Double Distilled Water Research Articles

Preparation and Characterization of Pyramids/Particles NiO/SnO2 Composite for Sorption and Separation of Molybdenum and Zirconium Ions from Some Synthetic Fission Products

AbstractPyramids/particles of NiO/SnO2 composite (NS7) was produced by applying the sol–gel autocombustion method. The produced composite was investigated using different techniques, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, ultraviolet–visible absorbance spectroscopy, and BET surface area then was applied for the adsorption and separation of molybdenum and zirconium ions from lanthanum, strontium, and cesium. 3D pyramids of NiO and particles of SnO2 are confirmed in the composite with a homogeneous mesoporous structure. The composite has good affinity for zirconium and molybdenum ions with fast kinetics and Qmax of 27.1 and 33.3 mg/g, respectively, low affinity for lanthanum, and negligible affinity for strontium and cesium. The sorption mechanism is physical sorption and endothermic in nature. The adsorbed Zr(IV), Mo(VI), and La(III) ions were separated using the desorption process as the following sequence: First, 95 ± 2% (14.3 ppm) of the loaded La was desorbed by washing with double distilled water. Then 96 ± 2% (41.3 ppm) of the loaded Zr was recovered by 1 M potassium chloride without interfering ions. Finally, 98 ± 2% (42.88 ppm) of Mo is desorbed by 1 M sodium acetate solution. The NS7 composite can be reused five times successfully.

In Vitro Evaluation of Sodium Hypochlorite, Chlorhexidine, Propolis, and Calcium Hydroxide Effect on Lipoteichoic-Acid-Induced Proinflammatory Cytokines Production.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorhexidine (CHX), and the glycolic extract of propolis (GEP) as endodontic irrigants and of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2], CHX, or Ca(OH)2 + CHX as intracanal medications on the capacity of the lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of Enterococcus faecalis in macrophages' proinflammatory cytokines production. Freshly extracted 108 human single-rooted teeth were used in this study. The LTA of E. faecalis was standardized in double-distilled pyrogen-free water (250 µg/mL) and inoculated into the specimens subdivided into nine subgroups (n = 12). Cultures of murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) were treated with 30 µL of each sample collected from root canals and incubated (37 °C, 5% CO2) for 24 h. Lastly, anti-TNF-α, anti-IL-6, anti-IP-10, anti-MIP-1α, anti-G-CSF, and anti-IL-1β DuoSet kits were used to perform an ELISA assay. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey test (p ≥ 0.05). It was found that 1% NaOCl was the most effective irrigant in reducing the capacity of LTA in cytokines production, followed by 12% GEP and 2% CHX, respectively. Ca(OH)2 + CHX presented the best results when associated with NaOCl or GEP. Thus, NaOCl or GEP associated with Ca(OH)2 + CHX were effective in reducing the capacity of LTA in different macrophages pro-inflammatory cytokines production.

First Report of Rugonectria rugulosa Causing Dieback of Prunus salicina "Banbianhong" in China.

