Higher Breaking Force Research Articles

Effect of chitosan oligosaccharides with different molecular weight in alleviating textural deterioration of chicken myofibrillar protein gel with high-temperature treatment

The molecular weight (MW) of oligosaccharides on gel properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) at high temperature remains unclear. In this study, it was found that chitosan oligosaccharides (CO) with different MW all significantly alleviated the textural deterioration of MP gel with high-temperature treatment. Moreover, MP-CO gel with the largest MW had the highest breaking force and the lowest cooking loss. Low-field NMR results further indicated that MP-CO gel with larger MW of CO had gradually increased relaxation rate, thus binding water more tightly. Rheological and microrheological tests suggested the addition of CO with larger MW resulted in much tighter gel network. These results indicated that CO with larger MW improved the quality of MP gel more effectively, which was because CO with larger MW inhibited aggregation of MP to a larger extent, resulting in smaller MP aggregates. Then MP-CO gel with much denser and more homogeneous structure was formed. Besides, MP-CO gel with larger MW of CO had higher content of β-sheet, resulting in MP gel with more ordered structure and better gel quality. Therefore, this study provided theoretical guidance for choosing the appropriate CO in improving texture of high temperature meat products.

Chemical surface modification of pineapple leaf fiber for polymer composites applications: Comparative study

The sizing of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) using cornstarch, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was analyzed, incorporating glycerol and urea as a plasticizer and stabilizer, respectively. The impact of various sizing agents on the physical properties of PALF was evaluated. A comparison between treated and untreated PALF was conducted using FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tenacity testing. The thermal stability of PALF improved with PVA treatment, showing decomposition temperatures of 363.831°C after modification compared to 343.163°C before modification. Conversely, CMC and cornstarch did not affect PALF's thermal stability. The tenacity test revealed that untreated PALF had the highest breaking force, while the elongation at break increased after sizing. The drying rate of PALF decreased post-sizing, whereas water absorption increased with CMC, PVA, and cornstarch treatments. Overall, sizing agents enhanced the handling and physical properties of PALF, indicating its potential as an alternative material source for textile applications.

Machine Learning for Prediction of Energy Consumption and Broken Force in the Chopping Process of Maize Straw

The main causes of high productional costs and greenhouse gas emissions in the chopping process of maize straws are high energy consumption and breaking force. Addressing these issues, this paper proposes a solution that leverages machine-learning algorithms to select appropriate operational parameters for chopping devices, thereby reducing energy consumption and the cutting force. In this study, the peak breaking force of the stalk (PB), the energy consumption of the stalk chopping (EC) and the slide-cutting momentum of the disc blade (SM) were set as dependent variables, and the rotation speed of the Y-type blade (RSY), transmission ratio (TR) and slide-cutting angle (SA) were set as independent variables. Various techniques, including back-propagation (BP), a radial basis function (RBF), an artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression and a stepwise polynomial regression model, were applied using a 6-fold cross-validation approach to determine the most effective predictive models. The results indicated that the BP-ANN model performs best in predicting the PB (R2Test = 0.9860) and SM (R2Test = 0.9561), while the RBF-ANN model yields the highest accuracy in predicting the EC (R2Test = 0.9255) under the optimal parameters. Subsequently, a verification test was conducted using randomly selected training and testing data based on the selected predicted functions. The results demonstrated that the R2Train and R2Test data for PB, EC and SM are all above 0.95, indicating that the BP and RBF neural networks are capable of accurately predicting the nonlinear relationship between the dependent variables (EC, SM and PB) and independent variables (RSY, TR and SA) in practical applications.

Rationally designed lentinan outer layer to improve the comprehensive performance of flame-retardant cotton fabrics

As the most widely used natural fabric, cotton fabric is highly flammable with serious fire hazard concerns. The use of biomass materials to impart flame resistance to fabrics is always a hot topic of interest. In this work, a novel durable flame retardant cotton fabric (Cotton-APA/LNT) was fabricated by successively covalent bonding ammonium phytate (APA) and lentinan (LNT). The Cotton-APA/LNT fabric sample had a highly limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 51.5 % and was self-extinguished in the vertical burning test (VBT) at 18.0 % weight gain. The peak heat release rate and total heat release values were decreased by 91.5 % and 46.0 %, respectively compared with those of the control cotton. Besides, after 50 laundering cycles (LCs), the fabric was still self-extinguished in the VBT with an LOI value of 34.2 %. APA fully strengthened the role of acid source by the presence of LNT. The constructed LNT outer layer showed comprehensive improvements in thermostability, flame retardancy, smoke suppression, durability, and breaking force. Specifically, the Cotton-APA/LNT sample had a higher LOI value (↑4.3 %), lower total heat release (↓23.8 %), lower total smoke production (↓29.1 %), higher thermostability (↑27 °C under air), better char formation ability (↑2.0 % under air), higher durability (self-extinguished in the VBT after 50 LCs), and higher breaking force (↑32.5 % in the warp direction and ↑33.9 % in the weft direction) compared with those of Cotton-APA sample. This work has proposed an advanced approach for fabricating eco-friendly durable fire-safety cotton fabrics.

