Chemical and sensory changes in haddock and herring stored under modified atmosphere

The effectiveness of storage in atmospheres with increased proportions of CO₂ to extend the shelf-life of haddock and herring was examined. Using a 40: 30: 30/CO₂: O₂: N₂ atmosphere with haddock no useful extension of shelf-life was achieved at +5°C and only limited extension at 0°C. A more useful extension of shelf-life at 0°C was obtained by storing haddock in a 60: 20: 2O/CO₂: O₂: N₂ atmosphere and with herring in a 60:40/CO₂::N₂: atmosphere. Total volatile bases (TVB) and hypoxanthine values (Hx) correlated with the cooked flavour. There were no significant differences in drip-loss between the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) stored samples and the controls. Peroxide values (PV) in herring were lower in MAP stored samples. Whole haddock and whole herring were found to have a longer shelf-life when stored in MAP at 0°C than when stored as fillets.     

Spherical and rod-like Gd 2 O 3 :Eu 3?+? nanophosphors—Structural and luminescent properties

A comparative study of spherical and rod-like nanocrystalline Gd $_{\boldsymbol 2}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ (Gd $_{\boldsymbol{1\cdot92}}$ Eu $_{\boldsymbol{0\cdot08}}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ ) red phosphors prepared by solution combustion and hydrothermal methods have been reported. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) results confirm the as-formed product in combustion method showing mixed phase of monoclinic and cubic of Gd $_{\boldsymbol 2}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ . Upon calcinations at 800 $^{\boldsymbol\circ}$ C for 3?h, dominant cubic phase was achieved. The as-formed precursor hydrothermal product shows hexagonal Gd(OH) $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ phase and it converts to pure cubic phase of Gd $_{\boldsymbol 2}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ on calcination at 600 $^{\boldsymbol \circ}$ C for 3?h. TEM micrographs of hydrothermally prepared cubic Gd $_{\boldsymbol 2}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ phase shows nanorods with a diameter of 15?nm and length varying from 50 to 150?nm, whereas combustion product shows the particles to be of irregular shape, with different sizes in the range 50?C250?nm. Dominant red emission (612?nm) was observed in cubic Gd $_{\boldsymbol 2}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ which has been assigned to $^{\boldsymbol 5}{\bf \textit{D}}_{\boldsymbol 0}$ $\boldsymbol \to$ $^{\boldsymbol 7}{\bf \textit{F}}_{\boldsymbol 2}$ transition. However, in hexagonal Gd(OH) $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ , emission peaks at 614 and 621?nm were observed. The strong red emission of cubic Gd $_{\boldsymbol 2}$ O $_{\boldsymbol 3}$ :Eu $^{\boldsymbol{3+}}$ nanophosphors by hydrothermal method are promising for high performance display materials. The variation in optical energy bandgap ( $\boldsymbol{E}_{\boldsymbol{\rm g}}$ ) was noticed in as-formed and heat treated systems in both the techniques. This is due to more ordered structure in heat treated samples and reduction in structural defects.