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Doping of neodymium ions into CoFe2O4 nanoparticles significantly boosted the photocatalytic activity of CoNdxFe2−xO4 for the degradation of Rhodamine B dye. Up to 94.7% of dye was degraded under CoNd0.05Fe1.95O4/H2O2/visible-light system.

A unique genetic variation with respect to blast resistance was clarified in 201 rice accessions from Vietnam. These accessions were classified into three clusters—A, B1, and B2—based on their reactions to 26 standard differential blast isolates selected in Vietnam. Cluster A was the dominant cultivar group in Vietnam and the most susceptible of the three clusters. Cluster B1 was the smallest group and the most resistant. Cluster B2 was the second-most dominant group and of intermediate resistance between clusters A and B1. The percentages of accessions comprising each cluster varied by region and area. Accessions in cluster A were distributed widely throughout Vietnam and had the highest frequencies in both the Central and North regions. Accessions in cluster B2 were found with highest frequencies in the mountainous and intermediate areas of the North region. Accessions in cluster B1 were found with highest frequencies in the Central region and Red River Delta area (North region). These results suggest that rice accessions in Vietnam were basically susceptible (cluster A) or of intermediate resistance (cluster B2), and that high-resistance cultivars were mainly distributed in the low altitude areas, such as the Red River Delta area and Central region.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that requires prolonged treatment with often severe side effects. One experimental MS therapeutic currently under development is a single amino acid mutant of a plant peptide termed kalata B1, of the cyclotide family. Like all cyclotides, the therapeutic candidate [T20K]kB1 is highly stable as it contains a cyclic backbone that is cross-linked by three disulfide bonds in a knot-like structure. This stability is much sought after for peptide drugs, which despite exquisite selectivity for their targets, are prone to rapid degradation in human serum. In preliminary investigations, it was found that [T20K]kB1 retains oral activity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model of MS in mice, thus opening up opportunities for oral dosing of the peptide. Although [T20K]kB1 can be synthetically produced, a recombinant production system provides advantages, specifically for reduced scale-up costs and reductions in chemical waste. In this study, we demonstrate the capacity of the Australian native Nicotiana benthamiana plant to produce a structurally identical [T20K]kB1 to that of the synthetic peptide. By optimizing the co-expressed cyclizing enzyme, precursor peptide arrangements, and transgene regulatory regions, we demonstrate a [T20K]kB1 yield in crude peptide extracts of ~ 0.3 mg/g dry mass) in whole plants and close to 1.0 mg/g dry mass in isolated infiltrated leaves. With large-scale plant production facilities coming on-line across the world, the sustainable and cost-effective production of cyclotide-based therapeutics is now within reach.

β-sitosterol derived from Clinacanthus nutans Lindau was tested for its in vitro osteogenic activity using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. Our results indicated that β-sitosterol was non-toxic to the cells cultured at a concentration

This paper presents a study on the possibility of replacing natural coarse aggregates with recycled aggregates in concrete in terms of strength, namely compressive strength and flexural strength. The concrete was designed to have a 25MPa compressive strength and an 8cm slump. The replacement rates of natural aggregates with recycled coarse aggregates were 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The test samples were compressed to determine their strength value after 28 days of curing. The research results give a more complete assessment of the efficiency of the use of recycled raw aggregates instead of natural aggregates in concrete. The results indicate that using recycled aggregates is feasible due to the small decrease in concrete strength. The experiment shows that up to 20% replacement, the recorded reduction in the strength of concrete is lower than 15%. However, it is indispensable that the strength of concrete should be enhanced when recycled aggregates are used. According to previous works, fiber reinforcement may be an effective solution. Therefore, to further develop research using recycled aggregates, it is necessary to consider using different fibers to strengthen the concrete. The fiber content can be used in the range of 0-1% of the weight of concrete.

