Decoding the capability of Lactobacillus plantarum W1 isolated from soybean whey in producing an exopolysaccharide

This study aims at producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) from a lactic acid bacterial strain. The soybean whey-isolated Lactobacillus plantarum W1 (EPS-W1), which belongs to genus Lactobacillus, is identified using the phenylalanyl-tRNA sequencing method. Of all the examined strains, R-49778 (as numbered by BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Ghent University, Belgium) showed the highest capability of producing exopoly-saccharides. Structural characterization revealed a novel exopolysaccharide consisting of repeating units of -> 6)-D-Glcp-(1 ->; -> 3)-D-Manp-(1 ->; -> 3)-6-Glcp-(1 -> and a branch of -> 6)-D-Manp-(1 ->; -> 2)-D-Glcp-(1 ->. This discovery opens up avenues for the production of EPS for food industries, functional foods, and biomedical applications

Novel exopolysaccharide produced from fermented bamboo shoot-isolated Lactobacillus fermentum

This study aimed at providing a route towards the production of a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) from fermented bamboo shoot-isolated Lactobacillus fermentum. A lactic acid bacteria strain, with high EPS production ability, was isolated from fermented bamboo shoots. This strain, R-49757, was identified in the BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Ghent University, Belgium by the phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase gene sequencing method, and it was named Lb. fermentum MC3. The molecular mass of the EPS measured via gel permeation chromatography was found to be 9.85 × 104 Da. Moreover, the monosaccharide composition in the EPS was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Consequently, the EPS was discovered to be a heteropolysaccharide with the appearance of two main sugars—D-glucose and D-mannose—in the backbone. The results of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analyses prove the repeating unit of this polysaccharide to be [→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→3)-β-D-Manp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→]n, which appears to be a new EPS. The obtained results open up an avenue for the production of novel EPSs for biomedical applications

The epidemiology and aetiology of diarrhoeal disease in infancy in southern Vietnam: a birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies indicate a high burden of diarrhoeal disease in Vietnamese children, however longitudinal community-based data on burden and aetiology are limited. The findings from a large, prospective cohort study of diarrhoeal disease in infants in southern Vietnam are presented herein. METHODS: Infants were enrolled at birth in urban Ho Chi Minh City and a semi-rural district in southern Vietnam, and followed for 12 months (n=6706). Diarrhoeal illness episodes were identified through clinic-based passive surveillance, hospital admissions, and self-reports. RESULTS: The minimum incidence of diarrhoeal illness in the first year of life was 271/1000 infant-years of observation for the whole cohort. Rotavirus was the most commonly detected pathogen (50% of positive samples), followed by norovirus (24%), Campylobacter (20%), Salmonella (18%), and Shigella (16%). Repeat infections were identified in 9% of infants infected with rotavirus, norovirus, Shigella, or Campylobacter, and 13% of those with Salmonella infections. CONCLUSIONS: The minimum incidence of diarrhoeal disease in infants in both urban and semi-rural settings in southern Vietnam was quantified prospectively. A large proportion of laboratory-diagnosed disease was caused by rotavirus and norovirus. These data highlight the unmet need for a rotavirus vaccine in Vietnam and provide evidence of the previously unrecognized burden of norovirus in infants

Secondary metabolites produced by marine bacterirum micromonospora sp. G019

Nine compounds were isolated and characterized from the culture broth of the marine bacteria Micromonospora sp.G019 strain, which was isolated from sediment collecting at Ha Long Bay. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis including MS and 2D NMR, as well as by comparison with reported data in the literature

Secondary metabolites from marine bacterium Streptomyces sp. G039

Nine secondary metabolites, cylo-(Leu-Pro) (1), cyclo-(Pro-Tyr) (2), indole-3-carboxylic acid (3), 3-hydroxyacetylindole (4), phenethyl 2-phenyl acetate (5), n-butyl–isobutyl phthalate (6),  4-(2-hydroxyethyl) phenol (7), 2-phenylacetic acid (8), and uracil (9) were isolated and identified from marine Streptomyces sp. G039. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis including MS and 2D NMR, as well as by comparison with reported data in the literature

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Vietnamese version of the evidence-based practice competency questionnaire for registered nurses (EBP-COQ Prof©)

Background & Aim: Establishing strategies to enhance evidence-based practice (EBP) requires a reliable instrument for assessing EBP competency. This study focused on translating and validating the Evidence-Based Practice Competency Questionnaire for Registered Nurses (EBP-COQ Prof©) in the Vietnamese context. Methods & Materials: Through a methodological approach, this study performed cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation. The study involved 372 nurses selected through convenience sampling. Content validity was established using the Content Validity Index for Items (I-CVI) and the Content Validity Index for Scales (S-CVI). Construct validity was assessed via exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Criterion validity was examined by comparing EBP-COQ Prof© competency between nurses with and without prior EBP education. Results: The Vietnamese version of EBP-COQ Prof© maintained consistency with the original version following cross-cultural adaptation. Content validity was confirmed with I-CVI> 0.78 and S-CVI/AVE= 0.97. EFA and CFA revealed consistent components with the original version: attitude (8 items), knowledge (11 items), skills (6 items), and utilization (10 items). Cronbach's alpha values were high: attitudes (0.965), knowledge (0.962), skills (0.909), and utilization (0.926). ICC values were also significant: attitudes (0.754), knowledge (0.895), skills (0.823), and utilization (0.966). Nurses with prior EBP education demonstrated higher EBP-COQ Prof© competency. Conclusion: The translated and validated EBP-COQ Prof© provides a robust tool for assessing EBP competency among Vietnamese nurses. Its reliability, validity, and sensitivity to educational effects underscore its potential for promoting EBP in nursing

