Search

Background: Anticoagulants including direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are among the highest-risk medications in the United States. We postulated that routine consultation and follow-up from a clinical pharmacist would reduce clinically important medication errors (CIMEs) among patients beginning or resuming a DOAC in the ambulatory care setting. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for reducing CIMEs. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: Ambulatory patients initiating a DOAC or resuming one after a complication. Intervention: Pharmacist evaluation and monitoring based on the implementation of a recently published checklist. Key elements included evaluation of the appropriateness of DOAC, need for DOAC affordability assistance, three pharmacist-initiated telephone consultations, access to a DOAC hotline, documented hand-off to the patient's continuity provider, and monitoring of follow-up laboratory tests. Control: Coupons and assistance to increase the affordability of DOACs. Main measure: Anticoagulant-related CIMEs (Anticoagulant-CIMEs) and non-anticoagulant-related CIMEs over 90 days from DOAC initiation; CIMEs identified through masked assessment process including two physician adjudication of events presented by a pharmacist distinct from intervention pharmacist who reviewed participant electronic medical records and interview data. Analysis: Incidence and incidence rate ratio (IRR) of CIMEs (intervention vs. control) using multivariable Poisson regression modeling. Key Results: A total of 561 patients (281 intervention and 280 control patients) contributed 479 anticoagulant-CIMEs including 31 preventable and ameliorable ADEs and 448 significant anticoagulant medication errors without subsequent documented ADEs (0.95 per 100 person-days). Failure to perform required blood tests and concurrent, inappropriate usage of a DOAC with aspirin or NSAIDs were the most common anticoagulant-related CIMEs despite pharmacist documentation systematically identifying these issues when present. There was no reduction in anticoagulant-related CIMEs among intervention patients (IRR 1.17; 95% CI 0.98–1.42) or non-anticoagulant-related CIMEs (IRR 1.05; 95% CI 0.80–1.37). Conclusion: A multi-component intervention in which clinical pharmacists implemented an evidence-based DOAC Checklist did not reduce CIMEs. NIH Trial Number: NCT04068727 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Resistin, a novel pro-inflammatory protein implicated in inflammatory processes, has been suggested to play a role in colorectal development. However, evidence from observational studies has been inconsistent. Mendelian randomization may be a complementary method to examine this association. Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization to estimate the association between genetically determined circulating resistin concentrations and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) from the SCALLOP consortium were used as instrumental variables (IVs) for resistin. CRC genetic summary data was obtained from GECCO/CORECT/CCFR (the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium, Colorectal Cancer Transdisciplinary Study, and Colon Cancer Family Registry), and FinnGen (Finland Biobank). The inverse variance weighted method (IVW) was applied in the main analysis, and other robust methods were used as sensitivity analyses. Estimates for the association from the two data sources were then pooled using a meta-analysis approach. Results: Thirteen pQTLs were identified as IVs explaining together 7.80% of interindividual variation in circulating resistin concentrations. Based on MR analyses, genetically determined circulating resistin concentrations were not associated with incident CRC (pooled-IVW-OR per standard deviation of resistin, 1.01; 95% CI 0.96, 1.06; p = 0.67. Restricting the analyses to using IVs within or proximal to the resistin-encoding gene (cis-IVs), or to IVs located elsewhere in the genome (trans-IVs) provided similar results. The association was not altered when stratified by sex or CRC subsites. Conclusions: We found no evidence of a relationship between genetically determined circulating resistin concentrations and risk of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable consumption is crucial in reducing the growing pressure of environmental crises. This study proposes the Technique of Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach to evaluate sustainable consumption toward green growth. The proposed approach assesses criteria weights in Interval Valued Neutrosophic Sets (IVNSs) using the Method of Maximizing Deviation. The proposed method evaluates sustainable consumption for ten selected developed and developing countries, including Canada, France, Japan, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The evaluation process encompasses four main criteria with eight sub-criteria, namely environment (population density, CO2), energy (total natural resource rents, renewable electricity), economics (value added of agriculture, forestry, and fishing, GDP per capita), and health (fertility rate, mortality rate). The countries are ranked based on the relative closeness coefficient. The results reveal that two economic sub-criteria are pivotal in the sustainable consumption rankings. Canada emerges as the country with the highest degree of green growth, attributed to its extensive land area and potential for renewable energy. Based on the findings, this study proposes some policy implications