La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo general evaluar la calidad química de aceites de Sesamum indicum (ajonjolí) y Linum usitstissimum (linaza) que se expenden en dos Bioferias de los distritos de Miraflores y Barranco en Lima, Perú. Fue un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Se llevó a cabo en el laboratorio de bioquímica de alimentos de la Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), sede Villa en Chorrillos, y en el laboratorio Société Générale de Surveillance - SGS Perú, entre los meses de setiembre y octubre de 2018. Se realizaron distintas pruebas químicas a las muestras de aceite de ajonjolí y linaza: determinación de densidad, índice de acidez, acidez libre, índice de iodo e índice de peróxidos; a estas se le sumaron la evaluación de las condiciones de almacenamiento, del etiquetado y del registro sanitario. De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos podemos indicar que en términos generales los aceites de linaza y ajonjolí de las marcas analizadas que se expenden en las Bioferias de Miraflores y Barranco se encontraban fuera de los rangos establecidos en por lo menos un indicador químico, tomando como parámetro de contrastación la Norma CODEX (STAN 210-1999) para aceites comestibles. / The general objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical quality of Sesamum indicum (sesame) and Linum usitatissimum (flax) seed oils sold in two Biofairs of the districts of Miraflores and Barranco in Lima, Peru. This was a descriptive, cross-cutting study. Analyses were made in the laboratory of food biochemistry of Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), campus of Villa in Chorrillos, and in the laboratory of Société Générale de Surveillance - SGS Peru, in the months of September and October 2018. Different chemical tests were performed to the sesame and flax seed oils to measure: density, acidity, free fatty acid, iodine and peroxide values. Additionally, storage conditions, labeling and sanitation registration were also evaluated. According to the results obtained, we can state that in general terms flax and sesame seed oils of the analyzed trademarks sold in the Biofairs of Miraflores and Barranco were out of the ranges established in at least one chemical indicator, taking CODEX standard for edible oils (STAN 210-1999) as the reference standard. / Tesis

Cannabis (and its main psychoactive component, THC) is one of the most widely-used drugs in the world, and recent expansion of its legal status has made it available in a variety of formulations and at a potency unrivaled in history. While its medicinal properties are gaining scientific support, so too is its potential to lead to abuse and dependence. Both initiation of cannabis use and frequent cannabis use are most prevalent in adolescence, and compared to adults, cannabis use by adolescents is associated with a greater likelihood of developing cannabis dependence and cannabis use disorder. Given the ethical limitations surrounding research that provides cannabis to non-users or non-adults, animal models of drug use can be valuable tools for the study of causes and consequences related to drug use, as well as allowing for investigating brain mechanisms underlying these factors. However, only recently have models in which animals reliably use cannabis (THC) at levels above its respective vehicle and at levels which produce consistent behavioral and physiological effects become available, and in no case has age-related differences in this use been examined. Thus, one goal of the current study was to directly compare the self-administration of edible THC (a route of administration used by humans and a formulation increasing in popularity) between adolescent and adult mice.<br><div> Adolescents also appear to be differentially sensitive to various effects of several classes of drugs, and they have been shown to be less sensitive to the aversive effects of cannabis, thereby putting them at greater risk for elevated and continued use. Evidence also suggests that, in addition to the risk associated with adolescent cannabis use, having initial positive subjective experiences resulting from its use is a strong predictor of subsequent cannabis dependence. Thus, the second goal of the current study was to use the place conditioning paradigm to examine the reward- (or aversion-) inducing properties of THC in adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice, using both the traditional experimenter-administered THC (via injection) as well as edible THC self-administration.</div><div> Prior to initiating these THC studies, sensitivity of the place conditioning procedure to age-related differences in drug-induced reward was validated using cocaine, yielding locomotor stimulation in both ages and a decreased sensitivity to cocaine’s rewarding properties in adolescent mice. When provided limited access to edible THC dough in doses ranging from 0.0 to 6.0 mg/kg, mice showed a dose-dependent reduction in consumption across access sessions, and this reduction was more rapid in adult mice at the highest doses, suggesting that adolescent mice might have been less sensitive to its aversive properties. These same mice, as well as a separate group of mice receiving injection (also 0.0 to 6.0 mg/kg THC), were given place conditioning sessions, alternating between THC dough and control dough or THC injection and vehicle injection, for 6 days per week and were tested once per week across a total of 3 weeks. Mice conditioned using edible THC showed a neutral response (neither reward nor aversion) at all doses. However, mice conditioned using injected THC showed a conditioned place aversion to the highest dose, which was more pronounced in adult mice. Interestingly, in mice self-administering edible THC, the dose of THC consumed was related to the outcome of place conditioning, such that a conditioned place preference was observed for adult mice which shifted their consumption of 3.0 mg/kg edible THC downward relative to those mice with full consumption of 3.0 mg/kg, and for adolescent mice which had the highest degree of consumption of 6.0 mg/kg edible THC relative to those mice with the lowest consumption of 6.0 mg/kg. Furthermore, initial place preference outcomes at the individual level at test 1 predicted subsequent doses of edible THC consumed, suggesting mice adjust their self-administration of edible THC based on the subjective experience it produces. Besides its impact in place conditioning, THC also had differential effects on body weight and locomotor activity based on age and route of administration. Collectively, this project demonstrates that adolescent mice are less sensitive to the hedonic properties of both cocaine and THC, and that differences in edible THC self-administration between ages, and between individuals within an age, are likely related the subjective experience of its rewarding and aversive properties.</div>

