Production and oxidative stability of a human milk fat substitute produced from lard by enzyme technology in a pilot packed-bed reactor

Residence time and time of production were investigated during the enzymatic production of a specific structured lipid/human milk fat substitute (SL-HMFS), on a kg scale, made from lard and soybean oil fatty acids, using a packed-bed reactor and short path distillation. There were no effects of residence time or time of production on C18:2 and C18:3 incorporation or on acyl migration in the sn-2 position. In addition, the SL-HMFS was compared to commercial human milk fat substitute (HMFS) regarding fatty acid composition, content of antioxidants and oxidative stability. Fats were stored at 60 °C for four days and the oxidative stability evaluated by analysis of peroxide value (PV) and volatile secondary oxidation products. SL-HMFS had a lower oxidative stability than did commercial HMFS products or lard, probably due to a lower level of tocopherol in SL-HMFS.     

Spectroscopic characterization of low- and non-fat cream cheeses

Low-fat and non-fat cream cheeses were produced with variations in pH (4.4, 4.7, 5.0), salt concentration (0.4%, 0.65%, 0.9%) and fat content (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%). The cheeses were evaluated by four spectroscopic methods; fluorescence spectroscopy, near infrared spectroscopy (NIR), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry (LF-NMR), to identify and describe the variation in cream cheeses induced by the experimental variables. The four methods complemented each other and gave somewhat different information about the products. Only LF-NMR was affected by all three design parameters and showed that high pH and high salt content made the low-fat samples resemble samples with higher fat content, with respect to water mobility. The sensory parameter, creaminess, could be predicted from the spectroscopic measurements, where NIR and FT-IR performed the best in the chemometric models. The spectra measured by these methods contained more information related to creaminess, but the use of a larger number of components indicated that the information was complex.     

Planck cryogenic testing in CSL premises, helium partial pressure management

Both satellite Planck and Herschel are cryogenic ones [1] and [2], the first one having a cold point around 0.1 K, the second one around 0.3 K. Not only are the detectors cooled, but also major subsystems and systems of the spacecrafts.The Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) is involved in testing several parts of these spacecrafts [3], starting form optical tests on the mirrors or on the telescope, via cryogenic vibration testing of scientific focal plane instruments, ending with the full Planck spacecraft testing. Each test requires temperature lower than 20 K, in volumes ranging from 1 m³ to 60 m³, cooling several kilograms to more than one ton, and withstanding heat load up to 150 W in stabilisation.The overall Planck spacecraft test challenge is very high, as it is the only way to measure the end-to-end cooling chain of the spacecraft. The space conditions reproduction must be as perfect as possible to avoid the test set-up influence on the spacecraft performances, especially linked to radiative cooling, mechanical perturbations and Helium residual pressure.Different challenges are presented, and the related CSL solutions are described, highlighting the Helium partial pressure problem, the related computations and trapping system by large sorption panel.     

CH in the Solar Spectrum

CH lines in the solar spectrum have been identified by direct comparison of measured laboratory and solar wavelengths and intensities. The comparisons of individual rotational lines are included in a series of tables arranged according to electronic and vibrational transitions.A detailed investigation of the presence of CH lines in the solar spectrum has been carried out recently as part of the preparation of a current edition of solar spectrum data to replace the 1928 compendium [1].¹ Along with the study of atomic lines, a parallel survey of molecules in the sun is required for any complete revision of the “Solar Spectrum.” A preliminary résumé of the number of CH, OH, and CN lines in the solar spectrum was recently published [2].Many lines of CH are familiar features in the solar spectrum. In his original table, Rowland [3] attributed some of these lines to “C,” and numerous CH lines were included in the 1928 edition [1]. Several authors have carried the work further. For example, Hunaerts [4] and Richardson [5] have each published a list of solar lines which may be ascribed to CH.The present results are based on a study of the rotational structure of individual bands, together with relative laboratory intensities measured along the different branches. It reveals more CH lines in the sun than have been recognized heretofore. A summary of the counts is included in 2] they referred to solar lines. Consequently, if two CH lines contribute to one solar line, each CH line is counted here as a blend. Exception has been made in the case of

The Economy as an Agent-based Whole--Simulating Schumpeterian Dynamics

Schumpeter's view on the dynamics of economic systems has regained topicality as an early contribution to the complexity view in economics. The aim of this paper is to test some of the ideas of Schumpeter using an agent-based computational model. As in the early work of Schumpeter, the model presented assigns a central role to entrepreneurs, and through mechanisms involving creative destruction , the model displays cyclical behavior around a growth path. Focus will be placed on the role of the bankruptcy mechanism in selecting winners and exiting losers.