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Ordered mesoporous carbon materials using MCF silica as hard template (OMC(MCF)) were synthesized. The synthesized OMC(MCF) materials were characterized by different techniques such as XRD, TEM, BET. The results revealed that the surface area, pore volume and pore size of OMC (MCF) were of 1,073 m2 /g, 1.35 cm3 /g and 5.7 nm, respectively. The dye adsorption experiments were carried out through a batch test to evaluate synthesized OMC(MCF) materials. Methylene blue (MB- cationic dye), phenol red (PR - anionic dye) and direct blue 71 dyes (DB71- anionic dye) were chosen as adsorbates. Negatively charged surfaces OMC(MCF) materials have better adsorption capacity for positively charged methylene blue than that of negatively charged direct blue 71 and phenol red. OMC(MCF) materials could be used as a potential adsorbent for the removal of positive charged organic dyes.

Curculigo orchioides is most commonly used as an imperative medicinal plant in Vietnam. The plant roots are mainly used to treat sexual dysfunction, back pain, arthritis, nephritis, jaundice, and infertility. Given the high market demand in the herbal market, C. orchioides traders commonly adulterate with other similar plants for illegitimate benefits. Maturase K (matK) and ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) DNA barcode loci are presently used to identify the blends and counterfeit the medicinal herbs, as well as, identify the propagating conservation material. Nevertheless, the identification accuracy is highly dependent on NCBI Genbank or Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). In the recent study, the efficiency of DNA barcode loci, matK and rbcL for the classification of C. orchioides populations, was investigated during 2020–2021. After examining 11 accessions of C. orchioides collected from different locations in Vietnam, the obtained results revealed that using NCBI database is more effective for classifying C. orchioides. In addition, the matK locus also showed higher identification power than rbcL. The obtained findings could be helpful in the trading management, conservation, and development of C. orchioides in Vietnam.

This article examines the factors influencing the teaching of critical thinking development for students by primary school teachers in northern mountainous areas of Vietnam. The 21 survey questions were designed via google form and sent to 128 primary school teachers in the mountainous northern region of Viet Nam. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) method was used to analyze the study results. Research results show that there are six factors that influence primary school teachers' teaching to develop critical thinking for students: 1) Teaching skills develop critical thinking; 2) Teacher attitude; 3) The teacher's understanding of critical thinking; 4) The interest of the student's parents; 5) Influence from colleagues and managers; 6) Critical thinking assessment activities. The total variance extracted by these 6 factors explains 68.477% of the 21 observed variables. The results of this research can help primary school teachers in the mountainous north of Vietnam better understand what is needed to develop students' critical thinking and apply appropriate teaching methods to help students develop these skills.

Since the implementation of the General Education Program Year 2018, schools and teachers have the autonomy in choosing teaching content, and teaching methodologies suitable to the practical conditions of local and schools. To meet the renovation requirements of world education and Vietnamese educational, teachers need to have the capacity to develop curriculum. Curriculum development is a process that is carried out continuously with the aim of reviewing, updating, supplementing and developing to meet the needs of society, scientific achievements and technology as well as labor market requirements. The purpose of this study is to discover the factors affecting the curriculum development capacity of primary school teachers in the Northern mountainous area of Vietnam. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) method was used on the basis of the survey results from 261 primary school teachers. Since then, four factors affecting the program development capacity of primary school teachers have been identified: physical facilities (45.710%); the direction and supervision of managers (9,940%); the ability to understand the general education program year 2018 (7.046%) and the capacity to design lessons (4.875%). This is the premise that suggests some recommendations to improve the program development capacity for teachers in the Northern mountainous areas of Vietnam.

Pavement defect detection and classification systems based on machine learning algorithms are already very advanced and are increasingly demonstrating their outstanding advantages. One of the most important steps in the processing is image segmentation. In this paper, some image segmentation algorithms used in practice are presented, compared and evaluated. The advantages and disadvantages of each algorithm are evaluated and compared based on the criteria PA, MPA, F1. We propose a method to optimize the process of image segmentation of pavement defects using a combination of Markov Random Fields and graph theory. Experiments were conducted on 3 datasets from Portugal, Russia and Vietnam. Empirical results show that the segmentation of pavement defects is more accurate and effective when the two methods are combined.

Online teaching is becoming more and more popular in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (the 4.0 era). The covid 19 pandemic has pushed online teaching to a higher level. Previously, online teaching mainly took place at the high school level, with the target audience being adults. Although there are many benefits of teaching online such as reducing travel costs and saving time and learning space, there are still difficulties and challenges, one of which is how to organize effective online teaching hours. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors affecting the online teaching of Vietnamese primary school teachers. The exploratory factor analysis method was used to study 160 Vietnamese primary school teachers. Six factors were found to affect teachers' online teaching including time management and time commitment, technical skills, attitudes toward online learning, expectations for online classes, interactions with colleagues and online feedback. These findings can be used as a reference in other research or in a comparable scenario by interested scholars. Educators can use these findings to advocate strategies that will provide a better education. This study suggests a direction for further research on proposing effective online teaching methods

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, facultative anaerobic motile bacterium, designated strain OG9-811T, was isolated from the gut of an oyster collected in the Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea. The strain grew at 10–37 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and with 0.5–10% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain OG9-811T affiliated with the genus Vibrio , with the highest sequence similarity of 98.2% to Vibrio coralliilyticus ATCC BAA-450T followed by Vibrio variabilis R-40492T (98.0 %), Vibrio hepatarius LMG 20362T (97.7 %) and Vibrio neptunius LMG 20536T (97.6 %); other relatives were Vibrio tritonius JCM 16456T (97.4 %), Vibrio fluvialis NBRC 103150T (97.0 %) and Vibrio furnissii CIP 102972T (97.0 %). The complete genome of strain OG9-811T comprised two chromosomes of a total 4 807 684 bp and the G+C content was 50.2 %. Results of analysis based on the whole genome sequence showed the distinctiveness of strain OG9-811T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain OG9-811T and the closest strains V. coralliilyticus ATCC BAA-450T, V. variabilis R-40492T, V. hepatarius LMG 20362T, V. neptunius KCTC 12702T , V. tritonius JCM 16456T, V. fluvialis ATCC 33809T and V. furnissi CIP 102972T were 73.0, 72.6, 73.3, 73.0, 72.7, 78.5 and 77.8 %, respectively, while the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain OG9-811T and the above closely related strains were 20.8, 21.2, 20.8, 21.7, 20.7, 23.2 and 22.4 %, respectively. The major fatty acids of strain OG9-811T were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω6c and/or C18:1 ω7c) and C16:0. The polar lipids contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Strain OG9-811T contained Q-8 as a quinone. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic characteristics, strain OG9-811T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Vibrio ostreae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OG9-811T (=KCTC 72623T=GDMCC 1.2610T).

One of the important skills of the 21st century is problem solving. This is an important skill in the group of thinking skills and it is indispensable in the life of every human being in the world. In education, problem-solving skills are also one of the necessary and important skills to form and develop for students. The purpose of this study is to explore the factors affecting the problem-solving skills in natural and social subject of primary school students in Vietnam. The exploratory factor analysis method was used to determine the factors and processed data through SPSS software. Research results from 250 primary school students (grades 1 to 3) from different regions living in Vietnam have shown 7 main factors affecting problem-solving capacity through the natural and social subject of primary school students including: student trust and effort; attitude towards the subject; teaching skills of teachers; concentration; perseverance; the need to communicate with the surroundings, and the motivation for academic achievement. This research result provides more theoretical basis for education researchers, from which to have teaching strategies to develop problem-solving capacity for students.

The ability to optogenetically perturb neural circuits opens an unprecedented window into mechanisms governing circuit function. We analyzed and theoretically modeled neuronal responses to visual and optogenetic inputs in mouse and monkey V1. In both species, optogenetic stimulation of excitatory neurons strongly modulated the activity of single neurons, yet had weak or no effects on the distribution of firing rates across the population. Thus, the optogenetic inputs reshuffled firing rates across the network. Key statistics of mouse and monkey responses lay on a continuum, with mice/monkeys occupying the low/high rate regions, respectively. We show that neuronal reshuffling emerges generically in randomly connected excitatory/inhibitory networks, provided the coupling strength (combination of recurrent coupling and external input) is sufficient that powerful inhibitory feedback cancels the mean optogenetic input. A more realistic model, distinguishing tuned visual vs. untuned optogenetic input in a structured network, reduces the coupling strength needed to explain reshuffling.