Hyperoside improves the textural and rheological properties of threadfin bream surimi gel

SummaryTextural, rheological, structural and sensorial properties of threadfin bream surimi as influenced by the addition of hyperoside (HyS) at various levels (0%–4%; w/w) were investigated. Surimi gel added with 1% and 2% HyS (HyS1 and HyS2, respectively) had the highest breaking force and deformation (P < 0.05). HyS2 showed the maximum water‐holding capacity, followed by HyS1 (P < 0.05). Whiteness of gel was decreased when the concentration of HyS was higher than 1%. Hardness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness increased with the addition of 1%–2% HyS (P < 0.05). HyS enhanced the connections between surimi proteins as supported by the appearance of some polymerised proteins. No major changes in the secondary structure of myofibrillar proteins in gel were noticed as determined by FTIR. Microstructure also revealed the formation of higher connectivity in the gel network with the addition of 1%–2% HyS. Likeness score for taste and flavour slightly decreased (P < 0.05), but the overall likeness score for HyS1 was still higher than the acceptable limit (score of 5). Therefore, the addition of HyS improved the gelling properties of threadfin surimi gel, which could be claimed as a functional food due to the several health benefits of HyS. Nevertheless, future studies should be conducted to reduce the bitterness associated with HyS incorporation.

Assessment of Physicochemical Parameters and Contaminants in Herbal Dietary Supplements Used in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a complex disorder characterized by chronic gastrointestinal inflammation. Thus, patients prefer to use herbal dietary supplements containing turmeric, Indian frankincense, green chiretta, and black pepper in an attempt to cope better with their chronic condition. The dietary supplements' dosage forms and herbal ingredients were assessed in terms of the products' physicochemical parameters (weight uniformity, friability, disintegration, rupture test, tablet's breaking force, and powder flowability) in view of the USP-NF requirements. In addition, contaminants such as organic solvents and ethylene oxide were evaluated using gas chromatography. Assessment of gluten via an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay was also performed. Most of the products met USP requirements. The high average weight of one multicomponent tablet sample with a high breaking force value can explain the observed negative results of the disintegration test. A total of 26% of samples tested positive for gluten, but the most alarming fact is that the ethylene oxide levels found in two samples were up to 30 times higher than the EU limit. Accordingly, dietary supplement quality control is of fundamental importance.

Tibia Growth and Development in Broiler Chicks Reared under Continuous Light and Melatonin Dietary Supplementation During the First Two Weeks of Life

Abstract The first few weeks after broilers hatch are the period of most intense bone growth and development, and the time when they are most susceptible to the influence of various external and internal factors. Research in the recent decades has focused on the involvement of melatonin in bone development during early life in chickens. Melatonin release from the pineal gland has a circadian rhythm, with the highest levels circulating during the night and decreasing during the light phase of the day. Various types of lighting are used in intensive broiler production. In this study, the effects of melatonin on the tibial structure and growth of broilers were investigated. During the first two weeks of life, two groups of chickens were kept under continuous light and fed the same diet, with the experimental group receiving melatonin in the amount of 0.03 g/kg of feed. The results obtained showed that the addition of melatonin in the diet had positive effects on the development and growth of the tibia, which was expressed in a significantly greater thickness of the diaphysis and cortical bone of the diaphysis, higher breaking force and higher values of alkaline phosphatase activity. The cortical bone mineral density of the tibia did not differ significantly between the groups of chicken.

