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The graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites (AgNPs@GO) have attracted much attention due to their targeted effect and nontoxicity against normal cells. The toxic factors, including the chemical reagents during the synthesis of AgNPs@GO, must be considered and minimized for the cancer treatment application. This study aims to apply the response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) for investigating independent factors, including mass ratio Ag+/GO, temperature, and reaction time, to find the optimal conditions for graphene oxide-silver nanocomposite (AgNPs@GO) synthesis. The green tea leaves extract was used as an alternative reducing agent for the green synthesis of AgNPs@GO. The maximum absorption wavelength of AgNPs, highly dependent on silver nanoparticles' size and shape, was utilized as the target function. The results show optimal conditions for the green synthesis of AgNPs@GO with the mass ratio of Ag+/GO is 2:1 at 30 °C for 40 minutes. The average maximum absorption wavelength of the synthesized AgNPs@GO at the optimal condition of 416.78 nm, with silver nanoparticles on the GO sheet having an average size of 21.2 ± 5.61 nm, the round shape and distributed on the GO sheets uniformly, without aggregation. In addition, the synthesized AgNPs@GO was against HepG2, MDA231, and MDA453, with the IC₅₀ of 152.582, 152.428, and 199.844 μg/mL, respectively.

Although silver nanoparticles have long attracted scientists due to their remarkable antibacterial properties, the tendency of AgNPs to agglomerate results in diminished antibacterial activities and increased toxicity against normal cells. Among carbon-based nanomaterials, graphene oxide (GO), the oxidized form of graphene, can be utilized as a base for AgNPs to grow and disperse. Regarding the chemical approach, it is conventional to engage sodium borohydride (NaBH4) or hydrazine to reduce silver ions. However, using excessive amounts of these chemicals raises concerns about toxicity in biomedical applications and environmental issues. Here, this work report the synthesis of AgNPs@GO nanocomposites by reducing silver nitrate on GO using various green reducing agents, including ascorbic acid, Houttuynia cordata Thunb. leaf extract, Coffea robusta L. Linden (Robusta green coffee) bean extract, and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (green tea) leaf extract. The synthesized AgNPs@GO were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectrum, UV–Vis analysis, and dynamic light scattering, followed by an evaluation of the antibacterial activity using the diffusion agar method. The results demonstrate the high potential of green tea as a green-reducing agent in the synthesis procedure of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs@GO using green tea extract showed a similar UV–Vis spectral shape compared to the AgNPs@GO synthesized using NaBH4 with the maximum absorption wavelengths of AgNPs at 428 nm and GO at 203.5 nm. The AgNPs@GO synthesized also had the smallest average diameter (609.67 nm) and the highest magnitude of the zeta potential (29.83 mV) among all synthesized samples. Noteworthy is that AgNPs@GO synthesized with green tea extract demonstrated significant stability over 40 days. Furthermore, the results of the antibacterial experiments reveal that the diameter of the inhibitory zone was approximately 2 mm, half that of the control drug amoxicillin (1 mg/mL). In summary, green tea leaf extract emerged as the most effective reducing agent for the eco-friendly synthesis of stable and durable AgNPs@GO. This indicates a suitable and straightforward process for large-scale antibacterial production with potential applications in biological wastewater treatment.

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a renewable biomass source for cellulose extraction. In the pretreatment, SCB is processed to break down the cellulose-lignin-hemicellulose matrix and isolate components. This work proposes a formic/peroxyformic acid process for extracting cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from SCB. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (ss- 13C NMR) were employed to evidence the removal of wax, hemicellulose, and lignin from the raw SCB. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used for analyzing crystallinity, morphology, and thermal properties. SEM results showed that after lignin removal, the size of purified cellulose fibrils decreased significantly, and the structure of cellulose microfibers became smoother and more apparent. After acid hydrolysis of bleached cellulose microfibers, XRD analysis showed CNCs had the highest crystallinity (70.8 %). In TEM images, rod-like structures of CNCs were measured to be 23 ± 2.7 nm wide and 610 ± 18 nm long. The eco-friendly formic/peroxyformic acid procedure with a chlorine-free bleaching stage produced a white, cellulose-rich solid powder of CNCs.

