title: Development of a High Protein Frozen Dessert

authors: Nixon, Sean Christopher

subjects: Dessert

abstract: It was identified that there is a potential market for a low fat, low carbohydrate, high protein frozen dessert that has similar sensory attributes to ice cream. Such a product could be utilized by athletes, obesity sufferers and anyone seeking a healthy alternative to ice cream. Ingredients were sourced that could replace and replicate those found in traditional ice cream products. 

A key challenge in producing the dessert was identifying suitable ingredients to control the freezing point depression (FPD). Fructose, erythritol, xylitol and polydextrose were identified as being suitable options and 18 prototype formulae were generated using Design-Expert® V8 software to try and find the best combination of these four ingredients. Ingredients used in fixed amounts were water, whey protein isolate, Simplesse® 100, vanilla flavour, Novagel GP 3282, carboxy methyl cellulose and mono/di-glycerides. The prototype desserts were prepared using a Breville Ice Cream Wizz. The hardness and viscosity of each prototype was measured, and the internal structures of selected prototypes were analysed using cryo-SEM. The results were compared to regular ice cream products, and then the formulation was optimized accordingly using the software. 

The optimum prototype contained 11.6% protein, 14.3% carbohydrate and only 1.6% fat. It was estimated that if taken to market, the finished product could have a recommended retail price of $10.18 for 1L, placing it in the lower end of the premium ice cream products range. Using a 9-point hedonic scale, this optimised prototype received an overall appeal score of 7.18 ± 1.08 from a consumer panel, with a score of 7 corresponding to ‘Like Moderately’ and a score of 8 corresponding to ‘Like Very Much’. However it received a lower score than the regular ice cream control (8.35 ± 0.77), and the difference was found to be statistically significantly (p<0.05). Despite this, due to its high protein and low fat contents, this unique product could fill a niche in the market, particularly if its consumer appeal could be further increased.

Future work should study the effect of increasing the air content in order to produce a softer product with a more favourable texture. Carbohydrate content should be lowered as product becomes softer and efforts should be made to correlate the relationship between FPD, hardness and overrun.

text: Development of a High Protein Frozen Dessert It was identified that there is a potential market for a low fat, low carbohydrate, high protein frozen dessert that has similar sensory attributes to ice cream. Such a product could be utilized by athletes, obesity sufferers and anyone seeking a healthy alternative to ice cream. Ingredients were sourced that could replace and replicate those found in traditional ice cream products. 

A key challenge in producing the dessert was identifying suitable ingredients to control the freezing point depression (FPD). Fructose, erythritol, xylitol and polydextrose were identified as being suitable options and 18 prototype formulae were generated using Design-Expert® V8 software to try and find the best combination of these four ingredients. Ingredients used in fixed amounts were water, whey protein isolate, Simplesse® 100, vanilla flavour, Novagel GP 3282, carboxy methyl cellulose and mono/di-glycerides. The prototype desserts were prepared using a Breville Ice Cream Wizz. The hardness and viscosity of each prototype was measured, and the internal structures of selected prototypes were analysed using cryo-SEM. The results were compared to regular ice cream products, and then the formulation was optimized accordingly using the software. 

The optimum prototype contained 11.6% protein, 14.3% carbohydrate and only 1.6% fat. It was estimated that if taken to market, the finished product could have a recommended retail price of $10.18 for 1L, placing it in the lower end of the premium ice cream products range. Using a 9-point hedonic scale, this optimised prototype received an overall appeal score of 7.18 ± 1.08 from a consumer panel, with a score of 7 corresponding to ‘Like Moderately’ and a score of 8 corresponding to ‘Like Very Much’. However it received a lower score than the regular ice cream control (8.35 ± 0.77), and the difference was found to be statistically significantly (p<0.05). Despite this, due to its high protein and low fat contents, this unique product could fill a niche in the market, particularly if its consumer appeal could be further increased.

Future work should study the effect of increasing the air content in order to produce a softer product with a more favourable texture. Carbohydrate content should be lowered as product becomes softer and efforts should be made to correlate the relationship between FPD, hardness and overrun.

year: 2012

title: Regional Security Complex Theory: Southeast Asia and the South Pacific

authors: Cruden, Michaela

subjects: Regionalism

abstract: The changing shape of the international system in the post-Cold War era has demanded that theorists and practitioners re-evaluate the nature of security in the analysis of International Relations in the modern world. While realist conceptions of security are still pivotal in determining the actions of states, the increasing prevalence of transnational threats and security interdependence has facilitated the rise of regionally coherent subsystems within which the pursuit of security cannot be achieved in the absence of cooperation. Despite modern advancements in technology and transportation, the reality remains that security threats have a higher capability to travel over short distances rather than long, and the capacity of most states to project power beyond their own regional sphere is relatively limited. Consequently, the interplay between geography and anarchy in the current international system has facilitated the rise of regional security complexes (RSCs), whereby geographically proximate states are bound within a distinct regional dynamic; be it conflict or cooperation. The regionalist perspective has sought to emphasize that security at the regional level is autonomous and distinguishable from the dynamics of the global and domestic levels and that, whilst each regional space is unique, particular variables are comparable and highlight interactions that would not occur were it not for the existence of a RSC.

