Effect of Innovative Food Processing Technologies on the Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties and Quality of Non-Dairy Plant-Based Beverages

Increase in allergenicity towards cow’s milk, lactose intolerance, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, and flexitarian choice of food consumption have increased the market for cow’s milk alternatives. Non-dairy plant-based beverages are useful alternatives because of the presence of bioactive components with health-promoting properties, which attract health-conscious consumers. However, the reduced nutritional value and sensory acceptability of the plant-based beverages (such as flavor, taste, and solubility) compared to cow’s milk pose a big threat to its place in the market. Thermal treatments are commonly used to ensure the quality of plant-based beverages during storage. However, the application of high temperatures can promote the degradation of thermolabile compounds and some detrimental reactions, thus reducing protein digestibility and amino acid availability of non-dairy plant-based beverages substitutes. New and advanced food processing technologies, such as high-pressure processing, high-pressure homogenization, pulsed electric fields, and ultrasound, are being researched for addressing the issues related to shelf life increase, emulsion stability, preservation of nutritional content and sensorial acceptability of the final product. However, the literature available on the application of non-thermal processing technologies on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of plant-based beverages is scarce. Concerted research efforts are required in the coming years in the functional plant-based beverages sector to prepare newer, tailor-made products which are palatable as well as nutritionally adequate.

Effect of pre-treatments on the antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts from barley malt rootlets

In this study, barley malt rootlets (BMR) were subjected to five different pre-treatments (steaming (220 °C), roasting (60 °C), autoclaving (121 °C), microwaving (160-800 W, 30-120 s) and enzyme treatment). Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the BMR extracts were evaluated for both free and bound phenolics. The free phenolic content for non-treated extract was 1.8 mg/g of dry weight of BMR with 17.5% of antioxidant activity. Among the pre-treatments, autoclaving exhibited the highest values for free phenolics of 3.8 mg/g of dry weight of BMR and 71.6% of antioxidant activity. Pre-treatments did not show any effect on bound phenolic content, but increased antioxidant activity. The highest %DPPH activity for bound phenolics was observed for microwave treatment (160 W, 120 s) with 49.9%. Overall, pre-treatments significantly increased the free phenolic content of BMR phenolic extracts. Additional research is necessary to understand the phenolic profile and the thermal interactions of bound phenolic extracts.

Prediction of forced ventilation in animal fur from a measured pressure distribution

A model and computation scheme are given for predicting forced ventilation in the fur on an animal limb or torso, modelled here as a fur-covered cylinder with the hairs erect. The intra-fur flow is described by an anisotropic Darcy model, and pressure distribution measured previously for flow past a solid cylinder at Reynolds number 1.29 x 10(5) is used for the outer flow. Calculations from the model are presented for five mammalian species.

Endotherm Energetics - From a Scalable Individual-Based Model to Ecological Applications

We outline a computer model of heat and mass transfer through flesh, fat and porous fur for endotherms of any dimensions. We then validate it with a series of laboratory studies. Finally, we explore applications of the model to Bergmann's rule, predicting the mouse-to-elephant curve, climate-disease-toxicant interactions, animal 'design' via genetic engineering and energetic constraints on community structure. As a first test of the model we present calculations and metabolic chamber measurements for mammals ranging in size from mice to Holstein calves. We then compare simultaneous measurements on deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, of oxygen consumption, doubly labelled water turnover and food consumption with calculations of metabolic rate using body temperature radio-telemetry as input to the endotherm model. The endotherm model derived in the Appendix requires data on allometry (body dimensions, surface area), fur properties, core temperature, air and radiant temperatures and wind speed. The model is useful for calculating energetic expenditure in different microclimates without the need for extensive physiological measurements in the laboratory. Model predictions of metabolic rate at 12-degrees-C and at 22-degrees-C were well correlated with each of the three empirical estimates. The model shows that the posture an animal assumes can influence measurements of metabolic rate. Model calculations of metabolic rate using postures ranging from a curled-up ball-like geometry to a sprawled-out, cylinder or ellipsoid geometry bracket all three sets of simultaneous empirical data taken on the same animals. Applications of the model show that it can be applied in a wide variety of circumstances to gain insight into physiological and ecological problems.