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Abstract Anti-disialoganglioside (GD2) antibody therapy has provided clinical benefit to patients with neuroblastoma however efficacy is likely impaired by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We have previously defined a link between intratumoral copper levels and immune evasion. Here, we report that adjuvant copper chelation potentiates anti-GD2 antibody therapy to confer durable tumor control in immunocompetent models of neuroblastoma. Mechanistic studies reveal copper chelation creates an immune-primed tumor microenvironment through enhanced infiltration and activity of Fc-receptor-bearing cells, specifically neutrophils which are emerging as key effectors of antibody therapy. Moreover, we report copper sequestration by neuroblastoma attenuates neutrophil function which can be successfully reversed using copper chelation to increase pro-inflammatory effector functions. Importantly, we repurpose the clinically approved copper chelating agent Cuprior as a non-toxic, efficacious immunomodulatory strategy. Collectively, our findings provide evidence for the clinical testing of Cuprior as an adjuvant to enhance the activity of anti-GD2 antibody therapy and improve outcomes for patients with neuroblastoma.

This study investigates the impact of ethical marketing practices and health consciousness on consumer attitudes and purchase intention for cosmetic products in Vietnam. A self-administered survey was conducted in August 2023 to collect data for our study. We received 250 valid responses after four months. SPSS software version 20 was employed for data analysis. Results showed that among three factors that affect consumer attitude, health consciousness played the most critical role, followed by product fairness and price fairness. Moreover, the attitude was confirmed in our study to affect the purchase intention of Vietnamese cosmetics consumers significantly. Our findings implied that cosmetic companies should tailor ethical marketing strategies to meet the preferences of Vietnamese consumers and boost their purchase intention.

In Taiwan, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities, resulting in substantial healthcare expenses. This research aims to evaluate both the frequency and the costs of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in individuals suspected of having lung cancer until their diagnosis of cancer. LDCT screening was not conducted on a population-wide scale, and asymptomatic participants had to cover the expenses for the screening personally or reimburse from other sources. If the screening results were positive or suspicious, National Health Insurance (NHI) could be utilized for subsequent follow-up examinations. This cohort study utilized the NHI Database and focused on individuals with suspected cases of lung cancer identified between 2010 and 2014. A total of 17,572 suspected new lung cancer cases were initially identified and assigned to the relevant International Classification of Diseases codes. Individuals with suspected lung cancer received a diagnosis following an average follow-up period of 2.24 (95%CI, 2.11-2.37) years, and required the use of 2.36 (95%CI, 2.20-2.51) repeated CT scans. The NHI expenditures incurred by the use of CT scans for monitoring suspected lung cancer cases were relatively modest.

This study develops and confirms a model that examines the relationship between Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC), Blockchain Technology (BT), and Internationalization Process (IP). It also requires various efforts to explore how Dynamic Accounting Information System Capability (DAISC) mediates the interconnections between BDAC, BT, and IP. This study focuses on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, which are widely recognized as crucial to the Vietnamese economy. The current research utilized the hypothetico-deductive method. The proposed model's hypothesized linkages were based on a comprehensive evaluation of relevant literature and investigations. The statistics database was created using a paper-and-pencil survey distributed to 612 accountants in SMEs in southern Vietnam utilizing the convenient and snowball sampling technique. A covariance-based structural equation modelling approach was used to assess the measurement and structural models in this research due to its ability to offer a strong foundation for analyzing intricate linkages within a research framework. The outcome confirmed the significant and positive relationships between BDAC, BT, and IP. Concurrently, these relationships were partially influenced by DAISC. The practitioners would greatly benefit from detailed insights on the findings, as they would provide guidance on how to identify and take advantage of the growth opportunities afforded by digital technology. Moreover, the observations could provide policymakers with new insights on necessary policy measures to support the application of digital technologies and encourage the implementation of a dynamic accounting information system, which could result in significant benefits in the future.

Abstract Background The benefits of mammographic screening have been shown to include a decrease in mortality due to breast cancer. Taiwan’s Breast Cancer Screening Program is a national screening program that has offered biennial mammographic breast cancer screening for women aged 50–69 years since 2004 and for those aged 45–69 years since 2009, with the implementation of mobile units in 2010. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance results of the program with changes in the previous (2004–2009) and latter (2010–2020) periods. Methods A cohort of 3,665,078 women who underwent biennial breast cancer mammography screenings from 2004 to 2020 was conducted, and data were obtained from the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. We compared the participation of screened women and survival rates from breast cancer in the earlier and latter periods across national breast cancer screening programs. Results Among 3,665,078 women who underwent 8,169,869 examinations in the study population, the screened population increased from 3.9% in 2004 to 40% in 2019. The mean cancer detection rate was 4.76 and 4.08 cancers per 1000 screening mammograms in the earlier (2004–2009) and latter (2010–2020) periods, respectively. The 10-year survival rate increased from 89.68% in the early period to 97.33% in the latter period. The mean recall rate was 9.90% (95% CI: 9.83–9.97%) in the early period and decreased to 8.15% (95%CI, 8.13–8.17%) in the latter period. Conclusions The evolution of breast cancer screening in Taiwan has yielded favorable outcomes by increasing the screening population, increasing the 10-year survival rate, and reducing the recall rate through the participation of young women, the implementation of a mobile unit service and quality assurance program, thereby providing historical evidence to policy makers to plan future needs.

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting the development of the night economy in Da Nang city, Vietnam on the basis of a survey of 346 domestic tourists choosing this as a tourist destination and participate in night activities and services. The author has synthesized the relevant background theory as well as previous outstanding studies on the issue of tourism development and night economy. SPSS 20 software was used to test the relationship between factors affecting the development of the night economy based on the viewpoints of tourists, residents and local authorities. The results of the study show that 05 factors affect the development of the night economy in Da Nang city in order: The development of a variety of services; Legal and safety regulations; cultural experience opportunities; infrastructure and traffic; service prices. The remaining two factors did not find any influence on the development of the night economy: tourism natural resources; promote and share. The study once again confirms the relationship between the factors affecting the development of the night economy and is a document to help researchers understand better in the research context in Vietnam, one of the leading countries in the world. developing countries and are limited in developing the night economy after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abstract Ozonated water (OW) is now being recognized as an innovative and eco-friendly solution for managing plant growth while also promoting the production of bioactive compounds and essential plant metabolites. This study aimed to identify the most effective duration of OW treatment to promote plant growth and accumulation of antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds in Agastache rugosa in a plant factory. Whole plants were subjected to OW soaking treatments for varying durations (0, 1, 10, 20, 40, and 80 s) at a concentration of 1 µmol·mol−1, once per week, at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after transplantation. Five weeks after transplantation, plant samples were collected for the analysis of their plant growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments and parameters, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, and bioactive compounds. Stem length was decreased in all OW treatments, while the number of flower branches, the flower fresh and dry weights were significantly increased under 20, 40, and 80 s OW treatments than in the control group. The net photosynthetic rate decreased significantly in 20, 40, and 80 s OW treatments compared with the control. Chlorophyll a concentration was the highest in the 20-s OW treatment, and chlorophyll b concentration was the highest in the 10-s OW treatment. Total flavonoid levels in plants increased significantly under 20-, 40-, and 80-s OW treatments, and their antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase) were significantly higher under 40- and 80-s OW treatments than in the control. Rosmarinic acid content increased significantly under the 10- and 40-s OW treatments, whereas the tilianin and acacetin contents increased significantly under the 20-, 40-, and 80-s OW treatments compared to those in the control. Our results suggest that soaking whole plants in OW for 20–80 s enhances the flower growth and bioactive compounds in A. rugosa for medicinal use. Graphical Abstract

