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BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommend the consumption of less than 2,000 mg of sodium/day to reduce blood pressure and the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. The sodium intake among Vietnamese was reported to be 7,200 mg/d or more. Free L-glutamate enhances flavor when it is added to food and improves the taste of sodium-reduced foods.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate whether the intake of free L-glutamate-rich seasonings contributes to maintaining a low sodium intake in a cross-over study.MethodsFrom a total of 145 subjects, 42 participants were screened for participation in the cross-over design study. Subjects were randomly allocated to the Low free L-glutamate group (Low free L-Gl) and the Normal free L-glutamate group (Normal free L-Gl). Both received a direct educational guideline to reduce sodium intake. The Low free L-Gl group started with a restriction in the variety of free L-glutamate-rich seasonings, and the Normal free L-Gl group had no restriction in the variety of seasonings. Blood pressure was measured at week 0 (baseline), week 2, week 4, and week 6, while body weight, height, urine sodium and potassium excretion, chromogranin-A (CgA pmol/mg protein) from saliva, and free L-glutamate from food were measured at week 0, week 3, and week 6.ResultsIn Low free L-Gl, the amount of free L-glutamate in food decreased significantly from baseline to week 6 (p 0.05). However, the reduction of sodium excretion at week 6 was 22% in Low free L-Gl (5,875 mg/d vs. 4,603 mg/d, p

Abstract Cassava witches' broom disease (CWBD) is a devastating disease of cassava in Southeast Asia (SEA), of unknown etiology. Affected plants show reduced internodal length, proliferation of leaves and weakening of stems. This results in poor germination of infected stem cuttings (i.e., planting material) and significant reductions in fresh root yields and starch content, causing economic losses for farmers and processors. Using a metagenomic approach, we identified a fungus belonging to the Ceratobasidium genus, sharing more than 98.3–99.7% nucleotide identity at the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), with Ceratobasidium theobromae a pathogen causing similar symptoms in cacao. Microscopy analysis confirmed the identity of the fungus and specific designed PCR tests readily showed (1) Ceratobasidium sp. of cassava is strongly associated with CWBD symptoms, (2) the fungus is present in diseased samples collected since the first recorded CWBD outbreaks in SEA and (3) the fungus is transmissible by grafting. No phytoplasma sequences were detected in diseased plants. Current disease management efforts include adjustment of quarantine protocols and guarantee the production and distribution of Ceratobasidium-free planting material. Implications of related Ceratobasidium fungi, infecting cassava, and cacao in SEA and in other potential risk areas are discussed.

Cassava witches’ broom disease (CWBD) is one of the main diseases of cassava in Southeast Asia (SEA). Affected cassava plants show reduced internodal length and proliferation of leaves (phyllody) in the middle and top part of the plant, which results in reduced root yields of 50% or more. It is thought to be caused by phytoplasma; however, despite its widespread distribution in SEA still little is known about CWBD pathology. The overarching goal of this study was to review and corroborate published information on CWBD biology and epidemiology considering recent field observations. We report the following: (1) CWBD symptoms are conserved and persistent in SEA and are distinct from what has been reported as witches’ broom in Argentina and Brazil. (2) In comparison with cassava mosaic disease, another major disease of cassava in SEA, symptoms of CWBD develop later. (3) Phytoplasma detected in CWBD-affected plants belong to different ribosomal groups and there is no association study available indicating phytoplasma as the causing agent of CWBD. These findings are essential clues for designing surveillance and management strategies and for future studies to better understand the biology, tissue localization and spatial spread of CWBD in SEA and other potential risk areas.

Under the Narendra Modi’s administration, India has been implementing a pragmatic foreign policy following realistic principles toward China. By using methods of policy analysis, in combination with content analysis and discourse research, the paper demonstrates that India’s policy toward China under the Prime Minister (PM) Modi’s leadership is a set of strategic responses of a rising power to an assertive neighbor who is rising at global level. This set of responses includes a policy of cooperation when it sees China as a partner, a policy of containment when it sees China as a rival, a policy of conflict management when it sees China as a neighbor who has direct territorial disputes; and a policy of balance of power when it sees China as an opponent. The authors of the paper are of the view that one of the key elements in India’s policies toward China is that it is a combination of both cooperation and competition aspects. In addition, it is to be seen that India has simultaneously used various channels to implement these policies toward China to secure its national goals.

