Changes in structure and aroma release from starch-aroma systems upon α-amylase addition

The influence of starch hydrolysis by α-amylase addition on structural properties and aroma release from starch-aroma systems was studied. A food model system composed of aqueous tapioca starch dispersion (4g dry starch/100g dispersion) and one aroma compound (menthone) was investigated. Structure breakdown and related changes in starch fraction (amylose) were measured by rheology and iodine-binding. Menthone release from the aroma-starch system in the headspace was followed by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) upon starch hydrolysis. A slightly higher viscosity was found for the starch-menthone system compared to the starch system without menthone upon α-amylase addition. One could hypothesise that menthone acts as a kind of nucleation agent for inducing structure build-up of starch segments, hindering starch degradation. An extensive aroma release from aroma-starch systems upon α-amylase addition was expected, but, instead, just a slight volatile increase was found after a starch hydrolysis time of 60min. It is suggested that aroma release is the result of several superimposed effects ranging from viscosity effects to interactions between aroma compounds and starch degradation product

Health Care User Perspectives on Constructing, Contextualizing, and Co-Producing "Quality of Care"

Most of the research on health care user “quality of care” perspectives seeks discrete and measurable indicators to advance quality improvement (QI) goals. This lacks sufficiently grounded query about the meaning of “quality of care” for health users, and how context influences their ideas and experiences. We studied this between 2010 and 2011, repeatedly interviewing and shadowing 45 individuals in three of New York’s hospital-based outpatient HIV care settings during routine visits. We found participants using common terminology, but across the cohort meaning varied and employed personal narratives. Participants conveyed the impact of historic and current experiences of stigma and discrimination on limiting access to care, and showed its destabilizing effects on quality constructs. Participants also felt they contributed to their health care settings’ delivery of quality care. From our findings, we discuss the applicability and implications of “co-production” to conceptualize health care as jointly delivered by typical “givers” and “receivers” of care

Video guidance, landing, and imaging systems

The adaptive potential of video guidance technology for earth orbital and interplanetary missions was explored. The application of video acquisition, pointing, tracking, and navigation technology was considered to three primary missions: planetary landing, earth resources satellite, and spacecraft rendezvous and docking. It was found that an imaging system can be mechanized to provide a spacecraft or satellite with a considerable amount of adaptability with respect to its environment. It also provides a level of autonomy essential to many future missions and enhances their data gathering ability. The feasibility of an autonomous video guidance system capable of observing a planetary surface during terminal descent and selecting the most acceptable landing site was successfully demonstrated in the laboratory. The techniques developed for acquisition, pointing, and tracking show promise for recognizing and tracking coastlines, rivers, and other constituents of interest. Routines were written and checked for rendezvous, docking, and station-keeping functions

Associations Between Hearing Performance and Physiological Measures - An Overview and Outlook

The current paper summarises the research investigating associations between physiological data and hearing performance. An overview of state-of-the-art research and literature is given as well as promising directions for associations between physiological data and data regarding hearing loss and hearing performance. The physiological parameters included in this paper are: electrodermal activity, heart rate variability, blood pressure, blood oxygenation and respiratory rate. Furthermore, the environmental and behavioural measurements of physical activity and body mass index, alcohol consumption and smoking have been included. So far, only electrodermal activity and heart rate variability are physiological signals simultaneously associated with hearing loss or hearing performance. Initial findings suggest blood pressure and respiratory rate to be the most promising physiological measures that relate to hearing loss and hearing performance

Fluctuation Theorems for Entropy Production and Heat Dissipation in Periodically Driven Markov Chains

Asymptotic fluctuation theorems are statements of a Gallavotti-Cohen symmetry in the rate function of either the time-averaged entropy production or heat dissipation of a process. Such theorems have been proved for various general classes of continuous-time deterministic and stochastic processes, but always under the assumption that the forces driving the system are time independent, and often relying on the existence of a limiting ergodic distribution. In this paper we extend the asymptotic fluctuation theorem for the first time to inhomogeneous continuous-time processes without a stationary distribution, considering specifically a finite state Markov chain driven by periodic transition rates. We find that for both entropy production and heat dissipation, the usual Gallavotti-Cohen symmetry of the rate function is generalized to an analogous relation between the rate functions of the original process and its corresponding backward process, in which the trajectory and the driving protocol have been time-reversed. The effect is that spontaneous positive fluctuations in the long time average of each quantity in the forward process are exponentially more likely than spontaneous negative fluctuations in the backward process, and vice-versa, revealing that the distributions of fluctuations in universes in which time moves forward and backward are related. As an additional result, the asymptotic time-averaged entropy production is obtained as the integral of a periodic entropy production rate that generalizes the constant rate pertaining to homogeneous dynamics

Hearing Care Providers' Perspectives on the Utility of Datalogging Information

Purpose The aim of the study was to learn (a) how datalogging information is being used in clinical practice by hearing care providers (HCPs) in the United States and (b) HCPs' opinions about how information collected through the hearing aids could be broadened in clinical application. Method A mixed-method approach was undertaken consisting of an online quantitative survey and qualitative structured telephone interviews. Survey data were analyzed using descriptives and chi-square analyses. The interview data were transcribed and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results In total, 154 HCPs completed the survey, of whom 10 also completed an interview. Survey data showed that most HCPs use datalogging for conventional applications, such as counseling and fine-tuning during a hearing aid trial. Interview data highlighted four additional desirable datalogging features: (a) data about the sound environment, (b) details about operational aspects of hearing aid use, (c) data about use and nonuse, and (d) automated diagnosis of a hearing aid malfunction. HCPs also envisaged using datalogging in novel ways, such as for demonstrating hearing aid value and supporting decision making. Conclusions Today, datalogging is primarily used as a tool for counseling clients about hours and patterns of hearing aid use and for troubleshooting and fine-tuning. However, HCPs suggested novel and more ambitious uses of datalogging such as for sending alerts about nonuse, for automated diagnosis of a hearing aid malfunction, and for helping the client in their decision making. It remains to be seen whether in the future these will be implemented into clinical practice