A Simple Procedure for Extraction of Surface Protein of Salmonella Serotypes and Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Poultry and Pigs

Salmonella and E.coli possess different surface protein structures that can induce protective immune responses. Identification of these proteins capacitates development of diverse applications in prevention and diagnosis that contribute to effectively control disease-causing enterobacteria pathogens such as Salmonella and E.coli. A simple procedure for obtaining protein complexes of Salmonella serotypes and E.coli is performed in this study. A sonication process with heat treatment of whole bacteria induced the release of protein complexes. Concentration of the protein extract was quantified using protein quantification Kits-Rapid, and protein complex profile was obtained by SDS-PAGE (Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and silver staining. The concentrations of protein ranged from 29.45 to 45.35 µg/mL in the  Salmonella protein extracts, and from 25.35 to 36.72 µg/mL in the E.coli protein extracts. Six major groups of proteins from E. coli (YfiO, NipB, OmpF, YfgL, Talc, YaeT) and four major groups of proteins from Salmonella (Flagellin, OmpA, Porin, SEF21) were preliminarily determined by a simple procedure of extraction based on the molecular weight

Development of a reverse supply chain model for electronic waste incorporating transportation risk

The quantity of Electronic waste (E-waste) is considerably growing due to the rapid development of technology. To diminish the influences of E-waste to the environment and recover raw materials, the reverse supply chain (RSC) has been examined. Most research focuses on minimizing the total cost of the system, however, does not integrate risk factors related to RSC operation. Risks generally derive from transportation activity in E-waste RSC such as delays for pick up, breakdown of trucks, the uncertainty of dangerous materials which might lead to disruptions and higher cost. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a mathematical model for minimizing the total cost of E-waste RSC which integrates transportation risk. A mixed integer linear programming is utilized in the model and addressed by an optimization software. The results of the proposed model can determine the optimal locations and the amount of used products transported within the RSC network.  The numerical example also demonstrates that the movement of materials or components in the RSC network is considerably affected by considering transportation risk. The suggested model can assist decision makers about establishing RSC network in which risk elements are incorporated

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

E-Waste Reverse Supply Chain: A Review and Future Perspectives

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become one of the fastest-growing waste, leading a globe issue. Reverse supply chain (RSC) is considered a potential way for e-waste management. Over the last two decades, RSC has received significant attention from industries, governments, experts, and researchers. A large number of studies have been published in the field of e-waste RSC. Most of the existing review papers concentrated on the general RSC models for all types of returned products. However, the review papers focusing on specific products, such as e-waste, are quite limited. To fill this gap published papers in the area of RSC for a specific product, e-waste, from 1999 to 2019 have been selected for review and analysis in this study. E-waste RSC studies have been divided into four main groups, namely, factors of implementation, performance evaluation and decision making, foresting product returns, and network design. Finally, some potential directions for e-waste RSC models have been suggested for future research

Transmissible Effects of a Biochar Amendment to an Upper Soil Zone Upon an Associated Lower Zone, Including Attenuation of Soybean Cyst Nematode (<i>Heterodera glycines</i>)

Mung bean residues stimulate the hatching of soybean cyst nematode (SCN). In our previous study, combined incorporation of mung bean residues and biochar into soil can be effective in suppression of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, in the upper layer soil. However, there are no data available as to whether such effects are transmissible, and could for example be manifest in subsoil zones where such incorporation is confined to topsoils, via water-based pathways. We evaluated the effects of leachate passage from a biochar-amended soil in an upper soil zone to a lower zone in a microcosm-based system, upon a range of physicochemical properties and density of SCN. Disturbed soil was filled in a total of 9 cylindrical cores with two layers. The upper layer (0–15 cm) was amended with biochar at rates equivalent to 0, 0.3% or 1.8%, with bulk density set at of 1.1 g cm−3. The lower layer (15–25 cm) without biochar amendment was compacted to 1.2 g cm−3. Mung beans were grown for two weeks and incorporated into the upper layer. Water was surface-applied to the cores 4, 6, and 8 weeks after mung bean incorporation. After 16 weeks, the upper and lower layer soils were separately collected and assayed. The presence of biochar in the upper layer reduced the abundance of free-living nematodes, mainly bacterivorous, but increased that of a predator genus Ecumenicus in this zone. In the lower layer of soil under a biochar-amended upper layer, available P and soluble cations were increased as were abundances of total nematodes including Ecumenicus, resulting in greater maturity index, basal and structure indices. Notably, SCN density was decreased in lower zones by more than 90% compared to zero-biochar controls. This demonstrates that the effects of biochar upon soil properties, including impacts on biota and plant pathogens, are transmissible

Influence of Rice Husk Biochar on Soil Nematode Community under Upland and Flooded Conditions: A Microcosm Experiment

Biochar has the potential for improving soil properties and supporting ecological functions, but it has negative impacts on soil organisms in some cases. This study aimed to assess the effect of biochar application at rates of 0 (B0), 5 Mg ha&minus;1 (B5), 20 Mg&minus;1 (B20), and 40 Mg ha&minus;1 (B40) on soil nematode community under upland and flooded conditions in a short-term microcosm experiment. After biochar application, soil was incubated for 2 to 8 weeks and nematodes were identified for community composition, trophic structures, functional guilds, maturity index and metabolic footprints. The chemical properties of the soils were also analyzed. General linear model revealed that biochar increased soil pH, EC, NO3&minus;-N, available phosphorus, total C, and C/N ratio, particularly in the highest application rate and shifted the composition of nematodes. The greatest abundances of omnivores (Mesodorylaimus, Thornenema), predator (Nygolaimus) and functional guilds of cp5 were observed in B5, resulting in greatest structure footprint and composite footprint, (omnivorous + predator) footprint and total biomass in B5. While abundances of nematodes tended to decrease with the biochar applicate rates, the abundance of Prismatolaimus was the highest in B40. During the 8-week incubation period, the abundances of Achromadora, Alaimus, Aporcelaimellus, Cryptonchus, Mononchus, and Tobrilus remained stable in upland conditions. Under flooded conditions, the abundances of almost all taxa were markedly lower than those under upland conditions irrespective of biochar application, except for Acrobeloides, Alaimus, Aphelenchoides, and Ditylenchus. We highlighted that 5 Mg ha&minus;1 of rice husk biochar can be the optimum in shaping the nematode community

Influence of Rice Husk Biochar on Soil Nematode Community under Upland and Flooded Conditions: A Microcosm Experiment

Biochar has the potential for improving soil properties and supporting ecological functions, but it has negative impacts on soil organisms in some cases. This study aimed to assess the effect of biochar application at rates of 0 (B0), 5 Mg ha−1 (B5), 20 Mg−1 (B20), and 40 Mg ha−1 (B40) on soil nematode community under upland and flooded conditions in a short-term microcosm experiment. After biochar application, soil was incubated for 2 to 8 weeks and nematodes were identified for community composition, trophic structures, functional guilds, maturity index and metabolic footprints. The chemical properties of the soils were also analyzed. General linear model revealed that biochar increased soil pH, EC, NO3−-N, available phosphorus, total C, and C/N ratio, particularly in the highest application rate and shifted the composition of nematodes. The greatest abundances of omnivores (Mesodorylaimus, Thornenema), predator (Nygolaimus) and functional guilds of cp5 were observed in B5, resulting in greatest structure footprint and composite footprint, (omnivorous + predator) footprint and total biomass in B5. While abundances of nematodes tended to decrease with the biochar applicate rates, the abundance of Prismatolaimus was the highest in B40. During the 8-week incubation period, the abundances of Achromadora, Alaimus, Aporcelaimellus, Cryptonchus, Mononchus, and Tobrilus remained stable in upland conditions. Under flooded conditions, the abundances of almost all taxa were markedly lower than those under upland conditions irrespective of biochar application, except for Acrobeloides, Alaimus, Aphelenchoides, and Ditylenchus. We highlighted that 5 Mg ha−1 of rice husk biochar can be the optimum in shaping the nematode community

