Amino acid composition of some Mexican foods

Knowledge of the amino acid composition of foods is essential to calculate their chemical score, which is used to predict protein quality of foods and diets. Though amino acid composition of many foods is reasonably well established, better knowledge is needed on native foods consumed in different regions and countries. This paper presents the amino acid composition of different presentations of raw and processed foods produced and consumed in Mexico. The amino acid composition was determined using Beckman amino acid analyzers (models 116 and 6300). Tryptophan was determined using the Spies and Chambers method. Of the different foods analyzed, some comments are made on native or basic foods in Mexico: Spirulin, where lysine is the limiting amino acid, with a chemical score of 67%, is a good source of tryptophan (1.16g/16 gN); amaranth contains high levels of sulphur amino acids (4.09 to 5.34 g/16gN), with a protein content of 15 g/100g; and pulque, a Pre-Hispanic beverage that contains high levels of tryptophan (2.58 g/16 gN) and sulphur amino acids (2.72 g/16 gN). Finally, insects are good sources of sulphur amino acids and lysine.     

Thiol and metal contents in periphyton exposed to elevated copper and zinc concentrations: a field and microcosm study

Phytochelatins are metal-binding polypeptides produced by algae under metal exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of metal concentration variations in natural systems on periphyton at the biochemical level by analyzing its intracellular thiol content, in particular phytochelatins. To that purpose, two field campaigns were conducted in a stream subject to an increase of dissolved metal concentrations (particularly Cu and Zn) during rain events, which results in an increase of their accumulation in periphyton. At background metal concentrations, several thiols were detectable in periphyton, namely, glutathione (GSH), gamma-glutamylcysteine (gammaGluCys), phytochelatins (PC2), and some unidentified thiols, U1 and U2. Glutathione and gammaGluCys contents were found to vary independently of the rain, as well as U1 and U2, whereas the phytochelatin content increased during the rain events. To investigate whether Cu or Zn may be responsible for this increase, microcosm experiments were carried out with natural water enriched with Cu, Zn, and Cd separately, and Cu and Zn in combination. In this study, GSH, PC2, and U1 were also detected, but not gammaGluCys. An increase in accumulated Cu content did not induce any changes in thiol content, whereas an increase of the Zn content induced a decrease in GSH content and an increase in phytochelatin content. Zinc rather than Cu may thus induce a phytochelatin content increase in periphyton in the field studies. Addition of Cu and Zn in combination also induced an increase in phytochelatin content. Cadmium was found to be the most effective inducer, with the production of larger phytochelatins (PC3-4). This study is the first one to report changes in thiol content in periphyton in response to an increase of the metal concentration in natural freshwaters.     

Effective state-level advocacy: A model for action.

Argues that current political and economic pressures present a threat to psychology's continued viability as an independent profession. In response to such issues, it becomes the responsibility of state psychological associations to develop effective methods for legislative and policy advocacy. The development of a model for advocacy by the Legislative Committee of the Massachusetts Psychological Association illustrates such efforts. The model includes a means for responding to a developing legislation, the involvement of large numbers of psychologists throughout the state in advocacy activities, and informing and educating psychologists and other relevant groups to make future legislative and policy advocacy interventions more successful. Principles for the development of such models and their implications for the future of psychology are discussed. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Numerical experiments on the solution of the Helmholtz equation in the case of domains of complicated boundary shape

Domains of complicated boundary shape are of great practical importance in several fields of technology and applied science; e.g. solid propellant rocket grains, electromagnetic and acoustic waveguides, and certain elements used in nuclear engineering. The technical literature contains very few comparative studies of analytical and numerical solutions when dealing with such rather complex geometries. The present study constitutes an effort in that direction.     

Social inhibition of spontaneous facial expressions in children.

Social inhibition (SI) of facial expression, defined as suppression of facial behavior in someone's presence, was examined in 16 1st and 14 6th graders. SI was evident at both ages and was reflected in decreased facial expressiveness when someone else was present and in increased uncertainty of raters in assigning emotion labels to those expressions. The accuracy of inferences about the events that precipitated the facial expressions also were significantly reduced by SI. Among the reasons that have been offered to explain SI are the disruptive effects of anxiety, a history of punishment, and socialization processes. Whatever the origins of SI are, the presence of a potential partner in communication produces suppression of an important communicative behavior—facial expression. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What pathological dimensions lie beyond the normal dimensions of the 16 PF? A comparison of MMPI and 16 PF factor domains.

A set of mutually exclusive, exhaustive parcels of MMPI items and the 16 personality factor scales from the Cattell 16 PF were factored together on 217 normal and 40 abnormal adult Air Force men. The analysis of the resulting 64 variables (45 MMPI parcels and 19 16 PF scales) yielded 21 factors, of which 13 are clearly identifiable as factors in the 16 PF and 4 are clearly MMPI factors. MMPI data were scored also for the traditional 14 clinical scales, and their predictability from 16 PF source trials examined in terms of the squared multiple correlations. The 7-factor space typically represented by the MMPI clinical scales was found to lie within the dimensionality of the Cattell 16 PF. The total prediction of the set of MMPI clinical scales from a single form (A) of the 16 PF, uncorrected for attenuation, is represented by the canonical correlation of .8. (47 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thermal stresses in rectangular plates: Variational and finite element solutions

This paper deals with the development of an approximate method for the analysis of thermal stresses in rectangular plates (plane stress problem) and an evaluation of the relative accuracy of the finite element method. The stress function is expanded in terms of polynomial coordinate functions which identically satisfy the boundary conditions, and a variational approach is used to determine the expansion coefficients. The results are in good agreement with a finite element approach.     

Structure and stabilizing of psychotherapy for low-prognosis clients.

Studied the effects of an extratherapy intervention with 55 low-prognosis clients in connection with time-limited, client-centered psychotherapy. The intervention consisted of 2 parts involving 4 1/2-hr outside-of-therapy sessions for each client with an investigator-not the therapist-before the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 8th therapy hours. Intervention was aimed at reducing attrition and training clients to participate more productively in the therapy process. It was found that attrition can be reduced significantly, total therapy involvement lengthened, and client process altered for more constructive personality change. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meeting the mental health needs of Asian Americans: Mainstream or segregated services.

Examines (a) current barriers to the use of mental health services by Asian Americans (including racism, language barriers, and cultural attitudes); (b) advantages and disadvantages of 3 prototypical forms of culturally sensitive service delivery systems; and (c) conditions under which the 3 prototypes may be useful. The policy options include providing services (1) in mainstream facilities in which all of the personnel are trained to provide culturally sensitive services, (2) in mainstream facilities in which there are teams of culturally sensitive service providers, and (3) in physically segregated facilities in which all of the personnel are trained to provide culturally sensitive services. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)