Potassium supplementation induces beneficial cardiovascular changes during rest and stress in salt sensitive individuals.

The typical American diet includes high salt and low potassium, a pattern linked to elevated blood pressure (BP) in cross-cultural studies. This study compared resting and stress cardiovascular responses on a high salt, low potassium diet to those observed during 2 interventions: salt restriction and potassium supplementation. Forty-seven percent of the primarily normotensive sample (n?=?67 adults) were salt sensitive, showing a decrease in mean arterial pressure ≥5 mmHg during low salt and equivalent reductions during high potassium. The equivalent benefits of the interventions were maintained, but not enhanced, during exposure to behavioral stress (i.e., no effect on reactivity). Salt resistants (SRs) exhibited no change in resting or stress BP across the diets. High salt increased cardiac index in both groups, whereas vascular tone was decreased only in the SR group. High potassium produced hemodynamic benefits similar to low salt, even with continued high salt intake. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of particle size distribution analysis in evaluating the weathering in coal mine rejects and tailings

Particle size distribution (PSD) analysis of the Gregory mine coal rejects, over a period of time is presented. The PSD has important implications on several processes contributing to the acid mine drainage. In this paper, correlation between the particle breakdown in the coal rejects and the rate of oxidation of sulphides is presented.     

How much of too much? What inspections data say about residential clutter as a housing problem

How big of a housing problem is residential clutter? In this paper, we draw upon inspections data in Vancouver to both estimate the size of the problem and detail how it is observed and constituted through municipal regulatory processes. We contrast the inspections approach to residential clutter with the mental health approach, which focuses on hoarding disorder. Inspections data indicate the problem of residential clutter is potentially larger than might be expected by the epidemiology of hoarding disorder, and also point toward the many risks associated with clutter. Using our best estimate, approximately seven per cent of low-income, dense, single-room occupancy (SRO) housing units inspected were identified by inspectors as problematically cluttered, indicating a sizable problem. Larger buildings and those managed as social housing were more likely than other buildings to have many units identified as problematically cluttered. Strikingly, for given buildings, estimates of problematic clutter tended to remain relatively stable across time, inspector, and inspection method.     

Studying the magnetic,antibacterial, and catalytic activity properties of DBD/iron oxide nanoparticle-treated cotton fabric

In this study, the cotton fabrics were modified with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Untreated and DBD-treated cotton fabrics were printed with magnetic nanoparticles (γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles). Argon was used as the working gas. The crystal structure, morphology, and magnetic nature of printed fabrics were investigated by X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM). The catalytic activity of the treated samples for wastewater treatment was studied. The effect of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles on the antibacterial activity of DBD-treated cotton fabric was also investigated. The results showed that DBD-treated samples can absorb more nanoparticles than untreated samples. The antibacterial activity of the DBD/γ-Fe₂O_3-treated samples, which was analyzed by the bacteria counting test, was increased considerably.     

Family education to enhance the moral atmosphere of the family and the moral development of adolescents.

Examined the effects of a course for families in democratic conflict resolution on (a) the family's collective decision-making abilities, and (b) the moral reasoning of adolescent participants. 16 couples and their adolescent children were divided into 3 groups: parents and their adolescents, parents only, and a control group. Both experimental groups met for 10 weekly 2.5-hr sessions and received training in conflict resolution and the use of family meetings. Assessment was based on the Parental Attitude Research Instrument, 2 self-report inventories, a behavioral role-play test, the Kohlberg Moral Judgment Interview, and an analysis of tape recordings of the family meetings. A 1-yr follow-up assessment of the Kohlberg measure was also used. Parents in both experimental groups significantly increased their equalitarian attitudes toward family decision making. Furthermore, families in both groups significantly improved their effectiveness in collective decision making; the parent–adolescent group showed greater improvement than the parent group on most of the variables measured. Finally, the results suggest that adolescents who participated in the training significantly improved their scores in moral reasoning. This gain was maintained at follow-up. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impact of dairy protein powders on biscuit quality

