Walter V. Bingham's Library.

Reports on the donation of her husband's library by Millicent Todd Bingham to the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo, Norway. During the German occupation the library belonging to the Department of Psychology in Oslo was nearly all lost. The Bingham collection (close to 600 volumes plus periodicals) gives a picture of Walter Bingham's wide interests in the field of psychology and its classical works. This generous and invaluable gift will make studies richer and the work more fruitful among Norwegian psychologists both in the present and in generations to come. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermentation on Rosmarinic Acid and Antioxidant Properties of in vitro Shoot Culture of Orthosiphon aristatus as a Model Study

In vitro shoot culture of Orthosiphon aristatus was selected as a model system for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation study. This in vitro plant was subjected to different types of LAB fermentations (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) for a different time periods of 24, 48, and 72 h at 37^oC. The LAB fermentations consisted of solid state fermentations in a climatic incubator and liquid state of fermentations in a DCU fermenter system. The aim was to determine the effect of fermentation on antioxidant properties of the in vitro plant extract. Results indicate that all types of LAB fermentation decreased the level of rosmarinic acid and total phenolic compounds; however, a slight increase in total flavonoids and flavonols was observed in solid state fermentations samples. The highest reduction was obtained in the sample of liquid state fermentation inoculated with L. plantarum for a period of 72 h. The loss in rosmarinic acid and phenolics was concomitant with a loss of total antioxidant activity (DPPH, TEAC, and SOD-like activity). HPLC result confirmed that the longer fermentation was the greater reduction phenolic acids content was found. These results indicate LAB fermentation caused a decrease on antioxidant properties of in vitro shoot culture of Orthosiphon aristatus.     

Holzfasersubstrate als eine Torfalternative für die Gemüseproduktion

Physical, chemical and biological properties of wood fibers were investigated in order to test their suitability for vegetable cultivations as peat substitute in growing media. Wood fiber substrates have good properties and are suitable as peat substitute. They could be used in soilless culture as well as in mixture with peat for the production of seedlings and transplants. The optimal percentage of wood fiber for the prevention of considerable degradation of press pots form was approximately 30% by volume. Further, the cultivation system must be adapted to get high quality vegetable products.     

Improvement of Antioxidant Activities in Red Cabbage Sprouts by Lactic Acid Bacterial Fermentation

In the present study, the influence of three types of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Danisco, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG E522 (ATCC 53103)) on antioxidant activities of fermented red cabbage sprouts was determined and compared with those of their unfermented/control counterparts. The fermentation resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05) of antioxidant functionalities as measured by four assays: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like, and β-carotene/linoleic bleaching. The most considerable shift in the antioxidant activities was observed after 24 h of fermentation. These increases were followed by a decrease in total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and L-ascorbic acid and by an increase in flavonoids, flavonols, and several phenolic acids (gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, trans-3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic, and trans-o-hydroxycinnamic acid) content. The relationship between the antioxidant activities and the compositional changes in antioxidant compounds due to LAB fermentation was observed. Fermented red cabbage sprouts inoculated with L. plantarum had the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH scavenging: 70.92%; TEAC: 1.94 mM Trolox equivalent; SOD-like activity: 63.40%, and β-carotene/linoleic bleaching: 44.33%), which was almost two-fold higher than those of unfermented treatments. These results indicated that LAB fermentation could be applied as a method to improve the potent antioxidant activities of red cabbage sprouts.     

On the reliability of the anamnestic interview.

Relatively structured interviews (involving a 27-item scale to be covered) were used to investigate the accounts by mothers regarding details of the lives of their children and their original attitudes regarding the imminent birth of the child during pregnancy. On the assumption that most interviewers assume data gleamed from anamnestic interviews have validity, Es sampled the maternal attitudes at different times. The mothers' statements were found to be differentially accurate; some information (such as height and weight of child at birth) were recalled accurately; anxiety served to distort the accuracy of some data, increase the degree of accuracy of other. The overall finding was to question the validity of most data derived from anamnestic interviews. From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2HE11H. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)