Artefactual Suboptimal Fixation Effect to Nuclear Staining on Erythrocytes of Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål 1775)

This research presents the unusual staining characteristic of the teleosts red blood cells–the common bluestripe snapper Lutjanus kasmira, caught at Toc Tan (Allison) Reef, Truong Sa Archipelago, Vietnam, due to side effects of the delayed staining procedure. In addition to the quantitative data measured, the results of microscopic image research showed that, on slides performed with the delayed Romanovsky staining procedure using Giemsa dye, the cell "nucleus" was not dye-stained as seen in the erythrocytes of much other fish. The AFM and SEM images of blood slides show that the structure of the nuclear zone and the nuclear membrane was destroyed. Although methanol is used as one of the common fixatives in biology, the delayed staining still causes artifactual side effects, disrupts the structure of the red blood cell nucleus and can cause confusion when studying cytogenetics

Enhancing insecticide activity of anacardic acid by intercalating it into MgAl layered double hydroxides nanoparticles: Research article

MgAl layered double hydroxides nanoparticles (LDHs) are known as the useful materials in agrochemsitry. LDHs can be used as a bio-insecticide carrier to enhance insecticide’s activity efficiency. In our study, to improve the insecticide activity of anacardic acid, an extract from cashew nut shell liquid, we intercalated it MgAl layered double hydroxides nanoparticles. Different hybridization between anacardic acid and LDHs (37, 74, 148, and 296μg/mL) (L-As) were made and tested on the survivals of cutworms (Spodoptera litura). L-As or free anacardic acid was sprayed directly on the leaves mustard to feed cutworms or directly on the skin of cutworms. Our results showed that in all L-As treatments, the worm killing efficiency was higher than the free anacardic acid treatment.Hạt nano lớp đôi hydroxides MgAl (LDHs) được biết đến như là những vật liệu hữu ích trong nông ngành hóa học nông nghiệp. LDHs có thể được dùng như là một loại chất mang cho thuốc trừ sâu sinh học để tăng cường hiệu lực diệt sâu. Trong nghiên cứu này, để tăng cường hiệu lực diệt sâu của anacardic acid, một loại hoạt chất được chiết từ dầu vỏ hạt điều, chúng tôi đã gắn chèn nó lên hạt nano lớp đôi hydroxides MgAl. Các nồng độ khác nhau của dạng lai của anacardic và LDHs (37, 74, 148 và 296μg/mL) (L-As) đã được kiểm tra tỷ lệ sống của ấu trùng sâu khoang (Spodoptera litura). Các nghiệm thức L-As và dạng anacardic acid tự do đã được phun lên lá rau cải ngọt cho ấu trùng sâu ăn hoặc phun trực tiếp lên da ấu trùng sâu. Kết quả cho thấy, tất cả các công thức có xử lý bằng L-As, hiệu lực diệt ấu trùng sâu đều cao hơn so với dạng anacardic acid ở trạng thái tự do

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

Photocatalytic inactivation of viruses using graphitic carbon nitride-based photocatalysts:Virucidal performance and mechanism

The prevalence of lethal viral infections necessitates the innovation of novel disinfection techniques for contaminated surfaces, air, and wastewater as significant transmission media of disease. The instigated research has led to the development of photocatalysis as an effective renewable solar-driven technology relying on the reactive oxidative species, mainly hydroxyl (OH●) and superoxide (O2●−) radicals, for rupturing the capsid shell of the virus and loss of pathogenicity. Metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), which possesses a visible light active bandgap structure, low toxicity, and high thermal stability, has recently attracted attention for viral inactivation. In addition, g-C3N4-based photocatalysts have also experienced a renaissance in many domains, including environment, energy conversion, and biomedical applications. Herein, we discuss the three aspects of the antiviral mechanism, intending to highlight the advantages of photocatalysis over traditional viral disinfection techniques. The sole agenda of the review is to summarize the significant research on g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for viral inactivation by reactive oxidative species generation. An evaluation of the photocatalysis operational parameters affecting viral inactivation kinetics is presented. An overview of the prevailing challenges and sustainable solutions is presented to fill in the existing knowledge gaps. Given the merits of graphitic carbon nitride and the heterogeneous photocatalytic viral inactivation mechanism, we hope that further research will contribute to preventing the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and future calamities