for Vietnam, including balancing fertility and mortality rates and regulating economic growth and resource exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes were investigated for their potential to protect Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) from Phytophthora root rot. From healthy cinnamon trees in diseased plantations, 134 bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated and screened in vitro for their ability to antagonise the root rot pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. multibullata and P. × vanyenensis. Seventeen endophytes exhibiting high levels of antagonism in vitro (more than 45%) were then tested in a glasshouse study for their ability to reduce the impact of Phytophthora infection in cinnamon seedlings. Trials using cinnamon seeds or seedlings inoculated with an endophyte and then infested with Phytophthora identified three endophytes expressing high levels of disease suppression (based on root damage reduction) and plant growth promotion. These were Penicillium citrinum, Xylaria curta and Clonostachys rosea. These endophytes can potentially be used in the biological control of root rot in cinnamon, but this must be explored further under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient education of high-risk medications such as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is limited in ambulatory care settings. Clinical pharmacists are uniquely equipped to educate patients about DOACS but seldom interact with patients in those settings where patient education and satisfaction are often overlooked. Recently, the Anticoagulation Forum endorsed a checklist (DOAC Checklist) to guide and educate patients initiating or resuming DOACs. We assessed the impact on knowledge and satisfaction of an intervention framed around the checklist. Randomized clinical trial. Ambulatory patients starting a DOAC or resuming one after setback (bleeding, stroke, or transient ischemic attack) in an ambulatory setting (office, emergency department, or short stay hospitalization). Three educational clinical pharmacist tele-visits, hotline access to the pharmacist, and coordination with continuity providers in 3 months. Patient knowledge scores from a 15-item DOAC-related questionnaire and satisfaction scores from an abbreviated version of the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Survey (DASS). Of 561 randomized patients, 436 completed our follow-up surveys. Knowledge scores were similar for the 233 intervention patients vs. 203 control patients (63.7% vs 62.2% correct). Satisfaction scores on the 7-point Likert scale were virtually identical (6.24 and 6.22). Our pharmacist-led intervention framed around the DOAC checklist had little impact on knowledge and satisfaction. Delays between intervention end and completion of the follow-up questionnaires may have obscured benefits experienced earlier. More intensive education or strategies other than telephone-based consultation may be required to produce sustained knowledge. TRN: NCT04068727 retrospectively registered on August 22, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supervision plays an integral role in the success of higher degree by research (HDR) students. A vital component of a successful research degree is quality supervision. In this paper, we explore supervisors’ understanding of Indigenous HDR students’ expectations and compare them with Indigenous HDR students’ expectations of their supervisors. This study is part of a larger study which included six phases of data collection, however, this paper focuses mainly on phase five of the study and at times refers to phase four. In phase five, we surveyed 33 supervisors across Australia who have experience supervising Indigenous HDR students. We also refer to phase four which included 32 Indigenous HDR students. To analyse the data, we conducted a thematic analysis using NVivo software. We found that supervisors need to be more supportive of Indigenous HDR students’ work and provide opportunities for students to succeed through the completion of their research degree. Our findings demonstrate that supervisors may understand Indigenous HDR students’ expectations of quality supervision; however, there are other expectations that were not accounted for, such as discussion of working styles and clear expectations from the beginning of a supervisor-student relationship, supervisors’ practices of cultural safety and awareness, and access to research training for Indigenous HDR students. The implications from this research include strengthening supervision strategies and fostering mutually-respectful supervisor-student relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presented in this manuscript are our new research results regarding the fabrication of nitrogen-doped (N-doped) and sulfur-doped (S-doped) graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from citric acid (CA), using the microwave–hydrothermal method. This is a method that uses microwave energy for pyrolysis and carbonization of the precursors of carbon and doped element, followed by a hydrothermal process in NaOH, to yield doped GQDs. Studies using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Raman spectroscopy have allowed the confirmation of the fabricated products to be GQDs. Detailed studies of absorption, photoluminescence (PL), PL excitation (PLE) spectra, emission–excitation mapping (EEM) images, and PL spectra at different excitation wavelengths have allowed us to find the best excitation wavelength to