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Forest structure is a key component of its management and assessment in every forest ecosystem. In the study, 23 plots were established to obtain data on the acacia forest community based on tree size. Results from the study indicated that the acacia community could be broadly divided into two groups based on tree-size variables. The diameter and height frequency distributions of Group 1 were right-skewed, while those of Group 2 were more complicated. In both groups, there were positive correlations between tree-size variables, nonetheless the relationship between diameter at breast height and total height was best described using the cubic equation. Further, the Weibull and Sinh-Arcsinh (SHASH) best simulated the diameter and height frequency distribution. High-quality trees were found in a large diameter (> 30 cm) and height groups (> 22 m). In contrast, low-quality plants often concentrated on the smallest sizes. Therefore, trees with a diameter of 2-10 cm and a height lower than 8 m should receive attention to tend. Carbon stock in the two groups was 61.48 Mg.ha-1 and 64.21 Mg.ha-1, respectively. Tending solutions and measurements should be carried out regularly to promptly propose silvicultural measures and improve forest quality in future.

Abstract Background Pooling sputum specimens is one potential strategy for reducing the cost of using Xpert MTB/RIF, a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test, for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. We sought to compare the sensitivity of two alternative method of pooling. Methods Patients referred for assessment for TB, whose initial sputum was Xpert MTB positive, were recruited and their sputum specimens were pooled for analysis with sputum specimens that were Xpert MTB negative. Two alternative pooling strategies were employed: one in which the concentration of sample reagent (buffer) was maintained at 2:1 (standard), in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and another in which the concentration of sample reagent was reduced to 1:1. Results We tested 101 Xpert MTB positive sputum specimens. Among these, 96% of valid test results (95% confidence interval (CI) 89–99%) were positive using the “standard buffer method”. Using the “reduced buffer pooling” method 94% of valid test results (95% CI 87–98%) were positive. McNemar’s test for the difference in paired proportions did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.56). Conclusion We have confirmed that pooling of two sputum specimens for testing in a single cartridge is a valid method of reducing the number of cartridges required when using Xpert MTB to detect pulmonary tuberculosis. Two alternative pooling strategies tested here yielded similar results. Trial registration The present study was conducted within the Active Casefinding in Tuberculosis (ACT3) Trial. The ACT3 Trial had been registered with Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register on 8th April, 2014. The trial registration number is ACTRN12614000372684. (Retrospectively registered).

In recent years, the penetration of photovoltaic (PV) power generation in Taiwan has increased significantly. However, most photovoltaic facilities, especially for small-scale sites, do not include relevant monitoring and real-time measurement devices. The invisible power generation from these PV sites would cause a huge challenge on power system scheduling. Therefore, appropriate methods to estimate invisible PV power generation are needed. The main purpose of this paper is to propose an improved fuzzy model for estimating the PV power generation, which includes the clustering processing for PV sites, selection of representative PV sites, and the improvement of the conventional fuzzy model. First, this research uses the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm to fill in some of the missing data; then, two clustering algorithms are applied to cluster all the photovoltaic sites. Next, the relationship between the power generation of a single PV site and the total generation of all sites at the same cluster is further analyzed to select the representative PV sites. Finally, an improved fuzzy model is implemented to estimate the PV power generation. This research used actual data that were measured from PV sites in Taiwan for the estimation, verification, and comparison study. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method can obtain an average estimation error about 7% by using limit measurements from PV sites, highlighting the high efficiency and practicability of the proposed method.

BRAF mutations are uncommon in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accounting for less than 5% of all NSCLC cases. The utilization of targeted therapies in non‐V600E BRAF mutant NSCLC is considered controversial, although non‐V600E genotype is reported in ~50% of all BRAF mutant patients. We document the case of a 63‐year‐old patient with NSCLC harbouring a rare BRAF E501Q mutation, who had prolonged response to immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in Vietnam. The patient was diagnosed with metastatic PD‐L1‐negative lung adenocarcinoma and received pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy as first‐line treatment. After completing 35 cycles of pembrolizumab and pemetrexed, his disease has remained stable during the treatment‐free follow‐up period, and he is alive 38 months after treatment initiation at the latest follow‐up. Immune‐based therapy is an appropriate option for lung adenocarcinoma with rare non‐V600E BRAF mutation. Further clinical studies are necessary to determine the effectiveness of using immune‐based therapy in this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the characteristics and localization of the immunity protein NukH for the lantibiotic nukacin ISK-1. Production of nukacin ISK-1 bacteriocins by Staphylococcus warneri ISK-1; Localization of NukH in the cellular membrane; Degree of immunity of NukH; Target specificity of the immunity system with other lantibiotics.

Objective: In Viet Nam, tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys revealed that approximately 98% of individuals with pulmonary TB have TB-presumptive abnormalities on chest radiographs, while 32% have no TB symptoms. This prompted the adoption of the "Double X" strategy, which combines chest radiographs and computer-aided detection with GeneXpert testing to screen for and diagnose TB among vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was to describe demographic, clinical and radiographic characteristics of symptomatic and asymptomatic Double X participants and to assess multilabel radiographic abnormalities on chest radiographs, interpreted by computer-aided detection software, as a possible tool for detecting TB-presumptive abnormalities, particularly for subclinical TB., Methods: Double X participants with TB-presumptive chest radiographs and/or TB symptoms and known risks were referred for confirmatory GeneXpert testing. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all Double X participants and the subset with confirmed TB were summarized. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to evaluate associations between participant characteristics and subclinical TB and between computer-aided detection multilabel radiographic abnormalities and TB., Results: From 2020 to 2022, 96 631 participants received chest radiographs, with 67 881 (70.2%) reporting no TB symptoms. Among 1144 individuals with Xpert-confirmed TB, 51.0% were subclinical. Subclinical TB prevalence was higher in older age groups, non-smokers, those previously treated for TB and the northern region. Among 11 computer-aided detection multilabel radiographic abnormalities, fibrosis was associated with higher odds of subclinical TB., Discussion: In Viet Nam, Double X community case finding detected pulmonary TB, including subclinical TB. Computer-aided detection software may have the potential to identify subclinical TB on chest radiographs by classifying multilabel radiographic abnormalities, but further research is needed., Competing Interests: ALI, GLH, TBPN, VHV, THTL, TTTL, VL, VCT, NDBT and THM received salary support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Contract No. AID-440-C-16-00001 and Agreement No. 72044020CA00002. AM and ND were funded by the same USAID Contract and Agreement to conduct statistical analyses for this work. HMP (USAID) participated in the conceptualization of the work and in the manuscript review; USAID as the funding organization was otherwise not involved in the design, conceptualization, analysis or manuscript preparation. VLD, BHN, TTHT, VCN and VNN have no conflicts of interest to declare., ((c) 2024 The authors; licensee World Health Organization.)