1,693 research outputs found
Fluorescence-based analyser as a rapid tool for determining soluble protein content in dairy ingredients and infant milk formula
peer-reviewedAbstract:
Milk protein, in particular native whey protein, is of interest to dairy manufacturers as a measure of functional and nutritional quality. However, quantification of soluble whey protein (SP) is time consuming; giving rise to the need to develop rapid, accurate, and portable at-line process analytical technology. In this study, the performance of a fluorescence-based analyser(F) (Amaltheys II, Spectralys Innovations, France) was evaluated for quantification of SPF and whey protein nitrogen index (WPNI)F in skim milk, whey protein concentrate and infant formula powders. Rehydration of powders prior to analysis was a key factor for ensuring repeatability and reproducibility. A comparison of the analyser with reference methods for SPF and WPNIF resulted in coefficient of determination (R2)āÆ>āÆ0.993 for both SPKjeldahl method and WPNIGEA. The results show the fluorescence-based analyser to be rapid, compact, and accurate device, suited for providing reliable support to dairy ingredient and infant formula manufacturers.
Industrial relevance:
The fluorescence based analysis investigated in this article is suitable for application in the dairy industry where it can be used as a rapid, at-line PAT tool for both liquid and powder samples. The technology has the potential to replace well-established methods for measurement of soluble protein. The main benefit to industry is the ability to respond more rapidly to variations in soluble protein without compromising on the accuracy associated with more time consuming methods
Evaluation of Milking Systems in Terms of Mastitis Risk, Teat Tissue Reactions & Milking Performance.
End of Project ReportsMeasurements of milking vacuum recorded on a flow simulator can
provide guidelines for optimum design of milking units.
ā¢ Increasing the bore of the short milk tube above the recommended
diameter or claw volume above 150ml does not improve milking
efficiency.
ā¢ Increasing the long milk-tube bore from 13.5mm to 16mm
increased the level of milking vacuum.
ā¢ The milking vacuum was highest with wide-bore tapered liners and
simultaneous pulsation.
ā¢ The minimum vacuum was increased with narrow-bore liners and
alternate pulsation.
ā¢ The milk yield with wide-bore tapered liners in heavy 3-kg clusters
and using simultaneous pulsation was 5% higher than with light
clusters (1.65 kg) with alternate pulsation.
ā¢ The milk yield depressions obtained with light clusters were similar
in short and long term experiments and increased with the
magnitude of the milk yield per milking.
ā¢ The teat condition scores were not affected by the magnitude of
vacuum fluctuations
A serological survey of ruminant livestock in Kazakhstan during post-Soviet transitions in farming and disease control
The results of a serological survey of livestock in Kazakhstan, carried out in 1997ā1998, are reported. Serum samples from 958 animals (cattle, sheep and goats) were tested for antibodies to foot and mouth disease (FMD), bluetongue (BT), epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD), rinderpest (RP) and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viruses, and to Brucella spp. We also investigated the vaccination status of livestock and related this to changes in veterinary provision since independence in 1991. For the 2 diseases under official surveillance (FMD and brucellosis) our results were similar to official data, although we found significantly higher brucellosis levels in 2 districts and widespread ignorance about FMD vaccination status. The seroprevalence for BT virus was 23%, and seropositive animals were widespread suggesting endemicity, despite the disease not having being previously reported. We found a few seropositives for EHDV and PPRV, which may suggest that these diseases are also present in Kazakhstan. An hierarchical model showed that seroprevalence to FMD and BT viruses were clustered at the farm/village level, rather than at a larger spatial scale. This was unexpected for FMD, which is subject to vaccination policies which vary at the raion (county) level
A study of factors affecting the efficiency of milking operations.
End of Project ReportWith a mid-level milking system the milking time was reduced significantly
when the teat end vacuum was increased
ā¢ Vacuum losses were lower and milking time was shorter with simultaneous
pulsation than with alternate pulsation
ā¢ Milk yield was not affected by the magnitude of teat end vacuum.
ā¢ Both the mean flowrate and peak flowrate increased when the teat end vacuum
was increased.
ā¢ New milking plants and conversions should have 16 mm bore long milk tubes
(LMT) and 16 mm bore entries in the milk pipeline
ā¢ The omission of udder washing as a pre-milking preparation procedure did not
influence milking characteristics.
ā¢ TBC and E. coli were significantly reduced with full pre-milking preparation
compared to no pre-milking preparation when milk was produced from cows on
pasture
ā¢ Counts for individual bacterial species were well below maximum numbers
permitted in EU Council Directive (Anon. 1992) when no pre-milking
preparation was carried out
The Application of On-line Sensors and Novel Control Technologies for Food Processing
End of Project ReportThe objective of this research was to apply on-line continuous sensors in food processing,
in particular in cheese and milk powder manufacture, in order to improve process control,
for example, by achieving higher quality, increased yields, reduced losses and less
downgrading of product. This project focused on technologies for monitoring rheologyrelated
parameters.
The main conclusions were as follows:
* Seven systems for monitoring curd formation in cheesemaking were evaluated in
the laboratory.
* Two on-line systems for monitoring curd firmness (hot-wire and NIR reflectance)
have been deployed in a commercial cheese plant with promising results.
