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The non-edible parts of Moringa oleifera, such as stems, branches or leaf petioles, have often been discarded while the leaves are consumed as a vegetable or are used to produce organic fertilizer. This study aimed to determine the optimal conditions for producing Moringa organic fertilizer (MOF) from previously unused parts and to compare these fertilizers with cow manure and bio-organic fertilizer. Seventy kilograms of the unused Moringa parts were blended with fifty kilograms of manure, 0.2 kilogram of Trichoderma-based product and two kilograms of superphosphate. The mixture was incubated at different intervals, including 5, 7 or 9 weeks. Next, the effects of MOF on the growth, yield, ascorbic acid content and Brix of lettuce and mustard spinach were also determined and compared with other organic fertilizers (cow manure and bio-organic fertilizer). Results of the study revealed that 25 tons per ha of MOF were significantly superior to those treated with cow manure and bio-organic fertilizer in the case of vegetable yields. Further, 7 weeks of MOF incubation was found suitable to produce an optimal yield during the various incubation period. These results suggested that the Moringa non-edible parts can make organic fertilizer and enhance growth, yield, and leafy vegetable production.

Biofertilizers produced from organic materials help to promote the growth, and yield quality of crops and is more environmentally friendly than chemical fertilizers. Moringa oleifera is a leafy vegetable whose leaves are also used to make biofertilizers. The use of moringa non-edible parts in biofertilizer preparation remains under-explored. In this study, a procedure to produce moringa foliar biofertilizer (MFB) from non-edible parts was developed. The effect of composting time (3 to 4 months) on the quality of MFB was investigated, and four-month incubation was found suitable for biofertilizers yield with the highest nitrogen content and optimal pH. Furthermore, the influences of MFB doses (20 to 100 mL per Litre) on the growth of lettuce and mustard spinach were studied. The yield of these leafy vegetables was the highest at 100 mL per Litre of MFB spray. Finally, MFB was compared with other commercial foliar sprays, including chitosan fertilizer and seaweed fertilizer. Each foliar treatment was applied every five days until five days before harvest. Plant height, the number of leaves, canopy diameter, leaf area index, actual yield, ascorbic acid content, and Brix were found to be similar in lettuce sprayed with MFB, chitosan, and seaweed fertilizers. In conclusion, the application of MFB promoted the growth and yield of mustard spinach.

Background: Post-transcriptional regulation is the control of gene expression at the RNA level. After produced, the stability and distribution of the different transcripts are regulated by means of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Mutations in RNA-binding proteins can cause Mendelian diseases - prominently neuromuscular disorders and cancers. This study determines the interaction between RBPs and target-RNA complexes from public data of the ENCODE project and identifies mutations associated with Mendelian diseases that could disrupt the RBP-RNA interactions. Materials and methods: we performed a transcriptome - wide bioinformatics prediction of the binding sites of RBPs in the human transcriptome from public data of the ENCODE project. Results: The majority (54%) of pathogenic mutation putatively affecting the binding sites of RBPs are located in protein - coding genes and are mainly classified as loss - of - function mutations. Mutations located in the binding sites of RBPs related to RNA processing. For 13 diseases, Familial hypercholesterolemia is the most significant disease with about 40% of mutations in ClinVar database located into the binding sites of RBPs (p=2.3e-65), but congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is the disease with the highest percentage of mutations affecting the binding sites of RBPs (98%, p=2.7e-25). The RBPs most involved in human Mendelian diseases by binding sites-disrupting mutations are YBX3, AQR and PRPF8. Conclusions: A large number of Mendelian diseases are potentially mediated by disease - causing variants that potentially disrupt the binding sites of RBPs. This will provide insight sharper on post - transcriptional mechanisms. Besides, it is useful to know the role of protein - RNA interactome networks in pathologies, thereby serving the treatment of diseases. Key words: bioinformatics analysis, ENCODE project, ClinVar, RNA-binding proteins, Mendelian diseases

