High Moisture Levels Research Articles

Exploring Moisture Content in 50 Rough Rice through Micro Oven for Deeper Dietary Insights

Introduction/Objective: Rice, an ancient cereal grain and a dietary staple in India is globally cherished for its affordability, accessibility, and nutritional richness. It is a rich source of energy, containing essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, calcium, iron, and more. How-ever, its moisture content significantly influences quality, taste, and safety, affecting shelf life and susceptibility to spoilage and microbial growth. Improper storage practices lead to substan-tial losses of milled rice worldwide. Methods: To address this issue, a study was conducted on 50 raw rice (uncooked) samples from India to determine their moisture levels using a microwave method with a 900W power output for specific durations. Results: The results revealed an overall moisture content of 7.12±1.87 %, ranging from 3.73 % to 28.49 %. Significant differences were observed across locations rice varieties, and size with long-grain rice ranging from 4.90% to 11.02%, medium-grain from 3.73 % to 8.63 %., and short-grain from 4.17 % to 28.49 %. Long-grain had the highest average moisture content of 7.21±1.85 %, followed by short-grain rice at 7.8±1.84 %, and medium-grain at 6.03±1.44 %. Attap Rice stood out with higher moisture levels, highlighting the importance of careful storage practices. Parboiled rice tends to have higher moisture content than milled rice. Therefore, stor-ing rice properly is crucial in terms of security for public health. method: To address this issue, a study was conducted on 50 raw rice (uncooked) samples from India to determine their moisture levels using a microwave method with a 900W power output for specific durations. Conclusion: Moisture data aid in optimizing harvesting, and drying practices, adjusting milling and packaging techniques, and calculating rice's nutritional intake accurately; and economically disadvantaged individuals should opt for rice with lower moisture content for higher carbohy-drate content per unit. By employing these data for various rice types, food manufacturers can implement tailored storage conditions and processing techniques to ensure optimal product safety and consistency. result: The results revealed an overall moisture content of 7.12±1.87 %, ranging from 3.73 % to 28.49 %. Significant differences were observed across locations and rice varieties, and size with long-grain rice ranging from 4.90% to 11.02%, medium-grain from 3.73 % to 8.63 %., and short-grain from 4.17 % to 28.49 %. Long-grain had highest average moisture content of 7.21±1.85 %, followed by short-grain rice of 7.8±1.84 %, and medium-grain of 6.03±1.44 %. Attap Rice stood out with higher moisture levels, highlighting the importance of careful storage practices. Parboiled rice tends to have higher moisture content than milled rice. Therefore, storing rice properly is crucial in terms of secure to public health. other: NA

The impact of resources availability on phytophthora population dynamics and ecosystem health

The relationship between resource availability and the population dynamics of Phytophthora species plays a critical role in shaping ecosystem health. Phytophthora is a genus of oomycetes that known for their impact on agricultural and natural ecosystems. Resource availability, encompassing both abiotic factors like soil nutrients and moisture, and biotic factors such as host plant density and diversity, influences Phytophthora populations and their pathogenicity. This interaction often results in complex feedback loops where shifts in resource availability can worsen or mitigate the spread of Phytophthora infections. For instance, high soil moisture levels and nutrient availability can enhance pathogen growth and sporulation, leading to increased disease incidence and severity. Conversely, resource limitations may suppress pathogen populations but can also lead to reduced host plant vigor, indirectly affecting ecosystem health. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective management strategies, as it helps in predicting disease outbreaks and implementing measures to sustain ecosystem functionality and resilience. This study highlights the need for integrated approaches that consider both the ecological impacts of Phytophthora and the broader implications for ecosystem health, emphasizing the importance of resource management in mitigating pathogen-related disruptions.

Moisture-driven carbonation kinetics for ultrafast CO2 mineralization

CO2 mineralization, a process where CO2 reacts with minerals to form stable carbonates, presents a sustainable approach for CO2 sequestration and mitigation of global warming. While the crucial role of water in regulating CO2 mineralization efficiency is widely acknowledged, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. This study employs a combined experimental and atomistic simulation approach to elucidate the intricate mechanisms governing moisture-driven carbonation kinetics of calcium-bearing minerals. A self-designed carbonation reactor equipped with an ultrasonic atomizer is used to meticulously control the water content during carbonation experiments. Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations reveal that maximum CO2 uptake occurs at a critical water content where the initiation of capillary condensation significantly enhanced liquid-gas interactions. This phenomenon leads to CO2 adsorption-driven ultrafast carbonation at an optimal moisture content (0.1 to 0.2 g/g, water mass ratio to total wet mass of the mineral). A higher moisture content decimates the carbonation rate by crippling CO2 intake within mineral pores. However, at exceptionally high moisture levels, the carbonation reaction sites shift from internal mesopores to the grain surface. This results in surface dissolution-driven ultrafast carbonation, attributed to the monotonically decreasing free energy of dissolution with increasing surface water thickness, as revealed by metadynamics simulations. This study provides a fundamental and unified understanding of the multifaceted role of water in mineral carbonation, paving the way for optimizing ultrafast CO2 mineralization strategies for global decarbonization efforts.

