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Papers by Sarah Curro

Journal of Dairy Science, Aug 1, 2017

Milk and dairy products are important sources of macro-and trace elements for human health. Howev... more Milk and dairy products are important sources of macro-and trace elements for human health. However, fresh cheeses usually have a lower mineral content than other cheeses, and this makes mineral prediction more difficult. Although mineral prediction in several food matrices using infrared spectroscopy has been reported in the literature, very little information is available for cheeses. The present study was aimed at developing near-infrared reflectance (NIR, 866-2,530 nm) and transmittance (NIT, 850-1,050 nm) spectroscopy models to predict the major mineral content of fresh cheeses. We analyzed samples of mozzarella (n = 130) and Stracchino (n = 118) using reference methods and NIR and NIT spectroscopy. We developed prediction models using partial least squares regression analysis, and subjected them to cross-and external validation. Average Na content was 0.15 and 0.22 g/100 g for mozzarella and Stracchino, respectively. The NIR and NIT spectroscopy performed similarly, with few exceptions. Nevertheless, none of the prediction models was accurate enough to replace the current reference analysis. The most accurate prediction model was for the Na content of mozzarella cheese using NIT spectroscopy (coefficient of determination of external validation = 0.75). We obtained the same accuracy of prediction for P in Stracchino cheese with both NIR and NIT spectroscopy. Our results confirmed that mineral content is difficult to predict using NIT and NIR spectroscopy.

Journal of Dairy Science, Nov 1, 2017

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of near infrared (NIR) transmittance spectro... more The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of near infrared (NIR) transmittance spectroscopy to predict cheese ripeness using the ratio of water-soluble nitrogen (WSN) to total nitrogen (TN) as an index of cheese maturity (WSN/TN). Fifty-two Protected Designation of Origin cow milk cheeses of 5 varieties (Asiago, Grana Padano, Montasio, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Piave) and different ripening times were available for laboratory and chemometric analyses. Reference measures of WSN and TN were matched with cheese spectral information obtained from ground samples by a NIR instrument that operated in transmittance mode for wavelengths from 850 to 1,050 nm. Prediction equations for WSN and TN were developed using (1) cross-validation on the whole data set and (2) external validation on a subset of the entire data. The WSN/TN was calculated as ratio of predicted WSN to predicted TN in cross-validation. The coefficients of determination for WSN and TN were >0.85 both in cross-and external validation. The high accuracy of the prediction equations for WSN and TN could facilitate implementation of NIR transmittance spectroscopy in the dairy industry to objectively, rapidly, and accurately monitor the ripeness of cheese through WSN/TN.

Animals, Oct 3, 2019

Milk fatty acid composition affects human health and dairy products flavor. In particular, some s... more Milk fatty acid composition affects human health and dairy products flavor. In particular, some saturated fatty acids increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, whereas conjugated linoleic acid inhibits carcinogenesis and reduces atherosclerosis and diabetes. Moreover, a greater amount of some short chain fatty acids increase the goaty flavor of dairy products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the breed and week of lactation effects on milk fatty acid profile of 5 Italian local goat breeds and a cosmopolitan breed reared in the same farm. Results showed that the fatty acid profile was mainly affected by the week of lactation. Saturated fatty acids were abundant in early lactation and unsaturated fatty acids were abundant in late lactation. Local goat breeds produced milk with lower concentration of saturated fatty acids than the cosmopolitan breed. This study may contribute to valorize milk of Italian local goat breeds which seems to have a healthier profile than milk of the cosmopolitan breed.

