Changes in liquid‐holding capacity,water distribution and microstructure during chill storage of smoked salmon

BACKGROUND: During recent years, increases in liquid loss and soft texture in cold smoked salmon have been reported, possibly due to increased lipid content and a change in muscle structure. These problems can lead to downgrading of the product. This study aimed to investigate the influence of raw material composition and chill storage on quality parameters of cold smoked salmon. RESULTS: Initial smoked fish had a higher liquid‐holding capacity (LHC) than samples stored for 20 days. Large fish lost more liquid than small fish. The difference in LHC was consistent with a change in water distribution, which could indicate denaturation of muscle protein. Studies of the microstructure showed the influence of both processing and chill storage. An indication of lipid released from the cells was seen after 20 days of chill storage, which could be related to the reduced LHC at that time. CONCLUSION: Both raw material composition and chill storage affected the quality parameters of smoked salmon. This study has improved knowledge about the relationships between muscle structure, liquid‐holding properties and water distribution in smoked salmon. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Judgments of the lucky across development and culture.

For millennia, human beings have believed that it is morally wrong to judge others by the fortuitous or unfortunate events that befall them or by the actions of another person. Rather, an individual's own intended, deliberate actions should be the basis of his or her evaluation, reward, and punishment. In a series of studies, the authors investigated whether such rules guide the judgments of children. The first 3 studies demonstrated that children view lucky others as more likely than unlucky others to perform intentional good actions. Children similarly assess the siblings of lucky others as more likely to perform intentional good actions than the siblings of unlucky others. The next 3 studies demonstrated that children as young as 3 years believe that lucky people are nicer than unlucky people. The final 2 studies found that Japanese children also demonstrate a robust preference for the lucky and their associates. These findings are discussed in relation to M. J. Lerner's (1980) just-world theory and J. Piaget's (1932/1965) immanent-justice research and in relation to the development of intergroup attitudes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of four weeks of creatine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized controlled trial

Background  

High-intensity interval training has been shown to be a time-efficient way to induce physiological adaptations similar to those of traditional endurance training. Creatine supplementation may enhance high-intensity interval training, leading to even greater physiological adaptations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and creatine supplementation on cardiorespiratory fitness and endurance performance (maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2PEAK), time-to-exhaustion (VO_2PEAKTTE), ventilatory threshold (VT), and total work done (TWD)) in college-aged men.     

Encapsulation of Synthesized Plant Growth Regulator Based on Copper(II) Complex in Chitosan/Alginate Microcapsules

A new copper complex, trans-diaqua-trans-bis [1-hydroxy-1,2-di (methoxycarbonyl) ethenato] copper (abbreviation Cu(II) complex), was synthesized and its plant growth regulation properties were investigated. The results show a sharp dependence of growth regulation activity of the Cu(II) complex on the type of culture and its concentration. New plant growth regulator accelerated the development of the corn root system (the increase in both length and weight) but showed a smaller effect on the development of the wheat and barley root systems. Stimulation of corn growth decreased with increasing Cu(II) complex concentration from 0.0001% to 0.01% (inhibition at high concentrations—0.01%). The development of corn stems was also accelerated but to a lesser extent. Chitosan-coated calcium alginate microcapsules suitable for delivery of Cu(II) complex to plants were prepared and characterized. Analysis of the FTIR spectrum showed that complex molecular interactions between functional groups of microcapsule constituents include mainly electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Microcapsules surface exhibits a soft granular surface structure with substructures consisting of abundant smaller particles with reduced surface roughness. Release profile analysis showed Fickian diffusion is the rate-controlling mechanism of Cu(II) complex releasing. The obtained results give new insights into the complexity of the interaction between the Cu(II) complex and microcapsule formulation constituents, which can be of great help in accelerating product development for the application in agriculture     

Understanding CO2 electrochemical reduction kinetics of mixed-conducting cathodes by the electrical conductivity relaxation method

