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Butt joining of ultra-thin silicon steel sheets is a major challenge because of the ultra-thin thickness, high silicon content, and the coating layer on their surfaces. For the first time, welding butt-joint of the 0.2 mm ultra-thin silicon steel sheets has been performed successfully and reported in this paper. The results show that the weld beads fabricated by the novel-GTAW process are straight, stable, and without defects. They have a narrower width on the top and a larger width on the bottom side compared to the conventional-GTAW process. The mechanical properties of the welding joints also overmatch that of the base metal, confirming good qualities of the weldment. The success of the novel GTAW process in butt weld of ultra-thin silicon steel sheets is because of its unique characteristics: First, the mechanism of the novel-GTAW torch allows removing and blowing the insulation coating layer to prevent its penetration into the melting point and its accumulation on the electrode during the welding process; thus, eliminating welding defects and electrode wear and maintaining the arc stability. Second, the novel-GTAW process enables superiorly reducing the heat input and increasing the cooling rate, which ensures the high quality of the butt weld of ultra-thin silicon steel sheets. Lastly, the shielding efficiency of the melting pool is enhanced to prevent silicon oxidation and welding defects.

This article aimed to identify the strengths and weakness of the course book New English File by Clive Oxenden, Christina Latham- Koenig, and Paul Seligson published by Oxford University Press after its two-year use for non-major post- graduate students at Thanh Do University. Data were collected from the questionnaire responses from three teachers and sixteen students, and the semi-structure interview results of the teachers. Based on the collected data, the authors performed thorough analysis and produced recommendations for a better English teaching and learning using the course book.

The intestinal microbiome is by now an undebatable key player in the clinical outcome of ICI therapies. However, no microbiome profiling method to aid therapy decision is yet validated. We conducted a multi-centric study in patients with stage III/IV melanoma, NSCLC, or RCC receiving ICI treatment. The stool microbiome profile of 63 patients was analyzed with BiomeOne®, a microbiome-based algorithm that anticipates whether a patient will achieve clinical benefit with ICIs prior to therapy initiation. Classification of patient samples as Rs and NRs was achieved with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 50% in this validation cohort. An ICI-favorable response was characterized by an intestinal microbiome rich in bacteria such as Oscillospira sp., Clostridia UCG-014, Lachnospiraceae UCG-010 sp., Prevotella copri, and a decrease in Sutterella sp., Lactobacillales, and Streptococcus sp. Patients who developed immune-related adverse events (irAEs) had an overall increased microbial diversity and richness, and a stool microbiome depleted in Agathobacter. When compared with the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression test in the subcohort of NSCLC patients (n = 38), BiomeOne® exhibited a numerically higher sensitivity (78.6%) in identifying responders when compared with the PD-L1 test (67.9%). This study provides an evaluation of BiomeOne®, the first microbiome-based test for prediction of ICI response, to achieve market authorization. Validation with further indications and expansion to other microbiome-based interventions will be essential to bring microbiome-based diagnostics into standard clinical practice.

This research aims to synthesize MoS2 thin film for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by the electrochemical way. We investigated various electrochemical conditions, including the pH of electrolyte, the applied current density, and electrolysis time to find optimal synthesis mode. The obtained samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns to determine the morphology and crystal structure. The polarization curve confirmed the HER activity of MoS2 thin film. The results indicated that the synthesized MoS2 film had a perfect catalytic activity, as shown by the overpotential value at 10 mA/cm2 and Tafel slope reached 144 mV and 56.2 mV/dec, respectively.

