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Mathematical Modelling the Drying Kinetics of Beetroot Strips during Convective Drying at Different Temperatures
Get PDFThe thin layer drying of beetroot strips was evaluated at drying temperatures from 60 °C to 90 °C using convective dryer at inlet air velocity of 1.0 m/s. The different drying models were tested to evaluate the drying characteristics of beetroot strips. The investigations showed that Page’s and modified Page’s equations were satisfactorily describing the drying behaviour of beetroot strips during convective drying with appreciable high correlation coefficient (0.9971<r<0.9990) with low error values. The effective moisture diffusivity was increased from 3.563 x 10-10 m2/s to 8.038 x 10-10 m2/s with increase in drying temperature. The temperature dependency of effective moisture diffusivity was described by Arrhenius equation and activation energy for moisture diffusivity was 30.08 KJ/mol. The drying kinetic coefficients were significantly (p<0.05) affected by drying air temperature. The exponents of models were decreased linearly with drying air temperature during drying of beetroot strips. The equilibrium moisture content was markedly affected by drying air temperature and it decreased linearly with drying air temperature. The results were very useful in standardisation and optimisation of drying process of beetroot strips in large scale commercial production
Optimisation and Evaluation of Ricebean (Vigna Umbellata) Extrusion Process for Downstream Food Processability
Get PDFRicebean(Vigna umbellata), a native bean of North-Eastern part of India has not been explored fully for development of convenience foods although it is loaded with various vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, phytochemicals and bioactive compounds. The effect of extrusion parameters namely moisture content, barrel temperature and screw speed on expansion ratio, extrudate density, and breaking strength was investigated by using response surface methodology. It was observed that moisture content of flour had significant (p<0.05) affect on expansion ratio, extrudate density, and breaking strength of extrudates. The optimal combination of process parameters which resulted in extrudates with maximum expansion ratio but minimum extrudate density and breaking strength were 15 per cent moisture content, 110°C barrel temperature and 350 rpm screw speed. The value of water absorption index, water solubility index, swelling power, oil absorption index, bulk density, true density and colour for optimally extruded ricebean flour (OEF) was found significantly different (p<0.05) whereas value of proximate parameters were insignificant (P>0.05) than the native flour. The OEF was used for different downstream processings such as papadability, friability, steamability, cakeability, gravyability and porridgability and compared with that of native flour for their process quality parameters. The cake prepared with OEF had significantly (p<0.05) less baking time (25 min) than the cake of native ricebean flour (35 min). However, consistency and over all acceptability (OAA) of porridge from OEF was found significantly (p<0.05) higher than porridge of native ricebean flour. Hierarchical cluster analysis on OAA showed that porridgability and cakeability were most influential downstream processe
Effect of Critical Thinking on Cognitive Enhancement
Get PDFCognitive abilities refer to brain based skills that are required to carry out any task ranging from the simplest to the most complex. Since these skills play a significant role in our day to day activities, efforts are being made by researchers for their further enhancement. The objective of the present study was to investigate if these abilities can be enhanced through a training module on critical thinking. Critical thinking involves something more than cognitive skills. Critical thinking is not static but a constantly evolving process and even more crucial in a military environment. This study consists of certain activities which are designed in such a manner that the solution of it can be generated through critical thinking. These activities were administered on 36 participants (20 male, 16 female). Each Participant’s baseline cognitive performance was assessed after which training was given to them in the form of different critical thinking activities followed by post assessment of cognitive abilities. Paired sample t - test was used which showed that There was a significant difference in the cognitive performance post critical thinking activities
Macro micronutrients and Antioxidant Potentials of Plants and Fungal based Food from Tawang Area Arunachal Pradesh India
