Raw data from the data recording systems (Agilent data acquisition
and control unit (DAU)) for beef was loaded into a spreadsheet.
The raw temperature data for each sample was extracted from the
complete data set adjusted using the pure water calibration point
for each individual thermocouple, and placed in a separate spreadsheet
headed with sample number and measured pH. The data was
then sorted by pH and grouped into low (pHb5.8) and high
(pH>6.2) ultimate pH (pHu). The data for each pH range was then averaged
and at this point a 43 data point rolling average was applied to
all the temperature data to smooth the data. The original data, adjusted
for the thermocouple calibrations, was used for the statistical analysis.
A Bayesian smoothing technique (Upsdell, 1994) was used to
estimate the splines and their least significant intervals (Pb0.05).