Functional-Antioxidant Food

Nowadays, people face many different dangers, such as stress, unsafety food, and environmental pollution, but not everyone suffers. Meanwhile, free radicals are the biggest threat for humans because they lead to over 80 different diseases composed of aging. Free radicals can only be eliminated or minimized with antioxidant foods or antioxidants. The chapter on the functional-antioxidant food presents the antioxidant functional food concept, the classification, the structure, and the extraction process of antioxidant ingredients. Various antioxidant substances such as protein (collagen), polysaccharides (fucoidans, alginates, glucosamines, inulins, laminarins, ulvans, and pectins), and secondary metabolites (polyphenols (phlorotannins, lignins, polyphenols), alkaloids, and flavonoids) also present. The production technology, the mechanism, the opportunity, and the challenge of antioxidants functional food also present in the current chapter. The current chapter also gives the production process of functional-antioxidant food composed of the capsule, the tablet, tube, the pills, the powder, and the effervescent tablet

Mindsponge-based investigation into the non-linear effects of threat perception and trust on recycled water acceptance in Galicia and Murcia, Spain

The water scarcity crisis is becoming more severe across the globe and recycled water has been suggested as a feasible solution to the crisis. However, expanding the use of potable and recycled public water has been hindered by public acceptance. Previous studies suggest threat perception and trust of provided information have positive linear relationships with recycled water acceptance. However, given the complex filtering role of trust in the human mental process, we argue that the effects of threat perception and trust may have non-linear relationships with acceptance of recycled water for drinking. To support and validate this argument, we employed Bayesian Mindsponge Framework analytics on 726 Spanish residents. We found that individuals more concerned about water shortage are less likely to accept using recycled water for drinking if their trust in the water quality and safety is low. Meanwhile, people more concerned about water shortage are more likely to accept using recycled water for drinking if they trust the water quality and safety. The findings suggest the non-linear relationships between threat perception, trust, and recycled water acceptance while validating mindsponge-based reasoning. Moreover, the results also highlight the importance of trust in influencing the mental process’s outcome: recycled water acceptance

The transfer and decay of maternal antibody against Shigella sonnei in a longitudinal cohort of Vietnamese infants.

BACKGROUND: Shigella sonnei is an emergent and major diarrheal pathogen for which there is currently no vaccine. We aimed to quantify duration of maternal antibody against S. sonnei and investigate transplacental IgG transfer in a birth cohort in southern Vietnam. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over 500-paired maternal/infant plasma samples were evaluated for presence of anti-S. sonnei-O IgG and IgM. Longitudinal plasma samples allowed for the estimation of the median half-life of maternal anti-S. sonnei-O IgG, which was 43 days (95% confidence interval: 41-45 days). Additionally, half of infants lacked a detectable titer by 19 weeks of age. Lower cord titers were associated with greater increases in S. sonnei IgG over the first year of life, and the incidence of S. sonnei seroconversion was estimated to be 4/100 infant years. Maternal IgG titer, the ratio of antibody transfer, the season of birth and gestational age were significantly associated with cord titer. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal anti-S. sonnei-O IgG is efficiently transferred across the placenta and anti-S. sonnei-O maternal IgG declines rapidly after birth and is undetectable after 5 months in the majority of children. Preterm neonates and children born to mothers with low IgG titers have lower cord titers and therefore may be at greater risk of seroconversion in infancy

Efficient methane dry reforming process with low nickel loading for greenhouse gas mitigation

In this study, a series of nickels supported on gamma alumina with a metal dosage ranging from 0.5 to 3 wt.% were prepared and employed as the catalysts. The effect of nickel dosage on material properties, reaction performance, and catalyst deactivation was investigated. At a low dosage, the nickel-free having low metal-support interaction contributed significantly to the total active site. The basicity of the material was enhanced along with the increase in nickel loading. The presence of active metal showed a great impact at the beginning leading to big improvements in feedstock conversion. However, beyond a nickel dosage of 2 wt.%, further additions did not noticeably influence the reaction performance. Regarding catalyst deactivation, different carbon species were observed on catalyst surface, depending on the nickel dosage. Catalysts with less than 2 wt.% nickel exhibited amorphous carbon as the dominant morphology on the spent catalyst. In contrast, catalysts with 2Ni/Al2O3 and 3Ni/Al2O3 compositions showed graphitic carbon as the main side product. These findings provide insights into the relationship between nickel dosage, catalyst properties, and catalytic performance in methane dry reforming. By understanding the effects of nickel loading on material properties and reaction behavior, researchers can optimize catalyst design and develop more efficient and stable catalysts for sustainable syngas production