Meat flavor volatiles: A review of the composition,techniques of analysis,and sensory evaluation

Flavor is an important quality attribute which relates to the organoleptic characteristics of meat. Although perception of flavor is a complex phenomenon, odor is the most important single factor contributing to the overall characteristics of flavor. A large number of compounds have been identified in the volatile fraction of red meats and poultry. An overview of the chemical constituents present in the volatiles of beef, pork, mutton, and chicken is presented according to species and arranged by chemical class — hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, sulfides, heterocyclic compounds, etc. The volatile components of cured and uncured pork are compared. The field of meat flavor is assessed in terms of what has been accomplished and the direction in which it may proceed. Techniques for analysis of these volatiles are briefly described.     

Still different after all these years: Gender differences in professional identity formation.

We consider issues affecting professional identity formation, such as individual differences, graduate training, cultural perspectives, and ideology. We propose that gender differences in professional identity and functioning also are attributable, to a significant degree, to early developmental experiences. We review the professional socialization process and then discuss three theoretical issues related to gender differences that appear to affect women in their professional roles: a relational focus, distance vs. intimacy in relationships, and contextual decision making. We explore the theoretical issues under consideration and offer observations from personal experience in professional roles that are related to these theoretical concepts. We offer recommendations for training programs, the workplace, and further research concerning the impact of these issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The development of infant intersensory perception: Advantages of a comparative convergent-operations approach.

Despite impressive demonstrations of human infants' intersensory capabilities over the past several decades, there has been little focus on the contributions of prenatal and postnatal experience or the specific developmental processes underlying the emergence of intersensory functioning. Research with nonhuman animals has, however, provided a number of advances in understanding early intersensory perception. The authors explore the value of a comparative, convergent-operations approach to the study of early intersensory perception and examine how this approach has highlighted the study of (a) prenatal factors, (b) brain–behavior relations, and (c) context and experience variables contributing to infants' intersensory responsiveness. The authors review the conceptual frameworks guiding most theory and research in the area of human infant intersensory development over the past 30 yrs. Examples of how human and animal research programs can cross-fertilize one another in their attempts to understand developmental processes underlying intersensory perception are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intersensory redundancy guides attentional selectivity and perceptual learning in infancy.

This study assessed an intersensory redundancy hypothesis, which holds that in early infancy information presented redundantly and in temporal synchrony across two sense modalities selectively recruits attention and facilitates perceptual differentiation more effectively than does the same information presented unimodally. Five-month-old infants' sensitivity to the amodal property of rhythm was examined in 3 experiments. Results revealed that habituation to a bimodal (auditory and visual) rhythm resulted in discrimination of a novel rhythm, whereas habituation to the same rhythm presented unimodally (auditory or visual) resulted in no evidence of discrimination. Also, temporal synchrony between the bimodal auditory and visual information was necessary for rhythm discrimination. These findings support an intersensory redundancy hypothesis and provide further evidence for the importance of redundancy for guiding and constraining early perceptual learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimization of nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based fingerprinting methods to characterize goat milk powder

This study is the first to provide a comprehensive characterization of the liquid and volatile fractions of whole goat milk powder (GMP). Robust nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)- and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based chemical fingerprinting methods were optimized and implemented. The untargeted ¹H-NMR analysis resolved 44 metabolites in the liquid fractions of GMP. The NMR fingerprinting technique effectively identified metabolites coming from the aliphatic, sugar, and aromatic regions that can be important in defining the technological properties and quality of the GMP. The untargeted headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry fingerprinting was able to detect a total of 50 volatiles including alkanes, ketones, alcohols, aromatics, alkenes, aldehydes, esters, acid, and sulfur compounds. The GMP was dominated by volatiles in the alkane group, while only a few esters were detected. Goat milk is a premium product and vulnerable to fraudulent activities such as adulteration or counterfeit. Therefore, proper characterization and identification is a crucial first step to verify its authenticity and quality.     

Further results on the in situ anaerobic corrosion of carbon steel and copper in compacted bentonite exposed to natural Opalinus Clay porewater containing native microbial populations

Since 2012, a long-term in situ corrosion experiment (IC-A) is being conducted in the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory in Switzerland to investigate the corrosion behaviour of candidate canister materials in conditions representative of the Swiss concept for the disposal of high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel. To date, carbon steel and various types of copper coatings have been retrieved after different exposure periods of up to 3 years, and characterised to establish the composition of the corrosion product, the morphology of the corroded surface, the nature of the interaction between the metal and the surrounding bentonite, and the microbial populations in the bentonite and surrounding porewater. For carbon steel specimens, a complex corrosion product was identified, consisting predominantly of magnetite. Much less alteration on either the metal or the bentonite was observed in the case of copper samples. Low average anaerobic corrosion rates were measured for carbon steel and a very modest amount of alteration was identified on copper. The density and the initial form of the bentonite had a small influence on the rate of corrosion, across all materials. This paper summarises the results of the experimental programme obtained to date and discusses the relationship observed between exposure time and the evolution of the metal–bentonite interface for both carbon steel and copper.     

A Raman spectroscopic method to find binder distribution in electrodes during drying

Lithium ion batteries are used extensively in electronic devices as well as hybrid and electric vehicles. The anode electrode layer in the battery can be fabricated by coating an aqueous dispersion of carbon, binder, and additives, and then drying. During manufacturing, the distribution of the binder through the coating thickness can become nonuniform, which compromises the properties and performance of the battery. In this study, a quantitative method to analyze the binder distribution in the electrode during drying was established. A drying apparatus with an integrated analytic balance and surface-temperature measurement was used to prepare specimens. At specific time points during drying, specimens were removed from the apparatus, quickly frozen, and then freeze-dried. Raman spectroscopy was then used to measure the binder concentration at different points through the cross section of the freeze-dried electrode coating. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to explore the changing microstructure qualitatively. Using a model electrode formulation, the method demonstrated different binder distributions for electrodes dried at 150°C under airflow and room temperature, 20°C, with no airflow. The results also showed continued changes in distribution in the interior of the coating as drying continued.     

Selection versus training in the development of paraprofessionals.

To investigate the relative contributions of selection and training on the performance of paraprofessionals, 80 undergraduate volunteers responded to simulated phone calls. Ss were randomly divided into 4 samples, and 1 group was chosen from each sample. Two groups were chosen on the basis of high scores on the Telephone Counseling Effectiveness Scale (TCES), which was used to rate the responses to the phone call, and 2 groups were chosen randomly. One selection group and one random group were trained in 3 2-hr training sessions. All Ss were then asked to respond to the call again, and once again 3 wks later. All calls were rated using the TCES. Using an analysis of covariance, training was found to have a significant main effect, while selection was not. There was also a 3-way interaction between training, selection, and test. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)