Food Chemistry Commons^™

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

Effect Of Onion Peel Bioactive Compounds On Gut Microbiome Of Obese Adults, Saad Al-Din Sifat

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Obesity, a pervasive global health concern, involves a complex interplay between genetic factors, dietary patterns, and the gut microbiota. Onion peels are rich in polyphenols and known for their antioxidant properties. However, the effects of in-vitro digested onion peel extract has not been investigated thus far. This study therefore assesses the effects of digested bioactive compounds from onion peels, emphasizing gut microbiota shift and metabolites. Onion peel extract (OPE), digested onion peel extract (DOPE), and solid-phase-extracted digested onion peel extracts (SPE-DOPE) were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity. SPE-DOPE exhibited the highest TPC and antioxidant activity. Fecal …

Health Beneficial Effects Of Black Raspberry, Blueberry, And Blackberry Volatile Extracts In Lung And Colon, Inah Gu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Berries are one of the most consumed fruits in our diet, and rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and volatiles. Volatiles are responsible for the aroma of berries, and are widely used in food, perfumery, and cosmetic industries. However, the potential health beneficial effects of berry volatiles have not been extensively studied. Recently, we found that berry volatiles from cranberries, black and red raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries have an anti-inflammatory effect on inflamed murine macrophage cells. Since inflammation can develop into many chronic diseases, and berry volatiles can be inhaled or consumed and pass through the lungs or …

Characterization Of Blueberry (Poly)Phenolics In Foods, Their Metabolites In Human Biological Samples And Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Phytochemicals In Vitro, Laura Felgus-Lavefve

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Blueberries’ popularity is in part supported by the health benefits associated with their consumption. Research has strongly focused on their polyphenol and anthocyanin concentration, one of the highest amongst commonly consumed foods. Polyphenols have demonstrated antioxidant effects in vitro, and consuming polyphenol-rich foods is associated with protective effects towards non-communicable diseases, but their direct bioactivity in the human body remains to be fully understood. It is estimated that about 90 to 95% of the initial polyphenol intake reaches the colon without being absorbed. Instead, phenolic compounds go through extensive biotransformations, consisting of catabolism into smaller compounds mostly carried out by …

Investigating Hops Production In Arkansas To Support Specialty Crop Growth, James Oliver Mcclellan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) is a perennial, climbing species within the Cannabaceae family that produces cones used for brewing. Hops are grown worldwide. In the United States most hops production occurs in the Pacific Northwest, but growth in the craft beer industry is driving efforts for hops production in other U.S. regions. Recommendations on hops cultivar suitability, fertility, and management are needed for the U.S. mid-south region. Objectives of this research on Arkansas-grown hops were to 1) assess the impact of cultivar and fertility rate on plant and cone attributes of six cultivars of Arkansas-grown hops and 2) …

Insects As A Sustainable Food Ingredient – Utilization Of Carrot Pomace, Identification Of Early Adopters, And Evaluation Of Mealworm Acceptability, Dominic Rovai

Master's Theses

Insects have been proposed as a sustainable alternative to livestock to help feed the growing population. Edible insects such as mealworms require less land and resources and can utilize food by-products to grow. While insects are consumed by over 2 billion people worldwide, they are not widely accepted in developed countries like the United States because of their unfamiliarity and the perception of disgust associated with entomophagy. The objectives of this research are to 1) grow mealworms using carrot pomace and determine an optimum diet for growth and nutritional composition, 2) identify and classify early adopters of insects, and propose …

Combatting Inefficient Food Waste In Nwa With Food Loops, Davis Ehlers

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

It is no longer a speculation that the actions of the human race have had detrimental impacts on the environment. As consumers become increasingly aware of this fact- and the fact that many of the issues are caused by bad business and environmental management, many individuals are wondering what they can do about it. This growing area of demand is where many businesses have begun to take on the challenge of being profitable while benefiting the environment at the same time, and some have even found ways to create a profit by engaging in activities that directly benefit the environment. …

Anti-Inflammatory Properties Of Blackberry Phenolic And Volatile Compounds, Pauline Morin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Berries are known for many health benefits including anti-inflammatory properties that lower risks of chronic diseases. These properties have been linked to high concentrations of phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. However, the present study hypothesized that volatiles could contribute to the berries’ bioactive properties. Thus, the objectives of this research are to profile the phenolic and volatile composition of 16 blackberry genotypes harvested at the Fruit Research Center of the University of Arkansas and to evaluate the antiinflammatory capacities of three selected genotypes on inflamed cells. Phenolic and volatile profiles were evaluated using chromatographic techniques. The three genotypes A2528T, A2587T and …

Assessment Of Grain Safety In Developing Nations, Jose R. Mendoza

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grains are the most widely consumed foods worldwide, with maize (Zea mays) being frequently consumed in developing countries where it feeds approximately 900 million people under the poverty line of 2 USD per day. While grain handling practices are acceptable in most developed nations, many developing nations still face challenges such as inadequate field management, drying, and storage. Faulty grain handling along with unavoidably humid climates result in recurrent fungal growth and spoilage, which compromises both the end-quality and safety of the harvest. This becomes particularly problematic where there is little awareness about health risks associated with poor …

