Effects of nitrite levels,endpoint temperature and storage on pink color development in turkey rolls

The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between minimum nitrite level, endpoint temperature and storage period on pink discoloration of turkey rolls. Rolls were prepared with 0, 3 or 5 parts per million (ppm) NO₂^–, cooked to an endpoint temperature of 75 °C or 85 °C and stored at 4 °C. During the 13-day storage period, on the 0th, 4th, 8th and 13th days cured pigment, total pigment, residual nitrite and color parameters were measured and sensory color was evaluated. At each endpoint temperature, addition of 3 ppm or 5 ppm NO₂^– significantly increased cured pigment and total pigment levels. Cured pigment levels of turkey rolls cooked to 75 °C were higher than rolls cooked to 85 °C, regardless of the NO₂^– level. There was a significant decrease in cured pigment levels at the end of the storage period (13th day). Analysis of residual NO₂^– in all treatment groups showed no detectable amounts. Endpoint temperature and addition of NO₂^– affected L* values: rolls cooked to the 75 °C endpoint had higher L* values. The additon of nitrite with the 75 °C endpoint temperature resulted in higher a* values. a* values also increased during the storage. The higher endpoint temperature (85 °C) resulted in lower a* values. Yellowness was not affected by final cooking temperature. Both the addition of NO₂^– and storage decreased b* values. The panel found no differences in pinkness intensity between the two levels of added nitrite (3 and 5 ppm). Sensory pinkness intensity in nitrite-added samples increased with increasing storage.     

Roasting-Related Changes in Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Capacity of Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricot kernels were roasted for various lengths of time (0–30 min) at 180 °C and changes in the oxidative stability, antioxidant capacity, color, as well as the level of tocopherols and fatty acids of the apricot kernel oil (AKO) were monitored. While the level of tocopherols decreased, the oxidative stability and antioxidant capacity of AKO increased with roasting, probably due to the formation of antioxidative Maillard reaction products (MRPs) during the roasting. Medium roasted samples (15–20 min) were found to be more resistant to oxidative deterioration. The oil from the 30-min roasted sample was more susceptible to oxidation compared to the oil from the 20-min roasted sample in most of the stability tests. Relatively shorter roasting periods (5–10 min) also led to a decrease in oxidative stability in comparison to the unroasted sample. Brownish color and antiradical activity increased with roasting and the highest values were measured in the 30 min roasted sample.     

Bipolar preference modeling and aggregation in decision support

The article discusses the use of positive and negative reasons when preferences about alternative options have to be considered. Besides explaining the intuitive and formal situations where such a bipolar reasoning is used, the article shows how it is possible to generalize the concordance/discordance principle in preference aggregation and apply it to the problem of aggregating preferences expressed under intervals. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hydrogen diffusivity enhancement in alumina pellets due to impregnated palladium

Single-pellet moment technique was used for the evaluation of effective diffusivities and adsorption equilibrium constants of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and helium in pure alumina and palladium-impregnated alumina pellets. It was found that hydrogen was strongly adsorbed on palladium of Pd-alumina pellets, and significant enhancement of hydrogen diffusivity was observed due to impregnated palladium at 40°C. On the other hand, for carbon dioxide and helium, effective diffusivities obtained in Pd-alumina pellets were smaller than the corresponding values in pure alumina due to higher tortuosity factor values of Pd-alumina pellets.     

ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF STARCH BY USING A SONIFIER

In the present study, the ultrasonication method was used to investigate the effect of ultrasonic energy on the hydrolysis of corn, rice, and wheat starch by using the alpha-amylase enzymes produced by Bacillus species and Bacillus licheniformis. The effects of sonifier operation variables such as duty cycle and acoustic power rate on the stability of alpha-amylase enzymes and hydrolysis degrees of three types of starches were investigated at a temperature of 40°C and pH 6.5. To determine the effect of temperature with sonication on the hydrolysis process, wheat starch hydrolysis experiments were also carried out at a temperature of 50°C. Then, the relation between duty cycle and enzyme stability during hydrolysis for each enzyme at 50°C was expressed by a zero-order inactivation model.     

Catalytic oxidation of methane over hexaaluminates and hexaaluminate-supported Pd catalysts

An aqueous (NH₄)₂CO₃ coprecipitation method, based on that of Groppi et al. [Appl. Catal. A 104 (1993) 101–108] was used to synthesize Sr_1−xLa_xMnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ hexaaluminates. These materials were first synthesized by alkoxide hydrolysis. This synthesis route requires special handling of the starting materials and is not likely to be commercially practical. The materials prepared by (NH₄)₂CO₃ coprecipitation have similar surface areas as those prepared by the alkoxide hydrolysis method. Their CH₄ oxidation activity, measured as the temperature needed for 10% conversion of methane, is higher than those prepared by alkoxide hydrolysis. The La-substantiated material, LaMnAl₁₁O₁₉₋, shows high surface area with 19.3 m²/g after calcination at 1400°C for 2 h. It is active for CH₄ oxidation with T_10% at 450°C using 1% CH₄ in air and 70 000 cm³/h g space velocity. The stability and activity of LaMnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ prepared by (NH₄)₂CO₃ coprecipitation method is a simple and important step forward for the application of CH₄ catalytic combustion for gas turbines.     

Combining functional near-infrared spectroscopy and EEG measurements for the diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Neural Computing and Applications - Recently multimodal neuroimaging which combines signals from different brain modalities has started to be considered as a potential to improve the accuracy of...