obtain the highest PL quantum yield (QY) value from the sample, an example being the QY of the S-GQD samples reaching 40.1%. The absorption mechanism, vibration relaxation process, and non-radiative and radiative electron transition are also explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication between gut microbiota and the brain is an enigma. Alterations in the gut microbial community affects enteric metabolite levels, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs have been proposed as a possible mechanism through which the gut microbiome modulate brain health and function. This study analyzed for the first time the effects of SCFAs at levels reported in human systemic circulation on SH-SY5Y human neuronal cell energy metabolism, viability, survival, and the brain lipidome. Cell and rat brain lipidomics was done using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Neuronal cells viability, survival and energy metabolism were analyzed via flow cytometer, immunofluorescence, and SeahorseXF platform. Lipidomics analysis demonstrated that SCFAs significantly remodeled the brain lipidome in vivo and in vitro. The most notable remodulation was observed in the metabolism of phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogens, and mitochondrial lipids carnitine and cardiolipin. Increased mitochondrial mass, fragmentation, and hyperfusion occurred concomitant with the altered mitochondrial lipid metabolism resulting in decreased neuronal cell respiration, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and increased cell death. This suggests SCFAs at levels observed in human systemic circulation can adversely alter the brain lipidome and neuronal cell function potentially negatively impacting brain health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylene blue (MB) is a toxic organic substance which has been widely used in industry and pharmacy, and it poses a threat to the environment and security due to its toxic properties. Here, a device consisting of porous silicon photonic crystals covered with silver nanoparticles has been introduced for the select and rapid detection of MB by the emerging specific Raman peak at ~ 446 cm−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White chanterelles (Basidiomycota), lacking the orange pigments and apricot-like odour of typical chanterelles, were found recently in the Canadian provinces of Québec (QC) and Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identification of all white chanterelles from NL and QC as Cantharellus enelensis; we name these forma acolodorus. We characterized carotenoid pigments, lipids, phenolics, and volatile compounds in these and related chanterelles. White mutants of C. enelensis lacked detectable β-carotene, confirmed to be the primary pigment of wild-type, golden-orange individuals, and could also be distinguished by their profiles of fatty acids and phenolic acids, and by the ketone and terpene composition of their volatiles. We detected single base substitutions in the phytoene desaturase (Al-1) and phytoene synthase (Al-2) genes of the white mutant, which are predicted to result in altered amino acids in their gene products and may be responsible for the loss of β-carotene synthesis in that form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of circadian and metabolic signals is essential for maintaining robust circadian rhythms and ensuring efficient metabolism and energy use. Using Drosophila as an animal model, we show that cellular protein O-GlcNAcylation exhibits robust 24-hour rhythm and represents a key post-translational mechanism that regulates circadian physiology. We observe strong correlation between protein O-GlcNAcylation rhythms and clock-controlled feeding-fasting cycles, suggesting that O-GlcNAcylation rhythms are primarily driven by nutrient input. Interestingly, daily O-GlcNAcylation rhythms are severely dampened when we subject flies to time-restricted feeding at unnatural feeding time. This suggests the presence of clock-regulated buffering mechanisms that prevent excessive O-GlcNAcylation at non-optimal times of the day-night cycle. We show that this buffering mechanism is mediated by the expression and activity of GFAT, OGT, and OGA, which are regulated through integration of circadian and metabolic signals. Finally, we generate a mathematical model to describe the key factors that regulate daily O-GlcNAcylation rhythm. Misalignment between lifestyle and the natural day-night cycle, such as mistimed eating, can negatively impact health. Here the authors show that mistimed feeding alters protein O-GlcNAcylation, a nutrient sensitive post-translational modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the temperature dependence of Raman spectrum of graphene quantum dots is important for further understanding of the fine structure and properties of the material such as atomic bonds, thermal expansion, and thermal conductivity. In this work, we present new results on the temperature dependence of the frequency of G peak in the Raman spectra of bare GQDs and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs), respectively. The nature of these GQDs is investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy together with Raman, absorption, and photoluminescence spectra. We monitored a shift in G peak frequency toward lower frequencies with the temperature ranging from 81 to 663 K. In addition, a slight decrease in G peak intensity and an increase in D peak intensity have been observed, which is especially clear for Raman spectra of N-GQD sample. From the linear relationship of G peak frequency with temperature, we determine for the first time the value of the temperature coefficient χ of the G mode. Values of − 0.0222 ± 0.001 cm−1 K−1 for GQDs, and − 0.0243 ± 0.0013 cm−1 K−1 for N-GQDs were deduced. These results show a clear heat expansion in the graphene lattice, although small in size, when sample temperature is increased from 81 to 663 K. Our result is important to further understand physical effects induced by anharmonic phonons in QGDs and should be taken to account when designing efficient nanoelectronic devices employing GQDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman, absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ternary alloyed CdSe 1 - x Te x quantum dots (QDs) with various values of x have been studied at room temperature. The average diameter of QDs is about 5.1 nm. The actual chemical composition was estimated by Raman spectroscopy. The values of 1.13 ± 0.06 eV and 1.01 ± 0.03 eV for the band gap bowing coefficient were obtained by fitting the composition dependence of the band gap and the PL peak energy, respectively, to the nonlinear Vegard formula. The PL quantum yields (QYs) were in the range of 24–53%. The relationship between PL peak wavelengths and quantum yields was investigated. It is shown that the QY dependence on the composition is associated with the crystalline quality of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new taxa from Phytophthora ITS clade 2a are described from Cinnamomum cassia plantations and adjacent waterways in Van Yen, Vietnam, disturbed rainforest in the Hela Province of Papua New Guinea and from disturbed forest on Christmas Island. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using data from nuclear regions (ITS, β-tubulin; heat shock protein 90) and mitochondrial regions (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1; cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1; ribosomal protein L10). The molecular data supported recognition of three species: Phytophthora insulinativitatica, P. multibullata and P. x vanyenensis, and two informal taxa: P. sp. germisporangia and P. sp. awatangi. P. x vanyenensis appears to be a hybrid between P.mekongensis and an unknown species. P. multibullata and P. sp. germisporangia are phylogenetically close to P. citrophthora, but morphologically distinct. P. insulinativitatica is most closely related to P. botryosa, but has distinct morphology. P. sp. germisporangia and P. sp. awatangi were morphologically distinct and separated in the phylogeny based on mitochondrial sequences, but their nuclear sequences were identical. When comparing the sequences of these new species to that available on GenBank, it became evident that some of these species shared similarity with isolates submitted to GenBank under other species names. A re-evaluation of all P. meadii and P. colocasiae ITS sequence data identified an additional 7 putatively new species all isolated from Asia. The results support the view that many more Phytophthora species remain to be discovered in the Asia-Pacific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate clinical characteristics and risk factors for atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. Methods: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction and specific IgM determination were used to detect atypical bacteria in 661 hospitalized children aged 1–15 years with CAP. Clinical and epidemiological patterns were compared between typical and atypical CAP. Results: Children in atypical CAP group manifested significantly lower rates of wheezing, bronchial rales, and interstitial pneumonia and showed higher rates of asthma history, headache, chest pain, and lobar pneumonia. Age group, season of disease onset, asthma history, duration of symptom onset to hospital admission, and radiological findings were the significant risk factors for atypical CAP on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: The clinical characteristics and risk factors can be used to identify a child at high risk of atypical CAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Raman and photoluminescence spectra of ternary alloyed CdSe0.3Te0.7 quantum dots (QDs) have been studied at temperatures between 84 K and 293 K. The average diameter of QDs is about 5.1 nm. The temperature dependence of the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon frequencies and the phonon band width was analyzed and the anharmonic constants relating to various high-order phonon processes was determined. While the three-phonon processes plays a dominant role in the temperature-dependent shift of the LO-phonon frequencies, the four-phonon processes contribute to the increase of the phonon linewidth with increasing temperature. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to study the temperature dependence of the bandgap, the linewidth and the integrated PL intensity. At low temperatures below about 120 K, the PL linewidth decreases and the PL intensity increases as temperature increases. This temperature behavior can be ascribed to the exciton fine structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the adsorption characteristics and mechanisms of a strong polyanion, poly(styrenesulfonate), PSS, onto α-Al2O3 with large size (L-Al2O3) and small size (S-Al2O3) in this paper. Some effective conditions to the adsorption of PSS onto L-Al2O3 and S-Al2O3 such as adsorption time, pH, mass ratio of PSS to α-Al2O3, and ionic strength were systematically studied. Maximum adsorption capacities of PSS onto both L-Al2O3 and S-Al2O3 were achieved with adsorption time 120 min, mass ratio of PSS to α-Al2O3 20 mg/g, and ionic strength 50 mM NaCl. The PSS adsorption onto S-Al2O3 significantly decreased with increasing pH from 4 to 9 while PSS adsorption onto L-Al2O3 decreased insignificantly in the pH range 4-9. Adsorption of PSS onto both L-Al2O3 and S-Al2O3 increased with increasing salt from 0 to 50 mM NaCl, indicating that electrostatic and none-lectrostatic interactions controlled adsorption at low ionic strength. However, adsorption of PSS was independent on the ionic strength at salt concentration higher than 50 mM. The changes in surface charge after PSS adsorption onto L-Al2O3 and S-Al2O3 were determined by zeta potential while the differences of surface functional groups before and after PSS adsorption were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The zeta potential as a function of the mass ratio of PSS to L-Al2O3 and S-Al2O3 agreed well with the adsorption capacity against the mass ratio. Adsorption mechanisms of PSS onto L-Al2O3 and S-Al2O3 were also discussed based on the changes in zeta potential, the differences of surface functional groups, and adsorbed amount as a function of the mass ratio of PSS to α-Al2O3.ᅟ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, two types of methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR) exist, namely methionine-S-sulfoxide reductase (MSRA) and methionine-R-sulfoxide reductase (MSRB). These enzymes catalyze the reduction of methionine sulfoxides (MetO) back to methionine (Met) by a catalytic cysteine (Cys) and one or two resolving Cys residues. Interestingly, a group of MSRA encoded by plant genomes does not have a catalytic residue. We asked that if this group of MSRA did not have any function (as fitness), why it was not lost during the evolutionary process. To challenge this question, we analyzed the gene family encoding MSRA in soybean (GmMSRAs). We found seven genes encoding GmMSRAs, which included three segmental duplicated pairs. Among them, a pair of duplicated genes, namely GmMSRA1 and GmMSRA6, was without a catalytic Cys residue. Pseudogenes were ruled out as their transcripts were detected in various tissues and their Ka/Ks ratio indicated a negative selection pressure. In vivo analysis in Δ3MSR yeast strain indicated that the GmMSRA6 did not have activity toward MetO, contrasting to GmMSRA3 which had catalytic Cys and had activity. When exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress, GmMSRA6 did not confer any protection to the Δ3MSR yeast strain. Overexpression of GmMSRA6 in Arabidopsis thaliana did not alter the plant’s phenotype under physiological conditions. However, the transgenic plants exhibited slightly higher sensitivity toward salinity-induced stress. Taken together, this data suggested that the plant MSRAs without the catalytic Cys are not enzymatically active and their existence may be explained by a role in regulating plant MSR activity via dominant-negative substrate competition mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between industry concentration and level of firm efficiency and their effect on cross-sectional stock returns in Australian market. Our analysis shows that industry concentration and firm efficiency have independent effects on stock returns. By forming 25 double-sorted portfolios based on industry concentration and firm efficiency, INEFFICIENT firms in concentrated industry earn highest stock returns, while EFFICIENT firms in concentrated industry earn lowest stock returns. Also we find that industry concentration appears to be associated with market share while efficiency has a greater effect on firm earnings. In our cross-sectional regressions, industry concentration shows a positive relationship with average stock returns while firm efficiency shows a negative association with average stock returns. The concentration and efficiency effects are persistent throughout the sample period and is robust after controlling for size and book-to-market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the phylogeny, population structure, and demographic history of Scolopsis taenioptera in the western Pacific Ocean. Using the 80 samples collected from four locations, we obtained the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b genes. We identified two distinct lineages showing a clear phylogeographic break that was possibly due to the Pleistocene sea-level change. One lineage was distributed in Iloilo (Philippines) and the other in Terengganu (Malaysia), Rayong (Thailand), and Ha Long Bay (Vietnam). The Terengganu and Rayong populations showed clear signs of demographic expansion; the Iloilo and Ha Long Bay populations were relatively stable or spatially expanded as geographically subdivided populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swidden is often blamed for deforestation but research has shown that these traditional systems can have a role in maintaining and enhancing carbon stocks and therefore could be compatible with efforts such as payments for environmental services (PES) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) schemes in Vietnam. This would require that PES and REDD+ project developers build on existing local governance structures. In this paper we attempt to understand such structures though analysis of information and resource exchange in two communities in Vietnam, focusing on traditional local governance guiding swidden practices, and mass