The Effect of Lactates on the Quality of Microwave-Cooked Chicken Patties during Storage

ABSTRACT:  The aim of this study was to determine the effect of adding 3.3% sodium lactate (SL), 0.25% calcium lactate (CL), and 1.65% SL along with 0.125% CL (SL+CL) on the physicochemical properties, cooking characteristics, and microbiological quality of microwave-cooked chicken patties compared to control (no added lactates). The addition of lactates did not affect the proximate composition of cooked chicken patties. The pH of CL- or SL+CL-containing patties was significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced compared to control or SL patties. The SL-containing patties had lower ( P < 0.05) a _w values compared to control or CL patties. The CL- or SL+CL-containing patties had lower denatured myoglobin and higher ( P < 0.05) cooking yield, surface redness (CIE a *), and chroma values. However, addition of CL alone resulted in higher total expressible fluid, indicating lower water-holding capacity. The CL-containing patties exhibited lower Warner–Bratzler shear force values and higher ( P < 0.05) penetrometer reading compared to the SL-containing patties, indicating soft texture. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced in all lactate-containing patties compared to control up to the 7th day of refrigerated storage under aerobic conditions. No difference ( P > 0.05) was observed in aerobic plate counts between control and lactate-added patties during 28-d storage.     

Formation of Zinc–Antimony-Based Spinel Phases

Formation of spinel phases in ZnO–Sb₂O₃and ZnO–Sb₂O₃–Bi₂O₃systems is studied by the use of X-ray diffraction. The formation of nonstoichiometric Zn_2.33Sb_0.67O₄phase is observed in both the systems at ∼900°C. However, in these systems, at higher temperatures ( T ≥ 1100°C), formation of the inverse spinel phase Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂is observed. The study has been extended to understand the effect of CrO₃doping on the stability of the different spinel phases in the previously mentioned systems. Interestingly, in both the systems, samples doped with CrO₃, displayed the presence of Zn_2.33Sb_0.67O₄phase <1200°C, indicating the stabilization of the spinel phase by CrO₃.     

Analysis of Frequency,Intensity, and Interference of Discomfort in Computerized Numeric Control Machine Operations

The introduction of Computerized Numeric Control (CNC) technology in manufacturing industries revolutionized the production process a few decades back. There are some health and safety problems associated with these machine operations, however. The main objectives of the present work is to study the health and safety issues associated with the CNC machines with respect to control and display, specifically to determine the frequency, intensity of discomfort, and its interference in operating different CNC machines as reported by the workers operating them. The postural discomfort associated with CNC machines was studied, and the frequency, intensity of discomfort, and interference of the level of discomfort with the participants' ability to work were recorded and analyzed. The study revealed that 20.5% of the operators reported discomfort 1 or 2 times, 25.4% experienced discomfort 3 to 4 times in a week, 37.7% had discomfort daily, and 16.4% reported discomfort several times a day. Discomfort was reported in all the body parts involved (lower back, neck, upper back, shoulder, and leg), but the highest discomfort scores were associated with the shoulder and arm region. Workers reporting discomfort several times a day also reported high mean discomfort scores. The study established that the frequency and intensity of the discomfort in all body parts is related to the position of the control panel and display. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Long‐term impact of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers on yield,soil nutrients and biochemical parameters of tea

A field experiment was conducted with tea cultivar UPASI‐9 over a period of 9 years to evaluate the long‐term effects of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers on yield, biochemical parameters, soil and leaf nutrient status. The yield increase was as high as 66% over the control for N application of 450 kg ha^?1 year^?1. Polyphenol and amino acid contents increased with increase in K application rate. Positive and significant correlation was found between nitrate reductase activity and the amino acid content of the tea shoots. While ammoniacal nitrogen in the soil was not affected by the application of fertilizer, ammonium acetate extractable K increased. The failure to apply fertilizer resulted in depletion of the organic matter status of the soil. Although increased rate of nitrogen application increased the overall yield of made tea (kg ha^?1 year^?1), the specific yield (kg kg^?1 N) declined. The soil tended to become acidic from frequent application of high doses of nitrogenous fertilizer. The leaf NK status was significantly influenced by the various treatments. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermal modeling and performance analysis of industrial-scale metal hydride based hydrogen storage container

In this paper, a performance analysis of a metal hydride based hydrogen storage container with embedded cooling tubes during absorption of hydrogen is presented. A 2-D mathematical model in cylindrical coordinates is developed using the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics 4.2. Numerical results obtained are found in good agreement with experimental data available in the literature. Different container geometries, depending upon the number and arrangement of cooling tubes inside the hydride bed, are considered to obtain an optimum geometry. For this optimum geometry, the effects of various operating parameters viz. supply pressure, cooling fluid temperature and overall heat transfer coefficient on the hydriding characteristics of MmNi_4.6Al_0.4 are presented. Industrial-scale hydrogen storage container with the capacity of about 150 kg of alloy mass is also modeled. In summary, this paper demonstrates the modeling and the selection of optimum geometry of a metal hydride based hydrogen storage container (MHHSC) based on minimum absorption time and easy manufacturing aspects.     

Enzymatic saccharification and fermentation of paper and pulp industry effluent for biohydrogen production

Paper and pulp industry effluent was enzymatically hydrolysed using crude cellulase enzyme (0.8–2.2FPU/ml) obtained from Trichoderma reesei and from the hydrolysate biohydrogen was produced using Enterobacter aerogenes. The influence of temperature and incubation time on enzyme production was studied. The optimum temperature for the growth of T. reesei was found to be around 29 °C. The enzyme activity of 2.5 FPU/ml was found to produce about 22 g/l of total sugars consisting mainly of glucose, xylose and arabinose. Relevant kinetic parameters with respect to sugars production were estimated using two fraction model. The enzymatic hydrolysate was used for the biohydrogen production using E. aerogenes. The growth data obtained for E. aerogenes were fitted well with Monod and Logistic equations. The maximum hydrogen yield of 2.03 mol H₂/mol sugar and specific hydrogen production rate of 225 mmol of H₂/g cell/h were obtained with an initial concentration of 22 g/l of total sugars. The colour and COD of effluent was also decreased significantly during the production of hydrogen. The results showed that the paper and pulp industry effluent can be used as a substrate for biohydrogen production.