Banbianhong (Prunus salicina) is a valuable fruit crop cultivated in the southwestern regions of China for its high quality fruit and substantial economic benefits (Wang et al. 2021). In July 2023, dieback disease was observed in Banbianhong in Suijiang County, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, with an incidence of up to 10%. The disease caused brownish nodules in the cortex of the infected plant, leading to dry cracking, and exposing grayish-brown xylem, which caused the plant to wither and die. Upon longitudinal cutting of twigs, lesions were evident and characterized by browning and necrosis of the cauline bundle and pith within the tissue. The diseased tissues were sectioned into 2 mm2 pieces and surface disinfected with 70% ethanol and 1% NaClO and rinsed with double distilled water. The tissue fragments were plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated for 7 days at 28°C. A total of six isolates were obtained, and two isolates (WG2-1 and WG2-3) were selected for morphological, molecular identification and pathogenicity testing. On PDA, the colony diameter of WG2-1 and WG2-3 were recorded as 5.50±0.56 mm/day and 6.08±0.37 mm/day, respectively. The microconidia of both isolates were zero-septate, smooth, greenish, subglobose to ellipsoidal, and measured 5 to 10 × 1.5 to 3 µm (n = 50) in size. However, macroconidia were not observed. The internal transcribed spacer rDNA (ITS) and β-tubulin 2 (TUB2) genes were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1/4 (White et al. 1989) and Bt2a/2b (Glass and Donaldson 1995). BLAST analysis of the obtained ITS sequences (accession Nos. PP581792) and TUB2 sequences (accession Nos. PP2815212) sequences showed 100% identity with Rugonectria rugulosa (accession nos. MG991753 for ITS and KM232007 for TUB2). Based on these characteristics, the isolates have been identified as R. rugulosa and have been deposited in the Agricultural Environment and Resource Research Institute plant pathogen lab at Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. In this study, Pathogenicity tests were conducted on one-year-old Prunus salicina "Banbianhong" twigs to complete Koch's postulates. The twigs were wounded using a 1-mm sterile corking borer and 14-day-old mycelium plugs of isolate (WG2-1) were inoculated and covered with sealing films. Sterile PDA plugs were placed into the wounds of control twigs. Eighteen healthy twigs were inoculated with isolates or PDA plugs (n = 6 twigs/treatment, the size of the twigs: 8 cm length and diameter about 0.7 cm, with three replications) and were placed in a closed sterile tray with the wet filter papers in a thermostatic incubator (type, HYC-260) at 28°C, respectively. The twigs inoculated with the isolates exhibited brown lesions site of inoculation, whereas the controls remained asymptomatic. R. rugulosa was successfully reisolated from the lesions but not from these control wounds and was identified by the methods described above. R. rugulosa has been reported to be associated with the die-back disease of Falcataria moluccana in China (Wang et al. 2019). The occurrence and spread of R. rugulosa in growing areas of Prunus salicina "Banbianhong" in Suijiang county have caused severe economic losses. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the die-back disease of Prunus salicina "Banbianhong" caused by R. rugulosa. These results confirm the pathogenicity of R. rugulosa in Prunus salicina "Banbianhong" and provide valuable insights for developing disease management and prevention strategies.

Determination of Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of Sodium Stearate Solution in Distilled Water

Surfactant is an organic compound having polar and nonpolar parts. The specific conductivity of sodium stearate surfactant in double distilled water has been studied by conductometric method at three temperatures (298.15, 308.15, and 318.15) K. conductivity of the surfactant increases with increase in temperature and concentration of solution. Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of sodium stearate was determined attemperature 298.15 K is 0.00095Mol/lit using the easy plot software. FESEM image shows themorphological structure of the sodium stearate surfactant.

Intermittent lysis on a single paper-based device to extract exosomal nucleic acid biomarkers from biological samples for downstream analysis.

As the role of exosomes in physiological and pathological processes has been properly perceived, harvesting them and their internal components is critical for subsequent applications. This study is a debut of intermittent lysis, which has been integrated into a simple and easy-to-operate procedure on a single paper-based device to extract exosomal nucleic acid biomarkers for downstream analysis. Exosomes from biological samples were captured by anti-CD63-modified papers before being intermittently lysed by high-temperature, short-time treatment with double-distilled water to release their internal components. Exosomal nucleic acids were finally adsorbed by sol-gel silica for downstream analysis. Empirical trials not only revealed that sporadically dropping 95°C ddH2O onto the anti-CD63-modified papers every 5min for 6 times optimized the exosomal nucleic acids extracted by the anti-CD63 paper but also verified that the whole deployed procedure is applicable for point-of-care testing (POCT) in low-resource areas and for both in vitro (culture media) and in vivo (plasma and chronic lesion) samples. Importantly, downstream analysis of exosomal miR-21 extracted by the paper-based procedure integrated with this novel technique discovered that the content of exosomal miR-21 in chronic lesions related to their stages and the levels of exosomal carcinoembryonic antigen originated from colorectal cancer cells correlated to their exosomal miR-21.

Characteristic calcification behavior of five surgical aortic valve bioprostheses models: An in vitro study.