organisations. Results show a high diversity of formal (government-formed networks) and informal (traditional) swidden governance structures that can be embedded in REDD+ and PES schemes, where geographical accessibility, socio-cultural practices, and capacities of government will also determine which structure will work best for swidden communities to participate in REDD+/PES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton diversity and abundance in estuarine systems are controlled by many factors. Salinity, turbidity, and inorganic nutrient concentrations and their respective ratios have all been proposed as principal factors that structure phytoplankton diversity and influence the emergence of potentially toxic species. Although much work has been conducted on temperate estuaries, less is known about how phytoplankton diversity is controlled in tropical, monsoonal systems that are subject to large, seasonal shifts in hydrology and to rapidly changing land use. Here, we present the results of an investigation into the factors controlling phytoplankton species composition and distribution in a tropical, monsoonal estuary (Bach Dang estuary, North Vietnam). A total of 245 taxa, 89 genera from six algal divisions were observed. Bacillariophyceae were the most diverse group contributing to 51.4 % of the microalgal assemblage, followed by Dinophyceae (29.8 %), Chlorophyceae (10.2 %), Cyanophyceae (3.7 %), Euglenophyceae (3.7 %) and Dictyochophyceae (1.2 %). The phytoplankton community was structured by inorganic nutrient ratios (DSi:DIP and DIN:DIP) as well as by salinity and turbidity. Evidence of a decrease in phytoplankton diversity concomitant with an increase in abundance and dominance of certain species (e.g., Skeletonema costatum) and the appearance of some potentially toxic species over the last two decades was also found. These changes in phytoplankton diversity are probably due to a combination of land use change resulting in changes in nutrient ratios and concentrations and global change as both rainfall and temperature have increased over the last two decades. It is therefore probable in the future that phytoplankton diversity will continue to change, potentially favoring the emergence of toxic species in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global conservation discourses and practices increasingly rely on market-based solutions to fulfill the dual objective of forest conservation and economic development. Although varied, these interventions are premised on the assumption that natural resources are most effectively managed and preserved while benefiting livelihoods if the market-incentives of a liberalised economy are correctly in place. By examining three nationally supported payment for ecosystem service (PES) schemes in Vietnam we show how insecure land tenure, high transaction costs and high opportunity costs can undermine the long-term benefits of PES programmes for local households and, hence, potentially threaten their livelihood viability. In many cases, the income from PES programmes does not reach the poor because of political and economic constraints. Local elite capture of PES benefits through the monopolization of access to forestland and existing state forestry management are identified as key problems. We argue that as PES schemes create a market for ecosystem services, such markets must be understood not simply as bald economic exchanges between 'rational actors' but rather as exchanges embedded in particular socio-political and historical contexts to support the sustainable use of forest resources and local livelihoods in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

lthough the structure and dynamics of planktonic viruses in freshwater and seawater environments are relatively well documented, little is known about the occurrence and activity of these viruses in estuaries, especially in the tropics. Viral abundance, life strategies, and morphotype distribution were examined in the Bach Dang Estuary (Vietnam) during the dry season in 2009. The abundance of both viruses and their prokaryotic hosts decreased significantly from upstream to downstream, probably as the result of nutrient dilution and osmotic stress faced by the freshwater communities. The antibiotic mitomycin-C revealed that the fraction of lysogenic cells was substantially higher in the lower seawater part of the estuary (max 27.1%) than in the upper freshwater area where no inducible lysogens were observed. The question of whether there is a massive, continuous induction of marine lysogens caused by the mixing with freshwater is considered. Conversely, the production of lytic viruses declined as salinity increased, indicating a spatial succession of viral life strategies in this tropical estuary. Icosahedral tailless viruses with capsids smaller than 60 nm dominated the viral assemblage throughout the estuary (63.0% to 72.1% of the total viral counts), and their distribution was positively correlated with that of viral lytic production. Interestingly, the gamma-proteobacteria explained a significant portion of the variance in the <60 nm and 60 to 90 nm tailless viruses (92% and 80%, respectively), and in the Myoviridae (73%). Also, 60% of the variance of the tailless larger viruses (>90 nm) was explained by the beta-proteobacteria. Overall, these results support the view that the environment, through selection mechanisms, probably shapes the structure of the prokaryotic community. This might be in turn a source of selection for the virioplankton community via