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Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nonextraction orthodontic treatment for Angle class I malocclusion. Methods: A nonrandomized pre–post interventional study was conducted on patients diagnosed with Angle class I malocclusion, crowding (≤9 mm), and instructed for nonextraction orthodontic treatment. The weighted PAR (Peer Assessment Rating) Index is employed to determine the outcome of orthodontic treatment. Also, soft tissue and bone indexes were assessed before and after intervention. Data were analyzed by linear regression and T-test statistical test using R software version 4.3.0 by a blinded statistician. Results: Thirty-three participants (mean age: 20.5 ± 0.5, 75.6% female) completed the intervention and were included in the analyses. Linear regression showed there was a significant difference between before and after intervention regarding the weighted PAR Index (p < 0.001). Conclusion: It was possible to complete orthodontic treatment with nonextraction. For cases of minor malocclusion and generally symmetrical characteristics, nonextraction orthodontics was recommended.

Abstract Objectives This study aims to generate a de novo complete whole-genome assembly of Pseudomonas sp. strain HOU2, which is an endophytic bacterium isolated from dangshen roots that shows to improve the growth of in vitro dangshen plants. Further investigation of the whole genome of Pseudomonas sp. strain HOU2 will help identify potential genes or pathways that could be involved in the plant growth-promoting effects on in vitro dangshen plants, providing valuable information for future applications. Data description The genomic DNA of Pseudomonas sp. strain HOU2 was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore’s PromethION sequencer with an R10.4.1 flow cell (Table 1, Data file 1). The assembly of the Pseudomonas sp. strain HOU2 genome was conducted using Flye version 2.9, resulting in a single circular chromosome of 6,047,544 bp with a mean coverage of 488 (Table 1, Data file 2). The annotation of genes, proteins, and features of the HOU2 genome were performed by the RAST server (Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology) ( https://rast.nmpdr.org/ ) (Table 1, Data file 3, 4, 5) [6, 7]. The Pseudomonas sp. strain HOU2 genome was determined to be most similar to that of Pseudomonas koreensis using the Type Strain Genome Server ( https://tygs.dsmz.de/ , version v391) [8].

Unfrozen water plays a crucial role in thermophysical processes occurring in frozen ground. Measurement difficulties require approximate approaches to describe the relationship between unfrozen water content (θ) and soil temperature, known as soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC). Despite significant progress, model characteristics, freezing-thawing hysteresis, and phase equilibrium remain challenging. This study developed an alternative approach to estimate θ using a pedotransfer function (PTF) implemented with extreme gradient boosting (XGB). The XGB-PTF model was trained using SFCC data available in the literature, and cooperative game theory was utilized to assess potential impacts on θ predictions. The performance of the XGB-PTF was rigorously evaluated and compared with two high-performance empirical models. Significant reductions in root mean square error and mean absolute error of 42% and 55%, respectively, demonstrated the superiority of the XGB-PTF. The XGB-PTF’s usability was also verified by experimental validation. A notable advantage of the proposed model is its capacity to provide a credible range containing the actual θ with a 95% confidence level. Coupling the XGB-PTF with game theory indicated that the primary factors influencing the SFCC were in order of porosity (n), initial saturation degree (Sr), and clay fraction (Fclay) for fine-grained soils, while for coarse-grained soils, the order is Fclay, n, and Sr. Furthermore, insights derived from game theory aligned with previous experimental studies concerning the phase transition of pore water across various temperature ranges. The proposed XGB-PTF, with its straightforward predictors, efficiency, and transparency, is expected to serve as a versatile tool for advancing SFCC studies.

Situational awareness (SA) is of tremendous significance for successful operations in many domains, such as surveillance, humanitarian, search, and rescue missions, and national security. SA is particularly important for the defense sector, and is regarded as the decisive factor in military and air combat engagements. Commanders and operators rely on the accuracy and fidelity of SA for comprehending the environment, decision-making, and carrying out actions based on these decisions for accomplishing a mission. SA, however, is susceptible to adversarial attacks that can compromise the security and trust of SA systems. In this paper, we discuss the significance of security and trust of SA from an air force perspective. We then propose a model for quantifying the trustworthiness of an SA system. We further present numerical examples that demonstrate the quantification of trustworthiness of an SA system using our proposed model. Finally, we conclude this paper with future research directions for quantifying the security of SA systems.

The Netherlands is one of the most important countries for the production of strawberry transplants in Europe. Regulations for pesticide use and water quality become more strict each year, which is a challenge for this sector. Strawberry plants are grown from tips and raised in trays on a trayfield. One of the main plant diseases in strawberry is caused by Phytophthora cactorum. The dispersal of the disease is facilitated by sporangia and zoospores splashing from the surface of the trayfield onto the transplants in the trays. In this research, we compared, in three consecutive years, the traditional growing system with a new system in which the trays are elevated and splashes from the trayfield reaching the transplants are minimized. In two of the three years, we show that the new growing system without the use of any fungicide against P. cactorum performs as well as or even better than the traditional system with the use of the permitted pesticides. Data about Phytophthora occurring in air samples and in splash water collected at different heights support the hypothesis that the decrease in splash dispersal underlies the success of the elevated trayfield. This shows the potential of re-designing growing systems to become less dependent on pesticide use.