Atherosclerosis (AthS) tends to form at arterial regions exposed to disturbed (DF) but not laminar (LF) flow. Previously, we reported the significant role of SUMOylation in DF-induced endothelial (EC) activation and subsequent AthS formation via upregulating p53 and ERK5 SUMOylation. LF can inhibit the basal levels of p53 and ERK5 SUMOylation, but how LF inhibits SUMOylation remains unknown. A chemical genetics approach with high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that the cell-cycle checkpoint kinases CHK1 can phosphorylate SENP2 S344 site, but the functional role remains largely unknown. We aimed to study the functional role of CHK1 in SENP2 function and subsequent AthS. First, we generated phospho-specific SENP2 S344 antibody, and found that LF, but not DF, increases SENP2 S344 phosphorylation. We found the increase of CHK1 S280 phosphorylation (related to nuclear translocation) after LF, suggesting LF-induced nuclear translocation of CHK1. The CHK1 specific inhibitor of GDC0575 and the depletion of CHK1 inhibited LF-induced SENP2 S344 phsophorylation and increased both p53 and ERK5 SUMOylation in ECs. These data suggested the crucial role of CHK1 in LF-induced SENP2 S344 phosphorylation and upregulating de-SUMOylation activity. Next, we generated CRISPR/Cas9-induced Senp2 S344A knock-in (KI) and found that the mutation of SENP2 S344A accelerated p53 and ERK5 SUMOylation. LF-induced reduction of p21, cleaved caspase 3, and ICAM-1 were all reversed by SENP2 S344A mutation. Lastly, we found that the significant acceleration of AthS formation in both ascending aorta/arch (DF area) and descending aorta (LF area) in KI mice compared to wild type (WT) mice after receiving AAV-PCSK9 and high fat diet. We also performed bone marrow transplantation (BMT) after 13 Gy whole body radiation, and larger AthS but only in the aortic arch was observed in BMT mice from WT donor to KI recipient, but not in BMT mice from WT donor to WT recipient, supporting the role of endothelial SENP2 S344 phosphorylation on AthS. The radiation reduced CHK1 expression in ECs, which may explain the different regulatory pattern under BMT or non-BMT. Taken together, these results suggest the critical role of CHK1-mediated SENP2 S344 phosphorylation on LF-induced anti-AthS effects.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and safety of eribulin used as an early-line (EL, i.e., first-/second-line) versus late-line (LL, i.e., third-line and beyond) chemotherapy for recurrent advanced or metastatic breast cancer (A/MBC) patients. Methods: This study conducted a retrospective observation of A/MBC patients initiating eribulin between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019, using medical database at a university-affiliated teaching hospital in Taiwan. Patients were assigned into either the EL or LL group based on the timing of respective eribulin treatments and were observed for at least 6 months up to December 2019 for progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF), overall survival (OS), disease response, and occurrence of adverse events. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression survival analyses were performed. Results: Of 127 patients, 23.6% (n = 30) and 76.4% (n = 97) were assigned to the EL and LL groups, respectively, between which no difference in patient characteristics was noted. Median PFS and TTF were 6.5 months and 5.0 months for the EL and 4.2 months and 3.4 months for the LL, respectively. Median OS could not be estimated in the EL group and was 20.5 months in the LL group. Eribulin as an EL treatment was the only factor associated with longer TTF and OS, whereas the number of metastatic sites was additionally associated with PFS in the multivariate analysis. No complete response was reported in either group, but a partial response was obtained in 6.7% in the EL group and 3.1% in the LL group. The common adverse events between two groups were similar, including leukopenia (80.0%), neutropenia (76.7%), and anemia (60.0%). Conclusions: The eribulin used as an EL of chemotherapy was effective for A/MBC patients with known toxicities in this study, while eribulin as the LL chemotherapy showed consistent results with previous reports.

An easy-to-handle keratin film was successfully fabricated using solely purified hair keratins. Keratin was extracted from human hair by an existing protocol. The extracted keratin was made into a mechanically stable film by solution casting and air-drying at room temperature. The films obtained were characterized for surface morphology, wettability, protein secondary structures, mechanical properties, permeability, and thermal properties. Interestingly, the keratin film showed distinct surface and cross-sectional morphology, and protein secondary structure transformation. In addition, the keratin film exhibited Young's modulus of 1.05 ± 0.09 GPa when it was dry. In the wet state, the keratin film behaved as viscoelastic material and was highly stretchable at 179 ± 17% strain at break. Permeability test was conducted using 20 kDa-FITC dextran which revealed an anomalous diffusion mechanism through the keratin film. Additionally, the keratin film elicited positive cellular responses by human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) in terms of enhanced cell proliferation, viability, keratin 14 expression, and IL-1α secretion, in comparison to collagen I. Taken together, a human hair keratin-based film with its mechanical and thermal stability, and cytocompatibility, presents a promising platform for cell culture applications. Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Accepted version This research is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) under its Wound Care Innovation for the Tropics, IAF-PP (H17/01/a0/0L9).

The objective of this observational study was to examine the association between appendicular lean mass and frailty in adults aged 60 years and older. This study was conducted in the Outpatient Department of the National Geriatric Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam. Appendicular lean mass (kg) was assessed by using Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans. Frailty was defined according to Fried's frailty criteria. A total of 560 outpatients were included in the study, with a mean age of 70 years. The prevalence of frailty was 12.0%. Frail patients had significantly lower appendicular lean mass compared with non-frail outpatients (9.6 ± 2.0 kg vs. 11.7 ± 3.1 kg, p0.001). On multivariable logistic regression models, higher appendicular lean mass was associated with significantly reduced odds for frailty (adjusted OR = 0.74, 95%CI 0.59 - 0.93). These findings suggest that the assessment of appendicular lean mass should be considered in older patients attending outpatient geriatric clinics.

Coastal cities and their natural environments are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially sea-level rise (SLR). Hard coastal defences play a key role in protecting at-risk urban coastal populations from flooding and erosion, but coastal ecosystems also play important roles in the overall sustainability and resilience of cities and urban centres by contributing to coastal protection. Conserving coastal ecosystems and maximising their resilience will ensure that urban coastal communities can continue to benefit from ecosystem services and improve their adaptive capacity to cope with adverse impacts in the future. Using the hyper-urbanised coast of Singapore as a case study, we modelled the resilience of coastal wetlands to SLR and integrated resilience in conservation planning. We found that the responses of coastal habitats to rising sea level vary across the modelling periods. While there is a slight net gain in the extent of mangrove forests and tidal flats by the end of the century due to potential habitat conversion, the existing habitats will experience a loss in coverage. Highly modified coastlines associated with urbanisation impede the ability of existing wetlands to migrate landward, which is a key mechanism for coastal habitats to cope with rising sea levels. Systematic conservation planning can identify sites that are potentially resilient to SLR and incorporate factors that influence an ecosystem's capability to respond to change. Crucially, the relatively slow rates of SLR and persistence of coastal wetlands during the earlier half of this century present an opportunity to introduce management interventions aimed at enhancing ecosystem resilience. National Research Foundation (NRF) Published version This research is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, and the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science under the NRF Australia-Singapore Joint Research Grant Call (NRF2018AU-SG02).

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of many. Particularly, nursing students experience greater stress as their normal curriculum is interrupted and some of them face the risk of being infected as frontline workers. Nursing faculty members may face similar struggles, in addition to developing teaching materials for online learning. Thus, it is important to examine the faculty members' and students' views on their ability to adapt during the pandemic to obtain a holistic view of how learning and training has been affected. Design The descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design was used. Settings Data were collected from Southeast and East Asian Nursing Education and Research Network (SEANERN) affiliated nursing institutions from January 2021 to August 2021. Participants A total of 1897 nursing students and 395 faculty members from SEANERN-affiliated nursing institutions in Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were recruited for this study. Methods Quantitative surveys were used to explore the satisfaction levels in education modalities, confidence levels, psychosocial well-being, sense of coherence and stress levels of nursing students and faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Participants were mostly satisfied with the new education modalities, although most students felt that their education was compromised. Both groups showed positive levels of psychosocial well-being, despite scoring low to medium on the sense of coherence scale and experiencing great stress. The participants' sense of coherence was positively correlated with their psychosocial well-being and negatively correlated with stress levels. Conclusions While the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted the lives of nursing students and faculty members, most of them had a healthy level of psychosocial well-being. Having a strong sense of coherence was associated with better psychosocial health and lower stress levels. As such, it may be helpful to develop interventions aimed at improving the sense of coherence of nursing students and staff to help them manage stressors better.