Promena kvaliteta i antioksidativne aktivnosti jagode nakon zamrzavanja

Natural antioxidants have been throughly studied in the latest decade, due to their beneficial effects on human health. Strawberry fruits have a lot of bioactive compounds which prevent unwanted oxido-redox reactions to taking place. The aim of this work was to study the influence of freezing process on strawberry fruits changes. The content of dry matter, total sugars and acids, vitamin C were determined, as well as sensory analysis of quality. Antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH method, testing the ability of DPPH radical neutralization. The results indicate that the freezing caused minor changes in chemical quality parameters. Changes in the sensory quality characteristics was higher.Prirodnim antioksidansima se pridaje velika pažnja i predmet su brojnih istraživanja tokom poslednje decenije. Plodovi jagode su bogati bioaktivnim komponentama koje imaju povoljan uticaj na zdravlje ljudi. Cilj rada je bio da se utvrde promene do kojih dolazi pri zamrzavanju plodova jagode. Analiziran je sadržaj suve materija, ukupnih šećera i kiselina, vitamina C, kao i senzorna analiza kvaliteta. Antioksidativni potencijal meren je DPPH metodom, ispitivanjem sposobnosti neutralizacije DPPH radikala. Dobijeni rezultati su pokazali da pri zamrzavanju plodova jagode ne dolazi do značajnih promena hemijskih parametara kvaliteta. Nešto su veće promene u senzornim karakteristikama kvaliteta

Massage-like stroking boosts the immune system in mice

Recent clinical evidence suggests that the therapeutic effect of massage involves the immune system and that this can be exploited as an adjunct therapy together with standard drug-based approaches. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms behind these effects exploring the immunomodulatory function of stroking as a surrogate of massage-like therapy in mice. C57/BL6 mice were stroked daily for 8 days either with a soft brush or directly with a gloved hand and then analysed for differences in their immune repertoire compared to control non-stroked mice. Our results show that hand-but not brush-stroked mice demonstrated a significant increase in thymic and splenic T cell number (p lt 0.05; p lt 0.01). These effects were not associated with significant changes in CD4/CD8 lineage commitment or activation profile. The boosting effects on T cell repertoire of massage-like therapy were associated with a decreased noradrenergic innervation of lymphoid organs and counteracted the immunosuppressive effect of hydrocortisone in vivo. Together our results in mice support the hypothesis that massage-like therapies might be of therapeutic value in the treatment of immunodeficiencies and related disorders and suggest a reduction of the inhibitory noradrenergic tone in lymphoid organs as one of the possible explanations for their immunomodulatory function

Glucocorticoids, master modulators of the thymic catecholaminergic system?

There is evidence that the major mediators of stress, i.e., catecholamines and glucocorticoids, play an important role in modulating thymopoiesis and consequently immune responses. Furthermore, there are data suggesting that glucocorticoids influence catecholamine action. Therefore, to assess the putative relevance of glucocorticoid-catecholamine interplay in the modulation of thymopoiesis we analyzed thymocyte differentiation/maturation in non-adrenalectomized and andrenalectomized rats subjected to treatment with propranolol (0.4 mg.100 g body weight(-1).day(-1)) for 4 days. The effects of beta-adrenoceptor blockade on thymopoiesis in non-adrenalectomized rats differed not only quantitatively but also qualitatively from those in adrenalectomized rats. In adrenalectomized rats, besides a more efficient thymopoiesis [judged by a more pronounced increase in the relative proportion of the most mature single-positive TCR alpha beta(high) thymocytes as revealed by two-way ANOVA; for CD4(+)CD8(-)F (1,20) = 10.92, P lt 0.01; for CD4(-)CD8(+)F (1,20) = 7.47, P lt 0.05], a skewed thymocyte maturation towards the CD4(-)CD8(+) phenotype, and consequently a diminished CD4(+)CD8(-)/CD4(-)CD8(+) mature TCR alpha beta(high) thymocyte ratio (3.41 +/- 0.21 in non-adrenalectomized rats vs 2.90 +/- 0.31 in adrenalectomized rats, P lt 0.05) were found. Therefore, we assumed that catecholaminergic modulation of thymopoiesis exhibits a substantial degree of glucocorticoid-dependent plasticity. Given that glucocorticoids, apart from catecholamine synthesis, influence adrenoceptor expression, we also hypothesized that the lack of adrenal glucocorticoids affected not only beta-adrenoceptor- but also alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated modulation of thymopoiesis

Delusion disorder: Neuropsychological aspects

Previous studies concerned with neuropsychological aspect of delusions, were mainly focused on specific forms of this disorder. Comparatively small number of investigations were concerned with cognitive deficiencies accompanying the delusions. The substance of this study includes the detection of neuropsychological disfunctions in patients with persistent delusion disorder, and in tracing of these cognitive distortions to appropriate brain regions. Besides, characteristics of attribution style in these patients are analysed, from the aspect of their connections with unadjusted localized input for their reasoning system. The investigation is designed as a comparative study. The sample includes: a group of patients with persistent delusion disorder; a group of patients with paranoid schizophrenia; a group of healthy individuals. The participants have been tested by a neuropsychological battery that represents the following cognitive functions: attention, memory, vizuospatial and vizuoconstruction organization, executive ability, verbal divergent thinking. Projective Rorschach's method was used for estimation of attribution style

