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Art Activities and the Real Estate Business—Case Studies in Taipei and Taichung, Taiwan
No full text建設公司投入文化藝術行動，是近十年來台北、台中兩地房地產市場環境中特殊且蓬勃的風氣。本研究探究房地產業者投入文化藝術行動的背景與來龍去脈，透過對台灣特有的預售制度與代銷制度之了解、房地產景氣因素以及政府政策等，確立出台灣房地產市場中——獨特的「銷售場域」與「銷售行動」是建設公司文化藝術投入的濫觴。本研究聚焦於11間長期、穩定投入文化藝術的建設公司進行資料收集與分析。歸納出觸發這些建設公司投入文化藝術的因素在於要有足夠的可活用資金、對藝術的喜好以及敏銳的代銷思維。而他們的行動可區分為三大類型——一是成立基金會，二是利用既有的閒置空間以文創、藝術的方式活化並開放，三是打造全新的長期、短期藝術基地。而這些藝術行動背後分別是形象建立、人脈建立以及實質經濟獲利等實質效益。 這些現象，經由Harvey與Bourdieu的理論架構分析，可看出其結構性的原因：當房地產市場中的資本家因資本積累過剩，或資本迴路上遇到阻礙而產生資本積累危機，在全球文化經濟興起的時代，文化藝術成為資本積累危機的新出口。在這樣的過程中，建設公司不只維持了資本迴路的循環，同時也建立了自己的文化資本與社會資本。然而，在結構性原因的另一面，這些文化藝術行動仍帶給都市環境、都市居民乃至房地產業界生態及藝術圈正面的影響。如有助於都市再生的的閒置空間活化；創造多元的都市藝文體驗；促成了業界對藝術的重視；以及，藝術圈獲得展露頭角的舞台、資源，與論述場域和交流互動的平台。Property developers have been devoting themselves to the cultural and art activities. It is the unique trend in the real estate markets of Taipei and Taichung in this decade. In this study, we found that the development of their cultivation in art is introduced, and the origin of the property developers’ participating art activities is established by the particular “Selling Space” and “Selling Activity” in the real estate business in Taiwan, through the understanding of the very pre-sales system and real estate marketing agency of Taiwan, real estate cycles, and the government policies. The study investigates 11 property developers’ devotion to culture and art, and the prerequisites that provoke the property developers’ dedication: sufficient actively managed funds, the interest in art and the keen thinking to selling. As for the activities, they are categorized as three types: founding foundations, opening up and activating the established vacant lots by the display through Cultural & Creative and art, and creating brand new long-term or short-term Art stations. The benefits behind the cultural and art activities are establishing the company’s image, making connections, earning more economic profits and so forth. Under the theoretical structures announced by Harvey and Bourdieu, the structural factors of the phenomenon as mentioned are apparent. Culture and art have become a solution when real estate capitalists are in the Crisis of Capital Accumulation due to over accumulation of capital or broken circuit of accumulation. In the era of Cultural economics, property developers not only maintain the circuit of capital but also gain their own cultural capital and social capital. However, on the other side of the structural factor, the dedication to culture and art also gives positive influences on the environments of the cities, the citizens, the real estate market, and the art community, including providing ideas for the vacant lots under urban regeneration, creating multiple experiences of art and culture in the cities, promoting art to the real estate community, and providing stages and resources for people in art communities to showcase their talents and interchange the ideas of their art creations
Asian Values and Socialization of Human Rights Norms：The Analysis of Human Rights Politics in Southeast Asia from the Development and Challenges of ASEAN Human Rights Regime
