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Studies on how smoking media literacy (SML) is associated with susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in South Korea and Vietnam are scarce. Thus, we examined the association of SML with susceptibility to smoking among adolescents in these countries to initiate a collaborative global health program. In total, 460 adolescents (Vietnam: 277, South Korea: 183) aged 15-18 completed an online cross-sectional survey. SML was measured using the 15-item SML scale. Susceptibility to smoking was measured by three questions on future smoking and if offered a cigarette by a friend. A multiple logistic regression model explored the association of SML with susceptibility to smoking. The study revealed that higher SML was significantly associated with lower susceptibility to smoking among Vietnamese, but not South Korean adolescents. Further studies to identify pathways between other factors associated with SML and susceptibility to smoking are needed to develop culture-specific intervention strategies for smoking prevention.

Sentiment analysis of students’ feedback using machine learning algorithms has emerged as a valuable tool for understanding students’ sentiments and improving educational outcomes. Currently, existing systems use frequency-based methods for feature selection (e.g., Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and Bag of Words (BoW)) not to capture the subtleties of emotions expressed in student feedback and do not provide insights into the specific concerns of students via topics or themes. In this study, we propose the Student Sentiment from Feedback (SSF) framework, which includes four main procedures: pre-processing, feature selection, classification, and theme finding. The SSF framework classifies student sentiments and subsequently groups feedback into themes using semantic networks based on word co-occurrence. Our innovative feature selection approach combines TF-IDF with sentiment-based features derived from SentiWordNet and intensifiers, creating a robust feature vector that enhances the dataset’s richness and improves classification accuracy and robustness. In the experiments, we utilize a public dataset from Kaggle, applying our proposed method and various machine learning models (e.g., k-nearest neighbor, decision tree, random forest, multilayer perceptron, support vector machine, gradient boosting, and extreme gradient boosting). The experimental results show that our concatenated features achieve the highest accuracy across all machine learning models (greater than 0.82). Our study demonstrates the efficacy of this hybrid feature selection method, contributing to better understanding and decision-making in educational settings.

Critical thinking skills are broadly defined as the ability to analyse, evaluate, and construct logical arguments. It can therefore be affirmed that critical thinking is crucial for developing students’ autonomy, creativity, and problemsolving skills. Integrating critical thinking into the curriculum encourages students to form personal viewpoints, engage in indepth discussions, and tackle problems from various perspectives. Effective integration methods include the use of open-ended questions, promoting argumentative skills, and supporting multidimensional learning. Despite challenges such as training adequately competent teachers or the compatibility of traditional teaching methods, the potential opportunities to enhance the quality of education through the integration of critical thinking into the curriculum are highly significant. Critical thinking not only helps students achieve their best potential in learning but also prepares them to face the complexities of modern life.

Objectives: This study aims to comprehensively explore trends, sentiments, and visualization of mental stress expressions in online communities, focusing on discussions within subreddits on the social media platform Reddit. Methods/Analysis: Advanced text analysis and statistical techniques are employed to achieve the study’s objectives. The research utilizes natural language processing (NLP) methods, sentiment analysis, and topic modeling to unravel the intricate layers of mental stress expressions found in posts across diverse subreddits. Additionally, engagement metrics, such as Redditors’ scores and the number of comments, are analyzed to discern distinctive information and patterns of interest. Findings: The research sheds light on prevalent trends, sentiments, and themes related to mental stress in online conversations before and after January 2020. The findings provide valuable insights into patterns of exciting topics, shared experiences of stress, coping mechanisms, and the significant role of virtual communities in offering support and understanding. Novelty/Improvement: The novelty lies in applying advanced text analysis techniques, including sentiment analysis with the majority voting method combining different machine learning techniques and topic modeling with semantic networks, to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of mental stress expressions in online communities. The research explores current patterns and distinguishes itself by examining temporal variations in stress-related posts and their correlation with engagement metrics, offering an innovative perspective on mental health discussions in the digital age. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-02-01 Full Text: PDF

