Search

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to be a transformative technology for medicine and health care. As such, there is an increasing interest in ensuring its ethical use. In this perspective, we consider the employment of AI for medical diagnostics, where the goal is the detection and classification of an underlying pathology, based on data such as patient information, clinical presentation, tests, and imaging. We argue that instead of prioritizing fairness criteria that measure disparities between protected groups, the primary goal should be to assess and enhance diagnostic accuracy within each subpopulation. This approach shifts the focus from optimizing overall population accuracy to ensuring maximal accuracy in each subpopulation. Our perspective implies that we should be using all available information, including protected group identity, in our methods. We decouple the goal of accurate diagnosis from fairness considerations in screening and postdiagnosis clinical decisions, which often require the allocation of finite resources. Furthermore, we underscore the importance of collecting high-quality and representative datasets for each subpopulation, including ensuring that the ground truth labels we train and with which we evaluate are unbiased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although group work activities are commonly employed in communicative second language (L2) classes, there are few studies that investigate how much teachers and students, the two main stakeholders, agree or differ on how group work activities should be conducted. To fill this gap, this study, which was carried out at a public university in Vietnam, examined the perceptions of both teachers and students to uncover matches and mismatches in their perceptions of important issues for effective group work implementation. The study explored the actual experiences of six teachers and ten students, who were chosen by convenience sampling. Thematic analysis of the interviews indicated that the benefits of group work were widely agreed upon, as were the preferences for group size and self-selection of group members. However, there was disagreement over ways of grouping, the role of leadership, and the use of peer assessment. The findings have significant implications for relevant stakeholders, especially in the Asian English as a foreign language (EFL) context, about what would work well and what needs to be addressed to maximize the effectiveness of group work implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing language tests and test preparation materials holds important implications for the latter's validity and reliability. However, not enough studies compare such materials across a wide range of indices. Therefore, this study investigated the text complexity of IELTS academic reading tests (IRT) and IELTS reading practice tests (IRPrT). Fine-grained quantitative analyses were undertaken to delineate measures of lexical, syntactic, and discourse complexity across a corpus of 108 IRT and 108 IRPrT published by Pearson, Macmillan, and Cengage Learning. The results suggest little difference between IRT and IRPrT at the lexical level; however, there were significant differences in some measures of syntactic and discourse level complexity. The findings bear implications for stakeholders including learners as test takers, instructors, material developers, and language testing researchers. We interpret this to mean that while IRPrT materials are lexically conducive to the practice for IRT and can provide a similar experience, the IRPrT do show some differences in the amount of subordination and idea repetition at the discourse level. Therefore, instructors and learners may seek to supplement practice with these structures when preparing for IRT, and the designers of such practice materials should consider aligning these factors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the cause of a foodborne outbreak that occurred in Dong Nai province, Viet Nam, in 2024, and implement control measures. Methods: An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak, which was followed by epidemiological and environmental investigations to find the plausible causative food item. Clinical specimens and food samples were tested to identify the pathogen. Results: A total of 547 symptomatic cases were recorded, of whom two were in severe condition requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventilation, one of whom died. Among 99 interviewed cases, the mean incubation time was 9 hours (range 2-24 hours), with the main symptoms being fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. All patients had eaten banh mi from a local bakery. Salmonella spp. were identified in food samples and clinical specimens. The bakery halted production, and the outbreak ended after 1 week. Discussion: All the patients were exposed to only one food in common, which facilitated the investigation process. This outbreak is a reminder to small retailers and take-away shops of the importance of food safety management in preventing similar future outbreaks. All food handlers must comply with food hygiene principles, especially in hot temperatures, which boosts bacterial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the cause of a foodborne outbreak that occurred in Dong Nai province, Viet Nam, in 2024, and implement control measures. Methods: An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak, which was followed by epidemiological and environmental investigations to find the plausible causative food item. Clinical specimens and food samples were tested to identify the pathogen. Results: A total of 547 