No full text既存的區域人權建制（歐洲、美洲與非洲）有助於將國際人權規範逐步落實於地方，但幅員廣大的亞洲迄今仍未形成一個有效的區域人權建制。事實上，東協於2009年成立東協政府間人權委員會（AICHR），並於2012年通過《東協人權宣言》（AHRD），在在顯示一個東協人權建制正逐漸浮現。有鑑於東南亞在1990年代初期盛行抵抗人權普世性的「亞洲價值」之論調，因而使該建制近年來的發展格外驚艷。然而，許多證據顯示東協國家的人權保障程度並未因此提升，反而停滯或下降，造成形式制度與實質人權保障之間的脫鉤困境。因此，本文試圖探討東協為什麼及如何開始建構東協人權建制？該建制是如何影響東南亞的人權政治？目前遭遇的挑戰可能反映了目前國際人權政治上的什麼問題？本文將東協人權建制的發展進程區分成亞洲價值時期（1991年至1997年）、東協人權建制形成期（1997年至2007年）和深化期（2007年以後）。結果發現，東協人權建制議程其實是鑲嵌在東協區域整合進程之中，藉以提升東協於1997年亞洲金融危機之後一落千丈的名聲與國際地位。總的來說，東協人權建制的發展可能反映了人權規範社會化的涵化機制，因為西方國家並未以物質性懲罰來施壓東協必須推動該建制，或是即便施予經濟制裁，也可能導致適得其反效應；相對的，國際社會環境和（區域間、區域內）參考團體所發揮的認知與社會壓力可能才是促發東協對於其他區域人權建制的從眾效應。此外，東協內部的推動國（印尼、菲律賓、泰國）、觀望國（馬來西亞、新加坡）和被領導國（後進國）之間的地位消長與分配狀態也能解釋該建制的發展與挑戰。而更重要的是，中國模式投射在東南亞的陰影，讓那些政治轉型進程不順利的國家可能轉而將中國模式視為替代的參考團體，從而影響這些國家對人權政治的態度及該建制所能發揮的效益。總之，本研究試圖透過東協人權建制的發展與挑戰來辨析潛在的涵化機制，從而豐富國際關係理論和國際人權政治之間的對話。Human rights norms and values can be incrementally internalized into the local context by the regional human rights regime. So far, three major regional human rights regimes have existed in the world, namely European Union (EU), America, and Africa. Although none of the regional human rights regimes exists in Asia, a weak Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) human rights regime is emerging, such as the establishment of the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) in 2009 and ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in 2010, and the signature of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) in 2012. This institutionalizing tendency has had many scholars investigate why ASEAN started to build this regime in the late 2000s. However, as the evolution of this regime, the protection of human rights in most ASEAN states has less improvement, which is the so-called human rights decoupling between formal institutionalization and practical human rights protection. But few studies have reported on the impacts of this regime upon human rights politics in Southeast Asia. As a result, the purpose of this thesis is to further analyze why ASEAN starts to promote ASEAN human rights regimes and why these ASEAN states change their attitude toward human rights from Asian Values to universal human rights. And I also attempt to clearly analyze what the impact of this regime on human rights politics is in Southeast Asia. Through the acculturation mechanism in the socialization theory, I argue that transnational socialization and regional integration in ASEAN could clarify these puzzles by analyzing the evolution and the challenge of this regime. This article divides this evolution into three periods: the Asian values period (1991-1997), becoming period (1997-2007), and deepening period (2007-). This finding shows that the agenda of the ASEAN human rights regime was actually embedded into the re-setting process of ASEAN integration in order to elevate its reputation and international status that severely frustrated in the 1997 financial crisis. Generally speaking, the Western powers possibly failed to use material incentive mechanism to pressure ASEAN to promote its human rights regime; in contrast, the development of this regime could reflect potential acculturation mechanism because the cognitive and social pressure from international social environment, as well as inter-regional and intra-regional human rights regime, could make ASEAN conform to other regional human rights regimes. Furthermore, the balance of promoting states (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand), wait-and-see states (Malaysia, Singapore), and following states (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei) in ASEAN could also shed lights on the development and challenges of this regime. Most importantly, the shadow of the China model projecting into Southeast Asia since 2010 seems to have those states whose political transition faced some impediments regard the China model as the alternative reference group. Not only could it influence those states’ attitude toward human rights, but also its benefits that this regime initially exerted. All in all, this research may provide an alternative to the problem about human rights politics in Southeast Asia, notable for resisting the human rights issues in the past. And the implications of this study may suggest a broader approach for future research into the effects of regional human rights regimes, thereby enriching the existed theoretical explanations about the interaction between international politics and international human rights
A Comparative Study on Ethnic Secessionist Conflicts in the Post-Soviet Space
No full text本論文為後蘇聯地區民族分離主義衝突因果因素的系統性研究。研究先指定潛在的因果變項及將其與一系列蘇聯解體後的衝突找出關聯，最後發展出一個具有四層衝突嚴重性的民族分離主義衝突模型。衝突層次嚴重性最低為民族異質性的存在，最高為分離主義實體的實存獨立。 此一模型被運用來解釋三組發生在三個不同前加盟共和國的分離主義衝突：喬治亞（阿扎爾及阿布哈茲╱南奧塞梯）、俄羅斯（韃靼斯坦及車臣）及摩爾多瓦（加告茲及德涅斯特河沿岸）。在每一組當中，衝突的嚴重性具有顯著差異，前者在基本上沒有使用暴力的情況下被保留在主國內，但後者與主國間曾發生全面性戰爭。 本論文融合Brubaker的三元關係理論（按照Laitin等學者的後續發展）與民族認同凝聚性說，依此發展出一套四層二階段的分析框架。第一與第二層衝突（簡單的民族異質性及分離主義動員的存在）之間的差異被描述為蘇聯解體時少數和主體民族認同凝聚性對比的結果。研究發現若少數民族群體具有相對大的民族認同凝聚性（通常為蘇聯解體當中所發生的「民族復興」之產物）使得少數群體在主國有時間鎮壓之前進行動員，會讓分離主義運動形成。 第三與第四層包含武裝衝突或至少暴力鬥爭的威脅（成功的重新融入領土範圍及事實上的獨立）。跟簡單的動員不同，前蘇聯地區少數群體發動的武裝反抗主要依靠外部支持，而且上述兩個衝突層次之差異來自所受到的外部支持與主國反應能力的對比（但主國本身也可能受到外部支持）。一旦少數群體凝聚性的強度足以克服主國阻止少數群體動員的企圖以及有足夠的外部支持，則其能牽制主國，踏入實存國家之行列。 模型展示民族認同凝聚性及其隨時間的變動如何影響動員能力，以及來自外部行為者公開和隱蔽支持對分離主義實體形成的影響。所建立的分析框架可貢獻於分離主義和衝突研究的領域，以及提供幾個欠缺受到關注的前蘇聯地區後續之相關研究。This thesis is a systematic examination of causal factors behind ethnic secessionist conflicts in the post-Soviet space. It identifies potential causal variables, correlates them with a series of conflicts occurring in the former Soviet Union since its dissolution, and develops a model of ethnic secessionist conflict with four levels of conflict intensity, ranging from simple ethnic heterogeneity to de-facto independence of the secessionist entity. The model is then used to describe three pairs of secessionist conflicts each occurring in three different former Union Republics: Georgia (Ajaria vs. Abkhazia/South Ossetia), Russia (Tatarstan vs. Chechnya) and Moldova (Gagauzia vs. Transnistria). In each pair (a dual example in the case of Abkhazia and South Ossetia), there is a marked difference in the intensity of the conflict, with the former in each pair being successfully kept within the host state through essentially no use of violence, while the latter in each pair involved all-out war with the host state. The thesis combines Brubaker’s Triadic Nexus Theory (as developed by Laitin and others) with the ethnic cohesion argument to develop a two-part, four level framework of analysis. The difference between the first and second levels of conflict (simple ethnic heterogeneity vs. secessionist mobilisation) is described as the result of contrast between the identity cohesion of the minority and titular ethnicities at the time of the Soviet collapse. It is found that a greater ethnic cohesion on the part of the minority group (often as