THERMOSTABLE AND THERIVIOLABILEISOFORMS IN COMMERCIAL ORANGE PEEL PECTINESTERASE1

Thermostable and thermolabile pectinesterase isoforms in commercial Valencia orange peel pectinesterase (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) were separated by affinity chromatography on a Heparin‐Sepharose CL‐6B column. Among the seven putative PE isoforms separated, three (P1, P2 and P3 with 70 kDa, 60 kDa and 27 kDa, respectively)‐were thermostable and four [P4, P5, P6 (35 kDa) and P7 (35 kDa)]‐were thermolabile, according to the qualitative and quantitative studies of thermal stability. The commercial PE showed 83.4% and 98.3% inactivation after heat treatment at 70C for 5 min and at 90C for 1 min, respectively. P2 was the most heat stable, with 85.5% inactivation at 70C for 5 min and 93.0% inactivation at 90C for 1 min. The thermolabile P6 and P7 could be inactivated at 70C for 5 min or at 90C for 1 min. Thermostable PE activity was 16.6% of total activity of the commercial PE based on heat treatment at 70C for 5 min, but only 1.5% based on heating at 90C for 1 min. The 90C for 1 min heat treatment might be better than the 70C for 5 min heat treatment to distinguish thermostable PE and thermolabile PE isoforms in Valencia oranges.     

INFLUENCE OF UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION RATE ON RHEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND SENSORY TEXTURE PREDICTION OF COOKED POTATOES

The effect of uniaxial compression rate (20–1000 mm/min) on the parameters: Stress (σ_ftrue), strain (ε_fHencky) and work to fracture (W_f), modulus of deformability (E_d), maximum slope before fracture (E_max) and work during 75% compression (W_total) was investigated for ten potato varieties. Multivariate data analysis was used to study the correlation between and within the sensory and nonsensory measurements by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) which showed σ_ftrue, E_max, W_f, and W_total to explain the same type of information in the data, and ε_fHencky versus E_d another type of information in the data. The deformation rate had a large effect on ε_fHencky. Nine sensory texture attributes covering the mechanical, geometrical and moistness attributes were evaluated. Relationships between uniaxial compression data at various deformation rates and the sensory texture attributes were studied by Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR). A minor effect of deformation rate on the correlation with the sensory texture properties was obtained. Mechanical properties were predicted to a higher extent than the geometrical attributes and moistness. The prediction of the mechanical, geometrical and moistness attributes increased largely by using uniaxial compression supplemented by chemical measures such as dry matter and pectin methylesterase, but here no relevant effect of deformation rate was obtained.     

Genesis of the Barium Titanate Butterfly Twin

It has been discovered that the formation of the butterfly twin in barium titanate depends on both the average particle size and the particle-size distribution of the starting material. Maximum twin yields occur when the particles have an average size near 1μ with a rather sharp cutoff in the distribution in the large-particle region. All impurities act to decrease twin yield, principally because they interfere with stacking-fault formation which also is necessary for twinning to occur.     

Effects of Brining Conditions on Weight Gain in Herring (Clupea harengus) Fillets

Salted herring is an important product category in many European countries. Reduced need for salt as a preserving agent and the increased emphasis on less salt in the human diet has changed the basis for the traditional processing of these products. This has led to significant changes in the processing conditions and in the characteristics of the salted products. In this perspective, the effects of different brine concentrations (10.0%, 16.5%, and 25.5%), brining temperatures (3.5 °C and 17.5 °C), the presence of skin or not on the fillets, and brining time (1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 d) were investigated on the weight gain (%) and final salt content (%) of herring (Clupea harengus). A significant (P < 0.001) higher weight gain of the fillets were observed at the lowest brining temperature (3.5 °C) compared with at the higher temperature (17.5 °C), independently of brine concentration and brining time. Increased brine concentration and skinning of the fillets caused the weight gain to significantly decrease (P < 0.001) and increase (P < 0.001), respectively. After 1 d of brining, the weight gain was in the range of 10% to 12% for both brining temperatures, and at the lowest temperature, the weight gain increased significantly (P < 0.001) as a function of brining time. At the higher temperature, no further significant increase in weight was observed from 1 to 7 d of brining. It is concluded that the weight gain in herring fillets brined according to the present commercial practice is significantly affected by temperature, brine concentration, brining time, and the presence or not of skin on the fillets and that the weight gain may be of high magnitude.     

Production and Evaluation of Pea Protein Isolate

Laboratory and pilot plant processes were developed for producing pea protein isolate from field peas. Sodium proteinate and isoelectric products containing up to 90% protein were obtained by alkaline extraction and precipitation at the isoelectric point. Drying was carried out by freeze, spray and drum processes. Chemical analysis, functional properties, color and flavor of the dried isolates compared favorably with their soy counterparts. Generally, the sodium proteinates exhibited more functionality than isoelectric isolates. Drum drying decreased the nitrogen solubility index and increased water absorption. Freeze- and spray-drying resulted in isolates with the highest emulsification and water absorption values. Spray drying produced the best foaming, color and flavor properties.     

Elasticity and Damping of Porous Materials and Impregnated Materials

Earlier, a method was developed by the present author which predicts the elastic moduli of isotropic two-phase materials with arbitrary phase geometry. The primary scope of the present article is to demonstrate how this method works when used to predict elasticity (Young's modulus) and damping (loss tangent) of porous materials and impregnated materials made of elastic and/or viscoelastic Components. Simple equations are developed which are directly applicable to practical situations. Their qualities are tested successfully against a number of experimental data.