Valproic acid and phenytoin are two prevalent antiepileptic medications known for their narrow indices and propensity for cardiovascular and respiratory system toxicity. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of valproic acid (VAL) and phenytoin (PHE) concentrations in patient plasma is extremely beneficial for improving clinical choices, avoiding adverse reactions, and optimizing treatment for individual patients. In this study, a rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitative determination of valproic acid (VAL) and phenytoin (PHE) in human plasma. Negative electron spray ionization (ESI-) mode with selective ion recording (SIR) was employed to determine the transitions of m/z 142.98 and m/z 250.93 for VAL and PHE, respectively. The internal standard (IS) betamethasone (BETA) was ionized using positive electron spray ionization (ESI+) and detected by multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode to obtain precursor ions and specific fragment ions for quantification, and the MRM transition was chosen to be m/z 393.17 → 355.16. The separation was performed using a Phenomenex Synergi Hydro-RP (4 μm, 250 × 4.6 mm, I.D.) with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile – water (75:25, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The column temperature was maintained at 25 °C. The lower limit of quantification of VAL and PHE was 3.6 μg/mL and 0.72 μg/mL, respectively, which resulted in a recovery of more than 85 % for most analytes. According to US-FDA bioanalytical technique validation, the specificity, intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy, matrix effect, carryover, dilution, and stability of all analytes were within acceptable ranges. This analytical method was successful in evaluating the levels of valproic acid and phenytoin in human plasma from epileptic patients.

Invasive fungal diseases are increasing globally, causing a large burden of disease in vulnerable populations. At the same time, antifungal resistance is rapidly emerging. Affordable nationwide and regional surveillance of fungal pathogens is needed.We have adapted a citizen-science methodology developed by a United Kingdom research group to study six key fungi in Vietnam, where there is no existing formal surveillance. These pathogens were ranked as high or critical in the World Health Organization fungal priority pathogens list and recognized as major disease-causing agents in Vietnam. Secondary school students (n = 90) in Hanoi were our citizen scientists, collecting soil (n = 90) and air (n = 90) samples for fungal identification and characterisation of drug-susceptibility in the laboratory.Pilot studies confirmed the effectiveness of our revised isolation procedure, which used selective culture media to improve the isolation of target fungi. Through active school and student involvement, optimized protocols, and our cost-effective sampling, the study could be scaled across Vietnam.We demonstrate an approach to fungal surveillance which also enhances science education, and awareness of fungal diseases. It addresses critical healthcare and education challenges in Vietnam while combating the growing issues of invasive fungal diseases and antifungal resistance.

The aim of this study is to improve the accuracy of information recorded in the South Carolina traffic collision forms. To accomplish this, it examines 200 forms containing information about fatal crashes in work zones between 2014 and 2020 to determine how many discrepancies exist between the written narrative and other fields. In addition to obtaining these statistics, this study seeks to identify factors that influence discrepancies. To test the hypothesis that crash complexity and weather influence the investigating officer’s level of processing (a theory developed by Craik and Lockhart in 1972), and consequentially his/her ability to complete the traffic collision form accurately, a structural equation model (SEM) is developed. The SEM is used to explain the relationships between measured variables and latent variables and the relationships between latent variables (crash characteristics, weather conditions, and level of processing). SEM results show that increases in collision speed, number of units, number of events, and temperature resulted in an increase in the number of words and characters written in the narrative, whereas increases in precipitation and humidity resulted in a decrease in the number of words and characters written in the narrative. Notably, the number of discrepancies was not statistically significant, suggesting crash and weather-related factors do not affect an officer’s reporting accuracy. A multiple linear regression model is also developed to identify factors that influence a form field’s frequency of discrepancies. The form field’s level of difficulty and its number of inputs are found to be statistically significant.

The study aims to investigate the factors shape digital entrepreneurial intention based on the application of the Social Cognitive Career theory. A sample of 345 engineering students and the structural equation modeling method are used to provides a better understanding of the factors (attitude toward digital entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy, digital entrepreneurial knowledge, and digital entrepreneurial education) that motivate engineering students to engage in digital entrepreneurship. The results indicate that attitude toward digital entrepreneurship significantly and positively impacts the digital entrepreneurship intention. Additionally, digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a crucial role in fostering a positive attitude toward digital entrepreneurship. The study highlights the importance of digital entrepreneurial knowledge, which positively affects both self-efficacy and attitude toward digital entrepreneurship. The finding emphasizes the significance of digital entrepreneurial education in enhancing knowledge and digital entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The results are anticipated to offer both theoretical and practical insights into the factors encouraging digital entrepreneurial intentions.