specific affiliation favoring particular morphotypes and life strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of H2, He and O2 during batch fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae BRAS291 increased the final intracellular glycogen contents of the cells from 2-fold to 10-fold compared with a gas-free condition, and this depended on the gas applied. Differently, the intracellular trehalose contents increased from 2-fold to 10-fold in reducing conditions compared with more oxidizing conditions. During storage at 4°C, the viability of cells cultivated with gas was twice that of cells cultivated without gas. These results could be explained by the intracellular carbohydrate contents as well as yeast ultrastructural modifications observed previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether down-regulation of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) activity and concomitant changes in polyamine levels result in changes in the expression of downstream genes in the polyamine pathway. We generated transgenic rice ( Oryza sativa L.) plants in which the rice adc gene was down-regulated by expression of its antisense oat ( Avena sativa L.) ortholog. Plants expressed the oat mRNA adc transcript at different levels. The endogenous transcript was down-regulated in five out of eight plant lineages we studied in detail. Reduction in the steady-state rice adc mRNA levels resulted in a concomitant decrease in ADC activity. The putrescine and spermidine pool was significantly reduced in plants with lower ADC activity. Expression of the rice ornithine decarboxylase ( odc), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase ( samdc) and spermidine synthase ( spd syn) transcripts was not affected. We demonstrate that even though levels of the key metabolites in the pathway were compromised, this did not influence steady-state transcription levels of the other genes involved in the pathway. Our results provide an insight into the different regulatory mechanisms that control gene expression in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway in plants by demonstrating that the endogenous pathway is uncoupled from manipulations that modulate polyamine levels by expression of orthologous transgenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gene defect for hereditary papillary renal carcinoma (HPRC) has recently been mapped to chromosome 7q, and germline mutations of MET (also known as c-met) at 7q31 have been detected in patients with HPRC (ref. 2). Tumours from these patients commonly show trisomy of chromosome 7 when analysed by cytogenetic studies and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). However, the relationship between trisomy 7 and MET germline mutations is not clear. We studied 16 renal tumours from two patients with documented germline mutations in exon 16 of MET. Flourescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed trisomy 7 in all tumours. To determine whether the chromosome bearing the mutant or wild-type MET gene was duplicated, we performed duplex PCR and phosphoimage densitometry using polymorphic microsatellite markers D7S1801 and D7S1822, which were linked to the disease gene locus, and D1S1646 as an internal control. We determined the parental origin of chromosome alleles by genotyping parental DNA. In all 16 tumours there was an increased signal intensity (2:1 ratio) of the microsatellite allele from the chromosome bearing the mutant MET compared with the allele from the chromosome bearing the wild-type MET. Our study demonstrates a non-random duplication of the chromosome bearing the mutated MET in HPRC and implicates this event in tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen rust species and two unconnected Peridermium collected in Vietnam are enumerated. For all the rust species except Hemileia vastarix, Olivea tectonae, and Puccinia thwaitesii, these are the first records of their occurrence in Vietnam. Some taxonomic and pathological considerations are noted for two economically important pine stem rusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

erratum [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping (IC) is a promising approach used to improve soil health and sustainable crop production. However, it is unknown whether IC improve the soil health status and biomass productivity of crops cultivated in podzols under cool climate in boreal ecosystems. Two silage corn and three forage soybean genotypes were cultivated either as inter or monocrop (MC) treatments in a randomized complete block design. IC resulted in 28% increase in total forage production (FP). A reduction in rhizosphere soil pH (RS-pH) was observed in the IC treatments. Conversely, the rhizosphere soil acid phosphatase (RS-APase) activity was significantly higher (26–46%) in the IC treatments and occurred concomitant with a significant increase in available phosphorus (RS-Pavailable) (26–74%) in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, IC enhanced the active microbial composition and strong positive correlations were observed between RS-Pavailable, RS-APase, microbial biomass and FP; while RS-pH was negatively correlated with FP, RS-APase and RS-Pavailable. These findings suggested silage corn intercropped with forage soybean could be a viable approach to enhance FP through improved active microbial community structure, RS-APase activity and RS-Pavailable when cultivated on podzols in cool climate boreal ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our purpose is to