CROSPAL,software that uses agronomic expert knowledge to assist modules selection for crop growth simulation

Crop growth models are used for a wide range of objectives. For each objective a specific model has to be developed, because the reusability of a model is often limited by the necessity of a fundamental restructuring to adapt it to a different objective. To overcome this limitation, we developed a method to facilitate model restructuring by a novel combination of software technology with expert knowledge.This resulted in the decision-making software application CROSPAL (CROp Simulator: Picking and Assembling Libraries). CROSPAL includes (1) a library of processes each containing different modelling approaches for each crop physiological process and (2) a procedure based on expert knowledge of how to combine the different processes for the objective of the simulation.A brief overview of the state of the art in crop modelling is presented, followed by an account of the developed concept to improve flexibility in crop modelling considering expert knowledge. We describe the design of the software and how expert knowledge is integrated. The use of CROSPAL is illustrated for the modelling of crop phenology. We conclude that CROSPAL is a helpful tool to improve flexibility in crop modelling considering expert knowledge but further development and evaluation is required to extend its range of application to more processes and issues crop modelling is presently addressing.     

Irish consumer acceptance of a hypothetical second-generation GM yogurt product

This paper examines Irish consumer acceptance of second-generation GM products, defined here as those which are expected to exhibit a specific consumer-oriented benefit. Conjoint analysis was used to determine Irish consumer preferences (n = 297) for attributes of a hypothetical GM yogurt. Cluster analysis on the basis of the GM attribute revealed four segments of consumers. An “anti-GM” segment (24.4% of sample) were outright rejecters of all GM foods, while a second cluster (33.4%) specifically rejected second-generation GM products. A further 20.5% of the sample were receptive to the notion of second-generation GM products. However, this group had a number of complex reservations, which would need to be resolved before they would truly accept such products. GM foods offering specific consumer benefits were found to be acceptable to 21.2% of the sample, implying that these foods could represent a segment within the overall food market in the future.     

Protein interactions in milk protein concentrate powders

Solutions (5%, w/w, pH 6.9), made from six different pilot-plant milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders, were centrifuged (700 g for 10 min at 20 °C) to isolate the insoluble material. The sediment (insoluble material) was characterized using one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The levels of solubility in MPC powders varied between 32% and 98%. The TEM results showed that the insoluble material consisted of large particles (∼100 μm) where the casein micelles are fused together by some form of protein–protein interactions. The 1D PAGE results showed that the amounts of insoluble material in MPC powders increased with storage time at elevated temperatures. This material consisted predominantly of α- and β-caseins. This material was formed largely by weak non-covalent (hydrophobic) protein–protein interactions that were dissociable under SDS-PAGE conditions. The 2D PAGE results demonstrated that the disulphide-linked protein aggregates present in MPC powders consisted of κ-casein, β-lactoglobulin and some α_s2-casein, and not all of this material was sedimented. These aggregates were not considered to play a major role in the formation of the insoluble material.     

Effect of corona discharge plasma jet treatment on decontamination and sprouting of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seeds

Sprout-related outbreaks of foodborne illnesses are increasingly becoming a food safety concern. Different pathogenic microorganisms that originate from sprout seeds are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of such outbreaks. Therefore, in order to decontaminate and also to enhance the germination of seeds, the applications of non-thermal plasma based techniques are increasingly being investigated in the field of agricultural science as an alternative to conventional pre-germination treatments. This work was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) for microbial decontamination of rapeseed seeds, and also studied the plasma treatment effect on the seed germination and physicochemical properties of sprouts (grown from the plasma-treated seeds). Aerobic bacteria, molds and yeast, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. were detected as contaminants in the seeds. All the detected microorganisms were reduced in the range of 1.2–2.2 log CFU/g upon the CDPJ treatment for 3 min. The inactivation patterns are better explained using pseudo-first-order kinetics. The plasma treatment of seeds up to 2 min showed positive effects on their germination rate and seedling growth. Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of rape sprouts were unaffected due to the CDPJ treatment of their respective seeds. Therefore, the CDPJ treatment of rapeseed seeds has not only reduced the seed microbial load, but also contributed to the enhancement of their germination rate and seedling growth, without adversely affecting the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of their corresponding sprouts.     

