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This paper reports on the application of a near-infrared (NIR) imaging system for visualizing heat transfer dynamics from a bulk gadolinium (Gd) sample to the surrounding water during the magnetization/demagnetization process of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE). The suggested approach relied on the spectral variation in water absorption band at 1150 nm wavelength within the NIR spectrum. An experimental setup integrated a telecentric uniform-illumination system, a halogen lamp, and an NIR camera to enable real-time monitoring of a single magnetization and demagnetization cycle induced by an external magnetic field, which was generated by a permanent-magnet-based magnetic circuit. Two-dimensional absorbance images captured during this cycle clearly depicted the thermal energy generated by the MCE in water. Furthermore, an analysis of the thermal boundary layer and the quantification of heat transfer from Gd to water provided insights into the dynamics over time. These results indicated the potential of our NIR imaging techniques in optimizing thermal–fluid interactions within MCE systems, thereby improving the design and efficiency of magnetic refrigeration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kidney replacement therapy (KRT) needs preparation and its timing is difficult to predict. Nephrologists' predictions of kidney failure risk tend to be more pessimistic than the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) predictions. We aimed to explore how physicians' risk estimate related to referral to KRT education, vs. the objective calculated KFRE. Methods: Prospective observational study of data collected in chronic kidney disease (CKD) clinics of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center San Diego and the University of California, San Diego. The study included 257 participants who were aged 18 years or older, English speaking, prevalent CKD clinic patients, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (MDRD equation). The exposure consisted of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) risk predictions. Nephrologists' kidney failure risk estimations were assessed: "On a scale of 0–100%, without using any estimating equations, give your best estimate of the risk that this patient will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in 2 years." KFRE was calculated using age, sex, eGFR, serum bicarbonate, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, urine albumin/creatinine ratio. The outcomes were the pattern of referral to KRT education (within 90 days of initial visit) and kidney failure evaluated by chart review. The population was divided into groups either by nephrologists' predictions or by KFRE. Referral to KRT education was examined by group and sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on whether participants reached kidney failure at 2 years. Results: A fifth were referred for education by 90 days of enrollment. Low risk patients by both estimates had low referral rates. In those with nephrologists' predictions ≥ 15% (n = 137), sensitivity was 71% and specificity 76%. In those with KFRE ≥ 15% (n = 55), sensitivity was 85% and specificity 41%. Conclusions: Although nephrologists tend to overestimate patients' kidney failure risk, they do not appear to act on this overestimation, as the rates of KRT education referrals are lower than expected when a nephrologist identifies a patient as high risk. Clinical Trial Number: Not applicable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive study leverages high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) to systematically explore the electronic, magnetic, and transport properties of 2904 full Heusler compounds, focusing on anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC). The investigation unveils a pronounced influence of the crystallographic phase and valence electron count on material stability and AHC. We report that Heusler compounds, particularly within the L21 phase and with 20 to 30 valence electrons, exhibit superior stability and AHC. Notably, Rh2MnGa and Co2MnAl emerge as exemplary, with AHCs of 1847 S cm−1 and 1646 S cm−1, respectively, vastly outperforming traditional ferromagnets like Fe, Co, and Ni. The detailed electronic structure analysis of Co2MnAl reveals a half-metallic character, crucial for high spin polarization and AHC, underscored by prominent Co–Co and Co–Mn hybridization. Furthermore, the study sheds light on the significant role of spin–orbit coupling in enhancing AHC through the modulation of band splitting and Berry curvature. The findings not only expand the understanding of Heusler compounds but also offer guidance in designing materials with tailored AHC for next-generation spintronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dopamine's role as the principal neurotransmitter in motor functions has long been accepted. We broaden this conventional perspective by demonstrating the involvement of non-dopaminergic mechanisms. In mouse models of Parkinson's disease, we observed that L- DOPA elicited a substantial motor response even when its conversion to dopamine was blocked by inhibiting the enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). Remarkably, the motor activity response to L- DOPA in the presence of an AADC inhibitor (NSD1015) showed a delayed onset, yet greater intensity and longer duration, peaking at 7 h, compared to when L- DOPA was administered alone. This suggests an alternative pathway or mechanism, independent of dopamine signalling, mediating the motor functions. We sought to determine the metabolites associated with the pronounced hyperactivity observed, using comprehensive metabolomics analysis. Our results revealed that the peak in motor activity induced by NSD1015/ L- DOPA in Parkinson's disease mice is associated with a surge (20-fold) in brain levels of the tripeptide ophthalmic acid (also known as ophthalmate in its anionic form). Interestingly, we found that administering ophthalmate directly to the brain rescued motor deficits in Parkinson's disease mice in a dose-dependent manner. We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying ophthalmate's action and discovered, through radioligand binding and cAMP-luminescence assays, that ophthalmate binds to and activates the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). Additionally, our findings demonstrated that a CaSR antagonist inhibits the motor-enhancing effects of ophthalmate, further solidifying the evidence that ophthalmate modulates motor functions through the activation of the CaSR. The discovery of ophthalmate as a novel regulator of motor function presents significant potential to transform our understanding of brain mechanisms of movement control and the therapeutic management of related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Industry 4.0 context, it is very important for companies to apply a comprehensive and sustainable business model to grow steadily and quickly adapt to the fast-changing environment. Although the existing literature has explored Quality 4.0 by integrating Industry 4.0 tools into the TQM system, the question of how Quality 4.0 practices drive sustainable excellence (SE) remains unexplored. Therefore, to fill the gap, this research aims to investigate the relationship between Quality 4.0 practices and SE as well as the role of digital transformation (DT) and digital leadership in this connection, anchoring on the stakeholder theory, the natural resource-based view (NRBR) theory, and the socio-technical system (STS) theory. The research employs the quantitative Structural Equation Model method to analyse empirical data in the manufacturing industry in Vietnam. The findings demonstrate that Quality 4.0 practices positively influence both digital transformation and SE. This study confirmed the mediating role of digital transformation and the moderating role of digital leadership in the relationship between Quality 4.0 practices and SE. The findings of this study contributed to applications of Quality 4.0 practices and digital transformation to improve SE in the manufacturing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The unpolished