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Background. One of the primary reasons for high mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is cardiovascular disease in patients with renal replacement therapy (RRT). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) significantly predicts mortality and cardiovascular events. Objectives. We assess the left ventricular mass index change in two dialysis methods: hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The factors associated with increased left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Materials and Methods. We recruit more than 50 HD patients and 45 CAPD patients with LVH of similar age, gender, dialysis duration, and LVMI for one-year follow-up. Results. The LVMI in the group of HD patients after one year increased from 180.28 ± 45.32 g/m2 to 212.58 ± 66.22 g/m2 (p = 0.001), while the LVMI in the group of patients with CAPD increased from 190.16 ± 66.01 g/m2 to 197.42 ± 78 g/m2 (p = 0.32). Multivariable logistic regression analysis, we demonstrated that dialysis by HD (β = −1,167, 95% CI: 0.104–0.938, p = 0.036) and anemia treatment lower the goals (β = 1.9566, 95% CI: 1.466–34.094, p = 0.015) were two factors associated with the progression of the LVMI. Conclusion. The LVH of end-stage renal disease patients with HD treatment is worse than CAPD treatment after a follow-up in one year. Dialysis by periodic hemodialysis and anemia treatment that fails to achieve the goal are risk factors associated with increased progression of LVMI in patients with ESRD.

This is the first report on the optical and resistance properties of copper aluminum oxide thin films for applications as thermal infrared imagers. The deposition of these films was investigated under three series of reactive magnetron sputtering conditions. Structural characterization identified the P63mmc hexagonal crystalline structure of CuAlO2 although the 150- to 350-nm thick films were in a non-stoichiometric CuAlxOy ratio. The thermal coefficient of resistance of the CuAlxOy films was measured to be in the range 1.7–2.2%/K and the resistivity ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 Ω cm with n-type nature. To explain the low indirect bandgap value of the CuAlxOy films, a type-I band alignment bulk heterojunction between CuAlO2 and Cu2O is proposed. This provides an effective method to decrease the resistivity and increase the thermal coefficient of resistance. From their optical characterization, a refractive index of 2.27 ± 0.07 was deduced, thus favoring the CuAlxOy films for antireflection coating in the long infrared wavelength region. A micromachining process of CuAlxOy micro-bridges was demonstrated with well-defined shapes at a pixel pitch of 25 μm. These findings pave the way for the future development of high-performance thermal infrared imagers.

Yersinochloanianheana sp. nov. from Vietnam is described and illustrated. It is found in southern Vietnam, where it occurs at an elevation of 1400-1500 m in Voi Mountain, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province. This new species is distinguished from a similar species, Yersinochloadalatensis , by culm nodes with a thick swollen patella, culm leaf blades erect, auricles conspicuous, margins bearing long hairs, palea dorsal view showing rachilla extension and rudimentary floret at the apex and lodicules purple gradually towards the top. Besides that, the species is distinguished from Yersinochloanghiana by the leaf blades without being swollen at the base, the prophyllate bud 2-keeled, lodicules purple at ½ upper parts and unbifid at the base., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Nong Van Duy, Tran Thai Vinh, Vu Kim Cong, Quach Van Hoi, Dang Thi Tham, Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, Dinh Van Khiem, Hoang Thanh Truong, Nguyen Hoang Nghia, Nguyen Thi Ai Minh, Tran Van Tien.)

