Effect of waxy flour blends on dough rheology and bread quality

Although much research has been conducted on wheat flour dough rheology, the principal focus has been the role of the protein fraction. Starch is the main component of flour and plays a key role in dough dynamic properties, particularly during heating. This study assesses the effect of two different waxy flours, a durum and a bread wheat, and their blends with commercial bakers' flour on dough rheology during heating with a concurrent investigation into baking performance. Both waxy flour blends produced similar effects on dough rheological behaviour despite differences in protein content, acting to delay gelatinisation and reduce storage modulus. The main effects in bread were to increase loaf expansion during baking and reduce loaf firmness. It is postulated these effects are largely water mediated, with the higher swelling ability of the waxy starch granules reducing overall water availability and driving complete gelatinisation to higher temperatures.     

Stimulant medication improves recognition memory in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The effect of stimulant medication on recognition memory was examined in 18 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recognition memory was assessed using a delayed matching-to-sample task at 6 delays ranging from 1 to 32 s. Each child was tested on 2 separate occasions, once 60 to 90 min after taking stimulant medication and the other at least 18 hr after taking medication. Children performed significantly better on medication than off. Stimulant administration significantly increased accuracy and the number of nickel reinforcers earned. Decreases in observing response latency and correct choice response latency occurred after taking stimulant medication. The results indicate that stimulant medication improved recognition memory for children with ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A neural theory of binocular rivalry.

When the two eyes view discrepant monocular stimuli, stable single vision gives way to alternating periods of monocular dominance; this is the well-known but little understood phenomenon of binocular rivalry. This article develops a neural theory of binocular rivalry that treats the phenomenon as the default outcome when binocular correspondence cannot be established. The theory posits the existence of monocular and binocular neurons arrayed within a functional processing module, with monocular neurons playing a crucial role in signaling the stimulus conditions instigating rivalry and generating inhibitory signals to implement suppression. Suppression is conceived as a local process happening in parallel over the entire cortical representation of the binocular visual field. The strength of inhibition causing suppression is related to the size of the pool of monocular neurons innervated by the suppressed eye, and the duration of a suppression phase is attributed to the strength of excitation generated by the suppressed stimulus. The theory is compared with three other contemporary theories of binocular rivalry. The article closes with a discussion of some of the unresolved problems related to the theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identifying chemical changes in subchondral bone taken from murine knee joints using Raman spectroscopy

Application of Raman spectroscopy to analysis of subchondral bone is described. The effect of cartilage health on subchondral bone has been widely studied using radiological and histological methods; however, there is no method to directly assay mineral components. We present Raman spectra of femur condyles and observe mineral bands that arise from the subchondral bone. In two separate experiments, transgenic mouse models of early-onset osteoarthritis (OA) and lipoatrophy were compared to tissue from wild-type mice. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify chemical changes in the mineral of subchondral bone that may accompany or precede morphological changes that can be observed by histology. The transgenic mice were compared to age-matched wild-type mice. Subtle alterations in the mineral or collagen matrix were observed by Raman spectroscopy using established Raman markers such as the carbonate-to-phosphate ratio, mineral-to-matrix ratio (MTMR), and amide I ratio. The Raman microscope configuration enabled rapid collection of Raman spectra from the mineralized layer that lies under an intact layer of non-mineralized articular cartilage. The effect of the cartilage layer on collection of spectra is discussed. The technique proposed is capable of providing insight into the chemical changes that occur in subchondral bone on a molecular level.     

Influence of Physical Forcing on Bottom-Water Dissolved Oxygen within Caloosahatchee River Estuary, Florida

Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code, a numerical estuarine and coastal ocean circulation hydrodynamic and eutrophication model, was used to simulate the distributions of dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, water temperature, and nutrients in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary. Modeled DO, salinity, and water temperature were in good agreement with field observational data from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and South Florida Water Management District. Sensitivity analyses identified the effects of river discharge, atmospheric winds, and tidal forcing on the spatial and temporal distributions of DO. Simulation results indicated that vertical mixing due to wind forcing increased the bottom DO concentration. River discharge enhanced stratification in deep locations but propagated vertical mixing in the shallow upper estuary. Finally, tidal forcing heavily influenced bottom layer DO concentrations throughout the whole river estuary.     

