Monday, September 29, 2008

Flour density

Many receipts use weight to describe the amount of flour. We don't have balance at home, so it is quite confused for us. A websitegave some information found on website. The author said that 1 cup (236cc) =146-158 g is the closest one.

一杯麵粉(236cc) = 110 g (密度 = 0.47 g/cc)
一杯麵粉(236cc) = 120 g (密度 = 0.51 g/cc)
一杯麵粉(236cc) = 182 g (密度 = 0.77 g/cc)
一杯麵粉(236cc) = 158 g (密度 = 0.67 g/cc)
一杯麵粉(236cc) = 142 g (密度 = 0.60 g/cc)
一杯麵粉(236cc) = 146 g (密度 = 0.62 g/cc)

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

coffee and low back pain

If you use key words "coffee" and "low back pain" to google, you will get many informations. I am not going to screen them. I just want to share my own experience.

I have very bad low back pain in 1.2 months ago. It was so terrible that I could not stand straight or bend myself sometimes. Our friend visited us in late August and suggested that I quit coffee and drink tea instead.

I did follow her suggestion and my low back pain has reduced a lot. I drank a small cup of coffee in 10 days ago and got the pain back. I stopped right after that and I am OK now. I guess I don't have the body to drink coffee. Sigh!

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

Branch out

There are some papers published in Nature volume 455 in August 2008 are quite interested to me. A new class of plant hormones, strigolactones or terpenoids, which may stimulate seed germination, act as a signal of symbiotic interaction with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and inhibit shoot and root branching.

I can not post the full text on here due to copyright, but you can use any university's computer to access it on www.nature.com. I believe almost all university has subscribed e-journal of Nature.

Plant biology: Hormones branch out, Nature 455:176, Harry Klee.
Evidence points to the existence of a hitherto uncharacterized type of hormone that controls different aspects of plant growth and interaction. The hunt for that hormone is heating up.

Strigolactone inhibition of shoot branching, Nature 455:189, Victoria Gomez-Roldan et al.
Shoot branching is regulated by hormones. Branching mutants in several plant species suggests the existence of a plant hormone that is released from the roots and prevents excessive shoot branching. This paper reports on one of two studies that show that a class of chemical compounds called strigolactones found in root exudates are reduced in the branching mutants and that external application of these chemicals inhibits shoot branching in the mutants. It is proposed that strigolactones or related metabolites are the sought after class of hormones.

Inhibition of shoot branching by new terpenoid plant hormones, Nature 455:195, Mikihisa Umehara et al.
Shoot branching is regulated by hormones. Branching mutants in several plant species suggests the existence of a plant hormone that is released from the roots and prevents excessive shoot branching. This paper reports on one of two studies that show that a class of chemical compounds called strigolactones found in root exudates are reduced in the branching mutants and that external application of these chemicals inhibits shoot branching in the mutants. It is proposed that strigolactones or related metabolites are the sought after class of hormones.
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Here are earlier papers:

Dodd, I. C., Ferguson, B. J. & Beveridge, C. A. Apical wilting and petiole xylem vessel diameter of the rms2 branching mutant of pea are shoot controlled and independent of a long-distance signal regulating branching. Plant Cell Physiol. 49(5):791–800 (2008).

Lopez-Raez, J. A. et al. Tomato strigolactones are derived from carotenoids and their biosynthesis is promoted by phosphate starvation. New Phytol. 178(4):863–874 (2008).

Mouchel, C. F. & Leyser, O. Novel phytohormones involved in long-range signaling. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 10(5):473–476 (2007).

Auldridge, M. E. et al. Characterization of three members of the Arabidopsis carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase family demonstrates the divergent roles of this multifunctional enzyme family. Plant J. 45(6):982–993 (2006).

Dun, E. A., Ferguson, B. J. & Beveridge, C. A. Apical dominance and shoot branching. Divergent opinions or divergent mechanisms? Plant Physiol. 142(3):812–819 (2006).

JXenie Johnson, Tanya Brcich, Elizabeth A. Dun, Magali Goussot, Karine Haurogné, Christine A. Beveridge, and Catherine Rameau, Branching genes are conserved across species. Genes controlling a novel signal in pea are coregulated by other long-distance signals. Plant Physiol. 142(3):1014–1026 (2006).

Beveridge, C. A. Axillary bud outgrowth: sending a message. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 9(1):35–40 (2006).

Booker J, Sieberer T, Wright W, Williamson L, Willett B, Stirnberg P, Turnbull C, Srinivasan M, Goddard P, Leyser O: MAX1 encodes a cytochrome P450 family member that acts downstream of MAX3/4 to produce a carotenoid-derived branch-inhibiting hormone. Dev Cell, 8:443-449 (2005).

Foo E, Bullier E, Goussot M, Foucher F, Rameau C, Beveridge C: The branching gene RAMOSUS1 mediates interactions among two novel signals and auxin in pea. Plant Cell 2005, 17(2):464-474 (2005).

Morris SE, Cox MCH, Ross JJ, Krisantini S, Beveridge CA: Auxin dynamics after decapitation are not correlated with the initial growth of axillary buds. Plant Physiol, 138(3):1665-1672 (2005).

Nordstrom A, Tartowski P, Tarkowska D, Norbaek R, Astot C, Dolezal K, Sandberg G: Auxin regulation of cytokinin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana: a factor of potential importance for auxin-cytokinin-regulated development. PNAS, 101(21):8039-8044 (2004).

Dodd IC, Ngo C, Turnbull CGN, Beveridge CA: Effects of nitrogen supply on xylem cytokinin delivery, transpiration and leaf expansion of pea genotypes differing in xylem-cytokinin concentration. Funct Plant Biol, 31:903-911 (2004).

Beveridge CA, Weller JL, Singer SR, Hofer JMI: Axillary meristem development. Budding relationships between networks controlling flowering, branching and photoperiod responsiveness. Plant Physiol, 131(3):927-934 (2003).

Horvath DP, Anderson JV, Chao WS, Foley MR: Knowing when to grow: signals regulating bud dormancy. Trends Plant Sci 8:534-540 (2003).

Sorefan K, Booker J, Haurogne´ K, Goussot M, Bainbridge K, Foo E, Chatfield S, Ward S, Beveridge C, Rameau C, Leyser O: MAX4 and RMS1 are orthologous dioxygenase-like genes that regulate shoot branching in Arabidopsis and pea. Genes Dev, 17:1469-1474. 11 (2003).

Morris SE, Beveridge CA, Murfet IC, Prioul S, Rameau C: The basal branching pea mutant rms7-1. Pisum Genet 2003, 35:10-14 (2003).

Rameau C, Murfet IC, Laucou V, Floyd RS, Morris SE, Beveridge CA: Pea rms6 mutants exhibit increased basal branching. Physiol Plant, 115:458-467 (2002).

Turnbull, C. G., Booker, J. P. & Leyser, H. M. Micrografting techniques for testing long-distance signalling in Arabidopsis. Plant J. 32(2):255–262 (2002).

Foo, E., Turnbull, C. G. & Beveridge, C. A. Long-distance signaling and the control of branching in the rms1 mutant of pea. Plant Physiol. 126(1):203–209 (2001).

Morris, S. E., Turnbull, C. G., Murfet, I. C. & Beveridge, C. A. Mutational analysis of branching in pea. Evidence that Rms1 and Rms5 regulate the same novel signal. Plant Physiol. 126(3):1205–1213 (2001).

Beveridge, C. A., Symons, G. M. & Turnbull, C. G. N. Auxin inhibition of decapitation-induced branching is dependent on graft-transmissible signals regulated by genes Rms1 and Rms2. Plant Physiol. 123(2):689–697 (2000).

Beveridge CA: Long-distance signalling and a mutational analysis of branching in pea. Plant Growth Reg, 32:193-203 (2000).

Beveridge CA, Murfet IC, Kerhoas L, Sotta B, Miginiac E, Rameau C: The shoot controls zeatin riboside export from pea roots: evidence from the branching mutant rms4. Plant J, 11(2):339-345 (1997).

Beveridge, C. A., Symons, G. M., Murfet, I. C., Ross, J. J. & Rameau, C. The rms1 mutant of pea has elevated indole-3-acetic acid levels and reduced root-sap zeatin riboside content but increased branching controlled by graft transmissible signal(s). Plant Physiol. 115(3):1251–1258 (1997).

Kenrick, P. & Crane, P. R. The origin and early evolution of plants on land. Nature 389(6646):33–39 (1997).

Beveridge, C. A., Ross, J. J. & Murfet, I. C. Branching in pea (action of genes Rms3 and Rms4). Plant Physiol. 110(3):859–865 (1996).

Beveridge CA, Ross JJ, Murfet IC: Branching mutant rms-2 in Pisum sativum. Grafting studies and endogenous indole-3-acetic acid levels. Plant Physiol, 104(3):953-959 (1994).

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Asparagus and cancer

There are some reports talking about how asparagus can cure cancer. I don't have time to read them. Just leave a note in here.

Here is a short article talk about it. Anybody interested in this subject should try to find scientific papers and articles to know it better.

Cooked asparagus for cancer:
For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore canned asparagus is just as good as fresh. I have corresponded with the two leading canners of asparagus, Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. Place the cooked asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree, and store in the refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and evening. Patients usually show some improvement in from 2-4 weeks. It can be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm and may be needed in some cases.

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Steamer

We bought our steamer in early August when our Tatung rice cooker was still on Pacific ocean. Well, we can make rice with pot, but it is easier to make it with rice cooker or steamer. That's why we bought our steamer. It is a 2-layer steamer, so we can make rice and steamed vegetable in the same time.

In late August, our wonderful rice cooker came and we start to use it but not steamer to make rice. After ignoring the steamer for a while, we decided to make steamed buns or steamed buns with milk+sugar+butter or chocolate stuffing. Then the steamer has become very useful.

In the beginning, kneading dough was a tough job for us. It stuck on our hands and we could not get it off. Kneading dough also made our hands sour. But after making steamed buns in the weekend for 3 weeks, I think we are good on it now.

Here is the simple receipt again:
Steamed buns:
3 cups of flour (ps. it is rice cup, about 160 mL)
1/3 cup of sugar
1 Tsp yeast
-> mix roughly by chopsticks
-> add 1 cup of water slowly and keep mixing
-> Knead dough until not sticky on hand
-> rise 1-2 hours inside microwave (ps. it depends on the room temperature)
-> use some flour on hand and the dough to knead the dough again
-> separate to 8 pieces (ps. we can put anything we like in to make steamed bun with stuffing or simply make steamed bun)
-> steam 15-20 minutes with our steamer

Milk+sugar+butter stuffing:
We use milk powder to do it. Please remember to check where it or its ingredients originated. Do not buy anything with melamine if you want to live longer and healthier. There are huge animal feed recalls in 2007 and milk products scandal in 2008. Well, I think everybody knows what's happened. The ratio of milk powder:sugar:butter is 2:1:1. But I think that we should use a little bit less butter. For 8 steamed buns with stuffing, it will be:
4 TBSP milk powder
2 or less TBSP sugar
2 or less TBSP butter

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15oC

It is spring in Australia now. The day-night temperature difference is huge. I heard that the difference can be 15 oC. Sigh! There is almost no insulation in our rental home. It can be ~30 oC around noon and ~15 oC at night.

I don't know what will happen in summer. I heard that it is like steamed in January and February in this subtropical city. I hope our home won't be so bad.

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Sunday, September 21, 2008

5 am

It has been a long time that I did not add any new receipts in here because I am too tired to find new ones. Life is not easy when I couldn't fall asleep after 5 am. I feel that I am getting old because wake up early all the time usually happen on older people.

We have tried and modified the receipts of steamed bun, steamed cake, milk+butter+bread several times and I am satisfied about them. We make steamed cake every morning as our breakfast, make steamed bun during weekend. We also put dark chocolate or milk+butter+sugar into steamed bun and they both tasted good.

I should say that yesterday was the first time we tried to put dark chocolate and milk+butter+sugar into steamed bun. They were good and we couldn't control ourselves and ate them all.

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