Background Tacrolimus trough levels (C0) are used in most transplant centres for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of tacrolimus (Tac). The target range of Tac C0 has been remarkably changed, with a target as low as 3–7 ng/ml in the 2009 European consensus conference and a target of 4–12 ng/ml (preferably to 7–12 ng/ml) following the second consensus report in 2019. Our aim was to investigate whether reaching early Tac therapeutic targets and maintaining time in the therapeutic range (TTR) according to the new recommendations may be necessary for preventing acute rejection (AR) during the first month after transplantation. Methods A retrospective study including 160 adult renal transplant patients (113 men and 47 women) with a median age of 36.3 (20–44) years was conducted between January 2018 and December 2019 at 103 Military Hospital (Vietnam). Tac trough levels were recorded in the first month, and episodes of AR were confirmed by kidney biopsy. Tac TTR was calculated as the percentage of time within the target range of 7–12 ng/ml, according to the 2019 second consensus report. Multivariate Cox analysis was performed to identify the correlation between the Tac target range and TTR with AR. Results In the first month after RT, 14 (8.8%) patients experienced AR. There was a significant difference in the incidence of AR between the Tac level groups of 7 ng/ml (p = 0.0096). In the multivariate Cox analysis, after adjusting for related factors, a mean Tac level > 7 ng/ml was associated with an 86% decreased risk of AR compared with that of 4–7 ng/ml in the first month (HR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03–0.66; p = 0.0131). Every 10% increase in TTR was associated with a 28% lower risk of AR (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55–0.94; p = 0.014). Conclusion Gaining and maintaining Tac C0 according to the 2019 second consensus report might reduce the risk of AR in the first month following transplantation.

In this paper, we investigate to the existence and uniqueness of periodic solutions for the parabolic-elliptic Keller-Segel system in the framework of whole spaces detailized by Euclid space $\mathbb{R}^n\,\,(n \geqslant 4)$ and hyperbolic space $\mathbb{H}^n\,\, (n \geqslant 2)$. Our method is based on the dispersive and smoothing estimates of the heat semiroup and fixed point arguments. This work provides also a fully comparison between the asymptotic behaviour of periodic mild solutions of Keller-Segel system obtained in $\mathbb{R}^n$ and the one in $\mathbb{H}^n$., 15 pages

BACKGROUND The Primary Trauma Care (PTC) course was originally developed to instruct healthcare workers in the management of the severely injured patients in low and middle income countries with limited medical resources. The PTC has now been taught for more than 25 years. Many studies have demonstrated that the two-day Primary Trauma Care (PTC) workshop is a useful and informative to front-line health staff and has helped improve knowledge and confidence in trauma management but there is little evidence showing that it leads to changes in clinical practice. The Kirkpatrick (KM) and Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) models are effective methods to evaluate this approach. Our study aimed to combine 2 models to evaluate the impact of the PTC program for healthcare staff in two Vietnamese hospitals. OBJECTIVE to investigate how the “2 day PTC course” impacts on the level of clinical practice in healthcare staff in the emergency departments of two Vietnamese provincial hospitals. METHODS We conducted the PTC course over 2 days in the emergency departments (ED) of Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh hospitals in February and March 2022 respectively. Sequential cross-sectional surveys using validated instruments were conducted immediately pre- and post-course and at 6 months after course delivery. The questionnaires were analysed by simple frequency analysis. RESULTS At level 1 of KM, nearly 100 % participant were satisfied with the course. At level 2 (knowledge), the multiple-choice question (MCQ) and confident matrix (CM) improved significantly from 60% to 77% and 59.3% to 71.3% respectively (p0.05) except MCQ score in the nurse subgroup (p CONCLUSIONS The PTC course undertaken in 2 local hospitals of Vietnam was successful in improving 3 levels of KM for ED healthcare staff. This improvement was maintained for at least 6 months post course. The PTC courses are effective in providing improvement and sustainment in 3 Levels for low- and middle-income countries like Vietnam. CLINICALTRIAL The trial is registered in ANZCTR with trial ID is ACTRN12621000371897.

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles were synthesized by the ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method. The synthesized nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized by various analytical tools including XRD, FESEM & TEM, VSM, BET, and FTIR. It was indicated that Fe3O4 nanoparticles have cubic structure. The size of spherical-shape Fe3O4 particles ranges from 10 to 15 nm. The Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were applied as a magnetic adsorbent to remove Congo red from aqueous solution. It is assumed that the adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics equation. Equilibrium data fits well with Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity is of 169.8 mg/g. This suggests that the synthesized magnetic nanoparticles could be a promising adsorbent for organic dyes removal in aqueous solutions.

Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. Ex Kunth is widely used in folk medicine. In ethnomedicine, it is applied as a cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antiarthritic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial. The aqueous extract is considered antidiabetic, and is used as a traditional remedy in Mexico. More than 120 chemical constituents have been identified in its leaves, barks, and roots. However, less is known about the phytochemical properties of T. stans flower extracts. The herbal plant Nervilia concolor (Blume) Schltr. is native to Vietnam, and is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases such as bronchitis, stomatitis, acute pneumonia, and laryngitis. Only two previous reports have addressed the chemical content of this plant. Bouea macrophylla Griff., commonly known as marian plum or plum mango, is a tropical plant that is used to treat a range of illnesses. Phytochemical analysis of B. macrophylla suggests the presence of volatile components and flavonoids. However, existing data have been obtained from screening without isolation. As part of our ongoing search for alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from Vietnamese medicinal plants, we conducted bioactive-guided isolation of the whole plant N. concolor, the flowers of T. stans, and the leaves of B. macrophylla. We isolated and structurally elucidated five known compounds from T. stans: ursolic acid (TS1), 3-oxours-12-en-28-oic acid (TS2), chrysoeriol (TS3), ferulic acid (TS4), and tecomine (TS5). Three known compounds were isolated from Nervilia concolor: astragalin (NC1), isoquercitrin (NC2), and caffeic acid (NC3). From B. macrophylla, betullinic acid (BM1), methyl gallate (BM2), and 3-O-galloyl gallic acid methyl ester (BM3) were isolated. All compounds showed promising alpha-glucosidase inhibition, with IC50 values ranging from 1.4 to 143.3 µM. The kinetics of enzyme inhibition showed BM3 to be a competitive-type inhibitor. An in silico molecular docking model confirmed that compounds NC1, NC2, and BM3 were potential inhibitors of the α-glucosidase enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out with compound BM3 demonstrating the best docking model during simulation up to 100 ns to explore the stability of the complex ligand–protein.

WAAM (wire-and-arc additive manufacturing) is recently gaining much interest for the fabrication of parts with wide size. A crucial issue associated to this technology is how to control the process variables to achieve expected qualities of parts. The aim of this investigation is to explore the relationship of the heat input (Q) with the forming quality of 308L stainless steel. The outcomes demonstrate that the heat input has significant effects on the shape, microstructures, and mechanical properties of the walls. Both the height and width of single weld beads increase with an increment in Q. The walls fabricated with the low heat inputs feature better mechanical properties and lower surface roughness. The tensile strengths (YS0.2% and UTS) and the surface roughness (Sa) of the walls built with the lower heat input (230 J/mm) are 292 ± 4.95 MPa, 523 ± 4.24 MPa, and 106 μm, respectively, whilst YS0.2% = 273 ± 4.34, UTS = 482 ± 5.66 MPa, and Sa = 179 μm for the wall fabricated with the higher heat input (576 J/mm). This investigation contributes to enriching the understanding on the WAAM process of steels and helping operators to select a proper heat input for specific applications.

A new species, Arisaema ytyense is described here for the first time, belonging to section Sinarisaema. Including the species described here three species from sect. Sinarisaema are present in Vietnam. The morphological features of this species are discussed and compared with those belonging to the same section within Vietnam. The authors introduce a species key to Vietnamese Arisaema sect. Sinarisaema and the ecology, habitat and conservation status of this new species is discussed.

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the fifth most common cancer with rising prevalence in Vietnam. However, there is no data about the mutational landscape and actionable alterations in the Vietnamese patients. During post-operative surveillance, clinical tools are limited to stratify risk of recurrence and detect residual disease.MethodIn this prospective multi-center study, 103 CRC patients eligible for curative-intent surgery were recruited. Genomic DNA from tumor tissue and paired white blood cells were sequenced to profile all tumor-derived somatic mutations in 95 cancer-associated genes. Our bioinformatic algorithm identified top mutations unique for individual patient, which were then used to monitor the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in serial plasma samples.ResultsThe top mutated genes in our cohort were APC, TP53 and KRAS. 41.7% of the patients harbored KRAS and NRAS mutations predictive of resistance to Cetuximab and Panitumumab respectively; 41.7% had mutations targeted by either approved or experimental drugs. Using a personalized subset of top ranked mutations, we detected ctDNA in 90.5% of the pre-operative plasma samples, whereas carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was elevated in only 41.3% of them. Interim analysis after 16-month follow-up revealed post-operative detection of ctDNA in two patients that had recurrence, with the lead time of 4-10.5 months ahead of clinical diagnosis. CEA failed to predict recurrence in both cases.ConclusionOur assay showed promising dual clinical utilities in residual cancer surveillance and actionable mutation profiling for targeted therapies in CRC patients. This could lay foundation to empower precision cancer medicine in Vietnam and other developing countries.