* Experimental results demonstrated that NIR reflectance / transmission probes have a
potential for on-line application in cheesemaking. Despite the difference in scale, the
commercial sensors compared well with the cheesemaker s observation of curd
firming and look promising as an objective means of predicting curd cut time in an
industrial cheese plan.
* A detailed knowledge of the rheological variation in cheese curd has been developed
and a means of investigating factors which influence the rheology of cheese curd (e.g.
effect of heat treatment or fortification of cheesemilk) has been determined.
* Technologies available for monitoring concentrate viscosity changes in the production
of milk powder have been assembled at pilot scale, and initial trials have been
encouraging. Further evaluation of the MTL plant to assess on-line performance,
ruggedness and cleanability are planned.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin
Recommended from our members
Regional initiatives and the UN 2001 Conference: Building Mutual Support and Complementarity.
yesAs the agenda for the United Nations (UN) 2001 Conference on The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects takes shape, governments should begin to identify a set
of standards, mechanisms and specific agreements that will help consolidate, reinforce and
co-ordinate regional and national measures to address the problem of the proliferation and
misuse of small arms. An important element of this approach will be to build upon the wealth
of regional and national experiences and perspectives that illustrate the different contexts
in which efforts to combat the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons have
occurred. At the same time, agreements reached at the UN 2001 Conference should be
substantial, establishing an agreed comprehensive `international action programmeĀæ f o r
sustained global effort on this complex problem. However there remain issues and concerns
that are common to all regions: these should be identified and addressed internationally
within the context of the UN 2001 Conference.
This briefing, the second in the Biting the Bullet series, reviews some of the current regional
e fforts on small arms and light weapons. It identifies common approaches that have been used
in different regions to counter the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,
these include: law enforcement and crime control; supplier restraint and transparency; national
legislation and regulation of arms; and arms reduction and control. The briefing analyses
initiatives using these approaches that are moving forward in West Africa, Eastern and
Southern Africa, the European Union (EU), and the development of cooperation between
EU Member States and other countries and regional organizations, including Cambodia
and the Southern African Development Community. The briefing identifies the impact and
priorities of these initiatives, suggesting ways in which the UN 2001 Conference is both
relevant to the region and what the region can contribute to the outcomes of the Conference.
The briefing concludes with recommendations on the ways in which regional processes can be
reinforced and further developed by the international community, focusing especially on the
contribution of the UN 2001 Conference. Experience is showing that much of what happens
nationally and regionally needs reinforcement and further development with assistance from
the international community. The UN 2001 Conference comes at an important time for providing
the framework Āæ through the international action programme Āæ to develop, reinforce and
c o-ordinate these national and regional processes, through developing appropriate international
norms, standards, programmes and mechanisms. Using the illustration of combating illicit arms
trafficking, this briefing outlines some of the processes that could be taken forward through
the UN 2001 Conference which would build upon and strengthen national and regional eff o r t s .
The briefing contains an annex, which provides background information on many current
regional and international initiatives, including those in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe
and inter-regionally, such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and
the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Effect of liner design, pulsator setting, and vacuum level on bovine teat tissue changes and milking characteristics as measured by ultrasonography
peer-reviewedFriesian-type dairy cows were milked with different machine settings to determine the effect of these settings on teat tissue reaction and on milking characteristics. Three teat-cup liner designs were used with varying upper barrel dimensions (wide-bore WB = 31.6 mm; narrow-bore NB = 21.0 mm; narrow-bore NB1 = 25.0 mm). These liners were tested with alternate and simultaneous pulsation patterns, pulsator ratios (60:40 and 67:33) and three system vacuum levels (40, 44 and 50 kPa). Teat tissue was measured using ultrasonography, before milking and directly after milking. The measurements recorded were teat canal length (TCL), teat diameter (TD), cistern diameter (CD) and teat wall thickness (TWT). Teat tissue changes were similar with a system vacuum level of either 50 kPa (mid-level) or 40 kPa (low-level). Widening the liner upper barrel bore dimension from 21.0 mm (P < 0.01) or 25.0 mm (P < 0.001) to 31.6 mm increased the magnitude of changes in TD and TWT after machine milking. Milk yield per cow was significantly (P < 0.05) higher and cluster-on time was reduced (P < 0.01) with the WB cluster as compared to the NB1 cluster. Minimum changes in teat tissue parameters were achieved with system vacuum level of 40 kPa and 50 kPa using NB and WB clusters, respectively. Similar changes in teat tissue and milk yield per cow were observed with alternate and simultaneous pulsation patterns. Widening pulsator ratio from 60:40 to 67:33 did not have negative effects on changes in teat tissue and had a positive effect on milk yield and milking time. Milk liner design had a bigger effect on teat tissue changes and milking characteristics than pulsation settings
Effects of anisotropic dynamics on cosmic strings
The dynamics of cosmic strings is considered in anisotropic backgrounds. In
particular, the behaviour of infinitely long straight cosmic strings and of
cosmic string loops is determined. Small perturbations of a straight cosmic
string are calculated. The relevance of these results is discussed with respect
to the possible observational imprints of an anisotropic phase on the behaviour
of a cosmic string network.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures; matches version published in JCA
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