Structural characterization of strawberry pomace.

Strawberries are a nutrient dense food rich in vitamins, minerals, non-nutrient antioxidant phenolics, and fibers. Strawberry fiber bioactive structures are not well characterized and limited information is available about the interaction between strawberry fiber and phenolics. Therefore, we analyzed commercial strawberry pomace in order to provide a detailed carbohydrate structural characterization, and to associate structures with functions. The pomace fraction, which remained after strawberry commercial juice extraction, contained mostly insoluble (49.1 % vs. 5.6 % soluble dietary fiber) dietary fiber, with pectin, xyloglucan, xylan, ß-glucan and glucomannan polysaccharides; glucose, fructose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, fucose and galacturonic acid free carbohydrates; protein (15.6 %), fat (8.34 %), and pelargonidin 3-glucoside (562 µg/g). Oligosaccharides from fucogalacto-xyloglucan, methyl-esterified rhamnogalacturonan I with branched arabinogalacto-side chains, rhamnogalacturonan II, homogalacturonan and ß-glucan were detected by MALDI-TOF MS, NMR and glycosyl-linkage analysis. Previous reports suggest that these oligosaccharide and polysaccharide structures have prebiotic, bacterial pathogen anti-adhesion, and cholesterol-lowering activity, while anthocyanins are well-known antioxidants. A strawberry pomace microwave acid-extracted (10 min, 80 °C) fraction had high molar mass (2376 kDa) and viscosity (3.75 dL/g), with an extended rod shape. A random coil shape, that was reported previously to bind to phenolic compounds, was observed for other strawberry microwave-extracted fractions. These strawberry fiber structural details suggest that they can thicken foods, while the polysaccharide and polyphenol interaction indicates great potential as a multiple-function bioactive food ingredient important for gut and metabolic health.

Stereotypic beliefs contribute to gender disparities in the field of economics.

Why are women under-represented in the field of economics relative to men? We propose that stereotypes associated with economists contribute to women's interest in the field. We test the predictions that economists are stereotypically associated with low levels of communion and high levels of agency and that this type of stereotype content is associated with women's lower interest in the field. In Study 1 (N = 883), stereotypes associated with people in the field of economics were masculine, characterized with low levels of communion and high levels of agency. In Study 2 (N = 182), undergraduate women were less interested than men in majoring in fields that share the same pattern of stereotyping found for economists in Study 1. The results from this study have important implications for increasing young women's interest and representation in the field of economics.

Attributions to discrimination in multiracial contexts: Isolating the effect of target group membership.

Historically, psychological models of how people make judgments of discrimination have relied on a binary conceptualization of intergroup relations, making it unclear how people make judgments of discrimination in diverse, multigroup contexts. We propose that groups can vary in the extent to which they fit the prototype for targets of discrimination and that this variation influences judgments of discrimination in ambiguous circumstances. The present research examined attributions to discrimination when job applicants are rejected for a white-collar position. People consistently made more attributions to discrimination (ATDs) when managers rejected Black American as compared to Asian American job applicants, and when managers rejected Asian American as compared to White American job applicants. People also made more ATDs for rejected Black American as compared to Latino American applicants, but ATDs were similar for Latino and Asian American applicants. Overall, similar patterns were observed in majority White American samples and a Black/African American sample; only an Asian American sample did not make more ATDs for rejected Black than Asian American applicants. Six experiments (N = 2,321) found strong support for the relative fit hypothesis and suggest that, in a white-collar employment context, White Americans are a distant fit to the prototype for targets of discrimination, Asian and Latino Americans are an intermediate fit, and Black Americans are a close fit. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A systematic review and meta-analysis of growth mindset interventions: For whom, how, and why might such interventions work?

As growth mindset interventions increase in scope and popularity, scientists and policymakers are asking: Are these interventions effective? To answer this question properly, the field needs to understand the meaningful heterogeneity in effects. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we focused on two key moderators with adequate data to test: Subsamples expected to benefit most and implementation fidelity. We also specified a process model that can be generative for theory. We included articles published between 2002 (first mindset intervention) through the end of 2020 that reported an effect for a growth mindset intervention, used a randomized design, and featured at least one of the qualifying outcomes. Our search yielded 53 independent samples testing distinct interventions. We reported cumulative effect sizes for multiple outcomes (i.e., mindsets, motivation, behavior, end results), with a focus on three primary end results (i.e., improved academic achievement, mental health, or social functioning). Multilevel metaregression analyses with targeted subsamples and high fidelity for academic achievement yielded, d = 0.14, 95% CI [.06, .22]; for mental health, d = 0.32, 95% CI [.10, .54]. Results highlighted the extensive variation in effects to be expected from future interventions. Namely, 95% prediction intervals for focal effects ranged from -0.08 to 0.35 for academic achievement and from 0.07 to 0.57 for mental health. The literature is too nascent for moderators for social functioning, but average effects are d = 0.36, 95% CI [.03, .68], 95% PI [-.50, 1.22]. We conclude with a discussion of heterogeneity and the limitations of meta-analyses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Does he see what she sees? The gender gap in perceptions of institutional sexism.

