Wheat gluten proteins are considered to have the unique ability to form viscoelastic matrices that are essential for breadmaking. This study shows that maize seed storage protein (zein), if properly treated, can be made to function similarly to gluten at the protein secondary structure level with concomitant improved viscoelasticity. Here, we propose the concept of a small amount of coprotein (high molecular weight glutenin or casein) acting to stabilize a build-up of β-sheet structure in a zein-based dough, thus creating a viscoelastic matrix that is retained over time. This discovery is relevant to the need for gluten replacement viscoelastic proteins for wheat intolerant individuals and as well opens possibilities of creating wheatlike cereal varieties that could more cheaply substitute for wheat imports in developing countries.

Ni-Si Schottky barriers are fabricated by electrodeposition using n on n+ Si substrates. I -V , C-V and low temperature I -V measurements are presented. A high-quality Schottky barrier with extremely low reverse leakage current is revealed. The results are shown to fit an inhomogeneous barrier model for thermionic emission over a Schottky barrier proposed by Werner and Guttler [J.H. Werner, H.H. Guttler, Barrier inhomogeneities at Schottky contacts, J. Appl. Phys. 69 (3) (1991) 1522-1533]. A mean value of 0.76 V and a standard deviation of 66 mV is obtained for the Schottky barrier height at room temperature with a linear bias dependence. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy measurements reveal a polycrystalline Ni film with grains that span from the Ni-Si interface to the top of the Ni layer. The variation in Ni orientation is suggested as a possible source of the spatial distribution of the Schottky barrier height.

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Inverse sphere shaped Ni arrays were fabricated by electrodeposition on Si through the guided self-assembly of polystyrene latex spheres in Si/ SiO 2 patterns. It is shown that the size commensurability of the etched tracks is critical for the long range ordering of the spheres. Moreover, noncommensurate guiding results in the reproducible periodic triangular distortion of the close packed self-assembly. Magnetoresistance measurements on the Ni arrays were performed showing room temperature anisotropic magnetoresistance of 0.85%. These results are promising for self-assembled patterned storage media and magnetoresistance devices.

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