Life Sciences Commons^™

Rapid Detection Of Listeria Monocytogenes, Wim Lippens

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodbome pathogen that can cause severe illness and even death. It is found in dairy and meat products. The focus is on rapid detection since conventional methods are time consuming (4-5 days). Pre-enrichment steps, as part of those methods, are time consuming. Our objective was to develop a detection system without a pre-enrichment step, giving a final result within 2 to 4 h.

In the concept of "the need for speed," a detection system with an antibody-based capture technique, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), was developed. Glass beads coated with a Listeria polyclonal antibody were …

The Influence Of Fat And Water On The Melted Cheese Characteristics Of Mozzarella Cheese, Robert Lloyd Fife

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of reducing the fat content of low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese from 19% to less than 5% on melted cheese properties, i.e., apparent viscosity, cheese melt, and cook color, was investigated. Functional properties of melt and stretch and cook color were evaluated at d 1, 7, 14, and 28. A rapid microwave oven method underestimated the moisture content of the low fat cheeses by approximately 10%. Low fat cheese did not melt as well as did the low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese although the moisture content of the low fat cheese (moisture content ranged from 62.5% to 63.6%) was greater …

Influence Of Storage Duration, Temperature, And Oxygen On Quality Of Stored Dehydrated Foods, Omima Ali Darag

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of oxygen absorber packets (OAP) (AGELESS Z.300 E) in improving the shelf-life of selected dried food products, including dried potato pearls, dried sliced apple, dried carrot, white rice, nonfat dry milk, all purpose flour, rolled oats, and wheat. Items were stored at four different temperatures (-20, 10, 21, and 29.5°C) over a period of 24 months with observations at 6-month intervals. Hunter colorimeter, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) germination rate, gluten weight, and volume were parameters used as quality indicators of various dried foods.

Statistical analysis indicated a significant time and temperature …

Correlation Between The Usu Stretch Test And The Pizza Fork Test, Bryce L. Moyes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A correlation between the USU stretch test and the pizza fork test would allow the stretch properties of Mozzarella cheese to be measured objectively. The Utah State University (USU) Stretch Test uses a modified texture-profile analyzer to pull strands of cheese from a melted reservoir, measuring the load exerted on the probe during stretching. Parameters measured by the USU stretch test include Melt Strength (F_M), which is the maximum load exerted on the probe, Stretch Load (SL), which is the load exerted on the probe at any specified point following F_M, and Stretch Extension (SE), which …

Vitamin K As A Prophylaxis In The Infant, Michelle Whipple

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Since the mid-1960's, all infants in the US have received intramuscular vitamin K (IMVK) as a prophylactic measure against hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN). Because the human race has obviously survived for so many years without this medical intervention, there is some question concerning the universal necessity of this practice.

Infants are born with comparatively low levels of vitamin K, a compound vital for the carboxylation of serum clotting factors. In the absence of adequately carboxylated clotting proteins, infants are at risk for developing HDN. This condition can cause severe complications, including mental retardation and death. IMVK significantly reduces …