Optimizing a Reverse Supply Chain Network for Electronic Waste under Risk and Uncertain Factors

Minimizing the impact of electronic waste (e-waste) on the environment through designing an effective reverse supply chain (RSC) is attracting the attention of both industry and academia. To obtain this goal, this study strives to develop an e-waste RSC model where the input parameters are fuzzy and risk factors are considered. The problem is then solved through crisp transformation and decision-makers are given the right to choose solutions based on their satisfaction. The result shows that the proposed model provides a practical and satisfactory solution to compromise between the level of satisfaction of constraints and the objective value. This solution includes strategic and operational decisions such as the optimal locations of facilities (i.e., disassembly, repairing, recycling facilities) and the flow quantities in the RSC

Effects of Rice Husk Biochar and Compost Amendments on Soil Phosphorus Fractions, Enzyme Activities and Rice Yields in Salt-Affected Acid Soils in the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam

Given that rice husk biochar has been shown to modulate salinity in salt-affected acid soils, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of organic amendment of salinized acid soils on P fractions, enzyme activities, and associated rice yield. Four treatments, viz. Rice–Rice–Rice, [RRR]; Fallow–Rice–Rice, [FRR]; Fallow–Rice–Rice + 3 Mg ha−1 of compost [FRR + Comp]; and Fallow–Rice–Rice + 10 Mg ha−1 of biochar [FRR + BC] were established at Ben Tre and Kien Giang sites, Viet Nam, over six consecutive crops. Soil properties at harvest of the sixth crop showed that there were diverse patterns of fractionation between P forms with respect to treatment. Overarchingly, biochar increased labile and moderately labile inorganic P and organic P by 30% to 70%, respectively, whilst compost had a relatively modest effect on these pools. Soil phosphatase activities at crop tillering increased following the FRR + Comp and FRR + BC treatments compared with those in RRR, except for acid phosphatase at Ben Tre. At harvest, there were no significant differences between the enzyme activities among the treatments. Rice yield was positively correlated with the more labile forms of P, soil C, and acid phosphatase activity. In the absence of organic amendments, there was no effect of triple versus double rice crops being grown in one-year cycle. Repeated application of biochar (10 Mg ha−1 × 5 times) showed potential to increase grain yields and total soil C in salt-affected acid soils, via modulation of P transformations to more plant-available forms

Đánh giá một số tính chất lý và hóa học của các nhóm đất chính trên địa bàn tỉnh An Giang

Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm đánh giá tính chất lý và hóa học của các nhóm đất chính trên địa bàn tỉnh An Giang, từ đó xác định các trở ngại, đề xuất hướng cải tạo và quản lý đất bền vững cho sản xuất nông nghiệp. Nghiên cứu đã thực hiện khảo sát và lấy mẫu đất trên các nhóm đất chính phân bố trên địa bàn tỉnh An Giang. Có tất cả 55 vị trí được lấy mẫu để phân tích các đặc tính lý-hóa học đất. Kết quả khảo sát đã xếp loại đất canh tác nông nghiệp của tỉnh An Giang gồm 04 nhóm đất chính: đất phèn (Thionic), đất phù sa (Gleysols và Fluvisol), đất than bùn (Histosols), đất phù sa cổ (Plinthosols) với 10 đơn vị đất theo xếp loại của FAO (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2006). Tính chất lý, hóa học và hàm lượng dinh dưỡng trong đất phù hợp cho phát triển nhiều các loại cây trồng trong huyện, thị xã và thành phố thuộc tỉnh An Giang. Tuy nhiên, một số trở ngại đất gồm pH thấp và lượng độc chất Al cao được tìm thấy ở nhóm đất phèn  canh tác nông nghiệp của tỉnh An Giang. Do đó, để cải thiện chất lượng đất và nâng cao năng suất cây trồng, nông dân cần bón vôi và phân hữu cơ để giúp tăng pH đất và tăng hàm lượng dinh dưỡng trong đất