Studies on the post-mortem changes in shrimp and prawn during ice storage. Pt. 1. Organoleptic and physical changes

The organoleptic characteristics such as appearance, textural condition, colour and odour indicated that the M. rosenbergii stored in ice for 5-6 days was acceptable for processing in the industry while P. monodon under similar ice storage condition was acceptable for 8-9 days. In both species, samples stored in headless condition in ice had longer shelf life than that of stored in head-on condition. Physical changes were evaluated by determining expressible moisture and breaking strength of sample of muscles. The expressible moisture increased continuously in both samples with the lapse of storage period. The expressible moisture increased up to around 44% in 4-5 days of ice stored M. rosenbergii muscle while it was around 40% in 8-9 days ice stored P. monodon. At the end of 9 days of ice storage, the expressible moisture content in M. rosenbergii increased up to 60%, while it was up to 47% in P. monodon after 11 days of ice storage. The breaking strength declined from 0. 78 kg/cm² to 0.53 kg/cm² in tiger shrimp after 8 days of ice storage, while in case of immediately killed prawn, the breaking strength of muscle was 0.8 kg/cm² which declined to 0.43 to 0.35 kg/cm².

Identification and determination of muscle's fatty acids and amino acids in Cobia and Indian squid

The present study aims to find the effect of freezing Time on the quality of Cobia (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and Indian Squid in commercial scale during freezing and subsequent frozen storage (−18◦C). Total time for freezing was significantly different (P<0.05) between the Cobia and Indian squid samples. The difference in the freezing time could be attributed to the varied quality of the 2 samples. Upon freezing, the moisture content decreased in Indian Squide samples compared to Cobia freezer where protein content decreased in both the samples. Upon freezing and during frozen storage, lipid oxidation products (peroxide value, and free fatty acid value) and volatile bases (total volatile base nitrogen) showed an increasing trend in both the samples with values slightly higher in Indian squid samples compared to cobia frozen samples. The total plate counts showed a significantly (P<0.05) decreasing trend in both the samples. K value did not show any significant (P<0.05) difference between the samples whereas the histamine formation was significantly (P<0.05) increased in Indian squid frozen samples compared to cobia samples. The taste and overall acceptability was significantly different (P<0.05) in cobia samples compared to Indian squid frozen samples on 5th month. Both samples were in acceptable condition up to 5 month but the Cobia frozen samples quality was slightly better than the air blast frozen samples.

Standardization and frozen storage of fish cutlet from bleached and unbleached mackerel mincemeat

In the present study, fish cutlets were prepared from bleached and unbleached mackerel mincemeat. Fish cutlets prepared from bleached meat had scored higher values for taste, flavour and overall acceptability as compared to those from unbleached mincemeat. Fish cutlets prepared with corn flour at the rate of 15% of fish mincemeat had scored higher values for all attributes as compared to other levels. Between the bleached and unbleached mincemeat, the scores for cutlet prepared with bleached mincemeat had higher score than that for the latter. There were no cracks in cutlets prepared with 15% and above corn flour levels as compared to those with lower levels. Fish cutlets prepared from bleached and unbleached mincemeat with spice mixture at 20 and 30% of the fish mince, respectively, had higher scores for taste, flavour, texture and overall acceptability as compared to those with other levels. Organoleptic quality of cutlet prepared from bleached and unbleached mackerel mince did not show changes in the appearance, colour and texture during storage. Changes were more prominent in flavour, taste and overall acceptability. Fish cutlets prepared from bleached mincemeat were acceptable for two months and those from unbleached mincemeat were acceptable up to one month from the point of view of organoleptic and biochemical qualities.

Shelf life of dried products from small indigenous fish species under various packing and storage conditions

The overall quality of five SIS products was found in good condition up to 2 months storage on the basis of organoleptic, biochemical and bacteriological characteristics and all the products was excellent in sealed packed condition up to 45 days of storage. However, quality of the products stored in open air atmospheric temperature was found excellent for first 15 days. In an average the initial moisture content was in the range of 13.5 to 15.0% with highest moisture content in puti and lowest in chapila. At the end of the 60 days the moisture content reached to the range of 18.5 to 19.0% which was more or less near the recommended limit of 16% for dried fishery products. The moisture content beyond the recommended limit as the storage period increased further and at the end of 90 days the moisture content increased to the range of 22.9 to 24% when organoleptically the product quality became very poor. The changes in the value of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), peroxide value (PO), moisture and aerobic plate count (APC) of solar tunnel dried products in sealed polythene packages were investigated during 60 days of storage. There was little or no differences in TVB-N, PO and bacterial load of each species packed under various polythene density. The initial TVB-N values were in the range of 10.30 to 12.40 mg/100g of the samples. TVB-N value increased slowly up to the end of the storage period and was to in the range of 46.20 to 57.00 mg/1 00 g of sample. Initially the peroxide values (P.O.) were in the range of 6.54 to 8.40 m.eq./kg oil of the samples. During 60 days of storage, P.O. values increased slowly and at the end of the storage period these values reached to the range of 22.00 to 25.30meq./kg of sample. The initial APC was in the range 5.3xl04-7.3x104 CFU/g. The bacterial load increased slowly and at the end of the 60 days storage period reached to the range 6.6x106 - 8.6x107 CFT/g.

Quality of cured fish on the west coast: comparative study with the IS specifications

Moisture and salt content in cured fish products from various centres on the west coast of India are compared. The moisture contents varied in samples from different centres, whereas the salt content remained more or less uniform. The deviations from the Indian standard specification were highly significant in both cases. The high mean moisture values and low salt values with respect to accepted standards are indicative of the improper drying and poor salting.