The study aims to show that an inquiry-based approach develops pre-service teachers' experimental competency. The static-group pretest-posttest design, an experimental quantitative analysis method, has been utilized. The experimental group comprised 36 pre-service physics teachers, with 11 participants in the control group. Assessment of experimental competency levels included the PLIC test and an experimental competency test. The experimental competency of pre-service teachers is evaluated through video recordings, observations, learning products, and surveys conducted via Microsoft Teams. Following each experiment, pre-service teachers assess their achievement levels based on behavioral indicators in a rubric table, utilizing a 3-level behavior scale for self and peer assessment. Parametric and nonparametric tests were chosen for evaluating the research data after confirming normal distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests (in the case of SPSS 20.0). The article’s main findings determined that an inquiry-based laboratory organizational procedure for each experiment in the General Physics Laboratory course to develop pre-service teachers' competency included two stages (stage 1 with six steps and stage 2 with four steps) under the pre-service teachers’ active self-discovery to perform learning tasks with three open levels of experiments. Within the scope of this article, we have given an illustrative example of applying this procedure for the experiment “Investigate the properties of collisions on an air track and verify the law of linear momentum conservation” in the General Physics Laboratory course for the second-year pre-service physics teachers. Furthermore, based on the test results along with survey findings and spider diagram analysis showed that this procedure developed relatively stable most of the behavioral indicators except for two behavioral indicators such as “Proposing ideas to improve experimental instruments” and “Proposed measures to reduce error” of pre-service physics teachers.

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared via the Hummers’ method, whereas SrFe12O19, SrFe12O19@Fe3O4, and SrFe12O19@Fe3O4@rGO were fabricated using the hydrothermal techniques. The samples' phase structure, surface morphology, magnetic properties, and electromagnetic wave absorption characteristics were studied and compared. Findings show that the Fe3O4 particles adhered to the surface of the SrFe12O19 hexagonal plates, and the combination of SrFe12O19@Fe3O4 foam flakes and two-dimensional graphene rGO could enhance the absorption electromagnetic wave performance. The composite SrFe12O19@Fe3O4@rGO sample exhibited an ideal impedance matching within the frequency f range of 11 GHz–12.4 GHz. The minimum reflection loss reached −62.3 dB at 12.2 GHz with a thickness of 2 mm. With a thickness of 2 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth obtained the value of −20 dB, covering a range of 9.3 GHz. The composite SrFe12O19@Fe3O4@rGO sample, which shows the highest performance both in reflectivity and bandwidth, can find potential application in microwave absorptions.

Objectives: This study explores different machine learning models (KNN: k-nearest neighbor, MLP: Multilayer Perceptron, SVM: Support Vector Machine) to identify the optimal model for accurate and rapid mental health detection among the recovered COVID-19 patients. Other techniques are also investigated, such as feature selection (Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and Extra Trees (ET) methods) and hyper-parameter tuning, to achieve a system that could effectively and quickly indicate mental health. Method/Analysis: To achieve the objectives, the study employs a dataset collected from recovered COVID-19 patients, encompassing information related to depression, anxiety, and stress. Machine learning models are utilized in the analysis. Additionally, feature selection methods and hyper-parameter tuning techniques are explored to enhance the model’s predictive capabilities. The performance of each model is assessed based on accuracy metrics. Findings: The experimental results show that SVM is the most suitable model for accurately predicting an individual’s mental health among recovered COVID-19 patients (accuracy ≥ 0.984). Furthermore, the ET method is more effective than the RFE method for feature selection in the anxiety and stress datasets. Novelty/Improvement:The study lies in the understanding of predictive modeling for mental health and provides insights into the choice of models and techniques for accurate and early detection. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-01-01 Full Text: PDF

