The mental health of men with a psychiatric disorder or traumatic brain injury: Wives' labeling and husbands' perceived control.

Objective: To investigate the relations among wives' labeling of their husbands' psychiatric disorder or brain injury as an organic illness, the husbands' perceived control over their disabilities, and the husbands' mental health. Participants: 57 male clients of the Department of Rehabilitation, Israel's Ministry of Defence (26 with a psychiatric disorder and 31 with a traumatic brain injury) and their wives. Measures: Illness Labeling Questionnaire, the Perceived Control Over Illness Questionnaire, and the Mental Health Inventory. Results: Husbands' mental health was low but did not differ according to disability; wives' labeling of husbands' condition was negatively related to the husbands' mental health; husbands' perceived control was positively related to their mental health for both disabilities. Conclusion: Organic illness labels, even when adopted by the wives of the persons with the disability, seem to be negatively related to that person's mental health, whereas perceived control over a mental disorder or a brain injury seems to contribute positively to mental health, independently of how the disorder or injury is labeled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of polyvinylchloride films and edible starch coatings on quality aspects of refrigerated Brussels sprouts

To extend shelf life, the effects of polyvinylchloride film (PVC) and edible coatings on quality aspects of refrigerated Brussels sprouts were studied. Starch-based coatings were formulated using glycerol (G), sorbitol (S) or glycerol plus sunflower oil (O). Sprouts so treated as well as uncoated ones were placed on expanded polystyrene trays. Combinations of PVC and coatings (treatments named G-PVC, S-PVC and O-PVC) were also tested. Uncovered trays were maintained as controls. All packages were stored at 0 °C for 42 days and samples were removed every 14 days to determine commercial acceptability, weight loss, surface colour (of sprouts’ heads and bases) and texture. Sprouts in all treatments maintained optimum quality conditions over the first 14 days. At the end of storage, browning of cut zones and losses in weight and firmness were minimised in PVC-packaged sprouts, particularly in G-PVC. Therefore, PVC and G-PVC treatments were selected to evaluate some nutritional quality components. Ascorbic acid and total flavonoid contents remained almost constant while radical scavenging activity increased after 42 days of storage. Thus, PVC and G-PVC treatments showed the best performance for long-term refrigerated storage of Brussels sprouts.     

Participative goal-setting: Social, motivational, and cognitive factors.

Examined 3 explanations of why participation in goal setting may lead to increased performance—the social factor of group discussion, the motivational factor of involvement in goal setting, and the cognitive factor of information. A 2?×?2?×?2 experimental design (low and high levels of group discussion, involvement, and information) was used to study 96 predominantly male white collar employees (aged 23–58 yrs) who worked on a simulated personnel selection task. Results indicate that the social and motivational factors of participation increased performance quantity, incidental learning, goal acceptance, group commitment, and satisfaction. The motivational and cognitive factors significantly contributed to performance quality but the cognitive factor did not significantly affect performance quantity and work attitudes. It is suggested that a combination of the 3 factors leads to the highest level of performance. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of the mechanical properties and diffusion coefficients of osmodehydrated melon cubes

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of osmotic agents, their concentration and temperature, on the mass transfer kinetics and mechanical properties of osmodehydrated melon cubes. Samples were immersed in a hypertonic solution of sucrose or maltose up to 8 h under controlled temperature and agitation. Water loss, sugar gain and mechanical properties were analysed throughout the process. Mass transfer kinetics was modelled according to Peleg and Fick equations. Higher water loss, lower sugar uptake and stress at rupture values more similar to fresh fruit were observed in samples treated with maltose solutions. Peleg’s model showed the best adjustment to all the experimental data, however the k₁ and k₂ parameters did not show a clear trend with the solution concentration or temperature increase. The effective diffusivity obtained using Fick’s equation varied from 3.93 × 10^?9 to 6.45 × 10^?9m² s^?1 for water loss and from 7.57 × 10^?10 to 3.14 × 10^?9m² s^?1 for sugar gain.     

Thiocyanate Ion Promoted E ⇌ Z Isomerization of a-Bromo-β,β-Diactivated Electrophilic Olefins: An Apparent High Nucleofugality of NCS−

(E)-β-Chloro-α-phenylcinnamaldehyde and (E)- and (Z)-methyl α-tert-butoxycarbonyl-p-nitro-β-bromocinnamates in the presence of NCS⁻ ion in acetonitrile undergo an (E) ⇌ (Z) isomerization which is faster than the vinylic substitution. (E)- and (Z)-methyl α-cyano-β-mesyloxy- (and β-chloro-) p-nitrocinnamates undergo substitution under similar conditions without preceding isomerization. MO calculations gave the energy differences between the eclipsed and the perpendicular conformers of carbanions ⁻CH₂CH₂X and (NC)₂ČH₂X (X = Cl, NCS). These rotational barriers denote the hyperconjugation stabilization energy resulting from interaction of the C-X bond and the 2p(C⁻) orbital. Both HCA values are high, those for X = Cl being 15–20% higher than for X = NCS. The limited literature data on the nucleofugality of NCS⁻ suggests that it can have a nucleofugality which is not much lower than that of Cl⁻ or Br⁻. Consequently, NCS⁻-catalyzed isomerizations of electrophilic vinyl chlorides and bromides, which involve a 180° internal rotation followed by a faster expulsion of NCS⁻ than of Cl⁻ from the initially formed intermediate carbanion Y'Y⁻C-C(R)(Cl)SCN, are not unreasonable, especially if solvation, which was not included in the calculations, plays an important role in the nucleofuge expulsion process.     