Shelf-life of rotary and solar tunnel dried SIS products under different packaging and storage conditions

A study was conducted on the shelf-life of rotary and solar tunnel dried SIS products under different packaging and storage conditions. Organoleptically dried products were found in good condition after a storage period of 60 days in ambient and chilled conditions. The moisture content, TVB-N value and bacterial load slightly increased during 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled conditions. The changes in moisture content and bacterial load were faster in ambient temperature than in chilled storage condition whereas changes in TVB-N value was higher in chilled condition than in ambient temperature. The initial moisture content was in the range of 13.71% to 22.84%. After 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled condition the moisture content of dried products was in the range of 15.09% to 25.11% and 14.49% to 25.01%, respectively. The initial TVB-N value was in the range of 10.64 to 17.52 mg/100g and after 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled condition, TVB-N value was in the range of 29.00 to 34.82 mg/100g and 31.41 to 39.11 mg/100g, respectively. The initial bacterial load was in the range of 1.91x10 super(8) to 2.84x10 super(8) and after 60 days of storage in ambient and chilled condition, the bacterial load was in the range of 6.2x10 super(8) to 1.8x10 super(9) and 5.75x10 super(7) to 5.05x10 super(8) CFU/g, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that it is necessary to store high quality dried products in sealed packed in chilled condition to ensure good quality up to a certain period of time.

Premières observations hydrologiques profondes dans la bale (i.e. baie) de Cam-Ranh

Results obtained from the first deep water study of the Bay are exposed here. In particular, a weak upwelling is noted near the South-West part of the Tague Island

The analysis of dieldrin residues in the brain, liver and muscles of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) chronically exposed to dieldrin

Mature adult Clarias gariepinus were obtained at the ABRU hatchery in Sonning (UK), where they had beenbred and reared for several years. These were exposed to two concentrations of dieldrin in water (2.4 mu g super(-1) and 4.0 mu g super(-1). The residue analysis of diedrin in three tissues exposed for on moth at two concentrations was carried out. These were subjected to GLC analytical process. The results indicated significantly (P<0.05) higher residues in liver than in muscle and brain. The results also showed that residue levels were dependant on exposure concentration

Visual survey of exposed riverine sediments (Ers) in the Dane, Weaver and Bollin catchments

This is the Visual survey ERS Dane, Weaver & Bollin Catchments produced by the Environment Agency in 2005. Visual surveys of the River Dane downstream of the confluence with the Swettenham Brook, the River Weaver, and the River Bollin catchment in the EA Northwest South area of England were undertaken between 3rd and 9th February 2005 with the aim of identifying the spatial distribution and relative quality of exposed Riverine sediments (ERS). The potential value of these ERS in terms of likely habitat quality for ERS invertebrate communities was determined by recording a suite of appropriate environmental variables. Following an initial cartographical analysis of reaches likely to contain ERS, tens of kilometres of riverbank were inspected and 67 areas of ERS were selected for detailed visual survey. Site characteristics ranged widely both between and within catchments, with habitat quality ranging from poor to very high.

Tropical and subtropical moisture and southerly displaced North Pacific storm track: factors in the growth of late Quaternary lakes in the Mojave Desert

Historical flood events produced lakes in the Mojave River watershed in southeastern California and represent climatic conditions similar to those in the late Quaternary when perennial lakes formed in the Mojave Desert. Historical lakes are related to tropical and subtropical sources of moisture and an extreme southward shift of storm tracks. It is suggested that this atmospheric pattern occurred frequently during earlier periods with perennial lakes in the Mojave River drainage basin.

Growth, osmoregulation and ion accumulation in the coastal halophyte Arthrocnemum indicum under field conditions

Life cycle and population biology of a perennial halophyte Arthrocnemum indicum Willd, was studied from February 1992 to January 1993. During the 12 months, the population was exposed to great variations in soil salinity from 35 to 58 ms/cm2 and soil moisture ranging from flood to drought levels. Seasonal changes in dry weight are directly related to soil salinity stress. When salinity levels become low, the dry matter production increases. A little increase in dry weight from April to July indicates that more negative soil water potentials were limiting plant growth. Proline content increased considerably during the dry season with a corresponding increase in salinity. Water soluble oxalate did not vary much with changes in salinity.

Measurement of moisture in dry cured fish by infrared irradiation

Heating conditions have been standardised for measurement of moisture in dry cured fish using infrared irradiation source of 150w. Results obtained are comparable to those obtained from standard air oven method (drying to a constant weight at l02°c), the mean deviation being less than two units. The method works equally well for fresh fish muscle.

Filtration in some tropical intertidal bivalves exposed to mercury and cadmium mixtures

Three species of intertidal filter feeding bivalves (Modiolus carvalhoi, Modiolus sp. and Donax spiculum) exposed to mercury and cadmium filtered significantly less volume of water under individual metal and metal mixture stress. Mercury and cadmium in mixtures interacted additively and more than additively (Synergism) in depressing the filtration rate of the bivalves.

Use of simple fat analysis for evaluating quality changes in intermediate moisture fish stored at tropical temperature

Changes in the quality of intermediate moisture (IM) fish during storage at 38°C were monitored by assessing the moisture content, pH, acid value, peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value periodically. Results adequately portrayed the hydrolysis and peroxidation of fats and the concomitant protein degradation and crosslinking reactions that have been shown by more sophisticated methods to occur in intermediate moisture fish. Since these changes markedly affect the organoleptic quality, acceptability/shelf-life and nutritive value of IM flesh-foods their predictability by simple fat analytical techniques is of practical value where/when the more sophisticated monitoring techniques are not feasible.