Effects of exercising before versus after eating on dieting and exercise evaluations: A preliminary investigation.

Psychological processes may play a role in the evaluation of the effectiveness of exercise and subsequent food intake. In order to further investigate this phenomenon, the effects of the timing of exercise relative to an eating opportunity were evaluated. Female undergraduate participants who were of average weight and did not exercise regularly were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (exercise before eating [n = 10], exercise after eating [n = 11], or no exercise [n = 12]). Expectations of the effectiveness of the exercise, value of dieting, and intake were assessed. Participants who exercised after eating had higher expectations of the effectiveness of the exercise than those who exercised before eating, while those who exercised before eating reported valuing dieting more than controls. No effects on intake emerged; therefore, there appears to be a disconnect between dieting appraisals and actual eating behaviour. The results are discussed in relation to theories on conflicting goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

HPLC–MS identification of phenols in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) kernels

In whole hazelnut kernels, as the main product of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), phenols were analysed in 20 hazelnut cultivars by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS). Twenty-three compounds from different phenolic groups were detected, and 15 of them were identified. In hazelnut kernels, these substances were detected: nine flavan-3-ols, two benzoic acids (gallic and protocatechuic acid), three flavonols and phloretin glycoside. Total phenol concentrations ranged from 70 to 478 mg gallic acid equivalents per kg hazelnut kernels. A high content level of total phenols was observed in the ‘Tonda Gentile delle Langhe’ and ‘Lewis’ cultivars, which was followed by the ‘Corabel’, ‘Fertile de Coutard’, ‘Daria’ and ‘Tonda Gentile Romana’ cultivars. Similarly, the highest antioxidative activity, measured by employing DPPH-antiradical assay, was also found in the ‘Tonda Gentile delle Langhe’ cultivar, followed by the ‘Fertile de Coutard’.     

Cavity size, sorption and transport characteristics of thermally rearranged (TR) polymers

Within a polymer thin film, free volume elements have a wide range of size and topology. This broad range of free volume element sizes determines the ability for a polymer to perform molecular separations. Herein, six permeable thermally rearranged (TR) polymers and their precursors were studied. Using atomistic models, cavity size (free volume) distributions determined by a combination of molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods were consistent with experimental observation that TR polymers are more permeable than their precursors. The cavity size distributions determined by simulation were also consistent with free volume distributions determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The diffusion, solubility and permeation of gases in TR polymers and their precursors were also simulated at 308 K, with results that agree qualitatively with experimental data.     

Prospective teachers' sense of efficacy and beliefs about control.

We examined the structure and meaning of efficacy for a sample of 182 prospective teachers and related efficacy to beliefs about control and motivation. The two independent dimensions of teaching efficacy (TE) and personal efficacy (PE) usually identified in studies of experienced teachers were also found for these prospective teachers. Both TE and PE were significantly correlated with bureaucratic orientation, but in opposite directions. Neither TE nor PE was related to motivational style; only TE was related to pupil control ideology. Canonical correlations, however, revealed more complex relationships. Personal efficacy was positively related to a control orientation that rejects teacher control of students but accepts the schools' control of teachers. The interaction of TE and PE made unique contributions to the prediction of pupil control ideology and bureaucratic orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice.

Reviews the book, Generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice by Michel J. Dugas and Melisa Robichaud (2006). The reviewers commend the authors for providing a comprehensive overview of GAD. Chapters include information on diagnosis, assessment techniques and treatment modules. Dugas and Robichaud refer to their treatment as primarily cognitive and emphasize the difference between their approach and other cognitive and cognitive-behavioural treatments for GAD. The treatment presented does not employ relaxation training or other strategies to reduce physical tension and overarousal. Rather, this treatment makes use of specific cognitive interventions with the understanding that physical and affective symptoms will decrease with corresponding reductions in excessive worry. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intracameral SF6 injection and anterior segment OCT-based documentation for acute hydrops management in pellucid marginal corneal degeneration

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute hydrops in pellucid marginal corneal degeneration (PMCD) documented with anterior segment optical segment tomography and successfully treated with sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) intracameral injection. METHODS: A 47-year-old female patient presented with spontaneous onset of pain, redness and decreased vision in her left eye. Clinical evaluation revealed bilateral PMCD with evidence of acute hydrops in the left eye. Anterior segment Slit lamp Adapted Optical Coherence Tomography (SL-OCT) examination revealed intrastromal clefts with Descemet's membrane detachment in the left eye. She was managed with descemetopexy with 0.2ml injection of iso-expansile SF6 (18%) intracameral. RESULTS: The patient showed excellent early resolution of the stromal edema with reattachment of the Descemet's membrane. CONCLUSION: Prompt intervention in acute hydrops in PMCD cases helps in achieving early good visual results and prevents potentially serious complications such as perforation. Newer imaging modalities like SL-OCT helps in better visualisation and also in monitoring the response to treatment.     

Which fluid space is affected by ultrafiltration during hemodiafiltration?

