Methodological Aspects of Determining Apple Mechanical Properties During Impact

The influence of cylindrical sizes of samples and velocity of impact on its course and strength parameters for the “Braeburn” variety apples was studied. Three sample lengths of 17, 19, and 21 mm, three diameters of 10, 15, and 20 mm and four impact velocities of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 ms^–1 were applied. Failure stress and strain, impact energy, absorbed energy as well as tissue stiffness and toughness were determined as dependent variables. The influence of the sample diameter on maximum force response, impact energy, absorbed energy, and tissue stiffness was studied. The other independent variables: Sample length and impact velocity did not show significant influence on the strength parameters of the apple tissue. The shock wave speed in the apple tissue was independent of both sample sizes and impact velocity. Its mean value amounted to 292 ms^–1. Under the experimental conditions the mean value of the absorbed energy contribution to the impact energy amounted to 9.9%. The experiment confirmed importance of a critical stress criterion as regards cylindrical samples of apples under impact conditions.     

Effect of Inoculation with Probiotics and Ageing Time on Selected Functional Properties and Oxidation of Proteins in Dry-Cured Pork Loins

The effect of inoculation with a probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei ?OCK 0900 on changes in selected functional properties and protein oxidation of dry-cured pork loins during ageing was studied. The protein carbonyls content tended to increase significantly (p < 0.05) throughout ageing to reach a maximum level which was approximately two-fold the initial level in both samples. No statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in carbonyl content were found between the control sample and sample inoculated with L. casei. The passage of ageing time was coupled with a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the trichloroacetic acid soluble peptides concentration in examined loins. Inoculation with a probiotic strain did not have an influence on trichloroacetic acid soluble peptides concentration during the shortest ageing period. Results of measurements carried out for the control sample after 21 and 28 days of ageing were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those obtained for the sample inoculated with L. casei ?OCK 0900. Free α-amino acids content in both samples increased continuously with increasing ageing time (p < 0.05). Inoculation of loins with a probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei ?OCK 0900 resulted in significantly higher peptides and free amino acids content. These differences might affect their organoleptic characteristics that need further investigations.     

Application of Freezing and Thawing in Apple (Malus domestica) Juice Extraction

The paper presents the results of the research on the impact of enzymatic liquefaction, freezing and thawing on the efficiency of juice pressure extraction from apple pulp and quality of the obtained juices. The research was conducted using three types of pretreatment prior the pressing: crushing and enzymatic liquefaction in temperature of 25 °C, crushing and enzymatic liquefaction in temperature of 45 °C and crushing followed by freezing and thawing of the pulp. The study included three varieties of apples. The juice was obtained using a laboratory basket press. It was determined that the pretreatment of the pulp as well as the varietal characteristics of the fruits have a significant impact on the efficiency of the pressure extraction process. The enzymatic treatment of the pulp, irrespective of the temperature at which it was conducted, significantly increased the efficiency of the process. No effect of the temperature (25 or 45 °C) of enzymatic treatment on the efficiency of the pressure extraction process was found. Pretreatment of the pulp based on freezing and thawing contributes to the increase of efficiency of pressing in the case of two apple cultivars, that is, Idared and Red Delicious. It was showed that total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, the soluble solids content and juice acidity (pH) depend on the pretreatment of the pulp and the varietal characteristics of apples. Following the application of pretreatment of the pulp, an increase was observed in the content of polyphenols and in the antioxidant activity of the juices obtained.     

Antioxidant activity,color characteristics,total phenol content and general HPLC fingerprints of six Polish unifloral honey types

Total phenolic content, antioxidant activity (two assays: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), and color coordinates (CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) L*a*b*) for six Polish unifloral honeys (black locust, rapeseed, lime, goldenrod, heather and buckwheat) were assessed for several batches of the same honey type and statistically evaluated. Total phenolic content (121.6–1173.8 mg GAE/kg) was similar to the values previously reported for other European honeys and it was also correlated with the color parameters as well as antioxidant activity. The honeys' color ranged from pale yellow to dark amber. Dark buckwheat honey with much higher phenolic content (1113.0 mg GAE/kg) exhibited higher antioxidant activity (5.7 mmol Fe²⁺/kg and 1.2 mmol TEAC/kg). CIE L*a*b* color coordinates can be helpful for identifying and distinguishing between several honey types, such as heather and buckwheat, but almost no differences were found among very light honeys (rapeseed, goldenrod, black locust and lime). High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis revealed general characteristic fingerprints of Polish unifloral honeys with significant differences among the samples of other honey types.     

Effect of Modified Starches on Rheological Properties of Ketchup

The aim of this work was to study the effect of commercial modified starches of different origin on rheological properties of ketchup. The following starches were used to produce the ketchup samples: chemically modified potato (acetylated distarch adipate from potato starch), waxy maize (acetylated distarch adipate from waxy maize starch and hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate from waxy maize starch), and cassava (acetylated distarch adipate from cassava starch) starches and physically modified cassava and waxy maize starches (physically modified cassava starch and physically modified waxy maize starch). The SEM microphotographs revealed that swollen or disrupted starch granules were present in the ketchup samples. As was evaluated by particle size distribution analysis, two peaks characteristic for different starch granule sizes were observed, the first peak at about 100 μm for ketchup thickened with potato starch and the second one at about 50 μm for the rest of the samples. Ketchups showed non-Newtonian, shear-thinning flow with tendency to yield stress. Values of the rheological parameters describing the flow curves significantly correlated with Bostwick consistency. Ketchup samples exhibited different susceptibility for temperature changes, while values of flow activation energy were from 4.18 to 9.00 kJ/mol. On the basis of mechanical spectra, it is noted that values of G′ were higher than these of G″ showing that elastic properties dominated over the viscous ones. Ketchup samples exhibited properties of weak gels which were estimated from the values of G′ and G″ moduli and their relation and from values of tangent of phase angle (tan δ = 0.14???0.37). Principal component analysis revealed both similarities and differences in rheological behavior of the examined ketchup samples thickened with different modified starches.     

Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Honey with Sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary metabolites produced by plants as a chemical defense against herbivores. Plants containing PAs are widely distributed in almost all geographical regions posing a risk of honey contamination. To provide safety of honey and decrease the potential risk for the consumers, a sensitive method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry enabling determination of a content of 1,2-unsaturated PAs in honey was developed. Honey samples were purified on MCX cartridges, and PAs were eluted with a solvent mixture consisting of ethyl acetate, methanol, ammonia, and triethylamine. Subsequently, 1,2-unsaturated alkaloids were reduced to their common backbone structures and derivatized with heptafluorobutyric anhydride. The method was validated according to SANTE 2015. All received parameters are in consistence with the document requirements as recovery ranged from 73.1 to 93.6%. The repeatability and reproducibility were calculated as relative standard deviation and ranged from 3.9 to 8.6% and from 10.6 to 17.8%, respectively. The limit of quantification was determined as 1 μg kg^?1. Good linearity of the method was obtained with the coefficient of determination R ²?>?0.99. The method was applied to 40 Polish and 14 Asian honey sample analyses.     

Selection of coal for small district-heating stations in Poland as a method of avoiding investments in flue-gas desulphurization

Poland is one of the biggest producers of hard coal in the world and uses its domestic coal for electricity and heat generation: 42 million tons for electricity and heat production in power industry, and about 8–10 million tons used by small district-heating stations annually. Changes in demand for coal, destined for heat generation, result from the changes in the forecast structure of energy carriers to be used by local heating stations and the new emission standards coming, this year, into effect in Poland. To meet the regulations, the heat generators have to keep to environmental requirements. The cheapest solution is to burn the compliance coal. The comparison of the forecasts for coal demand and supply and the possibility of adjusting quantitative and qualitative requirements of the smaller coal consumers points out that it would be possible, when the market rules, to heal the situation between coal producers and coal consumers in Poland.     

New type of sorption composite for chemical heat pump and refrigeration systems

This paper describes new type of solid sorption composite based on expanded graphite (EXG) and carbon fibers (CF). Process of production (including preparation of the components and molding) of the composite, as well as measurements of its heat transfer coefficient has been presented. Introduction of carbon fibers allowed to obtain thermal conductivity λ of about 13–15 W/mK in comparison to 6.5–9.2 W/mK for expanded graphite based only composites described in available literature. Thermal conductivity of the composite has been measured in cryostat using the axial stationary heat flow method. Temperature profiles for various thermal conductivities (ranging 0.3–16 W/mK) were numerically calculated and compared.The composite has been introduced in experimental single stage sorption heat pump system using CaCl₂ – NH₃ as working pair.     

Influence of sonication on Warner-Bratzler shear force,colour and myoglobin of beef (<Emphasis Type="Italic">m. semimembranosus</Emphasis>)

Research in the past few decades has shown the potential benefits of using ultrasound treatment as a technique to enhance tenderness and sensory properties of meat and its sub-products. The objective of current study was to assess whether the low-frequency, low-intensity ultrasound treatment at 24 h postmortem affects the pH, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), colour (CIE L^*a^*b^*c^*H°), and relative proportions of myoglobin (Mb) redox forms and total Mb concentration during 96 h of beef (musculus semimembranosus) storage. Muscles were obtained from young bulls (n = 15) of Lowland Black and White breed slaughtered at a live weight of 475 (SD 16.1) kg. Ultrasound treatment did not have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) effect on the pH of meat directly after sonication (24 h postmortem), or at 72 and 96 h postmortem. Sonicated meat sample (S) was characterized by higher, but not statistically significant (p < 0.05), L* coordinate values 24, 48 and 72 h postmortem. During the whole storage period, colour coordinates a*b*c* and H° were not significantly (p < 0.05) affected by sonication. Ultrasound treatment accelerated the total colour change ΔE, limited the formation of MbO₂ and slowed down the formation of MetMb. Measurements carried out 48 and 72 h after slaughter revealed that the ultrasound treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the WBSF. This study demonstrates the potential of low-frequency, low-intensity ultrasound treatment at 24 h postmortem for beef tenderization without detrimental effects on its CIE colour parameters and relative proportions of Mb redox forms.     

River Floods in the Changing Climate—Observations and Projections

River flood damages, worldwide, have increased dynamically in the last few decades, so that it is necessary to interpret this change. River flooding is a complex phenomenon which can be affected by changes coupled to terrestrial, socio-economic and climate systems. The climate track in the observed changes is likely, even if human encroaching into the harm’s way and increase in the damage potential in floodplains can be the dominating factors in many river basins. Increase in intense precipitation has already been observed, with consequences to increasing risk of rain-induced flooding. Projections for the future, based on climate model simulations, indicate increase of flood risks in many areas, globally. Over large areas, a 100-year flood in the control period is projected to become much more frequent in the future time horizon. Despite the fact that the degree of uncertainty in model-based projections is considerable and difficult to quantify, the change in design flood frequency has obvious relevance to flood risk management practice. The number of flood-affected people is projected to increase with the amount of warming. For a 4°C warming the number of flood-affected people is over 2.5 times higher than for a 2°C warming. The present contribution addresses the climate track in an integrated way, tackling issues related to multiple factors, change detection, projections, and adaptation to floods.