The present work aims to establish an efficient protocol for in vitro regeneration of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivar L14. The study showed that de-embryonated cotyledon was a suitable explant for shoot multiplication on MS medium containing 4 mg/L BAP. The highest number of shoots per explant obtained after 4 weeks of culture was up to 6.8 shoots. Shoots in vitro were able to produce a large number of approximately 11 roots on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA. These results will be very useful in establishing an in vitro regeneration protocol for peanut cultivar L14 during gene transfer in the next studies to improve their disease resistance.

South Asia is becoming one of the most fiercely competitive battlegrounds between India and China. Located at the center of South Asia and with its large geographical area, population, and economic size, superior military strength compared to other countries in the region, India has always been the most influential power in the region. But in the past decade, China’s intensified partnership with small countries in South Asia has threatened India’s number one position in the region. It is the challenges posed by China in South Asia, inter alia, that have forced India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make various important foreign policy adjustments. To interpret India–China competition in South Asia in aspects of diplomacy, economy, security and defense, the paper uses international relations theories including constructivism, neo-realism (particularly offensive realism) and the balance of threat theory. Although the paper analyzes India–China competition in all three areas of diplomacy, economy and military security, the authors are of the view that, the most fundamental motivation of China and India in this competition is to achieve power and security and not economic objectives. While China’s strategic calculation leans towards its ambitions to gain greater power in the geopolitical order, India’s strategic calculation leans towards ensuring its security. By using qualitative methods and utilizing secondary data including books, treatises, articles and policy briefs…, this paper analyzes the strategic calculations of India and China in South Asia. The paper argues that China’s intention is to emulate and then overtake India in the very region of India’s traditional influence, while India’s strategy is to maintain and strengthen its number one position in the region. Though China’s influence in the region seems to have overwhelmed over India, India with all its internal forces is also hindering China’s penetrating steps into South Asian region.

