Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), a popular and widely cultivated fruit world-wide, contains bioactive triterpenes and phenolic compounds with potentially valuable pharmacological functions. This thesis investigated the effects of pre-harvest and postharvest factors on concentrations of these bioactive compounds in apples. It also studied the effect of ozone treatment, before or during storage,...

The mechanics of reversible adhesion of the gecko is investigated in terms of the attachment and detachment mechanisms of the hierarchical microstructures on its toe. At the bottom of the hierarchy, we show that a spatula pad of tiny thickness can be well absorbed onto a substrate with a large surface area and a highly constrained decohesion process zone, both of which are beneficial for robust...

Sessile, soft-bodied, compound ascidians are successful competitors for substrata in crowded benthic and epibiotic marine communities and can be effective colonists of new sites, through adult rafting and reattachment. Adhesion to the substratum is essential for these ecologically important functions; we therefore studied the material properties of colony attachment to various substrata in the ...

Intelligent hybrid reinforced plastics (IHFRP) with fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors embedded in the HFRP were produced in-situ. The FBG/HFRP interface bonding is discussed. Experimental results show that the interfacial bonding of FBG/HFRP is good, which ensures that it can transfer the external load to the FBG sensor well. The novel IHFRP has a higher strain-testing precision compared to the...

Detailed Accomplishments in 2008-09: Processors are concerned about peel integrity of CMNP-treated fruit. We conducted 2 trials in March and April with Valencia oranges to determine the postharvest effect of CMNP applied to canopies for the purpose of loosening fruit on fruit crush force, peel puncture resistance, and peel puncture depth. Fruit were collected during our harvesting trial studies...

Phytochemicals represent a rich resource for the discovery of novel pesticides that are effective, cheap and environmentally safe. The main targeted mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi cause serious human diseases. The chloroform, acetone, ethanol, methanol and aqueous peel extracts of Arachis hypogaea were studied for its larvicidal activity against the mosquito vectors. Phy...

Antioxidant, anti-glycation and anti-inflammatory activities of fresh and conserved peach fruits (Prunus persica L. Batsch) were compared. Fresh peach pulps, peels, preserve peach pulps and the preserve syrup were prepared at equal concentrations. Rat liver, kidney and brain cortex tissue slices were pre-incubated with peach samples, subjected to oxidative stress with FeSO4 and hydrogen peroxid...

Irrigation water and washing water have been inferred to be associated with contamination of fresh fruits and vegetables with pathogenic microorganisms infectious for humans. The objective of the present study was to determine whether apples experimentally contaminated with Cryptosporidium oocysts represent a food safety concern. Laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed no morphological chan...

Cold pressed peel oil was added to high quality 50°Brix commercial orange concentrate and foam-mat dried, or diluted to single strength juice and freeze-dried using different platen temperatures. Amounts of peel oil ranged from 0.026% to 0.106% for samples to be foam-mat dried, and from 0.011% to 0.109% for freeze drying. For foam-mat drying, previously de veloped standard commercial conditions...

Many arthropods and small vertebrates use adhesive pads for climbing. These biological adhesives have to meet conflicting demands: attachment must be strong and reliable, yet detachment should be fast and effortless. Climbing animals can rapidly and reversibly control their pads' adhesive strength by shear forces, but the mechanisms underlying this coupling have remained unclear. Here, we show ...