Effects of milk proteins and gums on quality of bread made from frozen dough

BACKGROUND: Mixtures of milk proteins and gums incorporated into bread formulations may enhance the quality of bread and retard the deterioration of frozen dough. Our objective was to investigate the effects of mixtures of milk proteins (casein (C) and whey protein (W)) and gums (sodium alginate (A) and κ‐carrageenan (K) on the quality of bread made from frozen dough. We hypothesized that bread containing milk proteins and gums would be of improved quality. Milk proteins improve texture, moisture retention and specific volume, and reduce the size of ice crystals, while gums incorporated into the bread improve moisture retention, control water mobility and prevent the growth of ice crystals, so we hypothesized milk proteins and gums would suppress the quality deterioration of bread during frozen storage. RESULTS: We found that mixtures of milk proteins and gums proved effective with regard to the maintenance of the baking quality of frozen dough. Breads containing CA had a higher specific loaf volume than the control bread. The addition of WK enhanced crumb firmness during extended frozen storage. In sensory evaluation, the addition of WA and CA contributed to the improvement of baking quality, taste, texture and acceptability. CONCLUSION: These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that mixtures of milk proteins and gums improved baking quality by reducing the deterioration of frozen dough. These results indicate that the addition of CA and WA improved the bread quality and WK could effectively be used as an anti‐staling agent in bread. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Optimization of lead- and cadmium-free front contact silver paste formulation to achieve high fill factors for industrial screen-printed Si solar cells

Screen-printed n⁺–p–p⁺ solar cells were fabricated on Cz single crystalline Si material, with a 45 Ω/sq emitter and PECVD SiNx antireflective coating with a thickness of 700 Å, using different Ag pastes and commercial leaded reference paste (CN33-462, Ferro Corp.). Ag and Al contacts were co-fired using a mass-production line equipped with mesh belt conveyer furnace systems (Centrotherm thermal solution GmbH & Co. KG). The average results for single crystalline Si solar cells (156 cm²) are: I_sc=5.043 A, V_oc=0.621 V, R_s=0.0087 Ω, R_sh=15.3 Ω, FF=0.773, and E_ff=16.45%. R_sh and fill factor values of fabricated cells were slightly higher when compared with the commercial leaded Ag paste, although cells were fabricated by metallizing the lead-free silver pastes. For the lead-free Ag paste used in this study, the line pattern continuity is retained with improved edge definition in sharp contrast to that of reference Ag paste. Average value of R_s was also equivalent approximately to that of the leaded Ag paste.     

Analysis of PLR for Shared Switch Fabrics

A modular upgrade design for packet transport switch nodes is presented where packet loss is dramatically reduced by intra‐module and inter‐module buffer sharing. This modular design offers significant cost and power reduction in a high‐data‐rate system where buffers are highly costly and power‐greedy.     

不疯魔不成活 IT粉丝集体亮相

你见过最疯狂的“粉丝”行为是什么？ 在家中为偶像建立神龛，成为偶像的跟踪者，为偶像绝食瘦身……     

Pursuing goals with others: Group identification and motivation resulting from things done versus things left undone.

This article addresses what factors best motivate individuals to work toward shared goals. We propose that when individuals do not identify highly with a group, their contributions will mimic others': An emphasis on things done will increase their contributions toward achieving a goal, because such emphasis suggests the goal is worth pursuing. Conversely, we propose that when individuals identify highly with a group, their contributions will compensate for others': An emphasis on things left undone will increase their own contributions, because missing contributions suggest insufficient progress toward a goal they already consider worthwhile. Five studies lend support to these predictions by measuring contributions to goals centered on idea generation and helping victims of various global disasters (earthquake in Haiti, wildfires in Southern California, rioting in Kenya). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of high drug load formulations: Wet granulation vs. novel foam granulation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of intrinsic drug mechanical properties and different granulation binder delivery processes on the physical and mechanical properties of high drug load granulations after wet granulation. Formulations (80% w/w) of acetaminophen (APAP), metformin and aspirin, which are brittle, viscoelastic, and ductile, respectively; were granulated by high-shear wet granulation. Two modes of binder delivery for wet granulation, either conventional or binder foam, were investigated. Particle size, surface area and pore size of the granulations were characterized. Compacts were prepared at a solid fraction of 0.9 under tri-axial decompression and Hiestand indices (worst-case bonding index (BI_w) and brittle fracture index (BFI)) of the compacts were determined. APAP formulations exhibited the smallest geometric mean particle sizes (d_g) and showed only slight differences in d_g values between the two granulation processes. Binder delivery mode affected mechanical properties of the granulated model drugs differently. Foam granulation appeared to enhance the granule plasticity for APAP while aspirin showed a mixed deformation mechanism based on both its high BI_w and high BFI values. The higher BI_w value for aspirin after foam granulation may be attributed to improved binder distribution among particles during granulation. On the other hand, conventional wet granulation improved the plasticity of metformin as measured by the higher BI_w and lower BFI values. Therefore, conventional wet granulation process conferred advantages in manufacturability and product quality for metformin; as compared to foam granulation which did not enhance plasticity for metformin. Based on this study, a wet granulation process can be selected based on knowledge of the intrinsic drug mechanical properties.     

A systematic approach towards accident analysis and prevention

A systematic approach towards accident analysis and prevention has been developed. It relies on system theory as an incident causation model, and adopts a hybrid model for identifying elements of the safety management system. PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) process, commonly practiced in business for quality control, has been applied to defining components of the system. Using the experts’ judgment, accident data and their reported causes are correlated to the defined components, with RBI (risk-based inspection) defined consequence scores as weighting factors. The application of this approach allows users such as governments and companies to identify and prioritize among causes of accidents and near-misses in the petrochemical industry. A case study using the accident data of Yeosu petrochemical complex from 1990 to 2004 has been applied to illustrate insights readily obtainable by using the developed analysis technique. The results suggest comprehensive identification and ranking of accident causes for effective prevention of accidents in the future.     

Molecular weight and concentration effects on gel/sol transitions in a segmented rigid-rod polyimide solution

Gel/sol and order/disorder transitions can be observed in a segmented rigid-rod polyimide solution at different concentrations and molecular weights. This polyimide was synthesized from 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl in refluxing 3-cresol in a one-step process. Above about 140°C, the polymers are completely soluble in 3-cresol in a concentration range up to 12(w/w)%. During cooling, the hot solutions undergo a mechanical sol/gel transition to form thermally reversible gels. In the gel state, an ordered structure develops. Both the gel/sol and order/disorder transitions are dependent upon concentration, temperature, and molecular weight, but the two transitions exhibit different kinetics. Possible mechanisms of these transitions are discussed.     

Low-Loss Polymer-Based Long-Range Surface Plasmon-Polariton Waveguide

To improve the propagation loss of polymer-based long-range surface-plasmon-polariton (LR-SPP) waveguide devices at the telecom wavelength range, low-loss LR-SPP waveguides were fabricated in an ultraviolet-curable acrylate polymer with a low refractive index and absorption loss. A propagation loss of 1.72 dB/cm at a wavelength of 1.55 mum was achieved with a 14-nm-thick and 3-mum-wide metal stripe.