Preliminary results for the detection method of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) residues in pork

The perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) residues, which come from environmental pollution, tend to accumulate in the food chain (EFSA, 2008; Guerranti et al., 2013). 17 chemicals of PFASs family were selected for this study. Fresh pork samples were extracted by Waters® WAX SPE (solid phase extraction) cartridges. All extracted samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results of calibration curves of each PFAS were good, the R2 values ranging from 0.9901 to 0.9993. The Recoveries were in the range 80%-119%. The protocol of extraction by Waters® WAX SPE cartridge will be applied in future studies

Preliminary evaluation results of the extraction methods for Fipronil and its metabolites and Amitraz in chicken eggs

Fipronil and Amitraz are broadly used insecticides for the treatment or prevention for animal health, indoor pest control, and commercial crop protection. As the use of Fipronil or Amitraz on food-producing animals was not allowed by the EU legislation, the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) values of Fipronil and Amitraz were set at the detection limit of 5 ng mL-1 and 10 ng mL-1, respectively. According to the database of Rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF), after the Belgian authority reported Fipronil residues in chicken eggs in 2017, there were 719 follow-up reports from 34 countries. Fipronil and Amitraz are included in the Italian National Residue Program so it is necessary to develop a selective, sensitive, specific and rapid method. Three extraction methods were evaluated on fresh egg blank samples to determine the presence of Fipronil, as well as its metabolites and Amitraz. In the solvent-salt method the sample was added by water, NaCl and formic acetonitrile, followed by hexane to remove potential fat. In the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method the sample was extracted by Superl® Que Citrate powder and acetonitrile, followed by Superl® PSA powder. In the water-associated QuEChERS method the sample was mixed with water and acetonitrile, followed by Superl® Que Citrate powder, then the supernatant was collected and mixed with CaCl2. The analyses of the extracts were performed with high performance liquid chromatography coupled to Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometer (LC-HRMS). Furthermore, Thompson (2000) mentioned that the Coefficient of variation (CV) is acceptable if it is lower than 22%. Based on the obtained recovery values (72 to 113%) and CV (1.67 to 14.69%), the water-associated QuEChERS method was selected because the recoveries rates obtained with the other methods were lower than 70%.Calibration curves exhibited correlation values ranging from 0.9653 to 0.9999(Figure 1); the limits of detection ranged from 0.08 to 1.21 ng mL-1, and the limits of quantification were from 0.28 to 4.04 ng mL-1. The preliminary results fulfilled the European criteria for the validation of the analytical methods. Further analyses have been performed to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility

Caffeamide 36-13 Regulates the Antidiabetic and Hypolipidemic Signs of High-Fat-Fed Mice on Glucose Transporter 4, AMPK Phosphorylation, and Regulated Hepatic Glucose Production

This study was to investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of (E)-3-[3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-1-(piperidin-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-one] (36-13) (TS), one of caffeic acid amide derivatives, on high-fat (HF-) fed mice. The C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control (CON) group and the experimental group, which was firstly fed a HF diet for 8 weeks. Then, the HF group was subdivided into four groups and was given TS orally (including two doses) or rosiglitazone (Rosi) or vehicle for 4 weeks. Blood, skeletal muscle, and tissues were examined by measuring glycaemia and dyslipidemia-associated events. TS effectively prevented HF diet-induced increases in the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride, insulin, leptin, and free fatty acid (FFA) and weights of visceral fa; moreover, adipocytes in the visceral depots showed a reduction in size. TS treatment significantly increased the protein contents of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle; TS also significantly enhanced Akt phosphorylation in liver, whereas it reduced the expressions of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase). Moreover, TS enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (phospho-AMPK) both in skeletal muscle and liver tissue. Therefore, it is possible that the activation of AMPK by TS resulted in enhanced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, contrasting with diminished gluconeogenesis in liver. TS exhibits hypolipidemic effect by decreasing the expressions of fatty acid synthase (FAS). Thus, antidiabetic properties of TS occurred as a result of decreased hepatic glucose production by PEPCK and G6Pase downregulation and improved insulin sensitization. Thus, amelioration of diabetic and dyslipidemic state by TS in HF-fed mice occurred by regulation of GLUT4, G6Pase, and FAS and phosphorylation of AMPK