Food Chemistry, Apr 1, 2017

Food Control, Feb 1, 2022

Abstract Seafood is the product most susceptible to fraudulent activities. In particular, the cep... more Abstract Seafood is the product most susceptible to fraudulent activities. In particular, the cephalopod sector is affected mainly by the replacement of fresh by frozen-thawed product either immediately or after bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. Such activities undermine the consumers' confidence in the fish industry and in the effectiveness of the government's food control programme. Currently, the conventional analyses performed to check food authenticity are time-consuming and require skilled personnel, and thus are not applicable to on-site control. The aim of the present study was to develop classification models to discriminate cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) according to physical status and hydrogen peroxide treatment among fresh, frozen-thawed and frozen-thawed hydrogen peroxide-treated samples. A total of 669 cuttlefish spectra were collected, under real conditions, using a portable near-infrared spectrometer (902–1680 nm) operating in reflectance mode. Classification models were developed and then validated using a Support Vector Machine algorithm. Performance of the models was tested through external and hold-out validation according to their accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and Matthew correlation coefficient. The best performance was observed in discriminating between fresh and frozen-thawed product, in which were observed in hold-out validation 0.97 in accuracy and sensitivity, 0.96 in specificity, and 0.92 in Matthew correlation coefficient; whereas, an accuracy of 0.93, sensitivity of 0.89, specificity of 0.94 and Matthew correlation coefficient of 0.83 were found in external validation. However, sample classification according to bleaching treatment showed high performance when fresh samples were excluded. Such achievements confirm the applicability of near-infrared spectroscopy to the on-site inspection of cuttlefish and the control of the fraudulent activity of replacing fresh fish with product mislabelled as such.

Journal of Dairy Science, Jun 1, 2018

Free radicals are reactive and unstable waste molecules produced by cells, responsible of damages... more Free radicals are reactive and unstable waste molecules produced by cells, responsible of damages and alteration on DNA, proteins, and fat. The daily intake of antioxidant compounds, acting against free radicals and their detrimental effects, is essential for human health. Milk contains several compounds with antioxidant activity, and the sum of their reducing potential blocking free radicals development is defined as total antioxidant activity (TAA). This novel trait has been described in literature both in individual and bulk cow milk, but there are no reports from other dairy species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate phenotypic variation of TAA in individual samples of buffalo (n = 105), goat (n = 112), and sheep (n = 198) milk. Total antioxidant activity was measured through a reference spectrophotometric method, and expressed as millimoles per liter of Trolox equivalents (TE). The greatest TAA was observed in sheep milk, averaging 7.78 mmol/L of TE and showing also the broadest phenotypic variation expressed as coefficient of variation (13.98%). Significantly lower TAA values were observed for buffalo (7.35 mmol/L of TE) and goat (6.80 mmol/L of TE) milk, with coefficients of variation of 8.18 and 8.47%, respectively. Total antioxidant activity exhibited weak correlations with milk yield and chemical composition. Phenotypic values of TAA presented in this study will be used to assess the ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict this new trait and thus to collect data at the population level.

Agronomy, Feb 9, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Molecules, Jul 16, 2021

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Journal of Dairy Science, Mar 1, 2019

Sheep milk is mainly transformed into cheese; thus, the dairy industry seeks more rapid and cost-... more Sheep milk is mainly transformed into cheese; thus, the dairy industry seeks more rapid and cost-effective methods of analysis to determine milk coagulation and acidity traits. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy to determine milk coagulation and acidity traits of sheep bulk milk and to classify milk samples according to their renneting capacity. A total of 465 bulk milk samples collected in 140 single-breed flocks of Comisana (84 samples, 24 flocks) and Sarda (381 samples, 116 flocks) breeds located in Central Italy were analyzed for coagulation properties (rennet coagulation time, curd firming time, and curd firmness) and acidity traits (pH and titratable acidity) using standard laboratory procedures. Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction models for these traits were built using partial least squares regression analysis and were externally validated by randomly dividing the full data set into a calibration set (75%) and a validation set (25%). The discriminant capacity of the rennet coagulation time prediction model was determined using partial least squares discriminant analysis. Prediction models were more accurate for acidity traits than for milk coagulation properties, and the ratio of prediction to deviation ranged from 1.01 (curd firmness) to 2.14 (pH). Moreover, the discriminant analysis led to an overall accuracy of 74 and 66% for the calibration and validation sets, respectively, with greater sensitivity for samples that coagulated between 10 and 20 min and greater specificity to detect early-coagulating (<10 min) and late-coagulating (20-30 min) samples. Results suggest that Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy has the potential to help the dairy sheep industry identify milk with better coagulation ability for cheese production and thus improve milk transformation efficiency. However, further research is needed before this information can be exploited at the industry level.

