Evaluation of chitosan nanoparticles as a glazing material for cryogenically frozen shrimp

The potential of chitosan (CH) combined with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles as a glazing material for shrimp was investigated. Two CH–TPP nanoparticles glazing solutions were prepared: (1). A solution containing CH–TPP nanoparticles with 0.25 (g/100 mL) CH and 0.083 (g/100 mL) TPP (25CH–TPP) and (2). A solution containing CH–TPP nanoparticles with 0.5 (g/100 mL) CH and 0.167 (g/100 mL) TPP (50CH–TPP). Frozen shrimp samples were glazed with 25CH–TPP, 50CH–TPP, CH, TPP, acetic acid, and/or distilled water and then stored at −21 °C for 30 days. Glazed and non-glazed shrimp (NG) samples were analyzed for moisture content, glazing yield, weight loss, color, cutting force, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), yeasts, molds, coliforms and aerobic counts after 1, 3, 5, 20, and 30 d storage. Triplicate experiments were conducted and data statistically analyzed (α = 0.05). Glazed shrimp had higher moisture than NG after 30 d storage. Among the glazes, 25CH–TPP and 50CH–TPP were the most effective in controlling lipid oxidation and reducing aerobic counts and yeasts and molds in shrimp.     

STUDY ON ACCURACY OF ADVANCED COMPOSITE TOOLS

Many high precision composite parts, fabricated by means of either hand lay-up or resin transfer molding, are now formed on advanced composite tools (ACTs). Trial and error methods for making accurate ACTs are time consuming and expensive. This paper investigates the effects of processing on the accuracy of ACTs for flat plates. Plate-shaped tools made of woven fabric graphite/epoxy were tested. The accuracy increased considerably as the laminate thickness increased, and it was found that 16 plies, at least, should be adopted in an ACT. Curing of ACTs at a lower temperature and then postcuring at a high temperature resulted in reduced curvature. The metallography revealed a volume-fraction gradient through the laminate thickness. This volume-fraction gradient always resulted in convex upward curvature. In addition, the accuracy of angle composite components with various radii was tested. The results showed that the accuracy of angle composite components was independent of the tool radius.     

Design and analysis of a reconfigurable discrete pin tooling system for molding of three-dimensional free-form objects

This paper presents the design and analysis of a new reconfigurable tooling for the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) free-form objects. The proposed reconfigurable tooling system comprises a set of matrices of a closely stacked discrete elements (i.e., pins) arranged to form a cavity in which a free-form object can be molded. By reconfiguring the pins, a single tool can be used in the place of multiple tools to produce different parts with the involvement of much lesser time and cost. The structural behavior of a reconfigurable mold tool under process conditions of thermoplastic molding is studied using a finite element method (FEM) based methodology. Various factors that would affect the tool behavior are identified and their effects are analyzed to optimally design a reconfigurable mold tool for a given set of process conditions. A prototype, open reconfigurable mold tool is developed to present the feasibility of the proposed tooling system. Several case studies and sample parts are also presented in this paper.     

Microbial volatile organic compounds in the air of moldy and mold-free indoor environments

A single-blinded study was performed to analyze whether indoor environments with and without mold infestation differ significantly in microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) concentrations. Air sampling for MVOC was performed in 40 dwellings with evident mold damage and in 44 dwellings, where mold damage was excluded after a thorough investigation. The characteristics of the dwellings, climatic parameters, airborne particles and air exchange rates (AER) were recorded. The parameters mold status, characteristics of the interiors and measured climatic parameters were included in the multiple regression model. The results show no significant association between most of the analyzed MVOC and the mold status. Only the compounds 2-methyl-1-butanol and 1-octen-3-ol indicated a statistically significant, but weak association with the mold status. However, the concentrations of the so-called MVOC were mainly influenced by other indoor factors. 2-Methylfuran and 3-methylfuran, often used as main indicators for mold damage, had a highly significant correlation with the smoking status. These compounds were also significantly correlated with the humidity and the AER. The compounds 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-hexanone, 3-heptanone and dimethyl disulfide were weakly correlated with the recorded parameters, the humidity being the strongest influencing factor. Only 2-methyl-1-butanol and 1-octen-3-ol showed a statistically significant association with the mold status; however, only a small portion (10% in this case) of the total variability could be explained by the predictor mold status; they do not qualify as indicator compounds, because such minor correlations lead to a too excessive part of incorrect classifications, meaning that the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these compounds are too low. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The assumption that mold infestations might be detected by microbial VOC emissions must be considered with great reservation. The major part of the total variability of the measured MVOC concentrations originates from not known influencing factors and/or from factors not directly associated with the mold status of the dwellings (confounders). More specific and sensitive markers for the assessment of the mold status should be found, if the screening for mold infestations should be performed by volatile organic compounds.     

