Higher Protein Values Research Articles

C-Reactive Protein and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio Predict Recurrence in Stage III Melanoma Patients with Microscopic Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis.

Although adjuvant therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and BRAF/MEK inhibitors improve recurrence-free survival (RFS) in stage III melanoma patients significantly, prognostic factors are needed to identify patients with a high risk of disease recurrence. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic potential of routinely collected blood parameters for stage III melanoma patients with microscopic sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis. Altogether, we retrospectively analyzed 138 stage III melanoma patients who were diagnosed with microscopic SLN metastasis at the skin cancer center of the University Hospital Cologne between 2011 and 2020 and who did not receive prior adjuvant therapy with ICI or BRAF/MEK-inhibitors. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to assess the impact of preoperatively collected blood parameters and blood ratios on recurrence-free survival (RFS; primary endpoint) and overall survival (OS). A high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and high C-reactive protein (CRP) value were significantly associated with shorter RFS in multivariate analysis. For LMR (cut-off 3.5) and for CRP (cut-off 3.0) this effect remained after dichotomization. CRP showed a stronger association with RFS than NLR or LMR, with the highest association being detected for the combination of low LMR and high CRP. Additionally, derived NLR ≥ 2.0 was significantly associated with shorter OS in multivariate analysis. In summary, our data suggest that CRP in combination with LMR should be considered as a marker for melanoma recurrence in stage III melanoma patients with microscopic SLN metastasis.

Omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids: The effects on the psychophysical well-being of adolescents and adults

Background: Fatty acids of the omega-3/omega-6 groups are used especially in cases of pregnancy, lactation, and malnutrition. In recent decades, pediatrics has been trying to find out whether the use of omega-3/omega-6 has effects on human growth and neurodevelopment. Aims: Check the state of the art on the use of omega-3/omega-6 type fatty acids in the diet, in adolescent and adult populations. Materials and methods: A total of 72 original articles on the topic of human growth and nutrition in pediatrics have been selected on PubMed through September 2022. Results: In literature, the use of omega-3/omega-6, with greater prevalence in the former group than the latter group, appears to be most effective in hypertension hypothesis, dyslipidemia, and high C-reactive protein values, cardiovascular risk, and neuropathic pain, while appearing to have less impact on neurodegenerative (except in multiple sclerosis) and mental disorders (except in depression). Interesting benefits can be detected when combining omega-3/omega-6 with spirulina algae, chitosan, probiotics, vitamin D, fiber and plant extracts. Conclusion: Significant evidence emerges on the importance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplementation, but important structural shortcomings of research designs still emerge from the published studies; moreover, many studies assume that fatty acid supplementation can have a curative effect on already active diseases, when in fact such prescriptions should be considered as adjuvant therapies to prevent or promote symptomatic regression, precisely because of their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulating virtues. However, there is no concrete and robust evidence of the positive impact on psychological well-being. Future research that can resolve the critical issues highlighted is hoped to promote a better approach to the topic of omega-3/omega-6 supplementation in human health.

Development and Chemico-Physical Characterization of Ovine Milk-Based Ingredients for Infant Formulae

The great majority of infant formula (FM) for neonate’s nutrition are produced using ingredients from cow milk. Recently, some countries, such as China and New Zealand, are turning their attention to the use of ovine milk ingredients for FM production. In this study, a pilot plant process has been set up to produce infant formula ingredients from Sarda sheep milk. To meet the nutritional needs of neonates (0–6 and 6–12 months of age) two different liquid milk-derived formulations (IF1 and IF2, respectively) obtained mixing whole milk, skimmed milk, and whey milk ultrafiltration concentrate (retentate) were produced. Compositional analysis of milk, retentate, and the final IFs showed that the two formulations contain elements of nutritional interest, such as well-balanced content of high biological value proteins (casein:whey proteins ratio of 30:70 and 60:40 for IF1 and IF2, respectively), vitamin A, E and B5, cholesterol, minerals, nucleotides, free amino acids and essential fatty acids (n–6:n–3 ~1), compatible with the growth and development needs of neonates. Therefore, the obtained IF1 and IF2 can be proposed as valuable ovine dairy ingredients for FM manufacturing. Further studies will be necessary to verify the adaptability of the developed process from laboratory to industrial scale application.