Livestock Science, Dec 1, 2017

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of faecal near infrared spect... more Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of faecal near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) to predict undigested neutral detergent fibre at 240 h of fermentation (uNDF240) and other fibre fractions in lactating dairy cattle faeces. A total of 130 faecal samples (600 g) were collected directly from the rectum of dairy cows randomly selected across the lactating groups of 6 herds located in northern Italy and fed grass/alfalfa hay forage based total mixed ration. Reference values were matched with FNIRS spectra. Prediction equations were developed for each trait using external validation. Our results showed that the calculated uNDF240 (DM basis) to ADL ratio in faeces averaged 2.84, ranging from 1.58 to 4.10. The similar ratio of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and uNDF240 to NDF (66–67%) indicated that potentially digestible NDF in faeces is mainly represented by hemicelluloses, whereas uNDF240 is mainly composed of lignin and cellulose. The coefficient of determination of external validation (R2V) of uNDF240 was 0.59 when expressed as percentage of DM and 0.36 when expressed as percentage of NDF, and the corresponding ratio performance deviation of external validation (RPD) values in validation were 1.52 and 1.26, respectively. Values of R2V ranged from 0.54 to 0.63 for fibre fractions and RPD in validation ranged from 1.45 (ADL, % DM) to 1.68 (ADF, % DM). Despite the low accuracy of the prediction models, this study contributes to the knowledge of the FNIRS application to uNDF240 and other fibre fractions in faeces. Further investigations with different diet composition should be addressed.

International Dairy Journal, Feb 1, 2019

The phenotypic variation of milk total antioxidant activity (TAA) and the ability of midinfrared ... more The phenotypic variation of milk total antioxidant activity (TAA) and the ability of midinfrared spectroscopy to predict this novel trait was investigated. Total antioxidant activity was measured through the reference spectrophotometric method on 1249 individual milk samples of Holstein Friesian cows. Sources of variation of milk TAA were investigated using a mixed model, which included the fixed effects of days in milk, parity and calving season, and the random effects of herd-test-date and error. Mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction models were developed using partial least squares regression approach. The average level of milk TAA was 6.93 mmoL L-1 of Trolox equivalents; this exhibited a coefficient of variation of 15% and showed moderate phenotypic correlations with milk quality traits. Values of TAA were lower in early lactation than in late lactation. Mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction models reached a coefficient of determination in external validation of 0.41, suggesting that they are not adequate for analytical purposes.

International Dairy Journal, Aug 1, 2017

Prediction models for the mineral, fatty acid (FA) and cholesterol contents of commercial Europea... more Prediction models for the mineral, fatty acid (FA) and cholesterol contents of commercial European cheeses using near infrared transmittance spectroscopy were developed. Cheese samples (n=145) were from different dairy species and ripening time. Sample spectra were matched with mineral, FA and cholesterol reference data to develop prediction models. Modified partial least squares regressions were validated through cross-validation procedure on the complete dataset (n=145) and through external validation after dividing the data into calibration (74%) and external validation (26%) sets. Satisfactory models were developed for Ca, P, S, Mg and Zn, and for FA groups (saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FAs), major FAs (myristic, palmitic and oleic acids) and some minor FAs, whereas cholesterol content could not be predicted with adequate accuracy. Results of the present study are a precursor to at-line utilisation of prediction models for the most abundant cheese minerals and FAs at an industry level.

Animals, Dec 25, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Foods

Accurate species identification, especially in the fishery sector, is critical for ensuring food ... more Accurate species identification, especially in the fishery sector, is critical for ensuring food safety, consumer protection and to prevent economic losses. In this study, a total of 93 individual frozen–thawed cuttlefish samples from four different species (S. officinalis, S. bertheloti, S. aculeata, and Sepiella inermis) were collected from two wholesale fish plants in Chioggia, Italy. Species identification was carried out by inspection through morphological features using dichotomic keys and then through near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements. The NIRS data were collected using a handled-portable spectrophotometer, and the spectral range scanned was from 900–1680 nm. The collected spectra were processed using principal component analysis for unsupervised analysis and a support vector machine for supervised analysis to evaluate the species identification capability. The results showed that NIRS classification had a high overall accuracy of 93% in identifying the cuttlefis...