The durability of surgical aortic valve bioprostheses (SAV) is limited by the calcification of the leaflets, which results in degeneration. In clinical routine, there seems to be substantial variability in the degeneration of specific SAV models. Our study aims to establish an in vitro calcification model for prosthetic valves,characterizing the calcification behavior of different SAVs. Five commercially available SAV models (Epic™ Supra, Freestyle®, Intuity®, Perimount®, and Trifecta™) were perfused with double-distilled water and physiological buffer with a defined calcium concentration (CaCl2 = 1.5 mM) at 37°C over 32.9 million cycles in a Hi-Cycle tester which corresponds to approximately 1 patient-year (calcified group). Untreated prosthetic valves served as the negative control group (noncalcified group). Calcium titration, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histological examination, and tissue thickness measurements were performed to evaluate noncalcified and calcified SAVs (n = 10). Treatment in the Hi-Cycle tester with calcification buffer maintained significantly higher calcium absorption of SAVs compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, hydroxyapatite crystals were found in the calcified SAV in SEM. Porcine valves rarely demonstrated punctual calcification pattern, while bovine pericardial valves presented distinct planar calcification pattern in histological examination. Further, calcification content differed significantly depending on the SAV model, with the highest calcium content in Trifecta (213 µg/cm2) and the lowest in Epic Supra (8 µg/cm2) (p < 0.001). Data from our study revealed significant differences in leaflet calcification for the various aortic valve bioprostheses models. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether these findings can mimic the clinical data of the implanted prostheses.

Expression profiling of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) microRNAs and microRNA core genes by Bacillus thuringiensis GS57 infection.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which are functional in a variety of biological processes through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. However, the role of miRNAs in the interaction between Bacillus thuringiensis and insects remains unclear. In this study, small RNA libraries were constructed for B. thuringiensis-infected (Bt) and uninfected (CK) Spodoptera exigua larvae (treated with double-distilled water) using Illumina sequencing. Utilising the miRDeep2 and Randfold, a total of 233 known and 726 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 16 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified compared to the CK. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that potential target genes of DE miRNAs were associated with ABC transporters, fatty acid metabolism and MAPK signalling pathway which are related to the development, reproduction and immunity. Moreover, two miRNA core genes, SeDicer1 and SeAgo1 were identified. The phylogenetic tree showed that lepidopteran Dicer1 clustered into one branch, with SeDicer1 in the position closest to Spodoptera litura Dicer1. A similar phylogenetic relationship was observed in the Ago1 protein. Expression of SeDicer1 increased at 72 h post infection (hpi) with B. thuringiensis; however, expression of SeDicer1 and SeAgo1 decreased at 96 hpi. The RNAi results showed that the knockdown of SeDicer1 directly caused the down-regulation of miRNAs and promoted the mortality of S. exigua infected by B. thuringiensis GS57. In conclusion, our study is crucial to understand the relationship between miRNAs and various biological processes caused by B. thuringiensis infection, and develop an integrated pest management strategy for S. exigua via miRNAs.

GREEN SYNTHESIS OF MAGNETIC REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE HYBRID NANOCOMPOSITE USING NOVEL CLERODENDRUM PANICULATUM FOR THE REMOVAL OF MB DYE AND Cd (II) FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION VIA MAGNETIC SEPARATION

The utmost dangerous and significant source of environmental contamination is constituted by ionic dyes and heavy metals. Graphene oxide (GO) can eradicate heavy metal ions and dyes from effluent, but the major difficulty associated with GO is the inconvenience during separation. In this study, magnetic reduced GO (rGO-Fe3O[Formula: see text] hybrid nanocomposite is synthesized by using the novel green reducing agent and is used as an adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye and Cd (II) ions. The prepared samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR spectroscopy. adsorption study of rGO-Fe3O4 is carried out using UV visible spectrophotometry and it is obtained that the maximum adsorption capacity in the mono component system using double distilled water for MB dye and Cd (II) ions is 64.52 and 93.49[Formula: see text]mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the effect of different parameters such as temperature, adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH and initial adsorbate concentration on the adsorption of heavy metal and dye is investigated.

Comparative Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Color Stability of Dental Resin Composites for Chairside Provisional Restorations.

