Influence of refrigeration and ageing time on textural characteristics of fresh meat

Research of the textural characteristics of pork, beef and baby beef meat samples was conducted. Hardness and adhesivity of the meat was measured immediately after slaughtering, then after 24, 48 and 72 hours. Half of the samples were kept at room temperature, while the other half were refrigerated at 4 C. The results showed that the hardness and adhesivity suddenly dropped during the first 24 hours (up to 345 N, or 41.7 %). After next 48 hours of storage, the values of measured textural properties showed a slight decrease (only additional 15.6 %). The refrigerated samples retained their textural properties a lot better (31 % decrease in hardness during first 24 h, additional 7.4 % in the next 48 hours) than the non-refrigerated ones. In correlation with consumer and industry experience with the texture of cooked or fried meat, refrigeration is a better choice after 48 hours, while after that period, meat at room temperature, is too soft for further processing

Storm-water infiltration and focused recharge modeling with finite-volume two-dimensional Richards equation: application to an experimental rain garden

Rain gardens are infiltration systems that provide volume and water quality control, recharge enhancement, as well as landscape, ecological, and economic benefits. A model for application to rain gardens based on Richards equation coupled to a surface water balance was developed, using a two-dimensional finite-volume code. It allows for alternating upper boundary conditions, including ponding and overflow, and can simulate heterogeneous soil-layering or more complex geometries to estimate infiltration and recharge. The algorithm is conservative, and exhibits good performance compared to standard models for several test cases (less than 0.1% absolute mass balance error); simulations were also performed for an experimental rain garden and comparisons to collected data are presented. The model accurately simulated the matrix flow, soil water distribution, as well as deep percolation (potential recharge) for a natural rainfall event in the controlled experimental setup. Read More: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29HY.1943-7900.0000111?prevSearch=authors%3A%28Dussaillant%2C%29&searchHistoryKey

New features of version 3 of the HYDRUS (2D/3D) computer software package

The capabilities of the HYDRUS-1D and HYDRUS (2D/3D) software packages continuously expanded during the last two decades. Various new capabilities were added recently to both software packages, mostly by developing new standard add-on modules such as HPx, C-Ride, UnsatChem, Wetland, Fumigant, DualPerm, and Slope Stability. The new modules may be used to simulate flow and transport processes in one- and two-dimensional transport domains and are fully supported by the HYDRUS graphical user interface (GUI). Several nonstandard add-on modules, such as Overland, Isotope, and Centrifuge, have also been developed, but are not fully supported by the HYDRUS GUI. The objective of this manuscript is to describe several additional features of the upcoming Version 3 of HYDRUS (2D/3D), which was unveiled at a recent (March 2017) HYDRUS conference and workshop in Prague. The new features include a flexible reservoir boundary condition, expanded root growth features, and new graphical capabilities of the GUI. Mathematical descriptions of the new features are provided, as well as two examples illustrating applications of the reservoir boundary condition

Assessment of actual evapotranspiration and yield of wheat under different irrigation regimes with potassium application

Water shortage at precarious growth stages diminishes the wheat production, however regulated deficit irrigation and potassium fertilization ameliorate its adversities to a certain extent. A pot experiment was conducted in 2010-11 and 2011-12 growing seasons to assess the effect of regulated deficit irrigation on yield and water use efficiency of wheat under semiarid region of Pakistan. The growing season was divided into six periods viz: germination, jointing, booting, heading, grain filling and maturity stage. Three regulated deficit irrigation levels (no- soil- water- deficit (H: 80-100% of available water content (AWC)), medium (M) soil water deficit (70 to 80% AWC and severe (L) water deficit (60-70% AWC) were maintained at above mentioned stages in combination with three levels of potassium (0, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 K2O). Soil water contents were measured gravimetrically by weighing pots after 1 to 2 day’s interval throughout the growing season. Potential evapotranspiration (ETp) was calculated using Penman-Montieth model. The actual evapotranspiration (ETa) was calculated using water balance equation and crop coefficient was calculated by dividing the ETa with ETp. The data obtained was analyzed statistically. The results of this study showed that grain yield and water use efficiency in wheat (Sahar-2006) was greatly improved by 23.4 and 15.0% (average of two years) under soil water deficit treatment I3 (MMHMH) with potassium (K2O applied at 300 kg ha-1) as compared to regulated deficit treatment I1 (HMLML) in combination without potassium (K2O applied at 0 kg ha-1). The optimum total irrigation water of 242.9 mm was distributed as 13.7 mm during germination stage, 22.15 mm during jointing, 21.10 mm during booting, 69.95 mm during heading, 58.9 mm during grain filling and 57.05 mm during maturity to fulfill the need of actual evapotranspiration which was required to produce the above mentioned increase in grain yield and other parameters. Root length and mass density were also increased by 35.9 and 35.6% in pot receiving I3 (MMHMH) in combination with K2 over I1 (HMLML) in combination with K0. K nutrition helped in mitigating the negative effects of water stress due to well- developed root system and accelerated the maximum water uptake and improved water use efficiency

Straightforward access to oxazaborines, diazaborinones and triazaborines by reactions of b-enaminoamides with 4-methylbenzenediazonium tetraphenylborate

