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The study was conducted to investigate the effects of blanching regimes at the salt concentration and drying temperature using Sasaki heat pump drying technology on the quality of dried bamboo shoots to create a product that can be kept color, flavour, and quality. Fresh bamboo shoots were cut into slices with a thickness of 6 mm, boiled in hot saltwater at 100oC at different concentrations (0, 1, 3, 5%) for 15 minutes. Then, they were dried in the temperature setting differences (30, 40, 50oC) by Sasaki dryers and tested for moisture, color, cyanide content, microorganisms, water compensation capacity, and product sensory quality. Fresh bamboo shoots were boiled in hot saltwater at 100oC, 3% salt concentration for 15 minutes, and dried at 40oC by Sasaki drier for the best quality. This treatment mode provides the lowest color variation and the best water compensation compared to other treatment modes. Dried bamboo shoots are bright yellow, uniform color, characteristic odour, toughness with little deformation, low cyanide content, and microbiological content below the threshold of food hygiene and safety.

Viet Hang Dao,1,2 Long Bao Hoang,2 Thi Oanh Trinh,2 Thi Thu Trang Tran,2 Van Long Dao1,2 1Internal Medicine Faculty, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Research and Training Management Unit, Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Viet Hang Dao Email daoviethang@hmu.edu.vnPurpose: Using psychobiotics to modify the gut microbiome has been shown to improve the anxiety and depression situation of patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study evaluated changes in depression, anxiety, GI symptomss and side effects when patients used a multispecies probiotics product.Patients and Methods: A single-center uncontrolled trial was conducted in patients with chronic GI symptoms, anxiety and depression who used a multispecies probiotics product. The patients were screened for anxiety and depression symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Those who had a component score of 8 or higher were given the multispecies probiotics product for 2 months and followed up after 1 and 2 months. All data are collected and managed in a case report form.Results: Eighty-three patients were enrolled, with a mean age (SD) of 43.9 (12.3) years; 73.5% of the patients were female. Of these patients, 8 met the Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. The HADS scores displayed significant improvement at follow-up. The mean (SD) total HADS scores were 20.0 (6.3), 7.2 (5.4), and 4.9 (5.1) at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months, respectively. Quality of life also improved significantly. A small proportion (< 5%) of patients developed mild symptoms, including fullness, diarrhea, and sleep complaints.Conclusion: After 2 months using the probiotic product, the symptoms of anxiety and depression improved significantly. Mild gastrointestinal or constitutional symptoms developed in some patients.Keywords: probiotics, anxiety, depression

Silver nanodecahedra and nanoplates were successfully fabricated using a simple solution method, where silver nitrate (AgNO3) was reduced with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) at melting ice temperature. Green light-emitting diode (green LED, wavelength λG = 520 nm) was irradiated into the reaction system to control the morphology of the product. The synthetic procedure was a combination of two processes including the formation of silver seeds and subsequent photomediated crystal growth. This article also presents a mechanism study of the photomediated growth of silver nanoplates and nanodecahedra. In these processes, citrate ions were used as a morphology-controlled reagent and polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a capping agent. The growth process was evaluated by dynamic light scattering and ultraviolet/visible spectra measurements. The obtained silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possessed various shapes, including triangular, truncated triangular, hexagonal and decahedron depending on the time duration of LED irradiation. Triangular nanoplates or decahedral nanoparticles (80–100 nm) were obtained when the silver colloid was exposed to green LED irradiation for different times (30 min—76 h). The average width and thickness of such nanoparticles were estimated to be approximately 80 nm and 20 nm, respectively. The technology uniqueness in this work is that we can change the morphology of silver from plate to decahedron via prolonging the LED illumination period from 140 min to 76 h instead of changing the light wavelength or temperature of the reaction solution. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) experiment was carried out to measure Rhodamine 6G (R6G) concentrations plated on the silicon substrates. Silver nanodecahedra can detect the low concentration of R6G (10−8 M), while silver nanoplates can detect a higher R6G concentration of 10−6 M. Silver nanodecahedra could be used as an effective SERS substrate for ultrasensitive detection.

