Potential Antiviral Effect of Korean Forest Wild Mushrooms against Feline Coronavirus (FCoV).

Coronaviruses (CoV) are among the major viruses that cause common cold in humans. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a high-risk human pathogen that derived from bat coronaviruses, although several other animals serve as CoV hosts, contributing to human infection. As the human activity area expanded, viruses previously prevalent only in animals mutated and became threats to humans as well, leading to worldwide epidemics. Therefore, controlling CoV infections in animals is essential to prevent CoV-related human infections. Feline coronavirus (FCoV) could be reportedly used as an alternative model for SARS-CoV-2. Traditionally, mushrooms are not only foods but are also consumed to prevent diseases. Importantly, certain edible and medicinal mushrooms display antibacterial and antiviral effects against respiratory pathogens; therefore, they could be tested as potential coronavirus treatment agents. In this study, we investigated if wild forest mushrooms with various reported physiological activities could exhibit an antiviral activity against CoV, using FCoV as a SARS-CoV-2 model infecting Crandell Rees feline kidney cells. We measured the antiviral activity of 11 wild mushrooms overall and our results demonstrated that Pleurotus ostreatus and Phallus luteus displayed the highest antiviral efficacy of 55.33%, followed by Tricholoma bakamatsutake at 43.77%. Grifola frondosa, Morchella esculenta, and Sarcodon imbricatus exhibited mild efficacy of 29.21%. We also tested Amanita caesareoides, Marasmius siccus, Pachyma hoelen, Phallus rubrovolvata, and Sparassis latifolia but could not detect any antiviral activity in their case. Our study confirms that wild forest mushrooms could be used as potential functional foods or pharmacological materials against coronavirus.

Attention mechanisms and emotion judgment for Korean and American emotional faces: an eye movement study.

Introduction: This study investigates attention mechanisms and the accuracy of emotion judgment among South Korean children by employing Korean and American faces in conjunction with eye-tracking technology. Methods: A total of 42 participants were individually presented with photos featuring either Korean or American children, and their task was to judge the emotions conveyed through the facial expressions in each photo. The participants' eye movements during picture viewing were meticulously observed using an eye tracker. Results: The analysis of the emotion judgment task outcomes revealed that the accuracy scores for discerning emotions of joy, sadness, and anger in Korean emotional faces were found to be significantly higher than those for American children. Conversely, no significant difference in accuracy scores was observed for the recognition of fear emotion between Korean and American faces. Notably, the study also uncovered distinct patterns of fixation duration among children, depending on whether they were viewing Korean or American faces. These patterns predominantly manifested in the three main facial areas of interest, namely the eyes, nose, and mouth. Discussion: The observed phenomena can be best understood within the framework of the "other-race effect." Consequently, this prototype formation leads to heightened accuracy in recognizing and interpreting emotional expressions exhibited by faces belonging to the same racial group. The present study contributes to a deeper understanding of how attention mechanisms and other-race effects impact emotion judgment among South Korean children. The utilization of eye-tracking technology enhances the validity and precision of our findings, providing valuable insights for both theoretical models of face processing and practical applications in various fields such as psychology, education, and intercultural communication.

The effect of diet, exercise, and lifestyle intervention on childhood obesity: A network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Trials investigating the efficacy of different interventions for overweight children are limited and controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to perform a network meta-analysis on the efficacy of various interventions for children with obesity (an average age of 6-12 years old). METHODS: We obtained the data of trials reporting pre-post obesity relevant outcomes (e.g. BMI, BMI z-score, percent body fat, or percent overweight) from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, and Web of Science databases (completed before February 25, 2019) and included at least one pair of direct comparison groups. The mean difference of outcomes and their associated 95% CI were used to determine the efficacy. The P-score was calculated to illustrate the rank probability of various treatments for different outcomes using a network meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis included 24 studies that evaluated the interventions for childhood obesity. RESULTS: All 24 trials had no high risk of bias. Interventions such as exercise without parents (E w/o P); diet with parents (D w/P); and diet, exercise, and lifestyle with parents (D+E+L w/P) were significantly effective for children with obesity when compared with no intervention. CONCLUSIONS: E w/o P exhibited the highest P-score, with the D w/P and D+E+L w/P ranks having P-scores of 0.7486 and 0.5464, respectively. Moreover, the results indicate that E w/o P, D w/P, and D+E+L w/P were significantly effective treatments for children with obesity when compared with no intervention.

Effects of Pheromone Dose and Trap Height on Capture of a Bast Scale of Pine, Matsucoccus thunbergianae (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) and Development of a New Synthesis Method.

