The role of free-from symbols on consumer perceptions of healthiness, quality and intention to buy baked food products.

Little is known about the impact of "free-from" symbols on people's consumption choices - particularly for controversial ingredients such as palm oil. We investigated how "free-from" symbols influence consumers' perceptions of food products and whether the absence of an ingredient, whether real or fabricated, is seen as a sign of improved healthiness or quality. We conducted an experiment with a sample of 1215 adults representing the Italian population, showing them two products - crackers and sweet snacks - each with four different symbols. We created the "free-from CO2" and "free-from polyunsaturated fats" symbols, while "palm oil-free" and blank symbols were used for comparison. "free-from" symbols influence consumers' perceptions of the food as being of better quality and healthiness, regardless of the ingredient removed. This symbol also influenced purchasing intentions. Consumers' perceptions of the product were influenced by the "free-from" wording, rather than the type of ingredient or product presented.

Can "Free-From" Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19?

During the last year, feelings of anxiety and depression were registered among the Italian population and affected food consumption. Among the research that explored people's dietary inclinations during the current pandemic, no previous studies have explored psychological factors associated with the "free-from" dietary pattern. Our study is aimed at understanding if free-from food consumption orientations can be associated with negative psychological distress. We conducted a web-based survey between 27/10/2020-03/12/2020 on a representative sample of 963 Italians. Psychometric scales and ad hoc items were used to measure people's levels of anxiety, depression, fear for contagion and consumption orientation towards "free-from" foods. Of the sample, 18.2% frequently purchased gluten-free food products and 22.5% purchased lactose-free foods. Most of the population (44.1%) feels very at risk of contagion from COVID-19 and suffers from anxiety (52.8%) and depression (55.0%). Free-from consumers are more anxious, depressed, have higher risk of contagion, and are younger than the non-consumers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, free-from foods can represent for the people a way to restore control over their lifestyle, which was denied during the emergency. However, we highlight possible negative long-term effects of this dietary choice.

Associations between psychosocial risk factors, and changes in substance dependence and psychosocial functioning, during engagement with digital cognitive behavioral therapy for methamphetamine use: use of 'Breaking Free from Substance Abuse' by incarcerated people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use can be associated with involvement with correctional services and incarceration. Traditionally, treatments for methamphetamine use have been delivered in-person - however, lockdowns initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced access to such in-person support in prisons. Therefore, in May 2020 a digital cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for substance use disorders - 'Breaking Free from Substance Abuse' - was made available across prisons in Ohio in order to meet this treatment gap. This represents the first time this digital CBT intervention has been made widely available to incarcerated people residing in prisons or jails in the United States (US). This was a within-subjects study using data from 2187 Ohio prison residents who engaged with this digital CBT program to address their methamphetamine use. RESULTS: Participants reported multiple psychosocial risk factors, including moderate to severe substance dependence, depression and anxiety; interpersonal conflict; aggressive behavior; paranoia; and difficulties with work, education and accommodation. Significant reductions in substance dependence, depression/anxiety and biopsychosocial impairment, and improvements in quality of life, were identified in the sample. Risk factors were associated with less positive outcomes, specifically interpersonal conflict and poor mental health. Completion of specific components of the program were associated with more positive outcomes - a dose response was also identified. CONCLUSIONS: Digital CBT can be delivered in secure US correctional settings and may help to fill unmet needs for in-person treatment. Specifically, this digital CBT program may support incarcerated individuals to address methamphetamine use, with outcomes being associated with psychosocial risk factors and program engagement.

Charge-elimination strategy for constructing RNA-selective fluorescent probe undisturbed by mitochondria.

Visualizing Ribonucleic acid (RNA) dynamics inside live cells is crucially important for the research of life science. However, almost all of the reported RNA probes target RNA with cationic groups, and mitochondria with high negative transmembrane potential may bring significant interferences. As a result, precise visualization of RNA in living cells is still a greatly challenging task. To overcome this problem, in this work, we proposed a novel charge-elimination strategy to construct a fluorescent probe (H-SMBT) specific for RNA undisturbed by mitochondria in live cells. Probe H-SMBT was designed to target the negative groove of RNA with a cationic group, and an additional hydroxyl group was modified to overcome the interference from mitochondria. H-SMBT will change from cationic structure to a charge-eliminated state in mitochondria with weak alkalic environment and detach from mitochondria, and therefore, it can exclusively stain RNA in live cells. Using M-SMBT with a methoxy group as a comparative molecule, we confirmed that the phenol group in H-SMBT played a decisive role to achieve the RNA specificity. Furthermore, H-SMBT can fast stain live cells in 5 min with excellent RNA selectivity. The probe can also monitor cellular damage processes, and successfully be applied to live zebrafish imaging due to the good tissue permeability. This work provides a new design strategy for constructing RNA-selective fluorescent probes avoiding the interference from mitochondria, and the designed RNA probe can be widely used for RNA-related life science research.

Protein Labelling Accuracy for UK Patients with PKU Following a Low Protein Diet.

