Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Food Science." Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-130).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University OF MICHIGAN.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Food Science and Technology." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Food Science." Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-117).

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Food Science and Technology." Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Food Science and Technology." Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

<p> There was low participation (40%) by cattle producers in the United States&rsquo; voluntary traceability system known as the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). A mandatory traceability system was implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture on March 11, 2013. Any cattle that are moved between states must be identified. Participation in the new system needs to be at least 70% to be considered successful. Beef cattle producers may have privacy and trust issues that would be factors affecting participation in a traceability system. Surveys were sent to 2,000 subscribers of BEEF Magazine. Out of the 361 responses, there were 196 usable surveys. Drawing upon the theories of economics and compliance, research was conducted to determine if participation rates in a traceability system were affected by the entity that managed the system, either Government, Private Industry, or Private Non-Industry entity; the data that the system gathered, i.e., marketing claims; and the incentives received from the traceability system. The current research indicated that participation rates will increase if a private industry maintains the data. Antibiotic-free was the marketing claim of the data that the system gathered that influenced participation, and participation decreased with this marketing claim. Lastly the incentives or benefits received from the traceability will positively affect participation rates. Any government entity or organization wishing to implement a traceability system, could use these findings to increase participation in their traceability system.</p>

<p> The objective of this study was to determine the influence of market type and sampling time on <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Listeria </i> prevalence and microbiological quality of 540 beef, pork, and whole chicken samples collected in 6 supermarkets (SM), 6 indoor markets (IM), and 6 open markets (OM) at opening (T0) and 4 h after the opening (T4) in Vietnam. <i> Salmonella</i> and <i>Listeria</i> prevalence ranged from 30.4 to 71.0% and 56.6 to 99.9 %, respectively, in beef, pork, and chicken in Vietnam. Aerobic bacteria counts ranged from 10.5 to 11.6 log CFU/g, whereas, <i> E. coli</i> and coliform counts ranged from 7.2 to 11.4 log CFU/g in beef, pork, and chicken in Vietnam. <i>E. coli</i> counts were influenced by the interaction of market type and sampling time in beef and pork. Market characteristic data that were considered relevant to microbiological safety of fresh meat and poultry products were collected for individual samples. </p>

The order and combination of juicing steps can change a blueberrys bioactive phytochemicals and effect juice recovery. In addition to physical treatments such as pressing, recovery is also affected by heat and enzymes steps. Not optimizing juicing methods affect juice quality and leave many bioactive components in the press cake. To evaluate pre-press treatments, southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries were individually pressed in a bench top press at varying temperatures. The temperature treatments included fresh, thawed, frozen and heating to 95 °C. Two pectinase enzymes, Rohapect 10L and Pectinex BEXXL, were individually used to assess impact on juice extraction. Juice recovery was averaged from three press replications for each treatment. Frozen berries which were heated to 95 °C and treated with enzyme had the highest recovery at 68.6 ± 1.1%. This process was then transferred to a pilot scale press. Pilot scale juice recovery was calculated at 74.0 ± 0.9%. Using data from the initial pilot presses, a full pilot scale experiment was triplicated. Tifblue rabbiteye blueberries were heated in a steam jacketed kettle to 95 °C for three minutes followed by a Rohapect 10L enzyme treatment before pressing. The resulting juice from the pilot press was then filtered and pasteurized. Unfiltered juice was also pasteurized. Press cake was collected and frozen. Samples of raw berries, filtered and unfiltered juice, pasteurized juice, and press cake were taken to identify anthocyanin compounds and changes caused by juice processes using LC-MS/MS. Samples were also hydrolyzed for anthocyanidin quantification using UPLC-UV. Ten major anthocyanins were identified, including 5 arabinoside and 5 pyranoside anthocyanins and three minor anthocyanins. The five anthocyanidins, cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, peonidin, and petunidin, were quantified. Raw berries and press cake contained the highest anthocyanidin contents with 85.1 mg/100 g and 265.6 mg/100 g respectively. Decreases of 67% loss after pressing and 10% loss after pasteurization were determined for anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in juices. However, three new conjugated anthocyanins were found in processed juices which have not previously been reported in rabbiteye. This contributes to the value and interest of press cake for use in other food and non-food products.

<p> Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Despite the significant health, emotional, and economic burden caused by human NoV, there are no vaccines or therapeutic interventions for this virus. This is due in major part to the lack of a cell culture system and an animal model for human NoV infection.</p><p> Thus, a vector-based vaccine may be ideal for controlling this disease. The major capsid gene (VP1) of a human NoV was inserted into the VSV genome at the glycoprotein (G) and large (L) polymerase gene junction. Recombinant VSV expressing VP1 protein (rVSV-VP1) was recovered from an infectious cDNA clone of VSV. Expression of the capsid protein by VSV resulted in the formation of human NoV virus-like particles (VLPs) that are morphologically and antigenically identical to the native virions. Recombinant rVSV-VP1 was attenuated in cultured mammalian cells as well as in mice. Mice inoculated with a single dose of rVSV-VP1 stimulated a significantly stronger humoral and cellular immune response compared to baculovirus-expressed VLP vaccination. These results demonstrated that that the VSV-based human NoV vaccine induced strong humoral, cellular, and mucosal immunity in a mouse model.</p><p> To further improve the safety and efficacy of the VSV-based human NoV vaccine, the gene for the 72kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) was inserted into rVSV and rVSV-VP1 vectors as an adjuvant, which resulted in construction of recombinant VSV expressing HSP70 (rVSV-HSP70) and VSV co-expressing human NoV VP1 protein and HSP70 (rVSV-HPS70-VP1), respectively. At the same inoculation dose, both rVSV-HSP70-VP1 and rVSV-VP1 triggered similar levels of specific immunity, even though VP1 expression by rVSV-HSP70-VP1 was approximately five-fold less than that of rVSV-VP1. To compensate for the reduced VP1 expression levels, the inoculation dose of rVSV-HSP70-VP1 was increased five-fold or same dosage of rVSV-VP1 and rVSV-HSP70 was combined vaccinated. Mice immunized with five does of rVSV-HSP70-VP1 or those receiving combined vaccination generated significantly higher mucosal and/or T cell immunity than those immunized with rVSV-VP1 alone (P&lt;0.05). Therefore, this data indicates that insertion of HSP70 into the VSV vector further attenuates the VSV-based vaccine and HSP70 enhances the human NoV-specific immunities. </p><p> To determine whether the VSV-based human NoV vaccine confers protection from human NoV challenge, a gnotobiotic pig model was developed. Newborn gnotobiotic piglets vaccinated intranasally with rVSV-based vaccine (rVSV-VP1) produced high levels of specific serum IgG and fecal and vaginal IgA antibody. Three weeks after vaccination, piglets were orally challenged with human NoV. All three piglets in the unvaccinated challenged group developed histopathologic lesions typical of human NoV infection in the duodenum and proximal jejunum on day 5 post-challenge. However, only one of five vaccinated piglets exhibited focal epithelium loss and villous atrophy, and mild edema in the small intestines. Immunofluorescent assay showed that a large amount of human NoV antigens were detected in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of the challenge control group but not vaccinated group. These results demonstrate that the rVSV-based human NoV vaccine triggered partially protective immunity in swine and protected gnotobiotic pigs from challenge by human NoV.</p>