red rice (URR) previously has been heat‐moisture treated to significantly improve resistant starch content. Continuously, this study aimed to investigate cooking quality, textural characteristics, and sensory evaluation of the URR, and heat‐moisture‐treated URR (HMT‐URR), cooked with water or 0.5 m acetic acid solution (AAS) at 80 or 100 °C for different cooking time ranging from 30 to 70 min. The degree of gelatinisation (DG), water absorption index (WAI) and cooking loss (CL) of the cooked URR and HMT‐URR significantly increased with the increased cooking temperature or time. The results of DG also showed that whole URR and HMT‐URR were well cooked with water at 80 °C for 70 min or with the AAS at 80 °C for 60 min or at 100 °C for 40 min for both. Although the cooked HMT‐URR was much harder than the cooked URR, the hardness of the HMT‐URR was significantly reduced when cooking with the AAS. The morphological structure also indicated that the URR and HMT‐URR cooked with the AAS were more well gelatinised. As a result, the HMT‐URR cooked with 0.5 m acetic acid solution had high scores in terms of all organoleptic attributes even though their odour and flavour were less preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) through the reduction of copper hydroxide using ascorbic acid and then Cu2O NPs modified with triacetoxy(vinyl)silane (TVAS) (m-Cu2O) by solution method were achieved. FTIR analysis of the unmodified Cu2O NPs and m-Cu2O NPs revealed the presence of absorption characteristics corresponding to Cu–O–Si linkages in the FTIR spectra of m-Cu2O NPs, which is strong evidence that the Cu2O NPs have been successfully modified. The characteristics and properties of m-Cu2O NPs were determined and compared to those of the u-Cu2O NPs. The results indicated that the modification process had an insignificant effect on the crystal structure and morphology of Cu2O NPs. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the crystal grain size of m-Cu2O NPs slightly increased, measuring 41.04 nm compared to 38.36 nm for the u-Cu2O NPs, this change was minor. However, the m-Cu2O NPs demonstrated enhanced dispersion into acrylic emulsion polymer, resulting in improved abrasion resistance and thermal stability of the acrylic coating. In comparison with an acrylic coating filled with the u-Cu2O NPs, the coating filled with m-Cu2O NPs exhibited a 70% increase in abrasion resistance and better thermal stability. Importantly, the antibacterial performance against E. coli and S. aureus of acrylic coating filled with m-Cu2O NPs was similar to that of the u-Cu2O NPs nanocomposite coating. These findings underscore the versatility and benefits of chemical modification in enhancing specific properties of the acrylic coating without compromising antibacterial efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacity deionization (CDI), which combines capacitive carbon electrodes and redox-active electrodes, has emerged as a promising method for water desalination. It enables higher ion removal capacity than CDI-containing carbonaceous electrodes. Our work aimed to synthesize layered structure δ-MnO2/CNTs composites via the sol-gel method, examining their suitability for hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). The XRD results showed a layered structure birnessite for all composites with a distance interlayer over 7.0 Å, while the SEM images confirmed the intercopration of MnO2 particles and CNT fibers. The electrochemical evaluations evidenced the role of CNTs in enhancing the charge transfer and ionic diffusion in composites. Composite δ-MnO2/CNTs presented a specific capacitance of 160 F g−1 at a charge-discharge rate of 1 A g-1 upon 1600 cycles. In salt removal performance, the asymmetric cell AC||δ-MnO2/CNTs-1 showed the highest salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 30.2 mg g−1 and fast average salt adsorption rate (ASAR) of 3 mg g−1 s−1 under a constant applied potential 1.4 V in 200 ppm NaCl, rendering it a promising candidate for efficient and sustainable desalination technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being of workers on construction sites by mitigating the risk of accidents and incidents. Nevertheless, incidents stemming from a lack of awareness regarding PPE usage persist. To enhance the oversight of construction laborers for accident prevention, most current approaches involve overseeing the availability and correct utilization of PPE using intricate data processing techniques. However, these methods encounter challenges related to their applicability and capacity for universal implementation. This study presents the hybridization of seahorse optimization (SHO) algorithm with the YOLOv5 model to ultimate detection accuracy. First, an improved YOLO network is constructed through scale and loss function enhancement. Second, the SHO is utilized to tune the parameters of the improved YOLOv5. A data set with 4535 construction work images was collected for training, validation and testing the hybrid SHO-YOLOv5 model. Experimental results supported by statistical tests show that the SHO-YOLOv5 is a capable method for detecting automatically the PPE with a precision value of 0.74, recall value of 0.65 and F1 score of 0.68. The SHO-YOLOv5 surpasses the benchmarked models like YOLOv8, YOLOv5, Faster-R-CNN MobilenetV3, and Faster-R-CNN Resnet50. Therefore, the proposed hybrid approach is a promising tool to support the project managers in the task of safety inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost, spent coffee grounds are discarded to landfill, causing bad impacts on natural environment and generating a great waste because of removing beneficial bioactive compounds. This study investigated effects of dyeing techniques (exhaustion and pad-dry), types of mordants, sequences of adding mordants, temperature, exhausting time and concentration on dyeability of coffee extracts for cotton fabric in terms of color strength (K/S) and color difference (ΔE), thereby proposing a suitable treatment procedure. The experimental results showed that K/S and ΔE values were highest when mordanting with FeSO4.7H2O and CuSO4.5H2O. Simultaneously, highly antioxidant and antibacterial properties of treated cotton were quantitatively evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, microbiologicalmethod and mechanical experiments. The content of polyphenols and tannins as well as the bacteriostatic activity of gram-positive and gram-negative species on treated cotton fabrics with coffee extracts were promising in future applications. Particularly, the total amounts of polyphenols and tannins, which could demonstrate antioxidant activity, were examined as 3.01 g/L (GAE) and 0.57 g/L (TAE), respectively. Especially, high reduction of E. coli bacteria and S. aureus bacteria on dyed specimens accounted for 78% and 80% as mordanting with CuSO4.5H2O, and it could be sustained to 75% and 48% after a washing cycle, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An EPS system is used to improve the stability and safety of the car when steering while also simplifying the steering process. This article introduces a novel control solution for the EPS system called BSSMCPID. This algorithm combines two nonlinear techniques, BS and SMC, with the input signal corrected by a PID technique. This algorithm provides three new contributions compared to existing algorithms: reducing system errors and eliminating phase differences, ensuring stability even when exposed to external disturbances, and reducing power consumption. The system's stability is evaluated according to the Lyapunov criterion, while the algorithm's performance is evaluated based on numerical simulation results. According to the article findings, the RMS error of the steering column angle and steering motor angle values (controlled objects) is approximately zero, and the RMS error of the steering column speed and steering motor speed is about 0.01 rad/s, which is much lower than the results obtained with traditional BS and PID controllers. When the EPS system is controlled by the integrated nonlinear method proposed in this work, the output values always closely follow the reference values with negligible errors under all investigated