Effects of melamine on the Maillard reaction between lactose and phenylalanine

The effects of melamine on Maillard reaction were investigated in chemical model systems. The reaction products in the model systems with/without melamine were analysed by GC–MS and LC–MS/MS. Impact of melamine on Maillard browning in the above models was also examined by colourimetric methods. It was found that melamine can react directly with lactose and Strecker aldehydes formed in Maillard reactions to produce new adducts. In addition, the presence of melamine in chemical model systems also affects the formation of Maillard flavours and browning.     

Activities of hydrocolloids as inhibitors of acrylamide formation in model systems and fried potato strips

Effects of eight hydrocolloids on acrylamide (AA) formation were compared. At 2% (w/w), pectin, alginic acid (>50% reduction) and xanthan gum (∼20%) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced acrylamide formation in chemical models. In the fried snack model, effective inhibition of acrylamide formation (∼30%) by most of the hydrocolloids was observed only when the concentration was increased to 5%. Immersing potato strips for 1 h in a 1% alginic acid solution before frying produced inhibition of acrylamide formation similar to that in a 5% solution, and immersing for 5 h led to a significantly lower AA content (∼60% versus ∼30% reduction) compared with immersing for 1 h in a 1% or 5% immersion solution. Similar phenomena were also observed for pectin. The findings suggest alginic acid and pectin are promising inhibitors of acrylamide formation, and immersion time is an important determinant for their effects against acrylamide formation in fried potato products.     

马来西亚的印刷及相关行业

众所周矢口，马来西亚是一个多文化的小国家，是一个多元而丰富多彩的国度。幸运的是，在我们的国家居住着来自各个民族的人才，我们一起建立了马来西亚活跃的经济环境。     

A miniature microbial fuel cell operating with an aerobic anode chamber

A miniature microbial fuel cell (mini-MFC) is described that utilizes an aerobic culture of Shewanella oneidensis DSP10 as the active electrochemical species in the anode chamber. We find that the maximum aerobic mini-MFC power without the addition of exogenous mediators was 0.40 mW, a 33% decrease when compared with an anaerobic DSP10 culture (0.6 mW) operating in the mini-MFC. This decrease is most likely due to the presence of dissolved oxygen in the anode chamber that scavenges electrons to form water, thereby reducing the number of electrons donated to the anode. Aerobic power and current density at maximum power using the true surface area of the anode (611 cm²) were calculated to be 6.5 mW m⁻² and 13 mA m⁻². The power density rises to 2.0 W m⁻² and 330 W m⁻³ when calculated using the cross-sectional area and volume of the device (2 cm², 1.2 cm³). The Coulombic efficiency was also reduced from 11 to 5% when using the aerobic versus anaerobic culture. Similar results were found when the external mediator anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) was added to the aerobic culture, resulting in a maximum power of 0.54 mW, a 37% drop in power when compared to the anaerobic mediated system.     

The effects of CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-blended acrylic polymer emulsion on the properties of cement mortar

Although acrylic polymer emulsions have been reported to impart many desirable attributes to cement mortar; delayed hydration, excessive air entrapment and moisture induced loss of strength have been highlighted as constraints. This paper explores the utilization of hydrated calcium chloride blended-acrylic polymer emulsion (CP) as a mitigation measure to these aforementioned drawbacks. First, the effects of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of CP by mass of cement on the early-age cement paste hydration and mortar flow were investigated. Thereafter, the influence of CP on the hardened porosity, moist-cured compressive strength, initial rate of capillary water absorption and rapid chloride permeability (RCPT) were evaluated. Test results indicate that the addition of CP to pastes sped up the cement hydration process, accelerating the final setting time of pastes by approximately 0.5–1.5 h as the CP content of pastes increased. Moreover, CP slightly increased the flow of fresh mortar, the hardened porosity of mortar mixtures containing 0.5 and 1.0% CP were also comparable to those of the plain reference mortar. With the exception of the 1.5% CP blended mortar, the 14 days moist-cured compressive strength of 0.5–1.0% CP blended mortar mixtures were also comparable to that of the plain reference mixture. Relative to the reference mixture, the addition of CP to mortar reduced the initial rate of capillary water absorption of mortar, with the mixture containing 1.5% CP giving a maximum reduction of 23%. Conversely, RCPT results indicate that above 0.5% CP addition level, CP generally increased the electrical conductivity of mixtures.     

High voltage pulser with a fast fall-time for plasma immersion ion implantation

A novel high voltage (HV) modulator that offers a short fall time to minimize sputtering effects and allow more precise control of the incident ion fluence in plasma immersion ion implantation is described. The use of 36 insulated-gate bipolar transistors in the 30 kV hard-tube pulser reduces the HV fall time to 3.5 μs, compared to a fall time of 80 μs if a pull-down resister is used. The voltage balance is achieved by a voltage-balancing resistor, clamped capacitance, and the synchronization of drive signals. Compared to the traditional method employing a pull-down resister or an additional hard tube, our design consumes less power and is more economical and reliable.     

