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Aglaonema cochinchinense is a rare species. It is found in some limited areas of southern Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. The present study provides its morphological, anatomical, phytochemical characteristics, and DNA barcode for the first time. The results from this study hold promise for using as a monographic literature in the identification of the medicinal plants as well as further application of this species in medicinal field and other related fields.

Banana leaf, being non-toxic, is often used in traditional cooking and medicine. However, its full potential is still largely unexplored. The current work aimed to screen for biological active compounds in banana leaf, and to establish an optimal formulation of tea using banana leaf and other banana by-products via a mixture design methodology. Obtained results show that banana leaf contains bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids), suitable for tea production. Using d-optimal-mixture-design, the optimal formulation (53% banana leaf, 30% peel, 16% corm, 1% sweet grass) was chosen for maximizing achieved total phenolic content, DPPH-inhibition and customers’ acceptance. Predicted and observed values were found to be in good agreement, pointing to the good-quality of the model. Additionally, the product met WHO-recommended limits for heavy metals and microbial contamination, assuring product safety. These findings indicate that Musa acuminata AAA by-products possess great potential as alternative sources of antioxidants for tea production.

Abstract Background Respiratory infections have long been recognized as a primary cause of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD). Additionally, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance has led to an urgent and critical situation in developing countries, including Vietnam. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of bacteria in patients with AE-COPD using both conventional culture and multiplex real-time PCR. Additionally, associations between clinical characteristics and indicators of pneumonia in these patients were examined. Methods This cross-sectional prospective study included 92 AE-COPD patients with pneumonia and 46 without pneumonia. Sputum specimens were cultured and examined for bacterial identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined for each isolate. Multiplex real-time PCR was also performed to detect ten bacteria and seven viruses. Results The detection rates of pathogens in AE-COPD patients with pneumonia were 92.39%, compared to 86.96% in those without pneumonia. A total of 26 pathogenic species were identified, showing no significant difference in distribution between the two groups. The predominant bacteria included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii and Streptococcus mitis. There was a slight difference in antibiotic resistance between bacteria isolated from two groups. The frequency of H. influenzae was notably greater in AE-COPD patients who experienced respiratory failure (21.92%) than in those who did not (9.23%). S. pneumoniae was more common in patients with stage I (44.44%) or IV (36.36%) COPD than in patients with stage II (17.39%) or III (9.72%) disease. ROC curve analysis revealed that C-reactive protein (CRP) levels could distinguish patients with AE-COPD with and without pneumonia (AUC = 0.78). Conclusion Gram-negative bacteria still play a key role in the etiology of AE-COPD patients, regardless of the presence of pneumonia. This study provides updated evidence for the epidemiology of AE-COPD pathogens and the appropriate selection of antimicrobial agents in Vietnam.

This research evaluates subchronic toxicities and analgesic effects of Stephania tetrandra S. Moore (S. tetrandra) liquid extract through oral administration in experimental animals. Over 4 weeks of subchronic toxicity research, S. tetrandra was administered to Wistar rats at a dose of 1.6 g/kg body weight (BW) (the dose is equivalent to the expected human dose) and 4.8 g/kg BW (three times the human expected dose), based on World Health Organization (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommendations. The analgesic effect was assessed using three models: hot plate, tail-flick, and acetic acid-induced writhing in Swiss mice. Regarding the subchronic toxicity test, after oral administration of S. tetrandra liquid extract, haematological parameters, hepato-renal functions, and microscopic images of the liver and kidney were unchanged compared with the control group. As a result, S. tetrandra liquid extract at both doses of 3.2 g/kg/day and 9.6 g/kg/day tended to reduce pain in the models. The low dose significantly showed peripheral analgesic effects, while the high dose demonstrated better analgesic activity at both central and peripheral sites. In conclusion, S. tetrandra liquid extract did not produce subchronic toxicities in Wistar rats, and has shown experimental analgesic effects.

In order to evaluate the success of integrating the Interactive Whiteboard into vocabulary lessons in terms of developing the fifth graders' vocabulary achievement, retention and learning attitudes, the thirteen-week quasi-experimental study was conducted in two classes with the participation of 40 fifth graders as the control group and another 40 from the same grade as the experimental group, respectively. The instruments included three vocabulary tests (e.g. one pre-test, one posttest and one delayed post-test); and the attitude questionnaire. The quantitative data obtained from these measurement tools were analyzed by SPSS. The findings of the study indicated that the Interactive Whiteboard activities positively contributed to the fifth graders' vocabulary achievement and retention of form, meaning and use. Besides, the fifth graders' level of motivation, interest, and active behavioural intentions increased via the Interactive Whiteboard.

