Daniel Granato

Bio: Daniel Granato is an academic researcher from University of Limerick. The author has contributed to research in topics: DPPH & Chemistry. The author has an hindex of 53, co-authored 235 publications receiving 9406 citations. Previous affiliations of Daniel Granato include Ponta Grossa State University & Instituto Adolfo Lutz.

Functional Foods and Nondairy Probiotic Food Development: Trends, Concepts, and Products.

Abstract: Recently, the focus of scientific investigations has moved from the primary role of food as the source of energy and body-forming substances to the more subtle action of biologically active food components on human health. There has been an explosion of consumer interest in the active role of food in the well-being and life prolongation, as well as in the prevention of initiation, promotion, and development of nontransmissible chronic diseases. As a result, a new term—functional food—was proposed. Among these foods, probiotics may exert positive effects on the composition of gut microbiota and overall health, and the market is increasing annually. An increased demand for nondairy probiotic products comes from vegetarianism, milk cholesterol content, and lactose intolerance. Therefore, the development of these products is a key research priority for food design and a challenge for both industry and science sectors. This article presents an overview of functional food development, emphasizing nondairy foods that contain probiotic bacteria strains.

Use of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for multivariate association between bioactive compounds and functional properties in foods: A critical perspective

Abstract: Background The development of statistical software has enabled food scientists to perform a wide variety of mathematical/statistical analyses and solve problems. Therefore, not only sophisticated analytical methods but also the application of multivariate statistical methods have increased considerably. Herein, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) are the most widely used tools to explore similarities and hidden patterns among samples where relationship on data and grouping are until unclear. Usually, larger chemical data sets, bioactive compounds and functional properties are the target of these methodologies. Scope and approach In this article, we criticize these methods when correlation analysis should be calculated and results analyzed. Key findings and conclusions The use of PCA and HCA in food chemistry studies has increased because the results are easy to interpret and discuss. However, their indiscriminate use to assess the association between bioactive compounds and in vitro functional properties is criticized as they provide a qualitative view of the data. When appropriate, one should bear in mind that the correlation between the content of chemical compounds and bioactivity could be duly discussed using correlation coefficients.

Probiotic Dairy Products as Functional Foods

Abstract: Foods that affect specific functions or systems in the human body, providing health benefits beyond energy and nutrients-functional foods-have experienced rapid market growth in recent years This growth is fueled by technological innovations, development of new products, and the increasing number of health-conscious consumers interested in products that improve life quality Since the global market of functional foods is increasing annually, food product development is a key research priority and a challenge for both the industry and science sectors Probiotics show considerable promise for the expansion of the dairy industry, especially in such specific sectors as yogurts, cheeses, beverages, ice creams, and other desserts This article presents an overview of functional foods and strategies for their development, with particular attention to probiotic dairy products Moreover, special attention is paid to the sensory properties of such products to provide important information about their most desirable attributes

The Design and Analysis of Experiments

Abstract: THE DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTS. By Oscar Kempthorne. New York, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1952. 631 pp. $8.50. This book by a teacher of statistics (as well as a consultant for \"experimenters\") is a comprehensive study of the philosophical background for the statistical design of experiment. It is necessary to have some facility with algebraic notation and manipulation to be able to use the volume intelligently. The problems are presented from the theoretical point of view, without such practical examples as would be helpful for those not acquainted with mathematics. The mathematical justification for the techniques is given. As a somewhat advanced treatment of the design and analysis of experiments, this volume will be interesting and helpful for many who approach statistics theoretically as well as practically. With emphasis on the \"why,\" and with description given broadly, the author relates the subject matter to the general theory of statistics and to the general problem of experimental inference. MARGARET J. ROBERTSON

Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning

Abstract: Probability Distributions.- Linear Models for Regression.- Linear Models for Classification.- Neural Networks.- Kernel Methods.- Sparse Kernel Machines.- Graphical Models.- Mixture Models and EM.- Approximate Inference.- Sampling Methods.- Continuous Latent Variables.- Sequential Data.- Combining Models.

Natural antioxidants: sources, compounds, mechanisms of action, and potential applications

Abstract: While use of synthetic antioxidants (such as butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole) to maintain the quality of ready-to-eat food products has become commonplace, consumer concern regarding their safety has motivated the food industry to seek natural alternatives. Phenolic antioxidants can inhibit free radical formation and/or interrupt propagation of autoxidation. Fat-soluble vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and water-soluble vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) are both effective in the appropriate matrix. Plant extracts, generally used for their flavoring characteristics, often have strong H-donating activity thus making them extremely effective antioxidants. This antioxidant activity is most often due to phenolic acids (gallic, protocatechuic, caffeic, and rosmarinic acids), phenolic diterpenes (carnosol, carnosic acid, rosmanol, and rosmadial), flavonoids (quercetin, catechin, naringenin, and kaempferol), and volatile oils (eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, and menthol). Some plant pigments (anthocyanin and anthocyanidin) can chelate metals and donate H to oxygen radicals thus slowing oxidation via 2 mechanisms. Tea and extracts of grape seeds and skins contain catechins, epicatechins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, and resveratrol, all of which contribute to their antioxidative activity. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of natural antioxidants, their mechanisms of action, and potential applications.

Colour Measurement and Analysis in Fresh and Processed Foods: A Review

Abstract: Colour is an important quality attribute in the food and bioprocess industries, and it influences consumer’s choice and preferences. Food colour is governed by the chemical, biochemical, microbial and physical changes which occur during growth, maturation, postharvest handling and processing. Colour measurement of food products has been used as an indirect measure of other quality attributes such as flavour and contents of pigments because it is simpler, faster and correlates well with other physicochemical properties. This review discusses the techniques and procedures for the measurement and analysis of colour in food and other biomaterial materials. It focuses on the instrumental (objective) and visual (subjective) measurements for quantifying colour attributes and highlights the range of primary and derived objective colour indices used to characterise the maturity and quality of a wide range of food products and beverages. Different approaches applied to model food colour are described, including reaction mechanisms, response surface methodology and others based on probabilistic and non-isothermal kinetics. Colour is one of the most widely measured product quality attributes in postharvest handling and in the food processing research and industry. Apart from differences in instrumentation, colour measurements are often reported based on different colour indices even for the same product, making it difficult to compare results in the literature. There is a need for standardisation to improve the traceability and transferability of measurements. The correlation between colour and other sensory quality attributes is well established, but future prospects exist in the application of objective non-destructive colour measurement in predictive modelling of the nutritional quality of fresh and processed food products.