Agronomy

Winter cereal silages can suffer from an inadequate fermentative path which can lead to aerobic i... more Winter cereal silages can suffer from an inadequate fermentative path which can lead to aerobic instability. We evaluate the pre-ensiled conditions influencing the final fermentative quality and its aerobic stability. We studied the use of hetero/homofermentative inoculants on two early-harvest wheat samples (312 and 348 g/kg of dry matter—DM levels) undergoing three ensiling delays. The fermentative profiles were evaluated during the first ten d of ensiling, at 60 d and after 7 and 14 d of aerobic exposure. Aerobic stability was recorded during fourteen d after the silo opening. Significant (p < 0.05) differences of the final fermentative profile were related mainly to DM levels at harvest, while the use of the inoculant affected only the acetic acid significantly. Finally, the sealing delay did not significantly affect the silage fermentative profile. The overall aerobic stability was 59.2 ± 23.6 h, and cumulative temperatures were lower than 438 for seven d of aerobic exposure...

Molecules

Olive vegetation water (OVW) is a by-product with a noticeable environmental impact; however, its... more Olive vegetation water (OVW) is a by-product with a noticeable environmental impact; however, its polyphenols may be reused food and feed manufacture as high-value ingredients with antioxidant/antimicrobial activities. The effect of dietary supplementation with OVW polyphenols on the gut microbiota, carcass and breast quality, shelf life, and lipid oxidation in broiler chickens has been studied. Chicks were fed diets supplemented with crude phenolic concentrate (CPC) obtained from OVW (220 and 440 mg/kg phenols equivalent) until reaching commercial size. Cloacal microbial community (rRNA16S sequencing) was monitored during the growth period. Breasts were submitted to culture-dependent and -independent microbiological analyses during their shelf-life. Composition, fatty acid concentration, and lipid oxidation of raw and cooked thawed breasts were measured. Growth performance and gut microbiota were only slightly affected by the dietary treatments, while animal age influenced the cloa...

Foods

Determining cocoa bean quality is crucial for many players in the international supply chain. How... more Determining cocoa bean quality is crucial for many players in the international supply chain. However, actual methods rely on a cut test protocol, which is limited by its subjective nature, or on time-consuming, expensive and destructive wet-chemistry laboratory procedures. In this context, the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, particularly with the recent developments of portable NIR spectrometers, may represent a valuable solution for providing a cocoa beans’ quality profile, in a rapid, non-destructive, and reliable way. Monitored parameters in this work were dry matter (DM), ash, shell, fat, protein, total polyphenols, fermentation index (FI), titratable acidity (TA) and pH. Different chemometric analyses were performed on the spectral data and calibration models were developed using modified partial least squares regression. Prediction equations were validated using a fivefold cross-validation and a comparison between the different prediction performances for the...

Animals

The aims of the present study were to characterize egg composition and develop VIS-Near-infrared ... more The aims of the present study were to characterize egg composition and develop VIS-Near-infrared spectroscopy (VIS-NIR) models for its predictions in Italian local chicken breeds, namely Padovana Camosciata, Padovana Dorata, Polverara Bianca, Polverara Nera, Pepoi, Ermellinata di Rovigo, Robusta Maculata and Robusta Lionata. Hens were reared in a single conservation center under the same environmental and management conditions. A total of 200 samples (25 samples per breed, two eggs/sample) were analyzed for the composition of albumen and yolk. Prediction models for these traits were developed on both fresh and freeze-dried samples. Eggs of Polverara Nera and Polverara Bianca differed from eggs of the other breeds (p < 0.05) in terms of the greatest moisture content (90.06 ± 1.23% and 89.57 ± 1.31%, respectively) and the lowest protein content (8.34 ± 1.27% and 8.81 ± 1.27%) in the albumen on wet basis. As regards the yolk, Robusta Maculata and Robusta Lionata differed (p < 0.0...

