In this week's podcast Shann shares the benefits of child's pose, a simple yoga pose that is very helpful for anxiety relief. Listen as she talks you through how to practice for yourself. We hope it helps you feel calm and grounded.
You can bring the relaxing benefits of yoga into your home using fun, kid-friendly moves that could help your little ones feel peaceful.
I teach undergraduate and graduate students in the area of Buddhism. I also teach Buddhist practice outside the academy. Buddhist literature and philosophy is in many ways a natural context in which to take advantage of the current interest and growing refinement of contemplative studies in higher education. Yet, because of the academy’s interestingly complex relationship with religion, especially in a Department of Religion, I have also often felt reluctant to teach meditation in courses precisely because they do focus on Buddhist traditions.
<p>A description of the condition of the ancient site of Simraongarh using examples of sculpture and carving from the 14th century. (Mark Turin 2004-050-03)</p>
<p>The article discusses on Simraongarh. Simraongarh was the ancient capital of the Tirhut kingdom. Situated in the eastern Terai, it was founded in 1097 by King Nanyadeva who, according to local history, originally came from Karnataka. The article mainly focuses on the art and sculptures of this forgotten city. It includes 1 page sketched illustration and 4 leaves of plates. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2007-02-05)</p>
Simulationists have recently started to employ the term “empathy” when characterizing our most basic understanding of other minds. I agree that empathy is crucial, but I think it is being misconstrued by the simulationists. Using some ideas to be found in Scheler’s classical discussion of empathy, I will argue for a different understanding of the notion. More specifically, I will argue that there are basic levels of interpersonal understanding—in particular the understanding of emotional expressions—that are not explicable in terms of simulation-plus-projection routines.
Based on accumulating evidence, simulation appears to be a basic computational mechanism in the brain that supports a broad spectrum of processes from perception to social cognition. Further evidence suggests that simulation is typically situated, with the situated character of experience in the environment being reflected in the situated character of the representations that underlie simulation. A basic architecture is sketched of how the brain implements situated simulation. Within this framework, simulators implement the concepts that underlie knowledge, and situated conceptualizations capture patterns of multi-modal simulation associated with frequently experienced situations. A pattern completion inference mechanism uses current perception to activate situated conceptualizations that produce predictions via simulations on relevant modalities. Empirical findings from perception, action, working memory, conceptual processing, language and social cognition illustrate how this framework produces the extensive prediction that characterizes natural intelligence.
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The development of functional neuroimaging of emotion holds the promise to enhance our understanding of the biological bases of affect and improve our knowledge of psychiatric diseases. However, up to this point, researchers have been unable to objectively, continuously and unobtrusively measure the intensity and dynamics of affect concurrently with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This has hindered the development and generalizability of our field. Facial electromyography (EMG) is an objective, reliable, valid, sensitive, and unobtrusive measure of emotion. Here, we report the successful development of a method for simultaneously acquiring fMRI and facial EMG. The ability to simultaneously acquire brain activity and facial physiology will allow affective neuroscientists to address theoretical, psychiatric, and individual difference questions in a more rigorous and generalizable way.
