Affect Product Characteristics Research Articles

Reduction of PDO Pecorino Siciliano cheese making duration: Microbial dynamics and quality attributes deriving from replacing whey permeate with hot water during cooking

This work was carried out with the aim to reduce the transformation duration of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Pecorino Siciliano cheese. To this purpose, the cooking in hot water (experimental production, EXP) was compared to the traditional cheese cooking under whey permeate (control production, CTR). The microbiological composition of under rind (UR) and core (Co) section of CTR and EXP cheeses was determined by a combined culture-dependent and -independent approach. Total mesophilic microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in raw ewes' milk (5.0 log CFU/mL) increased during cheese making and reached values of about 8.0 log CFU/g in both sections (UR and Co) of 5-month ripened cheeses of both productions (CTR and EXP) monitored. The identification of the viable LAB populations in ripened cheeses showed that Enterococcus, Lacticaseibacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Levilactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus and Streptococcus dominated UR and Co sections of all cheeses. MiSeq Illumina analysis demonstrated that LAB populations (lactobacilli, lactococci and streptococci) dominated the bacterial community of cheeses at 95.63–98.41 % of relative abundance. The two different cooking operations did not influence the physicochemical characteristics of PDO Pecorino Siciliano cheeses. Sensory evaluation performed by artificial senses analysis and trained panelists confirmed that the modification of PDO Pecorino Siciliano cheese production protocol did not significantly affect product characteristics and overall acceptance. Thus, data of this work confirmed that cooking under hot water allowed to reduce transformation duration and safeguard typicality of PDO Pecorino Siciliano cheese.

Regulatory Approach for Transitioning from Gamma Ray to X-ray Radiation Sterilization.

When investing in X-ray irradiation facilities around the world, an opportunity exists for defining a regulatory framework for assessing the transition from current gamma irradiation processes. Historically, regulatory strategies for changing the radiation source for routine processing has consisted of repeating the majority, if not all, of the validation activities performed as part of an initial validation and associated submission. Although not a new concept, performing a risk assessment has the potential to be leveraged more fully by increasing the rigor of determining what is changing when product moves from a gamma to an X-ray irradiator, then determining how these differences may affect product characteristics. During these steps, differences can be identified and quantified between radiation sources and potential impacts, if any, to product quality can be elucidated. Based on these risk assessments, the level of action required, or not required, in terms of empirical product testing can be examined and a determination can be made regarding whether a substantial change has occurred.

Pedagogy and Profit? Efforts to Develop and Sell Digital Courseware Products for Higher Education

The individual economic benefits of higher education are largely determined by what students learn in the process of obtaining their degrees. Increasingly, for-profit companies that develop and sell digital courseware products influence what college students learn. Employees’ pedagogical expertise, content knowledge, and understanding of organizational goals are likely to affect product characteristics and outcomes associated with the use of those products. This study draws on 15 months of ethnographic data to examine one organization’s efforts to develop and sell courseware for use in higher education. The data suggest organization members’ interpretations of educational access and quality support product development and sales efforts consistent with profit aims, but that may promote credentialism, negatively affect learning, and exacerbate quality differences across institutions.

Process characterization for molding of paper bottles using computed tomographyand structure tensor analysis

Packaging products find their significance in almost all classes of consumer goods and products. The use of plastic and metal based packaging for beverages is highly dominant. However, there is a constant urge for development of eco-friendly packaging alternatives. The paper focuses on characterizing an inflatable core assisted paper bottle molding process with respect to the obtained fiber distribution in the bottle. Distribution of paper fibers affect product characteristics such as thickness and mechanical strength of the bottle. Assessment of fiber orientation using structure tensor analysis is therefore performed. The results confirmed non-uniform fiber compaction in the paper bottle. This gives rise to non-conformities such as non-uniform thickness distribution. The approach discussed in the work can be used as a Non Destructive Testing technique to evaluate the quality of paper bottles.

On the particle formation in spray drying process for bio-pharmaceutical applications: Interrogating a new model via computational fluid dynamics

Although spray drying is widely used to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients, its operation and improvement is often difficult to assess because of complex interactions between the chemical and physical properties of the solutions, and the ensuing fluid dynamic, and heat and mass transfer phenomena occurring during spray drying. Hence, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling is used to provide insight into spray drying to produce pharmaceutical solid amorphous dispersions, the results of which are compared to experimental data from the modelled spray dryer during its operation. It is shown that droplets with different sizes, trajectories and breakup behaviors occur and cause droplet drying and solid powder formation differences that affect product characteristics. Based on the combined CFD and experimental information, a new drying approach is proposed and tested that is based on the precipitation of dissolved solid species and the introduction of swirl motion of the droplets during ejection from a spray nozzle. This new approach is shown to improve drying performance of difficult-to-handle pharmaceutical solutions.