Meta-analyses suggest that yogurt consumption reduces type 2 diabetes incidence in humans, but the molecular basis of these observations remains unknown. Here we show that dietary yogurt intake preserves whole-body glucose homeostasis and prevents hepatic insulin resistance and liver steatosis in a dietary mouse model of obesity-linked type 2 diabetes. Fecal microbiota transplantation studies reveal that these effects are partly linked to the gut microbiota. We further show that yogurt intake impacts the hepatic metabolome, notably maintaining the levels of branched chain hydroxy acids (BCHA) which correlate with improved metabolic parameters. These metabolites are generated upon milk fermentation and concentrated in yogurt. Remarkably, diet-induced obesity reduces plasma and tissue BCHA levels, and this is partly prevented by dietary yogurt intake. We further show that BCHA improve insulin action on glucose metabolism in liver and muscle cells, identifying BCHA as cell-autonomous metabolic regulators and potential mediators of yogurt’s health effects.

International audience; The [Re(bpy)(CO)3Cl] catalyst pioneered by Lehn for the two-electron reduction of CO2 has constantly revealed unique facets in the mechanistic understanding of the selective transformation of CO2. A novel triazole-linked ruthenium photosensitizer and a rhenium catalyst dyad was synthesized and investigated for photo-induced charge accumulation using time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The triazole bridging ligand promoted weak electronic communication between the two units, resulting in an anodic shift of the reduction potentials of the Re moiety. Upon excitation of the photosensitizer, the first reduction of the catalyst occurred with a fast apparent rate of >5×107 s−1. Using a double-excitation nanosecond pump-pump-probe setup to track the second electron accumulation on the catalytic unit was not conclusive as no observable absorption changes occurred upon the second excitation, suggesting a pathway for an efficient intramolecular reverse electron transfer preventing the two-electron accumulation at the catalyst under our experimental conditions. Nevertheless, under continuous irradiation and with the use of sacrificial electron donors, photocatalytic CO2 reduction assays showed good turnover numbers, hinting at the non-innocent role of byproducts in solution.

International audience; A new donor–acceptor dyad composed of a BODIPY (4,4′-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) donor and a fullerene C60 acceptor has been synthesized and characterized. This derivative has been prepared using a clickable fullerene building block that bears an alkyne moiety and a maleimide unit. The post-functionalization of the maleimide group by a BODIPY thiol leads to a BODIPY-C60 dyad, leaving the alkyne moiety for further functional arrangement. On the basis of the combination of semi-empirical and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, spectroelectrochemical experiments, and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies, the photophysical properties of this new BODIPY-C60 dyad were thoroughly studied. By using semi-empirical calculations, the equilibrium of three conformations of the BODIPY-C60 dyad has been deduced, and their molecular orbital structures have been analyzed using DFT calculations. Two short fluorescence lifetimes were attributed to two extended conformers displaying variable donor–acceptor distances (17.5 and 20.0 Å). Additionally, the driving force for photoinduced electron transfer from the singlet excited state of BODIPY to the C60 moiety was calculated using redox potentials determined with electrochemical studies. Spectroelectrochemical measurements were also carried out to investigate the absorption profiles of radicals in the BODIPY-C60 dyad in order to assign the transient species in pump–probe experiments. Under selective photoexcitation of the BODIPY moiety, occurrences of both energy and electron transfers were demonstrated for the dyad by femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopies. Photoinduced electron transfer occurs in the folded conformer, while energy transfer is observed in extended conformers.

International audience; Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is the most common genetically inherited risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Many aspects of Lp(a) metabolism remain unknown. We assessed the uptake of fluorescent Lp(a) in primary human lymphocytes as well as Lp(a) hepatic capture in a mouse model in which endogenous hepatocytes have been ablated and replaced with human ones. Modulation of LDLR expression with the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab did not alter the cellular or the hepatic uptake of Lp(a), demonstrating that the LDL receptor is not a major route for Lp(a) plasma clearance. These results have clinical implications because they underpin why statins are not efficient at reducing Lp(a). (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Nowadays, Vietnam is known as a developing country with a fast-growing economy. Agriculture is the main traditional sector which plays an important role in Vietnamese economic growth and development. Improving the efficiency of agricultural production towards sustainable development is one of the country&rsquo, s national economic development goals. This study aims to measure the efficiency of the orange farms which have created jobs and improved living standards for people in Tuyen Quang province, Vietnam. A comprehensive literature review, key informant interviews, and a structured questionnaire were applied in this research for data collection. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) model was applied to evaluate the technical, allocative, cost, and scale efficiencies. The main results of this analysis show that the orange farms have high scores for technical and scale efficiencies. On the other hand, the research reveals low levels of cost and allocative efficiencies. This is in line with the fact that though the farms&rsquo, owners have extensive experience in orange cultivation and receive periodic technical training, they still have low levels of education and a lack of economic management expertise. The study results also propose optimal input allocation for the orange farmers. The research could provide crucial information to farms&rsquo, owners, the local government, and agricultural planners for formulating effective strategies to improve agricultural sustainability.