The aim of this study was to find the optimal gibberellic acid (GA3) and copper sulfate (CuSO4·5H2O) concentrations to reduce the number of seeds and increase the quality of Bac Son mandarin fruit. In experiment 1, the control plants (without GA3) were sprayed with water, and the remaining plants were sprayed with different concentrations of GA3 (50, 75, 100, or 125 ppm). In experiment 2, the control plants (without CuSO4·5H2O) were sprayed with water, and the remaining plants were sprayed with different concentrations of CuSO4·5H2O (50, 75, 100, or 125 ppm). Spraying GA3 at 100 ppm in 2018 produced the lowest seed number and the highest theoretical yield. In 2019, spraying GA3 led to a lower seed number and a higher actual yield compared with the control. Similarly, spraying CuSO4·5H2O significantly reduced the number of seeds/fruit and significantly increased the theoretical yield in 2018. In 2019, the total number of seeds/fruit was significantly lower in the CuSO4·5H2O treatments than in the control. Importantly, both GA3 and CuSO4·5H2O treatments did not adversely affect the fruit’s biochemical parameters or yield. These findings demonstrate that spraying GA3 or CuSO4·5H2O at a certain concentration can effectively reduce the number of seeds per fruit in Bac Son mandarin without compromising fruit quality or yield.

Abstract In recent years, the global trade landscape has undergone significant changes, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and more recently as a consequence of Covid-19 pandemic. To understand the structure of international trade and the impact of these changes, this study applies a combination of network analysis and causal inference techniques to the most extensive coverage of available data in terms of time span and spatial extension. The study is conducted in two phases. The first one explores the structure of international trade by providing a comprehensive analysis of the World Trade Network (WTN) from various perspectives, including the identification of key players and clusters of strongly interacting countries. The second phase investigates the impact of the rising role of China on the global structure of the WTN. Overall, the results highlight a structural change in the WTN, evidenced by a variety of network metrics, around China’s rapid growth years. Additionally, the reshaping of the WTN is not only accompanied by a significant increase in trade flows between China and its partners, but also by a corresponding decline in trade among non-China-partner countries. These results suggest that China played a pivotal role in the restructuring of the WTN in the first decades of this century. The findings of this study shed light on the interpretation of the rapidly changing landscape of global trade.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing plastic surgery through its remarkable advancements in various domains such as image analysis, robotic assistance, predictive analytics, and augmented reality. Predictive analytics, powered by AI, harnesses patient data to predict surgical outcomes, minimize risks, and tailor treatment plans, thereby optimizing patient care and safety. Augmented reality and virtual reality technology are also reshaping the cosmetic surgery landscape, providing immersive experiences for preoperative imaging, intraoperative guidance, and advanced skills through simulation. Looking ahead, the future of AI in plastic surgery holds great promise, including personalized medicine, bioprinting of tissues and organs, and continuous learning through iterative improvement algorithms based on real-world surgical experience. However, amid these transformational advances, ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks must evolve to ensure the responsible deployment of AI, protect patient privacy, minimize errors and algorithmic deviation, and uphold standards of fairness and transparency. Our study aims to explore the role of AI in the field of plastic surgery with the potential for the future in mind. In summary, AI is considered a beacon of innovation in plastic surgery, enhancing surgical precision, enhancing patient outcomes, and heralding a future where interventions rely on personalized technology that will redefine the boundaries of aesthetic and regenerative medicine.

Salicylic acid (SA) plays a crucial role as a hormone in plants and belongs to the group of phenolic compounds. Our objective was to determine the optimal concentration of SA for enhancing the production of bioactive compounds in Agastache rugosa plants while maintaining optimal plant growth. The plants underwent SA soaking treatments at different concentrations (i.e., 0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 μmol mol-1) for 10 min at 7 days after they were transplanted. We observed that elevated levels of SA at 800 and 1600 μmol mol-1 induced oxidative stress, leading to a significant reduction across many plant growth variables, including leaf length, width, number, area, shoot fresh weight (FW), stem FW and length, and whole plant dry weights (DW) compared with that in the control plants. Additionally, the treatment with 1600 μmol mol-1 SA resulted in the lowest values of flower branch number, FW and DW of flowers, and DW of leaf, stem, and root. Conversely, applying 400 μmol mol-1 SA resulted in the greatest increase of chlorophyll (Chl) a and b, total Chl, total flavonoid, total carotenoid, and SPAD values. The photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance decreased with increased SA concentrations (i.e., 800 and 1600 μmol mol-1). Furthermore, the higher SA treatments (i.e., 400, 800, and 1600 μmol mol-1) enhanced the phenolic contents, and almost all SA treatments increased the antioxidant capacity. The rosmarinic acid content peaked under 200 μmol mol-1 SA treatment. However, under 400 μmol mol-1 SA, tilianin and acacetin contents reached their highest levels. These findings demonstrate that immersing the roots in 200 and 400 μmol mol-1 SA enhances the production of bioactive compounds in hydroponically cultivated A. rugosa without compromising plant growth. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the impact of SA on A. rugosa and its potential implications for medicinal plant cultivation and phytochemical production.

