Whole wheat bread: Effect of bran fractions on dough and end-product quality

Consumption of whole-wheat based products is encouraged due to their important nutritional elements that benefit human health. However, the use of whole-wheat flour is limited because of the poor processing and end-product quality. Bran was postulated as the major problem in whole wheat breadmaking. In this study, four major bran components including lipids, extractable phenolics (EP), hydrolysable phenolics (HP), and fiber were evaluated for their specific functionality in flour, dough and bread baking. The experiment was done by reconstitution approach using the 2⁴ factorial experimental layout. Fiber was identified as a main component to have highly significant (P < 0.05) and negative influence on most breadmaking characteristics. Although HP had positive effect on farinograph stability, it was identified as another main factor that negatively impacted the oven spring and bread loaf volume. Bran oil and EP seemed to be detrimental to most breadmaking characteristics. Overall, statistical analysis indicates that influence of the four bran components are highly complex. The bran components demonstrate multi-way interactions in regards to their influence on dough and bread-making characteristics. Particularly, Fiber appeared to have a high degree of interaction with other bran components and notably influenced the functionality of those components in whole wheat bread-making.     

Photosynthesis of field-grown Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars in relation to root-yield

There has been limited research on measuring potential differences in leaf gas exchange of Arracacha (Peruvian parsnip, Arracacia xanthorriza Bancroft) cultivars, as affected by different environments, as well as its relation to storage root-yield. The present paper reports field measurements of leaf CO₂ assimilation rates (A) for five contrasting cultivars grown at two different high-altitude locations. Using a design of plots chosen at random with three repetitions, commercial root production was determined in the two locations at different altitude (1580 and 1930 m). Daily leaf gas exchange was repeatedly monitored with a portable open-mode infrared gas analyzer at different times in both locations during the growth cycle. Root-yield, leaf area and dry weight were measured. Significant differences in leaf photosynthetic rate and in specific leaf area (SLA) were observed among cultivars. Cultivars with high SLA, had high CO₂ assimilation. Mean (A_n) and total (A_tot) of CO₂ assimilation and SLA were significantly correlated with storage root-yield across cultivars and locations. The three cultivars with the greatest commercial root production also had the highest maximum values for A and the highest specific leaf area, indicating that these two parameters can be used to select for highly productive cultivars of A. xanthorriza.     

甘薯变温压差膨化干燥影响因素研究

采用变温压差膨化干燥技术,研究了切片厚度、膨化温度、抽空时间、抽空温度、停滞时间和压力差等因素对膨化甘薯脆片的含水率、硬度、色泽和复水比的影响。结果表明,甘薯膨化的最佳厚度为3mm,膨化温度、抽空温度和抽空时间是影响其膨化品质的关键因素,停滞时间和压力差在一定范围内对膨化产品的品质影响不大,并可确定其最佳工艺条件为:膨化温度110℃,抽空温度100℃,抽空时间2h,膨化压力差为0.3MPa,停滞时间为10min。     

长输油气管道经济寿命测算

油气管道运行寿命按其性质分为设计寿命、物理寿命和经济寿命,经济寿命的确定方法包括年均成本最小法和费用效益法,而费用效益法又包括年均利润最大法和总体收益分析法。年均成本最小法主要适用于成本中心和收入状况比较稳定或收入受计划控制而偏重成本控制的人为利润中心;费用效益法主要从运行效益的角度,根据经营者的承受程度和偏好,给出不同的经济运行参考年限。基于东北管网某管道的实际数据选用年均成本最小法和年均利润最大法,分别从全寿命周期和剩余寿命期两个视角,采用动态计算法,对该管道进行经济寿命测算,取得了具有参考价值的评估结果。     

一类半线性变系数抛物型方程的二阶差分格式

本文对一类半线性变系数抛物型方程初边值问题建立了一个二阶差分格式,证明了差分格式解的存在唯一性、关于初值的无条件稳定性和在L∞范数下阶数为O(2τ+h2)的收敛性,最后给出的数值算例验证了理论结果。     

贵州省最大日降雨量时空分布及重现期估算

利用1961—2012年贵州省81个气象观测站的逐日降雨资料,采用概率分布、线性趋势和空间分析等方法,分析了贵州省近52年来最大日降雨量的时空分布特征。结果表明:近52年来,贵州最大日降雨量呈递增趋势,递增速率为2.3mm/10a,全省最大日降雨量为336.7mm,平均最大日降雨量为205.1mm,年际变化趋势表明,2000年以后最大日降雨量呈递减趋势;最大日降雨量季节差异明显,春季、秋季最大日降雨量呈递减趋势,夏季、冬季最大日降雨量均为递增趋势,最大日降雨量空间分布不均,由北向南呈递增趋势;最大日降雨量100年和200年重现期估算值的空间分布形态具有一致性,高值区主要在贵州南部一带,100年和200年一遇的最大日降雨量分别为350.9mm和375.8mm。     

用负熵最大化小波实现强噪声下的语音识别

针对高噪环境下语音识别的困难,以独立分量分析和小波理论为基础,提出一种负熵最大化小波语音降噪预处理新方法,对不同种类和不同输入信噪比的噪声设计了试验,结果表明在低输入信噪比情况下本方法的优越性,此结论对高噪环境下的信号分析和语音识别具有重要意义。     

Canola genotypes differ in potassium efficiency during vegetative growth

There is no knowledge about the differential capacity of canola genotypes to take up potassium (K) and produce dry matter under conditions of low soil K availability. Hence, 84 canola genotypes were screened for K efficiency in the glasshouse. Plants were grown in sealed pots containing K-responsive, sandy soil without or with K added. Twelve genotypes were selected for advanced screening in the glasshouse in a different K-responsive soil. Genotypes with a mean K efficiency ratio (the ratio of shoot dry weight at deficient and adequate K supply) greater than one standard error above or below the median genotype value were classified as K-efficient or K-inefficient, respectively. There were significant differences between genotypes in the K efficiency ratio in both screening experiments, indicating that genotypes responded differently to K availability. In the initial screening experiment, 19 genotypes were rated as K-efficient and nine genotypes rated as K-inefficient based on the K efficiency ratio. In the advanced screening experiment with 12 genotypes, three genotypes were rated as K-efficient and two as K-inefficient. Genotypes Wesbarker and Rainbow were K-efficient and Genkai K-inefficient in both experiments. Correlation of the K efficiency ratio with (i) shoot K content in the initial and advanced screening and (ii) shoot K concentration in the advanced screening, indicates that the observed differences in K efficiency were due to genotypic differences in both the uptake and the utilization of K. K-efficient genotypes have a potential to improve canola yields on soils with low K availability.     

A reduced growth model based on stand basal area. A case for hybrid poplar plantations in northeast Spain

Whole-stand models normally require data on initial stand basal area and dominant height. Dominant height measurements are time-consuming and often imprecise, compromising subsequent predictions. Poplar plantations provide a special case where basal area correlates with site index; a whole-stand model could thus be based on stand basal area. We report a static model constructed by the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) for poplar plantations for three different hybrid poplars (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier “I-214”, “MC”, and “Luisa Avanzo”) in northeast Spain. The transition function was based on current stand basal area and was fitted with data from 158 permanent plots ranging from 1- to 17-year-old plantations. Merchantable stand volume was estimated by a volume equation where height was predicted by a height–basal area relationship based on 458 temporary plots. The model differences between clones were compared using the nonlinear extra sum of squares method. Significant differences were detected, while Luisa Avanzo presented the highest merchantable volume at the end of the rotation. Errors in basal area predictions were below 20% within 6 years in the case of Luisa Avanzo and MC clones, and within 3 years in the case of I-214. Our research showed that satisfactory predictions can be obtained using GADA with a single transition function based on an easily measurable variable such as stand basal area.