Peer bonds and nature's embrace: exploring the influence of pet caregiving on social well-being and nature connection among Taiwanese children.

This study investigated the associations between pet-ownership on nature engagement, interpersonal relationships, and well-being among 471 Taiwanese children aged 11-12, across different genders. The findings revealed that interactions with pets, primarily in the form of caregiving, enhanced empathy toward nature, notably among female participants from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, although direct contact with nature was generally limited. In terms of interpersonal relationships, family bonds were significant, with boys reporting stronger connections.

Exploring EFL learners' acceptance and cognitive absorption at VR-Based language learning: A survey and experimental study.

This study aimed to explore the applicability of VR-based language learning in an EFL context. An online survey was conducted to understand the structural relationship between EFL learners' cognitive absorption, behavioral intention to use VR for English learning, and perceptions regarding the sense of immersion created by VR. The hedonic motivation system adoption model (HMSAM) was adopted, and 230 valid responses were retrieved for statistical analyses.

Evaluation of the Feasibility of In Vitro Metabolic Interruption of Trimethylamine with Resveratrol Butyrate Esters and Its Purified Monomers.

Resveratrol (RSV), obtained from dietary sources, has been shown to reduce trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) levels in humans, and much research indicates that TMAO is recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of RSV and RSV-butyrate esters (RBE) on the proliferation of co-cultured bacteria and HepG2 cell lines, respectively, and also investigated the changes in trimethylamine (TMA) and TMOA content in the medium and flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 (FMO3) gene expression. This study revealed that 50 µg/mL of RBE could increase the population percentage of at a rate of 53%, while the rate was 48% for .

Cardiovascular risk of dietary trimethylamine oxide precursors and the therapeutic potential of resveratrol and its derivatives.

Overall diet, lifestyle choices, genetic predisposition, and other underlying health conditions may contribute to higher trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and increased cardiovascular risk. This review explores the potential therapeutic ability of RSV to protect against cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and affect TMAO levels. This review considers recent studies on the association of TMAO with CVD.

Sources, Degradation, Ingestion and Effects of Microplastics on Humans: A Review.

Celluloid, the predecessor to plastic, was synthesized in 1869, and due to technological advancements, plastic products appear to be ubiquitous in daily life. The massive production, rampant usage, and inadequate disposal of plastic products have led to severe environmental pollution. Consequently, reducing the employment of plastic has emerged as a pressing concern for governments globally.

Effects of kinesio taping on static balance performance and muscle activity in children with developmental coordination disorder: a single-group pretest-posttest study.

Objective: To compare the effects of various kinesio tape applications on static balance and muscle activity in children with developmental coordination disorder.  Methods: Four taping conditions were applied to 48 children with developmental coordination disorder: no taping, gastrocnemius taping, tibialis anterior taping; and peroneus longus taping. Postural sway and electromyographic data were assessed, with eyes closed (30 s), standing still in 2-leg stance, dominant-leg stance, and non-dominant-leg stance.

Examining Soft and Hard Attributes of Health Care Service Quality and Their Impacts on Patient Satisfaction and Loyalty.

Background And Objectives: Many studies have confirmed the influences of various service quality dimensions on patient satisfaction and loyalty, but no existing theoretical model accounts for variation in how different types of patients evaluate service quality's soft and hard attributes. This research gap may cause problems for administrators needing to decide how to distribute resources appropriately across multiple departments. Therefore, this study establishes a theoretical model of the differences between inpatients' and outpatients' evaluations of hard and soft qualities and compares such evaluations' influences on patient satisfaction and loyalty.

Investigation of the optimal production conditions for egg white hydrolysates and physicochemical characteristics.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to investigate the potential of egg white protein hydrolysate (EWH) as a functional food by identifying the optimum production conditions for EWH with response surface methodology (the results of the sensory evaluation were considered as an essential quality indicator). At the same time, its physicochemical and biological activity was also evaluated. The optimal economic production conditions were selected: substrate concentration of 12.

Resveratrol butyrate esters inhibit lipid biosynthesis in 3T3-L1 cells by AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation.

Unlabelled: Resveratrol butyrate esters (RBEs), which are novel resveratrol-synthesized derivatives, exhibit increased biological activity. This study elucidated the effect of RBEs on fat metabolism and their anti-obesity characteristics. Their molecular mechanism was investigated in the 3T3-L1 murine preadipocyte cells and adipocytes.

Development of novel green methods for preparation of lead-free preserved pidan (duck egg).

Pidan, a pickled duck egg, is a traditional Chinese cuisine and generally produced by soaking in metal ion containing strong alkaline solution such as NaOH solution. However, nowadays consumers possess negative perception for using strong alkali in food processing. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to determine the potential of incinerated eggshell powder and alkaline electrolyzed oxidized (EO) water for pidan production rather than harmful NaOH use.

The relationship among knowledge, attitude, and behavior of workers on food safety in Taiwan's Company A.

In recent years, consumer awareness of food safety has been increasing, and food workers with professional food safety knowledge, attitude, and practical implementation are essential for maintaining the quality of food as well as preventing foodborne diseases. This study evaluates the knowledge, attitude, and implementation of food safety practices among employees in a food company in Taiwan. The employees were both who had received food safety knowledge and training and had yet to receive it.

Sequential culture with aroma-producing yeast strains to improve the quality of Kyoho wine.

