Effect of the incorporation of antioxidants on physicochemical and antioxidant properties of wheat starch–chitosan films

Blend edible films were prepared from wheat starch (WS) and chitosan (CH) with glycerol as plasticizer. Four active ingredients (antioxidants) were added, namely basil essential oil, thyme essential oil, citric acid and α-tocopherol. The starch:antioxidant mass ratio was 1:0.1. Prior to characterisation, the films were conditioned at 25 °C–53%RH as to their structural, mechanical, optical and barrier properties. The antioxidant capacity of the active ingredients was determined by means of a spectrophotometric method. The incorporation of antioxidants led to a heterogeneous film microstructure, mainly in those containing α-tocopherol, which affected the surface roughness. Yellowness was induced in films when α-tocopherol was added and no notable colour changes were observed in the other cases, although all the antioxidants increased the transparency of the films. Despite of the fact that the mechanical properties were barely affected by the incorporation of antioxidants, citric acid promoted an increase in the elastic modulus but a decrease in film stretchability. The water vapour barrier properties of the films were only slightly improved when citric acid and α-tocopherol were added, whereas the oxygen barrier properties were significantly improved in all cases. The greatest antioxidant capacity of the films was reported for films containing α-tocopherol, which exhibited the highest antioxidant power.     

Toward relationship-centered supervision: Reply to Veach (2001) and Ellis (2001).

The authors respond to comments made by P. A Veach (2001) and A Ellis (2001) regarding their research articles on supervision conflict and counterproductivity. Their findings are unique in that they provide qualitative perspectives on trainee experiences of negativity in supervision. Some of the criticism directed toward their study seemed grounded in positivistic epistemology, and they address the differences between that perspective and a more meaning-making approach to data analysis. The authors' studies point out that the supervision relationship has the potential to harm trainees. Counseling psychology and related fields need to define skill-based competencies in supervision that can be observed and measured, including relationship-management competencies. Training of supervisors should emphasize the development of clinical skills that permit them to build strong supervisory alliances and manage conflicts in supervision. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sarcopenia: Etiology,Nutritional Approaches,and miRNAs

Sarcopenia, an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function, dramatically affects the quality of life. Although there is a consensus that sarcopenia is a multifactorial syndrome, the etiology and underlying mechanisms are not yet delineated. Moreover, research about nutritional interventions to prevent the development of sarcopenia is mainly focused on the amount and quality of protein intake. The impact of several nutrition strategies that consider timing of food intake, anti-inflammatory nutrients, metabolic control, and the role of mitochondrial function on the progression of sarcopenia is not fully understood. This narrative review summarizes the metabolic background of this phenomenon and proposes an integral nutritional approach (including dietary supplements such as creatine monohydrate) to target potential molecular pathways that may affect reduce or ameliorate the adverse effects of sarcopenia. Lastly, miRNAs, in particular those produced by skeletal muscle (MyomiR), might represent a valid tool to evaluate sarcopenia progression as a potential rapid and early biomarker for diagnosis and characterization.     

A study on nanofiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composites (II): Investigation of the mixing rheology and conduction properties

This article is portion of a comprehensive study on the development of nanofiber‐reinforced polymer composites for electrostatic discharge materials and structural composites. Vapor‐grown carbon fibers with an average diameter of 100 nm were used as a precursor and model fiber system for carbon nanotubes. These nanofibers were purified and functionalized to provide for an open network of high‐purity nanofibers. Banbury‐type mixing was used to disperse the nanofibers in the polymer matrix. Rheological and microscopic analysis showed that the high shear processing of the polymer/nanofiber mixture led to a homogeneous dispersion of nanofibers with no agglomerates present and no shortening of the nanofibers. The shear thinning behavior of polymeric materials helps in the mixing of the nanofibers to form the composites. A percolation threshold for electrical conduction of 9–18 wt % was observed for the highly dispersed nanofiber networks. The electrical behavior of these materials was not affected by changes in humidity. Microscopic analysis showed highly dispersed nanofibers with no indications of porosity. These conducting polymers are well suited for electrostatic discharge applications, and might well become multifunctional materials for strength/electrical applications. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 1162–1172, 2001     

Efficient wastewater treatment process for brine water

This feature describes a project whose objective is to develop a simple, economically feasible process for purifying salt water (brine) solutions.     

Focal cognitive deficits in dementia of the Alzheimer type.

It is widely accepted that the natural history of Alzheimer type-dementia is accurately described by a relatively fixed, invariant sequence of stages of behavioral, cognitive, and neurological symptoms. This stage-wise deterioration model is examined and found wanting. The evidence shows that there is no generalization about the inevitable ordering of symptoms that has not been contradicted by reports in the literature. Two alternatives to the stage-wise model are discussed, both of which reject the notion of a homogeneous disintegration of function and take as a goal the delimitation of a set of symptom domains that define and differentiate patients. Of these 2 alternatives, the subgroups model and the multiple components model, the latter seems to accord best with the available data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Naturalistic action impairment in closed head injury.

The authors sought to determine whether errors of action committed by patients with closed head injury (CHI) would conform to predictions derived from frontal lobe theories. In Study 1, 30 CHI patients and 18 normal controls performed routine activities, such as wrapping a present, under conditions of graded complexity. CHI patients committed more errors even on the simplest condition; but, except for a higher proportion of omitted actions, their error profile was very similar to that of controls. Study 2 involved a subset of patients whose performance in Study 1 was within normal limits. When these high functioning patients were asked to perform the routine tasks under still more taxing conditions, they, too, committed errors in excess of the control group. Accounts based on frontal mechanisms have a difficult time explaining the overall pattern of findings. An alternative based on limited-capacity resources is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A spatial view of the interpersonal structure of family interviews: Similarities and differences across counselors.

Compared the interpersonal structure in interviews conducted by 4 founders of the family therapy movement—N. Ackerman, M. Bowen, D. Jackson, and C. Whitaker—with the same family to determine the extent of similarity and identify common features across counselors. Multidimensional scaling provided a spatial representation of the hidden structure in the communication patterns of these interviews. Each of the 4 analyses showed 2 dimensions that explained most of the variance, 72–85%. Correlations among the 4 2-dimensional solutions were high, especially between Ackerman and Whitaker (.75) and Bowen and Jackson (.99), indicating that these counselors' interactions with the family were remarkably similar. The therapists' postinterview impressions of the family suggested a basis for understanding the similarities and variability in the 4 spatial configurations. Interpretation suggested that all the counselors joined the family from a position of power, respecting the parents' distress and the established hierarchy by interacting more with them than with the children. Bowen and Jackson aligned themselves closely with the parents, whereas Ackerman and Whitaker were at the edge of the family. Discussion focuses on common features in counselors' work with families and how multidimensional scaling can chart changes in family structure over the course of counseling. (51 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF): an immunohistochemical study of the brain

Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) is a maternally inherited disorder of oxidative phosphorylation due to specific point mutations within the mitochondrial tRNA(Lys) gene. Mitochondrial dysfunction in the central nervous system (CNS) of patients with MERRF accounts for the neurological manifestations of the disease. Antibodies against subunits of complex I, III, IV and V of the respiratory chain were used to study the expression of these proteins in the frontal cortex, cerebellum and medulla from an autoptic case of MERRF. We found a selective decreased expression of subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase (COX-II) in these regions. Immunohistochemical abnormalities were more widespread than the lesions described by traditional histopathological techniques and made possible an attempt of explanation for the neurological symptoms of the patient.