Nitrogen-Fixing Purple Nonsulfur Bacteria Originating from Acid Saline Soils of a Rice-Shrimp Farm

The study was conducted to (i) isolate, select, and identify strains of purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB), which can fix nitrogen (N), from soil and water in a rice-shrimp integrated system, (ii) to determine the capacity of the selected potent PNSB strains in producing plant growth promoting substances. The isolation resulted in 57 pure PNSB strains from 36 soil samples and 36 water samples of rice-shrimp paddy fields in Thanh Phu - Ben Tre. Among them, 49 strains survived under pH 5.0 conditions, 24 of which grew well under microaerobic light (ML) and aerobic dark (AD) conditions in a basic isolation medium (BIM) containing NaCl 5‰. Two strains (S01 and S06) with the greatest N fixation were identified by 16S rRNA techniques as Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Their N production was 16.9 mg L-1 under the ML condition and 32.1 mg L-1 under the AD condition. Moreover, two R. sphaeroides S01 and S06 strains performed P solubilization at 0.382-2.954 mg L-1 from Al-P, 3.81-4.28 mg L-1 from Fe-P, and 3.87-4.74 mg L-1 from Ca-P, and production of plant growth promoting substances, such as IAA (12.3-15.5 mg L-1), EPS (1.09-1.58 mg L-1), siderophores (10.7-53.6%) and ALA (1.68-2.82 mg L-1) under both the incubating conditions

Selecting phosphorus-solubilizing strains of purple nonsulfur bacteria isolated from pineapple cultivated acid sulfate soils

The presence of acid sulfate soils is such an obstacle for pineapple cultivation in Vietnam due to their low pH, high toxicity and poor nutrient availability, especially phosphorus (P), which is immobilized by cations in the soils. Therefore, the study occurred to select purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) strains that can solubilize P under toxic and acidic conditions. There were 33 strains that can tolerate the acidic condition, and they were selected and tested for viability and P solubilization under conditions containing Al3+, Fe2+, and Mn2+ toxins. Four strains, including W15, W39, W42 and W48 suffered from growth inhibition by Al3+, Fe2+ and Mn2+ less than the other strains under both microaerobic light and aerobic dark conditions (ML and AD conditions). In addition, there were four strains (W15, W25, W42 and W48) solubilizing Al-P well (21.4-25.2 mg L-1), two strains (W23 and W42) solubilizing Fe-P well (15.9-17.3 mg L-1), and two strains (W17 and W42) solubilizing Ca-P well (23.0-36.4 mg L-1) under both ML and AD conditions. Ultimately, there were five strains selected (W17, W23, W25, W42 and W48) and identified as Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain W17 and W23, Cereibacter sphaeroides strain W23, W42 and W48 based on the 16S rRNA technique. The selected strains also produced ALA, EPS and siderophores at 1.31-2.19 mg L-1, 0.78-1.89 mg L-1, and 16.2-55.6%, respectively. Therefore, these strains were promising in providing nutrients for pineapples in the form of biofertilizer

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

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The Efficacy of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Producing <i>Luteovulum sphaeroides</i> Strains on Saline Soil Fertility, Nutrient Uptakes, and Yield of Rice

Saline soils negatively affect and cause serious problems for rice cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB) capable of secreting 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to reduce soil salinity, improve soil fertility, and enhance rice growth and yield. A two-factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Factor one was the salinity of the irrigated water, and factor two was the supplementation of the ALA-producing PNSB. The results indicated that watering with saline water above 3‰ led to decreases in plant growth and rice yield compared to the treatments watered with tap water. Application of either an individual strain or the mixture of W01, W14, and W22 ameliorated soil properties and increased total NPK uptake, whereas treatments supplied with the mixed strains reduced total Na uptake (9.50 mg Na pot−1). Supplying the W01, W14, and W22 strains individually or in a mixture enhanced the plant height by 3.51–5.45% and rice grain yield by 14.7–26.2%, compared with those of the control treatment. From the study, the combination of the L. sphaeroides W01, W14, and W22 strains is promising for application in saline or salt-contaminated regions to aid the damages caused by salinity on cultivars there, especially rice. Furthermore, this is a biological approach to ease an environmental problem and improve crop performance, which is supposed to be a trend in the sustainable agriculture