conditions. Additionally, power steering performance increases as speed decreases or driver torque increases, which follows the ideal assisted power steering curve. In general, the responsiveness and stability of the system are always ensured when applying this algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new pregnane steroid, jasminanthoside (1), together with three known compounds, telosmoside A7 (2), syringaresinol (3), and methyl 6–deoxy–3–O–methyl–β–D–allopyranosyl–(1→4)–β–D–oleandropyranoside (4) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Jasminanthes tuyetanhiae roots collected in Vietnam. Their chemical structures were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic data analysis along with the comparison of their data with the published ones in the literature. Although 4 was a known compound, its full NMR data were reported for the first time. All isolated compounds, evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibition, showed activities stronger than the positive control acarbose. Among them, 1 was the best with the IC50 value of 7.41 ± 0.59 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha mangostin, a natural xanthone derivative from mangosteen fruit pericarp, exhibits antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on different cancer cells by inhibiting cell cycle progression, inducing apoptosis, and modulating signaling pathways. However, this candidate is limited in medical treatment due to the poor water solubility. Nanoparticles have emerged as promising drug delivery systems to improve drug delivery efficiency but one of the problem of nanoparticles is the capability of endosomal escape. Therefore, pH-sensitive polymer nanosystems were utilized for targeted drug delivery, and enhanced efficacy by offering controlled release and endosomal escape capabilities. This study aimed to synthesize PEG- P(Asp-Hyd-Man) copolymer and create micelle for alpha mangostin delivery. The micelles were measured with particle size average of 80.2 ± 15 nm, and the PDI of 0.17. Additionally, the release behavior of alpha mangostin was examined in vitro that show pH-sensitive polymeric micelles rapidly release at pH 5.0 compared with the arterial pH 7.4. The findings of this study are significant in the development of an effective drug delivery system using alpha mangostin and other therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: African swine fever is a deadly disease affecting pigs worldwide, causing major economic losses. The virus strain causing the current outbreak in Europe and Asia, known as genotype II, was first identified in Georgia in 2007. This study aimed to analyze the genetic makeup of a strain found in Thailand to better understand its characteristics and how it compares to other strains in Asia. The viral DNA from an infected pig was analyzed and was found to be almost identical to strains from Georgia and China. The Thai strain had eight unique genetic changes, including small mutations in specific genes and deletions in others. This detailed genetic analysis helps track the spread and evolution of the virus, providing important information for developing strategies to control future outbreaks. By understanding these genetic differences, improved measures to protect pig populations can be implemented, thereby reducing the economic impact on the agricultural industry. African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been responsible for the globally devastating epidemics in wild and domesticated pigs. Of the 24 identified ASFV genotypes, genotype II is the primary cause for the pandemic occurring in Europe and Asia since its emergence in Georgia in 2007. The current study aimed to characterize the full-length genomic pattern of the ASFV strain from Thailand, TH1_22/CR (Accession No. PP915735), which was then compared with genomic diversity across other Asian isolates using Georgia 2007/1 (Accession No. FR682468) as the reference. Viral DNA was isolated from the pig spleen sample following library preparation and paired-end sequencing using the MiSeq Illumina platform. The sequenced TH1_22/CR isolate spanned 189,395 nucleotides encoding 193 open reading frames (ORFs), exhibiting maximum nucleotide similarity (99.99%) with Georgian (Georgia 2007/1) and Chinese (Wuhan 2019-1 and China HLJ) isolates. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the TH1_22/CR isolate (Accession No. PP915735) was characterized as genotype II, serogroup 8, and IGR-II due to the presence of three tandem repeat sequences (TRSs). Genetic variations including SNPs and single and polynucleotide indels were identified in TH1_22/CR in agreement with other Asian isolates. For comprehensive analysis, the genome was divided into four regions (I–IV) based on gene location. Overall, the TH1_22/CR isolate demonstrated eight SNPs and indels in its genome. Two unique SNPs were reported in the coding regions of the TH1_22/CR isolate, out of which, a C-591-T substitution was seen in MGF 360-4L and a C-297-T was found in A238L, and four unique SNPs were reported in non-coding regions (NCRs). Furthermore, a 29 bp deletion was observed in the IGR between MGF 110-13La and MGF 110-13Lb, as well as 52 bp deletion in the ASFV G ACD 00350 gene. This comparative analysis establishes the foundational information for future studies on the diversity and phylogeography of this regionally significant genetic sub-group of ASFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Pediatric urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose significant challenges due to drug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. This study utilizes whole-genome sequencing to analyze temporal trends in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in clinical E. coli isolates from pediatric UTI cases in central Vietnam. (2) Methods: We conducted whole-genome sequencing on 71 E. coli isolates collected from pediatric UTI patients between 2018 and 2020. ARGs were identified, and their prevalence over time was analyzed. Statistical tests were used to correlate ARG presence with antibiotic resistance. (3) Results: Of the 47 E. coli isolates with complete data, 40 distinct ARGs were identified, with a median of 10 resistance genes per isolate. A significant increase in the total number of ARGs per isolate was observed over time, from an average of 8.88 before June 2019 to 11.63 after. Notably, the prevalence of the aadA2 gene (aminoglycoside resistance) rose from 0% to 26.7%, and that of the blaNDM-5 gene (beta-lactam and carbapenem resistance) increased from 0% to 23.3%. Key correlations include blaEC with cephalosporin resistance, blaNDM-5 with carbapenem resistance, and sul2 with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim resistance. (4) Conclusions: Whole-genome sequencing reveals complex and evolving antibiotic resistance patterns in pediatric E. coli UTIs in central Vietnam, with a marked increase in ARG prevalence over time. Continuous surveillance and targeted treatments are essential to address these trends. Understanding genetic foundations is crucial for effective intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have attracted great scientific attention because of their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation potentials, and toxicity. This study validated a simple and efficient sample preparation method for determining extractable PFASs, including 12 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and 4 perfluoroalkyl sulfonates. The samples underwent ultrasonic extraction, and the extracts were cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction technique with graphitized carbon if necessary. PFAS quantification was performed by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. The instrument provided analytical signals for all target compounds with good repeatability (RSD < 15%), reproducibility (RSD < 20%), linearity (R2 > 0.99), and low detection limits (0.10–1.0 ng/mL). The validated method exhibited adequate recovery (70–115%), precision (RSD < 15%), and method detection limits (0.020–0.70 ng/g). This validated method was applied to analyze PFASs in several food packaging samples collected in Vietnam, showing very low levels (range 