Nghiên cứu nhằm mở rộng mô hình chấp nhận công nghệ TAM xem xét sự tác động của sự Nhận thức về tính hữu ích và Nhận thức về tính dễ sử dụng VR lên Ý định thăm quan địa điểm du lịch, cùng với biến trung gian là Ý định sử dụng VR để trải nghiệm địa điểm du lịch. Bài nghiên cứu sử dụng phương pháp định tính và định lượng kiểm định độ tin cậy của thang đo, nhân tố khám phá, nhân tố khẳng định và chạy mô hình cấu trúc tuyến tính SEM, dữ liệu từ 410 người tại Việt Nam. Kết quả cho thấy, Nhận thức tính hữu ích và tính dễ sử dụng đều có tác động dương đến Ý định sử dụng VR, dẫn đến tác động mạnh mẽ lên Ý định lựa thăm quan điểm du lịch; Riêng biến Nhận thức tính hữu ích cũng có tác động dương trực tiếp đến Ý định thăm quan địa điểm du lịch… Sau cùng, hàm ý quản trị được đề xuất trên cơ sở kết quả nghiên cứu, với mục đích nâng cao chất lượng dịch vụ và thu hút khách du lịch.

This paper presents a twin dual-axis robotic platform system which is designed for the characterization of postural balance under various environmental conditions and quantification of bilateral ankle mechanics in 2 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) during standing and walking. Methods: Validation experiments were conducted to evaluate performance of the system: 1) to apply accurate position perturbations under different loading conditions; 2) to simulate a range of stiffness-defined mechanical environments; and 3) to reliably quantify the joint impedance of mechanical systems. In addition, several human experiments were performed to demonstrate the system’s applicability for various lower limb biomechanics studies. The first two experiments quantified postural balance on a compliance-controlled surface (passive perturbations) and under oscillatory perturbations with various frequencies and amplitudes (active perturbations). The second two experiments quantified bilateral ankle mechanics, specifically, ankle impedance in 2-DOF during standing and walking. The validation experiments showed high accuracy of the platform system to apply position perturbations, simulate a range of mechanical environments, and quantify the joint impedance. Results of the human experiments further demonstrated that the platform system is sensitive enough to detect differences in postural balance control under challenging environmental conditions as well as bilateral differences in 2-DOF ankle mechanics. This robotic platform system will allow us to better understand lower limb biomechanics during functional tasks, while also providing invaluable knowledge for the design and control of many robotic systems including robotic exoskeletons, prostheses and robot-assisted balance training programs. Clinical and Translational Impact Statement— Our robotic platform system serves as a tool to better understand the biomechanics of both healthy and neurologically impaired individuals and to develop assistive robotics and rehabilitation training programs using this information.

This study determined the degree to which students used peer feedback from Facebook to revise their writing papers and explored the students’ perspectives on a framework of using a social network for peer commentaries. The study enrolled two intact groups, 40 students in the control group and 32 students in the experimental group, at a university in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The student’s initial and final drafts, peer reviews, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The results indicated that 45% of changes were made in response to peer reviews, while 55% were made solely on the basis of the student’s own judgments. Additionally, the overall number of revisions made by students was greater than the number of revisions caused by comments at higher levels such as “Clause,”“Sentence,” and “Paragraph.” Numerous previous studies refuted the current study’s results, raising questions for researchers/instructors considering using Facebook as a forum for their writing classes because the students become more responsible for developing their writing skills.

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal dose of silver nitrate (AgNO3) for plant growth and to increase the main bioactive compounds in A. rugosa cultivated in a hydroponic system. The application of soaked diniconazole (120 μmol mol−1) to all plants at 7 days after transplanting (DAT) for dwarfing plant height, optimizing cultivation space in the plant factory. Subsequently, plants were soaked with 50, 100, 200, and 400 μmol mol−1 AgNO3 for 10 min at 25 DAT and harvested at 39 DAT. The results indicated that 200 and 400 μmol mol−1 treatments tended to severely decrease plant growth parameters compared to treatments with lower concentrations. The net photosynthetic rate was significantly reduced by the 200 and 400 μmol mol−1 treatments compared to treatments with other concentrations. The 400 μmol mol−1 treatment led to the lowest concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll a/b, total carotenoid, chlorophyll b, and the total chlorophyll. However, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was considerably increased in 50, 100, 200, and 400 μmol mol−1 compared to that of the control plants. A higher rosmarinic acid (RA) concentration in the whole plant was noticed with the 400 μmol mol−1 treatment compared with that of the untreated plants. The 100 μmol mol−1 treatment exhibited the highest concentration and content of tilianin in the whole plant. Concentration of acacetin 1 significantly increased in the whole plant with 100 and 200 μmol mol−1 treatments compared with that of the untreated plants. Concentrations of acacetin 2 and 3 in the whole plant were the highest with 100 and 200 μmol mol−1 treatments, respectively. The results demonstrated that 100 μmol mol−1 treatments can be used to increase bioactive compounds without severely limiting the plant growth and reducing chlorophyll concentrations of A. rugosa. Implementing this optimal dose can enable growers and researchers to cultivate A. rugosa more efficiently, enhancing bioactive compound content and overall plant performance, thus harnessing the potential health benefits of this valuable plant species.

The innovation of an extensive journal writing approach has made a big difference in the field of teaching academic writing. Previous studies found mixed results relating to whether journal writing could help students enhance their writing accuracy. The purpose of the current study is to investigate whether extensive journal writing (EJW) affects EFL high school students’ writing accuracy and fluency in the writing classroom. Sixty students in one of the high schools located in Tra Vinh city participated in the study. The quasi-experimental study was conducted in ten weeks. The participants were divided into two groups, namely the control group and the experimental group. Students’ writing papers, including pre-tests and post-tests, were collected for data analysis. Inter-raters were employed for analytic rating scales and written errors analysis. The results show that extensive journal writing had significant effects on the students' writing performances compared to those of students in the control group. Additionally, the number of words written in the students' post-test was increasing. The current study's findings were innovative to the body of literature as the EJW could help students enhance their writing performances.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: : The incidence of carbapenem resistance among nosocomial Gram-negative bacteria in Vietnam is high and increasing, including among Enterobacterales. In this study, we assessed the presence of one of the main carbapenemase genes, blaKPC, among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, between 2010 and 2015, and described their key molecular characteristics. Methods: : KPC-producing Enterobacterales were detected using conventional PCR and were further analysed using S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE), Southern blotting and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for sequence typing and genetic characterisation. Results: : blaKPC genes were detected in 122 (20.4%) of 599 CRE isolates. blaKPC-carrying plasmids were diverse in size. Klebsiella pneumoniae harbouring blaKPC genes belonged to ST15 and ST11, whereas KPC-producing Escherichia coli showed more diverse sequence types including ST3580, ST448, ST709 and ST405. Genotypic relationships supported the hypothesis of circulation of a population of ‘resident’ resistant bacteria in one hospital through the years and of transmission among these hospitals via patient transfer. WGS results revealed co-carriage of several other antimicrobial resistance genes and three different genetic contexts of blaKPC-2. Among these, the combination of ISEcp1–blaCTX-M and ISKpn27–blaKPC–ΔISKpn6 on the same plasmid is reported for the first time. Conclusion: : We describe the dissemination of blaKPC-expressing Enterobacterales in four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, since 2010, which may have started earlier, along with their resistance patterns, sequence types, genotypic relationship, plasmid sizes and genetic context, thereby contributing to the overall picture of the antimicrobial resistance situation in Enterobacterales in Vietnam.