PHÂN LẬP, TUYỂN CHỌN VÀ ĐỊNH DANH VI KHUẨN NỘI SINH HÒA TAN LÂN VÀ CỐ ĐỊNH ĐẠM TRÊN CÂY ĐINH LĂNG LÁ NHỎ (Polyscias fruticosa L. Harms)

This study aimed to determine phosphorus-solubilizing and nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria from Ming aralia. Thirteen leaf and 11 root samples collected in Tri Ton district, An Giang province, were used for isolating endophytic bacteria on the LGI medium. Thirty-five strains were isolated from Ming aralia. All isolates are resistant to pH 5.0. Two strains have the highest phosphorus-solubilizing activity at 29.5 and 29.7 mg/L. Two others have the highest nitrogen-fixing ability and IAA synthesis at 23.0 and 6.87 mg/L. One of the strains solubilizing phosphorus and one fixing nitrogen were identified as Bacillus cereus and B. circulans by 16S rDNA sequences with complete similarity to Bacillus cereus S5 (KU927490.1) and B. circulans H170 (MH671645.1) in Genbank.Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm xác định dòng vi khuẩn nội sinh hòa tan lân và cố định đạm trên cây đinh lăng. Mười ba mẫu lá và mười một mẫu rễ đinh lăng thu thập tại huyện Tri Tôn, tỉnh An Giang, được sử dụng để phân lập vi khuẩn nội sinh trên môi trường LGI. Ba mươi lăm dòng vi khuẩn nội sinh cây đinh lăng đã được phân lập. Các dòng vi khuẩn đều có khả năng chịu đựng được pH 5. Hai trong số các dòng vi khuẩn có khả năng hòa tan lân cao, với hàm lượng 29,5 và 29,7 mg/L. Hai dòng vi khuẩn khác có khả năng cố định đạm và tổng hợp IAA cao nhất, với hàm lượng 23,0 và 6,87 mg/L. Một dòng vi khuẩn hòa tan lân và một dòng vi khuẩn cố định đạm được định danh dựa trên đoạn gene 16S rDNA là Bacillus cereus và B. circulans, hoàn toàn tương đồng với chủng vi khuẩn Bacillus cereus S5 (KU927490.1) và B. circulans H170 (MH671645.1) trên ngân hàng gen

Urban inundation forecasting based on hydraulic models coupling MIKE Flood and MIKE Urban: A case study of Tam Ky City, Vietnam

Abstract Urban inundation has become a growing concern for many coastal cities around the world. Tam Ky City, located downstream of Ban Thach and Tam Ky rivers in central Vietnam, is no exception. According to annual statistics, the city frequently experiences heavy rainfall from tropical storms and monsoons, making inundation a recurring issue. In response to this challenge, this study developed a flood forecasting model specifically tailored for Tam Ky City, based on forecast rainfall and tidal levels. A key strength of the flood forecasting model lies in its integration of rainfall‐runoff processes, effectively connecting the river basin and the city. To ensure the model's accuracy and reliability, the parameters of the flood forecasting model were meticulously calibrated and verified for floods occurred on rivers as well as in urban areas. An experimental flood forecast was performed during Typhoon Nuru on September 28, 2022, and the forecast results of inundation locations and depths in the city well reflected the actual observations

Extraction and evaluation of antimicrobial activities of essential oils from orange peel (Citrus nobilis) grown in Can Tho City, Vietnam

