Pet therapy program for antepartum high-risk pregnancies: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study evaluated the potential benefits of pet therapy on symptoms of anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-two women in a hospital-based setting completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the pet therapy visit. For both questionnaires, paired t-test was used and adjusted P-values were obtained using the Hochberg step-up Bonferroni method. RESULT: The mean scores for depressive symptoms significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy (10.1 ± 6.3) compared with the post-pet therapy (6.3 ± 5.9) (P<0.0001). Likewise mean scores of the state anxiety significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy test (44.8 ± 11.7) compared with the post-pet therapy (34.5 ± 10.5) (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pet therapy significantly reduced anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.

Analysis of factors affecting volatile compound formation in roasted pumpkin seeds with selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and sensory analysis.

UNLABELLED: Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo and maxima) seeds are uniquely flavored and commonly consumed as a healthy roasted snack. The objective was to determine dominant volatiles in raw and roasted pumpkin seeds, and the effect of seed coat, moisture content, fatty acid ratio, total lipids, reducing sugars, and harvest year on volatile formation. Sensory was conducted to evaluate overall liking of seed variety and texture. Seed processing included extraction from the fruit, dehydration, and roasting (150 °C). Oil extraction was done using soxhlet, fatty acid profile using Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector, and reducing sugars using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid and UV-spectroscopy. Headspace analysis of seeds was performed by selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). Volatiles dominating in raw pumpkin seeds were lipid aldehydes, ethyl acetate, 2,3-butandione, and dimethylsulfide. Compounds contributing to roasted aroma include alkylpyrazines and Strecker and lipid aldehydes. Overall, hull-less seeds had higher volatile lipid aldehydes and Strecker aldehydes. Seeds dehydrated to a moisture content of 6.5% before roasting had higher initial and final volatile concentrations than seeds starting at 50% moisture. Higher oil content resulted in higher lipid aldehyde formation during roasting with a moderate correlation between free fatty acid ratio and corresponding lipid aldehyde. Harvest year (2009 compared with 2010) had a significant impact on volatile formation in hull-less seeds, but not as much as variety differences. No significant correlation was found between reducing sugars and volatile formation. Sensory showed that hull-less seeds were liked significantly more than hulled seeds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Elucidation of aromatic flavor development during roasting with SIFT-MS provides information on flavor release and offers better control during processing. Knowledge of volatiles in raw and roasted pumpkin seeds and effects of seed coat, moisture content, seed composition, and harvest date will allow for better control over the production/storage/transportation process and a more educated decision during selection of a variety for production of pumpkin seeds in the snack food industry.

Effect of enzymes on strawberry volatiles during storage, at different ripeness level, in different cultivars, and during eating.

UNLABELLED: Strawberry samples with enzyme activity and without enzyme activity (stannous chloride added) were measured for real-time formation of lipoxygenase (LOX) derived aroma compounds after 5 min pureeing using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). The concentration of (Z)-3-hexenal and (E)-2-hexenal increased immediately after blending and gradually decreased over time, while hexanal concentration increased for at least 5 min in ground strawberries. The formation of hexanal was slower than the formation of (Z)-3-hexenal and (E)-2-hexenal in the headspace of pureed strawberries. The concentration of LOX aldehydes and esters significantly increased during refrigerated storage. Damaging strawberries increased the concentration of LOX aldehydes but did not significantly affect the concentration of esters. The concentrations of many of the esters were strongly correlated to their corresponded acids and/or aldehydes. The concentration of LOX-generated aldehydes decreased during ripening, while fruity esters increased. Different varieties had different aroma profiles and esters were the greatest percentage of the volatiles. The aroma release of some of the LOX-derived aldehydes in the mouthspace in whole strawberries compared to chopped strawberries showed that these volatiles are formed in the mouth during chewing. The persistence of LOX-derived compounds was higher than esters after swallowing. The mouthspace after and before swallowing persistence ratio of esters decreased as the chain length of the acid part of the ester compounds increased in whole strawberries. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The storage studies showed that the concentrations of fruity and fresh volatiles increased during ripening and storage while damaging only increases the fresh volatiles. The nose, mouth, and headspace information can be used in the flavor industry to improve the formula of natural strawberry flavor by considering human perception during eating.