Acute methanol intoxication is uncommon. Methanol is mildly toxic, but its metabolites are formic acid and formaldehyde, causing total metabolism, visual disturbances, and central nervous system disturbances, leading to coma and death. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is very important for the diagnosis and prognosis of methanol intoxication. Putaminal necrosis with or without hemorrhage is the most frequently reported finding. Other affected areas that are reported in the literature are subcortical white matter, hippocampus, optic nerve, and cerebellum. We report 3 cases of methanol intoxication and discuss their brain lesions on MRI.

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. The tumor originates from Cajal cells, which generated peristaltic motion. Primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the liver is rare and should be considered in imaging diagnosis. We report a case of an 82-year-old female patient who represented with upper abdominal pain and poor appetite. Magnetic resonance imaging detected a large left lobe cystic lesion (10 × 15 cm). The tumor was resected. The histopathological and immunohistochemical results were of a primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the liver with cystic changes. On imaging, it is difficult to differentiate from other cystic lesions.

This study provides an update on the movement ecology of the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) in three distinct ecoregions of Vietnam. Using radio telemetry, we tracked 12 pangolins rescued from the illegal wildlife trade and translocated to protected areas. We found that the average home range of translocated Sunda pangolins was 1.58 km2 and did not vary significantly between sexes, mass, or habitat. However, there was a marked decrease in range size with decreasing sizes of suitable forest space and terrain, or a localized abundance of resources in some locations. Pangolins were most active from 03:00 to 04:00. The study highlights the need for further research to fully understand the ecology of this unique and enigmatic species.

Background: Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a group of autosomal dominant disorders caused by mutations in one of five keratin genes (KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT6C, KRT16, or KRT17). PC is an extremely rare condition. To our knowledge, this is the largest genotype–phenotype study of PC in a Vietnamese population to date. Materials and methods: We investigated keratin gene mutations and clinical features of seven Vietnamese children with PC. Results: The seven Vietnamese patients were from six different families (two patients in the same family) from across Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam. All children displayed PC symptoms before 1 year of age, but diagnosis was delayed in 4/7 patients. Thick fingernails, thick toenails, oral leukokeratosis, and follicular hyperkeratosis were the most common features recorded by all seven patients. Plantar keratoderma and thick fingernails were the clinical features associated with the most significant effect on daily function. All patients had mutations in KRT6A (PC–K6a) focused on the 1A and 2B domains. We found three distinct types of mutations (K6a R466P, K6a N171K, and K6a N172del). One mutation (N172del) was common to 5/7 (71.4%) of the patients. Conclusions: Individuals displaying nail dystrophy, oral leukokeratosis, follicular hyperkeratosis, and plantar keratoderma should be referred for genetic testing given the high likelihood of a PC-K6a-related mutation in patients with this constellation of clinical signs.

Background: Sommeratia caseolaris is considered the most important mangrove species for reforestation and conservation programs. Therefore, the knowledge of genetic diversity and the population structure of the species has important implications both for the conservation of existing genetic resources and development programs. In the present study, the genetic diversity and structure population of eight populations of S. caseolaris from the Northern to the Southern Coast of Vietnam were determined using nine ISSR molecular markers. Results: Eight populations of the mangrove species Sonneratia caseolaris were sampled across the natural range in Vietnam to evaluate the genetic diversity of the species. Nine ISSR markers were used to analyse 30 individuals from each population. There were moderate to high levels of genetic diversity (I = 0.447; h = 0.300). PCoA analysis gave very similar results to UPGMA dendrogram construction with the eight populations clustered into three genetic groups which mostly aligned with geographical distances among them. AMOVA analysis results indicated that most (81 %) of the genetic variation was within populations. Conclusion: The current study also indicates the high level of genetic variation existing among and within the natural population of S. caseolaris in Vietnam. These results open new perspectives towards the conservation of the species' genetic resources and their future use in conservation and reforestation programs.