Introduction: Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina, and Centella asiatica are herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine and are commonly used in Southeast Asian countries to treat a variety of diseases. The experimental evidence showed that M. oleifera leaves, V. amygdalina leaves, and C. asiatica had the effect of supporting their treatment of diabetes. This study investigated the anti-hyperglycemic effect of a novel herbal formula from M. oleifera leaf, V. amygdalina leaf, and C. asiatica aerial part extracts. Methods: The extract was examined for anti-hyperglycemic capacity in oral glucose tolerance test in normal mice. To confirm their role in a higher model, the extract was studied in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic model. Plasma glucose concentration, body weight, organ weight, malondialdehyde, glutathione in liver and kidneys, and pancreatic histology were also evaluated. Besides, in vitro properties of the extract were tested including α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory, and antioxidant activities. Results: After 7-day of treatment, the extract showed strong anti-hyperglycemic activity in the STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice, plasma glucose levels were reduced by 48.75 % and 54.13 % in the group administered with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively, compared with the hyperglycemic control. The extract had the effect to protect the liver and kidneys against oxidation stress by enhancing glutathione levels in the liver and decreasing malondialdehyde levels in the liver and kidneys. The pancreatic β-cell protection was also observed by improving the size and number of pancreatic islets by the extract compared to the hyperglycemic control. The extract showed a significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and antioxidant activity through DPPH and ABTS quenching and reducing power abilities. Discussion: These results demonstrated remarkable potential of the combined extract of M. oleifera leaves, V. amygdalina leaves, and aerial part of C. asiatica in the management of diabetes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to different health outcomes, including long COVID (LCo) and mental health (MH) disorders, impacting millions globally. To enable early healthcare diagnosis, including the prediction of MH conditions and LCo, various research studies have utilized machine learning (ML) techniques. However, there is still a gap in understanding the mental health of recovered COVID-19 patients with long COVID using ML techniques. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing and evaluating ML models, including support vector machine, multilayer perceptron (MLP), k-nearest neighbor, gradient boosting, voting classifier, and extreme gradient boosting, tailored for mental health and long COVID datasets from recovered COVID-19 patients. Additionally, feature selection methods, e.g., Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and Extra Trees (ET), and optimized models with hyper-parameter tuning will be employed. Our experiments utilize the dataset of recovered COVID-19 patients. Among these ML models, the MLP with ET-based features achieved the highest accuracy and AUC scores in this dataset, with 1.00 and 0.97 ± 0.02, respectively. The research reveals the high prevalence and risk factors of mental health disorders and long COVID from the dataset. These findings will contribute to personalized healthcare strategies for individuals navigating the complexities of post-COVID-19 recovery, integrating machine learning insights into mental health and long COVID support.

This study aimed to build a model and set of criteria to evaluate and select business accounting software providers for Truong Son Technology Investment and Development Joint Stock Company. The study helped choose the most suitable supplier that meets the criteria that the company desired. The research proposed the Technique of Order Preference Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model and was also applied in the case of selecting accounting software suppliers for Truong Son Technology Investment and Development Joint Stock Company. There were 5 business accounting software packages considered: Misa business accounting software, Bravo accounting software, FAST Accounting software, Effect accounting software, and Gamma accounting software. The ranking results of accounting software providers at Truong Son Technology Investment and Development Joint Stock Company were as follows: A1 (Misa Business Accounting Software) was the best supplier, second-ranking was A3 (FAST Accounting software), followed by A2 (Bravo Accounting Software) in third place. The findings of this study could be used as a valuable reference for businesses to choose the best supplier.

The study aimed to determine the growth performance and plant adaptation of R. glutinosa (DH19) to the selected plantation locations in Vietnam's Northern Midland and Mountainous regions. The experiments were arranged in a completely randomized block design and performed on three sites in Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Tuyen Quang provinces. Research showed that DH19 was grown and developed well, gaining an average yield of 23.9 to 24.8 tons/ha and the catalpol content from 0.72 - 0.74%. DH19 was adapted to moderate drought conditions but severely damaged and recovered poorly in flooding. Planting DH19 should pay attention to root sores disease (Rhizoctonia solani) at the seedling stage and root rot disease (Fusarium sp.) at the harvest stage. The above study results show that DH19 can be selected for planting in Vietnam's Northern Midland and Mountainous regions.

Nghiên cứu nhằm xây dựng và thẩm định quy trình định lượng chì, cadimi trong rễ củ Địa hoàng 19 bằng phương pháp quang phổ hấp thụ nguyên tử. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy giữa nồng độ chì, cadimi với độ hấp thụ có tương quan tuyến tính chặt, với nguyên tố chì dạng hàm là Y = 0,0138X + 0,1131, r = 0,9998 và với nguyên tố cadimi dạng hàm là Y = 0,1027X - 0,0037, r = 0,9999. Quy trình có độ đặc hiệu cao, độ lặp lại tốt với RSD < 5% và giới hạn phát hiện đối với Pb là LOD = 0,087 ppb, với Cd là LOD = 0,015 ppb; giới hạn định lượng với chì LOQ = 0,290 ppb, với cadimi LOQ = 0,049 ppb. Quy trình này phù hợp để định lượng Pb, Pb trong rễ củ Địa hoàng 19.