Get PDFCertain variety of plants such as vegetables, spices and seaweed are abundantly being grown in high altitude cold desert region of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Therefore, five different vegetables, spices and seaweed were taken from that particular cold region viz., finger millet, nori seaweed, pepper corn, bean and mushroom have been selected based on the higher consumption of people of Northeast (NE) India for the proximate analysis, mineral, antioxidant and vitamin contents. So far, there is no nutritional composition studies have been carried out with available vegetables, spices and seaweeds growing in NE. For this reason, this study was undertaken to determine the macro and micro nutrients and antioxidant potential of these plant foods. Different analyzed varieties were significantly different for proximate composition and mineral content, and each variety showed significant differences. Common bean showed higher percentage of protein with 35.09% and fat percentage of the finger millet is higher (9.2%) as compared to other varieties from other regions (1-1.5%). Higher crude fibre was assessed in mushroom with 47.77% followed with pepper corn (38.42%), bean with 30.987%, and finger millet (5.14%).Calcium was higher in finger millet with 225 mg per 100g whereas iron content was higher in mushroom with 652 mg followed with beans (543 mg), pepper corn (408 mg per 100g). Higher amount of polyphenols observed in finger millet with 8.716 µg (GAE)/mg and highest total flavonoids in pepper corn with 48.196 µg (RU)/ml. Likewise, highest FRAP in finger millet noticed with 72.0 µg of FeSO4 equivalent /mg and reducing power (ascorbic acid equivalent /mg) in mushroom (244.0) and pepper corn (242.0). All samples had higher metal chelating activity between 86.657- 83.383 IC50 µg. Similarly, higher amount of vit B6 was noted in pepper corn with 197.0 mg while lowest in seaweed with 1.76 mg/100gm.
 
Passive Solar Greenhouse for Round The Year Vegetable Cultivation in Trans Himalayan Ladakh Region, India
Get PDFThe trans-Himalayan Ladakh region remains cut-off for over six months in a year due to heavy snowfall. Availability of locally grown fresh vegetables is restricted to summer months and therefore, there are seasonal differences in dietary intake of food. Passive solar greenhouse has played a significant role not only in production of leafy vegetables in sub-zero temperature during winter months but also helped in extending the growing season in Ladakh. It is now a common practice to raise vegetable nurseries in spring and grow leafy vegetables during winter months in the greenhouse. Each year an average of 733 greenhouses covering 44313.4 m2 area are being established in Leh district. Passive solar greenhouse structures such as Ladakhi greenhouse, trench, polytrench, polyench, polycarbonate, FRP and polynet have been designed and tested in the inhospitable environment of trans–Himalaya. The greenhouse is used mainly during winter, and majority of farmers (91.7 %) do not use the structures in summer. Insect-pest, irrigation in winter and frequent replacement of cladding materials are the major problems being faced by the farmers in the region. There is a need to improvise the greenhouse design to make it economically viable and technologically feasible to grow a variety of crops, especially during winter months
Potential of Biocontrol Agents in Plant Disease Control for Improving Food Safety
Get PDFPlant disease control is mainly based on extraneous application of pesticides to improve agriculture productivity. However, only a part of applied pesticides is used for killing of pathogens and pests. Large part of applied pesticides remains either as residual pesticide or gets volatilized or leached resulting in ecological and environmental problems, and human health hazards. The increased consumer demands for safe food have invigorated research on development of safe and ecofriendly biopesticides. The use of microorganisms for biological control of pests is considered as a pragmatic approach which can drastically lessen the adverse outcomes of agrochemicals in soil. Rhizospheric microorganisms isolated from various crops produce different antagnostic compounds and inhibit the growth of various phytopathogens and insect pests. Moreover, in several plants, hormones like salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene contribute towards induction of both, systemic acquired as well as induced systemic resitance. In this article, antagonistic rhizosphere microorganisms have been explored for control of phytopathogens. Further, recent advances in field of biopesticides using rhizosphere microorganisms under field conditions is discussed for improvingcrop productivity in sustainable agricultur
Nutritional Intervention during Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Environments A Dietary Perspective