Resin composites have become the preferred choice for chairside provisional dental restorations. However, these materials may undergo discoloration, changes in surface roughness, and mechanical properties with aging in the oral cavity, compromising the aesthetics, functionality, and success of dental restorations. To investigate the color and mechanical stability of chairside provisional composite resins, this study evaluated the optical, surface, and mechanical properties of four temporary restoration resin materials before and after aging, stimulated by thermal cycling in double-distilled water. Measurements, including CIE LAB color analysis, three-point bending test, nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were conducted (n = 15). Results showed significant differences among the materials in terms of optical, surface, and mechanical properties. Revotek LC (urethane dimethacrylate) demonstrated excellent color stability (ΔE00 = 0.53-Black/0.32-White), while Artificial Teeth Resin (polymethyl methacrylate) exhibited increased mechanical strength with aging (p < 0.05, FS = 68.40 MPa-non aging/87.21 MPa-aging). Structur 2 SC (Bis-acrylic) and Luxatemp automix plus (methyl methacrylate bis-acrylate) demonstrated moderate stability in optical and mechanical properties (Structur 2 SC: ΔE00 = 1.97-Black/1.38-White FS = 63.20 MPa-non aging/50.07 MPa-aging) (Luxatemp automix plus: ΔE00 = 2.49-Black/1.77-White FS = 87.72 MPa-non aging/83.93 MPa-aging). These results provide important practical guidance for clinical practitioners, as well as significant theoretical and experimental bases for the selection of restorative composite resins.

The damage and remineralization strategies of dental hard tissues following radiotherapy

ObjectivesThis study pursued two main purposes. The first aim was to expound on the microscopic factors of radiation-related caries (RRC). Further, it aimed to compare the remineralization effect of different remineralizing agents on demineralized teeth after radiotherapy.MethodsThe enamel and dentin samples of bovine teeth were irradiated with different doses of radiation. After analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), the samples irradiated with 50 Gy radiation were selected and divided into the demineralization group, the double distilled water (DDW) group, the Sodium fluoride (NaF) group, the Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) group, the NaF + CPP-ACP group, and the Titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) group. After demineralization, remineralizing agents treatment, and remineralization, the samples were evaluated using SEM, atomic force microscope (AFM), EDS, and transverse microradiography (TMR).ResultsA radiation dose of 30 Gy was sufficient to cause damage to the dentinal tubules, but 70 Gy radiation had little effect on the microstructure of enamel. Additionally, the NaF + CPP-ACP group and the TiF4 group significantly promoted deposit formation, decreased surface roughness, and reduced mineral loss and lesion depth of demineralized enamel and dentin samples after radiation.ConclusionsRadiation causes more significant damage to dentin compared to enamel. NaF + CPP-ACP and TiF4 had a promising ability to promote remineralization of irradiated dental hard tissues.Advances in knowledgeThis in vitro study contributes to determining a safer radiation dose range for teeth and identifying the most effective remineralization approach for RRC.

Electrochemical Detection of Ascorbic Acid by Fe₂O₃ Nanoparticles Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode.

