Combined gel probes for the in situ determination of dissolved reactive phosphorus in porewaters and characterization of sediment reactivity

Diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were applied in situ to obtain high spatial resolution dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) sediment porewater profiles in two lagoons of the Gippsland Lakes (SE Australia) during summer. Although the DRP depth profiles were different in each lake, highlighting the sensitivity of DRP to the redox state of the sediment spatial DRP variations obtained from DET and DGT showed striking similarities with depth in each lake. Comparison of DRP concentrations obtained from DGT and DET allows an assessment of the reactivity of the sediment. A dynamic numerical model of DGT-induced flux in sediments (DIFS) quantified reactivity kinetics. Sediment response time (Tc) related to sedimentary phosphorus resupply resulting from DGT-induced lowering of the porewater DRP concentration was calculated. Values of Tc ranged from 4128 to 183 400 s and from 55 to 149 400 s for Lakes Victoria and Wellington, respectively. These results indicate the limited capacity of the sediment to quickly resupply DRP to the porewater, especially in surface sediment which was always characterized by the highest Tc. Adsorption and desorption rate constants were also calculated from DIFS with values ranging from 2 x 10(-3) to 2 x 10(-2) day(-1) and from 0.3 to 21 day(-1) for Lake Victoria and from 2 x 10(-4) to 0.8 day(-1) and from 0.6 to 1558 day(-1) for Lake Wellington, respectively. Diffusive fluxes estimated from the in situ DRP gradient at the sediment-water interface by DET were 558 and 1.2 micromol m(-2) day(-1) in lakes Victoria and Wellington, respectively. Despite only a single measurement, these fluxes highlight a substantial contribution of P from the sediment to the water column in summer for Lake Victoria which is likely to contribute to the recurring blooms of blue-green algae. These calculated fluxes obtained with minimal sediment disturbance and high spatial resolution were substantially different (by a factor of 6-180) from other reported values using more conventional quantitative assessments such as diffusive fluxes (from core slicing) and benthic chambers.     

Relationship between collagen characteristics,lipid content and raw and cooked texture of meat from young bulls of fifteen European breeds

Variations in texture were determined for 10 day aged raw and cooked Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle from 436 bulls of 15 European cattle breeds slaughtered at an age of 13–16 months. Variations in texture were related to differences in pH 24 h post-mortem, sarcomere length, collagen characteristics and lipid content. The shear force of cooked meat samples varied from 43.8 to 67.4 N/cm². Simmental, Highland and Marchigiana cattle had the highest shear force values and Avileña-Negra Ibérica, Charolais, Casina and Pirenaica cattle had the lowest values. Cooked meat toughness showed a weak negative correlation to lipid content (P < 0.001) but no correlation to collagen characteristics. Raw meat texture measured by compression correlated positively (P < 0.001) with total and insoluble collagen. In conclusion, collagen characteristics showed correlation to raw meat texture but not to cooked meat toughness of LT muscle in European young bulls.     

Effects of supranutritional dietary vitamin E levels on subcellular deposition of α-tocopherol in the muscle and on pork quality

The influence of three levels of vitamin E in the diet of pigs on the subcellular deposition of α-tocopherol in the muscle and on selected quality characteristics of pork meat (oxidative stability of lipids, colour, drip loss, microbial growth) was studied. The content of α-tocopherol in adipose tissue and L. dorsi muscle as well as in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of the muscle significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary vitamin E. The differences in the concentrations of α-tocopherol in the subcellular fractions were evident in the enhanced stability of the membranes when exposed to metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide. The beneficial effect of dietary vitamin E on the oxidative stability of pork lipids during the storage of pork chops and ground pork was also demonstrated. Even though lipid oxidation increased in all cases during storage, the pork products from the pigs receiving the highest level of vitamin E (200 IU kg^?1 feed) exhibited the smallest increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. In addition, increased colour stability and decreased drip loss were observed on keeping pork chops, which had been previously frozen for three months, at 4°C under fluoresent light for 10 days. The possible effect of α-tocopherol on membrane fluidity in this context is discussed.     

Preharvest internalization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 into lettuce leaves, as affected by insect and physical damage

Environmental pests may serve as reservoirs and vectors of zoonotic pathogens to leafy greens; however, it is unknown whether insect pests feeding on plant tissues could redistribute these pathogens present on the surface of leaves to internal sites. This study sought to differentiate the degree of tissue internalization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 when applied at different populations on the surface of lettuce and spinach leaves, and to ascertain whether lettuce-infesting insects or physical injury could influence the fate of either surface or internalized populations of this enteric pathogen. No internalization of E. coli O157:H7 occurred when lettuce leaves were inoculated with 4.4 log CFU per leaf, but it did occur when inoculated with 6.4 log CFU per leaf. Internalization was statistically greater when spinach leaves were inoculated on the abaxial (underside) than when inoculated on the adaxial (topside) side, and when the enteric pathogen was spread after surface inoculation. Brief exposure (～18 h) of lettuce leaves to insects (5 cabbage loopers, 10 thrips, or 10 aphids) prior to inoculation with E. coli O157:H7 resulted in significantly reduced internalized populations of the pathogen within these leaves after approximately 2 weeks, as compared with leaves not exposed to insects. Surface-contaminated leaves physically injured through file abrasions also had significantly reduced populations of both total and internalized E. coli O157:H7 as compared with nonabraded leaves 2 weeks after pathogen exposure.     

