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Heavy metal pollution in the soil environment is a worldwide environmental problem as it has negative effects on both human health and the environment. Remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil is essential to improve soil quality, provide land resources for agricultural production, and protect human and animal health and the ecological environment. There is the possibility of remediating these contaminated soils through the use of several heavy metal absorbing plants and Superabsorbent polymers. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are 3D polymer networks having hydrophilic nature, which can swell, absorb and hold a large amount of water or aqueous solutions in their network. This study evaluates the effect of superabsorbent polymer on Pb absorption capacity of Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides.L) that was grown on contaminated soil in Trai Cau iron ore dumpsite, Dong Hy district, Thai Nguyen province. The experiment was designed with five recipes and three replicates. The contents of SAP studied were 0, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 g/kg of soil. Uncontaminated soil was used as the control treatment. In the supplemented recipe of SAP, Vetiver showed better Pb treatment efficiency than the recipes without adding polymers. After 120 days of planting, SAP increased the tolerance and Pb absorption of Vetiver, improving soil properties. The best Pb treatment efficiency is achieved when using SAP with content from 0.8-1.0 g/kg soil.

Introduction: Single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release using modified Agee technique is widely used in Vietnam. Yet information on the anatomy of the target space of Vietnamese people regarding this technique is scarce. We aimed to characterise the anatomical landmarks and variations of the carpal tunnel to propose a safer surgery. Materials and methods: All twenty hands of ten fresh frozen, unembalmed cadavers of Vietnamese adults were included. Dissection was performed after the vertical line, Kaplan’s cardinal line and the distal wrist crease were drawn. The transverse carpal ligament (TCL), ulnar neurovascular bundle and superficial palmar arch were exposed. Measurements were made using Mitutoyo calliper. The variants of the median nerve and in the course of the thenar motor branch were recorded. Results: The median distances from the TCL distal margin to the distal wrist crease and superficial palmar arch were 31.2mm and 12.7mm, respectively. The ulnar neurovascular bundle was located 5.7mm and 4.4mm ulnar to the vertical line at the level of the TCL proximal margin and at the level of the TCL distal margin, respectively. The thenar motor branch of the median nerve was extra-ligamentous in 19 hands and preligamentous in 1 hand. Conclusion: If endoscopic portal is made along the distal wrist crease, blade assembly should not be inserted beyond the 35mm mark on its scale. Instruments should be aimed toward the radial border of the patient’s ring finger. Surgeons should be aware of the preligamentous course of the thenar motor branch although this variant type is rare.

In recent years, computer-aided automatic polyp segmentation and neoplasm detection have been an emerging topic in medical image analysis, providing valuable support to colonoscopy procedures. Attentions have been paid to improving the accuracy of polyp detection and segmentation. However, not much focus has been given to latency and throughput for performing these tasks on dedicated devices, which can be crucial for practical applications. This paper introduces a novel deep neural network architecture called BlazeNeo, for the task of polyp segmentation and neoplasm detection with an emphasis on compactness and speed while maintaining high accuracy. The model leverages the highly efficient HarDNet backbone alongside lightweight Receptive Field Blocks and a feature aggregation mechanism for computational efficiency. An auxiliary training strategy is proposed to take full advantage of the training data for the segmentation quality. Our experiments on a challenging dataset show that BlazeNeo achieves improvements in latency and model size while maintaining comparable accuracy against state-of-the-art methods. We obtain over 155 fps while outperforming all compared models in terms of accuracy in INT8 precision when deploying on a dedicated edge device with a conventional configuration.

BackgroundThe relationship between women who are exposed to secondhand smoke and preterm birth is still controversial. The present study aimed to examine the association between maternal secondhand smoking (SHS) during pregnancy and preterm birth.MethodsA 1:1 case-control study was conducted at delivery room of The Women's and Children's Hospital of An Giang, Vietnam. A total of 288 cases of preterm birth and 288 controls included in this study. A structured questionnaire in a face-to-face interview was used to assess SHS and potential confounders (maternal age, body mass index, occupation, education level, parity, antenatal care visits, history of preterm birth, prenatal bleeding and preeclampsia/eclampsia).ResultsSHS was reported more frequently by women who delivered preterm babies compared with women of term deliveries (67.4% vs. 51.0%; P ConclusionsOur findings suggest that exposure to household tobacco smoke during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth.