Promising effects of vinasse use on bone strength in laying hens.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of vinasse on bone strength and some material properties in laying hens with specific amounts of vinasse added to their diets. The study was the first to determine the mechanical properties of laying hens fed a diet supplemented with vinasse. The study was conducted on tibiotarsi of two hundred 94-week-old laying hens which were selected randomly from a commercial farm. Morphometric measurements were made using a digital scale and caliper, and mechanical data were collected from tibiotarsi using a three-point bending test with a compression-tension machine. The laying hens fed with vinasse had higher tibiotarsal length and weight than those in Control group. The groups fed with vinasse were significantly stiffer and had a higher breaking force than Control group (P=0.002, P

Gelling properties and microstructure of the silver carp surimi treated with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract.

Effects of ethanolic extracts of pomegranate peel (PPE) on the gelling and textural characteristics of silver carp surimi gel was investigated. The peels extracted with 100% ethanol exhibited highest total phenolics, tannin and flavonoid contents. The change of the gelling properties of surimi was explained using infrared spectroscopy, chemical interactions, and scanning electronic microscopy images. Greater number of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were found in surimi gel fortified with 0.45% PPE. Amongst all the concentrations of PPE, 0.45% level exhibited the lowest sulfhydryl and primary amino groups and this was concurrent with the highest gel strength. The FT-IR analysis showed a gradual reduction of intensity of the amide I band with the increase of PPE concentration, and also shifting to lower value from control to surimi with PPE 0.90%. Absorption bands like C-N stretching from amide II and N-H deformation from amide III were also detected. The SEM images showed that surimi with 0.45% PPE had most ordered, finest and denser gel network, and was closely integrated with higher breaking force, hardness, and WHC. This study showed the potential of functional components of fruit wastes for improving gelling properties of surimi with additional health benefits for the consumers.

Threadfin bream surimi gel containing squid fin protein hydrolysate: Textural properties, acceptability, and volatile profile.

Gel properties of threadfin bream surimi gels with squid fin protein hydrolysate (SFPH) at various concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%; w/w) were determined. The gel without SFPH (CON) had the highest breaking force (BrF) and deformation (DeF) as compared to those with SFPH (p<0.05). Among the gel with SFPH, gel containing 1 and 2% SFPH (SFPH-1 and SFPH-2, respectively) had the highest BrF, whereas the lowest value was obtained when 4% SFPH was used (SFPH-4) (p<0.05). The whiteness of all samples was slightly decreased with an upsurging amount of SFPH. However, water holding capacity was increased with augmenting levels of SFPH (p<0.05). Sensory analysis revealed that SFPH-2 had a higher squid odor and flavor likeness score than CON (p<0.05). Textural properties, especially hardness, were decreased with increasing SFPH, except for SFPH-1 and SFPH-2 (p>0.05). In addition, the rheological properties, microstructure, and volatile profile of the selected surimi gel were also studied. The storage modulus (G') of SFPH added samples was decreased as compared to the CON sample. The CON gel had a finer and more compact network as compared to SFPH-2 and SFPH-4 samples. Volatile profiles indicated that alcohols, carboxylic acids, ketones, and ether were the major volatile compounds present in both gel samples. Furthermore, thiophene, 3-methyl-, contributing to squid flavor, was found in the SFPH-2 sample. Overall, SFPH at 2% could act as a flavorant in the threadfin bream surimi gel without markedly negative impact on gelling and textural properties, while providing squid odor and flavor to the resulting gel. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The various low-valued byproducts generated from the squid processing industry could result in various environmental problems. Those byproducts are rich in various biomolecules such as proteins, fats, enzymes, and so forth, which could be utilized to produce value-added products. Among them, protein hydrolysate (PH) rich in amino acids with excellent antioxidant properties could serve as an alternative flavorant. Therefore, PH from squid byproducts, especially fins, could be applied in foods such as fish balls, surimi gels, and so forth to enhance the nutritional and flavoring profile of a finished product. Moreover, bioactive peptides in PH with antioxidant potential could retard the oxidation of proteins and lipids.