Antioxidant Properties And Anti-Cancer Effects Of Polyphenols In Sweetpotato Leaves, Josue Bolanos

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although the root is widely consumed, sweetpotato leaves (SPL) are often discarded and are only consumed in a few countries. In the United States, SPL consumption is limited to private gardens, particularly in the Southeastern United States. Not only are SPL a good source of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, but they also contain polyphenol compounds including the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and carotenoids such as lutein. Several studies have shown the polyphenol contents and antioxidant capacities of SPL, which vary based on year and variety, while few studies have shown anti-colon cancer effects of SPL. Therefore, this study investigated …

Impact Of Sanitizers On Salmonella Enterica Contamination And Microbial Populations Of Poultry Processing Reuse Water, Andrew Micciche

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As human populations increase in numbers, access to clean, fresh water is becoming increasingly difficult to balance between agricultural and municipal demands. Water scarcity is a limiting factor of food production in many countries, whether they are emerging or established economies. In conventional poultry processing systems, access to water is particularly critical for the maintenance and disinfection of processing areas, as well as in processing operations such as scalding, chilling, and carcass washing. The need for sustainable alternatives to single-use water supplies is becoming increasingly more urgent, and as a result, the implementation of water reuse in poultry processing plants …

Development Of A Methodology For Predicting Consumer Acceptance And Preference Toward Beverages, Shilpa Shailesh Samant

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Consumer behavior toward food/beverages is influenced by multisensory attribute perceptions as well as emotional experiences. Traditional methods of sensory testing lack the ability to capture emotional responses and as a result, measuring food/beverage-evoked emotions remains a research challenge. There were three objectives of this dissertation study. Firstly, this study aimed to develop prediction models of acceptance of and preference for basic taste solutions using sensory attribute intensities and emotional responses. Secondly, this study aimed to extend the findings of the first objective to develop prediction models of commercially-available vegetable juice products in terms of (a) acceptance and preference under blind-tasting …

Anti-Inflammatory Effect Of Berry Essences, Inah Gu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is one of defense reactions of our body tissues against harmful stimuli such as infection and tissue injury. However, it has been reported that chronic inflammation can lead to chronic inflammatory diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This transition from acute to chronic inflammation state is usually induced by pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which accelerate the development of other chronic diseases. Accordingly, targeting these pro-inflammatory factors is one of the important roles for anti-inflammatory agents. For last two decades, researches about anti-inflammatory …

Evaluation Of Protein Source At Breakfast On Energy Metabolism, Metabolic Health, And Food Intake: A Pilot Study, Lauren A. Cambias, Brianna L. Neumann, Charlayne Mitchell, Jamie I. Baum

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Over 30% of adults in the U.S. are obese. A primary contributor to obesity is an unhealthy diet related to imbalanced macronutrients. Diets higher in protein (PRO) rather than carbohydrate (CHO) are associated with increased energy expenditure (EE) and reduced food intake. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if protein source at breakfast influences EE in young men (n = 4; ages 18-35). Participants consumed three isocaloric (whey (WP), pea (PP), beef (BP); 275 kcal, 62% PRO, 23% CHO, 15% Fat) drinks in a randomized, crossover design study with a one-week washout period (time between the administration …

Industry Professionals’ Perceptions Of Crisis Communications Educational Needs For New Professionals And Best Practices For Second Life© Simulations, Kristin M. Pennington, Leslie D. Edgar

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Crises impacting agriculture cost the nation billions of dollars in expenses and lost revenues annually. Organizations and governmental agencies continue to refocus energies on improving crisis communication plans in an effort to lessen economic impacts of unanticipated events. This study brought together an advisory team of agricultural communications professionals to gather perceptions of crisis communications educational needs for new professionals and to identify the best practices for using Second Life© (SL), a 3-D virtual world, simulations for training. Advisory team members represented the human, crop, animal, and environmental sectors of the agricultural industry. Perceptions were gathered during a roundtable, open-ended …

Drying Of Post-Harvest Rough Rice With Silica Gel: A Preliminary Investigation, Stephen J. O'Brien, Terry J. Siebenmorgen

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Rice drying operations can encounter problems of over drying and losses in head rice yield (HRY) through the formation of fissures. Typical rice drying methods also utilize large volumes of expensive fossil fuels to dry the kernels. Drying of rice with a solid desiccant such as silica gel has several potential advantages that avoid some of these problems. Two cultivars of long-grain rough rice, ‘Cheniere’ and ‘Wells’ with harvest moisture contents of 17.8% and 22.0%, respectively, were dried over a 48-h period with various ratios of rough rice-to-silica gel. It was found that an intimate mixture of 3:1 rough rice …