The Xanthomonas transcription activator-like effector (TALE) protein AvrBs3 transcriptionally activates the executor-type resistance (R) gene Bs3 from pepper (Capsicum annuum), thereby triggering a hypersensitive cell death reaction (HR). AvrBs3 also triggers an HR in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) upon recognition by the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) R protein Bs4. Whether the executor-type R protein Bs3 and the NLR-type R protein Bs4 use common or distinct signalling components to trigger an HR remains unclear. CRISPR/Cas9-mutagenesis revealed, that the immune signalling node EDS1 is required for Bs4- but not for Bs3-dependent HR, suggesting that NLR- and executor-type R proteins trigger an HR via distinct signalling pathways. CRISPR/Cas9-mutagenesis also revealed that tomato Bs4 suppresses the virulence function of both TALEs, the HR-inducing AvrBs3 protein and of AvrHah1, a TALE that does not trigger an HR in tomato. Analysis of AvrBs3- and AvrHah1-induced host transcripts and disease phenotypes in CRISPR/Cas9-induced bs4 mutant plants indicates that both TALEs target orthologous transcription factor genes to promote disease in tomato and pepper host plants. Our studies display that tomato mutants lacking the TALE-sensing Bs4 protein provide a novel platform to either uncover TALE-induced disease phenotypes or genetically dissect components of executor-triggered HR.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivation is gaining popularity among Vietnamese farmers. Two separate experiments were conducted from January to April 2018 in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Four levels of each factor were included in the experiments: 0, 20, 40, and 60 kg/ha for nitrogen and 11, 13, 16, and 20 plants/m2 for the density. The nitrogen fertilizer (up to 60 kg/ha) substantially affects the leaf area, diameters of stem plant, receptacle and flower head, and cut flower vase life. Low plant density works well on plant height, leaf number, width and length at the flowering stage, with the largest head diameter (17.2 cm) at the 13 plants/m2 density. Based on the results of both growth ability and economic efficiency, we suggested applying N at 60 kg/ha and planting at 16 plants/m2 density for growing F1 cut sunflowers in Thua Thien Hue province.

El Niño and the prolonged warm sea surface temperature significantly impacted coral reefs and caused coral bleaching in some parts of the world. This study evaluated the density of symbiotic algae and bacteria associated with the three coral species, namely Acropora hyacinthus, Acropora muricata, and Acropora robusta, collected in Hang Rai, Ninh Thuan in May, June, August 2016, and June 2017. The number of zooxanthellae with each coral species was statistically significant and correlated with several environmental factors, suggesting that symbiotic algae could play a key role in coral health. The number of associated microbial with the three coral species was significantly different; they tended to depend on sampling time rather than coral species-specific. At the time of ENSO (2016), the difference in the total associated bacteria with all three coral species was statistically significant. While the total number of related bacteria with all three species of coral collected in 2017 did not differ from the total of bacteria in ambient water. In conclusion, symbiotic algae tend to be species-specific, whereas bacteria fluctuate significantly over sampling time. Studying the molecular issues of microalgae, the presence, the role of some groups of bacteria involved in the N, C, P, and S cycles, and the influence of environmental parameters should also be encouraged to understand the relationship of coral holobiont better.

Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that involves the physical process and contributes to changes in chemistry, biology, and natural resources. So, systematically, it is the particular ecosystems of whole marine regions with the upwelling. The strong upwelling waters in South Central Regions of Vietnam have uncertain features of the East Vietnam Sea (Bien Dong) and special characteristics of a coastal upwelling area, recorded in international scientific papers in the twentieth century. Their first signals were discovered in the early 1930s through conceptual ideas. The upwelling phenomenon is officially confirmed by scientific results of marine investigations of the NAGA Expedition (1959–1961). The paper aims to review and discuss the physical from Vietnamese investigation and results since 1990s. The following factors are the most contributing to forming and developing the strong upwelling in Southern Central Waters: (1) Influence scale (Mezo- and micro-scale); (2) Forming causes and developing mechanism of upwelling phenomenon, such as monsoon, morphography, shoreline, and western boundary current system of the East Vietnam Sea; (3) Influence of the water-mass from Mekong River on the upwelling area; (4) Ecological environmental consequences; (5) Impacts of the atmospheric-oceanic interaction processes on the western EVS on upwelling. Additionally, the review has targeted findings of upwelling phenomenon mainly in Vietnamese waters based on remote sensing analysis and reanalysis data series to simulate their forming, mechanizing, fluctuating models and the impacts of upwelling in the EVS on resources and ecosystems. The coupled atmosphere-ocean models resulted the upwelling mechanisms and formation. The long-time series of upwelling phenomenon (Macroscale) were evaluated by remote sensing and reanalyzed data series. It is also providing the supplementing and detailing causes and mechanisms of upwelling formation; impacts and interactions of upwelling on marine physics and hydrodynamics (ocean vortexes, seawater temperature), biochemical (nutrients, plankton organisms), and resources (fish, seafood). Within the framework of strong upwelling waters in the Southern Central Regions (Vietnam), the review has not only mentioned partly clarified scientific results but also indicates the limitations and challenges which were faced and encountered in the forecasters of upwelling phenomena in the future.

