Effects of whey protein edible coating on bacterial, chemical and sensory characteristics of frozen common kilka (Clupeonellia delitula)

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of whey protein coating on the quality of common Kilka during frozen storage. For this study, common Kilka was coated with 20% whey protein concentration. Non-coated Kilka also was used as a control. Coated and non-coated samples were then stored at -18 °C for six months. Bacterial, chemical and sensory properties of the samples were determined in each month. Results showed that Coliform, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas bacteria contaminations were negative until the end of storage period in the covered samples. Total bacterial counts and Staphylococcus bacteria count were lower in the test samples compared with the control samples. Humidity, protein, lipid, ash and calorie contents were higher in test samples as compared with the control samples, while peroxide value, free fatty acids, thiobarbitoric acid, TVN and pH were lower in test samples. Taste, odor, color, tissue and overall acceptability were studied in the test and control samples. These specifications had a better quality in test samples compared with the control ones. These factors showed a significant difference in the uncoated samples (control) (p<0.05). Significant decrease was observed in bacterial counts in the covered and control samples. According to the statistical analysis in sensory specifications, there was a significant difference between the covered samples and the control ones (p<0.05). According to the results of experiments and statistical analysis, the covered samples had a favorable quality until the end of storage period but the control samples had lost their quality after three months

Efficacy of Progressive Resistance Tube Training in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study

SummaryBackground/objectiveFalls are known to be one of the most prevalent public health problems in older adults. Currently, the aging population is growing fast. It is essential to use low cost, time-efficient exercise intervention programs for increasing strength, functional mobility, and balance in older adults, and subsequently decrease the risk of falls. This is a pilot study to assess the effects of a 12-week progressive resistance tube training session on the lower limb muscle strength, dynamic balance, and functional mobility in elderly people.MethodsSeventeen community dwelling older adults with a mean age of 69.2 ± 4.62 years were recruited among residents of a senior day care center in Malaysia to participate in this pilot study. Eight out of 17 participants completed their lower extremity resistance tube training sessions three times per week for 12 weeks. Lower limb muscle strength and functional mobility were tested by five times sit to stand test (FRSTST), and timed up and go test (TUG), respectively. Functional reach test (FRT) and four square step test (FSST) were applied to measure dynamic balance.ResultsThe results revealed significant increases in lower limb strength (30.3%), dynamic balance (29.6% in FRT and 15.3% in FSST), and functional mobility (27.1%) (all significant at p < 0.05).ConclusionIt was concluded that the use of a simple and inexpensive strength training program may improve leg muscle strength and consequently dynamic balance and mobility in elderly people and make them independent in their daily activities

Antioxidant effect of ascorbic acid on the quality of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fillets during frozen storage

The effect of aqueous solutions of ascorbic acid (AA) on the rancidity development in Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fillets during frozen storage was studied. Cobia fillets were treated with ascorbic acid (AA 0.25% and AA 0.5%) then stored at -18°C up to 6 months. Rancidity development was measured by several biochemical indices including free fatty acids (FFA), peroxide value (PV), and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and complemented by the sensory analysis (odor, consistency and appearance). In addition, pH and expressible moisture (EM) were measured during 6 months storage. Proximate composition was also determined in the first day. TBA, PV and FFA levels increased on all treatments due to lipid oxidation. Ascorbic acid showed antioxidative effect on Cobia fillets during frozen storage as indicated by TBA, PV and FFA levels. Results showed that free fatty acid, primary and secondary oxidation products, EM and pH value of AA-treated samples were significantly lower than those of the control samples (P<0.05). A gradual decrease (P<0.05) in sensory analysis were observed as the storage time increased. Results of our investigation revealed that ascorbic acid retarded oxidative changes in frozen Cobia fillets whereas AA 0.25% was not as effective as AA 0.5% on oxidative stability. Best oxidation inhibition results on fish fillets were obtained when employing a 0.5% AA solution

Investigating the urban density on social relations

In modern cities, with changes occurring in the urban environments the social behaviors of the residents have been affected. Some of the changes have weakened social behaviors, while others have reinforced them, such that they impose new social roles on their own residents. According to various perspectives in relation with the urban density (environmental factors), such factors have had an undeniable impact on social relations (social behavior). Also, distinguishing the urban density into two dimensions of constructional and demographic density, the question that arises is: what relation is there between the urban density and social relations? In the present research, using the document and survey methods and also using a questionnaire for assessing the extent of social communications (residents of the Kashanak neighborhood) information needed was collected. Using the Pearson correlation tests method, data obtained were analyzed and in the end, the results indicated that the intensity of the correlation between the urban density and social relations was low and the type of impact of the constructional and demographic density on social relations was different, so that the impacts of the demographic density was consistent while that of the constructional density was inconsistent. In the end, given the fact the impact mentioned was low but it is non-negligible and it should be attended to in urban planning as an affective factor

Fillet yield, proximate composition and mineral contents in Indian spiny halibut Psettodes erumei caught from the coastal waters of Bushehr (Persian Gulf)