A Study on “Idealogical Model for Integrated Fish Farming” at Siddipet, Telangana State

Azolla is used as feed for fish, poultry, piggery, and used as manure in paddy. The spirulina is used as feed for fish, which has high protein value. Products from poultry and duckery manure gets utilized in fish production and also used as fertilizer in paddy. Meat, eggs and feathers gets exported for the preparation of cocks. Eggs from poultry and duckery get utilized in minute value as a feed. Pig manure is used as a fish feed and as a fertilizer in paddy. Antibiotics such as “INSULIN” can be obtained from pancreas of pig. Products from paddy such as rice bran are used as a feed for fish. The contaminated water from the pond gets utilized for paddy production so that we can produce pest free rice (organic rice) . All the crops are integrated with each other. The feed is prepared with the products in the farm

Nutritional properties of spectacled caiman (Caiman yacare) meat marketed as part of a wildlife management strategy in the Beni river basin

We determined the nutritional quality of yacare meat (Caiman yacare) in the Beni river basin. Commercial cut samples were obtained from the tails of four males harvested as part of a management plan implemented in the Tacana Indigenous Territory. This plan guarantees long-term sustainability of caiman hunting. pH analysis, the Eber test, and the ammoniacal nitrogen test suggest that the meat was of good quality, processed properly, and free of contamination. Nutritional analyses suggest that yacare meat is a healthy alternative for human consumption, as it has a high protein value (23.02 g/100g) and low fat concentration (0.67g/100g). Yacare meat has a high concentration of minerals such as phosphorus (227.53 g) and calcium (11.84 g), both beneficial for memory and cardiovascular health. Caiman meat can be considered as a valuable nutritional supplement in human diets both in urban and rural areas

Wool keratin as a novel alternative protein: A comprehensive review of extraction, purification, nutrition, safety, and food applications.

The growing global population and lifestyle changes have increased the demand for specialized diets that require protein and other essential nutrients for humans. Recent technological advances have enabled the use of food bioresources treated as waste as additional sources of alternative proteins. Sheep wool is an inexpensive and readily available bioresource containing 95%-98% protein, making it an outstanding potential source of protein for food and biotechnological applications. The strong structure of wool and its indigestibility are the main hurdles to achieving its potential as an edible protein. Although various methods have been investigated for the hydrolysis of wool into keratin, only a few of these, such as sulfitolysis, oxidation, and enzymatic processes, have the potential to generate edible keratin. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity studies reported no cytotoxicity effects of extracted keratin, suggesting its potential for use as a high-value protein ingredient that supports normal body functions. Keratin has a high cysteine content that can support healthy epithelia, glutathione synthesis, antioxidant functions, and skeletal muscle functions. With the recent spike in new keratin extraction methods, extensive long-term investigations that examine prolonged exposure of keratin generated from these techniques in animal and human subjects are required to ascertain its safety. Food applications of wool could improve the ecological footprint of sheep farming and unlock the potential of a sustainable protein source that meets demands for ethical production of animal protein.

Silkworm pupae derivatives as source of high value protein intended for pasta fortification

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae are recognized as novel nutritionally valuable food. Their use in pasta-making was considered with the intention of repositioning spaghetti shaped pasta supplemented with silkworm derivatives (10%db ) as a valuable product in sustainable diets besides upcycling a side stream from the silk industry. The principal objective of this study was to assess the cooking quality (i.e., imbibition kinetics, cooking loss) and texture of pasta supplemented with defatted silkworm powder or with its aqueous protein extract, which enabled to reduce the content of indigestible components supplying a similar protein intake. Pasta was produced on lab-scale, dried, and tested for chemical composition, mechanical properties before and during cooking, cooking behavior in terms of hydration kinetics, starch gelatinization, and cooking quality indexes. The structural roles on pasta protein network played by silkworm powder and proteins extract were investigated. The former behaves as a structural thickener while the second provides a steric hindrance effect with consequent different cooking performances. With regards to the fortified pasta perceived quality, a high level in total color difference (ΔE) was measured (ΔE>6). However, after fortification agents' addition, pasta color became closer to that of the whole wheat pasta already known by consumers. Structure fragility increased. The energy at break of the "extract pasta" was about one-third of the control (0.849 N*mm). Silkworm powder addition led to the highest pasta optimal cooking time (376 s) and the slowest imbibition rate (0.0001 s-1 ). After fortification, pasta had an almost doubled cooking loss than control pasta (2.97±0.18g/100gdb ). PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Silkworm pupae flour can be easily applied for pasta fortification in order to increase the protein daily intake of people in an easy and practical way.

