Prediction of sensory textural properties from rheological analysis for process cheeses varying in emulsifying salt,protein and moisture contents

Textural characteristics of process cheeses varying in emulsifying salt (disodium phosphate), protein and moisture contents were evaluated by rheological compression using texture profile analysis and by sensory evaluation. The primary objective of this study was to predict sensory textural parameters using instrumental rheological parameters. All sensory parameters correlated with one or more instrumental parameters, e.g. rheological firmness versus sensory firmness (R = 0.98, P < 0.001), rheological chewiness versus sensory rubbery (R = 0.92, P < 0.001) and rheological chewiness versus sensory chewy (R = 0.86, P < 0.001). Partial least squares calibration models were developed for each of nine sensory parameters using instrumental parameters. Principal component analysis of instrumental and sensory parameters illustrated relationships among parameters. It was shown that instrumental parameters could be used to supplement sensory evaluation of process cheese texture. Increasing emulsifying salt content increased firmness, springiness and chewiness and decreased adhesiveness, mouthcoating and mass formation. Increasing protein content resulted in increased fracture strain and stress and chewiness and decreased melting. Increasing moisture content increased cohesiveness and decreased firmness and chewiness. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Score statistics for testing serial dependence in count data

In this study, we extend earlier work of Freeland (1998) and Jung and Tremayne (2003) , and develop a general formula for a score statistic to test for dependence in an integer autoregressive process with an arbitrary arrivals distribution. We give two statistics that cater for arrivals processes that may be under‐, equi‐ or overdispersed. The first is based on the Katz family which includes Poisson, binomial and negative binomial distributions as special cases. The second uses the generalized Poisson which includes the Poisson distribution as a special case and can also cater for under‐ and over‐ dispersion. The null distribution of the tests is provided and consistency is discussed. Size and power properties are investigated under different model assumptions by Monte Carlo simulations. The autocorrelation coefficient is also investigated as a benchmark for comparison.     

Comparable efficacy of contingency management for cocaine dependence among African American, Hispanic, and White methadone maintenance clients.

Cocaine use is a significant problem among methadone maintenance clients. Contingency management (CM) is a reinforcement-based approach with demonstrated efficacy for reducing cocaine use. This study examines whether the efficacy of CM treatment for cocaine-dependent individuals receiving methadone maintenance for opioid dependence differs by ethnicity. Participants were 191 African American, Hispanic, and White cocaine-dependent methadone maintenance clients, randomly assigned to standard methadone treatment or standard methadone treatment plus CM for 12 weeks. Hispanic participants were younger, less educated, and reported fewer years of cocaine use than did African American and White participants and reported fewer years of heroin use than did African American participants. African American participants were less likely to report a history of psychiatric symptoms or treatment in comparison with Hispanic and White participants. While CM was associated with longer duration of continuous cocaine abstinence and a greater proportion of submitted urine samples negative for cocaine, ethnicity was not related to treatment outcomes, and there was no significant interaction between treatment and ethnicity. CM appears to be an efficacious treatment for cocaine dependence among methadone maintenance clients, regardless of ethnicity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

100 GHz MMIC Power Source Development Study

This paper comprises a tutorial in the development of MMIC based high frequency multiplier chains, suitable for use in high frequency power sources. The development of suitable single function building blocks is discussed. The arrangement of suitable combinations of these building blocks in more complex cascaded chains is also presented. A strategy to aid in the identification of an optimum solution for the nominal requirement is provided. Using this approach, it is shown that a 25 to 100GHz multiplier capable of delivering more than 100mW at 100GHz is feasible using existing GaAs technology. In fact it is shown that there is potential to deliver this power level for an incident level of about 10mW at 25GHz.     

Spatial distribution of lead in human primary teeth as a biomarker of pre- and neonatal lead exposure

Lead remains one of the most hazardous toxins in our environment. Because the toxic effects of lead are most prominent during early development, it is important to develop a suitable biomarker for lead exposure during the pre- and neonatal periods. In the present study, the spatial distribution of lead was measured in the enamel and dentine of ten human primary teeth using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The neonatal line, visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy, was used to demarcate the pre- and postnatal regions of the sample teeth. Lead levels in pre- and postnatally formed enamel and dentine were compared to blood-lead levels measured at birth and one year of age for four of these participants. Mean dentine-lead levels ranged from 0.17+/-0.02 to 5.60+/-1.79 microg/g, and mean enamel-lead levels ranged from 0.04+/-0.01 to 1.47+/-0.20 microg/g. The results of this preliminary study showed that the spatial distribution of lead in dentine reflected the blood-lead levels. The present study demonstrates a methodology where the spatial distribution of lead in the dentine of human primary teeth may be used to obtain temporal information of environmental lead exposure during the pre- and neonatal periods.     