investigate the impact of circadian and melatonin pathway genes as well as their interactions with night-shift work (NSW) on breast cancer risk in Korean women. Information about NSW and other covariates was collected using a structured questionnaire and twenty-two polymorphisms in 11 genes were analyzed in a hospital-based case-control study with 941 cases of breast cancer and 959 controls. In analysis of the main effects of each single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), variants in CLOCK rs11133373 was associated with breast cancer risk even after false discovery rate (FDR) correction (Odd Ratios (OR) = 1.38 (95% Confident Interval (CI) 1.14–1.69) in CG and CC compared to GG genotype. Analysis of MTNR1A rs2119882 demonstrated a decreased risk of breast cancer in CC compared to TT (p-FDR = 0.043). A correlation between NSW and breast cancer interaction was found in two loci. NSW increased risk of breast cancer in women who carried the heterozygote genotype of CRY2 rs2292912 (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.14–3.44) or carried at least one minor allele of RORA rs1482057 (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.10–4.37). Our study results support a putative role for several loci of circadian genes and genes of melatonin biosynthesis and their interaction, and the gene interactions with NSW in the development of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we perform surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with a periodically corrugated metallic substrate obtained by evaporating an Ag film onto an artificial opal crystal, which is a self-assembled lattice of SiO2 600-nm spheres. These metallic-film-on-nanosphere (MFON) surfaces are characterized by scanning electron microscopy for different Ag film thicknesses ranging from 44 to 620 nm. Raman scattering spectra are measured for two different types of quantum dots, CdTeSe quantum dots (QDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs). We are able to show that enhancement of the Raman spectra can be obtained for all MFON substrates and for both types of QDs. For both CdTeSe and graphene quantum dots, the strongest SERS effect was observed in samples with 135 nm Ag thickness. This is attributed to the formation of hot spots in the nanogap dips of the Ag film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azurin, a bacteriocin produced by a human gut bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can reveal selectively cytotoxic and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. After overcoming two phase I trials, a functional region of Azurin called p28 has been approved as a drug for the treatment of brain tumor glioma by FDA. The present study aims to improve a screening procedure and assess genetic diversity of Azurin genes in P. aeruginosa and Azurin-like genes in the gut microbiome of a specific population in Vietnam and global populations. Firstly, both cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent techniques based on genomic and metagenomic DNAs extracted from fecal samples of the healthy specific population were performed and optimized to detect Azurin genes. Secondly, the Azurin gene sequences were analyzed and compared with global populations by using bioinformatics tools. Finally, the screening procedure improved from the first step was applied for screening Azurin-like genes, followed by the protein synthesis and NCI in vitro screening for anticancer activity. As a result, this study has successfully optimized the annealing temperatures to amplify DNAs for screening Azurin genes and applying to Azurin-like genes from human gut microbiota. The novelty of this study is the first of its kind to classify Azurin genes into five different genotypes at a global scale and confirm the potential anticancer activity of three Azurin-like synthetic proteins (Cnazu1, Dlazu11, and Ruazu12). The results contribute to the procedure development applied for screening anticancer proteins from human microbiome and a comprehensive understanding of their therapeutic response at a genetic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that showed that transgene expression can be suppressed in adult mice by synthetic small interfering RNA and by small-hairpin RNA transcribed in vivo from DNA templates. Definition of RNA interference; Modification of hydrodynamic transfection methods; Details of luciferase expression monitoring in living animals using quantitative whole body imaging.

Indigenous higher degree by research (HDR) students encounter persistent barriers within academia that impede their completion rates. This scoping review identified 17 papers published between 2016 and 2022 that relate to retention or completion rates of Indigenous HDR. Papers identified are from Australia, United States, New Zealand and Canada, and most of them have at least one Indigenous author. Two research questions guided this process: (1) What are the enablers that facilitate continuation and completion of HDR programs by Indigenous people? And (2) What barriers affect entry into, and completion of, HDR programs by Indigenous people? The review indicates a pressing need for enhanced support aimed at bolstering completion rates among Indigenous research students. What is required is prioritising various forms of assistance, including the provision of culturally responsive supervision, dedicated Indigenous staffed spaces, and a culturally secure environment that recognises and embraces Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]