The Ragin' Pathogens, the Food Science Club-sponsored soft ball team last lost a game at the very start of the 2007 season, then won 7 in a row, including last year's championship game. They began the 2008 season right where they left off, winning their first 4 contests. Heading into last night's second round play-off game, expectations were naturally high, even with several key players absent from the field. When the game finally started, uncharacteristic errors in the field, too many walks, and some punch-less hitting put the Pathogens down by seven before they got serious. Finally, the bats came alive and, in the final inning, the Pathogens managed to claw their way back to within 3, with the game-tying runner at the plate. Yet, that was as close as they could get, and when the dust finally settled, the game and season were abruptly over.

While the team (Mike Nietfeltd, Anne Rigdon, Beau Davis, Kelly Dawson, Kenzi Clark, Matt Crotty, Ben Remington, Tim Anderson, Ines Martinez, Suzy Hammons, Jessi Rouse, Kristen Cochran, Steve Kasier, Megan Wheatley, Grant Wallace, Bob Hutkins, and Coach Ryan Talley) was disappointed with the outcome, it was still a great season. Although some team members will undoubtedly graduate (or possibly be drafted by the professional leagues), quite a few players will be back for 2009. There are rumors that Doc may be contemplating retirement, but perhaps he will reconsider during the off-season (or at least get his eyes checked).

The team thanks Coach Talley, it's many fans, and especially Sport Beat Photographer Melanie Downs for supporting the team and documenting all the action.

Dr. Itzhak Ofek, from the Department of Human Microbiology at Tel Aviv University will be visiting UNL on Monday, July 28 and will be presenting a seminar at 10:00 in 42 Food Industry Complex. He will be speaking on bacterial attachment and strategies to prevent pathogens from adhering to tissues.

All are encouraged to attend.

The FST/FPC Potluck Picnic will be held at Holmes Lake Park on Sunday, September 14 from 2-5 P.M.Please join us and bring your favorite entree, salad, or dessert.Hot dogs, condiments, chips, and drinks will be provided. If you don't think you can make it, less Nina or Abby know.

The latest issue of Essential Science Indicator unveiled the biofuels research paper most cited over the last 10 years. Food Science and Technology and Biological Systems Engineering professor Milford Hanna's 1999 article "Biodiesel Production: a review" which was published in the October 1999 issue of Bioresource Technology, was cited over 300 times. "Biodiesel Production: a review" dealt with the methods by which animal fat and vegetable oil can be processed into mobile fuels. The article focused on conversion using the transesterification process, which is now the standard method. Dr. Hanna's review, and the 2005 followup "Biodiesel: current perspectives and future", provided a broad analysis of processing trends and industry concerns. This research is especially important given current energy concerns and the interest in alternative fuel sources.

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A quest for butter brickle ice cream prompted Steve Willers to drive more than 100 miles out of his way so he could buy some of the tasty treat at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dairy Store.

Willers developed a liking for the rich, candy-like taste of butter brickle when he was only 4 or 5. Now 61, he still craves it but has had trouble finding it -- until he contacted the Dairy Store.

"I thought it was something in my life that was gone," he said.

Butter brickle is one of nine flavors of ice cream that UNL's popular store features every day. Bryan Scherbarth, the store's retail manager, attributes strong sales of the store's ice cream to "the specialness of the product." It's different from other ice cream.

Scherbarth, who came to the store four months ago after spending more than a decade as a manager at the now-closed P.O. Pears in Lincoln, doesn't want to give away any secret recipes. But he says the store's ice cream is richer than most other ice creams and is more natural, without the preservatives found in more commercial ice cream.

The Dairy Store, a part of UNL's Food Processing Center, has a broad customer base way beyond UNL students and faculty and neighboring residents, he said.

"This place has become a destination," Scherbarth said.

Willers, who has homes in Pierre, S.D., and Reed Springs, Mo., has made it his destination. He had looked in local grocery stores and even contacted a nearby ice cream manufacturer to find butter brickle only to learn the flavor had been discontinued.

He researched the Internet and found the flavor too far away that cost $9 for a half gallon. He then contacted the Dairy Store, which he frequented as a UNL business and economics student in the mid- to late-1960s.

Willers asked store personnel to reserve eight or nine half-gallon containers. Then on a trip last spring between Pierre and Branson he drove more than 100 miles out of the way to pick up the goods, packing it in dry ice. Now down to only two containers, Willers is hoping to make another trip to Lincoln for more ice cream later yet this summer when he drives between his two homes again.

Ice cream is the biggest seller at the Dairy Store in the summer, with cheese being a bigger seller in the winter, Scherbarth said. The store typically serves 120 to 200 gallons of ice cream in the store every week in addition to the sales of its half-gallon containers. During the week of July 4, the store sold over 450 gallons.

Later this summer the store plans a few changes to its product line and operation. Cheese now only sold in bricks will be sold sliced and shredded and stored in larger coolers in the lobby.

The store has purchased a larger single-unit cooler with six doors similar to those found in grocery stores. Some rearranging will be required in the store's lobby during the installation of the coolers.

