Effect of Drying Time on Physicochemical Characteristics of Dragon Fruit Peels Powder (Hylocereus polyrhizus)

The increasing production and demand of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) in Indonesia produces a high amount of dragon fruit peel waste that can pollute the environment. As an alternative, dragon fruit peel could be applied as a functional food ingredient due to its high fiber content and antioxidant capacity. This study contributed to analyzing the effect of drying time on the physical and chemical characteristics of dragon fruit peel powder. To optimize the functional properties, dragon fruit peel was developed into a powder that was prepared by using a food dehydrator at 60 °C with drying times of 4, 5, and 6 h. The results showed that the longer drying time led to lower moisture and protein content, which reached the lowest at 9.73% and 13.07% with a drying time of 6 h, respectively. Meanwhile, drying time (4-6 h) did not significantly affect the ash (13.74-14.57%), fat (22.46-23.46%), and crude fiber content (29.13-31.75%) of dragon fruit peel powder. The drying time can affect antioxidant activity significantly, while the highest antioxidant activity was found in 6 h drying time (IC50 0.03 gram/mL). The L* value was measured between 29.68-30.23, a* value 9.61-10.34, and b* value 15.20-16.53. The drying time of 4 h could maintain the color of dragon fruit peel and produce the highest yield product at 4.52%. In general, drying dragon fruit peel powder for 4 hours gave the best results for high fiber content and high yield. Drying it for 6 hours was suggested to increase its antioxidant activity

On the Outline and Significance of New-Confucianism in Modern China

Contemporary New and Neo-Confucianism is a part of cultural conservatism. It was born under the crisis of meaning in modern China. The development and its process of Confucianism can be divided into the following four periods: (1) the May Fourth Movement period; (2) the Second Sino-Japanese War period; (3) Hong Kong and Taiwan period that is after the Chinese Confucian philosophers left mainland China under the control of Mao Zedong and the Communist Party of China; (4) overseas period-after the extension of both economic reform and open-door policy, Confucianism developed at overseas is reimported to mainland China. Three generations and 14 people, such as Liang Shuming, Xiong Shili, Ma Yifu, Zhang Junmai, Feng Youlan, Mou Zongsan, Du Weiming, etc. represent Confucianism formed from the modern period until the present. This paper deals with a compendium of information on their philosophies, and also talks about my view of the Confucian philosophy.東アジアの思想と構造文部科学省グローバルCOEプログラム 関西大学文化交渉学教育研究拠

Criticisms of Consciousness-Only Buddhism by Xiong shili

The controversy on \u27Xin Weishi-lun\u27 between Xiong shili and the scholars in Consciousness-Only School was a highlight in the modern history of Chinese thought. The first focus of the controversy was the question of \u27Xingjue\u27 and \u27Xingji\u27 on Xingti (the essence of the Buddha-nature). With \u27Xingji\u27 as the premise of the Consciousness-Only School, they emphasized on the study of \u27zhuanyi\u27 to escape from impurity. On the other hand, Xiong shili took the position of \u27Xingjue\u27 and thought that Xingti was not \u27empty\u27 but \u27substantial\u27 and \u27dayong (great function)\u27 directly drived from \u27ti (substance)\u27. Thus he argued that Xingti could be the principle to create cultures. The second focus was the question of Xinti (the premise of the mind). Xiong Shili argued that Xinti had a total and organic consistence, and criticized that the Consciousness-Only School divided the mind into fragments. This argument was based on the fundamental position of Xiong shili\u27s philosophy that the function of the mind was not a complicated and detailed thing but an active, simple and direct thing. But, objectively, his criticism of the school was not necessarily to the point. It was rather a creative \u27misinterpretation\u27. His way of thinking remarkably showed the characteristics of Huayan Buddhism and Zen Buddhism, especially of Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism. In other words, he claimed the supremacy and the activeness of the moral character from the perspective of \u27tiyong-buer\u27. It was a logical result that he didn\u27t advocate the philosophy of emptiness based on the \u27yuanqi\u27 (theory of arisal through causation).原著：郭斉勇、翻訳：吾妻重

Coexistence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Jinghong City, Yunnan Province: A Survey of Aedes aegypti Invasion