From ELF to Compressibility in Solids

Understanding the electronic nature of materials’ compressibility has always been a major issue behind tabulation and rationalization of bulk moduli. This is especially because this understanding is one of the main approaches to the design and proposal of new materials with a desired (e.g., ultralow) compressibility. It is well recognized that the softest part of the solid will be the one responsible for its compression at the first place. In chemical terms, this means that the valence will suffer the main consequences of pressurization. It is desirable to understand this response to pressure in terms of the valence properties (charge, volume, etc.). One of the possible approaches is to consider models of electronic separability, such as the bond charge model (BCM), which provides insight into the cohesion of covalent crystals in analogy with the classical ionic model. However, this model relies on empirical parametrization of bond and lone pair properties. In this contribution, we have coupled electron localization function (ELF) ab initio data with the bond charge model developed by Parr in order to analyze solid state compressibility from first principles and moreover, to derive general trends and shed light upon superhard behavior.     

Distribution of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in milling fractions of durum wheat

The effect of processing on mycotoxin content in milling fractions has been investigated in 10 samples of durum wheat contaminated with T-2 and HT-2 toxins at levels ranging from 97 to 5,954 μg/kg (sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins). Either naturally contaminated samples or samples artificially inoculated with Fusarium sporotrichioides under field conditions were used. A method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with immunoaffinity column cleanup was validated in-house for the simultaneous analysis of both toxins in a variety of matrices, including uncleaned wheat, cleaned wheat, screenings, bran, red dog, fine middlings, and semolina. Mean recoveries from samples spiked with T-2 and HT-2 toxins at levels of 100 μg/kg ranged from 85 to 107%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 14%. The milling process led to an increase of T-2 and HT-2 toxin contents up to 13- and 5-fold in screenings and bran, respectively, compared with occurrence in the uncleaned wheat; however, an overall reduction of T-2 and HT-2 toxins by 54% (RSD, 20%) and 89% (RSD, 3%) was observed in cleaned wheat and in semolina, respectively.     

Quality changes and storage life of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) at various storage temperatures

The shelf life and freshness changes in pond-grown common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) during storage at 0–2°C, 5–6°C and room temperature (26–29°C) were investigated by sensory, microbiological, physical and chemical analyses. The effect of gutting on the shelf life during storage at 0–2°C was examined. Iodine/starch and potassium sorbate were examined for their effects on shelf life of whole fish stored at 0–2°C and 5–6°C. Sensory results indicated that the whole fish had a maximum shelf life of 24 to 25 days at 0– 2°C. The life of the fish to the point beyond which it would be unsuitable for sale (commercial shelf life) was 17 days at 0–2°C. Storage at 5–6°C shortened shelf life 2- to 2.5-fold. At room temperature (26–29°C), spoilage was evident after 13 h. Gutting the carp shortened its storage potential at 0–2°C. Iodine treatment of this species stored at 0–2°C and at 5–6°C did not extend shelf life. The maximum shelf life of sorbate-treated fish at 0–2°C and 5–6°C was extended by 1–2 days, commercial shelf life by 3–4 days. Total volatile basic nitrogen, pH and penetrometer analyses were not reliable indicators of changes in freshness during shelf life. Thiobarbituric acid values were not useful as rancid odours or flavours were not detected during storage.     

Development of Active Films From Pectin and Fruit Extracts: Light Protection,Antioxidant Capacity,and Compounds Stability

Pectin films containing fruit extracts were developed and tested in relation to ultraviolet light transmission, phytochemical contents, and antioxidant capacity during 90 d shelf life storage. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts from 5 different fruits (acerola, cashew apple, papaya, pequi, and strawberry) were obtained. Because the alcoholic extracts from acerola, cashew apple, and strawberry presented the highest phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity, they were incorporated into pectin films individually or as a mixture. Incorporation of these extracts into pectin films provided antioxidant capacity while retaining the physical properties. The pectin films containing fruit extract acted as adequate light barrier and prevented photooxidation. Among the prepared films, the pectin film containing acerola extract afforded the highest antioxidant capacity, with a half‐life of 99 d. Overall, the results revealed that incorporation of fruit extracts into pectin films potentially produces antioxidant films and coatings for different food applications.