Une triple attente socio-économique dans les domaines du développement durable (réduction des matières synthétiques non biodégradables), des solutions naturelles de conservation des aliments (tendance du « clean label » par la protection des denrées par des emballages actifs et intelligents évitant des additifs à outrance dans les aliments) et de la sécurité alimentaire (sécurité microbiologique et traçabilité) est à l’origine du développement de nouveaux matériaux à la fois biodégradables, comestibles et fonctionnalisés. Cette recherche commencée quelques décennies plus tôt est freinée par un mode de production difficilement industrialisable (voie solvant). Cependant, depuis quelques années des procédés applicables à l’échelle industrielle sont développées (voie fondue/extrusion). Dans le travail présenté ici, la technologie d’extrusion bivis a été appliquée avec succès sur différentes matières premières protéiques : la caséine acide, la caséine présure et le caséinate de sodium. Extraites toutes trois du lait de vache, ces caséines montrent des caractéristiques différentes qui affectent les propriétés du matériau (mécaniques, sensibilité aux molécules d’eau). La fonctionnalisation de la matrice par l’ajout d’acides organiques offre un potentiel antimicrobien intéressant contre Escherichia coli. Une complexation supplémentaire du matériau par incorporation de molécules hydrophobes telles que des cires (cires d’abeille, de candelilla et de carnauba) permet d’élargir une fois de plus l’éventail des propriétés disponibles pour ces matériaux composites, comme l’amélioration de la propriété barrière à la vapeur d’eau apportée par la cire d’abeille. La sensibilité aux molécules d’eau de ce type de matériau étant un critère à considérer à chaque étape de développement et de compréhension des interactions inter-ingrédients (protéine, plastifiant, cires, composés antimicrobiens). Ce manuscrit expose le potentiel de développement de matériaux à base de caséine, biodégradables, comestibles et antimicrobiens, qu’il s’agit d’appliquer en emballage agroalimentaire tout comme dans bien d’autres secteurs / Development of innovative biodegradable, edible and functionalized material comes from a triple socio-economic expectation in the field of sustainable development (decrease in synthetic non-biodegradable polymers), of natural solutions for food preservation (trend of “clean label” by food protection through active and smart packaging to avoid over-use of food additives) and of food safety (microbiological safety and traceability). Development in that field, started few decades ago is slowed down by production process (wet process), which is not an easy scale up process. However, a few years ago industrial process technique as extrusion started developing. In the present work, the twin-screw extrusion process was successfully applied to produce polymer based on protein raw material: acid casein, rennet casein and sodium caseinate. Extracted from caw milk, these three caseins own different characteristics, which affect material properties (mechanical, water sensitive properties). Matrix functionalization through organic acid addition bring an interesting antimicrobial response against Escherichia coli. Blending hydrophobic molecules as waxes (beeswax, candelilla wax and carnauba wax) creates a complex composite material which increases the range of available properties as improved water vapor barrier allowed by beeswax addition. Water sensitive properties are key points to consider at each step of material development and to understand relationships between the different ingredients (protein, plasticizer, waxes, antimicrobial agents). This manuscript shows the feasibility in the development of casein based material as biodegradable, edible and antimicrobial material, to apply and use in the food packaging industry or other industries

