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Prediction of 24h pH and lamb meat quality parameters in different muscle fibre types using rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry
No full textAccurate prediction of meat muscle quality is an important goal for ensuring that meat is graded for its most appropriate use, improving consumer experience and ensuring maximal return to farmers and meat processors. One of the key predictors of meat quality is pH, with high pH meat generally scoring badly for flavour and colour. Several technologies have been assessed for in-plant measurement of meat quality, though to date most meat processors still use visual inspection when evaluating carcass quality. Rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (REIMS) is a relatively new tool for direct measurement of samples, producing a fingerprint based on the metabolites and lipids present in the sample within a few seconds of a measurement. REIMS can be easily used on solid samples such as meat (Ross, Brunius et al. 2021) and has been successfully tested in abattoirs for detection of boar taint (Verplanken, Stead et al. 2017)
A bacterial index to estimate lake trophic level: National scale validation
No full textLakes and their catchments have been subjected to centuries to millennia of exploitation by humans. Efficient monitoring methods are required to promote proactive protection and management. Traditional monitoring is time consuming and expensive, which limits the number of lakes monitored. Lake surface sediments provide a temporally integrated representation of environmental conditions and contain high microbial biomass. Based on these attributes, we hypothesized that bacteria associated with lake trophic states could be identified and used to develop an index that would not be confounded by non-nutrient stressor gradients. Metabarcoding (16S rRNA gene) was used to assess bacterial communities present in surface sediments from 259 non-saline lakes in New Zealand encompassing a range of trophic states from alpine microtrophic lakes to lowland hypertrophic lakes. A subset of lakes (n = 96) with monitoring data was used to identify indicator amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) associated with different trophic states. A total of 10,888 indicator taxa were identified and used to develop a Sediment Bacterial Trophic Index (SBTI), which signficantly correlated (r² = 0.842, P < 0.001) with the Trophic Lake Index. The SBTI was then derived for the remaining 163 lakes, providing new knowledge of the trophic state of these unmonitored lakes. This new, robust DNA-based tool provides a rapid and cost-effective method that will allow a greater number of lakes to be monitored and more effectively managed in New Zealand and globally. The SBTI could also be applied in a paleolimnological context to investigate changes in trophic status over centuries to millennia
Effects of information and communication technology on objective and subjective well-being inequality in China
No full textThe present study examined the impacts of ICT adoption on objective and objective well-being inequality using 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data. We used income inequality and consumption inequality to capture the objective well-being inequality, while happiness inequality and life-satisfaction inequality were used to capture objective well-being inequality. We employed the the two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) model to address the endogeneity problem inherent in ICT adoption. We contribute to the growing literature on ICT adoption and household well-being in three important ways. First, we examine the impacts of ICT adoption on both objective well-being inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) and subjective well-being inequality (measured by the variance). Specifically, we capture objective well-being inequality using income and consumption inequality and subjective well-being inequality using happiness and life-satisfaction inequality. Second, we apply a two-stage residual inclusion approach to address the endogeneity of ICT adoption emanating from self-selection of individuals as adopters and non-adopters, and the presence of systematic differences in observed heterogeneity between the two groups. Third, we investigate how objective well-being inequality affects subjective well-being and inequalities. The empirical results of the first-stage 2SRI model showed that people’s decisions to adopt ICTs are positively and significantly influenced by education, CCP membership, insurance ownership, dependency ratio, average education of household members, car ownership, and living in urban areas. Age and family size are two key factors that negatively affect people’s ICT adoption decisions. The second-stage estimates of the 2SRI model revealed that ICT adoption tends to lower income inequality and consumption inequality. Furthermore, ICT adoption significantly decreases happiness inequality but shows no effect on life-satisfaction inequality. The results indicated that the age of household heads, family size, and urban residence significantly lower income and consumption inequality, while the average education of household members significantly increases income and consumption inequality. We also found that subjective well-being inequality, as captured by happiness inequality and life-satisfaction inequality, is negatively influenced by age. The comparison analysis using the AIPW estimator revealed that the inequality effects of ICT adoption tend to be underestimated if one only controls for observable selection bias but ignores unobservable selection bias. Further analysis demonstrated that both income inequality and consumption inequality have insignificant impacts on happiness and life satisfaction. Income inequality significantly increases both happiness inequality and life-satisfaction inequality, while consumption inequality does not have a significant impact on objective well-being inequality
Understanding quality of Pinot noir wine: Can modelling and machine learning pave the way?