Electrical Performance Safety Detection of Aramid Casing Based on Molecular Dynamics and Deep Learning Algorithm

Transformer bushing is one of the key equipment of transmission system, and its performance directly affects the stability and safety of transmission system. This paper is aimed at studying the safety detection of electrical properties of aramid shells with molecular dynamics and deep learning algorithms. The bushing needs to withstand AC voltage, DC voltage, and polarity reversal voltage during operation. The complexity of operating conditions leads to the improvement of bushing requirements for insulation performance, and bushing accident is a common type of transformer accident, accounting for 30% of the total number of transformer accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the electrical performance and safety of the bushing to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. Aramid casing is a kind of casing with many advantages, such as high strength, high tensile breaking force, high stability, and high temperature resistance. Molecular dynamics is helpful to deeply analyze the micro mechanism of various complex phenomena, so as to explain the relationship between material microstructure and macroproperties, so it is very helpful to analyze the structure and properties of aramid casing. Deep learning is an important research direction in the field of machine learning. It can extract important features and simplify casing analysis steps. In this paper, an electrical performance test system of aramid casing is designed. It is proved that the reliability of casing is generally greater than 1 and the reliability is high. The current performance of the bushing is tested. 400 A is a dividing point, and no matter how large the current is, the maximum temperature is no more than 130°, which proves that the current performance of the bushing is stable and the temperature resistance is good. Finally, the radial field strength distribution of bushing capacitor core under different initial moisture content is tested, and it is concluded that the moisture can not be greater than 6%.

Effect of acetylated distarch adipate on the physicochemical characteristics and structure of shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) myofibrillar protein

To investigate the effect of acetylated distarch adipate (ADA) on the physicochemical properties and structure of shrimp myofibrillar protein (MP), the changes in chemical bonds, secondary structure and protein composition of shrimp MP and MP gel (MPG) were analyzed. Besides, the microstructure, water state, texture properties and water holding capacity (WHC) of MPG with different ADA additions were compared. The results showed that the shrimp MPG with 1% ADA addition had the highest breaking force and gel strength, WHC, and the densest three-dimensional network structure. The ADA had little significant effect on the secondary structure of MP and MPG. In addition, hydrogen and ionic bonds were the main chemical bonds of MP, while MPG is mainly dominated by hydrophobic and disulfide bonds. The correlation analysis of gel properties and water state of MPG showed that bound water and immobilized water had a positive effect on the gel strength.

High hydrogen peroxide concentration-low exposure time of plasma-activated water (PAW): A novel approach for shelf-life extension of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) steak

A new method for using plasma-activated water (PAW; 100 ppm H2O2) to improve the cold (4 °C) shelf-stability of Asian sea bass steaks (ASBS) was established. Soaking with PAW, created utilizing oxygen and argon, for 30–120 s successfully extended the shelf-life of ASBS by suppressing microbial growths below the permissible level (7 log CFU/g) for 25 days, whereas control reached the microbiological limit after 10 days (p < 0.05). PAW-treated samples had lower accumulation rates of total volatile base nitrogen (< 25 mg/100 g), trimethylamine (< 5 mg/100 g), and propanal (< 400 nmol/g) than control (p < 0.05). PAW improved lipid stability (TBARS <2 mg/kg) but promoted protein oxidation (protein carbonyl ~0.01–0.02 nmol/mg). Hardness and water holding capacity of PAW treatments were better preserved during storage than control as indicated by higher breaking force and lesser expressible moisture drip. Although metmyoglobin tended to stay stable during storage, all treatments' surface total color change tended to increase by 2–5 folds. Overall, argon-produced PAW with 100 ppm H2O2 and a short soaking time (30 s) seemed to be a promising method for protecting the quality and safety of ASBS.

Effect of Vegetable Juice, Puree, and Pomace on Chemical and Technological Quality of Fresh Pasta.

Vegetable pasta is a premium product, and its consumption may deliver health benefits by increasing vegetable intake. This study investigated the replacement of semolina with juice, puree, and pomace of spinach and red cabbage. The effect of replacement on chemical composition, cooking performance (cooking loss, swelling index, water absorption), texture quality (elasticity, firmness), and colour was evaluated. The cooking loss of pasta made with spinach juice and spinach puree at 1 g/100 g substitution was the same as the control, while all other samples had a higher cooking loss. Spinach pasta had a higher breaking force but lower breaking distance in the tensile test than the control, while red cabbage pasta had a lower breaking force and breaking distance. Spinach juice fortified pasta was firmer than the control. Red cabbage juice pasta was less firm than other forms of fortified pasta at 1 g/100 g substitution level. Spinach and red cabbage juice are better colorants than puree or pomace as they change the colour of the pasta more dramatically at the same substitution level. Cooking performance and texture quality of spinach juice pasta were better than other samples, which indicates a premium pasta product for the food industry.