This study aims to analyze the correlation between earthquake Intensity Measures (IMs) and seismic responses of a reactor containment building in an APR-1400 nuclear power plant. A total of 20 IMs were employed to develop Seismic Demand Regression Models (SDRMs), which show the relationship between IMs and engineering demand parameters. A numerical model of the structure was constructed using the Lumped-Mass Stick Model (LMSM) in SAP2000. Additionally, a three-dimensional finite element model was developed to validate the simplified LMSM approach. A set of 90 ground motion records was used to perform a time-history analysis, where the motions cover a wide range of amplitude, intensity, epicenter distance, significant duration, and frequency of earthquakes. Engineering demand parameters were monitored in terms of floor accelerations and displacements. Consequently, strongly correlated IMs were identified based on the evaluation of SDRMs using four statistical indicators: coefficient of determination, standard deviation, practicality, and proficiency. The results showed that the strongest IMs were Sa(T1), Sv(T1), and Sd(T1) followed by ASI, EPA, PGA, and A95. On the other hand, the weakly correlated IMs were PGD, DRMS, SED, VRMS, PGV, HI, VSI, and SMV.

Purpose Data regarding the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men and women after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in low-and-middle incomes countries remains scarce. To investigate sex difference in the HRQoL at 30 days and 12 months post PCI in Vietnam. Methods We used data from a single percutaneous coronary registry established in the Vietnam National Heart Institute. The HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-3L instrument via telephone interviews, and information about demographics, clinical presentation and procedures was obtained through face-to-face interviews and medical records. The HRQoL between men and women were compared using independent samples t tests, the Mann–Whitney U test or univariate/multivariate logistic regression. Results There were 866 patients included in this cohort, with the proportion of women being nearly half of men (32.1 vs 67.9%). Women were 3.5 years older, had lower income and educational levels but greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. At 30 days, women significantly had more problems in mobility, personal care and pain/discomfort compared to men. At 12 months, women had more problem than men in usual activity. The geometric means of HRQoL was lower in women at 30 days, but not in 12 months. From 30 days to 12 months after discharge, women showed better recovery in mobility compared to men, but not in other dimensions. Conclusions In this first insight of sex differences in HRQoL following PCI in Vietnam, women appeared to have worse quality of life, especially at 30 days after discharge but they showed better recovery in mobility at 12 months compared to men.

Background: The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to increase, with the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) as the most preferred vascular access for hemodialysis. Whether routine preoperative ultrasound mapping improves the outcome of AVF formation compared with clinical examination alone remains controversial. Methods: This retrospective study included patients undergoing AVF surgery with and without preoperative ultrasound at our center between September 2017 and August 2020. Outcome measures included AVF early and mid-term outcome. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of favorable AVF outcome. Results: A total of 158 patients received an AVF during the study period. Both groups with (n = 79) and without (n = 79) ultrasound mapping were similar regarding baseline characteristics (age, sex, comorbidities). Patency rates were comparable between the 2 groups at 30 days, 3 months, and 6 months after AVF surgery, although there was a trend toward more favorable outcome for the mapping group ( P = .07). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that at the end of study, the ultrasound mapping group had a higher mid-term patency rate; however, the improvement was not significant ( P = .07). Cox regression analysis did not reveal age, gender, comorbidities, and ultrasound as predictors of AVF survival. Conclusion: Our study did not find a significant benefit from routine preoperative ultrasound mapping in creating AVFs for hemodialysis. Further well-designed and adequately powered trials are needed to demonstrate the beneficial role of routine preoperative ultrasound mapping for vascular access in CKD coupled with clinical evaluation in short- and long-term AVF outcome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common peripheral neuropathies affecting patients' life. Performing endoscopic carpal tunnel release is now a new technique that is being gradually applied in Vietnam. This paper seeks to investigate the effectiveness of Chow's method for CTS treatment.This is a prospective cohort study involving seventy-seven patients with CTS who underwent Chow's endoscopic method at our hospital from March 2019 to January 2020. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and electromyography (EMG) were used primarily to evaluate surgical decompression pre-operatively, one week, three weeks, three months, and six months after surgery. We also recorded incision length, pain at the scar, the improvement of symptoms and thenar atrophy and return-to-work time after surgery.A total of 85.7% of the patients were women. A moderate severity of EMG was seen in 64.9% of cases. Six-month post-operative functional status scale (FSS) (1.05±0.1) and symptom severity scale (SSS) (1.05±0.1) showed significant improvement when compared with preoperative FSS (2.8±0.5) and SSS (3.2±0.5). Post-operative EMG showed the distal sensory latency (DSL) and distal motor latency (DML) had returned to the norm in 88% and 89.3%, respectively. The average incision length was 12.1±1.2mm. Six months after surgery, numbness and hand pain had resolved in 97.4%, a painless scar was seen in 94.7%, but full recovery of thenar atrophy was only seen in 9.1%. Patients could get back to work after 10.2±2.4 days.Chow's endoscopic carpal tunnel release is a safe and effective procedure for patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome that showed promising outcomes on clinical symptoms and functions on EMG with minimal pain and scarring, and early return to work.

Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) enhance connectivity and accessibility for civilian and military applications. A group of UAVs with on-board cameras usually monitors or collects information about designated areas. The UAVs can build a distributed network to share/exchange and to process collected sensing data before sending to a data processing center. A huge data transmission among them may cause latency and high-energy consumption. This paper deploys artificial intelligent (AI) techniques to process the video data streaming among the UAVs. Thus, each distributed UAV only needs to send a certain required information to each other. Each UAV processes data utilizing AI and only sends the data that matters to the others. The UAVs, formed as a connected network, communicate within a short communication range and share their own data to each other. Convolution neural network (CNN) technique extracts feature from images automatically that the UAVs only send the moving objects instead of the whole frames. This significantly reduces redundant information for either each UAV or the whole network and saves a huge energy consumption for the network. The UAVs can also save energy for their motion in the sensing field. In addition, a flocking control algorithm is deployed to lead the group of UAVs in the working fields and to avoid obstacles if needed. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the proposed algorithms in either AI-based data processing or controlling the UAVs. The results show promising points to save energy for the networks.

NAA10 is a novel biomarker of cancer progression. The oncogenic and biological mechanisms of NAA10 in human malignancies are controversial and remain to be elucidated. Herein, we investigated the biological and clinicopathological implications of NAA10 gene expression in adult gliomas. We collected data from The Human Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, including patients from TCGA-GBM and TCGA-LGG projects. In total, there were 666 patients from the 2 projects (513 and 153 from TCGA-LGG and TCGA-GBM, respectively). Different analyses (pathway, DNA methylation, and survival analyses) require further specific case eliminations. Based on NAA10 expression, we divided 666 tumors into 2 subgroups: NAA10-high and NAA10-low glioma. There were higher activities of cell proliferation, metabolic reprogramming, DNA repair, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, TNF-α, IL6/JAK/STAT6, mTORC1 signaling, and MYC targets in NAA10-high glioma, while P53, TGF-β, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways were highly expressed by NAA10-low gliomas. t-distributed stochastic neighbors embedding dimension reduction of DNA methylation also showed a high distribution of NAA10-high gliomas in distinct clusters. Survival analyses showed that high NAA10 expression was an independent prognostic factor. NAA10 expression dictated epigenetic, genetic, and clinicopathological differences in adult glioma. Further studies are required to investigate the detailed NAA10 oncogenic mechanisms and to validate NAA10 immunohistochemistry.

The metabolite acetyl-CoA is necessary for both lipid synthesis in the cytosol and histone acetylation in the nucleus. The two canonical precursors to acetyl-CoA in the nuclear-cytoplasmic compartment are citrate and acetate, which are processed to acetyl-CoA by ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) and acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain 2 (ACSS2), respectively. It is unclear whether other substantial routes to nuclear-cytosolic acetyl-CoA exist. To investigate this, we generated cancer cell lines lacking both ACLY and ACSS2 [double knockout (DKO) cells]. Using stable isotope tracing, we show that both glucose and fatty acids contribute to acetyl-CoA pools and histone acetylation in DKO cells and that acetylcarnitine shuttling can transfer two-carbon units from mitochondria to cytosol. Further, in the absence of ACLY, glucose can feed fatty acid synthesis in a carnitine responsive and carnitine acetyltransferase (CrAT)-dependent manner. The data define acetylcarnitine as an ACLY- and ACSS2-independent precursor to nuclear-cytosolic acetyl-CoA that can support acetylation, fatty acid synthesis, and cell growth.