As more and more people question our meat consumption and alternative diets are on the rise, consuming insects as an alternative protein source has become a part of the conversation about sustainable foods in western countries. The attitudes towards the topic are mixed due to insects being a rare food in western countries but in countries such as Sweden the attitudes towards eating insects are often negative. People often reject the idea of eating insects because they simply don’t see them as edible, but why are insects not edible when other animals such as cows are a typical food? This project aims to discover what moral differences there are between different animals and how these differences affect what meat we can or can’t eat and how we view insects as food.

Insects have been proposed as a sustainable alternative to livestock to help feed the growing population. Edible insects such as mealworms require less land and resources and can utilize food by-products to grow. While insects are consumed by over 2 billion people worldwide, they are not widely accepted in developed countries like the United States because of their unfamiliarity and the perception of disgust associated with entomophagy. The objectives of this research are to 1) grow mealworms using carrot pomace and determine an optimum diet for growth and nutritional composition, 2) identify and classify early adopters of insects, and propose a product form, and 3) assess the acceptability of frozen, ready-to-cook mealworms with early adopters. A response surface design was used to evaluate the use of carrot pomace in various percentages in the substrate and as the moisture source in a mealworm growing system. Mealworms were grown under controlled conditions in a climate chamber until they began to pupate, and statistical models were fitted to predict mealworm mortality, weight, days to pupation, protein content, fat content, and moisture content. An algorithm in Design Expert was used to optimize mealworm growth based on maximizing mealworm weight and minimizing mortality and days to pupation, and the optimum diet was found to be 36% carrot pomace in the substrate with carrot pomace as the moisture source. Early adopters of insects were identified through a survey using Red Jade Sensory Software. Participants were segmented using partitioning around medoids clustering algorithm based on responses to questions on willingness to consume insects in a variety of forms. Four segments were identified: No-thank-you’s, Hideaways, Daredevils, and Peekaboo’s. Daredevils, Peekaboo’s, and Hideaways are early adopters of insects in the nonvisible form, and Daredevils and Peekaboo’s are also early adopters of insects in the visible form. Based on these insights, frozen, ready-to-cook mealworms were selected to target Daredevils and Peekaboo’s as a product to serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock protein. Participants from each of the four segments were shown a video of mealworm cooking and asked their willingness to buy the product and the motivation behind their response. The majority of respondents were unwilling to buy this product, driven by unfamiliarity and the perception of disgust. However, over half of Daredevils were willing to buy the product, driven by the novelty and ease of preparation. Marketing a product towards this group may be a feasible route for entry into the market and increase the familiarity of edible insects, thereby contributing to long-term acceptability.

