title: The impact on language teachers of trends in the literature on language teaching  and learning: A questionnaire-based study involving teachers of English as an  additional language

authors: Fester, Anthea Marcelle

abstract: I report here on specific aspects of a survey of a sample of 93 teachers of English as an additional language from five different countries who completed a questionnaire that included questions relating to objectives specification and the inclusion of coherence, cohesion and genre in their teaching. The data collected suggest that although literature on language teaching and learning appears to have had some impact on the beliefs and practices of these language teachers, that impact has, in general, been a superficial one.

text: The impact on language teachers of trends in the literature on language teaching  and learning: A questionnaire-based study involving teachers of English as an  additional language I report here on specific aspects of a survey of a sample of 93 teachers of English as an additional language from five different countries who completed a questionnaire that included questions relating to objectives specification and the inclusion of coherence, cohesion and genre in their teaching. The data collected suggest that although literature on language teaching and learning appears to have had some impact on the beliefs and practices of these language teachers, that impact has, in general, been a superficial one.

year: 2010

title: Ultimate pH and storage related changes to sheepmeat odour and flavour

authors: Braggins, Terence John

abstract: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), gas chromatography/olfactometry and a trained sensory panel were used to study the effects of meat ultimate pH on the odour and flavour of cooked sheepmeat. As part of methods development, supercritical carbon dioxide elution was evaluated as an alternative to thermal desorption of volatile compounds from Tenax-T A traps, but this technique did not offer any significant advantage. In a separate study, the sensory panel and an emerging technology, an electronic nose, were used to investigate the changes in cooked meat odour and flavour arising from long term storage of chilled lamb legs in a carbon dioxide atmosphere.

Pre-slaughter injection of adrenalin was used to produce sheepmeats of normal (5.66), moderate (6.26) and high (6.81) ultimate pH. Meat with a moderate or high ultimate pH had a significantly lower overall cooking odour and flavour intensity, as assessed by the sensory pane, than sheepmeat of a more acceptable pH (5.66). Panellists also found that desirable odour and flavour notes decreased and undesirable ones increased as ultimate pH increased. Purge-and-trap GC/MS of fat rendered during cooking identified 57 (out of a total of 325) volatile compounds that significantly decreased in concentration with increasing meat pH. The most common of these compounds were aldehydes. GC/olfactometry identified 54 odour-active compounds, 10 of which were also found to be responsive to changes in meat ultimate pH. Most of these compounds were again aldehydes.

High ultimate pH raw meat which was titrated with hydrochloric acid to pH levels close to that of low ultimate pH had odour and flavour intensities comparable to those of normal (low) ultimate pH meat. Most of the volatile compounds found by GC/MS analysis to decrease in concentration with increasing ultimate pH did not have a reduced concentration after this downward pH adjustment. These results and parallel analyses of soluble protein, free amino acids and free fatty acids led to the conclusion that pH-related changes in the odour and flavour of cooked sheepmeat are probably mediated by direct pH effects during the cooking process, rather than by a pH-related development of odour and flavour precursors in raw meat before cooking begins.

Meat pH values of lamb legs increased significantly between 4 and 14 weeks storage in the CO₂ aging. Sensory panellist found there were significant storage time effects in “overall”, “sheepmeat”, and “sweet” odours of cooked meat. Panellists also detected a significant decrease in “sweet” and “roasty” flavours in the CO₂-packed lamb legs stored at -1.5°C compared with vacuum packed controls stored frozen (-35°C). Of particular concern, after 14 weeks chilled storage in CO₂, the intensity of a “livery/offaly” flavour was significantly higher than for the frozen-stored control.

The electronic nose could detect differences in headspace volatiles of both raw and cooked minces from meat subjected to the different storage treatments. The results suggest that, under these experimental conditions, the electronic nose was more discerning and possibly gave more reproducible results than sensory panellists. What relationship the electronic nose’s measurements have to human perception of odour has yet to be determined.

The multidisciplinary approach used in this thesis has helped to explain some of the variations in meat flavour quality important to the New Zealand meat industry.

text: Ultimate pH and storage related changes to sheepmeat odour and flavour Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), gas chromatography/olfactometry and a trained sensory panel were used to study the effects of meat ultimate pH on the odour and flavour of cooked sheepmeat. As part of methods development, supercritical carbon dioxide elution was evaluated as an alternative to thermal desorption of volatile compounds from Tenax-T A traps, but this technique did not offer any significant advantage. In a separate study, the sensory panel and an emerging technology, an electronic nose, were used to investigate the changes in cooked meat odour and flavour arising from long term storage of chilled lamb legs in a carbon dioxide atmosphere.