Mục tiêu: Đánh giá hiệu quả can thiệp phục hồi chức năng tới chất lượng cuộc sống (CLCS) của người bệnh đột quỵ nhồi máu não. Đối tượng và phương pháp nghiên cứu: Nghiên cứu can thiệp, đánh giá so sánh trước và sau điều trị. 92 bệnh nhân đột quỵ nhồi máu não điều trị nội trú tại Bệnh viện Phục hồi chức năng Hà Nội được can thiệp chương trình phục hồi chức năng vận động trị liệu, hoạt động trị liệu, ngôn ngữ trị liệu, dinh dưỡng, điều dưỡng theo liệu trình 02 buổi/ngày x 5 ngày/tuần trong 01 tháng. Bệnh nhân được đánh giá CLCS bằng thang điểm CLCS cho người bệnh đột quỵ não (Stroke Specific Quality of Life/SS-QOL) và thang điểm lượng giá CLCS theo tiêu chuẩn châu Âu (Euro Qol-5D / EQ-5D). Kết quả: Sau 4 tuần điều trị, mức độ CLCS theo thang SSQOL, điểm trung bình CLCS, điểm trung bình CLCS theo từng lĩnh vực sức khỏe chức năng, sức khỏe thể chất, tâm lý, xã hội ở thời điểm sau điều trị 4 tuần đều cao hơn lúc vào viện có ý nghĩa thống kê với p < 0,05. Điểm trung bình CLCS bệnh nhân theo thang điểm EQ-5D cao hơn lúc vào viện có ý nghĩa thống kê với p < 0,001. Có 56,5% (52 bệnh nhân) có điểm CLCS cải thiện, 43,5% (40 bệnh nhân) điểm CLCS chưa có sự cải thiện. Kết luận: Sau 4 tuần can thiệp phục hồi chức năng toàn diện, giúp nâng cao CLCS của người bệnh sau đột quỵ nhồi máu não.

Picaresque novel is one of the most pre-existing genres of novels in European literature as a provocation against the typical Chivalric romance. The Adventure of Augie March by Saul Bellow is a good example of the return of this genre in the twentieth century. The novel tells the story of the varied and often aimless pursuits of a young man, Augie, growing up in the decades before and during the Great Depression, the great economic cataclysm of the 1930s. Using poetic and sociological research methods, this article focuses on clarifying the characteristics of the picaresque novel in The Adventure of Augie March. This style writing manifested in the plot of the journey, depicting a chaotic world where the main character Augie March - a typical pícaro character in modern life - become a solitary individual, an anti-hero man always seeking out the reason for his existence. The first-person autobiographical narrative and the satire are also classic principles of picaresque genre that can be found in this novel. It can be sail, The Adventure of Augie March is a rebirth of the picaresque novel genre in Saul Bellow's own way to convey contemporary problems. Thereby the readers realize the modern anti-hero is not similar to the heroic figure of the romance, for his world is chaos and he struggles to merely survive, In a world that ignores the rules of chivalry, the only workable rule is every man for himself.

In this paper, the relationship between institutional development and the risks of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging Southeast Asian countries and the United States is investigated within a dynamic framework. The paper observes how two different types of national governance systems (well-developed vs. underdeveloped) influence firm risk. We also evaluate how ownership structure affects the impact of institutional environment quality on the risks of firms. We find that an improvement in institutional quality can reduce risks for SMEs in emerging Southeast Asian countries. However, there is no evidence of a relation between institutional development and firm risk in the United States. Our further analysis indicates that the adverse association between institutional development and risk is more pronounced for foreign-owned firms in both contexts studied. In contrast, state-owned firms in emerging Southeast Asian countries weaken the performance of increased institutional development in reducing firm risk, while this effect of state ownership does not exist in the United States.

SnO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized using precipitation method and heat treatment. Firstly, SnCl4.5H2O was reacted with NaOH solution, and than the precipitate heat treated at 350 oC, 450 oC and 550 oC. The obtained materials were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectra (IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) using SnO2 nanoparticles was investigated. The results show that the SnO2 nanoparticles exhibited a significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity. The photoactivity of SnO2 nanoparticles photocatalysts can be ascribed to the enhanced electron-hole separation.

