9419538 Shoemaker The Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Aseptic Processing and Packaging Studies is becoming a multi-university Center with the addition of a research site at the University of California - Davis to the original North Carolina State University research group. A total of four companies are joining the Center inconjunction with the University of California - Davis research site. The research projects to be funded at the Center's new research site are "Flow visualization of fluid/particulate mixtures in tubes" and "Optimization of particulate texture in aseptically processed products through determination of pectic activity, pectic composition and mechanical properties." The research are eminently qualified for this research. The Center has been coordinated with Dr. Fred Heineken, Program Director in the Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Systems. The Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories has provided funding to augment the Centers ongoing research program and to obtain a membership in the Center. The Program manager recommends the University of California - Davis be awarded $50,000 for the first year of a five-year continuing award. An additional $34,272 is recommended for one year with funds provided by the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories. Near the end of each 12-month period the Program Manager and/or the Division Director of the Engineering Education Center Division will review the progress of the Center on a number of renewal criteria requirements, including the following: 1) the extent to which the industry/university interaction is developing; 2) the extent to which the support base is developing; and 3) the extent to which a robust research program is developing. If the review is satisfactory, the Program Manager will recommend support for the next period of this continuing award.