Higher education is regarded as being of paramount importance in Vietnam and as being essential to raising the level of the country's labor force and promoting economic progress. Evaluation of lecturers is one of the institution's activities and a crucial component of managing human resources in higher education institutions. How to evaluate faculty members' overall performance using a range of criteria is one of the key evaluation-related challenges. This study presents a method that uses fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to assess and rank the performance of lecturers. Specifically, the evaluation framework is developed by identifying criteria and sub-criteria based on a comprehensive review of existing literature. Following that, the fuzzy AHP approach is used to determine the weights of the criteria and sub-criteria using the pairwise comparisons. The Fuzzy TOPSIS approach is employed to assess and prioritize lecturers identified through expert evaluation. When applied in group decision-making, utilizing fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS promotes agreement among decision-makers and diminishes uncertainty in decision-making processes. The utilization of the multiple criterion measurement approach can then be used to carry out the evaluation. The suggested framework is also demonstrated via a case study. The use of this framework can improve the evaluation's objectivity, accuracy, and scientific methodology. It is believed that this work will assist managers of higher education institutions improve their standards for educational quality.

National culture determines educational culture. The educational culture characteristics of each country will be demonstrated through the awareness of education, the way the educational apparatus is organized, and the way that education deals with the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic on a global scale. The study uses structural functionalism theory to systematize the elements in educational culture and analyzes these elements in symmetrical pairs to outline the Japanese educational culture during the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning of the year 2020 until now. In addition, from the view of the specific Japanese educational culture, the study also uses Hofstede's cultural dimension theory to analyze pandemic response policy.

Breadfruit's substantial carbohydrate content makes it a viable starch source, specifically resistant starch (RS) that helps prevent chronic diseases. This study investigated the effects of enzyme hydrolysis and microwave treatment (MT) on enriching type III RS in breadfruit. It also determined its structural and functional properties, including swelling power, solubility index, water absorption capacity, oil binding capacity, and syneresis. MT at 30 W.g-1 for 3 min resulted in the highest RS content of 74.8%, significantly surpassing pullulanase hydrolysis (1.0 U.g-1 dry basis for 12 h) at 17.3% RS. The breadfruit starch granules exhibited a regular shape, approximately 7.9 µm in length, whereas modified granules were less than 11 µm, along with observable deformation in their structural shape. In conclusion, the study demonstrates the efficacy of MT for enhancing RS content in breadfruit, highlighting its potential as a healthy functional ingredient and starch substitute.

PURPOSE: This study aims to integrate insights from the Socio-Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and entrepreneurship literature to develop a research framework of how perceived entrepreneurial opportunities (PEO) and perceived educational support (PES) shape the progression of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial career interests (ECI). Additionally, this study investigates whether ECI mediates the effects of PEO and PES on entrepreneurial intention (EI) and how PEO and PES moderate the effects of ESE and ECI on EI. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 888 university students was recruited from Vietnam. Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analyses were adopted to test the reliability and validity of the scales. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is then used to test formulated hypotheses. FINDINGS: The current study demonstrates that ESE and ECI directly trigger EI. Although PES and PEO did not directly impact EI, their influence on EI was mediated through ESE and ECI. In addition, PEO was found to act as a positive catalyst for the transformation of ESE and ECI into EI. The greater the entrepreneurial opportunities students perceive, the more likely they are to convert ESE and ECI into intentions to become entrepreneurs. IMPLICATIONS: This study makes a significant contribution by emphasizing the relevance of the SCCT framework in understanding entrepreneurship and brings to the forefront the role of PES and PEO in shaping the progression of ESE, ECI and, ultimately, EI. In addition, the findings of this study provide practical implications for nascent entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship educators, and policymakers. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This study is one of the first to investigate the role of PEO and PES in the development of Vietnamese students’ SES, ECI and, ultimately, their intention to engage in entrepreneurship.

Optoelectronic devices have various applications in medical equipment, sensors, and communication systems. Photodetectors, which convert light into electrical signals, have gained much attention from many research teams. This study describes a low-cost photodetector based on CuO nanoparticles and ZnO nanorods operating in a wide range of light wavelengths (395, 464, 532, and 640 nm). Particularly, under 395 nm excitation, the heterostructure device exhibits high responsivity, photoconductive gain, detectivity, and sensitivity with maximum values of 1.38 A·W−1, 4.33, 2.58 × 1011 Jones, and 1934.5% at a bias of 2 V, respectively. The sensing mechanism of the p–n heterojunction of CuO/ZnO is also explored. Overall, this study indicates that the heterostructure of CuO nanoparticles and ZnO nanorods obtained via a simple and cost-effective synthesis process has great potential for optoelectronic applications.