Flour Pellets Research Articles

PEMANFAATAN TEPUNG AMPAS KELAPA TERFERMENTASI SEBAGAI CAMPURAN PAKAN IKAN LELE (Clarias gariepinus)

Feed is an important factor in fish farming, where approximately 60% of the production costs are concentrated for feed. Therefore, we need alternative ingredients that can be mixed with feed to reduce the cost of buying feed. Coconut dregs is an alternative source of vegetable protein derived from agricultural waste which can be used as a raw material for fish feed through the flouring process. This study aimed to determine the effect of fermented coconut dregs flour pellet feed as a source of raw feed material on catfish growth. The method used in this study was an experimental method consisting of 5 treatments Treatment A0 (0% fermented coconut dregs flour), treatment A1 (6% fermented coconut dregs flour), treatment A2 (12% fermented coconut dregs flour), A3 (18 % fermented coconut dregs flour), A4 (24% fermented coconut dregs flour). Data were analyzed using variance (ANOVA) with the SPSS application. The results showed that A3 (18% fermented coconut dregs flour) was the best treatment and affected the absolute growth of 9 g, whereas A0 treatment (0% fermented coconut dregs flour) showed the lowest absolute growth of 4 g. The local feed formulations obtained in this study can be used as alternatives to artificial feed.

Recyclability of additively manufactured bio-based composites

As the flexibility, efficiency, and application space of additive manufacturing continues to grow, many have begun to investigate more sustainable feedstocks as well as options for the end of life of additively manufactured parts. This study examines the effects of mechanical recycling on additively manufactured parts from bio-based feedstock. Articles were printed on the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) system at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory using poly (lactic acid)/wood flour (PLA/WF) pellets. These parts were shredded and granulated, and the granulate was fed directly back into the BAAM system for re-printing, skipping the costly and energy-intensive steps of extrusion and pelletization. The chemical, mechanical, thermal, and rheological changes to PLA/WF before and after recycling were investigated. Additionally, the energy savings from directly printing granulate on the BAAM system without extrusion and pelletization is reported. It is shown that PLA/WF is an excellent candidate for recycling of large format additively manufactured parts, and value of these parts can be reclaimed while saving cost and energy through mechanical recycling.

Physico-chemical characterization, acceptability and shelf stability of extruded composite flour enriched with long-horned grasshopper (Ruspolia differens)

In Tanzania, chronic malnutrition rates remain high, with 32 percent of children under the age of 5 being stunted. The high cost of dietary protein sources is a contributing factor to the deterioration of the nutritional status of most children. Edible insects are suggested to provide an alternative source of protein in enriching the nutritional composition of foods. However, there is limited knowledge on the potential use of long-horned grasshopper (Ruspolia differens) to enhance the nutritional properties of extruded composite flour. This study intended to develop an extruded composite flour enriched with the long-horned grasshopper and further evaluate its proximate composition, mineral properties, antinutritional composition, functional properties, sensory acceptability, and shelf-life stability. Four samples of composite flour were formulated and processed using a twin-screw extruder to produce extruded composite flour (ECF) with a mixing (%wt.) ratios of 100:0 (ECF 0), 95:5 (ECF 5), 85:15 (ECF 15), 75:25 (ECF 25) for composite flour (cassava, millet, sorghum) and edible long-horned grasshopper pellets, respectively. Feed moisture content and barrel temperature were adjusted from 15 to 16% and 128 to 142 0C for Zone I, and 105 to 114 0C for Zone II, respectively. The findings show that the inclusion of long-horned grasshopper meal in the extruded composite flour significantly increased the moisture, crude fibre, crude ash, crude protein, and crude fat and mineral contents of Fe and Zn while significantly decreasing the carbohydrate contents at (p<0.001), and Mg contents at (p=0.0089). The phytate contents between ECF 0 and extruded composite flour treatments enriched with long-horned grasshopper did not differ significantly (p<0.141). All treatments showed a significant higher tannin content ECF 5 (0.007 mg CE/g), ECF 15 (0.012 mg CE/g) and ECF 25 (0.011 mg CE/g) when compared to values in control (0.004 mg CE/g). There was a significant difference at a 5% confidence level on the sensory properties between ECF 0 and ECF 15 and ECF 25; the latter two treatments had higher scores for colour and a lower score for aroma and taste attributes, respectively ECF 0. In addition, treatments (ECF 5, ECF 15, ECF 25) showed significantly higher peroxide values (3.52 to 5.32 mEq/Kg) than those in the control sample (2.80 to 3.33 mEq/Kg). In conclusion, the inclusion of edible long-horned grasshopper in the composite flour, significantly improved the quantity of crude protein, crude fat, and energy with an adequately appropriate amount of Zn and Fe to meet the needs of fast-growing infants and young children. Moreover, the functional properties of the resulted product were positively affected and its consumption is expected not to cause any harm to the human body. However, the product needs modification to improve aroma and taste attributes to increase product acceptability.