Fluorographene: a two-dimensional counterpart of Teflon

A stoichiometric derivative of graphene with a fluorine atom attached to each carbon is reported. Raman, optical, structural, micromechanical, and transport studies show that the material is qualitatively different from the known graphene-based nonstoichiometric derivatives. Fluorographene is a high-quality insulator (resistivity >10(12) Ω) with an optical gap of 3 eV. It inherits the mechanical strength of graphene, exhibiting a Young's modulus of 100 N m(-1) and sustaining strains of 15%. Fluorographene is inert and stable up to 400 °C even in air, similar to Teflon.     

Fluorinated graphene: Fluorographene: A Two‐Dimensional Counterpart of Teflon (Small 24/2010)

A stoichiometric derivative of graphene with a fluorine atom attached to each carbon is reported. Raman, optical, structural, micromechanical, and transport studies show that the material is qualitatively different from the known graphene‐based nonstoichiometric derivatives. Fluorographene is a high‐quality insulator (resistivity >10¹² Ω) with an optical gap of 3 eV. It inherits the mechanical strength of graphene, exhibiting a Young’s modulus of 100 N m^?1 and sustaining strains of 15%. Fluorographene is inert and stable up to 400 °C even in air, similar to Teflon.     

The work–family interface in the United States and Singapore: Conflict across cultures.

This article examines the work–family interface in a cross-cultural comparison between two nationally representative samples from the United States (n = 1,860) and Singapore (n = 1,035) with emphasis on work–family conflict. Family-to-work conflict was negatively related to marital satisfaction in both Singapore and the United States, although the effect was stronger in the United States. Similarly, family-to-work conflict was positively related to job satisfaction in the United States but was negatively related in Singapore. As expected, schedule flexibility was negatively related to depression in the United States, but in Singapore the relationship was positive. These findings suggest that theoretical relationships in the work–family interface developed in the more culturally individualistic West may need to be adapted when studying populations in the more collectivist East. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Forecasting Trending Time Series with Relative Growth Rate Models

Many annual time series in socioeconomic systems are steadily increasing functions of time. This paper deals with an empirical approach to analyzing and projecting such trending time series from models of relative growth rates or percent changes. A class of relative growth rate models is defined which includes the linear. exponential, modified exponential and logistic growth curves as special eases. Parameters are estimated for the most part by linear regression techniques since the, relative growth rates for this class of models are linear in the parameters. The ternd curve for each model is obtained by integration and approximate-confidence limits can be obtained for the forecasts of future series values.     

On the sources of methane to the los angeles atmosphere

We use historical and new atmospheric trace gas observations to refine the estimated source of methane (CH(4)) emitted into California's South Coast Air Basin (the larger Los Angeles metropolitan region). Referenced to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) CO emissions inventory, total CH(4) emissions are 0.44 ± 0.15 Tg each year. To investigate the possible contribution of fossil fuel emissions, we use ambient air observations of methane (CH(4)), ethane (C(2)H(6)), and carbon monoxide (CO), together with measured C(2)H(6) to CH(4) enhancement ratios in the Los Angeles natural gas supply. The observed atmospheric C(2)H(6) to CH(4) ratio during the ARCTAS (2008) and CalNex (2010) aircraft campaigns is similar to the ratio of these gases in the natural gas supplied to the basin during both these campaigns. Thus, at the upper limit (assuming that the only major source of atmospheric C(2)H(6) is fugitive emissions from the natural gas infrastructure) these data are consistent with the attribution of most (0.39 ± 0.15 Tg yr(-1)) of the excess CH(4) in the basin to uncombusted losses from the natural gas system (approximately 2.5-6% of natural gas delivered to basin customers). However, there are other sources of C(2)H(6) in the region. In particular, emissions of C(2)H(6) (and CH(4)) from natural gas seeps as well as those associated with petroleum production, both of which are poorly known, will reduce the inferred contribution of the natural gas infrastructure to the total CH(4) emissions, potentially significantly. This study highlights both the value and challenges associated with the use of ethane as a tracer for fugitive emissions from the natural gas production and distribution system.