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The objective of this study was to determine the semen cryopreservation capacity of BBB bulls in Hanoi-Vietnam. Research conducted on the fresh semen collected from 05 BBB bulls. Results showed that semen color was normal (milky white, ivory white, ivory yellow), semen volume ranged from 6.35 mL to 7.48 mL (P

The objective of this study was to determine the right conditions for the separation of Blanc-Blue-Belge bovine sperm (BBB) by swim-up mothed; determine the maturity of hybrid Zebu bovine eggs; and culture of embryos after in vitro fertilization. After 60-80 minutes of swim-up in CAP-05, BBB bovine sperms were healthy, straight movement and separated with a concentration of 106 sperm/ml. Hybrid Zebu bovine eggs developed and matured in the maturation medium with the basic medium TCM-199 supplemented with 10% calf serum, FSH (0.75 µg / ml), LH (0.15 µg / ml) and Estradiol (2.5 µg / ml), the results showed that the IVM-08 medium had significantly higher maturation rates than IVM-03, the proportion of mature eggs reached 71,11% compared to 51.69%, respectively (P

Real-time streaming of HD movies and TV via YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV and Xbox Live is gaining popularity. Stream programs often consume considerable amounts of energy due to their compute-intensive nature. Making stream programs energy-efficient is important, especially for energy-constrained computing devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The first part of this thesis focuses on exploiting the popular Synchronous Dataflow (SDF) high-level abstraction of stream programs to design adaptive stream programs for energy reduction on multicore machines. Observing that IO rates of stream programs can vary at runtime, we seek to make stream programs adaptive by transforming their internal structures to adapt required occupied computing resources, e.g., cores and memory, to workload changes at runtime. Our experiments show that adapting stream programs to IO rate changes can lead to significant energy reduction. In addition, we also show that the modularity and static attributes of stream programs' abstraction not only help map stream programs on multicore machines more easily but also enable energy-efficient routing schemes of high-bandwidth stream traffic on the interconnection fabric, such as networks on-chip.While SDF abstractions can help optimize stream programs on multicore machines, SDF is more suitable for describing stream data-intensive computations such as FFT, DCT, and FIR and so on. Modern stream operations such as MPEG2 or MP3 encoders/decoders are often more sophisticated and composed of multiple such computations. Enabling operation synchronization between different such computations with different semantics leads to the need for control messaging. We extend previous work on control messaging and give a formal definition for control message latency via the semantics of information wavefronts. This control-operation-integrated SDF (COSDF) is able to model sophisticated stream programs more precisely. However, the conventional scheduling method developed for SDF is not sufficient to schedule COSDF applications. To schedule COSDF applications, we develop a scheduling method using dependency graphs and applying a periodic graph theory, based on reduced dependency graphs (RDG). This RDG scheduling method also helps extract parallelism of stream programs. The more precise abstraction of COSDF is expected to help synthesize and generate sophisticated stream programs more efficiently.Although the SDF modularity property also improves programmability, it can come at a price of efficiency when SDF models are not compiled and run using model-based design environments. However, compiling large SDF models to mitigate the inefficiency can be prohibitive in the situations where even a small change in a model may lead to large recompilation overhead. We tackle the problem by proposing a method for incrementally compiling large SDF models that faithfully captures the executions of original SDF models to avoid potential artificial deadlocks of a naive compilation method.

In this study, TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal process and characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images, selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The NO removal photocatalytic activity of the hydrothermally synthesizedTNTs was surveyed systematically. The hydrothermally synthesizedTNTs have shown an efficient NO photodegradation which is approximately 4 times higher than that of P25 and an excellent photostability under visible light after 5 cycles. Furthermore, reactive radicals mainly involved in the photocatalytic reaction were identified by electron spin resonance (ESR) study, leading to a better understanding of the photocatalytic mechanism of the hydrothermally synthesized TNTs.

