Characterizing and analyzing the ecological consequences of the plant-endophyte interactions in Solanum nigrum and Nicotiana attenuata

Basierend auf der Feststellung, dass zahlreiche Arten endophytischer Bakterien in verschiedenen Pflanzen nachgewiesen wurden, wird vermutet, dass alle Pflanzen von endophytischen Bakterien besiedelt und durch diese im Wachstum beeinflusst werden können. Letzteres geschieht unter anderem durch das Eingreifen der Bakterien in die Hormonhomeostase der Wirtspflanzen. Zum Beispiel reduzieren wachstumsfördernde Rhizobakterien die Ethylenkonzentration in Pflanzen, indem sie dessen chemischen Vorläufer 1- aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) enzymatisch spalten. Der pflanzliche Hormonhaushalt kann auch direkt durch die Produktion von Hormonen, wie Indol-3-essigsäure (IAA), durch Bakterien beeinflusst werden. Ob diese verbreiteten Mechanismen der Wachstumsförderung durch Mikroorganismen bei verschiedenen Pflanzen ähnlich Effekte auslösen, wurde noch nicht im Detail untersucht und ist Bestandteil dieser Arbeit (I). Desweiteren besteht die Annahme, dass eine Selektion von Bakterien aus der Wurzelrhizosphere in die Endosphere durch den pflanzlichen Partner stattfindet. In wieweit die Signaltransduktion des Pflanzenhormons Ethylen dabei eine Rolle spielt, ist unbekannt (II). Der landwirtschaftliche Aspekt wachstumsfördernder, endophytischer Bakterien wurde in zahlreichen Kulturpflanzen studiert. Über die Bedeutung dieser Bakterien für das Gedeihen und die Reproduktion wilder Pflanzen in ihrem natürlichen Umfeld erbringt dieses Manuskript neue Aufschlüsse (III)

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON POSTURE AND ITS INFLUENCES ON HORIZONTAL GROUND REACTION FORCES GENERATED BY MUSCLES: IMPLICATIONS FOR CROUCH GAIT

Crouch gait decreases walking efficiency due to the increased knee and hip flexion during the stance phase of gait. Crouch gait is generally considered to be disadvantageous for patients with cerebral palsy; however, a crouched posture may afford biomechanical advantages that lead some patients to adopt a crouch gait. To investigate one possible advantage of crouch gait, a musculoskeletal model created in OpenSim was placed in 15 different postures from upright to severe crouch during initial, middle, and final stance of the gait cycle. A series of optimizations were performed for each posture to maximize ground reaction forces for the 8 compass directions in the transverse plane by modifying muscle forces acting on the model. We compared the areas of the force profiles across all postures. An overall larger force profile area is allowed by postures from mild crouch (for initial stance) to crouch (for final stance). The overall ability to generate larger ground reaction force profiles represents a mechanical advantage of a crouched posture. This increase in muscle capacity while in a crouched posture may allow a patient to generate new movements to compensate for impairments associated with cerebral palsy, such as motor control deficits

REGIONAL LINKAGE IN TOURISM: THE CASE OF VIETNAM

Abstract. This research is conducted for investigating the current situations of regional linkage in tourism development in the areas of Midlands and Northern Mountains in Vietnam. Data were collected from a survey of 755 people, including officials from State management bodies in charge of tourism, officials and staffs at tourism resorts, tourism firms, tourism scientists and tourists. In addition, we conducted focus group and interviewed tourism agency officials and tourism firms in the Midland and Mountainous provinces of Vietnam. The results show that tourism development in Vietnam in general and the Northwest region in particular is extremely fragmented, not yet forming a regional linkage; regional and national tourism development projects are just formalistic. Some causes are the limited regional integration policy, lack of appropriate regional governance mechanisms and inactive participation of the private sector in regional integration. Based on the findings, we propose a tourism sector linkage model; besides, policyimplications are given for fulfilling the linkage policies in Vietnam in particular, and more broadly for emerging countries in general.Keywords: Midlands and Northern Mountains, tourism linkage, Vietnam

The prospects of rainwater harvesting in the Ho CHi Minh City

Wisely using natural water resources to serve human needs plays a decisive role in ensuring water and food security. In the natural water cycle, rainwater is considered as a valuable renewable resource. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) for daily life and production is a simple but effective and also environmentally sound measure. It is also a positive solution in a climate change adaptation strategy. However, this resource is being wasted in our country in general and in the HCM City in particular. This paper provides an overview of the status of rainwater use in the world; the general situation, the potential of rainwater collection and a number of issues related to the potential of rainwater harvesting in the city. Some solutions to enhance the use of rainwater and improve water supply for city residents are also suggested in this discussion

Extended Model for Integrating Culture into Teaching EFL: A Context of Vietnam

Intercultural competence (IC) has gained a better positionality in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education in Vietnam to enable young people to become effective global citizens. Accordingly, the development of comprehensive IC is considered to be an officially stated objective of the reformed EFL curriculum, and a great body of intercultural issues reflecting the cultural diversity of countries has been added to the English course books of the upper secondary level. To help EFL teachers with the exploitation of the coursebooks, this perspective paper aims to propose a model for Intercultural Language Learning and Teaching (IcLLT) to shed light on how to integrate culture into teaching EFL in a Vietnamese pedagogical teaching context. This model can be a valuable guideline for EFL teachers to go beyond the language skill-based lesson in order to promote learners’ intercultural communicative competence

A Framework for Task-Based Flipped Classroom in EFL Education in Vietnam

When it comes to language teaching in general education in Vietnam, there are many challenges for teachers to overcome. Such as time constraints, examination wash-back effects, students’ demotivation and students’ individualization causes of learning. Various innovative teaching methods and approaches have been applied to address these concerns, such as task-based language learning and flipped classrooms (FCs). However, each mode of teaching has its advantages and disadvantages. Due to this, it is essential to carefully examine the combination of TBLT and the flipped classroom (FC). This paper reviews the effects of the implementation of task-based language learning in the clipped classroom, discusses the integration of both teaching approaches, and suggests the applied model for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education in Vietnam