Food Chemistry Commons^™

Evaluation Of Human Microbiota-Associated (Hma) Porcine Models To Study The Human Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Nirosh D. Aluthge

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

Research conducted in the past couple of decades has showcased the importance of the gut microbiota in human health and well-being. While many studies have reported on the differences in community membership between a disease state and a healthy state, few have investigated the mechanisms through which an aberrant microbiota contributes to a disease phenotype. One of the primary reasons for this are the many technical and ethical barriers to conducting the necessary studies directly in human individuals. Human microbiota-associated (HMA) porcine models have the potential to become important research tools which can enable the testing of hypotheses regarding host-microbiota …

Influence Of Fertilizer Rate On Swollen Stem Formation (“Bulbing”) And Vitamin C Content In Different Kohlrabi Cultivars, Mark Iradukunda, Paul E. Read

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group) is a vegetable crop found in the Brassicaceae, and it is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in oxidative damage repair and strengthens the immune system, so exploring vitamin C sources may contribute to improving human health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different fertilizer rates on kohlrabi yield, in terms of the swollen stem and the vitamin C content, and if those effects are similar in different kohlrabi cultivars. In this greenhouse study, we fertilized four potted kohlrabi cultivars with a common water-soluble greenhouse fertilizer …

Techniques To Improve The Volume, Texture And Nutritional Quality Of Gluten-Free Bread, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This article highlights the use of soy flour to improve the protein and fiber of gluten free bread. Also, the use of an extrusion process on soybean and corn flour blends improves the volume and texture of the bread. A full listing of the ingredients and method for production of higher quality gluten free bread is included.

Gut Community Response To Wheat Bran And Pinto Bean, Shuen Leow

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

There is general consensus among the scientific community that dietary fibers reduce the risk of Western diseases through their fermentation by beneficial microbial communities in the human gut. However, dietary fibers in wheat bran (WB) and pinto bean (PB) are incompletely fermented by the gut microbiota. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify gut microbial communities that can increase fermentation of dietary fibers from these foods to maximize their disease-preventing properties. The goal of this study was to identify such communities with increased capacity to ferment the dietary fibers in WB and PB. To accomplish these goals, a stepwise …

Food Sensitivity In Individuals With Altered And Unaltered Digestive Tracts, Walker Carson

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

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) against food proteins has become the subject of much discussion with regards to its role in adverse food reactions. An estimated 20% of the population suffers from some type of food intolerance. Food sensitivity can present with a vast range of symptoms and severities. Diet can have a substantial impact on the wellbeing of individuals with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Incidentally, these diseases have been associated with elevated levels of food-specific IgG as well an increased likelihood of food sensitivity. The presence of food-specific IgG and food sensitivity in …

Novel Sources Of Food Allergens, Lee Palmer

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

Technological advancement and globalization have led to the spread of foods to countries where the food does not yet have a documented history of consumption, in other words, novel foods. Novel foods also encompass truly novel foods, foods that have been processed in a novel manner, and novel means of exposure. With novel foods comes the potential of food allergens that pose an uncharacterized risk to those with food allergies. Food allergies are an increasingly important facet of public health. Therefore, a deeper understanding of novel foods as well as methods to evaluate consumers’ potential risk is necessary. Literature reviews …

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 …

Assessing The Quantification Of Soy Protein In Incurred Matrices Using Targeted Lc-Ms/Ms, Jenna Krager

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

Soy-derived ingredients are commonly added as auxiliary components to a diverse range of food products. The versatile end-applications of commercially processed soy ingredients is concerning for the safety of allergic consumers. Immunological detection of soy proteins in food matrices has some drawbacks, including loss of epitope binding and matrix masking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess naturally incurred matrices with an existing liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) workflow to determine the recovery of total soy protein.

The existing LC-MS/MS workflow was time intensive. The peptide responses of five soy protein targets were compared between two dilution methods …

Edible Films Made Of Corn Zein Protein And Cellulose Derivatives, Gloria Dukuzeyesu, Changmou Xu, Zhang Yue

UCARE: Research Products

A composite edible film made of corn zein protein (Z) and cellulose derivatives (C) was successfully fabricated. Edible films are coatings used to wrap food products to protect them against microbial deterioration, loss of moisture, and to extend the shelf life of the product. These edible films are consumed together with the product . The mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, application on fruits, and shelf life of the composite film were studied. Zein demonstrated excellent packing characteristics; due to its high no polar contents and hydrophobic nature, zein film served as a moisture barrier. Hydroproxy methylcellulose (HPM) is tasteless, odorless …

Periodic Table Club, Makayla Gill, Kailynn Jensen

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

This club is dedicated to teaching the generation of future scientists the periodic table. This is designed to be a unique take on a STEM club that uses the periodic table as a backbone for a solid foundation in chemistry.

