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This study aims to investigate, the effect of organic loading rates (OLRs), nutrient ratio addition, and sludge retention time (SRT) on treating dairy wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system. This investigation is verified by experiments conducted in 3 phases at 3 different OLRs (1.8, 1.2, and 0.9 kg/m3d, respectively). Urea ((NH2)2CO) is added to make a suitable (COD:N:P) ratio of (100:5:1) in dairy wastewater. The SRT is adjusted from 50 days to an appropriate value of 18 days. The obtained results show that the COD, TN, and TP removal efficiencies are increased with decreasing OLRs. Sludge concentration in the SBR tank is stable at 1100 mg/L after adding (NH2)2CO. In addition, the SBR operated at a suitable SRT (i.e. 18 days) helps the biomass stably, resulting in enhancement of COD, TN, and TP removal. The results are helpful to the design of SBR for treating dairy wastewater.

In this work, ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method while the hummer method was used to synthesize GO nanosheet. GO/ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites (GO/ZFO) were prepared by mixing of GO with ZnFe2O4 in mass ratio of 1:99, respectively. The structure, morphology, and physical – chemical characteristics were determined by Raman spectroscopy, Transform Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The CO gas adsorption properties of GO/ZFO were investigated in the range of 25 – 200 ppm at room temperature using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). GO/ZFO nanocomposites show great adsorption – desorption capacity, high repeatability, and the largest adsorption performance of 1.21‰ (0.098 µg.cm-2 at 200 ppm). The results show that this new approach is promising of spinel structure materials for CO adsorption at room temperature.

PurposeAlthough brand risk management (BRM) is widely acknowledged as critical concern of business leaders, there exists little empirical evidence regarding what activities firms could do to make their brand secured in the increasingly competitive market. Moreover, previous studies find out the important role of innovation stimulus in firm performance, but little attention is paid on how firm's innovation stimulates the firm's brand security. This study aims at exploring the impacts of BRM activities on brand security with the innovation stimulus as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachMixed method is applied in conducting this research. In the qualitative research, an interview with managers of 20 large-size foodstuff companies in Vietnam is conducted to obtain insights into their understanding BRM activities and brand security as well as the role of innovation stimulus in managing brand risk and developing measurements for new constructs. In the quantitative research, a sample of 258 respondents is collected for the tests of reliability and validity as well as all hypotheses using SPSS software.FindingsThe authors’ findings show that the level of implementation of BRM activities influences the brand security with the moderating effect of innovation stimulus. Specifically, four dimensions of BRM activities including: strategy, personnel, processes and investment have direct, positive and significant impact on brand security. Innovation stimulus including innovation in leadership and innovation in knowledge management could serve as a moderating variable.Originality/valueThe findings of the current study have contributed to BRM literature by highlighting the importance of the implementation of BRM activities and the key role of innovation stimulus in ensuring the brand security, on which previous studies have paid little attention. The study suggests some guidance for firms about how to improve the innovation stimulus in enhancing the effectiveness of BRM activities and, as a result, increasing the brand security of the firm.

Can Gio (CG), a mangrove forest with a dense network of tidal creeks, gradually grew and spread seaward on a coastal platform, which was built since about 8 ka before present (BP). Along with this development, a sand ridge began to form and moved back with the shoreline withdrawal landward in the Late Holocene. This mangrove environment is likely abandoned from the mainland but was, however, the place for settlement of ancient Vietnamese a few centuries BC. The CG mangrove forest was severely destroyed during the American War and was restored since 1980. However, the historical change of the landscape along the Saigon-Dong Nai River (SG-DNR) since the Late Holocene is not completely unraveled. By analyzing sediment cores with a multiproxy approach, we investigated the recent geological development with regard to the variation of the intensity of the East Asian palaeomonsoon and regarding the accommodation space, as both regulate the development of this coastal environment. A recently significant shift in the coastline, mainly due to a change of hydroclimatic factors, was observed. A continuous coastline retreat occurred over the last millennium, changing the depositional environment and reshaping the CG mangrove landscape. Along the present coast and tidal channels, partially strong erosion and bank failures occur, alternating with accretion at other coastal sections. This development tends to increase progressively.