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Introduction - Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been frequently used to dispel rheumatism and ease pain. There are four species of <i>Gentiana </i>(<i>G</i>. <i>macrophylla</i>, <i>G</i>. <i>straminea</i>, <i>G</i>. <i>dahurica</i> and <i>G</i>. <i>crassicaulis</i>) recorded as herbal drugs in the <i>Chinese Pharmacopoeia </i>and two other <i>Gentiana</i> species (<i>G</i>. <i>officinalis</i> and <i>G</i>. <i>siphonantha</i>) are often used as substitutes. Currently, the LC fingerprint comparison among different species and evidence for the equivalent application of these herbs are lacking.<br>Objective - To develop an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of four iridoid and secoiridoid glycosides and a comparative study of six species of <i>Gentiana</i>.<br>Methodology - HPLC analysis was performed on a C<sub>18</sub> column (Phenomenex, 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm particle size) with gradient elution using 0.4% aqueous phosphoric acid and methanol at 242 nm.<br>Results - The proposed method was precise, accurate and sensitive enough for simultaneous quantitative evaluation of four iridoid and secoiridoid glycosides (loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside and sweroside) in the six species of <i>Gentiana</i>. Contents of the four marker compounds varied from each other even among the samples from the same species and the LC chromatograms of the six species of <i>Gentiana</i> showed high similarities.<br>Conslusion - The close similarity of LC chromatograms and chemical composition of the four genuine <i>Gentiana</i> species explain their popular usage as Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae in Chinese medicine. By comparing the four genuine <i>Gentiana</i> species, it is suggested that the two substitutes could be used as Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae to relieve the scarcity of resources. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.<br>An HPLC method has been developed for simultaneous determination of four iridoid and secoiridoid glycosides and the fingerprints of the six <i>Gentiana</i> species was analyzed and compared. The close similarity of LC chromatograms and chemical composition of the four <i>Gentiana</i> species (<i>G. macrophylla</i>, <i>G. straminea</i>, <i>G. dahurica</i> and <i>G. crassicaulis</i>) explain their popular usage as Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae in Chinese medicine. By comparing the four genuine <i>Gentiana</i> species, it is suggested that <i>G. officinalis</i> and <i>G. siphonantha</i> could be used as Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae to relieve the scarcity of resources.
A capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for simultaneous determination of nine flavonoids, including two rare flavonols, in Tibetan medicine Anaphalis margaritacea. Baseline separation was performed at pH 9.6 with 25 mM Na(2)B(4)O(7) and 10 mM NaH(2)PO(4) buffer solution, 20 kV as driving voltage and 275 nm as detection wavelength. Repeatability tests showed that the R.S.D. of both intra- and inter-day migration times and peak areas were less than 5%. Recovery results ranged from 87.9% to 106.1%. Samples of A. margaritacea extracts were analyzed using the validated method, which is useful for its quality control.
A capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for simultaneous determination of nine flavonoids, including two rare flavonols, in Tibetan medicine Anaphalis margaritacea. Baseline separation was performed at pH 9.6 with 25 mM Na(2)B(4)O(7) and 10 mM NaH(2)PO(4) buffer solution, 20 kV as driving voltage and 275 nm as detection wavelength. Repeatability tests showed that the R.S.D. of both intra- and inter-day migration times and peak areas were less than 5%. Recovery results ranged from 87.9% to 106.1%. Samples of A. margaritacea extracts were analyzed using the validated method, which is useful for its quality control.
Simultaneous detection of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in rat blood by in vivo microdialysis can provide important pharmacokinetics information. Microwave-assisted derivatization coupled with magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction was established for the determination of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. 2'-Carbonyl-piperazine rhodamine B was first designed and synthesized as the derivatization reagent, which was easily adsorbed onto the surface of Fe3O4/graphene oxide. Simultaneous derivatization and extraction of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were performed on Fe3O4/graphene oxide. The permanent positive charge of the derivatization reagent significantly improved the ionization efficiencies. The limits of detection were 0.025 and 0.020 ng/mL for oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, respectively. The validated method was shown to be promising for sensitive, accurate, and simultaneous determination of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. It was used for their pharmacokinetics study in rat blood after oral administration of Arctiumlappa L. root extract.
