Search

AbstractThis work aimed to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of rhizome essential oil (EO) of Meistera verrucosagrowing wild in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. The EO was isolated using hydrodistillation, then the chemical composition was analyzed by Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). In addition, the antioxidant activities were determined by the DPPH scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The results showed that α-pinene, β-pinene, and (E)-β-ocimene were major components in the EO, accounting for 39.6%, 20.7%, and 12.2%, respectively. The EO showed antioxidant activity, the IC50value of DPPH scavenging activity, and the EC50value of FRAP assay were 91.01 mg/mL and 17.50 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, to evaluate the inhibitory interaction potential of Keap1, docking analysis indicated that α-pinene has the strongest affinity among the major compounds surveyed. The key interactions observed in the complexes of the major compounds with Keap1 are predominantly hydrophobic interactions (pi-sigma and pi-alkyl), which significantly contribute to their binding affinities. These results provide more information on the volatile compounds of the EO from the rhizomes of M. verrucosaand first reveal its antioxidant power.

Purpose: Circulating tumor cell separation and analysis have played a critical role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this work, we aim to design and investigate a novel biochip that integrates dielectrophoresis, microfluidic technology to separate circulating tumor cells from blood cells. To create a dielectrophoresis-induced non-uniform electric field, a facing-electrode design was proposed and utilized, in which a slanted electrode array and a simple rectangular ground electrode are placed parallel on the top and bottom parts of the microfluidic channel, respectively. This design can reduce the particle position dependence in the microchannel and the complexity of the microfabrication process. Methods: The separation process, efficiency, and optimization of the proposed device were numerically investigated using the finite element method. Parametric research was conducted to comprehensively examine the impact of various operating and design factors on the cell movement and trajectories in the microfluidic device. Results: The results indicated the potential of the proposed biochip to ensure cancer cell separation from blood cells with high efficiency, high purity in a label-free, non-invasive, easy integration, and low-cost manner. Under the optimal conditions, the separation efficiency reached 92%, 88%, and 96% for human colon cancer cells (HT-29), red blood cells, and white blood cells, respectively. Conclusions: In this study, a novel DEP-based microfluidic chip was proposed to separate HT-29 tumor cells from blood cells and numerically investigated to verify the performance of the biochip design. Our findings could provide a foundation for further theoretical and practical investigations. The proposed system can separate cancer cells from red blood cells and white blood cells as well as offers numerous advantages, such as compact size, low voltage, high efficiency, non-invasiveness, and label-free nature. The tumor cell enrichment platform has the potential for application in cancer detection, analysis, and assessment.

Utilising the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this study examines the relationship between visitor satisfaction, perceived quality, and behavioural intention. It further probes the gender-based moderating effects on these relationships. Data was collected via a questionnaire from 443 Vietnamese domestic tourists, with a gender breakdown of 266 females and 177 males. Results indicate that perceived quality influences visitor satisfaction and, both directly and indirectly, behavioural intentions. No gender-based differences were observed in these relationships. Such findings have pertinent implications for destination strategies and domestic tourism development.

Shear strength is a very important parameter in designing of reinforced concrete beams or concrete beams reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars. So far, numerous studies and design codes have proposed empirical-based formulas for predicting the shear strength of FRP-concrete beams. However, a difference exists between the proposed formulas and experimental results. This study predicts the shear strength of FRP-concrete beams using the novel hybrid BR-ANN model, which integrates artificial neural network (ANN) and Bayesian regularization (BR). For that, a comprehensive database consisting of 303 experimental results is compiled for developing the BR-ANN models. The performance results of BR-ANN are compared with those of 15 existing empirical formulas, which were proposed in typical design codes and well-known published studies. The predicted outputs are evaluated utilizing indicators, which are goodness of fit (R2), root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean value of the ratio Vpredict/Vtest. The results reveal that the BR-ANN model outperforms other empirical formulas with a very high R2(0.987), very small RMSE(7.3 kN). In addition, the mean value of the ratio Vpredict/Vtestis equal to unity. Moreover, effects of input variables on the shear strength are evaluated. Finally, a practical design tool is developed to apply the BR-ANN model in calculating the shear strength of FRP-concrete beams.

