H2S plays a protective function in renal arterial endothelium in hypertension by activating the PPARδ/PI3K/Akt/eNOS or PPARδ/AMPK/eNOS pathway. H2S may serve as an effective strategy against hypertension.

Abstract:The proposed conceptual framework explores how small-scale farms can combine agricultural products and tourism into an eco-innovation strategy. This paper presents a case study conducted on a family-run farm within the territory of the Paiwan tribal community of the North Dawu Mountain situated in the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. The area has become an important coffee-farming region since the Japanese colonial period between 1895 and 1945. For many years, most of the indigenous farmers of the area have cultivated varieties of coffee plants using traditional, non-commercial methods, such as a single-sale channel. The small-scale farmer implements an integrated approach that systematically optimizes supply chain relationships to improve both the upstream and downstream sides of agri-food tourism services. The upstream element of agri-food tourism, for example, can be adjusted to employ organic or "natural" farming methods that allow small-scale farmers to secure an "organic" certification. Based on this approach, a small farm is gradually transformed into a type of educational institution that can demonstrate to customers the methods for farming high-quality organic coffee while also attracting tourists of various backgrounds to experience the downstream components of agri-food tourism in a recreational setting. This case study highlights how a particular small-scale farmer plays an important role in attracting other tribal farmers to engage in sustainable practices that help preserve cultural, social, and environmental systems while also presenting agri-food tourism as a brand identity.

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Background - Increased parasympathetic activity is thought to play important roles in syncope events of vasovagal syncope (VVS) patients. However, direct measurements of the vagal control are difficult. The novel deceleration capacity (DC) of heart rate measure has been used to characterize the vagal modulation. This study aimed to assess vagal control in VVS patients and evaluate the diagnostic value of the DC in VVS. Methods - Altogether 161 consecutive VVS patients (43 ± 15 years; 62 males) were enrolled. Tilt table test (TTT) was positive in 101 and negative in 60 patients. Sixty-five healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. DC and heart rate variability (HRV) in 24-hour electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and biochemical examinations were compared between the syncope and control groups. Results - DC was significantly higher in the syncope group than in the control group (9.6 ± 3.3 ms vs. 6.5 ± 2.0 ms, P 0.001). DC was similarly increased in VVS patients with a positive and negative TTT (9.7±3.5 ms and 9.4±2.9 ms, P =0.614). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, DC was independently associated with syncope ( OR =1.518, 95% CI 1.301-1.770, P =0.0001). For the prediction of syncope, the area under curve (AUC) analysis showed similar values when comparing single DC and combined DC with other risk factors ( P =0.1147). From the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves for syncope discrimination, the optimal cut-off value for the DC was 7.12 ms. Conclusion - DC > 7.5 ms may serve as a good tool to monitor cardiac vagal activity and discriminate VVS, particularly in those with negative TTT.