Abstract: Irradiation is considered one of the most efficient technological processes for the reduction of microorganisms in food. It can be used to improve the safety of food products, and to extend their shelf lives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation for improvement of saffron shelf life. Samples were treated with 0 (none irradiated), 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 kGy of gamma irradiation and held for 2 months. The control and irradiated samples were underwent microbial analysis, chemical characteristics and sensory evaluation at 30 days intervals. Microbial analysis indicated that irradiation had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the reduction of microbial loads. There was no significant difference in sensory quality and chemical characteristics during storage in saffron.
Abstract: The past decade has witnessed a good opportunities
for city development schemes in UK. The government encouraged
restoration of city centers to comprise mixed use developments with
high density residential apartments. Investments in regeneration areas
were doing well according to the analyses of Property Databank
(IPD). However, more recent analysis by IPD has shown that since
2007, property in regeneration areas has been more vulnerable to the
market downturn than other types of investment property. The early
stages of a property market downturn may be felt most in
regeneration where funding, investor confidence and occupier
demand would dissipate because the sector was considered more
marginal or risky when development costs rise. Moreover, the Bank
of England survey shows that lenders have sequentially tightened the
availability of credit for commercial real estate since mid-2007. A
sharp reduction in the willingness of banks to lend on commercial
property was recorded. The credit crunch has already affected
commercial property but its impact has been particularly severe in
certain kinds of properties where residential developments are
extremely difficult, in particular city centre apartments and buy-to-let
markets. Commercial property – retail, industrial leisure and mixed
use were also pressed, in Birmingham; tens of mixed use plots were
built to replace old factories in the heart of the city. The purpose of
these developments was to enable young professionals to work and
live in same place. Thousands of people lost their jobs during the
recession, moreover lending was more difficult and the future of
many developments is unknown. The recession casts its shadow upon
the society due to cuts in public spending by government, Inflation,
rising tuition fees and high rise in unemployment generated anger and
hatred was spreading among youth causing vandalism and riots in
many cities. Recent riots targeted many mixed used development in
the UK where banks, shops, restaurants and big stores were robbed
and set into fire leaving residents with horror and shock. This paper
examines the impact of the recession and riots on mixed use
development in UK.
Abstract: In this study, workplace environmental monitoring
systems were established using USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Networks)
and LabVIEW. Although existing direct sampling methods enable
finding accurate values as of the time points of measurement, those
methods are disadvantageous in that continuous management and
supervision are difficult and costs for are high when those methods are
used. Therefore, the efficiency and reliability of workplace
management by supervisors are relatively low when those methods are
used. In this study, systems were established so that information on
workplace environmental factors such as temperatures, humidity and
noises is measured and transmitted to the PC in real time to enable
supervisors to monitor workplaces through LabVIEW on the PC.
When any accidents have occurred in workplaces, supervisors can
immediately respond through the monitoring system and this system
enables integrated workplace management and the prevention of
safety accidents. By introducing these monitoring systems, safety
accidents due to harmful environmental factors in workplaces can be
prevented and these monitoring systems will be also helpful in finding
out the correlation between safety accidents and occupational diseases
by comparing and linking databases established by this monitoring
system with existing statistical data.
Abstract: The paper presents a compressor anti-surge control
system, that results in maximizing compressor throughput with
pressure standard deviation reduction, increased safety margin
between design point and surge limit line and avoiding possible
machine surge. Alternative control strategies are presented.
Abstract: The prologue of new High Voltage (HV) transmission
mains into the community necessitates earthing design to ensure
safety compliance of the system. Conductive structures such as steel
or concrete poles are widely used in HV transmission mains. The
earth potential rise (EPR) generated by a fault on these structures
could result to an unsafe condition. This paper discusses information
on the input impedance of the over head earth wire (OHEW) system
for finite and infinite transmission mains. The definition of finite and
infinite system is discussed, maximum EPR due to pole fault. The
simplified equations for EPR assessments are introduced and
discussed for the finite and infinite conditions. A case study is also
shown.
Abstract: As new challenges emerge in power electrical
workplace safety, it is the responsibility of the systems designer to
seek out new approaches and solutions that address them. Design
decisions made today will impact cost, safety and serviceability of
the installed systems for 40 or 50 years during the useful life for the
owner. Studies have shown that this cost is an order of magnitude of
7 to 10 times the installed cost of the power distribution equipment.
This paper reviews some aspects of earthing system design in power
substation surrounded by residential houses. The electrical potential
rise and split factors are discussed and a few recommendations are
provided to achieve a safety voltage in the area beyond the boundary
of the substation.
Abstract: The importance of ensuring safe meat handling and
processing practices has been demonstrated in global reports on food
safety scares and related illness and deaths. This necessitated stricter
meat safety control strategies. Today, many countries have regulated
towards preventative and systematic control over safe meat
processing at abattoirs utilizing the Hazard Analysis Critical Control
Point (HACCP) principles. HACCP systems have been reported as
effective in managing food safety risks, if correctly implemented.
South Africa has regulated the Hygiene Management System (HMS)
based on HACCP principles applicable to abattoirs. Regulators utilise
the Hygiene Assessment System (HAS) to audit compliance at
abattoirs. These systems were benchmarked from the United
Kingdom (UK). Little research has been done them since inception as
of 2004. This paper presents a review of the two systems, its
implementation and comparison with HACCP. Recommendations are
made for future research to demonstrate the utility of the HMS and
HAS in assuring safe meat to consumers.
Abstract: The oil and gas industry has moved towards Load and
Resistance Factor Design through API RP2A - LRFD and the
recently published international standard, ISO-19902, for design of
fixed steel offshore structures. The ISO 19902 is intended to provide
a harmonized design practice that offers a balanced structural fitness
for the purpose, economy and safety. As part of an ongoing work, the
reliability analysis of tubular joints of the jacket structure has been
carried out to calibrate the load and resistance factors for the design
of offshore platforms in Malaysia, as proposed in the ISO.
Probabilistic models have been established for the load effects (wave,
wind and current) and the tubular joints strengths. In this study the
First Order Reliability Method (FORM), coded in MATLAB
Software has been employed to evaluate the reliability index of the
typical joints, designed using API RP2A - WSD and ISO 19902.