Another change will be the offering of more structured tours of the dairy plant, Scherbarth said. Group tours ranging from schoolchildren to senior citizens occur nearly daily, and currently the tours are led by whichever employee happens to be available at the time.

Now, a dedicated tour coordinator has been hired and will put together a tour guide staff consisting of alumni and current students from the Department of Food Science and Technology. A standardized script will be used for the tours.

Tours of the Dairy Store, Scherbarth said, are increasingly being offered by off-campus tour groups that book tours for people interested in learning more about Lincoln. The tours are being combined with visits to UNL's new International Quilt Study Center, he said.

The store, located on Dairy Drive on UNL's East Campus, is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The Dairy Store is part of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which also includes UNL Extension, the Agricultural Research Division and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. A 2007 study by an independent organization found IANR annually returns at least $15 in benefits to Nebraskans for every dollar of state support, making it a primary engine for economic and social sustainability (http://atworkfornebraska.unl.edu).

# # #

7/22/08-LM Source: Bryan Scherbarth, retail manager, UNL Dairy Store, (402) 472-2973

Writer: Lori McGinnis

Mis-played ground balls, over-throws to the bases, runners tagged out at home and at third, too little clutch hitting and too many stranded runners - certainly not a formula for winning softball. Yet even without their "A" Game, the Ragin' Pathogens still had more than enough offense and defense to win their 4th straight game, with a final score of 11-7 over the Slump Busters. The team was led by exceptional play at third base by Jessi Rouse, who seemingly recorded nearly half the put-outs, and by Tim Anderson, who made a Sports Center - worthy sliding catch down the left field line. Newcomers Kristen Cochran, Steve Kasier, and Megan Wheatley joined the team and made terrific contributions. The crowd was as enthusiastic as ever (attendance was estimated at nearly double digits) and Sports Beat ace photographer Melanie Downs was there to document all the action (http://www.unl.edu/foodscienceclub/Site/Softball.html).

The team has a bye for next week, and will be well-rested for the play-offs, which are scheduled to begin the week of July 28. The Pathogens have a 4 and 0 record and should be one of the top seeds. The post season schedule will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

A graduate assistantship is available in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering or Food Science & Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln to work in the area of mathematical modeling of microwave cooking of frozen foods in a domestic microwave oven.

This assistantship is funded from a large USDA grant. The student will have excellent opportunities to interact with other multidisciplinary teams involving microbiologists, risk analysts, consumer behavior experts in addition to food industry professionals. Students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. with prior experience in numerical modeling are preferred.

Highly motivated students interested in pursuing M.S. will be considered.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Jeyam Subbiah

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Ph: 402-472-2944

Email: jsubbiah2@unl.edu

Not even an early evening thunder storm could slow down the Ragin' Pathogens, the Food Science Club-sponsored softball team, as they won their 3rd straight game of the season, with a final score of 10-7. The wet conditions certainly affected play, with a slippery ball accounting for some errant throws and the first base-on-balls issued in Doc's 30 year career. Nonetheless, solid hitting throughout the entire line-up and awesome fielding by shortstop Beau Davis and newcomers Inez Martinez behind the plate and Ben Remington in right field helped the Pathogens build a 6 run lead which was more than enough to melt the hopes of the Frozen Ropes.

The next game is set for Monday at 6:25 versus the Slump Busters. The forecast is for another Pathogen Win!.

One very wild throw in particular got the attention of Sports Beat Photographer Melanie Downs, who inadvertently made quite a stop with her shin. Being the professional she is, Melanie even managed to capture the shocking images herself, which are posted at the link below. WARNING: These images may be too disturbing for young audiences.

http://www.unl.edu/foodscienceclub/Site/Photos/Photos.html.

Dr. Itzhak Ofek, from the Department of Human Microbiology at Tel Aviv University will be visiting UNL on Monday, July 28 and will be presenting a seminar at 10:00 in 42 Food Industry Complex. The seminar announcement is attached.

Dr. Ofek is well known for his research on bacterial attachment, anti-adherence mechanisms, and lectin-ligand chemistry. We are currently collaborating on a project involving the use of food-grade oligosaccharides to inhibit pathogen attachment to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro and in animal models. His seminar will describe his research on a cranberry-derived compound that has anti-adherence activity. All are encouraged to attend.

Thanks to our terrific graduate and undergraduate students, our Department had many successes at IFT As noted earlier, Poi-Wah Lee won 1st place in the IFT Graduate Research Oral Paper Competition (the most prestigious paper award at IFT). In addition, Anuja Patnaik won the Second Place Award in the Biotechnology Division Poster Competition, and two other students, Bhima Geera and Matt Dickey presented in the Carbohydrate Division paper competition. Other students that competed in paper completions included FDST Senior (and now graduate student) Melanie Downs and Ferdelie Gaskin. Three other students, Rakhi Panda, Harsha Ariyarathna, and Manjusha Kasinadhuni, did not enter paper competitions but still presented their research at the poster sessions.