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Abstract On 1 December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurred in Wuhan, China, and quickly spread around the world. In an effort to prevent transmission, global traffic flows were affected and lectures by international speakers at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy were streamed over the internet. Speakers from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mongolia reported on the status of COVID-19 infection in dialysis patients from December 2019 to June 2022. In addition, the situation in Japan is discussed in the introduction. In Japan, the mortality rate due to COVID-19 infection in dialysis patients was approximately 20% in a national statistical survey before the introduction of the vaccine, and decreased to 3.1% with the introduction of the vaccine. In Vietnam, the mortality rate was 42% in non-vaccinated recipients and 21% in two-dose recipients, but this was reported by a single center. Mortality among dialysis patients with COVID-19 infection in Indonesia was 57%, although reported by a single center. In Indonesia, 6 million people were infected with COVID-19, and the number of COVID-19 cases among dialysis patients was estimated to be around 52,200. Mongolia was considered to be the country that was able to move to vaccination while most effectively controlling the domestic spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 compared with many other countries.

The erosion and deposition are occurring more complex and unpredictable in the long coastline country like Vietnam. This study using numerical model method to investigate the erosion and deposition possibilities in Binh Thuan coastal areas, an area located in south-central of Vietnam. By utilizing MIKE 21/3 Coupled Model FM, we compared the current situation with the simulation of erosion and accretion under two extreme conditional scenarios: wave with 1% frequency, and sea level rise (SLR). The study simulated the semidiurnal tide, a featured characteristic of Binh Thuan coastal areas during the southwest (SW) and northeast (NE) monsoon, results seafloor changes overs 15 days. The first scenario shows that in SW monsoon, the coastal sediment in the southern part of Binh Thuan is being carried away, and deposit in the northern coastline, especially at Phan southern coastline. The SLR scenario results erosion in both monsoons at the rate of 8 − 15 mm^−1 day^ −1, but with higher erosion rate in SW. However, there is an exception where the information, can be used for management to protect the human-induced activities as well as preparation adaptation plan for upcoming climate change not only in Binh Thuan province but also in entire Vietnam.

A new method for the synthesis of adaptive state observation for a class of nonlinear non-stationary systems is proposed. This task is important and fundamental in control theory and is related to both the control problem and the task of monitoring the efficiency of the system operation. The solution to the problem is based on the generalized observer parameter estimation method to obtain the regression equation necessary for estimating the state and parameters of the system. Further, the dynamic regressor expansion and blending method dynamic regressor extension and mixing method is applied to identify the unknown system parameters. The paper proposes a method for estimating the state vector for a nonlinear non-stationary system in which the unknown parameters depend on the state vector under external disturbances. The results obtained are rigorously proved using mathematical theory. Simulation in Matlab/Simulink is performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed algorithm. The mathematical model of the considered objects is a nonlinear system of equations with variable parameters. Compared to previous methods, the method proposed in this paper is more general, especially in a system where the unknown parameters depend on the state vector with nonlinear functions. However, the problem is currently solved only for discrete systems. In the future, it may be possible to extend it to continuous systems.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between maternal and fetal genetic variants and the risk of preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related condition that affects women. Despite the unclear role of these genetic factors in the development of preeclampsia, this analysis aimed to provide insights into the potential contributing factors. An electronic search of online databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Stata SE software was used for the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used to establish the association between the genetic variants and preeclampsia risk. Egger’s test was utilized to evaluate publication bias. Ten observational studies were selected from databases that met the inclusion criteria and included seven genes and twenty polymorphisms to analyze preeclampsia susceptibility influenced by the genetic background of both the mother and fetus. Our meta-analysis revealed that both the maternal and fetal polymorphisms, FLT1 rs4769613, were significantly associated with the risk of preeclampsia. However, the association between the maternal ACE rs4646994 polymorphism and preeclampsia risk was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, a significant association was observed between the fetal ACE rs4646994 polymorphism and preeclampsia in a dominant genetic model. In this study, the associations between maternal and fetal polymorphisms in ERAP2, VEGF, VDR, REN, and MMP were not statistically significant. According to the available evidence, maternal and fetal polymorphisms can impact the likelihood of developing preeclampsia. Additional research is required to fully understand the underlying mechanisms connecting maternal and fetal polymorphisms to preeclampsia, and to formulate recommendations for screening pregnant women based on these genetic variations.

Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) Network Planning (RNP) is the problem of placing RFID readers in a working area where a tag is interrogated by at least one reader and at the same time satisfies some constraints such as minimum number of placed readers, minimal interference, and minimal outside coverage. The RNP optimization has been proven NP-hard; thus, natural-inspired approaches are often used to find the optimal solution. The paper proposes an energy-efficient RNP approach in which the positions of placed readers are optimized by a Hopfield network, and the energy efficiency is achieved through a placement area restriction technique. A mechanism of redundant reader elimination is also added to minimize the number of placed readers. Simulation results show that the Hopfield network-based energy-efficient RNP approach achieves the maximum tag coverage and energy efficiency by reducing interference, outside coverage, and the number of placed readers.