Background The article delineates a strategy for detecting ascorbic acid (AA) through the use of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles on an electrode. The Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles demonstrated effective electrocatalysis in the oxidation of AA, resulting in increased peak currents. The sensor showcased a wide linear detection range, a low detection limit, and high selectivity towards interferents, making it suitable for accurate AA measurement in food analysis and medical diagnostics applications. This emphasizes the potential of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle-based sensors for precise AA detection. Aim The primary aim of this research is to develop an electrochemical sensing technique for the identification of ascorbic acid, with the use of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles as the sensing matrix. Materials and methods The synthesis process involved the utilization of FeCl3.6H2O, ammonia solution, ethanol, and double-distilled water. FeCl3.6H2O was dissolved in ammonia water to produce a brown precipitate for the synthesis of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Subsequently, the brown precipitate underwent hydrothermal treatment at 180 °C, resulting in the formation of a red product. Following centrifugation, washing, and drying steps, Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. These nanoparticles were then utilized to modify the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Prior to the modification, the GCE underwent polishing and cleaning procedures, after which it was coated with a suspension containing 5 mg of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles in 10 mL of ethanol. The coated electrode was dried and deemed ready for application in electrochemical sensing. Results The hydrothermal method was employed in this research to synthesize Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, which were subsequently subjected to a series of experiments to evaluate their electrochemical sensing capabilities. The resulting Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were determined to possess a high level of purity and a crystalline structure through various analyses, including field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), cyclic voltammetric testing, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and the current response of the Fe₂O₃-modified electrode towards ascorbic acid. The morphology of the Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles was observed to be uniform. The synthesized particles successfully fulfilled the study's objective by exhibiting remarkably sensitive and selective sensitivity towards ascorbic acid. Conclusion Our study underscores the potential of utilizing Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle-based electrochemical sensing to detect ascorbic acid, as evidenced by the notably high sensitivity of ascorbic acid towards Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The distinctive properties of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, which include their large surface area, efficient electron transport, and straightforward manufacturing process, significantly enhance the sensor's performance. Further research is crucial to exploring the wide-ranging applications of the sensor in fields such as food safety, environmental monitoring, and biological diagnostics and to overcome any existing limitations.

SEM Characterization of Green Synthesized Nanoparticles

The present work covers the synthesis of six nanoparticles using a natural reducing agent obtained from tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) leaves. The method comprises boiling tulsi leaves in double distilled water and producing its juice which was used as the green reducing agent. The metal compounds included, gold chloride trihydrate, zinc acetate dihydrate, lithium chloride, silver nitrate, cadmium iodide, and graphene oxide that underwent reduction which was confirmed by color change. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed and proven to be successful in formation as it was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This green, tulsi leaves-based route demonstrates a feasible pathway of sustainable nanoparticle synthesis which is promising for many fields of applications.

Effect of Gibbrellic Acid, Kinetin and Potassium Nitrate on Seed Germination of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady

Seed germination is the most important aspect for raising the nursery for successful seedling production of papaya. The research was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda (Punjab) during 2023 to evaluate the impact of different pre-soaking chemicals on seed germination and vigour of papaya seedling. The experiment was laid out Randomized block design with three replications and included ten different treatments., namely T1 (Control- double distilled water), T2 (GA3 @ 50 ppm), T3 (GA3 @ 100 ppm), T4 (GA3 @ 200 ppm), T5 (Kinetin @ 25 ppm), T6 (Kinetin @ 50 ppm), T7 (Kinetin @ 75 ppm), T8 (KNO3 @ 500 ppm), T9 (KNO3 @ 1000 ppm), T10 (KNO3 @ 1500 ppm), were soaked for 24 hours. The seeds were sown in a blend of sand, soil and vermiculite with a ratio of 2:1:1 and maintained under controlled polyhouse condition. Among the treatments, T3 (GA3 @100 ppm) demonstrated the most rapid seed germination, highest percentage of germination (56.20) and maximum survival percentage (53.44) and the T4 (GA3 @ 200 ppm) resulted in the lowest days to first emergence of seedling (3.66), maximum plant height (32.33), maximum number of leaves (8.66) and highest girth of seedling (5.86) at 60 days after sowing. In Conclusion, the most effective approach for enhancing seed germination in papaya involved pre-treating the seeds with GA3 @ 200 ppm in var. Red lady.

Copper-doped zinc tartrate (Cu-ZnT) nanocrystals: Exploring their physical and antimicrobial properties