The Angolan population has to deal with a high child mortality rate and various deficiency syndromes due to malnutrition. The diet is mainly based on carbohydrate rich plants, lacking important macro- and micronutrients. Currently the majority of cultivated plants originate from regions outside Africa. Although indigenous edible plant species are incorporated in the African diet, they only play a minor role and are often neglected in agricultural systems. The introduction of nutritive, fast-growing American fruit species as ananas, avocado or guava displace natural growing crops. In recent years the potential of wild edible plants to combat malnutrition, face climate change and deal with existing soil conditions has become of special concern. Leavy vegetables as Amaranthus spec., legumes as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) or fruits as marula (Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst. or baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) have gained public and commercial interest. However, only a few African edible plant species are cultivated in small plantations (“Fazenda”) or home gardens in the surrounding of villages. Horticultural or nutritional data are often incomplete and not representative. The scientific knowledge even impairs for species which are not cultivated and regarded only as snack or child food by the local population. Such plants as from the genus of chocolate berries (Vitex L.), vine rubber (Landolphia P.Beauv.) or Parinari Aubl. were of special interest for this PhD thesis. Iron and zinc are widely deficient in the diet of the Angolan population and plant products as fruits from Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. or leaves of Crassocephalum rubens (Juss. ex Jacq.) S.Moore can help to combat resulting syndromes. However, the obtained contents of the 43 plant species have to be verified on additional plant material as contents are known to vary. Nevertheless, the results serve as a baseline and represent first insights into the nutritive profile of the respective wild edible plants. Those important comparative values direct future research, although the inconsistency of plant individuals impede exact statements. On the other hand, this fact also bears a great research potential for studies on the effects of plant varieties, localities or age of tissues. Yields of the studied plant species and incorporated volumes of the edible plant parts are still unknown, but important parameters. The forest tree Caloncoba welwitschii Oliv. has spiny fruits with a delicious, fatty orange pulp. Besides our studies no research focus was ever directed to its nutritional potential although the pulp is appreciated by the local population. A high number of seeds in respect to a comparatively low amount of pulp probably impede nutritional analysis and agricultural interest. However, an in-depth analysis of existing varieties and an appropriate selection could improve the yield as the pulp is of special nutritional value. It contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium, vitamin B1, B2 and E. The protein composition further revealed high amounts of indispensable amino acids (Thr, Val, Ile, Leu). The tree often remains in disturbed areas as it is usually protected against human placed fires. The rural population appreciate the ornamental flowers, its diverse medical applications and its ability to attract insects. This demonstrates the enormous potential wild edible plants can have protecting natural habitats and plant individuals. Useful species are safeguarded by locals and emphasizing the manifold utilizations and the nutritional potential of other species seem to be a promising opportunity protecting the natural environment. Benefits of indigenous food plants are therefore manifold. They already grow in surrounding areas and need no expensive cultivation techniques; they are likely more resistant to existing pests and cushion the effects of slash-and-burn farming on soil erosion and rising ground temperatures. Barren, acidic soils with high plant-available amounts of metals as aluminum and manganese impede the cultivation of commercial introduced crops. Application of fertilizers or soil amelioration techniques to enhance the yield are time and cost intensive. Otherwise, indigenous edible plant species are adapted to local growing conditions and grow without special care. Thus, the analysis of physical and chemical soil characteristics was conducted for eight traditionally utilized edible plants from the province Uíge. As plants evolved together with their parameters, they developed different strategies to deal with high amounts of plant-available metals. One example are accumulators, plants which contain extraordinarily high metal contents in their aboveground tissue. Anisophyllea quangensis Engl. ex Henriq., Landolphia lanceolata (K.Schum.) Pichon, Tristemma mauritianum J.F.Gmel., and Eugenia malangensis (O.Hoffm.) Nied. are first described to contain more than 1000 ppm aluminum in their dried leaves and can thus be categorized as Al-hyperaccumulator. These plants survive on marginal sides and bear additionally edible fruits with nutritional potential and small amounts of Al. For this reason, they are of special interest combating malnutrition and can at the same time cover and protect the ground. Diversifying the agricultural system with local growing plants seem to be a promising alternative to current monocultures of conventional crops. In course of the data evaluation, it became apparent that there is a huge lack of knowledge concerning wild edible plants in Africa. Comprehensive data about the nutritional profile, growing conditions, germination or yield only exist for model plants or common crops. Results of this PhD thesis therefore serve as first insight into the potential of a selection of wild edible plants from Angola. Exemplary a comprehensive literature review was conducted for the genus Landolphia P.Beauv. covering all research areas from rubber production over botanical investigations to mechanical studies. Striking are the close interactions of the different scientific disciplines. Ethnobotanical utilization patterns are closely linked to pharmacological studies or nutritional analysis. The subshrub Landolphia lanceolata, which is native to the D.R. Congo and Angola, was involved in all different analysis conducted in this thesis. Results and their complex interactions are briefly outlined. The rhizomatous species grows on fine sand in the savannah. The soil of the examined species from Uíge was extremely acidic and low in nutrients. However, high aluminum contents were found in the leaves indicating accumulation processes within the plant tissues. The aluminum content of the edible fruit pulp was further elevated, which, depending on quantity and frequency of consumption, can be a threat to human health. Other hazardous minerals were not found in the pulp. The delicious fruit contains further antioxidants, vitamin B1, C and E. Landolphia species can yield many fruits on one individuum, which are often sold on local markets and generate alternative income for the local population. Furthermore, leaves and roots of this species are known by traditional healers to relieve cough or rheumatism. Pharmacological studies already determined promising antiplasmodial activities of the root and leaf extract. The latex extraction from L. lanceolata roots is destructive and the obtained rubber of low quality. It is accordingly advisable to utilize other species of the genus Landolphia for rubber production. As illustrated by the many purposes of Landolphia lanceolata, indigenous plant species can help to overcome some of the major problems African populations have to face. Wild edible fruits diversify the local diet and are an important source of macro- and micronutrients. The protection of existing populations and their habitat as well as intensified cultivation can help to recover disturbed, open vegetation sites. Erosion can be prevented and the soil will be safeguarded without external support as power or fund requirements. Further, the economic situation of the rural population would be improved by the sale of products from the species. Another advantage of indigenous plants in contrast to conventional crops are their multipurpose applications. A lasting agriculture with minimum management requirements can be developed, render unnecessary fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides. Investigations on wild edible plants therefore bear a great potential directing future research activities, inform the local population and implement sustainable utilization forms protecting the natural environment.