International audience; A unique polyoxometalate complex made up of a tetradecanuclear nickel bisphosphonate cluster capping a {SiW9} unit has been characterized. This stable compound exhibits a high hydrogen evolution reaction photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation via a reductive quenching mechanism.

International audience; The worldwide prevalence of metabolic diseases is increasing, and there are global recommendations to limit consumption of certain nutrients, especially saturated lipids. Insulin resistance, a common trait occurring in obesity and type 2 diabetes, is associated with intestinal lipoprotein overproduction. However, the mechanisms by which the intestine develops insulin resistance in response to lipid overload remain unknown. Here, we show that insulin inhibits triglyceride secretion and intestinal microsomal triglyceride transfer protein expression in vivo in healthy mice force-fed monounsaturated fatty acid-rich olive oil but not in mice force-fed saturated fatty acid-rich palm oil. Moreover, when mouse intestine and human Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes were treated with the saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid, the insulin-signaling pathway was impaired. We show that palmitic acid or palm oil increases ceramide production in intestinal cells and that treatment with a ceramide analogue partially reproduces the effects of palmitic acid on insulin signaling. In Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes, ceramide effects on insulin-dependent AKT phosphorylation are mediated by protein kinase C but not by protein phosphatase 2A. Finally, inhibiting de novo ceramide synthesis improves the response of palmitic acid-treated Caco-2/TC7 enterocytes to insulin. These results demonstrate that a palmitic acid-ceramide pathway accounts for impaired intestinal insulin sensitivity, which occurs within several hours following initial lipid exposure.

We investigate the Mott metal-insulator transition in the asymmetric Hubbard model, which may describe the ground states of fermionic atoms trapped in optical lattices. We use the dynamical mean-field theory and the equation of motion approach to calculate the density of states at the Fermi level and the double occupation for various values of the on-site interaction U and the hopping asymmetry r. The critical interaction is also obtained as a function of the hopping asymmetry. Our results are in good agreement with the ones obtained by using the dynamical mean field theory with the exact diagonalization and the quantum Monte Carlo techniques.

SUMMARY To elucidate how the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab modulates lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] plasma levels, the authors performed a series of Lp(a) uptake studies in primary human hepatocytes and dermal fibroblasts and measured Lp(a) secretion from human hepatocytes. They found that Lp(a) cellular uptake occurred in a low-density lipoprotein receptor–independent manner. Neither PCSK9 nor alirocumab altered Lp(a) internalization. By contrast, the secretion of apolipoprotein (a) from human hepatocytes was sharply increased by PCSK9, an effect that was reversed by alirocumab. They propose that PCSK9 does not significantly modulate Lp(a) catabolism, but rather enhances the secretion of Lp(a) from liver cells., VISUAL ABSTRACT

Orange production in Tuyen Quang province contributed as one of the largest and most productive for the whole national yield in Viet Nam orange production. This study focused on input factors that impact the orange production in Tuyen Quang and econometric modeling of this production for further assessment. Results in this study show that three main inputs impact on orange production, including fertilizer cost, pesticides cost, and hired labor cost. Econometric models were built which were suitable for the studied population.

