A new species of the paper wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville, plebeja group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae), from Vietnam

A new species, Ropalidia daklak Bui, Mai & Nguyen, sp. nov., belonging to the plebeja-group of the genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville, 1831 is described and figured based on females and males from Vietnam. The nest structure of the new species is described, and an updated key is provided to all known species of the group

Factors Influence on Promotion Mix in E-marketing: Case of Technology Services Enterprise in Vietnam

Purpose: The objective of this study is to clarify factors affecting the promotion mix in E-Marketing, with specific target audience being enterprises operating in the technology service industry in Vietnam.   Theoretical framework: Based on the promotion theory and social exchange theory, this study focuses on the factors that influence on the promotion decision in firms.   Design/Methodology/Approach: This study applies both qualitative and quantitative methods with data collected from a questionnaire survey.   Findings: There are 4 factors respectively Sales Promotion, Advertising, Public Relations and Personal Selling that affect the mixed promotion activities in E-Marketing of technology service enterprises in Vietnam.   Research, practical & social implications: This study propose solutions to improve the promotion activities in the e – marketing of firms in Vietnam.   Originality/Value: This study is one of the early studies that have focused in this field in Vietnam.Propósito: El objetivo de este estudio es aclarar los factores que afectan la combinación de promoción en E-Marketing, con un público objetivo específico que son las empresas que operan en la industria de servicios de tecnología en Vietnam. Marco teórico: Basado en la teoría de la promoción y la teoría del intercambio social, este estudio se centra en los factores que influyen en la decisión de promoción en las empresas. Diseño/metodología/enfoque: este estudio aplica métodos cualitativos y cuantitativos con datos recopilados de una encuesta de cuestionario. Hallazgos: Existen 4 factores, respectivamente, Promoción de Ventas, Publicidad, Relaciones Públicas y Ventas Personales que afectan las actividades mixtas de promoción en E-Marketing de las empresas de servicios de tecnología en Vietnam. Implicaciones de investigación, prácticas y sociales: este estudio propone soluciones para mejorar las actividades de promoción en el marketing electrónico de las empresas en Vietnam. Originalidad/valor: Este estudio es uno de los primeros que se han centrado en este campo en Vietnam.Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é esclarecer os fatores que afetam o mix de promoção no E-Marketing, tendo como público-alvo específico as empresas que operam no setor de serviços de tecnologia no Vietnã.. Referencial teórico: Com base na teoria da promoção e na teoria das trocas sociais, este estudo se concentra nos fatores que influenciam a decisão de promoção nas empresas.. Desenho/metodologia/abordagem: Este estudo aplica métodos qualitativos e quantitativos com dados coletados de uma pesquisa por questionário. Resultados: Existem 4 fatores, respectivamente, Promoção de Vendas, Publicidade, Relações Públicas e Vendas Pessoais que afetam as atividades de promoção mista em E-Marketing de empresas de serviços de tecnologia no Vietnã. Pesquisa, implicações práticas e sociais: Este estudo propõe soluções para melhorar as atividades de promoção no e – marketing de empresas no Vietnã. Originalidade/valor: Este estudo é um dos primeiros estudos que se concentraram neste campo no Vietnã. Palavras-chave:  Mix de promoção; E-Marketing; Serviços de tecnologia; Vietn

Can a Short Food Supply Chain Create Sustainable Benefits for Small Farmers in Developing Countries? An Exploratory Study of Vietnam

A number of studies have indicated that short food supply chains could create economic, social, and environmental benefits, but most of those chains were implemented in developed countries. This research aims to find out the characteristics of short food supply chains and their benefits to small farmers in Vietnam, which is a developing country, based on the survey results from 338 small farmers in the third quarter of 2020, with the support of Stata 14 software. The results showed that the short food supply chains in the survey sample in Vietnam were characterized by two main actors: small farmers and distributors. Farmers could sell products flexibly at the local market. There was some initial evidence to prove that these chains helped to stabilize the input, output price, and revenue; formulated sustainable income; and increased the satisfaction and confidence of farmers. They eliminated gender discrimination in rural areas and improved livelihood for ethnic minorities. These chains also enhanced the mindset on green, organic, and clean production of farmers, which in turn created environmental benefits. COVID-19 has posed a negative impact on the income of farmers and made them change their production and sales method. Therefore, the research could suggest some policies to sustainably develop the short food supply chains in Vietnam in the future

De novo copy number variations in candidate genomic regions in patients of severe autism spectrum disorder in Vietnam

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder with a prevalence of around 1% children worldwide and characterized by patient behaviour (communication, social interaction, and personal development). Data on the efficacy of diagnostic tests using copy number variations (CNVs) in candidate genes in ASD is currently around 10% but it is overrepresented by patients of Caucasian background. We report here that the diagnostic success of de novo candidate CNVs in Vietnamese ASD patients is around 6%. We recruited one hundred trios (both parents and a child) where the child was clinically diagnosed with ASD while the parents were not affected. We performed genetic screening to exclude RETT syndrome and Fragile X syndrome and performed genome-wide DNA microarray (aCGH) on all probands and their parents to analyse for de novo CNVs. We detected 1708 non-redundant CNVs in 100 patients and 118 (7%) of them were de novo. Using the filter for known CNVs from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) database, we identified six CNVs (one gain and five loss CNVs) in six patients (3 males and 3 females). Notably, 3 of our patients had a deletion involving the SHANK3 gene–which is the highest compared to previous reports. This is the first report of candidate CNVs in ASD patients from Vietnam and provides the framework for building a CNV based test as the first tier screening for clinical management