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

Evaluation of Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery Outcomes After Penetrating Keratoplasty

BACKGROUND: Cataract is one of the reasons which causes impaired visual acuity (VA) of the eyes after penetrating keratoplasy (PK), which can be treated by cataract surgery after PK or triple procedure. Cataract surgery after PK has advantages that parameters of the eyes such as axial length, anterior chamber depth (ACD) as well as corneal curvature are stabilized after removing all sutures postoperatively, and intraocular lens (IOL) power can be calculated correctly. Therefore, postoperative VA will be improved significantly. In Vietnam, there have not been any study about cataract surgery after PK, therefore we conduct this research. AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery following primary PK. METHODS: Non-randomized controlled intervention study. Ninteen eyes (19 patients) that underwent phacoemulsification plus IOL insertion after initial PK in Cornea department, Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology, from December 2013 to September 2014. RESULTS: All patients presented with reduced VA, including 17 eyes (89.9%) with VA ≤ 20/200, mean astigmatism was 7.9 ± 1.0 D. Clear corneal grafts in 16 eyes while corneal opacity was seen in 3 eyes. All eyes with cataract were diagnosed from grade 2. After cataract surgery, improved VA > 20/200 was achieved in 72.22% of cases. There was a markable reduce of postoperative astigmatism with 1,8 ± 0.8 D (p < 0.05). However, the immunologic graft reaction was presented in one eye, and two edematous corneas also reported after cataract surgery. After treatment, there was one cornea achieved its clarity. CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification cataract surgery following initial PK showed good outcomes with improved postoperative VA, reduced astigmatism, and the ultimate graft survival rate was high

Threshold-based wireless-based NOMA systems over log-normal channels: Ergodic outage probability of joint time allocation and power splitting schemes

Due to the development of state-of-the-art fifth-generation communication (5G) and Internet-of-Things (IoT), the demands for capacity and throughput of wireless networks have increased significantly. As a promising solution for this, a radio access technique, namely, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been investigated. Particularly, in this paper, we analyse the system performance of a joint time allocation and power splitting (JTAPS) protocol for NOMA-based energy harvesting (EH) wireless networks over indoor scenarios, which we modelled with log-normal fading channels. Accordingly, for the performance analysis of such networks, the analytical expression of a metric so-called "ergodic outage probability" was derived. Then, thanks to Monte Carlo simulations done in Matlab, we are able to see how different EH power splitting (PS) and EH time switching (TS) factors influence the ergodic outage probability. Last, but not least, we plot the simulation results along with the theoretical results for comparison studies.Web of Science27

Penetrating Keratoplasty for Keratoconus in Vietnamese Patients

BACKGROUND: Keratoconus is an ectatic corneal disorder that can impair the visual acuity. Up to now, penetrating keratoplasty (PK) remains the most common surgical procedure to treat severe keratoconus. In Vietnam, most keratoconus patients come to visit doctor at severe stage and were treated by PK, so we conduct this study. AIM: To evaluate the results of PK for keratoconus in Vietnamese patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 31 eyes with keratoconus who underwent PK in VNIO from January 2005 to December 2014. RESULTS: The average visual acuity was 0.86 ± 0.37 logMAR (20/145). In the group of patients without amblyopia, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 or better was recorded in 75.9% of eyes and 93.1% of eyes achieved a best corrected visual acuity with hard contact lenses of 20/40 or better. Mean postoperative corneal power was 43.8 ± 4.5D. Mean corneal astigmatism was 5.9 ± 2.7D. 94.6% of grafts remained clear. Posterior subcapsular cataract developed in 22.6% of eyes. Graft rejection was recognized in 12.9% of eyes. CONCLUSION: PK is an effective procedure with high rate of graft survival for keratoconus patients. However, patients should be aware of the necessary of optical correction to gain the best VA after surgery

PRE-ENGINEERED (PACKAGE/AND OR ON-SITE) WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart