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

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

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

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

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

Road dust samples were collected from different areas in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)—the largest city in Vietnam to explore pollution characteristics, ecological and human health risks, and sources of heavy metals (HMs). Results revealed the level of HMs found in the samples from residential and industrial zones of HCMC in the order of Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > As > Cd, Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > As > Cd. Due to the high enrichment of Cu, Zn in residential areas and Cu, Pb, Zn in industrial areas, the HM contamination in these areas remained moderate to severe. The findings also revealed a rising trend in the level of HMs in road dust from the east to the west of HCMC, and a heavy metal contamination hotspot in the west. In addition, industrial areas were more contaminated with HMs, posing greater associated risks than residential areas. Children living in urban areas of HCMC were found to be exposed to unacceptable health risks. Meanwhile, adults living in industrial areas face intolerable cancer risk. Among the nine HMs, Cd, Pb, and Cu posed the greatest ecological risk, while Cr and As were the main culprits behind health risks. HMs in road dust might derive from non-exhaust vehicular emissions, crustal materials, and industrial activities. The results suggested that industrial areas to the west of HCMC should focus more on reducing and controlling severe pollution of HMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the composition and characteristics of microplastic and artificial fibers in the edible tissue of seven common marine fishes collected from Central Vietnam were evaluated for the first time. The average numbers of micro-debris determined in spined anchovy, whipfin silver-biddy, round scad, stingray, real tuna, daggertooth pike conger, and narrow-barred Spanish mackerel were 0.6 ± 0.2, 0.8 ± 0.3, 1.0 ± 0.4, 0.8 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.4, 0.7 ± 0.3, and 1.0 ± 0.2 per g-ww, respectively. The fiber was the dominant shape (62–77% of total items), and white transparent (40%) was the most common color of the items found. About 75% of the micro-debris found in edible tissue was smaller than 250 μm, and the remaining 25% was about 250–500 μm. Chemical composition analysis confirmed that rayon and polyethylene terephthalate were the two major components among micro-debris found in the fish tissues, accounting for 45 and 34%. Consequently, the estimated annual micro-debris intake based on fish consumption of people in Central Vietnam might range from 33,000 to 50,000 items/person/year. This study provides valuable information on microplastics and nonplastic microfibers in the marine environment, which contributes to the development of strategies for eliminating pollution caused by marine anthropogenic debris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Infectious respiratory diseases in poultry can be induced by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasmas, and fungi in single or mixed infections. Multifactorial infections require multiplex screening for the pathogens of concern. To meet this demand, gel-based multiplex PCR assays have been regularly developed and widely applied to simultaneously detect ten common respiratory pathogens (viruses and bacteria) in chickens. However, to date, there are no available gel-based multiplex PCR assays for the co-detection of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale and infectious laryngotracheitis virus. In this study, we successfully developed and applied a new multiplex PCR method to detect these two pathogens in field samples. To date, many fluorescence- and gel-based multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays have been developed for the simultaneous detection of multiple infectious agents of respiratory disease in poultry. However, PCR assays are not available for other important emerging respiratory bacteria, such as Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT). We aimed to fill this gap by establishing a new duplex PCR method for the simultaneous detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) and ORT. Multiplex primer design software was used to select the compatible multiplex primer pairs. It was determined that an annealing temperature of 65 °C and an initial concentration of 2.5 pmol/µL for each primer set were the most suitable conditions for multiplex PCR. The assay was confirmed to be specific, as it only detected the target pathogens, even in the presence of six non-target agents. The limit of detection was up to 103 copies/µL of template DNA for both ILTV and ORT. In the screening of 304 field samples, 23, 88, and 44 were positive for both ILTV and ORT, solely for ILTV, and solely ORT, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educating students to become 21st century citizens is prioritized in different contexts, and shaping language learners' identity through project-based learning is one of the requisites to equip learners with 21st century skills. This study, therefore, aims to investigate EFL teachers' and students' perspectives on learner identity through projectbased language learning (PBLL) in terms of 21st century learning skills in Vietnam. Three hundred and twenty-four students from a high school located in Lam Dong province, Vietnam answered a closed-ended questionnaire, and seven teachers of English participated in semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire were processed using the SPSS software to calculate mean and standard deviation, while the qualitative data from interviews were analyzed through content analysis. The findings revealed that both EFL teachers and students believed that PBLL could shape and reinforce EFL students' identities via 21st century learning skills (collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest structure is an essential key to successful and sustainable poor forest restoration. The study was conducted in Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Gia Lai, Vietnam. Ten plots were made in secondary and also ten plots in old-growth forests. Research results have shown that the secondary forest had a greater density, but the tree sizes are smaller than that of old-growth forests. The Beta fits best to the diameter frequency distribution in the secondary forests, while the Johnson fits best in the old-growth forests. The results for the height frequency distribution were the opposite. The Quadratic model was the best function to describe the relationship between diameter and height in the secondary forests. In old-growth forests, the Ratskowky model was the best model. The spatial distribution of trees was random in secondary forests, but regular in old-growth forests. Richness of secondary forests was bigger, while other indices were lower than those of old-growth forests. Tree quality classes had strong association with species. Findings of the study are good bases for poor secondary forest restoration in the Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet the reasons why only 10% of people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis go on to develop clinical disease are poorly understood. Genetically determined variation in the host immune response is one factor influencing the response to M. tuberculosis. SP110 is an interferon-responsive nuclear body protein with critical roles in cell cycling, apoptosis and immunity to infection. However association studies of the gene with clinical TB in different populations have produced conflicting results. Methods: To examine the importance of the SP110 gene in immunity to TB in the Vietnamese we conducted a case-control genetic association study of 24 SP110 variants, in 663 patients with microbiologically proven TB and 566 unaffected control subjects from three tertiary hospitals in northern Vietnam. Results: Five SNPs within SP110 were associated with all forms of TB, including four SNPs at the C terminus (rs10208770, rs10498244, rs16826860, rs11678451) under a dominant model and one SNP under a recessive model, rs7601176. Two of these SNPs were associated with pulmonary TB (rs10208770 and rs16826860) and one with extra-pulmonary TB (rs10498244). Conclusion: SP110 variants were associated with increased susceptibility to both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB in the Vietnamese. Genetic variants in SP110 may influence macrophage signaling responses and apoptosis during M. tuberculosis infection, however further research is required to establish the mechanism by which SP110 influences immunity to tuberculosis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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