The purpose of this thesis is to utilise the theoretical framework of Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) in order to cross-compare two different regions; Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Southeast Asia has been widely accepted as an autonomous regional construct and experiences a web of security interdependence which ensures that the security concerns of its units cannot be analysed or resolved apart from one another. The South Pacific, by contrast, has been largely ignored in the literature on regional security and has otherwise been categorized as being unstructured and too weak in its dynamic to constitute a security complex in its own right. The objective of this thesis is to outline the variables of the essential structure of a RSC so as to ascertain whether the characterization of the South Pacific as being unstructured holds true. The additional objective of this thesis is to map and cross-compare the regional security architecture of the South Pacific to that of Southeast Asia in order to highlight and pinpoint what differences exist, what they say about the region itself, and how they may be explained.

text: Regional Security Complex Theory: Southeast Asia and the South Pacific The changing shape of the international system in the post-Cold War era has demanded that theorists and practitioners re-evaluate the nature of security in the analysis of International Relations in the modern world. While realist conceptions of security are still pivotal in determining the actions of states, the increasing prevalence of transnational threats and security interdependence has facilitated the rise of regionally coherent subsystems within which the pursuit of security cannot be achieved in the absence of cooperation. Despite modern advancements in technology and transportation, the reality remains that security threats have a higher capability to travel over short distances rather than long, and the capacity of most states to project power beyond their own regional sphere is relatively limited. Consequently, the interplay between geography and anarchy in the current international system has facilitated the rise of regional security complexes (RSCs), whereby geographically proximate states are bound within a distinct regional dynamic; be it conflict or cooperation. The regionalist perspective has sought to emphasize that security at the regional level is autonomous and distinguishable from the dynamics of the global and domestic levels and that, whilst each regional space is unique, particular variables are comparable and highlight interactions that would not occur were it not for the existence of a RSC.

The purpose of this thesis is to utilise the theoretical framework of Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) in order to cross-compare two different regions; Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Southeast Asia has been widely accepted as an autonomous regional construct and experiences a web of security interdependence which ensures that the security concerns of its units cannot be analysed or resolved apart from one another. The South Pacific, by contrast, has been largely ignored in the literature on regional security and has otherwise been categorized as being unstructured and too weak in its dynamic to constitute a security complex in its own right. The objective of this thesis is to outline the variables of the essential structure of a RSC so as to ascertain whether the characterization of the South Pacific as being unstructured holds true. The additional objective of this thesis is to map and cross-compare the regional security architecture of the South Pacific to that of Southeast Asia in order to highlight and pinpoint what differences exist, what they say about the region itself, and how they may be explained.

year: 2011

title: Māori women and intimate partner violence: Some sociocultural influences

authors: Hoeata, Chloe

subjects: intimate partner violence

abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been acknowledged as a worldwide phenomenon, with approximately one in four intimate relationships containing some form of violence. This study explores the interaction between relationship dynamics, IPV and whānau and community influences. We completed narrative interviews with two Māori women in December 2010. Our findings confirm the results of earlier studies which have found that childhood experiences of violence, actual or witnessed, have a powerful effect that reverberate within adult lives and into the formation of intimate relationships. Our interviews show that Māori whānau and women are textured by the same patriarchal expectations that privilege men in the Pākehā world. We also found that seeking help from whānau to escape a violent relationship may not be the most welcomed course of action. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions.

text: Māori women and intimate partner violence: Some sociocultural influences Intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been acknowledged as a worldwide phenomenon, with approximately one in four intimate relationships containing some form of violence. This study explores the interaction between relationship dynamics, IPV and whānau and community influences. We completed narrative interviews with two Māori women in December 2010. Our findings confirm the results of earlier studies which have found that childhood experiences of violence, actual or witnessed, have a powerful effect that reverberate within adult lives and into the formation of intimate relationships. Our interviews show that Māori whānau and women are textured by the same patriarchal expectations that privilege men in the Pākehā world. We also found that seeking help from whānau to escape a violent relationship may not be the most welcomed course of action. We conclude with a discussion of future research directions.

year: 2011