Summary: Background: Dengue epidemics impose considerable strain on healthcare resources. Real-time continuous and non-invasive monitoring of patients admitted to the hospital could lead to improved care and outcomes. We evaluated the performance of a commercially available wearable (SmartCare) utilising photoplethysmography (PPG) to stratify clinical risk for a cohort of hospitalised patients with dengue in Vietnam. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study for adult and paediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of dengue at the Hospital for Tropical Disease, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Patients underwent PPG monitoring early during admission alongside standard clinical care. PPG waveforms were analysed using machine learning models. Adult patients were classified between 3 severity classes: i) uncomplicated (ward-based), ii) moderate-severe (emergency department-based), and iii) severe (ICU-based). Data from paediatric patients were split into 2 classes: i) severe (during ICU stay) and ii) follow-up (14–21 days after the illness onset). Model performances were evaluated using standard classification metrics and 5-fold stratified cross-validation. Findings: We included PPG and clinical data from 132 adults and 15 paediatric patients with a median age of 28 (IQR, 21–35) and 12 (IQR, 9–13) years respectively. 1781 h of PPG data were available for analysis. The best performing convolutional neural network models (CNN) achieved a precision of 0.785 and recall of 0.771 in classifying adult patients according to severity class and a precision of 0.891 and recall of 0.891 in classifying between disease and post-disease state in paediatric patients. Interpretation: We demonstrate that the use of a low-cost wearable provided clinically actionable data to differentiate between patients with dengue of varying severity. Continuous monitoring and connectivity to early warning systems could significantly benefit clinical care in dengue, particularly within an endemic setting. Work is currently underway to implement these models for dynamic risk predictions and assist in individualised patient care. Funding: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in High-Performance Embedded and Distributed Systems (HiPEDS) (Grant: EP/L016796/1) and the Wellcome Trust (Grants: 215010/Z/18/Z and 215688/Z/19/Z).

Introduction: We aim to determine and compare the correlation between conventional and digital impression methods for measuring mesiodistal teeth dimensions. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on a total of 120 dental arch samples with less than 5 mm of tooth crowding, complete teeth on the dental arch, no missing teeth, and no fillings on the mesial or distal sides at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Conventional (extra-fast alginate) and digital impressions using a 3D intraoral scanner (CEREC Primescan) were taken from all participants, and the dimensions of the mesiodistal teeth were measured. Using R software, Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between conventional and digital impression methods. Result: The pooled correlation for the maxilla was 0.8062 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7751–0.8334] (very strong positive correlation); for the mandibular, it was 0.7645 (95% CI: 0.7165–0.8054) (strong positive correlation), and for both jaws was 0.7863 (95% CI: 0.7581–0.8115) (strong positive correlation). Conclusion: In the Vietnamese population measurement of mesiodistal tooth width using a digital dental scanner can be used instead of conventional plaster models.

Blockchain technology has brought a significant advancement in the development of academic certificate management systems by enhancing security, transparency, and decentralization. However, challenges such as certificate revocation, transaction costs, and latency still persist. This research proposes a novel mechanism combining smart contracts and Optimistic Rollups technique to address these issues. By leveraging the off-chain processing feature of Optimistic Rollups, the research has significantly reduced transaction latency and costs in certificate revocation. This integration not only optimizes performance but also maintains transparency and data integrity on the blockchain. Moreover, integrating machine learning for fraud detection not only reinforces the security of the certificate management system but also provides timely alerts before fraudulent transactions occur. The combination of blockchain to ensure decentralization and security, along with machine learning to detect and prevent fraud, creates a comprehensive and advanced certificate management system. The experimental outcomes validate the effectiveness of Optimistic Rollups in certificate revocation, showing a notable approximately 61.92% reduction in both transaction costs and latency. Moreover, the machine learning model displays impressive performance, achieving high accuracy in detecting fraudulent users, with an average F1-score of 99.42% and an AUC score nearing perfection. These results underscore the comprehensive and advanced nature of the certificate management system.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic skin disease, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. One of the most effective management approaches for AD involves addressing the defective skin barrier by urging AD patients to regularly use suitable moisturizers. Therapeutic moisturizers designed for AD are precisely formulated with ingredients targeting critical and often early symptoms of AD (e.g., itch, inflammation, damaged skin barrier). Dermo-cosmetic products, which are rich in moisturizing and emollient agents contributing to recovery as well as strengthening the skin barrier, have proven to be excellent adjuncts in AD treatment. There are various galenic forms of dermo-cosmetics, such as lotions, gels, creams, foams, and sprays, requiring a rationale in choosing ingredients for the product formulation and development. In addition, the role of moisturizer and emollient therapy to address skin dryness linked to dermatological conditions is hugely dependent on varying chemistry and morphology in the deeper regions of the skin. There are also limits to the efficacy of treatments, corticosteroid side effects, and product sensory appeal, which may decrease patient acceptance and compliance. The objective of this review is thus to offer a comprehensive overview of the critical aspects involved in the development of cosmetic vehicles, as well as a detailed examination of the primary ingredients used in formulations for AD.

Results: This case illustrated the use of TADs. MEAW combines TADs with modified Class III elastics for camouflage therapy. It is a potentially effective treatment option for adolescents diagnosed with Class III skeletal malocclusion.

In the presence of hallux limitus/rigidus and an elevated 1–2 intermetatarsal angle (IMA), first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) arthrodesis (FUSION) is often chosen to simultaneously correct both issues; however, this procedure obliterates the first MTPJ function and can often shorten the first ray. Alternatively, the first MTPJ implant arthroplasty (IMPLANT) has the ability to preserve some motion at the joint and does not result in shortening. Despite its surgical utility in clinical restoration, there is a paucity of understanding surrounding the first MTPJ arthroplasty's effect on the IMA. To this end, we performed a retrospective cohort study comparing the changes in IMA in patients that received either a first MTPJ IMPLANT or first MTPJ FUSION at our institution between January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021. Weightbearing AP films preoperatively and during the immediate (i.e., 4–8 weeks) postoperative period were used to evaluate changes in IMA. We identified 49 patients (20 IMPLANT, 29 FUSION). The IMA was reduced in patients that received FUSION (P < 0.0001) or IMPLANT (P < 0.0001). Surprisingly, we found that the amount of IMA reduction was similar in both groups. Therefore, we conclude that IMPLANT procedures reduce the IMA comparable to FUSION procedures during the immediate postoperative period. Moreover, the results of our work challenges the previous notions of adductor hallucis tendon involvement in IMA reduction in FUSION procedures.Level of Clinical Evidence: IV, retrospective case series