Women are more likely than men to perceive institutional sexism. In the present study, we examined the gender gap in perceptions of a legal case in which a female plaintiff claims she was a victim of institutional gender discrimination by an employer. Participants were randomly assigned to receive information about institutional forms of sexism (or not) prior to learning the facts of the case. In addition, participants were randomly assigned to take the female plaintiff's perspective (or remain objective) while reviewing the case. In isolation, sexism awareness and perspective-taking both independently eliminated the gender gap in perceptions of discrimination. However, contrary to expectations, the gender gap reemerged among participants who were made aware of sexism prior to perspective-taking such that women perceived more discrimination than men. Implications for interventions to increase perceptions of institutional sexism are discussed.

Cranberry Arabino-Xyloglucan and Pectic Oligosaccharides Induce Lactobacillus Growth and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production.

Numerous health benefits have been reported from the consumption of cranberry-derived products, and recent studies have identified bioactive polysaccharides and oligosaccharides from cranberry pomace. This study aimed to further characterize xyloglucan and pectic oligosaccharide structures from pectinase-treated cranberry pomace and measure the growth and short-chain fatty acid production of 86 Lactobacillus strains using a cranberry oligosaccharide fraction as the carbon source. In addition to arabino-xyloglucan structures, cranberry oligosaccharides included pectic rhamnogalacturonan I which was methyl-esterified, acetylated and contained arabino-galacto-oligosaccharide side chains and a 4,5-unsaturated function at the non-reducing end. When grown on cranberry oligosaccharides, ten Lactobacillus strains reached a final culture density (ΔOD) ≥ 0.50 after 24 h incubation at 32 °C, which was comparable to L. plantarum ATCC BAA 793. All strains produced lactic, acetic, and propionic acids, and all but three strains produced butyric acid. This study demonstrated that the ability to metabolize cranberry oligosaccharides is Lactobacillus strain specific, with some strains having the potential to be probiotics, and for the first time showed these ten strains were capable of growth on this carbon source. The novel cranberry pectic and arabino-xyloglucan oligosaccharide structures reported here combined with the Lactobacillus strains that can metabolize cranberry oligosaccharides and produce short-chain fatty acids, have excellent potential as health-promoting synbiotics.

Increased Incidence of Perforated Appendicitis in Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in a Bavarian Multi-Center Study.

Introduction: Since early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic and statutory preventive reorganization of treatment capacities with cancellation of elective surgery as well as curfew regulations led to vastly decreased utilization of primary health care. Materials and Methods: To assess whether there are negative effects on pediatric acute care in Bavaria during the spring 2020 lockdown a state-wide retrospective multi-center study was performed to analyze the rate of perforated appendicitis during lockdown. Children who have been operated on during the corresponding period in 2018/19 served as control group. Results: Overall, 514 patients (292 boys, 222 girls) were included (2020: 176 patients; 2019: 181 patients; 2018: 157 patients). Median age was 11.2 years. Four hundred thirty-nine patients (85.4%) underwent laparoscopic surgery, 69 (13.4%) open surgery and 1.2% underwent conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. In 2020 a perforation rate of 27.8% (49/176 patients) was found, in 2018-2019 perforation rate was 20.7% (70/338 patients, p = 0.0359, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel-Test). Subgroup analysis showed that in younger patients (≤ 11.2 years), in 2020 perforation rate was significantly higher with 37.6% (32/85 patients), while 22.2% (39/176) in 2018/2019 (p = 0.014, Fisher's exact test).In boys perforation rate was significantly higher in 2020 with 35.0% (35/100 patients) compared to 21.4% in 2018-2019 (p = 0.0165, Fisher's exact test). Conclusion: During the period of curfew regulations in Bavaria the rate of perforated appendicitis in childhood increased significantly, especially in younger children and boys. Potentially this has to be attributed to delayed presentation to pediatric surgery care. Because of potential long-term sequelae of perforated appendicitis these adverse effects during curfew have to be taken into account for future political decision making to ensure reasonable patient care and avoid collateral damage in near-future or on-going pandemic situations.