The current study was designed to investigate the anti-hypertensive effects of a standardised flavonoid extract from Diospyros kaki L.f leaves (DK extract) on cortisone acetate-induced hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced in Wistar rats by subcutaneously injecting 2.5 mg cortisone acetate daily and by maintaining the rats on a 1% sodium chloride diet for a period of 28 days. The hypertensive rats were treated daily with DK extract (50 and 100 mg/kg of body weight; p.o.) or captopril (20 mg/kg of body weight; p.o.), a reference drug, for 14 consecutive days. The blood pressure and heart rate of awake rats were measured using a non-invasive tail-cuff method. The heart weight and left ventricular wall thickness of rats were measured. In vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activity of the DK extract and captopril were analysed. DK extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the hypertensive rats. There were no significant changes observed in heart rate. The cortisone acetate-induced hypertensive rats had increased heart weight and left ventricular wall thickness. These actions were attenuated by the treatment of DK extract (100 mg/kg) and captopril. Moreover, DK extract inhibited ACE activity in vitro with an IC50 of 4.71±0.53 µg/ml. Our findings demonstrate that DK extract exerted anti-hypertensive effects and alleviated ventricular hypertrophy in the cortisone acetate-induced hypertensive rats and these actions occurred at least in part via ACE activity inhibition.

Grain sizes and minerals of sediments from the Gulf of Tonkin were evaluated from 30 surface samples and 50 samples from two cores. The distribution of grain sizes and minerals from these samples were determined to help understand sediment characteristics, origins, and environmental dynamics. There were five sediment types: fine and very fine sands, very coarse, coarse, and medium silts. Minerals in the sediment were identified as decreasing in terms of the content of quartz, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, feldspar, goethite, halite, calcite, gibbsite, aragonite, and montmorillonite. Contents of major minerals such as quartz, illite, kaolinite, and chlorite varied from nearshore to offshore; quartz was higher nearshore than offshore; illite, kaolinite, and chlorite from nearshore were lower than offshore; calcite and aragonite were low nearshore and higher in the offshore; goethite was lower offshore and higher nearshore; and, finally, halite was high offshore and low nearshore. Surface sediments were divided into three groups based on sedimentary environment characteristics: Group 1 was distributed nearshore with strong dynamics, Group 2 in bays and nearshore with weak dynamics, and Group 3 was distributed offshore with quiet dynamics. The origin of the sediments was weathering and erosion from the mainland and islands under the river and sea processes in the Gulf of Tonkin with quartz, illite, kaolinite, feldspar, chlorite, and montmorillonite found present in the sediment. Geochemical processes produced goethite, gibbsite, halite, and pyrite in the sediments while biological substances produced calcite and aragonite.

Bài nghiên cứu tìm hiểu hành vi thao túng lợi nhuận nhằm tránh lỗ và tránh suy giảm lợi nhuận so với năm trước của các doanh nghiệp niêm yết trên thị trường chứng khoán Việt Nam. Với dữ liệu báo cáo tài chính của 716 công ty phi tài chính niêm yết trong giai đoạn 2009-2016, kết quả chỉ ra có “quá nhiều” quan sát ngay sau ngưỡng lợi nhuận 0, hàm ý rằng các công ty có xu hướng thao túng lợi nhuận nhằm tránh lỗ. Kết quả cũng cho thấy các doanh nghiệp quy mô lớn, doanh nghiệp tăng trưởng cao, doanh nghiệp không được kiểm toán bởi một trong bốn công ty kiểm toán lớn (Big 4), hoặc doanh nghiệp không có sở hữu nhà nước là những doanh nghiệp có xu hướng thao túng lợi nhuận nhằm tránh lỗ nhiều. Tuy nhiên, nghiên cứu không tìm được bằng chứng về hành vi thao túng lợi nhuận nhằm tránh sụt giảm lợi nhuận so với năm trước.