To characterize the cellular stress by n-alkanols with different alkyl chain lengths in Escherichia coli, we investigated how n-alkanols damage cell envelope permeability and whether they enhance the promoter activity of the envelope stress response regulator, σE, by using variants of green fluorescent protein (GFP). By using E. coli cells having GFPuv expressing and localizing in the cytoplasm, the inner membrane, and the periplasm, after exposure to n-alkanols, the fluorescent intensity of GFPuv released from cells was examined. Our data showed that at the similar levels of cell death of about 90–97%, ethanol, a short-chain alkanol, at a concentration of 20% damaged the outer membrane more greatly than the inner membrane, whereas a longer-chain alkanol of pentanol at a concentration of 1.125% damaged both of the outer and inner membranes. Then we investigated the envelope stress response to n-alkanols by σE factor by ratiometric analysis of rpoE promoter activity for the downstream GFPuv expression referenced to that of housekeeping sigma 70 (σ70 ) recognizing lacUV5 promoter for red fluorescent protein (RFP) expression. The results indicated that the relative activity of rpoE promoter by pentanol was much greater than that of ethanol. The degree of its sensitization by rpoE deficiency was much more remarkable for cells treated with pentanol than for those with ethanol. The results suggest that the response of the σE plays a significant role in the membrane integrity and survival of E. coli cells treated with n-alkanols depending on the alkyl chain length of the molecule.

Atezolizumab (a PD-L1 inhibitor) has shown remarkable efficacy and tolerability in various cancer types. Despite its efficacy and safety, atezolizumab monotherapy has limitations, such as acquired resistance and adverse events. Bojungikki-tang (BJIKT) is an herbal decoction widely prescribed in Asian countries and used to treat cancer-related symptoms including fatigue, appetite loss, gastrointestinal disorders, and other side effects from cancer therapy. Due to its immunomodulatory effects, Bojungikki-tang has been investigated as a combined treatment with anticancer agents. We evaluated the potential drug-drug interaction (DDI) between Bojungikki-tang and the anti-PD-L1 antibody based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. In the study, we conducted an in vivo drug-drug interaction study using a syngeneic mouse model of CMT-167 in C57BL/6. We then determined the antibody concentrations to evaluate the pharmacokinetic (PK) drug-drug interaction and measured variable biomarkers related to therapeutic efficacy and immune response. The pharmacodynamic (PD) drug-drug interaction study investigated changes in response between anti-PD-L1 antibody monotherapy and combination therapy. Using the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, we conducted a statistical analysis to assess drug-drug interaction potential. In the presence of Bojungikki-tang, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the anti-PD-L1 antibody were not changed. This study suggested that combination treatment with Bojungikki-tang and atezolizumab is a safe treatment option for non-small cell lung cancer. Clinical studies are warranted to confirm this finding.

Lymnaeid snails are vital in transmitting trematode cercariae as an intermediate host that can infect buffalo and other ruminants and humans, causing significant economic losses. The study aimed to conduct morphological and molecular identification of snails and cercariae collected from the selected buffalo farms under palm oil integration in Perak, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 35 water were investigated for the presence or absence of snails. A total of 836 lymnaeid snails were collected from three marshes wetlands. To identify the snail family and species, morphological identification was performed on each snail’s shell, and to identify trematode cercariae types; the crushing method was used to observe the cercarial stage inside each snail’s body. In addition, the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) region and Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) was used as the target gene to identify the snail species and cercarial types up to the species level. The result showed that the collected snails belong to the family Lymnaeidae and Radix rubiginosa species. The infection rate by cercarial emergence in snails was 8.73%. Five morphological cercarial types were observed which include: echinostome, xiphidiocercariae, gymnocephalous, brevifurcate-apharyngeate distome, and vivax. Using molecular methods, the identified cercariae belong to the three families, including Echinostomatidae, Plagiorchiidae, and Fasciolidae. This is the first report on R. rubiginosa and different types of trematodes cercariae in buffalo farms under palm oil integration in Perak. Our finding confirmed that R. rubiginosa could serve as an intermediate host for a range of parasitic trematodes in Perak.

Background To evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) infusion in the management of neurological sequelae in children with spina bifida (SB). Methods BMMNCs were harvested from bilateral anterior iliac crests. Two intrathecal BMMNC administrations were performed with an interval of 6 months. The measurements of outcomes included clinical assessments, cystomanometry and rectomanometry. Results Eleven children with SB underwent autologous BMMNC infusions from 2016 to 2020. There were no severe adverse events during the study period. The number of patients requiring assistance to expel stools decreased from 11 before cell infusion to 3 after the second cell infusion. The number of patients who had urine leakage decreased from 9 patients at baseline to 3 patients after the second BMMNC infusion. The mean bladder capacity increased from 127.7 ± 59.2 ml at baseline to 136.3 ± 54.8 ml at six months and to 158.3 ± 56.2 ml at 12 months after BMMNC infusions. Detrusor pressure (pdet) decreased from 32.4 ± 22.0 cm H2O at baseline to 21.9 ± 11.8 cm H2O after 12 months of follow-up. At baseline, six patients could walk independently. After the 2nd infusion, eight patients could walk independently. Conclusion Intrathecal infusions of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells are safe and may improve bowel, bladder, and motor function in children with SB. Trial registration: NCT, NCT05472428. Registered July 25, 2022- Retrospectively registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05472428.