Comparison of different fulljet nozzles used in laboratory type rain simulator in terms of some rainfall characteristics

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine and compare rain intensities, Christiansen coefficients, drop diameters and kinetic energies, by using Full Jet type nozzles at different pressures. Material and Methods: In this study, simulated rainfalls were applied on 17 cups (250 cm3), were placed on a platform, during 5 minutes at 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kPa pressures by using ½ HH-36 SQ, ½ HH-40 SS and ½ HH-50 WSQ nozzles with 3 replicated. The drop diameters were determined by the flour pellet method. Rainfall intensities, Christiansen coefficients, terminal velocities, drop diameter ratio, terminal velocity ratio, moment, kinetic energy, moment per unit area, kinetic energy per unit area ratios and kinetic energy for each nozzles were calculated. Results: It was found that average rain intensities were 97-210 mm h-1, average uniformity coefficients were 85-86 %, average drop diameters were 1.89-2.11 mm, average terminal velocities were 6.35-6.79 m s-1 for nozzles. Average kinetic energies for each nozzles were also calculated between 16.30-23.32 J m-2 mm-1. Conclusions: According to this study, it was determined that the most suitable nozzle for erosion studies is Fulljet ½ HH-50 WSQ.

Longitudinal Assessment of Behaviour and Associated Bio-Markers Following Chronic Consumption of β-Sitosterol β-D-Glucoside in Rats: A Putative Model of Parkinson's Disease.

The consumption of cycad (Cycas circinalis) seeds has been linked to the development of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS-PDC) in humans. ALS-PDC is a clinically variable disease presenting as a combination of symptoms typical of PD and/or ALS. Chronic consumption of β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside (BSSG), a component of the cycad seed, by rats (Rattus norvegicus) has been previously reported to initiate a progressive pathology that develops over several months and manifests as behavioural and histopathological changes that resemble characteristic features of Parkinson’s disease. As part of an independent multi-site validation study, we have tried to replicate and further characterize the BSSG model with a focus on motor function, and associated immunohistochemical markers. Beginning at 3 months of age, male CD® (Sprague Dawley) rats (N = 80) were dosed orally with either a flour pellet or a flour pellet containing BSSG (3 mg) daily (5×/week) for 16 weeks consistent with previous reports of the model. Following BSSG intoxication, separate cohorts of animals (n = 10/treatment) were exposed to a behavioural test battery at 16, 24, 32, or 40 weeks post-initial BSSG feeding. The test battery consisted of the open field test, cylinder test, and ultrasonic vocalization (USV) assessment. No changes in behaviour were observed at any time point. Following behavioural testing, animals were processed for immunohistochemical markers of substantia nigra integrity. Immunohistochemistry of brain tissue revealed no differences in the microglial marker, Iba1, or the dopaminergic integrity marker, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), in the substantia nigra at any assessment point. The absence of any group differences in behaviour and immunhistochemistry indicates an inability to replicate previous reports. Further investigation into the sources of variability in the model is necessary prior to further utilization of the BSSG model in preclinical studies.

