Integrated model for methane emission and dispersion assessment from landfills: A case study of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Methane is considered to be one of the main causes of global warming. Quantifying methane emissions from landfills is the subject of many studies, especially emphasizing the role of two parameters: methane generation potential capacity (L), methane generation rate (k). In this study, we propose a system of integrated environmental information and mathematical model named EnLandFill (ENvironmental information - model integrated system for air emission and dispersion estimation from LandFill) that allows calculation L from database and experimentally to determine optimal k.

Design of amino acid-based self-assembled nano-drugs for therapeutic applications.

Amino acids have attracted considerable attention in drug development because they play important roles in many physiological and pathological processes. In the past several decades, various amino acid supplementations have been reported to have potential therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of many disorders in clinical trials. However, their effectiveness is controversially reported, which may be explained by poor pharmacokinetic properties of such low-molecular-weight agents.

Controlling Phase Composition, Properties and Activity of TiO₂ Nano-Photocatalyst Synthesized by Hydrothermal Technique in the Degradation of Cinnamic Acid Solution.

In this work, titanium oxide catalysts were synthesized by the hydrothermal method from titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) as a precursor under acidic (Ti-A1 and Ti-A2), neutral (Ti-W) and alkaline (Ti-B) media. Characteristics of the catalysts were identified by various methods including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The phase composition and PZC value of the obtained catalysts depended on the hydrothermal medium and the amount of TTIP: pure anatase and brookite phase formed at neutral and alkaline medium, respectively; whereas acidic medium favored the formation of anatase/rutile mixed phase and anatase phase decreased with the increasing amount of TTIP.

Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of High-Polydextrose Snack Food on Swiss Albino Mice.

In this study, the hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effects of high-polydextrose snack food on Swiss albino mice were investigated. The mice were randomly divided into three groups: control diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat and fiber diet groups. Addition of high-polydextrose snack to the high-fat diet resulted in significant reduction in the liver weight, the accumulation of lipid droplets in liver, and the liver damage of hyperlipidemic mice in comparison with the high-fat diet.

Spatial and temporal variations of PAHs in surface sediments of estuarine and coast of CanGio wetland, Vietnam.

Surface sediments from estuarine and coast of CanGio wetland (CGW) of Hochiminh City, Vietnam, were investigated to identify the spatial and temporal variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total PAHs showed wide variation but similar to patterns observed (F = 0.901, p = 0.

Recent Advances in TiO-Based Photocatalysts for Reduction of CO to Fuels.

Titanium dioxide (TiO) has attracted increasing attention as a candidate for the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO) to convert anthropogenic CO gas into fuels combined with storage of intermittent and renewable solar energy in forms of chemical bonds for closing the carbon cycle. However, pristine TiO possesses a large band gap (3.2 eV), fast recombination of electrons and holes, and low selectivity for the photoreduction of CO.

Immobilization of Antimicrobial Silver and Antioxidant Flavonoid as a Coating for Wound Dressing Materials.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a new coating for wound dressings that is comprised of antimicrobial silver (Ag) and antioxidant flavonoid quercetin (Q).

Methods: Dip-coating was used to apply the coating on cotton gauge as a model dressing. Ag was immobilised using polydopamine as a priming and catalytic layer followed by coating of quercetin that was incorporated in a functionalized polydimethylsiloxane.

Silk Fibroin-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications: A Review.

Since it was first discovered, thousands of years ago, silkworm silk has been known to be an abundant biopolymer with a vast range of attractive properties. The utilization of silk fibroin (SF), the main protein of silkworm silk, has not been limited to the textile industry but has been further extended to various high-tech application areas, including biomaterials for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. The outstanding mechanical properties of SF, including its facile processability, superior biocompatibility, controllable biodegradation, and versatile functionalization have allowed its use for innovative applications.

Recent Progress in Carbon-Based Buffer Layers for Polymer Solar Cells.