Recent Advances in Food Packaging with a Focus on Nanotechnology

Background: Food packaging technology is continuously evolving in response to the growing challenges in modern society. Active and intelligent packaging systems are two innovative branches of the packaging field, which allow the development of food products with extended shelf life, enhanced food quality and safety. Objective: The current work reviewed the most relevant recent patents and scientific publications on the different categories of active and intelligent packaging systems and currently available commercial applications with a closer look to the application of nanotechnology applied to the food packaging sector. Methods: The work has been carried out combining a qualitative/quantitative approach. In the specific patent data were combined with the most relevant scientific publication on food packaging technology. Results: The most recent patents and scientific works have been discussed with more emphasis on the use of nanotechnology for the development of new packaging materials with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties and on the use of bio-based nanocomposites as a way to improve the technological properties of green materials, replacing conventional non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic packaging materials. Conclusions: Low diffusion of active and intelligent packaging in EU countries has been related to their high costs and to the lack of a worldwide accepted legislation about their safety issues. Even though much progress has been made, further research still needs to be conducted on how these solutions may affect product characteristics. Keywords: Nanotechnology, packaging, smart packaging, bio-based materials, intelligent packaging, active food packaging, absorber sachets, releaser films.

Computer Optimization of Biodegradable Nanoparticles Fabricated by Dispersion Polymerization.

Quality by design (QbD) in the pharmaceutical industry involves designing and developing drug formulations and manufacturing processes which ensure predefined drug product specifications. QbD helps to understand how process and formulation variables affect product characteristics and subsequent optimization of these variables vis-à-vis final specifications. Statistical design of experiments (DoE) identifies important parameters in a pharmaceutical dosage form design followed by optimizing the parameters with respect to certain specifications. DoE establishes in mathematical form the relationships between critical process parameters together with critical material attributes and critical quality attributes. We focused on the fabrication of biodegradable nanoparticles by dispersion polymerization. Aided by a statistical software, d-optimal mixture design was used to vary the components (crosslinker, initiator, stabilizer, and macromonomers) to obtain twenty nanoparticle formulations (PLLA-based nanoparticles) and thirty formulations (poly-ɛ-caprolactone-based nanoparticles). Scheffe polynomial models were generated to predict particle size (nm), zeta potential, and yield (%) as functions of the composition of the formulations. Simultaneous optimizations were carried out on the response variables. Solutions were returned from simultaneous optimization of the response variables for component combinations to (1) minimize nanoparticle size; (2) maximize the surface negative zeta potential; and (3) maximize percent yield to make the nanoparticle fabrication an economic proposition.

Advances in adoptive cellular therapy of cancer

Adoptive cellular therapy is becoming an important cancer therapy. Tumor infiltrating T cells and peripheral blood T cells engineered to express high affinity T cell receptors specific to tumor antigens have been effective in treating melanoma. T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors are being used to treat cancers and hematologic malignancies. Clinical studies have found that the characteristics of cellular therapies effects clinical outcomes. There is considerable variability between production lots of adoptive cellular therapies. This variability affects product characteristics and clinical outcomes. Production variability is due to both donor and manufacturing factors. Donor genetics as well as donor age, gender, race and prior therapies may affect product characteristics and function. The complexity involved with manufacturing cellular therapies also contributes to variability in the final product. Manufacturing adoptive cell therapies may involve stimulation with antibodies, cytokines, growth factors or allogeneic cells; prolonged culture and expansion; and genetic engineering. Product characteristics can affect clinical outcomes. Several studies have found that adoptive cellular therapies that have greater in vivo persistence and proliferation are associated with better clinical outcomes; however, the specific product characteristics responsible for better or worse clinical outcomes are not well understood. To better understand the critical characteristics responsible for the clinical effectiveness of cellular therapies we and others have been studying the potency of cellular therapies. Specific phenotypes have been associated with better clinical outcomes. Animal models suggest that T memory stem cells have greater proliferative potential and persistence than effector T cells and are more effective for adoptive cellular therapy. We have found that high throughput molecular assays are useful at identifying markers that are useful at measuring cell potency. In conclusion, in order to improve the clinical effectiveness of cellular therapies it’s important to better understand the biological functions that contribute to product potency and develop potency markers and assays to ensure that the highest quality cells are consistently produced.

Production Characteristics Study of Tight Gas Reservoir with Network Fracturing Using Numerical Simulation

Differences of physical properties between matrix and fractured region, size of fractured region and production allocation all affect production characteristics and development effect of fractured gas wells. Building a numerical simulation model of fracture network dual porosity, we studied impacts of these factors in contrast of programs of different parameters. Larger stimulated reservoir volume and higher permeability of fracture network result in good well performances but no meaningful increase in gas production when reaching a certain degree. Therefore, optimization suggestions of size and physical properties of stimulated reservoir volume as well as production allocation are proposed.