Improvement in neoantigen prediction via integration of RNA sequencing data for variant calling

IntroductionNeoantigen-based immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for improving the life expectancy of cancer patients. This therapeutic approach heavily relies on accurate identification of cancer mutations using DNA sequencing (DNAseq) data. However, current workflows tend to provide a large number of neoantigen candidates, of which only a limited number elicit efficient and immunogenic T-cell responses suitable for downstream clinical evaluation. To overcome this limitation and increase the number of high-quality immunogenic neoantigens, we propose integrating RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data into the mutation identification step in the neoantigen prediction workflow.MethodsIn this study, we characterize the mutation profiles identified from DNAseq and/or RNAseq data in tumor tissues of 25 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Immunogenicity was then validated by ELISpot assay using long synthesis peptides (sLP).ResultsWe detected only 22.4% of variants shared between the two methods. In contrast, RNAseq-derived variants displayed unique features of affinity and immunogenicity. We further established that neoantigen candidates identified by RNAseq data significantly increased the number of highly immunogenic neoantigens (confirmed by ELISpot) that would otherwise be overlooked if relying solely on DNAseq data.DiscussionThis integrative approach holds great potential for improving the selection of neoantigens for personalized cancer immunotherapy, ultimately leading to enhanced treatment outcomes and improved survival rates for cancer patients

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Additional knowledge respecting taxonomy of the social wasp genus Ropalidia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from Vietnam, with new records of three species and an updated key to species

Bui, Hoa Thi Quynh, Tran, Ngat Thi, Bozdoğan, Hakan, Nguyen, Lien Thi Phuong (2020): Additional knowledge respecting taxonomy of the social wasp genus Ropalidia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from Vietnam, with new records of three species and an updated key to species. Zootaxa 4722 (1): 34-40, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4722.1.

Research on making material from waste sludge taken from domestic water treatment plant for arsenic removal from water

Iron oxide is a good and inexpensive adsorbent for arsenic (As) compounds and other heavy metals in water (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn). Waste sludge from water treatment plant, which is highly in iron content, can be considered as a great adsorbent. Utilizing this waste as material for water treatment would get benefits on not only environment but also energy, resources and social economy. This study describes experiments to produce arsenic adsorbent material from waste sludge taken from Ha Dinh water treatment plant by using glass water, Fe(NO3)3 and heat to modify and enrich iron content. This process aims to make a good material for filtration and sorption of As. Other effects of pH, time, adsorbent mass, and adsorbate concentration are also considered. The processes are successful in removing Arsenic ion clearly. Initial As sample of 1000μg/L, contact time 4 hours, material 1 g/L, the efficiency is 99.64%. Treated water is under national technical regulation on domestic water quality (QCVN 02:2009/BYT column I) –, where column I is applicable to water provision units. Research also starts to make material particles, which are more favorable to practical application. These adsorbent productions after modification are beneficial with low-cost and environmentfriendly advantages.Oxít sắt là một chất hấp phụ tốt và rẻ trong việc loại bỏ các hợp chất asen (As) và một số kim loại nặng khác trong nước (Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn). Trong khi đó, bùn thải từ các nhà máy xử lí nước giàu thành phần sắt, có thể xem là một vật liệu hấp phụ tốt. Việc tận dụng bùn thải này làm vật liệu xử lý ô nhiễm không chỉ đem lại những lợi ích cho môi trường mà còn về mặt tài nguyên, năng lượng và kinh tế xã hội. Báo cáo này trình bày cách chế tạo vật liệu từ bùn thải của nhà máy xử lý nước cấp Hạ Đình thành vật liệu xử lý ô nhiễm asen bằng cách sử dụng thủy tinh lỏng, Fe(NO3)3 và nhiệt để biến tính làm tăng hàm lượng sắt trong bùn thải, tạo vật liệu tốt cho quá trình lọc và hấp phụ As. Các nhân tố ảnh hưởng tới hiệu suất hấp phụ như pH, thời gian, khối lượng chất hấp phụ, và nồng độ As cũng được đưa ra đánh giá. Việc loại bỏ As đạt hiệu quả rõ rệt. Với nồng độ As ban đầu là 1000 μg/L, thời gian xử lý 4 giờ, vật liệu sử dụng là 1g/L thì hiệu suất xử lý đạt 99,64%. Nồng độ As sau xử lý đạt tiêu chuẩn QCVN 02:2009/BYT, cột I – Quy chuẩn kỹ thuật quốc gia về chất lượng nước sinh hoạt, cột I áp dụng đối với các cơ sở cung cấp nước. Nghiên cứu cũng bước đầu thử nghiệm chế tạo thành viên vật liệu để thuận lợi hơn trong việc ứng dụng trong thực tiễn. Vật liệu bùn thải sau biến tính có lợi thế về chi phí thấp và thân thiện với môi trườn