Paragliding is an adventure and fascinating sport of flying paragliders. Paragliders can be launched by running from a slope or by a winch force from towing vehicles, using gravity forces as the motor for the motion of flying. This motion is governed by the gravity forces as well as time-varying aerodynamic ones which depend on the states of the motion of paraglider at each instant of time. There are few published articles considering mechanical problems of paragliders in their various flying situations. This article represents the mathematical modeling and simulation of several common flying situations of a paraglider through establishing and solving the governing differential equations in state-space. Those flying situations include the ones with constant headwind/tailwind with or without constant upwind; the ones with different scenario for the variations of headwind and tailwind combined with the upwind; the ones with varying pilot mass; and the ones whose several parameters are in the form of interval quantities. The simulations were conducted using a powerful Julia toolkit called DifferentialEquations.jl. The obtained results in each situation are discussed, and some recommendations are presented. Keywords: paraglider; simulation; modeling; state-space; ordinary differential equations; Julia; DifferentialEquations.jl

Drought is one of the most severe stresses which limit sugarcane production in China. ATP citrate lyase (ACL) is a major enzyme responsible for the production of acetyl-CoA in cytoplasm and plays an important role in plant metabolism and stress response. In this study, sugarcane ACL gene SoACLA-1 was cloned. The plant overexpression vector of SoACLA-1 was built and transformed into sugarcane calli by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and PCR analysis confirmed that SoACLA-1 gene had been stably present in the T0, T1, and T2 generations of the transgenic sugarcane. In order to evaluate the drought resistance of the transgenic lines and verify the function of SoACLA-1 gene in the transgenic sugarcane, T1 generation of the SoACLA-1 transgenic sugarcane lines was used as the material to investigate the physiological and biochemical characteristics at 0 day, 3 days, 6 days, and 9 days after water stress and rewatering for 3 days. Comprehensive evaluation of four indicators (chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar) related to drought resistance was done with membership fuzzy function method. The results showed that the drought resistance of five transgenic sugarcane lines from strong to weak, in turn, was RT2 > RT4 > RT3 > RT1 > WT, and the recovery ability after drought, in turn, was RT1 > RT2 > RT4 > RT3 > WT. The T2 generation of the SoACLA-1 transgenic sugarcane lines was used to analyze the physiological and biochemical changes and the expression of drought-related genes under water stress. The results showed that the transgenic sugarcane lines were more tolerant to drought as compared with the wild-type plants. Our findings indicated that SoACLA-1 gene plays an important role as a positive factor in response to water stress, and overexpression of SoACLA-1 can enhance drought tolerance in transgenic sugarcane plants.

This paper empirically examines the relationship between bank size, credit risk and profitability of Vietnam’s commercial banks during the period from 2009 to 2018. By employing off-balance sheet items in the denominator when calculating return on assets, this paper highlights the role of off-balance sheet items in generating non-interest income as well as contributes to the literature on profitability measurement. By utilising the two-step system GMM, the outcomes show that credit risk has adverse impact on profitability and this impact tends to be slighter in large size banks. The negative correlation between bank size and profitability indicates that large banks tend to perform inefficiently rather than small banks. Also, we found evidence of a non-linear relationship between bank size and profitability, suggesting that bank size has improved bank profitability until it reaches the optimal threshold, which then decreases profitability.

VE1 is a monoclonal antibody detecting mutant BRAF V600E protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a high concordance rate with molecular analysis in many cancers. Materials and methods: BRAF V600...

Central neurocytoma (CN) is an uncommon brain tumor arising primarily in the lateral ventricular near the foramen of Monro and approximately accounting for 0.1-0.5% of all primary tumors of the central nervous system. We report a case of neurocytoma located in the fourth ventricle and extended into the third ventricle. The tumor is composed of uniform round cells with immunohistochemical features of neuronal differentiation. CN is probably a differential diagnosis with oligodendrogliomas and ependymoma. Morphology and immunohistochemical findings associated with clinical and radiological characteristics may support CN diagnosis.

This article provides an overview of selected ongoing international efforts that have been inspired by Edward Zigler's vision to improve programs and policies for young children and families in the United States. The efforts presented are in close alignment with three strategies articulated by Edward Zigler: (a) conduct research that will inform policy advocacy; (b) design, implement, and revise quality early childhood development (ECD) programs; and (c) invest in building the next generation of scholars and advocates in child development. The intergenerational legacy left by Edward Zigler has had an impact on young children not only in the United States, but also across the globe. More needs to be done. We need to work together with a full commitment to ensure the optimal development of each child.