To Observe and study the adverse Effects of Lithium Carbonate on Rat Ovaries

Background: The female reproductive organs include uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, these organs when exposed to drugs and metals lead to anatomical damage resulting in infertility. Researchers have documented the harmful effects of the favorable antidepressant Lithium Carbonate on many human viscera’s but even today the medicinal world has scarce knowledge of the ablation of ovarian anatomy by lithium carbonate. Aim: To study and document the results of the detrimental effects of Lithium on the ovaries. Methods: We selected Twenty four adult female rats for this observational and experimental study. The female albinos were divided into two groups. Twelve animals were present in Group A and Group B consisted of twelve female rats. The hygienically prepared laboratory diet which consisted of flour pellets and green vegetables was given to Group A animals and Group B rodents received Lithium carbonate in powder form for eight weeks. After completion of the study time animals were sacrificed and weight of ovaries were recorded and compared in both groups. Results: The results in Group B documented that animals had a highly significantly decline in ovarian weight after chronic Lithium carbonate than in Group A. Conclusion: Our prospective study concluded that chronic administration of Lithium Carbonate causes distortion of its tissue and highly significant decrement of weight of the ovary. Keywords: Ovary, decrement, infertility

Tepung limbah fillet ikan nila sebagai alternatif subsitusi tepung ikan komersial dalam formulasi pakan bagi pertumbuhan benih ikan Nila (Oreochromis niloticus)

The research was held on May 7th – 30th 2021 in the Aquaculture Technology Laboratory at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine of Sam Ratulangi University with the objectives were to determine tilapia fish fillet waste flour’s substitution impact for the growth of the seed and to determine the impact of the tilapia fish fillet waste flour towards the feed’s efficiency. The research lasted for three consecutive weeks. Fish culture container was plastic container with the height of 50 cm and the width of 30 cm for the total of 18 pieces containers. Each container was flowed by 10 liters of water. Fish used had a size of 3 to 5 cm with a weight of 1 gram for each tilapia and stocked as many as 10 fish in each container. The pellets used was flour pellets of tilapia waste fillet with different compositions. Each container was labeled alphabetically: A (0%), B (10%), C (30%), D (30%), E (40%), and F (50%). Frequency of feeding was 3 times a day (08:00 AM, 12:00 AM and 04:00 PM) with a feeding dose of 10%. Water was changed every 4 days. Growth observation was conducted every week using digital scales 0,1 gram. Experimental contrivance was random contrivance exhaustive. Analysis used analysis of diversity. The observed data included relative growth and feed efficiency values. The result showed treatment E gave a better relative growth response and feed efficiency value than other treatments.

Nanoencaspsulation of cysteine protease for the management of stored grain pest, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier)

Attaining food security is crucial to feed increasing population. Minimizing post harvest losses is a good solution to food scarcity. Hence, cereals are staple food for most of the developing countries, there is a need to develope a biopesticide against stored product pests to avoid post-harvest losses. Current study involves the development of an eco-friendly tool to manage stored product insect pests by nanoencapsulation of 25 kDa cysteine protease isolated from Albizia procera (ApCP). The nanoencapsulation was tested on Sitotroga cerealella. The ApCP was tested as an insecticide (with and without GQDs encapsulation) at three different concentrations (7.0, 3.5 and 1.7 mg of ApCP/g of wheat flour pellets). Sitotroga cerealella was fed to treated diet and tested for life cycle stages. ApCP was 100% more efficient against the test insect after encapsulation with GQDs, at 7.0 and 3.5 mg/g concentrations, resulting in no population build-up, while 1.7 mg/g concentration exhibited fewer population numbers. ApCP exhibited increased insectidial efficacy due to encapsulation with GQDs. The results suggested that ApCP encapsulation with GQDs has the potential to control the insect pest and could be commercially developed as a biopesticide.

Histopathological changes due to arsenic Kushta in testes of wistar rats.