This article presents the results of research on the microstructure, surface hardness, and anti-corrosion properties of 30XH3A steel treated by salt bath nitriding QPQ. Microstructure analysis and microhardness profile of case depth showed that the nitrided layer formed quite quickly, the thickness reached 250 μm after 2 nitriding hours, and the surface hardness was 774 HV1. Experimental results of the salt spray test during 196 hours and the electrochemical corrosion test showed that the salt bath nitriding QPQ significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the 30XH3A steel.

Samwirin A (SW), a natural compound isolated from Sambucus williamsii or Rourea harmandiana, is known to exhibit potent antiosteoporosis activity and promote cell proliferation in rat osteoblast-like UMR 106 cells. Antiosteoporosis activity suggests that the compound must also exhibit antioxidant activity but this has not been studied thus far. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of SW was examined by experimental and computational studies. It was found that SW exhibits good hydroperoxyl scavenging activity, particularly in water at physiological pH (koverall = 1.01 × 107 M–1 s–1). The single-electron transfer mechanism defines the HOO• + SW reaction in water, while the activity in the lipid medium is moderate and it follows the formal hydrogen transfer mechanism. The rate constant of the HOO• scavenging reaction in the aqueous solution is about 78 times higher than the reference compound Trolox. The computational results are in line with experimental data underscoring that SW is a promising radical scavenger in aqueous media at physiological pH.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Vietnamese women, but its mutational landscape and actionable alterations for targeted therapies remain unknown. After treatment, a sensitive biomarker to complement conventional imaging to monitor patients is also lacking. In this prospective multi-center study, 134 early-stage breast cancer patients eligible for curative-intent surgery were recruited. Genomic DNA from tumor tissues and paired white blood cells were sequenced to profile all tumor-derived mutations in 95 cancer-associated genes. Our bioinformatic algorithm was then utilized to identify top mutations for individual patients. Serial plasma samples were collected before surgery and at scheduled visits after surgery. Personalized assays tracking the selected mutations were performed to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the plasma. We found that the mutational landscape of the Vietnamese was largely similar to other Asian cohorts, showing higher TP53 mutation frequency than in Caucasians. Alterations in PIK3CA and PI3K signaling were dominant, particularly in our triple-negative subgroup. Using top-ranked mutations, we detected ctDNA in pre-operative plasma in 24.6-43.5% of the hormone-receptor-positive groups and 76.9-80.8% of the hormone-receptor-negative groups. The detection rate was associated with breast cancer subtypes and clinicopathological features that increased the risk of relapse. Interim analysis after a 15-month follow-up revealed post-operative detection of ctDNA in all three patients that had recurrence, with a lead time of 7-13 months ahead of clinical diagnosis. Our personalized assay is streamlined and affordable with promising clinical utility in residual cancer surveillance. We also generated the first somatic variant dataset for Vietnamese breast cancer women that could lay the foundation for precision cancer medicine in Vietnam.

To achieve the therapeutic effects, antibiotics must penetrate rapidly into infection sites and bind to targets. This study reviewed updated knowledge on the ability of antibiotics to penetrate into the lung, their physicochemical properties influencing the pulmonary penetration and their ability to bind to targets on pneumococci.A search strategy was developed using PubMED, Web of Science, and ChEMBL. Data on serum protein binding, drug concentration, target binding ability, drug transporters, lung penetration, physicochemical properties of antibiotics in low respiratory tract infection (LRTI) were collected.It was seen that infection site-to-serum concentration ratios of most antibiotics are1 at different time points except for ceftriaxone, clindamycin and vancomycin. Most agents have proper physicochemical properties that facilitate antibiotic penetration. In antimicrobial-resistantData on antibiotic penetration into the lung in LRTI patients and binding affinity of antibiotics for pneumococcal targets are still limited. Further studies are required to clarify the associations of the lung penetration and target binding ability of antibitotics with therapeutic efficacy to help propose the right antibiotics for LRTI.

This work presents a design of a simple and sensitive sensing interface consisting of a graphene/poly(1,5-diaminonaphthalene) nanocomposite, denoted as Gr/P(1,5DAN), as an immobilization matrix and graphene decorated with silver nanoparticles (Gr-AgNPs) as an electrochemical label for bisphenol A (BPA). The nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrochemical techniques (CV and EIS). Immunocomplex formation between the anti-BPA antibody (αBPA) and BPA antigen would induce the square wave voltammetric (SWV) peak current variation of Gr-AgNPs labels, and afterward, the concentration of BPA could be indirectly assayed and qualitatively determined. The results indicated a linear relationship between (SWV) response to the BPA concentration in a range of 1.0–8.0 nM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.6 nM. It is a promising attempt for PBA analysis with a low-cost and easy-to-fabricate sensor.