AbstractBackground: Patients report that familial support can facilitate initiation and maintenance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). However, providing such support can create pressure and additional burdens for families of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV. We examined perspectives of people with HIV receiving treatment for OUD in Vietnam and their family members. Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, we conducted face-to-face qualitative interviews with 44 patients and 30 of their family members in Hanoi, Vietnam. Participants were people living with HIV and OUD enrolled in the BRAVO study comparing HIV clinic-based buprenorphine with referral to methadone treatment at 4 HIV clinics and their immediate family members (spouses or parents). Interviews were professionally transcribed, coded in Vietnamese, and analyzed using a semantic, inductive approach to qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Family members of people with OUD and HIV in Vietnam reported financially and emotionally supporting MOUD initiation and maintenance as well as actively participating in treatment. Family members described the burdens of supporting patients during opioid use, including financial costs and secondary stigma. Conclusions: Describing the role of family support in the lives of people living with OUD and HIV in the context of Vietnam enriches our understanding of their experiences and will support future treatment efforts targeting the family unit.

Background: Patients report that familial support can facilitate initiation and maintenance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). However, providing such support can create pressure and additional burdens for families of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV. We examined perspectives of people with HIV receiving treatment for OUD in Vietnam and their family members. Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, we conducted face-to-face qualitative interviews with 44 patients and 30 of their family members in Hanoi, Vietnam. Participants were people living with HIV and OUD enrolled in the BRAVO study comparing HIV clinic-based buprenorphine with referral to methadone treatment at 4 HIV clinics and their immediate family members (spouses or parents). Interviews were professionally transcribed, coded in Vietnamese, and analyzed using a semantic, inductive approach to qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Family members of people with OUD and HIV in Vietnam reported financially and emotionally supporting MOUD initiation and maintenance as well as actively participating in treatment. Family members described the burdens of supporting patients during opioid use, including financial costs and secondary stigma. Conclusions: Describing the role of family support in the lives of people living with OUD and HIV in the context of Vietnam enriches our understanding of their experiences and will support future treatment efforts targeting the family unit.

In this work, a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model is developed to describe the drying process of a packed bed made of spherical particles. The volumetrical evaporation rate inside the bed is computed from the pressure difference between the particle surface and the airflow. By using the thermal equilibrium assumption, the heat conservation equation is derived. The CFD model is solved in the COMSOL Multiphysics environment. The obtained results indicate remarkable maldistributions of temperature and moisture content. These maldistributions can be explained by the impact of lateral edges on thermo-hydraulic behavior. Additionally, the impact of particle diameter, air velocity, and bed width on the spatial-temporal moisture content and temperature distribution is investigated. It shows that the CFD model can be simplified to the receding front drying model for a bed made of small particles. Furthermore, by changing the thermal boundary conditions at the lateral edges, the influence of the heating mode at the lateral edges on the drying behavior is explored. The results indicate that contact heating at the bed wall can help to accelerate the drying process significantly.

Analizar los componentes de los ejercicios de entrenamiento de resistencia (ER) y evaluar los efectos de los mismos en la mejora de la fuerza muscular y el pico de consumo de oxígeno (VO2), sobre la base de la rehabilitación realizada en centros o domiciliaria en pacientes con reducción de la fracción de eyección por insuficiencia cardiaca (HFrEF).

Analizar los componentes de los ejercicios de entrenamiento de resistencia (ER) y evaluar los efectos de los mismos en la mejora de la fuerza muscular y el pico de consumo de oxígeno (VO2), sobre la base de la rehabilitación realizada en centros o domiciliaria en pacientes con reducción de la fracción de eyección por insuficiencia cardiaca (HFrEF).