This study investigates the growth and properties of pure zinc tartrate (ZnT) and copper-doped zinc tartrate (Cu-ZnT) nanocrystals synthesized via a sol-gel technique using double-distilled water, sodium metasilicate, and tartaric acid. Controlled pH gels were prepared with the subsequent addition of zinc chloride and copper chloride solutions to facilitate nanocrystal formation. The synthesized nanocrystals were characterized using various techniques, including Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, UV–visible-near infrared spectral analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. EDAX confirmed the elemental composition of Zn, Cu, C, and O in the crystals. FTIR spectra revealed the presence of functional groups corresponding to water of crystallization, tartaric acid moieties, and potentially other compounds. TGA analysis indicated a two-stage decomposition process for ZnT and the formation of zinc copper oxide in Cu-ZnT. UV–vis-NIR analysis yielded a low cut-off wavelength of 285 nm for both crystals, suggesting electronic transitions below 350 nm. Both ZnT and Cu-ZnT nanocrystals are transparent in visible and near-infrared light, absorbing strongly in the ultraviolet. Copper doping enhances Cu-ZnT light absorption. While both act as insulators, Cu-ZnT exhibits significantly higher conductivity due to copper doping. XRD analysis estimated an average crystalline size of 42 nm, while FE-SEM images revealed a quasi-spherical morphology. Refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical bandgap were further determined, highlighting the potential suitability of these nanocrystals for optoelectronic applications. Antibacterial and antifungal assays demonstrated moderate effectiveness against tested microorganisms compared to standard drugs.

Non-targeted renal metabolomics reveals multi-target effects of Dahuang Zhechong Pills on renal aging in rats

This study aims to observe the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine prescription Dahuang Zhechong Pills(DHZCP on renal aging and explore its potential multi-target effects. Rats were assigned into the normal, model, DHZCP, and vitamin E(VE)groups. Firstly, the rat model of D-galactose(D-gal)-induced renal aging was established. During the modeling period, the rats in the 4 groups were administrated with double distilled water, double distilled water, DHZCP suspension, and VE suspension, respectively,by gavage every day. On day 60 of intervention, the indicators of renal aging and injury in rats were measured, including the function,histopathological characteristics, senescence-associated β-galactosidase( SA-β-gal) staining, and expression levels of Klotho and proteins associated with cell cycle arrest and senescence-associated secretory phenotype(SASP) in the renal tissue. Moreover, nontargeted metabolomic analysis of the renal tissue was performed for the 4 groups of rats to screen out the potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways. Finally, the signaling pathways of key targets were preliminarily validated. The results showed that DHZCP and VE significantly improved the renal function, histopathological features of renal tubular/interstitial tissue, and degree of SA-β-gal staining, up-regulated the expression level of Klotho, and down-regulated the expression levels of proteins associated with cell cycle arrest and SASP in the renal tissue of the aging rats. In addition, DHZCP and VE regulated the metabolites in the renal tissue of the aging rats. There were 21 common differential metabolites. Among them, 5 differential metabolites were significantly increased in the aging rats and recovered after DHZCP or VE treatment, and they were involved in the lipid metabolism and energy metabolism pathways. The areas under the curves of the groups in comparison varied within the range of 0. 88-1. DHZCP regulated multiple signaling pathways, such as the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK), cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G( c GMP-PKG), cyclic adenylic acid( c AMP), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B( PI3K-Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and autophagy signaling pathways. In addition, it affected the multiple metabolic pathways, such as renin secretion, longevity regulation pathway, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and niacin and nicotinamide metabolism. DHZCP and VE significantly up-regulated the expression level of the key proteins in the AMPK signaling pathway in the renal tissue of the aging rats. In all, DHZCP and VE could mitigate renal aging and injury. DHZCP exerted multi-target effects via multiple signaling pathways and metabolic pathways in the kidney, in which the AMPK signaling pathway may be one of the key targets for action.

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF LAFUTIDINE NANOEMULSION AS ORAL DELIVERY SYSTEM

Objective: Lafutidine is a histamine (H2) receptor antagonist utilized for the treatment of gastric ulcer. Its oral bioavailability is low due to poor water solubility and an extensive first-pass hepatic. So, the present work aims to formulate and characterize of an oil in water (o/w) nanoemulsion of lafutidine as oral liquid dosage form and this could enhance drug solubility and improve its bioavailability. Methods: The pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed via titration method. The diagram plots derived from oil, various ratios of surfactant and co-surfactant (S mix), and double distilled water. The selected optimized lafutidine nanoemulsions formula was determined via a variety of investigational studies like particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, pH, drug content and an in vitro drug release. Results: Characterization studies revealed that the optimum formula of nanoemulsions was (NE5), which consist of 0.2% of lafutidine, 30 % of surfactant and co-surfactant (S mix) (3:1), which mean (22.5%of tween 20:7.5% of polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200), 10% of peppermint oil and 59.4% of double distilled water. The optimized formula exhibited droplets size (62.56-96.2 nm), PDI (0.11), good pH value (7.1), zeta potential (-32.2 mV), high drug content (99.2%), in vitro release of lafutidine was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) for NE5. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) revealed that the droplets size of NE5 was in nano-scale. Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that the optimized formula (NE5) was promised formula of nanoemulsion for increasing the orally delivered lafutidine bioavailability.