Accuracy and data efficiency in deep learning models of protein expression

Synthetic biology often involves engineering microbial strains to express high-value proteins. Thanks to progress in rapid DNA synthesis and sequencing, deep learning has emerged as a promising approach to build sequence-to-expression models for strain optimization. But such models need large and costly training data that create steep entry barriers for many laboratories. Here we study the relation between accuracy and data efficiency in an atlas of machine learning models trained on datasets of varied size and sequence diversity. We show that deep learning can achieve good prediction accuracy with much smaller datasets than previously thought. We demonstrate that controlled sequence diversity leads to substantial gains in data efficiency and employed Explainable AI to show that convolutional neural networks can finely discriminate between input DNA sequences. Our results provide guidelines for designing genotype-phenotype screens that balance cost and quality of training data, thus helping promote the wider adoption of deep learning in the biotechnology sector.

Kadaknath Chicken Meat Scope and Source of Animal Origin Nutrients for High Altitude Regions

Leh-Ladakh falls in the category of a high-altitude region with low oxygen, low atmospheric pressure and lack of moisture in the air, thus rendering the climate harsh. Therefore, humans staying in this region need different diets, nutrient levels, and other health supplements compared to low-lander people to thrive under these stressful conditions. Chicken meat and eggs have high biological value proteins that play an important role in nutrient supply in human diets. Among them, Kadaknath chicken meat is very famous for its nutritious brown and greyish-black flesh. Its meat contains more protein, less cholesterol and less fat. Its flesh is also known for its various medicinal properties, so it is very popular among health-conscious people. However, fresh chicken production at high-altitude is very limited due to stressful conditions, making poultry rearing very difficult and uneconomical. Kadaknath is an Indian breed of chicken from the Jhabua region of Madhya Pradesh known for its hardy nature to thrive in any harsh environment. Therefore, the Kadaknath breed can be a good choice for high-altitude due to its hardy nature and disease-resistant ability. Hence, Kadaknath chicken meat can prove to be a superfood in high-altitude and such remote regions, especially during the acclimatization period. We have recently started working on the propagation of Kadaknath chicken among the farmers of Ladakh and evaluating their meat quality and medicinal value. The present review focuses on the scope of Kadaknath chicken at Leh-Ladakh under backyard farming, its acceptance, and the advantage of its meat in providing complete nutrition to human consumers.

Contribution of gut microbiomes and their metabolomes to the performance of Dorper and Tan sheep.

Livestock is an excellent source of high nutritional value protein for humans; breeding livestock is focused on improving meat productivity and quality. Dorper sheep is a distinguished breed with an excellent growth performance, while Tan sheep is a Chinese local breed famous for its delicious meat. Several studies have demonstrated that the composition of gut microbiome and metabolome modulate host phenotype. In the present study, we performed 16S amplicon sequencing and metabolomic analyses of the rumen and hindgut microbiome of 8-month-old Dorper and Tan sheep, raised under identical feeding and management conditions, to explore the potential effects of gut microbiome and its metabolites on growth performance and meat quality. Our study identified Lactobacillus, a marker genus in the rumen, to be significantly associated with the levels of fumaric acid, nicotinic acid, and 2-deoxyadenosine (P-value < 0.05). Statistical analysis showed that nicotinic acid was significantly negatively correlated with body weight (P-value < 0.01), while 2-deoxyadenosine was significantly positively correlated with fatty acids content (P-value < 0.05). There was a biologically significant negative correlation between Phascolarctobacterium and deoxycytidine levels in the hindgut. Deoxycytidine was significantly positively correlated with body weight, protein, and amino acid content. Differences in rumen fermentation patterns that are distinctive among breeds were identified. Tan sheep mainly used Lactobacillus and fumaric acid-mediated pyruvic acid for energy supply, while Dorper sheep utilize glycogenic amino acids. The difference of iron metabolism in the hindgut of Dorper sheep affects lipid production, while Phascolarctobacterium in Tan sheep is related to roughage tolerance. The accumulation of nucleosides promotes the growth performance of Dorper sheep. These findings provide insights into how the microbiome-metabolome-dependent mechanisms contribute to growth rate and fat contents in different breeds. This fundamental research is vital to identifying the dominant traits of breeds, improving growth rate and meat quality, and establishing principles for precision feeding.