Abstract Australia faces a dryness disaster whose impact may be mitigated by rainfall prediction. Being an incredibly challenging task, yet accurate prediction of rainfall plays an enormous role in policy making, decision making and organizing sustainable water resource systems. The ability to accurately predict rainfall patterns empowers civilizations. Though short-term rainfall predictions are provided by meteorological systems, long-term prediction of rainfall is challenging and has a lot of factors that lead to uncertainty. Historically, various researchers have experimented with several machine learning techniques in rainfall prediction with given weather conditions. However, in places like Australia where the climate is variable, finding the best method to model the complex rainfall process is a major challenge. The aim of this paper is to: (a) predict rainfall using machine learning algorithms and comparing the performance of different models. (b) Develop an optimized neural network and develop a prediction model using the neural network (c) to do a comparative study of new and existing prediction techniques using Australian rainfall data. In this paper, rainfall data collected over a span of ten years from 2007 to 2017, with the input from 26 geographically diverse locations have been used to develop the predictive models. The data was divided into training and testing sets for validation purposes. The results show that both traditional and neural network-based machine learning models can predict rainfall with more precision.

The application of robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques is new and generates numerous benefits for patients. Here, we summarise the experience of our first series through 52 cases of prostate cancer treated by robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in the Department of Urology of Binh Dan Hospital, from December 2016 to September 2017, to study the learning curves of this procedure. In this clinical comparative study, 52 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer (clinical stage T1 to T3) received RARP with and without nerve sparing as well as standard pelvic lymphadenectomy. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to their surgeon (surgeons A, B, C, and D, with 22, 12, 10, and 8 patients, respectively) for comparison. Research variables were cancer stage, preand postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum levels, Gleason scores, lymph node metastasis, estimated blood loss, surgery time, urinary incontinence, hospital stay, and complications. Mean age, PSA, and stage of cancer were statistically similar (p>0.3). Operative times were 194.55, 269.17, 236.00, and 306.88 min, respectively (p

Daylength-extension lighting (DE) is used in the cannabis industry to increase plant size and produce cuttings by regulating flowering and extending the vegetative stage. Growers have reported incomplete or transitional inflorescences in several Cannabis cultivars even when exposed to long photoperiods. Cannabis sativa L. ‘Suver Haze’ has been reported to develop incomplete inflorescences in North Carolina nurseries using photoperiods of 15 h. The objectives of this study were to investigate the required light intensity and photoperiod to inhibit the flowering of ‘Suver Haze’. In Experiment 1, DE of 1.0, 2.5, 5.8, and 10.3 µmol·m−2·s−1 of photosynthetic photon flux density from incandescent lamps were used to extend the photoperiod of ‘Suver Haze’ from 9 to 15 h. A 9 h photoperiod control was included. The results showed that all DE treatments stopped the full transition to flowering compared to the control; however, all DE-treated plants showed the presence of incomplete inflorescences. In Experiment 2, three photoperiod treatments of 15 h, 18 h, and 21 h were tested. ‘Suver Haze’ under 18 h and 21 h photoperiods did not develop incomplete inflorescences in contrast to plants in 15 h photoperiod. Therefore, a light intensity of at least 1.0 µmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD and an 18 h photoperiod are required to prevent incomplete inflorescences and flowering of ‘Suver Haze’.

The trend of developing a green economy is becoming a global trend and is supported and promoted by many countries and international organizations. The green economy focuses on sustainable development and minimizing negative impacts on the environment and natural resources. Around the world, many countries have launched plans and policies to promote the green economy, including the transition to renewable energy, waste treatment and reuse, enhancing energy efficiency and resources, encouraging the use of green products and services. The construction industry plays an important role in the economy but also contributes significantly to environmental pollution, resource use and carbon emissions globally. Developing the construction industry in a green economy is one of the important approaches to achieving sustainability in the construction sector. In Vietnam, the Government has launched many policies and plans to encourage the development of a green economy. Activities include promoting the use of renewable energy, promoting the use of electric vehicles and green products and services, improving air and water quality, and disposing of waste in a sustainable manner. The construction industry in particular has also begun to transition to a green building model, in which many construction works have been designed and built using international standards and certifications on green construction. However, the development of a green economy, including the construction industry, still faces many challenges, including high costs and lack of resources, as well as necessary changes in the way companies and organizations operate.

Collaborative writing is widely researched for its effects on students’ writing accuracy; however, previous research studies fail to prove its effects on students’ writing fluency. Also, none of the previous studies have investigated the framework for students to compose argumentative essays collaboratively. The purpose of this article is to fill these gaps. Sixty-two sophomore English-major students at a university in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, participated in the study. One difference in the treatment between the two groups was the composing stage. Twenty-seven students from the control group composed essays individually after they worked together for idea development to make an outline, whereas 35 students from the experimental group composed essays collaboratively. Data collection was from students’ pretests, posttests of both individually and collaboratively written papers, and from the semi-structured interviews. The study reveals that collaborative writing had great effects on students’ writing fluency in both collaboratively written papers and individually written papers. Also, the study invented an efficient framework for collaborative writing activities so that writing instructors could employ to their writing classrooms if they wish to.

Abnormal connections between systemic and pulmonary vascular systems are rare conditions and have been mostly documented in the pediatric population. We report a case of type B isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation in an adult. The patient's chief complaint was intermittent hemoptysis during physical exertion. He had a dual arterial supply from the anomalous systemic artery and the pulmonary artery to the left lower lobe and the venous drainage was through the pulmonary vein. The bronchial connection appeared normal. The fistula was identified on chest computed tomography and was treated endovascularly. The patient remains asymptomatic at 1-year follow-up.

