Automated fluorimetry in quality control of pasteurized and ultra-high temperature-treated starch soup

Automated monitoring of the microbiological quality of heat-processed foods by the resazurin reduction test was applied to microtitration plate incubator-fluorimeter technology. The appearance and disappearance of the fluorescing peak of resorufin was monitored on microtitration trays. Pasteurized or ultra-high temperature-treated starch-based soup was used as the model food system. Bacillus subtilis spores (ultra-high temperature treatment) and vegetative cells of Enterococcus faecalis (pasteurization) were inoculated into the soup before the heat treatment at levels which resulted in some survival. The timing of appearance of maximum fluorescence correlated with the number of bacteria in pre-incubated samples. Automated resazurin-reduction fluorimetry was compared with conventional plating, turbidometry and microcolony count by the direct epifluorescent filter technique. The results of the resazurin test correlated well with those of all the other methods tested. Fluorimetry had the advantage that the results could be read within 1–5h and the reproducibility was superior to the other methods.     

On plastic potentials for anisotropic metals and their derivation from the texture function

Summary Plastic yielding of anisotropic metals can be either described by a macroscopic constitutive relation or assessed by means of a model which correlates single and polycrystal behaviors. The mathematical identification of the plastic work rate derived from the two approaches, for all strain rate tensors, leads to a fit of the polycrystal yield surface by an analytical function. When a quadratic from is assumed, the macroscopic anisotropy parameters become explicit functions of the texture coefficients. This identification method is applied to calculate yield surfaces andR-values of rolled and annealed steel sheets: theR-values and in general the flow rule, are more significantly modified by the fitting than the yield surface. Thus, it is worth extending the method to more general constitutive relations which may be given by the form of their work function: alternative forms of the work function for plastic materials are explored, especially in the bearing of convexity and homogeneity where quadratic forms have a distinct advantage. Finally, it is shown that the identification of the work function allows to express the phenomenological coefficients as analytical functions of the texture parameters for many forms of the work function; in the other cases, these coefficients may be obtained by linear or non-linear regression.     

Analysis of the high-frequency spectrum of acoustic emission signals and its relationship to the wear resistance of filled polytetrafluoroethylene

We have performed tribotechnical tests of carbonaceous filled polytetrafluoroethylene in a wide range of loads with the recording of acoustic emission signals. Based on a spectral analysis of the sequence of rms deviations of acoustic emission signals using a discrete Fourier transform, we have constructed a normalized energy spectrum. We show that the mass wear of the material can be determined from the power of the high-frequency component of the spectrum obtained.     

Influence of cooking and drying processes at different temperatures on the nutritive value of the protein of mussels (Mytilus edulis)

The effect of steam cooking (96 degrees C for 15 minutes) and drying at two temperatures, 70 degrees C and 110 degrees C, on nutritive value of mussel protein was studied. The measurements were carried out by nitrogen balance techniques in growing rats, and the nutritional parameters studied were: CD, BV and NPU. The crude digestibility (CD) values were: 87 +/- 1 and 82 +/- 1, and the biological values (BV), 80 +/- 1 and 74 +/- 1 for raw mussels, dried at 70 degrees C and at 110 degrees C respectively. This implies a significant decrease in the protein nutritive values of the mussel dried at a higher temperature. Cooking prior to drying significantly improved the digestibility and the biological value of the mussel's protein. In effect, improvement was so great, that the different drying temperatures did not affect the previously cooked product in a different way; therefore, the CD (94 +/- 1 and 94 +/- 1) and the BV (90 +/- 1 and 90 +/- 2) were the same for the mussel's protein, cooked and dried at 70 degrees C or at 110 degrees C.     

Leakage of Anthocyanins from Skin of Thawed, Frozen Highbush Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Factors affecting the tendency of thawed blueberries to leak pigmented exudate were investigated. Drip and anthocyanin leakage rates (ALR) were determined spectrophotometrically. Leakage vs time curves were linear or two-phase linear, ALR varying with cultivar, ripeness, and berry condition. Dewaxing increased ALR with most cultivars. ALR did not correlate with berry anthocyanin content, surface area, or cuticle thickness. ALR and amount of drip were poorly correlated. ALR varied from berry-to-berry within samples. Leakage was observed to be nonuniform on berry surfaces, appearing at skin cracks and ruptures, the calyx area, and other point sources. An hypothesis relating leakage to skin condition, fluid accumulation, and anthocyanin content is presented.     

Energy conservation in the industrial sector of developing countries

This paper begins by examining the most energy-intensive industries and methods by which fuel efficiency can be improved. Next the author analyses the economics of energy conservation using specific case studies drawn from India. It is shown that investing in energy efficiency is more economical Btu per Btu than investing in the enhancement of domestic energy resources. The author also assesses changes in the economics of conservation for private firms when there are government incentives. Finally government policies that can overcome economic and non-economic disincentives for investing in energy conservation are examined.     

Opening address: The world gas situation

Worldwide demand and supply of natural gas may rise substantially between the years 1982 and 2000, but the rate of increase will decelerate after 1990. The rapid growth of potential demand in the first decade is expected to take place in the developing countries in particular. During this period, gas production potential will rise most rapidly in Eastern Europe (including the U.S.S.R.) and in the Third World countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. In the year which has passed since the Venice Conference, forecasts of future natural gas demand in Western Europe have been reduced from 300–350 × 10⁹ m³ (in the year 2000) to 270 × 10⁹ m³. This change has greatly diminished the expected need for gas imports into Western Europe. It has also had a positive effect on the reserve position, relative to anticipated demand, of the Netherlands, which now will consider making more gas available for Western European markets.     

Kinetic studies of the electrochemical reaction between lithium and phthalocyanine II. Reduction reaction mechanism

The effects, during formation, of current density, charge capacity, and concentration and temperature of H₂SO₄ electrolyte on the capacity of tubular electrodes in lead/acid batteries have been studied. Electrode capacity was found to be maximum at a H₂SO₄ concentration of 1.05 sp. gr., a charge amount of 250% theoretical capacity, a current density of 0.44 A dm^?2, and an electrolyte temperature of 40 °C. A study of the soaking process for tubular electrodes showed the electrode capacity to be maximum when the acid absorption was about 170 mg of H₂SO₄ per g of oxide. Finally, the discharge overpotential of tubular electrodes was analyzed by a galvanostatic transient method.