Flow Injection Determination of Glutamate in Human Serum and Rat Brain Samples with Immobilized Glutamate Oxidase and Glutamate Dehydrogenase Reactors

Peer Reviewe

The Relationships Between Client Resistance and Attachment to Therapist in Psychotherapy

Through the lens of contemporary views on client resistance and attachment theory, which underpins the role of security in psychotherapy, the present study examines the relation between client resistance and client attachment to therapist. Forty-six clients and 19 therapists in long-term psychotherapy completed the Client Attachment to Therapist Scale and a therapist-reported questionnaire for client resistance, respectively, in three different times including the therapist’s summer holidays, so as to take into consideration the role of the therapist’s temporary absence as a real relationship component. Results indicate that resistance is negatively associated with clients’ secure attachment to their therapists, while it is positively associated with insecure attachment patterns. Also, holidays in psychotherapy were found to intervene in the interrelation between client’s resistive behaviors and attachment security. These preliminary findings indicate the interpersonal and statelike character of client resistance, a conceptual shift that augments clinical work as clients and their resistances are seen in more benevolent terms. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Validating a multidimensional measure of wellbeing in Greece: Translation, factor structure, and measurement invariance of the PERMA Profiler

The aim of the present study was to create the Greek version of the PERMA Profiler questionnaire, which measures the five pillars of wellbeing: positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning in life, and accomplishment based on Seligman’s (2011) theory, and to examine its factor structure, measurement invariance, reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity using data from a lifespan sample of 2539 participants. We have tested two models of wellbeing through confirmatory factor analysis, but the first-order five-factor structure of the wellbeing was finally supported. The results also demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the overall wellbeing items and for almost all wellbeing components. The Greek version of PERMA Profiler demonstrated good convergent validity with several wellbeing indices and discriminant validity with psychological symptoms and experiencing of negative emotions. Limitations, recommendations for future studies and the significance of using a multidimensional measure of wellbeing are discussed. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

STRESS-ADAPTATION IN ATHLETES - RELATION OF LIPOPROTEIN LEVELS TO HORMONAL RESPONSE

Increased physical stress is produced in acute exercise conditions before and during a physical trial. The effects of the physical stress on lipid and lipoprotein parameters as well as on testosterone and cortisol levels were examined in male elite athletes. In a sample of 22 measured athletes, 11 showed increases and 11 showed decreases in testosterone levels. Subsequently these subjects were treated as two separate groups for statistical purposes in order to characterise the source of individual differences in response to a stressor. Group 1 showed a 16.1% significant increase in testosterone levels, 13.3% in total cholesterol and low density lipoproteins, and a 105% increase in testosterone/cortisol ratio immediately after an acute bout of physical stress of 30 s. Group 2 showed a -25.8% significant decline in testosterone levels and no significant change in either total cholesterol or lipoprotein concentrations, followed by a significant correlation of all lipid and hormonal parameters to psychophysiological factors, such as skin temperature. A measurement of testosterone/cortisol and total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels after a bout of acute physical stress may give a picture of the ability to ‘’respond quickly” to stress, which will be useful in assessing the performance of the elite athlete

Stalikas, “Study of the behavior of water-soluble vitamins in HILIC on a diol column

Abstract An effort has been made to investigate the chromatographic behavior and to understand the basic mechanisms in HILIC-based separation of water-soluble vitamins with highly varied properties on a diol column. The water content of the mobile phase is of utmost importance because it directly affects the type and extent of interactions of the solutes with the stationary phase and with the buffered mobile phase. A mixed-mode partitioning-surface adsorption mechanism enables most precise description of their chromatographic retention and separation. The point at which surface adsorption becomes apparent, however, depends on the properties of the solutes on the given stationary phase, and on the presence of buffer salt ions. Adjustment of mobile phase pH and use of different buffer salts can be used to modify electrostatic interactions among the solutes, active silanols, and counter-ions. The role of hydrogen bonding was clarified by substitution of ACN by solvents with moderate to strong hydrogen bonding potential. Analytes which are neutral at the working pH start to interact with the stationary phase when the ACN content is increased to 80%. Negatively charged analytes are adsorbed on the stationary phase when the ACN content is approximately 86%, because augmentation of the counter-ions weakens electrostatic repulsion by the active silanol groups. On the other hand, the electrostatic attraction of thiamine contributes significantly to its retention even when using mobile phases with high water content