HALOTHANE GENOTYPE, CHILLING AND LOCATION WITHIN MUSCLE: EFFECTS ON PORK QUALITY

Intact sides were subjected to accelerated chill (AC: −30C for 2.5 h, 4C for 20–22 h) or conventional chill (CC: 4C for 22–24 h). Color, drip loss, and pH were evaluated 24 h postmonem at three sites (inner, mid, and outer) in the Semimembranosus (SM) and Biceps femoris (BF) with the inner site closest to the femur. Zle Longissimus thoracis (LT) and the Longissimus lumborum (LL) were also evaluated. Accelerated chill improved color and drip loss of the Longissimus muscle. Accelerated chill had no fleet on the quality measurements of the ham, although site differences occurred. The fleets of genotype on color, drip loss, and pH in the loin and ham muscles were not consistent in the muscle groups studied. Compared to CC, AC has beneficial fleets on fresh pork quality of the Longissimus muscle, but not the ham muscles.     

Contaminated Land Remediation in the UK with Reference to Risk Assessment: Two Case Studies

The approach to land reclamation in the UK has traditionally relied upon the use of cover and concealment, which can leave a legacy of problems below the ground. Alternatively, the bulk export of materials to licensed landfill has often been used, but this (a) simply transfers a problem, (b) can cause considerable disruption, and (c) is becoming increasingly expensive. Remedial strategies involving the use of barrier systems or off-site removal both have their place in the efficient and economic development of contaminated sites. However, there is now increasing interest in the use of on-site technology which can provide cost savings and by treating, destroying or stabilizing contamination, can serve to minimize future liabilities. The design, costing and application of treatment, as opposed to cover or disposal, depends fundamentally on understanding the problem and evaluating the capabilities and availability of appropriate technologies. With reference to UK case studies, this paper highlights some of the options available and routes taken in order to achieve site-specific, commercially-acceptable, remedial responses.     

Component allocation to balance workload in printed circuit card assembly systems

Component allocation in printed circuit card assembly systems is a special case of the classical mixed-model assembly line balancing problem and involves assigning component types to machines to achieve specific production objectives. In this paper the component allocation problem is considered for the scenario where there are two or more placement machines (possibly nonidentical) and the objective is to balance, for every card type, a combination of the card assembly time and the machine setup time. A mathematical formulation of the problem is developed for a class of placement machines. Two alternative solution approaches are presented: a list-processing-based heuristic for a simple version of the problem, and a linear-programming-based branch-and-bound procedure for the general component allocation problem. Industrial case study results are presented for each approach that indicate expected throughput improvements of up to 8-10% over the company's current procedure, with much less direct effort required by the process engineer.     

EFFECTS OF LIVE ANIMAL SAMPLING PROCEDURES AND SAMPLE STORAGE ON THE GLYCOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF PORCINE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE SAMPLES

Eight hybrid gilts of Hampshire descent were selected at 110 kg live weight, grouped together in one pen and given a one-week adaption period prior to sampling. Longissimus samples (approximately 0.5 g) were taken using spring-loaded biopsy equipment with animals either unrestrained and free to move in the pen or, 3 h later, restrained with a nose snare for two minutes prior to sampling. There was no difference among the two handling approaches for glycolytic potential (P > 0.05). Animals were slaughtered and four longissimus samples (0.5 g) were taken from each carcass immediately following exsangination to evaluate four sample storage methods. Two viable storage methods, freezing in liquid nitrogen followed by freeze drying or immediate homogenization in perchloric acid, yielded relatively high and similar values for muscle glycolytic potential.     

Interpretation of irrigation methods using airborne thermal infrared imagery

In areas of limited water resources for agriculture, management decisions could be enhanced by the availability of additional data about the amount and type of irrigation systems employed. Imagery produced using an HRB Singer AN/A AS 14 optical-electronic thermal infrared scanning system was found to be of great use for the interpretation of irrigation methods. Comparison of the interpreted irrigation method with ground information show agreement within 18 per cent.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTED ADJUNCTS ON PROCESSING AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTRA LEAN FRANKFURTERS

The effects of maximum levels of selected additives in extra lean frankfurters (<3% fat) were studied. Seven treatments, with four replications each, were evaluated at three time periods (0, 30 and 60 days) in a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of: control; kappa-carrageenan; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC); high methoxy pectin (pectin); an acid modified food starch; sodium lactate; and acid enzyme deheated mustard. All treatment frankfurters had higher (P<0.05) yields than the controls. The pectin product had an unacceptable extremely soft, smooth pasty texture. Pectin and HPMC products had the lowest (P<0.05) purge at 60 days. In general, the addition of some appropriate additive or additives to low-fat sausage products appears to be appropriate to increase processing yields, reduce cost and help bind free water so long as the additive or additives do not adversely affect other properties of the product.     

Production of Apple Juice by Single Pass Metallic Membrane Ultrafiltration

A new process utilizing single pass metallic membrane ultrafiltration (UF) was developed to produce apple juice. Pureed whole apples were treated with cellulase and pectinase at 50°C for 2 hr, resulting in a 60% decrease in viscosity. To obtain clarified juice, enzyme treated puree was pumped through a single-pass, tubular membrane system consisting of a metallic oxide membrane formed-in-place on the porous structure of sintered stainless steel tubes. Juice yields of 80–85% were obtained with a single pass, and gas chromatographic profiles of ultrafiltered juice were nearly identical to that of the original apple puree. Permeabilities and sugar rejection characteristics of the UF system were dependent on tube diameter.     

Biological Wastewater Treatment under the Influence of Pressure

An investigation is reported into the effect of pressures of up to 6 bar on the operation of a laboratory-scale rotating biological contactor. All results are compared with those of an identical reactor operating at atmospheric pressure. Few previous results relating to the effect of pressure on biological wastewater treatment could be found in the literature. Although improved BOD and COD removal (compared to that of the reference unit) was evident as the pressure was increased, the principal benefits of increasing pressure were recorded as being (a) significantly improved nitrification, and (b) a decrease in the sludge yield coefficient. Both these factors improved regularly with increasing pressure, although there is some indication that the production of total oxidized nitrogen might have been affected at the highest pressure employed.