Effect of cooking methods on chemical composition, quality and cook loss of camel muscle (Longissimus dorsi) in comparison with veal

Camels are resistant to severe and dry weather conditions and their potential for meat production in such a situation are unique. However, despite the ability of camel meat to supply nutritional deficiencies (such as iron deficiency), it seems that replacement of veal with camel meat can be cheaper source for providing protein, minerals and energy. On the other hand, excessive consumption of fat and cholesterol associated with the overconsumption of meat and meat products has been linked to health risks such as cardiovascular disease; camel meat can therefore, be considered functionally superior because its fat and cholesterol are lower than those of veal. In this study, Longissimus dorsi muscle samples from camels and cows between the ages of one and three ages were selected and studied. Both types of meat were treated under three thermal treatments- microwave, roasting and braising- and proximate analysis and measurement of elements and cook loss were compared with veal. Samples that had undergone each heat treatment were compared with a raw sample as control. The results showed that cook loss affected all studied traits (chemical analysis and elements) and all of them increased after cooking except sodium and iron which showed no significant  difference (p < 0.01).Key words: Camel, Longissimus dorsi, proximate analysis, minerals, cook loss

Investigating the action of ryanodine receptor on cycle length of action potential of the rabbit intact sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes

Introduction: The role of ryanodine canal/receptor current on the pacemaker activity of heart cells is controversial. This study was performed to characterize the effects of ryanodine receptor (RyR), on the cycle length (CL) of action potential of the sinoatrial node (SAN) and the atrioventricular node (AVN) of rabbit heart. Materials and Methods: As a specific blocker of the RyR, the effects of 0.2 and 2 micromolar of Ryanodine on action potential CL was investigated. The action potential was recorded and measured from endothelial surface of intact SAN and AVN by two separated metal microelectrode before and after using ryanodine. The experimental method used, was intervention. Data analysis was performed using independent and paired T test Results: Inhibition of RyR by 0.2 and 2 3M of Ryanodine prolonged CL by 11.6±4.3 and 30±6.75 in SAN preparations and by 18.5 ± 6.3 and 65±11 in AVN preparations. This effect was significantly (p< 0.05) longer on AVN than SAN. Conclusion: Rabbit SAN and AVN showed distinct different responses to the inhibition of RyR, which reflects the variation in contribution of this current to the pacemaker function of the cardiac nodes in the rabbit. As ryanodine did not cease pacemaker activity of any tissue preparation for two nodes; therefore , it is possible to say that ryanodine receptor has no absolute role in generating action potential of nodes

Overview of Some Recent Advances in Improving Water and Energy Efficiencies in Food Processing Factories

Rapid development of food factories in both developed and developing countries, owing to continued growth in the world population, plays a critical role in the food supply chain, including environmental issues such as pollution, emissions, energy and water consumption, and thus food system sustainability. The objective of this study was to briefly review various environmental aspects of food processing operations, including aquatic, atmospheric, and solid waste generation, and also to discuss several strategies that many companies are using to reduce these negative impacts as well as to improve water and energy efficiency. To obtain higher energy efficiencies in food processing factories, two key operations can play critical roles: non-thermal processing (e.g., high pressure processing) and membrane processes. For higher water efficiency, reconditioning treatments resulting in water reuse for other purposes can be conducted through chemical and/or physical treatments. With regards to reducing volumes of processing food waste, two approaches include value-added by-product applications (e.g., animal feed) and/or utilization of food waste for energy production. Finally, we present trends for lowering operational costs in food processing

High voltage atmospheric cold plasma decontamination of Salmonella enteritidis on chicken eggs

Salmonella enteritidis (SE) accounts for more than 70% of Salmonella spp. infections in humans with a primary source being chicken eggs, that can result from post-lay SE cross-contamination of the shell from contaminated equipment or the environment. The objective of this study was to apply a HVACP treatment that can achieve a minimum 5-log reduction in SE on the surface of artificially inoculated shell eggs with an initial bacterial load of 108 CFU/egg, after a previous disinfection. Optimized HVACP treatment conditions were an indirect treatment with air at 60% humidity at 100 kV for one minute treatment and six hours post-treatment or alternatively, five minutes of treatment and four hours post-treatment. Egg quality parameters of Haugh unit (HU), pH, color, and vitelline membrane and shell strength were tested under the optimized conditions and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between treated and untreated eggs. Industrial relevance: Missing information for a possible scale up of a cold plasma system for egg surface decontamination has been addressed by an optimization of HVACP treatment focused on treatment and posttreatment time, essential parameters to have into account in the food industry. These results demonstrate that HVACP is an effective decontamination method for SE on chicken shell eggs and provides a baseline for a future scale up of the process, showing that different combinations of treatment variables can achieve the desired decontamination without affecting to key quality parameters of the egg such as Haugh Unit or vitelline membrane strength.This work was supported by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and the Barrett Family Foundation Chair in Sustainable Food Engineering

Investigating the Nexus of Energy and Carbon Footprint in a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant with Activated Sludge Process (Conventional)