Autogenic training as a therapy for adjustment disorder in adults

Introduction. Autogenic training is a widely recognised psychotherapy technique. The British School of Autogenic Training cites a large list of disorders, states, and changes, where autogenic training may prove to be of help. We wanted to explore the application of autogenic training as a therapy for adjustment disorder in adults. Our sample consisted of a homogeneous group of 35 individuals, with an average age of 39.3±1.6 years, who were diagnosed with adjustment disorder, F 43.2, in accordance with ICD 10 search criteria. Aim. The aim of our study was to research the effectiveness of autogenic training as a therapy for adjustment disorder in adults, by checking the influence of autogenic training on the biophysical and biochemical indicators of adjustment disorder. Method. We measured the indicators of adjustment disorder and their changes in three phases: before the beginning, immediately after the beginning, and six months after the completion, of a practical course in autogenic training. We measured systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure, brachial pulse rate as well as the levels of cortisol in plasma, of cholesterol in blood, and of glucose. During that period, autogenic training functioned as the sole therapy. Results. The study confirmed our preliminary assumptions. The measurements we performed demonstrated that arterial blood pressure, pulse rate, concentration of cholesterol and cortisol, after the application of autogenic training among the subjects suffering from adjustment disorder, were lower in comparison to the initial values. These values remained lower even six months after the completion of the practical course in autogenic training. Conclusion. Autogenic training significantly decreases the values of physiological indicators of adjustment disorder, diminishes the effects of stress in an individual, and helps adults to cope with stress, facilitating their recuperation

In the digital era, how can a B2B engineering services company implement an e-commerce platform for spare parts in a cost effective and customer centric way?

The Hamon Group, an international engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, recruited an In-Company Project (ICP) in order to evaluate options for ecommerce for its wet cooling tower spare parts division. As of recent years, Hamon has undergone important organizational transformation in “Customer Service,” of which aftermarket services including spare parts, has taken more strategic importance. It has been determined that the potential in spare parts (amount, margin, and job length) is worth exploring compared to the companies past objectives of pursuing large new builds. For this ICP we focused on three components: the customer journey, the e-commerce platform implementation and costs, and the digital roadmap required to bring it to realization.A Customer Journey Map (CJM) involved interviewing multiple customers and applying the relevant academic frameworks. It follows the process before, during, and after purchase stages. We have established four different personas on two metrics: ‘Customer Capability’ and ‘Purchase Decision Power’. We use these personas to determine the ‘Moments of Truth’ (MOT) - points where Hamon has an opportunity to form or change the impression that the company make on its customers about products or services. In addition, a Service Blueprint (SB) was designed in order to understand the relationship between Hamon’s internal service processes and customers. The e-commerce implementation proposals involved reaching out to various providers and evaluating their fit with Hamon's broad e-commerce needs, and their respective costs. In order to provide the maximum benefit to customers, the options chosen should be customizable, complement the existing business model, and reflect the best practices from current sales strategies. Finally, we create a digital roadmap - a comprehensive, yet flexible plan to achieve Hamon's digital goals through various strategic initiatives, both within the company and 3 externally via an e-commerce platform. Internally, management of change, culture, and knowledge within the company must be a priority as well, in order for progress to be made. A digital transformation strategy should consider three main concepts: desirability, where the customers fulfill their needs; feasibility, that will allow the company build the capabilities; and viability of a sustainable solution. Following the first concept of desirability, tools like customer personas, customer journey maps (CJM) and service blueprints (SB), allowed us to deliver a customer centricity approach of the e-commerce platform that Hamon should take into consideration for a future implementation. Three personas were defined to be the main interactors with the e-commerce platform. We developed a six-step process that allows Hamon to develop e-commerce as well as pave the way for future digital strategies. We evaluated four different options that would be able to integrate Hamon’s existing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms: On-Premise Development, Oracle, Magento, and Shopify. Upon weighing the options with regards to cost, time to market, B2B fit, scalability, and flexibility; we recommend using Magento. However, it is important to note that if the options were weighed differently or on other metrics, the recommendation would change. Also, influencing the choice of developers is the pace of technological change and current providers on the market. While it is hypothetically possible to go straight to e-commerce, we would not recommend it as it does not satisfy what Hamon’s or the customers actual needs are. We believe Hamon is on the right track with respect to digitalization, so long as there is organization wide commitment via strategic thinking and organizational agility, as outlined by our six steps. The company’s current strategies towards customers, data, and internal culture must shift. The organization must be prepared to reallocate resources, adjust metrics of measuring success, and properly incentivize employees, in order to be catalysts and sustain the change. This ICP should serve as a reference for Hamon and be used to support its growth and digital future. Upon submission of this report, we anticipate Hamon will consider our findings and recommendations, bringing them to the consideration of the executive committee, and begin moving forward in its digitalization strategy

PSYCHODRAMA – THE METHOD WHICH PRODUCE CHANGE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS

The aim of this a quasi-experimental study is to test the changes in the Quality of Life of chronic mental disorders (schizophrenia) treated with psychodrama. Total sample consisted of 60 subjects, aged 21-38. From these, 30 subjects were in the experimental group, while 30 subjects were in the control group. All subjects were previously psychologically tested, as well as basic demographic data has been taken. The instrument we used was Life Quality Scale in Schizophrenia (21 items form). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the obtained data indicates a statistically significant improvement of social and communicative abilities of participants of experimental groups, better impulse control and activation in the work area. The disadvantage of this research is: the small sample. Future examination is needed, as well as a more advanced data processing methodology