Impacts of a saline water control project on aquaculture livelihoods in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

PurposeDrought and salinity intrusion aggravated by climate change threaten agricultural livelihoods in Viet Nan's Mekong Delta. In response, authorities have built water management infrastructure for irrigation and salinity protection. This study assessed the impact of one such project, the Ba Lai dam in Ben Tre province, on the livelihoods of aquaculture farmers.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to assess the impact of the Ba Lai dam on the livelihood capitals of 18 farming households in four communes, located both upstream and downstream of the dam.FindingsThe authors find that, apart from some positive effects, the dam has also brought negative environmental consequences, such as increased water pollution. The authors also find that farmers have responded to the changes by adapting their livelihood practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe samples were relatively small, encompassing four communes in Ben Tre province. On the other hand, this case study is instructive to the many ongoing infrastructure projects in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.Social implicationsThe project have caused an increase in water-related social conflict.Originality/valueThe case of the Ba Lai dam provides a cautionary example for infrastructure-based water management plans, both in Viet Nam and more broadly. The study suggests the need to strengthen community participation and prioritize impacts of farmers' capital assets when constructing water management infrastructure for climate change adaptation.

FREQUENCE OF JUXTAGLOMERULAR GRANULATED CELIS IN DEHYDRATED AND SODIUM-LOADED MICE

Fifteen albino mice were subjected to three days dehydration and fifteen albino mice were given 1% NaCl in their drinking water. Control animals were given drinking water All animals were sacrificed and kidneys were fixed in different fixatives and processed for light microscopy Section were stained for juxtaglomerular cells demonstration and the juxtaglomerular index (GI) and percentage of granulated nephron(%GN) were calculated. Kidneys from dehydrated and sodium-loaded animals showed significant decrease in both JGI and % GN and was discussed in relation to renin secretion and release.

Dormancy breaking of ‘Kampai’ peach trees with alternative products in subtropical regions

Peach trees initiate flowering and then dense budding when the temperatures in winter are steadily low. When temperatures during the winter are high or when the chilling accumulation needs of the cultivar are not met, it is necessary to apply chemicals that stimulate flowering and budding in a uniform manner. This study aimed to evaluate alternative products for breaking the dormancy of ‘Kampai’ peach trees in a subtropical region. The experiment was conducted with ‘Kampai’ peach trees in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 production with the following treatments: (1) negative control composed only of water (control); (2) positive control composed of hydrogen cyanamide at a dose of 1.5% (commercial product Dormex®) plus 4.5% mineral oil; (3) Erger G® organomineral fertilizer supplemented with calcium nitrate at a dose of 3%; (4) potassium nitrate at a dose of 5%; and (5) copper sulphate at a dose of 0.3%. We evaluated affected budding capacity, flowering, the production cycle, peach production, the quality of peach trees and the enzymatic activities of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase. Hydrogen cyanamide and the organomineral fertilizer Erger G® promoted earlier flowering and an earlier production cycle. On the other hand, hydrogen cyanamide and copper sulphate stimulated flower opening and peach production. The chemicals used decreased catalase activity (24 h after application) and increased guaiacol peroxidase activity (6 h after application). The application of copper sulphate may be an option to break the dormancy of peach trees in the subtropics.

Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Mixture Regulate PPARγ/RXR Signaling in Reflux Esophagitis

Objective. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which stomach contents reflux into the esophagus, causing complications such as mucosal damage. GERD is a very common disease and is on the rise worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium mixture (SC) on esophageal mucosal injury in rats with chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE). Methods. After inducing reflux esophagitis through surgery, the group was separated and the drug was administered for 2 weeks: normal rats (Normal, n = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with distilled water (Control, n = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with vitamin E 30 mg/kg body weight (VitE, n = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with SC 100 mg/kg body weight (SC100, n = 8), and CARE-induced rats were treated with SC 200 mg/kg body weight (SC200, n = 8). Results. SC treatment significantly reduced the degree of esophageal mucosal damage, significantly reduced levels of MDA and MPO, and inhibited the activation of the NF-κB inflammatory pathway by activating the PPARγ/RXR pathway. In addition, SC treatment significantly regulated the expression of arachidonic acid-related proteins (COX-1, COX-2, and PGE2) and modulated the MMP/TIMP proteins in reflux esophagitis. Conclusion. Consequently, SC improved the damage to the esophageal mucosa. Also, the anti-inflammatory effects of the SC suggested the inhibition of NF-κB pathway through the activation of the PPARγ/RXR pathway, thereby reducing the expression of inflammation-related cytokines.

