Changes in Volatile Components of Stored Tangerines and Other Specialty Citrus Fruits with Different Coatings

ABSTRACT: Shellac and wax-based citrus coatings were applied to Fallglo, Robinson, Sunburst, Dancy and Murcott tangerines, Nova and Orlando tangelos, and Temple oranges. Flavor volatiles were measured before and after storage. Concentrations of ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, isopentanol and 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol increased markedly for fruit with shellac-based coatings, and were highly correlated with ethanol content, but at different ratios for the different varieties. The concentration increases were relatively less for fruit coated with the wax-based coatings, and suggest that high-gloss shellac and resin-based coatings are not appropriate for tangerines.     

Potency of mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls as inducers of dioxin receptor-regulated CYP1A activity in rat hepatocytes and H4IIE cells

Among the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a family of widespread environmental pollutants, the most toxic non-ortho-substituted coplanar (non-ortho coplanar) congeners are thought to act as strong dioxin (aryl hydrocarbon) receptor agonists leading to adverse effects, such as body weight loss, immunosuppression, thymic atrophy, hepatotoxicity, tumor promotion, and disturbances of steroid hormone action. Since PCBs are present in environmental and tissue samples as complex mixtures, we investigated the possible interaction of non-ortho coplanar congeners with other major PCBs, which are less active or inactive as dioxin receptor agonists. As a parameter for dioxin receptor activation, induction of CYP1A-catalyzed 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) was determined in rat hepatocytes in primary culture and in the rat hepatoma cell line H4IIE. In rat hepatocytes, individual EC50-values and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalency factors (TEFs) for the non-ortho and mono-ortho coplanar PCBs 126, 169, 105, 118 and 156, were in good agreement with published data from in vivo experiments, while in H4IIE cells coincidence was lower. However, in both cell systems TEFs for PCB 77 were significantly higher than reported from experiments in rats. In an approximately equipotent mixture the six potent PCB congeners showed perfect additive behaviour in both cell systems. In contrast, addition of a tenfold surplus of abundant mono- and di-ortho PCBs (28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) led to an almost threefold higher TEF than predicted. This finding suggests a moderate synergistic enhancement of the inducing potency of potent PCBs by less potent congeners, present in abundance in environmental and tissue samples.     

The Titan Graphics Supercomputer architecture

The design criteria for the Titan are outlined, and the hardware, architecture, and implementation developed to meet them are examined. The key architectural elements in Titan are described, and the reasoning behind their selection is presented. Titan's processor subsystem is explored, focusing on how it reduces the cost and complexity of graphics-specific hardware. The design constraints and implementation of the I/O subsystem are discussed. The Titan operating system, compilers, and graphics software are described, and a statistical summary of Titan's performance is given     

Polyvinyl Acetate as a High-gloss Edible Coating

Edible coating formulations were made with food-grade polyvinyl acetate (PVA) dissolved in alcohol-water mixtures. PVA coatings had high gloss and relatively high permeance to O₂ and water vapor, and they formed glossy surfaces on chocolate candy, citrus fruit, and apples. Addition of propylene glycol helped to retain coating gloss when the alcohol content of the solvent was reduced to less than 70%. Fresh apples or citrus fruit with PVA coatings had higher internal O₂ than fruit with shellac and resin coatings and, consequently, less tendency to ferment and produce alcohol during storage. Fruit with PVA coatings did not whiten or ‘blush’ after contact with water.     

Critical unit operations of the aqueous processing of fresh coconuts

An aqueous process was investigated for the recovery of oil and food grade protein from fresh coconuts. Efficient recovery of oil, which is very important for economical reasons, was related to three critical unit operations: separation of oil from the fiber, destabilization of an oil-in-water emulsion, and recovery of a protein product that is low in oil content. The material balance is reported for a laboratory process that satisfactorily separates oil and breaks the emulsion, and data are shown which has led to a process for recovery of a protein with low oil content. Presented at the 162nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.     