Implementation of a modified Fuzzy C-Means clustering algorithm for real-time applications

Every month new applications of fuzzy logic to image processing appear. The lightly tight nature of fuzzy algorithms simulates human vision and thus, the field of applications widens. This paper implements in hardware a very popular fuzzy algorithm, the Fuzzy C-Means algorithm. The version of the algorithm allows a high degree of parallelism, which makes the hardware implementation suited for real-time video applications.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline from Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb

A comparative evaluation of the extraction of 2-acetyl pyrroline (2-AP) from Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. using either solvent extraction (3:1 chloroform:methanol), Likens–Nickerson apparatus or supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide extraction was carried out. SFE at 450 bar pressure for 3 h at 60 °C, at a constant flow rate of 0.1 l min⁻¹ of CO₂, could extract 2-AP from P. amaryllifolius Roxb. in yields greater than those obtained by solvent extraction or Likens–Nickerson extraction. This extract could find novel applications in food flavouring.     

Particle density determination of pellets and briquettes

Several methods and procedures for the determination of particle density of pellets and briquettes were tested and evaluated. Round robin trials were organized involving five European laboratories, which measured the particle densities of 15 pellet and five briquette types. The test included stereometric methods, methods based on liquid displacement (hydrostatic and buoyancy) applying different procedures and one method based on solid displacement.From the results for both pellets and briquettes, it became clear that the application of a method based on either liquid or solid displacement (only tested on pellet samples) leads to an improved reproducibility compared to a stereometric method. For both, pellets and briquettes, the variability of measurements strongly depends on the fuel type itself.For briquettes, the three methods tested based on liquid displacement lead to similar results. A coating of the samples with paraffin did not improve the repeatability and the reproducibility.Determinations with pellets proved to be most reliable when the buoyancy method was applied using a wetting agent to reduce surface tensions without sample coating. This method gave the best values for repeatability and reproducibility, thus less replications are required to reach a given accuracy level. For wood pellets, the method based on solid displacement gave better values of repeatability, however, this instrument was tested at only one laboratory.     

Pectin: new insights into an old polymer are starting to gel

Pectin is a high value functional food ingredient widely used as a gelling agent and stabilizer. It is also an abundant, ubiquitous and multifunctional component of the cell walls of all land plants. Food scientists and plant scientists therefore share a common goal to better understand the structure and functionalities of pectic polymers at the molecular level. The basic properties of pectin have been known for nearly 200 years, but recently there has been tremendous progress in our understanding of the very complex fine structure of pectic polymers and pectinolytic enzymes. This has been made possible by synergies between plant and food research and by the application of a range of state-of-the-art techniques including enzymatic fingerprinting, mass spectrometry, NMR, molecular modelling, and monoclonal antibodies. With this increased knowledge comes the prospect of novel applications. Producers are beginning to develop a new generation of sophisticated designer pectins with specific functionalities. Moreover, the ability to manipulate pectin in planta would have a major impact on fruit and vegetable quality and processing, as well as on pectin production.     

Maintaining postharvest quality of fresh produce with volatile compounds

The postharvest quality of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruit was evaluated after treatment with eucalyptus (Ec: Eucalyptus globulus L.) and cinnamon (Cn: Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Blume) volatile oil compounds and storage at 13 °C during or following vapour exposure. Fruit decay decreased in fruit treated with oil vapours and transfer to ‘ambient air’ (AA). Cn-treated tomato maintained fruit firmness during exposure, but the effects were not persistent following storage to AA. However, no effects on fruit firmness were observed for Ec-treated tomato and strawberry-treated with Ec-and Cn-vapours. Oil vapours stimulated levels of total soluble solids during exposure but effects were persistent only for ‘cherry’ tomatoes following exposure. Fruit samples treated with oil vapours did not differ in percentage weight loss, organic acid content, sweetness and total phenolic content during or following vapour exposure compared with untreated fruit. The results suggest that essential oil vapour may improve fruit quality-related attributes on top of the well-documented antimicrobial protection during fresh produce storage and transit.