a result of “ethnic revival” occurring around the collapse) allows mobilisation before the host state can react to suppress, and therefore allows the formation of a secessionist movement. The third and fourth levels involve armed conflict or at least the threat of violent struggle (successful reintegration vs. de-facto independence). Unlike simple mobilisation, armed resistance on the part of minority groups in the former Soviet Union relies on outside support as a chief factor, with the difference between the two levels being the amount of external support received compared with the ability of the host state to react (and which may also receive external support itself). Once a group’s cohesiveness is enough to overcome the host state’s attempts to prevent mobilisation, and if outside support is sufficient, it can keep the host state at bay and join the ranks of de-facto states. This model shows how ethnic cohesion and its variations over time can influence mobilisation, as well as the influence of overt and covert support from outside actors in the formation of secessionist entities. The analytical framework adds to the fields of secessionism and conflict study, as well as provides research into several rather under-studied areas of the former USSR
From A-mei to A-mit: Chang Hui-mei’s Transformation and Self-resistance
No full text華語流行音樂天后，張惠妹。於西元2009年，以新人之姿，古歷來•阿密特，重新出道。該副品牌的誕生被認為是張惠妹演藝史上的一大轉型，亦再創《也許明天》挫敗後的另一高峰。然而，本研究認為，阿密特不僅只是一次成功的轉型，更是一種「自我頡頏」。而所謂的自我頡頏，並不同於過往研究中底層反抗霸權式的頡頏行為，而是一種自我形象顛覆的手段。阿密特透過使用大量的符碼來對比張惠妹式形象並進行自我頡頏，達到「阿妹－阿密特」之二元形象，並使其音樂品牌的壽命，能夠從僵化的張惠妹式形象中得到救贖與延展。 本文借用社會學家霍連德與艾沃納(Hollander & Einwohner, 2004 )對於「頡頏行為」的討論框架，討論頡頏者張惠妹的「頡頏意圖(Intention)」與第三方觀察者的「識別(Recognition)」。研究發現，阿密特透過一種反定義與不斷挑戰自我的定位與意圖，達到頡頏過去的目的；此外，本研究透過粉絲眼觀或耳聽的識別陳述，加以確立本案例的自我頡頏行為是能夠被察覺與指認的。 「自我頡頏」為流行歌手品牌的重要元素，透過打破舊有的品牌價值關懷，使其能擴大與吸收新穎粉絲族群，張惠妹作為華語流行音樂的指標性人物，僅是自我頡頏中單一、且成功的案例，更期待本研究之初探，能提供未來學者後續討論的起點。 關鍵字：張惠妹、阿密特、轉型、頡頏、自我頡頏In 2009, mandarin popular music diva, Chang, Hui-mei(A-mei), was re-introduced to the world as a new artist, Kulilay Amit(A-mit). The birth of this new image/brand was considered to be one of the greatest transformations in Chang’s singing career, and it successfully brought her back to the top of the industry from the setback of Maybe Tomorrow in 2004. Although many of the opinions regarded her transformation as merely a marketing gimmick, the research tried to argue how it is not just a marketing strategy but more importantly, an act of “Self-resistance”. The self-resistance here is not in the traditional sense of being an action of lower class fighting against hegemony; rather it is a self-image-overturn kind of resistance. Chang tried to polarize her two images, A-mei－A-mit, by using numerous amount of metaphors. Her self-resistance has not only prolonged her career as a singer, but has set her free from the old and almost cliché image. This research incorporates the theory and methodology of resistance brought up by sociologists, Hollander and Einwohner(2004), and tries to discuss Chang’s Intention as a actor and the Recognition of the third person observer(fans). The research finds that through repeatedly re-defined her brand A-mit and constantly challenging her position, orientation, and intention, Chang finally achieve her goal of resisting her past. In addition, via field work (interviewing her fans), it is