A survey of the microbial population and ethanol content of bagged salad

Five nationally and regionally distributed brands of ready-to-eat salads in sealed bags were sampled from major supermarket chains. At time of purchase, product temperature was 4 to 7 degrees C; the mean mesophilic microbial population was 1.0 x 10(7) CFU/g; the yeast population was 210 CFU/g; the mean headspace O2 and CO2 concentrations were 1.2 and 12%, respectively; and the ethanol content was 700 ppm. For samples analyzed on the expiration date (14 to 16 days after packaging) the mean mesophilic microbial population was 6 x 10(7) CFU/g; ethanol content was 1,500 ppm; and the headspace gas had not markedly changed from time of purchase.     

Aqueous processing of full-fat sunflower seeds: Yields of oil and protein

Undehulled sunflower seeds were comminuted and extracted with water containing 0.2% Na₂SO₃ at pH 10, which extracted from the fiber 86% of the oil and 85% of the protein. Isolate was prepared by addition of acid, with best yield achieved from pH 5 precipitation.     

Development of a sensitive E-screen assay for quantitative analysis of estrogenic activity in municipal sewage plant effluents

A simplified proliferation test with human estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells (E-screen assay) was optimized and validated for the sensitive quantitative determination of total estrogenic activity in effluent samples from municipal sewage plants. After solid phase extraction of 1 l sewage on either 0.2 g polystyrene copolymer (ENV+) or 1 g RP-C18 material and removal of the solvent, analysis of the extracts in the E-screen assay could be performed without any clean-up step. This was even possible with untreated sewage. Parallel extraction of four sewage samples on both different solid phase materials gave comparable quantitative results in the E-screen. A blank sample did not induce cell proliferation. As additive behaviour of the estrogenic response of single compounds was proven for two different mixtures each containing three xenoestrogens, total estrogenic activity in the sewage samples, expressed as 17 beta-estradiol equivalent concentration (EEQ), could be calculated comparing the EC50 values of the samples with those of the positive control 17 beta-estradiol. The detection limit of the E-screen method was 0.05 pmol EEQ/l (0.014 ng EEQ/l), the limit of quantification 0.25-0.5 pmol EEQ/l (0.07-0.14 ng EEQ/l). In total, extracts of nine effluent and one influent sample from five different municipal sewage plants in South Germany were analyzed in the E-screen. All samples strongly induced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner which was completely inhibited by coincubation with 5 nM of the estrogen receptor-antagonist ICI 182,780. The proliferative effect relative to the positive control 17 beta-estradiol (RPE) was between 30 and 101%. 17 beta-Estradiol equivalent concentrations were between 2.5 and 25 ng/l indicating a significant input of estrogenic substances via sewage treatment plants into rivers.     

Validation and application of a rapid in vitro assay for assessing the estrogenic potency of halogenated phenolic chemicals

The E-Screen assay serves as an in vitro tool for the detection of estrogenic activity of chemicals and extracts of environmental samples. Based on the induction of proliferation in human estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells we could substantially simplify the assay. As one important step of validation we applied the modified assay for testing nine known xenoestrogens. We could confirm the results of other groups assuring the reproducibility of the E-Screen assay. The results provide evidence that the E-Screen assay is suitable for determination of estradiol equivalency factors (EEFs) for environmental estrogens to rank their estrogenic potency relative to the natural estrogen 17 beta-estradiol. Further, we used the optimized proliferation test to screen nine halogenated phenolic compounds for their possible estrogenic potency. Three widely applied chemicals expressed a weak receptor-mediated estrogenic activity: the flame retardant Tetrabromo-Bisphenol-A, the disinfectant 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, and the herbicide educt 4-chloro-2-methylphenol. Their estrogenic potencies were five to six orders of magnitude lower than that of 17 beta-estradiol.     

On the occurence of isopeptide bonds in the chorion of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Rich.) (author's transl)

Chorions of unfertilized and fertilized eggs of the rainbow trout were isolated from tissue and yolk components and investigated for isopeptide bonds. The complete hydrolysis of the alpha-amide bonds was obtained by a system of four proteases. A chromatographic ion exchange system was used to separate Nepsilon-(beta-aspartyl)lysine as well as Nepsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine from single amino acids. Chorions of unfertilized eggs contain neither Asp Lys nor Glu Lys bonds. Only chorions of fertilized eggs contain Glu Lys isopeptide. It is probably the high content of this isopeptide that is responsible for the greater mechanical stability of the fertilized teleostean egg chorion.