To date, endophytic actinomycetes have been well-documented as great producers of novel antibiotics and important pharmaceutical leads. The present study aimed to evaluate potent bioactivities of metabolites synthesized by the strain LCP18 residing in the Vietnamese medicinal plant Litsea cubeba(Lour.) Pers towards human pathogenic bacteria and human cancer cell lines. Endophytic actinomycete strain LCP18 showed considerable inhibition against seven bacterial pathogens and three human tumor cell lines and was identified as species Streptomyces variabilis. Strain S. variabilisLCP18 was phenotypically resistant to fosfomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, dalacin, cefoxitin, rifampicin, and fusidic acid and harbored the two antibiotic biosynthetic genes such as PKS-II and NRPS. Further purification and structural elucidation of metabolites from the LCP18 extract revealed five plant-derived bioactive compounds including isopcrunetin, genistein, daidzein, syringic acid, and daucosterol. Among those, isoprunetin, genistein, and daidzein exhibited antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimuriumATCC 14,028 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidisATCC 35,984 with the MIC values ranging from 16 to 128 µg/ml. These plant-derived compounds also exhibited cytotoxic effects against human lung cancer cell line A549 with IC50values of less than 46 μM. These findings indicated that endophytic S. variabilisLCP18 can be an alternative producer of plant-derived compounds which significantly show potential applications in combating bacterial infections and inhibition against lung cancer cell lines.

Purpose: The Vietnamese Mekong River Delta (VMD) is one of the most affected deltas by climate change in the world. Several studies have investigated factors influencing farmers' climate change adaptation behaviors in the region; however, little is known about the effectiveness of such measures. This paper examines the determinants of adaptation strategies among VMD rice farmers and assesses the impacts of such practices on rice yield. Design/methodology/approach: Endogenous switching regressions were employed using a survey data of 300 rice-producing households in An Giang and Tra Vinh provinces in 2016. Findings: The results show that farmers receiving early disaster warnings are more likely to adopt adaptation measures to climate change. If nonadaptors had chosen to respond, their rice yield would have increased by 0.932 tons/ha/season. Research limitations/implications: The data sample is small and collected from two provinces in the VMD only; therefore, the results may be specific for the study sites. However, future research can adopt the proposed method for other regions. Originality/value: The study estimates the production impacts of farmers' decisions on whether or not to adapt to extreme climate events. The proposed approach allows for capturing both observed and unobserved behaviors.

•The rate of CLR-resistant H. pyloriis very high in the south east area of Vietnam.•The rate of H. pyloriresistance to LVX, the key antibiotic in rescue therapy, is high.•The rate of dual resistance to CLR and LVX is also high.•Current management of H. pyloriinfection in this area should be modified.

In the recent decades, droplet-based microfluidics has emerged as a promising research area which covers various applications in a broad spectrum of fields such as chemical reactions, drug discovery, molecule synthesis and cell biology. This study proposes the implementation of a microfluidic droplet generating prototype using the popular flow-focusing geometry. The proposed system is fabricated based on a rapid prototyping technique, which significantly simplifies the fabrication process, reduces the production cost and shortens the time-to-market as compared with traditional techniques. The functionalities and characteristics of the prototype were carefully verified by simulations and practical experiments. The obtained results showed that the generation of droplets could be precisely controlled by adjusting the flow rate ratio between the dispersed phase and the continuous phase.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of sectoral economic growth and other factors on poverty reduction in Vietnam in the period 2010–2016. Design/methodology/approach: Originating from the question of whether there is an endogenous problem between the structure of economic growth by sector and some other factors in the process of impact on poverty reduction, the paper has used the 2-Stage Least Squares method to deal with the endogenous issues. Findings: Increasing the proportion of the industrial sector and the agricultural sector had great impacts on poverty reduction. In contrast, the increasing proportion of the service sector made the poverty rate higher. One noticeable thing is that economic growth was not significant for the goal of poverty reduction in 2010–2016. In addition, the process of urbanization, the increase in the labor rate and literacy rate contributed positively to poverty reduction achievements. Finally, population growth was also one of the reasons hindering Vietnam’s successful poverty reduction process. Practical implications: Accelerating the process of economic restructuring in the direction of increasing the proportion of the industry is accompanied by more attention to agricultural development than the service sector. Employment creation policies should be promoted. Maintaining population control by educating poverty reduction awareness for the poor will have a positive effect on long-term poverty reduction. Originality/value: Research on the growth structure by sector affecting poverty reduction in Vietnam is still relatively limited. The study of relationships in the context of endogenous existence is still quite limited in Vietnam. Therefore, this paper has focused on the question of sectoral economic growth affects poverty in the interrelation among sectors in the process of economic development.

Tuberculosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children, but is difficult to diagnose. We studied mortality and its determinants in antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naive HIV-infected children presenting with suspected tuberculosis.

The compounds 2-sulfanylethyl acetate (2SEA, roasted- or burnt-like flavor) and 3-sulfanylpropyl acetate (also with roasted- or burnt-like flavor), mainly issued from the Ehrlich pathway (in this case, the catabolism by yeast of cysteine and homocysteine, leading to the formation of 2-sulfanylethan-1-ol and 2-sulfanylpropan-1-ol, which are subsequently acetylated), are found in all fresh beers, at levels strongly depending on the yeast strain used in fermentation. Yet, even in the absence of yeast, their production is still seen to occur in the bottle during the first months of storage. As for other thiols, S-cysteine adducts have been suspected to be hydrolyzed during beer aging. The commercially unavailable S-cysteine conjugate of 2SEA (Cys-2SEA, 93% purity), never described before in the literature, was synthesized by acetylation of the S-cysteine conjugate of 2-sulfanylethan-1-ol (Cys-2SEol). Cys-2SEA was solubilized in model aqueous media (pH 4.2) and in beer before aging. 2SEA was further extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a pulsed flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD), and high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI(+)-MS/MS) allowed us to quantify the undegraded Cys-2SEA (specific m/zions at 120, 148, and 191). Cys-2SEA was shown to be relatively stable in both media, although some beer constituents were noted as being able to slightly facilitate the chemical degradation (molar conversion into free thiol up to 0.3% at room temperature). A modified “Strecker degradation” mechanism is proposed here, explaining the release of thiols from the Schiff bases created between the cysteine adducts and beer diketones. Up to now, tests have failed to reveal evidence for the presence of Cys-2SEol and Cys-2SEA in hops by direct HPLC-ESI(+)-MS/MS analyses, although 2SEol was released from cysteine-S-conjugate extracts in the presence of apotryptophanase.

Immunotherapy, particularly CAR-T therapy has recently emerged as an innovator for cancer treatment. Gamma-irradiated K562 cells is a common and effective method to stimulated CAR-T cells prior to treatment. However, high cost and limited equipment of gamma-irradiation is drawback of this method. This requires the establishment of CAR-T-expanding alternatives, such as X-ray-irradiated K562 cells.

Odorant polyfunctional thiols such as 4-sulfanyl-4-methylpentan-2-one, 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SHol), and 3-sulfanyl-3-methylbutan-1ol (3S3MBol) were shown to be strongly degraded in Belgian special beers after 1 year of aging. Yet, during the first 3 months, they also appeared to be synthesized in the bottle, even in the absence of yeast. Fresh filtered lager beer was spiked with nonvolatile S-cysteine conjugates of 3SHol, 3S3MBol, and 3-methylbut-2-en-1-thiol (MBT) before aging (1 to 3 months at 20°C or 5 days at 40 or 60°C). Thiol-specific para-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid extracts were analyzed by a GC-pulsed flame photometric detector, and HPLC-electrospray ionization/MS/MS was used to quantify the undegraded cysteinylated precursors. S-Cysteine conjugates were chemically degraded in the beer, releasing their corresponding thiols. The conversions were low (<1%) but could explain the trace amounts of 3SHol and 3S3MBol produced in beer during the first months of storage. On the other hand, chemical degradation of Cys-MBT in beer (although reaching up to 33%) proved not to be efficient enough to release significant amounts of the skunky off-flavor. In this case, photooxidative degradation of isohumulone most probably remains the major synthesis pathway. Complementary analyses are now needed to determine how other beer constituents, such as dicarbonyls, might participate in cysteine adduct degradation.