Evaluation of short and long term enrichment of Artemia franciscana with mixed algae or DHA oil emulsion for improving Dicentrarchus labrax larvae aquaculture

Setting up nutritional requirements with high-quality, time-saving marine finfish larvae is a big issue for increasing aquaculture profit. In the current study, we evaluated the nutritional value of two enrichment diets [DHA oil emulsion-enriched Artemia (Art-DHA-Selco) and mixed algae-enriched Artemia (Art-MA)] and two-timing protocol (2 & 24 h) for serving European Sea bass. Larval growth performance and survival percentage, as well as biochemical compositions of the enriched Artemia and for the fed larvae after 25 rearing days, were determined. The results revealed that survival percentage (S%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) was insignificantly affected by the two factors (diets and time) or the interaction between them. Otherwise, growth in terms of final body weight (FBW), specific growth rate (SGR) as well as productive protein value (PPV) differed significantly at (P ≤ 0.01) among treatments in both factors. Concerning biochemical analysis, the highest protein value was recorded in Art-MA at 24 h. In contrast, lipid and carbohydrate levels were considerably higher in Art-MA 2 h than in the Art-DHA. That decrease in protein content, FBW, and SGR in the 2 h period in the MA treatment may attribute to the smaller size of the Artemia metanauplii in the 2 h than those after 24 h. That can be overcome by starting with Artemia metanauplii at the end with Instar II before enrichment process so that the size is big enough to give better results. The results revealed that PUFAs percentages were significantly highest especially EPA percentage in the enriched Art-MA 2 h followed by its correspondence Art-MA at 24 h compared with Art-DHA or un-enriched ones. Otherwise, the fatty acid composition (FA) of post-larvae surpassed greatly in EPA and n3/n6 ratios as diet reflection in the algal short-term duration. Based on the results and the documented drawbacks of DHA-Selco, the authors recommended using mixed algae in the enrichment protocol for feeding larval stages over the short term.

Environmental benefits of circular food systems: The case of upcycled protein recovered using genome edited potato

Although essential in the human diet, large quantities of available protein are currently lost or under-utilized within the food system, including protein rich side streams from conventional potato starch production. By using the genome editing technique CRISPR-Cas9, conventional starch potato cultivars can be upgraded to facilitate high-value recovery of potato protein fit for human consumption. In turn, this could support the nessecary transition towards more circular food systems. The aim of this study was to assess what environmental benefits could be gained by shifting from conventional protein recovery practice to a novel approach using genome edited potato. Our results, using consequential life cycle assessment, showed that the novel protein recovery scenario provided substantial environmental savings for every ton potato starch produced, with a reduction in global warming impact, terrestrial acidification, land use and ecosystem damage of −720 kgCO2eq, −13 kgSO2eq, −760 m2a crop eq, and −1.1 × 10−5 species.yr respectively. The potential environmental benefits of using genome edited potato were maintained even when simulating reduced tuber yield, increased production inputs, and substitution of various protein sources. Although currently limited by EU legislation and technical maturity, high-value protein recovery from food side streams holds a promising potential to support sustainable production and circularity within the food system.

Nutritional Value of Different Kenaf Leaves (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Varieties Enhanced by Using Different Concentrations of Humic Acid

Nutritive value of kenaf leaves encourages researchers to do researching, due to its distinction of some areas like; medicinal plant, source of food for human and as feedstock for animals. The objective of the study is to improve nutritive components of kenaf leaves from different varieties by adding some concentrations of humic acid. The kenaf varieties were FH952, HC95 and HC2 as (V1, V2 and V3), respectively, and humic acid concentrations were 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/4L water m-2 as (H0, H1, H2 and H3), respectively. The experiment was conducted at two locations; Grdarasha Field and Ainkawa Research Station in summer season 2021. The results indicated that the FH952 variety recorded highest value for fat, fiber, moisture, carbohydrate and energy content, which were (7.69%, 19.29%, 3.88%, 40.64% and 2629.95 k.cal), respectively. While, highest value for protein and ash contents were recorded by HC95 and HC2 which were (16.57% and 14.75%), respectively. In addition, 1.5 g/4L water m-2 of humic acid application showed an increase in leave contents including; protein 16.68%, fiber 20.25%, moisture 4.11%, carbohydrate 40.47% and energy 2541.52 k.cal. However, from the interaction factors V2H3 had maximum protein by almost (17.23%), and carbohydrate (40.76%). Also, maximum fat was found by (7.15%) and the energy (2708.01k.cal), with the VIH3 treatment. These facts showed that applying other doses of humic acid may cause to enhance quantity and quality of nutrient components of kenaf leaves.