A phenylalanine (protein)-restricted diet is the primary treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU). Patients are dependent on food protein labelling to successfully manage their condition. We evaluated the accuracy of protein labelling on packaged manufactured foods from supermarket websites for foods that may be eaten as part of a phenylalanine-restricted diet. Protein labelling information was evaluated for 462 food items ("free from", n = 159, regular, n = 303), divided into 16 food groups using supermarket website data. Data collection included protein content per portion/100 g when food was "as sold", "cooked" or "prepared"; cooking methods, and preparation instructions. Labelling errors affecting protein content were observed in every food group, with overall protein labelling unclear in 55% (n = 255/462) of foods. There was misleading, omitted, or erroneous (MOE) information in 43% (n = 68/159) of "free from" foods compared with 62% (n = 187/303) of regular foods, with fewer inaccuracies in "free from" food labelling (p = 0.007). Protein analysis was available for uncooked weight only but not cooked weight for 58% (n = 85/146) of foods; 4% (n = 17/462) had misleading protein content. There was a high rate of incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate data affecting the interpretation of the protein content of food items on supermarket websites. This could adversely affect metabolic control of patients with PKU and warrants serious consideration.

Early Departure, Early Revival: A ''Free From Care'' Account of Negative Temporal Discounting.

According to the positive temporal discounting theory and our relevant observations, when faced with future losses, people should, and do, prefer delayed negative events (e.g., deferring paying taxes, debts, or tickets), which can lead to substantial individual and societal costs. However, a counterexample has been identified and it appears to depart from the prediction of positive temporal discounting when faced with negative events. This study proposed and investigated the novel free from care account for the reverse preference. Results of five laboratory and field studies showed that students preferred an immediate negative event (i.e., an English oral exam) when "something tying one up" was imposed, in which coping with a distraction induced by such a situation could play a mediating role. In particular, the addition of "something tying one up" was found to be an effective behavioral nudge in terms of reliability and reproducibility and should be simple for potential users to follow. Specifically, the association between being tied up and undergoing a negative event immediately in the present studies mirrored the association between outgroup threat and intergroup cooperation in the Robbers Cave experiment.

A Simple and Fast Method to Synthesize Cubic Iridium Nanoparticles with Clean Surface Free from Surfactants.

Cubic Iridium nanoparticles without any surfactants on the surface have been synthesized successfully in this work. The process of synthesis was quite simple by just injecting one drop of 400 µL solution containing Iridium precursor onto Cu foil (1 cm × 1 cm), and through galvanic reaction between the Ir precursor and Cu foil, the cubic Iridium nanoparticle could be obtained quite quickly (<30 s). The Cu foil played the roles of both reducing agent and substrate. This method could also be employed to synthesize cubic nanoparticles of other Pt-group metals such as Rh. By employing this method, cubic metal nanoparticles with surfactant-free surfaces could be produced economically and efficiently, and as a result, a realistic relationship between structure and catalytic activity could be established.

Isolation of Cellulolytic Bacteria from the Rumen.

To isolate strictly anaerobic rumen bacteria capable of degrading cellulose, environmental and nutritional conditions similar to the rumen environment should be simulated in vitro. One of the most useful techniques for isolating rumen bacteria is the roll-tube technique. In this chapter, the roll-tube technique for isolating cellulolytic rumen bacteria is briefly outlined.

The Influence of a Factitious Free-From Food Product Label on Consumer Perceptions of Healthfulness.

BACKGROUND: Given the rapid rise of free-from products available in the marketplace (especially gluten-free), more research is needed to understand how these products influence consumer perceptions of healthfulness. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perceptions of healthfulness can be generated about free-from products in the absence of risk information. DESIGN: A survey was administered to 256 adults. Two picture-based food product questions evaluated which products consumers perceived to be healthier. One free-from designation was fabricated (MUI-free), whereas gluten-free was used as the comparison designation. For each question, participants chose which product they thought was healthier (free-from, conventional, or equally healthy). STATISTICAL ANALYSES: A χ(2) test was run to assess the difference between responses to picture-based food product questions. Multinomial regression assessed variance in responses attributable to participant demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 21.9% selected the MUI-free product as healthier, whereas 25.5% selected the gluten-free product as healthier. Frequency data showed that a significant number of participants chose both free-from products as healthier than the conventional products (P<0.001). Regression analysis found that individuals who identified as gluten intolerant or unsure of a gluten intolerance were significantly more likely than other participants to choose the free-from product as healthier compared with choosing "equally healthy" (P=0.040). Hispanics and those with an associate's degree or vocational training were significantly more likely than their referent groups (whites and those with a doctoral degree, respectively) to choose the free-from product as healthier compared with choosing "equally healthy" (P=0.022 and 0.034, respectively). Finally, African Americans were more likely than whites to choose the conventional product as healthier compared with choosing "equally healthy" (P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Frequency data demonstrated that free-from products can generate perceptions of healthfulness in the absence of risk information. Self-reported intolerance data suggest that individuals with a heightened concern about the risks associated with gluten may perceive the larger category of free-from products as more healthful. In addition, ethnicity and education level appear to play a role in free-from product perception.