Machine vision system for curved surface inspection

This application-oriented paper discusses a non-contact 3D range data measurement system to improve the performance of the existing 2D herring roe grading system. The existing system uses a single CCD camera with unstructured halogen lighting to acquire and analyze the shape of the 2D shape of the herring roe for size and deformity grading. Our system will act as an additional system module, which can be integrated into the existing 2D grading system, providing the additional third dimension to detect deformities in the herring roe, which were not detected in the 2D analysis. Furthermore, the additional surface depth data will increase the accuracy of the weight information used in the existing grading system. In the proposed system, multiple laser light stripes are projected into the herring roe and the single B/W CCD camera records the image of the scene. The distortion in the projected line pattern is due to the surface curvature and orientation. Utilizing the linear relation between the projected line distortion and surface depth, the range data was recovered from a single camera image. The measurement technique is described and the depth information is obtained through four steps: (1) image capture, (2) stripe extraction, (3) stripe coding, (4) triangulation, and system calibration. Then, this depth information can be converted into the curvature and orientation of the shape for deformity inspection, and also used for the weight estimation. Preliminary results are included to show the feasibility and performance of our measurement technique. The accuracy and reliability of the computerized herring roe grading system can be greatly improved by integrating this system into existing system in the future.     

Direct coupling of pulsed radio frequency and pulsed high power in novel pulsed power system for plasma immersion ion implantation

A novel power supply system that directly couples pulsed high voltage (HV) pulses and pulsed 13.56 MHz radio frequency (rf) has been developed for plasma processes. In this system, the sample holder is connected to both the rf generator and HV modulator. The coupling circuit in the hybrid system is composed of individual matching units, low pass filters, and voltage clamping units. This ensures the safe operation of the rf system even when the HV is on. The PSPICE software is utilized to optimize the design of circuits. The system can be operated in two modes. The pulsed rf discharge may serve as either the seed plasma source for glow discharge or high-density plasma source for plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). The pulsed high-voltage glow discharge is induced when a rf pulse with a short duration or a larger time interval between the rf and HV pulses is used. Conventional PIII can also be achieved. Experiments conducted on the new system confirm steady and safe operation.     

Mulholland Dr.

This article provides an interpretation of David Lynch's (2001) film Mulholland Dr. as the dreamscape of Diane Selwyn, played by Naomi Watts. Viewers are caught in a story of murder, mystery, and lesbian love, only to realize that what they have witnessed is merely a dream. As Diane wakes up, memory flashbacks and hallucinations unveil the real events leading to the dream. The viewers are able to trace back the elements of the dream to their real-life sources and decipher the dream's secret agenda. Diane's dream is understood as an attempt to fulfill her deepest wishes and to alleviate her guilt for arranging the murder of her ex-lover. The dream is a failed attempt to escape reality, as well as a preparation for death. Whether or not one views Mulholland Dr. as inspired by psychoanalysis, Lynch's film is a masterful exploration of the unconscious workings of the human mind. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Knowledge through participation: the triumphs and challenges of transferring Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) technology to cocoa farmers in Papua New Guinea

Income from cocoa is the main source of cash used to purchase food and services in many communities in the tropical lowlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Despite the availability of improved management technology, there has been poor transfer and uptake of these technologies among smallholder cocoa farmers, and potentially high bean yields and farmer incomes remain unrealised. A series of IPDM options that were shown to improve crop management and cocoa bean yield in research trials were demonstrated to farmers using an on-farm participatory approach that enabled farmers to evaluate the costs and benefits of each strategy before committing to adoption. The options were designed to provide several levels of entry to improved management, and ranged from no inputs (Option 1), manual inputs (Option 2: pruning, sanitation, weed management and regular complete pod harvesting), high level inputs (Option 3: pruning, sanitation, weed management, regular complete pod harvesting and fertiliser application), to intensive management (Option 4: pruning, sanitation, weed management, regular complete pod harvesting, and the application of fertiliser, fungicide and pesticide). Farmers from East New Britain, Madang and Bougainville, the three main cocoa growing provinces in PNG, participated in on-farm IPDM training and surveys to monitor changes in knowledge and management practice. Farmers opted in or out of the training as their commitments or level of interest changed, and new farmers joined in after observing changes in the cocoa blocks. Farmers were trained in epidemiology and crop management, were shown how to apply the IPDM inputs in their own cocoa blocks, and were given a simple training manual. Surveys conducted prior to, and 3 years after the training, showed an improvement in the farmers’ knowledge of cocoa management and a better understanding of cocoa pest and disease epidemiology. Three years after the training, pest and disease incidence in participating cocoa blocks had declined and cocoa yields had increased by an average of 30%. Trained farmers were encouraged to demonstrate improved management to neighbouring farmers, and the program has now been officially adopted as the national strategy to improve cocoa production in PNG. The participatory approach is an effective way of disseminating information and technology to farmers, however, it requires frequent follow-up visits by trained extension staff. We also discuss the significant challenges associated with conducting farmer surveys.