Fisheries and aquaculture production in the coastal zone of Vietnam contribute significantly to the national economy. However, seafood quality and safety, especially in terms of metal contents, are of increasing concern, for both domestic and international markets. This paper presents the results of an investigation in some trace metal elements (iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)) concentrations in some fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs in the coastal zone of the Red River (in the Ba Lat estuary in Thai Binh and Nam Dinh provinces) during four sampling campaigns in 2020. All samples were treated by a green sample preparation using microwave digestion and then analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that the trace metal element concentrations in fish, crustacean, and mollusc samples decreased in the following order: Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > As > Cd ∼ Hg. In more details, the ranges of trace metal elements in seafood samples were 13.13–202.73; 7.63–82.71; 0.48–22.73; 0.72–15.58; 0.18–5.12; 0.001–1.114; and 0.001–0.923 mg·kg−1 for Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, As, Cd, and Hg, respectively. The research results contribute to the dataset of the seafood (both fishery and aquacultural seafood) quality in the Red River coastal zone. Although the mean values of different trace metal elements observed in this study were lower than the allowed values of Vietnam’s or European’s threshold for food safety, some high concentrations were detected. The survey results suggest the need to expand the monitoring scope (frequency of monitoring, number of samples, and observed variables) for obtaining a fully comprehensive assessment of seafood quality in this region. Our results also indicate that it is necessary to manage water quality in coastal areas, especially where aquaculture activities are carried out.

Abstract Background Early‐onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) refers to that of patients who have been diagnosed or had onset of motor symptoms before age 50, accounting for 4% of Parkinson's disease patients. The PRKN and PINK1 genes, both involved in a metabolic pathway, are associated with EOPD. Methods To identify variants associated with EOPD, coding region of PARKIN and PINK1 genes in 112 patients and 112 healthy individuals were sequenced. Multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification kit was used to determine EOPD patients that carried mutations in PRKN and PINK1 genes. Results and Conclusion Three rare and three novel mutations in total of 14 variants of PARKIN and PINK1 were detected in the EOPD cohorts. Mutations of PRKN and PINK1 genes were found in five (4.4%) patients, which were four patients with compound heterozygous variants in the PRKN and one case with a homozygous mutation of the PINK1 gene. The novel mutations might reduce the stability of the PRKN and PINK1 protein molecules. The frequency of homozygous mutant genotype p.A340T of the PINK1 in the EOPD cohort was higher than in control (p = 0.0001, OR = 5.704), suggesting this variant might be a risk factor for EOPD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of PRKN and PINK1 genes conducted on Vietnamese EOPD patients. These results might contribute to the genetic screening of EOPD in Vietnam.

Background We systematically reviewed the evidence on how primary healthcare workers obtain information during consultations to support decision-making for prescribing in low and lower middle-income countries.Methods We searched electronic databases, consulted the Healthcare Information For All network, hand searched reference lists, ran citation searches of included studies and emailed authors of identified papers. Two reviewers extracted data and appraised quality with relevant tools.Results Of 60 497 records found, 23 studies met our inclusion criteria. Fourteen studies were observational and nine were interventional. Frequently mentioned sources of information were books, leaflets, guidelines, aids and the internet. These sources were sometimes out of date and health workers reported being confused which to use. Internet access varied and even when it was available, use was limited by technical issues. Of the five electronic tools that were assessed, four had positive outcomes. Tools assisted prescribers with medicine selection and dosage calculations, which increased prescribing accuracy. The quality of reporting varied but was overall low.Discussion Studies indicated a lack of up-to-date and relevant medicine information in low and lower middle-income settings. Internet-based sources appeared to be useful when it is possible to download content for offline use and to update when there is internet access. Electronic tools showed promise, but their accuracy needs to be validated and they should focus on giving actionable advice to guide prescribers.PROSPERO registration number CRD42018091088.

Use of renewable power technology in urban area can help the buildings to minimize the carbon footprint, meet theelectricity needs and achieve the nearly zero-energy building. In this study, the design results of the rooftop grid-tied PVpower system with the capacity of 56.7kW for a research institute building in Vietnam are analyzed. The study resultshave calculated the electricity generation, performance of the rooftop grid-tied PV power system as well as reductionpotential of the amount of CO2 emitted into the environment. The design results of the rooftop grid-tied PV power systemfor a research institute building will be compared with the actual power generation results of an installed rooftop grid-tiedPV power system at a building of General Directorate of Energy - Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade in the samecity.

The current study adopted features of a survey research design to examine the EFL high school teachers’ beliefs about writing and its teaching, their actual classroom practices, and the interplays between their beliefs and practices in the realm of EFL writing instruction. A sample of seventy-six EFL teachers from the eight selected high schools situated in Ho Chi Minh City was recruited for the current survey. The beliefs and practices of EFL writing instruction of these studied teachers were elicited through a thirty-nine-item questionnaire, which was qualitatively analyzed by SPSS 20.0. The study results showed that most of the participants held different views/orientations about writing skills and teaching writing, consisting of form-based, cognitive process-based, functional social-based, and interactive social-based views; nevertheless, the form-based orientation was still most dominant in their beliefs. On the contrary, in practice, most high school teachers followed the product approach, which underlies form-based orientation in lieu of different approaches, explicitly interpreting the writing section’s low results in the Vietnamese National GCSE examination in recent years.

Abstract Background Dengue virus remains a major threat in Vietnam, while chikungunya virus is expected to become one. Surveillance was conducted from 2012 to 2014 in Vietnam to assess the presence of dengue and chikungunya viruses in patients hospitalized with acute fever in five Vietnam provinces neighboring Lao PDR and Cambodia. Surveillance was extended to mosquitoes present in the vicinity of the patients’ households. Results A total 558 human serum samples were collected along with 1104 adult mosquitoes and 12,041 larvae from 2250 households. Dengue virus was found in 17 (3%) human serum samples and in 9 (0.8%) adult mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus was detected in 2 adult mosquitoes (0.18%) while no chikungunya virus was detected in humans. Differing densities of mosquito populations were found, with the highest in the Long An Province border with Cambodia. Long An Province also displayed the lowest rate of infection, despite a very high Breteau Index, high human population density and presence of the main cross border road system. The highest incidence was found in Dac Nong Province, where the Breteau and Container indices were the second lowest. Dengue virus was detected in five Aedes albopictus, three Aedes aegypti and one Culex vishnui. Chikungunya virus was detected in two Ae. aegypti. All infected mosquitoes belonged to haplotypes described in other parts of the world and a number of novel haplotypes were found among uninfected mosquitoes. Conclusions Dengue is considered to be regularly introduced to Vietnam from Cambodia, mostly through human movement. The data reported here provides a complementary picture. Due to intensive international trade, long-distance transportation of mosquito populations may play a role in the regular importation of dengue in Vietnam through Ho Chi Minh City. It is important to decipher the movement of mosquitoes in Vietnam, not only at the Lao PDR and Cambodia borders but also through international trade routes. Mosquito surveillance programs should address and follow mosquito populations instead of mosquito species.

