Behavioral Effect of Sterculia apetala Seed Oil Consumption in Male Zucker Rats

Socorro Herrera-Meza,Juan Francisco Rodrıguez-Landa,Armando J. Martınez,Grecia Herrera-Meza,Rafael Fernandez-Demeneghi,Karla Reyes-Saldana,Rosa Marıa Oliart-Ros 한국식품영양과학회 2017 Journal of medicinal food Vol.20 No.11

Sterculia apetala (order: Malvales, family: Sterculiaceae) seed oil contains two cyclopropene fatty acids: sterculic and malvalic acid. Both positive and negative effects have been associated with the consumption of sterculic oil. In Mexico, S. apetala seeds are consumed after being boiled or roasted, used as chocolate flavoring, and utilized as animal fodder. Therefore, it is important to evaluate whether the consumption of this seed has a negative impact on the organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of administration of sterculic oil, during an 8-week period, on anxiety-like behavior and spontaneous locomotor activity in Zucker rats, analyzed through light/dark and open-field tests. The results showed that the consumption of sterculic oil decreased exploration latency in light/dark tests, which suggests an anxiolytic-like effect. Alterations in time spent on rearing and grooming were present in open-field tests, but this was not statistically significant, discarding nonspecific motor alterations. The alterations found in this study are possibly related to intrinsic obesity and metabolic complications present in the Zucker rat model, where leptin plays an important role in animal mood, more so than sterculic oil consumption.

Effect of agave fructans on the production of short chain fatty acid in mice

Silvia M. Gonza´lez-Herrera,Luis E. Simental-Mendı´a,Mercedes G. Lo´pez,Nuria E. Rocha-Guzma´n,Olga M. Rutiaga-Quin˜ones,Rau´ l Rodrı´guez-Herrera,Claudia I. Gamboa-Go´mez 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.5

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of agave fructans on short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in mice (C57BL/6). Animals were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8): control group (CG), fructans from Agave tequilana group (FG) (55 g per day/kg of body weight), and oligrofructose group (OG) (55 g per day/kg of body weight). Treatments were administered oral via for 6 weeks. After 24 days of treatment (phase 1), both treated groups exhibited elevated levels of acetic (12%) and propionic (FG 66% and OG 38%) acids in comparison with the CG. After 42 days of treatment (phase 2), FG had higher concentrations of acetic (33%) and propionic (73%) acids than the CG; while OG exhibited higher levels of butyric (12%) and propionic (35%) acids compared with the CG. Fructans from Agave tequilana improve the production of SCFA in mice, suggesting a prebiotic activity.

The contribution of the Chilean mining industry to the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals

Herrera Miguel N. 한국자원공학회 2022 Geosystem engineering Vol.25 No.3

Chile is a world leader in copper production and is expected to reach production of around 6,237,000 tons of fine copper by 2022. On the other hand, in 2021 the production of copper by the hydrometallurgical route reached 1,509,000 tons and that of the smelting and refining route was 4,606,000 tons. Considering this production scenario, this article describes in a general way the contributions that the Chilean mining industry has made to the fulfillment of the 17 sustainable development goals, SDGs. The main advances are highlighted, besides discussing the main pending tasks to comply with the commitments made by Chile towards the international community.

Analysis of Volumetric Deformation Influence Factor after Liquefaction of Sand using Cyclic Direct Simple Shear Tests

Herrera, Diego(에레라 디에고),Kim, Jongkwan(김종관),Kwak, Tae-Young(곽태영),Han, Jin-Tae(한진태) 한국지반공학회 2024 한국지반공학회논문집 Vol.40 No.3

본 연구에서는 여러 영향 인자들이 사질토의 액상화로 인한 침하에 미치는 영향을 확인하기 위해 변형률 제어조건 하에서 반복단순직접전단시험을 수행하였다. 누적 전단 변형률, 상대밀도, 반복 하중의 형태, 시료 준비 방법 등의 다양한 인자들을 선정하였으며, 지진 하중이 발생하였을 때 인자들이 지반 침하에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 시험 결과, 누적 전단 변형률이 낮고 상대밀도가 높은 시료에서 더 작은 부피 변형이 발생하였다. 추가적으로 반복 하중의 진폭은 부피 변형에 영향을 미쳤으나, 주파수는 시료의 부피 변형에 영향을 미치지 않는다는 사실을 확인할 수 있었다. 시료 준비 방법에 따라서도 액상화에 따른 침하가 다른 양상을 보인다는 사실을 확인하였으며, 이와 같은 결과들은 향후 액상화로 인한 침하 예측을 수행할 때 기초 연구로써 의미가 있을 것으로 기대된다. This study investigates liquefaction-induced settlement through strain-controlled tests using a cyclic direct simple shear device on clean sand specimens. By focusing on the accumulated shear strain, soil density, sample preparation method, and cyclic waveshape, this study attempts to enhance the understanding of soil behavior under seismic loading and its further deformation. Results from tests conducted on remolded samples reveal insights into excess pore water pressure development and post-liquefaction volumetric strain behavior, with denser samples exhibiting lower volumetric strains than looser samples. Similarly, the correlation between the frequency and amplitude variations of the wave and volumetric strain highlights the importance of wave characteristics in soil response, with shear strain amplitude changes, varying the volumetric strain response after reconsolidation. In addition, samples prepared under moist conditions exhibit less volumetric strain than dry-reconstituted samples. Overall, the findings of this study are expected to contribute to predictive models to evaluate liquefaction-induced settlement.