symptomatic cases were recorded, of whom two were in severe condition requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventilation, one of whom died. Among 99 interviewed cases, the mean incubation time was 9 hours (range 2-24 hours), with the main symptoms being fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. All patients had eaten banh mi from a local bakery. Salmonella spp. were identified in food samples and clinical specimens. The bakery halted production, and the outbreak ended after 1 week. Discussion: All the patients were exposed to only one food in common, which facilitated the investigation process. This outbreak is a reminder to small retailers and take-away shops of the importance of food safety management in preventing similar future outbreaks. All food handlers must comply with food hygiene principles, especially in hot temperatures, which boosts bacterial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The research aimed to explore the antioxidant potential of extracts from different parts of Clinacanthus nutans growing in Vietnam, a member of the Acanthaceae family. The plant's roots, stem, and leaves were extracted using 96% ethanol. The antioxidant actions of these extracts were evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) assay on thin-layer plates and 96 well plates. The extract with the most potent activity was applied for distribution extraction with solvents with different polarities, including dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and water. Dry column vacuum chromatography was utilized to obtain the most antioxidant-potent extract fractions. The stem extract had the lowest IC50 value of 6.85µg/mL, showing the most potent antioxidant activity. The ethyl acetate fraction from the stem extract expressed the lowest IC50 value of 9.67µg/mL. Meanwhile, fraction 5, separated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem extract, had the lowest IC50 value of 9.89µg/mL. In conclusion, the extracts from different parts of Clinacanthus nutans all expressed antioxidant action at different levels, in which the stem extract, the ethyl acetate fraction and fraction 5 from the ethyl acetate fraction displayed the most effective actions. These findings highlight the promising potential of Clinacanthus nutans in treating oxidative stress-associated diseases, inspiring further research and exploration in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious disease that causes illness and death in poultry and humans. High pathogenicity AI (HPAI) H5N6 outbreaks commonly occur in Quang Ninh province bordering China. In June 2021, the first HPAI H5N8 outbreak occurred at a Quang Ninh chicken farm. Objectives: This study examined the risk factors associated with HPAI H5N6 and H5N8 outbreaks in Quang Ninh. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Quang Ninh from Nov 2021 to Jan 2022. The cases were households with susceptible poultry with two or more clinical signs and tested positive by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The controls were households in the same village as the cases but did not show clinical symptoms of the disease. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the risk factors associated with HPAI outbreaks at the household level. Results: There were 38 cases with H5N6 clade 2.3.4.4h viruses (n = 35) and H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses (n = 3). Compared to the 112 controls, raising poultry in uncovered or partially covered ponds (odds ratio [OR], 7.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44--39.27), poultry traders visiting the farm (OR, 8.66; 95% CI, 2.7--27.69), farms with 50--2,000 birds (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.06--8-51), and farms with ≥ 2,000 birds (OR, 11.35; 95% CI, 3.07--41.94) were significantly associated with HPAI outbreaks. Conclusions: Combining biosecurity measures, such as restricting visitor entry and vaccination in farms with more than 50 birds, can enhance the control and prevention of HPAI in Quang Ninh and its spread across borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, scientific and technological advances are being applied in a variety of fields, in which education receives special attention. The students' learning status plays an important role in assessing the quality of the class, and several methods for identifying students' behaviors have been developed as a result. These methods are effective in monitoring the learning process and sending feedback back to the teacher through the classroom camera. Observing students, and providing feedback to the teacher so that the lesson can be quickly adjusted to the student's level of interest. Inheriting successes from existing methods and applying recent advances in computer vision. In this paper, the structures of actions and behaviors are proposed based on the functioning of students' body parts. These are the foundations for the extraction of necessary features of specific classroom behavior. Additionally, a database consisting of ten distinct actions has been constructed to facilitate the evaluation of the proposed method. This evaluation makes use of a cutting-edge deep learning model, allowing for accurate analysis and assessment of the identified actions. The experimental results show that the proposed method has achieved performance in detecting and classifying activities in real-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduce a framework designed to help educators assess the effectiveness of popular generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in solving authentic assessments. We employed Bloom's taxonomy as a guiding