Electrical properties of alkaline earth disilicides and digermanides

The electrical resistivity of high purity CaSi₂, CaGe₂, SrSi₂, SrGe₂, BaSi₂ and BaGe₂ was measured in the temperature range from 20°C to 800°C by a 4-point technique. CaSi₂, CaGe₂ and SrSi₂ show metallic, SrGe₂, BaSi₂ and BaGe₂ semiconducting behaviour. This difference can be explained by the change of the structure of the “anion”-sublattices and the change of the metal-distances in the metal-sublattices.     

Vitamins in wine: Which,what for,and how much?

Vitamins are essential compounds to yeasts, and notably in winemaking contexts. Vitamins are involved in numerous yeast metabolic pathways, including those of amino acids, fatty acids, and alcohols, which suggests their notable implication in fermentation courses, as well as in the development of aromatic compounds in wines. Although they are major components in the course of those microbial processes, their significance and impact have not been extensively studied in the context of winemaking and wine products, as most of the studies focusing on the subject in the past decades have relied on relatively insensitive and imprecise analytical methods. Therefore, this review provides an extensive overview of the current knowledge regarding the impacts of vitamins on grape must fermentations, wine-related yeast metabolisms, and requirements, as well as on the profile of wine sensory characteristics. We also highlight the methodologies and techniques developed over time to perform vitamin analysis in wines, and assess the importance of precisely defining the role played by vitamins in winemaking processes, to ensure finer control of the fermentation courses and product characteristics in a highly complex matrix.     

Production and Measurement of Starch Damage in Flour. Effect of Starch Damage on Hot Pasting Properties

Aqueous suspensions were made of wheat starches damaged, by different methods, to varying degrees. Apparent viscosities of the hot pastes declined as damage levels increased and the relationships between these factors were examined. Measured as “extractability”, starch damage had a linear relationship with apparent viscosity for starches damaged by both methods. Starch damage measured as “digestibility” had different relationships with apparent viscosity for each type of damage involved. Evidence was found for the association of amylolytic enzymes with the starches used in the experiments.     

Production and Measurement of Starch Damage in Flour. Part 3. Effect of Type of Damage on Baking Performance

Baking trials were conducted on two blends of 10% starch and 90% high protein flour. In both blends the flour component was identical but the starches had been ground in different ways to produce high levels of different types of damage. The levels of damage in the starches, and hence the blends, were similar if measured enzymically but different if measured by an amylose extraction method. Only small differences in baking properties were revealed.     

Dehydration Artefacts in Gelatinized Starches

Scanning electron microscopy of swollen starch granule systems is valuable for interpretation of structural changes, but the results obtained must be interpreted with caution. The two major drying systems used, solvent exchange and lyophilization, both produce artefacts but of different types. The presence of pores on specimens prepared by lyophilization has often been interpreted as a true feature of the granule structure, but our experience suggests that this is incorrect. Furthermore, we consider that the fibrillar structure present in preparations of lyophilized starch solubles results from ice crystal formation effectively concentrating, in the remainder of the solution, solute which is subsequently preserved as a dry web.     

The influence of acetylsalicylic acid on cognitive processing: an event-related potentials study

The central effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) are discussed controversially. In animal models, it has been shown that ASA can interact with the central serotonergic and catecholaminergic neuronal system. However, the relevance of this interaction for humans is still unknown. We performed a study on the influence of ASA on central cognitive processing. In 25 healthy subjects (age 21-56 years), visually evoked event-related potentials (ERP) and reaction time under IV ASA medication were recorded. ERP were evoked by an oddball paradigm. As compared to placebo, ASA decreased the latency of the P3 component significantly in a time interval of 20-40 min after administration. The latency of the N2 component was significantly decreased about 25 min after administration; the latency of the exogenous P2 component was not influenced by ASA. The mean choice reaction time was significantly decreased by ASA 35 min after administration. At this time point, there was a significant correlation between decrease in reaction time and increase in ASA plasma level. The data show that IV administration of ASA has an accelerating effect on the endogenous components of visual ERP and on reaction time. This finding suggests that ASA can influence central cognitive processing, possibly by ASA induced changes of neurotransmitters. Since serotonin can be released by ASA and serotonin release leads to a decrease of ERP latencies. we assume that ASA most likely influences cognitive processing via the central serotonergic transmitter system.     

Beyond unfavorable thinking: The Illness Cognition Questionnaire for chronic diseases.

The literature on chronic diseases recognizes the role of illness cognition as a mediator between stress and illness. Few conceptualizations and instruments, however, give an indication of both unfavorable and favorable ways of adjusting to an uncontrollable long-term stressor, such as a chronic disease. The authors propose 3 generic illness cognitions that reflect different ways of reevaluating the inherently aversive character of a chronic condition: helplessness as a way of emphasizing the aversive meaning of the disease, acceptance as a way to diminish the aversive meaning, and perceived benefits as a way of adding a positive meaning to the disease. A self-report instrument, the Illness Cognition Questionnaire, was developed to assess these cognitions across different chronic diseases. The results support the reliable and valid assessment of these illness cognitions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis and indicate the maladaptive function of helplessness and the adaptive function of acceptance and perceived benefits for the long-term physical and psychological health of patients with a chronic disease. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)