This paper examines the relation between the quality of country-level governance and the synchronicity in the stock prices of commercial banks during the period from 2002 to 2014. Using a new database that covers 39 countries, we find strong and robust evidence that country-level governance quality is associated with lower stock price synchronicity for banks in emerging economies, but the effects of the governance in developed countries are either positive or insignificant for variations in the co-movements of stock prices. We also investigate how political uncertainty affects the effect of country-level governance on the synchronicity of bank stock returns. Our finding shows that political uncertainty has a positive and significant effect on the relation between country-level governance and the synchronicity in the stock returns of banks across countries. The results also show that the magnitude of political uncertainty also varies with different electoral characteristics and political systems. This variation means that politics is an important channel through which the institutional environment influences the flow of bank-specific information that investors incorporate into stock prices.

International audience; Recently, treatment advances in direct-acting antivirals have radically changed the management of HCV patients. However, in resource-limited countries, identification of patients with active HCV infection is still challenging in remote settings due to the limited access to laboratories able to measure HCV viral load. This study evaluated whether dried blood spots (DBS) transferred to a central laboratory could overcome this challenge. A total of 315 HCV-infected patients, naïve to anti-HCV treatment, provided each three type of samples: plasma, DBS with calibrated quantities of venous blood and DBS with uncalibrated quantities of capillary blood. Qualitative comparison was conducted in terms of detection of HCV viral load on DBS as opposed to plasma to estimate sensitivity and specificity. Quantitative comparisons were conducted by means of correlation estimation. Of the 250 patients with detected plasma HCV viral load, 245 also had detectable DBS HCV viral load (capillary or venous) leading to a sensitivity of 98.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 95.4%-99.3%); importantly, all measurements with a plasma HCV viral load >118 IU/mL were also detected in DBS. When HCV was not detected in plasma, it was also not detected in DBS resulting in 100% specificity (95% CI: 94.5%-100%). Quantitative HCV viral load results were very similar when utilizing plasma or DBS sample types as illustrated by correlations >0.99. In conclusion, DBS sample types, with either uncalibrated capillary blood or calibrated venous blood, performed well to distinguish patients with active HCV infection, and who therefore need treatment, from other patients.

Slender amaranth (Amaranthus lividus L.) is a popular plant in Gia Lai Province, with anti-cancer, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The study presents the experimental results of biological activity of Amaranthus lividus L. collected in Gia Lai Province. Evaluation of anti-tumor activity (IC50) showed good results with EtOAc and n–hexane with extracts of 8.0 µg/ml and 11.2 µg/ml (≤ 20 µg/ml, NCI) respectively. The comparison results showed that the EtOAc extract from Amaranthus lividus L. has better antibacterial activity than the MeOH extract. However, the investigated extracts from Amaranthus lividus L. were incapable of inhibiting oxidation at low concentrations of 1-64 µg/ml. Results of biologically active ingredients in Amaranthus lividus L. illustratedthe applied prospects of natural medicine sources.

A Quick Response Code (QR Code) aims to provide accurate and traceable information to consumers wanting to verify the quality of agri-food products. This study aimed to investigate the experiences and intentions of scanning QR Code in traditional markets and supermarkets. Furthermore, the types of egg information in the QR Code were explored to identify consumer interests when purchasing eggs. The empirical data were collected from 1112 valid responses throughout Taiwan from July to September, 2020. The Logit, Probit models, and the Bivariate Probit model were used to examine the data. Results showed that shoppers’ propensity to scan QR Code revealed a significant difference between traditional markets and supermarkets, i.e., supermarket shoppers having higher a propensity to scan a QR Code. Of the 10 types of potential egg information in the QR Code, over half of respondents said that the production certificate label and inspection information were the top reasons that they would be interested in scanning a QR Code. This was particularly the case for homemakers aged between 51 and 60 years old and those who had scanned QR Code before and would like to pursue more egg information. Since the egg producers have resisted joining the traceability system, the implication of this study provides very practical strategies for government, policy makers, and producers in Taiwan.