principle to create authentic assessments that evaluate the capabilities of generative AI tools. We applied this framework to assess the abilities of ChatGPT-4, ChatGPT-3.5, Google Bard and Microsoft Bing in solving authentic assessments in economics. We found that generative AI tools perform very well at the lower levels of Bloom's taxonomy while still maintaining a decent level of performance at the higher levels, with "create" being the weakest level of performance. Interestingly, these tools are better able to address numeric-based questions than text-based ones. Moreover, all the generative AI tools exhibit weaknesses in building arguments based on theoretical frameworks, maintaining the coherence of different arguments and providing appropriate references. Our study provides educators with a framework to assess the capabilities of generative AI tools, enabling them to make more informed decisions regarding assessments and learning activities. Our findings demand a strategic reimagining of educational goals and assessments, emphasising higher cognitive skills and calling for a concerted effort to enhance the capabilities of educators in preparing students for a rapidly transforming professional environment. Implications for practice or policy • Our proposed framework enables educators to systematically evaluate the capabilities of widely used generative AI tools in assessments and assist them in the assessment design process. • Tertiary institutions should re-evaluate and redesign programmes and course learning outcomes. The new focus on learning outcomes should address the higher levels of educational goals of Bloom's taxonomy, specifically the "create" level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the IELTS washback on learning in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in higher education contexts remains limited. To fill in this research gap, this study investigated washback effects of the International English Language Testing System (hereafter called IELTS) as an English language proficiency exit test for final-year English majors in Central Vietnam from the perspectives of student psychology and learning behaviors by combining Hughes' (1993) and Shih's (2007) washback models to identify the specific washback mechanisms formed by the test factors related to the IELTS. Using a sample of 282 final-year English majors responding to an online questionnaire at a Central Vietnamese University, the factor structures for IELTS washback on learning from test factors were determined by Exploratory Factor Analysis and confirmed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Data analyses involved descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses. The study revealed that the IELTS exerted both positive and negative washback on the student psychology and learning behaviors. The students perceived the IELTS as difficult to achieve the required score. They also perceived IELTS as high stakes with various utility values for different aspects of life. The washback mechanisms showed that the test factors exerted effects on the IELTS washback formation in different manners and to different degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the original roll flap technique for peri-implant soft tissue augmentation in the aesthetic edentulous zone, and determine the variation in labial soft tissue thickness (LSTT) with respect to age and length of edentulous time. 23 patients with 40 implant placements in the aesthetic zone (upper incisors, canines, and premolars) underwent Abram's roll flap technique. The age and length of edentulous time of each patient were recorded. LSTT was measured using Wiesner's method. Follow-up visits were performed at 2 weeks and 4 weeks post-surgery. Changes in LSTT between follow-up visits, ages, and length of edentulous time were examined using regression analysis. P-value = 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There were significant differences in LSTT at baseline (1.38 ± 0.08 mm) with respect to 2 weeks (2.87 ± 0.1 mm) and 4 weeks post-surgery (2.42 ± 0.1 mm) (P < 0.001). LSTT differed by age group (P < 0.001). No significant correlation between age and length of edentulous time with respect to LSTT or its change after surgery. The original roll technique is relatively simple and effective in cases of moderate peri-implant soft tissue deficiencies in the aesthetic zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To access determinants of the intent of providing ETC medicines in non-prescription settings in community pharmacists in Can Tho, Vietnam in 2021. Additionally, we aimed to create a new measurement scale of degrees of effect for each factor. Methods: A cross-sectional research was conducted between June and October 2021. A self-administered questionnaire stemmed from the "Theory of Planned Behavior" (TPB), consisting of 24 statements on a 5-point Likert scale was mailed to targeted individuals. Exploratory factor analysis is the major instrument apart from the t-Test and ANOVA statistics. 120 pharmacy personnel working at 120 randomly chosen drugstores in Can Tho. Results: Subjective norms have been found to be the most influential factor, followed by perceived behavior controls, and positive attitudes toward the action of concern. TPB-based model is responsible for approximately 40% of the variance in the willingness to take action. Conclusion: It seems that community pharmacists' decision toward prescription pharmaceuticals has not been academically attractive. Extra papers are necessary to understand the motives behind the execution of the behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proline contributes to the taste and flavor of foods. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae poorly assimilates proline during fermentation processes, resulting in the accumulation of proline in fermentative products. We performed here a screening of in total 1138 yeasts to obtain strains that better utilize proline. Our results suggest that proline utilization occurs in the genera of Zygoascus, Galactomyces, and Magnusiomyces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic routing is an essential service in most intelligent transportation systems (ITS), especially in urban traffic networks of large cities. However, this is a challenge issue as these traffic networks are complicated and traffic conditions change dynamically. Existing routing solutions from technology giants such as Google Maps, Waze are still insufficient in terms of accuracy (effectiveness) and efficiency (performance), especially applying in developing countries where traffic infrastructures have not yet matured enough, leading to degradation of transportation performance, safety while increasing traffic jam, economic loss, air and noise pollution. This work proposes an effective routing approach in large cities to avoid traffic congestion, enhancing transportation capacity and safety. Concretely, this work designed an appropriate urban traffic data organization scheme and devised a novel approach to searching solutions in an optimal routing algorithm, thus improve the routing performance significantly. Results from real-field experiments confirm the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed approaches which are prominent compared to the state-of-the-art solutions. The proposed approaches have been applied in a real urban traffic network of Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest city in Vietnam whose traffic is complicated. The experimental results and the practical deployed system reveal that the proposed mechanisms are ready to be applied in real-world applications. • Traffic routing is an essential service in most intelligent transportation systems (ITS). • This work proposes an effective routing approach in large cities to avoid traffic congestion, enhancing transportation capacity and safety. • Results from real-field experiments confirm the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed approaches. • The proposed approaches has been applied in a real urban traffic network in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research / Revue Canadienne de Recherche Vétérinaire is the property of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ga1 A new phenylethyl glycoside (1), (S)-1-phenylethyl-6- α -L-arabinopyranosyl- β -D-glucopyranoside), and a new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan (7), Kasuracin A, together with seven known compounds, were isolated and identified from the leaves of Kadsura coccinea. Their structures were determined by analysis of multinuclear and multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism (CD), mass spectrometry, hydrolysis analysis, or comparison to those reported in the literature. Then, all the isolates 1 ‒ 9 were evaluated for their inhibitory eff ;ects against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Among them, compounds 2 and 3 were isolated for the first time from this plant and compounds 3 , 7 , 8 , and 9 significantly inhibited NO production with IC 50 values of 36.4, 10.2, 12.3, and 21.7 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new architecture for generation of multilevel pulse aniplitude modulation (PAM-4) signal generation based on cascaded 4x4 multimode interference (MMI) structure used for optical interconnects and data center network . The proposed device can generate two ring resonator structures with capability of critical coupling control. The push-pull configuration then is used at two ring resonators for PAM-4 level generation, so a zero chirp can be achieved. In this structure an M-shape transmission can be createdfor the. first time. We use this properly jor an extreme reduction of power consumption with a lower level than 4-28 times compared with the PAM-4 generation based on the Mach Zehnder Modulator (MZM). respectively. Based on this structure, an extreme high bandwidth and compact footprint are also achieved. The whole device is designed and analyzed using the existing VLS/(Very-Large Scale Integration) silicon photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current competitive higher education environment in Vietnam, higher education institutions have focussed more on quality education services to improve students' satisfaction, which is considered an important factor for attracting and retaining students of these higher education institutions. This research aimed to examine Vietnamese students' satisfaction level about the quality of education services offered by the universities in 11 provinces in Vietnam. A total number of 25,631 students from those Vietnamese universities participated in the survey. The research results showed that the students were generally satisfied with the quality of education services provided by Vietnamese universities in those provinces. In addition, students' satisfaction of the quality of higher education services is influenced by three factors including educational activities, educational environment and access to education. The study also provided several implications, for those universities in particular and other Vietnamese higher education institutions in general, to enhance their education services to improve the level of education service quality for attracting and retaining students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]