Effect of proteolitic enzymes with probiotic of lactic acid bacteria on characteristics of cow milk dadih

Texture of dadih from cow milk tends to be soft, while dadih from buffalo milk have more compact and solid texture. Enzyme is one of food additives that may produce fermented products made from cow milk that has same charcteristic as dadih’s from buffalo milk. Lactic acid bacteria in fermented milk affect product characteristics. This study aimed to determine the effect of combination of enzyme and probiotic lactic acid bacteria on the characteristics of cow's milk dadih. The study was aime designed using completely randomized design (CRD) with 9 treatments, A: renin 2 ppm + 3% L actobacillus casei ; B: renin 2 ppm + 3% B. longum ); C: renin 2 ppm + 1.5% L. casei + 1.5% B. longum; D: crude extract of Mucor sp . 0.5 ppm + 3% L. casei; E: crude extract of Mucor sp. 0.5 ppm + 3% B revibacterium longum ; F: crude enzyme extract of Mucor sp. 0.5 ppm + 1.5% L. casei + 1.5% B. longum ; G: papain 100 ppm + 3% L. casei ); H: papain 100 ppm + 3% B. longum ; and F: papain 100 ppm + 1.5% L. casei + 1.5% B. longum ). Each treatment was repeated two times. Results showed that combination of renin 2 ppm with 3% of L. casei resulted in the best characteristics of cow milk dadih with viscosity 2278 cP; pH 5.63; titrable acidity 0.56%; moisture 75.03%; protein 6.80%; fat 3.35%; carbohydrate 13.21%; LAB total 6.90 x 10 10 cfu/g; it also had a flavor, aroma, texture, and general acceptance that mostly preferred by panelists. Key Words : Dadih, Cow Milk, Enzyme, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum

An Integrated Geologic and Engineering Assessment of Fracture-Flow Potential in the Ratawi Reservoir of the Wafra Field, Partitioned Neutral Zone

SummaryThe extent to which fractures affect fluid pathways is a vital component of understanding and modeling fluid flow in any reservoir. We examined the Wafra Ratawi grainstone for which production extending for 50 years, including recent horizontal drilling, has provided some clues about fractures, but their exact locations, intensity, and overall effect have been elusive. In this study, we find that a limited number of total fractures affect production characteristics of the Ratawi reservoir. Although fractures occur throughout the Wafra field, fracture-influenced reservoir behavior is confined to the periphery of the field where the matrix permeability is low. This work suggests that for the largest part of the field, explicit fractures are not necessary in the next-generation Earth and flow-simulation models.The geologic fracture assessment included seismic fault mapping and fracture interpretation of image logs and cores. Fracture trends are in the northeast and southwest quadrants, and fractures are mineralized toward the south and west of the field. Pressure-falloff tests on some peripheral injectors indicate partial barriers, and most of these wells lie on seismic-scale faults in the reservoir, suggesting partial sealing. A few wells show fractured-reservoir production characteristics, and rate-transient analysis on a few producers indicates localized dual-porosity behavior. Producers proximal to dual-porosity wells display single-porosity behavior, however, to attest to the notion of localized fracture response. The spatially restricted fracture-flow characteristics appear to correlate with fracture or vug zones in a low-permeability reservoir.Presence of fracture-flow behavior was tested by constructing the so-called flow-capacity index (FCI), the ratio of khwell (well test-derived value) to khmatrix (core-derived property). Data from 80 wells showed khmatrix to be consistently higher than khwell, a relationship that suggests insignificant fracture production in these wells.

Synthesis of isomaltooligosaccharides and oligodextrans by the combined use of dextransucrase and dextranase

Batch syntheses of isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO) from sucrose, using the enzymes dextransucrase and dextranase were performed with the aim of understanding the reaction mechanism and the parameters which affect product characteristics and molecular size. Both activities described for dextransucrase (dextran formation and acceptor reaction) achieved synthesis whilst the hydrolytic activity of dextranase regulated the product molecular size and acceptor availability. Depending on the reaction conditions, the product oligosaccharide mixtures contained mainly sugars (up to 36%) with degrees of polymerization (DP) varying between 10 and 60 together with lower concentrations of both lower and higher molecular weight sugars. Alterations in substrate and dextranase concentrations (50–400 mg ml −1 and 2.5–46 U ml −1, respectively) affected the molecular weight of IMO, the reaction rate and the formation of leucrose. This permitted manipulation of the product characteristics. It was found that higher substrate and dextranase concentrations gave rise to products with lower molecular sizes and a dextransucrase:dextranase ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 appeared to produce a polymer with a molecular weight which is desirable for prebiotic use.

Simulation of an industrial nylon 6 tubular reactor

A commonly used energy-efficient nylon 6 reactor is simulated under steady-state conditions. The effects of various operating conditions and parameters, e.g., feed composition, temperature and flow rate, heat transfer coefficients, and reactor dimensions, on the temperature and molecular weight profiles are studied. A temperature maximum is observed in the reactor under usual conditions of operation. The maximum value of the temperature is sensitive to the feed conditions, and one has to ensure that degradation reactions speeded up at high temperatures do not affect product characteristics. The model and the numerical technique used are fairly simple and account for most of the important features of industrial reactors. Hence, these can be used in the development of digital-control algorithms in the future.