The influence of fusion tags to produce recombinant proteins in the cytoplasm of

Are COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) at the expense of economic outcomes? Furthermore, given the heterogeneities in macroeconomic conditions, should countries follow a unified COVID-19 strategy such as “No-COVID”? This study provides cross-country evidence that attempts to address these critical questions during the pandemic era. Given the substantial heterogeneity in unemployment rates of OECD countries, it is necessary to understand the effects of NPIs’ implementation, which could vary widely across conditional quantiles of unemployment rates. Using monthly data from OECD countries from February 2020 to June 2021 and quantile regression analysis for panel data (QRPD), we explore the impacts of NPIs on economic outcomes. The results indicate that NPIs effectively contained the pandemic and had substantial positive impacts on low quantiles of unemployment rates. However, at high quantiles of unemployment rates, the trade-off is viable and significant. In addition, countries’ vaccination policies and scales also predict their economic outlooks, especially when combined with non-pharmaceutical interventions. Based on these findings, this study suggests different COVID-19 strategies for different groups of countries according to their macroeconomic settings. The trade-off between lives and livelihoods is much more troublesome and prevalent in countries with unfavorable macroeconomic conditions and hinders them from pursuing strategies such as “No-COVID”.

Nghiên cứu này được thực hiện nhằm đánh giá một số đặc điểm về nông sinh học, năng suất, giá trị thương phẩm của hạt gạo và khả năng chống chịu sâu bệnh của một số giống mới được tuyển chọn. Các giống được thử nghiệm là 3 giống mới được chọn tạo tại Viện Công nghệ sinh học, Đại học Huế là TD1, TD2, TD3, giống địa phương gạo đỏ ARI và giống đối chứng là giống Khang dân. Các thí nghiệm được bố trí theo khối hoàn toàn ngẫu nhiên (RCBD), mỗi giống được trồng với 3 lần nhắc lại, dưới điều kiện thời tiết của vụ Đông – Xuân 2019, tại viện Công nghệ sinh học, Đại học Huế. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy các giống khảo nghiệm có khả năng sinh trưởng và phát triển ổn định, cho năng suất khá và khả năng năng chống chịu sâu bệnh tốt. Giống TD3 đạt năng suất lúa (65,63 tạ/ha) tương đương so với giống đối chứng. Tỷ lệ gạo nguyên của các giống tuyển chọn cao hơn hẳn so với tỷ lệ gạo nguyên của giống đối chứng. Một số giống như TD1, TD3 và ARI có thể cho chất lượng cơm nấu tốt hơn giống đối chứng.

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a Zn

The effects of co-digestion of a carotenoid-rich vegetable such as carrot, cherry tomato or baby spinach with an anthocyanin-rich vegetable such as red cabbage with and without salad dressing on the intestinal cellular bioaccessibility (cBAC) of carotenoids and the resultant cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated. The % cBAC of lutein from the tested vegetables was 0.23-1.42%, lycopene 0.07-0.39%, α-carotene 0.01-0.12% and β-carotene 0.03-0.61% respectively. The % cBAC of each of these carotenoids from the co-digested vegetables was significantly higher (p 0.05) than from carrot, cherry tomato or baby spinach digested alone. % cBAC of total carotenoids was significantly increased by 46-191% (p 0.05) as a result of the co-digestion. The vegetable co-digestion did not result in any impairment on the resultant cellular anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation (NO, IL-8 secretion). Among the tested vegetables, baby spinach co-digested with red cabbage showed synergistic bioactivities in all tested assays.

Introduction: In basic research, it is essential to use an inducible promoter which can be controlled to express a small amount of protein for studying their roles in the cell. Pspac, a well-known weak promoter for Bacillus subtilis, uses isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) as an inducer. However, plasmids carrying this promoter such as pHCMC05 still have a disadvantage which harbors a repetitive DNA fragment of about 200 bp, resulting in structural instability in Escherichia coli, causing difficulty during cloning. Methods: In this study, we constructed a plasmid that does not carry the repetitive sequences and investigated plasmid structural stability in E. coli, then measured the β-galactosidase reporter gene (bgaB) expression in B. subtilis. Results: The constructed plasmid pHT2002 was stable over 56 generations while pHCMC05-bgaB was structurally instable and ultimately lost after 42 generations. BgaB activities and Western-blot indicated that BgaB-coding gene under control of IPTG-inducible promoter Pspac could be expressed at low levels. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the new expression plasmid without the repeated sequences retained its structural stability in E. coli facilitating the cloning step. The expression plasmid with Pspac promoter for B. subtilis could be used to express a modest amount of the heterologous protein in the presence of IPTG.

In this paper, we examine whether liquidity is priced in the Vietnamese stock market. We show that stock liquidity is an important factor which should be taken into consideration in pricing stock returns. Explaining power of asset pricing models is improved after the inclusion of liquidity factor. In addition, Fama and French’s (1993) three factors are significant in the Vietnamese stock market, while Carhart’s (1997) momentum factor has very little effect. We also document that among various competing asset pricing models, the liquidity four-factor model which include market excess return, size, value and liquidity factor is the best model in the Vietnamese stock market. The results are robust to different measures of liquidity, as well as to both up and down-market conditions.