Wisdom, cultural synergy, and social change: A Taiwanese perspective

This study examined the relationships among wisdom, cultural synergy (i.e., incorporating lessons learned from different cultures), and social change by re-analyzing 220 “wisdom incidents” (i.e., real-life displays of wisdom) collected from 1997 to 2003 from 66 Taiwanese adults nominated as wise individuals (Yang, 2008a). We addressed these questions empirically with a mixed-methods approach: (a) “What are the features of cultural synergy involved in the Taiwanese wisdom nominees’ narratives about their displays of wisdom?”; and (b) “How are real-life displays of wisdom related to cultural synergy and social change?” Wisdom is defined as a real-life process that entails three components: (a) cognitive integration—an individual incorporates separate or conflicting ideas to form an integrated idea; (b) embodying actions—the individual acts to implement the unified idea; and (c) positive effects for oneself and others—the individual\u27s actions generate positive effects for the self and others. The 220 wisdom incidents were re-analyzed qualitatively by young Taiwanese for themes related to cultural synergy and lessons learned from culture; the incidents were re-evaluated quantitatively by young Taiwanese for indications of wisdom, cultural synergy, and social change. A model proposing relationships among wisdom, cultural synergy, and social change was then evaluated using path analysis. Results, which may be generalized to young Taiwanese, show that displays of wisdom had (a) a direct relationship with cultural synergy and social change; and (b) an indirect relationship with social change through cultural synergy. Findings suggest that what the Taiwanese wisdom nominees learned from both their own culture and other cultures is significantly related to cultural synergy which, in turn, is significantly related to promoting social change

Position Control of a Serial Manipulator Using Fuzzy-PID Controllers

This paper presents the position control of a six-axis serial manipulator by using a fuzzy-PID controller. The manipulator has six joints, and each joint is driven by a motor with an encoder for sensing the joint angle. To complete a position movement of the end-effector of the manipulator, the position coordinate first needs to be converted to a sets of joint angles by using the inverse kinematics of the manipulator, and each joint rotation is executed by a feedback control of a motor. To demonstrate the performance the fuzzy-PID controller, a PID controller and two fuzzy controllers are also applied. The results show that the fuzzy-PID controller provides a better performance with a smaller steady-state error

Antcin K, a Triterpenoid Compound from Antrodia camphorata

The purpose of this study was to screen firstly the potential effects of antcin K (AnK), the main constituent of the fruiting body of Antrodia camphorata, in vitro and further evaluate the activities and mechanisms in high-fat-diet- (HFD-) induced mice. Following 8-week HFD-induction, mice were treated with AnK, fenofibrate (Feno), metformin (Metf), or vehicle for 4 weeks afterward. In C2C12 myotube cells, the membrane GLUT4 and phospho-Akt expressions were higher in insulin and AnK-treated groups than in the control group. It was observed that AnK-treated mice significantly lowered blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and leptin levels in AnK-treated groups. Of interest, AnK at 40 mg/kg/day dosage displayed both antihyperglycemic effect comparable to Metf (300 mg/kg/day) and antihypertriglyceridemic effect comparable to Feno (250 mg/kg/day). The combination of significantly increased skeletal muscular membrane expression levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) but decreased hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6 Pase) mRNA levels by AnK thus contributed to a decrease in blood glucose levels. Furthermore, AnK enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (phospho-AMPK) expressions in the muscle and liver. Moreover, AnK treatment exhibited inhibition of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) but enhancement of fatty acid oxidation peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) expression coincident with reduced sterol response element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) mRNA levels in the liver may contribute to decreased plasma triglycerides, hepatic steatosis, and total cholesterol levels. The present findings indicate that AnK displays an advantageous therapeutic potential for the management of type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia

THE CENTER OF MASS TRAJECTORY DURING FIXED-STANCE PUSH HANDS MOVEMENTS OF TAI CHI CHUAN

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) skills affect the whole body center of mass (COM) during Tai Chi Chuan fixed-stance push hands movement. Four TCC experts with push hands movement experience for 10.3±1.7 years and four TCC beginners with 2.5±1.3-year experience were recruited in this study. Three-dimensional kinematics data of the TCC fixed-stance push hands movements were collected and COM displacement and velocity during the movements were analyzed. The patterns of the COM between two groups during the push hands movement cycle were similar, but the COM displacement and velocity were different. Our investigation reveals that the experience-related differences in whole body COM transfers are reflected in the push hands movement cycle

Viral and host proteins involved in picornavirus life cycle

Picornaviruses cause several diseases, not only in humans but also in various animal hosts. For instance, human enteroviruses can cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease, herpangina, myocarditis, acute flaccid paralysis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, severe neurological complications, including brainstem encephalitis, meningitis and poliomyelitis, and even death. The interaction between the virus and the host is important for viral replication, virulence and pathogenicity. This article reviews studies of the functions of viral and host factors that are involved in the life cycle of picornavirus. The interactions of viral capsid proteins with host cell receptors is discussed first, and the mechanisms by which the viral and host cell factors are involved in viral replication, viral translation and the switch from translation to RNA replication are then addressed. Understanding how cellular proteins interact with viral RNA or viral proteins, as well as the roles of each in viral infection, will provide insights for the design of novel antiviral agents based on these interactions