Meat shelf-life and extension using collagen/gelatin coatings: a review.

Different factors lead to the end of shelf-life for fresh meat products. The factors depend upon the animal including breed difference and muscle fiber type, external influences such as diet and stress, and post-harvest storage conditions including time, temperature, and packaging atmosphere. The characteristics that indicate the end of shelf-life for fresh meat products include water loss/purge accumulation, color deterioration due to myoglobin oxidation, rancidity due to lipid oxidation, and microbial spoilage. The characteristics can be measured and studied in the laboratory. Meat shelf-life is extended with the application of a surface coating because it provides a water and oxygen barrier. Collagen and gelatin coatings are used as a barrier on meat products to reduce purge, color deterioration, aroma deterioration, and spoilage, improve sensory scores, and act as an antioxidant.

Low mean level sustained and intermittent grip exertions: influence of age on fatigue and recovery.

The goal of this study was to quantify localised muscle fatigue resulting from low mean levels of exertion in younger (< 40 years) and older (> 50 years) adults. Fatigue, elicited in the finger flexor muscles by intermittent (10% mean maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)) and sustained (8% MVC) handgrip exercises, was quantified by a muscle twitch force response before, immediately after and during 3 h following exercise. Despite greater mean loads, recovery time was shorter following intermittent than sustained contractions, which suggests that recovery from fatigue is more sensitive to rest within the work cycle than mean work. The more pronounced effects for younger than older individuals following the sustained exertion indicate that changes in muscle fibre type composition might predispose older individuals to be more resistant to fatigue resulting from sustained contractions of low level. Performing hand exertion tasks requiring low mean force levels contributes to similar long-lasting fatigue effects regardless of gender and age. Intermittent periods of complete rest reduce muscle fatigue. Since fatigue was not perceived during recovery from the tested sustained and intermittent contractions, subjective evaluations may not be a reliable indicator of localised muscle fatigue.

Effect of relative humidity on coating efficiency in nonelectrostatic and electrostatic coating.

Fifteen food powders were coated on aluminum targets at 0, +25, and -25 kV using corona electrostatic coating at 20% to 80% relative humidity (RH). The effect of RH on 3 losses, that is, targeting loss, coating loss, and transportation loss, which contribute to coating efficiency, was studied. RH had no effect on targeting loss in either nonelectrostatic or electrostatic coating. In nonelectrostatic coating, increasing RH increased coating loss for powders with particle size > or =297 microm, but had no effect on powders < or =227 microm. Large powders were free-flowing and clumped with increasing RH, and then rolled off the targets, resulting in high coating loss. RH had no effect on nonelectrostatic transportation loss for all powders, except for very high absolute humidity when capillary forces dominated. Electrostatic charging efficiency and powder resistivity decreased with increasing RH. Electrostatic coating loss for salts increased with increasing RH. At high RH, powder resistivity decreases, increasing the charge decay rate, which decreases electrostatic adhesion. Electrostatic coating loss for powders other than salts, whose resistivities are much higher than salts, was not affected by RH until 80% RH. Electrostatic transportation loss for powders other than proteins was not affected by RH. There was no significant difference between positive and negative electrostatic transfer efficiency and adhesion, except for transfer efficiency of soy protein and pork gelatin, whose high positive tribocharging values cause higher positive electrostatic transfer efficiency. A 20% to 60% RH is recommended for both nonelectrostatic and electrostatic coating.

Increased aflatoxin contamination of dried figs in a drought year.