Sex steroids play a role in regulation of tear film function and may exert their action locally at the ocular surface. However, measurement of sex steroids in tears is difficult due to small-volume tear samples and very low concentrations of the hormones. This short communication highlights what has been achieved to date in the analysis of tear sex steroids using ultra-performance LC-MS (UPLC-MS) as previously published, and reports further and more recent investigations toward optimising mass spectrometry method sensitivity and accuracy. The published UPLC-MS method successfully measured progesterone, androsterone glucuronide and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol in pooled basal tears of postmenopausal women, and fourteen sex steroid standards in methanol. Limitations included sub-optimal limits of detection (LOD) and lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) for some analytes (particularly oestrogens), exclusion of sample matrix effects and no use of internal standards. This update reports on further experiments carried out to improve sensitivity and accuracy. Sample matrix effects, internal standard spiking, and derivatisation with dansyl chloride and oximes were investigated. Dansylation significantly improved the LOD and LLOQ of oestrogens and their metabolites, by a factor of 10 for oestradiol and a factor of 5 for oestrone, but sensitivity of this updated method is not sufficient however for analysis of these oestrogens in human tears. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as an alternative technique to LC-MS, improved sensitivity for derivatised oestradiol is reported. This work demonstrates the need to develop higher sensitivity methods and points researchers towards specific MS ionisation techniques for future analysis of sex steroids in tears, in order to progress current understanding of the role of sex steroids in tear function and dry eye.

The widely used immortalised human meibomian gland epithelia cell (iHMGEC) line has made possible extensive studies of the biology and pathophysiology of meibomian glands (MG). Tissue culture protocols for iHMGEC have been revised and modified to optimise the growth conditions for cell differentiation and lipid accumulation. iHMGEC proliferate in serum-free medium but require serum or other appropriate exogenous factors to differentiate. Several supplements can enhance differentiation and neutral lipid accumulation in iHMGEC grown in serum-containing medium. In serum-free medium, rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist, is reported to induce iHMGEC differentiation, neutral lipid accumulation and expression of key biomarkers of differentiation. iHMGEC cultured in serum-containing medium under hypoxia or with azithromycin increases DNAse 2 activity, a biomarker of terminal differentiation in sebocytes. The production of lipids with composition similar to meibum has not been observed in vitro and this remains a major challenge for iHMGEC culture. Innovative methodologies such as 3D ex vivo culture of MG and generation of MG organoids from stem cells are important for further developing a model that more closely mimics the in vivo biology of human MG and to facilitate the next generation of studies of MG disease and dry eye.

Two spectrophotometric microplate assays with dual staining for either fluorescent Nile red (NR) plus 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) or non-fluorescent Oil red O (ORO) plus Crystal violet (CV) were applied and optimised to evaluate the lipid producing capacity of immortalised human meibomian gland epithelial cells (iHMGEC). Cells were treated with rosiglitazone (Rosi, 10–50 μM), a known lipid producing inducer for iHMGEC, and were analysed for lipids using the NR-DAPI and ORO-CV microplate assays. The lipid producing capacity of iHMGEC after each treatment was determined by normalising lipid quantity (measured with NR or ORO) to cell number (measured with DAPI or CV). The dye concentrations of NR 1 μg/mL, DAPI 5 μg/mL, ORO 0.3% (v/v) and CV 0.5% (v/v), provided optimal linearity and coverage of signals over a range of cell densities (corresponding to 10–100% cell confluence). Both NR-DAPI and ORO-CV showed a dose-dependent effect of Rosi on lipid production in iHMGEC, consistent with the results reported previously using traditional microscopic imaging methods. The microplate assays offer a rapid, high throughput and objective measurement of the amount of lipids in iHMGEC (and potentially other lipid-producing cells) and can be used for screening the effects of biological agents or incubation changes on lipid production in cells in future studies.