Vascular dysfunction is a common cause of cardiovascular diseases characterized by the narrowing and stiffening of arteries, such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, and hypertension. Arterial narrowing results from the aberrant proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and their increased synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. These, in turn, are modulated by arterial stiffness, but the mechanism for this is not fully understood. We found that survivin is an important regulator of stiffness-mediated ECM synthesis and intracellular stiffness in VSMCs. Whole-transcriptome analysis and cell culture experiments showed that survivin expression is upregulated in injured femoral arteries in mice and in human VSMCs cultured on stiff fibronectin-coated hydrogels. Suppressed expression of survivin in human VSMCs significantly decreased the stiffness-mediated expression of ECM components related to arterial stiffening, such as collagen-I, fibronectin, and lysyl oxidase. By contrast, expression of these ECM proteins was rescued by ectopic expression of survivin in human VSMCs cultured on soft hydrogels. Interestingly, atomic force microscopy analysis showed that suppressed or ectopic expression of survivin decreases or increases intracellular stiffness, respectively. Furthermore, we observed that inhibiting Rac and Rho reduces survivin expression, elucidating a mechanical pathway connecting intracellular tension, mediated by Rac and Rho, to survivin induction. Finally, we found that survivin inhibition decreases FAK phosphorylation, indicating that survivin-dependent intracellular tension feeds back to maintain signaling through FAK. These findings suggest a novel mechanism by which survivin potentially modulates arterial stiffness.

A laboratory-based lateral flow (LF) test that utilizes up-converting reporter particles (UCP) for ultrasensitive quantification of Schistosoma circulating anodic antigen (CAA) in urine is a well-accepted test to identify active infection. However, this UCP-LF CAA test requires sample pre-treatment steps not compatible with field applications. Flow, a new low-cost disposable, allows integration of large-volume pre-concentration of urine analytes and LF detection into a single field-deployable device. We assessed a prototype Flow-Schistosoma (Flow-S) device with an integrated UCP-LF CAA test strip, omitting all laboratory-based steps, to enable diagnosis of active Schistosoma infection in the field using urine. Flow-S is designed for large-volume (5–20 mL) urine, applying passive paper-based filtration and antibody-based CAA concentration. Samples tested for schistosome infection were collected from women of reproductive age living in a Tanzania region where S. haematobium infection is endemic. Fifteen negative and fifteen positive urine samples, selected based on CAA levels quantified in paired serum, were analyzed with the prototype Flow-S. The current Flow-S prototype, with an analytical lower detection limit of 1 pg CAA/mL, produced results correlated with the laboratory-based UCP-LF CAA test. Urine precipitates occurred in frozen banked samples and affected accurate quantification; however, this should not occur in fresh urine. Based on the findings of this study, Flow-S appears suitable to replace the urine pre-treatment required for the laboratory-based UCP-LF CAA test, thus allowing true field-based applications with fresh urine samples. The urine precipitates observed with frozen samples, though less important given the goal of testing fresh urines, warrant additional investigation to evaluate methods for mitigation. Flow-S devices permit testing of pooled urine samples with applications for population stratified testing. A field test with fresh urine samples, a further optimized Flow-S device, and larger statistical power has been scheduled.

Summary: Loss of function of progranulin (PGRN), encoded by the granulin (GRN) gene, is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases. Several therapeutics to boost PGRN levels are currently in clinical trials. However, it is difficult to test the efficacy of PGRN-enhancing drugs in mouse models due to the mild phenotypes of Grn−/− mice. Recently, mice deficient in both PGRN and TMEM106B were shown to develop severe motor deficits and pathology. Here, we show that intracerebral ventricle injection of PGRN-expressing AAV1/9 viruses partially rescues motor deficits, neuronal loss, glial activation, and lysosomal abnormalities in Tmem106b−/−Grn−/− mice. Widespread expression of PGRN is detected in both the brain and spinal cord for both AAV subtypes. However, AAV9 but not AAV1-mediated expression of PGRN results in high levels of PGRN in the serum. Together, these data support using the Tmem106b−/−Grn−/− mouse strain as a robust mouse model to determine the efficacy of PGRN-elevating therapeutics.

Background Globally, helminth infections and cardiometabolic diseases often overlap in populations and individuals. Neither the causal relationship between helminth infections and cardiometabolic diseases nor the effect of helminth eradication on cardiometabolic risk have been reviewed systematically in a large number of human and animal studies. Methods We conducted a systematic review assessing the reported effects of helminth infections and anthelmintic treatment on the development and/or severity of cardiometabolic diseases and risk factors. The search was limited to the most prevalent human helminths worldwide. This study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered prospectively in PROSPERO (CRD42021228610). Searches were performed on December 10, 2020 and rerun on March 2, 2022 using Ovid MEDLINE ALL (1946 to March 2, 2022), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Global Index Medicus, and Ovid Embase (1974 to March 2, 2022). Randomized clinical trials, cohort, cross-sectional, case-control, and animal studies were included. Two reviewers performed screening independently. Results Eighty-four animal and human studies were included in the final analysis. Most studies reported on lipids (45), metabolic syndrome (38), and diabetes (30), with fewer on blood pressure (18), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (11), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP, 5), and non-atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (4). Fifteen different helminth infections were represented. On average, helminth-infected participants had less dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Eleven studies examined anthelmintic treatment, of which 9 (82%) reported post-treatment increases in dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes or glucose levels. Results from animal and human studies were generally consistent. No consistent effects of helminth infections on blood pressure, hsCRP, or cardiac function were reported except some trends towards association of schistosome infection with lower blood pressure. The vast majority of evidence linking helminth infections to lower cardiometabolic diseases was reported in those with schistosome infections. Conclusions Helminth infections may offer protection against dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This protection may lessen after anthelmintic treatment. Our findings highlight the need for mechanistic trials to determine the pathways linking helminth infections with cardiometabolic diseases. Such studies could have implications for helminth eradication campaigns and could generate new strategies to address the global challenge of cardiometabolic diseases. Author summary Helminth infections are caused by parasitic worms and affect over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Helminth infections and cardiometabolic diseases are both common and overlap with one another in many parts of the world. Studies have separately examined the relationship between helminth infections and various cardiometabolic diseases, but the relationships overall, as well as the impact of treatment of parasitic worms, have not been studied systematically. The authors conducted a systematic review to assess the impact of helminth infections, and treatment of helminth infections, on cardiometabolic diseases and risk factors. Eighty-four total studies were analyzed and included in the final review. People and animals infected with helminths were generally found to have fewer cardiometabolic disease risk factors including better overall cholesterol profiles, less diabetes, and less atherosclerotic heart disease than uninfected study participants. After treatment of helminth infections, participants frequently experienced worsening in those cardiometabolic measurements. There were no consistent effects of helminth infections on blood pressure, high-sensitivity CRP (an inflammatory marker), or other cardiac function. In summary, helminth infections may offer protection against certain cardiometabolic diseases and risk factors. More studies are needed to elucidate the pathways linking helminth infections with cardiometabolic diseases as it may impact how we treat both disease processes in regions where both are prevalent.