Summary Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor in light‐skinned people and amounts to about 75 % of all cases of skin cancer. Increasing incidence rates have been reported for decades all over the world. The main risk factors include UV radiation, male sex, light skin type, advanced age, long‐term immunosuppression, a positive individual or family history, and certain genodermatoses. BCC metastasizes only rarely, and its mortality is low, but it is associated with significant morbidity. Genetic mutations especially in the hedgehog pathway play an important role in BCC pathogenesis. Non‐invasive procedures such as optical coherence tomography or confocal laser scan microscopy are increasingly utilized for diagnostics in addition to visual inspection and dermatoscopy, but only in exceptional cases can histological confirmation of the diagnosis be dispensed with. Various clinical and histological subtypes have been defined. Differentiating between BCC with high and low risk of recurrence has a significant influence on the choice of treatment. Most BCC can be treated effectively and safely with standard surgery, or in selected cases with topical treatment. Locally advanced and metastasized BCC must be treated with radiation or systemic therapy. Radiation is also an option for older patients with contraindications for surgery. The hedgehog inhibitors vismodegib and sonidegib are currently approved for systemic therapy of BCC in Europe. Approval for the PD1 inhibitor cemiplimab as second‐line therapy is expected in the near future.

Wire and arc-based additively manufacturing (WAAM) is a potential metallic additively manufacturing (AM) technologies for producing large-size metallic components. 316L is one of the most common stainless-steel grades used in WAAM. However, most of previous studies normally adopted process parameters for the WAAM process based on recommendations of welding wire manufacturers for traditional welding processes. In this article, we focus on predicting and optimizing process parameters for the WAAM process of 316L stainless steel. The experiment was designed by using Taguchi method and L16 orthogonal array. Three parameters, consisting of voltage (U), welding current (I), and travel speed (v), were considered as the input variables, and the responses are four geometrical characteristics of single weld beads, including width, height, penetration, and dilution of weld beads (WWB, HWB, PWB, and DWB, respectively). The effects of each input variable on the responses were determined through analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimal process parameters were identified by using GRA (grey-relational analysis) and TOPSIS (techniques for order-preferences by similarity-to-ideal solution) methods. The obtained results show that the travel speed has the most important effect on WWB and HWB, while the voltage has the highest impact on PWB and DWD. Both GRA and TOPSIS methods give the same optimum process parameters, namely U = 22 V, I = 110 A, and v = 0.3 m/min, which are validated by confirmation experiments. The predicted models of WWB, HWB, PWB, and DWB were also demonstrated to be adequate for selecting the process parameters in specific applications.

The sesquiterpenoid compound abelsaginol (

The butt weld of ultra-thin sheet raw material coils in production lines is a crucial challenge with traditional welding processes because of the troubles related to the control of heat input, arc stability, application reliability, and investment costs. To overcome such challenges, a novel GTAW process has been developed for joining ultra-thin metal sheets for the first time. The novel welding torch with a novel orifice is the main discovered point of this process. In this paper, the novelties of the developed technology are clarified by comparing it with the conventional GTAW process. The results show that the novel GTAW process features much distinctiveness as compared to the conventional GTAW process: (i) the arc plasma column is more concentrated; (ii) the heat input is considerably reduced, but the temperature at the arc center is greatly increased; (iii) the metal evaporation and the metal vapor amount attached to the tungsten electrode surface are enormously reduced, and (iv) the corrosion of the tungsten electrode tip is vastly reduced. As a result, the novel GTAW process can successfully perform the butt weld of thin/ultra-thin metal sheets (up to 0.03 mm) with high quality and reliability.

