Influence of storage time and temperature on lipid deterioration during cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) frozen storage

Lean fish deterioration during frozen storage (−30 and −10 °C) for up to 1 year was studied by the assessment of lipid changes. Comparison between a formaldehyde (FA)-forming species (cod) and a non-FA-forming one (haddock) was carried out. Lipid damages were measured on the basis of free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid index (TBA-i) and fluorescent compounds. In both species at −30 °C, most lipid damage indices showed significant correlations with the storage time. However, at −10 °C, only the FFA and fluorescence detections provided significant correlations with the storage time. Comparison between the fish species showed higher lipid oxidation (PV and TBA-i) and hydrolysis (FFA content) in haddock than in cod at −10 °C; however, a higher fluorescence development was observed in cod at the same temperature. At −30 °C, little differences in lipid damage indices were detected between the two species. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Extraction and partial characterization of a coagulant preparation from Silybum marianum flowers. Its action on bovine caseinate

An outstanding parameter in cheese making is the type of coagulant, which greatly influences the characteristics of the final products. Proteolysis is the most important set of biochemical changes during ripening of most cheeses, and is carried out, in different magnitude, by proteolytic agents originated in milk, rennet (or rennet substitute), and starter and non-starter micro-organisms (Silva & Malcata, 2000). The demand for alternative sources of milk coagulants, to replace the expensive and limited natural rennet supplies, has increased (Esteves et al. 2001). All commercial enzymes employed as milk coagulant are aspartic proteinases, which are most active at acidic pH and preferentially cleave peptide bonds between residues with hydrophobic side-chains (Silva & Malcata, 1999). Because of the presence of aspartic proteinases, aqueous crude extracts from flowers of Cynara cardunculus (Veríssimo et al. 1995, 1996), Cynara humilis, and/or Cynara scolymus are traditionally employed in the Iberian Peninsula as vegetable rennet for cheesemaking (Reis et al. 2000). Milk clotting activity was also proved in flowers of Centaurea calcitrapa and Onopordum turcicum (Tamer, 1993; Domingos et al. 1998). All these species are included within the Asteraceae family and furthermore in the same tribe: Cardueae Cass.= Cynareae Less. (Ariza Espinar & Delucchi, 1998). When a potential rennet substitute is studied, it is particularly important to evaluate adequately the degradation patterns of the caseins because of their effects on yield, consistency, and flavour of the final cheese (Fox, 1989). It is important to guarantee a well-balanced breakdown of curd proteins (caseins) in order to avoid formation of undesired attributes in cheese such as low viscosity and high bitterness (Visser, 1993). One of the most frequently used methods to monitor proteolytic processes on caseins is urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. On the other hand, tricine-SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis improves the separation, identification and quantification of casein hydrolysates because it allows the visualization of large and small peptides (Pardo & Natalucci, 2001), with the additional advantage of allowing the estimation of molecular masses. Both methods are then suitable to characterize the performance of vegetable rennet in different ways. This preliminary study had the following objectives: the partial characterization of (i) the aspartic proteolytic activity present in flowers of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae); and (ii) the hydrolytic profile of bovine caseins.     

Combined anaerobic-aerobic treatment of azo dyes--a short review of bioreactor studies

The most logical concept for the removal of azo dyes in biological wastewater treatment systems is based on anaerobic treatment, for the reductive cleavage of the dyes' azo linkages, in combination with aerobic treatment, for the degradation of the products from azo dye cleavage, aromatic amines. Since the 1990s, several research papers have been published on combined, sequential or integrated, anaerobic-aerobic bioreactor treatment of azo dye-containing wastewater. The extent of azo dye reduction in the anaerobic phase of those bioreactor systems was generally high, albeit the process often required long reaction times, a limitation that can easily be remedied by making use of the property of redox mediators to speed up the process. The consequent removal of aromatic amines under aerobic conditions was less unequivocal. Although analytical data indicate that many of the aromatic amines were removed from the wastewater, and although the limited amount of available toxicity data all show far-reaching detoxification during aerobic treatment, it is clear that not all aromatic amines can be completely mineralized.     

Lipid deterioration during chilled storage of Atlantic pomfret (Brama brama)

Lipid damage produced during Atlantic pomfret (Brama brama) chilled storage (up to 19 d) was studied. The formation of various lipid parameters, such as free fatty acid and conjugated dienes (CD), peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and fluorescent compounds was measured in 2 different white muscle zones (dorsal and ventral). The results were compared with the formation of volatile amines (total volatile base‐nitrogen, TVB‐N, trimethylamine‐nitrogen, TMA‐N). A gradual lipid hydrolysis was observed in both zones during the entire experiment. CD and peroxides formation was prominent during the experiment, whereas peroxides showed the highest value at day 15 in both zones followed by a peroxide breakdown at day 19. Interaction of oxidized lipids with nucleophilic compounds present in the fish muscle led to a gradual development of fluorescent material during storage in both zones. The mean value of the lipid content tended to be higher in the ventral zone than in the dorsal one, although significant differences could not be detected (p >0.05). Concerning the lipid damage, very small differences (p <0.05) could be assessed between both zones. TVB‐N content showed no variation till day 15. At day 19, a sharp increase was observed for both muscle zones. In the case of TMA, a gradual increase was observed in both muscles during the 19‐day storage. Higher mean values of TVB‐N and TMA‐N indices were obtained for the ventral than for the dorsal zone. This might be due to the fact that the ventral zone is close to the viscera, where microorganisms are known to concentrate. Of all the different indices tested for quality assessment, TMA‐N and the formation of fluorescent compounds were strongest related to the duration of storage (r²≥0.87). These might therefore be the most accurate parameters to follow quality loss of chilled Atlantic pomfret.     