The reproductive span (RS) of organisms could be affected by different factors during their lifetime. In the model nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, RS is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. However, none of the factors identified so far were related to environmental bacteria, which may incidentally appear anywhere in the habitats of C. elegans. We aimed to find environmental bacteria that could affect the RS of C. elegansand related species. We tested 109 bacterial isolates and found that Microbacteriumsp. CFBb37 increased the RS and lifespan of C. elegansbut reduced its brood size. We studied the effect of M. sp. CFBb37 on the RS of Caenorhabditis briggsae, Caenorhabditis tropicalis, and another Rhabditidae family species, Protorhabditissp., and found similar trends of RS extension in all three cases, suggesting that this bacterial species may induce the extension of RS broadly among Caenorhabditisspecies and possibly for many other Rhabditidae. This work will facilitate future research on the mechanism underlying the bacterial extension of RS of nematodes and possibly other animals.

Cellular differentiation is orchestrated by lineage-specific transcription factors and associated with cell type–specific epigenetic signatures. In the present study, we used stage-specific, epigenetic “fingerprints” to deduce key transcriptional regulators of the human monocytic differentiation process. We globally mapped the distribution of epigenetic enhancer marks (histone H3 lysine 4 monomethylation, histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation, and the histone variant H2AZ), describe general properties of marked regions, and show that cell type–specific epigenetic “fingerprints” are correlated with specific, de novo–derived motif signatures at all of the differentiation stages studied (ie, hematopoietic stem cells, monocytes, and macrophages). We validated the novel, de novo–derived, macrophage-specific enhancer signature, which included ETS, CEBP, bZIP, EGR, E-Box and NF-κB motifs, by ChIP sequencing for a subset of motif corresponding transcription factors (PU.1, C/EBPβ, and EGR2), confirming their association with differentiation-associated epigenetic changes. We describe herein the dynamic enhancer landscape of human macrophage differentiation, highlight the power of genome-wide epigenetic profiling studies to reveal novel functional insights, and provide a unique resource for macrophage biologists.

Cellular differentiation is orchestrated by lineage-specific transcription factors and associated with cell type–specific epigenetic signatures. In the present study, we used stage-specific, epigenetic “fingerprints” to deduce key transcriptional regulators of the human monocytic differentiation process. We globally mapped the distribution of epigenetic enhancer marks (histone H3 lysine 4 monomethylation, histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation, and the histone variant H2AZ), describe general properties of marked regions, and show that cell type–specific epigenetic “fingerprints” are correlated with specific, de novo–derived motif signatures at all of the differentiation stages studied (ie, hematopoietic stem cells, monocytes, and macrophages). We validated the novel, de novo–derived, macrophage-specific enhancer signature, which included ETS, CEBP, bZIP, EGR, E-Box and NF-κB motifs, by ChIP sequencing for a subset of motif corresponding transcription factors (PU.1, C/EBPβ, and EGR2), confirming their association with differentiation-associated epigenetic changes. We describe herein the dynamic enhancer landscape of human macrophage differentiation, highlight the power of genome-wide epigenetic profiling studies to reveal novel functional insights, and provide a unique resource for macrophage biologists.

