Effect of Partial Substitution of NaCl with KCl on Halloumi Cheese during Storage: Chemical Composition,Lactic Bacterial Count,and Organic Acids Production

Abstract: The effect of partial substitution of NaCl with KCl on chemical composition, lactic bacterial count, and organic acids profile of Halloumi cheese was investigated. Halloumi cheeses were made and kept in 4 different brine solutions at 18% including NaCl only (HA), 3NaCl : 1KCl (HB), 1NaCl : 1KCl (HC), and 1NaCl : 3KCl (HD) and then stored at 4 °C for 56 d. No significant effect was observed between control and experimental cheeses in terms of moisture, fat, protein, lactic bacterial count, and pH values at the same storage period. There was a significant difference in ash, sodium, and potassium contents among experimental cheeses at the same storage period. Ash, sodium, and potassium contents increased significantly during storage at same salt treatment. There was no significant difference in lactic and citric acid contents among experimental cheeses and that of the control. In contrary, there was a significant difference in acetic acid among experimental cheeses. A strong positive correlation was observed between ash, Na, and K contents. An inverse correlation between organic acids and both Na and K contents was also observed.     

Optimization of Growth of Lactobacillus casei ASCC 292 and Production of Organic Acids in the Presence of Fructooligosaccharide and Maltodextrin

ABSTRACT: Growth of Lactobacillus casei ASCC 292 was optimized in the presence of 2 prebiotics, namely fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and maltodextrin, and the patterns of organic acids produced was monitored. Perturbation plot, response surface, and coefficient estimates showed that inoculum size and concentration of prebiotics had significant quadratic effects on growth, with FOS showing the most prominent quadratic change. The second-order polynomial regression model estimated the optimum inoculum size and the concentrations of FOS and maltodextrin for the growth of L.casei ASCC 292 to be 1.67% w/v, 4.82% w/v, and 6.93% w/v, respectively.Validation experiments showed that the predicted optimum condition was better than the high and low levels of the factors, and at center points. Response surface methodology (RSM) was reliable in developing a model, optimizing factors, and analyzing interaction effects. Analysis of individual organic acids production by L. casei ASCC 292 showed that highest amount of lactic acid was produced, followed by propionic, acetic, formic, and butyric acid. The production of lactic acid was greatly influenced by the inoculum size, and the organism was relatively sensitive to the end-product of maltodextrin fermentation. Production of acetic acid was greatly influenced by the inoculum size and was inhibited by end-product of the maltodextrin fermentation. Increased concentration of FOS contributed to the increased production of propionic acid. The response surface of butyric and formic acid showed that the production of these acids were growth associated.     

Effect of Type of Protein‐Based Microcapsules and Storage at Various Ambient Temperatures on the Survival and Heat Tolerance of Spray Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of types of protein‐based microcapsules and storage at various ambient temperatures on the survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus during exposure to simulated gastrointestinal tract and on the change in thermo‐tolerance during heating treatment. The encapsulating materials were prepared using emulsions of protein (sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate, or pea protein), vegetable oil, and glucose, with maltodextrin was used as a wall material. The formulations were heated at 90 °C for 30 min to develop Maillard substances prior to being incorporated with L. acidophilus. The mixtures were then spray dried. The microspheres were stored at 25, 30, and 35 °C for 8 wk and examined every 4 wk. The addition of proteins as encapsulating materials demonstrated a significant protective effect (P < 0.05) as compared to the control sample. Sodium caseinate and soy protein isolate appeared more effective than pea protein in protecting the bacteria after spray drying and during the storage at different room temperatures. Storage at 35 °C resulted in a significant decrease in survival at end of storage period regardless the type of encapsulating materials. The addition of protein‐based materials also enhanced the survival of L. acidophilus during exposure to simulated gastrointestinal condition as compared to the control. After spray drying and after 0th wk storage, casein, soy protein isolate, and pea protein‐based formulations protected the bacteria during heat treatment. In fact, a significant decrease in thermal tolerance was inevitable after 2 wk of storage at 25 °C.     

Lycopene-rich fractions derived from pink guava by-product and their potential activity towards hydrogen peroxide-induced cellular and DNA damage

Effects of solvent and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction on antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of lycopene-rich fractions of decanted pink guava by-product (decanter) were determined with lycopene-equivalent antioxidant capacity, β-carotene bleaching and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays. Extraction with SC-CO₂ gave a higher yield than solvent extraction (3.15 vs. 0.68 mg/100 g dried decanter, corresponding to 42.99 and 33.63 mg of lycopene). No cytotoxicity was found in Chang liver cells supplemented with either extracts (6.25–200 μg/ml). Solvent extract at 25 μg/ml (2.32 μM lycopene) and SC-CO₂ extract at 200 μg/ml (5.09 μM lycopene) had protective effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity. However, only high concentrations of solvent extract (200 μg/ml; lycopene = 18.65 μM) or lycopene standard (10 μM) protected cells against DNA damage. Supercritical fluid extraction demonstrated a higher yield in lycopene-rich fraction from decanter. These fractions have the potential to be developed as a functional ingredient to prevent oxidative stress and other related diseases.     