The effects of whey protein concentrate and sodium caseinate (NaCas) on a short dough biscuit formulation were investigated with respect to dough characteristics and final product quality. Dairy powders were added at levels of 5, 10 and 15% of flour weight. Addition of 5 and 10% dairy protein powders reduced dough hardness. Doughs containing 10 and 15% NaCas had significantly higher springiness and cohesiveness values compared with the values of the control (p<0.05). Addition of both protein powders increased surface brownness, indicated by an increase in L* value. Whey protein concentrate resulted in biscuit shrinkage during baking, whereas biscuits containing NaCas powders were significantly larger than the control (p<0.05). In general, biscuits containing protein powders were harder than the control and hardness increased as the level of protein powder was increased. Confocal laser microscopy showed that doughs with NaCas had an extensive protein network and NaCas appears to interact with the flour proteins.     

In-situ synthesis of CuO nanoparticles on cotton fabrics using spark discharge method to fabricate antibacterial textile

In this research, the spark discharge method (SDM) was used for in-situ synthesis of copper and copper oxide nanoparticles (NPs) on cotton fabrics for producing antibacterial textile. Varieties of analytical techniques were applied for the characterization of both NPs and synthesized CuO NPs on cotton fabrics. The structural characterization of the particles was carried out by the X-ray powder diffraction method. Also, the morphological properties of treated cotton samples were investigated using scanning electron microscope. Particle size and size distribution were measured by dynamic light scattering apparatus. The results show that concentration of 100 ppm is enough for killing 10⁶ CFU/mL of bacteria. It is indicated that the synthesized CuO NPs are very strong against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Also, the durability of antibacterial efficiency after 15 times of washing was tested. The results confirm that the antibacterial fastness properties are significant and no colonies spread over agar plate after 15 cycles of washing. It was concluded that SDM for in-situ synthesize of nano-CuO on cotton fabrics in batch systems is very promising method.     

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis essential oil towards foodborne pathogens and its application in fresh Tuscan sausage stored at 7 °C

The presence of foodborne pathogens in fresh Tuscan sausage has been reported and these contaminations pose a potential risk to consumers. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of bay leaf essential oil (EO) in vitro and in fresh Tuscan sausage stored at 7 °C for 14 d. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against foodborne pathogens were determined in vitro. The lowest MIC and MBC were found for Escherichia coli (MIC = MBC = 2.5 g/L) and Yersinia enterocolitica (MIC = 1.25 g/L, MBC = 2.5 g/L). Fresh Tuscan sausages were treated with bay leaf EO at 0.05 g/100 g or 0.1 g/100 g and their shelf life was compared to a non-treated control. All groups presented low levels of rancidity (TBARS < 0.5 mg MDA/kg). The EO was able to reduce the population of total coliforms (2.8 log CFU/g) and to extend the product shelf life for two days. Although the presence of the EO affected the sensory characteristics of the sausage, it was considered acceptable by consumers at both concentrations tested. Overall, the results of this study indicate that bay leaf essential oil can be applied in fresh Tuscan sausage to improve its safety and shelf life.     

Isoflavone content of Italian soy food products and daily intakes of some specific classes of consumers

In Western countries food products containing soybean proteins are primarily directed to some specific classes of consumers, in particular vegetarians, milk-intolerant or gluten-intolerant subjects, and hypercholesterolemic patients. The consumption of these products is associated with the presence of isoflavones, which recently have become a very controversial issue because their beneficial properties are counterbalanced by some undesirable effects. Taking into account that information on the average isoflavone daily intake in European countries and especially in Italy is very scarce, we decided to quantify the isoflavones in some products for different classes of consumers, with the objective of evaluating their possible exposition. The total isoflavone contents were in the range 21–803 g/g_d.w. and were particularly high in imitation dairy and meat products. Infant formulas contained 121–427 g/g_d.w., whereas the isoflavone contents in gluten-free products were in the range 77–220 g/g_d.w.. Only in the case of infants and children, the daily intake may overcome the recommended limit introduced by the Italian Health Authority for isoflavone supplements.