Dried figs (4917 samples) destined for export from Turkey to the European Union were collected between September and December during the very dry crop year of 2007 and tested for aflatoxins B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2) by immunoaffinity column clean-up and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). While 32% of the samples contained detectable levels of total aflatoxins, 9.8% of them exceeded the European Union limits. Aflatoxin levels were in the range of 0.2-259.46 microg kg(-1) and 2.04-259.46 microg kg(-1) for all samples and samples that exceeded the limits, respectively. A substantial increase in the incidence of aflatoxins was observed in 2007 compared with previous years, most likely due to the drought stress, high temperatures and low relative humidity encountered during the period from January to September of that year. In 2007, the mean temperature was 1-2 degrees C higher, there was 300 mm less total rain, and the mean relative humidity was 10-15% lower than in 2002-06. The average concentration of individual aflatoxins present in the samples was quantified to determine whether the drought conditions promoted certain types of aflatoxins. Among the contaminated samples, aflatoxin B(1) occurred in 97% of the contaminated samples, followed by G(1) in 47%, B(2) in 24%, and G(2) in 6% of samples. Concentrations of individual aflatoxins exhibited great variability among the samples but were not significantly different from those reported in previous studies, which were conducted under conditions without drought and high temperatures.

Effect of hydrogen ion concentration and electrostatic polarity on food powder coating transfer efficiency and adhesion.

Two kinds of soy protein isolate, rice protein, whey protein isolate, albumen, bovine collagen hydrolysate, NaCl, and corn starch were used in this study. Solutions were prepared by mixing the powder and distilled water (1:8 ratio) and either H(2)SO(4) or NH(4)OH to obtain pH 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The solutions were dried to produce powders with different hydrogen ion concentrations and the powders were ground. Powders were coated nonelectrostatically and using negative and positive polarity corona electrostatically. There was no solution pH effect on transfer efficiency or adhesion for most powders. However, transfer efficiency and density of both of the soy protein isolates and corn starch changed with solution pH. Solution pH may have affected the density, which affected the transfer efficiency for these powders. Adhesion and cohesiveness of one of the soy protein isolates and corn starch also changed with solution pH. Solution pH may have affected the cohesiveness, which affected the adhesion for these powders. Negative and positive coronas produced the same results for most powders, with no solution pH effect, except for one of the soy protein isolates, rice protein, and corn starch. These powders accumulated on the electrode wires during negative corona electrostatic coating, reducing transfer efficiency and adhesion. This polarity effect was intermittent, implying it is due to tribocharging.

Effect of a gelatin coating on the shelf life of fresh meat.

The end of shelf life for fresh meat is determined by unacceptable aroma, appearance, and color, which appear before unacceptable microbial counts. Addition of a bovine gelatin coating to fresh meat may extend its shelf life. This study utilized a 20% bovine gelatin solution that was spray-coated onto beef tenderloins, pork loins, salmon fillets, and chicken breasts which were packaged in an 80% O(2) and 20% CO(2) modified atmosphere and stored under fluorescent light at 4 degrees C for 2 wk. All of the gelatin-coated fresh meat products showed a reduction in purge. The gelatin reduced purge by acting as a barrier to water loss. There was a reduction in color deterioration for gelatin-coated beef, a slight reduction of color deterioration for gelatin-coated pork, and no reduction in color deterioration for salmon and chicken. The gelatin coat reduced color deterioration by acting as a barrier to oxygen, but also had a negative effect on color due to its own color deterioration. No change in lipid oxidation was seen with any of the gelatin-coated meat products. The gelatin coat was not an effective barrier for lipid oxidation at refrigeration temperatures. Sensory analysis of beef tenderloins confirmed that color deterioration was reduced, and flavor was not affected by the application of a gelatin coat. The gelatin coat was equally effective during light and dark storage. It was more effective on vacuum packaged products than on modified atmosphere packaged products.

Factors dominating adhesion of NaCl onto potato chips.

