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The proactive generation of anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-IDs) against therapeutic antibodies with desirable properties is an important step in pre-clinical and clinical assay development supporting their bioanalytical programs. Here, we describe a robust platform to generate anti-IDs using rabbit single B cell sorting-culture and cloning technology by immunizing rabbits with therapeutic drug Fab fragment and sorting complementarity determining regions (CDRs) specific B cells using designed framework control as a negative gate to exclude non-CDRs-specific B cells. The supernatants of cultured B cells were subsequently screened for binding to drug-molecule by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the positive hits of B cell lysates were selected for cloning of their immunoglobulin G (IgG) variable regions. The recombinant monoclonal anti-IDs generated with this method have high affinity and specificity with broad epitope coverage and different types. The recombinant anti-IDs were available for assay development to support pharmacokinetic (PK) and immunogenicity studies within 12 weeks from the start of rabbit immunization. Using this novel rapid and efficient in-house approach we have generated a large panel of anti-IDs against a series of 11 therapeutic antibody drugs and successfully applied them to the clinical assay development.

The accurate prediction of the friction angle of clays is crucial for assessing slope stability in engineering applications. This study addresses the importance of estimating the friction angle and presents the development of four soft computing models: YJ-FPA-MLPnet, YJ-CRO-MLPnet, YJ-ACOC-MLPnet, and YJ-CSA-MLPnet. First of all, the Yeo-Johnson (YJ) transformation technique was used to stabilize the variance of data and make it more suitable for parametric statistical models that assume normality and equal variances. This technique is expected to improve the accuracy of friction angle prediction models. The friction angle prediction models then utilized multi-layer perceptron neural networks (MLPnet) and metaheuristic optimization algorithms to further enhance performance, including flower pollination algorithm (FPA), coral reefs optimization (CRO), ant colony optimization continuous (ACOC), and cuckoo search algorithm (CSA). The prediction models without the YJ technique, i.e. FPA-MLPnet, CRO-MLPnet, ACOC-MLPnet, and CSA-MLPnet, were then compared to those with the YJ technique, i.e. YJ-FPA-MLPnet, YJ-CRO-MLPnet, YJ-ACOC-MLPnet, and YJ-CSA-MLPnet. Among these, the YJ-CRO-MLPnet model demonstrated superior reliability, achieving an accuracy of up to 83% in predicting the friction angle of clay in practical engineering scenarios. This improvement is significant, as it represents an increase from 1.3% to approximately 20% compared to the models that did not utilize the YJ transformation technique.

Tung Nguyen Thanh,1,* Duc Minh Nguyen,2,* Tuan Dinh Le,3 Lan Ngoc Do,1 Son Tien Nguyen,3 Phuong Nguyen Minh,1 Phong Nguyen Van,4 Tien Minh Bui,5 Tuyen Thanh Thi Bui,5 Hung Nguyen Dao,6 Kien Trung Nguyen5 1Military Institute of Clinical Embryology and Histology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 2Andrology and Fertility Hospital of Hanoi, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 3Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 4Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, 410000, Vietnam; 6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Kien Trung Nguyen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, 410000, Vietnam, Tel +84989281982, Email trungkiendhytb@gmail.comBackground: To assess the relationship between oocytes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum cluster (SERc) and embryological and birth outcomes in infertile couples.Methods: This was a descriptive study that included 231 infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a total of 2447 mature oocytes (MII), of which 279 oocytes with SERc(+) from 100 patients, the remaining 2168 oocytes with SERc(-). Oocytes were evaluated for the presence or absence of the SERc simultaneously with intracytoplasmic sperm injection at 200x magnification using inverted microscopy – Observe D1.Results: The mean age of patients was 32.05 ± 5.56 years. One hundred patients had at least one SERc(+) oocyte (with 279 SERc(+) and 956 SERc(-) oocytes). One hundred and thirty-one patients had 1212 SERc(-) oocytes. Fertilization outcomes and the rates of good-quality embryos on day 2 and day 5 did not differ between the SERc(+) and the SERc(-) groups. In the first frozen embryo transfer cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate in the group of patients with SERc(+) was not different with the SERc(-) group (61.1% vs 48.78%, p = 0.074, respectively). The live birth rate in the SERc(+) group was statistically significantly higher than the SERc(-) group (57.7% vs 43.9%, p = 0.045, respectively).Conclusion: The fertilization rate, the quality of embryos on days 2 and 5 from oocytes with SERc(+) are similar to those with SERc(-). The live birth rate in the patients with SERc(+) group is statistically significantly higher than the SERc(-) group. There is no difference in clinical pregnancy rate between patients with and without SERc. Therefore, the exclusion of oocytes with SERc should not be recommended.Keywords: Smooth reticulum endoplasmic cluster, SERc, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, In vitro fertilization, IVF