The objective of this study was to assess fillet yield, proximate composition and mineral contents of the Indian spiny halibut (Psettodes erumei) during different seasons. Fish samples (female = 100 and male = 100) were caught from the coastal waters of Bushehr province and body weight and length were taken to predict fillet weight and yield. Large differences in the fillet yield were observed between seasons. The highest fillet yield (49.4%) was obtained in the samples collected in autumn while samples collected in spring had the lowest yield (42.1%). There was a linear relationship between fish length and fillet weight while no significant correlation was found between fillet yield and body measurements (weight and length). The fat content of Indian spiny halibut was < 1.2% throughout the sampling period. Based on the results, fish collected in all seasons except spring for fillets may lead to a higher production with no significant difference between two sexes

Chemical, microbiological and sensory evaluation of gutted kilka coated with whey protein based edible film incorporated with sodium alginate during frozen storage

The effects of whey protein (12%) and sodium alginate (0.5%) on chemical, microbial and sensory changes and shelf life in kilka during frozen storage are investigated for up to 6 months. Total bacteria count and Staphylococcus bacteria counts(2 / 51 and 1 / 44 log CFU/g) in coated samples showed decrease in comparison with control samples(3.21- 2.28 log CFU/g). Moisture of coated samples had significant increase than control treatment (p<0.05). Protein, lipid, ash and calorie were higher in test samples as compared with the control samples. Free fatty acids, TBRS, peroxide value, TVN and pH in coated samples showed significant decrease in comparison with control (p<0.05). Sensory evaluation of coated samples showed significant difference in comparison with control (p<0.05). It is suggested that whey protein edible coating incorporated with sodium alginate can enhance quality and increase shelf life of kilka fish in storage of freezing up to 6 months

Emotional Intelligence and Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Happiness Among Adolescents

Background: Given that happiness is an important construct to enable adolescents to cope better with difficulties and stress of life, it is necessary to advance our knowledge about the possible etiology of happiness in adolescents. Objectives: The present study sought to investigate the relationships of emotional intelligence, depressive symptoms, and happiness in a sample of male students in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of high school students in Tehran in 2012. The participants comprised of 188 male students (aged 16 to 19 years old) selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. For gathering the data, the students filled out assessing emotions scale, Beck depression inventory-II, and Oxford happiness inventory. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and analytical statistics in statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. Results: The findings showed that a significant positive association existed between high ability of emotional intelligence and happiness (P < 0.01). Conversely, the low ability of emotional intelligence was associated with unhappiness (P < 0.01), there was a positive association between non-depression symptoms and happiness (P < 0.05), and severe depressive symptoms were positively associated with unhappiness (P < 0.01). High ability of emotional intelligence (P < 0.01) and non-depression symptoms (P < 0.05) were the strongest predictors of happiness. Conclusions: These findings reinforced the importance of emotional intelligence as a facilitating factor for happiness in adolescences. In addition, the findings suggested that depression symptoms may be harmful for happiness in adolescents

Health Belief Model-based intervention to improve nutritional behavior among elderly women

Background/objectives: Nutrition is a determinant factor of health in elderly people. Independent living in elderly people can be maintained or enhanced by improvement of nutritional behavior. Hence, the present study was conducted to determine the impact of Health Belief Model (HBM)-based intervention on the nutritional behavior of elderly women. Subjects/methods: Cluster-random sampling was used to assess the sample of this clinical trial study. The participants of this study attended a 12-week nutrition education program consisting of two (2) sessions per week. There was also a follow-up for another three (3) months. Smart PLS 3.5 and SPSS 19 were used for structural equation modeling, determination of model fitness, and hypotheses testing. Results: The findings indicate that intervention had a significant effect on knowledge improvement as well as the behavior of elderly women. The model explained 5 to 70% of the variance in nutritional behavior. In addition, nutritional behavior was positively affected by the HBM constructs comprised of perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and barriers after the intervention program. Conclusion: The results of this study show that HBM-based educational intervention has a significant effect in improving nutritional knowledge and behavior among elderly women

Alexa as an Active Listener: How Backchanneling Can Elicit Self-Disclosure and Promote User Experience

Active listening is a well-known skill applied in human communication to build intimacy and elicit self-disclosure to support a wide variety of cooperative tasks. When applied to conversational UIs, active listening from machines can also elicit greater self-disclosure by signaling to the users that they are being heard, which can have positive outcomes. However, it takes considerable engineering effort and training to embed active listening skills in machines at scale, given the need to personalize active-listening cues to individual users and their specific utterances. A more generic solution is needed given the increasing use of conversational agents, especially by the growing number of socially isolated individuals. With this in mind, we developed an Amazon Alexa skill that provides privacy-preserving and pseudo-random backchanneling to indicate active listening. User study (N = 40) data show that backchanneling improves perceived degree of active listening by smart speakers. It also results in more emotional disclosure, with participants using more positive words. Perception of smart speakers as active listeners is positively associated with perceived emotional support. Interview data corroborate the feasibility of using smart speakers to provide emotional support. These findings have important implications for smart speaker interaction design in several domains of cooperative work and social computing.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (PACM HCI). The paper will be presented in CSCW 2022 (https://cscw.acm.org/2022