Physical modeling of gas-liquid interfacial fluctuation in a thick slab continuous casting mold with argon blowing

Combining with the physical model of level fluctuation in a thick slab continuous casting mold with the cross-section of 1500 mm×280 mm and argon blowing, the rationalities of estimating the level fluctuation by three traditional quantitative approaches were discussed, and the effects of gas flowrate, casting speed, and the immersion depth of submerged entry nozzle (SEN) on the level fluctuation were also investigated. As a result, it seems that three traditional quantitative approaches are not very suitabl...     

Porosity,Microstructure and Thermal Stability of Microwave-cured Polymeric Denture Molds

Abstract

The relevance of controlling the chemical structure, thermal stability, composition and the porosity, of microwave-cured polymeric denture-molds is a key parameter if some degree of control of the corresponding adhesion among components is to be achieved. Different microwave-cured only polymer blends (Epoxy resin + Hardener) for producing denture molds were characterized by different techniques and compared to microwave-cured composites, also used for producing denture molds (Epoxy resin + Hardener + Alumina). In both cases the porosity was characterized by SEM, and the best material (in terms of porosity) was then subjected also to thermal and structural characterization. The results show the lowest porosity for the 90% Epoxy resin + 10% Hardener blend. The morphology shows a homogeneous surface with irregular particles smaller than five microns and voids-free. Also, the optimum temperature 100.8[ddot]C for microwave-cured denture molds was achieved with only a 0.64% loss of the original mass.     

小麦粉污染霉菌的分离鉴定及产黄曲霉毒素 能力的研究

目的对污染小麦粉中所含霉菌进行分离和菌株鉴定,并对所分离菌株的产黄曲霉毒素能力进行评价。方法使用马铃薯-葡萄糖琼脂培养基和麦汁琼脂培养基对小麦粉污染的霉菌进行分离和纯化,根据菌落形态、显微形态观察和ITS序列分析结果对分离菌株进行鉴定,采用PCR技术检测黄曲毒霉合成路径的关键基因来判断菌株的潜在产毒能力,最后用高效液相色谱法确认菌株是否产毒。结果共分离出5株菌株,分别鉴定为链格孢霉(NHF1)、橘灰青霉(NHF2)、黑曲霉(NHF3)和米曲霉(NHF4、NHF5),其中2株米曲霉具有潜在的产黄曲霉素的能力,在一定条件下会产生黄曲霉毒素。结论需要加强小麦粉微生物检测,尤其是霉菌污染的检测、管理和控制,全面制定小麦粉中污染微生物的限量标准,尤其是霉菌的限量值。     

Geometric algorithms for automated design of multi-piece permanent molds

Multi-piece molds, which consist of more than two mold pieces, are capable of producing very complex parts—parts that cannot be produced by the traditional molds. The tooling cost is also low for multi-piece molds, which makes it a candidate for pre-production prototyping and bridge tooling. However, designing multi-piece molds is a time-consuming task. This article describes geometric algorithms for automated design of multi-piece molds. A multi-piece mold design algorithm has been developed to automate several important mold-design steps: finding parting directions, locating parting lines, creating parting surfaces, and constructing mold pieces. This algorithm constructs mold pieces based on global accessibility analysis results of the part and therefore guarantees the disassembly of the mold pieces. A software system has been developed, which has been successfully tested on several complex industrial parts.     

Mold-free Shelf-life Extension of Bakery Products by Active Packaging

ABSTRACT: Total elimination of oxygen (O₂) in modified atmosphere packaging of bakery products is difficult to achieve. Because of the typical porous texture of the packaging, air can be retained inside. The effect of O₂ absorbers alone or in combination with modified atmosphere on Eurotium amstelodami, E. herbariorum, E. repens , and E. rubrum growth was investigated. Cakes of 0.80 to 0.90 water activity ( a_w ) were packaged with different atmospheres (air, 100% N2; 70% N2:30% CO₂) and O₂ absorbers of 2 different absorption capacities. The use of absorbers with a suitable absorption capacity led to a significant increase of cakes with mold-free shelf life, regardless of a_w and pH level, at 25 °C.     

快速霉菌酵母测试片法与GB 4789.15—2016在3种类型食品中霉菌计数比较

目的比较快速霉菌酵母测试片(RYM)法和GB 4789.15—2016《食品安全国家标准食品微生物学检验霉菌和酵母计数》方法(以下简称国标法)测定3种类型食品样品中霉菌计数的一致性。方法选取90份糕点、面包、饼干样品,30份含乳饮料、植物蛋白饮料、固体饮料样品,30份保健食品样品并对3种类型食品样品进行人工污染得到的人工污染样品,利用RYM法和国标法进行霉菌计数的测定,检测结果通过配对资料t检验以及对数值差值绝对值(|dlog|)汇总分析进行统计。结果两种方法对3种类型食品样品以及人工污染样品检测结果在统计学意义上无显著性差异(P0.05);|dlog|≤0.50占比均为100.0%,表明两种方法的检测结果一致性较好。结论 RYM法和国标法对3种类型的食品样品及其人工污染样品中霉菌计数的检测结果一致性较好。