assured that Chang’s self-resistance is highly and wildly recognized. Self-resistance can be one of the most important elements of forming a brand of a popular singer, and it is also able to breaks the fixed image and attracts greater amount of new fans. Chang as an iconic figure in mandarin popular music industry, her case is by far the most significant and recognizable one. It is also can be followed by other artists and hopefully the research also inspires future scholars to discuss other cases. Key words：Chang, Hui-mei(A-mei), Kulilay Amit(A-mit), transformation, resistance, self-resistance
Investigation of Physiological Signals on Healthy Subjects with Cold, Hot and Balanced Constitutions before and after Cool/cold and Warm/hot Foods Consumption
No full text傳統中醫飲食療法依據陰陽理論將人體體質和食物屬性進行陰陽分類，並結合辨證論治的原則，強調體質與食物屬性的相對應，以達到體內陰陽調和及疾病預防之目的。而現代醫學中逐漸被強調的個體化醫學的觀念與傳統中醫飲食療法的觀念不謀而合。本研究目的分為兩部分：一、用現代科學儀器測得經絡能量、心血管系統和自律神經系統相關的生理訊號數值，利用測得資料建立體質預測模型；二、運用相同儀器探討不同屬性之食物在不同體質受試者之的生理訊號上產生之差異。本研究運用皮膚電阻測試儀，又稱經絡能量分析儀（MEAD）、電腦血壓心脈儀（DynaPulse）和腕式生理監測器（ANSWatch）三種儀器分別偵測寒、中、熱性體質健康受試者（24.9±3.6歲）之經絡能量、心血管系統和自律神經系統相關的生理訊號基礎值（pre-test）以及攝入椰子水（寒涼性）和薑母茶（溫熱性）半小時後之生理訊號（post-test）。受試者攝入飲品之主觀感覺用食療後主觀感覺問卷評估，而受試者體質由中醫師結合體質問卷判斷結果決定。研究結果分為：一、運用灰色系統（gray system）轉化模型和判別分析方法（discriminant analysis），初步建立體質預測數學模型，與中醫師之判斷結果相比照，預測模型結果之符合率平均為70.4%；二、椰子水或薑母茶對不同體質受試者之生理訊號產生不同影響。例如，在由MEAD測得之經絡能量結果中，喝完椰子水後，熱性體質受試者經絡能量的標準誤差（SD）、陰/陽比例（yin/yang ratio）等顯著增加。喝完薑母茶後，熱性體質受試者平均經絡能量（MEAN）、24條經絡能量的標準誤差（SD）等顯著降低。椰子水和薑母茶對熱性體質受試者產生之差異剛好呈相反趨勢。然而，寒性體質受試者和中性體質受試者在喝完椰子水或薑母茶之後，經絡能量相關之指標並未產生明顯變化。在由DynaPulse測得之心血管系統結果中，寒性體質喝完椰子水之後，舒張壓、動脈順應性等顯著增加。而椰子水並未造成熱性體質受試者心血管系統的明顯變化。薑母茶未對三種體質受試者產生明顯影響。在主觀感覺問卷結果中，熱性體質喝完薑母茶之腹部不適、皮膚發熱、流汗等情形之程度相對椰子水明顯。但寒性體質受試者並未有以上之差異。故可得出結論，不同屬性之食物對不同體質受試者之經絡能量、心血管系統指標和主觀感覺產生的影響各不相同，而對中性體質受試者影響之差異並不明顯。本研究之結果可以幫助年輕健康人自行預測體質並為其在選擇適合自身體質的食物屬性時提供參考
Evaluation of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities on hop extracts
No full text啤酒花 (Humulus lupulus) 又稱蛇麻花，屬於大麻科 (Cannabaceae)，為多年生的雌雄異株蔓生性植物，原產於歐洲、北美及西亞。啤酒花廣泛應用於啤酒釀造中，賦予啤酒特有的苦味與香氣，近年來研究顯示啤酒花具有鎮靜、抗菌、抗氧化、抗發炎、抗癌細胞增生、抗血管增生等功效。本研究針對啤酒花的抗氧化與抗發炎的功效加以探討，實驗選用啤酒花水萃取物 (hop water extract, HWE) 與不同乙醇濃度 (55%、75%、95%) 的啤酒花乙醇萃取物 (hop ethanol extract, HEE)，探討其在抗氧化與抗發炎的功效並同時測定啤酒花萃取物中的生理活性成分：蛇麻葫酮 (humulone)、蛇麻蘆酮 (lupulone)、總多酚與總類黃酮。結果顯示55%、75%及95% HEE的抗氧化活性都較HWE好，在不同抗氧化試驗中效果最佳的HEE各有不同。在抗發炎實驗中HWE與HEE均可有效降低LPS誘導RAW 264.7巨噬細胞NO產生量。而在促發炎細胞激素上HWE可以降低促發炎細胞激素TNF-α與IL-6的生成，但對IL-1β無顯著影響；HEE則會增加TNF-α的生成而減少IL-1β與IL-6的生成量。Hop (Humulus lupulus) is a perennial climbing and dioecious plant in the Cannabaceae family, and is native to Europe, North America and Western Asia. Hop is widely used to beer brewing to provide specific bitter and flavor. Recent research showed that hop has many bioactivities such as sedative, antibacterial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and anti-angiogenic effects. This study aims to investigate antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of hop. We prepared hop water extract (HWE) and hop ethanol extracts (HEE) with various ethanol concentrations (55%, 75%, 95%) to evaluate their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory activities and also to determine their humulone, lupulone, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. The results showed 55%, 75% and 95% HEE had better antioxidative activities than HWE, and the HEE having best antioxidant ability is different in each antioxidant experiment. For the results of the anti-inflammatory activity, HWE and HEE both decreased the NO production of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, which was induced by LPS. For inhibitory activities of HWE and HEE on proinflammatory cytokine, HWE significantly inhibited TNF-α and IL-6 production but showed no effect on IL-1β; HEE increased the amount of TNF-α but significantly inhibited IL-1β and IL-6 production
