Efficiency of the proportion of azidiol on preservation in ewe’s milk samples for analysis

Accuracy of milk component analysis is very important to most dairy farmers and to the dairy industry. Many factors contribute to the variation of the parameters analysed for payment purposes; one of the these factors is the method used to preserve the sample of milk prior to analysis in milk-testing laboratories. The aim of this work was to test the efficiency of different proportions of azidiol on the preservation of ewe’s milk. Fresh ewe’s milk from several origins was incubated to obtain increasing bacterial contamination ranges. Control samples versus samples preserved with azidiol (Az) or with half dose of preservative (Am) were compared. Samples were stored at different temperatures for different periods of time. Both doses Az and Am were effective enough to preserve milk either at 6 ± 2 °C for three days or at room temperature for 15 h. A dose-dependent underestimation of Bactoscan counts was detected in preserved samples versus the original counts measured in control samples. Samples preserved with Am showed results more similar to Control samples and therefore appeared to reflect with more accuracy the bacteriological condition of raw milk at origin.     

Consumer segmentation based on food neophobia and its application to product development

When evaluating the acceptability of food products, companies often focus on specific demographics for recruiting and screening consumers. However, this information may not necessarily explain the variability in the test results. Other elements, such as consumer psychographic profiles, may help better understand test participants’ responses. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of food neophobia (reluctance to/avoidance of novel foods) on acceptability of novel food items. Six salad dressings with novel flavor combinations were chosen for evaluation in a central location test. Consumers were screened using the food neophobia scale (Pliner & Hobden, 1992) as well as liking of salad dressings. Each subject evaluated three of six dressings for hedonic and diagnostic attributes. Neophobic subjects rated the salad dressings significantly lower (p < 0.05) than neophilics for all hedonic attributes with the exception of appearance. These results were consistent for all dressings. However, when looking at the hedonic mean scores from both groups, the products were ranked in similar order in that the best liked and least liked dressing for the neophilic group was the same as those for the neophobic group. For diagnostic attributes, while the mean scores were significantly different for neophobics and neophilics, the percentage of “just-about-right” scores did not differ. These results suggest that food neophobia may impact the degree with which a product is liked or disliked by consumers, but it may not affect how products are ranked based on hedonic mean scores. Therefore, while understanding the psychographic composition of a consumer test respondent base may help explain why some products score higher or lower in acceptability, it may not alter the sensory guidance provided to product development regarding the specific flavor and texture attributes that were tested.     

Synthesis of todorokite-type manganese oxide from Cu-buserite by controlling the pH at atmospheric pressure

A todorokite-type manganese oxide molecular sieve material was successfully synthesized at atmospheric pressure by refluxing treatment of Cu²⁺ exchanged Na-buserite (named as Cu-OMS-1). TEM (transmission electron microscope) and HRTEM (high resolution transmission electron microscope) images revealed that this material has a needle-phase crystal morphology with thickness 0.1–1 μm, and the lattice fringes spacing 1.0 nm corresponding to the [1 0 0] plane of the todorokite structure. Such morphological and intergrowth characteristics were similar to those of hydrothermally synthesized todorokites. The Cu-OMS-1 with a chemical composition of Cu_0.34MnO_2.19 · 1.11H₂O, was stable below 400 °C. The BET surface area was found to be 62.5 m²/g, and a major micropore size distribution peak centered at 0.70 nm for Cu-OMS-1 by the Horvath–Kawazoe (HK) method. As determined by the t-plot method, 31% of the surface area was contributed by micropores. The pH of reaction solution plays an important role in the sub-structure modification of formed Cu-buserites and the formation of todorokite at atmospheric pressure. A mechanism for the influence of pH on the transformation is discussed.     

Ventilation performance measurement using constant concentration dosing strategy

Air change performances of an office with variable air volume (VAV) mechanical ventilation system and a domestic apartment with natural ventilation were evaluated using tracer gas techniques. Both the constant concentration and the decay method were utilized. Experimental results showed that the domestic apartment with opened windows performed better than the VAV system in terms of air-exchange efficiency, and maintained the highest air change rate. However, poor air change rate and air-exchange efficiency were resulted when the windows were closed in the home. By comparing the measurement results from the two tracer gas methods, it is found that the results obtained by the constant concentration dosing method were compatible with that obtained from the widely adopted tracer decay method. Several recommendations for conducting constant concentration dosing test were also discussed in this article.     

Eating quality of raw carrots––correlations between flavour compounds,sensory profiling analysis and consumer liking test

Sensory profiling, analysis of aroma, sugar and dry matter, as well as consumer liking test were used to characterise the quality of six carrot cultivars, grown at two locations in Denmark. The carrot samples were examined at harvest, and after three months of cold storage. Carrot cultivar had an effect on most sensory and flavour compound variables, due particularly to the influence of one cultivar; and also location influenced carrot quality. Storage of carrots was characterised by an increase of a range of aroma components, but the changes in flavour compounds were not correspondingly observed by the sensory analysis. By Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) two thirds of the flavour compound variables was found to correlate significantly with one or more of the nine sensory attributes; and all of the sensory attributes were significantly correlated with one or more of the consumer liking test variables bitterness, sweetness and liking.     