Background: The increasing prevalence of male infertility has become a global concern. Traditional Chinese and Asian medicines have long been using herbal remedies to promote spermatogenesis. This study aimed to systematically explore the potential of herbal medicines and formulations to enhance the male reproductive function in humans. Methods: Two prominent databases, MEDLINE and EMBASE, as well as scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science, were used for the literature search until October 2023. The studies included in the analysis focused on the impact of herbal medicines (Mucuna pruriens, Withania somnifera, Eurycoma longifolia, Panax ginseng, Lycopersicon esculentum, Crocus sativus, Vitis vinifera, Nigella sativa, Sesamum indicum, Curcuma longa, Lepidium peruvianum) and Chinese and Korean Polyherbal formulations (Shao-Fu-Zhu-Yu-Tang; 少腹逐瘀汤) on human serum reproductive hormone levels, semen parameters, and antioxidant enzymes. Results: A total of 23 articles were deemed eligible for the review and meta-analysis, which included 1,194 men from seven countries (China, Korea, Iran, Peru, Japan, Malaysia, and India). Of these, 19 articles were analyzed for semen parameters. The use of herbal medicine increased seminal parameters, including semen volume during each ejaculation (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.89; 95 % CI: 0.52, 1.26), sperm concentration (SMD = 1.97; 95 % CI: 1.30, 2.64), total sperm count (SMD = 2.28; 95 % CI: 1.44, 3.11), sperm motility (SMD = 1.07; 95 % CI: 0.68, 1.46), and normal morphology (SMD = 1.47; 95 % CI: 0.62, 2.32). Additionally, 18 articles that analyzed sex hormone levels showed that treatment with herbal medicines favorably reduced serum prolactin (SMD = -0.70; 95 % CI: -1.13, -0.28) and FSH levels (SMD = -1.07; 95 % CI: -1.56, -0.56). Meanwhile, herbal medicines did not affect testosterone levels (SMD = 0.41; 95 % CI: -0.24, 1.06) and LH levels (SMD = 0.45; 95 % CI: -0.33, 1.23). Finally, six articles were analyzed for seminal biochemical and antioxidant profiles, and the results showed that herbal medicine increased the levels of ascorbic acid (SMD = 1.19; 95 % CI: 0.51, 1.86), corrected seminal fructose (SMD = 1.32; 95 % CI: 0.89, 1.76), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) (SMD = 1.06; 95 % CI: 0.45, 1.68), and catalase activity (SMD = 0.91; 95 % CI: 0.69, 1.44) in seminal plasma. Conclusion: Herbal remedies have been found to promote spermatogenesis by optimizing semen parameters, sex hormone levels, and antioxidant profiles. As a result, these treatments should be regarded as complementary approaches to male infertility.

A One Health cross-sectoral surveillance approach was implemented to screen biological samples from bats, pigs, and humans at high-risk interfaces for zoonotic viral spillover for five viral families with zoonotic potential in Viet Nam. Over 1600 animal and human samples from bat guano harvesting sites, natural bat roosts, and pig farming operations were tested for coronaviruses (CoVs), paramyxoviruses, influenza viruses, filoviruses and flaviviruses using consensus PCR assays. Human samples were also tested using immunoassays to detect antibodies against eight virus groups. Significant viral diversity, including CoVs closely related to ancestors of pig pathogens, was detected in bats roosting at the human-animal interfaces, illustrating the high risk for CoV spillover from bats to pigs in Viet Nam, where pig density is very high. Season and reproductive period were significantly associated with the detection of bat CoVs, with site-specific effects. Phylogeographic analysis indicated localized viral transmission among pig farms. Our limited human sampling did not detect any known zoonotic bat viruses in human communities living close to the bat cave and harvesting bat guano, but our serological assays showed possible previous exposure to Marburg virus-like (Filoviridae), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus-like (Bunyaviridae) viruses and flaviviruses. Targeted and coordinated One Health surveillance helped uncover this viral pathogen emergence hotspot.

Abstract Background Many patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) have moderate-to-severe persistent AR. Meda Pharma’s AzeFlu (MP-AzeFlu ® ) is an intranasal AR treatment comprising a novel formulation of azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate in a single device. Methods This prospective observational study of 214 adults and adolescents in Austria with moderate-to-severe persistent AR assessed the effectiveness of MP-AzeFlu (one spray/nostril twice daily; daily doses: azelastine hydrochloride 548 μg; and fluticasone propionate 200 μg) for AR control in clinical practice using the visual analog scale. Symptom severity was reported on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. Patient demographics, AR phenotype, allergen sensitization, symptomatology, AR treatments in the previous year, and the reason for the MP-AzeFlu prescription were recorded. Results MP-AzeFlu treatment was associated with a rapid and statistically significant reduction in the visual analog scale score from baseline to each timepoint measured, including day 1 (all p