Establishment of osteoclast and osteoblast cell platforms to evaluate food factors with anti-osteoporotic potential
No full text在停經後與老化過程中，活性氧的累積以及抗氧化防禦系統能力的降低，導致氧化壓力的形成，並藉此促進蝕骨細胞的形成以及成骨細胞的凋亡，最終造成骨質的流失。NF-E2相關因子2 (nuclear factor E2-related factor 2, Nrf 2) 為調控體內抗氧化防禦系統之關鍵轉錄因子；已有研究證實Nrf 2基因剔除小鼠其骨髓細胞於RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand) 誘導下，所分化形成的蝕骨細胞數量以及骨吸收活性皆顯著高於野生型 (wild type)。因此本研究以實驗室前人所構築於人類舌頭上皮鱗狀細胞癌 (Ca9-22) 之抗氧化平台，篩選出具有最佳Nrf 2轉錄活性之化合物川陳皮素 (nobiletin)、中國橄欖乙酸乙酯萃取物 (COE-EA)、咖啡酸醯胺衍生物 (36-25B) 與金雀異黃酮 (genistein)。Genistein為一植物性雌激素，已有文獻證實其具有降低骨質疏鬆發生的潛能。本研究藉由Bacillus subtilis natto BCRC 80517將金雀異黃酮進行發酵，得生物轉換之產物金雀異黃酮磷酸酯 (Genistein 7-O-phosphate, G7P)，以改善其水不溶之特性，經後續純化可得G7P純度為78.8 %。分別利用Balb/c小鼠與RAW 264.7巨噬細胞株建構蝕骨細胞模式中，藉由蝕骨細胞的標誌酵素－抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶 (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, TRAP) 染色與活性確立模式的建立，於其分化過程中觀察到高量活性氧 (reactive oxygen species, ROS) 的產生，同時Nrf2下游基因HO-1的mRNA表現量大幅降低。反之，若介入Nrf2活化劑tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) 則可抑制ROS的產生，顯示Nrf2活化劑具有抗骨質疏鬆的潛力。為確保蝕骨細胞與成骨細胞間的代謝平衡，以Balb/c小鼠建立初代成骨細胞模式，並藉alizarin red S染鈣試驗確認成骨細胞可執行礦化功能，確立模式的建立。未來可將蝕骨與成骨細胞模式應用於各式化合物的篩選，以得出具有抗骨質疏鬆潛力之化合物。During menopause and aging, gradual accumulation of reactive oxygen species together with progressive decline of endogenous antioxidant defense system lead to increased oxidative stress, accelerate formation of osteoclast and promote apoptosis of osteoblast, resulting in loss of bone mass. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf 2) is the key transcription factor of antioxidant defense system; studies have shown that under receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) induction, the bone marrow cells isolated from Nrf 2 knockout mice exhibited higher differentiation capacity and bone resorption activity than those of wild type mice. Accordingly, we used an ARE-driven reporter stable cell line to screen Nrf2 activators, and results demonastrate that nobiletin, Chinese olive ethyl acetate extract (COE-EA), caffeamide derivative (36-25B) and genistein are our candidate compounds. Genistein is a phytoestrogen proven to reduce osteoporotic incidence. Fermentation of genistein by Bacillus subtilis natto BCRC 80517 improved water solubility and bioavailability. The bioconversion product, genistein 7-O-phosphate, following a series of purification steps was obtained with a purity of approximately 78.8%. Two in vitro osteoclast models were established from Balb/c mouse primary osteoclast culture and with the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a marker enzyme of osteoclast. Investigation of the number of the TRAP-positive cells and TRAP activity was used to confirm the models. Increased ROS and decreased mRNA level of HO-1, a downstream target of Nrf 2, was observed during differentiation of the osteoclastic cells. On the other hand, such