Polymer additive migration to foods-a direct comparison of experimental data and values calculated from migration models for polypropylene

To reduce the amount of compliance testing for food contact polymers the use of migration modelling is under discussion and being evaluated by an EU Commission funded project (Evaluation of Migration Models No. SMT4-CT98-7513). The work reported in this paper was exclusively funded by industry to provide data for the independent evaluation of a diffusion based model using eight different samples of polypropylene (PP) covering the range of polymers specification and five commonly used plastics additives. One hundred and fifty experimental migration data have been obtained in triplicate and used to evaluate a Fickian-based migration model in the prediction of specific migration of five additives into olive oil. All tests were conducted using olive oil, representing the most severe case for fatty foods, with test conditions of 2h at 121 ° C, 2h at 70 ° C and 10 days at 40 ° C, representing short term exposures at high temperatures and room temperature storage. Predicted migration values were calculated using the Piringer 'Migratest Lite' model by entering the measured initial concentration of additive in the polymers(C_p,0) in to the equations together with known variables such as additive molecular weight, temperature and exposure time. Where necessary the data generated in this study have been used to update the model. The results indicate the Piringer migration model, using the 'exact' calculations of the Migratest Lite program, predicted migration values into olive oil close to, or in excess of, the experimental results for > 97% of the migration values generated in this study. For all measurements, the predicted migration from the Migratest Lite program was greater than 70% of the observed value. This study has identified the possibility that random co-polymers of propylene and ethylene give higher migration than other grades of polypropylenes and could be treated as a separate case. However, further work on more samples of random co-polymers is required to confirm this finding.     

Use of durum residue flour,a lower value product of durum milling,by incorporation into wheat flour dough without deterioration in baking quality

BACKGROUND: During the milling of durum wheat to semolina, about 10–15% of total products produced is residue flour, a lower value product than the semolina. This study investigated the potential for using the durum residue flour as an additive in bread‐making to improve its potential commercial value. RESULTS: Incorporation of residue durum flour from 102 breeding lines into a low protein flour and standard bakers' flour at 20% incorporation improved the bake loaf volume with minimal change in Mixograph dough mixing time and peak resistance in many of the lines tested. Loaf yellow b was always increased even with only a 10% incorporation. Baking flours can tolerate 20% incorporation with no deleterious affects on loaf volume and bake score. CONCLUSION: The results show a potential for using the lower value durum residue flour for baking bread of acceptable quality with a slightly higher yellow colour. This would improve the profitability for the miller and provide alternative ingredients to the baker for preparing specialty breads. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales and Society of Chemical Industry     

NO and NO2 emission ratios measured from in-use commercial aircraft during taxi and takeoff

In August 2001, the Aerodyne Mobile Laboratory simultaneously measured NO, NO2, and CO2 within 350 m of a taxiway and 550 m of a runway at John F. Kennedy Airport. The meteorological conditions were such that taxi and takeoff plumes from individual aircraft were clearly resolved against background levels. NO and NO2 concentrations were measured with 1 s time resolution using a dual tunable infrared laser differential absorption spectroscopy instrument, utilizing an astigmatic multipass Herriott cell. The CO2 measurements were also obtained at 1 s time resolution using a commercial non-dispersive infrared absorption instrument. Plumes were measured from over 30 individual planes, ranging from turbo props to jumbo jets. NOx emission indices were determined by examining the correlation between NOx (NO + NO2) and CO2 during the plume measurements. Several aircraft tail numbers were unambiguously identified, allowing those specific airframe/engine combinations to be determined. The resulting NOx emission indices from positively identified in-service operating airplanes are compared with the published International Civil Aviation Organization engine certification test database collected on new engines in certification test cells.     

Standing up to the big squeeze

Consumer confidence is at its lowest ebb since 1980. Economic growth is at a standstill & unemployment & inflation are both rising. Here's a front-line report from more than three dozen operators who are fending off the recession's dual pressures of slow sales & rising costs. They are using discount pricing, partnering with vendors, setting pay for performance standards & a variety of other recession-beating practices.     

Real-time quality authentication of honey using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (APCI-MS)

The aim of this study was to use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and APCI-MS techniques to detect adulteration in honey. The key volatile compounds in the headspace of the adulterated honey were marked by GC-MS and their representative fragment ions were utilised in scanning honey samples using the real-time APCI-MS system. The PLS models validated using independent data sets resulted in coefficient of the determination () of 0.97 and 0.96 and root mean square error in prediction (RMSEP) of 2.62 and 2.45 for the GC-MS and APCI-MS data sets respectively. The most efficient volatiles from GC-MS analysis and their corresponding fragment ions m/z from APCI-MS data analysis were then identified and used to develop new PLS models to predict the level of adulteration. The best PLS model gave of 0.95 and RMEP of 2.60% in the independent validation set indicating that the model was very accurate in predicting the level of adulteration.