A case study: Institutional Factors Affecting Lecturers’ Research Engagement in A University in Mekong Delta region, Vietnam

This case study investigated institutional factors affecting university lecturers’ research engagement in a multidisciplinary higher education institution in the Mekong Delta region, Vietnam. The study employed the interpretive qualitative case study approach with the use of three data collection tools (document analysis, surveys, and recorded semi-structured interviews). In this paper, the authors presented the findings of document analysis and the recorded semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that institutional factors affecting lecturers’ research engagement in this studied university included governmental policies, funding and structure, resources, teaching loads, leadership and research environment. The paper suggested some recommendations to foster the lecturers’ research engagement in this university

The effect of smoke derivatives and carbon utilisation on symbiotic germination of the endangered Pterostylis despectans (Orchidaceae)

Orchids are highly dependent on exogenous nutritional sources and mycorrhizal associations to survive, particularly when challenged by extreme environmental stress such as bushfires that contribute significantly to its decline in nature. In this study, the effect of smoke derivatives and carbon utilisation was explored to improve germination and seedling establishment of an Australian endangered orchid, Pterostylis despectans (Lowly Greenhood) and its mycorrhizal fungi. Stored seeds were germinated in vitro with peloton-isolated fungal isolates with varying concentrations of smoke water (0-1.0 mL L-1) to simulate fire and sucrose as the carbon source (10 g L-1). Smoke water significantly increased germination, with advanced protocorms and robust seedlings produced. Sucrose inhibited germination such that protocorms and leafing was absent with sucrose inclusion. Fungal isolates were highly variable on its germination efficacy and tolerance to smoke water, highlighting the importance of fungal diversity and supports research-based conservation strategies to circumvent environmental challenges

Adaptation To Salinity Intrusion For Rice Farming Household In The Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Agriculture has considerably been affected due to the increased salinity in recent years in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). The saline intrusion has increasingly caused problems to irrigation management, making it impossible to sustain the desired crop productivity. Rice farming are actually the most vulnerable as they have limited adaptive capacities and are more dependent on water for food production and other economic activities. This paper aims to understand how rice farming households responded to impacts of saline intrusion in the VMD, focusing the adaptive capacity and adaptation to saline intrusion at household level. The study showed that most rice farming households perceived the impacts of saline intrusion on their production activities, but only a few households prepared for adaptation options. Their decisions were not based on long-term saline intrusion impacts because households made decisions and changed farming practices due to economic factors and government policy support. The environment factors such as saline intrusion always came after economic and government policy factors. Government policy strongly affected production conditions of rice farming households through building irrigation, dyke and sluice gate systems. It means that change of production activities of rice farming households much more depended on government programs and development goals. Thus, households have fewer choices of production diversification away from rice farming

Marine algal species and their distribution in Phu Quoc marine protected area

This article presents the raw data in relation to the status of, and the distribution of, the 41 marine algal species occurring around and within the An Thoi coral reef strictly protected zone, Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area. The data, which were collected in May 2017, include the detailed description of the locations, the oceanographical conditions, and the photographs of the 41 marine algal species. For more insight, please see “Marine algal species and marine protected area management: A case study in Phu Quoc, Kien Giang, Vietnam” Huynh and Nguyen, 2019

Diversity in Nutrition and Bioactivity of Momordica cochinchinensis

Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) aril is the richest source of the carotenoids of all known fruits with high anti-cancer activity. The plant is restricted to South East Asia with diverse morphology and genetic variations. The effect of varietal variations on carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene) and anticancer activity was investigated to determine cultivars important for agricultural development. M. cochinchinensis aril samples were collected from 17 provinces within Thailand and Vietnam and compared with samples from Australia. Lycopene and β-carotene was quantified using HPLC and cytotoxicity on melanoma (MM418C1, D24) and breast cancer (MCF7) cells were assessed using CCK 8 assay. The greatest lycopene content was from Central Vietnam (6.3 mg/g) and greatest β-carotene was from Northern Vietnam (5.7 mg/g). Cytotoxicity was greatest from Northern Vietnam, with 70% melanoma cell death. The best varieties possessing the highest nutritional and bioactivity identified in this study will be incorporated into future breeding and crop improvement programs

Large Domain Motions in Ago Protein Controlled by the Guide DNA-Strand Seed Region Determine the Ago-DNA-mRNA Complex Recognition Process

The recognition mechanism and cleavage activity of argonaute (Ago), miRNA, and mRNA complexes are the core processes to the small non-coding RNA world. The 5′ nucleation at the ‘seed’ region (position 2–8) of miRNA was believed to play a significant role in guiding the recognition of target mRNAs to the given miRNA family. In this paper, we have performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the related and recently revealed Ago-DNA:mRNA ternary complexes to study the dynamics of the guide-target recognition and the effect of mutations by introducing “damaging” C·C mismatches at different positions in the seed region of the DNA-RNA duplex. Our simulations show that the A-form-like helix duplex gradually distorts as the number of seed mismatches increases and the complex can survive no more than two such mismatches. Severe distortions of the guide-target heteroduplex are observed in the ruinous 4-sites mismatch mutant, which give rise to a bending motion of the PAZ domain along the L1/L2 “hinge-like” connection segment, resulting in the opening of the nucleic-acid-binding channel. These long-range interactions between the seed region and PAZ domain, moderated by the L1/L2 segments, reveal the central role of the seed region in the guide-target strands recognition: it not only determines the guide-target heteroduplex’s nucleation and propagation, but also regulates the dynamic motions of Ago domains around the nucleic-acid-binding channel

Genetic homogeneity of vegetatively propagated Clinacanthus nutans (Acanthaceae)

Clinacanthus nutans is a medicinal Asian plant often propagated by stem cuttings but little is known about the genetic relationships between existing accessions and the extent of homogeneity. In this study, we examined the genetic homogeneity in 12 C. nutans samples from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam reproduced by vegetative propagation from different regions between and within countries, and compared it to sexually propagated Andrographis paniculata (same family), related Clinacanthus siamensis (same family) and an out-group (different family) using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite markers. There was a high genetic similarity between C. nutans accessions from all countries, with identical genetic profiles even though they were geographically distant. C. nutans clustered closely with C. siamensis and was distant from A. paniculata and the out-group. Genetic similarity for C. nutans was almost double that of A. paniculata, but the combined clustering analysis revealed higher diversity in C. nutans. These results provide fundamental knowledge in future planting decisions and options, and also facilitate further germplasm conservation of C. nutans and other vegetatively propagated medicinal species

Regional Integration Of Cham Muslims In The Mekong Delta

An Giang province is located in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, recognized as Vietnam’s Mecca for large Muslim population in Vietnam. This paper introduces the root of the Cham (Sunni) Muslims living in this southwestern part of Vietnam. The historical research and documentary research (in which relevant historical documents and articles were selected to review and comment) were utilized in the study. The paper shows some differences between the Cham Muslims in this region and the Hindu Chams (Balamon). More importantly, this paper indicates that the Chams in the Mekong Delta have had more mobile ways of life and a more highly regional integration in the ASEAN Community and a larger Muslim world rather than other Cham groups in Vietnam