Influence of mesoscale sea surface temperature anomaly on polar lows

Abstract Sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) associated with mesoscale oceanic processes, which are prevalent throughout the ocean, can significantly influence the atmospheric boundary layer and consequently atmospheric systems. While its influences on tropical and extratropical cyclones have been well-documented, the influence of mesoscale SSTA on polar lows (PLs) remains unexplored. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted a series of sensitivity numerical experiments with different SST configurations. The simulation results indicate that, over the lifespan of a PL, SSTA does not significantly influence PL intensity but does enhance latent heat release. On a longer time scale, based on simulations of five winter seasons over the Nordic Sea, we found that the accumulated impact of mesoscale SSTA creates favorable environments for PL intensification, characterized by higher moisture levels and lower static stability. These results highlight the importance of considering high-resolution SST boundary conditions, i.e. resolving mesoscale SST, in climate simulations of PLs.

Pengaruh Kadar Air Dan Porositas Tanah Terhadap Efisiensi Pemberian Pupuk Pada Tanaman Jagung

This study aims to analyze the effect of soil moisture content and soil corrosiveness on fertilizer efficiency in maize crops. The method employed is an experimental approach with treatments of different soil moisture levels (low, medium, and high) and the measurement of soil corrosiveness. The results showed that optimal soil moisture positively contributes to plant growth, with higher average plant height and yields at high moisture levels compared to low moisture levels. Additionally, soils with low corrosiveness are better at retaining water and nutrients, thereby enhancing fertilizer uptake efficiency. The interaction between soil moisture and soil corrosiveness was found to significantly affect crop yields. This study concludes that effective management of soil moisture and corrosiveness can improve fertilizer efficiency, and it provides recommendations for farmers to adopt precise fertilization strategies for sustainable agriculture practices.

Role of Soil Moisture in Disease Development of Charcoal Rot of Strawberries Caused by Macrophomina phaseolina.

Charcoal rot, caused by the soilborne fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, is one of the most economically important diseases affecting strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production in California. Previous studies on non-strawberry hosts have shown that proper soil moisture management can limit pathogen colonization of plants and decrease disease severity. We performed field and greenhouse studies for two seasons with the objective of investigating the role of soil moisture in disease development and management of charcoal rot of strawberries. Bare-root transplants of cultivars Monterey and Fronteras were inoculated or not inoculated and maintained at either a high, optimal, or low soil moisture level using tensiometers. Randomly selected plants from each treatment were sampled for pathogen colonization every 4 weeks after planting, and all plants were visually rated for disease severity every 2 weeks after symptom onset. In both seasons, low soil moisture significantly increased charcoal rot mortality among inoculated plants compared to optimal soil moisture by 16 and 24 percentage points, respectively. In the first season, mortality was significantly lower in the high compared to the optimal soil moisture treatment. Colonization of crowns was increased by low soil moisture among inoculated plants in the first season, but soil moisture did not influence root colonization in either year of the study. In the greenhouse, charcoal rot severity was highest in the low soil moisture treatment. These results indicate that soil moisture has a limited influence on colonization of strawberries by M. phaseolina and that maintaining optimal soil moisture can help prevent excess charcoal rot mortality.

Feedstock Characterization for Enhanced Heat Recovery from Composting Processes: A Review

Compost Heat Recovery Systems (CHRS) sustainably capture heat from composting waste biomass, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel reliance. The choice of feedstock affects the performance of CHRSs as it controls the microbial activities and the amount of heat generated. This review evaluates plant-based, animal-derived, and non-agricultural feedstocks to optimize CHRS energy recovery. A systematic review of 244 studies, published from 1996 to 2023 and available on Scopus, Web of Science, and external databases, categorized feedstocks based on properties like carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N), moisture content, bulk density, and heating value to assess their impact on energy recovery and compost quality. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines, excluding irrelevant documents and those that lacked quantitative data. Animal-based materials, which have high levels of moisture and nutrients, such as nitrogen (14.50–32.20 g/kg TS) and phosphorus (13.0–13.5 g/kg TS), promote rapid growth of microbes and consistent heat production supported by their stable carbon content (353.8–450.0 g/kg TS) and optimal C/N ratios (5.90–28.90). On the other hand, plant-based materials that are rich in volatile solids (327.2–960.0 g/kg TS) and lignin (36.7–290.0 g/kg TS) offer a steady and prolonged release of heat but decompose more slowly.

Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria from Groundnut Oil Cake and its Application in Pesticide Removal

A member of the class of organophosphate pesticides that are commonly used in agricultural activities worldwide is ethion, also known by its chemical name, phosphorodithioate, or O, O, O’, O’-tetraethyl S, S’-methylene bis. Its broad-spectrum insecticidal properties make it indispensable for controlling various pests in crops such as fruits, vegetables, and cereals. However, the indiscriminate use of ethion raises concerns due to its toxicity to non-target organisms, persistence in the environment, and potential adverse effects on human health. It was studied how bacteria that produce biosurfactants and were isolated from groundnut oil cake broke down ethion aerobically. In comparison to the FCO limitations of 5.77, 1.05, and 2.43 for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, the chemical analysis of groundnut oil cake revealed greater levels of these elements. Based on nutritional analysis, groundnut cake has low fiber content but high levels of carbohydrates (34.3%), moisture, starch, and proteins (5.33%, 16.7% and 36.12%, respectively), fat (13.67%), and ash (5.42%). The results of biosurfactant production screening showed that 17 isolates were positive for haemolytic activity, 11 were positive for Drop collapsed test and 2 isolates B. niabensis (B) and B. endophyticus (C) showed highest emulsification index 80% and 82% respectively. These two isolates B. niabensis and B. endophyticus were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing method. Both of them were found to produce glycolipid and lipopeptide after FTIR analysis. GC-MS analysis of degradation study showed significant degradation of ethion. The findings have consequences for how a bioremediation approach should be developed.

Aridity-Driven Change in Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency and Its Linkage to Soil Carbon Storage.

Global warming is generally predicted to increase aridity in drylands, while the effects of aridity changes on microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) and its linkage to soil organic carbon (SOC) storage remain unresolved, limiting the accuracy of soil carbon dynamic predictions under changing climates. Here, by employing large-scale soil sampling from 50 sites along an ~6000 km aridity gradient in northern China, we report a significant decreasing trend in microbial CUE (ranging from approximately 0.07 to 0.59 across the aridity gradient) with increasing aridity. The negative effect of aridity on microbial CUE was further verified by an independent moisture manipulation experiment, which revealed that CUE was lower under lower moisture levels than under higher moisture levels. Aridity-induced increases in physicochemical protection or decreases in microbial diversity primarily mediated the decrease in CUE with increasing aridity. Moreover, we found a highly positive microbial CUE-SOC relationship, and incorporating CUE improved the explanatory power of SOC variations along the aridity gradient. Our findings provide empirical evidence for aridity-induced reductions in microbial CUE over a broad geographic scale and highlight that increasing aridity may be a crucial mechanism underlying SOC loss by suppressing the ability of soil microorganisms to sequester carbon.

Effect of High CO2 Controlled Atmosphere Storage on Postharvest Quality of Button Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus).

The Agaricus bisporus (Button mushroom) stands out as one of the most prolific edible fungi which offers robust flavor and nutrition. Nonetheless, this mushroom contains high moisture levels and intense respiration. Without appropriate postharvest preservation techniques, the button mushroom readily experiences browning and senescence. To ensure optimum quality, prompt cooling and appropriate storage conditions are essential. This present research investigated the postharvest quality of button mushrooms stored in a controlled atmosphere (CA) with different initial gas compositions. The findings revealed that button mushrooms in the CA group demonstrated considerable enhancements in appearance and overall quality, effectively delaying browning and senescence compared to those in the control group. The optimal gas composition is 1-3% O2 and 15-17% CO2 (CAII), which effectively inhibited the expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO)- and lactase (LAC)-related genes in the button mushroom, maintaining a high L* value. Furthermore, the application of 1-3% O2 and 15-17% CO2 (CAII) not only preserved visual quality but also extended the postharvest shelf life of the button mushroom by minimizing metabolic activities that contribute to senescence. Moreover, 1-3% O2 and 15-17% CO2 (CAII) storage also reduced the expression levels of genes associated with ethylene synthesis, which is reflected in the gradual decrease in cell membrane permeability. Consequently, this research underscores the critical importance of controlled atmosphere storage in improving the marketability and sustainability of this widely consumed mushroom.

