The effects of bread‐making process factors on Australian sweet lupin‐wheat bread quality characteristics

Factorial experimental design was used to investigate the effects of: sponge proofing time (min), sponge and dough mixing time (min), final proofing time (min), final proofing temperature (°C) and baking time (min) on Australian sweet lupin‐wheat bread physical attributes. Factorial models show that bread specific volume was positively associated with sponge and dough mixing time (P = 0.01) and baking time (P = 0.02). Crumb area was positively associated (P = 0.01) with sponge and dough mixing time. Final proofing time positively influenced cell wall thickness (P < 0.01) and cell diameter (P < 0.01) but negatively affected number of cells (P < 0.01). Cell diameter was positively associated with baking time (P = 0.04), whilst number of cells was negatively influenced by sponge and dough mixing time (P = 0.01). Instrumental springiness was positively associated with sponge and dough mixing time (P = 0.02). Sponge and dough mixing and baking times were the two most significant process parameters affecting the bread physical quality and hence should be optimised.     

The Predominance of Psychrotrophic Pseudomonads on Aerobically Stored Chilled Red Meat

Microbial spoilage of meat during chilled aerobic storage causes significant financial losses to the industry. Even with modern day preservation techniques, spoilage remains an unsolved problem. Spoilage of meat is a complex process that involves the activity of endogenous enzymes and microorganisms. Psychrotrophic Pseudomonas species are the key microorganisms that cause spoilage in aerobically stored chilled meat. Spoilage pseudomonads are highly robust and able to withstand stressful environmental conditions that would otherwise inhibit the growth of other spoilage organisms. In order to implement efficient control measures, and to minimize spoilage, a thorough understanding of the characteristics of spoilage pseudomonads is essential. This review focuses on the spoilage process and the key metabolic attributes of the main psychrotrophic spoilage Pseudomonas species to explain their predominance on meat over other psychrotrophic bacteria. This review also highlights less studied, but important, characteristics of psychrotrophic pseudomonads such as biofilm formation and quorum sensing in the context of meat spoilage. The importance of the use of model systems that are closely applicable to the food industry is also discussed in detail.     

Effect of extraction method and ripening stage on banana peel pigments

Carotenoids are one of the most widespread pigments in nature and can be used as health‐promoting natural food colorants. Banana peel, which is a by‐product of banana processing, contains a range of bioactive compounds including carotenoids. There is no published research on the extraction of food‐grade carotenoids from banana peels. This study evaluated the change in the banana peel carotenoid content over its ripening stages and determined the best possible solvent to extract carotenoid for food applications. The solvents permitted under Food Standard Australia New Zealand were used in the study. Ripeness stage 5 contained the highest content of total carotene at 1.86 μg g^?1 of banana peel. From one gram of banana peel, 0.57 μg of xanthophyll and 0.84 μg of beta‐carotene were extracted from ripening stage 5 with a solvent combination of hexane–diethyl ether–acetone and hexane–diethyl ether, respectively.     

Aroma-volatile profile and its changes in Australian grown black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) during storage

Black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is one of the most expensive fungi in the world that appreciated by gourmets. Studies have indicated the impact of growing location and soil microorganisms on the aroma profile of truffle. The aroma profile of West Australian black Périgord truffle (Tuber melanosporum) has not been previously reported, which was studied over a 14 day storage period. Sixty-four compounds were identified in all truffle samples. Significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in 11 key volatiles (carbon dioxide, acetaldehyde, 2-butanone, 3-methyl-1-butanal, toluene, 2-butenal, formic acid 2-methyl butyl ester, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 6-methyl-2-heptanol, 3-octanol and dimethyl sulfoxide) over time. Comparison of these results against published aroma profile of European grown black Périgord truffle identified number of significant similarities and differences were also detected. Dimethyl sulfoxide, a compound previously identified in European grown white truffle (Tuber magnatum), was detected. Principle component analysis (PCA) showed that the major changes in the truffle aroma profile took place in the first 7 days of storage.     