The incorporation of extracurricular activities (ECAs) that focus on the English language is of utmost importance in higher education as it serves to improve students' interpersonal abilities and proficiency in language. The objective of this study is to ascertain the primary variables that serve as deterrents to the active engagement of university students in these activities. The results highlight notable barriers, including limited time availability and individual issues such as diminished self-assurance in social engagements and restricted competency in the English language. The findings of this study have significant significance for individuals learning a new language and organizers of English language immersion programmes. The research provides valuable insights into the creation of immersive environments that effectively facilitate language acquisition, experiential learning, and enhanced social interactions among students.

In this study, we have applied a stable downward continuation technique to magnetic anomalies from the global geomagnetic field model MAG2V3 to improve the resolution of magnetic data of the west central Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia. Then, advanced interpretation methods such as the tilt angle of the horizontal gradient (TAHG), horizontal gradient of a modified tilt angle (HGSTDR), and enhanced horizontal gradient (EHGA) have been applied to downward continued magnetic dataset to highlight the main structural features in the region. The observed geologic structures from the magnetic analysis revealed NW-SE, NE-SW, and ENE-WSW orientations in the west central Arabian Shield. The depths of these structures were computed by the analytic signal (AS) technique and the obtained result shows depths varying from 1.2 to 9.2 km. This study provided a new map of the subsurface geological structures for a better understanding of the tectonic evolution of the west central Arabian Shield.

Objectives: We conducted this study to describe whether mutations in the gene coding for the enzyme reverse transcriptase (RT) were related to drugs used in the treatment of hepatitis B in Vietnam. Methods: Patients receiving antiretroviral therapy with evidence of treatment failure were included in the study. The RT fragment was cloned using the polymerase chain reaction technique after being extracted from patients’ blood samples. The nucleotide sequences were analysed using Sanger method. The HBV drug resistance database contains mutations associated to resistance to existing HBV therapies. Medical records were accessed to collect information on patient parameters, such as treatment, viral load, biochemistry, and blood count. Results: Resistance mutations to lamivudine, telbivudine, and entecavir were found in the highest proportion (75–91.7%) of HBV samples from patients who had failed antiretroviral therapy. Only 20.8% of HBV strains had mutations exhibiting adefovir resistance, while none had mutations conferring tenofovir resistance. M204I/V, L180M, and L80I are frequent variants linked with resistance to lamivudine, telbivudine, and entecavir. In contrast, the A181L/T/V mutation was detected predominantly in tenofovir-resistant HBV strains. Following the drug resistance mutation test, patients achieved the greatest virological response after 24 weeks of therapy with tenofovir and entecavir at a daily dose of one tablet. Conclusion: Lamivudine, telbivudine, and entecavir were all highly resistant to the RT enzyme modifications in 24 treatment failure patients, with M204I/V, L180M, and L80I being the most prevalent mutations. Tenofovir resistance mutations have not been found in Vietnam.

This paper proposes a potential solution to the traditional method of rice field preparation and management by utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with RGB and spectral cameras. Farmers typically rely on their experience to deal with bad weather and prepare rice fields in the beginning of the season, resulting in time-consuming and inefficient processes. The proposed method uses UAVs to evaluate the rice fields from the start to the middle stages of the season. The UAV flight follows a pre-determined trajectory autonomously, capturing successive images using the attached cameras. In the soil preparation stage, Harralick texture segmentation is used to analyze the roughness of paddy fields’ surfaces (low land, normal land and high land). In this approach, image is segmented first, then areas belonging the same clusters are extracted, manually verified and labelled. These labelled images are used as training data for the proposed model. The result shows that roughness of field surface can be observed clearly with high accuracy at over 90%, with random forest method is at over 97%. In addition to this, the effects of rain and flooding are also considered during the reproductive stages. The results show that the proposed method achieves high accuracy in evaluating rice fields, which can significantly increase efficiency and productivity compared to traditional methods. The study highlights the potential of UAV-based monitoring to provide a cost-effective and efficient way to manage rice fields and improve crop yields, leading to higher food security and sustainable agriculture.