Objectives: To see the detrimental effects of arsenic kushta (kushta-e-Sammulfur) induced toxicity in wistar rats. Study Design: Experimental Study. Setting: Department of Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore. Period: 02nd June 2016 to 30th September 2016. Material & Methods: This experimental study was conducted on a total of 48 wistar rats, each weighing approximately, 200-300grams. These rats were then randomly divided into four groups each of them comprising of 12 rats. Group I was taken as a control group which was given flour pellets. Group II was given a single dose of 180 mg/kg of arsenic kushta for 2 weeks, whereas Groups III was given 150 mg/kg of arsenic kushta only for 12 weeks and Group IV was also given dose of 150 mg/kg of arsenic kushta along with 75mg of Bovine Serum Albumin for 12 weeks. Histopathological changes were then seen in the germinal epithelium, stages of spermatogenesis and insterstitium of testes of rats. Results: Changes in germinal epithelium, stages of spermatogenesis and interstitium were seen in all the above groups except group 1 which was the control group. Maximum changes were seen in groups C and D which were given high doses of arsenic kushta along with injection of bovine serum albumin. Conclusion: Arsenic kushta preparation of kushta-e-Summulfur causes testicular toxicity in wistar rats and have similar toxic effects in human beings.

Fabrication of rainfall simulator for field erosion studies

Due to unpredictable and uncontrollable characteristics of rainfall, it is difficult to assess event-wise soil loss for any location. An effort was made to fabricate a portable and cost economic rainfall simulator for erosion studies. A solid cone nozzle was used in the rainfall simulator to maintain the desired spray pattern by adjusting the pressure and the height of the delivery. By using the flour pellet method, the volume mean diameter of droplet was found to be 2 mm and 2.5 mm for the nozzle height of 2.2 m and 1.5 m above the ground, respectively. Rainfall intensities of 8.1, 10.2, 9.3, 10.5, 13.6 and 19.3 cm/hr were achieved by adjusting pressure rate of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 kg/cm2, respectively at a nozzle height of 2.2 m, whereas , 10.6, 12.3, 11.3, 16, 19, 22 cm/hr intensities were achieved at pressure rate of 0.5, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 kg/cm2, respectivelyat the nozzle height at 1.5 m. It was found that the intensity of rainfall increases with increase in nozzle operating pressure.

Effect of hot melt extrusion on physical and functional properties of insect based extruded products

The use of alternative protein sources is widely investigated nowadays to ensure a sufficient and nutritious diet for the society. Among different possibilities, insects are currently considered a sustainable and efficient alternative to study more in deep. To this purpose, the present work investigates the use of hot melt extrusion to produce pellets made of insect flour (Hermetia illucens) used alone or mixed in different ratios (1:1 to 1:3) with corn flour. The samples were analysed in terms of physical properties as moisture content, color, water activity, and functional properties as water absorption index, water solubility index, oil sorption and viscosity. The results of the physical properties showed that the color of the pellets was greatly influenced by the blends used: dark brown for insect flour and yellowish for corn flour. Pure insect flour pellets had the lowest water absorption index (2.1 ± 0.3%) and the highest water solubility index (16.8 ± 0.3). The viscoamilographic profiles showed that the addition of the insect flour affected the pasting properties of the formulations. Overall, the results indicate the possibility to include insect flour during the extrusion process as potential source of proteins.

Characterization of microstructure, physicochemical and functional properties of corn varieties using different analytical techniques

ABSTRACT Recently, the role of corn and its properties is a field of active research with a view to improving the quality of products being produced from corn flour. In the current study, scanning electron micrographs and textural attributes of three commercially available corn varieties (Xianyu 335, Zhengdan 958, Jade 3) were measured. The present study clearly explored a significant variation in the nutritional and chemical profile of corn verities. The change in the chemical and molecular structure of different corn flours was recorded through scanning the flour pellet using FTIR. The results illustrated that the chemical attributes showed significant variation in corn flours, but Jade 3 ranked higher followed by Xianyu 335 and zhengdan 958, respectively. The results of SEM revealed more intense bonding and round to oval shape with soft and sharp edges results in more water absorption capacity. In the current study,variations in storage modulus and loss modulus were observed corresponding to quality and process-ability of dough. Water was determined on the basis of H and OH group in the range of 1637 cm−1 and 3000–3700 cm−1 while protein was measured on the basis of amides (I &II) in the range of 1550 cm−1 and 1600 cm−1 respectively. The study concludes that analytical techniques (FTIR, NIR) are more reliable to analyze physicochemical mapping and molecular structure.

