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The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Plantago asiatica L. on DPP-4 and to determine the active compounds responsible for this inhibition. Extracts were prepared from the root and aerial portions of the plant using various polar solvents. The DPP-4 inhibition of these extracts was analyzed in an extracellular assay and then assigned to either the high or low inhibition group. The chemical profiles of these extracts were analyzed using an LC-MS method. The ion fragments that were potent in the high inhibition extracts were selected through OPLS-DA and correlation analysis, and then identified and obtained for verification of DPP-4 inhibition in both the extracellular assay and the Caco-2 cell line. The extracts showed various inhibitory activities with an average inhibition of 28.4 %. A total of 20 compounds were selected from the extracts with higher inhibitory activity and identified. Six of them, baicalein, scutellarein, calceolarioside B, isoacteoside, verbascoside, and plantamajoside, exhibited DPP-4 inhibition with IC 50 values of 44.32, 59.90, 112.71, 157.02, 154.58, and 195.07 μg/mL, respectively, in extracellular assays. They also showed inhibition of DPP-4 on the Caco-2 cell line, with IC 50 values of 31.56, 34.71, 20.29, 33.29, 24.52, and 87.88 μg/mL, respectively. The extracts from PAL showed inhibitory activity towards DPP-4, and the related compounds were identified and verified. [Display omitted] • Plantago asiatica L. was shown to have inhibitory activity against DPP-4 based on the evidence provided. • Active chemicals were screened and identified by comparing the chemical profiles of high and low activity extracts. • The activity of six compounds was confirmed on both extracellular and Caco-2 cell line tests with their IC 50. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bar-reinforced ultrahigh-performance engineered cementitious composites (UHPECCs) have been proposed recently. This innovative composite structure aims to address two critical challenges: (1) the reduced stiffness in FRP-reinforced normal concrete stemming from the lower elastic modulus of FRP; and (2) corrosion concerns faced by steel-reinforced concrete structures. Despite various investigations into the long-term performance of glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in concrete environments, typically conducted through immersion in simulated concrete pore solutions, the durability of GFRP bars within UHPECCs remains unexplored. The inherently reduced water permeability of UHPECCs raises expectations for the enhanced protection they will provide to internal GFRP bars. Therefore, this study explores the durability performance of GFRP bars embedded in UHPECCs. Three types of GFRP bars made of various matrices (polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy) were employed. The embedded GFRP bars were immersed in an alkaline solution at room temperature and 40°C for a duration of up to 360 days. Their tensile properties were assessed after specified periods. The results indicated a more pronounced deterioration in GFRP bars made of polyester than bars made of epoxy and vinyl ester. UHPECC covers provided good protection for internal GFRP bars compared with ordinary concrete due to the reduced permeability of UHPECCs. A microstructural analysis revealed that bar deterioration was predominantly due to matrix hydrolysis. This phenomenon resulted in the efficiency of fiber stress transfer. Notably, fibers in UHPECC-embedded GFRP bars exhibited no evident degradation, whereas those in the bars without UHPECC covers displayed slight degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the altermagnetic materials with spin splitting effect (SSE), have drawn significant attention due to their potential to the flexible control of the spin polarization by the Néel vector. Here, the direct and inverse altermagnetic SSE (ASSE) in the (101)‐oriented RuO2 film with the tilted Néel vector are reported. First, the spin torque along the x‐, y‐, and z‐axis is detected from the spin torque‐induced ferromagnetic resonance (ST‐FMR), and the z‐spin torque emerges when the electric current is along the [010] direction, showing the anisotropic spin splitting of RuO2. Further, the current‐induced modulation of damping is used to quantify the damping‐like torque efficiency (ξDL) in RuO2/Py, and an anisotropic ξDL is obtained and maximized for the current along the [010] direction, which increases with the reduction of the temperature, indicating the present of ASSE. Next, by way of spin pumping measurement, the inverse altermagnetic spin splitting effect (IASSE) is studied, which also shows a crystal direction‐dependent anisotropic behavior and temperature‐dependent behavior. This work gives a comprehensive study of the direct and inverse ASSE effects in the altermagnetic RuO2, inspiring future altermagnetic materials and devices with flexible control of spin polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted to compare the effect of different sources pigment additives on growth performance, slaughter performance and skin coloration of Danzhou chickens. A total of two hundred and ten 150-day-old Danzhou chickens with similar body weight were randomly divided into seven groups, with five replicates in each group and six chickens in each replicate. Danzhou chickens in control group were fed with basal diet, chickens in group I and group II were given a basal diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg carophyll red + 20 mg/kg carophyll yellow, 20 mg/kg carophyll red + 40 mg/kg carophyll yellow, respectively, chickens in group III and group IV were given a basal diet added 100, 200 mg/kg of turmeric extract, respectively, and chickens in group V and group VI were given a basal diet supplemented with 500, 1 000 mg/kg of marigold extract. The trial period was 28 d. The results showed that compared with control group, the growth performance and slaughter performance of Danzhou chickens in each experimental group was not significant (P>0.05). On the 28th day, b* value of back skin of Danzhou chickens in group II and group VI was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05), and abdominal skin b* value of Danzhou chickens in group II were higher than control group (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the abdominal fat percentage of Danzhou chickens in group IV was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The study indicates that the addition of three kinds of pigment additives to diet can improve the skin pigmentation of Danzhou chickens in different degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]