Search

Cashew apple is a source of by-products in the cashew industry. Powder products provide convenience to the process of use, transport, and preservation of nutrients. In this study, the production of soluble powder from cashew apples was developed through the investigation of hydrolysis process (time, temperature, and enzyme tannase) and convective drying conditions (temperature and maltodextrin content). The following indicators are evaluated, such as the total polyphenol content (TPC), total tannin content, total ascorbic acid, solubility, turbidity, and color. The results have shown that TPC increased by 1.67 times, and more than 50% of tannins was removed after the hydrolysis process. At the same time, the efficiency of the process over 30% under all processing conditions was evaluated. These results are the foundation for the development of cashew apple powder and related products, thereby improving the economy of the cashew industry in Vietnam and the world.

This study begins by examining phenotypic variations in field growth among four parental Vietnamese rice lines, consisting of two Indica (PD211/GL37) and two Japonica (J23/SRA2-1) cultivars, which differ in life-cycle durations. Their phenotypic observations revealed both similarities and differences in growth patterns and field responses, setting the stage for further genomic investigation. We then focused on the sequencing and de novo genome assembly of these lines using high-coverage Illumina sequencing and achieving pseudochromosome assemblies ranging between 379 Mbp and 384 Mbp. The assemblies were further enhanced by annotation processes, designating between 44,427 and 48,704 gene models/genome. A comparative genomic analysis revealed that the Japonica varieties (J23/SRA2-1) exhibited more genetic similarity than the Indica varieties (PD211/GL37). From this, a phylogenetic analysis on the phytochrome C (phyC) gene distinctly positions the Indica and Japonica lines within their respective clades, affirming their genetic diversity and lineage accuracy. These genomic resources will pave the way for identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) critical for developing rice cultivars with shorter life cycles, thus enhancing resilience to adverse climatic impacts in Vietnam. This study provides a foundational step towards leveraging genomic data for rice breeding programs aimed at ensuring food security in the face of climate change.

Pomelo (Citrus maxima (Burm. f.) Merr) fresh cut has a highly sensitive fruit and has a short shelf life after peeling. The fruits represent high potentials for local consumption and international export. The objective of the study was to focus on the effects of different concentrations of sodium alginate (1%, 1.5% and 2%) combined with fixed concentrations of calcium chloride (2%) and ascorbic acid (2.5%) to biologically active compounds and allowable microbial content on the surface pomelo fresh cut slices. The results showed that the presence of coating has improved several important quality parameters of the fruit. Specifically, the combination of AL (2%) + AA (2.5%) + calcium chloride (2%) Ascorbic acid (AA) has effectively maintained the total polyphenol content and the total ascorbic acid of the pomelo slice samples, thus exhibiting higher DPPH scavenging activity, as compared to control samples. Furthermore, the pomelo coated with alginate showed good conditions for consumption with minimal microbial degradation and describe good acceptance after 6 days of storage.

The sun-dried method is popular for producing dried Sergestid shrimp in Vietnam, but maintaining consistent product quality across seasons is challenging due to its dependence on weather conditions. A previous study used convection drying at a laboratory scale. In this study, the laboratory scale was upgraded to a commercial scale, and recovery efficiency and Sergestid shrimp images were recorded during production stages. Parameters were adjusted for economic efficiency and convenience. Results showed a decrease in recovery efficiency on the laboratory scale, while the commercial scale improved with washing and blanching. Overall, there was no significant difference in recovery efficiency between the commercial production (15.76 %) and laboratory scale (16.29 %). The commercial-scale dried Sergestid shrimp exhibited better colour than the laboratory-scale product. The product met food safety and quality criteria according to Vietnamese standards. Microorganisms such as Coliforms, E. coli, B. cereus, C. perfringens and salmonella, and total number of yeast and mold spores, were not detected in the product. On the other hand, the product of commercial production contained 256 kcal 100 g−1 of energy and a protein content of 55.50 ± 0.33 %. These findings form a foundation for scaling up production and assessing economic feasibility. Adjusting production parameters using larger equipment contributes to achieving optimal production efficiency and economic benefits.

In this study, a grafted copolymer based on chitosan and Brij S100 (CTS–Brij S100) was prepared to design a nanocarrier system that increases the sensitivity of tetracycline (Tetra) against methicillin‐susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The self‐assembly behavior of CTS–Brij S100 to micelles was confirmed by the benzoylacetone assay. About 4.6 ± 0.175% of Tetra was encapsulated into CTS–Brij S100 with an efficiency of 96.9 ± 0.213%. Dynamic light scattering determined the size of Tetra‐loaded nanoparticles (CTS–Brij S100@Tetra) to be 85.5 ± 1.913 nm with narrow distribution. The high‐positive value of CTS–Brij S100@Tetra (zeta = + 30.9 mV) indicates a stable colloidal system. The release profile of Tetra from CTS–Brij S100 followed the Weibull model with a complex diffusion mechanism. The bactericidal efficacy was tested against MSSA. Interestingly, the blank CTS–Brij S100 nanoparticle could express its inhibition to MSSA when the concentration was 150 μg/mL. Therefore, with the help of CTS–Brij S100, Tetra had superior bactericidal efficiency comparable to free form. In vitro biocompatibility test on fibroblast cells (L929) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) ensures the safety of CTS–Brij S100. It can be concluded that the CTS–Brij S100 system holds potential for applications in facilitating the delivery of the antibiotic Tetra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oil extraction technique from mandarin pixie peels by hydro-distillation is optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Mathematical techniques were used in experimental design to evaluate the impacts of factors that affect the extraction process and improve the yield of the extraction process. A central mixed design based on influencing variables such as water ratio (3–5 mL/g), temperature (110–130 °C) and extraction time (90–150 min) was adopted with essential oil yield as the target function. Correlation analysis of the mathematical regression model showed that the quadratic polynomial model can be used to optimize hydro-distillation of pixie mandarin oil. The results showed that under the optimum extraction conditions, the highest quantity of essential oils was achieved (7.28 mL/100 g materials). In terms of statistical analysis, the significance levels (p-value 0.9). The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, revealing the dominance of limonene content (97.667%), which implies that the essential oil of pixie mandarin could be an alternative source of limonene.