Carbon-based materials are promising candidates as charge transport layers in various optoelectronic devices and have been applied to enhance the performance and stability of such devices. In this paper, we provide an overview of the most contemporary strategies that use carbon-based materials including graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon quantum dots, and graphitic carbon nitride as buffer layers in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The crucial parameters that regulate the performance of carbon-based buffer layers are highlighted and discussed in detail.

Poly(ornithine)-based self-assembling drug for recovery of hyperammonemia and damage in acute liver injury.

Oligo-peptides, including monomeric amino acids, have received much attention as bioactive molecules and drugs. One of the biggest problems of these compounds, however, is their very short bioavailability due to instant metabolism and rapid excretion. To solve this problem, we newly designed a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-block-polypeptide self-assembling based drug for the treatment of acute liver injury.

The effect of oxidation degree and volume ratio of components on properties and applications of in situ cross-linking hydrogels based on chitosan and hyaluronic acid.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of different oxidation degrees and volume ratios of components on the physical properties and biocompatibility of an in situ cross-linking chitosan-hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel for skin wound healing applications. Carboxymethyl groups (-CHCOOH) were introduced to the polymer chain of chitosan, producing N,O - Carboxymethyl Chitosan (NOCC). Hyaluronic acid was oxidized to obtain aldehyde hyaluronic acid (AHA) with three oxidation degrees (AHA40, AHA50 and AHA60).

Encapsulation of tissue plasminogen activator in pH-sensitive self-assembled antioxidant nanoparticles for ischemic stroke treatment - Synergistic effect of thrombolysis and antioxidant.

The medical treatment for stroke has advanced greatly in recent years. Thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is one of the mainstream treatments, but it still has many problems, including short half-life, and t-PA-induced reperfusion and oxidative injuries. To broaden the therapeutic window of t-PA and reduce its associated oxidative stress after reperfusion, t-PA-installed, nitroxide radical-containing, self-assembled polyion complex nanoparticles (t-PA@iRNP) were designed.

Gelatin-stabilized composites of silver nanoparticles and curcumin: characterization, antibacterial and antioxidant study.

This is a preliminary study of a material comprising gelatin (Gel), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and curcumin (Cur) aimed for wound-healing treatment. Gelatin was used to stabilize AgNPs and encapsulate curcumin to form a therapeutic composite (GelCurAg) for their strong bactericidal and antioxidant properties. GelCurAg formulations with different gelatin concentrations were characterized to attain information about their physiochemical properties and the loading efficiency of therapeutic agents.

Assembly of Gold Nanorods into Chiral Plasmonic Metamolecules Using DNA Origami Templates.

The inherent addressability of DNA origami structures makes them ideal templates for the arrangement of metal nanoparticles into complex plasmonic nanostructures. The high spatial precision of a DNA origami-templated assembly allows controlling the coupling between plasmonic resonances of individual particles and enables tailoring optical properties of the constructed nanostructures. Recently, chiral plasmonic systems attracted a lot of attention due to the strong correlation between the spatial configuration of plasmonic assemblies and their optical responses (e.

As release under the microbial sulfate reduction during redox oscillations in the upper Mekong delta aquifers, Vietnam: A mechanistic study.

The impact of seasonal fluctuations linked to monsoon and irrigation generates redox oscillations in the subsurface, influencing the release of arsenic (As) in aquifers. Here, the biogeochemical control on As mobility was investigated in batch experiments using redox cycling bioreactors and As- and SO-amended sediment. Redox potential (E) oscillations between anoxic (-300-0 mV) and oxic condition (0-500 mV) were implemented by automatically modulating an admixture of N/CO or compressed air.

Virulent bacteriophage of Edwardsiella ictaluri isolated from kidney and liver of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in Vietnam.

Striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus farmed in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, represents an important contribution to Vietnamese aquaculture exports. However, these fish are affected by frequent disease outbreaks across the entire region. One of the most common infections involves white spots in the internal organs, caused by the bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri.

A Series of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Selective CO Capture and Catalytic Oxidative Carboxylation of Olefins.