In Iran, little attention has been paied to the nexus of energy and carbon footprint in wastewater treatment plants. The main goal of the current research is to investigate this issue in a municipal wastewater treatment plant with a conventional activated sludge (conventional). While studying the quantity and quality of wastewater, direct and indirect emissions were calculated based on the operation of the treatment plant and the amount of electricity consumption using emission coefficients. An average of 6,192,000 m3 of wastewater is treated annually in this treatment plant. The average BOD5 and COD removed are 274.6 and 467.9 mg/L, respectively. On average, 0.3623 ± 0.081 kWh/m3 of energy is consumed for treated wastewater, which is equivalent to 2241.5 MWh per year. As much as 94.6% of energy is consumed by pumps and surface aerators. Considering BOD removed, the direct greenhouse gas emissions are on average 2338.2 tCO2e/year and the indirect emissions due to electricity consumption are 2603 to 4665 tCO2e/year. Old design and lack of up-to-date equipment are factors that increase energy consumption and carbon footprint emission. The low tariff of electricity in the wastewater treatment plant (agricultural tariff) has made the issue of saving energy consumption less of a priority. It is necessary to pay attention to the reduction of electricity consumption, especially in the reactive mode, with the necessary modifications. It seems essential to conduct an energy audit in the existing treatment plants and pay attention to the nexus between energy and carbon footprint

High-Methoxyl Apple Pectin Improves Rheological Properties and Storage Stability of the Flavored Probiotic Yogurt Drinks, Compared to Pomegranate Pectin

Background and Objective: Use of pectin has attracted interests in food and nutraceutical industries, owing to its positive effects on stability of dairy drinks and potential health benefits to humans. Furthermore, demands for the production of stable fermented milk drinks during storage period is high. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess effects of apple and pomegranate pectins as stabilizers on various characteristics of probiotic yogurt drinks. Material and Methods: Apple and pomegranate pectins at concentrations of 0-0.5% (w v-1) were added to the probiotic yogurt drinks containing 2% of inulin and 12% of pomegranate juice. Then, rheological behavior, particle size distribution and stability of probiotic yogurt drinks were studied during storage. Results and Conclusion: Control (treatments with no pectin addition) and probiotic yogurt drinks containing pomegranate pectin (0.1-0.5%) showed Newtonian flow behavior and liquid-like behavior over the frequency range. Probiotic yogurt drinks with apple pectin included shear-thinning flow behavior, gel-like network at low frequencies and mean size particle of 50 mm. The highest G' and G" and stabilities during the storage were achieved in samples containing 0.5% of apple pectin. Results demonstrated that apple pectin included great potentials to be used in industrial production of probiotic yogurt drinks as it improved rheological properties and storage stability of the products. Therefore, use of 0.5% apple pectin is suggested in fermented milk drinks. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Optimization of extruder cooking conditions for the manufacture of fish feeds using response surface methodology

Abstract A composite blend consisting of sunflower cake, maize germ, wheat bran, fresh water shrimps and cassava flour was extruded using a single‐screw extruder to produce expanded fish feed pellets. The effects of temperature (80–120 °C), die diameter (2–4 mm), and feed pre‐conditioning time (50–150 s; steam 400 kPa) on properties of the pellets (expansion ratio, bulk density, floatability, durability, water absorption, water solubility, water stability, and in‐vitro protein digestibility) were investigated using response surface methodology. Regression equations describing the effect of each variable on the product responses were obtained. The pellets extruded using a factor combination of 120 °C extruder barrel temperature, 2 mm die diameter, and 100 s of feed pre‐conditioning time gave most desirable pellet floatability (100%), durability index (99%), expansion ratio (2.64), water absorption index (4.12), water solubility index (9.31), water stability (87%), bulk density (479 g/L), and in vitro protein digestibility (69.97%) with a composite desirability of 0.88. Practical applications Extrusion is a modern feed processing method whose use is fast gaining popularity among small feed processors in developing countries. However, extrusion is a process that involves many parameters that need to be optimized for desirable end properties. These findings guide fish feed manufacturers on the optimum conditions for single screw extruders for production of feeds with desirable properties especially for the fish types that are top feeders. In addition, the results offer important insights on how temperature, die diameter, and feed pre‐conditioning, may be manipulated to influence properties of extruded aquafeed when using simple low‐cost small‐scale extruders

Effects of Tetrodotoxin on the Mammalian Cardiovascular System

The human genome encodes nine functional voltage-gated Na+ channels. Three of them, namely Nav1.5, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9, are resistant to nanomolar concentrations of tetrodotoxin (TTX; IC50 ≥ 1 μM). The other isoforms, which are predominantly expressed in the skeletal muscle and nervous system, are highly sensitive to TTX (IC50 ~ 10 nM). During the last two decades, it has become evident that in addition to the major cardiac isoform Nav1.5, several of those TTX sensitive isoforms are expressed in the mammalian heart. Whereas immunohistochemical and electrophysiological methods demonstrated functional expression in various heart regions, the physiological importance of those isoforms for cardiac excitation in higher mammals is still debated. This review summarizes our knowledge on the systemic cardiovascular effects of TTX in animals and humans, with a special focus on cardiac excitation and performance at lower concentrations of this marine drug. Altogether, these data strongly suggest that TTX sensitive Na+ channels, detected more recently in various heart tissues, are not involved in excitation phenomena in the healthy adult heart of higher mammals