Nutritional, microbial and various quality aspects of common dried fish from commercial fish drying centers in Bangladesh

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional, microbial and sensory quality of five dried fish species from five fish drying centers in Bangladesh, and consumers' perception on quality and perceived health problems of consuming dried fish. Proximate composition and bacterial load were determined following AOAC and total plate count method, respectively. Data on peoples' perception regarding the quality aspects of dried fish were collected using a structured questionnaire. Sensory analysis showed samples from Cox’s Bazar had higher acceptability than other regions. Moisture content ranged from 12.00 ± 1.12% to 22.99 ± 1.09%, the highest found in Bombay duck from Patuakhali. The highest values of protein were found in shrimp from Chittagong (64.33 ± 0.99%) and the lowest in Bombay duck from Bhola (51.80 ± 0.95%). The lipid content varied from 5.38 ± 0.37% (Bombay duck from Cox’s Bazar) to 8.67 ± 0.96% (Bombay duck from Khulna). The ash content was ranged from 13.89 ± 0.94% to 20.07 ± 1.64% in Bombay duck from Patuakhali and Cox’s Bazar. The mean total plate count of dried Bombay duck were 7.1 ± 0.2×107, 9.8 ± 0.1×107 and 7.8 ± 0.52 × 107 cfu/g, whereas, total Vibrio spp. count were estimated 1.1 ± 0.1×103, 3.7 ± 0.2×105 and 1.8 ± 0.1 × 105 cfu/g for Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Bhola, respectively. The pathogenic bacterial species E. coli and Salmonella sp. were absent in dried Bombay duck from all locations. Of 500 respondents, the majority (94.8%) reported no complications after consuming dried fish. Significant quality variation among the dried fish samples suggested further improvement in dried fish quality through maintaining hygiene and sanitation to produce quality and safe dried fish for the consumers in home and abroad.

Faktor risiko kontaminasi bakteri Salmonella spp. pada ikan bandeng (Chanos chanos) di Pasar Banguntapan Yogyakarta

Milkfish is known as brackish water fish which is often consumed by the public and has a high protein value. In addition to high nutritional content, milkfish also contains pathogenic bacteria that can cause disease in humans. The presence of these bacteria can affect the quality of fish, especially Salmonella Spp. These bacteria are pathogenic bacteria that can cause disease in humans. Pollution of Salmonella Spp bacteria on milkfish can be caused by environmental cleanliness, handling and marketing processes. The purpose of this study is to determine risk factors of Salmonella spp.bacterial contamination on milkfish in market Banguntapan District Yogyakarta. This research was quantitative research using a cross sectional approach, the population in this study were all milkfish merchants in the market Banguntapan district. The sampling technique used purposive sampling technique, the number of samples were 24 traders. From the results of data analysis there was a significant correlation between environmental factors, hygiene factors and seller activity and pH factors, on Salmonella Spp. bacteria in milkfish (Chanos chanos) There was no significant effect between the temperature factor variables on the contamination of Salmonella Spp. in milk fish (Chanos chanos) with a p value of (1,000 &gt; 0.05).

Beneficial Effects of Yoghurts and Probiotic Fermented Milks and Their Functional Food Potential.

Probiotic fermented milks and yoghurts are acidified and fermented by viable bacteria, usually L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus, resulting in a thicker product with a longer shelf life. They are a nutrition-dense food, providing a good source of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B2, and vitamin B12. Additionally, they deliver high biological value proteins and essential fatty acids. There is accumulating evidence suggesting that yoghurt and fermented milk consumption is related to a number of health advantages, including the prevention of osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the promotion of gut health and immune system modulation. This review aims at presenting and critically reviewing the beneficial effects from the consumption of probiotic fermented milks in human health, whilst revealing potential applications in the food industry.

The clinical value of high mobility group box-1 and CRP/Alb ratio in the diagnosis and evaluation of sepsis in children.

To explore the clinical value of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and CRP to albumin (Alb) ratio in the diagnosis and evaluation of the severity of sepsis in children. A total of 90 children, 50 with sepsis and 40 with general infection, whose symptoms did not meet the criteria for diagnosis of sepsis, were admitted to the Pediatrics Department of Jingzhou Central Hospital in Hubei Province between November 2021 and December 2022, were enrolled and selected as experimental and control group, respectively. The serum of two groups was collected within 24 hours after admission, the levels of HMGB-1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and CRP, PCT, Alb, and hospitalization days were recorded. The differences in indicators between the two groups were compared, and correlation analysis was performed between hospitalization days and various indicators. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the independent or combined value of CRP, PCT, HMGB-1, and CRP/Alb ratio in the early diagnosis of sepsis in children. These four indicators of children with sepsis were significantly higher than those in the general infection group (all p=0.000). The levels of CRP, PCT and CRP/Alb ratio were significantly positively correlated with the hospitalization days (r=0.329, 0.333, 0.329; p=0.02, 0.01, 0.002). The area under curve (AUC) of CRP, PCT, HMGB-1, and CRP/Alb ratio for the diagnosis of sepsis in children was 0.798, 0.817, 0.838, 0.809, respectively, and that of the combination of four indicators was 0.952. CRP, PCT, HMGB-1, and CRP/Alb ratio resulted as effective indicators for early diagnosis and evaluation of childhood sepsis, having a higher value in combined diagnosis.

