EFFECT OF SPENT MUSHROOM SUBSTRATE ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF THREE CULTIVARS OF MUSKMELONS (Cucumis melo)

Muskmelons are currently grown in several areas of Vietnam for domestic and international consumer markets. The fruit grows well in greenhouses in soil or soilless substrate such as coconut peat. Researchers in Vietnam are investigating the growth of muskmelons in a range of organic by-products. In this study, spent mushroom substrate was recycled for use as an organic substrate and to evaluate the growth, quality, and yield of three muskmelon varieties including RZ F1, PN 128, and TL3 in greenhouses over three months. The substrate was incubated for one month before use and contained 45% spent mushroom substrate, 30% manure, 7.7% rice husks, 1.5% phosphorus, 0.2% commercial Trichoderma (Tribac), 0.1% rice bran, 15% sand, and 0.5% micronutrients and water. Following incubation, the substrate had optimal pH for the growth of muskmelon and the concentration of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms had increased significantly. The growth of RZ F1 and TL3 cultivars was significantly better than PN 128 in terms of growth, fruit quality, and yield. Specifically, RZ F1 and TL3 species took 78 days and 75 days to complete their life cycle produced 1.76 kg and 1.62 kg of fruit, had a pericarp thickness of 4.0 cm, and possessed 14.20o Brix and 14.88o Brix of soluble solid content, respectively. These findings suggest that agricultural by-products, such as spent mushroom substrate, could be a valuable resource for the culture of muskmelons in Vietnam

Effects of hormone and fertilizers on early flower induction of Dendrobium anosmum hybrid seedlings under ex vitro condition

Early flowering of new orchids is important to save time for selecting valuable flowers and artificial induction of flowering is a critical consideration in the orchid production industry. In this study, a new Dendrobium anosmum hybrid was generated by cross-breeding between D. anosmum ‘Chau Nhu’ and D. anosmum ‘Di Linh’. The ancestors and hybrid seedlings from in-vitro culture were trained in the net house and their growth and flowering were evaluated under ex vivo conditions with specific fertilizers and hormones. The results suggest that the hybrid plants grew better than their parents in terms of stem height, stem diameter, and leaf number. Growth hormones were applied to stimulate early flowering in matured hybrids and it was discovered that ‘Keiki pro’, a commercial hormone product, produced the best results, with a flowering rate of 66.67% after two applications. Hybrid flowers varied in width from 36.36% (3.0-6.0 cm) to 63.64 % (more than 6.0 cm) from ancestral width in medium-sized and large-sized flowers, respectively. Also, the hybrid flower colours was mostly a combination of pink/violet (75C) and purple/pink (68A), which is different from their parents. Importantly, the dorsal sepal, petal colours, and shape of hybrid flowers varied significantly among individual hybrids, between hybrids and their progenitors. Some mutations in the lips and columns of the novel hybrid flowers were also visualized. Hence, the D. anosmum hybrid seedlings successfully induced flowers after a year of culture under optimal hormones and fertilizers conditions. The results can serve as a critical reference for the early flowering of the orchid seedlings

Environmentally Responsible Bioengineering for Spore Surface Expression of Helicobacter pylori Antigen

The development of genetic technologies and bioengineering are creating an increasing number of genetically engineered microorganisms with new traits for diverse industrial applications such as vaccines, drugs and pollutant degraders. However, the destiny of genetically engineered bacterial spores released into the environment as long-life organisms has remained a big environmental challenge. In this study, an environmentally responsible and sustainable gene technology solution based on the concept of thymine starvation is successfully applied for cloning and expression of a Helicobacter pylori antigen on Bacillus subtilis spore surface. As an example, a recombinant Bacillus subtilis strain A1.13 has been created from a gene fusion of the corresponding N-terminal fragment of spore coat protein CotB in B. subtilis and the entire urease subunit A (UreA) in H. pylori and the fusion showed a high stability of spore surface expression. The outcomes can open the door for developing highly safe spore vectored vaccines against this kind of pathogen and contributing to reduced potential risks of genetically engineered microorganisms released in the environment

BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH TWO MARINE SPONGES (Haliclona oculata AND Amphius huxleyi) COLLECTED AT THE LANG CO BAY OF VIETNAM