Conduction Band Electron Density Variation Leads to Different Degrees of Ultrafast Laser Ablation of Aluminum-Silver Bimetals in Double Distilled Water

Conduction Band Electron Density Variation Leads to Different Degrees of Ultrafast Laser Ablation of Aluminum-Silver Bimetals in Double Distilled Water

Synthesis of HER-capable cobalt metal organic framework using a straightforward reflux method and a thorough spectroscopic and theoretical analysis

A Cobalt MOF was obtained under reflux using aqueous methanol. The Cobalt MOF was synthesized using Cobalt (II) perchlorate hexahydrate and 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic Acid (BTC) in a methanol mixed with double distilled water as a solvent under reflux condition for 2–3 h at 60–65 °C. The reddish solution obtained was filtered and kept in the refrigerator for almost 24 h. A crystal suitable for SC-XRD was obtained and the XRD analysis confirmed the polymeric structure of the Co-BTC. All the other analysis such as FTIR, Thermal analysis and FESEM of Co-BTC was carried out. Further, the efficacy of it as a potential catalyst towards HER was explored. The theoretical study assisted, and the data suggests that low band gap of the MOF possibly favors its efficacy in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER).

First Report of Fusarium falciforme Causing Root and Rhizome Rot of Epimedium sagittatum in China.

Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb.et Zucc.) Maxim., a perennial herb, is an important medicinal plant, rich in flavonoids, and widely used in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, rheumatic disease, and cancers (Tan et al. 2016). In July 2022, a disease of root and rhizome was found on E. sagittatum aged 1-8 years in a planting area (266 ha) of Zhumadian City (32°58'12" N, 114°37'48" E), Henan Province, China. The disease incidence per field (660 m2) was around 10-15% in six randomly surveyed fields planted with about 10,000 E. sagittatum plants each. Symptoms included leaf yellowing, root and rhizome browning, rotting and necrosis, and eventually the whole plant wilted and died. Fifteen plants with symptoms were sampled to isolate the pathogen. Symptomatic tissues were cut into small pieces of 5×5 mm, surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s, followed by three rinses with sterile double-distilled water (ddH2O). The pieces were then surface disinfected with 0.1% HgCl2 for 30 s, rinsed three times with sterile ddH2O, placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates and incubated at 28°C in the dark for 5 days. Twelve deferent Fusarium spp. colonies were purified by excising hyphal tip onto PDA for cultivation. Pathogenicity test of all strains was performed. Only isolate GY2 could result in root and rhizome rot of host plant. Colonies of GY2 on PDA had abundant white aerial mycelia with yellow halo. Macroconidia were hyaline, falciform, with a slightly curved apical cell and blunt basal cell, 29.7~45.0 (average 38.3) × 4.5~6.6 (average 5.3) µm (n =50), with 2-3 septa. Microconidia were oval, or reniform, hyaline, 8.4~26.5 (average 16.5) × 2.7~6.0 (average 4.5) µm (n =50), with 0-2 septa. Morphological characteristics of isolate GY2 were consistent with those of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) (Chehri et al. 2015). For molecular identification, a region of the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) of GY2 were PCR-amplified and sequenced using the primers EF1-728F/986R (Carbone et al. 1999) and RPB2-5f2/7cr (O'Donnell et al. 2010), respectively. The TEF and RPB2 sequences (GenBank accession nos. OR978135.1 and OR978136.1) of GY2 were concatenated for a phylogenetic analysis using the Bayesian method (Zhang et al. 2020). The phylogenetic tree revealed that isolate GY2 clustered with F. falciforme with a credibility value of 99%. Morphological and molecular results support identification of isolate GY2 as F. falciforme. A pathogenicity test was performed on 4-year-old healthy plants grown in pots. Twenty healthy plants were inoculated by pouring a 200 mL conidial suspension (1×106 conidia/mL) around the rhizome. Control plants received 200 mL of sterile ddH2O. All treatments were maintained in a greenhouse at 25±1°C and 80% relative humidity. The assay was conducted three times. After 20 days, similar symptoms as those in the field were observed on the inoculated plants, whereas controls remained asymptomatic. Fusarium falciforme was reisolated from the symptomatic plants and showed the same morphological and molecular characteristics as isolate GY2, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Fusarium falciforme was reported to cause root rot of tobacco (Qiu et al. 2023) and industrial hemp (Paugh et al. 2022). However, this is the first report of F. falciforme causing root and rhizome rot of E. sagittatum. Our study will contribute to the development of strategies for the effective management of this disease on E. sagittatum.