Sokleaph Cheng,1– 3 Mallorie Hide,3– 5 Sok Heng Pheng,6 Alexandra Kerléguer,2 Gauthier Delvallez,2 Sophan Sam,7 Tan Eang Mao,6 Thi Van Anh Nguyen,3,8 Anne-Laure Bañuls3– 5 1Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 2Medical Biology Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 3LMI Drug Resistance in South East Asia, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 4MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, Institute of Research for Development, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montpellier, France; 5CREES (Centre de Recherche En Écologie Et Évolution de la Santé), Montpellier, France; 6National Center for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 7Cambodian Health Committee, Phnom Penh, Cambodia; 8Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Martinique, VietnamCorrespondence: Sokleaph ChengInstitut Pasteur du Cambodge, No. 5, Monivong Boulevard, Phnom Penh 120210, CambodiaTel +855 12 222 684Email csokleaph@pasteur-kh.orgBackground: Due to the emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) clinical isolates resistant to most potent first-line drugs (FLD), second-line drugs (SLD) are being prescribed more frequently. We explore the genetic characteristics and molecular mechanisms of M.tb isolates phenotypically resistant to SLD, including pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates.Methods: Drug-resistant (DR) M.tb isolates collected from 2012 to 2017 were tested using sequencing and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. Genotypes were determined to explore their links with SLD resistance patterns.Results: Of the 272 DR M.tb isolates, 6 non-multidrug resistant (non-MDR) isolates were fluoroquinolones (FQ)-resistant, 3 were XDR and 16 were pre-XDR (14 resistant to FQ and 2 to second-line injectable drugs). The most frequent mutations in FQ-resistant and second-line injectable drugs resistant isolates were gyrA D94G (15/23) and rrs a1401g (3/5), respectively. Seventy-five percent of pre-XDR isolates and 100% of XDR isolates harbored mutations conferring resistance to pyrazinamide. All XDR isolates belonged to the Beijing genotype, of which one, named XDR+, was resistant to all drugs tested. One cluster including pre-XDR and XDR isolates was observed.Conclusion: This is the first description of SLD resistance in Cambodia. The data suggest that the proportion of XDR and pre-XDR isolates remains low but is on the rise compared to previous reports. The characterization of the XDR+ isolate in a patient who refused treatment underlines the risk of transmission in the population. In addition, genotypic results show, as expected, that the Beijing family is the main involved in pre-XDR and XDR isolates and that the spread of the Beijing pre-XDR strain is capable of evolving into XDR strain. This study strongly indicates the need for rapid interventions in terms of diagnostic and treatment to prevent the spread of the pre-XDR and XDR strains and the emergence of more resistant ones.Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, fluoroquinolone, second-line injectable drugs

An additive mixture of nanoTiO2 (n-TiO2 in sol form), nano fumed SiO2 (nf-SiO2, NFS), propylene glycol (PPG) and polyacryl amide (PAM) was used for preparation of gelled electrolytes. They were characterized by some physicochemical and electrochemical methods to consider their effect on the capacity of lead acid battery during working process. The material property of samples was observed by scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, FTIR study, and X-ray diffraction. The resistance of electrolyte was considered by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The capacity of battery were observed by charge-discharge at constant current density (0.8 mA cm−2) and charge-discharge according to the international recognized standards (IEC 61056–1:2012; 2.35 V/6 h–0.25 C/1.7 V or 0.5 C/1.7 V) for anodized PbO2 cells and VRLA cells (Gel-VRLA cells, AGM Gel-VRLA cells, and AGM flooded-VRLA cells), respectively. The results showed that a suitable content of n-TiO2 should be 0.2 wt% combined with ternary additive (PAM/PPG/NFS, 0.2/0.1/0.6 wt%, respectively). The discharge capacity of the VRLA cells with 0.2 wt% n-TiO2 was higher than that without n-TiO2 at both discharge rates 0.25 and 0.5 C. In particular, their service life reaches more than 225 cycles at 0.25 C discharging thanks to the use of AGM separator, meeting the IEC 61056–1:2012 standard (200 cycles).

Typhonium phuocbinhense has been described as a new species from central Vietnam. The plant grows on sand-soil in the gaps of rocks and the banks of stream line in the Phuoc Binh National Park of Ninh Thuan Province. The species is different from all other species in the genus. It is closest to T. varians from Thailand but differs from this species by having leaves not variegated, spathe tube brown and spathe lamina much narrower and staminodes folded 180o at apex. Beside that the species key of Typhonium in Vietnam and the species information of distribution, ecology, habitat and conservation are also introduced.

