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Abstract Neflamapimod, a selective inhibitor of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase alpha (MAPKα), is under clinical investigation for its efficacy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Here, we investigated if neflamapimod-mediated acute inhibition of p38 MAPKα could induce vasodilation in resistance-size rat mesenteric arteries. Our pressure myography data demonstrated that neflamapimod produced a dose-dependent vasodilation in mesenteric arteries. Our Western blotting data revealed that acute neflamapimod treatment significantly reduced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPKα and its downstream target heat-shock protein 27 (Hsp27) involved in cytoskeletal reorganization and smooth muscle contraction. Likewise, non-selective inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB203580 attenuated p38 MAPKα and Hsp27 phosphorylation, and induced vasodilation. Endothelium denudation or pharmacological inhibition of endothelium-derived vasodilators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) had no effect on such vasodilation. Neflamapimod-evoked vasorelaxation remained unaltered by the inhibition of smooth muscle cell K+ channels. Altogether, our data for the first time demonstrates that in resistance mesenteric arteries, neflamapimod inhibits p38 MAPKα and phosphorylation of its downstream actin-associated protein Hsp27, leading to vasodilation. This novel finding may be clinically significant and is likely to improve systemic blood pressure and cognitive deficits in AD and DLB patients for which neflamapimod is being investigated.

This research paper analyzes the current English learning and teaching situation in Vietnam through collated data from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources were taken from the survey entitled, “Factors influencing Vietnamese learners’ success in learning English” (see Appendix A). The survey asked participants to describe their demographics and opinions about teaching and learning English in Vietnam. The participants consisted of the author’s living and teaching network, which was comprised of 31.8% acquaintances and 68.2% students at the Premier Language School. The secondary sources were compiled from scholarly articles, news, books, and online sources. These sources provide a broad scope when looking into the country’s identified issues concerning English learning and teaching.

The safety and presence of pathogenic microorganisms in street foods are attracting special attention from consumers. Milk tea (bubble tea) is a hot trend that is most popular among young people in street food in Southeast Asia. In this study, the method of surveying and quantifying Ecoli - Coliform in milk tea samples was combined to assess microbial contamination status and assess the opinion of students. Initial results show the existence of pathogenic microorganisms Ecoli and Coliform in milk tea with the significantly different level of contamination between milk tea with the well-known brand (brand name) and no brand name (no brand name). The survey results show that consumers and students, in particular, have a very high level of spending on milk tea and are very concerned about food safety and hygiene in milk tea. However, the information and understanding on food safety and foodborne pathogens are minimal.

Halophile-specific enzymes have wide-ranging industrial and commercial applications. Despite their importance, there is a paucity of available halophile whole-genome sequences. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 16 diverse salt-tolerant strains of bacteria and archaea isolated from a variety of high-salt environments.

Abstract pH-sensitive hydrogels prepared by gamma irradiation find promising biological applications, partially, in the field of localized drug liberation. Herein, optimal conditions for fabricating high-molecular-weight chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid hydrogels using gamma irradiation at 10, 25, and 30 kGy were investigated by studying the water uptake behavior, the pore size on the surface, and thermal stability. Furthermore, the crosslinking mechanism of irradiated hydrogels was examined via solid-state 13C NMR spectrum. The swelling ratio of the gamma-irradiated CS/PVA hydrogel was pH-dependent; particularly, the hybrid hydrogel exhibited high swelling ratios under acidic conditions than those under basic conditions due to the protonation of amino groups on CS-backbone in acidic environments. In addition, amoxicillin was used as a model drug in the in vitro drug release investigations in pH-simulated gastric fluid and deionized water at 37 °C. To identify the drug release mechanism, several kinetic models composing zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson–Crowell, and Korsmeyer–Peppas models were used. The findings suggested that drug release is mediated by a non-Fickian transport mechanism. Graphical Abstract