Determination of zinc and iron in wheat using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

The potential of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been used to determine the micronutrients (iron and zinc) in wheat, which is a staple food and the most widely cultivated crop in Pakistan. Wheat samples consisted of commercial and candidate varieties and a fortified wheat flour (FWF). The LIBS spectrum were recorded from wheat flour pellets using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser focused on the surface of the wheat sample. Twenty-five single shot spectra were recorded at different sites of the same pellet. The data were normalized to exclude shot-to-shot laser energy variations and then the averaged emission spectrum was used for further analysis. According to the NIST atomic data base and the related literature, the most intense emission lines of zinc at 202.54, 206.20 and 213.85 nm and iron at 238.20, 259.93, 275.57, 344.06 & 373.48/373.71 nm have been detected in the LIBS spectra of wheat genotypes, which has been used to determine their relative intensities. Significant variation among the genotypes was identified for these minerals. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) has been performed to statistically classify the wheat varieties based on their iron and zinc emission intensities. The PCA grouped the data into clusters based on the similarities in their micronutrient. The highest zinc was identified in NR-488, Zincol-2006 and NARC-2011. Likewise, the strongest iron intensities were observed in FWF, Borlaug-2016 and NR-486. These findings may assist breeders in the selection of genotypes with high micronutrients coupled with high grain yield, and other desirable traits essential for variety release. The present study has validated LIBS as a characterization tool for inferring micronutrients in the staple food.

Rainfall simulator for investigating sports field drainage processes

The drainage of sports field directly effects the quality of sports organization. This study aims to develop a new rainfall simulator (RS) with a drainage tank (DT) to investigate processes of drainage in the multi-layered soil of sports field. The laboratory setup includes two main components with RS and DT that consists of two identical tanks with 1.5 m × 1.3 m surface area and 75 cm depth. Simulating natural rainfall is considerably significant for especially laboratory-scale studies. The RSs have been used for soil crusting, soil erosion, infiltration and drainage processes of soils for decades. The presented RS was also used to simulate natural rainfall and produce various rainfall conditions in this study. Most of the simulators have been performed for constant intensity of rainfall, however, in this study different rainfall rates were produced ranging from 26 to 266.6 mmh−1 to be able to obtain desired hyetograph. Spatial uniformity of produced rainfall was sufficiently accurate to simulate the natural rainfall with uniformities ranging from 90.24 to 92.74%. Raindrop diameters, falling velocities and kinetic energies of simulated rainfall were also investigated. The flour pellet method was used to determine the raindrop diameters. Median diameter was calculated between 1.68 and 2.52 mm for different rainfall intensities between 30.4 and 125 mm h−1. The DT was set-up to have different drainage layers and to obtain drainage outflow for corresponding rainfall hyetographs. The performance of the RS was sufficient to simulate natural rainfall. Drainage layers in the DT also showed the ability to drain rainwater through the layers effectively. In the present study, it is clearly showed that the newly developed RS and DT setup successfully produce and measure the various range of natural-like rainfall patterns, and measure resulted drainage rates. With these measurement abilities, it was also shown that this RS-DT setup was successfully used to evaluate the processes of sports field drainage and its relation to hydrological processes.