The method of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with direct UV detection was developed for the determination of oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin and apigenin. and then for the first time successfully applied to the analysis of four analytes in <i>Swertia mussotii</i> Franch and its preparations. Various factors affecting the CZE procedure were investigated and optimized, and the optimal conditions were: 50 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mol/L borate-phosphate buffer (pH 9.5) with 5.0 × 10<sup>−3</sup> mol/L <i>β</i>-cyclodextrin, 15 kV separation voltage, 20 °C column temperature, 250 nm detection wavelength and 5 s electrokinetic injection time (voltage 20 psi). Under the conditions, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin and apigenin could be determined within the test ranges with a good correlation coefficient (<i>r</i>² > 0.9991). The limits of detection for conditions, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin and apigenin were 0.3415, 0.2003, 0.0062 and 0.2538 µg/mL, respectively, and the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were no more than 4.72%. This procedure provided a convenient, sensitive and accurate method for simultaneous determination of oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, quercetin and apigenin in <i>S. mussotii</i> Franch. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection was established to simultaneously determine the seven bioactive lignans in <i>Herpetospermum caudigerum</i>, namely ent-isolariciresinol (<b>1</b>), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (<b>2</b>), herpetrione (<b>3</b>), herpetin (<b>4</b>), herpetetrone (<b>5</b>), herpetotriol (<b>6</b>) amd herpetal (<b>7</b>). The HPLC assay was performed on a Restek Pinnacle DB C<sub>18</sub> column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acid within 65 min. The detection wavelength was 240 nm. The flow-rate was 1.0 mL/min. All calibration curves showed good linearity (<i>r</i>² > 0.9998) within test ranges. The method was reproducible with intra- and inter-day variation of less than 1.98%. The method provided good accuracy with recoveries in the range 95.19-102.64% with RSDs less than 1.52%. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of seven constituents in 15 <i>H. caudigerum</i> samples collected from different cities. The results indicated that the developed assay could be considered as a suitable quality control method for <i>H. caudigerum</i>. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A simple, sensitive and selective method based on one-step fluorescence labeling and ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) was developed for the determination of biogenic amines (BAs) in foodstuff samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD). In this work, fluorescence probe 2-(11H-benzo[a]carbazol-11-yl) ethyl carbonochloridate (BCEC-Cl) was applied to label BAs. What followed was the UA-DLLME procedure that was carried out using chloroform and acetone as extraction and disperser solvents, respectively. A response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the main parameters affecting the fluorescence labeling and DLLME efficiency. Under the optimal conditions, this method offered low limits of detection (LODs) of 1.1-7.8 ng/mL and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 3.5-26.1 ng/mL. Finally, the method was successfully used for the determination of trace BAs in real samples and exhibited powerful potential in the high-throughput sample screening.
<br>• A DLLME/HPLC-FLD method for triterpenic acid determination was developed. • DLLME was firstly used for preconcentration of triterpenic acids in medicinal herbs. • This method was sensitive and selective for triterpenic acid analysis. • A new derivatization reagent for triterpenic acid has been synthesized.<br>A novel analytical method was developed for simultaneous determination of six triterpenic acids using ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) follow by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Six triterpenic acids (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, maslinic acid, betulonic acid and corosolic acid) were extracted by UA-DLLME using chloroform and acetone as the extraction and disperser solvents, respectively. After the extraction and nitrogen flushing, the extracts were rapidly derivatized with 2-(12,13-dihydro-7H-dibenzo[a,g]carbazol-7-yl)ethyl4-methylbenzenesulfonate. The main experimental parameters affecting extraction efficiency and derivatization yield were investigated and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) combined with Box-Behnken design (BBD). The limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were in the range of 0.95-1.36 ng mL−1 and 3.17-4.55 ng mL−1, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the method has been successfully applied for the analysis of triterpenic acids in six different traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
Purpose: To develop an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) - photodiode array (PDA) method to compare the chemical composition of two different medicinal components of Pterocephalus hookeri. Methods: Samples were chromatographically separated in succession using Waters Acquity UPLCR BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 µm) and gradient elution (0.2% phosphoric acid aqueous - acetonitrile). Using partial least squares discriminant analysis and one-way analysis of variance, attempts were made to distinguish different medicinal parts of P. hookeri. Results: Regression equation for 10 compounds showed good linear regression (R² > 0.9994). The relative standard deviations of precision, stability, repeatability and recovery were under 5%. Compared with the aerial plant part, the root had significantly higher levels of sylvestroside I (p < 0.01), cantleyoside (p < 0.001), dipsanosides B (p < 0.01) and dipsanosides A (p < 0.01), but significantly lower levels of loganic acid (p < 0.001), chlorogenic acid (p < 0.01), and isochlorogenic acid (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between loganin, sweroside and isochlorogenic acid C. Conclusion: The described method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and can be used for the simultaneous determination of 10 major compounds of P. hookeri. The results demonstrate that there is variation in the chemical composition of the aerialpart and root of P. hookeri and that loganic acid and cantleyoside are the primary chemical biomarkers.
