•A single injection of ETH doubles the molting interval in redclaw crayfish.•Corazonin and ETH injection cause an immediate eye twitching response.•Mature ETH shares an identical sequence in all ...studied decapods and is highly conserved across Pancrustacea.
Molting enables growth and development across ecdysozoa. The molting process is strictly controlled by hormones – ecdysteroids. Ecdysteroidogenesis occurs in theprothoracic glands and stimulated by prothoracicotropic hormone in insects, while it ensues in the Y-organ and regulated by the molt inhibiting hormone in crustaceans. A peak in ecdysteroids in the hemolymph induces a cascade of multiple neuropeptides including Ecdysis Triggering Hormone (ETH) and Corazonin. The role of ETH is well defined in controlling the molt process in insects, but it is yet to be defined in crustaceans. In this study, we investigated the behavioral response of intermolt crayfish to ETH and Corazonin injections as well as the impact of ETH on the molt period using in vivo assays. Injection of Corazonin and ETH resulted in a clear and immediate eye twitching response to these two neuropeptides. The Corazonin injection induced eye twitching in slow and asynchronous manner, while ETH injection caused eye twitching in a relatively fast and synchronous way. A single injection of ETH to crayfish resulted in a remarkable prolong molt period, at twice the normal molting cycle, suggesting that ETH plays a key role in controlling the molt cycle in decapod crustaceans. Given the key significance of ETH in molt regulation and its plausible application in pest control, we characterized ETH across the pancrustacean orders. Bioinformatic analysis shows the mature ETH sequence is identical in all studied decapod species. ETH can be classified into specific groups based on the associated motif in each insect order and shows an insect motif –KxxPRx to be conserved in crustaceans.
Highlights • The SAR structures result in the reduction of the diffusion distance of two fluids. • The mixing strength is increased when one stream is injected into the other. • Fluids flow faster in ...SAR mixer for rapid mixing and mixing efficiency.
Pomelo (柚 in Mandarin) (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck), a long-used fruit in Asia and China, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Pomelo is also a culturally significant fruit tree in ...Vietnam, renowned for its culinary and medicinal value. Young pomelo fruits possess high levels of flavonoids, but their research significance remains limited. Due to its relatively unknown potential, young pomelo is usually discarded during gardening maintenance leading to waste. This study aims to determine the naringin content and investigate the ameliorative effect on lipid profile of young pomelo extracts.
Two mouse models of hyperlipidemia, specifically tyloxapol and a high-fat diet (HFD) model, were utilized to assess the effects of young pomelo extracts. Tyloxapol decreases the clearance of lipoprotein and leads to acute endogenous hyperlipidemia, while a high fat diet causes obesity among mice. The hypolipidemic effect of young pomelo extract was assessed through the level of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), while its ameliorative effect was assessed through physical changes of mice and histological changes of their livers.
In the tyloxapol model, the naringin-rich young pomelo extracts exhibited promising effects in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Notably, they significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-c levels while elevating HDL-c levels. In the HFD model, the young pomelo extracts demonstrated similar effects on the biochemical lipid profiles. Moreover, the young pomelo extracts possess a protective effect against HFD-induced hepatosteatosis and hepatic necroinflammation. These findings align with existing literature, highlighting the potential utilization of young pomelo fruits.
The findings have significant implications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting obesity and related metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the study contributes to promoting sustainable agriculture practices by emphasizing the utilization of young pomelo fruits that would otherwise go to waste. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into establishing a high-fat diet-induced obesity model, tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia and demonstrates the potential of young pomelo as a rich source of naringin.
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Background
Kidney-Yang deficiency is one of the common medical syndromes in traditional medicine, characterized by symptoms such as weakness, coldness in the lower back and knees, cold, fatigue, etc. ...In clinical practice, Yang tonifying medicines are often used to treat patients with Kidney-Yang deficiency. Moreover, the medicinal processing method according to the principles of traditional medicine can enhance the effects on the Kidney of these herbs. This brief overview aims to gather and assess the post-processing modifications to the chemical composition and the kidney-Yang tonifying effects of specific traditional herbal remedies.
