Internal Quality Measures Research Articles

Keeping quality of cucumber fruits predicted by biological age

In the absence of defects, colour is one of the few practical criteria for assessing cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) quality. However, cucumbers with the same colour at harvest can exhibit large differences in quality upon reaching the consumer. Photochemical yield (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching (qP) and a photosystem I evaluation (ke), as internal quality measurements, were used in combination with an external quality measurement, represented by the colour, to test if the keeping quality could be predicted on the basis of these measurements. Keeping quality is defined as the time for a cucumber to reach a certain predefined colour limit. To test the hypothesis, colour changes for 2000 cucumbers were measured during storage at 20°C and 100% RH. The colour data were fitted to a model where a correction for biological age (Cba) was applied to each individual cucumber. The correction for biological age could be linked to the measured ΦPSII, qP and ke values. Statistical analyses resulted in values for the maximum (green) and minimum colour (yellow) for each cucumber. The minimum colour could be correlated with different cultivars and the maximum colour with plant growing conditions. After a suitable transformation by a neural network, Cba could be estimated based on the values of ΦPSII, qP and ke and the initial colour. Predictions on the keeping quality by the model resulted in an explained variance of 74% (R2adj=0.74).

Internal Quality Measurement of Tropical Fruits by Near Infrared Spectroscopic Technique (Part 2)

Internal Quality Measurement of Tropical Fruits by Near Infrared Spectroscopic Technique (Part 2)

Towards the measurement of internal service quality

In the service sector literature, both marketers and organizational behaviourists emphasize the importance of the internal dynamics of the organization in terms of a network of customers and suppliers interacting together to satisfy customers. Reports on the progress of an ongoing project aimed at identifying and measuring those factors which determine how hospital ward staff perceive the quality of the support they receive from other units in hospitals.

Enhancing Potato Tuber Calcium Concentration Through Calcium Application May Reduce the Incidence of Internal Brown Spot and Hollow Heart

A direct comparison was made of several commercially available calcium sources applied on two different schedules for their effectiveness in increasing tuber medullary and periderm tissue calcium concentrations in 170–284-g tubers of the cultivar Atlantic grown on a Plainfield sandy loam. Plots (6 x 3 m) were arranged in a CR design in 1993 and a RCBD in 1994 (eight replications). Paired measurements of tuber Ca concentration and internal quality (±hollow heart, ±internal brown spot) were made on individual tubers produced in plots with no additional or additional Ca (168 kg Ca/ha) supplied from either gypsum, liquid calcium nitrate, or NHIB. Two Ca and N application schedules were compared: 1) application at emergence and hilling (non-split), 2) application at emergence, hilling, and 4 and 8 weeks after hilling (split). All plots received 224 kg H/ha balanced with ammonium nitrate. In general, tuber yield and grade were unaffected by treatments in 1993 and 1994, but overall percent A-grade was lowest and percent B-grade highest in 1993 compared with 1994 data. In 1993, all treatments receiving Ca had greater mean tuber medullary and periderm tissue Ca concentration values and a greater percentage of tubers with an elevated Ca concentration compared with non-Ca-supplemented controls. The overall incidence of tuber internal defects was 5% in 1993. All split schedule treatments receiving Ca showed 0% internal defects. In contrast, nearly 8% of the tubers from control plots showed some defect. The medullary tissue Ca concentration of 65% of the tubers having either defect was below the median value of Ca concentration for the entire experiment in 1993. Similar evaluations are underway for the 1994 crop. These data suggest that tuber calcium concentration may be related to the incidence of these internal defects.

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy for food systems

The theory and applications of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and spectroscopy in food research are reviewed in detail, with emphasis on internal quality evaluation and measurement of dynamic phenomena in food systems, such as colloidal stability, fat and water crystallization, and macroscopic diffusion of fat, water, solutes and solids, as well as rheological measurements. MR imaging and spectroscopy are based on magnetic properties of atomic nuclei (e.g. the proton), and allow the measurement of the motional freedom of species of atoms in various types of molecules. This technique is non-invasive and can be applied in real time to follow dynamic phenomena such as fluid flow, processing, moisture and fat migration during frying, liquid drainage in a foam, or fat crystallization in a biscuit. It provides a powerful tool to the food scientist for studying the physical properties of food systems or specific food components and their evaluation during various processes.

Power of change

Outlines the policies of Southern Electric in implementing a quality service through a customer‐oriented culture, describing a strategy designed to develop internal and external quality measurements for continuous improvement. Discusses market opportunities, regulation, the City, Southern Electric staff and customers in respect of the company′s quality strategy and identifies five key steps as important for success in this quality strategy. Stresses the importance of setting the scene, building a disciplines framework, developing staff ownership of the culture, initiating customer‐oriented procedures and recording process/measuring success. Suggests that the customer‐oriented culture is a fundamental feature of achieving continuous improvement in service quality in an environment of changing market conditions.

A Comparison of Candling Eggs With Other Methods of Determining Internal Egg Quality

The eggs from 23 strains of White Leghorns were used to study different internal egg quality measurements. Twenty-five eggs from each of the strains were candled by three experienced persons the day after the eggs were laid. After candling, the eggs were broken-out, and internal quality was determined by U.S.D.A. scores, Haugh units, albumen height and yolk index. The entire experiment was repeated using seven-day old eggs. Correlations were run on all of the strains for each of the internal quality measurements.There appears to be a high correlation between such measurements as U.S.D.A. scores and albumen height, U.S.D.A. scores and Haugh units, and albumen height and Haugh units. Candling did not appear to correlate with any of the other measurements of internal egg quality. There was a poor correlation between yolk index and other measurements. The “r” values on all of the measurements varied considerably among the twenty-three strains.Analysis of variance was used to detect differences among the candlers. The results show that there was a highly significant difference among the individuals who candled the eggs.

The Influence of Quantity of Thick Albumen on Internal Egg Quality Measurements

A GREAT deal of attention is given to the internal quality of eggs because of economics, appearance and consumption. In the past there have been many discussions as to whether internal quality as measured by U.S.D.A. scores or Haugh units is directly related to the percent of thick albumen or due to the placement of the thick white. There isn’t enough information in the literature to accurately make a decision on the influence of amount of firm albumen on internal egg quality.REVIEW OF LITERATURELorenz et al. (1931) found that the amount of thick white was an inherited factor. They also stated that eggs with high original percent firm white were superior for storage purposes. Knox et al. (1931) showed that Leghorns as a breed produced more thick albumen in their eggs than did Rhode Island Reds. They found that egg weight was correlated with thick albumen weight but.

Effects of Management, Strain and Truck Shipment on Albumen Quality of Eggs

VERY little has been reported on changes in quality of eggs during shipment. Gwin (1952) reported a study involving more than a billion eggs purchased by the Armed Forces of the United States. U. S. Grades were determined by candling and inspection by trained inspectors from the Army Veterinary Corps and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Quality loss was shown to be related to time in transit, distance or miles in transit and seasonal influences. No data were reported as to the relation of varying physical conditions during transit or position effects within the rail cars. Adams and Milam (1960) studied the effects of international shipping of eggs from Lincoln, Nebraska to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using the Haugh unit score as a measure of internal quality. In this study eggs were transported from Lincoln, Nebraska to New Orleans by auto truck and thence to Rio de Janeiro by…