Three new lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs), namely MOF-590, -591, and -592 constructed from a tetratopic linker, benzoimidephenanthroline tetracarboxylic acid (HBIPA-TC), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions and fully characterized. All of the new MOFs exhibit three-dimensional frameworks, which adopt unprecedented topologies in MOF field. Gas adsorption measurements of MOF-591 and -592 revealed good adsorption of CO (low pressure, at room temperature) and moderate CO selectivity over N and CH.

Optimization and characterization of electrospun polycaprolactone coated with gelatin-silver nanoparticles for wound healing application.

Bacterial infection and damage caused by dressing removal are two concerning problems which prolong the healing process in treatment of skin injuries. In this study, plasma treated electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded in gelatin (Gel) by multi-immersion technique to optimize its antibacterial performance and reduce wound-scaffold adhesion. Water interaction test was used to examine the hydrophilization of PCL electrospun fibers after plasma treatment.

Novel angiogenesis therapeutics by redox injectable hydrogel - Regulation of local nitric oxide generation for effective cardiovascular therapy.

Nitric oxide (NO) possesses various functions in cardiovascular diseases; however, due to an extremely short half-life and low bioavailability, its therapeutic application is limited. In inflamed tissues, overproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) rapidly react with the endogenous NO, reducing its bioavailability. Here, we developed a controllable NO-releasing redox injectable hydrogel (NO-RIG) formed by the electrostatic crosslinking between the polyion complex flower-type micelles composing of functional polymers to scavenge overproduced ROS and regulate the local NO expression level simultaneously.

New Metal-Organic Frameworks for Chemical Fixation of CO.

A novel series of two zirconium- and one indium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, MOF-892, MOF-893, and MOF-894, constructed from the hexatopic linker, 1',2',3',4',5',6'-hexakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene, were synthesized and fully characterized. MOF-892 and MOF-893 are two new exemplars of materials with topologies previously unseen in the important family of zirconium MOFs. MOF-892, MOF-893, and MOF-894 exhibit efficient heterogeneous catalytic activity for the cycloaddition of CO, resulting in a cyclic organic carbonate formation with high conversion, selectivity, and yield under mild conditions (1 atm CO, 80 °C, and solvent-free).

Microbial Risk Assessment of Tidal-Induced Urban Flooding in Can Tho City (Mekong Delta, Vietnam).

Public health risks from urban flooding are a global concern. Contaminated floodwater may expose residents living in cities as they are in direct contact with the water. However, the recent literature does not provide much information about this issue, especially for developing countries.

Newly Designed Silica-Containing Redox Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery of Novel TOP2 Catalytic Inhibitor for Treating Colon Cancer.

Although oral drug delivery is the most common route of drug administration, the conventional polymeric nanocarriers exhibit a low drug loading capacity and low stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) environments. In this study, a newly designed silica-containing redox nanoparticle (siRNP) with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity is developed as an ideal oral nanocarrier for a novel hydrophobic anticancer compound BNS-22 to treat colitis-associated colon cancer in vivo. Crosslinking of silica moieties significantly enhances the stability under acidic conditions and improves BNS-22 loading capacity of siRNP compared to the conventional redox nanoparticle.

Chronic treatment with a smart antioxidative nanoparticle for inhibition of amyloid plaque propagation in Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

The present study aimed to assess whether our newly developed redox nanoparticle (RNP) that has antioxidant potential decreases Aβ levels or prevents Aβ aggregation associated with oxidative stress. The transgenic Tg2576 Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice were used to investigate the effect of chronic ad libitum drinking of RNP solution for 6 months, including memory and learning functions, antioxidant activity, and amyloid plaque aggregation. The results showed that RNP-treated mice had significantly attenuated cognitive deficits of both spatial and non-spatial memories, reduced oxidative stress of lipid peroxide, and DNA oxidation.

Investigate the Effect of Thawing Process on the Self-Assembly of Silk Protein for Tissue Applications.

Biological self-assembly is a process in which building blocks autonomously organize to form stable supermolecules of higher order and complexity through domination of weak, noncovalent interactions. For silk protein, the effect of high incubating temperature on the induction of secondary structure and self-assembly was well investigated. However, the effect of freezing and thawing on silk solution has not been studied.