Recent advancements in light-emitting diode technology provide an opportunity to evaluate the correlation between different light sources and plant growth as well as their secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal light intensity and photoperiod for increasing plant growth and glucosinolate concentration and content in watercress. Two-week-old seedlings were transplanted in a semi-deep flow technique system of a plant factory for 28 days under four photoperiod–light intensity treatments (12 h—266 µmol·m−2·s−1, 16 h—200 µmol·m−2·s−1, 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1, and 24 h—133 µmol·m−2·s−1) with the same daily light integral. The mean values of shoot fresh and dry weights were the highest under the 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment, although there was no significant difference. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance gradually decreased with decreasing light intensity and increasing photoperiod. However, total glucosinolate concentration was significantly higher under 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 24 h—133 µmol·m−2·s−1 compared with 12 h—266 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 16 h—200 µmol·m−2·s−1. The total glucosinolate content was the greatest under 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment. These data suggest that the 20 h—160 µmol·m−2·s−1 treatment promoted the maximum shoot biomass and glucosinolate content in watercress. This study supplies the optimal light strategies for the future industrial large-watercress cultivation.

Electrokinetics methods have attracted increasing interest to characterize hydrogeological processes in geological media, especially in complex hydrosystems such as fractured formations. In this work, we conceptualize fractured media as a bunch of parallel capillary fractures following the fractal size distribution. This conceptualization permits to obtain analytical models for both the electrical conductivity and the electrokinetic coupling in water saturated fractured media. We explore two different approaches to express the electrokinetic coupling. First, we express the streaming potential coupling coefficient as a function of the zeta potential and then we obtain the effective charge density in terms of macroscopic hydraulic and electrokinetic parameters of porous media. We show that when the surface electrical conductivity is negligible, the proposed models reduces to the previously proposed one based on a bundle of cylindrical capillaries. This model opens up a wide range of applications to monitor the water flow in fractured media.

This study aimed to determine the optimal indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentration in a nutrient solution to increase the bioactive compounds while enhancing the plant growth of A. rugosa grown hydroponically. Twenty-eight-day-old plants were transplanted in a plant factory for 32 days. The plants were subjected to various IAA concentrations (10−11, 10−9, 10−7, and 10−5 M) from 8 days after transplanting, and the control treatment (without IAA). Shoot and root fresh weights were effectively improved under 10−7 and 10−9 IAA treatments. Leaf gas exchange parameters were increased under 10−7 and 10−9 IAA treatments. Four of the IAA treatments, except 10−11 IAA treatment, significantly increased the rosmarinic acid (RA) concentration, as well as the tilianin concentration was significantly increased at all IAA treatments, compared with that of the control. Especially, the tilianin concentration of the 10−11 IAA treatment was significantly (1.8 times) higher than that of the control. The IAA treatments at 10−5 and 10−7 significantly raised the acacetin concentrations (1.6- and 1.7-times, respectively) compared to those of the control. These results suggested that 10−7 concentration of IAA in a nutrient solution was effective for enhancing plant growth and increasing bioactive compounds in A. rugosa, which offers an effective strategy for increasing phytochemical production in a plant factory.

Plants respond to root temperature stresses by producing antioxidants as a defense mechanism. Since a number of these are phytochemicals with enhancing effects on human health, we examined the effects of 4 root-zone temperature (RZT) treatments (10, 20, 28, and 36 °C) on plant growth and the main bioactive compound concentrations in each organ of Agastache rugosa plants. We aimed to determine the optimal RZT treatment to increase bioactive compound concentrations with no deleterious effects on plant growth. Four-week-old seedlings were grown in a plant factory for 32 days. Nine plant growth parameters, namely, shoot and root fresh weights, stem and root lengths, leaf length and leaf width, leaf area, and shoot and root dry weights were significantly decreased at 10 and 36 °C compared with other treatments. A similar pattern was observed for the chlorophyll content and leaf gas exchange parameters. Of all the RZT treatments, RZT at 28 °C produced the significantly greatest accumulation of two major bioactive compounds, namely, rosmarinic acid (RA) and tilianin contents per the A. rugosa plant, and had no adverse effects on the overall growth of A. rugosa. This supports the use of 28 °C RZT to successfully improve the bioactive compounds with no adverse influence on plant growth or yield.

The objective of this study was to determine the proper electrical conductivity (EC) of a nutrient solution (NS) for accumulating bioactive compounds of Agastache rugosa without decreasing plant growth. Six-week-old seedlings were transplanted in a deep flow technique system with Hoagland NS with a 2.0 dS·m−1 EC for the initial week. From eight days after transplanting, the plants were treated with six EC treatments of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 dS·m−1 for three weeks. Plant growth parameters, leaf gas exchange parameters, the relative chlorophyll value, and the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were measured, and the rosmarinic acid (RA), tilianin, and acacetin concentrations were analyzed at 28 days after transplanting. The results showed that almost all plant growth parameters were maximized at 2.0 and 4.0 dS·m−1 and minimized at 8.0 dS·m−1 compared with the other EC treatments. The relative chlorophyll and Fv/Fm values were maximized at 2.0 and 4.0 dS·m−1. Similarly, leaf gas exchange parameters were increased at 2.0 and 4.0 dS·m−1. The RA content exhibited significantly higher values at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 dS·m−1 compared with other treatments. The tilianin and acacetin contents exhibited the significantly highest values at 4.0 and 0.5 dS·m−1, respectively. These results suggest optimal EC treatment at 4.0 dS·m−1 for increasing bioactive compounds in A. rugosa plants without decreasing plant growth. Excessively high or low EC induced salinity stress or nutrient deficiency, respectively. Furthermore, among the plant organs, the roots of A. rugosa contained the highest RA concentration and the flowers contained the highest tilianin and acacetin concentrations, which revealed a higher utilization potential of the roots and flowers for bioactive compounds.