First Report of Alternaria alternata Causing Leaf blight on Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim. in China.

Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb.et Zucc.) Maxim. is an important material of traditional Chinese medicine because of the rich content of flavonoids that are used to treat osteoporosis, liver cancer, and sexual dysfunction (Liu et al. 2013). A leaf blight was observed on E. sagittatum in Zhumadian City, China (32°58'12" N, 114°37'48" E, continental monsoon climate) in June 2021. Survey indicated that about 18% of the plants were infected in a 266-ha commercial planting area. The initial symptoms were white patches with tan borders, irregular in outline, with small black particles visible on the center of the lesions. In a week or so, patches extended throughout the leaf, and then leaves withered. Thirty leaves with symptoms collected from five different sites were cut into 5×5 mm pieces, and then surface-sterilized with 75% ethanol for 15 s followed by rinsing with double distilled water (ddH2O) three times. The pieces were then disinfested with 0.1% HgCl2 solution for 30 s, and rinsed with ddH2O, then placed onto potato-dextrose agar medium (PDA) and incubated in the dark for 3 d at 28°C. Eight fungal isolates were purified; of these, only the isolate HY2-1 infected the host plant and was selected for further morphological characterization. The colonies of HY2-1 were olive green with loose aerial hyphae on PDA. Conidiophores were single or branched, producing brown conidia in short chains. Conidia were obclavate, obpyriform, or ellipsoidal, 15.9-47.3 µm × 7.6-16.6 µm (n=50) and pale brown or dark brown with a short cylindrical beak at the tip that contained 1-5 transverse septa and 0-4 longitudinal septa. Morphological characteristics of the isolate were identical with those of Alternaria species (Huang et al. 2022). For molecular identification, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (Weir et al. 2012), major allergen Alt a 1(Alt a 1) and translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF) (Lawrence et al. 2013) were amplified and sequenced using the primers ITS4/5, GDF/GDR, Alt-F/R, and EF1-728F/986R, respectively. The results of the sequencing were uploaded to GenBank as ITS (OR418487), GAPDH (OR419792), Alt a 1 (OR419794), and TEF (OR419796), respectively. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by concatenating all the sequenced loci using the Bayesian method in Phylosuite (Zhang et al.2020). The phylogenetic tree indicated that the isolate belongs to the A. alternata clade with a bootstrap value of 75%. The pathogen was identified as A. alternata based on the morphological and molecular results. To satisfy Koch's postulates, a conidial suspension (106 conidia/mL) of the HY2-1 was prepared with ddH2O to infect the healthy plants. Ninety healthy leaves on 30 plants in pots were punctured using a sterilized needle, and then inoculated by spraying the conidial suspension on the wounded leaves in a greenhouse at 25°C and 80% relative humidity. The control plants were sprayed with ddH2O. The plants showed similar symptoms to the original infected plant 15 d after inoculation. The controls showed no symptoms. A pure culture of A. alternata was isolated and identified again as previously described. Leaf blight caused by A. alternata has been reported on Taro (Liu et al. 2020), Toona ciliata (Wang et al. 2023), etc. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. sagittatum leaf blight caused by A. alternata in China. The results will help to develop effective control strategies for leaf blight on E. sagittatum.