In Myanmar, where backyard, semi-intensive, and intensive pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) farming coexist, there is limited understanding of the zoonotic risks and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated with these farming practices. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, AMR and genomic features of Salmonella in pig farms in the Yangon region and the impact of farm intensification to provide evidence to support risk-based future management approaches. Twenty-three farms with different production scales were sampled for two periods with three sampling-visit each. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests and whole-genome sequencing were performed on the isolates. The prevalence of Salmonella was 44.5% in samples collected from backyard farms, followed by intensive (39.5%) and semi-intensive farms (19.5%). The prevalence of multi-drug resistant isolates from intensive farms (45/84, 53.6%) was higher than those from backyard (32/171, 18.7%) and semi-intensive farms (25/161, 15.5%). Among 28 different serovars identified, S. Weltevreden (40; 14.5%), S. Kentucky (38; 13.8%), S. Stanley (35, 12.7%), S. Typhimurium (22; 8.0%) and S. Brancaster (20; 7.3%) were the most prevalent serovars and accounted for 56.3% of the genome sequenced strains. The diversity of Salmonella serovars was highest in semi-intensive and backyard farms (21 and 19 different serovars, respectively). The high prevalence of globally emerging S. Kentucky ST198 was detected on backyard farms. The invasive-infection linked typhoid-toxin gene (cdtB) was found in the backyard farm isolated S. Typhimurium, relatively enriched in virulence and AMR genes, presented an important target for future surveillance. While intensification, in terms of semi-intensive versus backyard production, maybe a mitigator for zoonotic risk through a lower prevalence of Salmonella, intensive production appears to enhance AMR-associated risks. Therefore, it remains crucial to closely monitor the AMR and virulence potential of this pathogen at all scales of production. The results underscored the complex relationship between intensification of animal production and the prevalence, diversity and AMR of Salmonella from pig farms in Myanmar., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Trung et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: Pediocin PA-1, an antimicrobial peptide derived from Pediococcus acidilactici PAC1.0, has a potential application as a food preservative thanks to its strong inhibitory activity against the foodborne pathogen L. monocytogenes. This study aimed to produce Pediocin PA-1 from the yeast P. pastoris and evaluate its characteristics., Methods: Gene encoding Pediocin PA-1 was integrated into P. pastoris X33 genome to establish the strain X33::ped, which could produce and secrete this peptide into culture medium. The antimicrobial activity of Pediocin PA-1 was examined using agar diffusion assay. The stability of pediocin PA-1 was determined based on its remaining antibacterial activity after exposure to proteases and extreme pH and temperatures. The potential use of this bacteriocin in food preservation was demonstrated using the L. monocytogenes infected pork bologna. The anticancer activity of Pediocin PA-1 was also investigated on some cancer cells using MTT assay., Results: We established the yeast P. pastoris X33::ped capable of producing pediocin PA-1 with antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes and some other harmful bacteria. Pediocin PA-1 was stable at 100˚C and resistant against pH 1-12 for 1 h, but susceptible to trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, and proteinase K. This peptide could reduce the number of L. monocytogenes in pork bologna by 3.59 log CFU/g after 7 days of storage at 4˚C. Finally, Pediocin PA-1 (25 µg/ml) inhibited the proliferation of A549 and Hela cancer cells., Conclusion: We succeeded in producing active Pediocin PA-1 from P. pastoris and demonstrated its potential use in food preservation and pharmaceutical industry., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Soursop ( Annona muricata L.) fruit tea is a health-beneficial product that promotes economic development and addresses the issue of excessive agricultural waste. Prolonging the shelf-life of soursop fruit tea has been of scientific interest currently. This study evaluated the effects of three types of packaging materials of soursop fruit tea (e.g., paper, paper-combined Polyetylen (PE), and aluminum-combined PE) and different storage temperatures (5, 15, 30, and 45°C) on various product characteristics, total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total ascorbic acid (TAA), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH)/2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging capacity during 4 weeks of storage. The results revealed that the sample stored in aluminum-combined PE packaging at 30°C retained most of the product's characteristics and nutritional values. This was evidenced by the moisture content of 2.49%, TAA of 3.9 ± 1.4 mg/100 g dry weight, TPC of 12.89 ± 0.47 mgGAE/g, TFC of 0.54 ± 0.004 mgQE/g, DPPH scavenging activity of 4.06 ± 0.02 mgAA/g, and ABTS scavenging activity of 13.34 ± 0.32 mgAA/g. Additionally, the microbiological quality of the sample met the standard of TCVN 9740:2013. Overall, the study highlights the importance of packaging materials and storage temperatures to maintain the nutritional quality of soursop fruit tea. It provides valuable insights into the suitable storage conditions for preserving the quality and health-promoting effects of this product., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Using mango purée from overripe mangoes to produce powders helped to solve agricultural product stagnation. The research investigates the effect of thickening additives, convection drying, and heat pump drying on bioactive compounds such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), color, and solubility of the final product. The obtained results showed that the mixture (gum arabic and maltodextrin in the ratio 50:50 w/w) at a concentration of 15% gave a good quality powder texture when dried by hot air convection at 55°C with TPC (21.24 ± 1.58 mg GAE/g dry weight [DW]) and TFC (0.34 ± 0.02 mg QE/g DW), respectively. In addition, the product has a high solubility of 64.35%, with the highest pass-through point of 17.11., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Tree diversity in Asia's tropical and subtropical forests is central to nature-based solutions. Species vulnerability