Sponges (Phylum Porifera) are ancient sedentary and filter-feeding animals which harbour very diverse and abundant associated microbial community in their tissues with density up to 40–50% of sponge tissue volume. In this study, the diversity of associated microorganisms with two marine sponges Haliclona oculata and Amphius huxleyi collected at the Lang Co bay of Vietnam was assessed by analysis of hypervariable V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq system. The taxonomic diversity of sponge-associated microorganisms was classified to different taxonomic levels (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, and genus). Based on Bayesian classification method and reference sequences derived from Greengenes database, the associated microorganisms in studied sponges were assigned to 17 phyla (H. oculata) and 13 phyla (A. huxleyi). Many microbial taxa were detected in two sponge species, however, they were distinctive by the abundance. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum in both sponge species, and all of 4 classes Epsilonproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Deltaproteobacteria were found in H. oculata and A. huxleyi

NHÂN GIỐNG LAN GIẢ HẠC (Dendrobium anosmum) ĐỘT BIẾN BẰNG PHƯƠNG PHÁP NUÔI CẤY IN VITRO

Currently, mutant orchids are very interested in orchid lovers who want to collect, but the price of mutant orchids is costly leading to many orchid lovers are unable to own it. This study aims to create mutant orchid plantlets with high quantity and low cost via in vitro propagation method. From the self-pollinated six months old seedpods, we have successfully propagated the orchid mutant seedlings. The results showed that the suitable medium for mutant orchid seed germination and creating protocorm was the basic MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BA with a rate of up to 93%. The medium for shoot formation and shoot development from protocorm was the best on MS medium added with 1.0 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L IBA with a rate of 88%. The rooting induction was 99.06% and the root length reached 5.34 cm with an average of 8.53 roots/shoot when shoots cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L NAA. The survival rate of in vitro Dendrobium anosmum mutant seedlings after 60 days in the nursery stage was 84.9% on coir and rice husks substrates (1:1).Hiện nay, hoa lan đột biến đang trở thành tâm điểm được nhiều người quan tâm sưu tầm, nhưng do giá thành cây giống quá cao nên rất ít người có thể sở hữu. Để tạo ra giống với số lượng lớn, rẻ thì việc nhân giống in vitro những giống lan này là cần thiết. Vì vậy, từ vật liệu khởi đầu là quả lan sáu tháng tuổi tự thụ phấn từ cây mẹ đột biến, chúng tôi đã xây dựng thành công quy trình nhân giống lan Giả hạc đột biến bằng phương pháp nuôi cấy in vitro. Kết quả cho thấy môi trường thích hợp cho hạt lan đột biến nảy mầm tạo protocorm là môi trường MS cơ bản, bổ sung 0,5 mg/L N6-benzyladenine (BA) với tỷ lệ 93%. Môi trường thích hợp để protocorm tạo chồi là MS cơ bản, bổ sung 1,0 mg/L BA và 0,5 mg/L indole 3-butyric acid (IBA) với tỷ lệ tạo chồi 88%, chiều cao và số lá trên chồi trung bình 1,42 cm và 2,4 lá. Môi trường tối ưu để chồi tạo cây hoàn chỉnh là môi trường MS cơ bản, bổ sung 1,0 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) với tỷ lệ 99,06% chồi ra rễ; chiều dài rễ đạt 5,34 cm với trung bình 8,53 rễ/chồi. Tỷ lệ sống của cây con in vitro đột biến sau 60 ngày ra vườn ươm là 84,9% trên giá thể xơ dừa và trấu hun (1:1)

Vers un enseignement par compétences de l’interprétation consécutive dans les universités au Vietnam

