Effects of Carbon Dioxide and Ozone Treatments on the Volatile Composition and Sensory Quality of Dry-Cured Ham

Abstract: Randomized complete block designs with 3 replications were utilized to evaluate the effects of carbon dioxide (CO₂) (0% at 96 h, 60% at 48 h, and 60% at 96 h) and ozone (O₃) (0 and 175 ppm for 48 h) on the volatile flavor compound concentrations in dry-cured ham. Minimal differences existed in the presence and concentration of aroma active compounds in both CO₂ and O₃ fumigated hams but phenols were slightly more prevalent (P < 0.05) in the CO₂ treatments and oxidation compounds were slightly elevated (P < 0.05) in the ozone treated samples when compared to the control. Triangle tests (n = 54 and 56) indicated that consumers could not discern (P > 0.75) between the control hams and the hams that were fumigated with CO₂ and O₃, respectively. This study revealed that there were minimal aroma/flavor differences among the ham treatments between 0 and 60% CO₂ for 96 h; and also between 0 and 175 ppm O₃.     

Phosphate Type Affects the Quality of Injected Catfish Fillets

ABSTRACT:  Catfish fillets were injected to 115% over green weight prior to tray-packing and storage at 4 °C for 1, 4, 8, and 11 d. Fillets were evaluated for yields, surface color, pH, cooking loss, tenderness, purge loss, and shelf-life. All phosphate treatments increased ( P  < 0.05) fillet tenderness, but the agglomerated blend of sodium phosphates (AGSP) increased ( P  < 0.05) pH and yields, and decreased ( P  < 0.05) CIE  L * and CIE  b * values. Psychrotrophic plate counts (PPC) of fillets treated with the agglomerated blend of polyphosphates (AGPP) were lower ( P  < 0.05) than the control at each storage time, but PPC of all samples reached 7 log CFU/g by day 8 of storage. All agglomerated phosphates and STP (sodium tripolyphosphate) improved yields and quality when compared to the nonmarinated control. However, AGSP was the most effective phosphate at increasing pick-up and yields and decreasing cooking loss due to the pH effect that causes more water to be trapped within the food system. Major quality differences may not have occurred between STP and agglomerated phosphates (other than AGSP) since injection relies solely on pH and ionic strength for marinade pickup, whereas tumbling also relies on mechanical action, which relies more on the presence of various phosphate chain lengths and solubility to impact yields. All phosphate treatments improved the quality of tray-packed, refrigerated catfish fillets that were enhanced through multineedle injection. However, AGSP also increased fillet pH, optimized yields, and improved color.
Practical Application: Use of an agglomerated phosphate blend with a high pH (AGSP) maximized the yield of catfish fillets that were marinated through multineedle injection. In addition, STP and agglomerated phosphate blends increased the yield and tenderness of catfish fillets when compared to the nonmarinated control.     

Continuous simultaneous detection in mass spectrometry

In mass spectrometry, several advantages can be derived when multiple mass-to-charge values are detected simultaneously and continuously. One such advantage is an improved duty cycle, which leads to superior limits of detection, better precision, shorter analysis times, and reduced sample sizes. A second advantage is the ability to reduce correlated noise by taking the ratio of two or more simultaneously collected signals, enabling greatly enhanced isotope ratio data. A final advantage is the elimination of spectral skew, leading to more accurate transient signal analysis. Here, these advantages are demonstrated by means of a novel Faraday-strip array detector coupled to a Mattauch-Herzog mass spectrograph. The same system is used to monitor elemental fractionation phenomena in laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.     

Sequence‐Optimized Peptide Nanofibers as Growth Stimulators for Regeneration of Peripheral Neurons

There is an urgent need for biomaterials that support tissue healing, particularly neuronal regeneration. In a medium throughput screen novel self‐assembling peptide (SAP) sequences that form fibrils and stimulated nerve fiber growth of peripheral nervous system (PNS)‐derived neurons are identified. Based on the peptide sequences and fibril morphologies and by applying rational data‐mining, important structural parameters stimulating neuronal activity are elucidated. Three SAPs (SAP^1e, SAP^2e, and SAP^5c) enhance adhesion and growth of PNS neurons. These SAPs form 2D and 3D matrices that serve as bioactive scaffolds stimulating cell adhesion and growth. The newly discovered SAPs also support the growth of CNS neurons and glia cells. Subsequently, the potential of SAPs to enhance PNS regeneration in vivo is analyzed. For this, the facial nerve driving whisker movement in mice is injured. Notably, SAPs persist for up to 3 weeks in the injury site indicating highly adhesive properties and stability. After SAP administration, more motor neurons incorporating markers for successive regeneration are observed. Recovery of whisker movement is elevated in SAP‐injected mice. In summary, short peptides that form fibrils are identified and the adhesion, growth, and regeneration of neurons have been efficiently enhanced without the necessity to attach hormones or growth factors.     

概率可靠性分析的实际应用

能源市场自由化的今天,对电网运营商来说降低成本和提高供电可靠性是相互矛盾的,解决起来比较棘手。为解决这一问题,在电网规划的过程中需要详细的信息,尤其是定量信息。适合于这项任务的工具就是概率可靠性分析,这种工具已成功运用了多年。文章对概率可靠性分析作了简短的描述,重点对体现其实际优势的几个应用示例进行了阐述。其结果证明概率可靠性分析已逐渐成为用户电网规划中不可或缺的组成部分。     

Rx-COSMO-CAMPD: Enhancing Reactions by Integrated Computer-Aided Design of Solvents and Processes based on Quantum Chemistry

Solvents strongly affect reaction-based chemical processes. Process design, therefore, needs to integrate solvent design. For this purpose, the integrated computer-aided molecular and process design (CAMPD) method Rx-COSMO-CAMPD is proposed. It employs a hybrid optimization scheme combining a genetic algorithm to explore the molecular design space with gradient-based optimization of the process. To overcome limitations of molecular design based on group-contribution methods, reaction kinetics and thermodynamic properties are predicted using advanced quantum-chemical methods. Rx-COSMO-CAMPD is demonstrated in a case study of a carbamate-cleavage process where promising solvents are designed efficiently. The results show that the integrated solvent and process design with Rx-COSMO-CAMPD outperforms computer-aided molecular design without process optimization in the identification of solvents that enable optimal process performance.