The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) is an attractive target for the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. In this study, we aimed at the development of a novel 18F-labeled radioligand starting from the structure of the known naphthyrid-2-one CB2R ligands. Compound 28(LU13) was identified with the highest binding affinity and selectivity versus CB1R (CB2RKi= 0.6 nM; CB1RKi/CB2RKi> 1000) and was selected for radiolabeling with fluorine-18 and biological characterization. The new radioligand [18F]LU13showed high CB2R affinity in vitro as well as high metabolic stability in vivo. PET imaging with [18F]LU13in a rat model of vector-based/-related hCB2R overexpression in the striatum revealed a high signal-to-background ratio. Thus, [18F]LU13is a novel and highly promising PET radioligand for the imaging of upregulated CB2R expression under pathological conditions in the brain.

Background: Fungal stem end rot disease of pitaya caused by Alternaria alternatais one of the most destructive diseases in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam. This study aimed to assess the antagonistic effects of some endophytic bacteria isolated from the weed plant (Echinochloa colonum) against A. alternata. Results: A total of 19 endophytic bacteria were isolated and 5 of them presented in vitro antagonistic activity against A. alternata.Of five, strain EC80 significantly inhibited the pathogenic growth with a mean inhibition diameter of 11.88 ± 0.08 mm, while the other four (C79, EC83, EC90, and EC97) showed a weak inhibition. Interestingly, the combination of EC79 and EC80 reduced more biomass of pathogenic fungi than the single one did. EC79 showed positive results for amylase, indole acetic acid (IAA), and biofilm production, whereas EC80 presented positive capabilities for IAA and biofilm production and a negative one for amylase production. In addition, the combined filtrate of EC79 and EC80 presented non-antifungal activity on biocontrol tests in vitro, indicating that bacteria cells played a role in defending against the pathogen. Moreover, both isolates EC79 and EC80 significantly increased seedling biomass than the control. Conclusions: The results suggest that those two strains in combination had the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent against A. alternata. More studies should be done in the future to evaluate their efficiency under the field conditions.

The inhibitor of differentiation or inhibitor of DNA binding (Id) family are members of the helix–loop–helix (HLH) group of transcription factors that play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle control, and apoptosis. They modulate the formation of active class A–class B basic HLH (bHLH) complexes. Ids lack the amino‐terminal associated basic region necessary for DNA binding, thus sequestering the class A factors, inhibiting the formation of active class A–class B heterodimers and, therefore, are considered to act as dominant‐negative regulators of differentiation pathways. We isolated zebrafish id2, and its expression during development was characterized. id2, in addition to regions of expression detected in Xenopus and mice, is also expressed in the tegmentum; midbrain–hindbrain boundary; cerebellum; rhombomeres 2,3,4,6; notochord; and corpuscles of Stannius. Furthermore, we show that expression of id2 is repressed in mind bomb mutants, suggesting a role of Notch upstream of Id2. Developmental Dynamics 234:1055–1063, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

We posed the question of whether steady-state levels of the higher polyamines spermidine and spermine in plants can be influenced by overexpression of a heterologous cDNA involved in the later steps of the pathway, in the absence of any further manipulation of the two synthases that are also involved in their biosynthesis. Transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) plants engineered with the heterologous Datura stramonium S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (samdc) cDNA exhibited accumulation of the transgene steady-state mRNA. Transgene expression did not affect expression of the orthologous samdc gene. Significant increases in SAMDC activity translated to a direct increase in the level of spermidine, but not spermine, in leaves. Seeds recovered from a number of plants exhibited significant increases in spermidine and spermine levels. We demonstrate that overexpression of the D. stramonium samdc cDNA in transgenic rice is sufficient for accumulation of spermidine in leaves and spermidine and spermine in seeds. These findings suggest that increases in enzyme activity in one of the two components of the later parts of the pathway leading to the higher polyamines is sufficient to alter their levels mostly in seeds and, to some extent, in vegetative tissue such as leaves. Implications of our results on the design of rational approaches for the modulation of the polyamine pathway in plants are discussed in the general framework of metabolic pathway engineering.