Transient simulation of two-phase gas-liquid flow in pipes requires considerable computational efforts. Until recently, most available commercial codes are based on two-fluid models which include one momentum conservation equation for each phase. However, in normal pipe flow, especially in oil and gas transport, the transient response of the system proves to be relatively slow. Thus, it is reasonable to think that simpler forms of the transport equations might suffice to represent transient phenomena. Furthermore, these types of models may be solved using less time-consuming numerical algorithms. La simulation transitoire des écoulements diphasiques gaz-liquide dans les conduites requiert des efforts de calcul considérables. Jusqu'à récemment, la plupart des codes de simulation commercialement disponibles étaient basés sur des modèles à deux fluides mettant en Suvre une équation de conservation de la quantité de mouvement pour chaque phase. Toutefois, dans les processus normaux de transport pétrolier dans les conduites, et spécialement de transport de pétrole ou de gaz, la réponse transitoire du système se révèle être relativement lente. Ainsi, il est raisonnable de penser qu'une forme simplifiée des équations de transport pourrait être suffisante pour reproduire de tels phénomènes transitoires. De plus, ce type de modèle pourrait être résolu numériquement au moyen d'algorithmes moins coûteux en temps calcul.

BackgroundFacilitation of local women's groups may reportedly reduce neonatal mortality. It is not known whether facilitation of groups composed of local health care staff and politicians can improve perinatal outcomes. We hypothesised that facilitation of local stakeholder groups would reduce neonatal mortality (primary outcome) and improve maternal, delivery, and newborn care indicators (secondary outcomes) in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam.Methods and findingsIn a cluster-randomized design 44 communes were allocated to intervention and 46 to control. Laywomen facilitated monthly meetings during 3 years in groups composed of health care staff and key persons in the communes. A problem-solving approach was employed. Births and neonatal deaths were monitored, and interviews were performed in households of neonatal deaths and of randomly selected surviving infants. A latent period before effect is expected in this type of intervention, but this timeframe was not pre-specified. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) from July 2008 to June 2011 was 16.5/1,000 (195 deaths per 11,818 live births) in the intervention communes and 18.4/1,000 (194 per 10,559 live births) in control communes (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.96 [95% CI 0.73-1.25]). There was a significant downward time trend of NMR in intervention communes (p = 0.003) but not in control communes (p = 0.184). No significant difference in NMR was observed during the first two years (July 2008 to June 2010) while the third year (July 2010 to June 2011) had significantly lower NMR in intervention arm: adjusted OR 0.51 (95% CI 0.30-0.89). Women in intervention communes more frequently attended antenatal care (adjusted OR 2.27 [95% CI 1.07-4.8]).ConclusionsA randomized facilitation intervention with local stakeholder groups composed of primary care staff and local politicians working for three years with a perinatal problem-solving approach resulted in increased attendance to antenatal care and reduced neonatal mortality after a latent period.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent iron-folic acid supplementation and regular de-worming are effective initiatives to reduce anemia, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and soil transmitted helminth infections in women of reproductive age. However, few studies have assessed the long-term effectiveness of population-based interventions delivered in resource-constrained settings. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The objectives were to evaluate the impact of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and de-worming on mean hemoglobin and the prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, and soil transmitted helminth infection in a rural population of women in northern Vietnam and to identify predictive factors for hematological outcomes. A prospective cohort design was used to evaluate a population-based supplementation and deworming program over 54 months. The 389 participants were enrolled just prior to commencement of the intervention. After 54 months 76% (95% CI [68%, 84%]) were taking the iron-folic acid supplement and 95% (95% CI [93%, 98%]) had taken the most recently distributed deworming treatment. Mean hemoglobin rose from 122 g/L (95% CI [120, 124]) to 131 g/L (95% CI [128, 134]) and anemia prevalence fell from 38% (95% CI [31%, 45%]) to 18% (95% CI [12%, 23%]); however, results differed significantly between ethnic groups. Iron deficiency fell from 23% (95% CI [17%, 29%]) to 8% (95% CI [4%, 12%]), while the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was reduced to 4% (95% CI [1%, 7%]). The prevalence of hookworm infection was reduced from 76% (95% CI [68%, 83%]) to 11% (95% CI [5%, 18%]). The level of moderate or heavy infestation of any soil-transmitted helminth was reduced to less than 1%. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Population-based interventions can efficiently and effectively reduce anemia and practically eliminate iron deficiency anemia and moderate to heavy soil transmitted helminth infections, maintaining them below the level of public health concern.