Matsuone is a well-known sex pheromone of the genus Matsucoccus (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), including species Matsucoccus matsumurae (Kuwana), Matsucoccus resinosae Bean & Goldwin, and Matsucoccus thunbergianae Miller & Park. In this study, we investigated the effects of matsuone dose and trap height on the capture of M. thunbergianae and developed an alternative synthesis of racemic matsuone. In field trapping experiments, M. thunbergianae males showed dose-dependent attraction to (6R,10R/S)-matsuone from 100 µg up to an approximate saturation level of 1,600 µg per rubber septum lure. Traps baited with (6R,10R/S)-matsuone and installed 50 cm above ground level attracted more males than traps 100 and 150 cm above ground level. To reduce synthesis procedures, time, and labor, we developed a new synthetic route to racemic matsuone and conducted field experiments with the product. Although traps baited with the racemic matsuone were less attractive than traps baited with (6R,10R/S)-matsuone synthesized by a previously reported method, the new synthetic route could be an economically favorable alternative to the previous method used in production of lures for field application.

Identification of Aggregation-Sex Pheromone of the Korean Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Population, the Main Vector of Pine Wood Nematode.

We confirmed an aggregation-sex pheromone of the Korean Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) population, which primarily transmitted the pine wood nematode in Korea. Only the M. alternatus male emitted monochamol which has been previously reported in the Chinese M. alternatus population. In field attraction testing, the monochamol+α-pinene+ethanol combination attracted more M. alternatus adult beetles than traps containing only monochamol, ethanol, or α-pinene. The bark beetle aggregation pheromone compounds of ipsenol, ipsdienol, and ipsenol+ipsdienol, did not show synergistic effects with the monochamol+α-pinene+ethanol combination. No synergistic effects were observed when each host volatile compound of 3-carene, ß-caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene, and ß-pinene was added to traps containing monochamol+α-pinene+ethanol. The ratio of female beetles was much higher in traps containing the monochamol+α-pinene+ethanol combination than that of the natural population. Our results indicated that pheromone and synergists could be useful for managing the M. alternatus population.

Insecticidal Activity of Lamiaceae Plant Essential Oils and Their Constituents Against Blattella germanica L. Adult.

The insecticidal activities of 13 Lamiaceae plant oils and their components against adult German cockroaches, Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea: Blattellidae), were evaluated using fumigant and contact bioassay. Among the tested oils, basil, pennyroyal, and spearmint showed the strongest insecticidal activities against adult B. germanica. Insecticidal activity of pennyroyal was 100% against male B. germanica at 1.25 mg concentration in fumigant bioassay. Basil and spearmint revealed 100% and 100% insecticidal activity against male B. germanica at 5 mg concentration, but their activities reduced to 80% and 25% at 2.5 mg concentration, respectively. In contact, toxicity bioassay, basil, pennyroyal, and spearmint oils exhibited 100%, 100%, and 98% mortality against female B. germanica at 1 mg/♀, respectively. Among the constituents identified in basil, pennyroyal, and spearmint oils, insecticidal activity of pulegone was the strongest against male and female B. germanica.

Nematicidal Activity of 3-Acyltetramic Acid Analogues Against Pine Wood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Among 98 3-acyltetramic acid analogues, compounds 1c, 2c, 2f and 2g, showed >90% nematicidal activity against the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus at a 10 µg/mL concentration. The nematicidal activities of compounds 1d, 1h, and 2k were a little lower at 88.0%, 85.8%, and 57.2% at a 10 µg/mL concentration, respectively. The nematicidal activity of emamection benzoate, widely used in Korea for the prevention of pine wilt disease, was 32.3% at a 10 µg/mL concentration. Other 3-acyltetramic acid analogues showed less than 30% nematicidal activity. A structure-activity relationship study indicated that the chain length of the C-acyl substituent was very important for high nematicidal activity. All active compounds had C13H27 or C11H23 acyl substituents, in two closely related groups with the common physicochemical properties of a polar surface area 57.6A², PSA (polar surface area) 7.8-8.6% and ClogP (calculated partition coefficient) 5.1-5.9 and a polar surface area 75-84A², PSA 11.1-11.6% and ClogP 4.7-5.1, respectively. Our study indicates that active 3-acyltetramic acid analogues could have potential as lead compounds for developing novel pine wood nematode control agents.

Identification of the Aggregation-sex Pheromone Produced by Male Monochamus saltuarius, a Major Insect Vector of the Pine Wood Nematode.

In this study, we isolated and identified an aggregation-sex pheromone from Monochamus saltuarius, the major insect vector of the pine wood nematode in Korea. Adult males of M. saltuarius produce 2-undecyloxy-1-ethanol, which is known as an aggregation-sex pheromone in other Monochamus species. We performed field experiments to determine the attractiveness of the pheromone and other synergists. More M. saltuarius adult beetles were attracted to traps baited with the pheromone than to unbaited traps. Ethanol and (-)-α-pinene interacted synergistically with the pheromone. Traps baited with the pheromone + (-)-α-pinene +ethanol were more attractive to M. saltuarius adults than traps baited with the pheromone, (-)-α-pinene, or ethanol alone. Ipsenol, ipsdienol, and limonene were also identified as synergists of the aggregation-sex pheromone for M. saltuarius adults. In field experiments, the proportion of females was much higher in the beetles caught in traps than among the beetles emerging from naturally-infested logs in the laboratory. Our results suggest that a combination of aggregation-sex pheromone and synergists could be very effective for monitoring and managing M. saltuarius.