L’enseignement par compétences devient un impératif au Vietnam, notamment au niveau de la licence afin de répondre aux besoins du marché du travail et de faciliter l’employabilité des diplômés. La mise en œuvre de cette politique éducative nécessite une série d’activités dont la première concerne l’élaboration d’un référentiel de métier-compétences. Cependant, un référentiel de compétences de l’interprète est un sujet peu exploité par les recherches sur l’interprétation en général et sur l’interprétation consécutive en particulier. Au Vietnam, un tel référentiel n’existe pas encore ; les curricula de formation universitaire à l’interprétation consécutive ont été donc conçus grâce aux expériences des enseignants, sans se référer aux besoins du marché du travail. Pour ces raisons, une équipe de recherche de l’Université de Hanoï a mené, de 2018 à 2021, une étude ayant pour objectif d’élaborer un référentiel de compétences professionnelles de l’interprétation consécutive adressé aux universités de langues étrangères vietnamiennes. Un entretien collectif auprès de 16 interprètes chevronnés, un questionnaire renseigné par 93 employeurs ont été réalisés dans le but de comprendre les activités professionnelles et les compétences sous-jacentes dans un contexte vietnamien. Les analyses qualitatives et les statistiques descriptives du corpus ont été triangulées, comparées avec les résultats de recherche des auteurs connus dans le domaine. Le référentiel proposé comprend 6 compétences professionnelles, réparties en 28 sous-compétences, accompagnées des suggestions de critères d’évaluation. Cet outil pourrait servir de base ultérieurement pour la conception des référentiels de formation et d’évaluation par les universités intéressées, en fonction de leurs objectifs et conditions d’assurance de la qualité des programmes de formation.La educación basada en competencias se convierte en un imperativo en Vietnam, especialmente en el nivel universitario, a fin de satisfacer las necesidades del mercado laboral y facilitar la empleabilidad de los graduados. La aplicación de esta política educativa requiere de una serie de acciones, la primera de las cuales es el desarrollo de un marco de competencias, cuestión poco explorada en la investigación sobre la interpretación en general y sobre la interpretación consecutiva en particular. En Vietnam aún no existe un marco de referencia de este tipo; los planes de estudios universitarios de interpretación consecutiva se han diseñado a partir de las experiencias de los profesores y sin tener en cuenta las necesidades del mercado laboral. Por estas razones, un equipo de investigación de la Universidad de Hanoi realizó un estudio entre 2018 y 2021 con el objetivo de proponer un marco de competencias profesionales para la formación en interpretación consecutiva dentro de las universidades de lenguas extranjeras. Se realizó una entrevista grupal a 16 intérpretes experimentados y una encuesta a 93 empresarios con el objetivo de comprender las actividades profesionales y las competencias subyacentes en un contexto vietnamita. Los análisis cualitativos y las estadísticas descriptivas del corpus se han triangulado y comparado con los resultados de las investigaciones de autores conocidos en este campo, obteniendo el marco de referencia propuesto, que consta de 6 competencias profesionales, divididas en 28 subcompetencias, acompañadas de los criterios de evaluación sugeridos. Este marco de competencias podría servir de base para el diseño de marcos de formación y evaluación de las universidades interesadas de acuerdo con sus objetivos y requisitos de garantía de calidad de los programas de formación

LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULES OF CORRECT MEDICAL USAGE AMONG VIETNAMESE PHARMACY STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Comprehensive misunderstanding about medicine usage is often associated with high treatment risks which have led to unexpected and adverse effects or even death. Many researches assessing health literacy have been undertaken, but only in adults. This study was undertaken to evaluate the level of understanding in students of medical terms and its correlation with gender, grade and parental occupation.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2017 with 594 students (28.6% of men and 71.4% of women) of Hanoi University of Pharmacy from freshman to fifth-year students chosen randomly. The knowledge of pharmacy students was assessed by a questionnaire including 25 medical terms. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used with p<0.05 as level of statistical significance.Results: The level of understanding of students was high with most of medical terms reaching over 70% correct answers. A positive significant association between health literacy and education was found with higher knowledge demonstrated in upper years, while there was no difference among students with and without parents belonging to the medical field. Regarding the relation with gender, there was no significant correlation for most medical terms.Conclusions: Levels of understanding of medical terms in pharmacy students was high, presenting a significant association with education. This study should be extended in order to assess the level of health literacy in various populations, thereby indirect evaluating implementation of medical preventive programs

A Multi-Center Randomized Trial to Assess the Efficacy of Gatifloxacin versus Ciprofloxacin for the Treatment of Shigellosis in Vietnamese Children

The bacterial genus Shigella is the most common cause of dysentery (diarrhea containing blood and/or mucus) and the disease is common in developing countries with limitations in sanitation. Children are most at risk of infection and frequently require hospitalization and antimicrobial therapy. The WHO currently recommends the fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin, for the treatment of childhood Shigella infections. In recent years there has been a sharp increase in the number of organisms that exhibit resistance to nalidixic acid (an antimicrobial related to ciprofloxacin), corresponding with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. We hypothesized that infections with Shigella strains that demonstrate resistance to nalidixic acid may prevent effective treatment with ciprofloxacin. We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare 3 day ciprofloxacin therapy with 3 days of gatifloxacin, a newer generation fluoroquinolone with greater activity than ciprofloxacin. We measured treatment failure and time to the cessation of individual disease symptoms in 249 children with dysentery treated with gatifloxacin and 245 treated with ciprofloxacin. We could identify no significant differences in treatment failure between the two groups or in time to the cessation of individual symptoms. We conclude that, in Vietnam, ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin are similarly effective for the treatment of acute dysentery