Influence of Galactooligosaccharides and Modified Waxy Maize Starch on Some Attributes of Yogurt

Abstract: This study examined the influence of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and modified waxy maize starch (MWMS) addition on the growth of starter cultures, and syneresis and firmness of low‐fat yogurt during storage for 28 d at 4 °C. The control yogurt (CY) was prepared without any prebiotics. Incorporation of 2.0% (w/v) GOS improved the growth of L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842 resulting in a shorter fermentation time. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in proteolysis in yogurt made with GOS (GOSY) as measured by absorbance value (0.728). Addition of GOS resulted in higher (P < 0.05) concentration of lactic and acetic acids in comparison with that of MWMSY and the CY up to day 14, thereafter, the product showed a decrease in lactic acid content in all 3 batches until the end of storage. The level of syneresis was the lowest (2.14%) in MWMSY as compared with that of GOSY (2.35%) and CY (2.53%). There was no statistically significant (P > 0.05) difference in the firmness among the 3 types of yogurt.     

Fragmentation of a Landscape: incorporating landscape metrics into satellite analyses of land-cover change

The relationship between trajectories of forest-cover change and the biophysical and social characteristics of the landscape in the mountains of Western Honduras is addressed. Metrics of land-cover change were used to infer patterns of land-use change, using Landsat TM imagery from 1987, 1991 and 1996. With 15-20% of the land cover changing across each two-date period, the study landscape was very dynamic. Areas of reforestation were significantly larger than areas of deforestation, across all dates. Patch size was a good indicator of economic activity. Stable patches of forest and agriculture were fewer and larger, compared to forest regrowth and clearing. Small patches of swidden agriculture were found close to roads, at lower elevations and on more gradual slopes between 1987 and 1991. Between 1991 and 1996, expansion of export coffee production resulted in forest clearings on steeper slopes and at higher elevations. Results highlight the importance of landscape metrics in monitoring land-cover change over time.     

Modelling urban air quality using artificial neural network

This paper describes the development of artificial neural network-based vehicular exhaust emission models for predicting 8-h average carbon monoxide concentrations at two air quality control regions (AQCRs) in the city of Delhi, India, viz. a typical traffic intersection (AQCR1) and a typical arterial road (AQCR2). Maximum of ten meteorological and six traffic characteristic variables have been used in the models formulation. Three scenarios were considered—considering both meteorological and traffic characteristics input parameters; only meteorological inputs; and only traffic characteristics input data. The performance of all the developed models was evaluated on the basis of index of agreement (d) and other statistical parameters, viz. the mean and the deviations of the observed and predicted concentrations, mean bias error, mean square error, systematic and unsystematic root mean square error, coefficient of determination and linear best fit constant and gradient (Willmott in B Am Meteorol Soc 63:1309, 1982). The forecast performance of the developed models, with meteorological and traffic characteristics (d=0.78 for AQCR1 and d=0.69 for AQCR2) and with only meteorological inputs (d=0.77 for AQCR1 and d=0.67 for AQCR2), were comparable with the measured data.     

Antioxidant effects of rosemary extract and whey powder on the oxidative stability of wiener sausages during 10 months frozen storage

Twelve (Large White×Landrace) gilts were randomly allotted in a 2×2 factorial design with the respective factors being dietary vitamin E (10 or 200 mg/kg feed) and dietary fishmeal (0 or 5%). Wiener sausages were manufactured with or without antioxidants such as rosemary extract and sweet whey powder from meat obtained from the animals after slaughter and stored for 5 days at 4?°C. The oxidative stability of the wieners was examined over ten months of frozen storage. Lipid oxidation in the product was measured by means of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and fluorescence shift. Sensory evaluation of the product to detect oxidative changes was also carried out. The fluorescence shift method was unsatisfactory in the case of wieners containing rosemary extract, as it appeared that the extract contained compounds that fluoresced and therefore interfered with the method. No lipid oxidation as measured by TBARS, fluorescence shift and sensory analysis was observed in wieners stored at -20?°C for 10 months. The oxidative stability of wieners was unaffected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments or by the addition of antioxidants. The high oxidative stability of the wieners, even in the absence of antioxidants, could be due to sodium erythorbate present in the formulation as an additional antioxidant.     

Isolation of a free radical‐scavenging antioxidant from water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk)

Ipomoea aquatica Forsk, a green leafy vegetable that is a rich source of vitamins and amino acids with many health benefits, has been explored for the isolation and identification of its bioactive compounds. Activity‐guided repeated fractionation of a methanol extract on a silica gel column followed by an XAD column yielded a compound that exhibited antioxidant activity with an EC₅₀ value of 83 ± 1.02 µg ml^?1 reaction mixture. It also showed very strong lipid peroxidation‐inhibitory activity in a liposome model system with an EC₅₀ value of 72.2 ± 0.9 µg ml^?1. However, it showed negligible metal‐chelating activity. Based on UV, 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry studies, the compound was tentatively identified to be 7‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐dihydroquercetin‐3‐O‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside. This is the first report on the antioxidant properties of I aquatica leaf extracts. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry