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Background and Objectives: Safety aspects regarding free asparagine concentration in wheat arise because of its acrylamide formation potential in baked wheat products. Free asparagine concentration in wheat is affected by environment, genotype, and nitrogen and sulfur fertilization, which also affect wheat protein content and composition. Changing protein content and composition affects gluten strength, altering product quality. This study investigated how gluten strength was affected by environment, genotype, and fertilization treatments grown under commercially relevant conditions. Findings: Environment predominated in affecting dough extensibility and genotype primarily affected resistance to extension, with minimal effects from fertilization treatments. Differences in extensigraph parameters at two resting times segregated genotypes according to gluten strength. Conclusions: Factors affecting free asparagine accumulation in wheat also affect gluten strength. Genotype and environment require primary attention since they play an important role in both wheat safety and quality. Significance and Novelty: The lack of studies investigating the impact of factors affecting free asparagine concentration on the gluten strength of wheat has implications for the global wheat market. From a novel perspective on dough extensibility and resistance to extension, the effects of environment, genotype, and fertilization on the gluten strength of commercially important wheat varieties are considered in a food safety context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Free asparagine (ASN) is the precursor to the formation of acrylamide, which is a probable neurotoxic and carcinogenic compound formed during high‐temperature (>120°C) processing of starchy foods, such as cereal‐based products. Controlling the acrylamide concentration of cereal‐based products, for example, bread, within the allowable levels established by the European Commission, is necessary for food safety purposes. One effective measure recommended by the European Commission to mitigate acrylamide in cereal‐based products is to reduce free ASN levels in raw ingredients, for example, wheat. Therefore, knowledge of free ASN levels in Canadian commercial wheat and the strategies to reduce its formation is necessary for the Canadian wheat industry to secure global market access for Canadian wheat. The objective of this study was to understand the effects of genotype, growing environment, and fertilization on free ASN concentration of whole‐wheat flour from Western Canadian wheat varieties. Findings: The free ASN concentration of whole‐wheat flours in this study ranged from 281 to 1,014 µg/g (dry basis). The variation in free ASN levels in wheat was mainly influenced by the growing environment (44%), followed by genotype (31%) and the interaction between genotype and environment (18%). Although being significant, the effects of fertilization and interactions involving fertilization on free ASN concentration in whole‐wheat flour were minimal (0.7%–2.2%). Conclusion: Growing wheat genotypes in suitable environments, along with the selection of wheat genotypes with lower potential for free ASN formation, are the most effective strategies to control free ASN levels in Canadian wheat. Significance and novelty: Limited knowledge in regard to free ASN concentration and the strategies to reduce its formation in Canadian wheat may have a serious impact on Canadian wheat access to global markets, especially the European market. This study provides an understanding of the effects of growing environment, genotype, and fertilization on free ASN concentration of select Western Canadian commercial wheat varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at developing a hypothesized model and a validated questionnaire of language education glocalization (LEG) for the first time to accomplish systematic data generation and collection of the Iranian EFL teachers' perceptions regarding the LEG. In order to develop the model, extensive readings of the related literature were executed and expert consultation was conducted leading to formation of a hypothesized model. To test the model a questionnaire was developed and validated to tap the components of the model. Cronbach's Alpha coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the questionnaire estimating 0.96 for the whole questionnaire and exploratory factor analysis along with content analysis confirmed the validity of the questionnaire. After running exploratory factor analysis, to check whether the questionnaire data fits the hypothesized model of LEG introduced at the beginning of the study, a confirmatory factor analysis was done. Then, the final version of the questionnaire was administered to 270 language teachers to gather the data to feed it to the model to see the extent to which the model fit the data. The results of the study revealed that although the model has been the first one of its kind, it displayed a reasonable degree of reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years teacher cognition research has attracted a great amount of attention among different scholars. The current study aimed to discover what the most prevalent perspectives of english language center teachers in Iran are regarding teaching grammer and how much these perspectives are consistent with teacher's actual grammer teaching practices as well as current principles of grammer teaching. An adapted version of Burgess-Etherington questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were gathered from 120 teachers, and the classroom teaching practices of 10 of them were observed and video recorded for further analysis. The results of the study showed that the teachers mostly had a proper understanding of grammer teaching issues and its current principles. However, their actual practices did not always go together with their stated perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]