Isolation and characterization of arabinoxylans from wheat bran and study of their contribution to wheat flour dough rheology.

The study was aimed to evaluate the yield and sugar composition of water-extractable (WE) and alkali extractable (AE) Hemi-A, Hemi-B and oligosaccharides (Oligo) fractions isolated from bran of four wheat varieties and their relationship with dough rheology. Wheat bran from all varieties were rich in protein content (12.45-16.97%). The yield of WE-Hemi-A, WE-Hemi-B and WE-Oligo were lower than the yield of AE-Hemi-A, AE-Hemi-B and AE-Oligo, for all varieties. Sugar composition of fractions determined by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD), showed sugars: rhamnose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid, in addition to the typical arabinoxylan containing arabinose and xylose are present in all wheat bran varieties. HD-3086 and HD-2947 wheat varieties which yielded a viscoelastic dough with high G' and G" values (indicative of good dough-making characteristics), had a higher percent of AE-Hemi-B and both WE-Oligo and AE-Oligo than C-306 and HS-490 wheat varieties.

Reducing implicit racial preferences: II. Intervention effectiveness across time.

Implicit preferences are malleable, but does that change last? We tested 9 interventions (8 real and 1 sham) to reduce implicit racial preferences over time. In 2 studies with a total of 6,321 participants, all 9 interventions immediately reduced implicit preferences. However, none were effective after a delay of several hours to several days. We also found that these interventions did not change explicit racial preferences and were not reliably moderated by motivations to respond without prejudice. Short-term malleability in implicit preferences does not necessarily lead to long-term change, raising new questions about the flexibility and stability of implicit preferences. (PsycINFO Database Record

Evaluating the in vitro adhesive strength of biomaterials. Biosimulator for selective leak closure.

AIMS: Surgical measures always involve problems of hemostasis and tissue management. Tissue sealing can be carried out in this case, with knowledge of the adhesive strength of liquid and fleece-bound sealing being of great clinical relevance. By employing a leak closure model, it has been possible to perform in vitro standardized technological-biomechanical experiments on a biomembrane mounted in a pressure chamber (biosimulator). FINDINGS: Liquid sealing (fibrin gluing: 4.1 hPa, photopolymerisate: 82.9 hPa) offers minimal and maximal adhesive strengths. Fleece-bound sealing does not depend on the carrier material and is always more stabile than pure liquid sealing, whereby systems that must be coated "on the spot" (prepare-to-use: 22.3-25.3 hPa) exhibit significantly lower adhesive strength (p < 0.0001) than a biodegradable collagen system, which is ready-to-use thanks to its fibrinogen-based coating (TachoComb H). Practicability, effectiveness and efficiency are further advantages of ready-to-use systems. CONCLUSIONS: The biosimulator, presented here, is flexible in terms of its application for tissue management and it enables reproducible, economic and ecological evaluation of repair systems, e.g. tissue sealings.

Innovative minimally invasive pediatric surgery is of therapeutic value for splenic injury.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Until now, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has not had any therapeutic status for operable splenic trauma, because reliable sealing of larger defects is not possible with general techniques. METHODS: Fleece-bound sealing allows rapid, large-area sealing of erosions and defects, so that with the aid of an MIS applicator system (AMISA), this method of tissue management can be transferred to MIS. RESULTS: An in vitro evaluation showed that liquid fibrin sealing (FS) exhibits incomplete selective leak closure and low adhesive strength (4.1 hPa) and is not suitable for challenging surfaces. Fleece-bound sealing (ready-to-use v. prepare-to-use) showed reliable sealing and higher adhesive strength for collagen fleeces that are ready coated with fibrinogen-based sealant (TachoComb H; Nycomed, Linz, Austria) compared with various carrier systems that had to be impregnated on the spot (prepare-to-use; 50.2 v 23 hPa; P <.0001). Between October 1993 and October 2001, 19 of 87 children with splenic rupture were treated with the AMISA system (AMISA + TachoComb H) (21.8%), and 3 of these children had multiple trauma. The operation was indicated because of circulatory instability despite adequate volume replacement therapy. Splenic repair always was possible with the AMISA system, a changeover and splenectomy was not necessary, and the postoperative course was complication free. The mean stay in the hospital was 9.2 days. CONCLUSIONS: The AMISA system efficiently expands the indications for emergency laparoscopy and can be used successfully in emergency laparoscopy for splenic rupture management.