Get PDFWine research has as its core components the disciplines of sensory analysis, viticulture, and oenology. Wine quality is an important concept for each of these disciplines, as well as for both wine producers and consumers. Any technique that could help producers to understand the nature of wine quality and how consumers perceive it, will help them to design even more effective marketing strategies. However, predicting a wine’s quality presents wine science modelling with a real challenge. We used sample data from Pinot noir wines from different regions of New Zealand to develop a mathematical model that can predict wine quality, and applied dimensional analysis with the Buckingham Pi theorem to determine the mathematical relationship among different chemical and physiochemical compounds. This mathematical model used perceived wine quality indices investigated by wine experts and industry professionals. Afterwards, machine learning algorithms are applied to validate the relevant sensory and chemical concepts. Judgments of wine intrinsic attributes, including overall quality, were made by wine professionals to two sets of 18 Pinot noir wines from New Zealand. This study develops a conceptual and mathematical framework to predict wine quality, and then validated these using a large dataset with machine learning approaches. It is worth noting that the predicted wine quality indices are in good agreement with the wine experts’ perceived quality ratings
Impact of different processing techniques on reduction in oil content in deep-fried donuts when using kombucha cellulose hydrolysates
Get PDFTo evaluate the efficiency of the oil-reducing properties of kombucha cellulose, enzymolysis and microwave-assisted enzymolysis methods were developed. The water-holding capacity of the kombucha cellulose hydrolysates formed by these two methods was higher than for the intact kombucha cellulose, while the oil-holding capacity was lower. The hydrolysates of kombucha cellulose and the intact kombucha cellulose were used to make deep-fried donuts. During this process, kombucha cellulose hydrolysates were added instead of 2% flour, and from the results, the oil content of the donut decreased significantly from ∼28 to 15%, and the reduction was not related to the processing of the donut. The hardness and brittleness of all samples showed no significant change, and these samples had similar internal micro-structures, confirming texture profile analysis. In vitro digestion results suggested that there would be no adverse health effects from substituting kombucha cellulose hydrolysates in the deep-fried donut formula
Locked-out: generational inequalities of housing tenure and housing type
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to first explore whether Australia and the main metropolitan areas demonstrate significant differences in tenure and property type between generational groups. Second, whether the millennial generation is more likely to rent rather than own. Third, if such variation in tenure and property type by millennials is one of individual choice and lifestyle or the impact of housing market inefficiencies.
Design/methodology/approach: This paper employs a comparative research approach using secondary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to consider housing tenure and type distributions across generations as well as through cross-city analysis.
Findings: The results show that home ownership is still the dominant tenure in Australia, but private rental is of increasing significance, becoming the tenure of choice for Millennials. Owner occupation is shown to remain and high and stable levels for older generations and while lower in percentage terms for Generation X; this generation exhibits the highest growth rate for ownership. Significant differences are shown in tenure patterns across Australia. Originality/value: The significance of this paper is the focus on the analysis of generational differences in housing tenure and type, initially for Australia and subsequently by major metropolitan areas over three inter-census periods (2006, 2011 and 2016). It enhances the understanding of how policies favouring ageing in place can contradict other policies on housing affordability with specific impact on Millennials as different generations are respectively unequally locked-out and locked-in to housing wealth
Species interactions and diversity: A unified framework using Hill numbers
Get PDFBiodiversity describes the variety of organisms on planet earth. Ecologists have long hoped for a synthesis between analyses of biodiversity and analyses of biotic interactions among species, such as predation, competition, and mutualism. However, it is often unclear how to connect details of these interactions with complex modern analyses of biodiversity. To resolve this gap, we propose a unification of models of biotic interactions and measurements of diversity. We show that analyses of biodiversity obscure details about biotic interactions. For example, identical changes in biodiversity can arise from predation, competition or mutualism. Our approach indicates that traditional models of community assembly miss key facets of diversity change. Instead, we suggest that analyses of diversity change should focus on partitions, which measure mechanisms that directly shape changes in diversity, notably species level selection and immigration, rather than traditional analyses of biotic interactions
The matrix of drivers: 2022 update
Get PDFEnhancing primary sector production and productivity while maintaining and improving our land and water quality for future generations is a key outcome of the National Science Challenge for Our Land and Water. It is therefore important to identify the hierarchy of international and national issues in order to provide an evidence base to guide investment and inform the Challenge Research Strategy. To this end, it was proposed that a small project be conducted, and regularly updated.