Vibration-assisted machining, known as hybrid processing technology, offers several benefits over conventional machining methods. However, developing mechanical structure designs to generate a non-resonant frequency source remains challenging. The objective of this study is to propose a novel design for an XY flexure positioner by combining the pseudo-rigid-body model with the Lagrange technique, finite element analysis and Crayfish optimization algorithm. Firstly, the mechanism was designed by combining a hybrid amplifier and parallel driving mechanism integrated with right circular hinges to increase the natural frequency and precision for potential application to VAM CNC milling. Then, the analytical model was established by the pseudo-rigid-body and Lagrange method. Next, the theoretical result was verified by finite element analysis. The first natural frequency results of theory and FEM methods were found at 990.74 Hz and 1058.5 Hz, respectively. The error between the two methods was 6.4%, demonstrating a reliable modeling approach. Based on the analytical equations, the Crayfish optimization algorithm was utilized for optimizing the main design variables of the mechanism. Next, the prototype was fabricated. The results showed that the experimental and simulated frequencies were 1127.62 Hz and 1216.6 Hz, with an error between the two methods of 7.31%. Finally, the workpiece was installed on the prototype and a real vibration-assisted CNC milling process was carried out in the frequency range [700 Hz, 1000 Hz]. The best surface roughness of the specimen was achieved at a frequency of 900 Hz with a Ra of 0.287 µm. This demonstrates that the proposed XY mechanism is an effective structure for generating a non-resonant frequency source for vibration-assisted machining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot spring (HS) waters manifest diverse positive effects on the skin due to their unique chemical compositions. Sodium hyaluronate acid (HA) comprises N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucuronic acid, and distinguishes itself with superior qualities in skin regeneration, providing moisturizing and anti-aging benefits. The combination of HA with HS water is widely applied across ophthalmology, pneumology, nutrition, and cosmetics. This study delved into the application of HA in cosmetology, with a focus on its interaction with HS water and its effects on moisture retention and promoting wound healing. In particular, with the alkaline pH levels of the Yumoto HS, HA molecules may undergo dissociation to be ionized resulting in a negatively charged polymer and interacting with positively charged ions in the HS water through electrostatic interactions. The shifted peaks in the FTIR result and zeta potential shifts to a less negative region in the case of HA-HS compared to HA-DI indicate an ionic interaction between HS water and HA. Moisture tests confirmed the sustained hydration when HA is dissolved in HS water, underscoring its potential to improve skin hydration at certain concentrations, specifically at 0.5% and 1%. Additionally, MTT assay results demonstrated that HS water stimulates the growth of fibroblast cells compared to distilled water, implying its potential beneficial effect in wound healing. These findings suggested the multifaceted benefits of HAHS in skincare, highlighting its role in enhancing skin hydration and potentially accelerating wound healing processes, thus presenting avenues for the development of advanced cosmeceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, soil quality and crop yield are steadily declining under rice monocultures with three crops per year. The objective of this study was to evaluate the medium-term effects of rotating rice with upland crops and adding organic amendments on rice yield, and to relate this to soil quality. A field trial with split-plot design including two factors and three replicates was carried out from 2017 to 2020, over the course of nine consecutive cropping seasons. Crop rotations and organic amendments were applied as main-plot and subplot factors, respectively. The rotations were (1) rice–rice–rice (R–R–R), (2) soybean–rice–rice (So–R–R), and (3) sesame–rice–rice (Se–R–R), while organic amendment treatments included (i) no amendment (NO-AM), (ii) compost of rice straw and cow manure (RS+CM), and (iii) sugarcane compost (SGC); the composts were applied at a rate of 2.0 t ha−1. The rotation cycle started with the so-called spring–summer (SS) season, followed by the summer–autumn (SA) season and ending with the winter–spring (WS) season. Rice yield significantly (p < 0.05) increased under organic amendments after nine growing seasons (2019–2020 WS), with an increment of 5.1% for RS+CM (7.07 ton/ha) and 6.1% for SGC (7.14 ton/ha). Contrary to our expectation, rotations with upland crops did not significantly increase rice yield. Rice yield significantly and positively correlated with an integrated soil quality index–SQI (r = 0.85) for the topsoil (0–15 cm), but not for the subsoil (15–30 cm). The increased availability of soil nutrients (Si and marginally also P) and improved soil physical properties probably induced by organic amendments, along with other soil properties under study, cumulatively attributed to enhanced rice yield. Repeated organic amendments thus becomes an effective management practice in improving soil quality under rice-based systems and could be applied to sustain rice yield in rice-producing regions with similar soil types and climatic conditions. Use of a SQI involving several soil quality indicators enables us to quantify the overall importance of soil fertility for rice yield versus other factors, and it provides an effective means of quantifying the integrated effect of improved management. Moreover, integrating a wide range of soil quality indicators in a SQI ensures its applicability across diverse settings, including different crop rotations and various soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purple sweet potato has been gradually increasing in terms of planting and consumption but, after harvesting, the leaves of the sweet potato are often discarded as waste or used for animal feed. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of drying methods on the quality of sweet potato leaf powder and its storage capacity. The nutritional and antioxidant properties of powder were analyzed. The results showed that hot air-drying could preserve the antioxidant properties more than the sun-drying method. Both methods could produce a product with high nutritional value, especially a high amount of protein and fiber. This could be considered as a supplementation ingredient for the food industry. Moreover, after storage at room temperature for 12 weeks, a slight increase in moisture content and decrease in antioxidant properties were found. Further, the application of this ingredient should be further investigated in food application to improve the income for local farmers as well as reduce the environmentally harmful waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tropical deltas, intensive monoculture with three rice crops per year (RRR) has been the standard for decades. However, in recent years some farmers have started rice-based rotations with one or more upland crops per year. The trends for increased grain yields with this new system raises the question as to whether the introduction of upland crops affects properties of alluvial clay paddy soil. This was evaluated in the present study, which was performed at 40 paddy fields in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta under four different cropping systems (10 farms per system) on paddy rice soils: RRR; crop rotation with two rice crops and one upland crop per year (RUR); crop rotation with one rice and two upland crops per year (RUU); and upland crop (UUU). Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. Most soil properties differed significantly between the RRR and the RUR, RUU or UUU. The RUR, RUU and UUU systems alleviated soil compaction, resulting in reduced penetration resistance and bulk density and increased total and macroporosity at 20-30cm depth. In addition, aggregate stability index and plant-available water capacity were higher for RUR, RUU and UUU compared with RRR at the 20-30cm depth. Average soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks ranged from 59.31 [ha.sup.-1] in UUU to 72.31 [ha.sup.-1] in RUR, with SOC stocks in RRR and RUU being intermediate (66.4 and 68.31 [ha.sup.-1]) and not significantly different to that of the RUR system. Carbon hydrolysable by HCl [(C.sub.hydrolysable]) was 74-84% greater in the RUR, RUU and UUU than in RRR systems. In conclusion, rice-upland crop systems may alleviate soil degradation resulting from continuous rice monoculture. Additional keywords: paddy, soil properties. Received 10 May 2016, accepted 23 August 2016, published online 3 October 2016, Introduction Rice is one of the major crops in the world and the most important crop in the Mekong Delta. Continuous irrigated rice cultivation with three rice crops grown each [...]