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Emerging high-phenolic sweeteners impart a sweet taste to foods and beverages, and are desirable sugar alternatives. Most refined sugars have a low antioxidant content due to polyphenol degradation occurring during sugar refining. Natural sweeteners such as honey, molasses, and dark brown sugar possess moderate to high phenolic content. Other phytochemicals found in natural sweeteners are carotenoids, organic acids, and terpenoids. Additionally, molasses and syrups synthesised from anthocyanin-rich fruits and roots contain anthocyanins apart from flavonoids. Non-nutritive sweeteners, such as sugar alcohols, are low in calories besides their sweet taste. Sweet proteins, dihydrochalcones, phenolics, and terpenoid derivatives are emerging sweeteners. These sweet substances are effective antioxidants that could help reduce oxidative stress in the human body although the amount ingested is usually low. The present review emphasised specific natural, high-phenolic, and other sweet compounds, and examined the antioxidative characteristics of these sweeteners. The risk of excessive ingestion of these sweet substances is yet to be proven.

This study aimed to determine the structural characteristics and adsorption capacities of a novel activated carbon prepared from passion fruit by-product. Passion fruit peel was carbonized and structurally modified using phosphoric acid-potassium hydroxide reagent before carbon activation. Industrial-activated carbon was used as a control sample. The surface functional groups and adsorption capacities of the activated carbon samples were determined. The results showed that the chemical-modified activated carbon had anhydride and carboxylic acid as the main functional groups on the carbon surface, together with several conformations of the hydroxyl group. These hydroxyl confirmations were in alkoxy and carboxylate forms but not phenoxy. The peel-based activated carbon had a smoother carbon surface with multiple micropores, whereas the carbon surface of industrial activated carbon was rough with multiple meso- and macropores. The methylene blue adsorption capacity (0.1 mg/mL methylene blue) of the peel-based activated carbon (99.97±0.01%) was comparable to the industrial activated carbon (100.00±0.01%). But the peel-based activated carbon had better cholesterol and albumin adsorption capacities than the industrial activated carbon. Since activated carbon prepared from the fruit peel has better adsorption capacities of cholesterol and other chemicals in liquid foods, it can replace the wood-based activated carbon in food and pharmaceutical applications.

High cost of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a major concern for acceptability. This study determined the willingness of men who have sex with men to self-pay for PrEP and factors associated with the likelihood of condom use if taking PrEP. The Taiwan 2014 MSM Online Sex Survey was conducted and data such as demographics, attitudes toward PrEP, and sexual behaviors in the previous 3 months were collected. Of the 1,151 MSM who participated, 56% were willing to take PrEP, but only 23% were willing to self-pay $340 for PrEP. Willingness to self-pay for PrEP was significantly associated with the previous receipt of nonoccupational post-exposure prophylaxis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.02, 95%CI [1.49, 6.12]), and positive attitudes toward PrEP (AOR, 3.02, 95%CI [2.19, 4.17]). Of MSM who are willing to use PrEP, 73.6% would maintain condom use if taking PrEP. If PrEP is made available in Taiwan, more efforts should be focused on increasing awareness of MSM who are practicing risky behaviors.

Punches and dies are the real operating components and account for a large portion in the progressive die design procedure. This paper presents a structural design tool for punches and dies for progressive dies of motor core based on functional component. The descriptive model of punch and die component is established which contains three aspect of information, geometry information, assembly-related constraint attribute and hole-related information on plates. Based on the classification and 3D modeling method of punches and dies, the library of components for punches and dies is set up according to the descriptive model. Methods for modeling and data management for components of punches and dies are discussed in detail. The proposed tool for progressive die for motor cores can complete the design of five classes of punches and dies and generate holes on plates automatically. This design tool is constructed on a PC and integrated with a SolidWorks CAD system. The progressive die design for the motor core of house appliance is employed as a practical example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the design tool. The results reveal that it can dramatically improve the design quality and can save both time and costs.

Five serial cross-sectional surveys were done at eight gay bathhouses in Taiwan to investigate the trends of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and estimated HIV incidence between 2004 and 2008. Bathhouse attendees completed a questionnaire and tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C virus, and amoebiasis. Twenty-nine (38.6%) were identified as having recent HIV-1 infections. There was a significant increase in HIV incidence, from 7.8% in 2004 to 15% in 2007 (χ(2) = 17.59, P-trend

To investigate whether maternal serum leptin level can be used as a predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT).Five hundred and eighty-three pregnant women were screened for GDM by the 50g oral glucose challenge test. At the same time, serum leptin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay, then the relationship between maternal serum leptin level and the incidence of GIGT and GDM was analyzed. According to the screening result, all the pregnant women were divided into three groups, the normal glucose group (NGT group), the gestational impaired glucose tolerance group (GIGT group), and gestational diabetes mellitus group (GDM group). GIGT group and GDM group were named as glucose intolerant group as a whole.(1) The serum leptin concentration of normal pregnant women ascended gradually from (7.0 +/- 1.8) microg/L in 24 gestational week to (9.4 +/- 2.1) microg/L during 34 - 36 gestational week, and then declined slightly but still maintained high level till delivery. (2) The serum leptin concentration of the glucose intolerant pregnant women ranged from (11.3 +/- 3.1) microg/L to(14.5 +/- 4.3) microg/L, and showed no difference among different gestational weeks (P0.05). (3) Serum leptin level of glucose intolerant women was (12.5 +/- 3.5) microg/L on average, much higher than that of NGT group, (8.5 +/- 2.6) microg/L (P0.05), and this difference remained in any gestational week (P0.05). (4) Most of the GDM clustered in the higher leptin level groups and 66.7% GDM had a serum leptin level higher than 14.0 microg/L. Moreover, 64.7% of women whose serum leptin level was above 17.0 microg/L had different degree of glucose intolerance. Serum leptin level positively correlated with the incidence of GIGT and GDM.Serum leptin level is correlated with glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Its abnormal increase during pregnancy might have a predictive value for GDM and GIGT.