:1 (wt/wt) and in a combination of dry ice and water ice at the ratio of 1:0.2:0.5 (wt/wt/wt) were acceptable up to 18 and 24 h, respectively. Total bacterial load ranged from 10⁵ to 10⁷ CFU g^?1, while total psychrophiles from 10³ to 10⁶ CFU g^?1. Total lactics were found in the levels of 10²–10⁴ CFU g^?1. Total volatile basic nitrogen contents were within the limit of acceptability in all the three treatments, whereas trimethylamine nitrogen content exceeded the limit (15 mg%) and hypoxanthine content was 11.11 mg (100 g)^?1 on the 30 h in grouper stored only in dry ice. Lowest temperature of ?5.8 °C was recorded in grouper stored only in dry ice. Hundred percent CO₂ environment within the package was found in grouper that were stored in dry ice and combination of dry ice and water ice.     

Physico-chemical characteristics and sensory quality of two date varieties under commercial and industrial storage conditions

The physicochemical characteristics of two date palm varieties, “Khalas” and “Barhee”, commonly grown in the United Arab Emirates, were studied under commercial and industrial storage conditions. Storage conditions chosen were 2 months and 1 year at −3 °C and at room temperature (∼25 °C). Stored samples were analyzed for sugar, moisture, protein, ash and mineral element contents. Physical measurements on the date fruit, pit and flesh, measurements of the fruit's pitting pressure, shear pressure and modulus of elasticity, as well as sensory evaluation, were carried out on freshly harvested and stored samples. Significant variations in measured attributes were observed with storage treatments, but the two varieties did not behave similarly under matching storage conditions. Quality was best maintained after storage of 2 months at −3 °C for Khalas, and 1 year at −3 °C for Barhee. Overall, storage time and temperature as independent factors alone did not account for all of the observed variation in the studied attributes of Khalas and Barhee. Principal component analysis revealed that most of the variation of the stored dates comes from “size”, followed by “texture” variables. The work pointed to some probable chemical and physiological systems responsible for deterioration of dates, the understanding of which can prove extremely helpful in developing methods of short- and long-term preservation of the fruit.     

Superhydrophobic surfaces: a review on fundamentals,applications, and challenges

Superhydrophobicity is the tendency of a surface to repel water drops. A surface is qualified as a superhydrophobic surface only if the surface possesses a high apparent contact angle (>150°), low contact angle hysteresis (<10°), low sliding angle (<5°) and high stability of Cassie model state. Efforts have been made to mimic the superhydrophobicity found in nature (for example, lotus leaf), so that artificial superhydrophobic surfaces could be prepared for a variety of applications. Due to their versatile use in many applications, such as water-resistant surfaces, antifogging surfaces, anti-icing surfaces, anticorrosion surfaces etc., many methods have been developed to fabricate them. In this article, the fundamental principles of superhydrophobicity, some of the recent works in the preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces, their potential applications, and the challenges confronted in their new applications are reviewed and discussed.     

Comparative study of performance of the DI diesel engine using custard apple biodiesel

Rising prices, depletion of fossil fuels and insufficient supply have created great interest on alternative sources of energy and fuels, for example biodiesel. Vegetable oils have been investigated as potential source for biodiesel, but they bring burden on food supply. Biodiesels obtained from non-edible sources are getting much interest now-a-days. This article deals with performance and emission study of biodiesel extracted from custard apple seeds that is non-edible. The custard apple biodiesel is obtained through the tranesterification process and different blends (B10, B20, B30 and B40) are prepared by mixing them with the conventional diesel fuel. The experiments are conducted on a four-stroke DI diesel engine at a compression ratio of 17.5, and performance and emission characteristics are evaluated. The study revealed that custard apple biodiesel has the potential to be used as an alternative source without any modifications in the engine.     