Opening forces or failure of commercially available equine headcollars and other safety devices

A recent survey by the authors of the present study indicated that headcollar (halter, USA) related incidents resulting in horse injuries may be common. From the survey, 134 incidents involving horse fractures and 167 fatalities were reported. Headcollar design and materials vary markedly from traditional leather to “safety” headcollars and safety devices. Despite their almost universal use, there has been minimal study as to how these items function or specifications for performance. The aim of the present study was to select a range of commercially available standard headcollars and a number of safety devices, to test the force required to break or release them. Safety devices selected included baler twine, which is widely used by equestrians to attach a horse by a headcollar to a lead rope and in turn to a fixture. This system practice is perceived to increase safety. Devices were subjected to increasing load in the poll to lead-rope attachment axis (i.e. to simulate a horse pulling backward) using a custom-made steel rig incorporating an electric 1000 kg winch. The force was increased incrementally until either the headcollar or device opened or failed. The lowest mean opening force of 357 ± 50 N was for a safety headcollar, which is equivalent to a load of approximately 36 kg. The highest breaking force was 5798 ± 265 N for one of the eight different webbing headcollars tested. Breaking for safety devices ranged from 354 ± 121 N for “fine” baler twine to 1348 ± 307 N for a “heavy duty” baler twine. Variability in opening force was lowest in two of the webbing headcollars (CV &lt; 5%) despite these having very high breaking points (&gt;3500 N). The greatest variability was found for fine baler twine (CV = 34%) and one of the commercial safety devices (CV = 38%). The range of opening forces and variability in opening forces for standard headcollars, safety headcollars and safety devices is a cause for concern and may give horse owners/handlers a false sense of security with regards to safety, and actually predispose horses and handlers to an increased risk of injury.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals the regulatory mechanism of the gibberellic acid pathway of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) dwarf mutants

BackgroundTartary buckwheat is an important minor crop species with high nutritional and medicinal value and is widely planted worldwide. Cultivated Tartary buckwheat plants are tall and have hollow stems that lodge easily, which severely affects their yield and hinders the development of the Tartary buckwheat industry.MethodsHeifeng No. 1 seeds were treated with ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) to generate a mutant library. The dwarf mutant ftdm was selected from the mutagenized population, and the agronomic characteristics giving rise to the dwarf phenotype were evaluated. Ultra-fast liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-ESI–MS/MS) was performed to determine the factors underlying the different phenotypes between the wild-type (WT) and ftdm plants. In addition, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed via the HiSeq 2000 platform, and the resulting transcriptomic data were analysed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant analysis revealed possible sites associated with dwarfism. The expression levels of the potential DEGs between the WT and ftdm mutant were then measured via qRT-PCR and fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM).ResultThe plant height (PH) of the ftdm mutant decreased to 42% of that of the WT, and compared with the WT, the mutant and had a higher breaking force (BF) and lower lodging index (LI). Lower GA4 and GA7 contents and higher contents of jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA) and brassinolactone (BR) were detected in the stems of the ftdm mutant compared with the WT. Exogenous application of GAs could not revert the dwarfism of the ftdm mutant. On the basis of the transcriptomic analysis, 146 homozygous SNP loci were identified. In total, 12 DEGs with nonsynonymous mutations were ultimately identified, which were considered potential candidate genes related to the dwarf trait. When the sequences of eight genes whose expression was downregulated and four genes whose expression was upregulated were compared, SKIP14, an F-box protein whose sequence is 85% homologous to that of SLY1 in Arabidopsis, presented an amino acid change (from Ser to Asn) and was expressed at a lower level in the stems of the ftdm mutant compared with the WT. Hence, we speculated that this amino acid change in SKIP14 resulted in a disruption in GA signal transduction, indirectly decreasing the GA content and downregulating the expression of genes involved in GA biosynthesis or the GA response. Further studies are needed to determine the molecular basis underlying the dwarf phenotype of the ftdm mutant.ConclusionWe report a Tartary buckwheat EMS dwarf mutant, ftdm, suitable for high-density planting and commercial farming. A significant decrease in GA4 and GA7 levels was detected in the ftdm mutant, and 12 DEGs expressed in the stems of the ftdm mutant were selected as candidates of the dwarfing gene. One nonsynonymous mutation was detected in the SKIP14 gene in the ftdm mutant, and this gene had a lower transcript level compared with that in the WT.

Core-Multishell-Structured Digital-Gradient Cathode Materials with Enhanced Mechanical and Electrochemical Durability.