Electrochemical reduction reaction is an important approach to utilize CO₂ and convert it into valuable products. Exceptional reaction kinetics at a high temperature of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) attracts particular attention. In this work, we propose to investigate CO₂-RR kinetics using a new theoretical method based on the electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) technique on a typical mixed-conducting Sr₂Fe_1.5Mo_0.5O_6-δ (SFM) electrode. Three kinetic parameters that are commonly adopted in the typical electrochemical test experiments consisting of overpotential, current density and area-specific resistance (ASR) are derived. The overpotential resulted from the difference in the oxygen partial pressure is caused by the change of CO₂ partial pressure, while current density from the surface reaction rate constant. Accordingly, area-specific resistance, as well as overpotential-current density relationship, can be derived. We believe that this work brings a new method to study the kinetic process of CO₂ electrolysis and to evaluate the electrocatalyst activity of developed new electrode materials as well as to benefit the designing of novel electrode electrocatalysts for highly efficient solid oxide electrolysis cells.     

Quality and nutritional characteristics of traditional curd cheese enriched with thermo-coagulated acid whey protein and indigenous Lactococcus lactis strain

Consumer interest in a healthy lifestyle and health-promoting natural products is a major driving force for the increasing global demand for bio-functional and sustainable dairy foods. Supplementation of curd cheese with thermo-coagulated acid whey protein (TAWP) led to 8–10% higher contents of moisture, 23–31% of lactose, 12–13% of unsaturated, 5–6% of monounsaturated, 63% of polyunsaturated, and 3–4% of long-chain fatty acids. Lipid quality indices – TI, AI, h/H, and Omega 6/3 among others, were also significantly better than those of control cheese. The addition of indigenous Lactococcus lactis strain enhanced the flavour of cheese samples, decreased the counts of yeast and mould up to 1 log cfu g⁻¹ after 10 days of storage. The replacement of curd with TAWP resulted in novel cheese with overall sensory perception above 77 points and added nutritional and functional value, however, body and texture parameters of modified cheese samples require an improvement.     

Urinary Excretion of Ecdysterone and Its Metabolites Following Spinach Consumption

Scope

The phytosteroid ecdysterone is present in spinach. In this study, the urinary elimination of ecdysterone and its metabolites in humans is investigated following spinach consumption of two different culinary preparations.

Methods and results

Eight participants (four males, four females) ingested 950 (27.1) g sautéed spinach (average [±standard deviation (SD)]) and 912 (70.6) g spinach smoothie as second intervention after washout. Post-administration urines are analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). After intake of both preparations, ecdysterone and two metabolites, 14-deoxy-ecdysterone, and 14-deoxy-poststerone, are excreted in urine. The maximum concentration of ecdysterone is ranging from 0.09 to 0.41 µg mL⁻¹ after sautéed spinach and 0.08–0.74 µg mL⁻¹ after smoothie ingestion. The total excreted amount (mean% [±SD]) in the urine as a parent drug plus the metabolites is only 1.4 (1.0) for both sautéed spinach and smoothie. The apparent sex related differences in 14-deoxy-poststerone excretion will need further investigations.

Conclusion

Only a small proportion of ecdysterone from spinach is excreted into urine. No significant differences are found in concentration and recovered amount (%) of ecdysterone, 14-deoxy-ecdysterone, and 14-deoxy-poststerone in urine between sautéed spinach and smoothie ingestion. A discrimination between ecdysterone from food or preparations will be challenging based on urinary concentrations only, at least for later post-administration samples.     

Considering Industry 4.0 aspects in the supply chain for an SME

Industry 4.0 is a buzzword in current research and in the manufacturing environment. However, despite this limited research has focused on how a company can determine the likely benefits of Industry 4.0 technologies and its influence on the supply chain. Additionally, the aspect of customer experience is gaining significant importance in the new Industry 4.0 supply chain. There is a research gap in implementation strategies of Industry 4.0 concepts for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper addresses this gap through an in-depth case study of an SME and highlights how the company can develop competitive advantage. First, a framework was developed to determine the realization of Industry 4.0 predicted benefits for SMEs, which was tested in a case company. Based on input from the case the five-step framework for Industry 4.0 realization is adjusted. It enables practitioners to determine the actual status for their company towards Industry 4.0 realization and thereby functions as a guide for further implementation strategies.