Enhanced Archimedes Optimization Algorithm for Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) encompass a set of inexpensive and battery powered sensor nodes, commonly employed for data gathering and tracking applications. Optimal energy utilization of the nodes in WSN is essential to capture data effectively and transmit them to destination. The latest developments of energy efficient clustering techniques can be widely applied to accomplish energy efficiency in the network. In this aspect, this paper presents an enhanced Archimedes optimization based cluster head selection (EAOA-CHS) approach for WSN. The goal of the EAOA-CHS method is to optimally choose the CHs from the available nodes in WSN and then organize the nodes into a set of clusters. Besides, the EAOA is derived by the incorporation of the chaotic map and pseudo-random performance. Moreover, the EAOA-CHS technique determines a fitness function involving total energy consumption and lifetime of WSN. The design of EAOA for CH election in the WSN depicts the novelty of work. In order to exhibit the enhanced efficiency of EAOA-CHS technique, a set of simulations are applied on 3 distinct conditions dependent upon the place of base station (BS). The simulation results pointed out the better outcomes of the EAOA-CHS technique over the recent methods under all scenarios.     

Energy saving in high-pressure reciprocating air compressor

Air compressors account for a significant amount of electricity usage in Indian industries. The production of compressed air is one of the expensive processes practised in manufacturing industries. Our major aim in this project is to apply an energy recovery technique and on load reduction technique in high-pressure reciprocating air compressor. We applied our custom-designed energy recovery techniques and also analysed the limitation and the risks involved in the proposed technique. In the conventional method, the hot pressurised air coming out of the blow-moulding process is emitted into atmosphere, whereas in the proposed model the compressed air is recycled to the compressor receiver; also further energy reduction takes place due to reducing the operating pressure by introducing a pressure-reducing valve (PRV). The implementation of PRV reduces the loading time by 96?min/day, and energy consumption is reduced by 365.25?units/day.     

Survival of amine-forming bacteria during the ice storage of fish and shrimp

Survival of amine-forming bacteria during the ice storage of fish and shrimp was investigated up to 14 days of storage. On iced storage the total bacterial load was reduced to one log from an initial load of 10⁵ cfu g⁻¹ in fresh fish/shrimp due to cold shock. The total incidence of biogenic amine-forming bacteria was found to be 74·63% in fish and the same was recorded as 56·05% in shrimp. The amine-forming bacteria recorded were cadaverine- and putrescine-forming bacteria in fish/shrimp, and no histamine former was detected. Gram-negative, non-fermentative rods, viz. Alcaligenes. Flavobacterium, Acinetobacter. Shewanella andPseudomonas , were the predominant amine-forming bacteria during the ice storage of fish and shrimp, in addition to the only Gram-positive genus Micrococcus. The genera Aeromonas and Photobacterium also survived ice storage to a certain extent and may also be responsible for the formation of amines in fish and shrimp.     

Measurement of transformation temperatures and specific heat capacity of tungsten added reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel

The on-heating phase transformation temperatures up to the melting regime and the specific heat capacity of a reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel (RAFM) with a nominal composition (wt%): 9Cr-0.09C-0.56Mn-0.23V-1W-0.063Ta-0.02N, have been measured using high temperature differential scanning calorimetry. The α-ferrite + carbides → γ-austenite transformation start and finish temperatures, namely Ac₁, and Ac₃, are found to be 1104 and 1144 K, respectively for a typical normalized and tempered microstructure. It is also observed that the martensite start (M_S) and finish (M_f) temperatures are sensitive to the austenitising conditions. Typical M_S and M_f values for the 1273 K normalized and 1033 K tempered samples are of the order 714 and 614 K, respectively. The heat capacity C_P of the RAFM steel has been measured in the temperature range 473-1273 K, for different normalized and tempered samples. In essence, it is found that the C_P of the fully martensitic microstructure is found to be lower than that of its tempered counterpart, and this difference begins to increase in an appreciable manner from about 800 K. The heat capacity of the normalized microstructure is found to vary from 480 to 500 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 500 K, where as that of the tempered steel is found to be higher by about, 150 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹.