Motivational interviewing in drug abuse services: A randomized trial.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a directive, client-centered brief intervention to elicit behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence. In this clinical trial, 152 outpatients and 56 inpatients entering public agencies for treatment of drug problems were randomly assigned to receive or not receive a single session of manual-guided MI. Drug use was assessed by self-report, urine toxicology, and collateral reports from significant others at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Contrary to prior reports, MI showed no effect on drug use outcomes when added to inpatient or outpatient treatment, although both groups showed substantial increases in abstinence from illicit drugs and alcohol. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client commitment language during motivational interviewing predicts drug use outcomes.

Client language from a motivational interview (MI) and drug use outcome were investigated. Interview videotapes of 84 drug abusers were coded for frequency and strength of utterances expressing commitment, desire, ability, need, readiness, and reasons to change or maintain their habit. Cluster analysis of proportion days abstinent (PDA) revealed 3 groups: high PDA at intake and follow-up (3, 6, 9, 12 months; maintainers); low intake PDA/high follow-up PDA (changers); and low intake PDA/low to moderate follow-up PDA (stragglers). Distinct group patterns emerged for commitment strength (CS) during MI. Clients dishonest in checklist self-report exhibited CS similar to stragglers. CS for client evaluation of a change plan predicted outcome PDA. CS was predicted by strength of desire, ability, need, and reasons, but more strongly predicted outcome PDA, suggesting CS is a pathway for their influence on behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sintering of (Cu0.25Ni0.25Zn0.50)Fe2O4 Ferrite

A study has been conducted on the sintering of a ceramic ferrite having the composition (Cu_0.25Ni_0.25Zn_0.50)Fe₂O₄. The study analyzes the evolution of ferrite relative to density and microstructure with peak sintering temperature and dwell time at peak temperature. The densification and grain-growth rates are correlated with average grain size, relative density, and temperature. Corresponding rate-controlling diffusion mechanisms are proposed.     

Enzymatic browning in avocado (Persea americana) revisited: History,advances, and future perspectives

Considering nearly 80 years of research regarding one of the enzymes responsible for catalyzing the formation of pigments in higher animals, plants, fungi and bacteria, this review will focus on collecting and categorizing the existing information about polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in fruits, with particular emphasis on the information in relation to avocado, which is one of the hardiest species in terms of inactivation, has documented dual activity (EC 1.14.18.1/EC 1.10.3.1), and represents one of the oldest challenges for food science research and fruit processors.

It is expected that this review will contribute to the further development of the field by highlighting the questions that have arisen during the characterization of PPO, the progress that has been made and the questions that remain today, in addition to new methodologies that are being applied to study this system. Holistic methodologies offer unexplored potential for advancing our understanding of the complex phenomena that govern PPO activity in fruits, because these methodologies will enable the characterization of this family of enzymes in all of its complexity. Subsequently, it will be possible to develop better techniques for controlling enzymatic browning in this valuable fruit.     

Intramammary inoculation of Panax ginseng extract in cows at drying off enhances early mammary involution

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a single intramammary infusion of Panax ginseng extract on cell proliferation and death mechanism in bovine mammary gland during early involution. Eight mammary quarters from six non-pregnant cows in late lactation were infused with 10 ml of ginseng solution (3 mg/ml), six quarters were treated with 10 ml of placebo (vehicle alone) and six quarters were maintained as uninoculated controls. Milking was interrupted after infusion. Animals included in the three groups were slaughtered 7 d after inoculation and samples for histological analysis were taken. Morphometric analysis showed a significant increase in percentages of mammary tissue area occupied by stroma in ginseng-treated quarters compared with controls. A significant increase of immunostained area for bax protein and active caspase-3 was observed in ginseng-treated quarters compared with controls, whereas no differences were observed for bcl-2 immunostaining. Expression of bax mRNA was significantly higher in ginseng-treated quarters than in controls. The bax/bcl-2 ratio indicated a significant predominance of bax over bcl-2 mRNA expression in ginseng-treated quarters compared with controls. The rise of epithelial and stromal cell apoptosis in situ by TUNEL was more marked in quarters treated with ginseng than in controls. Ginseng inoculation had no effect on the number of epithelial and stromal proliferating cells labelled with Ki-67 antibody. Ratio of apoptotic to proliferating cells was higher in quarters treated with ginseng compared with controls, indicating a net loss of cells in parenchymal components. Also, the intramammary inoculation of ginseng extract at drying off increased the rate of mammary cell apoptosis without inhibiting cell proliferation. Taken together, these changes are indicative of mammary regression enhancement during early involution.     

Spray‐drying encapsulation of citral in sucrose or trehalose matrices: physicochemical and sensory characteristics

The potential of the disaccharide trehalose as carrier for producing spray‐dried citral was examined. Some physical and sensory characteristics of citral encapsulated in matrices containing either trehalose or sucrose and maltodextrin (MD) were analysed. They included water sorption, glass transition temperatures (T_g), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation and citral retention during spray‐drying. The glassy state at room temperature (25 °C) was maintained as far as 33% relative humidities (RH) for the spray‐dried trehalose formulation and 43% RH for trehalose–MD; however, for sucrose–MD and for sucrose formulations, the glassy state was limited to RHs lower than 33% and 22%, respectively. Sensory evaluation and gas chromatographic analysis indicated that citral retention after spray‐drying was similar for matrices containing either trehalose or sucrose. However, trehalose formulations had improved physical stability as compared to sucrose.     

Enhancement of sweetness intensity in gels by inhomogeneous distribution of sucrose

Model systems consisting of layers of mixed agar/gelatin gel were used to investigate the effect of the spatial distribution of sucrose on perceived sweetness intensity. 2-Alternative forced choice tests were performed with consumers to compare the sweetness of layered samples with an inhomogeneous distribution of sucrose to the sweetness of a reference sample with a homogeneous distribution. All samples had the same overall sucrose concentration (10%) and similar mechanical and rheological properties. Inhomogeneous samples that had large concentration gradients of sucrose between layers were perceived sweeter than the homogeneous reference. No differences in sweetness were observed between the reference and samples with small concentration gradients of sucrose. Additionally, the position of the layers containing sucrose did not affect sweetness. Results showed that an inhomogeneous distribution of sucrose can be used to reduce sucrose content by 20% without a decrease in sweetness intensity.     

Prediction of fatty acid composition using a NIRS fibre optics probe at two different locations of ham subcutaneous fat

NIR technology was used to analyze the fatty acid composition of fat tissue from conjugated linoleic acid fed pigs by direct application of a fibre optics probe on two different locations of subcutaneous fat. One hundred and fifty-three pigs were fed three different diets and the fatty acid profile of subcutaneous fat from Gluteus medius was analyzed using gas chromatography and FT-NIR in a longitudinal and transversal cut. Spectra were acquired using a Bruker Optics Matrix-F duplex spectrometer equipped with a fibre optics probe (IN-268-2). Total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated together as well as oleic and stearic fatty acids were predicted accurately (R² > 0.70), myristic, and linoleic fatty acids were predicted with lower accuracy (0.60 < R² < 0.70), while palmitic, asclepic and α-linolenic fatty acids were poorly predicted (R² < 0.60). Results indicated that NIR technology has potential as a rapid tool to discriminate carcasses from animals fed diets with different fatty acid composition by a direct measurement on the fat from the ham.     

Silicates characterization as potential bacteriocin-carriers

Two different silicates, zeosil and expanded perlite, were characterized as potential carriers of a bacteriocin with anti-Listeria monocytogenes activity, produced by Enterococcus faecium CRL1385. Specific surface areas showed a value significantly higher for zeosil (146 m² g^? 1) than for perlite (0.65 m² g^? 1). Potential zeta measurements revealed that both silicates had negatively charged surfaces between pH 2 and 11, but zeosil presented zero charge near pH 2. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra proved that zeosil presented more silanol groups available for bacteriocin interaction than perlite. Bacteriocins present in the cell-free supernatant (CFS) were adsorbed by both silicates. Adsorption was highest from pH 4 to 8 and, regardless of exposure time (0.5 or 4 h) and silicate concentration (1 or 4% w/v) at 25 °C. Bacteriocin adsorption onto zeosil (ca. 99%) was higher than onto expanded perlite (ca 80%). However, antimicrobial activity of bacteriocins adsorbed onto perlite was higher than onto zeosil. After 2 h contact between L. monocytogenes 01/155 cells and each silicate plus the bacteriocin sample, the number of Listeria viable cells decreased close to 2 and 6 log orders for zeosil and expanded perlite, respectively.Industrial relevance: One of the crucial problems in the use of bacteriocins as food biopreservatives is obtaining and purifying these antimicrobials. The process generally has a poor yield and is industrially expensive. Hence, alternative techniques to deliver bacteriocins may be a likely option to encourage their use as bioprotectors. Silicates, inert compounds of large surface area, are suggested in this work as peptide immobilizers so that they may later be used in food. These inorganic compounds have already been authorized as food-grade anticaking, clarifying or filtering agents. The results achieved so far with adsorption and anti-Listeria activity preservation of bacteriocin, once they have been immobilized onto silicates, offer a promising and simple alternative to incorporate this compound into food.