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The "Enrichment Program for Cultivating Problem Solving Abilities and Multiple Intelligences for Gifted Preschoolers" (PSMIGP program) was the first enrichment program for young gifted children in Taiwan. It was an extra-curricular program that was implemented over a 3-year period. The assessment and curriculum were designed by adapting the main part of the DISCOVER curriculum. The purpose of this paper was to introduce the identification model and to analyze the participants' performance in problem solving activities and in demonstrating their special talents. To offer enrichment services for gifted young children, the researchers developed an identification model to discover more young gifted children and serve their needs in learning, regardless of the nature of their talents, disabilities, or cultural or socio-economical status. All participating young children were screened in a three-stage process that included both objective and subjective assessments, including checklists, interviews, portfolio assessment, group intelligence tests, observation in the play corner, individual intelligence tests, and structured observation activities. It was also necessary to adjust the standardized test procedure to fit the needs of twice exceptional young children. In total there were sixty-one preschoolers participated in this three-year program, including eleven twice exceptional children and one child from a new immigrant home. Among these sixty-one preschoolers, eight of them participated in two years of the program; the others only participated in one year of the program. The results of this enrichment program found significant correlations among the measurement scores; the scores of teacher assessment of problem solving abilities also showed that most students performed well on all five kinds of problem solving types. From children's archives, participating children presented scientific thinking characteristics, such as rich knowledge with fascinating imagination and the ability to seek many approaches to solving problems. They were delighted to challenge others and pleased to be challenged. The twice exceptional children also performed well in the program, especially those children with autism whose progress in social skills and group adaptability were remarkable. In sum, the researchers in this program had a belief that children, whether gifted or not, did not get the satisfaction of making progress until they had opportunities to find and develop their potentials. (Contains 11 figures and 8 tables.)

Context: Cynanchum taiwanianum T. Yamaza (Asclepiadaceae) is a medicinal herb used in folk medicine for the treatment of several inflammation-related diseases such as hepatitis and dermatitis in Taiwan. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of C. taiwanianum T. Yamaza rhizome aqueous extract (CTAE). Materials and methods: The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of CTAE using IL-1ββ-induced NRK-52E cells. Production of NO and PGE2 by ELISA, the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2, phosphorylation of IκκBαα, and activation of NF-κκB by RT-PCR and western blotting were determined. Results: The CTAE significantly ( P < 0.05) inhibited NO and PGE2 production (decreased by 46.1% and 51%, respectively), and also significantly ( P < 0.05) attenuated protein and mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 (decreased by 90% and 55% for iNOS and by 72% and 74%% for COX-2, respectively) in IL-1ββ-induced NRK-52E cells, in a dose-dependent manner, without obvious cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, the CTAE suppressed the NF-κκB nuclear translocation, in terms of inhibition of IκκBαα phosphorylation. Discussion and conclusion: Our results provided evidence for its folkloric uses and suggest that the anti-inflammatory activities of CTAE may result from the inhibition of inflammatory mediators, such as NO and PGE2, and an upstream suppression of a NF-κκB-dependent mechanism, might be involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tempeh is traditionally produced by fermenting soybean with the fungus Rhizopus oligosporus found in banana leafs. We wanted to investigate if Taiwan's flavorful red bean could be used as a healthy substitute for soybeans in tempeh. One bioactive component of tempeh is γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). We measured GABA content and shelf-life-related antimicrobial activity in red-bean tempeh made with four strains of Rhizopus, one purchased strain of Rhizopus, and an experimental co-cultured group (Rhizopus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus BCRC16000) as well as cortisol in red-bean-tempeh-treated zebrafish. GABA was highest in the co-culture group (19.028 ± 1.831 g kg−1), followed by screened Strain 1, the purchased strain, and screened Strain 4. All strains had antibacterial activity on S. aureus and B. cereus. The extract significantly reduced cortisol in zebrafish. However, Strain 1, with less GABA than some of the other strains, had the best effect on cortisol level, suggesting that other components in red-bean tempeh may also affect stress-related cortisol. We found the benefits of red-bean tempeh to be similar to those reported for soybean-produced tempeh, suggesting that it could be produced as an alternative product. Considering the Taiwanese appreciation of the red-bean flavor, it might find a welcoming market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The “Enrichment Program for Cultivating Problem Solving Abilities and Multiple Intelligences for Gifted Preschoolers” (PSMIGP program) was the first enrichment program for young gifted children in Taiwan. It was an extra-curricular program that was implemented over a 3-year period. The assessment and curriculum were designed by adapting the main part of the DISCOVER curriculum. The purpose of this paper was to introduce the identification model and to analyze the participants'' performance in problem solving activities and in demonstrating their special talents. To offer enrichment services for gifted young children, the researchers developed an identification model to discover more young gifted children and serve their needs in learning, regardless of the nature of their talents, disabilities, or cultural or socio-economical status. All participating young children were screened in a three-stage process that included both objective and subjective assessments, including checklists, interviews, portfolio assessment, group intelligence tests, observation in the play corner, individual intelligence tests, and structured observation activities. It was also necessary to adjust the standardized test procedure to fit the needs of twice exceptional young children. In total there were sixty-one preschoolers participated in this three-year program, including eleven twice exceptional children and one child from a new immigrant home. Among these sixty-one preschoolers, eight of them participated in two years of the program; the others only participated in one year of the program. The results of this enrichment program found significant correlations among the measurement scores; the scores of teacher assessment of problem solving abilities also showed that most students performed well on all five kinds of problem solving types. From children''s archives, participating children presented scientific thinking characteristics, such as rich knowledge with fascinating imagination and the ability to seek many approaches to solving problems. They were delighted to challenge others and pleased to be challenged. The twice exceptional children also performed well in the program, especially those children with autism whose progress in social skills and group adaptability were remarkable. In sum, the researchers in this program had a belief that children, whether gifted or not, did not get the satisfaction of making progress until they had opportunities to find and develop their potentials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Obesity is becoming increasingly common in hemodialysis (HD) patients and is associated with inflammation and increased mortality. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy and variability of the bioimpedance device in measuring body fat in Taiwanese dialysis patients., Design: Cross-sectional study., Subjects: One hundred twenty-two adult patients receiving HD in a single hospital in Taiwan., Setting: We compared the results of fat mass (FM) measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy device (Body composition monitor, BCM)., Main Outcome Measurement: FM measured by BCM was calculated by subtracting fat-free mass (FFM) from body mass assuming fractional hydration of FFM of 0.73 or the proprietary prediction equations from the BCM model., Results: Assessment of whole-body composition showed that percentage FM measured using the 2 techniques was highly correlated when using the BCM model or estimating from total body water using constant (0.73) hydration (r = 0.87, P < .001). There was no evident difference in measurement between patients gender. The Bland-Altman plot also showed good agreement of percentage of FM (t = 3.82; P < .001). In female patients, it was found that BCM significantly underestimated mean FM as compared to DEXA. However, the mean differences of the estimates between the methods were small (0.35 ± 3.00 kg) and with Bland-Altman plot the limits of agreements were -5.5 to 6.2 kg (P = .40) for FM in female patients., Conclusions: Using DEXA as the reference test, BCM is a valid tool for the assessment of total body fat in HD patients. Hence, it may provide a more accessible tool for early detection of changes in body composition in these high-risk patients., (Copyright © 2016 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)