Optimization of Basic Ingredient Combination for Sandwich Cookie Filling Using Response Surface Methodology

An optimum formulation for a cookie sweet cream filling was selected using response surface methodology (RSM). The formulation included corn starch, powdered sugar, unflavored gelatin, cocoa butter, and distilled water. The effects of the amount of starch (0–30 %), sugar (40–70 %), gelatin solution (5/55 g water) (0–12 %), and cocoa butter (18–30 %) on the water activity and the textural characteristics (firmness, elasticity, relaxation time, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness) of cookie fillings were investigated. Significant regression models, which explained the effects of different percentages of these ingredients on all response variables, were determined. Based on the results, the formulation for the production of a cookie filling with acceptable water activity value and desired texture qualities was obtained by incorporating 23.16 % corn starch, 46.84 % powdered sugar, 0.87 % gelatin solution, and 29.13 % cocoa butter.     

Volatile and semi-volatile components of oak wood chips analysed by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS)

Volatile and semi-volatile compounds of French and American oak wood used in wine and spirits ageing were extracted by an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. More than 90 compounds were isolated, characterised and quantified after being separated on two chromatographic columns with distinct polarity. The main oak wood components were quantitatively determined by using standard reference compounds. In addition, a number of compounds, mainly guaiacol and syringol derivatives, were detected and characterised. In particular, 10 compounds were tentatively identified as lignin dimers derivatives, whose presence in oak wood chips or barrels for wine and spirits ageing had not been previously described. Several of the characterised compounds enabled a distinction to be drawn between medium and high toasted wood chips, independently of their geographical origin.     

评《生存的艺术》

《生存的艺术》一书收集了景观设计领域重要的学术观点,涵盖了过去十年间影响中国景观设计领域理论和实践的重要思想和案例.     

Colistin Resistance in Aeromonas spp.

The increase in the use of antimicrobials such as colistin for the treatment of infectious diseases has led to the appearance of Aeromonas strains resistant to this drug. However, resistance to colistin not only occurs in the clinical area but has also been determined in Aeromonas isolates from the environment or animals, which has been determined by the detection of mcr genes that confer a resistance mechanism to colistin. The variants mcr-1, mcr-3, and mcr-5 have been detected in the genus Aeromonas in animal, environmental, and human fluids samples. In this article, an overview of the resistance to colistin in Aeromonas is shown, as well as the generalities of this molecule and the recommended methods to determine colistin resistance to be used in some of the genus Aeromonas.     

A criterion for optimal design of multi-axis force sensors

This paper deals with the design of multi-axis force (also known as force/torque) sensors, as considered within the framework of optimal design theory. Optimal design procedures consists of finding the combination of design variables that extremizes some optimality criterion: provided a suitable mathematical formulation of the problem, solutions can be efficiently obtained through currently available numerical techniques. The principal goal of this paper is to identify a mathematical objective function, whose minimization corresponds to the optimization of sensor accuracy. The methodology employed is derived from linear algebra and analysis of numerical stability. An objective function which can be applied to a large class of sensor configurations is proposed. The problem of optimizing the number of basic transducers employed in a multi-component sensor is also addressed. Finally, applications of the proposed method to the design of a simple sensor as well as to the optimization of a novel, 6-axis miniaturized sensor are discussed.     

最佳范例

在乞力马扎罗山上使用新型炉保护自然环境；秘鲁的阿雷基帕——城市的出租车比曼哈顿还要多；斯里兰卡可提市的沼气。[编者按]     

Divide and rule. The economic and legal implications of the proposed ownership unbundling of distribution and supply companies in the Dutch electricity sector

In Machiavelli's theory of power, the concept of ‘divide and rule’ forms the main theme: the ruler has absolute power and to maintain and increase such power all means are justified. When viewed against the background of this theory, the current debate in the Netherlands on the unbundling of energy (electricity, gas) companies can be observed as an example of ‘divide and rule’, in which the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs plays a central role. Yet, contrary to Machiavelli in his time, the Dutch government does, in fact, aim principally at the greater welfare of the Dutch people. It is therefore noteworthy that, while important steps in the decision to unbundled have been taken, there is no evidence that the Dutch people will indeed benefit from the envisaged unbundling.