Tung Nguyen Thanh,1 Sang Trieu Tien,2 Phong Nguyen Van,2 Son Dang Thai,3 Thuc Luong Cong,4 Tuan Dinh Le,5 Son Tien Nguyen,5 Tuan Tran Van,1 Hoang Huy Duong,6 Tien Minh Bui,7 Kien Trung Nguyen7 1Military Institute of Clinical Embryology and Histology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 2Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 3Institute of Biological and Food Technology, Hanoi Open University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 4Cardiovascular Center, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 5Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 6Department of Neurology, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, 410000, Vietnam; 7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, 410000, VietnamCorrespondence: Sang Trieu Tien, Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam, Email trieusangk83@yahoo.com.vnBackground: To optimize the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) technique to diagnose microdeletions of azoospermia factors (AZF) on the Y chromosome and initially apply the technique to diagnose male patients with sperm density less than 5× 106 million sperm/mL was assigned to do a test to check for AZF microdeletions on the Y chromosome.Methods: Based on the positive control samples which belong to male subjects who have had 2 healthy children without any assisted reproductive technologies, the M-PCR method was developed to detect simultaneously and accurately AZF microdeletions on 32 male patients with sperm densities below 5× 106 million sperm/mL of semen at the Department of Biology and Medical Genetics – Vietnam Military Medical University.Results: Successful optimization of the M-PCR technique including 7 reactions arranged according to each AZFabc region using 24 STS/gene on the Y chromosome. Initial application to diagnose AZF deletion on 32 azoospermic and oligospermic men reveals that AZFa deletion accounts for 6.25% (2/32); deletion of all 3 regions AZFa,b,c with 18.75% (6/32 cases); The combined deletion rate of AZFb,c is highest, accounting for 56.24% (18/32 patients).Conclusion: Successfully optimized the M-PCR technique in identifying AZF microdeletions using 24 sequence tagged sites (STS)/gene for azoospermic and oligozoospermic men. The M-PCR technique has great potential in the application of AZF deletion diagnosis.Keywords: male infertility, azoospermia factors, AZF, multiplex polymerase chain reaction, M-PCR, sequence tagged sites, STS

This study is conducted to explain entrepreneurial support resources of firms based on social network theory in developing countries, the case of Vietnam. Partial Least Squares Structural Modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted with a sample size of 220 entrepreneurs in SMEs. The results supported the positive link between formal and informal networks and entrepreneurial firm performance. Second, the study explored the partial mediating role of access to entrepreneurial resources between formal networks, informal networks, and entrepreneurial firm performance. In addition, the results also provide practical value to entrepreneurs in actively building relationship networking in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Finally, the study proposed some implications for entrepreneurs, limitations, and further research.

BackgroundArginine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is depleted in critically ill or surgical patients. In pediatric and adult patients, sepsis results in an arginine-deficient state, and the depletion of plasma arginine is associated with greater mortality. However, direct supplementation of arginine can result in the excessive production of nitric oxide (NO), which can contribute to the hypotension and macrovascular hypo-reactivity observed in septic shock. Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20, pegargiminase) reduces plasma arginine and generates citrulline that can be transported intracellularly to generate local arginine and NO, without resulting in hypotension, while maintaining microvascular patency. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of ADI-PEG20 with and without supplemental intravenous citrulline in mitigating hypovolemic shock, maintaining tissue levels of arginine, and reducing systemic inflammation in an endotoxemic pediatric pig model.MethodsTwenty 3-week-old crossbred piglets were implanted with jugular and carotid catheters as well as telemetry devices in the femoral artery to measure blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate. The piglets were assigned to one of three treatments before undergoing a 5 h lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion protocol. Twenty-four hours before LPS infusion, control pigs (LPS; n=6) received saline, ADI-PEG20 pigs (n=7) received an injection of ADI-PEG20, and seven pigs (ADI-PEG20 + CIT pigs [n=7]) received ADI-PEG20 and 250 mg/kg citrulline intravenously. Pigs were monitored throughout LPS infusion and tissue was harvested at the end of the protocol.ResultsPlasma arginine levels decreased and remained low in ADI-PEG20 + CIT and ADI-PEG20 pigs compared with LPS pigs but tissue arginine levels in the liver and kidney were similar across all treatments. Mean arterial pressure in all groups decreased from 90 mmHg to 60 mmHg within 1 h of LPS infusion but there were no significant differences between treatment groups. ADI-PEG20 and ADI-PEG20 + CIT pigs had less CD45+ infiltrate in the liver and lung and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma.ConclusionADI-PEG20 and citrulline supplementation failed to ameliorate the hypotension associated with acute endotoxic sepsis in pigs but reduced systemic and local inflammation in the lung and liver.

Objective: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the gold standard for revascularization of atherosclerotic extra-cranial carotid artery lesions. The introduction of transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TFCAS) led to multiple randomized controlled trials to compare the safety and efficacy of an endovascular approach against traditional CEA in the management of carotid artery stenosis. The operative management of carotid artery stenosis continues to evolve, with the more recent introduction of TransCarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) and a novel flow-reversal neuroprotection system. This manuscript reviews a brief history regarding carotid artery revascularization, as well as the indications, technical considerations, and clinical outcomes of the TCAR procedure. Technical considerations: The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative medical and technical considerations are explored. Topics of discussion will include the indications and contraindications for TCAR, anatomic requirements, instructions for use (IFU) and off-label utility, optimal pharmacologic regimen with carotid stent placement, standard deployment and suggestions for hostile anatomy, as well as recommended postoperative management and surveillance imaging. Discussion: The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has published a consensus statement on the pathways available to obtain clinical competency and maintain technical proficiency with TCAR. Meta-analyses reviewing the contemporary technical success and clinical outcomes of TCAR have demonstrated high rates of procedural success and low rates of stroke, myocardial infarction, and death. Studies have further illustrated comparable one-year rates of peri‑procedural stroke between TCAR and CEA, for asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid lesions, with both outperforming TFCAS. Conclusion: Management of extra-cranial carotid artery stenosis utilizing TCAR with the ENROUTE flow-reversal neuroprotection system has been widely adopted, yielding clinical outcomes and stroke prevention similar to traditional CEA and superior to TFCAS.