The LTHG and EHGA methods are enhancement versions of the gradient amplitude and can outline the edges of shallow and deep anomalous bodies simultaneously. Recently, these techniques have been used in approximating the edges of gravity and magnetic data. In this paper, we apply the LTHG and EHGA methods to the gravity dataset from the global gravity model WGM2012 to extract structural features of Northeastern Laos that appear as lineaments on transformed data maps. We also apply the tilt depth method to this dataset to estimate the depth of these lineaments. The findings showed that most of structures identified in Northeastern Laos are trending in the ENE-WSW, NE-SW, E-W, WNW-ESE and N-S directions with the depth ranging from 1.3 to 2.1 km.

The densification behavior and mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered titanium-molybdenum alloys were investigated in this paper. All Ti-(4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 wt%) Mo samples were sintered at 1200 °C for 5 min under 50 MPa. A significant relative density of 99.9% was secured for the Ti-based alloy with 16 wt.% Mo. The overall trend of hardness was similar to that of the relative density as Ti-16 wt.% Mo alloy showed the highest hardness values of 372 HV30 and 592 HV0.3 in macro (30 kg) and micro scales (300 g), respectively. Maximum ultimate tensile strength values (852 MPa at room temperature and 600 MPa at 600 ℃) belonged to the Ti-8 wt.% Mo sample. Such an observation was related to the formation of β-Ti phase and the strain-induced transformation phenomenon. The highest flexural strength of ∼2 GPa belonged to the Ti-12 wt.% Mo alloy, which may be a result of solid solution formation between Ti and Mo. Finally, average values of nano hardness, elastic modulus, and stiffness of various phases available in the samples with 12 and 20 wt% Mo were calculated through nano-indentation technique and the former specimen presented higher values in all the mentioned qualities.

TiO2 has gained tremendous attention as a cutting-edge material for application in photocatalysis. The performance of TiO2 as a photocatalyst depends on various parameters including morphology, surface area, and crystallinity. Although TiO2 has shown good catalytic activity in various catalysis systems, the performance of TiO2 as a photocatalyst is generally limited due to its low conductivity and a wide optical bandgap. Numerous different studies have been devoted to overcome these problems, showing significant improvement in photocatalytic performance. In this study, we summarize the recent progress in the utilization of TiO2 for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Strategies for modulating the properties toward the high photocatalytic activity of TiO2 for HER including structural engineering, compositional engineering, and doping are highlighted and discussed. The advantages and limitations of each modification approach are reviewed. Finally, the remaining obstacles and perspective for the development of TiO2 as photocatalysts toward high efficient HER in the near future are also provided. Keywords: TiO2, 2D materials, Composites, Doping, Photocatalysis, HER

This paper explores the relationship between global wealth and happiness. We employ a bivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity framework for global wealth and happiness represented, respectively, by FTSE All-World and Twitter's Daily Happiness Sentiment indexes from October 14, 2013 to December 31, 2019. We find that daily changes in happiness significantly mitigate wealth volatility, and daily wealth returns positively affect the changes in happiness sentiment. These findings reveal a spiral transmission in daily changes in happiness sentiment and global wealth volatility and returns. Metaphysically, our findings imply that the relationship between the mind and matter of finance is either materialist or monistically neutral. From alternative perspective, we construct a pseudo portfolio of global wealth and happiness indexes in which the factor of happiness plays a more important role. Thus, a concentration on happiness is preferable for the pursuit of multiple objectives, which essentially include mind and matter.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) occurs rarely in the pediatric population, contributing to 1%–2% of childhood malignancies. Lung metastases have been reported to occur in 7%–30% in this age group. Moreover, pulmonary metastases presented with miliary pattern of micronodules are uncommon in pediatric cancer patients. In developing countries, miliary lung nodules are most frequently seen in pulmonary tuberculosis. However, we herein report a rare pediatric patient with miliary pulmonary metastases from well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and discuss about differential diagnosis of miliary pattern of micronodules.