ZnO thin films with Cu, Ga and Ag dopants prepared by ZnS oxidation in different ambient

Herrera, Roberto Benjamin Cortes,Kryshtab, Tetyana,Andraca Adame, Jose Alberto,Kryvko, Andriy Techno-Press 2017 Advances in nano research Vol.5 No.3

ZnO, ZnO: Cu, Ga, and ZnO: Cu, Ga, Ag thin films were obtained by oxidization of ZnS and ZnS: Cu, Ga films deposited onto glass substrates by electron-beam evaporation from ZnS and ZnS: Cu, Ga targets and from ZnS: Cu, Ga film additionally doped with Ag by the closed space sublimation technique at atmospheric pressure. The film thickness was about $1{\mu}m$. The oxidation was carried out at $600-650^{\circ}C$ in air or in an atmosphere containing water vapor. Structural characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films were measured at 30-300 K using the excitation wavelengths of 337, 405 and 457.9 nm. As-deposited ZnS and ZnS: Cu, Ga films had cubic structure. The oxidation of the doped films in air or in water vapors led to complete ZnO phase transition. XRD and AFM studies showed that the grain sizes of oxidized films at wet annealing were larger than of the films after dry annealing. As-deposited doped and undoped ZnS thin films did not emit PL. Shape and intensity of the PL emission depended on doping and oxidation conditions. Emission intensity of the films annealed in water vapors was higher than of the films annealed in the air. PL of ZnO: Cu, Ga films excited by 337 nm wavelength exhibits UV (380 nm) and green emission (500 nm). PL spectra at 300 and 30 K excited by 457.9 and 405 nm wavelengths consisted of two bands - the green band at 500 nm and the red band at 650 nm. Location and intensities ratio depended on the preparation conditions.

Increased Expression of HOXB2 and HOXB13 Proteins is Associated with HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Progression

Gonzalez-Herrera, A.L.,Salgado-Bernabe, M.,Velazquez-Velazquez, C.K.,Salcedo-Vargas, M.,Andrade-Manzano, A.,Avila-Moreno, F.,Pina-Sanchez, P. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.4

Background: Cervical cancer (CeCa) is the second most common cancer in women in developing countries, and human papilloma virus (HPV) is the primary etiological factor. Aberrant expression of HOX transcription factors has been observed in several types of cancer. To date, however, no reports exist on the expression of HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins during neoplastic progression in CeCa and its correlation with HPV infection. Materials and Methods: Expression of HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins was assessed in tissue microarrays from normal cervical epithelium, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias grade 1-3, and CeCa. HPV was detected by PCR and sequencing. Expression of HOX-positive cells was determined in each diagnostic group. Results: Percentage of HOXB2- and HOXB13-positive cells gradually increased from means of 10.9% and 16.7%, respectively, in samples from healthy women, to 75.2% and 88.6% in those from CeCa patients. Frequency of HPV infection also increased from 13% in healthy tissue samples to 92.3% in CeCa. Both HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins were preferentially expressed in HPV+ samples. Conclusions: The present study represents the first report on the expression of both HOXB2 and HOXB13 proteins through cervix tumorigenesis, providing evidence that increased expression of such proteins is a common event during progression to CeCa.

Physical-chemical and biological characterization of different preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin

Rafael Herrera Alvarez,Fabio Luis Nogueira Natal,Maria Teresa Carvalho Pinto Ribela,Beatriz Elane de Almeida,João Ezequiel de Oliveira,Paolo Bartolini 대한수의학회 2016 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.17 No.4

Ovarian stimulation with commercial preparations of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) produces extremely variable responses indomestic animals, ranging from excessive stimulation to practically no stimulation, when applied on the basis of their declared unitage. Thisstudy was conducted to analyze four commercial preparations from different manufacturers via reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) incomparison with a reference preparation and an official International Standard from the World Health Organization. The peaks obtained bythis qualitative and quantitative physical–chemical analysis were compared using an in vivo bioassay based on the ovarian weight gain ofprepubertal female rats. The RP-HPLC data showed one or two peaks close to a main peak (tR = 27.9 min), which were related to the in vivobioactivity. Commercial preparations that have this altered peak showed very little or no in vivo activity, as demonstrated by rat ovarian weightand in peripubertal gilts induced to ovulate. Overall, these findings indicate that RP-HPLC can be a rapid and reliable tool to reveal changesin the physicochemical profile of commercial eCG that is apparently related to decreased biological activity of this hormone.

Healthy City Project in Cienfuegos, Cuba

Maybin Herrera Sanchez,Yeseul Jung(정예슬),Yuliya Dronina,Eun Woo Nam(남은우) 한국보건교육건강증진학회 2020 보건교육건강증진학회지 Vol.37 No.1

Objectives: The World Health Organization’s Healthy City Project was established to increase the health commitment of citizens in urban settings and to improve deteriorating health conditions. Cuba’s Cienfuegos city introduced the “Healthy City Project”, adapting the concept with projects based in primary healthcare. The study aimed to review the implementation of this project in Cienfuegos City, Cuba. Methods: Cuba’s Healthy City Project was reviewed by analyzing the experiences of Cienfuegos city. Relevant literature related to the implementation of the Healthy City Project was also reviewed and web-based gray literature was assessed, searched, and selected. Additionally, reports from Google Scholar and the Scientific Electronic Library Online were used to gather complementary information. Results: Initiated in 1989, the city of Cienfuegos used the Healthy City Project as a strategy for health promotion, lifestyle modification, and disease prevention. It undertook this initiative as the local government’s plan to help reduce non-communicable diseases and the associated initiatives to transform the city into a healthier one has proven to be successful, especially by involving the community and engendering the government’s political commitment. The Project has involved schools and hospitals to improve personal and community health. Conclusion: The Project has been proven effective by involving the community, yet there are some considerations, such as upgrading the evaluation system, that would improve the overall outcome of the Project.

Agave tequilana Counteracts Chronic Hypertension and Associated Vascular Damage

Maribel Herrera-Ruiz,Zu´lima Jannette Gutie´rrez-Nava,Celeste Trejo-Moreno,Alejandro Zamilpa,Manase´s Gonza´lez-Cortazar,Antonio Ruperto Jime´nez-Aparicio,Enrique Jime´nez-Ferrer 한국식품영양과학회 2022 Journal of medicinal food Vol.25 No.4

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a health problem of great importance worldwide, and endothelial dysfunction underlies SAH development. This condition's main characteristics include vasoconstriction, inflammation, oxidative stress, and procoagulant and proliferative states. This study's objective was to evaluate the antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of the whole extract and fractions of Agave tequilana in a murine model of SAH. SAH was induced in male ICR or CD-1 (Strain obtained from animals from Charles River Laboratories, Massachusetts) mice by intraperitoneal administration of angiotensin II (AGII) (0.1 μg/kg) for 4 weeks, and then A. tequilana treatments were co-administered with AGII. At the end of the experiment, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured and the kidneys were dissected to quantify interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-10, and malondialdehyde (MDA). The whole extract and the fractions of A. tequilana were chemically characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the whole extract (At-W) and At-AcOEt fraction treatment are the most efficient in lowering blood pressure, although all the treatments had an immunomodulatory effect on the cytokines evaluated and an antioxidant effect on lipid peroxidation. Finally, the chromatographic profile shows that the integral extract and fractions of A. tequilana contained phytol (M)3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol; 9,12-octadecadienoic acid; hentriacontane; 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol,(3b); t-sitosterol; and stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one.

Effect of Solidification Path and Contraction on the Cracking Susceptibility of Carbon Peritectic Steels

Martin Herrera Trejo,Eddy Alfaro Lopez,Jose Jorge Ruiz Mondragon,Manuel de Jesus Castro Roman,Hugo Solis Tovar 대한금속·재료학회 2010 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.16 No.5

The solidification path and contraction generated during the solidification of three carbon steels were studied. Two of the carbon steels were of hypo-peritectic chemical composition, with 0.11 % C and 0.15 % C, while one of the carbon steels were hyper-peritectic with 0.16 % C. The steels with 0.11 % C and 0.16 % C solidified as expected due to their chemical composition. In contrast, the chemically hypo-peritectic steel with 0.15 % C solidified as hyper-peritectic steel, which was associated with the microsegregation of Mn. For the steel exhibiting a hypo-peritectic solidification path, peritectic transformation occurred at solid fraction values higher than 0.9, where it was assumed that the contraction generated in the mushy shell cannot be fed by the liquid. However, for steels exhibiting a hyper-peritectic solidification path, peritectic transformation began at solid fraction values lower than 0.9, where the contraction generated by the peritectic transformation was partly fed by the liquid. Hence, the highest cracking susceptibility was associated with the hypo-peritectic solidification mode.