Under the Narendra Modi's administration, India has been implementing a pragmatic foreign policy following realistic principles toward China. By using methods of policy analysis, in combination with content analysis and discourse research, the paper demonstrates that India's policy toward China under the Prime Minister (PM) Modi's leadership is a set of strategic responses of a rising power to an assertive neighbor who is rising at global level. This set of responses includes a policy of cooperation when it sees China as a partner, a policy of containment when it sees China as a rival, a policy of conflict management when it sees China as a neighbor who has direct territorial disputes; and a policy of balance of power when it sees China as an opponent. The authors of the paper are of the view that one of the key elements in India's policies toward China is that it is a combination of both cooperation and competition aspects. In addition, it is to be seen that India has simultaneously used various channels to implement these policies toward China to secure its national goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advantage of being an economically dynamic and geographically close region, Vietnam - ASEAN trade relations have had high growth rates in recent decades. This has helped open new opportunities for Vietnamese exporters to get access to and expand its markets internally in a region of about 625 million population and larger external markets, as well as to get deeper engagement in the global value chain. However, the export of Vietnamese goods to these countries is always unpredictable and highly risky. Potential risks come from the policy of the states, from the parties and exporters involved, from the protection of domestic trade, from the customs and practices of the consumers. This has been especially true since the ASEAN Economic Community is officially established by the end of 2015. Risk identification is an important step to minimize and prevent risk and vulnerability in export activities for Vietnamese exporters while integrating into the region. By using a systematic, multi-dimensional approach, the paper uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to identify the risks for Vietnamese exports to the ASEAN market, which is based on data of export status and studies about the actual situation of exporters. At the same time, on the basis of the development orientation between Vietnam and AEC, the article is to provide solutions to reduce risks that are applicable for the state and industrial communities, thereby improving the efficiency of Vietnamese exports to the ASEAN markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first report on utilizing hydrolyzed karaya gum (HKG) as a novel polyanion material for complex coacervation with gelatin A. With negative zeta potentials at pH > 2.5, HKG formed the complex coacervate with a maximum yield at pH 3.75 and 1 : 1 HKG:gelatin ratio. The optimal complex coacervates were used to encapsulate soybean oil containing curcumin using different shell:core ratios, homogenization speeds, concentrations of emulsifier, and drying techniques. Optical microscopy showed that increasing homogenization speed and Tween 80 concentration produced smaller and more uniform coacervate particles. Increasing the shell:core mass ratio from 1 to 4 resulted in a linear increase in encapsulation efficiencies for both soybean oil and curcumin. Accelerated peroxidation tests on the microcapsules showed enhanced protective effects against oil peroxidation when increasing shell:core ratios and using freeze-drying instead of oven-drying at 50 oC. In vitro release of curcumin in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids was faster when using freeze-drying and decreasing shell:core ratio. This study shows perspective novel applications of HKG in microencapsulating active ingredients for food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asia is becoming one of the most fiercely competitive battlegrounds between India and China. Located at the center of South Asia and with its large geographical area, population, and economic size, superior military strength compared to other countries in the region, India has always been the most influential power in the region. But in the past decade, China's intensified partnership with small countries in South Asia has threatened India's number one position in the region. It is the challenges posed by China in South Asia, inter alia, that have forced India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make various important foreign policy adjustments. To interpret India–China competition in South Asia in aspects of diplomacy, economy, security and defense, the paper uses international relations theories including constructivism, neo-realism (particularly offensive realism) and the balance of threat theory. Although the paper analyzes India–China competition in all three areas of diplomacy, economy and military security, the authors are of the view that, the most fundamental motivation of China and India in this competition is to achieve power and security and not economic objectives. While China's strategic calculation leans towards its ambitions to gain greater power in the geopolitical order, India's strategic calculation leans towards ensuring its security. By using qualitative methods and utilizing secondary data including books, treatises, articles and policy briefs ... , this paper analyzes the strategic calculations of India and China in South Asia. The paper argues that China's intention is to emulate and then overtake India in the very region of India's traditional influence, while India's strategy is to maintain and strengthen its number one position in the region. Though China's influence in the region seems to have overwhelmed over India, India with all its internal forces is also hindering China's penetrating steps into South Asian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period from 1975 to 1986, Vietnam had to face a serious economic crisis. Difficulties and problems came from poverty, war consequences, unfavourable changes of the international situation and especially the outmodedness of the economic model of centralized bureaucratic planning. Therefore, Vietnam had to undertake a program of economic innovation, known as "Doi Moi" (Innovation) in 1986. Up to now, after 34 years, Economic Innovation has brought many achievements in terms of growth rate, the scale of the economy, the shifting of the economic structure toward modernization, institutional innovation and extended international integration... However, at the same time, there remain problematic issues such as quality of growth, productivity and sustainable development...., to be tackled with. In fact, this is the first economic innovation (1986-2019). These contents will be analyzed and evaluated by the article on the basis of the model of economic innovation through a process of change and continuity in the market economy thinking in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 nanoparticles with a controlled crystalline phase, size, shape and surface structure have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using a water-soluble titanium complex and amino acid as the structure-directing and shape-controlling agents. The titania phases of rutile or brookite can be easily tuned by using different amino acid additives. Rutile nanorods with a high aspect ratio have been obtained in the presence of glutamic acid. Small nano-sized and well-faceted brookite can be synthesized using lysine as a pH-adjusting and shape-controlling agent. Amino acids play crucial roles in determining the crystalline phase as well as size and shape of the synthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized TiO2 rutile and brookite with different shapes have been evaluated for photocatalytic activity by means of the reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol. The investigation results reveal that the methanol yield on rutile and brookite strongly depends on the crystalline phase, size, shape and surface structure of the synthesized nanocrystals. Among the rutile nanocrystals, the photocatalytic activity increases with an increasing percentage of the {111} surface. Brookite with exposed {210} facets exhibits a notable photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction presumably due to its specific surface structure with a spatial separation of reductive and oxidative sites. Our studies demonstrate the abilities of shape-control and facet-selectivity in determining photocatalytic activity, representing a critical step forward in the designing of high performance nanostructures for the reduction of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trong một thế giới biến động và thay đổi không ngừng của thế kỷ 21, tính tích cực, chủ động và năng lực sáng tạo là những phẩm chất đặc biệt quan trọng của lao động có trình độ cao - sản phẩm của hệ thống giáo dục đại học. Một trong những con đường quan trọng để bồi dưỡng những phẩm chất này là đẩy mạnh hoạt động nghiên cứu khoa học của sinh viên trong các trường đại học. Một nghiên cứu thực nghiệm đã cho thấy một số yếu tố như nhận thức về nghiên cứu khoa học, cơ sở vật chất và phương tiện nghiên cứu, giảng dạy, hệ thống quản lý nghiên cứu khoa học trong nhà trường và vai trò của giảng viên có ảnh hưởng tích cực tới hoạt động nà. Từ đó một số giải pháp khuyến khích hoạt động nghiên cứu khoa học của sinh viên trong các trường đại học đã được đề xuất.

Bài báo đề cập đến những nội dung chính trong việc xây dựng giáo án điện tử. Từ một số kinh nghiệm trong giảng dạy với giáo án điện tử, tác giả đưa ra một vài nguyên tắc khi xây dựng một giáo án điện tử, những bước đầu xây dựng giáo án dạng này trên hệ thống Moodle cũng như chia sẻ một số kinh nghiệm cá nhân.