Despite many non-Saccharomyces yeasts being considered spoilage microorganisms, they can increase aroma and flavor diversity in alcoholic beverages. The purpose of this study was to investigate nontraditional inoculation strategies using aroma-producing yeast strains for Kyoho wine fermentation, followed by an instrumental analysis and sensory evaluation. The winemaking process was carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae Gr112, Hanseniaspora uvarum Pi235, and Pichia kluyveri Pe114.

Application of egg white hydrolysate (EWH) to improve frothing functionality of pasteurized liquid egg in large quantity production.

Sterilized Liquid Eggs (SLE) are convenient for the baking process by minimizing the food safety risks of fresh eggs. Although these advantages were encouraging, the thermal effects of the pasteurization process had a negative impact on the functionality of the egg whites, thus making them unattractive to the food industry. Therefore, our previous study found that adding 1-5% egg white hydrolysate (EWH) contributed to the foaminess and stability in SLE.

Extraction Optimization and Structural Characteristics of Chitosan from Cuttlefish ( sp.) Bone.

In fish processing, reducing the waste rate and increasing the economic value of products is an important issue for global environmental protection and resource sustainability. It has been discovered that cuttlefish bones can be an excellent resource for producing attractive amounts of chitin and chitosan. Therefore, this study optimized chitosan extraction conditions using response surface methodology (RSM) to establish application conditions suitable for industrial production and reducing environmental impact.

The choice of Taiwanese college students to vaccinate against severe special infectious pneumonia COVID-19 based on the integrated theory of planning behavior.

Taiwan's coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine procurement was delayed until October 2021. With the vaccine's introduction in Taiwan, the public will have an opportunity to choose vaccination. Choosing to vaccinate involves considerations regarding the trade-off between the protective power of the vaccine and its side effects, which is a planned behavior.

Understanding Young Taiwanese Consumers' Acceptance, Sensory Profile, and Drivers of Liking for GABA Oolong Tea Beverages with Cold Infusions.

The sensory qualities of Taiwanese teas are evaluated by the experts from the Tea Research and Extension Station (TRES) at tea competitions held annually. The prices of Taiwanese teas are also influenced by the results of these tea competitions. However, a tea winning an award and having a high sensory quality and price does not mean that it is liked by Taiwanese consumers.

Employees' perception of robots and robot-induced unemployment in hospitality industry under COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of the pandemic is driving the recent upsurge in service automation and the adoption of service robots in the hospitality industry. As service paradigm and customer expectations shift from conventional customized and personalized services towards a digitalized service environment, such customer orientation may favor using service robots at scales that could render service employees redundant. This study aims to answer the above question by investigating service employees' perceptions of service robots.

Enhancing EFL Learners' Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Learning English with Emoji Feedbacks in CALL: Why and How.

Encouraging feedback positively affects learners' self-efficacy; in language learning, self-efficacy predicts language learner performance and behavior. Our research involved three studies to expand knowledge about why and how we can enhance English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' self-efficacy beliefs in online settings. In Study 1, based on an online survey with 310 participants, we ascertained the extent to which EFL learners with greater self-efficacy tend to challenge themselves by learning content that requires a proficiency level that is higher than their current proficiency.

Efficiency comparison of an isoeugenol-derivated compound, eugenosedin-A, with glibenclamide and pioglitazone in protecting cardiovascular dysfunction of diabetic SHR.

This study was to investigate three agents possible protective effect against DM-induced cardiovascular dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Control group was fed normal diet, DM group was injected with STZ/NA and fed high fat diet (HFD), and treatment groups were given STZ/NA, fed HFD, and then oral gavaged with eugenosedin-A (Eu-A), glibenclamide (Gli), or pioglitazone (Pio) 5 mg/kg/per day for 4-week, respectively. Eu-A, Gli, and Pio clearly ameliorated the changes of body weight, cardiac weight, and the biochemical parameters, cardiovascular disorders and inflammation.

The Impact of Cooperative Learning Method on the Oral Proficiency of Learners of the Training Program for English Tourist Guides.

Oral proficiency is the core element of training courses for English tourist guides. This ability needs to be addressed in training program for English tourist guides. Cooperative learning method is widely used by educators as a teaching method, but rarely used to improve oral proficiency.

Pre-germinated brown rice alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high fructose and high fat intake in rat.

In past researches, we had been proved the action mechanism of pre-germinated brown rice (PGBR) to treat metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. This study was to investigate the protective effect of PGBR in high fructose and high fat-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rodents. WKY rats were divided into: Control group was fed normal drinking water and diet; FLD group was fed 10% high-fructose-water (HFW) and high-fat-diet (HFD); PGBR group was given HFW, and HFD mixed PGBR.

The Hydrolytic Peptides of Soybean Protein Induce Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis on Human Oral Cancer Cell Line HSC-3.

Protein hydrolysates from various sources, including tuna cooking juice, soy protein isolate, sodium caseinate, wheat gluten and skin gelatin from porcine, tilapia, halibut and milkfish were analyzed to screen their antiproliferative activities against the human oral squamous carcinoma cell line, HSC-3. The soy protein isolate was selected for further investigations based on its hydrolysates with bromelain (SB) and thermolysin (ST), showing the greatest inhibition of cell growth. The SB and ST hydrolysates showed antiproliferative activities up to 35.

Pre-competition mental energy and performance relationships among physically disabled table tennis players.

Energy is essential to human daily functioning and performance. However, the association of mental energy with athletes' performance has rarely been examined. We attempted to examine the pre-competition mental energy-performance relationships by two studies.