Thermobacteriological studies using Bacillus stearotherrnophilus spores were carried out by heating the spores under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions followed by an isothermal period. Ex perimental data obtained after isothermal heating were analyzed using a two-step linear regression procedure and a one-step nonlinear regression method. Results obtained using both analytical tech niques were close, but the 90% interval of confidence for predictions was lower when the one-step nonlinear regression was used. These results indicated the convenience of using the one-step nonlin ear regression method to obtain thermal kinetic parameters for bacterial spores. Also, the parameters obtained by a non-isothermal program followed by an isothermal heating period were similar to those obtained after isothermal heating. Nevertheless, the joint confidence regions at 90% did not overlap, indicating that there are significant differences. The z values obtained under isothermal (7.0 °C) and non-isothermal (8.5 °C) conditions are close and characteristic for this microorganisms.
Confidence regions in nonlinear regression models