Effect Of Storage Time And Temperature On The Recovery Of Milk And Peanut Residue From Environmental Swabs, Jessica Humphrey, Joseph Baumert, Stephen Taylor, Shyamali Jayasena

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Environmental swabs of shared processing equipment are commonly utilized by the food industry during cleaning validation studies. Some of these swabs are sent to 3^rd party laboratories for evaluation. However, the recovery of protein residues of allergenic foods between the time of swabbing and time of testing has yet to be systematically studied.

The objective of this study was to determine the recovery of allergen residues (peanut and milk) from swabs held at different holding times and temperatures. Commercial ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) were evaluated to determine allergen residue recovery from swabs inoculated with known amounts of peanut and …

Growing Torula Yeast (Candida Utilis) For Food Grade Fatty Acids, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The focus of this article is the cultivation of a food grade yeast for the production of fatty acids without the restrictions of climate or growing season. Torula yeast (Candida utilis) was selected since it can grow on a wide variety of culture media and has over 60 years of use in the food industry. The fatty acid composition of C. utilis grown on two different media are presented in this article; the first example using completely synthetic media and another using distiller’s vinasse. Also, the effect of different culturing conditions on the percentage of various fatty …

A Review Of Technologies For Malt Flour And Sourdough From Brewery Spent Grain, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The utilization of brewer's spent grain for the production of malt flour is the focus of this article. The reader is presented with superheated steam and extrusion as technologies to reduce mycotoxin contamination and improve shelf life. Another option is the fermentation of brewer's spent grain with a cereal grade lactic acid bacteria for the production of sourdough bread. Milling of the brewer's spent grain for the production of bread is also covered.

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Whole Cooked Enriched Egg In Modulating Health-Beneficial Biological Activities, Emerson Nolasco

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

The whole egg is known as nutritious food in the human diet with a wide reach due to its accessibility. It’s highly bioavailable proteins and dietary compounds, and their health-beneficial properties make the egg a potential functional food. Still, little is known about how the production and processing methods can modulate its potential health-beneficial properties. To attend the knowledge gaps, the study established objectives look to evaluate the effect of the hen breed, egg enrichment, and cooking methods. The hen breed and egg enrichment maintained overall the egg quality. Confirming the capacity of the egg industry of improving the egg …

Effect Of Processing On Microbiota Accessible Carbohydrates In Whole Grains, Caroline Smith

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

There is potential to increase microbiota accessible carbohydrates (MAC) in whole grains through food processing. Therefore, different processing conditions for boiling and extrusion of whole wheat flour were studied for their effect on MAC. Processing conditions had a minimal effect on fermentation response using 2 fecal samples of disparate composition. However, the processing method had an impact on the fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates and subsequent short chain fatty acids production, but only for a microbiome with high diversity and a predominance of microbes associated with dietary fiber intake. Subsequently, five processing methods: boiling, extrusion, unleavened bread, yeast bread, and sourdough …

Formation Of Low Density And Free-Flowing Hollow Microparticles From Non-Hydrogenated Oils And Preparation Of Pastries With Shortening Fat Composed Of The Microparticles, Joshua Gudeman

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

Solid fats provide critical functionality in the structuring, shortening, and stabilizing of many foods. However, their use as an ingredient is foods can present a number of challenges. The physical properties of solid fat can make them difficult to apply to or incorporate into foods consistently. On an industrial food production scale, handling of solid fats can difficult because they are often packed in heavy cubes or totes, and production delays and inefficiencies may be caused by the need to remelt the oils before use. Oils as a macronutrient also contribute a relatively high number of calories at 9 calories …

Encapsulation Of Astaxanthin-Enriched Camelina Seed Oil Obtained By Ethanol-Modified Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction, Liyang Xie

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

Astaxanthin is a high-value carotenoid widely used in the food, feed, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Natural sources of astaxanthin are preferable to synthetic sources. However, current sources of natural astaxanthin are limited and fall short of global demand. In addition, effective extraction and stabilization strategies are needed before the utilization of natural astaxanthin in food applications. This work investigated 1) the feasibility of ethanol-modified supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction of astaxanthin from engineered camelina seed, a potential source of natural astaxanthin, and 2) the potential of an emulsion-based system to protect astaxanthin after extraction. The physical properties of the emulsion …