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are important in rural southwest Virginia as a source of household sustenance and supplemental income. The trade in NTFPs from this region is centuries old and now helps supply growing worldwide demands. Although marketing is a vital part of optimizing the value of these products, it has been ignored in rural natural resource development. This research analyzes marketing systems for selected NTFPs in southwest Virginia by describing marketing chains, interpreting data on important marketing elements, and comparing results within and between different groups of NTFPs. Product categories selected for emphasis are crafts (grapevine wreaths, baskets, furniture, and birdhouses), medicinal and herbal products, specialty wood products (musical instruments), and edible forest products. This qualitative, exploratory study utilizes direct interviews with fifty market players at various levels in marketing chains. Results provide information on NTFP products, value addition, market outlets, pricing, promotion, distribution, and marketing chains. Hundreds of people are involved with the NTFP trade in southwest Virginia and marketing can help ameliorate negative effects of job scarcity. The greatest opportunity for local level marketing exists for market players of crafts and specialty wood products. Medicinal and herbal products are the only category which very little local value addition takes place within the region and as a result, market players have minimal control over marketing. Edible forest products are not marketed but are collected only for consumption in the household. Several opportunities for marketing include improving market access for crafts and specialty wood products, increasing production through cultivation for medicinal and herbal products, and developing capacity for edible product cultivation. / Master of Science

No description available.

En stor del av världens matsvinn uppstår på konsumentnivå, och mycket på grund av olika beteenden och vanor. I den här studien vill vi undersöka om det med hjälp av en tävling går att påverka människor att minska sitt ätbara matsvinn. Vi har använt oss av flera olika studier som undersöker vanor och beteende kring matsvinn för att få en större förståelse om hur gamification-element kan appliceras för att få till en beteendeförändring. Vi har använt oss av sex studenter som under en veckas tid fått delta i en tävling med målet att slänga så lite mat som möjligt. Därefter har vi utfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med studiedeltagarna. Resultaten visade bland annat att studiedeltagarna tänkte mer på sitt matsvinn under tävlingsveckan, och hälften hade aktivt försökt slänga mindre mat. Det var dock ingen skillnad på hur ofta studiedeltagarna reflekterade över sitt matsvinn före och efter tävlingen. Vi kunde även utläsa från intervjuerna i vilka situationer tävlingen påverkade deltagarna mest, och kom fram till att det var kring planering och konsumtion av mat, de så kallade planerings- och konsumtionsfaserna. Vi kunde även se att leaderboarden påverkade de flesta deltagare  positivt men att ett litet fysiskt pris inte var tillräckligt motiverande för att åstadkomma förändring. / A big part of the world’s food waste occurs at consumer level, and mostly due to different behaviors and habits. In this study we want to examine if a competition can be used to influence people to reduce their edible food waste. We have used different studies that examine habits and behavior around food waste to gain a larger understanding of how gamification-elements can be applied to achieve a behavioral change.  We have used six students that during one week participated in a competition with the goal to throw away as little food as possible. We then had semi-structured interviews with the participants. The results showed that the participants thought more about their food waste during the competition, and half of them had actively tried to throw away less food. There was no difference in how often the participants reflected about their food waste before and after the competition though. We could also see from the interviews in which situations the competition affected the participants the most, and came to the conclusion that it was around planning and consumtion of food, the so called planning phase and consumption phase. We could also see that the leaderboard affected most of the participants positively but that a small physical prize was not enough motivating to achieve a change.

No description available.