Nutritional Properties of Baobab Pulp from Different Angolan Origins.

The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) is found widely in the forests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. The baobab fruit has a sour and slightly sweet taste and is widely consumed by the natives, thus containing a high nutritional value and providing a source of income for rural people. This study aimed to compare the nutritional composition of baobab fruit pulp from different localities in the Namibe province (Angola). Twenty samples of baobab pulp were collected in markets of the four municipalities of Namibe. The results obtained showed that there is some geographic location dependence on nutritional and functional composition. The municipality of Camucuio showed samples with higher fibre content (56.62 g/100 g) and vitamin C (288.9 mg/100 g). Samples from the Virei municipality stood out for their antioxidant activity (1936 mmol TE/100 g), high K content (42.4 mg/g) and higher values of protein (2.42 g/100 g). The samples collected in the municipality of Bibala stood out for their high contents of carbohydrates (28.1 g/100 g), total phenolic compounds (972 mg GAE/100 g) and Ca (3.80 mg/g). Despite the differences in origin, the high nutritional value of baobab fruit has the potential to improve the diet of thousands of people in Africa qualitatively.

Assessment of Jerusalem artichoke as a source for the production of gluten-free flour and fructan concentrate by ultrafiltration

Jerusalem artichoke (JA) is a tuber considered a functional food. The tubers accumulate a high amount of fructans (inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides) although tubers also have a high content of minerals and proteins of high biological value. In this study Jerusalem artichoke flour (JAF) was obtained by means of two drying methodologies: convective air oven drying and freeze-drying. Physico-chemical characteristics were analyzed in both samples, as well as a colorimetric analysis and microstructure. As a by-product of the production of JAF, a residual liquid is obtained from which fructans can be extracted, this process included separation steps in aqueous medium without the addition of organic solvents. The optimal extraction conditions were: solid/solvent ratio of 1:2 (Kg JA / L distilled water) during 40 min at 90 ± 5 °C. The flours obtained presented a high protein and fiber content, 9.73–9.94% and 1.21–1.47% respectively, while the morphology of the matrix of protein and inulin could be observed by microscopy. These results allow them to be considered as an alternative raw material for the production of gluten-free products in order to overcome the nutritional deficiency that gluten-free products generally have. The fructans extraction yield was affected by the temperature and storage time of the tubers. The concentration of fructans was performed by ultrafiltration, the process was stopped when the desired volume concentration ratio was achieved (VCR = 3.24). The concentrate stream was lyophilized. The results showed the following centesimal compositions: 6.65% proteins; 0.22% fat; 7.50% ash; 6.60% moisture and 4% inulin. The use of JA tubers allowed to obtain a gluten-free alternative flour with good nutritional characteristics. Therefore, JA tubers present a high potential for the production of inulin through chemical-free methods, from the by-product of the JAF process.

Effect of Wheat Replacement by Pulse Flours on the Texture, Color, and Sensorial Characteristics of Crackers: Flash Profile Analysis.

Pulse flours are growing in popularity as alternatives to wheat in bakery products due to their high protein and nutritional value. However, the effect of different pulse species and substitution on sensory perception is unclear. The sensory perception of crackers made by partially replacing wheat with chickpea (40-80%) and lupin flour (10-30%) was evaluated using Flash profile analysis in association with instrumental analysis of texture and color. Flash profile analysis was conducted in Greece and Indonesia in order to allow culture comparison of the profiling of the samples and language by the subjects of the panel. Lightness (L∗) and hardness of crackers were decreased by the addition of pulses. Flash profile analysis indicated an association among color, texture, and sensory perception by judges. Derived attributes were associated with the physicochemical characteristics and raw materials of crackers for both panels. GPA analysis of Greek panel indicated that increasing the replacement of wheat led to the generation of more attributes regardless of pulse species, while the Indonesian panel was able to detect differences among pulse species.