BACKGROUND Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. In Vietnam, 1 in every 2 male adults smokes tobacco. Vietnam has set up telephone Quitline counseling that is available to all smokers, but it is underused. We previously developed an automated and effective motivational text messaging system to support smoking cessation among US smokers. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to adapt the aforementioned system for rural Vietnamese smokers to promote cessation of tobacco use, both directly and by increasing the use of telephone Quitline counseling services and nicotine replacement therapy. Moreover, we seek to enhance research and health service capacity in Vietnam. METHODS We are testing the effectiveness of our culturally adapted motivational text messaging system by using a community-based randomized controlled trial design (N=600). Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention (regular motivational and assessment text messages) or control condition (assessment text messages only) for a period of 6 months. Trial recruitment took place in four communes in the Hung Yen province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam. Recruitment events were advertised to the local community, facilitated by community health workers, and occurred in the commune health center. We are assessing the impact of the texting system on 6-month self-reported and biochemically verified smoking cessation, as well as smoking self-efficacy, uptake of the Quitline, and use of nicotine replacement therapy. In addition to conducting the trial, the research team also provided ongoing training and consultation with the Quitline during the study period. RESULTS Site preparation, staff training, intervention adaptation, participant recruitment, and baseline data collection were completed. The study was funded in August 2017; it was reviewed and approved by the University of Massachusetts Medical School Institutional Review Board in 2017. Recruitment began in November 2018. A total of 750 participants were recruited from four communes, and 700 (93.3%) participants completed follow-up by March 2021. An analysis of the trial results is in progress; results are expected to be published in late 2022. CONCLUSIONS This study examines the effectiveness of mobile health interventions for smoking in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, which can be implemented nationwide if proven effective. In addition, it also facilitates significant collaboration and capacity building among a variety of international partners, including researchers, policy makers, Quitline counselors, and community health workers. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03567993; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03567993. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/30947

Metacognitive awareness is considered a crucial factor in reading comprehension. In the present study, the quantitative research method was applied using descriptive statistics, T-test, and ANOVA to identify: (1) What is second language (L2) Vietnamese students’ metacognitive awareness of reading strategies? (2) Are there any significant differences between male and female L2 Vietnamese students in metacognitive awareness of reading strategies? (3) Are there any significant differences between good, medium, and poor L2 Vietnamese readers in metacognitive awareness of reading strategies? One hundred and twenty-three English-majored undergraduates of Hong Bang International University completed an online survey which discovers their frequencies of using problem-solving, global, and support reading strategies. They next took a comprehension test on the TOEIC format test, whose results were adopted to classify students into three levels, namely good, medium, and poor readers. Reading strategies usage mean scores were compared across three strategy types and these scores were collated between groups. Results showed; first, reading strategies were used in academic texts at medium frequency level with the high usage of problem-solving strategies, followed by medium usage of support and global reading strategies. Second, female readers showed a higher frequency of using support strategies than males did. Third, learners’ proficiency levels were found to predict the levels of metacognitive awareness in reading with high-reading-ability students applying reading strategies more frequently than poor-reading-ability ones. This is significant to indicate that instructors should integrate all three reading strategies in their teaching, especially, raising awareness of global and support reading strategies among Vietnamese learners.

Background Acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) is a leading cause of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. Respiratory microbes that were simultaneously detected in the respiratory tracts of hospitalized adult ARI patients were investigated. Associations between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus (H1N1pdm) detection and intensive care unit (ICU) admission or fatal outcome were determined. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted between September 2015 and June 2017 at Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Inclusion criteria were hospitalized patients aged ≥15 years; one or more of symptoms including shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, headache, and muscle pain/arthralgia in addition to cough and fever > 37.5 °C; and ≤ 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Twenty-two viruses, 11 bacteria, and one fungus in airway specimens were examined using a commercial multiplex real-time PCR assay. Associations between H1N1pdm detection and ICU admission or fatal outcome were investigated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results The total of 269 patients (57.6% male; median age, 51 years) included 69 ICU patients. One or more microbes were detected in the airways of 214 patients (79.6%). Single and multiple microbes were detected in 41.3 and 38.3% of patients, respectively. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was the most frequently detected (35 cases; 13.0%), followed by H1N1pdm (29 cases; 10.8%). Hematological disease was associated with ICU admission (p p p = 0.0033). Sex, age, duration from onset to sampling, or number of detected microbes were not significantly associated with ICU admission or fatal outcomes. H1N1pdm detection was associated with ICU admission (odds ratio [OR] 3.911; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.671–9.154) and fatal outcome (OR 5.496; 95% CI 1.814–16.653) after adjusting for the confounding factors of comorbidities, bacteria/Pneumocystis jirovecii co-detection, and age. Conclusions H1N1pdm was associated with severe morbidity and death in adult patients hospitalized with respiratory symptoms. The diagnosis of subtype of influenza virus may be epidemiologically important.