0.090–2.9 ng/g; median 0.72 ng/g) derived from unintentional sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of Cu thickness ratios on the structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of sputtered Cu–W and Cu–Cr bilayer thin films. Employing high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS), five distinct thickness ratios of 1:3, 3:5, 1:1, 5:3, and 3:1 were analyzed and compared to bilayer films developed using direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS). The microstructural and surface characteristics of these films were evaluated using x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Electrical properties were measured using a four-point probe, while mechanical properties were assessed through nanoindentation. Results reveal that increasing Cu thickness in Cu–W and Cu–Cr bilayers inversely affects hardness, grain size, and roughness, highlighting the influence of thickness ratios on film properties. Films with a higher Cu thickness ratio in both Cu–W and Cu–Cr bilayer systems deposited by HiPIMS exhibited lower hardness, smaller grain size, and reduced average roughness. Cross-sectional analysis and XRD confirmed the impact of thickness ratio on crystal phase and microstructure, indicating smoother columnar structures. Specifically, the HiPIMS-deposited Cu–Cr 3-1 film exhibited the lowest resistivity, at 4.77 μΩ cm, and hardness, measuring 8.26 GPa. Moreover, the 1:1 ratio films of Cu–W and Cu–Cr demonstrated hardness values of 13.81 and 11.37 GPa, respectively, which were 1.39 times higher than the films grown by DCMS. Additionally, variations in the bilayer thickness ratio significantly affected the electrical properties of the films. The enhanced properties of HiPIMS films are attributed to the higher peak power density of the target, leading to increased ion energy and deposition of dense grain structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial plastid DNAs (MTPTs) in seed plants were reported more than 40 years ago and exhibited a high diversity regarding gene content, quantity, and size. However, the mechanism that resulted in the current diversity of MTPTs in angiosperms has not been fully discovered. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete organelle genomes of Limonia acidissima L. a monotypic species of Rutaceae. The newly generated and previously published organelle genomes of 42 species were used to explore the diversity of MTPTs regarding quantity, gene content, size, and coverage of chloroplast genome (cpDNA) regions. The results showed that the number of MTPTs ranged from three to 74, of which the lengths were from 100 to 53,731 bp. The highest coverage of MTPTs was found in the inverted repeat region, whereas the small single repeat region had the lowest coverage. Based on the previous data and current results, we propose a scenario for the diversity of MTPTs in angiosperms. In the first stage, the whole cpDNA might migrate to the mitogenome. Then, different genomic events, such as duplication, deletion, substitution, and inversion, have occurred continuously and independently and resulted in extremely variable profiles of mitogenomes among angiosperms. Our hypothesis provides a new and possibly reliable scenario for explaining the present circumstances of MTPTs in angiosperms. However, more genomic data should be mined, and more studies should be conducted to clarify this natural phenomenon in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have found their key applications in high-sensitivity biomolecular detection and integrated photonic devices for optical communication via light manipulation at nanostructures. Despite their broad utility, SPPs are known to be accompanied by other complex near-field propagation modes, such as quasi-cylindrical waves (QCWs) and composite diffracted evanescent waves (CDEWs), whose electromagnetic and quantum propagation effects have not been comprehensively understood especially regarding their mutual interaction with SPPs. In this study, we addressed this complexity by employing a nano groove structure and a high-stability broadband femtosecond laser as a light source, the spatial phase distribution around the nano slit edge was measured with relative stability of a 4.6 × 10−11 at an averaging time of 0.01 s. Through this spatial phase spectrum, we precisely measured the nonlinear distribution of effective refractive index changes with an amplitude of 10−2 refractive index units at the edge of the nano slit–groove structure. These results reveal that the near-field effects on local electron concentration induced by nanostructure's discontinuity can be quantitatively measured, which can contribute to a deeper understanding of SPP phenomena in nanostructures for the optimal design and utilization of the SPP effects in diverse nano-plasmonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is difficult to diagnose. We investigated whether a 3-gene host response signature in blood can distinguish TBM from other brain infections. Methods The expression of 3 genes (dual specificity phosphatase 3 [ DUSP3 ], guanylate-binding protein [ GBP5 ], krupple-like factor 2 [ KLF2 ]) was analyzed by RNA sequencing of archived whole blood from 4 cohorts of Vietnamese adults: 281 with TBM, 279 with pulmonary tuberculosis, 50 with other brain infections, and 30 healthy controls. Tuberculosis scores (combined 3-gene expression) were calculated following published methodology and discriminatory performance compared using area under a receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Results GBP5 was upregulated in TBM compared to other brain infections (P <.001), with no difference in DUSP3 and KLF2 expression. The diagnostic performance of GBP5 alone (AUC, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI],.67–.81) was slightly better than the 3-gene tuberculosis score (AUC, 0.66; 95% CI,.58–.73) in TBM. Both GBP5 expression and tuberculosis score were higher in participants with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; P <.001), with good diagnostic performance of GBP5 alone (AUC, 0.86; 95% CI,.80–.93). Conclusions The 3-gene host signature in whole blood has the ability to discriminate TBM from other brain infections, including in individuals with HIV. Validation in large prospective diagnostic study is now required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors are based on photon-excited surface charge density oscillations confined at metal-dielectric interfaces, which makes them highly sensitive to biological or chemical molecular bindings to functional metallic surfaces. Metal nanostructures further concentrate surface plasmons into a smaller area than the diffraction limit, thus strengthening photon-sample interactions. However, plasmonic sensors based on intensity detection provide limited resolution with long acquisition time owing to their high vulnerability to environmental and instrumental noises. Here, we demonstrate fast and precise detection of noble gas dynamics at single molecular resolution via frequency-comb-referenced plasmonic phase spectroscopy. The photon-sample interaction was enhanced by a factor of 3,852 than the physical sample thickness owing to plasmon resonance and thermophoresis-assisted optical confinement effects. By utilizing a sharp plasmonic phase slope and a high heterodyne information carrier, a small atomic-density modulation was clearly resolved at 5 Hz with a resolution of 0.06 Ar atoms per nano-hole (in 10–11 RIU) in Allan deviation at 0.2 s; a faster motion up to 200 Hz was clearly resolved. This fast and precise sensing technique can enable the in-depth analysis of fast fluid dynamics with the utmost resolution for a better understanding of biomedical, chemical, and physical events and interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human hyaluronidase 1 (HYAL1) and PH20 play vital roles in degrading hyaluronic acids through the substrate-assisted double displacement mechanism. While HYAL1, a lysosomal enzyme, functions optimally under acidic conditions, PH20, a sperm surface hyaluronidase, displays a broader pH range, from acidic to neutral. Our objective was to extend HYAL1's pH range towards neutral pH by introducing repulsive charge-charge interactions involving the catalytic Glu131, increasing its pKa as the proton donor. Substituting individual acidic residues in the β3-loop (S77D), β3′-β3″ hairpin (T86D and P87E), and at Ala132 (A132D and A132E) enabled HYAL1 to demonstrate enzyme activity at pH 7, with the mutants S77D, P87E, and A132E showing the highest activity in the substrate gel assay. However, double and triple substitutions, including S77D/T86D/A132E as found in the PH20 configuration, did not result in enhanced activity compared to single substitutions. Conversely, PH20 mutants with non-acidic substitutions, such as D94S in the β3-loop and D103T in the β3′-β3″ hairpin, significantly reduced activity within the pH range of 4 to 7. However, the PH20 mutant E149A, reciprocally substituted compared to A132E in HYAL1, exhibited activity similar to PH20 wild-type (WT) at pH 7. In a turbidimetric assay, HYAL1 mutants with single acidic substitutions exhibited activity similar to that of PH20 WT at pH 7. These results suggest that substituting acidic residues near Glu131 results in HYAL1 activity at neutral pH through electrostatic repulsion. This study highlights the significance of charge-charge interactions in both HYAL1 and PH20 in regulating the pH-dependent activity of hyaluronidases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Two species of the genus Tricirronema : T. tamdaoense and T. tentaculatum , are studied from agricultural soils of Vietnam. Both species are morphologically and morphometrically characterised based on LM and SEM studies. These species are mainly differentiated by the morphology of the vagina, sigmoid in T. tamdaoense and straight in T. tentaculatum , and males with more robust spicules in T. tamdaoense. SEM studies of both species are provided. Molecular analysis based on 18S and 28S rDNA fragments is included for T. tentaculatum , showing relationship with members of the genus Eucephalobus. In addition, a key to species identification of the genus Tricirronema is included, as well as illustrations and a compendium table with the main measurements of the three species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the relationship between nature relatedness (NR) on subjective positive well-being (life satisfaction) and mental disorders (depression, stress, and anxiety) in Vietnamese university students. 340 Hue University students voluntarily took part in the survey. The Nature Relatedness Scale, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used. Bivariate correlation, single regression, and moderation analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between NR and the mental health of university students and the moderating role of NR. Higher levels of NR significantly predicted higher levels of life satisfaction but did not significantly predict fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. NR significantly moderated the link between life satisfaction and depression, anxiety, and stress. The findings of this study imply that efforts to enhance students' mental health should include efforts to promote their NR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer system resilience refers to the ability of a computer system to continue functioning even in the face of unexpected events or disruptions. These disruptions can be caused by a variety of factors, such as hardware failures, software glitches, cyber attacks, or even natural disasters. Modern computational environments need applications that can recover quickly from major disruptions while also being environmentally sustainable. Balancing system resilience with energy efficiency is challenging, as efforts to improve one can harm the other. This paper presents a method to enhance disaster survivability in microservice architectures, particularly those using Kubernetes in cloud-based environments, focusing on optimizing electrical energy use. Aiming to save energy, our work adopt the consolidation strategy that means grouping multiple microservices on a single host. Our aproach uses a widely adopted analytical model, the Generalized Stochastic Petri Net (GSPN). GSPN are a powerful modeling technique that is widely used in various fields, including engineering, computer science, and operations research. One of the primary advantages of GSPN is its ability to model complex systems with a high degree of accuracy. Additionally, GSPN allows for the modeling of both logical and stochastic behavior, making it ideal for systems that involve a combination of both. Our GSPN models compute a number of metrics such as: recovery time, system availability, reliability, Mean Time to Failure, and the configuration of cloud-based microservices. We compared our approach against others focusing on survivability or efficiency. Our approach aligns with Recovery Time Objectives during sudden disasters and offers the fastest recovery, requiring 9% less warning time to fully recover in cases of disaster with alert when compared to strategies with similar electrical consumption. It also saves about 27% energy compared to low consolidation strategies and 5% against high consolidation under static conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infectious keratitis can be caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Fungi are a common pathogen, especially in developing countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh where the prevalence ranges from 20% to 60%. In Vietnam, fungal keratitis accounted for the highest number of keratitis cases in a study conducted at the central eye hospital over a 5-year period (57%). Therefore, it is necessary to collect specific background information connected to the types of fungal keratitis in corneal ulcer cases in this region. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of fungal keratitis and the epidemiological features in 216 cases of fungal keratitis out of a total of 240 cases of infectious keratitis. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study collected secondary data from medical records of 240 inpatients with infectious keratitis who were treated at the ophthalmology hospital in Thai Binh, Vietnam, from January 01st, 2021 to June 30th, 2022. Patients with a positive fungal-directed smear were analyzed in detail for the type of fungus isolated, sociodemographic data, predisposing risk factors, prior treatment modalities, and laboratory results for the distribution pattern of fungus species. Results: Among the 240 cases, 126 (52.5%) were diagnosed with fungal keratitis by direct microscopic examination. Culture results showed the highest rate of Fusarium spp. (43.3%). The age group of 41-60 years was most commonly involved (40.5%). Males were more affected by fungal keratitis than females, (53.2% compared to 46.8%), with farmers being the most common occupation correlated with fungal keratitis (55.6%). The rate of fungal keratitis patients due to agricultural injuries was the highest compared to other risks (47.6%) and most patients self-medicated before going to the hospital, with many not knowing or remembering what medications they had taken (52.4%). Conclusion: The study revealed a high rate of fungal keratitis among the total of infectious keratitis cases in Thai Binh, Vietnam. Fusarium spp. was the most commonly isolated fungi. The study also highlighted the impact of agricultural injuries on fungal keratitis, especially in regions like Thai Binh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many fall detection systems are being used to provide real-time responses to fall occurrences. Automated fall detection is challenging because it requires very high accuracy to be clinically acceptable. Recent research has tried to improve sensitivity while reducing the high rate of false positives. Nevertheless, there are still limitations in terms of having efficient learning approaches and proper datasets to train. To reduce false alarms, one approach is to add more nonfall data as negative samples to train the deep learning model. However, this approach increases class imbalance in the training set. To tackle this problem, we propose a multi-task deep learning approach that divides datasets into multiple training sets for multiple tasks. We prove this approach gives better