Analgesic activity of Phong Thap Dan tablets in animal models

Phong thap dan tablets are intended to treat low back pain. This study was carried out to evaluate theanalgesic effects of Phong thap dan tablets in experimental animals. The analgesic effects were evaluated inthree animal models: hot plate, mechanical stimulation and acetic acid-induced writhing test. Mice were dividedinto 4 groups given oral water, control drug (codein phosphate in hot plate and mechanical stimulation tests oraspirin in writhing test), Phong thap dan at 2.88 tablets (1.44 g) or 8.64 tablets (4.32 g)/kg b.w/day, respectively.Our results showed that Phong thap dan tablets at both doses increased the reaction time to thermal stimulation,increased the paw withdrawal latency and the force required to elicit a paw withdrawal and decreased thenumber of acetic acid-induced writhing movements in mice. There was no statistically significant differencebetween 2 doses of Phong thap dan tablets in three animal models. We conclude that Phong thap dan tabletsat the doses of 2.88 tablets and 8.64 tablets/kg b.w/day showed significant analgesic effect in animal models.

Effect of fermented fish tonic on the growth and yield of Glycine max. (L)

Fermented fish tonic (FFT) help to provide complex arrays of macro and micro nutrients and minerals. The present study was conducted to find out the effect of Fermented fish tonic on the growth and yield of Glycine max. (L) .The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Five treatments were defined with five replications viz. T1: Distilled water (Control), T2: 10, T3: 20, T4: 50 and T5: 100%. FFT. All the other management practices were followed uniformly. Growth and yield parameters were measured and analysed statistically using ANOVA test and means were compared with DMRT. Results proved that, application of 20% FFT significantly increased the plant height (9.6%), chlorophyll content (23.02%), number of leaves (43.66%), leaf area (65%), number of nodules (74.35%), and the total yield (75.28%) compared to the control plants. Therefore, this experiment concluds that application of 20% FFT increases the growth and yield on Glycine max. (L)

First Evidence of Feeding-Induced RNAi in Banana Weevil via Exogenous Application of dsRNA

Banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) is the most devastating pest of banana and plantain worldwide, yet current control measures are neither effective, sustainable, nor environmentally sound, and no resistant farmer-preferred cultivars are known to date. In this paper, we examined the ability to induce RNA interference (RNAi) in the banana weevil via feeding. We first developed an agar- and banana corm (rhizome) flour-based artificial diet in a multi-well plate setup that allowed the banana weevils to complete their life cycle from egg through the larval instars to the pupal stage in an average period of 53 days. Adults emerged about 20 days later. The artificial diet allowed the tunneling and burrowing habits of the larvae and successful metamorphosis up to adult eclosion. Adding dsRNA for laccase2 to the artificial diet resulted in albino phenotypes, confirming gene-silencing. Finally, C. sordidus was fed with dsRNA against a selection of essential target genes: snf7, rps13, mad1, vha-a, vha-d, and lgl for a period of 45 days. 100% mortality within 9–16 days was realized with dssnf7, dsrps13, and dsmad1 at 200 ng/mL artificial diet, and this corresponded to a strong reduction in gene expression. Feeding the dsRNA targeting the two vha genes resulted in 100% mortality after about 3–4 weeks, while treatment with dslgl resulted in no mortality above the dsgfp-control and the water-control. Our results have implications for the development of RNAi approaches for managing important crop pests, in that banana weevils can be controlled based on the silencing of essential target genes as snf7, rps13, and mad1. They also highlight the need for research into the development of RNAi for banana protection, eventually the engineering of host-induced gene-silencing (HIGS) cultivars, given the high RNAi efficacy and its species-specific mode of action, adding the RNAi approach to the armory of integrated pest management (IPM).

Pheno-Morphological and Essential Oil Composition Responses to UVA Radiation and Protectants: A Case Study in Three Thymus Species

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation mainly includes UVA (320–400 nm). UVA intensity varies depending on the season and geographic location, while it is projected to rise owing to climate change. Since it elicits secondary metabolism, additional knowledge on the UVA dependence of phytochemical production is required for both farmers and processors, particularly under natural settings. In this field study, the pheno-morphological traits and essential oil composition responses to UVA intensity were addressed in three Thymus species [T. daenensis (endemic to Iran), T. fedtschenkoi (semi-endemic), T. vulgaris (common thyme)]. During growth, three UVA levels (ambient, enriched, excluded) were realized in combination with spraying protectants [water (control), melatonin, glutathione, iron-zinc nanofertilizer]. In T. daenensis, enriched UVA caused early flowering. The height of T. daenensis was the longest under enriched UVA, and the shortest under excluded UVA. In control plants, enriched and excluded UVA stimulated the accumulation of oxygenated metabolites in T. daenensis and T. fedtschenkoi. Altogether, under enriched UVA some phenolic compounds (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, γ-terpinene) increased in the essential oil of all three species, but others decreased. In all taxa, glutathione caused a significant essential oil content reduction. Iron-zinc nanofertilizer increased essential oil accumulation in T. daenensis and T. vulgaris. Treatments also induced an alteration of the essential oil composition. In conclusion, cultivation regime effects on the essential oil quality (composition) and quantity were strongly species dependent. T. deanensis underwent the most consistent enhancement under UVA, making the species more adaptable to climate change, whereas T. fedtschenkoi the least.