Edible Coatings to Inhibit Lipid Migration in a Confectionery Product

Coatings containing hydrocolloids and sweetners were tested for lipid barrier and sensory properties, adhesion to chocolate, viscosity, and a_w. A coating containing high methoxyl pectin, acacia gum, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, and sucrose was most effective. Coatings (0.5 mm thick, a_w 0.5) showed no detectable oil migration after 47 days at 30 ± l°C, compared to 11.5 mg/cm² trilinolein equivalents migration in 1 day at 21 ± 2°C. Coatings (0.5 mm thick) were applied between chocolate and peanut butter and tested for sensory characteristics. Except for the color of the coating, no significant difference occurred in overall preference compared to control (no coating) samples.     

Dynamics and interference of fine-structure wave packets created by strong ultrashort pulses

This work presents a theoretical study of two coherent schemes which allow the manipulation of wave packets created in atomic systems by strong ultrashort pulses. Our three-state system is composed of a ground state and two excited states simultaneously excited by the laser pulses. The corresponding dynamics are described in the bright state-dark state formalism where spectacular effects appear. (1) The wave packet created initially by a first pulse can be completely frozen through the action of a second strong pulse. (2) For pulses with a generalized pulse area equal to (2 p +1)2π (p integer), the population is preferentially transferred from the ground state to the dark state whatever the pulse duration. This is in complete disagreement with the physical interpretation valid in the weak field regime where the wave packet created by an ultrashort pulse is localized in the bright state at the end of the pulse. This effect can be revealed with wave packet interference induced by a second identical pulse. A simple analytical model using squared pulses is used to highlight the physical insight. This model is ‘reinforced’ by numerical simulations on the (4s–4p ² P 1/2,1/3) transitions in potassium atoms excited with Gaussian pulses.     

A comparison between ceramic and polymeric membrane systems for casein concentrate manufacture

Skim milk microfiltration (MF) is a well established dairy processing operation to remove whey proteins. This is classically completed using ceramic membranes under the uniform transmembrane pressure (UTMP) concept. However, there is a growing interest in the use of spiral wound polymeric membranes for this purpose due to their lower capital cost. In this work we show that polymeric and ceramic membranes provide comparable performance during skim milk MF when operated at comparable levels of transmembrane pressure (TMP), shear stress and temperature. Operation is strongly affected by both TMP and temperature but is less affected by crossflow velocity under the conditions utilised here. However, while polymeric membranes offer similar performance, it will be operationally difficult to retain the necessarily low TMP at the industrial scale, due to the lack of a comparable UTMP configuration.     

NEIGHBORHOOD DIVERSITY,ECONOMIC HEALTH,AND THE ROLE OF THE ARTS

Policymakers pursue a range of strategies aimed at diversifying neighborhoods despite research indicating the complicated and potentially damaging results of these efforts. One increasingly common approach is to incorporate the arts into planning efforts in the hope of enhancing diversity and catalyzing positive neighborhood change. Using data from the Cultural Data Project, the authors determine where newly established New York City arts organizations locate in terms of neighborhood racial, income, and industry diversity. They then analyze how diverse contexts interact with an arts presence to impact neighborhood economic health over time. They find that neighborhoods with high levels of racial diversity and low levels of income and industry diversity benefit most from an arts presence. However, the arts are attracted predominantly to neighborhoods with moderate levels of racial diversity and high levels of income and industry diversity. This complicates the use of the arts as a tool in urban revitalization policy.     

EFFECT OF SPICES ON GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM DT 104 IN GROUND BEEF STORED AT 4 AND 8C

Few studies have addressed the use of spices against pathogens associated with meat. The effects of garlic, ginger and turmeric were evaluated against Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 that were inoculated either in spice paste or in buffered peptone water (BPW) or in heat‐treated ground beef and stored at 4 and 8C for 10 days. Data from the spice pastes study showed a decrease in Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 counts, and the greatest reduction (3.39 log) was observed in garlic paste stored at 4C. Garlic in BPW data showed a reduction of 1.5 and 1.0 log in Salmonella Typhimurium counts at 4 and 8C, respectively. Ground beef stored at 4C showed no growth or a slight reduction in growth in samples with spice, while all samples at 8C showed an increase in Salmonella Typhimurium counts. Results show that the spices inhibit or inactivate Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 when they are in direct contact. However, when spices are added to a complex food system such as ground beef, the inhibitory activity of these spices considerably decreases.     

Implementing Government Assistance Programmes for Water and Sewer Systems in Texas Colonias

Experience in colonias—informal communities in Texas characterized by the absence of water and sewer systems—demonstrates that a well‐funded programme to subsidize infrastructure can falter if the incentives and management capacity of involved organizations do not support effective implementation. The Texas Legislature established the Economic Distressed Areas Programme (EDAP) in 1989 to subsidize service providers constructing water and sewer systems in colonias. A longitudinal assessment of EDAP found that the programme performed poorly until the late 1990s when the institutional context of the agency administering the programme changed. These changes led to a more effective set of incentives to implement the programme and improved performance. General lessons regarding programme performance are derived from the research results.