Medication adherence is one of the major factors that determine an outcome of a treatment. Despite the effort of healthcare providers to improve the adherence rate, it still remains a serious issue in our health care system today. Many patients do not take their medications as directed or just simply do not want to fill or refill their prescriptions. A small survey performed by pharmacy students at Temple School of Pharmacy showed that there is a significant number of patients did not pick up their medications. Cardiovascular medications are the most common non-picked up drugs. There are various reasons that patients use to justify for this non-adherence behavior. However, they are unaware that their actions create a tremendous negative effect not only on the treatment itself but also on the entire health care system. The consequences include expensive therapies, inaccurate research data, and poor treatment outcomes. Many solutions have been utilized to solve this problem, but it is still the major problem for healthcare providers to keep in mind when planning a drug regimen. Although many people believed that pharmacists are responsible for solving this problem, it should be a multidisciplinary effort of all healthcare providers to improve the medication adherence. Conflict of Interest We declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests that the authors or members of their immediate families have in any product or service discussed in the manuscript, including grants (pending or received), employment, gifts, stock holdings or options, honoraria, consultancies, expert testimony, patents and royalties. Type: Student Project

Bài viết này trình bày mô hình toán học của điện trường và từ trường gây ra bởi đường dây truyền tải điện cao áp dưới điều kiện phụ tải điện bình thường. Mô hình toán học được thể hiện bằng phương trình vi phân từng phần cấp hai có nguồn gốc bằng cách phân tích sự phân bố của điện trường và từ trường xung quanh đường dây truyền tải điện 500kV AC. Sử dụng phương pháp phần tử hữu hạn (FEM) để giải phương trình sóng. Các mô phỏng bằng máy tính dựa trên việc sử dụng FEM và được lập trình bằng MATLAB. Nghiên cứu này xây dựng bài toán trong môi trường không gian hai chiều của điện trường và từ trường dọc theo đường dây truyền tải điện. Từ tất cả các trường hợp thử nghiệm ở độ cao 1,0 m phía dưới đường dây so với mặt đất được áp dụng để tính điện từ trường tác động lên cơ thể người theo tiêu chuẩn của ủy ban quốc tế Bảo vệ bức xạ không ion hóa.

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) concentrations are increased in the blood of CD4+ T cell depleted individuals, including HIV-1 infected patients. High IL-7 levels might stimulate T cell activation and, as we have shown earlier, IL-7 can prime resting T cell to CD95 induced apoptosis as well. HIV-1 infection leads to B cell abnormalities including increased apoptosis via the CD95 (Fas) death receptor pathway and loss of memory B cells. Peripheral B cells are not sensitive for IL-7, due to the lack of IL-7Ra expression on their surface; however, here we demonstrate that high IL-7 concentration can prime resting B cells to CD95-mediated apoptosis via an indirect mechanism. T cells cultured with IL-7 induced high CD95 expression on resting B cells together with an increased sensitivity to CD95 mediated apoptosis. As the mediator molecule responsible for B cell priming to CD95 mediated apoptosis we identified the cytokine IFN-γ that T cells secreted in high amounts in response to IL-7. These results suggest that the lymphopenia induced cytokine IL-7 can contribute to the increased B cell apoptosis observed in HIV-1 infected individuals.

Abstract Background The ATM protein is activated as a result of ionizing radiation, and genetic variants of the ATM gene may therefore affect the level of radiation-induced damage. Individuals heterozygous for ATM mutations have been reported to have an increased risk of malignancy, especially breast cancer. Materials and methods Norwegian breast cancer patients (272) treated with radiation (252 of which were evaluated for radiation-induced adverse side effects), 95 Norwegian women with no known history of cancer and 95 American breast cancer patients treated with radiation (44 of which developed ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence, IBTR) were screened for sequence variations in all exons of the ATM gene as well as known intronic variants by denaturating high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) followed by sequencing to determine the nature of the variant. Results and Conclusion A total of 56 variants were identified in the three materials combined. A borderline significant association with breast cancer risk was found for the 1229 T>C (Val>Ala) substitution in exon 11 (P-value 0.055) between the Norwegian controls and breast cancer patients as well as a borderline significant difference in haplotype distribution (P-value 0.06). Adverse side effects, such as: development of costal fractures and telangiectasias, subcutaneous and lung fibrosis, pleural thickening and atrophy were evaluated in the Norwegian patients. Significant associations were found for several of the identified variants such as rs1800058 (Leu > Phe) where a decrease in minor allele frequency was found with increasing level of adverse side effects for the clinical end-points pleural thickening and lung fibrosis, thus giving a protective effect. Overall our results indicate a role for variation in the ATM gene both for risk of developing breast cancer, and in radiation induced adverse side effects. No association could be found between risk of developing ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence and any of the sequence variants found in the American patient material.

