Development of low-alcohol isotonic beer by interrupted fermentation

Alcohol-free beer with isotonic properties is getting more popular and its production can be carried out by different production strategies; however, interrupted fermentation is still a challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a low-alcohol isotonic beer (<0.5% v/v) by interrupted fermentation. Moreover, the major objective is to compare the developed product to commercial beverages (sports drinks, ‘Pilsen' regular beer, alcohol-free beers and low-alcohol isotonic beer). The beverages were evaluated based on pH, alcohol content (% v/v), total titratable acidity (mEq L⁻¹), osmolality (mOsmol kg⁻¹), bitterness International Bitterness Units, colour European Brewery Convention, total phenolic compounds (mg L⁻¹ gallic acid), reducing and total sugars (%) and Na and K contents (mg L⁻¹). The developed low-alcohol isotonic beer presented characteristics similar to sports drinks, with the advantage of being richer in phenolic compounds and suitable osmolality. Despite salts were added in its formulation, the grades attributed to all beers employed in the sensory evaluation, as well as the purchase intention did not present significant differences.     

Monoacylglycerols derived from butter oil by Penicillium roquefortii in suspension cultures

Structural isomers of monoacylglycerols (monoglycerides, MAGs) were identified and compared after degradation of butter oil by two strains of Penicillium roquefortii and a commercial lipase from P roquefortii (EC 3.1.1.3) at pH 7.0 and 10 °C. The conditions were selected as they were comparable with those used in the manufacture of blue mould‐ripened cheese. The commercial lipase was selected to compare with the fungal strains in terms of acyl migration. Results showed that the main isomers formed by lipolysis with the commercial lipase were sn‐2 MAGs (64 mol%), whilst spores and emerging mycelia of P roquefortii produced mainly sn‐1(3) MAGs (83–90 mol%). The work reported here may lead to further assessment of different MAG structural isomers as natural preservatives in foods and dairy products. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

DILIGENT: integrating digital library and Grid technologies for a new Earth observation research infrastructure

This paper introduces DILIGENT, a digital library infrastructure built by integrating digital library and Grid technologies and resources. This infrastructure allows different communities to dynamically build specialised digital libraries capable to support the entire e-Science knowledge production and consumption life-cycle by using shared computing, storage, content, and application resources. The paper presents some of the main software services that implement the DILIGENT system. Moreover, it exemplifies the provided features by presenting how the DILIGENT infrastructure is being exploited in supporting the activity of user communities working in the Earth Science Environmental sector. This work is partially funded by the European Commission in the context of the DILIGENT project, under the 2nd call of FP6 IST priority.     

Frequency offset retrodirective antenna array

A new architecture for the Van Atta self-steering array is presented. Active antenna techniques are used to realise a compact self-steering array with enhanced retrodirective properties. The experimental performance of the array is demonstrated and a technique is described which compensates for the beam pointing error induced by antenna array element directivity     

Teachers' and deaf students' perceptions of communication ease and engagement.

Collected ratings of communication ease and of engagement for 95 deaf junior and senior high school students (aged 12–21 yrs) in a large, urban, multiethnic school for the deaf. Ratings were made by the students' English teachers and by the students themselves. High teacher ratings for communication ease and engagement were associated with high academic achievement as measured by the Stanford Achievement Test. High student ratings for communication ease were also associated with academic achievement. The 2 best predictors of academic achievement were student-rated communication ease and teacher-rated engagement. Findings suggest that it is important for teachers to be sensitive to the level of communication comfort of their students because students who enjoy easier communication may be more likely to be engaged, or more actively involved, in classroom learning and to demonstrate higher academic achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unsubstantiated claims of false memory and essential responsibilities.

Comments on the assertion of K. S. Pope (see record 83-37387) that the confirmation that supposedly validates claims about the false memory syndrome, its antecedents, and its rampant magnitude needs to be made available and carefully examined. The author considers why there has been acceptance of unsubstantiated claims of false memory, and also points to essential responsibilities for psychologists whose clients have abuse memories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Explanation-based learning as justification of knowledge

Abstract: This paper describes the use of the explanation-based learning (EBL) machine learning technique in the practical domain of knowledge acquisition for expert systems. A knowledge acquisition tool, EBKAT (Explanation-Based Knowledge Acquisition Tool), is described, which may be used in the development of knowledge bases for diagnostic expert systems. The functioning of EBKAT attempts to combine the full potential of a domain expert's skills and the power of explanation-based machine learning techniques. The EBL component is not employed in the acquisition of the knowledge base rules but is used to justify the knowledge entered and to relate it to the knowledge already in the system. It is suggested that the EBKAT tool goes some way towards overcoming the knowledge acquisition bottleneck and results in the acquisition of knowledge which is rich in contextual information.     

The dieting maelstrom: Is it possible and advisable to lose weight?

An impassioned debate over the virtues and dangers of dieting is polarizing the field and diverts attention from key issues. Dieting clearly has costs and, for some, has the potential for benefit. The primary challenges are (1) to identify individuals who will be helped or harmed by dieting, (2) to reduce the frequency and severity of dieting in those for whom the costs exceed the benefits, (3) to better understand the physiological and psychological reasons why some people can lose and others cannot, and (4) to develop safe and effective means for weight loss and its maintenance and to target these methods to individuals who stand to benefit. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlates of improvement in multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain.

Although multidisciplinary pain programs have been demonstrated to be effective, the processes of improvement have yet to be clarified. Cognitive-behavioral models posit that improvement is due, in part, to changes in patient pain beliefs and coping strategies. To test the relationships between treatment outcome and changes in beliefs and coping strategies, 94 chronic pain patients (aged 21–64 yrs) completed measures of physical and psychological functioning, health care utilization, pain beliefs, and use of pain coping strategies at admission and 3 to 6 mo after inpatient pain treatment. Improved functioning and decreased health care use were associated with changes in both beliefs and cognitive coping strategies. However, changes in some coping strategies, such as exercise and use of rest, were not associated with improvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)