Methodology
Firstly, all kidney-Yang tonifying herbs were collected. Next, the selection was made based on the herbs with processing procedures specified in Circular 30/2017/TT-BYT issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. All studies on the chemical composition and/or effects of processed drugs were searched in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the search formula: processed + scientific name of herbal medicine. Finally, among the studies on the changes in effects after processing, only studies on the tonifying Yang effect were included in this review.
Results
The kidney Yang-nourishing effects of the five traditional herbal medicines prescribed in Circular 30/2017/TT-BYT by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam (Radix Morindae officinalis, Cortex Eucommiae, Herba Cistanches, Semen Cuscutae, and Radix Dipsaci) have been demonstrated through several studies and summarized. From the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, 25 studies were collected for the review. Additionally, the changes in composition and content of certain active compounds in these herbal medicines have also been searched and reported.
Conclusion
This report provides a brief overview of the differences between chemical constituents and kidney-Yang tonifying of some traditional herbs after processing to partially contribute scientific evidence for standardizing the preparation processes and serve as an important reference for clinical practitioners of traditional medicine.
A 2D polycrystalline permalloy domain wall trap nanostructure with a thickness of 20 nm was studied. The structure was alternatively designed and patterned using QCAD/L-Edit software and focused-ion ...beam technique. With this design, a magnetic domain wall can be created and propagated with a sequence of two-field directions in a Lorentz microscopy. The trap consists of two horizontal nanowires and three 90°-tilted ones. Each nanowire has an in-plane dimension of 200 × 1000 nm
2
. The trap corners were curved to allow a created domain wall that easily moves through the structure. A head-to-head domain-wall aims to create using a continuous field, this created wall can be propagated in the trap using a sequence of two-field directions. The designed trap was simulated using the Object Oriented Micro-Magnetic Framework software. Lorentz microscopy and simulation results indicate that the propagation of a domain wall is strongly affected by the precise roughness behavior of the trap elements. Domain wall pinning and transformation of wall chirality are sensitively correlated to the corner sections of the trap structure and field directions at a certain regime. Using the two-field direction method enables us to explore characteristics of the corner sections of the patterned trap nanostructure. This study is vital to fabricate an optimal nano-trap which supports a reproducible domain wall motion. This also suggests a useful method for the domain wall propagation using sequences of two-field directions. This work provides a better understanding of wall creation and propagation in polycrystalline permalloy curved nanowires which are of interest for concepts of nonvolatile data storage devices.
A domain wall trap structure which supports a reproducible wall motion using the two field direction method with variations of the two field orientation angles (±
).
Curcuma sahuynhensis Škornick. & N.S.Lý is an endemic plant in Vietnam that has been used by the Sa Huynh people as a spice and medicine to cure illnesses linked to digestive disorders. Very little ...information is available so far about the chemical composition and biological effects of C. sahuynhensis. To find new pharmaceutical ingredients, the in vitro cytotoxic effect and the chemical profile of C. sahuynhensis leaf extract were investigated. In this study, the percolation method and liquid-liquid dispersion technique were used to extract dry sample powder. The chemical composition was detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The Sulforhodamine B and MTT methods were used to determine the cytotoxic activity. The chemical composition analysis showed that the leaf extract contained 14 components. The major components in the n-hexane extract were 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one, phytol, 1-ethylbutyl hydroperoxide, isoborneol, 1-methylpentyl hydroperoxide, and neophytadiene. On human cancer cell lines, namely MFC-7, SK-LU-1, Hela, MKN-7, and HL-60, the leaf extract showed dose-dependent cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values ranging from 221.70±10.24 to 369.42±10.60 ?g/mL. The present study provides significant information on the chemical components and cytotoxic effects of the n-hexane extract from C. sahuynhensis leaves. The findings will continue to be crucial in future research on the evaluation of secondary metabolite compound analysis for cancer therapeutic effects.
Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has raised many concerns among populations worldwide due to its high mortality and morbidity with the lack of treatment options. Many ...attempts to find preventive and curable approaches have been proposed to prevent infections. The consumption of herbal products or plant extracts was recommended to modulate the body's immunity and reduce the risk of diseases. Methods: In the current study, we evaluated the anti-viral effects of a mixed herbal formula, named Ssanti-Covir, which was obtained from a combination of 8 herbal species extensively employed in traditional medicine in Vietnam. The objective was to investigate the potential efficacy of Ssanti-Covir against COVID-19 infections in vero E6 cells, as well as its immunostimulatory effects on immunosuppressive mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CP). Results: The results of the study revealed that Ssanti-Covir contained significant amounts of andrographolide, silybin A, and silybin B, with concentrations of 137.08 mg/g, 72.01 mg/g, and 81.62 mg/g, respectively. Pre-incubation of Ssanti-Covir at various dilution concentrations effectively prevented cells from being infected by COVID-19, with a viral titer of 100 TCID50/0.1 ml. Oral administration of Ssanti-Covir at doses of 384 mg/kg and 576 mg/kg body weight resulted in a significant increase in the relative weight of the spleen and thymus in mice induced with CP, with p-values of <0.05 and <0.01, respectively, as well as elevated levels of peripheral white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Furthermore, all three dosage regimens (192 mg/kg, 384 mg/kg, and 576 mg/kg) also elevated the levels of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ cytokines, and IgG in the mice. Conclusion: The research findings suggest that the use of Ssanti-Covir exhibits significant efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infections, while also demonstrating immunostimulatory effects against the CP-induced immunosuppressive model. Consequently, Ssanti-Covir could be employed as a valuable preventive measure or adjuvant treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infections.
ZnCo-ZIFs was successfully synthesized by a solvothermal method in methanol solvent at room conditions and determined physical–chemical properties by a series of characterization techniques. The ...catalytic activity of ZnCo-ZIFs on Methyl Blue (MB) degradation in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was examined by variation of the effective factors including ZnCo-ZIFs dosage, mass ratio of ZnCo-ZIFs:PMS, temperature, reaction time and initial MB concentration. The result showed that MB was mostly degraded at initial MB concentration of 50 mg L
−1
with catalyst dosage of 50 mg L
−1
and ZnCo-ZIFs:PMS ratio of 1:3 at room temperature within 20 min of reaction. The main mechanism for dye degradation was the Fenton-like reaction via major active species SO
4
·‾ (sulfate free radical) generated from PMS by Co
2+
metal centers in the catalyst frameworks. The ZnCo-ZIFs showed highly efficient catalytic activity and stability compared to both homogeneous (cobalt salt, zinc salt and 2-methylimidazole) and heterogeneous (ZIF-67, ZIF-8, zeolite ZMS-5 and activated carbon) catalysts. The recyclability of the catalyst also showed an impressive result with 93.6% at the 5th recycle. To the best of our knowledge, ZnCo-ZIFs associated with PMS was first reported as a novel Fenton-like heterogeneous catalyst for MB degradation in water.
Graphical abstract
Point-defect engineering is an effective way to control the mobility and transparent-conducting performance of sputtered fluorine-doped ZnO (FZO) thin films. In this study, doping with fluorine (F) ...is accomplished through a simple one-step deposition process and is demonstrated to enhance the crystal quality, eliminate the point defects, and boost the mobility as well as the performance of the films. Furthermore, the films’ characteristics are observed to be strongly dependent on F content. At the optimum F content of 1%, the FZO films exhibited the best crystal quality and the lowest concentration of Zn interstitial and O vacancy defects due to F passivation. Moreover, a mobility as high as 45.3 cm2/V and the greatest figure-of-merit performance are achieved for cutting-edge transparent electrode applications. However, a further increase of F content brought about an increased concentration of defects relating to Zn vacancies, especially F interstitials, which yielded the low mobility and poor performance due to the degraded structure.
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