results than a single-task model trained on all datasets. Many experiments are conducted to find the best combination of tasks for multi-task model training for fall detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: African Swine Fever (ASF) is a viral disease that affects pigs, caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). With no available treatment or commercial vaccine, ASF poses a severe threat, with 100% mortality in acute cases. The virus spreads through direct and indirect contact, and current control measures include early detection, isolation, and culling of infected pigs. ASFV has a complex genome with genes and encoded proteins that play a key role in viral replication and survival. This review examines the structure and function of these proteins, highlighting both newly discovered and previously known genes involved in different stages of infection and immune response. It also discusses virulence genes and those with unknown functions, proposing potential future interventions. The findings from this study aim to advance our understanding of ASFV, guiding the development of effective vaccines and control strategies, which are essential for protecting the swine industry and supporting global food security. African Swine Fever (ASF) is a lethal contagious hemorrhagic viral disease affecting the swine population. The causative agent is African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV). There is no treatment or commercial vaccine available at present. This virus poses a significant threat to the global swine industry and economy, with 100% mortality rate in acute cases. ASFV transmission occurs through both direct and indirect contact, with control measures limited to early detection, isolation, and culling of infected pigs. ASFV exhibits a complex genomic structure and encodes for more than 50 structural and 100 non-structural proteins and has 150 to 167 open reading frames (ORFs). While many of the proteins are non-essential for viral replication, they play crucial roles in mediating with the host to ensure longevity and transmission of virus in the host. The dynamic nature of ASFV research necessitates constant updates, with ongoing exploration of various genes and their functions, vaccine development, and other ASF-related domains. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the structural and functional roles of both newly discovered and previously recorded genes involved in distinct stages of ASFV infection and immunomodulation. Additionally, the review discusses the virulence genes and genes with unknown functions, and proposes future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective quality management plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of smart city systems, which have significant implications for safety, accessibility, affordability, and maintainability. Dependability of autonomous systems is of utmost importance, as achieving satisfactory levels of availability and reliability poses considerable challenges. Smart cities are characterized by interconnected sub-architectures, encompassing vehicle monitoring, sidewalk monitoring, and building monitoring, all of which need to function efficiently. Analytical models such as Petri nets, Markov chains, and fault trees are well-suited for evaluating complex scenarios in the context of smart cities. This paper presents analytical models that utilize fault tree and Markov chain techniques to assess the availability and reliability of smart city monitoring systems. The model is divided into shared and non-shared components, with non-shared components being specific to certain contextual applications, while shared components, such as data processing and electrical power, are essential for all smart city monitoring and management systems. The study underscores the ease with which the fault tree model can enhance availability by modifying failure requirements and resources. Case studies provide concrete examples of how availability improved from 95.3 to 99.8% by varying a configuration known as "KooN" in multiple components. This paper takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating the dependability of smart city architectures and contributes advancements, such as hierarchical modeling, sequential sensitivity analysis, and the "KooN" analytic method. These contributions expand the existing knowledge and methodologies in smart city dependability analysis. Moreover, this work aims to serve as a practical tool to assist smart city managers in optimizing their proposals. All modeling aspects and parameters are detailed thoroughly to enable effective implementation of the proposed approach by anyone using it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and severe hemorrhagic transboundary swine viral disease with up to a 100% mortality rate, which leads to a tremendous socio-economic loss worldwide. The lack of safe and efficacious ASF vaccines is the greatest challenge in the prevention and control of ASF. In this study, we generated a safe and effective live-attenuated virus (LAV) vaccine candidate VNUA-ASFV-LAVL3 by serially passaging a virulent genotype II strain (VNUA-ASFV-L2) in an immortalized porcine alveolar macrophage cell line (3D4/21, 50 passages). VNUA-ASFV-LAVL3 lost its hemadsorption ability but maintained comparable growth kinetics in 3D4/21 cells to that of the parental strain. Notably, it exhibited significant attenuation of virulence in pigs across different doses (103, 104, and 105 TCID50). All vaccinated pigs remained healthy with no clinical signs of African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection throughout the 28-day observation period of immunization. VNUA-ASFV-LAVL3 was efficiently cleared from the blood at 14–17 days post-infection, even at the highest dose (105 TCID50). Importantly, the attenuation observed in vivo did not compromise the ability of VNUA-ASFV-LAVL3 to induce protective immunity. Vaccination with VNUA-ASFV-LAVL3 elicited robust humoral and cellular immune responses in pigs, achieving 100% protection against a lethal wild-type ASFV (genotype II) challenge at all tested doses (103, 104, and 105 TCID50). Furthermore, a single vaccination (104 TCID50) provided protection for up to 2 months. These findings suggest that VNUA-ASFV-LAVL3 can be utilized as a promising safe and efficacious LAV candidate against the contemporary pandemic genotype II ASFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyzes the dynamic responses of plates with an elastic foundation under a concentrated moving mass. The plate is made of fluid-saturated functionally graded porous material (FFGPM). The material properties of the FFGPM plate are assumed to vary smoothly across the thickness, with symmetric, asymmetric, and uniform patterns for porosity distribution. The governing equations of the FFGPM plate are developed using Reddy's third-order shear deformation plate theory (Reddy's TSDT), Biot's poroelasticity theory, pb2-Ritz formulation, and the Lagrange equation. In the numerical results, the Newmark scheme is used to obtain the deflection response of the FFGPM plate with the traveling mass. Two approaches are considered and discussed, including moving load and moving mass. Moreover, the influences of the porosity coefficient, distribution patterns, different boundary conditions, elastic foundations, geometry parameters, Skempton coefficient, moving mass velocity, and the mass of moving mass on the dynamic characteristics of the FFGPM plate are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over three-quarters of Taiwan's landmass consists of mountainous slopes with steep gradients, leading to frequent rockfall hazards that obstruct traffic and cause injuries and fatalities. This study used Google Alerts to compile internet news on rockfall incidents along Taiwan's highway system from April 2019 to February 2024. The locations of these rockfalls were geolocated using Google Earth and integrated with geographical, topographical, environmental, geological, and socioeconomic variables. Employing machine learning algorithms, particularly the Random Forest algorithm, we analyzed the potential for rockfall hazards along roadside slopes. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 0.8514 on the test dataset, with a sensitivity of 0.8378, correctly identifying 83.8% of rockfall locations. Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analysis highlighted that factors such as slope angle and distance to geologically sensitive areas are pivotal in determining rockfall locations. The study underscores the utility of internet-based data collection in providing comprehensive coverage of Taiwan's highway system, and enabled the first broad analysis of rockfall hazard susceptibility for the entire highway network. The consistent importance of topographical and geographical features suggests that integrating detailed spatial data could further enhance predictive performance. The combined use of Random Forest and SHAP analyses offers a robust framework for understanding and improving predictive models, aiding in the development of effective strategies for risk management and mitigation in rockfall-prone areas, ultimately contributing to safer and more reliable transportation networks in mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to assess the impact of organizational culture on employee performance in foreign-invested logistics service enterprises from the sustainability perspective. We developed a theoretical framework on organizational culture and explored the factors shaping organizational culture, from which three research hypotheses are proposed. Based on a research sample of 162 foreign-invested logistics service enterprises, the multiple linear regression results indicate that 5 factors of organizational culture positively impact employee performance, including employees' beliefs, corporate focus of human life, leadership style and authority division, corporate values, relationship with business environment. Based on these findings, we proposed recommendations for improving employee performance in foreign-invested logistics service enterprises from a sustainability perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of graphene (GE) as a conductive additive for activated carbon (AC) electrode in capacitive deionization (CDI) has attracted much attention due to its high electrical conductivity. However, self-agglomeration by π–π interactions between individual GE sheets required the use of high content to ensure an efficient conductive network in the electrode, which limited its practical application. This work proposed an approach to reduce the GE content in the fabrication of biomass-based activated carbon electrode for CDI application. The stacking effect of GE sheets is inhibited when GE sheets functionalize with oxygen groups via acid treatment under ultrasonic condition. This helps to reduce GE content to less than 2 wt% in the fabrication of CDI electrodes. The electrode fabricated using 2 wt% treated GE (T-GE) achieved the superior capacitance of 54 F/g, twice that of the pristine AC. The desalination process using as-prepared electrodes was evaluated by batch-mode CDI system with the initial NaCl solution of 2000 ppm and 3000 ppm at various applied voltages. The AC/T-GE 2 % electrode showed excellent performance with a desalination capacity greater than 10 mg/g, and reached an adsorption rate of 1.93 mg/g.min in both solutions under an applied voltage 1.2 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to synthesize inclusion complex derived from sorafenib (Sor) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) (denoted as [Sor-HPβCD]). The complex of Sor with HPβCD has been synthesized in a mixed solvent of H2O-DMSO, with a DMSO volume fraction of 80 %. The results of FTIR, DSC, and UV–Vis analysis have demonstrated the success of complex formation: the intensity of some characteristic peaks for the Sor binding decreased after complex formation, indicating that a part of the guest molecule has entered the cavity of the HPβCD molecule. This is further supported by the DSC analysis results, showing the transformation of the complex's crystalline form to an amorphous form. The phase solubility diagram study also indicates that the solubility of Sor significantly increases, approximately 7 times higher than pure Sor, after complex formation. The results of the cell growth inhibition activity test in a water environment show that the complex inhibits the growth of Hep-G2 cells with an IC50 value of 62.4 μg/mL, while pure Sor does not exhibit activity as it is practically insoluble in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to fabricate the advanced organic antibacterial coating containing the strong photocatalytic nanomaterials. For this purpose, firstly the TiO2–Ag hybrid nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical reduction method. Then, the antibacterial coating based on acrylic polyol, polyisocyanate, and these TiO2–Ag hybrid nanoparticles has been prepared. Mechanical properties show that the optimal content of TiO2–Ag hybrid nanoparticles in the coating matrix is 2 wt%, with its abrasion resistance of 166.2 L/mil; impact strength of 195 kg cm; adhesion of size #1 and relative hardness of 0.78. In addition, FE-SEM analysis shows that the nanocomposite coating has a tight structure with homogeneous dispersion of TiO2–Ag nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The paint film has good antibacterial activity and has great application prospects. Data from the antibacterial test indicates that in the presence of an acrylic polyurethane coating containing 2 wt% TiO2–Ag, the number of viable Escherichia coli decreased from 3.4 × 105 CFU/ml to 1.5 × 102 CFU/ml after 24 h of culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to fabricate the antibacterial coating with green biocide successfully. For this purpose, mimosa tannins were acylated with lauroyl chloride's aid and pyridine's support as a catalyst in the 1,4-dioxane, hexane and xylene solvents. Infrared analysis showed that mimosa tannins synthesized in the 1,4-dioxane were acylated better than in the other two solvents. FE-SEM analysis of the paint film showed that the acylated mimosa tannins at a content of 5 % dispersed quite well in the polymer matrix. The results of analyzing the mechanical properties of the paint film containing acylated mimosa tannins with contents ≤5 % show that the mechanical properties of the paint film are only slightly reduced compared to the mechanical properties of the pure coating, reaching the values: adhesion of size #1; abrasion resistance of 132.8 L/mil; impact strength of 170 kg cm and a relative hardness of 0.78. Antibacterial testing shows that the paint film containing 5 wt% acylated mimosa tannins have good antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vietnam sugarcane industry faces to many challenges during the last few years since Covid-19 pandemic. However, the industry has a significant increase in the last 2 years thanks to many factors that make a remarkable transformation of the industry. This paper reviews the factors affecting this significant transformation of the sugarcane industry and toward the trend of net zero and sustainable transformation of sugarcane value chain and sugar industry in Vietnam such as digitalization of the supply chain, research and development of co-products from sugar processing, application of big data and AI in consumer insight of the R&D process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: During crises, notably the recent COVID-19 pandemic, a heightened sense of urgency has manifested as a catalyst for improvement within organizations. The present study aims to explore the influence of a sense of urgency on individual kaizen performance. Additionally, the study delves into the potential moderating roles of organizational culture in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach: Data samples include 481 employees who are working at Japanese manufacturing companies. SPSS software is used for data analysis, comprising measurement test, correlation and regression analysis. Findings: A sense of urgency was found to predict a higher number of accepted suggestions. Moreover, there is a significant and positive interaction effect of adhocracy culture and a sense of urgency on writing and submitting ideas. Originality/value: As an initial study that empirically tests the relationship between a sense of urgency and individual kaizen performance, this paper contributes to the literature on kaizen, change management and innovation. It also corroborates previous research on the Person-Organization fit framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate level of agreement of specialist trained retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) nurses compared with an experienced paediatric ophthalmologist in detection of referral‐warranted ROP (RWROP) using wide‐field digital retinal imaging. Methods: This is a prospective, observational, blinded study of neonates in a level III neonatal intensive care unit, from July 2020 to November 2022. Image capture using wide‐field digital retinal imaging followed by ROP grading and staging was completed by trained ROP nurses. This was then compared with findings by an experienced paediatric ophthalmologist. The primary outcome was presence of RWROP in either eye. Results: One hundred and ninety‐five neonates (55% male) with a total of 768 screening visits were included. At the initial screen, nurse and ophthalmologist agreed about presence of RWROP for 191 of 195 neonates (98%, kappa = 0.79, P < 0.0001), with 100% sensitivity for RWROP detection. Including all 768 screening episodes, agreement was 98% for RWROP. There was disagreement in 16 screenings (2%) for 11 (6%) neonates. Of the five screenings (0.7%) that the ophthalmologist thought were RWROP and the nurse did not, three were disagreements about whether the zone was posterior zone 2 or zone 1. Conclusions: We found excellent levels of agreement and add evidence that interpretations by specialist trained nurses could be safely integrated into a 'hybrid ROP screening system'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Firms in younger labor markets produce more innovation. We establish this by instrumenting the current labor force with historical births in each local labor market in the United States. Analyses of firms and inventors allow us to rule out unobservable heterogeneity across local labor markets and firms, life cycles, and other effects. Corporate innovation in younger labor markets reflects the innovative characteristics of younger labor forces, and its market value is higher. Younger workers as a group, not merely inventors by themselves, produce more innovation for firms through the labor force channel rather than through a financing or consumption channel. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic phase transitions are important for the application of individual materials toward modern spintronics and sensing. Using high-resolution sound velocity and pyrocurrent measurements, we have obtained a detailed magnetic phase diagram of multiferroic Ca2CoSi2O7 for magnetic fields applied along the crystallographic [100]- and [001]-directions. The magneto-acoustic measurements were conducted for both longitudinal and transverse modes in both static and pulsed magnetic fields up to 17 and 68 T, respectively. Distinct anomalies with significant changes in sound velocity and sound attenuation were observed at the onset of the structural and magnetic phase transitions. Interestingly, results obtained for fields parallel to the [100]-direction reveal a hysteresis and step-like decrements in ultrasound indicating a transition into a different metastable structural distortion below TN and at magnetic fields between 4 and 10 T that has not been previously reported. We believe that this field-induced distorted structure phase may be the cause of the subsequent phase transition at 11 T. At low temperatures, a softening of the lattice within the ordered phases is also observed, which may be due to residual spin fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis (ARRTD) is a rare genetic disorder with a very high mortality rate. The typical symptoms of the disease during pregnancy are oligohydramnios, anhydramnios, and nearly all affected fetuses die after birth or have a stillbirth in late gestation, which can adversely increase maternal risks. Methods: Oligohydramnios/anhydramnios can make both amniocentesis for diagnostic testing and morphological evaluation via ultrasound more difficult. In cases of oligohydramnios/anhydramnios suspicious for urinary tract anomalies, amnioinfusion is a meaningful technique that facilitates sampling of amniotic fluid for genetic diagnosis. Results: We report two cases of fetuses with anhydramnios and invisible urinary bladder. Clinical exome sequencing from amniotic fluid revealed a biparentally inherited homozygous pathogenic nonsense ACE variant c.2503G 〉 T [p.Glu853Ter] in proband 1 and a biparentally inherited homozygous pathogenic nonsense ACE variant c.2992C 〉 T [p.Gln998Ter] in proband 2. The prognosis was poor and the patients elected to terminate the pregnancies. Additional post‐mortem histopathological examination from the renal tissue of the second fetus showed renal tubular hypoplasia. Conclusion: To our knowledge for the first time, we describe the prenatal diagnosis of ARRTD in Vietnam, and highlight the benefit of detecting ACE variants associated with ARRTD in fetuses with oligohydramnios/anhydramnios through amnioinfusion and amniocentesis, which improves genotype‐phenotype correlations and provides valuable information for reproductive counseling. Key points: What is already known about this topic? Variants in the ACE gene have been associated with renal tubular dysgenesis (OMIM:267430). What does this study add? We report two rare cases autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis (ARRTD) caused by variants in the ACE gene in Vietnam.In cases of oligohydramnios/anhydramnios, amnioinfusion is a meaningful technique that facilitates sampling of amniotic fluid for prenatal genetic diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prophylactic drugs against dengue are currently under development. In this study, we explored how such prophylactic approaches might affect dengue cases in four communes of Nha Trang City, Vietnam. A community level dengue transmission survey indicated high levels of previous exposure to dengue (89.7%; 95% CI: 87.2,92.0). We fitted a spatially explicit model to an observed outbreak and simulated likely effectiveness of Case-Area Targeted Interventions (CATI) and One-Time Mass Distribution (OTMD) of drug and vector control strategies. Increasing the radius and effectiveness and decreasing delay of CATI was most effective, with drugs being more effective in averting dengue cases than vector control. Using an OTMD approach early in the outbreak required the least number of treatments to avert a case, suggesting that OTMD strategies should be considered as pre-emptive rather than reactive strategies. These findings show that pre-emptive interventions can substantially reduce the burden of dengue outbreaks in endemic settings. Author summary: Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted virus that is a leading cause of hospitalisation and death in Asian and Latin American countries. Protection against dengue infection mainly relies on mosquito control, but the current development of drugs against the virus opens new perspectives for prevention. To develop efficient prevention strategies, it is important to understand how prevalent and transmissible the virus is in a given population. In this study, we conducted a large serological survey in Nha Trang City, Vietnam, and developed a mathematical model to simulate the effect of preventive antiviral treatment on dengue outbreaks in that population. We compared the strength of these effects to that of other prevention startegies, such as mosquito control. We found that a large proportion of the population had been previously infected by dengue virus. In this context, our simulations showed that drugs are more effective in preventing dengue cases than mosquito control, and that these strategies are most effective when the radius of intervention increases and the delay of intervention decreases. These findings show that preventive administration of antivirals during outbreaks can substantially reduce the spread of dengue virus in part of the world where it is highly prevalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]