Optimization of textural and technological parameters using response surface methodology for the development of beef products for older consumers

Red meat has a tougher texture compared with many other food products, therefore consumption is often reduced among older adults. Acidic treatments had a positive effect on WBSF values (reduced the WBSF values from 23.35 N for control to 14.83 N), and texture parameters and a combination with apple fiber and rice starch may improve the health profile of a meat product with benefits for consumers, particularly for older population. A novel meat product with a softer texture (apple fiber 0.15%, rice starch 0.30% and citric acid 0.16 M) was optimized and successfully validated in this study. The results obtained for the objective measurements of tenderness were confirmed by consumers' tenderness results (p < .05) moreover texture-optimized beef samples were found to be more acceptable by older consumers compared with control. Meat processors have an important role in increasing the availability of suitable meat products for older consumers, by developing products that will meet their nutritional and textural needs. In this study, a novel meat product with a softer texture was developed, successfully validated and the product was found to be acceptable by older consumers. Meat processors could consider using rice starch, apple fiber, and citric acid as feasible alternative to traditional ingredients used for beef injection, in order to obtain a softer product, that appeal to older consumers with difficulties in mastication.     

Food of the Future? Consumer Responses to the Idea of 3D-Printed Meat and Insect-Based Foods

3D printing technologies are beginning to be employed to fabricate new food products. One of the more unusual and potentially controversial adoptions of this novel food technology involves the use of laboratory-cultured meat or insect-based ingredients to support ethical consumption, food security, and environmental sustainability initiatives. In this article, we discuss findings from our study involving an online discussion group with Australian participants concerning their attitudes to a novel technology that combined new food processing and presentation devices (the 3D printer) with a range of ingredients. The participants recognized the potential benefits of insect- and cultured-meat-based printed food for society. However, their own priorities for food consumption choices centered more on the qualities of health, taste, and naturalness. We found that overall, few participants articulated interest in or support for consuming or serving 3D-printed food products made from cultured meat or insects. Most expressed their disquiet about the degree of processing cultured meat undergoes. It was considered to be “unnatural,” and therefore not fresh, potentially harmful, lacking taste or not nutritious. Most of the participants also expressed antipathy towards the idea of eating printed products containing insects. While such products were considered more “natural” and nutritious than cultured meat, the idea of eating insects was predominantly greeted with disgust. As these findings suggest, plans to use 3D printing technologies to render ingredients such as cultured meat and insects more acceptable and appealing to consumers in countries like Australia have major cultural barriers to overcome.     

HEC-ResSim在固原市水资源优化配置中的应用

固原市原州区位于宁夏南部,水资源量少质差,其天然禀赋条件不能满足日益增长的社会经济发展对水资源的需求,故需对水资源进行合理高效配置,打破水资源瓶颈制约。通过建立HEC-Res Sim多水源多用户模型,对当地水、引调水及再生水等多水源进行合理配置,充分考虑生产、生活、生态等不同用水需求,进行规划水平年的供需平衡分析,明确供需缺口并提出相应的解决办法,为实现固原市原州区经济社会和生态环境的可持续发展提供技术支撑。     

中国中长期碳减排战略目标初探(Ⅳ)——天然气能源在中国的应用前景和碳减排分析

中国目前天然气在能源消费结构中的比例不到4%。与欧美发达国家相比,中国在商业和居住方面的年人均天然气消费量要低30多倍;按照EIA的中长期预测,中国天然气仅占家庭用能的21%～28%、商业用能的14%～20%,与发达国家大约相差1倍。中国用于发电的天然气使用量不到2%,由于风电比例的提高,非常有必要争取2050年将天然气调峰发电的比率提高到5%以上。如果2030年中国天然气产量达到3000×108m3并加大从国外的进口量,使消费量达到5000×108m3,天然气在能源消费结构中的比率有可能提高到14%。制约中国天然气消费量提高的因素包括国内天然气产量、国外进口量、基础设施建设和天然气价格等。提出2050年中国实现天然气消费量达到6000×108m3和8000×108m3的两个情景,其基础是确保常规天然气产量为2500×108m3,页岩气产量达到1000×108~1500×108m3,煤层气和煤制替代天然气产量达到1000×108~1500×108m3,进口量为1500×108~2500×108m3,这是一个非常艰巨但却有可能实现的目标。如果2050年中国天然气消费量达到8000×108m3的高消费量情景,按照发改委能源研究所设定的节能情景的能源消费总量测算,天然气在一次能源消费结构中的比例可上升到14%;按低碳情景测算,天然气的比例可上升到18%;按强化低碳情景测算,天然气的比例可上升到20%,达到目前世界的平均水平。两个天然气消费情景的二氧化碳排放量分别为7.4×108t和9.6×108t。从各方面而言,增加天然气消费量都是正效应而非负效应。     

Consumer-Run Drop-In Centers and Clubhouses: Comparisons of Services and Resources in a Statewide Sample.

Consumer-run programs and clubhouses are 2 important models in the emerging field of psychosocial rehabilitation according to the 1999 Surgeon General's report (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). However, no published studies have compared the operations and services of these 2 models. The research reported here involves a statewide study of a matched sample of 29 clubhouses and 29 consumer-run drop-in centers (CDIs), with data gathered by obtaining documents from and conducting on-site interviews with agency directors. As expected, the authors found greater member control and involvement at CDIs and more instrumental services and activities at clubhouses. The authors also found that clubhouses had substantially more resources than CDIs and that CDIs showed significantly greater variance across programs on most measures. Implications for planning and further research are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Energy saving instrument - ESCerts in India

There exists a large potential in India as far as achievement of energy efficiency is concerned and it is up to the Indian policy-makers, regulators and obligated entities to ensure that India realizes this potential to the fullest. A deep commitment towards this effect is not only beneficial for the country as a whole through reduction in its carbon foot print and reduced dependence on fuel imports but will also increase the competitive edge of our industries vis-à-vis other countries. One of the instruments for improving the overall energy efficiency that has emerged in recent times is energy saving certificates (ESCerts). The staying power of European examples in Italy, UK and France has demonstrated that ESCerts can help initiate more efficiency projects. This paper discusses ESCerts as an instrument for reducing the energy intensity of the high energy intensive Indian industries under the light of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and Perform Achieve and Trade scheme (under NMEEE) and suggests a way forward for the ESCerts market in India.