READ ME File For Chapter4_Storage_Cooking


ReadMe Author: Annabelle Fisher, University of Southampton ORCID ID 0000-0003-2230-7954 

This dataset supports the thesis entitled "Defining Solutions for the Improvement of Food and Nutrition Security in the UK: Parsnips as a Case Study for Improving Folate Status through Dietary Intervention"

AWARDED BY: University of Southampton
DATE OF AWARD: 2026


Date of data collection: 
2021 - 2025

Information about geographic location of data collection: 
Data were collected from parsnips grown in field trials in Cobham, Surrey, and in Brandon, Norfolk.



Related projects/Funders:
Parsnips were grown by project partners Tozer Seeds Ltd, and VCS (UK) Ltd, respectively


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DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
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This dataset contains:

- rresultsv1_cooking.csv
- rresutsv2s_storage.csv
- README.txt


Relationship between files, if important for context:

The README file applies to both the rresultsv1_storage.csv and the rresultsv2s_storage.csv files

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README INFORMATION - rresultsv1_cooking.csv
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METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION
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Full information on the methods for collection/generation of the data are included in the main thesis document entitled "Defining Solutions for the Improvement of Food and Nutrition Security in the UK: 
Parsnips as a Case Study for Improving Folate Status through Dietary Intervention - Chapter 4 - Varietal Variation in the Folate (Vitamin B9) Content of Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L.)" 

In brief, parsnips of the Javelin variety were cooked by either boiling, microwaving, or roasting. The total folate content, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate content, and tetrahydrofolate content of parsnips were assessed in raw and cooked parsnip tissues. Additionally, information on the mass change over cooking and therefore the water change over cooking were collected and used to interpret folate changes. 

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DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
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Number of variables:
12

Number of cases/rows: 
20

Variable list, defining any abbreviations, units of measure, codes or symbols used:

Variable		|Type		|Description							|Unit	|
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composite		| factor	| the composite from which the sample was taken			| -
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treatment		| factor	| Which cooking treatment the sample underwent			| -
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ww_pre_treat_grams	| numeric	| The wet weight of the sample prior to undergoing treatment	| grams	
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ww_post_treat_grams	| numeric	| The wet weight of the sample post undergoing treatment	| grams
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dw_post_treat_dry_g	| numeric	| The dry weight of the sample post undergoing treatment 	| grams
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weight_change_		| numeric	| The change in sample weight over treatment			| %	
treatment_perc 		|		|								|
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dm_pre_treat_perc	| numeric	| The percentage dry matter of the sample pre treatment		| %				|		|								|
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dm_post_treat_perc	| numeric	| The percentage dry matter of the sample post treatment	| %
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mthf_per_100g_DW 	| numeric	| The amount of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the sample per 100g	| ug/100g
			|		| dried weight						 	|
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thf_per_100g_DW		| numeric	| The amount of tetrahydrofolate in the sample per 100g		| ug/100g
			|		| dried weight							| 
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total_per_100g_DW	| numeric	| The amount of folate in the sample per 100g dried weight	| ug/100g
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ww_post_standardised	| numeric	| The wet weight of the sample after treatment standardised to	| grams
_50_grams 		|		| an initial weight of 50g					|
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Date that the file was created: November, 2025

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README INFORMATION - rresultsv2s_storage.csv
-------------------------------------------

--------------------------
METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION
--------------------------

Full information on the methods for collection/generation of the data are included in the main thesis document entitled "Defining Solutions for the Improvement of Food and Nutrition Security in the UK: 
Parsnips as a Case Study for Improving Folate Status through Dietary Intervention - Chapter 4 - Varietal Variation in the Folate (Vitamin B9) Content of Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L.)" 

In brief, parsnips of the Javelin variety were stored in refrigerated or field conditions for 2, 4, or 6 weeks. At each timepoint parsnips were collected and cleaned, then prepared for folate quantification. The total folate content, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate content, and tetrahydrofolate content of parsnips were assessed in all collected samples. 

--------------------------
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
--------------------------

Number of variables:
11

Number of cases/rows: 
25

Variable list, defining any abbreviations, units of measure, codes or symbols used:

Variable		|Type		|Description							|Unit	|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sample			| factor	| the sample being analysed					| -
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timepoint		| factor	| the timepoint at which the sample was collected		| -
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treatment		| numeric	| Whether the sample came from the field or coldstore		| grams	
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rep			| numeric	| What replicate of the sample belonged to			| grams
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dm_post_treatment_perc	| numeric	| The dry weight of the sample post undergoing treatment 	| %
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mthf_per_100g_DW 	| numeric	| The amount of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the sample per 100g	| ug/100g
			|		| dried weight						 	|
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mthf_per_100g_FW 	| numeric	| The amount of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the sample per 100g	| ug/100g
			|		| fresh weight						 	|
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thf_per_100g_DW		| numeric	| The amount of tetrahydrofolate in the sample per 100g		| ug/100g
			|		| dried weight							| 
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thf_per_100g_FW		| numeric	| The amount of tetrahydrofolate in the sample per 100g		| ug/100g
			|		| fresh weight							| 
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total_per_100g_DW	| numeric	| The amount of folate in the sample per 100g dried weight	| ug/100g
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total_per_100g_FW	| numeric	| The amount of folate in the sample per 100g fresh weight	| ug/100g
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Date that the file was created: November, 2025

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