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With the aim of finding an alternative ameliorative mechanism for 2-furoylmethyl-amino acid (2-FM-AA) formation in drying technology, this work was conducted. This was achieved by drying banana with relative humidity (RH) convective hot-air dryer at 60, 70 and 80 °C under RH (10% 20% and 30%) at 2.0 m/s air velocity. The results revealed that at every 10% increase in RH, a reduction between 13.4 and 29.4% of the 2-FM-AA was achieved. Based on statistical parameters such as coefficient of correlation (0.9104–0.9998), root mean square error (0.0176–0.3620) and reduced chi-square (1.5 × 10-4–0.1310), the first order model could satisfactorily predict 2-FM-AA formation. Furthermore, rate constants revealed the dependence of 2-FM-AA formation on RH and also demonstrated the critical role played by RH in reducing 2-FM-AA formation. The results also show that, higher temperatures were mainly responsible for 2-FM-AA formation and functional groups deformation; however this can be mitigated when drying is conducted under higher RH.

The present study examined mechanisms of change in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills group and positive psychotherapy (PPT) group intervention, two treatments that have previously been shown to be effective at reducing symptoms of BPD and depression over a 12-week treatment protocol within the context of a college counseling center (Uliaszek et al., 2016). The present study is secondary data analysis of that trial. We hypothesized that change in dysfunctional coping skills use would be a specific mechanism for DBT, while change in functional coping skills use and therapeutic alliance would be mechanisms of change for both treatments. Fifty-four participants completed self-report and interview-based assessments at pretreatment, weeks 3, 6, 9, and posttreatment. Path models examined the predictive power of the mechanisms in predicting outcome; the moderating effect of group membership was also explored. Dysfunctional coping skills use across the course of treatment was a significant mechanism of change for BPD and depression for the DBT group, but not the PPT group. Conversely, therapeutic alliance was a significant mechanism of change for the PPT group, but not the DBT group. Findings highlight the importance of each mechanism during mid-to late-treatment specifically.

The effects of sweep frequency ultrasound thawing (SFUT) and fixed frequency ultrasound thawing (FFUT) on the water holding capacity (WHC), strength, color, rheological properties as well as moisture migration and distribution of myofibrillar protein (MP) gel from small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) were evaluated. The results showed that the MP gel from the SFUT sample had a smaller chromatic aberration (ΔE) (12.39), higher WHC (65.05%) and strength (101.03 g) than the MP gel from FFUT and flow water thawing (FWT) samples. Compared with FFUT and FWT groups, the MP gel from the SFUT sample had higher elasticity and smaller apparent viscosity. Meanwhile, the MP gel from the SFUT sample had higher immobilized water content and lowered free water content close to the fresh sample (FS). Overall, the MP gel from the SFUT sample had better gelling properties than the MP gel from the FFUT and FWT groups.

The effect of ultrasound thawing with different frequencies and working modes, including mono-, dual- and tri-frequency, on the physicochemical quality, water holding capacity, microbial evaluation, microstructure, as well as moisture migration and distribution of quick-frozen small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) were evaluated. The results showed that the quality of samples thawed by sequential ultrasound working modes was higher than that of the simultaneous ultrasound and mono-frequency ultrasound working modes. Specifically, the samples thawed by combined dual-frequency sequential ultrasound (DSEU) at 20/40 kHz was close to fresh samples, which had better physicochemical quality (higher hardness, springiness, resilience, chewiness and lower TVB-N values, TBARS values, K-values), water-holding capacity (lower thawing loss and cooking loss), and microstructure, higher immobilized water content, lower free water content, and less microbial colonies, compared with other ultrasonically thawed samples. Therefore, the DSEU at 20/40 kHz can improve the quality of the samples better than other thawing methods.

Highlights • Ultrasound modes had effects on the structure of myofibrillar proteins (MPs). • Dual-frequency 20/40 kHz ultrasound thawing (DUT) was best thawing method. • DUT can effectively minimized the changes in MPs structure during thawing process. • MPs pretreated by DUT had less aggregation and degradation. • DUT protect the rheological behavior during the thawing process., The influence of multi-frequency combined ultrasound thawing on primary, secondary, and tertiary structures, electrophoresis pattern, particle size distribution, zeta potential values, thermal stability, rheological behavior, and microstructure of small yellow croaker myofibrillar proteins (MPs) were studied. Four treatments were used for thawing small yellow croakers: flow water thawing (FWT), mono-frequency ultrasonic thawing (MUT), dual-frequency ultrasonic thawing (DUT), and tri-frequency ultrasonic thawing (TUT). Compared with fresh samples (FS), the MPs of the sample pretreated by DUT had non-significant effect on protein primary (including free amino groups and surface hydrophobicity), secondary, tertiary structures, electrophoresis pattern, and microstructure. MPs pretreated by DUT had less aggregation and degradation. Besides, DUT treatment increased the thermal stability of MPs. The ultrasound had significant effects on the rheological properties of MPs. Overall, DUT effectively minimized the changes in MPs structure and protected the protein thermal stability and rheological behavior during the thawing process.

The influence of ultrasonic frequency (20 kHz) and glucose pretreatments either alone or in combination on the drying of sweet potato slices (3 mm) using a hot-air dryer at 60 °C was tested to study the kinetics modeling, phytochemicals, antioxidant activities, and functional and textural changes of the final dried product. The results indicated that total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were significantly higher in glucose-pretreated samples while antioxidant activities were higher in ultrasound- and glucose-pretreated samples. For vitamin C, much degradation occurred in the glucose-pretreated samples when compared with the other pretreated samples apart from the control. Enzymatic browning made a minor contribution to the ultrasound/glucose-pretreated samples, while no significant differences were noted in the glucose-pretreated samples. A modified Henderson and Pabis (MHP) model, followed by the two-term and Hii models, fitted best among the 15 selected mathematical models. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of glucose, phenols, and flavonols in all samples. Microstructural analysis confirmed the hardness (N) in the final glucose-pretreated samples due to glucose layers and less cell damage.

The present study examined the efficacy of two evidence-based group treatments for significant psychopathology in university students. Fifty-four treatment-seeking participants were randomized to a semester-long dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or positive psychotherapy (PPT) group treatment. Mixed modeling was used to assess improvement over time and group differences on variables related to symptomatology, adapative/maladaptive skill usage, and well-being/acceptability factors. All symptom and skill variables improved over the course of treatment. There were no statistically significant differences in rate of change between groups. The DBT group evidenced nearly all medium to large effect sizes for all measures from pre-to post-treatment, with mostly small to medium effect sizes for the PPT group. There was a significant difference in acceptability between treatments, with the DBT group demonstrating significantly lower attrition rates, higher attendance, and higher overall therapeutic alliance. While both groups demonstrated efficacy in this population, the DBT group appeared to be a more acceptable and efficacious treatment for implementation. Results may specifically apply to group therapy as an adjunctive treatment because a majority of participants had concurrent individual therapy.