Summary Supercritical fluid extrusion (SCFX) is a novel process combining traditional extrusion and supercritical fluid technologies. The objective of this study was (i) to assess the effect of sugar, maltodextrin and cornstarch on the physical properties of milk protein concentrate (MPC) puffed extrudates and (ii) to compare the physical and textural properties of SCFX puffed MPC products with commercially puffed cereal products. Results showed that the nutritious MPC puffed products with carbohydrates can be made with textural properties (hardness, brittleness and crispness) resembling those of the commercial samples. The porosity of F2 (0.573) was assessed to the commercial product C1 (0.543) and C2 (0.595), the specific length of F3 (50.41) was assessed to C1 (45.51) and F4 (80.14) was assessed to C2 (78.12). The hardness of extrudate F3 (435.49 KPa) was assessed to C2 (482.7 KPa). The Young's modulus of F5 (87.03) was assessed to C2 (80.57). The starches affected the crispness of the extrudates, and sugar affected the hardness and brittleness significantly.

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Traditionally, farmers determine when a crop is ready for harvest by observing sensible attributes. They inspect the color or other physical observables which their crops exhibit and make decisions based on these observations and their past experience. This research presents for the first time a mathematical method employing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to quantify the maturation or ripeness of Cameo apple based on the changes in concentrations of selected constituent components (e.g., glucose) in the apple fruit. Cameo apple fruit samples were collected from a single tree every 15 days during the last 60 days of the apple fruit maturation cycle and then analyzed with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The vibrational bands from the Fourier-transform infrared spectra were assigned to specific functional group. The peak intensities of the vibrational bands corresponding to glucose molecule were normalized and plotted against the number of days remaining before the apple fruit maturity and were observed to show a linear relationship. This relationship can be used to calculate the time required for the apple fruit to reach maturity and also to calculate the concentration of constituent components at any stage of its growth cycle.