Effects of moisture regulation and heat treatment synergy on structural properties and digestibility of jackfruit seed starch

To investigate the impact of moisture regulation and heat treatment synergy on the structural properties and digestibility of jackfruit seed starch (JSS), starch samples underwent heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and annealing treatment (ANN) with varying moisture content (10–30 % for HMT at 120 °C, and 50–90 % for ANN at 40 °C). The physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of modified-JSS were systematically investigated. Results showed that the birefringence intensity of HMT-JSS decreased at high moisture levels but remained unchanged for HMT-JSS and ANN-JSS at low moisture levels. As moisture content increased for HMT and ANN, the amylose content and relative crystallinity increased and then slightly decreased. The gelatinization temperatures increased while enthalpy and viscosity declined. At high moisture content, the infrared absorbance ratio of 1047 cm−1/1022 cm−1 decreased on HMT but increased on ANN. Resistant starch (RS) contents of both HMT-JSS and ANN-JSS were increased at appropriate moisture levels (10–15 % for HMT, 50–80 % for ANN), but decreased with excessive moisture. Besides, these changes were more pronounced on HMT than ANN. Correlation analysis showed that the RS was significantly affected by the short-range ordered structure during HMT and ANN. These results revealed that hydrothermal treatment efficiently modified the structure properties and digestibility of JSS.

Oven-Dried Cupuaçu and Bacuri Fruit Pulps as Amazonian Food Resources

The Amazon is one of the largest and most diverse biomes on the planet. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schum) and bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart.) are Amazonian fruit species appreciated for their sensory characteristics and promising availability of bioactive compounds. However, high moisture levels (>80%) make these pulps susceptible to deterioration during storage. In this study, the oven-drying process was monitored to produce dry and more stable pulps. The process was monitored at 40 °C, 55 °C and 70 °C, and the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity were determined as quality indicators. In general, drying at 70 °C for 340 min produced dried cupuaçu and bacuri pulps with high levels of total phenolic compounds: 288 and 652 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g, respectively. The hygroscopic evaluation suggested that both of the dried pulps should be stored at a relative humidity of <40% to avoid rapid water adsorption and it is advised to carry out the oven-drying process until up to 12% moisture is reached for cupuaçu and 9% for bacuri to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Thus, this study expands the potential of bacuri and cupuaçu pulps for application in food industries, contributing to the economic and social development of the Amazon region.

Landslide Monitoring and Warning System Based on Wireless Sensor Network

Landslides are common in Indonesia, often caused by factors like heavy rainfall and high soil moisture levels. The Batubrak mini hydro power plant intake area in Lampung province of Indonesia has experienced landslides, prompting the need for an early warning system. This study presents the development of a cost-effective and efficient real-time landslide monitoring and warning system. The system incorporates sensors to measure accelerometer and vibration parameters, enabling real-time data display through a wireless sensor network and SCADA software. Early warnings are issued when triggers are activated. Three sensor nodes were deployed in the intake area for testing, demonstrating their ability to detect, collect, process, and transmit accelerometer and vibration data to the gateway node.

Spatial Aggregations of the Grey Field Slug Deroceras reticulatum Are Unstable Under Abnormally High Soil Moisture Conditions.

Deroceras reticulatum in arable fields display spatio-temporally stable slug patches that have been well documented under typical soil moisture conditions. The effect of abnormally high soil moisture on slug patch stability, however, is unknown. In this study, stepped gradient choice tests comparing soil moisture levels of 50-125% soil capacity showed slug preferences for levels in a range near to 125%. Activity became erratic, however, when given a choice of high moisture levels (125-370%), potentially because slugs searched for preferred conditions. Slug spatial aggregation was investigated in 21 commercial fields in 2023/24, a season of extreme rainfall, and then compared to years exhibiting typical rainfall (2015-2018). Slug patches occurred in 27.2% of assessment visits to fields during 2023/24 compared to 96.4% in typical years, suggesting weather conditions leading to abnormally high soil moisture are significantly associated with the breakdown of slug spatial aggregation behaviour. Random forest models identified the weather predictors (precipitation, relative humidity, temperature) with the highest impact on slug distribution and relative abundance, with the assessment date and region also related to relative abundance. However, a complex of environmental parameters affects soil moisture content, and no statistically significant effects of individual weather predictors emerged. The results are discussed in relation to slug behaviour in the context of their impact on targeted slug treatments.