BackgroundThe electronic National Immunization Information System (NIIS) was introduced nationwide in Vietnam in 2017. Health workers were expected to use the NIIS alongside the legacy paper-based system. Starting in 2018, Hanoi and Son La provinces transitioned to paperless reporting. Interventions to support this transition included data guidelines and training, internet-based data review meetings, and additional supportive supervision visits. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess (1) changes in NIIS data quality and use, (2) changes in immunization program outcomes, and (3) the economic costs of using the NIIS versus the traditional paper system. MethodsThis mixed methods study took place in Hanoi and Son La provinces. It aimed to analyses pre- and postintervention data from various sources including the NIIS; household and health facility surveys; and interviews to measure NIIS data quality, data use, and immunization program outcomes. Financial data were collected at the national, provincial, district, and health facility levels through record review and interviews. An activity-based costing approach was conducted from a health system perspective. ResultsNIIS data timeliness significantly improved from pre- to postintervention in both provinces. For example, the mean number of days from birth date to NIIS registration before and after intervention dropped from 18.6 (SD 65.5) to 5.7 (SD 31.4) days in Hanoi (P

Silver nanoparticles have garnered significant attention in research and applications due to their unique properties. The synthesis of these nanoparticles has aligned with the principles of green chemistry, utilizing environmentally-friendly materials and techniques. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the Citrus maxima peel extract and blue LED irradiation. The pectin, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in the C. maxima extract acted as effective reductants and primary stabilizers for nanoparticle formation. The influence of different light-emitting diodes and irradiation time on nanoparticle synthesis was investigated. Ideal conditions for silver nanoparticle formation were observed with the assistance of blue LED irradiation for 120 min. Characterization techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 12.2 nm. The antibacterial activity of the silver nanoparticles was evaluated against four bacterial strains: Lactobacillus fermentum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica. The nanoparticles exhibited stronger inhibitory effects against gram-negative compared to gram-positive bacteria, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 9.4, 18.1, 73.3, and 88.5 pM for P. aeruginosa, L. fermentum, S. aureus, and S. enterica, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of bio-synthesized nanoparticles with small size and high antibacterial activity.

This paper aims to estimate the effect of the reliability of financial statements on listed firms’ performance in Vietnam, especially on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, from 2015 to 2022. Based on International Financial Reporting Standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and theories, reliability is a key attribute of information quality in financial statements. Besides, using the quantitative method of feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), the findings show that reliability positively affects listed firms’ performance with a confidence interval of 95%. On the platform of agency theory, the reliability of financial statements is considered a tool to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of managers and the board of directors to external users, while stakeholder theory considers the advantages of the disclosure of reliable financial statements in terms of gaining performance.

This paper presents the determination of the Moho and basement depths of Tuchinh-Vungmay basin (TCVMB) offshore southeastern Vietnam by the three dimension direct gravity inversion. The Moho depth was predicted from the mantle residual gravity anomaly with the lithosphere thermal gravity correction. The downward continuation of the basement residual gravity anomaly is also applied to enhance the basement topography’s resolution. The mean depths of the basement and Moho surfaces were constrained by the power density spectrum (PDS) of the residual gravity anomalies and the oceanic bottom seismic (OBS) data. The predicted Moho depth varies from 13.5 km to 23 km and the basement depth is from some hundred meters to 8.5 km. The gravity basement topography has higher resolution and detail than the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seismic basement.

The main goal of this paper is to improve the mixed interpolation of tensorial components triangular (MITC3) by using the edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM), so-called ES-MITC3, for analyzing the vibration of piezoelectric functionally graded porous (p-FGP) plates subjected to dynamic loading. The material properties of the FGP core vary through thickness with uneven porosity distribution. Besides, the linear relationship between the electric potential and the thickness of the piezoelectric sublayer is taken into account. A closed-loop control algorithm is employed to actively control the vibration of p-FGP plates, through feedback from displacement and velocity. The performance of the proposed method is verified through comparative examples. Finally, the authors hope that the present method can be effectively applied to many smart material models in a multiphysics environment and contribute to understanding texture control by piezoelectric materials through numerical results.

