Migration of gluten under shear flow as a novel mechanism for separating wheat flour into gluten and starch

This paper describes a novel principle for the separation of wheat flour into starch and gluten in a concentrated medium. The process is based on the use of simple shear flow in a cone-and-cone device. The separation takes place in two steps. Initially, local segregation of gluten and starch phases occurs, leading to formation of macroscopically visible gluten patches distributed throughout the dough. This local segregation can be understood by considering the dough as a visco-elastic matrix containing an inert filler (starch). Further shearing leads to aggregation of those patches and migration (large-scale separation) towards the apex of the cone. As a result, the wheat dough is separated into a protein-poor fraction, containing less than 4% protein, and a protein-rich fraction containing almost 50% protein on a dry weight basis. However, under the process conditions used, upon a very long shearing, a redistribution of the aggregated gluten structures in the starch phase was observed, demonstrating a processing limit for the separation performance. Compared to traditional processing, the separation process presented shows opportunities for producing high quality gluten accompanied with significant water savings. Considering the fact that simple shear flow in steady rate is less harmful to gluten quality, such a separation process could benefit gluten quality.     

Development of a forest certification standard compatible with PEFC and FSC's management requirements. A case study from Greece

Greece currently has no national forest certification standard.This paper explains how a draft forest management standard forGreece was developed to be compatible with both the Forest StewardshipCouncil and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certificationschemes requirements. The draft standard was tested in two contrastingforest areas to investigate its ease of operation, to indicatenecessary refinements to the standard and to reveal major areasof weakness in current forest management practices. Field testingshowed that the standard was operationally efficient and thatrelatively few changes to the standard were necessary. Majorweaknesses in current management practices were identified asbreaches of health and safety, poor training of forest workersand inadequate consultation with stakeholders.     

Habitat amount and quality,not patch size,determine persistence of a woodland-dependent mammal in an agricultural landscape

Context

The classical theory of island biogeography explains loss of species in fragmented landscapes as an effect of remnant patch size and isolation. Recently this has been challenged by the habitat amount and habitat continuum hypotheses, according to which persistence in modified landscapes is related to total habitat amount rather than habitat configuration or the ability of species to use all habitats to varying degrees. Distinguishing between these theories is essential for effective conservation planning in modified landscapes.

Objective

Identify which factors of habitat type, amount and configuration predict the persistence of a keystone woodland specialist, the eastern bettong Bettongia gaimardi, in a fragmented landscape.

Method

In the Midlands region of Tasmania we carried out camera surveys at 62 sites in summer and winter. We included habitat and landscape features to model whether habitat amount or patch size and isolation influenced the presence of the eastern bettong, and to measure effects of habitat quality.

Results

Habitat amount within a 1 km buffer was a better predictor of occupancy than patch size and isolation. Occupancy was also affected by habitat quality, indicated by density of regenerating stems.

Conclusion

Our results support the habitat amount hypothesis as a better predictor of presence. For a species that is able to cross the matrix between remnant patches and utilise multiple patches, the island biogeography concept does not explain habitat use in fragmented landscapes. Our results emphasize the value of small remnant patches for conservation of the eastern bettong, provided those patches are in good condition.