BACKGROUND: Hookworm infections are significant public health issues in South-East Asia. In women of reproductive age, chronic hookworm infections cause iron deficiency anaemia, which, upon pregnancy, can lead to intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight. Low birth weight is an important risk factor for neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity. METHODOLOGY: We investigated the association between neonatal birth weight and a 4-monthly deworming and weekly iron-folic acid supplementation program given to women of reproductive age in north-west Vietnam. The program was made available to all women of reproductive age (estimated 51,623) in two districts in Yen Bai Province for 20 months prior to commencement of birth weight data collection. Data were obtained for births at the district hospitals of the two intervention districts as well as from two control districts where women did not have access to the intervention, but had similar maternal and child health indicators and socio-economic backgrounds. The primary outcome was low birth weight. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The birth weights of 463 infants born in district hospitals in the intervention (168) and control districts (295) were recorded. Twenty-six months after the program was started, the prevalence of low birth weight was 3% in intervention districts compared to 7.4% in control districts (adjusted odds ratio 0.29, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.81, p = 0.017). The mean birth weight was 124 g (CI 68 - 255 g, p

Dengue has become a global public health problem and a sensitive diagnostic test for early phase detection can be life saving. An internally controlled, generic real-time PCR was developed and validated by testing serial dilutions of a DENV positive control RNA in the presence of a fixed amount of IC with results showing a good linearity (R2=0.9967) and a LOD of at least 1.95×104 copies/mL. Application of the generic PCR on 136 patient samples revealed a sensitivity of 95.8% and specificity of 100%. A newly developed multiplex real-time PCR with serotype-specific probes allowed the serotyping of DENV for 80 out of 92 (87%) generic real-time PCR positive patients. Combined these real-time PCRs offer a convenient diagnostic tool for the sensitive and specific quantification of DENV in clinical specimens with the possibility for serotyping.

BackgroundTo estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of a project administering de-worming and weekly iron-folic acid supplementation to control anaemia in women of reproductive age in Yen Bai province, Vietnam.Methods and findingsCost effectiveness was evaluated using data on programmatic costs based on two surveys in 2006 and 2009 and impact on anaemia and iron status collected in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Data on initial costs for training and educational materials were obtained from the records of the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology and the Yen Bai Malaria Control Program. Structured questionnaires for health workers at district, commune and village level were used to collect ongoing distribution and monitoring costs, and for participants to collect transport and loss of earnings costs. The cost per woman treated (defined as consuming at least 75% of the recommended intake) was USD0.76 per annum. This estimate includes financial costs (for supplies, training), and costs of health care workers' time. Prevalence of anaemia fell from 38% at baseline, to 20% after 12 months. Thus, the cost-effectiveness of the project is assessed at USD 4.24 per anaemia case prevented per year. Based on estimated productivity gains for adult women, the benefit:cost ratio is 6.7∶1. Cost of the supplements and anthelminthics was 47% of the total, while costs of training, monitoring, and health workers' time accounted for 53%.ConclusionThe study shows that weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular de-worming is a low-cost and cost-effective intervention and would be appropriate for population-based introduction in settings with a high prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency and low malaria infection rates.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency in women remains high worldwide. WHO recommends weekly iron-folic acid supplementation where anaemia rates in non-pregnant women of reproductive age are higher than 20%. In 2006, a demonstration project consisting of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular de-worming was set up in two districts in a northern province in Vietnam where anaemia and hookworm rates were 38% and 76% respectively. In 2008 the project was expanded to all districts in the province, targeting some 250,000 women. The objectives of this study were to: 1) examine changes in haemoglobin, iron stores and soil transmitted helminth infection prevalence over three years and 2) assess women's access to and compliance with the intervention. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The study was a semi-cross-sectional, semi-longitudinal panel design with a baseline survey, three impact surveys at three-, twelve- and thirty months after commencement of the intervention, and three compliance surveys after ten weeks, eighteen and thirty six months. RESULTS: After thirty months, mean haemoglobin stabilised at 130.3 g/L, an increase of 8.2 g/L from baseline, and mean serum ferritin rose from 23.9 µg/L to 52 µg/L. Hookworm prevalence fell from 76% to 22% over the same period. After thirty six months, 81% of the target population were receiving supplements and 87% were taking 75% or more of the supplements they received. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular de-worming was effective in significantly and sustainably reducing the prevalence of anaemia and soil transmitted helminth infections and high compliance rates were maintained over three years.