In this paper, we show that health insurance and health-care services have been expanded in Viet Nam over the past decade and had the potential to reach various groups of older persons (defined as those aged 60 or more). Yet, a number of challenges still remain that greatly influence the current health-care system as regards affordability and adequate service provision. The most critical of these issues is that the most vulnerable groups among older persons have lower access rates and a greater financial burden (that is, out-of-pocket expenses). To deal with those issues, we suggest certain policy directions, including developing communal health systems and guaranteeing the financial sustainability of the health insurance fund by monitoring both service providers and users.

Visible-light-driven graphite-like carbon nitride/TiO2 nanotubes (g-C3N4/TNTs) heterostructures were synthesized by hydrothermal and calcination processes. The g-C3N4/TNTs heterostructures with the different weight ratios of g-C3N4 to TNTs, from 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%, were characterized by modern methods of physical-chemical analysis. The photocatalytic activity of materials was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in aqueous under the visible light. Results showed that the MB photocatalytic degradation performance of the g-C3N4/TNTs heterostructures was enhanced, and that of the 2% g-C3N4/TNTs witnessed the highest efficiency (81%, 180 min). The photocatalytic activity was improved, thanks to the extended optical absorption range and enhanced separation of the photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, the band alignment of the g-C3N4/TNTs heterostructures was determined by the preliminary calculation.

Safe and effective antimalarial drugs are required for the treatment of pregnant women. We report a 3-day regimen of artesunate (4 mg/kg/day)-azithromycin (25 mg/kg/day) (ASAZ) to be efficacious (polymerase chain reaction-corrected cure rate of 96.7%) and well tolerated in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children (N = 11) and adults (N = 19), in Vietnam in 2010. In comparison, the cure rate for artesunate (4 mg/kg on day 0, 2 mg/kg on days 1-6) was 90.0% in children (N = 7) and adults (N = 23). Because azithromycin is considered safe in pregnancy, our findings provide further evidence that ASAZ should be evaluated for the treatment of pregnant women with malaria.

We evaluated whether sex affects the steady-state pharmacokinetics of the antimalarial drugs, primaquine and doxycycline, in healthy subjects. Seventeen male and 17 female healthy Vietnamese subjects were administered 30 mg (base) of primaquine daily for 14 days. After a 2-week washout period, 14 male and 14 female subjects were administered 100 mg (base) of doxycycline daily for 14 days. Women had significantly higher median values of C(max) (212 versus 122 ng/mL, P< 0.001) and AUC(0-24) (1,909 versus 917 ng . h/mL, P < 0.001) of primaquine compared with men. Other than a longer t(max) in women, no sex-related differences were seen in the pharmacokinetics of doxycycline. The primaquine pharmacokinetic data suggest that women have increased exposure to primaquine, which may put them at increased risk for toxicity when administered the same maintenance dose as men. The similar pharmacokinetics of doxycycline between the two sexes justifies the same maintenance dose.

Aims To evaluate the effects of gender, food and grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy subjects. Methods In a randomized, two-phase cross-over study, 10 male and 10 female healthy Vietnamese subjects were administered 30 mg primaquine in the fasting state or with food, followed by administration of primaquine with grapefruit juice. Results The pharmacokinetics of primaquine were comparable between male and female subjects, with geometric mean ratios of Cmax = 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65, 1.22] and AUC = 0.80 (95% CI 0.56, 1.15). The mean CL/F of primaquine was slightly higher in males than in females [0.52 l h−1 kg−1vs. 0.43 l h−1 kg−1, mean difference of 0.09 (95% CI –0.10, 0.28), P = 0.32]. When compared with fasting state values, food increased the geometric mean Cmax of primaquine by 26% (95% CI 12, 40) and the AUC by 14% (95% CI 3, 27). Similarly, grapefruit juice increased the geometric mean Cmax by 23% (95% CI 4, 45) and the AUC by 19% (95% CI 4, 37). Conclusions The disposition of primaquine was comparable between genders, suggesting no need to modify the dose of primaquine for malaria treatment or prophylaxis. Food increased the oral bioavailability of primaquine, which may lead to higher antimalarial efficacy. Grapefruit juice increased the bioavailability of primaquine, with marked interindividual differences suggesting that people should not take primaquine with grapefruit juice.