effect was abrogated by a classical Nrf 2 activator, tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), suggesting that Nrf 2 activators may have anti-osteoporotic potential. In order to maintain the delicate balance between osteoclast and osteoblast in vivo, the effects of the compounds on osteoblast were observed. Primary osteoblast culture from Balb/c mouse was established andalizarin red S was used to stain calcium deposits to confirm osteoblastic mineralization. The in vitro osteoclast and osteoblast models will be useful to screen out new compounds with anti-osteoporotic potential
The effect of probiotics derived metabolites on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells
No full text糖尿病(diabetes mellitus, DM)為一複雜的代謝性疾病，並常伴隨著許多併發症的產生，其與胰島素的分泌不足及作用異常有關。其中，第二型糖尿病約佔患者的90%，主要原因是胰島素阻抗(insulin resistance)所引起。因此，如何改善胰島素阻抗被認為是治療糖尿病的重要策略之一。近年來許多研究發現改變腸道菌相的組成，有助於改善肥胖與高血糖的現象，但也越來越多的研究指出腸道菌發酵後所產生的代謝產物(metabolites)可能是另一關鍵因素，並非只是單純改變腸道菌相的結果。因此，本研究採用已呈現胰島素阻抗症狀之L6骨骼肌細胞作為測試平台，針對不同代謝產物進行篩選，篩選出具有刺激骨骼肌細胞葡萄糖汲取能力之三種不同代謝產物，分別為共軛亞麻油酸(conjugated linoleic acid, CLA)、丁酸(butyric acid, BTY)以及亞精胺(spermidine, SPD)，並同時篩選出具有生產這些代謝產物能力之菌株，以及透過前驅物亞麻油酸(linoleic acid)及精胺酸(L-arginine)的添加來增加代謝產物的含量。最後，透過三種不同菌株(Bifidobacterium breve、Clostridium butyricum、Bacillus subtilis)的搭配組合，將其應用於黃豆粉固態發酵上，來進行代謝物組合物的發酵生產。結果顯示，經發酵生產後的產品其萃取物可有效提升骨骼肌細胞的葡萄糖汲取能力，可達到控制組 DMSO 的1.67倍，並且也顯著的優於胰島素的表現。因此，未來或許可望透過此產品組合物的應用，來對胰島素阻抗疾病發揮改善的效果。Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disease which often accompany with many complications. DM is caused by insufficient insulin secretion or resistance to insulin action on glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. It is estimated that about 90% of DM patients are type II diabetes worldwide and they are caused mainly by insulin resistance. Therefore, how to improve insulin resistance is considered to be one of the most important strategies for treating diabetes. Recently, many reserches have found that the changes in gut microbiota can influence the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. Many reports have also indicated that the metabolites derived by gut microbiota may play key role in these functions. In this study, we first chose the palmitic acid -induced insulin resistance in L6 myotubes as the test platform to select effective probiotics metabolites. The results showed that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), spermidine (SPD) and butyric acid (BTY) were effective metabolites which could increase glucose uptake activity of L6 cells, and the strains that had capacity to produce these selected metabolites were also found. In addition, precursors such as linoleic acid and L-arginine were added to increase the contents of these metabolites. Finally, we used three different probiotics strains to ferment soybean flour to obtain these desired metabolites. We found that the glucose uptake activity of L6 cells treated with the fermented soybean flour extracts was significantly increased to 1.67 times as compared to the control group (the DMSO treated group) and even superior to the results of the positive control group (the insulin treated group). Consequently, the application of the fermented metabolite mixtures might have a potential to improve insulin resistance disorder in the future
Curcumin loaded controlled release nanoparticles for anti-colorectal cancer