Journal of Dairy Science, Aug 1, 2017

Milk and dairy products are important sources of macro-and trace elements for human health. Howev... more Milk and dairy products are important sources of macro-and trace elements for human health. However, fresh cheeses usually have a lower mineral content than other cheeses, and this makes mineral prediction more difficult. Although mineral prediction in several food matrices using infrared spectroscopy has been reported in the literature, very little information is available for cheeses. The present study was aimed at developing near-infrared reflectance (NIR, 866-2,530 nm) and transmittance (NIT, 850-1,050 nm) spectroscopy models to predict the major mineral content of fresh cheeses. We analyzed samples of mozzarella (n = 130) and Stracchino (n = 118) using reference methods and NIR and NIT spectroscopy. We developed prediction models using partial least squares regression analysis, and subjected them to cross-and external validation. Average Na content was 0.15 and 0.22 g/100 g for mozzarella and Stracchino, respectively. The NIR and NIT spectroscopy performed similarly, with few exceptions. Nevertheless, none of the prediction models was accurate enough to replace the current reference analysis. The most accurate prediction model was for the Na content of mozzarella cheese using NIT spectroscopy (coefficient of determination of external validation = 0.75). We obtained the same accuracy of prediction for P in Stracchino cheese with both NIR and NIT spectroscopy. Our results confirmed that mineral content is difficult to predict using NIT and NIR spectroscopy.

Journal of Dairy Science, Nov 1, 2017

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of near infrared (NIR) transmittance spectro... more The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of near infrared (NIR) transmittance spectroscopy to predict cheese ripeness using the ratio of water-soluble nitrogen (WSN) to total nitrogen (TN) as an index of cheese maturity (WSN/TN). Fifty-two Protected Designation of Origin cow milk cheeses of 5 varieties (Asiago, Grana Padano, Montasio, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Piave) and different ripening times were available for laboratory and chemometric analyses. Reference measures of WSN and TN were matched with cheese spectral information obtained from ground samples by a NIR instrument that operated in transmittance mode for wavelengths from 850 to 1,050 nm. Prediction equations for WSN and TN were developed using (1) cross-validation on the whole data set and (2) external validation on a subset of the entire data. The WSN/TN was calculated as ratio of predicted WSN to predicted TN in cross-validation. The coefficients of determination for WSN and TN were >0.85 both in cross-and external validation. The high accuracy of the prediction equations for WSN and TN could facilitate implementation of NIR transmittance spectroscopy in the dairy industry to objectively, rapidly, and accurately monitor the ripeness of cheese through WSN/TN.

Animals, Oct 3, 2019

Milk fatty acid composition affects human health and dairy products flavor. In particular, some s... more Milk fatty acid composition affects human health and dairy products flavor. In particular, some saturated fatty acids increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, whereas conjugated linoleic acid inhibits carcinogenesis and reduces atherosclerosis and diabetes. Moreover, a greater amount of some short chain fatty acids increase the goaty flavor of dairy products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the breed and week of lactation effects on milk fatty acid profile of 5 Italian local goat breeds and a cosmopolitan breed reared in the same farm. Results showed that the fatty acid profile was mainly affected by the week of lactation. Saturated fatty acids were abundant in early lactation and unsaturated fatty acids were abundant in late lactation. Local goat breeds produced milk with lower concentration of saturated fatty acids than the cosmopolitan breed. This study may contribute to valorize milk of Italian local goat breeds which seems to have a healthier profile than milk of the cosmopolitan breed.

