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Increasing interest has been shown in the irradiation sterilization and irradiation pasteurization of foods, but problems of off-flavors and odors are still unsolved, especially in the case of dairy products. From the flavor chemistry point of view, milk lipids are very highly susceptible to irradiation effects. Therefore, this investigation was designed to study some irradiation induced reactions involving flavor changes in the milk fat and to identify the volatile components produced in the milk fat upon irradiation. Milk fat, prepared from raw sweet cream and washed free of phospholipids, was first irradiated in the presence of air and under vacuum in glass vials at 4.5 Mrad with gamma rays from cobalt-60. The irradiation resulted in increase in TBA number, peroxide value, total monocarbonyls, bleaching of color, slightly rancid and typical candle-like off-flavors. Free fatty acids were also produced upon irradiation. The changes were more drastic in air along with production of a slight oxidized flavor. The monocarbonyls identified by column and paper chromatographic methods in irradiated milk fat include: C₁ through C₁₂, C₁₄ , and C₁₆ n-alkanals; C₃ through C₉, C₁₁, C₁₃ and C₁₅ alk-2-ones with only traces of C₆ and C₈ alk-2- ones; and C₅, C₆, C₉, and C₁₂ alk-2-enals. Irradiation of milk fat that had been dried over calcium hydride also caused free fatty acid production, especially short chain fatty acids. Methyl octanoate treated with calcium hydride and irradiated at 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 Mrad yielded small quantities of free octanoic acid, confirming that irradiation caused fission of the ester linkage even when traces of water were removed. The quantities of octanoic acid formed increased with increasing dose of irradiation. For identification of volatile components, the milk fat was irradiated in 307x409 'C' enameled cans under vacuum. The headspace analysis showed some air still left in the cans. Irradiation resulted in consumption of oxygen and production of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane as identified in the headspace gases. The volatiles were isolated from the irradiated and control milk fats by low temperature, vacuum steam distillation at 40°C and 1-2 mm Hg. The volatile components were then extracted from the aqueous distillate with ethyl ether. The ethyl ether extract exhibited the typical candle-like defect. The ethyl ether concentrate was analyzed by combination of GLC and fast-scan mass spectrometric techniques. Identification of various components was achieved on the basis of mass spectral data and coincidence of gas chromatographic retention times. In the case of the components for which only GLC t[subscript r]/t[subscript r] evidence was available or the mass spectra obtained were not satisfactory, the identity assigned was only tentative. The volatile compounds that were positively identified to be present in irradiated milk fat are given below: n-Alkanes C₅ through C₁₇ 1-Alkenes C₅, C₇ through C₁₇ Fatty acids C₄, C₆, C₈ and C₁₀ n-Alkanals C₅ through C₁₁ Others γ-decalactone, δ-decalactone, 2-heptanone, benzene, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and dichlorobenzene. The tentative identification was obtained for the following compounds: γ-lactones C₆ and C₈ δ-lactones C₆, C₈, C₁₁, and C₁₂ 1, ?-alkadienes C₁₀, C₁₁, C₁₂, C₁₆ and C₁₇ iso-alkanes C₁₀, C₁₁, C₁₂, and C₁₃ Others methyl hexanoate, 2-hexanone, 4-heptanone and n-dodecanal. The compounds present in unirradiated control milk fat included: short chain fatty acids (C₄, C₆, C₈, and C₁₀), C₈, C₁₀, and C₁₂ δ-lactones, 2-heptanone, chloroform, dichlorobenzene, benzene, toluene, and ethyl-benzene. Only tentative identity was established for most of these components in control milk fat. Possible reaction mechanisms are presented for the formation of the compounds in irradiated milk fat. / Graduation date: 1966

As the IceCube Neutrino Observatory seeks to expand its sensitivity to high PeV-EeV energies by means of the radio technique, the need for fast, efficient and reliable reconstruction methods to recover neutrino properties from radio detector data has emerged. The first recorded investigation into the possibilities of using a neural network based approach to flavor reconstruction is presented. More specifically, a deep convolutional neural network was built and optimized for the purpose of differentiating νe charged current (CC) interaction events from events of all other flavors and interaction modes. The approach is found to be largely successful for neutrino energies above 1018 eV, with a reported accuracy on νe - CC events of > 75% for neutrino energies > 1018.5 eV while maintaining a >60% accuracy for energies > 1018. Predictive accuracy on non- νe - CC events varies between 80% and 90% across the considered neutrino energy range 1017<Eν<1019. The dependence of the accuracy on νe - CC events on neutrino energy is pronounced and attributed to the LPM effect, which alters the features of the radio signals significantly at energies above 1018 eV in contrast to non- νe - CC events. The method shows promise as a first neural network based neutrino flavor reconstruction method, and results can likely be improved through further optimization.