IncobotulinumtoxinA in aesthetics: Russian multidisciplinary expert consensus recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Although there are various international consensus recommendations on the use of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) in facial aesthetics, there are no global or Russian guidelines on the optimal dose of incobotulinumtoxinA, free from complexing proteins, within specific aesthetic indications. This article reports the outcomes of two expert consensus meetings, conducted to review and analyze efficacy and tolerability data for incobotulinumtoxinA in various facial aesthetic indications and to give expert consensus recommendations to ensure best clinical practice among Russian clinicians. METHODS: Thirteen dermatology and/or plastic surgery experts attended meetings held in Paris, France (November 2013), and Moscow, Russia (March 2014). The expert group reviewed and analyzed the existing evidence, consensus recommendations, and Russian experts' extensive practical experience of incobotulinumtoxinA in aesthetics to reach consensus on optimal doses, potential dose adjustments, and injection sites of incobotulinumtoxinA for facial aesthetics. RESULTS: All experts developed guidance on the optimal doses for incobotulinumtoxinA treatment of different regions of the upper and lower face. The expert panel agreed that there are no differences in the efficacy and duration of the effect between the four BoNT/As that are commercially available for facial aesthetic indications in Russia and that, when administered correctly, all BoNT/As can achieve optimal results. Experts also agreed that nonresponse to BoNT/A can be caused by neutralizing antibodies. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the scientific and clinical evidence available for incobotulinumtoxinA, coupled with the extensive clinical experience of the consensus group, experts recommended the optimal doses of incobotulinumtoxinA effective for treatment of wrinkles of the upper and lower face to achieve the expected aesthetic outcome. These first Russian guidelines on the optimal use of incobotulinumtoxinA for augmentation of glabellar lines, periorbital wrinkles, forehead lines, bunny lines, perioral wrinkles, depressor anguli oris, mentalis, masseters and platysmal bands, and performing the Nefertiti lift, are presented here.

IncobotulinumtoxinA use in aesthetic indications in daily practice: a European multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To characterize utilization patterns and treatment satisfaction with incobotulinumtoxinA for aesthetic indications and assess adherence to the Summary of Product Characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from physicians in Germany, France, and the UK regarding patients (n=638) treated with incobotulinumtoxinA for aesthetic indications. Data on indication, treatment interval, dose injected, physician and patient satisfaction, and adverse drug reactions were recorded according to routine daily practice. RESULTS: Most patients (76.0%) received incobotulinumtoxinA for glabellar frown lines (GFL) and were given doses of ≤20 U. The majority of treatment intervals were 5 months or longer. Overall, 64.1% of patients were treated for off-label indications, sometimes in combination with treatment for GFL. The most frequently treated off-label indications were horizontal forehead lines (38.6%) and/or crow's feet (CF; 31.7%); for CF, >95% of injected doses were ≤24 U. In Germany, a smaller proportion of patients were given incobotulinumtoxinA treatment for CF (27.6%), compared with France (40.4%) and the UK (33.2%), although country-specific differences were less prominent when treatment cycle data for CF were examined. Treatment satisfaction among physicians and patients (overall, and for GFL specifically) was very high, with excellent tolerability and only one mild adverse drug reaction reported. CONCLUSION: In daily practice, incobotulinumtoxinA is mainly used for GFL; however, its use for CF and horizontal forehead lines (often in combination with GFL) is relatively common. Treatment satisfaction across aesthetic indications is high, and incobotulinumtoxinA is well tolerated, with time intervals of 5 months or longer between injections in the majority of cases. When considering factors such as dose and treatment interval, adherence to the Summary of Product Characteristics when treating GFL in daily practice is good. These results support previous reports that incobotulinumtoxinA is an effective treatment for GFL, with an excellent safety profile. Furthermore, incobotulinumtoxinA may display efficacy and tolerability in other indications.

Studies on influence of Cd(2+) ions in unidirectional growth and characterization of l-Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate single crystals.

Cadmium doped l-Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate (Cd(2+)-C3H7NO2S⋅HCl⋅H2O), a non-linear optical crystal, was grown by conventional as well as unidirectional solution growth techniques. While the dimension of the conventionally grown crystal was 16×14×5mm(3), the dimension of the crystal grown unidirectional method was 32mm long and 6mm diameter. The grown crystals were studied using XRD for phase analysis, HRXRD for crystalline perfection and UV-Vis NIR spectroscopy for optical properties. The high crystalline perfection was found in the crystal grown by unidirectional method than that grown by conventional one. FTIR study indicates that Cd(2+) ion was coordinated to l-Cysteine⋅HCl⋅H2O through S ligand. The nonlinear optical character of the title compound was observed by measuring the SHG efficiency, which is 1.35times to that of KDP by Kurtz technique.