Food Chemistry, Apr 1, 2017

Food Control, Feb 1, 2022

Abstract Seafood is the product most susceptible to fraudulent activities. In particular, the cep... more Abstract Seafood is the product most susceptible to fraudulent activities. In particular, the cephalopod sector is affected mainly by the replacement of fresh by frozen-thawed product either immediately or after bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. Such activities undermine the consumers' confidence in the fish industry and in the effectiveness of the government's food control programme. Currently, the conventional analyses performed to check food authenticity are time-consuming and require skilled personnel, and thus are not applicable to on-site control. The aim of the present study was to develop classification models to discriminate cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) according to physical status and hydrogen peroxide treatment among fresh, frozen-thawed and frozen-thawed hydrogen peroxide-treated samples. A total of 669 cuttlefish spectra were collected, under real conditions, using a portable near-infrared spectrometer (902–1680 nm) operating in reflectance mode. Classification models were developed and then validated using a Support Vector Machine algorithm. Performance of the models was tested through external and hold-out validation according to their accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and Matthew correlation coefficient. The best performance was observed in discriminating between fresh and frozen-thawed product, in which were observed in hold-out validation 0.97 in accuracy and sensitivity, 0.96 in specificity, and 0.92 in Matthew correlation coefficient; whereas, an accuracy of 0.93, sensitivity of 0.89, specificity of 0.94 and Matthew correlation coefficient of 0.83 were found in external validation. However, sample classification according to bleaching treatment showed high performance when fresh samples were excluded. Such achievements confirm the applicability of near-infrared spectroscopy to the on-site inspection of cuttlefish and the control of the fraudulent activity of replacing fresh fish with product mislabelled as such.

Journal of Dairy Science, Jun 1, 2018

Free radicals are reactive and unstable waste molecules produced by cells, responsible of damages... more Free radicals are reactive and unstable waste molecules produced by cells, responsible of damages and alteration on DNA, proteins, and fat. The daily intake of antioxidant compounds, acting against free radicals and their detrimental effects, is essential for human health. Milk contains several compounds with antioxidant activity, and the sum of their reducing potential blocking free radicals development is defined as total antioxidant activity (TAA). This novel trait has been described in literature both in individual and bulk cow milk, but there are no reports from other dairy species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate phenotypic variation of TAA in individual samples of buffalo (n = 105), goat (n = 112), and sheep (n = 198) milk. Total antioxidant activity was measured through a reference spectrophotometric method, and expressed as millimoles per liter of Trolox equivalents (TE). The greatest TAA was observed in sheep milk, averaging 7.78 mmol/L of TE and showing also the broadest phenotypic variation expressed as coefficient of variation (13.98%). Significantly lower TAA values were observed for buffalo (7.35 mmol/L of TE) and goat (6.80 mmol/L of TE) milk, with coefficients of variation of 8.18 and 8.47%, respectively. Total antioxidant activity exhibited weak correlations with milk yield and chemical composition. Phenotypic values of TAA presented in this study will be used to assess the ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict this new trait and thus to collect data at the population level.

Agronomy, Feb 9, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Molecules, Jul 16, 2021

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Journal of Dairy Science, Mar 1, 2019

Sheep milk is mainly transformed into cheese; thus, the dairy industry seeks more rapid and cost-... more Sheep milk is mainly transformed into cheese; thus, the dairy industry seeks more rapid and cost-effective methods of analysis to determine milk coagulation and acidity traits. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy to determine milk coagulation and acidity traits of sheep bulk milk and to classify milk samples according to their renneting capacity. A total of 465 bulk milk samples collected in 140 single-breed flocks of Comisana (84 samples, 24 flocks) and Sarda (381 samples, 116 flocks) breeds located in Central Italy were analyzed for coagulation properties (rennet coagulation time, curd firming time, and curd firmness) and acidity traits (pH and titratable acidity) using standard laboratory procedures. Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction models for these traits were built using partial least squares regression analysis and were externally validated by randomly dividing the full data set into a calibration set (75%) and a validation set (25%). The discriminant capacity of the rennet coagulation time prediction model was determined using partial least squares discriminant analysis. Prediction models were more accurate for acidity traits than for milk coagulation properties, and the ratio of prediction to deviation ranged from 1.01 (curd firmness) to 2.14 (pH). Moreover, the discriminant analysis led to an overall accuracy of 74 and 66% for the calibration and validation sets, respectively, with greater sensitivity for samples that coagulated between 10 and 20 min and greater specificity to detect early-coagulating (<10 min) and late-coagulating (20-30 min) samples. Results suggest that Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy has the potential to help the dairy sheep industry identify milk with better coagulation ability for cheese production and thus improve milk transformation efficiency. However, further research is needed before this information can be exploited at the industry level.