Investment screening model for spatial deployment of power-to-gas plants on a national scale – A Danish case

When transitioning to a 100% renewable energy system storing electricity becomes a focal point, as the resource flexibility is lost and the design of the energy system needs to provide flexibility and balancing options to integrate intermittent renewable resources. Using technologies such as power-to-gas offers an opportunity to store electricity in chemical form, which can be used as a long-term storage option. This paper develops a spatial modelling method by using a GIS tool to investigate potential generation sites for power-to-gas plants. The method determines the location of the plants by carbon source potential, proximity of the grid, costs of grid transmission and investment costs of the technology itself. By combining these types of data, it is possible to identify the investment costs of the power-to-gas plants. The method focuses on two paths: biogas upgrade and CO₂ methanation. The method is applied to a specific case by investigating the power-to-gas potential in Denmark. The potential and spatial deployment is found by examining the investment costs of plants with an annual gas production of 60 GWh. The findings of the analysis indicate that the biogas upgrade path is the cheapest one of the two, at the present cost level, but due to the relatively small number of biogas plants in Denmark, the chosen plant size is limited to around 55 plants. CO₂ methanation is a more costly path, but it has a larger potential of around 800 plants. As the analysis is based on the current sources for biogas and CO₂, it is important to emphasise that the potential for CO₂ methanation plants can be expected to diminish in the future as more renewable energy is introduced, lowering the need for thermal energy producers, while biogas production could see an increase. Nevertheless, the analysis of a specific case shows that the method gives a good indication of the extent of the power-to-gas resources by using a novel approach to the matter. The method can be applied in other countries as well, giving it a wide appeal.     

A comprehensive mathematical model of a serial composite process for biomass and coal Co-gasification

A comprehensive mathematical model to simulate a serial composite process for biomass and coal co-gasification has been built. The process is divided into combustion stage and gasification stage in the same gasifier, it is a new process for the co-gasification of biomass and coal. The model is based on reaction kinetic, hydrodynamics, mass and energy balances, it is a one-dimensional, K-L three-phase, unsteady state model. The model is divided into two sub-models, one is the combustion sub-model, the other is the coal-biomass serial gasification sub-model. Combustion sub-model includes coal pyrolysis, dense phase combustion, and dilute phase combustion model. Gasification sub-model includes biomass pyrolysis, dense phase coal gasification, dense phase biomass gasification, and dilute phase gasification model. The model studies the effects of key parameters on gasification properties, including gasification temperature, S/B, B/C, and predicts the composition of product gas and gas calorific value along the reactor's axis at different time. The model predictions agree well with experimental results and can be used to study and optimize the operation of the process.     

Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution on iron-cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogenated carbon nanotube

Using low-cost nonprecious metals to replace Pt as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst is promising, but still limited by their efficiency and stability. Herein, with low-cost dicyandiamide and metal salts as precursor, FeCo alloy nanoparticles encapsulated in nitrogenated carbon nanotubes (FeCo-NCNTs) were facially synthesized as efficient HER electrocatalyst. Addition of iron as second element, though not facilitating the formation of carbon nanotube, was utilized to improve the physicochemical properties of metals. Via optimizing the atomic molar ratios of Fe/Co nanoparticles, the optimal Fe_0.4Co_0.6-NCNTs with thin carbon shell (c.a. 5–10 layer) and equally distribution of embedded alloy nanoparticles was found with outstanding HER activity. To achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², only overpotential of 50 mV, 157 mV and 202 mV were needed in acidic (0.5 M H₂SO₄), alkaline (1 M KOH), and neutral solutions. Its higher electrochemically active surface areas and lower electron transfer resistance may contribute to the excellent electrocatalytic HER. Furthermore, the illustrated current density slightly changed over 20 h, suggesting excellent stability. Hence, the present method provides cost-effective, high efficiency, and stable materials in developing the sustainable energy conversion systems.     

Enterprise Application Integration in the electronic commerce world

Electronic commerce is radically changing the competitive landscape. Increasingly, firms need to have stronger ties with customers and suppliers. In this business scenario, it is important for firms to have information systems (IS) that encourage the unhindered flow of information. The paradigm that addresses this need of firms is popularly known as Enterprise Application Integration (EAI). In this paper, we examine EAI in some detail and develop a case for EAI in today's business environment. We discuss various ways in which EAI can be realized and illustrate how firms can improve gains by implementing the appropriate EAI solution. It concludes with a discussion about the future directions that EAI might take.