BackgroundObservational studies in humans have reported a link between schistosome infection and lower adiposity, but this may be explained by socioeconomic and demographic factors, intensity of infection, or common co-infections such as HIV.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study that investigated the relationship between schistosome infection and adiposity in a large, well-described cohort of Tanzanian adults living with and without HIV. Cross-sectional data were collected among adults living in Mwanza, Tanzania who were enrolled in the Chronic Infections, Co-morbidities and Diabetes in Africa (CICADA) cohort study. Schistosome circulating anodic antigen, secreted by both Schistosoma mansoni and haematobium which are endemic to Tanzania, was quantified from stored samples. Schistosome infection diagnosed by serum circulating anodic antigen levels. The primary outcome was fat mass measured by bioimpedance analysis. Secondary outcomes included fat-free mass, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and body mass index.ResultsThe study enrolled 1,947 adults, of whom 1,923 (98.8%) had serum available for schistosome testing. Of these, 873 (45.4%) had a serum circulating anodic antigen ≥30 pg/mL, indicating schistosome infection. Compared to uninfected individuals, those with schistosome infections had −1.1 kg [95% CI −1.9 to −0.3] lower fat mass after adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, tobacco use, education level, and socioeconomic status. Infected participants also had lower waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and body mass index. Fat-free mass was not different between the two groups. Neither being HIV-infected, nor receiving antiretroviral therapy, modified associations between schistosome infection and adiposity. These associations were also not affected by Schistosoma worm burden.ConclusionsSchistosome infection was associated with lower fat mass and less central adiposity without a difference in muscle mass, irrespective of confounders, HIV status, or the intensity of schistosome infection. Future studies should adjust for socioeconomic and demographic factors that are associated with schistosome infection and adiposity. Identifying mechanistic pathways by which schistosome infection reduces adiposity while preserving muscle mass could yield new strategies for obesity control and cardiovascular disease prevention.

IntroductionIncreasing access to viral load (VL) monitoring is essential to fight HIV epidemics. In remote settings in Vietnam, using dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for specimen collection could improve the situation. Here, people who inject drugs (PWID) represent many newly antiretroviral therapy (ART)-initiated patients. The goals of this evaluation were to evaluate if access to VL monitoring and the rate of virological failure differed between PWID and non-PWID.MethodsProspective cohort study of patients newly initiated on ART in remote settings in Vietnam. DBS coverage at 6, 12 and 24 months of ART was investigated. Factors associated with DBS coverage were identified through logistic regression, as were factors associated with virological failure (VL ≥1,000 copies/mL) at 6, 12 and 24 months of ART.ResultsOverall 578 patients were enrolled in the cohort, of whom 261 (45%) were PWID. DBS coverage improved from 74.7% to 82.9% between 6 and 24 months of ART (p = 0.001). PWID status was not associated with DBS coverage (p = 0.74), but DBS coverage was lower in patients who were late to clinical visits and in those in WHO stage 4 (p = 0.023 and p = 0.001, respectively). The virological failure rate decreased from 15.8% to 6.6% between 6 and 24 months of ART (pConclusionsDespite training and simple procedures, DBS coverage was not perfect. DBS coverage was not associated with PWID status. Close management is required for effective routine HIV VL monitoring. PWID were more at risk of failure, as were patients who were not fully adherent and patients who were late to clinical visits. Specific interventions targeting these patients are needed to improve their outcomes. Overall, efforts in coordination and communication are essential to improve global HIV care.Trial registrationClinical Trial Number: NCT03249493.

Abstract Background and Aims Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) add billions of dollars to the direct annual costs associated with diabetes. Despite various treatments, many DFUs do not heal and become infected. Both skin‐associated microbial communities and glycemic control are believed to be important in nonhealing DFUs. Recent studies have linked serum Vitamin C levels with glycemic control and DFUs. This cross‐sectional study assessed skin microbiome in DFUs, intact diabetic skin, and nondiabetic skin to identify correlations between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Vitamin C, and microbial community structure. Correlations between Vitamin C, HbA1c, wound size, and ulcer duration were also determined. Methods Participants had their DFUs or intact skin culture swabbed. HbA1c was obtained via point‐of‐care fingerstick testing and serum Vitamin C was obtained via venipuncture. All participants completed a dietary questionnaire. Participants with ulcers were stratified into the controlled (≤8.0%) or uncontrolled (>8.0%) HbA1c group. Analysis of microbial communities was performed via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing and bacterial load was measured by the domain‐level quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the 16S rRNA gene. Results Forty‐two patients were recruited over 6 months. Bacteria from the genera Staphylococcus and Stenotrophomonas were present in all samples and often dominant, but a shift towards anaerobic pathogenic taxa was observed in ulcers. No global significant differences were observed for HbA1c and Vitamin C levels in the microbial community structure (R 0.375). Bacterial loads were 4–5 orders of magnitude higher in ulcers than in intact skin samples. Bacterial load was not significantly higher in the uncontrolled HbA1c group (p = 0.67). Larger wound sizes (p = 0.46) were observed in the uncontrolled HbA1c group compared to the control. Lower Vitamin C levels (p = 0.002) were observed in the uncontrolled HbA1c group compared to nondiabetic controls. Conclusion Understanding the link between Vitamin C and HbA1c and DFU microbiome may aid in new therapies.