Livestock Science, Dec 1, 2017

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of faecal near infrared spect... more Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of faecal near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) to predict undigested neutral detergent fibre at 240 h of fermentation (uNDF240) and other fibre fractions in lactating dairy cattle faeces. A total of 130 faecal samples (600 g) were collected directly from the rectum of dairy cows randomly selected across the lactating groups of 6 herds located in northern Italy and fed grass/alfalfa hay forage based total mixed ration. Reference values were matched with FNIRS spectra. Prediction equations were developed for each trait using external validation. Our results showed that the calculated uNDF240 (DM basis) to ADL ratio in faeces averaged 2.84, ranging from 1.58 to 4.10. The similar ratio of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and uNDF240 to NDF (66–67%) indicated that potentially digestible NDF in faeces is mainly represented by hemicelluloses, whereas uNDF240 is mainly composed of lignin and cellulose. The coefficient of determination of external validation (R2V) of uNDF240 was 0.59 when expressed as percentage of DM and 0.36 when expressed as percentage of NDF, and the corresponding ratio performance deviation of external validation (RPD) values in validation were 1.52 and 1.26, respectively. Values of R2V ranged from 0.54 to 0.63 for fibre fractions and RPD in validation ranged from 1.45 (ADL, % DM) to 1.68 (ADF, % DM). Despite the low accuracy of the prediction models, this study contributes to the knowledge of the FNIRS application to uNDF240 and other fibre fractions in faeces. Further investigations with different diet composition should be addressed.

International Dairy Journal, Feb 1, 2019

The phenotypic variation of milk total antioxidant activity (TAA) and the ability of midinfrared ... more The phenotypic variation of milk total antioxidant activity (TAA) and the ability of midinfrared spectroscopy to predict this novel trait was investigated. Total antioxidant activity was measured through the reference spectrophotometric method on 1249 individual milk samples of Holstein Friesian cows. Sources of variation of milk TAA were investigated using a mixed model, which included the fixed effects of days in milk, parity and calving season, and the random effects of herd-test-date and error. Mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction models were developed using partial least squares regression approach. The average level of milk TAA was 6.93 mmoL L-1 of Trolox equivalents; this exhibited a coefficient of variation of 15% and showed moderate phenotypic correlations with milk quality traits. Values of TAA were lower in early lactation than in late lactation. Mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction models reached a coefficient of determination in external validation of 0.41, suggesting that they are not adequate for analytical purposes.

International Dairy Journal, Aug 1, 2017

Prediction models for the mineral, fatty acid (FA) and cholesterol contents of commercial Europea... more Prediction models for the mineral, fatty acid (FA) and cholesterol contents of commercial European cheeses using near infrared transmittance spectroscopy were developed. Cheese samples (n=145) were from different dairy species and ripening time. Sample spectra were matched with mineral, FA and cholesterol reference data to develop prediction models. Modified partial least squares regressions were validated through cross-validation procedure on the complete dataset (n=145) and through external validation after dividing the data into calibration (74%) and external validation (26%) sets. Satisfactory models were developed for Ca, P, S, Mg and Zn, and for FA groups (saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FAs), major FAs (myristic, palmitic and oleic acids) and some minor FAs, whereas cholesterol content could not be predicted with adequate accuracy. Results of the present study are a precursor to at-line utilisation of prediction models for the most abundant cheese minerals and FAs at an industry level.

Animals, Dec 25, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Foods

Accurate species identification, especially in the fishery sector, is critical for ensuring food ... more Accurate species identification, especially in the fishery sector, is critical for ensuring food safety, consumer protection and to prevent economic losses. In this study, a total of 93 individual frozen–thawed cuttlefish samples from four different species (S. officinalis, S. bertheloti, S. aculeata, and Sepiella inermis) were collected from two wholesale fish plants in Chioggia, Italy. Species identification was carried out by inspection through morphological features using dichotomic keys and then through near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements. The NIRS data were collected using a handled-portable spectrophotometer, and the spectral range scanned was from 900–1680 nm. The collected spectra were processed using principal component analysis for unsupervised analysis and a support vector machine for supervised analysis to evaluate the species identification capability. The results showed that NIRS classification had a high overall accuracy of 93% in identifying the cuttlefis...