Novel ciprofloxacin composite imprinted materials are synthesized by using co-precipitation polymerization of dual functional monomers (methacrylic acid and 2-vinylpyridine) and polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene. The intermolecular interactions between monomers and template are evaluated by molecular modeling analysis. The physicochemical properties of the obtained polymers are characterized using FT-IR, TGA, and SEM. Batch adsorption experiments are used to investigate adsorption properties (kinetic, pH, and isotherm). These polymers are employed to prepare the solid phase extraction cartridges, and their extraction performances are analyzed by the HPLC-UV method. DFT calculations indicate that hydrogen bonding and π−π stacking are the driving forces for the formation of selective rebinding sites. The obtained polymers exhibit excellent adsorption properties, including fast kinetics and high adsorption capacity (up to 10.28 mg g−1) with an imprinted factor of 2.55. The Scatchard analysis indicates the presence of specific high-affinity adsorption sites on the imprinted polymer. These absorbents are employed to extract CIP in river water with recoveries in the range of 65.97–119.26% and the relative standard deviation of 3.59–14.01%. Furthermore, the used cartridges could be reused at least eight times without decreasing their initial adsorption capacity.

This paper is concerned with the nonlinear tracking control design for robot manipulators. In spite of the rich literature in the field, the problem has not yet been addressed adequately due to the lack of an effective control design. Using a descriptor fuzzy model-based framework, we propose a new approach to design a feedback-feedforward control scheme for robot manipulators in a general form. The goal is to guarantee a small level of an [Formula: see text] gain specification to improve the tracking performance while significantly reducing the numerical complexity for real-time implementation. Based on Lyapunov stability arguments, the control design is formulated as a convex optimization problem involving linear matrix inequalities. Numerical experiments performed with a high-fidelity manipulator benchmark model, embedded in the Simscape MultibodyTM environment, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control solution over existing standard approaches.

To uncover underlying mechanisms associated with failure of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) blockade in clinical trials, we conducted a pilot, window-of-opportunity clinical study in 17 patients with newly diagnosed advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer before their standard tumor debulking surgery. Patients were treated with the IDO1 inhibitor epacadostat, and immunologic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic characterization of the tumor microenvironment was undertaken in baseline and posttreatment tumor biopsies. IDO1 inhibition resulted in efficient blockade of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation and was accompanied by a metabolic adaptation that shunted tryptophan catabolism toward the serotonin pathway. This resulted in elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ), which reduced T cell proliferation and function. Because NAD + metabolites could be ligands for purinergic receptors, we investigated the impact of blocking purinergic receptors in the presence or absence of NAD + on T cell proliferation and function in our mouse model. We demonstrated that A2a and A2b purinergic receptor antagonists, SCH58261 or PSB1115, respectively, rescued NAD + -mediated suppression of T cell proliferation and function. Combining IDO1 inhibition and A2a/A2b receptor blockade improved survival and boosted the antitumor immune signature in mice with IDO1 overexpressing ovarian cancer. These findings elucidate the downstream adaptive metabolic consequences of IDO1 blockade in ovarian cancers that may undermine antitumor T cell responses in the tumor microenvironment.

Summary Background and Objectives We examined retrospectively whether the combination of standard dacarbazine (DTIC) and/or fotemustine chemotherapy and autologous peptide‐loaded dendritic cell (DC) vaccination may improve survival of stage IV melanoma patients. Furthermore, a small cohort of long‐term survivors was studied in more detail. Patients and methods Between 1998 and 2008, 41 patients were vaccinated at least three times with DCs while receiving chemotherapy and compared to all other 168 patients in our database who only received chemotherapy (1993–2008). Results Median life expectancy of patients receiving additional DC‐vaccination was 18 months, compared to eleven months for patients under standard chemotherapy alone. In contrast to patients with other haplotypes, the HLA‐A1/A1 subset of DC‐treated patients showed significantly lower median survival (12 vs. 25 months). Autoantibodies were frequently detected in serum of both vaccinated and non‐vaccinated patients, and there was no correlation between titers, loss or appearance of autoantibodies and survival. Additionally, phenotyping of DCs and PBMCs also did not reveal any conspicuous correlation with survival. Conclusions Combining standard chemotherapy and DC vaccination appears superior to chemotherapy alone. The impact of HLA haplotypes on survival emphasizes the importance of a careful selection of patients with specific, well‐defined HLA haplotypes for future vaccination trials using peptide‐pulsed DCs, possibly combined with checkpoint inhibitors.