DIFFERENT FRUCTOSE FEEDING STRATEGIES FOR POLY(3-HYDROXYBUTYRATE) PRODUCTION BY Yangia sp. ND199

Yangia sp. ND199 is a halophilic bacterium isolated from mangrove soil sample. This strain was able to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from different carbon sources. Only homopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was synthesized when fructose was used as carbon source. The bacterium can accumulate high PHB content during exponential phase. Maximum cell dry weight (CDW) of 7.8 g/l and PHB content of 49 wt% were obtained after 27 h of cultivation in batch fermentation. High CDW and PHB content were achieved by using fed-batch fermentation with different fructose feeding strategies. The highest CDW of 78.5 g/l, PHB content of 67.5 wt%, and PHB productivity of 1 g/l/h were obtained by using two-stage fed-batch fermentation, is among the highest reported so far for PHB production by halophilic bacteria.       

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

Results of magnetotelluric survey for studying geothermal system in the Bang area, Quang Binh province

This paper presents the first results from the application of magnetotelluric method (MT) using the new equipment MTU 2000 (Canada) and analysis software to investigate the structure of geothermal area around the Bang hot water source (Quang Binh province). Results of data analysis by MT 1D and 2D models to a depth of 20 km show low resistivity zone in the southwest of Bang hot water (100°C) and allow for interpreting the structural elements of athehydro- geothermal system. This includes a very low resistivity layer at depth of 2 km suggesting a clay cap (heat resistive shield), a relatively low resistivity zone at depth ≥ 2 km reflecting  fractured rocks containing geothermal fluid and hot steam. A lower resistivity body at depth of 12-14 km located about 1.5 km from the hot water source indicates the existence of a heat source or a hot mass of intrusive magma., commonly thought to be sources of typical hydro- geothermal systems potential for energy exploitation. The obtained results not only provide new information for better understanding geothermal resource in the surveyed area, but also point out the methods and technology needed to improve the effectiveness for assessing potential of geothermal resources elsewhere in Vietnam.ReferencesBản đồ Địa chất và khoáng sản Việt Nam tỷ lệ 1:1.000.000. Cục Địa chất và Khoáng sản Việt Nam xuất bản 2004. Lưu trữ Địa chất. Cumming W., 2009: Geothermal resource conceptual models using surface exploration data. In: proceedings, 34th workshop on geothermal reservoir engineering, Stanford University. Data Processing User guide. Phoenix Geophysic Ltd. 2005, 201p. Di Pippo R., 2012: Geothermal Power plant. Principles, applications, case studies. 3rd edition. Elseverdirect, 579p. Doan Van Tuyen, Tran Anh Vu, Nguyen Thi Kim Thuong, 2014: Geochemical Characteristics of Geothermal Hot Water Sources on the Territory of Vietnam. Proceeding, Thirty-Eighth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir Engineering Stanford University, Stanford, California, February 24-26, 2014 SGP-TR-202. Duchkov A.D., Nguyen Trong Yem, Dinh Van Toan, and Trinh Viet Bac, 1992: First estimations of heat flow in northern Vietnam. Soviet Geology and Geophysics, Vol. 33, No. 5, pp 92-96. Flynn T., Quy H. H., 1997: Assessment of the geothermal resources of Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Geothermal resources Council Transactions, vol.21, 341-345. IGA report, 2013: Geothermal Exploration best practices: A Guide to resource data collection, analysis, and presentation for Geothermal projects. He Lijuan, 1999: Analysis of heat flow along a transect across the South China Sea. Geothermal Training Programme, Reports 1999, Number 5, 125-140. Hoang Huu Quy, 1998: Overview of the Geothermal potential of Vietnam. Geothermics, Vol.27, n.1, 109-115. Koenig J. et al., 1981: Evaluation of the potential for Geothermal Energy Resources in the SR of Vietnam. Berkeley, CA. Kulinich G.G., Zabolotnikov A.A, Markov Yu., 1989: Cenozoic evalution of the Earth crust and orogeny in South- Eastern Asia (Tiếng Nga). MTU2000: User guide. Phoenix Geophysic Ltd. 2000, 36p. Munoz Gerard, 2014: Exploring for Geothermal Resources with Electromagnetic Methods. Surv Geophys (2014) 35:101-122, Springer, DOI 10.1007/s10712-013-9236-0. Pellerin et al., Johnston M, Hohmann W., 1996: A numerical evaluation of electromagnetic methods in geothermal exploration. Geophysics 61(1996):121-130. Thomas Mathews, et al., 2008: Study on the sozio-economic framework for the use Geothermal energy in Vietnam. Proceedings of the 8th Asian Geothermal Symposium, Hanoi. Trần Huyên, Trương Minh, Nguyễn Tiến Bào, 1999: Về chế độ địa nhiệt ở các bể trầm tích thềm lục địa Việt Nam. Tạp chí Kinh tế Địa chất và Nguyên liệu khoáng. Cục Địa chất và Khoáng sản Việt Nam. Số 18 tháng 2 năm 1999, tr.16-25. Võ Công Nghiệp (chủ biên), 1998: Danh bạ các nguồn nước khoáng và nước nóng Việt Nam. Cục Địa chất và Khoáng sản Việt Nam. Hà Nội, 300tr. Zhdanov M., 2009: Geophysical Electromagnetic Theory and Methods. Methods in Geochemistry and Geophysics, Volume 43. ISSN: 0076-6895 Elsevier, 831pp. WinGLink User guide. Geosystem 200, 182p. www.geosystem.net.