Agronomy

Winter cereal silages can suffer from an inadequate fermentative path which can lead to aerobic i... more Winter cereal silages can suffer from an inadequate fermentative path which can lead to aerobic instability. We evaluate the pre-ensiled conditions influencing the final fermentative quality and its aerobic stability. We studied the use of hetero/homofermentative inoculants on two early-harvest wheat samples (312 and 348 g/kg of dry matter—DM levels) undergoing three ensiling delays. The fermentative profiles were evaluated during the first ten d of ensiling, at 60 d and after 7 and 14 d of aerobic exposure. Aerobic stability was recorded during fourteen d after the silo opening. Significant (p < 0.05) differences of the final fermentative profile were related mainly to DM levels at harvest, while the use of the inoculant affected only the acetic acid significantly. Finally, the sealing delay did not significantly affect the silage fermentative profile. The overall aerobic stability was 59.2 ± 23.6 h, and cumulative temperatures were lower than 438 for seven d of aerobic exposure...

Molecules

Olive vegetation water (OVW) is a by-product with a noticeable environmental impact; however, its... more Olive vegetation water (OVW) is a by-product with a noticeable environmental impact; however, its polyphenols may be reused food and feed manufacture as high-value ingredients with antioxidant/antimicrobial activities. The effect of dietary supplementation with OVW polyphenols on the gut microbiota, carcass and breast quality, shelf life, and lipid oxidation in broiler chickens has been studied. Chicks were fed diets supplemented with crude phenolic concentrate (CPC) obtained from OVW (220 and 440 mg/kg phenols equivalent) until reaching commercial size. Cloacal microbial community (rRNA16S sequencing) was monitored during the growth period. Breasts were submitted to culture-dependent and -independent microbiological analyses during their shelf-life. Composition, fatty acid concentration, and lipid oxidation of raw and cooked thawed breasts were measured. Growth performance and gut microbiota were only slightly affected by the dietary treatments, while animal age influenced the cloa...

Foods

Determining cocoa bean quality is crucial for many players in the international supply chain. How... more Determining cocoa bean quality is crucial for many players in the international supply chain. However, actual methods rely on a cut test protocol, which is limited by its subjective nature, or on time-consuming, expensive and destructive wet-chemistry laboratory procedures. In this context, the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, particularly with the recent developments of portable NIR spectrometers, may represent a valuable solution for providing a cocoa beans’ quality profile, in a rapid, non-destructive, and reliable way. Monitored parameters in this work were dry matter (DM), ash, shell, fat, protein, total polyphenols, fermentation index (FI), titratable acidity (TA) and pH. Different chemometric analyses were performed on the spectral data and calibration models were developed using modified partial least squares regression. Prediction equations were validated using a fivefold cross-validation and a comparison between the different prediction performances for the...

Animals

The aims of the present study were to characterize egg composition and develop VIS-Near-infrared ... more The aims of the present study were to characterize egg composition and develop VIS-Near-infrared spectroscopy (VIS-NIR) models for its predictions in Italian local chicken breeds, namely Padovana Camosciata, Padovana Dorata, Polverara Bianca, Polverara Nera, Pepoi, Ermellinata di Rovigo, Robusta Maculata and Robusta Lionata. Hens were reared in a single conservation center under the same environmental and management conditions. A total of 200 samples (25 samples per breed, two eggs/sample) were analyzed for the composition of albumen and yolk. Prediction models for these traits were developed on both fresh and freeze-dried samples. Eggs of Polverara Nera and Polverara Bianca differed from eggs of the other breeds (p < 0.05) in terms of the greatest moisture content (90.06 ± 1.23% and 89.57 ± 1.31%, respectively) and the lowest protein content (8.34 ± 1.27% and 8.81 ± 1.27%) in the albumen on wet basis. As regards the yolk, Robusta Maculata and Robusta Lionata differed (p < 0.0...