Loop-corrected Higgs masses in the NMSSM with inverse seesaw mechanism

In this study, we work in the framework of the Next-to-Minimal extension of the Standard Model (NMSSM) extended by six singlet leptonic superfields. Through the mixing with the three doublet leptonic superfields, the non-zero tiny neutrino masses can be generated through the inverse seesaw mechanism. While R-parity is conserved in this model lepton number is explicitly violated. We quantify the impact of the extended neutrino sector on the NMSSM Higgs sector by computing the complete one-loop corrections with full momentum dependence to the Higgs boson masses in a mixed on-shell- DR ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ renormalization scheme, with and without the inclusion of CP violation. The results are consistently combined with the dominant two-loop corrections at O(αt(αs+αt)) to improve the predictions for the Higgs mixing and the loop-corrected masses. In our numerical study we include the constraints from the Higgs data, the neutrino oscillation data, the charged lepton flavor-violating decays li→lj+γ, and the new physics constraints from the oblique parameters S, T, U. We present in this context the one-loop decay width for li→lj+γ. The loop-corrected Higgs boson masses are included in the Fortran code NMSSMCALC-nuSS

Efficiency of Farmer Organisations in Supplying Supermarkets with Quality Food in Vietnam

The development of supermarkets in Vietnam, as in other emerging countries, goes along with an increasing concern on the part of purchasers for food quality. The paper investigates whether farmer organisations are able to help small-scale farmers get access to supermarkets, and the role that supermarkets and public support play in their emergence and development. It is based on case studies involving a number of stakeholders marketing vegetables, flavoured rice and litchi fruit in Vietnam. The interviews investigated patterns of horizontal and vertical coordination that link farmers to supermarkets, the distribution of costs and benefits between farmers and traders along the chains in relation to the strategy of quality differentiation. Eight farmer associations that work in the form of private commercial organisations are regular supermarket suppliers for the selected products. Their ability to supply supermarkets is related to the combination of functions they make available to their members, especially as regards training to improve quality (appearance, taste, safety), quality promotion and control, for which they receive public support, as well as their participation in flexible contracts with supermarkets, shops and schools. Supermarket supply through farmer associations increases farmer incomes when compared with traditional chains, yet the situation is reported to change with the increase in supermarket competition. The paper argues that changes in farmer organisation are not only due to supplying supermarkets, but also to public and international support to food quality improvement, which have been of benefit to supermarkets.Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

Screening for actinomyces isolated from soil with the ability to inhibit Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae causing rice bacterial blight disease in Vietnam

Bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the major diseases in rice culture of Northen Vietnam, as well as other rice-growing regions of the world. In this study, we isolated and screened for actinomycete strains from Vietnam with the ability to inhibit Xoo isolates from northern Vietnam. From 90 actinomycete strains taken from soil in northern Vietnam in 2010, we screened for their antagonistic activity against 10 races of Xoo causing rice bacterial blight disease. Three actinomycete strains were found to inhibit all 10 Xoo races. Among the three strains, a strain namely VN10-A-44 was shown not to have the ability to produce toxic compounds and was selected for further study. The strain was identified as Streptomyces virginiae by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We replaced soybean meal with tofu waste in antibiotic producing medium to improve antagonistic activity of VN10-A-44 against the Xoo pathogen and to make use of tofu waste for large-scale fermentation of VN10-A-44. We found that replacing soybean meal with 20 and 30 g of tofu waste/litter in the antibiotic producing medium gave the largest inhibition zone against the Xoo pathogen.Key words: Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, rice bacterial blight disease, Streptomyces virginiae, Vietnam

PSSA- INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION TO PROTECT THE BIODIVERSITY IN HA LONG BAY - CAT BA MARINE AREA

A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is an important management tool for biodiversity protection of a marine area. At the time of designation of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, an associated protective measure, which meets the requirements of the appropriate legal instrument establishing such measure, must have been approved or adopted by IMO to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the threat or identified vulnerability. Information on each of the Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) that has been designated by IMO is available on the nautical chart. The Vietnam’s coastal zones and islands are the isolated oceanic habitat of extremely rich marine life in very good condition which is important to the maintenance and dispersal of the marine life of the western tropical Pacific. Vietnam coastal areas are very high risk areas affected by maritime activities, particularly international shipping, therefore in the future identification of some Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) is necessary. The first Particularly Sensitive Sea Area for Vietnam in Ha Long - Cat Ba was initially proposed in this paper

