Toxin Development by Clostridium botulinum in Modified Atmosphere-Packaged Fresh Tilapia Fillets During Storage

Potential for toxin development by Clostridium botulinum type E was investigated in retail-type packages of fresh tilapia fillets packaged in high barrier film under selected atmospheres [100% air, a modified atmosphere (MA) containing 75%CO₂:25%N₂, and vacuum] and stored under refrigeration (4°C) and abuse temperatures (8 and 16°C). Toxin development coincided with sensory spoilage at 16°C storage for fillets packaged in either MA, or vacuum. At 8°C, toxin development in fillets packaged in either of the atmospheres occurred 7-23 days after sensory spoilage. At 4°C, none of MA-packaged fillets became toxic until 10 days after onset of sensory spoilage. Toxin development did not precede sensory spoilage in any treatments or temperatures studied.     

Structure-performance-fouling studies of polysulfone microfiltration hollow fibre membranes

Hollow fibre microfiltration membranes were prepared by solution spinning process using polymer dope containing different amounts of polysulfone (PS), polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) and ${\bf \textit{N}}$ , ${\bf \textit{N}}$ -dimethylformamide (DMF). Spinning dope having PS: PVP: DMF (w/w) of 15: 5: 80, 15: 7: 78 and 17: 8: 75 were used for spinning to obtain hollow fibres having different dimensions (outer and inner diameters) and pore characteristics. Relatively high water permeability was observed for hollow fibre membrane spun from 15?wt.?% solution than 17?wt.?% PS solution having the same PVP/PS ratio of 0·47. Decrease of the PVP/PS ratio to 0·33 in the dope solution of 15?wt.?% PS solution produced hollow fibre membrane with lower flux. By changing the spinning parameters, fibre with different dimensions were obtained without a significant change in microstructural morphology. The flux decline due to fouling for the permeation of PEO/BSA solution was maximum for the hollow fibre membrane obtained from 15?wt.?% PS solution while a steady flux with slight fouling was observed for the hollow fibre membrane obtained from 17?wt.?% PS solution, when the PVP/PS ratio was 0·47.     

INACTIVATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM TYPE E SPORES BY HIGH PRESSURE PROCESSING

The effect of high pressure treatments at various temperature combinations on the inactivation of Clostridium botulinum type E spores of strains, Alaska and Beluga in phosphate buffer (0.067 M, pH 7.0) was investigated. No reduction of spores was observed at any pressurization (Maximum = 827 MPa) for temperatures below 35C. At pressurization of 827 MPa for 5 min, log unit reduction of spores increased as temperatures increased from 35 to 55C. An increase in the processing time from 5 to 10 min at a combination of high pressure (827 MPa) and low temperature (40C) resulted in a 5-log reduction of Alaska spores. About 5-log reductions for strains Alaska and Beluga occurred at 50 and 55C, respectively, after processing at pressures of 827 MPa for 5 min.     

Eigenfunction sensitivity and the parameter variation problem†

A set of sensitivity functions are defined in the state space representation of a system. These functions relate ’ small ’ changes in system parameters that inevitably occur in the assembly or the operation of a plant, to the eigenfunctions of the system. The variations of system response of a linear time invariant, dynamical system when it is subjected to parameter variations are the object of this investigation. A new approach for the sensitivity analysis of the system response is indicated. This approach leads to procedures which give rise to fairly routine operations on a digital computer.     

Study of PBL dynamics over northern plains in fixing stack height of a super thermal power station

The Planetary Boundary Layer plays an important role in air pollution meteorology and in fixing the Stack height of major air-polluting industries, including the super thermal power plants. In India a super thermal power plant is being set up at Yamunanagar (30·1° N, 77·33 ° E) and it has been studied using an acoustic sounder with a stack height of 220?m which would be the optimum height to keep the physical stack above surface based inversions for 80 per cent of the time and the elevated inversions for 50 per cent of time above. However, the hot plume rise would inject any pollutants above the surface based inversions for 95 per cent of the time     

EFFECT OF PACKAGING MATERIAL ON THE QUALITY OF POTATOES TREATED WITH ISOPROPYL N-(3-CHLOROPHENYL) CARBAMATE (CIPC)

Katahdin and Russet Burbank potatoes, treated with isopropyl N-3(-chlorophenl) carbamate CIPC and stored for four months at 5C in either mesh or polyethylene bags (two packaging materials frequently used for potato storage), were tested for enzymatic discoloration, phenolic and ascorbic acid concentration. CIPC residues in tubers stored in polyethylene bags were significantly (p < 0.0l) higher than those stored in mesh bags. Tubers stored in polyethylene showed significantly (p<0.05) higher discoloration and phenolic concentration, and lower ascorbic acid concentration than those stored in mesh bags. Differences in CIPC retention of the tubers stored in the two packaging materials may have been responsible for some of the differences in quality factors since CIPC was shown to significantly (p<0.0l) increase the enzymatic discoloration and phenolic concentration, and decrease the ascorbic acid concentration of both cultivars.     

Determination of Metmyoglobin Reductase Activity in Bovine Skeletal Muscles

A novel technique was used to obtain an isolate of skeletal muscle containing MetMb reductase. The isolate was then used as the enzyme source in an assay procedure to measure specific MetMb reductase activity. Enzyme activity was highest at pH 6.4 as compared to 5.8 or 7.0 and at 30°C compared to 4°C. Significant differences in enzyme activity were found among beef muscles from the same animal. The order of muscles, when enzyme activity was expressed on the basis of muscle myoglobin content, was: tensor faciae latae > longissimus dorsi > gluteus medius > diaphragma medialis > semimembranosus = psoas major (p = 0.01).     

AC impedance and dielectric spectroscopic studies of Mg<Superscript>2 + </Superscript> ion conducting PVA–PEG blended polymer electrolytes

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–polyethylene glycol (PEG) based solid polymer blend electrolytes with magnesium nitrate have been prepared by the solution cast technique. Impedance spectroscopic technique has been used, to characterize these polymer electrolytes. Complex impedance analysis was used to calculate bulk resistance of the polymer electrolytes. The a.c.-impedance data reveal that the ionic conductivity of PVA–PEG–Mg(NO₃)₂ system is changed with the concentration of magnesium nitrate, maximum conductivity of 9·63 × 10^− 5 S/cm at room temperature was observed for the system of PVA–PEG–Mg(NO₃)₂ (35–35–30). However, ionic conductivity of the above system increased with the increase of temperature, and the highest conductivity of 1·71 × 10^− 3 S/cm was observed at 100°C. The effect of ionic conductivity of polymer blend electrolytes was measured by varying the temperature ranging from 303 to 373 K. The variation of imaginary and real parts of dielectric constant with frequency was studied.     

In-plane anisotropy in tensile deformation and its influence on the drawability of Nimonic c–263 alloy sheets

An effort has been made to comprehensively evaluate and rationalize the in-plane anisotropy in tensile properties and the effect of aging on the nature of deformation (strain hardening behaviour) and formability characteristics, especially the limit drawing ratio and forming limit diagram. Despite weak crystallographic texture and excellent ductility and high work hardening exponents, the alloy sheets of C-263 exhibit significant extent of in-plane anisotropy in its tensile properties and yield loci. The absolute magnitudes of yield stress and the exact nature of anisotropy that can be predicted from the tensile part of the yield locus need to be employed with caution. This is because when the magnitudes of the yield stresses, obtained from yield locus are more than 5 times higher as compared to the yield and ultimate tensile strength values and the nature and degree of in-plane anisotropy under tensile loading matches with that of only the compressive yield stresses of yield locus. The alloy sheet, due to weak crystallographic texture and relatively high strengths, is found to be far more suitable for structural applications, rather than for deep drawing applications, which was reflected in low limit drawing ratio values (1.34 for CR+ST and 1.23 for peak aged conditions). Further, the study conducted reveals that the safer forming limits in strain space is higher for CR+ST condition; while, the safer forming limits in stress space are higher for peak aged (CR+ST+1073 K/8 h) condition. Finally, detailed studies are outlined to arrive at suitable microstructural and textural characteristics that provide significantly enhanced drawability in the Nimonic C-263 alloy sheets.     

NONTHERMAL STERILIZATION OF GREEN COCONUT WATER FOR PACKAGING

ABSTRACT

A laboratory scale technique for nonthermal sterilization of green coconut water was developed. The process consisted of two‐stage filtrations under constant pressure using different filter media; namely, low ash filter paper (Whatman 42) in the first stage and cellulose nitrate membrane (0.2‐µm pore opening) in the second stage. The quality of the filtered water was evaluated with respect to microbial population, organoleptic characteristics, nutrient contents and physical properties. The water after the second stage of filtration was sterile with no visible growth of microbes on culture plates. The taste of the processed water did not change significantly; however, the flavor and overall acceptability decreased about 9 and 11%, respectively. The water also remained sterile after 1 month in aseptically packed condition, but overall acceptability further decreased by 6%. The filtration reduced different nutrients of the fresh water like fat, ash, total sugar, reducing sugar and protein by 40.0, 43.9, 23.4, 29.2 and 13.3%, respectively; the removal of K, Mg, Ca, Fe and Cu was 10.15, 16.14, 19.04, 20.85 and 22.21%, respectively. The removal of these nutrients increased surface tension and decreased viscosity of the coconut water.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Packaging of sterile green coconut water as soft drink has a good global market as it ensures its widespread availability, quantity and reasonable price. Non‐thermal sterilization by membrane filtration has been found to be an alternative to thermal sterilization as the later adversely deteriorates many essential qualities of this delicate coconut water. The present non‐thermal sterilization technique maintained the sterility, nutritional quality and desirable organoleptic profile of the processed water. Thus, this process could be applied for production of green coconut water as packaged soft drink.