Ionic liquid-immobilized silica gel as a new sorbent for solid-phase extraction of heavy metal ions in water samples.

In the current study, we have developed a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method with novel C18-alkylimidazolium ionic liquid immobilized silica (SiO-(CH)-Im-C) for the preconcentration of trace heavy metals from aqueous samples as a prior step to their determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The material was characterized by Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. A mini-column packed with SiO-(CH)-Im-C sorbent was used for the extraction of the metal ions complexed with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) from the water sample.

Comparison of cytotoxic potency between freshly cultured and freshly thawed cytokine-induced killer cells from human umbilical cord blood.

Immune cell therapy has been incorporated into cancer therapy over the past few years. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (Car-T cells) transplantation is a novel and promising therapy for cancer treatment and introduces a new age of immune cell therapy. However, the expensive nature of genetic modification procedures limits the accessibility of Car-T cells for cancer treatment.

Choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents as effective electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells remain a challenge for large-scale production and commercialization, hindering the wide application of solar cells. We have developed two new electrolyte-based deep eutectic solvents using a mixture of choline chloride with urea and with ethylene glycol for dye-sensitized solar cells. The prominent features of the two deep eutectic solvent electrolytes are simple preparation for large-scale production with inexpensive, available, and nontoxic starting materials and biodegradability.

Stromal Vascular Fraction and Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Adipose Tissue: A Comparison of Immune Modulation and Angiogenic Potential.

Introduction: In recent years, both stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from adipose tissue and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from adipose tissues were extensively used in both preclinical and clinical treatment for various diseases. Some studies reported differences in treatment efficacy between SVFs and MSCs in animals as well as in humans. Therefore, this study is aimed to evaluate the immune modulation and angiogenic potential of SVFs and MSCs from the same SVF samples to support an explanation when SVFs or MSCs should be used.

Treatment of Osteochondral Femoral Head Defect by Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheet Transplantation: An Experimental Study in Rats.

Introduction: Articular cartilage is limited in self-repair following injuries due to avascular, lymphatic, and nerve absence. Recent treatments for cartilage injuries, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, chondrocyte implantation, and joint replacement, still have limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell sheet (UCMSCS) transplantation in rat models of the osteochondral femoral head defect.

Culture and Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Growth Factor-Rich Fibrin Scaffolds to Produce Engineered Cartilages.

Introduction: After injuries, the cartilage healing capacity is limited owing to its nature as a particular connective tissue without blood vessels, lymphatics, or nerves. The creation of artificial cartilage tissue mimics the biological properties of native cartilage and can reduce the need for donated tissue. Fibrin is a type of biodegradable scaffold that has great potential in tissue engineering applications.

Hydrogen adsorption mechanism of MOF-74 metal-organic frameworks: an insight from first principles calculations.

The microscopic mechanism of the H adsorption of two Mg-MOF-74 isoreticular frameworks, one with a benzenedicarboxylate (BDC) linker and the other with a dihydroxyfumarate (DHF) linker, were studied on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) method. Possible adsorption sites on the internal surface of the two MOFs were detected using molecular dynamics (AIMD) annealing simulations. The simulations were able to reproduce all adsorption sites which have been experimentally observed for the BDC-based M-MOF-74 frameworks with M = Ni and Zn.

Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from monosaccharides catalyzed by superacid VNU-11-SO in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid.

Superacid VNU-11-SO, a modified metal-organic framework by post-synthetic treatment with a sulfuric acid solution, has been considered as a promising heterogeneous catalyst in the isomerization of glucose to fructose and further dehydration to form 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) due to its possession of both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. In this work, we focused on using VNU-11-SO for the optimization of the conversion of fructose and glucose into HMF using an ionic liquid as a green solvent. The highest yields of HMF from glucose and fructose could be obtained in 28% (140 °C, 8 h) and 86% (110 °C, 3 h), respectively, with the use of VNU-11-SO catalyst in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid.

The highly sensitive determination of serotonin by using gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption wavelength in the visible region.

The development of improved methods for the synthesis of monodisperse gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) is of high priority because they can be used as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) applications relating to biological lipids. Herein, Au NPs have been successfully synthesized a seed-mediated growth method. The LSPR peak is controlled adjusting the gold nanoseed component, and different fabrication methods were studied to establish the effect of sonication time on NP size.

Transcriptional Factors of Thermogenic Adipocyte Development and Generation of Brown and Beige Adipocytes From Stem Cells.

Brown and beige adipocytes have been widely known for their potential to dissipate excessive energy into heat form, resulting in an alleviation of obesity and other overweight-related conditions. This review highlights the origins, characteristics, and functions of the various kinds of adipocytes, as well as their anatomic distribution inside the human body. This review mainly focuses on various essential transcriptional factors such as PRDM16, FGF21, PPARα, PPARγ and PGC-1α, which exert their effects on the development and activation of thermogenic adipocytes via important pathways such as JAK-STAT, cAMP-PKA and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways.