Ability Of Phenolics In Isolation, Components Present In Supina Turf Grass To Remediate Candida Albicans (A72 And Sc5314) Adhesion And Biofilm Formation, Fatima Alessa

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

Candida albicans inhabits the gastrointestinal tract dormant commensal member but can become an opportunistic pathogen when the host microflora or immune system is compromised. Adhesion to a biological or synthetic surface, followed by a morphological change from the yeast to hyphae phenotype. Biofilm formation is becoming a common occurrence on types of medical devices. Because C. albicans resistant to commonly available anti-fungal drugs is increasing, innovative treatments are critically needed. Phenolic compounds are promising anti-fungal synergists. Supina grass was used as the complex matrix as it is abundant and highly sustainable source of phytochemicals even though grass cuttings are typically …

Effect Of Processing On In Vitro Protein Digestibility And Other Nutritional Aspects Of Nebraska Crops, Paridhi Gulati

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

Among plant based agricultural products, Nebraska ranks first nationwide in the production of Great Northern beans (GNB), second in proso millet production, and eighth in production of winter wheat. The present research was focused on the effect of processing on nutritive components and in vitroprotein digestibility of these crops with the aim of promoting their human consumption. Proso millet based extrudates had physical properties similar to commonly extruded rice but had lower expansion than corn. GNB extrudates had limited expansion and high bulk density mostly due to high fiber and protein content. Extrusion significantly reduced the anti-nutritional components in …

Effect Of Gallic And Ferulic Acids On Oxidative Phosphorylation On Candida Albicans (A72 And Sc5314) During The Yeast-To-Hyphae Transition, Rehab Aldahash

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

Candida albicans is a dormant commensal in the mucosa of healthy individuals but can become an opportunistic pathogen when the host microflora is compromised. It has been reported as the most common cause of fungal infection among hospitalized U.S. patients, with elevated mortality rate. Candida species have been reported as resistant to antifungal drugs that increase the application of novel strategies to treat this infection. Among the natural compounds that have most gained attention as potential agents against fungi are phenolic compounds against fungi. C. albicans has the ability to switch phenotype from yeast-to-hyphae cells, with hyphae being the most …

Changes In Enzymatic Activities And Functionality Of Whole Wheat Flour Due To Steaming Of Wheat Kernels, Rachana Poudel, Devin J. Rose

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The effects of steaming wheat kernels on lipolytic degradation of resulting whole flour was studied by quantifying enzyme activities and lipid degradation products during storage. Lipase, lipoxygenase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activities were decreased by up to 81%, 63%, 22%, and 34%, respectively, as the time of steaming increased up to 90 s. Steaming had no effect on starch and gluten properties. Upon storage free fatty acids decreased with respect to time of steaming. Time of steaming did not affect lipid oxidation in flour; however, total carbonyls produced in dough made from stored flour were decreased with the increase in …

Microstructural Changes To Proso Millet Protein Bodies Upon Cooking And Digestion, Paridhi Gulati, You Zhou, Christian Elowsky, Devin J. Rose

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Cooking results in a drastic decline in digestibility of proso millet proteins, panicins. Scanning electron and confocal microscopy were used to observe morphological changes in proso millet protein bodies upon cooking and digestion that could be associated with the loss in digestibility. Spherical protein bodies (1–2.5 mm) were observed in proso millet flour and extracted protein. Cooking did not result in any noticeable change in the size or shape of the protein bodies. However, upon digestion with pepsin the poor digestibility of cooked proso millet protein was clearly evident from the differences in microstructure of the protein bodies: large cavities …

Whole Grain Processing And Effects On Carbohydrate Digestion And Fermentation, Sandrayee Brahma

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

Whole grains are a major source of dietary fibers in the human diet that provide specific nutrients to the gut microbiota and thereby plays a major role in modulating microbiota composition and increasing diversity of the gut ecosystem. A common approach of consuming whole grains is in the form of ready-to-eat extruded breakfast cereals. Studies reported herein established that extrusion conditions not only affected the physicochemical properties but also in vitro starch digestibility, β-glucan extractability and in vitro fermentation characteristics of whole grain oats. Moderate screw speed (300 rpm) led to higher slowly digestible starch (SDS) with an accompanying decrease …