The use of noble-free materials to convert atmospheric CO2 into energy-rich fuels has gained a significant amount of attention in an effort toward decreasing global warming due to high concentrations of CO2. Metallic catalysts, two-dimensional materials (such as graphene and graphene based), metal oxides, and metal-organic frameworks have been used as catalysts in the CO2 reduction reaction and recently recognized as promising platforms due to their excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, outstanding mechanical properties, and good chemical stability. This review summarizes the progress made related to the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction reaction over the past few decades. In addition, the fundamentals and principles that govern both electrocatalytic and photocatalytic CO2 reduction are discussed. Then, a detailed discussion of the different electrocatalysts, photocatalysts, and strategies used to improve the performance is provided. Keywords: Two dimensional materials, Metal-organic frameworks, CO2 reduction, Electrochemical reduction, Photoelectrochemical reduction

The purposes of this study are to prepare the generic extended release tablet of potassium chloride (PC) 600 mg and to compare the absorption of potassium ion from the experimental tablets to that of Kaleorid® LP 600 mg (Leo Pharmaceutical Products, Denmark). Carnauba wax was used as retardant in the matrix core tablets. The core tablets were coated with blends of ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) to modulate the drug release. Results of a selective two-level, three-factor experiment design revealed that a blend of 41.75% of EC and 58.25% of HPMC at 4.5% weight gained could produce the coated tablets having dissolution profiles similar to those of Kaleorid®. A two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence crossover bioequivalence study was carried out on 24 healthy volunteers to compare the absorption of potassium ion from experimental tablets to that from Kaleorid®. The potassium ion in the urine was measured by a selective electrode of the ADVIA 1650 system (Bayer) and used to calculate cumulative urinary excretion and urinary excretion rate. Results of 90 percent confidence interval analysis showed that the limits for natural log-transformed cumulative urinary potassium excretion (Ln Ae0-24) of test product were in the range of 3.73–3.79 mEq, corresponding to 99.08%–100.92% of Kaleorid®, respectively, and the limits for natural log-transformed maximal potassium excretion rate (Rmax) of test product were in the range of 1.72–1.82 mEq/h, corresponding to 97.34%–102.66% of reference product, respectively. Both of them fell within the bioequivalence interval (80%–125%) of reference product, proving that experimental product is bioequivalent to Kaleorid®. Keywords: Potassium chloride, Ethyl cellulose, Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, Extended release tablet, Cumulative urinary excretion, Urinary excretion rate

To improve traffic safety in intelligent transportation systems, vehicles formed by vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) conventionally disseminate warning messages to their nearby vehicles as soon as a dangerous situation occurs. In this paper, we propose a novel scheme employing a novel story–carry–forward (SCF) mechanism to tackle the network partition and broadcast storm problems, which are two major challenges in VANETs. The experimental result in the Veins simulation framework shows that the proposed SCF scheme significantly mitigates broadcast storms relative to other schemes, and maintains good coverage across various traffic densities.

Background: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. or Vietnamese ginseng (VG) is a recently discovered ginseng species. Studies on its chemical constituents have shown that VG is remarkably rich in ginseng saponins, particularly ocotillol saponins. However, the psychopharmacological effects of VG have not been characterized. Thus, in the present study we screened the psychopharmacological activities of VG in mice. Methods: VG extract (VGE) was orally administered to mice at various dosages to evaluate its psychomotor (open-field and rota-rod tests), sedative–hypnotic (pentobarbital-induced sleeping test), antistress (cold swimming test), anxiolytic (elevated plus-maze test), and cognitive (Y-maze and passive-avoidance tests) effects. Results: VGE treatment increased the spontaneous locomotor activity, enhanced the endurance to stress, reduced the anxiety-like behavior, and ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. In addition, VGE treatment did not alter the motor balance and coordination of mice and did not potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleep, indicating that VGE has no sedative-hypnotic effects. The effects of VGE were comparable to those of the Korean Red Ginseng extract. Conclusion: VG, like other ginseng products, has significant and potentially useful psychopharmacological effects. This includes, but is not limited to, psychomotor stimulation, anxiolytic, antistress, and memory enhancing effects.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for cancer detection. However, multiethnic and multicentric studies of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are lacking. We recruited 221 NSCLC patients, 161 controls and 56 benign nodules from both China and America. Initial miRNA screening was performed using the TaqMan Low Density Array followed by confirming individually by RT-qPCR in Chinese cohorts. Finally, we performed a blind trial from an American cohort to validate our findings. RT-qPCR confirmed that miR-483-5p, miR-193a-3p, miR-25, miR-214 and miR-7 were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the ROC curve of this five-serum miRNA panel were 0.976 (95% CI, 0.939–1.0; P