Bruguiera parviflora (Rhizophoraceae) is one of the Bruguiera genus-based mangrove plants which has not been investigated for the chemical compositions as well as biological activities so far. The present study was aimed at investigating the phytochemicals as well as anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of B. parviflora leaves. The results showed that the crude extract and its fractions significantly increased the percentage inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and decreased NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The most effective fraction BP5 was further chromatographed and purified. As a result, eight compounds were isolated and elucidated, including five flavonoids (1–5) and three triterpenoids (6–8). All isolated compounds were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects. The results indicated that flavonoids namely taxifolin (1), quercetin (2), myricetin (3), rutin (4), and kaempferol (5) exhibited potent anti-inflammatory as well as α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Among them, compound 2 showed the most potent inhibitory effect against an α-glucosidase activity with an IC50 value of 3.4±0.5 μg/mL and the LPS-induced NO production of 11.8 μM at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. These findings suggest that flavonoids (1–5) from B. parviflora leaves may be useful as the potential α-glucosidase inhibitor as well as anti-inflammatory agent.

The largest economic center in Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City, is facing increasingly serious riverbank erosion, one of the main reasons being the flow. Therefore, in this study, the flow velocity field on the Saigon River section is accurately analyzed in different time intervals with the help of MIKE 11 and MIKE 21 models. The simulation results show that The number of flow velocities in the middle of the river is 3-4 times greater than that of the two banks. However, between high tide and low tide, the flow on both sides of the river is faster than the main flow, especially in the upper part of the winding banks, such as the section from Ben Nghe sluice to Tan Thuan, sewer and river section from An Loi Dong Ward police station to Thu Thiem Bridge 2. The velocity value on the studied river section, in most cases, exceeds the allowable value of the non-erosion velocity of the bed material particles. , riverbanks, as well as suspended sediment particles. Therefore, the erosion process on both sides of the river will occur regularly and continuously, so urgent measures are needed to protect the riverbank. During the operation of the anti-flood sluice, the flow velocity will decrease slightly before sluices also appear as whirlpools. The flow velocity on the Saigon River has a complex distribution and changes from time to time depending on the flood discharge from Dau Tieng Lake and the tidal currents of the East Sea.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city, located on the lower reaches of the Sai Gon-Dong Nai (SG-DN) river system, is facing increasingly severe flooding due to changes in river flow and water levels. This article presents the results of a study to assess the impact of hydraulic structures located in the upper reaches on the water level in the lower reaches of the SG-DN River. As part of a study to assess the impact of upstream reservoirs and flood control structures on the water level in the lower reaches of the SG-DN River, hydrological data of the river network were collected. A hydraulic model was developed based on a digital elevation model (DEM) using the software package Mike 11, Mike 21 and Mike Flood. The water level of the Sai Gon River from the upper reaches to the Thu Dau Mot measuring station depends on the Dau Tieng reservoir, and the Tri An reservoir directly affects the water level in the river section from behind the Tri An dam to the Dong Nai section in the Tam An - Long Phuoc area. In the sections of the Sai Gon and Dong Nai rivers, which are less affected by the two overlying reservoirs, it is necessary to develop preventive measures to supply sufficient fresh water to meet the population's and industries' needs. In areas prone to flooding and underflooding due to the operation of anti-flood locks, it is also necessary to reconstruct hydraulic structures (raise the elevations of foundations, expand drainage systems, build reservoirs for collecting flood water, etc.)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, located on the lower reaches of the Sai Gon-Dong Nai (SG-DN) river system, is facing increasingly severe flooding due to changes in river flow and water levels. This article presents the results of a study to assess the impact of hydraulic structures located in the upper reaches on the water level in the lower reaches of the SG-DN River. As part of a study to assess the impact of upstream reservoirs and flood control structures on the water level in the lower reaches of the SG-DN River, hydrological data of the river network were collected and a hydraulic model was developed based on a digital elevation model (DEM) using the software package Mike 11, Mike 21 and Mike Flood. The water level of the Sai Gon River from the upper reaches to the Thu Dau Mot measuring station directly depends on the Dau Tieng reservoir, and the Tri An reservoir directly affects the water level in the river section from behind the Tri An dam to the Dong Nai section in the Tam An - Long Phuoc area. In the sections of the Sai Gon and Dong Nai rivers, which are less affected by the two overlying reservoirs, it is necessary to develop preventive measures to supply sufficient fresh water to meet the needs of the population and industries. In areas prone to flooding and underflooding as a result of the operation of anti-flood locks, it is also necessary to reconstruct hydraulic structures (raise the elevations of foundations, expand drainage systems, build reservoirs for collecting flood water etc.)

Rapid advancements in the fifth generation (5G) communication technology and mobile edge computing (MEC) paradigm have led to the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in urban air mobility (UAM) networks, which provide intelligent services for diversified smart city scenarios. Meanwhile, the widely deployed Internet of drones (IoD) in smart cities has also brought up new concerns regarding performance, security, and privacy. The centralized framework adopted by conventional UAM networks is not adequate to handle high mobility and dynamicity. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure device authentication, data integrity, and privacy preservation in UAM networks. Thanks to its characteristics of decentralization, traceability, and unalterability, blockchain is recognized as a promising technology to enhance security and privacy for UAM networks. In this paper, we introduce LightMAN, a lightweight microchained fabric for data assurance and resilience-oriented UAM networks. LightMAN is tailored for small-scale permissioned UAV networks, in which a microchain acts as a lightweight distributed ledger for security guarantees. Thus, participants are enabled to authenticate drones and verify the genuineness of data that are sent to/from drones without relying on a third-party agency. In addition, a hybrid on-chain and off-chain storage strategy is adopted that not only improves performance (e.g., latency and throughput) but also ensures privacy preservation for sensitive information in UAM networks. A proof-of-concept prototype is implemented and tested on a micro-air–vehicle link (MAVLink) simulator. The experimental evaluation validates the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed LightMAN solution.