Kien Xuan Nguyen,1,&ast; Tien Bui Minh,2,&ast; Hoa Trung Dinh,3,4 Tien Viet Tran,5 Tuan Dinh Le,5,&ast; Nga Phi Thi Nguyen,6 Thi Thanh Hoa Tran,3 Trinh Hien Vu,3 Lan Ho Thi Nguyen,3 Kien Trung Nguyen,2 Nguyen Huy Thong,6 Khanh Do,6 Trung Kien Nguyen,7 Hung Nguyen Dao,8 Son Tien Nguyen6,&ast; 1Department of Military Medical Command and Organization, Vietnam Medical Military University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam; 3Department of Requested Treatment, National Hospital of Endocrinology, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 4National Hospital of Endocrinology, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 5Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Medical Military University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 6Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 7Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 8Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Son Tien Nguyen, Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, 160 Phung Hung Street, Phuc La Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi City, Vietnam, Email ntson4879@gmail.comIntroduction: Chronic low-grade inflammation (LGI) plays a role in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). LGI, on the one hand, promotes insulin resistance and at the same time, affects fetal development. The study aimed to use clinically feasible means to evaluate the association between maternal LGI and maternal insulin resistance and fetal growth indices by ultrasound in the third trimester.Methods: A crossectional and descriptive study on 248 first-time diagnosed GDM in Vietnam.Results: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR) indices were significantly higher in GDM than in normal glucose-tolerant pregnancies (p = 0.048 and 0.016, respectively). GDM with LGI witnessed significantly higher systolic blood pressure, BMI, HbA1c, and significantly lower quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) than those without LGI. After adjusting for maternal BMI, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), age, and parity, C-reactive protein (CRP) was positively correlated with HOMA2-IR (B=0.13, p< 0.01) and Mathews index (B=0.29, p< 0.01). Regarding fetal characteristics, LGI was associated with fetal growth indices in the third trimester of GDM. NLR was negatively correlated with estimated fetal weight (EFW) (B=− 64.4, p< 0.05) after adjusting for maternal BMI and FPG. After adjusting for maternal BMI, FPG, age, and parity, PLR was negatively correlated with biparietal diameter (B=− 0.02, p< 0.01) and abdominal circumference (AC) (B=− 0.16, p< 0.05), and EFW (B=− 1.1, p< 0.01), and head circumference (HC) (B=− 0.06, p< 0.01); CRP was negatively correlated with AC (B=− 0.16, p< 0.001), EFW (B=− 85.3, p< 0.001), and HC (B=− 5.0, p< 0.001).Conclusion: In the third trimester, LGI was associated with maternal glucose and insulin resistance in GDM. Moreover, LGI was associated with fetal characteristics in ultrasonic images. There were negative correlations between LGI and fetal developmental characteristics.Keywords: gestational diabetes mellitus, low-grade inflammation, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, fetal ultrasound parameters

Thanh Xuan Nguyen,1,2 Huyen Thi Thanh Vu,1,2 Tuan Nguyen,3– 6 Adrian Esterman,5 Luc Viet Tran,1,2 Janani Thillainadesan,7,8 Vasikaran Naganathan,7,8 Henry Brodaty,9 Anh Trung Nguyen1,2 1Scientific Research Department, National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 2Department of Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 3Division of Social Gerontology, National Ageing Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia; 4School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia; 5UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia; 6Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Ministry of Health of Vietnam, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam; 7Department of Geriatric Medicine and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing (CERA), Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 8Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; 9Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaCorrespondence: Thanh Xuan Nguyen, Scientific Research Department, National Geriatric Hospital, 1A, Phuong Mai, Dong Da, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam, Tel +84 983277646, Email xuanthanhbmlk@hmu.edu.vnBackground: Multidomain interventions have been shown to be effective in improving cognition, quality of life, reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms and delaying progression of functional impairment or disability in dementia patients. To investigate the multidomain intervention in other populations and diverse cultural and geographical settings, this pilot study will assess the feasibility of a multidomain intervention for older people with dementia in nursing homes in Vietnam.Methods: Participants will be randomized into two equal groups, to receive either a multidomain intervention (intervention group) or regular health advice (control group). The intervention will include physical, cognitive, and social interventions as well as management of metabolic and vascular risk factors. We will hypothesize that the multidomain intervention will be feasible in Vietnam, and participants who receive the intervention will show improvement in quality of life, behaviors, functional ability, cognitive function, sleep, and in reduction of falls, use of healthcare services, and death rate compared to those in the control group during the 6 months intervention period and after the 6 months extended follow-up.Discussion: This is the first study to evaluate the feasibility of a multidomain intervention program for older people with dementia in nursing homes in Vietnam. The results from the trial will inform clinicians and the public of the possibility of comprehensive treatment beyond simply drug treatments for dementia. This paves the way for further studies to evaluate the long-term effects of multidomain interventions in dementia patients. Furthermore, the research results will provide information on the effectiveness of multidomain interventions which will inform policy development on dementia.Trial Registration: The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04948450 on 02/07/2021.Keywords: dementia, multidomain, intervention, feasibility

Brain tumors arise from abnormal cell growth in the brain. Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive type, poses significant challenges for identification during surgery. The primary goal of this study is to identify and differentiate normal brain tissue from glioblastoma tissue using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). These techniques offer a non-invasive way to analyze the morphological and microvascular alternations associated with glioblastoma in an animal model. To monitor the changes in morphology and vascular distribution of brain tissue as glioblastoma tumors grow, time-series OCT and OCTA results were collected for comparison. Texture analysis of OCT images was proposed using the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), from which homogeneity and variance were calculated as discriminative parameters. Additionally, OCTA was used to assess microvascular characteristics, including vessel diameter, density, and fractal dimension. The findings demonstrate that the proposed methods can effectively distinguish between normal and cancerous brain tissue in vivo.