Synthesis of polyhydroquinolines and propargylamines through one-pot multicomponent reactions using an acidic ionic liquid immobilized onto magnetic FeO as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst under solvent-free sonication.

A nano-sized FeO-supported Lewis acid ionic liquid catalyst for the synthesis of polyhydroquinolines and propargylamines under ultrasound irradiation has been developed. LAIL@MNP was synthesized from imidazolium chlorozincate(ii) ionic liquid grafted onto the surface of FeO nanoparticles and evaluated by FT-IR, TGA, SEM, Raman, TEM, ICP-OES, and EDS. The multicomponent synthesis of polyhydroquinolines and propargylamines proceeded smoothly to afford the desired products in high yields.

Hopea odorata Extract Can Efficiently Kill Breast Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture More Than in Monolayer Cell Culture.

Introduction: The breast cancer cells with CD44CD24 phenotype are known to play an important role in tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and cancer recurrence. Breast cancer cells with CD44CD24 phenotype are cultured in three-dimensional (3D) stereotype showing the recapitulation of tumors in vivo such as cell differentiation, heterogeneity, and microenvironment. Using this 3D model in anti-cancer compound research results in a more accurate reflection than conventional monolayer cell culture.

PS01 Isolated from Maize Rhizosphere Alters Root System Architecture and Promotes Plant Growth.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the plant growth promoting effects on by sp. strains associated with rhizosphere of crop plants grown in Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Out of all the screened isolates, PS01 isolated from maize rhizosphere showed the most prominent plant growth promoting effects on and maize ( ).

One-pot multicomponent synthesis of thieno[2,3-]indoles catalyzed by a magnetic nanoparticle-supported [Urea][ZnCl] deep eutectic solvent.

In this study, we have developed the synthesis of thieno[2,3-]indole dyes a multicomponent reaction of cheap and available reagents such as sulfur, acetophenones, and indoles using a magnetic nanoparticle-supported [Urea][ZnCl] deep eutectic solvent as a green catalyst. The synthesis of a series of diversely functionalized thieno[2,3-]indole has been successfully performed in a one-pot reaction. Among a total of 25 compounds synthesized, there are 21 new compounds with full characterization such as FT-IR, H and C NMR, HRMS (ESI).

A new species of Eustigma (Hamamelidaceae) from Hon Ba Nature Reserve, Vietnam.

A new species of Hamamelidaceae, Eustigma honbaense H.Toyama, Tagane & V.S.

Aporosa tetragona Tagane & V. S. Dang (Phyllanthaceae), a new species from Mt. Hon Ba, Vietnam.

A new species, Aporosa tetragona Tagane & V. S. Dang, sp.

Dietary Assessment on a Mobile Phone Using Image Processing and Pattern Recognition Techniques: Algorithm Design and System Prototyping.

Dietary assessment, while traditionally based on pen-and-paper, is rapidly moving towards automatic approaches. This study describes an Australian automatic food record method and its prototype for dietary assessment via the use of a mobile phone and techniques of image processing and pattern recognition. Common visual features including scale invariant feature transformation (SIFT), local binary patterns (LBP), and colour are used for describing food images.

Goniothalamusflagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang (Annonaceae), a new species from Mt. Hon Ba, Vietnam.

A new species, Goniothalamusflagellistylus Tagane & V. S. Dang, sp.

Undiagnosed cryptic diversity in small, microendemic frogs (Leptolalax) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

A major obstacle in prioritizing species or habitats for conservation is the degree of unrecognized diversity hidden within complexes of morphologically similar, "cryptic" species. Given that amphibians are one of the most threatened groups of organisms on the planet, our inability to diagnose their true diversity is likely to have significant conservation consequences. This is particularly true in areas undergoing rapid deforestation, such as Southeast Asia.

The breeding behaviour, advertisement call and tadpole of Limnonectes dabanus (Anura: Dicroglossidae).

Fanged frogs (Limnonectes) are a group of dicroglossid frogs from Asia that often have reversed sexual dimorphism with larger males. Limnonectes dabanus is a poorly known species of fanged frog from forested habitats in southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia. Adult males exhibit an extreme degree of megacephaly and possess bizarre head ornamentation.

A striking new species of phytotelm-breeding tree frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from central Vietnam.

We describe a distinctive new species of phytotelm-breeding rhacophorid frog from central Vietnam. Gracixalus lumarius sp. nov.

Iron deficiency affects plant defence responses and confers resistance to Dickeya dadantii and Botrytis cinerea.

Iron is an essential element for most living organisms, and pathogens are likely to compete with their hosts for the acquisition of this element. The bacterial plant pathogen Dickeya dadantii has been shown to require its siderophore-mediated iron uptake system for systemic disease progression on several host plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we investigated the effect of the iron status of Arabidopsis on the severity of disease caused by D.