In this work, we establish the sum-capacity-achieving signaling schemes and the sum-capacity of a 2-user multiple access Rayleigh fading channel with 1-bit output quantization in the presence of Gaussian-mixture co-channel interference. The considered Gaussian mixture channel is an accurate model to capture non-Gaussian co-channel interference plus noise in practical wireless networks under coexistence regimes, especially for those having heterogeneous structures and high frequency reuse factor. By first examining the phases of the optimal input signals, we demonstrate that these phases must be π/2 circularly symmetric. As a result, the problem of optimizing the sum-rate is equivalent to minimizing the conditional output entropy. By establishing the Kuhn-Tucker condition on the optimal amplitude input distributions, we then show that the optimal input amplitudes are bounded. Our proof relies on the convexity of the log of sum of Q functions. Then, given the linearity of the conditional entropy over the feasible set of bounded amplitude distributions, it is concluded that the optimal input signals must have constant amplitudes. Therefore, the use of any π/2 circularly symmetric signaling schemes with constant amplitudes and full power are sum-capacity-achieving. Using these optimal input signals, the sum-capacity can finally be calculated.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are some of the most toxic proteins known and can induce respiratory failure requiring long-term intensive care. Treatment of botulism includes the administration of antitoxins. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) hold considerable promise as BoNT therapeutics and prophylactics, due to their potency and safety. A three-mAb combination has been developed that specifically neutralizes BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A), and a separate three mAb combination has been developed that specifically neutralizes BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B). A six mAb cocktail, designated G03-52-01, has been developed that combines the anti-BoNT/A and anti-BoNT/B mAbs. The pharmacokinetics and neutralizing antibody concentration (NAC) of G03-52-01 has been determined in guinea pigs, and these parameters were correlated with protection against an inhalation challenge of BoNT/A1 or BoNT/B1. Previously, it was shown that each antibody demonstrated a dose-dependent mAb serum concentration and reached maximum circulating concentrations within 48 h after intramuscular (IM) or intraperitoneal (IP) injection and that a single IM injection of G03-52-01 administered 48 h pre-exposure protected guinea pigs against an inhalation challenge of up to 93 LD50s of BoNT/A1 and 116 LD50s of BoNT/B1. The data presented here advance our understanding of the relationship of the neutralizing NAC to the measured circulating antibody concentration and provide additional support that a single IM or intravenous (IV) administration of G03-52-01 will provide pre-exposure prophylaxis against botulism from an aerosol exposure of BoNT/A and BoNT/B.

BackgroundSevere acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a devastating worldwide pandemic. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, but clinical data supporting HCQ for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are limited.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received ≥1 dose of HCQ at two New York City hospitals. We measured incident Grade 3 or 4 blood count and liver test abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias, and vomiting and diarrhea within 10 days after HCQ initiation, and the proportion of patients who completed HCQ therapy. We also describe changes in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment hypoxia scores between baseline and day 10 after HCQ initiation and in-hospital mortality.ResultsNone of the 153 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received HCQ developed a sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Incident blood count and liver test abnormalities occurred in ConclusionsHCQ appears to be reasonably safe and tolerable in most hospitalized patients with COVID-19. However, nearly one-half of patients did not improve with this treatment, highlighting the need to evaluate HCQ and alternate therapies in randomized trials.

A hardware-in-loop control framework with robot dynamic models, pursuit–evasion game models, sensor and information solutions, and entity tracking algorithms is designed and developed to demonstrate discrete-time robotic pursuit–evasion games for real-world conditions. A parameter estimator is implemented to learn the unknown parameters in the robot dynamics. For visual tracking and fusion, several markers are designed and selected with the best balance of robot tracking accuracy and robustness. The target robots are detected after background modeling, and the robot poses are estimated from the local gradient patterns. Based on the robot dynamic model, a two-player discrete-time game model with limited action space and limited look-ahead horizons is created. The robot controls are based on the game-theoretic (mixed) Nash solutions. Supportive results are obtained from the robot control framework to enable future research of the robot applications in sensor fusion, target tracking and detection, and decision making.

This study performed a series of experiments to examine the hydraulic-mechanical properties of granite-weathered residual soil in the Korean Peninsula. Particular attention was paid to the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) and shear strength under various stress states and matric suction levels. The experimental results indicated the decisive influence of the stress state on the SWCC, notably in the low range of matric suction. In addition, the evolution of shear strength with suction became significant under high net confining stress. The effective stress using the stress-independent SWCC could not describe the actual mechanical behaviors of the unsaturated soil. The relevant effective stress for the granite-weathered residual soil in consideration was then proposed. Next, a numerical framework for strength analysis with infiltration was developed to manifest the practical applications of the experimental results. The analysis results revealed the potential failure mechanisms of the geotechnical infrastructures induced by rainfall. Ignoring the contribution of matric suction may lead to overly conservative outcomes and cannot capture the realistic performance of soil under the rainfall condition. Moreover, the stress-dependent hydraulic properties are suggested for application in strength analysis for the safer design of geotechnical infrastructure.