Studies of temperature and time-dependent network formation in commercial epoxy resins using modified imidazole curing agents

Two commercial epoxy resins, MY750 and MY720, were cured over a range of cure temperatures with a series of novel curing agents based on modified imidazoles. A combination of techniques, including dynamic viscometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, high performance and gel permeation chromatography, were used to analyse the reaction mixture. It appears that for a given formulation and given resin, the viscosity behaviour near gelation is different for different cure temperatures and the mechanism appears to be dependent not only on the nature of the imidazole curing agent, but also on the cure temperature. Higher temperature cure appears to lead to the formation of a less ‘homogeneous’ reaction mixture at the gel point, containing oligomeric chain lengths of higher polydispersity, whereas in the lower temperature cure, oligomers of a smaller range of chain lengths are present.     

Molecular Networking for Drug Toxicities Studies: The Case of Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 Patients

Using drugs to treat COVID-19 symptoms may induce adverse effects and modify patient outcomes. These adverse events may be further aggravated in obese patients, who often present different illnesses such as metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. In Rennes University Hospital, several drug such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have been used in the clinical trial HARMONICOV to treat COVID-19 patients, including obese patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether HCQ metabolism and hepatotoxicity are worsened in obese patients using an in vivo/in vitro approach. Liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry in combination with untargeted screening and molecular networking were employed to study drug metabolism in vivo (patient’s plasma) and in vitro (HepaRG cells and RPTEC cells). In addition, HepaRG cells model were used to reproduce pathophysiological features of obese patient metabolism, i.e., in the condition of hepatic steatosis. The metabolic signature of HCQ was modified in HepaRG cells cultured under a steatosis condition and a new metabolite was detected (carboxychloroquine). The RPTEC model was found to produce only one metabolite. A higher cytotoxicity of HCQ was observed in HepaRG cells exposed to exogenous fatty acids, while neutral lipid accumulation (steatosis) was further enhanced in these cells. These in vitro data were compared with the biological parameters of 17 COVID-19 patients treated with HCQ included in the HARMONICOV cohort. Overall, our data suggest that steatosis may be a risk factor for altered drug metabolism and possibly toxicity of HCQ.     

Preparation of metal-aromatic diamine complexes and their influence on the cure of a commericial epoxy resin

Summary The preparation of metal-aromatic diamine complexes is reported along with their characterisation by infrared spectroscopy. Dynamic viscometry (gel-point determination) was used to assess the reactivity of some of the metal-diamine complexes with a commercial epoxy resin. Significant differences were observed in the viscosity profiles for formulations with different metal contents. These related to the reactivities of the diamines which are themselves a function of metal content.     

Informational basis for children's impressions of others.

Assessed the age at which 22 kindergartners, 22 2nd graders, and 22 5th graders used covariation information to form impressions of others when behavioral frequency was held constant or was varied. In Exp I the frequency of aggressive or helpful behavior was held constant, but behavioral consistency or nondistinctiveness was varied. Ss made single-rating and paired comparison judgments about each actor's future behaviors and personal characteristics. Results reveal that 2nd and 5th graders' comparison judgments were appropriately differentiated according to the available covariation information, whereas kindergartners' judgments were not appropriately differentiated. A 2nd experiment was conducted to determine whether 24 kindergartners' failure to use covariation information was simply the result of task demands. Ss made paired comparison judgments about aggressive behavior. Aggression frequency was either held constant (consistency vs nondistinctiveness) or was varied (relative degrees of consistency or nondistinctiveness). Results show that Ss' impressions of others did not vary according to differences in covariation information, at least when frequency was held constant. Findings undermine a task-demand interpretation of the results of Exp I and indicate that young children do use frequency information. There was no evidence that Ss used covariation information independently of differences in frequency. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)