Myrosinases (thioglucosidases) catalyze the hydrolysis of a class of compounds called glucosinolates, of which the aglycones show various biological functions. It is often necessary to minimize the loss of myrosinase activity during thermal processing of cruciferous vegetables. Myrosinase was isolated from a popular spice, white mustard (Sinapis alba), and its thermal inactivation kinetics was investigated. The enzyme was extracted from white mustard seeds and purified by a sequential processes of ammonium sulfate fractionation, Concanavalin A-Sepharose column chromatography, and gel permeation chromatography. At least three isozymes were revealed by Concanavalin A-Sepharose column chromatography. The purity of the major myrosinase was examined by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and on-gel activity staining with methyl red. The molecular weight of the major enzyme was estimated to be 171 kDa. When the consecutive step model was used for the thermal inactivation of the major myrosinase, its inactivation energy was 44.388 kJ/mol for the early stage of destruction and 32.019 kJ/mol for the late stage of destruction. When the distinct two enzymes model was used, the inactivation energy was 77.772 kJ/mol for the labile enzyme and 95.145 kJ/mol for the stable enzyme. The thermal inactivation energies lie within energy range causing nutrient destruction on heating.

We report a massive outbreak of human Q fever cases, which occurred at totally 11 humans. The occurrence was related to a goat farm where Coxiella burnetii infection was diagnosed from goat tissues and environmental specimens. From January of 2018, continuous abortions from 6 goats occurred. Laboratory tests from 77 goat specimens for C. burnetii showed that 54 (70.1%) and 63 (81.8%) goats were positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The infection was also confirmed from the farmer, his wife and 9 persons from all 16 veterinary officials who had visited the farm for protective measures and preparing goat specimens for laboratory tests. The farm was found to be extensively contaminated with C. burnetii from the examination to the environmental specimens and epidemiological inspections, which might be the main source of C. burnetii infection to humans. The extensive contamination to the farm was derived from the uncareful handling of postpartum animal tissues or discharges by the farm owner. This report will contribute to the establishment of educational system on the biosecurity to novice farmers.

In this study, the effects of heat-moisture treatment (boiling or steaming for 45 min) prior to hot air drying (70 o C for 8 h) on water activity (Aw), moisture (MC), Brix, color, and texture of dried sweet potato slices were investigated to identify the best pretreatment condition for producing dried sweet potato with the best eating quality. Dried sweet potato slices pretreated by boiling (BL) showed significantly lower Aw, MC, and hardness while Brix was significantly higher than with steaming (ST) treatment. There were no significant differences for the color, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and brittleness indexes. At 8 h drying, the Aw, MC, Brix, and hardness of the BL and ST samples were 0.81 and 0.82, 19.71% and 25.53%, 53.80% and 49.40%, and 20.49 kg/cm 2 and 31.98 kg/ cm 2 , respectively. This information will be useful for manufacturers in the production of dried sweet potato slices. These findings provide evidence of the feasibility of heat-moisture treatments in the production of dried sweet potato.