Au Vietnam, les politiques publiques tendent à soutenir le développement des exploitations laitières de grande taille familiales (> 30 vaches) ou industrielles (> 500 vaches). Cependant, malgré un essor récent de ces grandes fermes, les exploitations familiales de très petite taille continuent à jouer un rôle impor­tant dans la production nationale de lait. Pour contribuer à la réflexion sur les modèles de fermes à promouvoir, notre étude propose de caractériser la diver­sité des exploitations laitières présentes dans le district de Ba Vi en zone périur­baine de Hanoi et d’évaluer leur durabilité. Au total 160 exploitations laitières ont été sélectionnées pour représenter la diversité des fermes présentes dans la zone. Des informations ont été recueillies lors d’entretiens directifs avec les éleveurs sur les divers types de capitaux disponibles sur l’exploitation, sur les pratiques d’élevage et de commercialisation du lait, et sur leurs performances économiques, environnementales et sociales. Une analyse factorielle multiple, suivie d’une classification ascendante hiérarchique ont permis de réaliser une typologie des exploitations. En plus d’une ferme industrielle présente dans le district, cinq types d’exploitations laitières familiales ont été identifiés, qui se différenciaient surtout par le nombre et le type d’activités agricoles et non-agri­coles, la taille du troupeau laitier, et l’intensification de la production laitière. Les indicateurs de performances des exploitations spécialisées ont révélé une rentabilité économique plus élevée que dans les exploitations plus diversifiées. Cependant, les exploitations mixtes avaient également des atouts sur les plans économique (souplesse d’adaptation), environnemental (autonomie fourragère) et social (emploi, charge de travail), qui étaient liés à la diversité de leurs acti­vités agricoles et non-agricoles. Si les politiques publiques tendent à soutenir le développement des fermes spécialisées et des grandes fermes, les programmes d’appui doivent également concerner les petites exploitations associant activi­tés agricoles et non-agricoles, car elles ont aussi un rôle majeur à jouer dans le développement durable de la production laitière nationale.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are some of the most toxic proteins known, with a human LD50 of ~1 ng/kg. Equine antitoxin has a half-life in circulation of less than 1 day and is limited to a treatment rather than a prevention indication. The development of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) may represent an alternative therapeutic option that can be produced at high quantities and of high quality and with half-lives of >10 days. Two different three mAb combinations are being developed that specifically neutralize BoNT serotypes A (BoNT/A) and B (BoNT/B). We investigated the pharmacokinetics of the anti-BoNT/A and anti-BoNT/B antibodies in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and their ability to protect guinea pigs against an aerosol challenge of BoNT/A1 or BoNT/B1. Each antibody exhibited dose-dependent exposure and reached maximum circulating concentrations within 48 h post intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection. A single intramuscular dose of the three mAb combination protected guinea pigs against an aerosol challenge dose of 93 LD50 of BoNT/A1 and 116 LD50 of BoNT/B1 at 48 h post antibody administration. These mAbs are effective in preventing botulism after an aerosol challenge of BoNT/A1 and BoNT/B1 and may represent an alternative to vaccination to prevent type A or B botulism in those at risk of BoNT exposure.

The presence of retained colloidal particles causes the retardation of contaminant transport when the contaminant is favorably adsorbed to colloidal particles. Although the particle size distribution affects the retention behavior of colloidal particles, the impact of particle size distribution on contaminant transport has not been reported to date. This study investigates the impact of the particle size distribution of the colloidal particles on contaminant transport through numerical simulation by representing the particle size distribution as a lognormal distribution function. In addition, the bed efficiency and contaminant saturation of simulated breakthrough curves were calculated, and a contaminant transport model with the Langmuir isotherm for the reaction between the contaminant–sand and contaminant–colloidal particle was introduced and validated with experimental data. The simulated breakthrough curves, bed efficiency, and contaminant saturation indicated that an increase in the mean and standard deviation of the particle size distribution causes the retardation of contaminant transport.

Network-based crime has been increasing in both extent and severity and network-based forensics encapsulates an essential part of legal surveillance. A key network forensics tool is traceback that can be used to identify true sources of suspects. Both accuracy and secrecy are essential attributes of a successful forensic traceback. In this paper, we study a class of hopping-based spread spectrum techniques for forensic traceback, which fully utilize the benefits of the spread spectrum approach and preserves a greater degree of secrecy. Our investigated techniques, including Code Hopping-Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (CHDSSS), Frequency Hopping-Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (FH-DSSS), and Time Hopping-Spread Spectrum (TH-DSSS), operate to randomize the effects of marking traffic in both time and frequency domains. Our theoretical analysis, simulations, and real-world experiments validate these DSSS techniques in terms of accuracy and secrecy to benefit network forensics and deter cyber crimes.

Groundwater flow is one of the most important factors for the design of a ground heat exchanger (GHEX) since the thermal environment of the ground around the buried GHEX is significantly affected by heat convection due to the groundwater flow. Several preceding studies have been conducted to develop analytical solutions to the heat transfer model of GHEX with consideration of groundwater flow. One of these solutions is the combined heat transfer model of conduction and convection. However, the developed combined analytical models are inapplicable to all of the configurations of ordinary GHEXs because these solutions assume that the inner part of the borehole is thermally inert or consists of the same material as that of the surrounding ground. In this paper, the applicability of the combined solid cylindrical heat source model, which is the most suitable to energy piles until now, was evaluated by performing a series of numerical analyses. In the numerical analysis, the inner part of the borehole was modeled as two different materials (i.e., permeable ground formation and impermeable fill such as concrete) to evaluate applicability of the analytical solution along with different diameter-length (D/L) ratios of borehole. In a small value of the D/L ratio, the analytical solution to the combined heat transfer model is in good agreement with the result of numerical analysis. On the other hand, when increasing the D/L ratio, the analytical solution significantly overestimates the effect of groundwater flow on the heat transfer of GHEXs because the analytical solution disregards the existence of the impermeable region in the borehole. Consequently, such tendency is more critical in the GHEX with a large D/L ratio such as large-diameter energy piles.

Antibiotic resistance is the most important factor leading to the failure of eradication regimens. This review focuses on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori primary and secondary resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug in Vietnam. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Vietnamese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Vietnamese Biomedical databases from January 2000 to December 2016. The search terms included the following: H. pylori infection, antibiotic (including clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug) resistance in Vietnam. The data were summarized in an extraction table and analyzed manually. Finally, Excel 2007 software was used to create charts. Ten studies (three studies in English and seven in Vietnamese) were included in this review. A total of 308, 412, 523, 408, 399, and 268 H. pylori strains were included in this review to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori primary resistance to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug resistance, respectively. Overall, the primary resistance rates of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug resistance were 15.0%, 34.1%, 69.4%, 27.9%, 17.9% and 48.8%, respectively. Secondary resistance rates of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and multidrug resistance were 9.5%, 74.9%, 61.5%, 45.7%, 23.5% and 62.3%, respectively. In Vietnam, primary and secondary resistance to H. pylori is increasing over time and affects the effectiveness of H. pylori eradication.