Abstract. We investigated how over-expression of a cDNA for human ornithine decarboxylase (odc) affects the polyamine pools in transgenic rice. We further investigated tissue-specific expression patterns and product accumulation levels of the transgene driven by either constitutive or seed-specific promoters. Our results indicate that: (1) whereas the expression of a heterologous arginine decarboxylase (adc) cDNA in rice resulted in increased putrescine and spermine levels only in seeds, plants engineered to express odc cDNA exhibited significant changes in the levels of all three major polyamines in seeds and also in vegetative tissues (leaves and roots); (2) there was no linear correlation between odc mRNA levels, ODC enzyme activity and polyamine accumulation, suggesting that control of the polyamine pathway in plants is more complex than in mammalian systems; (3) ODC activity and polyamine changes varied in different tissues, indicating that the pathway is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Our results suggest that ODC rather than ADC is responsible for the regulation of putrescine synthesis in plants.

In some lines of transgenic mice, the methylation of Mspl sites within or adjacent to the transgene locus is affected by the sex of the parent from which the transgene is inherited. These differences are consistent with a role for DNA methylation in genome imprinting. In a previous report, we noted that in one such line, all offspring of females exhibited hypermethylation of the transgene while only some offspring of males carried a hypometh-ylated transgene. In this report, we provide evidence that this phenomenon is controlled by at least two factors, one of which acts in cis and is dependent on the transgene locus, and one of which acts in trans and is supplied by the maternal genome. We also provide evidence that there are genetic differences between inbred mouse strains in the trans-acting factor.

Seven novel N-alkyl-plinabulin derivatives with aryl groups moieties (nitroquinoline, 1,4-dihydroquinoline, 4-methoxybenzene, and 4-chlorobenzene) have been synthesized via aldol condensation and alkylation in one-pot, and tested for their cytotoxicity against 4 cancer cell lines (KB, HepG2, Lu, and MCF7). Compounds (Z)−3-((6,8-dimethyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinolin-2-yl)methylene)−6-((Z)−4-methoxybenzylidene)−1-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)piperazine-2,5-dione (5a), (Z)−6-((Z)−4-methoxybenzylidene)−1-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)−3-((1,6,8-trimethyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinolin-2-yl)methylene)piperazine-2,5-dione (5b), and (Z)−3-((Z)−4-chlorobenzylidene)−1,4-dimethyl-6-((8-methyl-4-nitroquinolin-2-yl)methylene)piperazine-2,5-dione (8) showed strong cytotoxicity against 3 of the cancer cells lines (KB, HepG2 and Lu) with IC50values ranging from 3.04 to 10.62 µM. The quinoline-derived compounds had higher cytotoxic activity than the benzaldehyde derivatives. The successful synthesis of these derivatives offers useful information for the development of more potent vascular disrupting agents based on plinabulin.

Manganese oxides are important materials with a variety of applications in different fields such as chemical sensing devices, magnetic devices, field-emission devices, catalysis, ion-sieves, rechargeable batteries, hydrogen storage media and microelectronics. To open up new applications of manganese oxides, novel morphologies or nanostructures are required to be developed. Via sol-gel and anodic electrodeposition methods, M (Co, Fe) doped manganese oxides were prepared. On the other hand, nanostructured (nanoparticles, nanorods and hollow nanotubes) manganese oxides were synthesized via a process including a chemical reaction with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) templates followed by heat treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for characterization of the prepared materials. The influence of chemical reaction conditions, heat treatment and template present on the morphology, structure, chemical and electrochemical properties of the prepared materials were investigated. Chronopotentiometry (CP) and CV results show high specific capacitance of 186.2 to 298.4 F g?1and the charge/discharge stability of the prepared materials and the ideal pseudocapacitive behaviors were observed. These results give an opening and promising application of these materials in advanced energy storage applications.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 3875