The quantitative measurement of urinary biomarkers in wastewater has emerged as a robust tool for estimating alcohol and tobacco consumption in populations. In this study, we applied the wastewater‐based epidemiology (WBE) approach to compare alcohol and tobacco use between university students and urban inhabitants in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Ethyl sulfate and cotinine serve as markers for alcohol and tobacco use, respectively. Our findings reveal that urban inhabitants aged 15 and above consume 1.56 ± 0.23 mL of pure ethanol and 2.8 ± 0.33 mg of nicotine per day, while university students consume 0.69 ± 0.13 mL of pure alcohol and 1.2 ± 0.2 mg of nicotine per day. This indicates that, on average, students consume less alcohol and tobacco compared with urban adults. A Monte Carlo simulation indicated that, on average, university students in our study smoke 1.5 cigarettes per day, while urban residents aged 15 and above smoke 4.3 cigarettes per day. Considering the smoking prevalence, a student smoker in this study consumes 6.5 cigarettes per day, a level high enough to establish addiction. On the other hand, alcohol use estimation is significantly lower than previous survey‐based reports, likely due to degradation within on‐site septic tanks. Future research should aim to extend the sampling period to capture seasonal variations and improve the understanding of tobacco and alcohol consumption patterns. The results from this study are crucial for decision‐makers in Ho Chi Minh City to develop effective public health strategies and interventions. Practitioner Points: Wastewater‐based approach is applicable to estimate the tobacco consumption in Ho Chi Minh City.Each current smoker in the urban area of Ho Chi Minh City smokes nearly a package a day.The estimated consumption for student smokers in U‐town is 6.5 cigarettes per day, a level high enough to establish addiction.The existence of septic tanks within Vietnam's drainage systems prevents reliable estimation of alcohol consumption for the entire population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a limited understanding of how packaging and storage conditions affect product quality is a major factor contributing to the short shelf life of seasoning powder products. To address this problem, the objective of this study was to explore the impact of four types of packaging and different temperature conditions (ranging from 5 to 45°C) during 110 days of storage on product quality, specifically the moisture content, astaxanthin content, and total aerobic microbial count. The packaging materials investigated included aluminum film‐coated polyethylene bags (Al/PE bag), kraft paper‐coated polyethylene bags (PE/kraft paper bag), polyethylene terephthalate (PET bottle), and glass bottles. Kinetic models of degradation astaxanthin, moisture absorption, and aerobic microbial growth were developed. The results indicated that PET bottles were the most effective packaging material to maintain the moisture content and astaxanthin levels. Furthermore, temperatures between 5 and 15°C were found to be optimal for the preservation of astaxanthin content, the stabilization of moisture content, and the inhibition of microbial growth. At the same time, first‐order, Peleg, and Gompertz models are suitable for describing the mechanism of transformation for astaxanthin, moisture, and microbial aerobic growth with a value of R2 > 0.9. These findings provide valuable information for selecting the appropriate packaging and storage conditions that can extend the shelf life of seasoning powder products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanosized multi-drug delivery systems provide synergistic effects between drugs and bioactive compounds, resulting in increased overall efficiency and restricted side effects compared to conventional single-drug chemotherapy. In this study, we develop an amphiphilic heparin-poloxamer P403 (HP403) nanogel that could effectively co-load curcuminoid (Cur) and cisplatin hydrate (CisOH) (HP403@CisOH@Cur) via two loading mechanisms. The HP403 nanogels and HP403@CisOH@Cur nanogels were closely analyzed with 1H-NMR spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, TEM, and DLS, exhibiting high stability in spherical forms. In drug release profiles, accelerated behavior of Cur and CisOH at pH 5.5 compared with neutral pH was observed, suggesting effective delivery of the compounds in tumor sites. In vitro studies showed high antitumor activity of HP403@CisOH@Cur nanogels, while in vivo assays showed that the dual-drug platform prolonged the survival time of mice and prevented tail necrosis. In summary, HP403@CisOH@Cur offers an intriguing strategy to achieve the cisplatin and curcumin synergistic effect in a well-designed delivery platform that increases antitumor effectiveness and overcomes undesired consequences caused by cisplatin in breast cancer treatment.

This study aimed to produce a new functional fermented food product from sweet corn milk yogurt using Lactobacillus casei. The suitable conditions for lactic acid fermentation in sweet corn milk were investigated, including initial bacterial concentration, ratio of sweet corn milk and cow milk, sugar concentration, fermentation time and temperature. The results showed that the appropriate conditions for sweet corn milk yogurt production as follow: initial bacterial concentration was 106 cells/mL, fermentation time was 12 h at 37°C and sweet corn milk was fortified with cow milk at a ratio of 2:8 and 12% of sugar. The sweet corn milk yogurt was slightly yellow, smooth texture and thick body with the aroma of corn and acidic smell. The product remained acceptable taste and texture within 4 weeks at 0°C and 2 weeks at 5°C.