Although access to health services by poor populations has improved in most low- and middle-income countries, wealth remains associated with better quality of care that in turn leads to better health outcomes. Understanding the patterns of such inequities can inform the design of policies to improve services received by poor populations. We employ regression and inequality decomposition analyses using household survey data from 58 low- and middle-income countries between 2010 and 2021 to characterize inequity in quality of antenatal care, to test at which levels inequity exists, and to assess at which levels inequities are most pronounced. We find that in most countries and in both rural and urban areas, wealthier women are more likely to receive high-quality antenatal care than their poorer peers who reside in the same locality (village or neighborhood), even when attending similar types of health facilities (public vs. private, and primary care facilities vs. hospitals). However, although inequity exists at such a local level, most of the wealth gradient in quality of antenatal care is explained by variation in quality of care between wealthier and poorer localities., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a widely accepted objective among entities providing development assistance for health (DAH) and DAH recipient governments. One key metric to assess progress with UHC is financial risk protection, but empirical evidence on the extent to which DAH is associated to financial risk protection (and hence UHC) is scarce., Methods: Our sample is comprised of 65 countries whose DAH per capita is above the population -weighted average DAH per capita across all countries. The sample comprises of 1.7 million household observations, for the period 2000-2016. We run country and year fixed effects regressions, and pseudo-panel models, to assess the association between DAH and three measures of financial risk protection: catastrophic health expenditure (i.e., out-of-pocket health expenditures larger than 10% of total household expenditures ['CHE10%']), out-of-pocket health expenditure as a share of total expenditure ('OOP%'), and impoverishment due to health expenditures, at the 1.90US$ per day poverty line ('IMP190')., Results: on average, DAH investment does not appear to be significantly associated with financial risk protection outcomes. However, we find suggestive evidence that a 1 US$ increase in DAH per capita is negatively associated (i.e., an improvement) with at least one financial risk protection outcome for the poorest household quintile within countries (in fixed effects models, IMP190: 0.05 percentage points, p < 0.1; in pseudo-panel models, CHE10%: 0.12 percentage points, p < 0.01). DAH is also negatively associated (i.e., an improvement) with most financial risk protection outcomes when it is largely channelled via government systems (i.e., when it is "on-budget") (CHE10%: 0.68 percentage points, p < 0.05). Several robustness checks confirm these results., Discussion: DAH investments require careful planning to improve financial risk protection. For example, positive DAH effects for the poorest quintiles of the population might be driven by DAH targeting poorer populations and doing so effectively. Our results also suggest that channelling more resources via governments might be a promising avenue to enhance the impact of DAH on financial risk protection., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a commonly used insecticide that is recalcitrant and highly stable in the environment. Currently, DDT residue contamination, especially in agricultural soil, is still a concern in many countries, threatening human health and the environment. Among the approaches to resolve such an issue, novel biodegradation-based methods are now preferred to physicochemical methods, due to the sustainability and the effectiveness of the former. In this study, we explored the possibility of building mixed microbial cultures that can offer improved DDT-degrading efficiencies and be more environmentally transilient, based on genome annotation using the KEGG database and prediction of interactions between single strains using the obtained metabolic maps. We then proposed 10 potential DDT-degrading mixed cultures of different strain combinations and evaluated their DDT degradation performances in liquid, semi-solid and solid media. The results demonstrated the superiority of the mixtures over the single strains in terms of degrading DDT, particularly in a semi-solid medium, with up to 40-50% more efficiency. Not only did the mixed cultures degrade DDT more efficiently, but they also adapted to broader spectra of environmental conditions. The three best DDT-degrading and transilient mixtures were selected, and it turned out that their component strains seemed to have more metabolic interactions than those in the other mixtures. Thus, our study demonstrates the effectiveness of exploiting genome-mining techniques and the use of constructed mixed cultures in improving biodegradation., (© 2024 The Author(s). Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Much of the existing empirical literature on the association between health insurance and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures on facility-based delivery in low- and middle-income countries is cross sectional in nature. Comparatively little is known about the dynamic shifts in OOP expenditures and the health insurance nexus. Using seven biennial waves of Vietnam's Household Living Standard Survey covering the period 2006-2018 and a generalized linear model this study examines trends in OOP expenditures on facility-based delivery and financial protection afforded by Vietnam's social health insurance system. Over the period under consideration, the pattern of health facility utilization among the insured shifted steadily from commune health centers towards higher-level government hospitals. Real OOP for delivery was 52.7% higher in 2018 than in 2006-2008 and insurance reduced OOP expenditures by 28.5%. Compared to district hospitals, giving birth at higher-level government hospitals increased OOP expenditures by 72.3% while giving birth at commune health centers reduced OOP expenditures by 55.7%. Additional analysis involving interactions between insurance status, types of public health facility and year dummies suggested a drop in financial protection of insurance, from 48% to 26.9% among women delivering at district hospitals and from 31.2 to 18.7% among those delivering at higher-level government hospitals. The modest financial protection of health insurance and its declining trend calls for policy measures that would strengthen the quality of maternal care at primary care institutions, strengthen financial protection and curb the provision of two-tiered clinical services and charges., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess temporal trends in out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures per outpatient contact by the insured residents in rural Vietnam., Study Design: This was a repeated cross-sectional study., Methods: Seven biennial waves from the Vietnam's Household Living Standard Survey covering the period 2006-2018 and a two-part model were used to assess temporal trends in OOP expenditures and its variations across various health facilities while controlling for a wide array of individual- and household-specific characteristics., Results: The pattern of health facility utilization shifted steadily from commune health centers toward higher level government hospitals and private health facilities between 2006 and 2018. The regression results indicated an upward trend in the amount of OOP expenditures, with the amount of OOP expenditures incurred per outpatient contact being 40.3% higher in 2010-2012 than in 2006-2008 and by as much as 155.5% higher in 2018. These high-cost pressures were attenuated by 63%-65% when accounting for the types of health facility contacted. The cost inflation was more pronounced for care sought at higher level government hospitals and private hospitals than at other health facilities., Conclusion: The cost of accessing outpatient care rose sharply between 2006 and 2018, particularly for visits involving higher level government hospitals and private hospitals. These findings suggest that beside expanding the coverage over the transition path to universal coverage, efforts should be directed at reforming Vietnam's hospital-centric and fragmented delivery system as a way of containing costs and ensuring financial sustainability of social health insurance system., (Copyright © 2022 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Active participation in pain management is vital to improve postoperative pain outcomes. However, this issue has not been fully examined in Vietnam. This study aimed to examine the active participation of patients in pain management after surgery, as well as explore its effect on acute postoperative pain., A hospital-based survey on 245 patients after surgery was conducted. Information about demographic and clinical characteristics, pain intensity and active participation in pain management was collected. Multivariate regression models were utilized to determine the associations., 53.9% of patients reported that they were informed about the postoperative pain relief method before surgery. One-third (33.5%) of patients selected preferred pain relief methods; 46.1% reported that they asked physicians when feeling pain immediately after surgery; 49.8% asked physicians when pain was not relieved after taking medications, and 52.2% asked physicians for their current pain in the time of interview. Age and occupation were found to be positively associated with active participation score. Patients being informed about the postoperative pain relief method before surgery had 0.87 points higher than those not receiving explanation (Coef. = 0.87; 95%CI = 0.49-1.26). Patients with high active participation scores were more likely to have pain improvement (OR = 3.41, 95%CI = 2.37-4.92)., This study highlights a low level of active participation in postoperative pain management among Vietnamese patients. Routinely providing information about pain control before surgery, and encouraging patients to actively participate in pain management are essential to improve postoperative pain outcomes.

This research explored the long-term relationships of climate parameters and coastal water quality nearby shrimp farms in two countries. In Thailand, two sampling points in canals located in Bangkok and Trang provinces were selected as the urban and tourism areas, respectively. In northern Vietnam, the canals located in Thai Binh and Quang Ninh provinces were used as the urban and tourism areas, respectively. The diurnal monitoring of water quality and weather was performed at each site to evaluate the relationships between climate and water quality, pollution load, and risk analysis. A questionnaire was also used to assess the climate and water exposure, vulnerability, and adaptability of each site. All data were ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 to integrate each factor. It was determined that the main water quality problem was fecal pollution. Notably, aquaculture farming in northern Vietnam is more vulnerable than in Thailand; however, Vietnam farmers were adaptable for climate variability., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Universal Health Coverage is one of the key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and it implies that everyone can access the healthcare they need without suffering financial hardship. In this paper, we use a large set of household surveys to examine if older populations are facing different degrees of financial hardship compared to younger populations. We find that while differences in average age structures between countries are not systematically associated with higher financial risk related to out-of-pocket health expenditures, there are large differences in financial hardship between younger and older households within countries. Households with more elderly members are more likely to face catastrophic and impoverishing out-of-pocket health payments compared to younger households, and this age gradient is stronger for the poorest segments of the population. Making progress toward Universal Health Coverage will require extension and improved targeting of benefit packages and financial protection to meet the health needs of older adults, and especially the poorest and most vulnerable segments of elderly populations.