Tissue homeostasis is maintained after stress by engaging and activating the hematopoietic stem and progenitor compartments in the blood. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are essential for long-term repopulation after secondary transplantation. Here, using a conditional knockout mouse model, we revealed that the RNA-binding protein SYNCRIP is required for maintenance of blood homeostasis especially after regenerative stress due to defects in HSCs and progenitors. Mechanistically, we find that SYNCRIP loss results in a failure to maintain proteome homeostasis that is essential for HSC maintenance. SYNCRIP depletion results in increased protein synthesis, a dysregulated epichaperome, an accumulation of misfolded proteins and induces endoplasmic reticulum stress. Additionally, we find that SYNCRIP is required for translation of CDC42 RHO-GTPase, and loss of SYNCRIP results in defects in polarity, asymmetric segregation, and dilution of unfolded proteins. Forced expression of CDC42 recovers polarity and in vitro replating activities of HSCs. Taken together, we uncovered a post-transcriptional regulatory program that safeguards HSC self-renewal capacity and blood homeostasis.

Wetlands in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam support populations of globally threatened species, including Hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) and, historically, Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). However, protected areas in the southern wetlands have become terrestrial islands, surrounded by aquaculture and agriculture, leading to intensified interactions between humans and wildlife. This research explored different human-wildlife interactions to assess whether they bear potential threats to populations of threatened, wetland-dwelling carnivores such as otters, wild cats, and other small carnivores. 400 semi-structured interviews were conducted in communities living in the buffer zones of two protected areas: U Minh Thuong National Park and U Minh Ha National Park. Our results revealed that fish farmers who live closer to protected area boundaries were more likely to experience conflict with otters, wild cats, and other small carnivores. While the effect of distance to the protected area’s edge on small carnivore impacts were similar in both study sites, prior impacts were found to influence increasingly severe actions of respondents against the impacting wildlife. Overall, most locals had little-to-no knowledge of Fishing cats. This evidence corresponds with other studies which suspect the Fishing cat to be in extremely low densities or potentially extirpated from the wetlands in the last few decades. High prices of wildlife have driven intensive illegal hunting in the region. More people in U Minh Thuong were aware of illegal wildlife trade activities than in U Minh Ha and men tended to have more knowledge and willingness to share about those illicit activities. Our results suggested community engagement activities to tackle human-otter conflict and illegal activities related to wildlife should target mostly men, older villagers, and fish farmers living near the edges of both protected areas. Education and outreach campaigns to improve community awareness of wildlife should target women and young people, who were significantly less aware of wildlife issues in the area overall.

Metal-based aerogels have attracted numerous studies due to their unique physical, structural, thermal, and chemical properties. Utilizing aluminum waste, a novel, facile, environmentally friendly approach to aluminum-based aerogels is proposed. In this work, the aluminum-based aerogels produced do not use toxic chemicals unlike conventional aerogel production. Aluminum powder, with poly(acrylic acid) and carboxymethyl cellulose as binders, is converted into aluminum-based aerogels using the freeze-drying method. The aluminum-based aerogels have low density (0.08–0.12 g/cm3) and high porosity (93.83–95.68%). The thermal conductivity of the aerogels obtained is very low (0.038–0.045 W/m·K), comparable to other types of aerogels and commercial heat insulation materials. Additionally, the aerogels can withstand temperatures up to 1000 °C with less than 40% decomposition. The aerogels exhibited promising oil absorption properties with their absorption capacity of 9.8 g/g and 0.784 g/cm3. The Young’s modulus of the aerogels ranged from 70.6 kPa to 330.2 kPa. This study suggests that aluminum-based aerogels have potential in thermal insulation and oil absorption applications.

Ferroptosis is mediated by lipid peroxidation of phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acyl moieties. Glutathione, the key cellular antioxidant capable of inhibiting lipid peroxidation via the activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX-4), is generated directly from the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine, and indirectly from methionine via the transsulfuration pathway. Herein we show that cysteine and methionine deprivation (CMD) can synergize with the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3 to increase ferroptotic cell death and lipid peroxidation in both murine and human glioma cell lines and in ex vivo organotypic slice cultures. We also show that a cysteine-depleted, methionine-restricted diet can improve therapeutic response to RSL3 and prolong survival in a syngeneic orthotopic murine glioma model. Finally, this CMD diet leads to profound in vivo metabolomic, proteomic and lipidomic alterations, highlighting the potential for improving the efficacy of ferroptotic therapies in glioma treatment with a non-invasive dietary modification.