This study is to develop an UPLC-PDA method for determination of 10 major components in Pterocephalus. The UPLC-PDA assay was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLCR BEH C₁₈（2.1 mm ×100 mm,1.7 μm）, and the column temperature was at 30 ℃. The mobile phase consists of water containing 0.2% phosphoric acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) in gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.4 mL•min⁻¹. The detection wave length was set at 237 and 325 nm, and the injection volume was 1 μL in the UPLC system. The linear range of 10 detected compounds were good (r≥0.999 7), and the overall recoveries ranged from 96.30% to 103.0%, with the RSD ranging from 0.72% to 2.9%. The method was simple, accurate and reproducible, which can be used for the simultaneous determination of the content of ten major components in P. hookeri.
A chemometrics-assisted excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence method is presented for simultaneous determination of umbelliferone and scopoletin in Tibetan medicine Saussurea laniceps (SL) and traditional Chinese medicine Radix angelicae pubescentis (RAP). Using the strategy of combining EEM fluorescence data with second-order calibration method based on the alternating trilinear decomposition (ATLD) algorithm, the simultaneous quantification of umbelliferone and scopoletin in the two different complex systems was achieved successfully, even in the presence of potential interferents. The pretreatment is simple due to the "second-order advantage" and the use of "mathematical separation" instead of awkward "physical or chemical separation". Satisfactory results have been achieved with the limits of detection (LODs) of umbelliferone and scopoletin being 0.06ngmL(-1) and 0.16ngmL(-1), respectively. The average spike recoveries of umbelliferone and scopoletin are 98.8±4.3% and 102.5±3.3%, respectively. Besides, HPLC-DAD method was used to further validate the presented strategy, and t-test indicates that prediction results of the two methods have no significant differences. Satisfactory experimental results imply that our method is fast, low-cost and sensitive when compared with HPLC-DAD method.
Swertia is one of the most widely traded genus of 150 species, many of which are used in Ayurvedic, Chinese, Tibetan and traditional medicine. Swertia herb is mostly traded and exported in dried or in extract forms. In this present study, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method coupled with simultaneous quantification of swertiamarin, amarogentin, and mangiferin from different species of Swertia using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was developed. A three-level factor Box-Behken statistical design was used for optimization, where microwave power, irradiation time, and solvent-to-solid ratio were used as independent variables whereas swertiamarin, amarogentin and mangiferin were used as the dependent variables. Densitometric-HPTLC method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of swertiamarin, amarogentin, and mangiferin using mobile phase of ethyl acetate: acetic acid glacial: formic acid: water (10:1.2:1.2:2.7 v/v/v/v) and stationary phase as silica gel F-254 HPTLC plate. In this study, five different Swertia species viz. S. angustifolia, S. cordata, S. chirata, S. paniculata, and S. nervosa collected from Western Himalayan, India were used to screen the elite Swertia species. Optimal extraction conditions to achieve the maximum yield of swertiamarin, amarogentin, and mangiferin were found to be 5.86%, 0.710%, and 4.93% respectively which were very close to the predicted values of 5.916%, 0.711%, and 5.084% respectively by keeping microwave power (530 W), time (4 min), and solvent-to-solid (30 mL). Densitogram patterns obtained from all the test samples and standard compounds revealed that the peaks corresponding to R-f 0.57, 0.64, and 0.74 were meant for swertiamarin, mangiferin, and amarogentin respectively. HPTLC studied showed that S. paniculata and S. angustifolia contained high content of bioactive compounds and could be used as a substitute for S. chirata, whereas S. cordata and S. nervosa could not be recommended as substitutes for S. chirata. Thus, the newly developed optimized MAE and HPTLC-densitometry method for simultaneous quantification of three bioactive marker compounds in five species of Swerria can be effectively implemented for quality control of herbal formulations.
