Cognitive controls and psychopathology.

Studied 90 psychiatric inpatients (nonpsychotic, nonschizophrenic psychotic, schizophrenic) and 35 normal controls to (a) determine whether some of the traditional cognitive controls could be isolated in these patients and (b) evaluate whether various diagnostic groups differed from each other and from normals in terms of these congitive controls. Ss were administered a battery of cognitive control tasks (e.g., the Phillips Scale of Premorbid Adjustment, WAIS, and Rorschach tests). With age, socioeconomic status, and verbal IQ as covariates, the factor structure for the total group was similar to that reported in other studies of cognitive control organization in the normal population. Schizophrenic and other psychiatric patients were not characterized by distinctly different organizations of cognitive controls. Although patients showed specific areas of cognitive dysfunctions, these seemed to be related to degree of disorganization. (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Scotopic Sensitivity in Coyotes (Canis latrans)": Erratum.

Reports an error in the original article by Steven W. Horn and Philip N. Lehner (Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1975[Nov], Vol 89[6], pp. 1070-1076). The corrected sentence beginning in the first line on page 1074 is published here. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 2005-09231-001). Measured the absolute scotopic limen for light intensity for 3 10-mo-old female coyotes. The methodology was similar to that used by D. S. Blough (see record 1959-07701-001) in determining psychological thresholds in pigeons. Ss were operantly conditioned to depress 1 of 2 foot treadles, left or right, depending on the condition of the stimulus light. Scotopic adaptation curves for each S were generated. Nonlinear aggression curves were then fitted to the raw data. The mean scotopic thresholds did not differ significantly. However, time to the curves' asymptotes did differ significantly for 1 S. The adaptation curves showed a distinct rod-cone "break," and retinal histology confirmed that the coyote has a duplex retina with a preponderance of rods. In addition, electroretinographic analysis showed the relative contributions of rods and cones at various light intensities and indicated a rod-cone break at approximately 15 min. Scotopic spectral sensitivity curves were also generated. Ss' scotopic visual threshold was exceeded by the natural illumination available under many nocturnal conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of biota-sediment accumulation factors across ecosystems

Sets of biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for fish were compared across ecosystems for nonionic organic chemicals. The sets of BSAFs, when plotted against each other, in log-log space, formed linear relationships and demonstrated that the relative scaling or ranking of the individual BSAFs within a set are consistent, if not the same, across ecosystems. This behavior holds for chemicals that either are, or are not, metabolized by fish. These results demonstrate that sets of BSAF values can differ but with parallel shifts in magnitude between ecosystems (for example, all of the BSAFs in the set are uniformly larger in one ecosystem, while in another they all are uniformly smaller) in response to underlying differences in ecosystem conditions and parameters such as trophic level, diet of the organisms, and distribution of the chemical between the sediment and water column.     

Isolation and identification of antimicrobial peptides derived by peptic cleavage of whey protein isolate

The antimicrobial potential of whey protein isolate hydrolyzed by gastrointestinal enzymes was determined by attempting to identify and characterize the antimicrobial peptides responsible. While tryptic and chymotryptic hydrolysates did not show antibacterial activity, whey proteins hydrolyzed for 45–90 min by pepsin exhibited significant activity. Fractionation of 60-min hydrolysate by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography yielded 5 fractions that were antibacterial, with minimum inhibitory concentrations comprised between 20 and 35 μg/mL. These fractions contained short peptides not previously identified as antimicrobial. Fragment 14–18 (KVAGT) of β-lactoglobulin is very close to a sequence previously identified as antibacterial and is found in antimicrobial sequences of diverse origin. Five other peptides derived from β-lactoglobulin, and one fragment from α-lactalbumin (f117–121, KVGIN), were also identified as antibacterial. The identified peptides do not match pepsin action exactly, indicating modified proteolysis of unknown origin. Protein by-products of the dairy industry offer potential for large-scale production of antimicrobial peptides.     

Computational investigation on the flow characteristics in beam dyeing process

Abstract

Ensuring uniform addition of coloring material to the fabric is an essential requirement in the textile dyeing process. Beam dyeing machine consists of a special beam, the barrel of which is evenly perforated with holes. The dye liquor is forced into the fabric material through this beam. For uniform fabric coloring, an equal distribution of the dye liquor through the porous beam has to be ensured. The present methodology employs theoretical and computational fluid dynamics aspects of beam dyeing process to obtain better performance. The analysis of a beam with a single row of branches shows that nonuniformity increases with an increase in inlet mass flow. Further beam flow distribution with and without fabric are studied for different parameters, such as branch diameter, inlet mass flow rate, operating conditions, and flow reversal. The present results provide guidelines to improve the levelness of the dye distribution in the fabric material.     

Relationship of iso‐α‐acid content and endogenous antioxidative potential during storage of lager beer

One of the critical issues regarding the quality of beer is the change in its chemical composition that occurs during storage. Decomposition of iso‐α‐acids results in an undesirable decrease in bitterness as well as a deterioration in the sensory profile of the beer. These changes are caused by the susceptibility of iso‐α‐acids to degradation owing to the influence of reactive oxygen species and light. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of storage conditions (temperature, light) on the degradation of iso‐α‐acids during aging, with the main focus on monitoring the relationship between the turnover of iso‐α‐acids, the sulphur dioxide content and the antioxidative potential of stored beer as measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. In agreement with previous investigations, a significant decrease in the content of bitter compounds (up to 18 % relative to the original level, depending on storage conditions) was observed. A significant decrease in the antioxidant potential of beer was recorded simultaneously and the data confirmed a strong correlation between these parameters. The decline in beer bitterness could become a marker for estimating oxidative damage during storage. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Lactobacillus fermentum BR11, a potential new probiotic, alleviates symptoms of colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats

Current treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are relatively ineffective. Recently, probiotics have emerged as a potential treatment modality for numerous gastrointestinal disorders, including IBD. Few probiotics, however, have undergone appropriate preclinical screening in vivo. The current study compared the effects of four candidate probiotics on development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged 1 mL of the potential probiotic (1 x 10(10) CFU/mL), or vehicle, twice daily for 14 days. Strains tested were Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Streptococcus thermophilus TH-4 (TH-4), Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 (Bb12) and Lactobacillus fermentum BR11 (BR11). Colitis was induced from day 7 to 14 via administration of 2% DSS in drinking water. Disease activity index (DAI) was monitored daily until rats were killed at day 14. DAI decreased in DSS+Bb12 and DSS+BR11 compared to DSS+Vehicle. Colon length increased in DSS+BR11 (10%) and DSS+LGG (10%) compared to DSS+Vehicle. DSS+Bb12 and DSS+BR11 prevented the distal colon crypt hyperplasia evident in DSS+Vehicle, DSS+LGG and DSS+TH-4. BR11 was most effective at reducing colitic symptoms. Bb12 had minimal effects, whilst TH-4 did not prevent DSS-colitis and LGG actually exacerbated some indicators of colitis. Further studies into the potential benefits of L. fermentum BR11 are indicated.