Methods used for extraction of plant volatiles have potential to preserve truffle aroma: A review

Truffles are considered one of the world's most highly prized foods mainly due to their desirable organoleptic properties and rarity. However, truffles are seasonal (harvested mostly in winter from June to August in the Southern Hemisphere and from December to February in the Northern Hemisphere) and extremely perishable. Truffles deteriorate rapidly showing undesirable changes within 10 days from harvest in aroma and visual appearance after harvest. The very short postharvest shelf life (about 7–10 days) limits the potential for export and domestic consumption all year round. Several preservation methods have been studied to prolong their shelf life without the loss of aroma. However, all traditional preservation techniques have their own shortcomings and remain challenging. The extraction of natural truffle aroma volatiles for food applications could be a potential alternative to replace the existing synthetic flavoring used for processed truffle products. Four commonly used extraction methods for recovering volatile compounds from plants, namely, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, Soxhlet extraction, distillation, and cold pressing, are critically analyzed. Up to date, existing research about the extraction of aroma volatiles from truffles is limited in the literature but based on the volatility of the key truffle volatile compounds, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction may offer the best possibility so that a natural truffle-based product that can be used in food applications throughout the year can be made available.     

A deadlock model for a multi‐service medium access protocol employing multi‐slot N‐ary stack algorithm (msSTART)

Many modern multi‐service medium access protocols (MACs) use a collision based capacity request signaling channel as part of a hybrid TDMA frame structure. Multi‐slot Stack Random Access Algorithm (msSTART) is proposed for use in IEEE 802.14 hybrid fiber/coaxial network and will be highly relevant for the S‐MAC development of evolving WATM MAC specifications. This paper studies the performance of msSTART as an example of a Q‐ary tree contention resolution algorithm (CRA) in the wireless environment using the novel Basic Deadlock model. We contrast approximate results for msSTART performance obtained by simulation under extreme inter‐station correlation with analytical results for the more popular p‐persistence CRA used in several testbed WATM implementations. Using three signaling channel schemes designed to provide support for increased system stability, to implement priority in the wireless MAC, and maximise efficiency, we provide comparative results for evaluation of msSTART and p‐persistence ALOHA under what the IEEE 802.14 working group has termed the “disaster scenario”. We find that of the three schemes evaluated the full Contention Mini‐Slot (CMS) sharing scheme employing multiple CMSs per data region extends the protocol's useable load region the furthest. We conclude that Q‐ary tree contention resolution algorithms (in particular msSTART) are best adapted to the wireless environment, providing less case sensitive performance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ribosome Depurination Assay for Ribosome Inactivating Protein Purification

Ribosomeinactivating proteins(RIPs)are a general category of proteins withribosome-specific N-gly-cosidic activity[1].By definition,all RIPs inhibit protein synthesis during translation of the protein.In ad-dition,some RIPs display ribonuclease,DNAse,DNA …     

Determination of formulation and processing factors affecting slowly digestible starch,protein digestibility and antioxidant capacity of extruded sorghum–maize composite flour

High‐temperature high‐pressure extrusion of sorghum–maize composite flour, of potential for healthy food manufacture, was investigated by factorial experimental design to determine the effect of level of sorghum in dry mix (15–60%); final barrel zone temperature (120–150 °C); total moisture in barrel (21.4–25.8%); total input rate (2.3–6.8 kg h^?1); and screw speed (250–450 rpm) on extrudate slowly digestible starch (SDS), phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, protein digestibility, density and expansion ratio. Extrudate SDS increased with increasing sorghum level and decreased as the barrel temperature increased. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were positively associated with sorghum level. Protein digestibility was associated negatively with sorghum level and positively with barrel temperature. Extrudate density was associated positively with total moisture and negatively with barrel temperature and input rate. Sorghum in dry mix, final barrel zone temperature and total moisture in barrel were the three most significant independent variables influencing extrudate dependant variables.