A multi locus sequence analysis scheme for phylogeny of the Bacillus subtilis species complex and its advantages over 16S rRNA genes

A multi locus sequence analysis (MLSA approach) was studied on the Bacillus genus, or the Bacillus subtilis species complex for specific, including 08 strains from four species (B. subtilis, B. pumilus, B. licheniformis and B. amyloliquefaciens) were provided by Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City. The research was based on sequences of 16S rRNA genes, the concatenation of five protein-coding housekeeping genes: glpF, pta, purH, pycA, and rpoD. After PCR amplification and sequencing the phylogenetic tree of 16S rRNA sequences, concatenate sequences (as well as the phylogenetic tree of each housekeeping gene) are constructed for comparison and discussion. The aim of this study is reach for better resolution and differentiation of strains and species within the B. subtilis species and to determine whether MLSA scheme show advantages in 16S rRNA gene-based studies

Hydrolysable tannins, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant property of wild-harvested Terminalia ferdinandiana (exell) fruit at different maturity stages

Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell., also known as Kakadu plum, is a wild-harvested native Australian fruit with limited information on how maturity is affecting the phytonutritional properties and bioactivities of the fruit. Thus, this study investigated changes in hydrolysable tannins, phenolic acids, sugar profile, standard physicochemical parameters, and antioxidant-scavenging capacity of wild-harvested Kakadu plum fruits at four different maturity stages, from immature to fully mature. Fruits harvested <25, 25–50, 50–75, and 75–100% degree of fullness were classified as highly immature (stage 1), immature (stage 2), semi-mature (stage 3), and fully mature (stage 4), respectively. Results showed that chebulagic acid, geraniin, chebulinic acid, castalagin, punicalagin, and gallic acid continuously decreased during fruit maturity, while elaeocarpusin, helioscopin B, corilagin, 3,4,6-tri-O-galloyl-S-glucose, and ellagic acid increased at the beginning of fruit growth (from stage 1 to 2), but decreased when the fruits reached their full maturity (stage 4). The levels of hydrolysable tannins and phenolic acids in fully mature fruits (stage 4) were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower than that in their immature counterparts (stages 1 and 2). Total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH antioxidant radical-scavenging activity did not vary significantly between different maturity stages. Pearson's correlation coefficient test indicated that TPC and DPPH positively (p ≤ 0.05) correlate with most of the studied tannin compounds. Sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose), total soluble solid content, and titratable acidity increased during the fruit development. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the difference between the immature and mature samples, based on their nutritional profile and bioactive compounds. The PCA results also suggested a considerable variability between the individual trees, highlighting the challenges of wild-harvest practice

The role of nutritional risk evaluation in predicting adverse outcomes among patients with severe COVID-19 in Vietnam

IntroductionAs sufficient nutrition helps alleviate catabolic stress and modulate the systemic inflammatory response of the body, it plays an indispensable role in the good prognosis of critically ill patients. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the malnutrition of patients with severe COVID-19 and its association with adverse treatment outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in two provincial hospitals in Hanoi from February to April 2022. Participants were patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Malnutrition risk were evaluated by Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 (NRS), Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and the adverse prognosis was assessed by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II). The multivariate receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to estimate the predictive ability of those criteria regarding worse treatment results.ResultsThe percentages of malnutrition measured by NRS, GLIM, PNI, and BMI were 62.6, 51.5, 42.9, and 16.6%, respectively. Patients with more severe malnutrition assessed by GLIM, PNI, and having above target fasting blood glucose (FBG) (≥10.0 mmol/L) were more likely to have higher APACHE scores. PNI had a better diagnostic performance than NRS and BMI (AUC = 0.84, 0.81, and 0.82, respectively). In addition, FBG revealed a good prognostic implication (AUC = 0.84).ConclusionA relatively high percentage of patients experienced moderate and severe malnutrition regardless of screening tools. Individuals at higher risk of malnutrition and high FBG were predicted to have more adverse treatment outcomes. It is recommended that nutritional screening should be conducted regularly, and personalizing nutritional care strategies is necessary to meet patients’ nutrient demands and prevent other nutrition-related complications