Researchers studying diet selection of ungulate herbivores have generally considered plant palatability independent of animals' dietary history. However, more recent studies demonstrate that experiences within the life of an animal strongly influence plant selection. We are beginning to understand how food preferences and aversions are formed through gastro-intestinal feedback. My research specifically examines factors that influence the formation of conditioned flavor aversions in the generalist herbivore, sheep. I first examined how variability of food toxicity affects the intake of those foods. I determined that sheep apparently have several mechanisms for regulating intake of toxic foods regardless of whether or not toxic variation can be detected through flavor changes. When changes in flavor correspond to changes in toxicity, animals adjusted intake based on an increase or decrease in toxin concentration. When toxic variation was not detectable through flavor, animals adopted a conservative strategy of eating an amount based on the maximum toxin dose they had experienced.' I was also interested in how illness following the consumption of one food influences the selection of other foods. In diet selection, animals may generalize selection responses among foods with similar flavors. Generalization may be particularly important in the selection of novel foods, i.e., a new food may look, smell, or taste like a familiar food that is preferred or avoided. In several experiments on the generalization of flavor aversions I found that: 1) sheep generalize aversions from familiar to novel foods when both foods had a flavor in common; 2) the more sick an animal got after eating a food the greater the aversion formed to the food and the greater the generalization of that aversion to new foods; 3) the salience or intensity of flavor did not affect the strength of conditioned flavor aversions in sheep on the generalization of the aversion, but this may not always be the case; 4) flavor intensity strongly influenced the acceptance of a novel food. A novel food (wheat) with a strong flavor (3% added ground oregano) was more avoided than a novel food (wheat) with a mild flavor (1% oregano added).

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Master of Science / Food Science Institute -- Human Nutrition / Koushik Adhikari / A significant increase in the number of products carried in supermarkets has lead manufacturers to use food color as a way to differentiate their products from competitor’s products or as a form of communication. This report’s overall objective was to review the impact of color on sensory properties of foods and beverages and help product developers understand the multiple sensory properties within a food or beverage that may potentially change by manipulating color. The effect of color on flavor or odor identification, basic taste perception, flavor or odor intensity, quality and refreshment, and consumer acceptance has been extensively researched. Research to date has shown inconsistent findings, although key themes are consistent. Some colors are more appropriate for certain foods and beverages, and product color can be directly linked to palatability. Color cues can be used for flavor identification within a food or beverage, and the presence of certain colors evoke flavor associations within a product. Perceived intensities of basic taste or flavor attributes have increased or decreased merely with color addition. Consumers use color cues to determine quality, therefore color can ultimately affect product acceptance.

Master of Science / Department of Food Science / Kadri Koppel / Pomegranate fruits are seasonally produced and require processing to provide year round availability. Effects of processing on phenolic compounds, color, and other physical properties have been examined but few studies have examined the sensory effects. Juice prepared from fresh Wonderful pomegranates was used to prepare fresh frozen juice, batch pasteurized juice, and reconstituted juice from dried arils. These juices were evaluated using analytical and affective sensory methods to increase the understanding of processing effects on pomegranate juice properties. A modified consensus flavor profile showed that a large number of small differences existed. The accumulation of these changes demonstrates the distinction among processing methods. Time intensity multi-evaluation (TIME) profiling, a new method, was used to further understand how multiple attributes, including aromatics, feeling factors, and basic tastes, changed over the course of one sip. Fruity flavor was consistently the first to appear in the profile while bitterness and astringency lasted the longest. The attribute woody displayed longer peak times in the pasteurized and reconstituted samples than seen in fresh frozen juice. Semi-Continuous Consumption (SCC) profiling, another new method, explained product differences over 25 sips that mimicked consumption. Overall, astringent and bitter components increased while fruity and overall sweet attributes declined. These profile changes differed by sample with reconstituted juice showing the least increase in astringency over consumption. The juice samples were subjected to an acceptance test that showed four liking clusters, one that accepted all three juices and three clusters that disliked one of each juice type. The results from these studies are an initial step in describing how processing of pomegranate juice can effect flavor. Understanding the flavor differences is beneficial to processors for marketing products and for purchasers of these products for ingredient usage. Furthermore, the process of TIME and SCC profiling are described which are beneficial for understanding how multiple flavors change over single and multiple consumption events of a product respectively. These new methodologies are useful in explaining the experience of complex products such as teas and coffees or products exhibiting build-up such as nutrition aides.