Pre-slaughter injection of adrenalin was used to produce sheepmeats of normal (5.66), moderate (6.26) and high (6.81) ultimate pH. Meat with a moderate or high ultimate pH had a significantly lower overall cooking odour and flavour intensity, as assessed by the sensory pane, than sheepmeat of a more acceptable pH (5.66). Panellists also found that desirable odour and flavour notes decreased and undesirable ones increased as ultimate pH increased. Purge-and-trap GC/MS of fat rendered during cooking identified 57 (out of a total of 325) volatile compounds that significantly decreased in concentration with increasing meat pH. The most common of these compounds were aldehydes. GC/olfactometry identified 54 odour-active compounds, 10 of which were also found to be responsive to changes in meat ultimate pH. Most of these compounds were again aldehydes.

High ultimate pH raw meat which was titrated with hydrochloric acid to pH levels close to that of low ultimate pH had odour and flavour intensities comparable to those of normal (low) ultimate pH meat. Most of the volatile compounds found by GC/MS analysis to decrease in concentration with increasing ultimate pH did not have a reduced concentration after this downward pH adjustment. These results and parallel analyses of soluble protein, free amino acids and free fatty acids led to the conclusion that pH-related changes in the odour and flavour of cooked sheepmeat are probably mediated by direct pH effects during the cooking process, rather than by a pH-related development of odour and flavour precursors in raw meat before cooking begins.

Meat pH values of lamb legs increased significantly between 4 and 14 weeks storage in the CO₂ aging. Sensory panellist found there were significant storage time effects in “overall”, “sheepmeat”, and “sweet” odours of cooked meat. Panellists also detected a significant decrease in “sweet” and “roasty” flavours in the CO₂-packed lamb legs stored at -1.5°C compared with vacuum packed controls stored frozen (-35°C). Of particular concern, after 14 weeks chilled storage in CO₂, the intensity of a “livery/offaly” flavour was significantly higher than for the frozen-stored control.

The electronic nose could detect differences in headspace volatiles of both raw and cooked minces from meat subjected to the different storage treatments. The results suggest that, under these experimental conditions, the electronic nose was more discerning and possibly gave more reproducible results than sensory panellists. What relationship the electronic nose’s measurements have to human perception of odour has yet to be determined.

The multidisciplinary approach used in this thesis has helped to explain some of the variations in meat flavour quality important to the New Zealand meat industry.

year: 1996

title: Incentivising change in the Lake Rotorua catchment

authors: Grayling, Anna

abstract: Anna Grayling is the Rotorua Lakes Business Manager for Bay of Plenty Regional Council. After completing a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Sciences at the University of Waikato, Anna’s career began as an ecological consultant. Following this role, Anna spent five years in planning and policy for both the district and regional councils. For the last five years Anna has been dedicated to the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme. She is now the project lead for the Incentive Fund Development for land-use change in the Lake Rotorua catchment.
Alastair MacCormick has worked as a Lakes Restoration Officer with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council since 2007. His primary function has been the implementation of nutrient discharge limits under Rule 11. An experienced user of the Overseer nutrient budgeting software, and with broad knowledge of farming systems in the catchment, he also provides information and advice on the issues and complications associated with nutrient accounting.

text: Incentivising change in the Lake Rotorua catchment Anna Grayling is the Rotorua Lakes Business Manager for Bay of Plenty Regional Council. After completing a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Sciences at the University of Waikato, Anna’s career began as an ecological consultant. Following this role, Anna spent five years in planning and policy for both the district and regional councils. For the last five years Anna has been dedicated to the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme. She is now the project lead for the Incentive Fund Development for land-use change in the Lake Rotorua catchment.
Alastair MacCormick has worked as a Lakes Restoration Officer with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council since 2007. His primary function has been the implementation of nutrient discharge limits under Rule 11. An experienced user of the Overseer nutrient budgeting software, and with broad knowledge of farming systems in the catchment, he also provides information and advice on the issues and complications associated with nutrient accounting.

year: 2013