Get PDFThe future war scenario is based on use and applications of various conventional and non-convectional agents which includes weaponised or non-weaponised chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN), toxic industrial materials, direct energy devices/ weapons, and or high yield explosives. These include nerve agents, blood agents, vesicants or skin blistering agents, lung irritants, asphyxiants or choking agents. Biological weapons are basically disease causing microorganisms and other replicating entities including viruses, infectious nucleic acids and prions. These agents have ability to infect host and are highly virulent, pathogenic and dangerous in nature. The interface between ammunitions and above agents is soldier whose physical and mental health is affected as enough precautionary measures are not adopted. The reducing environment thus created has various agents which enter into exposed body and lead to mild to serious damage to various vital parts of the human body. As food is important component for survival and intrinsic to basic human nutrition and health, therefore, it is imperative to develop certain kind of a wholesome meal system which can be consumed by the soldiers tasked with combating CBRN situations during such operations. Such meals can be in the form of solid or liquid type and packaged in suitable delivery system, compatible and amenable with the CBRN suit. Food can be contaminated during CBRN conditions by coming in direct or indirect contact with CBRN agents. Therefore, the food materials to be used under such conditions need to be protected in suitable coverings as consumption of contaminated food can be lethal. Designer meal for CBRN environment is not only suitable for soldiers but also to all human interface dealing with similar scenario viz. the low intensity conflicts and surgical operations, nuclear submarines, cosmonauts, pilots, individuals handling radiation equipment and patient undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
ELISA Based Detection of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type F in Red Meat and Canned Fish
Get PDFBotulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is the most toxic protein molecule so far known to animals and humans, due to its extreme toxicity, CDC has been listed as category ‘A\u27 Biological warfare agents. In India, there is no commercial detection system available for the detection of botulism. The present study was aimed to develop an ELISA based detection system for botulinum neurotoxin serotype F in red meat and canned fish. Polyclonal antibodies were generated against the recombinant BoNT/F LC protein and IgG was purified. Sandwich ELISA system was successfully optimized with LOD of ~ 7.8 ng/ml in PBS. Similarly, different concentrations of BoNT/F were spiked in red meat and canned fish and extracted the toxin and the detection LOD was achieved for red meat ~ 62 ng/ml and for canned fish ~ 31 ng/ml. The developed detection system is highly specific. The developed assay will be useful for the screening of botulinum toxins in a large number of food samples
One step Purification and Characterisation of Abrin Toxin from Abrus Precatorius Seeds
Get PDFAbrin is a plant toxin obtained from Abrus precatorius seeds. It belongs to the type II ribosomal inactivating proteins (RIPs) consisting of two chains namely, catalytically active A chain and sugar binding B chain linked by a single disulphide bond. Due to high toxicity of abrin, its exposure or consumption can lead to serious public health problems. In the present work, we have extracted and purified the abrin toxin from Abrus precatorius seeds. The toxin was purified using a single step anion exchange chromatography. The purified protein was characterized by SDS-PAGE and MALDI- TOF to confirm its purity. The toxicity of purified abrin toxin was also confirmed by injecting the toxin in mice. The purified protein was further used to raise antibodies in mice and characterized by indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The results of present study established the use of single step ion exchange chromatography to purify abrin toxin for further development of its detection system
Physico Chemical and Microbial Analysis of Different Sources of Water collected from Indora, Himachal Pradesh, India
Get PDFLife could not be imagining without the presence of water on this earth. An ecosystem is very dependent on the quality of water. Regular water quality monitoring is very essential of a region. In the study area, no study has been yet done on the quality of drinking water and productivity level of Beas river near Arni University, Himachal Pradesh, India. The main aim of this study was to determine the water quality of three different sources of water like hand pump water, tap water, and Beas river water. For this, we have collected total twenty-six samples in the month of May 2018 and analysed for pH, TDS, EC, DO, alkalinity, phenolphthalein alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, carbonate, bicarbonate, E. coli, and productivity level by standard methods. The entire analysed parameters showed the lower level than the permissible guideline of the WHO except for the presence of E. coli and higher level of alkalinity. The productivity level of Beas river was indicating that trophic index belonged to the ultra-oligotrophic. From the findings, it might be concluded that hand pump water, tap water, and Beas river water was drinkable except the presence of E. coli and higher level of alkalinity in tap water and river water. However, in the case of the productivity level of Beas river was indicating the very low accumulation of dissolved nutrient salts, and a lower rate of algae growth as the productivity level belonged to the ultra-oligotrophic. Further extensive study on the water minerals and heavy metals level in all the water sources are required in this study area