Solvent effects in the hydrodechlorination of 2,4‐dichlorophenol over Pd/Al2O3

Solvent effects in the liquid phase (0.1 MPa; 303 K) hydrodechlorination (HDC) of 2,4‐dichlorophenol have been established over Pd/Al₂O₃. In the absence of secondary reactions, catalyst deactivation, and transport limitations, a stepwise HDC yields 2‐chlorophenol and phenol, where product selectivity was insensitive to the nature of the solvent. In contrast, the initial HDC rates exhibited a marked dependence on the reaction medium and increased in the order: benzene < THF < n‐hexane < cyclohexane < alcohols < water. Higher rates result from the concomitant effect of an increase in the dielectric constant (ε) and a decrease in the molar volume ( $\overline {\nu}$ ) of the solvent, where the major (ca. 80%) contribution is due to ε. We attribute this response to the increased solvent capacity to stabilize the arenium intermediate at higher/lower ε/$\overline {\nu}$ , an effect that extends to reaction in water + organic combinations. We provide, for the first time, a reliable quantification of solvent effects that can be potentially applied to other catalytic hydrogenolysis systems. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010     

Effect of a flax seed (Linum usitatissimum) soaking treatment on the frozen storage stability of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) fillets

The effect of a flax seed (Linum usitatissimum) soaking on the development of rancidity in frozen mackerel (Scomber scombrus) was studied. Fresh mackerel fillets were soaked in an aqueous flax seed extract for 20 min and then kept frozen (?20 °C) for up to 7 months. A parallel experiment with non‐soaked fillets was carried out under the same conditions. The development of rancidity was measured by biochemical (free fatty acids, peroxides, conjugated dienes and trienes, secondary oxidation products, fluorescent and browning compounds and lipoxygenase activity) and sensory (general aspect, odour and colour) analyses. An inhibitory effect of the soaking treatment on rancidity development was observed according to the peroxide content and the formation of fluorescence and browning. A lower lipoxygenase activity was detected at 1 month in the soaked fillets; after this, no differences were obtained between either type of sample, whose activities at month 7 were negligible. According to the sensory analyses, non‐soaked fillets had fair quality at 1 month and were rejectable at 3 months, while the soaked ones were still of good quality at 1 month and rejectable at 5 months. According to the present results, soaking in an aqueous flax seed extract could be useful for inhibiting the development of rancidity in fatty fish fillets. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ranking of TOA Measurements Based on the Estimate of the NLOS Propagation Contribution in a Wireless Location System

The presence of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) propagation is a key issue that limits the accuracy of wireless location systems. The lack of direct sight causes the measurements obtained by location systems to be so unpredictable that they can produce high inaccuracies in the estimation of the mobile station location. In this paper we propose a novel technique to improve location reliability and accuracy in cases where NLOS propagation is present. For that, in registers of time of arrival (TOA) measurements taken from each base station (BS) in view, we detect the presence of NLOS propagation and estimate the ratio of the measurements coming from NLOS propagation. With this estimate we can assess how much is NLOS propagation affecting the measurements taken from each BS and then we can identify the best measurements and BSs to achieve the highest accuracies in location.     

Advances in the knowledge of the double perovskites derived from the conformation and substitution of the material Sr2MgMoO6-δ as anode with potential application in SOFC cell

Regardless of the manufacturing process such as solid-state reaction, sol-gel, etc., applied in obtaining anodes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), Sr₂MgMoO_6-δ (SMMO) double perovskites are recognized worldwide and widely used as anodic material with potential application in SOFC. This is due to several factors such as high electronic conductivity, high electrocatalytic activity, structural stability under reducing atmosphere, high transition temperature, giant magnetoresistance, reasonable tolerance to carbon formation, and its desired ability to reduce sulfur poisoning. In this review article, the advances of the SMMO double perovskite are analyzed.     

Leptin Modulates the Response of Brown Adipose Tissue to Negative Energy Balance: Implication of the GH/IGF-I Axis

The growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis is involved in metabolic control. Malnutrition reduces IGF-I and modifies the thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Leptin has effects on the GH/IGF-I axis and the function of BAT, but its interaction with IGF-I and the mechanisms involved in the regulation of thermogenesis remains unknown. We studied the GH/IGF-I axis and activation of IGF-I-related signaling and metabolism related to BAT thermogenesis in chronic central leptin infused (L), pair-fed (PF), and control rats. Hypothalamic somatostatin mRNA levels were increased in PF and decreased in L, while pituitary GH mRNA was reduced in PF. Serum GH and IGF-I concentrations were decreased only in PF. In BAT, the association between suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 and the IGF-I receptor was reduced, and phosphorylation of the IGF-I receptor increased in the L group. Phosphorylation of Akt and cyclic AMP response element binding protein and glucose transporter 4 mRNA levels were increased in L and mRNA levels of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and enzymes involved in lipid anabolism reduced in PF. These results suggest that modifications in UCP-1 in BAT and changes in the GH/IGF-I axis induced by negative energy balance are dependent upon leptin levels.