Background In Vietnam, the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is currently used for first-line treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, limited efficacy and tolerability data are available on alternative forms of ACT in Vietnam in case there is a reduction in the susceptibility of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. A study was conducted to compare the efficacy and tolerability of two fixed-dose formulations of ACT, artemisinin–piperaquine (Artequick®, ARPQ) and artesunate-amodiaquine (Coarsucam™, ASAQ) for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria in south-central Vietnam. Methods A randomized, open-label trial was conducted comparing the efficacy of a two-day regimen of ARPQ (~2.8 mg/kg artemisinin plus ~17.1 mg/kg of piperaquine per day) and a three-day regimen of ASAQ (~4.7 mg/kg of artesunate plus ~12.6 mg/kg of amodiaquine per day) for the treatment of children and adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Primary efficacy endpoint was day 42, PCR-corrected, parasitological cure rate. Secondary endpoints were parasite and fever clearance times and tolerability. Results Of 128 patients enrolled, 63 were administered ARPQ and 65 ASAQ. Of the patients who completed the 42 days follow-up period or had a recurrence of malaria, 55 were on ARPQ (30 children, 25 adults) and 59 were on ASAQ (31 children, 28 adults). Recrudescent parasitaemia was PCR-confirmed for one patient in each treatment group, with cure rates at day 42 of 98% (95% CI: 88–100) for both forms of ACT. The median parasite clearance time was significantly slower in the ARPQ group compared with the ASAQ group (48 h vs. 36 h, Pvs. 24 h, P = 0.07). The two forms of ACT were well tolerated with no serious adverse events. Conclusion Both forms of ACT were highly efficacious in the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. Although the two-day course of ARPQ was equally as effective as the three-day course of ASAQ, parasite and fever clearance times were shorter with ASAQ. Further studies are warranted in different regions of Vietnam to determine the nationwide efficacy of ASAQ. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number, ACTRN12609000816257

In 18 male healthy subjects, artesunate (200 mg)-azithromycin (1,500 mg) daily for 3 days was found to be well tolerated, with only mild gastrointestinal disturbances reported. The pharmacokinetic properties of artesunate-azithromycin given in combination are comparable to those of the drugs given alone. Artesunate and its major active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin, are responsible for most of the ex vivo antimalarial activity, with a delayed contribution by azithromycin.

Artesunate-amodiaquine (AAQ) is efficacious for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Africa, but little is known about its efficacy in Southeast Asia. We compared the efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP) and AAQ against falciparum malaria in central Vietnam.Open, randomized clinical trial of 116 patients (36 children aged 6-14 years, 80 adults aged 15-60 years) were randomly allocated a 3-day course of either DHP (approximately 2.3 mg/kg dihydroartemisinin plus approximately 18.5 mg/kg of piperaquine per day) or AAQ (approximately 4.4 mg/kg of artesunate plus approximately 10.6 mg/kg of amodiaquine per day). The follow-up period was 42 days.The two drug combinations were well tolerated by all age groups with no obvious drug associated adverse events. Of the patients who completed 42 days of follow-up, 49 were on DHP (15 children, 34 adults) and 49 were on AAQ (14 children, 35 adults). The 42 day cure rates adjusted for reinfection identified by PCR genotyping for the two groups were similar [100% (49/49) and 98% (48/49) for DHP and AAQ, respectively]. With fewer reinfections, DHP appears to possess greater post-treatment prophylactic activity than AAQ.AAQ, an inexpensive artemisinin-based combination, could be an additional option to DHP for the treatment of multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria in Vietnam.

The two fixed-dose combinations of dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine (Artekin and Arterakine) were found to be bioinequivalent in healthy Vietnamese subjects. However, because the peak plasma concentrations and areas under the concentration-time curves of dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine were only marginally different between the two formulations, similar therapeutic efficacies are expected in the treatment of malaria infections.