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

Carboxy terminal region of a chloroplast DNA polymeras accessory factor stimulates DNA polymerase activity

424-432p43, a glycoprotein of pea chloroplast (ct), acts as an accessory protein of pea chloroplast DNA polymerase. p43 binds to DNA, binds to ct-DNA polymerase and stimulates the ct-DA polymerase activity. In the work presented here, the C-terminal domain of p43 (p22) has been overexpressed in E. coli. South Western analysis reveals that the recombinant p22 lacks in DNA binding activity. However, the recombinant p22 can form complex with the pea ct-DNA polymerase quite efficiently and stimulates the DNA polymerase activity to a greater extent than the native p43. Thus the DNA binding domain of p43 appears to be spatially separate from the domain responsible for the DNA polymerase accessory activity. The DNA binding domain is also highly O-glycosylated and loss of glycosylation of p43 leads to enhanced DNA binding as well as repression of ct-DNA polymerase activity. These findings allow us to propose a model to explain how glycosylation of p43 helps ct-DNA polymerase latch onto the DNA template for enhanced processivity. The predictive components of the model have been discussed

An overview of northern Vietnam deep crustal structures from integrated geophysical observations

Multiple geophysical datasets from northern Vietnam were examined and reanalyzed to explore detailed structures within the deep crust and their relationship to major tectonic fault systems in this region. Deep seismic data using explosions were collected and examined to crustal structure in northern Vietnam. Based on the determined depths of seismic boundaries, we verified crustal densities by gravity inversion model of Bouguer anomalies. Then, refer to those verified crustal densities; crustal interface boundaries along selected profiles in northern Vietnam were inverted by fitting its gravity anomalies. Integration results reveal significant lateral variations in the depth of the Moho discontinuity. The Moho depth increases from coastal to mountainous areas, and increases more rapidly towards the northwest. The rapid thickening of the crust can be considered as the southeastern extension of the eastern Tibetan along the eastern Himalayan syntaxis. We deduce that these variations are controlled by the main tectonic faults in northern Vietnam. Furthermore, although the Red River fault zone is considered as a boundary between two regional crustal blocks, however, no remarkable differences in crustal density and Moho depth were obtained by our analysis. A comparison of previous magnetotelluric studies and heat-flow observations indicates that the low resistivity of the uppermost mantle beneath the Hanoi basin region is well correlated with the location of a high heat-flow anomaly. The high heat-flow and thin crust determined in this study is suggestive of a recent rifting process of the opening of the South China Sea

Twelve-Month Outcomes of the AFFINITY Trial of Fluoxetine for Functional Recovery After Acute Stroke: AFFINITY Trial Steering Committee on Behalf of the AFFINITY Trial Collaboration

Background and Purpose: The AFFINITY trial (Assessment of Fluoxetine in Stroke Recovery) reported that 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 seizures. After trial medication was ceased at 6 months, survivors were followed to 12 months post-randomization. This preplanned secondary analysis aimed to determine any sustained or delayed effects of fluoxetine at 12 months post-randomization. Methods: AFFINITY was a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults (n=1280) with a clinical diagnosis of stroke in the previous 2 to 15 days and persisting neurological deficit who were recruited at 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (4), and Vietnam (10) between 2013 and 2019. Participants were randomized to oral fluoxetine 20 mg once daily (n=642) or matching placebo (n=638) for 6 months and followed until 12 months after randomization. The primary outcome was function, measured by the modified Rankin Scale, at 6 months. Secondary outcomes for these analyses included measures of the modified Rankin Scale, mood, cognition, overall health status, fatigue, health-related quality of life, and safety at 12 months. Results: Adherence to trial medication was for a mean 167 (SD 48) days and similar between randomized groups. At 12 months, the distribution of modified Rankin Scale categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.76–1.14]; P =0.46). Compared with placebo, patients allocated fluoxetine had fewer recurrent ischemic strokes (14 [2.18%] versus 29 [4.55%]; P =0.02), and no longer had significantly more falls (27 [4.21%] versus 15 [2.35%]; P =0.08), bone fractures (23 [3.58%] versus 11 [1.72%]; P =0.05), or seizures (11 [1.71%] versus 8 [1.25%]; P =0.64) at 12 months. Conclusions: Fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke had no delayed or sustained effect on functional outcome, falls, bone fractures, or seizures at 12 months poststroke. The lower rate of recurrent ischemic stroke in the fluoxetine group is most likely a chance finding. REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au/ ; Unique identifier: ACTRN12611000774921