to multiple threats, which affect provision of ecosystem services, is poorly understood. We conducted a region-wide, spatially explicit assessment of the vulnerability of 63 socioeconomically important tree species to overexploitation, fire, overgrazing, habitat conversion, and climate change. Trees were selected for assessment from national priority lists, and selections were validated by an expert network representing 20 countries. We used Maxent suitability modeling to predict species distribution ranges, freely accessible spatial data sets to map threat exposures, and functional traits to estimate threat sensitivities. Species-specific vulnerability maps were created as the product of exposure maps and sensitivity estimates. Based on vulnerability to current threats and climate change, we identified priority areas for conservation and restoration. Overall, 74% of the most important areas for conservation of these trees fell outside protected areas, and all species were severely threatened across an average of 47% of their native ranges. The most imminent threats were overexploitation and habitat conversion; populations were severely threatened by these factors in an average of 24% and 16% of their ranges, respectively. Our model predicted limited overall climate change impacts, although some study species were likely to lose over 15% of their habitat by 2050 due to climate change. We pinpointed specific natural areas in Borneo rain forests as hotspots for in situ conservation of forest genetic resources, more than 82% of which fell outside designated protected areas. We also identified degraded areas in Western Ghats, Indochina dry forests, and Sumatran rain forests as hotspots for restoration, where planting or assisted natural regeneration will help conserve these species, and croplands in southern India and Thailand as potentially important agroforestry options. Our results highlight the need for regionally coordinated action for effective conservation and restoration., (© 2021 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.)

This research explored the long-term relationships of climate parameters and coastal water quality nearby shrimp farms in two countries. In Thailand, two sampling points in canals located in Bangkok and Trang provinces were selected as the urban and tourism areas, respectively. In northern Vietnam, the canals located in Thai Binh and Quang Ninh provinces were used as the urban and tourism areas, respectively. The diurnal monitoring of water quality and weather was performed at each site to evaluate the relationships between climate and water quality, pollution load, and risk analysis. A questionnaire was also used to assess the climate and water exposure, vulnerability, and adaptability of each site. All data were ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 to integrate each factor. It was determined that the main water quality problem was fecal pollution. Notably, aquaculture farming in northern Vietnam is more vulnerable than in Thailand; however, Vietnam farmers were adaptable for climate variability., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

VP28 is an envelope protein of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), which has been shown in previous studies to induce a high immune response in shrimp. VP28 has been produced in some host systems such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pichia pastoris as free protein. Here we showed a new strategy of anchoring VP28 on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast surface and using the yeast cell extract combined with probiotic as an oral vaccine for shrimp farming. We have successfully constructed a recombinant yeast cell capable of expressing VP28 on the cell surface. The feeding diet combined with VP28 anchored yeast cell extract provided significant assurance to Litopenaeus vannamei, challenged by WSSV, resulting in a relative percent survival (RPS) of 87.10 ± 2.15%. Interestingly, the utilization of VP28 anchored yeast cell extract could enhance the efficiency of probiotic strains like Lactobacillus and Bacillus on shrimp farming. The results in both laboratory scales and field trials using extract of VP28 displaying Saccharomyces showed a growth-promoting effect in shrimp, assessed through average shrimp weight. Taken together, our results in this study demonstrated a new successful strategy of using yeast cell surface as a tool to produce VP28-based oral vaccine for shrimp aquaculture. KEY POINTS: • A new strategy of using VP28 antigen as anchored protein on S. cerevisiae yeast cell surface (S. cerevisiae::VP28) • The utilization of VP28 antigen and yeast as S. cerevisiae::VP28 extract enhanced potential protection of Litopenaeus vannamei against White Spot Syndrome Virus (RPS 87.10%) • The use of S. cerevisiae::VP28 extract increased efficiency of probiotic on shrimp growth-promoting effect either lab-scale or field trial., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Dissolved oxygen (DO)-stat fed-batch culture, which allows a high cell density culture of microorganisms under constant DO conditions, was applied to anti-CRP single-chain variable fragment (scFv) production using recombinant Escherichia coli. The DO-stat fed-batch culture was successfully performed under various DO conditions for more than 50 h, resulting in increased scFv production from 0.5 to 0.8 g/L by flask and batch cultures to 2.8-3.0 g/L by the fed-batch culture under the conditions of 5-40% of DO saturation. The formation of inclusion bodies was effectively depressed during DO-stat fed-batch operation; consequently, the solubility of anti-CRP scFv was significantly improved from 36-43% by the flask and batch cultures to 96-98% by the DO-stat fed-batch culture under a wide range of DO conditions. From the kinetic analysis of fed-batch experiments, it was also found that the successful folding of anti-CRP scFv in the cytoplasm occurred when metabolic rates, such as the specific growth rate and specific glucose consumption rate, were relatively low. These results show that the fed-batch culture operated by the DO-stat feeding strategy was effective for the enhanced production of anti-CRP scFv with high solubility., (Copyright © 2021 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the consequences of colistin use in backyard chicken farms in Vietnam by examining the prevalence of mcr-1 in fecal samples from chickens and humans. Detection of mcr-1-carrying bacteria in chicken samples was associated with colistin use and detection in human samples with exposure to mcr-1-positive chickens.