ABSTRACT: This study determined the extraction conditions, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of Citrus nobilis. The results illustrated that soaking in the 9% (w/v) NaCl solution for 2 h with a sample and solvent ratio of 1:3 (w/v) and a subsequent extraction time of 45 min yielded the highest extraction efficiency, reaching 3.66% (w/w). The main chemical components of the essential oils were limonene (90.42%), β-myrcene (4.7%), and α-pinene (1.22%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at the density of 5x104, 5x105, and 5x106 cells/mL of Escherichia coli were 100, 125, and 125 mg/mL, respectively; for Staphylococcus aureus were 75, 100, and 125 mg/mL, respectively; and for Bacillus cereus were 50, 75, and 100 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at densities of 5x104, 5x105, 5x106 cells/mL of E. coli were 175, 225, 225 mg/mL, S. aureus were 150, 200, 225 mg/mL, and B. cereus were 125, 175, 200 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory activities of Aspergillus flavus of orange essential oils according to the agar dilution method at concentrations of 0.025-0.1%) on the 5th day were 8.84-30.61%

Adsorption Ability for Toxic Chromium (VI) Ions in Aqueous Solution of Some Modified Oyster Shell Types

In this paper, the chromium, Cr (VI), ion adsorption ability of oyster shell samples collected from two sea regions in Vietnam (Phu Yen province and Quang Ninh province) was investigated and compared. The oyster shell samples were calcined at different temperatures and denatured by using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The Cr (VI) ion adsorption ability of the prismatic (PP) and nacreous (NP) shell layers of oysters was also evaluated. The characteristics of oyster shell samples before and after treatment were determined by using analysis methods including XRD, IR, BET, UV-Vis, and FESEM. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models and fit statistic equations were used to study the adsorption isotherms of Cr (VI) ion adsorption by oyster shells. The Cr (VI) ions adsorption kinetic has been set up using four reaction models consisting of first-order, pseudo-first-order, second-order, and pseudo-second-order reaction models. Effects of experimental factors on the Cr (VI) ion adsorption process using oyster shells were also investigated and discussed in this work

Facile Preparation Method of TiO₂/Activated Carbon for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

The development of nanocomposite photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, a simple preparation process, and scalability for practical applications is of great interest. In this study, nanocomposites of TiO2 Degussa P25 nanoparticles/activated carbon (TiO2/AC) were prepared at various mass ratios of (4:1), (3:2), (2:3), and (1:4) by a facile process involving manual mechanical pounding, ultrasonic-assisted mixing in an ethanol solution, paper filtration, and mild thermal annealing. The characterization methods included XRD, SEM-EDS, Raman, FTIR, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The effects of TiO2/AC mass ratios on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties were systematically studied in comparison with bare TiO2 and bare AC. TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited dominant anatase and minor rutile phases and a crystallite size of approximately 21 nm, while AC had XRD peaks of graphite and carbon and a crystallite size of 49 nm. The composites exhibited tight decoration of TiO2 nanoparticles on micron-/submicron AC particles, and uniform TiO2/AC composites were obtained, as evidenced by the uniform distribution of Ti, O, and C in an EDS mapping. Moreover, Raman spectra show the typical vibration modes of anatase TiO2 (e.g., E1g(1), B1g(1), Eg(3)) and carbon materials with D and G bands. The TiO2/AC with (4:1), (3:2), and (2:3) possessed higher reaction rate constants (k) in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) than that of either TiO2 or AC. Among the investigated materials, TiO2/AC = 4:1 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity with a high k of 55.2 × 10−3 min−1 and an MB removal efficiency of 96.6% after 30 min of treatment under UV-Vis irradiation (120 mW/cm2). The enhanced photocatalytic activity for TiO2/AC is due to the synergistic effect of the high adsorption capability of AC and the high photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Furthermore, TiO2/AC promotes the separation of photoexcited electron/hole (e−/h+) pairs to reduce their recombination rate and thus enhance photocatalytic activity. The optimal TiO2/AC composite with a mass ratio of 4/1 is suggested for treating industrial or household wastewater with organic pollutants