Influence of cooking and drying processes at different temperatures on the nutritive value of the protein of mussels (Mytilus edulis)

The effect of steam cooking (96 degrees C for 15 minutes) and drying at two temperatures, 70 degrees C and 110 degrees C, on nutritive value of mussel protein was studied. The measurements were carried out by nitrogen balance techniques in growing rats, and the nutritional parameters studied were: CD, BV and NPU. The crude digestibility (CD) values were: 87 +/- 1 and 82 +/- 1, and the biological values (BV), 80 +/- 1 and 74 +/- 1 for raw mussels, dried at 70 degrees C and at 110 degrees C respectively. This implies a significant decrease in the protein nutritive values of the mussel dried at a higher temperature. Cooking prior to drying significantly improved the digestibility and the biological value of the mussel's protein. In effect, improvement was so great, that the different drying temperatures did not affect the previously cooked product in a different way; therefore, the CD (94 +/- 1 and 94 +/- 1) and the BV (90 +/- 1 and 90 +/- 2) were the same for the mussel's protein, cooked and dried at 70 degrees C or at 110 degrees C.     

Trade-offs for conflicting social objectives in the extraction of finite energy resources

Three social objectives figure prominently in the extraction of finite energy resources, namely income maximization, environmental quality, and inter-generational concern. Owing to lack of complementarity, the pursuit of these objectives often results in conflicts. As a result, extraction strategies should be based on the determination of trade-offs between the objectives. The paper deals with the formulation and illustration of a systems model to determine these trade-offs. The recognition of such trade-offs results in a greater conservation of the finite energy resource, and hence could act as an incentive for the development of alternative energy sources.     

Effect of hot water spray washing on the appearance of lamb carcasses of different weights

Lamb carcasses of > 22 kg weight were not adversely affected by spray washing, but carcasses of < 22 kg weight were affected to some extent. Characteristics of carcasses significantly affected included the appearance of the fat in the crutch region and on the back, and the degree of flaccidity and dampness of the abdominal region. These faults were alleviated somewhat during refrigerated storage and consequently the faults detected in the experiments were probably not of commercial significance since, under pilot market tests in Europe, buyers did not find any faults in spray washed carcasses.     

Uptake of 226radium and 228radium by the lichen genus Umbilicaria

The 226Ra and 228Ra content of the lichens Umbilicaria cylindrica, U. deusta, U. murina and U. hirsuta has been determined as a function of the growth altitude above sea level, based on data derived from material collected from localities in southwest Poland. These data are interpreted as graphs and formulae to show the influence of environmental factors, particularly altitude, on the concentration of 226Ra and 228Ra, and the coefficients of accumulation calculated.     

Truncation of CPC solar collectors and its effect on energy collection

Analytic expressions are derived for the angular acceptance function of two-dimensional compound parabolic concentrator solar collectors (CPC's) of arbitrary degree of truncation. Taking into account the effect of truncation on both optical and thermal losses in real collectors, we also evaluate the increase in monthly and yearly collectible energy. Prior analyses that have ignored the correct behavior of the angular acceptance function at large angles for truncated collectors are shown to be in error by 0–2% in calculations of yearly collectible energy for stationary collectors.     

Simultaneous visualisation of biofouling, organic and inorganic particle fouling on separation membranes.

Fouling is a major problem in membrane processes of water treatment. It can be caused by the deposition of inorganic and organic particulate material, and of microbial cells which may subsequently form biofilms. In practice, usually more than one foulant participates in the formation of membrane deposits. Knowledge of the composition of fouling layers is important for the development of appropriate countermeasures. For this purpose, an experimental system was established for the generation and microscopic visualisation of mixed deposits, using fluorescently labelled model foulants: (i) drinking-water bacteria stained with nucleic acid-specific dyes (biofouling), (ii) synthetic clay mineral laponite stained with rhodamine 6G (inorganic particle fouling), and (iii) fluorescently labelled polystyrene microspheres (organic particle fouling). Polycarbonate and polyethersulfone membranes were challenged with these foulants by dead-end filtration. On the basis of different fluorescent labels, the single foulants in these mixed deposits could be visualised separately by confocal laser scanning microscopy which, in combination with image analysis, allowed the generation of three-dimensional views of the complete deposits. This method offers the possibility for the estimation of quantitative surface coverage by foulants and for the determination of the efficacy of cleaning measures with respect to the removal of different foulants.