• A simultaneous microwave/ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction method was established for the first time. • Simultaneous microwave/ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic process can improve antioxidant capacity of juice by-product extract. • Simultaneous microwave/ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic process can increase the extraction efficiency of antioxidant ingredients. • <b>Nitraria tangutorun</b> Bobr. juice by-products extract exhibited excellent cell protection effect from oxidative injury.<br>By-products originating from food processing are a considerable disposal problem for the food industry. Because of the absence of specifically effective processing technology, huge quantities of by-products are often abandoned as rubbish and prone to microbial spoilage. Given this, a simultaneous microwave/ultrasonic assisted enzymatic extraction (SMU-AEE) method was established for the first time, and performed for antioxidant ingredients extraction from <b>Nitraria tangutorum</b> juice by-products (NJB) in the present study. Its experimental conditions were optimized by single factor test and response surface methodology (RSM), and gave the corresponding response values for antioxidant capacity of NJB extract (NJBE) of 219.73 ± 7.03 mg TE/g, which was 27.62%-190.23% higher than those obtained by traditional extraction methods. Chemical composition assay suggested that the increasing of antioxidant capacity of NJBE by SMU-AEE was because of the improvement of extraction efficiency of antioxidant ingredients from NJB, including phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins. Furthermore, oxidative injury protection ability assay showed that NJBE was good at protecting cells from UVB-oxidative phototoxicity and doxorubicin-oxidative cardiotoxicity, and its protecting ability surpasses or approaches to that of grape seed extract (GSE, the positive control drug), indicating its good potential to be a natural antioxidant in food and pharmaceutical industries.
• Extracts from <b>Lycium ruthenicum</b> Murr. fruit were obtained by UAE. • Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of obtained extracts were simultaneously optimized by RSM. • Optimum parameters: time 30 min, power 100 W, solvent-sample ratio 40 mL/g, ethanol 33%. • The extracts contained phenolic acids, identified and quantified by HPLC.<br><b>Lycium ruthenicum</b> Murr. (LR) is a functional food that plays an important role in anti-oxidation due to its high level of phenolic compounds. This study aims to optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of obtained extracts from LR using response surface methodology (RSM). A four-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to discuss the following extracting parameters: extraction time (<b>X</b> 1), ultrasonic power (<b>X</b> 2), solvent to sample ratio (<b>X</b> 3) and solvent concentration (<b>X</b> 4). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results revealed that the solvent to sample ratio had a significant influence on all responses, while the extraction time had no statistically significant effect on phenolic compounds. The optimum values of the combination of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities were obtained for <b>X</b> 1 = 30 min, <b>X</b> 2 = 100 W, <b>X</b> 3 = 40 mL/g, and <b>X</b> 4 = 33% (v/v). Five phenolic acids, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, <b>p</b>-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, were analyzed by HPLC. Our results indicated that optimization extraction is vital for the quantification of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in LR, which may be contributed to large-scale industrial applications and future pharmacological activities research.
Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LR) is a functional food that plays an important role in anti-oxidation due to its high level of phenolic compounds. This study aims to optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of obtained extracts from LR using response surface methodology (RSM). A four-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to discuss the following extracting parameters: extraction time (X1), ultrasonic power (X2), solvent to sample ratio (X3) and solvent concentration (X4). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results revealed that the solvent to sample ratio had a significant influence on all responses, while the extraction time had no statistically significant effect on phenolic compounds. The optimum values of the combination of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities were obtained for X1=30min, X2=100W, X3=40mL/g, and X4=33% (v/v). Five phenolic acids, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, were analyzed by HPLC. Our results indicated that optimization extraction is vital for the quantification of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in LR, which may be contributed to large-scale industrial applications and future pharmacological activities research.
High fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders may lead to emotional disorders. This study aimed to explore the effect of simvastatin (SMV) and bezafibrate (BZ) on improving HFD-induced emotional changes, and tried to identify their different mechanisms. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was used to evaluate glucose control ability; and behavior tests including open field tests (OFT), forced swimming tests (FST), tail suspension tests (TST) and sucrose preference (SPT), were then performed to evaluate emotional changes. Serum samples were collected for the LC-MS based metabolomics analysis to explore the emotional-related differential compounds; we then evaluated the effect of the drugs. The abnormal serum metabolic profiling and emotional changes caused by HFD in mice was alleviated by SMV treatment, whereas BZ only affected the emotional disorder. The improvement of cannabinoid analogues and then produced influences on the endocannabinoid system, which may be a potential mechanism SMV action. BZ promoted tryptophan-serotonin pathway and inhibited tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, which may be its mechanism of action. Here, we proposed a shed light on the biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects, and identified an important drug candidate for the treatment of emotional disorders induced by HFD.
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