Haptic interactions with objects induce complex vibrotactile signals that are central to tactile perception. Despite the broad literature on vibrotactile perception, surprisingly little is known about the sensory processing of complex tactile signals made of multiple pure tones. To fill this gap, the study reported here investigated the impact of the constitutive pure tones of a complex vibrotactile signal on its perception. Participants completed a three-alternative forced choice (3-AFC) task in which they were asked to identify an odd signal among two complex references. The odd signal was created by removing one pure tone from the reference, which varied in spectral composition, harmonicity, and interfrequency intervals. Each reference signal was made of either two, three, or four pure tones. The results revealed that the removed pure tone's value as well as the interfrequency interval play a significant role in participants' performance whereas changes in harmonicity and complexity have little impact. The smaller the ratio between the removed frequency and the lowest one of the reference signals, the better the participants' capacity to identify the signal with the missing tone. As this ratio correlates with that of pure tone's perceived intensity, participants' performance can be linked to either of them. Analysis of a subset of complex signals made of pure tones perceived with roughly equal intensity showed that the correlation still holds but slightly decreases. Overall, these results suggest that perception of complex vibrations might be mediated by tactile mechanisms related to both frequency selectivity and pure tones' perceived intensity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This research investigates the respective roles of frequency range, harmonicity, and complexity on human perception of vibrotactile signals. The results revealed that only pure tones that are close to the lower frequencies of the complex vibration are noticed when they are missing. This finding sheds new light on the mechanisms underlying the tactile perception of complex vibrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic review of articles published in 2018-2021 from the ScienceDirect database is done to discuss the significance of the Nudge theory for recent insights into the encouragement of waste separation at source among the households in Vietnam. The country has an institutional structure and a comprehensive legal framework and underpinnings in support to its waste management strategies for environmental protection and for the development of circular economy. In spite of this, Vietnam is beset with increasing waste problem. Synthesized information from the review supports the potential of nudges to induce waste separation at source among the households and to ensure broad social support and participation for the desired behavior. RandD is an essential process to determine the appropriate nudges that will drive the desired behavior. For Vietnam to induce waste separation at source among its households, nudge conceptualization, selection, configuration (including choice structure), administration (and conveyance), testing, and revision are critical with framing/messaging, symbolism, contextualization, association, and feedbacking, especially in structuring choices and methods of nudge implementation. Pitfalls in the use of nudges include shortfalls in the critical process of nudge configuration and administration as well as fatalistic mindsets, and non-consultative, non-inclusive and non-participatory approaches of determining the nudges. Vietnam has to pay attention to the critical considerations (including the involvement of experts) of creating nudges to be successful towards inducing waste separation at source for circular economy.

Lithium nickel oxide (LNO) is an attractive positive electrode active material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high reversible specific capacity and absence of cobalt. Nevertheless, it is prone to structural instabilities that lead to rapid capacity fading, safety concerns and shows in average a lower voltage than mixtures with cobalt, limiting its applicability to date. Herein this study introduces the sulfur‐based electrolyte additive, benzo[d][1,3,2]dioxathiole 2,2‐dioxide (DTDPh), to stabilize the LNO electrode and study its effects on interphase compositions by means of complementary electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Obtained results demonstrate an improved galvanostatic cycling performance in terms of cycle life and achievable specific discharge capacity that significantly outperform the common film‐forming additive vinylene carbonate (VC). The cycle life is increased from 102 to 147 cycles compared to the baseline electrolyte and the accumulated discharge energy until end of life is increased by 45%. This study furthermore provides strong evidence of a significant cross‐talk and negative interplay between DTDPh and VC when both are present in the electrolyte formulation. Mechanistic consideration based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest the formation of mobile poly(VC) species, which is supported by the results of post mortem analysis of the resulting interphases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to measure poverty in a multi-dimensional poverty approach to measure multi-dimensional poverty indicators in Vietnam and the economic regions of Vietnam. Thereby, it attempts to analyze and assess the multi-dimensional poverty in Vietnam and the economic regions in 2014. The study also analyzes the factors that affect the ability of a household that falls into multi-dimensional poverty in Viet Nam. The authors used cross-sectional data from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS) in 2014 results of the General Statistics Office to calculate and assess the multi-dimensional poverty status. In addition, the binary logistic model is used to determine the relationship and quantify the influence of demographic factors and socio-economic factors on the probability of one household of multi-dimensional poverty. From the research results, recommendations and policy implications are introduced to reduce multi-dimensional poverty and the depreciation of each poverty dimension in Vietnam and the economic regions.

Indium-substituted yttrium iron garnet samples, Y3Fe5−xInxO12 (x = 0–0.7, step 0.1), were prepared using a citrate solgel method. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) measurements combined with the Rietveld refinement technique were used to investigate the crystallization, structure parameters and lattice distortion in the samples. Magnetization and Curie temperature of the samples were measured with the SQUID and VSM equipments. The non-magnetic indium ions were found to reside at the octahedral sites, leading to an increase of the total magnetization and a decrease in the Curie temperature. Molecular field coefficients Naa, Ndd and Nad were determined by fitting the experimental thermomagnetization curves in the framework of a two-sublattice ferrimagnetic model. The stiffness constant of the spin waves, D, in these samples was calculated based on the exchange interaction constants, Jij, and its temperature dependence was derived for the sublattice magetizations. The calculated results for D(T) are in good agreement with the experimentally measured data and are significantly large around room temperature.