Ni-rich cathode materials provide high energy density, but their structural and surface instability limits their cyclability and thermal stability. As one of the approaches to mitigate this problem, cathode materials comprising Ni-rich high-capacity core wrapped in Mn-rich multiple shells are produced successfully. In contrast to the conventional batch-type process for concentration-gradient materials, a digital-gradient cascade coprecipitation process described here achieves the improvements in productivity and quality consistency needed to move toward large-scale manufacturing. The core-multishell cathode materials produced in this manner not only have longer cycle life and improved rate performance compared to homogeneous Ni-rich cathode materials having the same overall composition, but also show remarkably enhanced thermal stability and low impedance growth characteristics. In a novel attempt to determine the correlation between the mechanical properties of the core-multishell cathode particles and their electrochemical cyclabilities, their breaking force and elasticity were successfully measured using a statistical approach, which indicates that a cathode particle with stable surface composition as well as high breaking force has improved capacity retention and durability. These results guide the realization of long life and high thermal stability in Ni-rich cathode materials through heterogeneous particle engineering.

Effect of High Voltage Cold Plasma on Oxidation, Physiochemical, and Gelling Properties of Myofibrillar Protein Isolate from Asian Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer).

The effects of in-bag dielectric barrier discharge high voltage cold plasma (IB-DBD-HVCP) on myofibrillar protein isolate (MPI) from Asian sea bass (ASB) and its impact on the physiochemical and gelling properties of MPI gels were elucidated. A mixture of argon (90%) and oxygen (10%) was used for generating IB-DBD-HVCP. MPI was subjected to IB-DBD-HVCP for varying times (5–15 min). Total carbonyl content was increased, while total sulfhydryl content was decreased in MPI, especially with augmenting treatment time (TT) (p < 0.05). Surface hydrophobicity initially increased when IB-DBD-HVCP TT of 5 min (DBD-HVCP5) was implemented, followed by subsequent decrease with increasing TT. Based on gel electrophoresis, lower actin and myosin heavy chain (MHC) band intensities were found for MPI subjected to IB-DBD-HVCP, particularly when a TT longer than 10 min was used, compared to those of the control. Gel made from DBD-HVCP5 had higher breaking force, deformation, and highest G′ value compared to others. A more ordered and fibrous network was found in DBD-HVCP5 treated gel. Therefore, IB-DBD-HVCP treatment, particularly for 5 min, enhanced cross-linking of proteins in ASB myofibrillar proteins, which resulted in the improved gel elasticity and strength.

Effect of Process Parameters on Tensile Strength of Sansevieria and Areca Husk Fiber Needle-Punched Nonwoven Fabrics

Abstract The present study intends to determine the optimum process conditions for needle punching the nonwoven fabrics produced from blends of sansevieria and areca husk fibers. The Box–Behnken experimental design is used for the optimization of the fabric weight (200–400 g/m2), punch density (150–250 punches/cm2), and blend ratio (30:70–70:30) with respect to the tensile strength of the nonwoven fabrics and to evaluate the effects and interactions of the needle punching process conditions. The optimum process conditions were obtained at a fabric weight of 400 g/m2, 250 punches/cm2, and 70:30 blend ratio. Nonwoven fabric with a highest breaking force of 17.58 N in the machine direction and 36.51 N in the transverse direction was obtained at the optimum process conditions. The nonwoven fabric developed from this study can be used as a floor covering material in the construction field.

Biochemical property and gel‐forming ability of surimi‐like material from goat meat

SummaryBiochemical and gel properties of surimi‐like material from goat meat (SMGM) as affected by washing solutions including tap water, NaCl, sodium bicarbonate, aluminium sulphate and sodium pyrophosphate, with the same ionic strength of 0.15 for all salt solutions, were investigated. Three‐cycle washing (cold solution/water/water; mince:solution ratio of 1:5; 10 min/cycle) was used. Washing solutions differently altered the pH, Ca2+‐ATPase activity, reactive sulfhydryl, TCA‐soluble peptide, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N), myoglobin, lipid and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content of SMGM. Washing can eliminate undesirable lipid, myoglobin, TVB‐N and TCA‐soluble peptide from goat meat. SMGM washed with water and NaCl can form stable gels whereas SMGM washed with bicarbonate, pyrophosphate and aluminium sulphate formed very mushy gel/aggregate with high released water. SMGM gels particularly that washed with NaCl had higher breaking force, deformation and whiteness with lower TBARS content, species odour and expressible drip than unwashed mince. Therefore, SMGM can be optimally produced by washing with NaCl solution.