In this study, the adhesion factors examined were time between frying and coating, surface oil content, chip temperature, oil composition, NaCl size, NaCl shape, and electrostatic coating. Three different surface oil content potato chips, high, low, and no, were produced. Oils used were soybean, olive, corn, peanut, and coconut. After frying, chips were coated immediately, after 1 d, and after 1 mo. NaCl crystals of 5 different particle sizes (24.7, 123, 259, 291, and 388 microm) were coated both electrostatically and nonelectrostatically. Adhesion of cubic, dendritic, and flake crystals was examined. Chips were coated at different temperatures. Chips with high surface oil had the highest adhesion of salt, making surface oil content the most important factor. Decreasing chip temperature decreased surface oil and adhesion. Increasing time between frying and coating reduced adhesion for low surface oil chips, but did not affect high and no surface oil chips. Changing oil composition did not affect adhesion. Increasing salt size decreased adhesion. Salt size had a greater effect on chips with lower surface oil content. When there were significant differences, cubic crystals gave the best adhesion followed by flake crystals then dendritic crystals. For high and low surface oil chips, electrostatic coating did not change adhesion of small size crystals but decreased adhesion of large salts. For no surface oil content chips, electrostatic coating improved adhesion for small salt sizes but did not affect adhesion of large crystals.

The dielectric properties of meats as a function of temperature and composition.

The dielectric properties of cod, perch, salmon, chicken breast, chicken thigh and beef were measured at 15 to 65 degrees C at 2450 MHz. The samples covered a moisture range of 68.9-81.2% and ash range of 0.96-1.20%. Equations were developed as a function of temperature, moisture, and ash, and compared to literature equations. The dielectric constant decreased with temperature and increased with moisture content. It was not affected by ash content. The dielectric loss factor increased with moisture content for moisture contents lower than 74.9%, then decreased for higher moisture contents. The dielectric-loss factor was quadratically related to temperature, decreasing to 30.2 degrees C then increasing. The dielectric loss factor increased with ash content. The effect of moisture content and temperature on the dielectric loss factor in the literature is reviewed to explain these results.

Use of dielectric properties to detect egg protein denaturation.

Changes in water and ion binding that occur during egg protein denaturation can be detected by measuring the dielectric properties. The dielectric properties of egg yolk, egg white and egg ovalbumin were tested from 25 to 105 degrees C at 11 frequencies from 300-2450 MHz. DSC was used to determine the temperature of protein denaturation. Both the dielectric constant and loss factor of egg yolk decreased due to denaturation of the protein lipovitellin. The dielectric constant increased at the initial denaturation and decreased after the complete denaturation and aggregation of egg ovalbumin in both egg white and ovalbumin.

Use of dielectric properties to detect whey protein denaturation.

Denaturation of whey proteins can be detected by the dielectric properties. The dielectric properties of 20% whey protein with 0, 5 or 15% sugar, 2% salt, at pH 4 and isolated whey proteins were measured from room temperature to 100 degrees C at 300-2450 MHz. The temperature at which a decrease in the dielectric loss factor, or increase in the dielectric constant, occurred was compared to the temperature of denaturation as determined by DSC and found to match. The change in the dielectric properties is likely caused by binding of water and/or ions that occurs during protein denaturation. For most of the samples, the dielectric loss factor showed the protein denaturation, but when ions were present due to salt or low pH, the dielectric constant showed the denaturation.

In vitro shoot proliferation and propagation of guava (Psidium guajava L.) from germinated seedlings.

Guava seeds were germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with or without 8.8 µM benzyladenine (BA). BA increased the rate of germination and the number of lateral shoots (3.4 vs 1.2 per seedling). Stem nodes from these lateral shoots were cultured on proliferation media with 4.4 µM BA, and multiple shoots (3.5) were formed within 4 weeks of culture. Increasing the concentration of BA or the addition of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) did not affect shoot formation. Shoots produced from explants and lateral shoots from germinated seedlings were rooted in media containing activated charcoal (AC) or 9.8 µM indolebutyric acid (IBA). Shoots rooted with IBA had a higher rooting percentage (100% vs 75%) and a greater number of roots (5.5 vs 3.2) but the shoots were shorter (2.6 vs 3.4 cm) than when rooted in AC, and they required an additional 4 weeks of culture in media with AC to achieve shoot elongation. About 80% of the shoots with roots survived in the glasshouse and produced normal phenotypic plants.