Over the past few years, attention to environmental problems, legal necessities, and economic advantages emerging from reproduction activities has attracted attention to reverse logistics activities in the form of a closed-loop supply chain, whether in industry or scientific research. The current study aims to model competitiveness and comparison between two closed-loop three-level supply chains, each of which includes a manufacturer, a retailer, and a third party to collect the products used by the customer, taking into account the concepts of game theory and the existence of aggregates. Moreover, a separate supplier for each chain is considered. In the forward supply chain, the manufacturer produces new products using new components or re-used products that have been collected from the consumer, then sells these products mainly to the retailer, and the retailer sells them. In the reverse chain, the collector provides the used products to the manufacturer after collection. The study utilized the definitions and concepts of game theory to model this closed loop chain as a Stackelberg game to obtain the optimal value of wholesale and retail price and the optimal value of the product return coefficient for the collector. Finally, the models based on some numerical examples are solved. Given the results, the remanufacturing costs have a significant role in making more profits for all members in such chains, and competitive chains should attempt to remanufacture the products at lower costs.

Recently, utilizing appropriate inventory control policy and determining the optimal selling price for various goods has been the main topic of scientific and industrial research. Inventory management policy 1 by the seller is one solution that improves the chain’s performance by creating coordination between members of the supply chain. The current study attempts to devise an integrated model of inventory pricing and control under the inventory management policy by the seller for perishable goods with shortages is considered. The purpose of presenting the model is to determine the optimal price, the optimal repayment time, and the order size, in order to maximize the profit. To acquire those optimal values, the profit functions of the buyer and the seller are taken into account. Given the results acquired, it is demonstrated that at any cost, the repayment time is unique and optimal. It is concluded that with the optimal recovery time available, the objective function is a concave function of price, and its optimal value is available. Furthermore, utilizing the inventory management policy by the seller could be a proper means to reducing retailer costs while raising their profit.

Research on ridesharing platforms under the gig economy has focused much on the incentives and barriers of users, leaving many gaps in understanding drivers’ intention to provide ridesharing services. This paper aims to explore, from the perspective of driver-partners, motives that encourage them to continue being gig workers. Data for the study are based on a cross-sectional survey of ridesharing drivers in three metropolitan areas in three regions (North, Central, and South) of Vietnam, conducted from June to July 2022. The paper regresses behavioral intention to continue being a gig driver on their demographic characteristics and self-estimation of economic benefit, time preference, and enjoyment of being a gig driver via ordered probit models. For all three regions, the result suggests that economic benefit, time preference, and enjoyment are good predictors of drivers’ intention to provide the services. Specifically, the probability of remaining in gig work among drivers decreases with their educational and economic status. Higher economic benefit does not predict a higher intention of drivers to stay longer in gig work. Similarly, those with higher levels of enjoyment of traveling and vehicles have a lower intention to remain in this sphere. In the North, the interaction terms between time preference and enjoyment level are significant, suggesting that the effect of enjoyment levels becomes less damaging with an increase in time preference. In other words, time preference is vital in keeping gig drivers in this type of work.

A rehabilitation robot is a device that has been proving its positive effectiveness in the process of helping patients recover quickly after a stroke. Researching, designing, and manufacturing robot models in general and upper limb rehabilitation robots in particular are very practical. In this study, we proposed to combine the use of an algorithm and a physical modeling method to shorten the calculation process and design an upper limb rehabilitation robot. First, an exoskeleton upper limb rehabilitation robot model (UExosVN) was briefly described. Next, in turn, all the important problems including inverse kinematics, inverse dynamics for this robot model were proposed and solved by using optimization algorithms and physical modeling methods. The model was evaluated in the critical movement of daily operations. The results after the testing process have proven the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in overall survival (OS) among patients with FIGO Stage II–IV endometrial cancer who have undergone extrafascial hysterectomy (EFH) versus radical hysterectomy (RH). Methods: A retrospective review was performed by utilizing the California Cancer Registry to identify women located in the Central Valley of California (CVR) who had undergone surgery for FIGO stage I–IV endometrial cancer between 2011 and 2021. Minimally invasive and abdominal surgery were both included in the analysis. Demographic data including age, race, residence location, language, and insurance type were collected. We included histologic subtypes and treatment types (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) as part of the multivariate analysis for 5-year OS. We then determined the percentage of patients who underwent EFH versus RH using Pearson chi square test. Cox regression models were used to create survival curves among women diagnosed with Stage II–IV disease. Results: Over our 10-year study period, a total of 868 women were identified who underwent surgery for endometrial cancer. A total of 737/868 (85%) underwent EFH and 44/868 (5%) underwent RH. Of the patients who underwent RH versus EFH, 56.8% (25/44) compared to 28.1% (207/737) were subsequently diagnosed with Stage II–IV disease on final surgical pathology, respectively (p

BackgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae is the most common bacterium that causes community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. The rate of S. pneumoniae resistance to antibiotics is increasing, particularly in patients with severe CAP. Therefore, the level of antibiotic resistance of S. pneumoniae causing severe CAP in Vietnamese children requires regular monitoring.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Nasopharyngeal aspiration specimens from children were cultured, isolated, and examined for S. pneumoniae. Bacterial strains were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined.ResultsEighty-nine strains of S. pneumoniae were isolated from 239 children with severe CAP. The majority of isolates were completely non-susceptible to penicillin (1.1% intermediate, 98.9% resistant) and highly resistant to erythromycin (96.6%) and clarithromycin (88.8%); the rate of resistance to ceftriaxone was 16.9%, with the proportion of intermediate resistance at 46.0%; 100% of strains were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. For most antibiotics, MIC50 and MIC90 were equal to the resistance threshold according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2021; penicillin had an eight-fold increase in MIC90 (64 mg/L) and ceftriaxone had a 1.5-fold increase in MIC90 (6 mg/L).ConclusionStreptococcus pneumoniae isolates described in this study were resistant to many antibiotics. Penicillin should not be the first-line antibiotic of choice, and ceftriaxone at an enhanced dose should be used instead.

This paper for first time proposes an isogeometric analysis (IGA) for free vibration response of bi-directional functionally graded (BDFG) rectangular plates in the fluid medium. Material properties of the BDFG plate change in both the thickness and length directions via power-law distributions and Mori-Tanaka model. The governing equation of motion of BDFG plate in the fluid-plate system is formulated basing on Hamilton's principle and the refined quasi three-dimensional (3D) plate theory with improved function f(z). The fluid velocity potential is derived from the boundary conditions of the fluid-plate system and is used to determine the added mass. The discrete system of equations is derived from the Galerkin weak form and numerically analyzed by IGA. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed solutions are verified by comparing the obtained results with those published in the literature. Moreover, the effects of the various parameters such as the interaction boundary condition, geometric parameter, submerged depth of plate, fluid density, fluid level, and the material volume control coefficients on the free vibration behavior of BDFG plate in the fluid medium are investigated in detail. Some major findings regarding the numerical results are withdrawn in conclusions.

In this paper, the free vibration of the functionally graded porous (FGP) non-uniform annular-nanoplates lying on Winkler foundation (WF) is studied by using the smoothed finite element method based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The combination of the mixed interpolation of the tensorial components for the three-node triangular element (MITC3 element) and the edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM) creates the ES-MITC3 element. This element is employed to avoid the shear locking problem as well as to improve the accuracy of the original MITC3 element. The small-scale effect is considered based on the nonlocal theory. Applying Hamilton's principle, the governing equation of the FGP non-uniform thickness annular-nanoplate is derived. Material properties of the nanoplate are characterized by two parameters: power-law index (k) and maximum porosity distributions (Ω) in the forms of cosine functions. The results of the present work are compared with other published work to verify accuracy and reliability. Moreover, the effects of geometry parameters and material properties on the free vibration of FGP non-uniform annular-nanoplates are comprehensively investigated.

Tuan Dinh Le,1,2,&ast; Nga Phi Thi Nguyen,2 Hoa Thanh Thi Tran,3 Thuc Luong Cong,4,&ast; Lan Ho Thi Nguyen,5 Binh Do Nhu,6 Son Tien Nguyen,2 Manh Van Ngo,7 Hoa Trung Dinh,8 Hien Thi Nguyen,9 Kien Trung Nguyen,10 Duc-Cuong Le7,11,&ast; 1Center of Emergency, Critical Care Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 2Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 3National Hospital of Endocrinology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Department of General Internal Medicine, National Hospital of Endocrinology, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 6Division of Military Science, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 7Postgraduate Training Management Department, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam; 8Department of Requested Treatment, National Hospital of Endocrinology, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 9Department of Physiology, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam; 10Department of Science Management, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam; 11Epidemiology-Faculty of Public Health, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tuan Dinh LeCenter of Emergency, Critical Care Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, 261 Phung Hung Street, Phuc La Ward, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, VietnamTel +840388166078Email letuan985@gmail.comDuc-Cuong LePostgraduate Training Management Department; Epidemiology-Faculty of Public Health, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 373 Ly Bon Street, Ky Ba Ward, Thai Binh, VietnamTel +84 93 8042 668Email cuongldvn@gmail.comPurpose: This study was aimed at the prevalence, cardiovascular risk factors of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and the relationship between DPN and fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 (fGLP-1) concentrations in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (nT2D).Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from 2015 to 2020 with a population of 473 nT2D. Screening for DPN was based on the United Kingdom screening test. fGLP-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The prevalence of DPN was 26.6%, in which mild grade was 17.3%, moderate grade was 8.2% and severe grade was 1.1% in total. Age (OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.12– 2.67, p = 0.012), smoking (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.03– 2.62, p = 0.037), poor control HbA1c (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.23– 5.76, p = 0.01), 24-h urinary albumin (24hUA) (OR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.26– 4.94, p = 0.007), and diabetic retinopathy (OR = 3.17, 95% CI 1.46– 6.89, p = 0.002) significantly increased the risk for DPN. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertension (OR = 2.96, 95% CI 1.16– 7.55, p = 0.023), triglyceride (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.11– 2.03, p = 0.009), albumin (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.75– 0.95, p = 0.005), and fGLP-1 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.67– 0.93, p = 0.005) correlated with DPN. The fGLP-1 concentrations were reduced significantly in DPN (p < 0.001). In particular, male patients with DPN had a significantly lower fGLP-1 levels than those without DPN (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The prevalence of DPN among nT2D was 26.6%. Age, smoking, hypertension, HbA1c control, triglyceride, albumin, 24hUA, diabetic retinopathy were the associated risk factors of DPN, and fGLP-1 was negatively correlated with DPN (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.67– 0.93, p = 0.005).Keywords: newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular risk factors, glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations

Fingerprinting techniques, which utilize the unique chemical and physical properties of food samples, have emerged as a promising approach for food authentication and traceability. Recent studies have demonstrated significant advancements in food authentication through the use of fingerprinting methods, such as multivariate statistical analysis techniques applied to trace elements and isotope ratios. However, further research is required to optimize these methods and ensure their validity and reliability in real-world applications. In this study, the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analytical method was employed to determine the content of 21 elements in 300 cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) samples from 5 brands. Multivariate statistical methods, such as principal components analysis (PCA), were employed to analyze the data obtained and establish the provenance of the cashew nuts. While cashew nuts are widely marketed in many countries, no universal method has been utilized to differentiate the origin of these nuts. Our study represents the initial step in identifying the geographical origin of commercial cashew nuts marketed in Vietnam. The analysis showed significant differences in the means of 21 of the 40 analyzed elements among the cashew nut samples from the 5 brands, including 7Li, 11B, 24Mg, 27Al, 44Ca, 48Ti, 51V, 52Cr, 55Mn, 57Fe, 60Ni, 63Cu, 66Zn, 93Nb, 98Mo, 111Cd, 115In, 121Sb, 138Ba, 208Pb, and 209Bi. The PCA analysis indicated that the cashew nut samples can be accurately classified according to their original locations. This research serves as a prerequisite for future studies involving the combination of elemental composition analysis with statistical classification methods for the accurate establishment of cashew nut provenance, which involves the identification of key markers for the original discrimination of cashew nuts.

Pre-stressed precast high strength concrete (PHC) nodular piles with hyper-MEGA construction method are favorably used in medium to high-rise building foundations. In this study, a feed-forward neural network (FFNN) was adopted to investigate the ultimate axial load bearing capacity of the PHC nodular pile. The network receives the composite pile and geotechnical conditions with eight input neurons and outputs the nodular pile's ultimate axial load bearing capacity. Among numerous possible FFNN network architectures, the most accurate one is determined by optimizing the hidden layer. Network training is conducted with Bayesian regularization backpropagation (BRB); the training datasets consist of static pile load test and standard penetration test index of soil profile collected from various projects in Vietnam. The significance of each input parameter is quantified with importance-based sensitivity analysis. An explicit function has been constructed from weights and bias values at each neuron in the FFNN to estimate the axial load bearing capacity. The excellent agreement of all output values by the proposed FFNN with the measured values proved the model’s robustness and reliability. The predictive capacity of the proposed FFNN model has significantly outperformed all current empirical formulas. The outcome of this study can be directly put into engineering practice to furnish an economically optimal design of the composite nodular pile.

In this paper, a new socially assistive robot (SARs) called HBS-1.2 is presented, which uses 6-ply twisted and coiled polymer (TCP) artificial muscles in its hand to perform physical tasks. The utilization of 6-ply TCP artificial muscles in a humanoid robot hand is a pioneering advancement, offering cost effective, lightweight, and compact solution for SARs. The robot is designed to provide safer human–robot interaction (HRI) while performing physical tasks. The paper explains the procedures for fabrication and testing of the 6-ply TCP artificial muscles, along with improving the actuation response by using a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control method. Notably, the robot successfully performed a vision-based pick and place experiment, showing its potential for use in homecare and other settings to assist patients who suffer from neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. The study also found an optimal light intensity range between 34 to 108 lumens/m2, which ensures minimal variation in calculated distance with 95% confidence intervals for robust performance from the vison system. The findings of this study have important implications for the development of affordable and accessible robotic systems to support elderly patients with dementia, and future research should focus on further improving the use of TCP actuators in robotics.

