MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND VISCOELASTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO VARIETIES OF YAM TUBERS (DIOSCOREA ALATA)

The main mechanical properties and viscoelastic characteristics of two different cultivars of yam have been measured in this work. Using an Instron machine, some different tests has been applied: puncture, uniaxial compression and bending in order to calculate the parameters: maximum stress of penetration, stress and strain at fracture, deformability modulus and the constants " a " and " b " from the Peleg model. It is concluded that the Pico de Botella cultivar has a fracture stress higher (0.57 MPa) than the Diamante 22 cultivar (0.31 MPa). Also, the degree of deformation at fracture is higher (32 versus 21%). In relation with the constants from the Peleg viscoelasticity model, there are no differences between cultivars, both having the same value of the asintotic stress ( a =  0.43) and very similar for the relaxation stress rates (Pico de Botella, b =  0.03 and Diamante 22, b =  0.02).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Information on mechanical properties of yam that has not been reported in the literature.     

OPTIMIZATION OF CHIPOTLE PEPPER SMOKING PROCESS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY*

ABSTRACT

Effects of smoking time and temperature on optimal chipotle pepper production were evaluated and optimized using the response surface methodology. Batches of red jalapeño peppers were smoked under different temperatures (65.8, 70, 80, 90, 94.1C) and times (0.96, 2, 4.5, 7, 8 h). Afterward, samples were evaluated for moisture, rheological properties and total phenols. Samples were then dried from 80C to between 0.123 and 0.204 kg H₂O/kg dry matter and evaluated for rheological properties, texture, rehydration, color and phenols. Phenol content, rehydration ratio, firmness of peppers, and rheological properties and color of puree were affected (P < 0.05) by both temperature and time. Best smoking conditions used temperatures of 74–79C, and times between 8.0 and 7.4 h resulting in viscosities of 5.1–6.5 Pa·s with phenol content of 110–120 mg/kg, rehydration ratios of 3.7–4.1, firmness of 1.27–1.49 N and acceptable color. Smoking time was significantly reduced and quality maintained.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Chipotle pepper is highly appreciated by consumers because of their aroma and flavor characteristics. Chipotle pepper is obtained by smoking red jalapeño in open ovens, where combustion gases from hardwoods are passed during long times to smoke and dehydrate them. This process has the disadvantage of producing environmental contamination and wide quality variability because of a poor process control. In this study, a correlation of smoking and drying was optimized in order to determine the effect of temperature and smoking time on the physical and chemical characteristics of the chipotle pepper. Additionally, polynomial models are presented for each variable evaluated in the smoking chipotle pepper operation and optimized for the desired quality of the chipotle pepper. This information can be useful to processors because they can achieve a ninefold reduction in the smoking time compared with the traditional smoking processes without affecting the chemical and physical characteristics of chipotle peppers.     

Characterization of dilute species within CVD‐grown silicon nanowires doped using trimethylboron: protected lift‐out specimen preparation for atom probe tomography

Three‐dimensional quantitative compositional analysis of nanowires is a challenge for standard techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry because of specimen size and geometry considerations; however, it is precisely the size and geometry of nanowires that makes them attractive candidates for analysis via atom probe tomography. The resulting boron composition of various trimethylboron vapour–liquid–solid grown silicon nanowires were measured both with time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and pulsed‐laser atom probe tomography. Both characterization techniques yielded similar results for relative composition. Specialized specimen preparation for pulsed‐laser atom probe tomography was utilized and is described in detail whereby individual silicon nanowires are first protected, then lifted out, trimmed, and finally wet etched to remove the protective layer for subsequent three‐dimensional analysis.