ECOLOGÍA QUÍMICA DE LAS ESPONJAS EXCAVADORAS CLIONA APRICA, C. CARIBBAEA, C. DELITRIX Y C. TENUIS

The Caribbean encrusting and excavating sponges Cliona aprica, C. caribbaea, C. delitrix and C. tenuis (Porifera, Hadromerida, Clionaidae), aggresively undermine and displace live coral tissue. At San Andrés island and Islas del Rosario (Colombian Caribbean), in all 145 observed cases of direct contact of the sponges C. aprica, C. caribbaea and C. tenuis with 17 coral species, corals showed unhealthy signs in their tissue. It was also noticed that the surface of these sponges is colonized by few organisms and that they are rarely preyed upon. To establish the possible use of chemical substances by these sponges in competition for space with corals (allelopathy), as inhibitors of larval settlement (antifouling), and as feeding deterrents against generalist fish (antipredatory), the activity of crude organic extracts was experimentally evaluated. Extracts were prepared in methanol and 1:2 metanol:dichloromethane and incorporated in experimental media at the natural concentration within the sponges. Using an unpublished method being developed by J. Pawlik (University of North Caroline at Wilmington) and M. Ilan (Tel Aviv University), PhytagelTM disks with crude extracts of each of the four sponge species, placed on the coral Montastrea cavernosa, produced a greater degree of polyp mortality than control gels without extract. Gels with extracts of the sponges C. aprica and C. caribbaea + C. tenuis, served in Petri dishes and used as substratum in the field, inhibited significantly the settlement of fouling organisms, in comparison to control gels. In laboratory trials, wheat flour pellets with extracts C. delitrix and C. caribbaea + C. tenuis were significantly rejected by the omnivore reef damselfish, Stegastes partitus, whereas pellets with extract of C. aprica did not deter feeding. These results suggest that substances present in the crude organic extracts of these sponges may be responsible in part for their ability to compete for reef substrata and to defend themselves from potential aggressors.

Environmental neurotoxin-induced progressive model of parkinsonism in rats.

Exposure to a number of drugs, chemicals, or environmental factors can cause parkinsonism. Epidemiologic evidence supports a causal link between the consumption of flour made from the washed seeds of the plant Cycas micronesica by the Chamorro population of Guam and the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism dementia complex. We now report that consumption of washed cycad flour pellets by Sprague-Dawley male rats induces progressive parkinsonism. Cycad-fed rats displayed motor abnormalities after 2 to 3 months of feeding such as spontaneous unilateral rotation, shuffling gait, and stereotypy. Histological and biochemical examination of brains from cycad-fed rats revealed an initial decrease in the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum (STR), followed by neurodegeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) cell bodies in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta (SNc). alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn; proteinase K-resistant) and ubiquitin aggregates were found in the DAergic neurons of the SNc and neurites in the STR. In addition, we identified alpha-syn aggregates in neurons of the locus coeruleus and cingulate cortex. No loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord was found after chronic consumption of cycad flour. In an organotypic slice culture of the rat SN and the striatum, an organic extract of cycad causes a selective loss of dopamine neurons and alpha-syn aggregates in the SN. Cycad-fed rats exhibit progressive behavioral, biochemical, and histological hallmarks of parkinsonism, coupled with a lack of fatality.

Laser Precipitation Monitor for Measurement of Drop Size and Velocity of Moving Spray-Plate Sprinklers

Sprinkler drop size distribution and associated drop velocities have a major influence on sprinkler performance in regards to kinetic energy transferred to the soil surface. A laser instrument commercially marketed for real-time rainfall measurements as a Laser Precipitation Monitor (LPM) was used to measure drop size and velocity from 10 moving spray-plate type sprinklers. Measured drop size and velocity were used to determine sprinkler drop size distribution and kinetic energy applied to the soil by sprinkler discharge. Drop size distributions measured by the LPM were compared to drop size distributions measured in earlier studies using the traditional flour pellet method. Eight of the ten measured drop size distributions were not significantly different between measurement methods. However, the operating conditions when the two methods did not compare well were outside sprinkler manufacturer specifications. Based on this limited study, the results from the two drop size measurement methods can be vastly different for sprinklers under operating conditions that produce relatively compact streams of water drops; which method is more accurate for this condition remains unknown. Kinetic energy values calculated using measured drop size and velocity data were not significantly different from values determined using flour pellet drop size data and a ballistic model for estimating sprinkler droplet tangential velocity. The laser instrument used in this study provided a relatively easy means to obtain reliable estimates of sprinkler kinetic energy per unit volume of applied water for various moving spray-plate sprinkler types and operating conditions. Measured drop size distribution and computed kinetic energy applied by sprinkler discharge is sufficient for practical field application purposes.