International audience; The metabolic syndrome (MetS) greatly increases risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and is generally associated with abnormally elevated postprandial triglyceride levels. We evaluated intestinal synthesis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) in a mouse model of the MetS obtained by feeding a palm oil-rich high fat diet (HFD). By contrast to control mice, MetS mice secreted two populations of TRL. If the smaller size population represented 44% of total particles in the beginning of intestinal lipid absorption in MetS mice, it accounted for only 17% after 4 h due to the secretion of larger size TRL. The MetS mice displayed accentuated postprandial hypertriglyceridemia up to 3 h due to a defective TRL clearance. These alterations reflected a delay in lipid induction of genes for key proteins of TRL formation (MTP, L-FABP) and blood clearance (ApoC2). These abnormalities associated with blunted lipid sensing by CD36, which is normally required to optimize jejunal formation of large TRL. In MetS mice CD36 was not downregulated by lipid in contrast to control mice. Treatment of controls with the proteosomal inhibitor MG132, which prevented CD36 downregulation, resulted in blunted lipid-induction of MTP, L-FABP and ApoC2 gene expression, as in MetS mice. Absence of CD36 sensing was due to the hyperinsulinemia in MetS mice. Acute insulin treatment of controls before lipid administration abolished CD36 downregulation, lipid-induction of TRL genes and reduced postprandial triglycerides (TG), while streptozotocin-treatment of MetS mice restored lipid-induced CD36 degradation and TG secretion. In vitro, insulin treatment abolished CD36-mediated up-regulation of MTP in Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, HFD treatment impairs TRL formation in early stage of lipid absorption via insulin-mediated inhibition of CD36 lipid sensing. This impairment results in production of smaller TRL that are cleared slowly from the circulation, which might contribute to the reported association of CD36 variants with MetS risk.

Foreign language anxiety (FLA) has been found to exist in all of the cultures where it has been studied, yet the literature provides limited empirical evidence to indicate whether foreign language students and teachers, as the direct stakeholders in the phenomenon, are aware of it. This study investigated the extent to which foreign language students and teachers are aware of the existence of the phenomenon of FLA and their attitudes towards it. Some 419 non-English-major students, who were undertaking various majors in a university in Vietnam, and eight teachers of English as a foreign language participated in the study. Methodological triangulation, which involved collecting data using questionnaires, interviews, and student autobiographies, was adopted. The findings indicate that approximately two thirds of the students suffered from FLA to some degree, yet the teachers did not attribute adequate importance to it. The study suggests that FLA has an impact on the majority of students and that teachers should take this into account in their teaching.

International audience; Excessive lipid intake, associated with a qualitative imbalance, favors the development of obesity and associated diseases. Among the organs involved in lipid homeostasis, the small intestine remains the most poorly known although it is responsible for the lipid bioavailability and largely contributes to the regulation of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. The mechanism of long chain fatty acid (LCFA) intestinal absorption is not totally elucidated. The synthesis of recent literature indicates that the intestine is able to adapt its absorption capacity to the fat content of the diet. This adaptation takes place through a fat-coordinated induction of LBP and apolipoproteins. CD36 could operate as a lipid sensor responsible for a transducing signal related to the lipid content of the diet at the origin of this intestinal adaptation. This lipid-mediated metabolic response may lead to the formation of large chylomicrons rapidly degraded in the blood. All together, these new data indicate that this intestinal lipid sensing mechanism may be a therapeutic target for reducing the postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and associated cardiovascular risks.; L’apport excessif de lipides, associé à un déséquilibre qualitatif, favorise le développement de l’obésité et des maladies associées. Parmi les organes impliqués dans l’homéostasie lipidique, l’intestin est le moins étudié alors qu’il contribue à la biodisponibilité des lipides et à l’hypertriglycéridémie postprandiale. Le mécanisme d’absorption des lipides n’est pas totalement élucidé mais, contrairement à ce qui est établi, l’intestin adapte ses capacités d’absorption en fonction de la quantité de lipides du régime. Cette adaptation s’exerce via la modulation des gènes impliqués dans la formation des chylomicrons, comme les lipid-binding proteins (LBP) et certaines apolipoprotéines. Une LBP membranaire, le CD36 serait un senseur des lipides entérocytaires qui, via la transduction d’un signal intracellulaire, déclencherait l’induction du niveau des protéines optimisant la sécrétion de chylomicrons plus rapidement dégradés au niveau sanguin. Le CD36 constituerait une nouvelle cible permettant de réduire l’hypertriglycéridémie postprandiale, facteur de risque des maladies cardiovasculaires.

One new β-carboline alkaloid 7-methoxy-(9H-β-carbolin-1-il)-(E)-1-propenoic acid (1) together with 9-methoxycanthin-6-one (2) and 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (3) were isolated from the hairy-root cultures of Eurycoma longifolia. The effects of these compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells were investigated. Compound 1 strongly inhibited the production of NO while 2 and 3 having weak or inactive effect. Consistently, compound 1 decreased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase.

