Molecular gastronomy : basis for a new culinary movement or modern day alchemy?

To explore the phenomenon of molecular gastronomy by conducting empirical research focusing on renowned chefs. Design/methodology/approach - Literature review summarising past culinary innovations then focusing on the origins and evolution of molecular gastronomy, followed by 18 phenomenological interviews with a snowball sample of world class chefs from across Europe. There is far greater confusion about what molecular gastronomy might be than is implied in previous studies. The term has become wrongly used to describe a possible culinary movement mainly as a result of media influence. Leading chefs, whose new restaurant concepts have become associated with it, reject the term. With only 20 years of history molecular gastronomy is still a comparatively new phenomenon, this initial research presents a clear picture of its evolution so far and the increasing confusion the use of the term has created. It's still far too early to decide if these are heralding a new gastronomic movement. Although molecular gastronomy itself may not provide a foundation for a genuine and lasting development of cuisine it is generating fascination with the fundamental science and techniques of cuisine and showy culinary alchemy. As with Nouvelle Cuisine poor quality copycat chefs could bring into disrepute the reputation and practices of those who are at the vanguard culinary and restaurant innovation. Originality/value - First widespread primary study, across five countries, into recognised exceptional chefs' understanding of molecular gastronomy. It clarifies that molecular gastronomy was never intended to be the foundation of a culinary movement and identifies four key elements for the development of lasting cuisine movements and trends

Personal Agency as a Primary Focus of University-Community Engagement: A case study of Clemente Australia

Clemente Australia is a collaboration of Australian Catholic University (ACU) with not-for-profit agencies, other universities and the broader community directed to developing and implementing a model for community-embedded, socially-supported university education. It involves people from backgrounds of disadvantage taking semester length university courses in the humanities for credit. The paper presents an integrative model explaining the development of personal agency through the Clemente Australia program. In terms of the model, Clemente Australia builds ideas of hope, meaning, and identity into the personal narratives of participants through reflection on their experiences in the program and the competencies and changed expectancies that these bring. This integrative model can both shed light upon participants’ reports of the program and suggest ways of making it more effective. Data drawn from Clemente student case studies are analysed with respect to changes in personal agency and social inclusion to show how the model can be used as a lens for understanding the benefits of community-embedded, socially-supported university humanities education

Novel electroanalytical methods

This work involves the characterisation of novel electroanalytical techniques, and the combined use of these and more standard methods in studying different electrochemical systems. Ferrocene carboxylic acid (FCA) was studied extensively using cyclic voltammetry, rotating disk electrochemistry, differential pulse voltammetry, a microelectrode, UV-Vis and I.R. spectroelectrochemistry, and convolution. In chapter 2, various qualitative and quantitative studies were performed on aqueous solutions of FCA using the above techniques in an effort to explain the occurrence of an oxidation post-peak in the cyclic voltammogram. It was found that the conditions necessary for the post-peak to occur were; high pH (>9), and the presence o f oxygen. Although attempts to gain spectral characterisation of the species responsible were unsuccessful, it is proposed that the post-peak is a result of the oxidation of oxygen to ozone - a reaction which is mediated by the ferrocene carboxylate. In chapter 3, a three-electrode electrochemical cell with a platinum microelectrode of radius 5 x l0 “6m as the working electrode was used for the study o f ferrocyanide. This system was examined using both direct and differential pulse voltammetry experiments. Theory was postulated for applying a differential pulse waveform to a micro electrode and simulations were carried out and compared with the experimental results. While Cottrell behaviour was assumed for the first set of simulations, it later became necessary to modify the theory to allow for a steady state current occurring at the microelectrode after the pulse. This modified theory concurred well with the experimental results, and the sensitivity of the experiment was found to be 8.1 x 1CT7 AM' 1, while that predicted from the simulations was 8.4 x 10~7 AM '1. Concentrations as low as 5 x 10”5M [Fe(CN) 6]4 were clearly observed. In chapter 4, a ferrocyanide system was examined using both direct and differential pulse voltammetry experiments at a rotating disk electrode. Two theoretical models were postulated for applying a differential pulse waveform to a rotating disk electrode, and simulations were carried out and compared with the experimental results. It was found that Model 1 applies when pulse widths are short and/or when rotation rates are low, and conversely, Model 2 applies when pulse widths are long and/or when rotation rates are high. In this case the experimental results seemed to be governed by an overlap of both models. In chapter 5, the semidifferentiation of cyclic voltammograms for the further elucidation of electrochemical processes was explored, with ferrocyanide and FCA as the analytes. Many simulations were carried out and compared to experimental data. The simulation of a bulk species with a subsequent catalytic current and an irreversible adsorbed species seemed to fit the experimental cyclic voltammogram and semiderivative of FCA in 0.2M Na2HP0 4 /H20 best. Also in chapter 5, HPLC experiments using an electrochemical detector for the detection o f ascorbic acid were carried out. Both direct and differential currents were applied, with the direct current experiments being used as a standard technique for the characterisation of the differential current experiments. Although both techniques did yield peaks for ascorbic acid, a much larger signal was observed for the direct current experiments

Climate at high-obliquity

The question of climate at high obliquity is raised in the context of both exoplanet studies (e.g. habitability) and paleoclimates studies (evidence for low-latitude glaciation during the Neoproterozoic and the ”Snowball Earth” hypothesis). States of high obliquity, φ, are distinctive in that, for φ ≥54◦, the poles receive more solar radiation in the annual mean than the Equator, opposite to the present day situation. In addition, the seasonal cycle of insolation is extreme, with the poles alternatively “facing” the sun and sheltering in the dark for months. The novelty of our approach is to consider the role of a dynamical ocean in controlling the surface climate at high obliquity, which in turn requires understanding of the surface winds patterns when temperature gradients are reversed. To address these questions, a coupled ocean-atmosphere-sea ice GCM configured on an aquaplanet is employed. Except for the absence of topography and modified obliquity, the set-up is Earth-like. Two large obliquities φ, 54◦ and 90◦, are compared to today’s Earth value, φ=23.5◦. Three key results emerge at high obliquity: 1) despite reversed temper- ature gradients, mid-latitudes surface winds are westerly and trade winds exist at the equator (as for φ=23.5◦) although the westerlies are confined to the summer hemisphere, 2) a habitable planet is possible with mid-latitude temperatures in the range 300-280 K and 3) a stable climate state with an ice cap limited to the equatorial region is unlikely. We clarify the dynamics behind these features (notably by an analysis of the potential vorticity structure and conditions for baroclinic instability of the atmosphere). Interestingly, we find that the absence of a stable partially glaciated state is critically linked to the absence of ocean heat transport during winter, a feature ultimately traced back to the high seasonality of baroclinic instability conditions in the atmosphere

Suicide around anniversary times

The anniversary of the loss of a loved one is known to induce negative emotions, which for some can be significant. The present study examined the incidence of suicide around the time of such anniversaries using data from the Queensland Suicide Register for the years 1998 to 2008. There were statistically significant increases in suicide events immediately after the loss of a loved one and around the anniversary of the loss. Limitations of the study are noted.Griffith Health, Australian Institute for Suicide Research & PreventionFull Tex