We conducted this study to confirm that Aedes aegypti has invaded and colonized in Xishuangbanna, Yunan province, China. And we conducted a larval survey for dengue mosquito vectors, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, to assess on possible competition for breeding sites between these both species in urban environment in Jinghong city. The study was carried out at least once a month in February and March, November and December, and three times for each month from April to October in 2014 in five communities in the municipality of Jinghong city. No less than 50 houses were surveyed each time in one place. We collected immature stages of mosquitoes from all types of breeding sites in houses and their premises. Morphological species identification was carried for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Both species occurred in all surveyed areas. Aedes aegypti has occupied a considerable composition (67.75%) since the uncertain time of its first invasion to Jinghong city. Aedes aegypti was predominant species indoor (74.19%), but also presented in surrounding environment (25.81%); while Ae. albopictus favored the outdoor environment (54.55%) as well as in houses (45.45%). We gave the preference water containers (tires) for dengue vectors, described different distribution in different investigated places, and showed with monthly variance by indices of BI and CI. We gave our rational explanation for the variance with raining in this area, Aedes keep a high density value during the rainy season. For both dengue vectors, the possibility cannot be excluded that the invasion of Ae. aegypti in the city might lead to a decrease or elimination of Ae. albopictus in houses and dwellings. Furthermore, we also found that both dengue vectors have already occupied the breeding sites in houses and their premises with water container in Jinghong city, and both should be managed during dengue epidemic season. These findings from this study are relevant for dengue vector control programs

Climate Change Drives the Transmission and Spread of Vector-Borne Diseases: An Ecological Perspective

Climate change affects ecosystems and human health in multiple dimensions. With the acceleration of climate change, climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose an increasing threat to public health. This paper summaries 10 publications on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and human health; then it synthesizes the other existing literature to more broadly explain how climate change drives the transmission and spread of VBDs through an ecological perspective. We highlight the multi-dimensional nature of climate change, its interaction with other factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transmission and spread of VBDs, specifically including: (1) the generally nonlinear relationship of local climate (temperature, precipitation and wind) and VBD transmission, with temperature especially exhibiting an n-shape relation; (2) the time-lagged effect of regional climate phenomena (the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation) on VBD transmission; (3) the u-shaped effect of extreme climate (heat waves, cold waves, floods, and droughts) on VBD spread; (4) how interactions between non-climatic (land use and human mobility) and climatic factors increase VBD transmission and spread; and (5) that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change is debatable, and its impact on VBDs remains uncertain. By exploring the influence of climate change and non-climatic factors on VBD transmission and spread, this paper provides scientific understanding and guidance for their effective prevention and control

Iatrogenic hemobilia: imaging features and management with transcatheter arterial embolization in 30 patients

PURPOSE:We aimed to evaluate the imaging features of computed tomography (CT) and angiography and the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in patients with hemobilia of different iatrogenic causes.METHODS:Thirty patients with hemobilia were divided into two groups according to their iatrogenic causes, i.e., group 1, 11 patients (36.7%) with transhepatic intervention and group 2, 19 patients (63.3%) with surgical procedures in the hilar area. Seventeen patients (56.7%) underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced CT before selective angiography. Polyvinyl alcohol particles, gelatin sponges, and coils were used for TAE. Data from the two groups were compared using Fisher’s exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test.RESULTS:Contrast-enhanced CT showed a hematoma, extravasation of contrast material, and pseudoaneurysm. The bleeding source was determined by angiographic features in all patients, which were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.127), and pseudoaneurysm was the most common. The embolic material and number of coils used for TAE were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001), but the embolization was technically successful in all patients. The clinical success rate of the first embolization was 100% in group 1 vs. 84.2% in group 2. The overall clinical success rate of TAE was 100% in all patients. The complication rate was 63.6% in group 1 vs. 68.4% in group 2 (P = 1.000).CONCLUSION:CT was useful in diagnosing hemobilia, and angiograms enabled determination of the bleeding source. Pseudoaneurysm was one of the most common angiographic features. TAE was successfully performed with different embolic materials on the basis of the iatrogenic cause and bleeding location

Cardiovascular mortality risk attributable to ambient temperature in China.

OBJECTIVE: To examine cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality burden attributable to ambient temperature; to estimate effect modification of this burden by gender, age and education level. METHODS: We obtained daily data on temperature and CVD mortality from 15 Chinese megacities during 2007-2013, including 1,936,116 CVD deaths. A quasi-Poisson regression combined with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to estimate the temperature-mortality association for each city. Then, a multivariate meta-analysis was used to derive the overall effect estimates of temperature at the national level. Attributable fraction of deaths were calculated for cold and heat (ie, temperature below and above minimum-mortality temperatures, MMTs), respectively. The MMT was defined as the specific temperature associated to the lowest mortality risk. RESULTS: The MMT varied from the 70th percentile to the 99th percentile of temperature in 15 cities, centring at 78 at the national level. In total, 17.1% (95% empirical CI 14.4% to 19.1%) of CVD mortality (330,352 deaths) was attributable to ambient temperature, with substantial differences among cities, from 10.1% in Shanghai to 23.7% in Guangzhou. Most of the attributable deaths were due to cold, with a fraction of 15.8% (13.1% to 17.9%) corresponding to 305,902 deaths, compared with 1.3% (1.0% to 1.6%) and 24,450 deaths for heat. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasises how cold weather is responsible for most part of the temperature-related CVD death burden. Our results may have important implications for the development of policies to reduce CVD mortality from extreme temperatures