Objective: To estimate the cost of providing tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment packages at different levels of health facilities in Viet Nam., Design: This was a retrospective costing study from the providers' perspective using a standard costing approach. We included typical services for TB diagnosis and treatment based on standard protocols., Results: The least expensive TB service was the 6-month isoniazid preventive therapy regimen for latent tuberculous infection provided by district health centres (US$7.20-14.30, accounting for 0.3-0.7% of Viet Nam's per capita gross domestic product [GDP] of US$2052.30 in 2014). The cost of diagnosing and treating a patient with drug-susceptible TB (the most common type of TB) ranged between US$51.20 and US$180.70, and represented 2.5-8.8% of Viet Nam's per capita GDP in 2014. The most expensive TB service was the diagnosis and treatment of a multidrug-resistant TB case (US$1568.20-2391.20), accounting for 76.4-116.5% of Viet Nam's per capita GDP in 2014)., Conclusion: The cost of TB diagnosis and treatment services in Viet Nam varied according to level of health facility, type of TB, different costing options, and different staff cost scenarios.

Background: Treatment outcomes of a high proportion of inpatients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were not reported to the Vietnamese National Tuberculosis Program because they received treatment outside of the green light committee (GLC) program. The study aimed (1) to describe the strengths and weaknesses of treatment of GLC and non-GLC MDR-TB patients as well as the factors influencing treatment completion and (2) to determine the incidence of adverse drug reactions., Results: This cross-sectional study comprised two elements: (1) in-depth interviews with clinical doctors, hospital pharmacists; and focus group discussions with MDR-TB patients; and (2) a review of the charts of all GLC and non-GLC MDR-TB patients in 2010. A total of 282 MDR-TB patients were recruited, including 79(28%) MDR-TB patients treated through the GLC program and 203(72%) MDR-TB patients treated outside of the GLC program. The main strengths of GLC treatment were the supply of quality assured second line TB drugs, routine monitoring and clinical evaluation, free diagnostic tests and close clinical monitoring. The greatest barriers to patients treated outside of the GLC program was difficulty paying for second line TB drugs and other treatment costs. There was no significant difference between the incidence of adverse events among GLC (46.8%) and non-GLC treated patients (52.2%; p = 0.417). Among 143 patients who reported 226 adverse reaction events, arthralgia/joint pain (35.8%), gastrointestinal (14.2%), ototoxicity (8.4%), cutaneous (6.6%), and giddiness (5.8%) were the most common., Conclusions: The non-GLC MDR-TB patients face substantial barriers to treatment, and require greater support if they are to complete treatment and improve disease outcomes. Staff training about the management of adverse drug reactions is needed.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and Viet Nam ranks 12 among the 22 high-TB burden countries. This study analyses surveillance data of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme in Viet Nam for the six-year period 2007 to 2012. During the study period, 598,877 TB cases (all forms) were notified, and 313,225 (52.3%) were new smear-positive cases. The case notification rate of new smear-positive cases was decreased, from 65 per 100,000 population in 2007 to 57 per 100,000 population in 2012; this decrease was observed for males and females in all age groups except males aged 0-14 and females aged 15-24 years. The male-to-female ratio of new smear-positive TB cases increased from 2.85 in 2007 to 3.02 in 2012. The average annual cure rate of new smear-positive cases was 90.3%. The high male-to-female ratio for new smear-positive TB cases in this notification data was lower than that from the 2007 TB prevalence survey in Viet Nam, suggesting a lower case detection for males. The decrease in new smear-positive case notification rates may reflect a decline in TB incidence in Viet Nam as several programmatic improvements have been made, although further research is required to increase case detection among young males and children.

Objective: To describe and analyse the prescription patterns and treatment outcomes of MDR-TB patients managed within Green Light Committee (GLC) and outside (non-GLC) the National TB programme in Viet Nam., Methods: Retrospective cohort study with two elements: (i) in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with clinical doctors, hospital pharmacists, and the non-GLC patients with MDR-TB; (ii) review of treatment cards and patients' charts of all GLC and non-GLC patients with MDR-TB put on treatment during 2010., Results: Of 282 patients with MDR-TB, comprising 79 (28%) GLC patients MDR-TB and 203 (72%) non-GLC patients with MDR-TB, were enrolled in the study. Treatment delay was significantly higher in the GLC group (12.8 days) than the non-GLC group (2.3 days), (P = 0.004). The success rate was significantly better in GLC patients (84.8%) than in non-GLC patients (53.7%) (P < 0.001). The default rate was significantly higher in non-GLC patients than in GLC patients (25.6% vs. 6.3%), (P < 0.001). The risk of unsuccessful outcome was higher in non-GLC patients (Hazard ratio = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.8-11.8)., Conclusions: The treatment outcomes of patients with MDR-TB in the GLC group were significantly better than in the non-GLC group. Reasons for the high default rate in non-GLC patients with MDR-TB must be further investigated., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This paper aims to estimate the prevalence of cigarette smoking among students in Vietnam ages 13-15 and examines its relationship with compositional and contextual factors. The data used in this paper were obtained from the 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in nine provinces in Vietnam. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to analyse the association between the current incidence of cigarette smoking and factors on both the individual and school level. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among students was 3.3% overall. The prevalence of smoking among male students (5.9%) was higher than that among females (1.2%). Parental smoking was a significant risk factor for smoking among the students. Having a friend who smoked was the strongest predictor of smoking status among the study subjects. We have demonstrated that school-level factors appeared to impact the prevalence of cigarette smoking among students ages 13-15. This paper highlights the importance of utilising an extensive range of actions to prevent students from using tobacco in Vietnam. These actions should include providing specific curricula for students that address both individual characteristics and the school environment. Further, prevention programmes should also target both parental- and peer-smoking issues.