Salmonellosis is a public health concern in both the developed and developing countries. Although the majority of human non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) cases are the result of foodborne infections or person-to-person transmission, NTS infections may also be acquired by environmental and occupational exposure to animals. While a considerable number of studies have investigated the presence of NTS in farm animals and meat/carcasses, very few studies have investigated the risk of NTS colonization in humans as a result of direct animal exposure. We investigated asymptomatic NTS colonization in 204 backyard chicken farms, 204 farmers and 306 matched individuals not exposed to chicken farming, in southern Vietnam. Pooled chicken faeces, collected using boot or handheld swabs on backyard chicken farms, and rectal swabs from human participants were tested. NTS colonization prevalence was 45.6%, 4.4% and 2.6% for chicken farms, farmers and unexposed individuals, respectively. Our study observed a higher prevalence of NTS colonization among chicken farmers (4.4%) compared with age-, sex- and location- matched rural and urban individuals not exposed to chickens (2.9% and 2.0%). A total of 164 chicken NTS strains and 17 human NTS strains were isolated, and 28 serovars were identified. Salmonella Weltevreden was the predominant serovar in both chickens and humans. NTS isolates showed resistance (20-40%) against tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and ampicillin. Our study reflects the epidemiology of NTS colonization in chickens and humans in the Mekong delta of Vietnam and emphasizes the need of larger, preferably longitudinal studies to study the transmission dynamics of NTS between and within animal and human host populations., (© 2016 The Authors. Zoonoses and Public Health Published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Antimicrobials are extensively used as growth promoters in animal feeds worldwide, but reliable estimates are lacking. We conducted an internet-based survey of commercial chicken and pig feed products officially approved for sale in Vietnam over the period March-June 2015. Information on the antimicrobial contents in feed products, alongside animal production data, was used to estimate in-feed antimicrobial consumption to produce one kilogram of live animal (chicken, pig), as well as to estimate country-wide antimicrobial consumption through animal feeds. A total of 1462 commercial feed formulations were examined. The survey-adjusted estimated antimicrobial contents were 25.7 and 62.3 mg/kg in chicken and pig feeds, respectively. Overall, it was estimated that 77.4 mg [95% CI 48.1-106.8] and 286.6 mg [95% CI 191.6-418.3] of in-feed antimicrobials were used to raise 1 kg of live chicken and pig, respectively. Bacitracin (15.5% feeds), chlortetracycline (11.4%), and enramycin (10.8%) were the most common antimicrobials present in chicken feed formulations, whereas bacitracin (24.8%), chlortetracycline (23.9%), and florfenicol (17.4%) were the most common in pig feed formulations. Overall, 57% of the total quantitative usage consisted of antimicrobials regarded by WHO of importance for human medicine, including amoxicillin, colistin, tetracyclines, neomycin, lincomycin, and bacitracin. These figures confirm a very high magnitude of in-feed consumption of antimicrobials, especially in pig production. Results from this study should encourage further monitoring of antimicrobials used in animal production, and foster discussion about existing policies on inclusion of antimicrobials in animal feed rations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.