Larvicidal and Nematicidal Activities of 3-Acylbarbituric Acid Analogues against Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and Pine Wood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

Widespread concern for the occurrence of resistant strains, along with the avoidance of the use of highly toxic insecticides and their wide environmental dispersal, highlights the need for the development of new and safer pest control agents. Natural products provide inspiration for new chemical entities with biological activities, and their analogues are good lead compounds for the development of new pest control agents. For this purpose, we evaluated the larvicidal and nematicidal activities of 48 3-acylbarbituric acid analogues against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus and the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, organisms of increasing global concern. Among the 48 3-acylbarbituric acid analogues, four compounds-10, 14d, 14g and 19b-showed >90% larvicidal activity against Ae. albopictus at 10 µg/mL concentration, and one (compound 10) showed the strongest larvicidal activity against Ae. albopictus, with a LC50 value of 0.22 µg/mL. Only compound 18 showed strong nematicidal activity against pine wood nematode. Most active compounds possessed similar physicochemical properties; thus, actives typically had ClogP values of around 1.40-1.50 and rel-PSA values of 16-17% and these similar cheminformatic characteristics reflect their similar structure. This study indicates that active 3-acylbarbituric acids analogues have potential as lead compounds for developing novel mosquito control agents.

Repellent Activity of Apiaceae Plant Essential Oils and their Constituents Against Adult German Cockroaches.

We evaluated the repellent activity of 12 Apiaceae plant essential oils and their components against male and female adult German cockroaches, Blattella germanica L., to find new natural repellents. Of all the plant essential oils tested, ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi Sprague) and dill (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oils showed the most potent repellent activity against male and female adult German cockroaches. Repellent activities of chemicals already identified in active oils were also investigated. Of the compounds identified, carvacrol, thymol, and R-(-)-carvone showed >80% repellent activity against male and female adult German cockroaches at 2.5 µg/cm2. S-(+)-Carvone, (+)-dihydrocarvone, and terpinen-4-ol showed >70% repellent activity against male and female adult German cockroaches at 10 µg/cm2. Our results indicated that Apiaceae plant essential oils and their constituents have good potential as natural repellents against adult German cockroaches.

Fumigant Toxicity of Lamiaceae Plant Essential Oils and Blends of Their Constituents against Adult Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae.

To find a new and safe alternative to conventional insecticides, we evaluated the fumigant toxicity of eight Lamiaceae essential oils and their constituents against the adult rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae. Of the eight species tested, hyssop (Hyssopus offcinalis), majoram (Origanum majorana), and Thymus zygis essential oils showed strong fumigant toxicity against S. oryzae adults at 25 mg/L air concentration. Constituents of active essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector (FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 13, 15, and 17 compounds were identified from hyssop, majoram, and Thymus zygis essential oils, respectively. Pinocamphone and isopinocamphone were isolated by open column chromatography. Among the test compounds, pinocamphone and isopinocamphone showed the strongest fumigant toxicity against S. oryzae. Sabinene hydrate, linalool, α-terpineol, and terpinen-4-ol exhibited 100% fumigant toxicity against S. oryzae at 3.9 mg/L air concentration. The measured toxicity of the artificial blends of the constituents identified in hyssop, majoram, and Thymus zygis oils indicated that isopinocamphone, terpine-4-ol, and linalool were major contributors to the fumigant toxicity of the artificial blend, respectively.

Larvicidal and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of apiaceae plant essential oils and their constituents against aedes albopictus and formulation development.

This study evaluated the larvicidal activity of 12 Apiaceae plant essential oils and their components against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase with their components. Of the 12 plant essential oils tested, ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi), caraway seed (Carum carvi), carrot seed (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), dill (Anethum graveolens), and parsley (Petroselinum sativum) resulted in >90% larval mortality when used at 0.1 mg/mL. Of the compounds identified, α-phellandrene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, (-)-limonene, (+)-limonene, γ-terpinene, cuminaldehyde, neral, (S)-+-carvone, trans-anethole, thymol, carvacrol, myristicin, apiol, and carotol resulted in >80% larval mortality when used at 0.1 mg/mL. Two days after treatment, 24.69, 3.64, and 12.43% of the original amounts of the celery, cumin, and parsley oils, respectively, remained in the water. Less than 50% of the original amounts of α-phellandrene, 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, cuminaldehyde, and trans-antheole were detected in the water at 2 days after treatment. Carvacrol, α-pinene, and ß-pinene inhibited the activity of Ae. albopictus acetylcholinesterase with IC50 values of 0.057, 0.062, and 0.190 mg/mL, respectively. A spherical microemulsion of parsley essential oil-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was prepared, and the larvicidal activity of this formulation was shown to be similar to that of parsley oil.