Master of Science / Food Science Institute -- Human Nutrition / Delores H. Chambers / This research aimed to determine the sensory characteristics of commercially-available plain yogurts and examine how three "more sustainable" prototypes compared. Three experimental non-fat set-style yogurts were provided – one control and two samples that differed in fermentation time. These shortened fermentation times could result in energy reductions and potentially substantiate a “sustainable” marketing claim, a concept gaining traction with consumers. Twenty-six commercially-available yogurts varying in percent milk fat, milk type (organic or conventional), and processing (set-style, stirred, or strained/Greek-style) were also included. Using descriptive sensory analysis, a six-person highly-trained panel scored the intensity of 25 flavor, six texture, four mouth feel, and two mouth coating attributes on a 15-point numerical scale. Three replications were conducted, and all samples were tested at least 10 days prior to the end of their shelf-lives. The samples differed for 19 flavor and all texture, mouth feel, and mouth coating attributes. Cluster analysis indicated approximately seven flavor and five texture (texture, mouth feel, and mouth coating combined) clusters, resulting in 15 unique combinations of flavor and texture. Although no legal definitions exist for “sustainable,” the prototypes’ sensory characteristics were comparable to those of top-selling yogurts indicating potential market viability. This research also demonstrated potential growth opportunities. Despite the current diversity, several combinations of flavor and texture were not represented.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A number of relevant brewing industry issues associated with malt quality were examined. These included beer foam quality, premature flocculation of yeast during fermentation and antimicrobial factors in malt. The cause of poor foam at a brewery relative to other similar breweries was identified as being related to the boiling temperature during wort preparation and the associated conformational changes of the abundant foam protein lipid transfer protein 1 (LTPl). The temperature range of 96 to 102°C was revealed to be critical. At the higher temperature the denaturation of LTP 1 was more extensive and its effectiveness as a foam protein was reduced. In addition, it was shown that the prominent role of LTPI with respect to foam was as a lipid binding protein, forming a lipid sink and protecting foam from lipid damage. The occurrence of malt associated premature yeast flocculation (PYF) during fermentation was induced in malt by the addition of extra-cellular fungal enzymes to the malt husk or by micro-malting barley in the presence of fungi. In addition, treating malt husk with commercial xylanase or adding commercial arabinoxylan to the fermentation also impacted on yeast flocculation. It was proposed that a range of molecular weight arabinoxylans formed by the enzymatic breakdown of the major barley husk component (arabinoxylan) resulted in PYF. Antimicrobial activity against brewing yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), other fungi and bacteria was found in barley, malt and malt derived wort trub. Wort trub is the non-specific precipitate of protein, polyphenols and lipids formed during wort boiling and which is, to some extend, carried over in the wort to the fermentation. Antimicrobial activity appeared to increase during malting. The growth of brewery collected yeast was inhibited in the presence of brewery production wort when compared to the same wort filtered to remove the trub. Brewery yeast was found to be more sensitive to inhibition than laboratory propagated yeast of the same strain. Different strains of S. cerevisiae were also found to differ in their sensitivity to inhibition. Investigation revealed that the activity originated from the inside of the barley grain and impacted on yeast sugar uptake. However, there was no direct correlation detected between levels of antimicrobial activity in malt and fermentation performance. At high concentrations the factors were microcidal causing cell lysis. Partial characterisation of an antimicrobial extract from malt revealed the presence of a factor between 5 and 14 kDa, containing a cationic peptide component. The optimum pH stability was ±5 when it was also most cationic. The factor easily and irreversibly lost activity at extreme pH and when exposed to certain reagents but was heat resistant in accordance with its survival in wort trub. Preliminary results showed the presence of LTP1 associated with other peptides in the active cationic fraction from the one malt tested. The occurrence of malt related PYF and malt antimicrobial factors are associated with microbial contamination of the grain. The fungi generating the PYF factors from the barley husk while the barley's defence mechanism generates antimicrobial factors to cope with the pathogenic effect of the fungi. In addition there is a potential link between the foam protein LTP 1 and malt antimicrobial activity as LTP 1 or LTP 1 in association with another component(s) is potentially antimicrobial. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Aantal problematiese areas in die broubedryf, wat met mout geassosieer word, is ondersoek, naamlik bierskuimkwaliteit, voortydige flokkulering van gis tydens fermentasie en die invloed van antimikrobiese faktore in mout. Die oorsaak van swak bierskuim by 'n spesifieke brouery relatief tot ander soortgelyke brouerye was geidentifiseer as die moutekstrakkookpunt tydens moutekstrakbereiding. Tydens hierdie proses ondergaan dieskuimprotein, lipiedoordrag proteien 1 (lipid transfer protein 1, LTPI), 'n konformasieverandering. Die temperature tussen 96 to 102°C was kritiek t.o.v. ideale konformasieverandering vir skuimaktiwiteit. Denaturering van LTPI het by hoër temperature plaasgevind wat die skuimproteien se aktiwitiet verminder het. Daar is ook bewys dat LTPI 'n verdere rol in bierskuim speel aangesien dit 'n lipiedbindingsproteien is wat die skuimnegatiewe lipiede verwyder. Die voorkoms van moutgeassosieerde voortydige flokkulering van gis (PYF) tydens fermentasie is op twee maniere in mout geinduseer, naamlik: • deur die toevoeging van ekstrasellulêre swamensieme tot die moutdop • deur mikrovermouting van gars in die teenwoordigheid van swamme. Die behandeling van die moutdop met kommersiele xilanase of die toevoeging van kommersiele arabinoxilaan by fermentasies het ook die flokkulering van gis beinvloed. Die hipotese was dat PYF veroorsaak is deur 'n reeks arabinoxilane met verskillende molekulêre massas wat gevorm het tydens die ensimatiese afbraakproses van die primere moutdopkomponent (arabinoxilaan). Antimikrobiese aktiwiteit teenoor brouersgis (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), ander swamme en bakterie was teenwoordig in gars, mout en moutekstrakpresipitaat. Die presipitaat bestaan uit nie-spesifieke presipitate van proteien, polifenole en lipiede wat gedeeltelik in die gekookte moutekstrak agterbly. Daar is gevind dat antimikrobiese aktiwiteit tydens vermouting toe geneem het. Die groeiproses van brouersgis, gekollekteer by 'n brouery, was geinhibeer deur die teenwoordigheid van brouery-geproduseerde moutekstrak in vergelyking met dieselfde moutekstrak wat gefiltreer was om die presipitaat te verwyder. Die brouersgis was meer sensitief heens inhibisie in vergeleke met dieselfde gisstam wat opgegroei is in die laboratorium. Verskillende S. cerevisiae stamme het ook verskille in sensitiwiteit getoon t.o.v. the antimikrobiese komponente in die moutekstrakte. 'n Verdere ondersoek het getoon dat die oorprong van die inhiberende aktiwiteit die interne dele van die gars is, asook dat dit die gissuikeropname beinvloed. Daar was egter geen direkte verband tussen antimikrobiese aktiwiteit in mout en fermentasie effektiwiteit, soos gemeet onder laboratorium toestande, nie. Hoë konsentrasies van die faktore het egter gelei tot seldood weens sellise. 'n Kationiese peptiedbevattende fraksie tussen 5 en 14 kDa en 'n optimale pH stabliliteit van 5 is gevind deur gedeeltelike karakterisering van 'n antimikrobiese moutekstrak. Die aktiewe fraksie se aktiwiteit is onomkeerbaar vernietig by ekstreme pH en blootstelling aan sekere reagense. Die aktiewe verbinding(s) is egter hittebestand en resultate het getoon dat hierdie aktiwiteit die brouproses oorleef as deel van die moutektrakpresipitaat. Voorlopige resultate van die een mout wat getoets is het die teenwoordigheid van LTP 1 getoon, asook die moontlike assosiasie met ander peptiede of kleiner komponente in die aktiewe kationiese fraksie. Die voorkoms van moutgeassosieerde PYF en antimikrobiese faktore in mout word met die mikrobiologiese kontaminasie van gars verbind. Swamme produseer die PYF faktore vanuit die moutdopkomponente, terwyl die plant weer antimikrobiese faktore produseer as deel van 'n beskermingsmeganisme teen die patogene effek van die swamme. Daar is ook 'n potensieele verwantskap tussen bierskuimproteien LTP 1 en antimikrobiese faktore in mout, aangesien LTPI ofLTPl tesame met 'n ander verbinding(s) moontlik antimikrobies is.