Radiofrequency Processing For Inactivation Of Salmonella Spp. And Enterococcus Faecium Nrrl B-2354 In Whole Black Peppercorn And Ground Black Pepper, Xinyao Wei

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

Black pepper has been implicated in several foodborne illness outbreaks and food product recalls due to Salmonella contamination. Conventional decontamination methods for black pepper are challenged by harmful residues or quality deterioration. Radiofrequency (RF) heating reduces the come-up time which allows to design a high-temperature short-time processing to inactivate Salmonella with minimal deterioration in product quality. The objectives of this study were to investigate RF heating for inactivation of Salmonella in whole black peppercorn and ground black pepper samples, evaluate Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 as a surrogate for Salmonella, and assess quality deterioration during RF heating of whole black peppercorn …

Increasing Cis-Lycopene Content Of The Oleoresin From Tomato Processing Byproducts Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide And Assessment Of Its Bioaccessibility, Lisbeth Vallecilla Yepez

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

In recent years, health- and wellness-promoting foods have been one of the major focus of consumers; therefore, the food industry is increasing its efforts in developing these food products. Tomatoes, tomato-food products and their byproducts have gained special attention in virtue of the carotenoids-rich source that they represent, especially lycopene (~90%). The role of lycopene in human diet has been highlighted as a result of its direct relationship with the decrease of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, lycopene is water-insoluble making its extraction simple with organic-toxic solvents; in addition, lycopene degrades easily with light, time, and storage. Lycopene exist in nature mostly …

Effects Of Vagotomy And Fenugreek On Hyperlipidemia And Insulin Resistance, Rituraj Khound

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Hyperlipidemia is the impairment of lipid metabolism marked by abnormally high levels of lipid in circulation. This has been implicated in a number of metabolic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Insulin resistance is the impairment of insulin action, which leads to several diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. New clinical and therapeutic approaches are warranted for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance. In our study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the effect of complete disruption of the sub-diaphragmatic vagus nerve (vagotomy) on hyperlipidemia and insulin sensitivity. We observed that vagotomy …

Edible Insects As A Source Of Food Allergens, Lee Palmer

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

Increasing global population increasingly limited by resources has spurred interest in novel food sources. Insects may be an alternative food source in the near future, but consideration of insects as a food requires scrutiny due to risk of allergens. Currently, the insect Dactylopius coccus, known as cochineal, is used to produce carmine, a natural red pigment used in food, which has caused allergic reactions. This study investigated allergens of cochineal focusing on purification from the pigment. Mass spectrometry identified a previously described major allergen of cochineal and a tropomyosin, although further work is required.

Tropomyosin is a major cross-reactive allergen …

Studies On Asparagine In Nebraska Wheat And Other Grains, Sviatoslav Navrotskyi

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

Understanding of the contribution of environmental and genetic factors on the chemical composition of different grains is a critical issue in the area of food safety of cereal products. Numerous studies have reported that asparagine can form acrylamide, a toxic and potentially carcinogenic precursor compound, during a Milliard reaction. Therefore, studying the environmental and genetic effects that contribute to accumulation of asparagine in wheat and proso millet lines, which were grown in the state of Nebraska, is important for supporting breeding programs aimed at providing safer crops for consumers. In the realm of reduction of the asparagine concentration in wheat-based …

Matrix Effects On The Detection Of Milk And Peanut Residues By Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (Elisa), Abigail S. Burrows

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

Food matrices are complex systems of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins in which interactions between matrix components and allergenic proteins are known to have negative effects on the recovery of allergens when analyzed by ELISA. The purpose of this study was to first evaluate the recovery of milk and peanut residues from multiple food matrices and mixes and to secondly evaluate the use of a modified extraction protocol, sequential extractions, on the recovery of milk and peanut allergens.

Pastry dough matrices and pastry dough mixes incurred with milk were prepared at varying concentrations of flour and evaluated for recovery of NFDM. …

Characterization Of Extraction Methods To Recover Phenolic-Rich Extracts From Black Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris) That Inhibit Alpha-Amylase And Alpha-Glucosidase Using Response Surface Approaches, Mazen Alharbi

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Black beans contain high phenolic contents that are considered potent antioxidants. Relatively little is known about their ability to inhibit the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase from releasing glucose from starch and/or disaccharides. The objective of this project was to determine the optimum procedures for extracting total phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and total condensed tannins (TCT) from black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and then to determine the ability of the phenolic rich extracts to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Due to their high phenolic levels, it was hypothesized that black beans would be an effective inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which …