We compared plasma maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of the antimalarial drug piperaquine in 26 healthy Vietnamese subjects after treatment with either a single oral dose of 500 mg (n = 6) or 1,000 mg (n = 6) of piperaquine phosphate and a three-day course of 500 mg of piperaquine/ day in the fasting state (n = 7) or with food (approximately 17 g fat) (n = 7). The geometric mean plasma Cmax and AUC((0-28)) was 2.8-fold (200 ng/mL versus 70 ng/mL) and 1.9-fold (5,736 ng x h/mL versus 2,999 ng x h/mL), respectively, and higher in subjects receiving the 1,000-mg dose than in those receiving the 500-mg dose. The geometric mean Cmax and AUC((0-28)) was 1.7-fold (198 ng/mL versus 119 ng/mL) and 1.4-fold (11,187 ng x h/mL versus 7,954 ng x h/mL) higher in the fed state than in the fasting state. Piperaquine AUC was proportional to the two doses tested and a moderate-fat meal enhanced the bioavailability of piperaquine by 41%, which should improve the therapeutic efficacy of this drug.

Micronutrient deficiencies remain common in preschool children in developing countries. Interventions focus on single micronutrients and often lack effectiveness. Weekly instead of daily supplementation may improve effectiveness.The efficacy of weekly and daily supplementation in reducing anemia prevalence and in improving the zinc, vitamin A, and growth status of 6-24-mo-old Vietnamese children was investigated.In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the daily group (n = 55) received 8 mg elemental Fe (as iron sulfate), 5 mg elemental Zn (as zinc sulfate), 333 microg retinol, and 20 mg vitamin C 5 d/wk for 3 mo. The weekly group (n = 54) received 20 mg Fe, 17 mg Zn, 1700 microg retinol, and 20 mg vitamin C once a week. A third group (n = 54) received a placebo only. Venous blood samples were collected at the start and end of the supplementation period and anthropometric measurements were taken at the start and 3 mo after the end of supplementation.At baseline, 45.6% of subjects had hemoglobin concentrations110 g/L, 36.3% had zinc concentrations10.71 micromol/L, and 45.6% had retinol concentrations0.70 micromol/L. Hemoglobin, retinol, and zinc concentrations of both the weekly and daily groups increased similarly compared with the placebo group (P0.001). There was no significant difference in growth between the supplemented groups and the placebo group. However, the height-for-age of subjects stunted at baseline increased with z scores of 0.48 (P0.001) and 0.37 (P0.001) for the daily and weekly groups, respectively.Weekly and daily supplementation improved hemoglobin, zinc, and retinol concentrations similarly. Neither intervention affected growth of the overall population, but growth of children stunted at baseline was improved through both types of supplementation.

International audience; Heated at 500°C under a SO2 air mixture, tin dioxide is sensitized for different gaseous compounds. Selective detector devices can be imagined with sensor heated at different temperatures or with sensors with time programmed cycliing temperature. An interpretation of the electrical phenomenon based on a potential barrier effect associated with a chemical reaction process is proposed.

No english abstract, L'évolution des états de surface de SnO2 en fonction du traitement à SO2 a été étudiée au moyen des expériences de thermodésorption. Le rôle des groupements hydroxyles a été mis en évidence au niveau des sites d'adsorption et un modèle concernant l'adsorption du dioxyde de soufre sur l'oxygène du réseau de l'oxyde a été proposé. Le mécanisme d'adsorption et de décomposition de H2S et de C6H6 sur l'adsorption de SnO2 a été observé. L'analyse de l'influence de la température sur la nature de l'adsorption de H2S a révélé un aspect chimique intéressant concernant la liaison entre le matériau et les espèces adsorbées. Quant à l'interaction C6H6-SnO2, nous avons observé que le matériau traité dispose des sites d'adsorption préférentiels où se fixent les produits de décomposition tandis que le matériau non traité n'établit pas des liaisons solides avec les molécules d'oxydes de carbone.