The reaction of substituted b-enaminoamides with 4-methylbenzenediazonium tetraphenylborate in dichloromethane produces besides the primary products of azo coupling reaction at the a-carbon atom of b-enaminoamides, also mixtures of heterocyclic compounds of boron: 1,3,2k4-oxazaborines, 1H- 1,3,2k4-diazaborine-4-ones and 4H-1,2,4,3k4-triazaborines. Proportions of the products change depending on the reaction conditions, particularly depending on the presence or absence of base (sodium acetate) in the reaction mixture. The heterocyclic compounds were separated chromatographically and identified by means of X-ray, 1H, 11B, 13C and 15N NMR spectra and elemental analyses

Assessment of actual evapotranspiration and yield of wheat under different irrigation regimes with potassium application

Water shortage at precarious growth stages diminishes the wheat production, however regulated deficit irrigation and potassium fertilization ameliorate its adversities to a certain extent. A pot experiment was conducted in 2010-11 and 2011-12 growing seasons to assess the effect of regulated deficit irrigation on yield and water use efficiency of wheat under semiarid region of Pakistan. The growing season was divided into six periods viz: germination, jointing, booting, heading, grain filling and maturity stage. Three regulated deficit irrigation levels (no- soil- water- deficit (H: 80-100% of available water content (AWC)), medium (M) soil water deficit (70 to 80% AWC and severe (L) water deficit (60-70% AWC) were maintained at above mentioned stages in combination with three levels of potassium (0, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 K2O). Soil water contents were measured gravimetrically by weighing pots after 1 to 2 day’s interval throughout the growing season. Potential evapotranspiration (ETp) was calculated using Penman-Montieth model. The actual evapotranspiration (ETa) was calculated using water balance equation and crop coefficient was calculated by dividing the ETa with ETp. The data obtained was analyzed statistically. The results of this study showed that grain yield and water use efficiency in wheat (Sahar-2006) was greatly improved by 23.4 and 15.0% (average of two years) under soil water deficit treatment I3 (MMHMH) with potassium (K2O applied at 300 kg ha-1) as compared to regulated deficit treatment I1 (HMLML) in combination without potassium (K2O applied at 0 kg ha-1). The optimum total irrigation water of 242.9 mm was distributed as 13.7 mm during germination stage, 22.15 mm during jointing, 21.10 mm during booting, 69.95 mm during heading, 58.9 mm during grain filling and 57.05 mm during maturity to fulfill the need of actual evapotranspiration which was required to produce the above mentioned increase in grain yield and other parameters. Root length and mass density were also increased by 35.9 and 35.6% in pot receiving I3 (MMHMH) in combination with K2 over I1 (HMLML) in combination with K0. K nutrition helped in mitigating the negative effects of water stress due to well- developed root system and accelerated the maximum water uptake and improved water use efficiency

Fully probabilistic design: the way for optimizing of concrete structures

Some standards for the design of concrete structures (e.g. EC2 and the original ČSN 73 1201-86) allow a structure to be designed by several methods. This contribution documents the fact that even if a structure does not comply with the partial reliability factor method, according to EC2, it can satisfy the conditions during the application of the fully probabilistic approach when using the same standard. From an example of the reliability of a prestressed spun concrete pole designed by the partial factor method and fully probabilistic approach according to the Eurocode it is evident that an expert should apply a more precise (though unfortunately more complicated) method in the limiting cases. The Monte Carlo method, modified by the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method, has been used for the calculation of reliability. Ultimate and serviceability limit states were checked for the partial factor method and fully probabilistic design. As a result of fully probabilistic design it is possible to obtain a more efficient design for a structure

Quality stability and sensory attributes of apple juice processed by thermosonication, pulsed electric field and thermal processing

Worldwide, apple juice is the second most popular juice, after orange juice. It is susceptible to enzymatic browning spoilage by polyphenoloxidase, an endogenous enzyme. In this study, Royal Gala apple juice was treated by thermosonication (TS: 1.3 W/mL, 58 ℃, 10 min), pulsed electric field (PEF: 24.8 kV/cm, 60 pulses, 169 µs treatment time, 53.8 ℃) and heat (75 ℃, 20 min) and stored at 3.0 ℃ and 20.0 ℃ for 30 days. A sensory analysis was carried out after processing. The polyphenoloxidase activity, antioxidant activity and total color difference of the apple juice were determined before and after processing and during storage. The sensory analysis revealed that thermosonication and pulsed electric field juices tasted differently from the thermally treated juice. Apart from the pulsed electric field apple juice stored at room temperature, the processed juice was stable during storage, since the pH and soluble solids remained constant and fermentation was not observed. Polyphenoloxidase did not reactivate during storage. Along storage, the juices’ antioxidant activity decreased and total color difference increased (up to 6.8). While the antioxidant activity increased from 86 to 103% with thermosonication and was retained after pulsed electric field, thermal processing reduced it to 67%. The processing increased the total color difference slightly. No differences in the total color difference of the juices processed by the three methods were registered after storage. Thermosonication and pulsed electric field could possibly be a better alternative to thermal preservation of apple juice, but refrigerated storage is recommended for pulsed electric field apple juice