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a common procedure performed during almost all dialysis sessions. During UF, several liters of fluid are removed; however, what proportion of this fluid is removed from which fluid space could not be clinically measured easily until now; we designed this study to evaluate the fluid spaces most affected by UF. This is a prospective cohort study of 40 prevalent chronic hemodialysis patients receiving thrice weekly hemodiafiltration (HDF). We measured the patients' fluid spaces using a whole‐body bioimpedance apparatus to evaluate the changes of fluid spaces before and immediately after the HDF sessions. We recorded the data on fluid spaces, UF volume, and blood pressures. The cohort consisted of 40 prevalent HDF patients, aged 60.0 ± 5.2 years (37.5% men; 27.5% people with diabetes), and body weight 71.03 ± 15.48 kg. Achieved UF was 2.38 ± 0.98 L on HDF (measured fluid overload: 2.35 ± 1.44 L). The extracellular fluid (EC) volume decreased from 16.84 ± 3.52 to 14.89 ± 3.06 L (P < 0.0001) and intracellular fluid (IC) volume from 16.88 ± 4.40 to 16.55 ± 4.48 L (P = 0.45). Although urea volume of distribution remained effectively unchanged (31.38 ± 7.28 vs. 30.70 ± 7.32 L; P = 0.45), the degree of EC volume overload decreased from 13.60% ± 7.30% to 3.83% ± 8.32% (P < 0.0001). The mean arterial pressure also decreased from 122.95 ± 19.02 to 108.50 ± 13.91 mmHg (P < 0.0001). We conclude that source of net fluid loss by ultrafiltration is almost exclusively the EC fluid space. The intracellular fluid space is not significantly affected immediately after HDF.     

Doses under automatic exposure control (AEC) for direct digital radiographic (DDR) X-ray systems

Current guidelines quote tolerances for automatic exposure control (AEC) device performance for X-ray systems as 'Baseline ± X %'. However, in the situation where a baseline figure has not yet been achieved, as in the case of commissioning assessments, this tolerance is not relevant. The purpose of this work is to provide mean doses for direct digital radiography (DDR) X-ray system, operating in AEC, against which comparisons can be made. Dose measurements have been recorded under AEC operation on 29 DDR detectors from three different manufacturers. Two different testing protocols were examined: (1) water equivalent phantoms in front of the DDR detector and (2) aluminium block at the tube head. The average patient exit dose, using the aluminium block was 4.6 μGy with the antiscatter grid in place and 4.0 μGy with the grid removed. Using the water phantoms, the average dose was measured at 17.1 μGy with the antiscatter grid in place and 5.4 μGy with grid removed. Based on these results, it is clear that different testing configurations significantly impact on the measured dose.     

Predictive model to describe water migration in cellular solid foods during storage

BACKGROUND: Water migration in cellular solid foods during storage causes loss of crispness. To improve crispness retention, physical understanding of this process is needed. Mathematical models are suitable tools to gain this physical knowledge. RESULTS: Water migration in cellular solid foods involves migration through both the air cells and the solid matrix. For systems in which the water migration distance is large compared with the cell wall thickness of the solid matrix, the overall water flux through the system is dominated by the flux through the air. For these systems, water migration can be approximated well by a Fickian diffusion model. The effective diffusion coefficient can be expressed in terms of the material properties of the solid matrix (i.e. the density, sorption isotherm and diffusion coefficient of water in the solid matrix) and the morphological properties of the cellular structure (i.e. water vapour permeability and volume fraction of the solid matrix). The water vapour permeability is estimated from finite element method modelling using a simplified model for the cellular structure. CONCLUSION: It is shown that experimentally observed dynamical water profiles of bread rolls that differ in crust permeability are predicted well by the Fickian diffusion model. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Formation of cadaverine, histamine, putrescine and tyramine by bacteria isolated from meat, fermented sausages and cheeses

Enterobacteriaceae (EB, n = 149), Lactobacillus (LB, n = 162) and Leuconostoc sp. (LC, n = 89) and enterococci (EC, n = 137), isolated from raw meat (n = 65), fermented sausages (n = 50) and cheese (n = 55) samples, were cultivated in a broth containing precursor amino acids (each 3 g/l). After incubation, the liquid culture was chemically analysed for cadaverine (CAD), putrescine (PUT), histamine (HIS) and tyramine (TYR) formation at pH 5.2 and at pH 6.7. The majority of EB isolates (147 of 149) was capable of forming >100 mg/l of either CAD or PUT. Among the most frequently isolated species Hafnia alvei and Serratia liquefaciens, formation of >100 mg/l HIS occurred, but with low prevalence (1.6 and 6.5%, respectively). Twelve of 149 isolates (8%) were able to produce more than 10 mg/l HIS. One hundred forty-two isolates (95.3%) produced less than 10 mg/l TYR, and 7 isolates (4.7%) 10 mg/l to a maximum of 35.3 mg/l TYR. For LB + LC, one isolate (Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. mesenteroides) formed >100 mg/l PUT and one >100 mg/l CAD (of all 251 LB + LC isolates 0.4% each). Formation of >100 mg/l HIS and TYR was detected in 3.6 and 19% of the LB + LC isolates, respectively. For the EC isolates, maximum levels for PUT, CAD and HIS were 25.4 mg/l, 6.0 mg/l and 15.7 mg/l, respectively. TYR was formed in quantities of 100–1000 mg/l by 47.9% of EC faecalis (n = 75), and 59.7% of EC faecium (n = 62) isolates. More than 1000 mg/l TYR were formed by 50.7 and 35.5% of the isolates, respectively. A low initial pH of 5.2 compared to the initial pH of 6.7 favoured tyramine production by lactic acid bacteria, but was associated with lower CAD yield by EB. A considerable intra-species variability in amine formation was observed.