This project aims to deliver an overview of international and domestic drivers, as well as issues that are of particular relevance to the New Zealand primary sector and land use. This overview is based on a literature search of the most important issues, followed by a survey of key stakeholders as to their opinion of the most important issues affecting New Zealand land use and land use practice from overseas and domestically. In addition, a review of the level of interest and concern of international consumers on various issues is produced relevant to the primary sector.
This is the fourth report in this series and provides an updated understanding of the international and national drivers and issues of land use change/practice, and their importance to the primary sector. These drivers will help prioritise where investments in primary sector research based on their relationship to economic growth, social, cultural and environmental interactions. Updates of this research will allow us to understand how drivers and issues change, which will help to assess the impact the Challenge has had as well as future research investment needs. This work also provides a contribution to the Challenge Strategy.
This report is structured as follows: Chapter 1 provides an introduction to this report and its wider context; Chapter 2 presents the results of a survey of primary sector stakeholders regarding their views of the importance of key international and domestic drivers of land use change/practice; Chapter 3 examines future trends and challenges related to land use change/practice (particularly within a New Zealand context); and Chapter 4 concludes the report and provides a summary of its findings
Institutions and food security: Case of the institutional arrangements of two food security projects in Ghana : A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
No full textFood security remains a global challenge, and this is evidenced by unacceptable levels of undernourishment and stunting amongst children across the world. The FAO reported that food insecurity in Africa is four times higher than any place on earth with evidence of a worsening situation in West Africa. Food insecurity levels in Ghana are rising with the Economist Intelligence Unit reporting in 2020 that the country recorded a weak score of 55 (down from 62.8 score in 2019) as well as scoring zero in food security access policy commitments indicator.
Despite numerous attempts, Ghana has remained unsuccessful in achieving food security with evidence pointing towards weaknesses in institutional arrangements as major reason for this. This study explores how institutional arrangements affect food security projects in Ghana using the Inland Valley Rice Development Project and Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme as case studies. The study sets out: (i) to understand the institutional arrangement of food security projects, (ii) to determine the institutional causes for food security project outcomes, (iii) to understand the role played by the external project environment towards food security project outcomes and (iv) to recommend polices which will guide Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the design and implementation of food security projects. Using a case study method, the challenge was examined through the novel Rank-Form-Action-Function analytical framework, with qualitative data, purposively collected through interviews, field observation and document analysis.
The study has revealed that RTIMP made significant contributions to the local community through strong institutional arrangements of project activities. IVRDP exhibited weak institutional arrangements and therefore failed to impact the lives of the actors and the project community. The study suggests that the nature of the institutional arrangements of project activities is a key determinant in the level of performance and outcomes of the project. RTIMP recorded very strong and sustainable institutions due to a favourable mix of best practices and external project environment while the IVRDP recorded very weak institutional strength and could not attain very strong and sustainable institutions due to an unfavourable external environment. The results showed that institutional variations are central in the determination of food security.
The findings suggest a policy direction that favours identifying and factoring into the project, all the factors in the local food system before the start of the project in order to build sustainable local institutions for a successful project implementation. The study recommends the organisation of strategic community entry strategies to capture the external factors, inclusive and participatory methods to strengthen value chains and project implementation and construction of good practice centres to encourage innovation, reduce post-harvest losses and increase incomes
Agri-food leadership case study: Patsy Bass and Reefton Distilling Co.
Get PDFThis is the fifth case study in a series analysing leadership in New Zealand agri-food companies. It is part of the Unlocking Export Prosperity Research Programme led by the Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit (AERU) at Lincoln University. This case study examines how leadership contributes to successful value-adding at Reefton Distilling Co. Effective leadership has been instrumental to the success of the distillery and is closely connected to successful innovation, coordination and marketing. Patsy Bass provides an example of how effective leadership can positively contribute to value-adding processes. Her approach to leadership at Reefton Distilling Co. reflects the attributes discussed in the earlier literature review. Patsy and her team centre the distillery's core purpose, deeply held values and differentiation strategy in all the decisions made around their range of products and how they are developed