Blumea balsamifera L. essential oil (EO) has been known for its diverse antimicrobial activities. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of Blumea balsamifera EO against two strains of pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae) through in vitro and in silico methods. The phytochemical screening of the EO and other physicochemical properties (DFT, ADMET, and drug-likeness) were determined using standard protocols. In vitro results show that the EO possesses promising antibacterial properties with inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) of 10 ± 2 and 18 ± 2 mm, respectively, for S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae; MICs 2.50 and 1.25 μL.mL-1; MBC/MIC ratios 1 and 2. GC-MS characterization of the EO identified 17 constituents (1-17). The binding affinity of the compounds against the target proteins are in the following order: 16-P0C0C7 (-9.4 kcal.mol-1) > 4-P0C0C7 (-9.3 kcal.mol-1) > 15-P0C0C7 ≈ 17-P0C0C7 (-9.2 kcal.mol-1); 3-Q8DQF8 (-9.0 kcal.mol-1) > 4-Q8DQF8 (-8.9 kcal.mol-1) > 15-Q8DQF8 (-8.7 kcal.mol-1); 16-6LU7 (-9.0 kcal.mol-1) ≈ 17-6LU7 (-9.1 kcal.mol-1). The phytochemicals potentiality derived from quantum calculation were 3 (3.40 Debye), 15 (2.47 Debye), and 5 (2.03 Debye). The suitability for physicochemical and pharmacokinetic applications was assessed via reference to Lipinski's rule of five and Pires' interpretations, respectively. The analysis shows that (+)-2-Bornanone (3; 58.00 %) was the primary bioactive component responsible for the observable antibacterial activities given by its predominant content and favorable predictions. Compound 3 could further be investigated for its antibacterial activity by isolating and characterizing its pure form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia amygdalina L., commonly utilized in traditional Vietnamese folk medicine for the management of afflictions including liver diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels. Despite its extensive employment in local herbal remedies, there exists a scarcity of scientific investigations elucidating its pharmacological and therapeutic potential. This research investigated the antioxidant activity of leaf extracts using a range of solvents, including n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, ethanol, and water. The ethyl acetate extract was identified as the most potent antioxidant, exhibiting EC50 values of 8.42 and 71.88 µg/mL in ferric reduction and DPPH assays, respectively. The hepatoprotective activity, as measured using the cellular lipid peroxidation method of ethanol leaf extract (IC50 = 5.87 µg/mL) is 4.75 times stronger than the trolox. Additionally, the ethanol extract demonstrated significant inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes (IC50 of 480.00 and 72.53 µg/mL, respectively). The acute oral toxicity study conducted on a mouse model indicates a safety margin at the experimental dose Dmax = 18.44 g extract/kg. Additionally, this study encompassed a leaf microdissection of V. amygdalina, elucidating pivotal morphological features. So, it is safe for further studies and producing functional products for disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some generalizations of a Thébault conjecture, provides an analog of the Thébault conjecture for the -simplex, and also solves a conjecture in a 2022 paper by the authors by using linear algebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lepton flavor violating decays h → e b ± e a ∓ , Z → e b ± e a ∓ , and e b → e a γ will be discussed in the framework of the Two Higgs doublet model with presence of new inverse seesaw neutrinos and a singly charged Higgs boson that accommodate both 1 σ experimental data of (g - 2) anomalies of the muon and electron. Numerical results indicate that there exist regions of the parameter space supporting all experimental data of (g - 2) e , μ as well as the promising LFV signals corresponding to the future experimental sensitivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]