Impact of Conservation Tillage and Nitrogen Management on Soil Temperature and Soil Moisture in Aerobic Rice

This study investigates the impact of different tillage practices, namely Conventional Tillage (CT) (T1), Minimum Tillage with residue retention (MT) (T2) and Zero Tillage (ZT) (T3) and nitrogen fertilizer schedules 100% RDN (N1) (120 kg ha-1), 100% RDN + foliar spray of nano urea 2.5 ml l-1 at active tillering and panicle initiation stage (N2), 100% RDN + foliar spray of nano DAP 2.5 ml l-1 at active tillering and panicle initiation stage (N3), 75% RDN + Nano urea 2.5 ml l-1 at active tillering and panicle initiation stage (N4), 75 % RDN + Nano DAP 2.5 ml l-1 at active tillering and panicle initiation stage (N5) on soil temperature, moisture and their interaction in aerobic rice cultivation. Soil temperature was measured using digital thermometer and soil moisture was determined by Owen drying method. Results revealed that soil temperature and soil moisture was significantly influenced by tillage practices and Nitrogen fertilizer schedules showed no significant effect on soil temperature and soil moisture. Zero tillage (T3) consistently recording the lowest soil temperatures compared to T1 and T2 in both years. During rabi 2022-2023, T3 recorded 18.23°C in the 1st week, significantly lower than T1 (19.32°C). This trend persisted in the rabi 2023-2024, with T3 recording 27.1°C in the 19th week, significantly lower than T1 (28.61°C). In terms of soil moisture, zero tillage (T3) also consistently resulted in the highest moisture levels. During rabi 2022-2023 season, T3 recorded 18.93% soil moisture in the 1st week, significantly higher than T1 (18.11%). This pattern continued in the rabi 2023-2024, with T3 maintaining significantly higher moisture levels in most weeks. Zero tillage is effective in reducing soil temperature and enhancing soil moisture retention. Minimum tillage with residue retention performing similar to zero tillage.

Development of smart control system for leakage warning in compact roofs

Smart sensor technologies to monitor temperature and moisture conditions in building components can be used to give automatic warnings for abnormal high levels of moisture. Flat compact roofs are of particular interest in this context, especially due to their vulnerability to rain leakages through the roofing membrane. Installing moisture sensors in such roofs measuring relative humidity (RH) and free water may give an early warning of rain leakages or condensation owing to air leakages from indoors before damage occurs. One challenge is, however, that normal moisture redistribution in the insulation layer over the season or a day may give very high levels of RH in the top or bottom part of the insulation. A sensor system must be able to distinguish between these normal RH levels and leakage events. Together with a sensor technology and control system producer, a semi-quantitative system that defines typical or normal RH levels in the insulation layer of the roof during the year has been developed. To investigate the applicability of such a system, measurements from the compact roofs of two pilot buildings located in Norway have been analysed. The objective has been to identify connections between measured data, occurring climate conditions and seasonal variations. Results may be used to further develop and improve the algorithms of the leakage warning system.

Влияние катодной электрохимической активации молока на свойства сливочного масла

Pasteurization and sterilization of milk are known to affect its biological properties. Cathodic electrochemical activation offers a prospective alternative to the abovementioned processes. It involves soluble amino acids of whey proteins that are selected from α-lactoalbumins and β-lactoglobulins, including such amino acids as asparagine, glycine, glutamine, serine, threonine, and tyrosine at 0.5 wt. %. Cathodic electrochemical activation provides a long-term preservation of antioxidant properties: titratable acidity ≤ 17 °T, active acidity (pH) 8-10.5; pathogenic microflora ≤ 8×104 (CFU)/cm3. In this study, the butter sample obtained from electrochemically activated milk demonstrated better sensory properties than the control. As for the physicochemical variables, the experimental sample had a 2.5% higher moisture level while the mass fraction of fat was 81.5% and the titratable acidity was slightly lower than that of the control sample (by 0.3%). After three months of storage, the increase in yeast and mold was by 3 CFU/g in the control sample and by 2 CFU/g in the experimental one. The method of cathodic electrochemical activation proved suitable for industrial butter production.