Effects of Lipoic Acid Supplementation on Finishing Steer Growth Performance, Carcass Merit, Beef Tenderness, and Beef Retail Display Properties

Angus cross steers (n = 84; BW =325 ± 3 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of lipoic acid (LA) supplementation on growth performance, carcass merit, beef tenderness, and beef retail display properties. Treatments were control (no LA), 8mg of LA/kg of BW per d (LA8), and 16mg of LA/kg of BW per d (LA16). Lipoic acid was incorporated into an extruded corn flour pellet and top-dressed onto a finishing diet for 125 d. Steers were subsequently delivered to a commercial abattoir for harvest. Carcass data and left-side longissimus sections (6th to 12th rib) were collected from each carcass at 24h post-mortem. Steaks from each longissimus section were analyzed for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and color. Final BW of control steers was greater (P<0.01) than that of LA16 steers; final BW of LA8 steers was intermediate between the two. There were no treatment differences in ADG, DMI, or gain to feed ratio (G:F). Treatment had no effect on carcass weight, marbling score, longissimus area, kidney-pelvic-heart fat, or USDA yield grade. Subcutaneous fat thickness and the percentage of USDA Yield Grade 4 carcasses tended (P≤0.09) to be greater for LA16 steers than for control steers; LA8 carcasses were intermediate between control and LA16 steers in both categories. Mean WBSF values for steaks aged 21 d were less (P<0.01) for LA16 steers than for control and LA8 steers. Lipoic acid supplementation had negligible effects on subjective color scores of steaks aged from 7 to 21 d. Lipoic acid supplementation appeared to increase external fatness of beef carcasses.

Effect of Xanthan Gum and CMC on the Structure and Texture of Corn Flour Pellets Expanded by Microwave Heating

ABSTRACTThird‐generation snacks obtained by microwave expansion of glassy cereal pellets are often hard and nonuniform and need to be improved to become acceptable to the consumer. Gums such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and xanthan gum (XG) have the ability to improve the volume, structure, and texture of expanded cereal products, due to their effects on moisture retention and rheological properties. This study investigates the effect of 1% addition of CMC and XG on the structural and mechanical properties of samples obtained by microwave expansion of glassy corn pellets. Unexpanded, glassy pellets were obtained by extrusion and subsequent equilibration at aw = 0.53 at room temperature. The equilibrated pellets were expanded by microwave heating. The addition of gums significantly improved the shape, structural and textural uniformity of the microwave‐expanded samples. These effects were attributed to the contribution of gums to the rheology and moisture sorption capacity of the matrix. It is our hypothesis that the extended hydrocolloid macromolecules interpenetrated the polymeric starch matrix and created a fine network of “holes” distributed relatively uniformly in the matrix, which served as additional nucleation sites for expansion. The conclusions of this study can be used in the design of high‐quality, fat‐free, third‐generation snacks.

Evaluation of Color Characteristics of Cross-Sectioned Wheat Kernels

The color of wheat flour is an important commercial factor and improvement of the color characteristics of kernels is one of the breeding objectives in Japan. Methods were developed to measure color characteristics of both wheat kernels and wheat flour. Wheat kernels were fixed on a newly developed holder with light-curing resin, and a smooth cut-surface was prepared by a programmed cutting of a diamond wheel. Binder-free wheat flour was formed into cylindrical pellets to remove trapped air by repeated compression with a hydraulic press machine. Cut kernels and flour pellets were moistened and analyzed by a two-dimensional colorimetric method. Color changes of both specimens were stabilized after 3 h of moistening. And a comparison of their colorimetric results revealed the possibility of evaluating wheat flour color without milling the kernels. This is useful as an early generation selection method of breeding of wheat because the dissected embryo side retains the germination ability.