We previously demonstrated that Panax notoginseng (pNG) root extract treatments exerted neuroprotective effects on brain injuries using middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of PNG extract and its ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 on ischemic neuronal damage caused by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in mouse organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs). Before the experiments, hippocampal slices collected from 7-day-old Swiss mice were cultured for 7 days. OGD was triggered in OHSCs for 30, 60, or 90 min with the aim of finding the optimal period of OGD for drug testing. PNG extract (10, 30 µg/ml), ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 (5, 25 µM), or MK-801 25 µM, a reference drug, was added to the culture medium 24 h before OGD and these treatments were continued for 24 h after the optimum 60-min period of OGD. After 24 h of OGD exposure, the measurement of propidium iodide uptake was analysed in OHSCs to evaluate neuronal cell damage. The results showed that OGD time-dependently increased PI uptake of the OHSCs. PNG 30 µg/ml treatment reduced the OGD-induced neuronal cell damage in OHSCs. Ginsenosides Rg1 25 µM, Rb1 (5, 25 µM), as well as MK-801 (25 µM) significantly inhibited PI uptake 24 h after OGD exposure. However, ginsenoside Rg1 5 µM did not show any significant effects on the OGD-induced neuronal cell damage. These findings indicated that ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 contributed to the neuroprotective effects of PNG against ischemic damage in OHSCs and the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rb1 was stronger than that of ginsenoside Rg1.

Sodium batteries are an attractive alternative for future energy storage as they can be produced with abundant and low-cost materials. Nonetheless, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are often composed of flammable and volatile carbonate-based liquid electrolytes. Polymer electrolytes have attracted significant attention as safer alternatives. Among polymer electrolytes, single-ion conductive polymer electrolytes (SIPEs) are considered particularly interesting because they can suppress dendrite growth, enabling high-performance (quasi)-solid-state sodium–(metal) batteries. In this work, a self-standing, flexible, quasi-solid-state SIPE is investigated, which is composed of sodium 4-styrene sulfonyl (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (NaSTFSI), pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP) and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PET4A) blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP). The SIPE membrane, including 50 wt% of molecular transporter, exhibits ionic conductivity of 1.4 × 10−5 S cm−1 and 1.3 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 20 °C and 90 °C, respectively, thermal stability up to 280 °C, electrochemical stability window up to 4.5 V vs. Na/Na+, and Na plating/stripping reversibility in symmetric Na‖Na cells. The manufactured SIPE implemented in Prussian White (PW)‖Na cells enables the delivery of 147 mA h g−1 of PW at 15 mA g−1 with a Coulombic efficiency of over 99%, which is comparable with the PW‖Na cells using liquid carbonate electrolyte, confirming the suitability of the designed SIPE for sodium–(metal) batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a preliminary study of a material comprising gelatin (Gel), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and curcumin (Cur) aimed for wound-healing treatment. Gelatin was used to stabilize AgNPs and encapsulate curcumin to form a therapeutic composite (GelCurAg) for their strong bactericidal and antioxidant properties. GelCurAg formulations with different gelatin concentrations were characterized to attain information about their physiochemical properties and the loading efficiency of therapeutic agents. In vitro assessment of GelCurAg focused on antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxic aspects. The results suggested that Gel1CurAg (synthesized from 1% gelatin solution) could be utilized as potential therapeutic agents in treating infectious wound owing to its bactericidal and antioxidant effects and low toxicity for clinical uses.

The genus Chlamydia comprises obligate intracellular bacteria that infect a wide variety of hosts, with infection leading to a range of diseases in humans and animals; they thus constitute a major public health threat. Among the members of the Chlamydiaceae family, Chlamydia suis, C. abortus, C. pecorum, and C. psittaci represent the most important pathogenic species infecting a large range of hosts and are a well-established threat to livestock. Information regarding the circulation of Chlamydia species in ruminants from Vietnam is lacking. In this study, DNA extracted from 60 blood samples collected from goats in Hue province was used for Chlamydia spp. identification by classic PCR and Sanger sequencing. Chlamydia spp. were detected in eleven samples (18.3%) and C. abortus and C. psittaci were molecularly identified by sequencing. Despite the limited sample size in this study, findings point out the relevance of ruminants as hosts of chlamydial species in Central Vietnam and the importance of monitoring chlamydial strains through the activation of surveillance programs in this country. The need for a deeper evaluation of human and animal health risk analysis in terms of chlamydiosis should be also considered.