The B-Raf(V599E)-mediated constitutive activation of ERK1/2 is involved in establishing the transformed phenotype of some uveal melanoma cells (Calipel, A., Lefevre, G., Pouponnot, C., Mouriaux, F., Eychene, A., and Mascarelli, F. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 42409-42418). We have shown that stem cell factor (SCF) is involved in the proliferation of normal uveal melanocytes and that c-Kit is expressed in 75% of primary uveal melanomas. This suggests that the acquisition of autonomous growth during melanoma progression may involve the SCF/c-Kit axis. We used six human uveal melanoma tumor-derived cell lines and normal uveal melanocytes to characterize the SCF/c-Kit system and to assess its specific role in transformation. We investigated the possible roles of activating mutations in c-KIT, the overexpression of this gene, and ligand-dependent c-Kit overactivation in uveal melanoma cell tumorigenesis. Four cell lines (92.1, SP6.5, Mel270, and TP31) expressed both SCF and c-Kit, and none harbored the c-KIT mutations in exons 9, 11, 13, and 17 that have been shown to induce SCF-independent c-Kit activation. Melanoma cell proliferation was strongly inhibited by small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of c-Kit in these cells, despite the presence of (V599E)B-Raf in SP6.5 and TP31 cells. We characterized the signaling pathways involved in SCF/c-Kit-mediated cell growth and survival in normal and tumoral melanocytes and found that constitutive ERK1/2 activation played a key role in both the SCF/c-Kit autocrine loop and the gain of function of (V599E)B-Raf for melanoma cell proliferation and transformation. We also provide the first evidence that Glivec/STI571, a c-Kit tyrosine kinase inhibitor, could be used to treat uveal melanomas.

Language anxiety has become a great concern in second and foreign language learning research over the last three decades, and is a topic that triggers significant differences of opinions. As the first theory that emphasises the specific nature of foreign language anxiety, Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope’s theory of foreign language anxiety has been used in quite a number of studies in the field. This paper reviews the theory and discusses the criticisms that other researchers have put forward it with an aim to provide further understanding of the theory for those who are interested in involving foreign language anxiety in their research.

International audience; The membrane glycoprotein CD36 binds nanomolar concentrations of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and is highly expressed on the luminal surface of enterocytes. CD36 deficiency reduces chylomicron production through unknown mechanisms. In this report, we provide novel insights into some of the underlying mechanisms. Our in vivo data demonstrate that CD36 gene deletion in mice does not affect LCFA uptake and subsequent esterification into triglycerides by the intestinal mucosa exposed to the micellar LCFA concentrations prevailing in the intestine. In rodents, the CD36 protein disappears early from the luminal side of intestinal villi during the postprandial period, but only when the diet contains lipids. This drop is significant 1 h after a lipid supply and associates with ubiquitination of CD36. Using CHO cells expressing CD36, it is shown that the digestion products LCFA and diglycerides trigger CD36 ubiquitination. In vivo treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 prevents the lipid-mediated degradation of CD36. In vivo and ex vivo, CD36 is shown to be required for lipid activation of ERK1/2, which associates with an increase of the key chylomicron synthesis proteins, apolipoprotein B48 and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. Therefore, intestinal CD36, possibly through ERK1/2-mediated signaling, is involved in the adaptation of enterocyte metabolism to the postprandial lipid challenge by promoting the production of large triglyceride-rich lipoproteins that are rapidly cleared in the blood. This suggests that CD36 may be a therapeutic target for reducing the postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and associated cardiovascular risks.

This paper presents our recent research results on synthesis and bioapplications of dye-doped silica-based nanoparticles. The dye-doped water soluble organically modified silicate (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles (NPs) with the size of 15?100?nm were synthesized by modified St?ber method from methyltriethoxysilane CH3Si(OCH3)3 precursor (MTEOS). Because thousands of fluorescent dye molecules are encapsulated in the silica-based matrix, the dye-doped nanoparticles are extremely bright and photostable. Their surfaces were modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and biocompatible chemical reagents. The highly intensive luminescent nanoparticles were combined with specific bacterial and breast cancer antigen antibodies. The antibody-conjugated nanoparticles can identify a variety of bacterium, such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, through antibody?antigen interaction and recognition. A highly sensitive breast cancer cell detection has been achieved with the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody?nanoparticles complex. These results demonstrate the potential to apply these fluorescent nanoparticles in various biodetection systems.