No full text大腸癌是全球主要致死成因之一，近年來有研究指出萃取自薑黃（Curcuma longa）根莖部的薑黃素（curcumin）具有抗大癌的潛力。然而，雖然薑黃素在疾病治療上具有龐大潛力，但其功效在經口攝食後會因為受到其在消化系統中的腸胃道移動率（gastrointestinal motility）與酸鹼值而有所受限，而利用某些具生物降解性特質的材料發展釋控系統（controlled release system）可能可以克服上述問題。若這個系統具有可專一性地被存於大腸中特定菌相的酵素水解，則可將薑黃素送到大腸以發揮其抗大腸癌之功效。此外，奈米粒子（nanoparticles）在釋控系統中的應用性亦受到廣泛探討。因此，本研究的目的是製造一高分子奈米粒子作為藥物載體，而利用此載體裝載薑黃素，藉以提升其抗大腸癌活性。本研究首先使用幾丁聚醣（chitosan）、阿拉伯膠（gum arabic）與天然多糖作為載體材料，而後利用乳化溶液擴散法（emulsification solvent diffusion method）製備奈米粒子載體，接著使用傅立葉轉換紅外光譜（fourier transform infrared spectroscopy）與熱差掃描卡計（different scanning calorimeter）確立奈米粒子的形成情況。結果顯示薑黃素確實被包覆於載體中，其zeta電位為+48 mV、粒子大小為136 nm，並具有95%的高包覆率（encapsulation efficiency）。同時，體外釋放試驗（in vitro release study）的結果顯示，當經奈米載體包載的薑黃素浸潤於含有果膠酶（pectinase）的大腸液模擬溶液後，會有76%的薑黃素釋放出來。我們藉此推測此包載薑黃素的奈米粒子對於胃液或小腸酵素的水解具有耐受性，而可完整無缺地到達大腸。另外，在與人類大腸癌細胞株（包括HCT116、HT29與LOVO）相關的細胞實驗中，我們發現相較於未經包載的薑黃素，經本研究組合成之奈米載體包載的薑黃素會因為具有較高的細胞攝入效率，而有較佳的抗大腸癌特性。我們更進一步探討其相關的機制，結果發現未經包載的薑黃素主要可使大腸癌細胞產生細胞週期停滯現象（cell cycle arrest），而使細胞週期停留於S期或G2/M期；然而，經奈米載體包載的薑黃素則可誘發細胞凋亡（cell apoptosis）。因此，綜合上述可知，以幾丁聚醣和阿拉伯膠構成的奈米粒子包載薑黃素，確實有較佳的抗大腸癌效果。Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top leading causes of death in the world. Recent studies have shown that curcumin, a yellow polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa) has potent anti-colorectal cancer effect. Despite great therapeutic potentials of this phytochemical in CRC, their performance, after oral intake, may be limited by gastrointestinal (GI) motility and pH variations in the digestive system. Hence, there is strong need to develop a controlled release system for protecting curcumin passing through the digestive system and reaching the colon site. Such system takes advantages of the fact that some specific microbial enzymes, which can hydrolyze the biodegradable materials, only exist in the colon. Since, nanoparticles have received a great deal of attention for their usefulness in the controlled release system, the purpose of this research was to fabricate polymeric nanoparticles as drug carriers for encapsulated curcumin with enhanced anti-colorectal cancer activities. Nanoparticles were formed using chitosan and gum arabic, natural polysaccharides, via an emulsification solvent diffusion method. The formation of curcumin nanoparticles was confirmed by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results showed that curcumin was entrapped in carriers with +48 mV, 136 nm size, and high encapsulation efficiency (95%). Based on an in vitro release study, 76% of curcumin was released from nanoparticles after immersing into simulated colonic fluid containing pectinase. We inferred that the curcumin nanoparticles could tolerate hydrolysis due to gastric juice or small intestinal enzymes, and therefore, it should reach the colon largely intact. The cell culture studies with human colorectal cancer cell lines; HCT116, HT29 and LOVO cells revealed that curcumin nanoparticles had higher anti-colorectal cancer properties than the free curcumin due to greater cellular uptake even at low concentration (1 µg/mL). In addition, curcumin nanoparticles could induce cell apoptosis while free curcumin showed cell cycle arrest at S and/or G2/M phase. Therefore, we concluded that curcumin was successful encapsulated in chitosan-gum arabic nanoparticles with superior anti-colorectal cancer properties
