Free Amino Acids and Volatile Aroma Compounds in Watermelon Rind, Flesh, and Three Rind-Flesh Juices.

Watermelon rind is treated as agricultural waste, causing biomass loss and environmental issues. This study aimed to identify free amino acids and volatiles in watermelon rind, flesh, and rind-flesh juice blends with ratios of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Among the 16 free amino acids quantified, watermelon rind alone contained higher total amino acids (165 mg/100 g fresh weight) compared to flesh alone (146 mg/100 g). The rind had significantly higher (1.5×) and dominant amounts of citrulline and arginine (61.4 and 53.8 mg/100 g, respectively) than flesh. The rind, however, contained significantly lower amounts of essential amino acids. Volatile analysis showed that watermelon rind total volatiles (peak area) comprised only 15% of the flesh volatiles. Of the 126 volatiles identified, the rind alone contained 77 compounds; 56 of these presented in all five samples. Aldehydes and alcohols were most prevalent, accounting for >80% of the total volatiles in all samples. Nine-carbon aldehyde and alcohol compounds dominated both the flesh and rind, though the rind lacked the diversity of other aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, terpenes, terpenoids, esters and lactones that were more abundant in the watermelon flesh. Watermelon rind was characterized by the major aroma compounds above their thresholds, including 17 aldehydes and six unsaturated nine-carbon alcohols. This study demonstrated the potential for rind as a food or beverage supplement due to its key features such as concentrated citrulline and arginine, relatively low odor intensity, and valuable volatiles associated with fresh, green, cucumber-like aromas.

Exploring Plant Performance, Fruit Physicochemical Characteristics, Volatile Profiles, and Sensory Properties of Day-Neutral and Short-Day Strawberry Cultivars Grown in Texas.

To assist increasing annual acreage of Texas-grown (U.S.A.) strawberries, it is essential to select cultivars with excellent plant and fruit quality characteristics suitable to the diverse environments. This study assessed multiple traits of 10 strawberry cultivars grown under high tunnels. A significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was observed for all traits, which possessed a wide variability of metabolites. Plant analysis (number of live plants, plant vigor, and harvest yield) indicated that the yield ranged from 226 to 431 g/plant, positively correlated to plant vigor. Fruit physicochemical characteristic analysis, including red color (absorbance at 500 nm) and taste-associated indicators [°Brix, titratable acidity (TA), and total soluble solids (TSS)/TA], showed that °Brix and TSS/TA ranged from 8.0 to 12.9 and from 9.1 to 15.3, respectively. More than 300 volatiles were identified using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and total volatiles varied 1.5 times with high variance of individual compounds between cultivars. Descriptive sensory analysis indicated that strawberry flavor was positively associated with sensory attributes of sweetness, jammy, fruity, buttery, fresh, and creamy while negatively related to bitterness, astringency, and sourness. Partial least squares regression indicated that strawberry flavor was highly correlated with sweet taste and volatile composition. No specific relationship between these traits and day-neutral or June-bearing varieties was identified. Ideal cultivars for Texas growing conditions with superior and balanced flavor qualities were Albion, Sweet Charlie, Camarosa, Camino Real, and Chandler.

Feasibility and treatment effect of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: At least 40% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) exercise chronic insomnia, and the prevalence is likely higher due to underdiagnosis. Poor sleep quality has been associated with increased fatigue, anxiety, depression, and risk of relapse in individuals with MS. While cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended treatment for chronic insomnia, the treatment effect of CBT-I in people with MS is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This pilot randomized control trial (RCT) assessed the feasibility and treatment effect of CBT-I to improve sleep quality and fatigue in individuals with MS with symptoms of insomnia. METHODS: Thirty-three individuals with MS (30 females, 3 males; 30 relapsing-remitting; 3 secondary-progressive; 53.0 ± 9.4 years old) with symptoms of insomnia were randomized into one of three arms: 1. 6-week CBT-I program, 2. 6-week active control, or 3. Single session of sleep education. Participants completed surveys to assess sleep quality, fatigue, sleep self-efficacy, depression, and anxiety. RESULTS: CBT-I in individuals with MS is feasible with high retention and adherence rate. All groups experienced a large magnitude of improvement in insomnia symptoms. The CBT-I and brief education groups experienced a large magnitude of improvement in sleep quality and fatigue. Only the CBT-I group demonstrated a large magnitude of improvement in sleep self-efficacy and depression. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to prospectively demonstrates that CBT-I is feasible in people with MS and produces promising improvements in insomnia severity, sleep quality, sleep self-efficacy and comorbid symptoms of fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Future studies are needed to determine mechanisms for these improvements and expand the scope of individuals with MS who may benefit from CBT-I. Furthermore, considering the moderate to large improvements experienced by the brief education group and the limited number of CBT-I providers, a stepped-care approach warrants consideration.

Assessing both safe haven and secure base support in parent-child relationships.

Although the attachment construct refers to a child's tendency to use an attachment figure both as a safe haven in times of distress as well as a secure base from which to explore, approaches to assessing attachment at older ages have focused on safe haven behavior. We tested modified versions of the Friends and Family Interview and the Security Scale Questionnaire to examine separately the correlates of safe haven and secure base support from parents. The main study (n = 107 children, 10-14-year-olds) included both interview and questionnaire assessments of safe haven and secure base support from mothers and fathers. The two methods converged in expected ways, and both showed associations with narrative coherence. Children reported greater safe haven support from mothers and greater secure base support from fathers, suggesting secure base support is a key aspect of father-child attachment. Both mother-child and father-child relationships were related to children's school adjustment and coping.