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Water Availability in Marshyangdi Basin: Hydrological Model Development

This Study has developed a hydrological model for the Marshyangdi river basin in Western Nepal, showing considerable potential for developing water resources and overall national prosperity. The model is also used to characterise hydrology and assess the availability of water resources across different spatial and temporal dimensions, hence improving our comprehension of water availability and its possible applications. The newly developed hydrological model in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) replicates the mean flows, hydrological pattern, and flow duration curve at the basin and 54 sub-basin outputs. Additionally, the model undergoes calibration and validation, employing Sufi-2 to fine-tune hydrological parameters. Based on the data generated by the model, the annual average precipitation (P) in the Marshyangdi basin is projected to be 1843 mm. Approximately 17.88% of the average yearly rainfall is lost via evapotranspiration; however, this varies significantly across different locations and time periods. Contrasting the two, the mountains have a higher moisture level than the Himalayan regions. The predicted average annual flow volume at the basin outflow is 9467.423 million cubic metres (MCM). Examining water shortages, finding regions with excess water, and developing solutions to address the competing needs of agriculture, industry, urban areas, and ecosystems are advantageous. Therefore, this method may improve the effectiveness of strategic planning and the long-term management of water resources.

Study of moisture sorption thermodynamic in canola oilseed and drying energy requirement considerations

AbstractThe objective of this study is to derive the thermodynamic characteristics from sorption isotherm data for canola. The semi‐gravimetric method was utilized at three different temperatures (25, 40, and 55°C) and seven air relative humidity levels within the range of 11%–90%. The observed data indicated that the equilibrium moisture content of the sample decreased as the temperature increased. The “GAB and BET” models were applied to fit the empirical data, which demonstrated a Type III isotherm, and the monolayer water content was subsequently determined using these models. Thermodynamic properties such as “isosteric heat,” “net isosteric heat,” “differential entropy,” “net integral entropy,” and “net integral enthalpy” were determined from isothermal sorption curves. The results show that as moisture content increases, both the sorption isosteric heat and the differential entropy of sorption decrease. This indicates that at higher moisture levels, the energy required for additional moisture adsorption and the changes in entropy are reduced. Similarly, the net isosteric heat of sorption and the net integral enthalpy of sorption also decrease with increasing moisture content, consistent with the observed reductions in isosteric heat and differential entropy. The specific absorption surface area for each temperature was determined by calculating the monolayer moisture content using both the “GAB and BET models.” The net integral entropy had an increasing trend in the range of 4%–4.5% (db%), while it decreased in the range of 4.5%–6.8% of moisture content. In addition, the spreading pressure at three levels of temperature was reported. Finally, an empirical relation was employed to illustrate the cumulative energy requirement for drying versus moisture content. The results indicated that at low moisture content levels, the drying process required significantly higher energy.Practical applicationsMoisture sorption isotherms are essential for understanding the interaction between water and food ingredients. This knowledge is vital for improving food processing methods such as drying, mixing, cooling, and storage. In industry, isotherms can help determine the best drying method to maintain food quality, identify the optimal mixing conditions to ensure consistency, establish cooling protocols to prevent spoilage, and set storage guidelines to extend shelf life. In addition, understanding thermodynamic properties is crucial for regulating moisture absorption and release, achieving the desired food texture, managing surface characteristics, and calculating the energy needed for effective dehydration processes.

Impact of Extrusion Parameters on the Formation of Nε-(Carboxymethyl)lysine, Nε-(Carboxyethyl)lysine and Acrylamide in Plant-Based Meat Analogues.

To investigate the impact of extrusion parameters on the formation of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) and acrylamide in plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs), the content changes and the correlations of compounds related to their formation were studied. The extrusion promoted CML, CEL and acrylamide formation, with more CEL being formed than CML. Variations in the moisture level and barrel temperature exerted a greater influence on the CML, CEL, acrylamide and α-dicarbonyl compounds than the screw speed and the feed rate. An increase in the moisture content led to a decrease in the CEL content, whereas it enhanced CML formation. The impact of moisture on acrylamide formation varied depending on whether low- or high-moisture extrusion was applied. Elevated temperatures promoted the accumulation of CEL, methylglyoxal and 2,3-butanedione while diminishing the accumulation of CML, acrylamide, glyoxal and 3-deoxyglucosone. CML and CEL were positively correlated with glyoxal and methylglyoxal, respectively. CEL and methylglyoxal were negatively correlated with protein and water content, whereas CML, glyoxal and 3-deoxyglucosone displayed positive correlations. In summary, higher moisture levels and feed rates and lower screw speeds and barrel temperatures are advantageous for producing PBMAs with lower CEL and total advanced glycation end-products contents, while lower or higher moisture contents, a lower feed rate and a higher barrel temperature are beneficial to reducing the acrylamide content.