When stimulated by proinflammatory mediators, endothelial cells release ultra-large von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) multimers that are hyperactive in activating and aggregating platelets. These ULVWF multimers can accumulate in the circulation and on the inflamed endothelium because they are insufficiently cleaved by the metalloprotease ADAMTS-13, which becomes moderately deficient under conditions of systemic inflammation. This moderate ADAMTS-13 deficiency may lead to thrombotic complications that contribute to ischemic tissue injury and organ failure that are associated with severe infections. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether recombinant ADAMTS-13 improves the pathological course of endotoxemia in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. C57BL/J6 mice received a bolus infusion of either 5 µg/mouse of ADAMTS-13 or vehicle control 30 min after LPS challenge and were monitored for seven-day survival. During the monitoring period, platelet counts, VWF antigen, and ADAMTS-13 activity were measured. Thrombosis was also examined by the immunohistochemistry in the liver. We found that ADAMTS-13 reduced mortality from 66% to 34.9%. The improved survival was associated with a greater recovery from thrombocytopenia, higher plasma ADAMTS-13 activity, and less thrombotic vascular occlusion. These results suggest that systemic inflammation could result in deficient ULVWF proteolysis by ADAMTS-13 and that ADAMTS-13 improves the outcomes of endotoxemia-induced inflammation.

Vietnam’s economy has been growing rapidly in the last 20 years, leading to significant increases in energy consumption as well as in carbon emissions. Most electricity is consumed by loads of industry and construction due to the country’s socio-economic development strategy. An energy saving strategy cannot be achieved if the industry factories lack energy consumption data. The installation of energy monitoring systems can help to improve energy efficiency by supplying daily, monthly, and yearly energy consumption reports. Moreover, major energy-consuming enterprises in Vietnam must implement solutions for energy-efficient use as prescribed in the Law on Energy Efficient Use. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the impact of an energy monitoring system as an improvement solution for energy efficiency in a typical major energy-consuming enterprise in Vietnam. The study’s results, after six months, show that the total saved electricity after installing the power monitoring system was 191,923 kWh. The company saved approximately 19.584 USD and reduced emission to the environment by 139 tons of CO2. In addition, the return on investment time of power monitoring systems is about 14 months, while the annual energy costs of the factory can be reduced by about 9.62% per year. Therefore, power monitoring systems should be promoted in factories with different scales to control energy wastage in the domestic industry field.

For consciousness to exist, an entity must have prerequisite characteristics and attributes to give rise to it. We explore these “building blocks” of consciousness in detail in this paper, which range from perceptive to computational to meta-representational characteristics of an entity’s cognitive architecture. We show how each cognitive attribute is strictly necessary for the emergence of consciousness, and how the building blocks may be used for any entity to be classified as being conscious. The list of building blocks is not limited to human or organic consciousness and may be used to classify artificial and organisational conscious entities. We further explore a list of attributes that seem intuitively necessary for consciousness, but on further investigation, are neither required nor sufficient. The building blocks do not represent a theory of consciousness but rather a meta-theory on the emergence and classification of consciousness.

The main purpose of this paper is to present numerical results of static bending and free vibration of functionally graded porous (FGP) variable-thickness plates by using an edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM) associate with the mixed interpolation of tensorial components technique for the three-node triangular element (MITC3), so-called ES-MITC3. This ES-MITC3 element is performed to eliminate the shear locking problem and to enhance the accuracy of the existing MITC3 element. In the ES-MITC3 element, the stiffness matrices are obtained by using the strain smoothing technique over the smoothing domains formed by two adjacent MITC3 triangular elements sharing an edge. Materials of the plate are FGP with a power-law index (k) and maximum porosity distributions (Ω) in the forms of cosine functions. The influences of some geometric parameters, material properties on static bending, and natural frequency of the FGP variable-thickness plates are examined in detail.

In 2018, an upsurge in echovirus 30 (E30) infections was reported in Europe. We conducted a large-scale epidemiologic and evolutionary study of 1,329 E30 strains collected in 22 countries in Europe during 2016–2018. Most E30 cases affected persons 0–4 years of age (29%) and 25–34 years of age (27%). Sequences were divided into 6 genetic clades (G1–G6). Most (53%) sequences belonged to G1, followed by G6 (23%), G2 (17%), G4 (4%), G3 (0.3%), and G5 (0.2%). Each clade encompassed unique individual recombinant forms; G1 and G4 displayed >2 unique recombinant forms. Rapid turnover of new clades and recombinant forms occurred over time. Clades G1 and G6 dominated in 2018, suggesting the E30 upsurge was caused by emergence of 2 distinct clades circulating in Europe. Investigation into the mechanisms behind the rapid turnover of E30 is crucial for clarifying the epidemiology and evolution of these enterovirus infections.

Background The reestablishment of continuity after Hartmann operation is considered a major surgical procedure with high morbidity and mortality. The optimal interval time between the Hartman procedure and reversal is controversial. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic Hartmann reversal and to determine the optimal timing of operation. Methods All patients who underwent laparoscopic Hartmann reversal from 2008 to 2019 (11 years) at the University Medical Center (UMC) in Ho Chi Minh City were recruited and divided into 2 groups according to the interval time (≤ 4 or > 4 months). The short-term operative outcomes of these groups were compared. Results There were 66 patients who underwent laparoscopic Hartmann reversal (mean age: 63.2 years old); ∼ 77% of them had colorectal cancer, and 17% had complicated diverticular disease. The mortality rate, anastomotic leakage rate, and overall complication rate were 0%, 1.5%, and 13.2%, respectively. Early operation was performed in 36 patients, and late reversal in 28 patients. There was no difference in mortality, anastomotic leakage, operative complications, and hospital stay between the two groups. Conclusion Laparoscopic Hartmann reversal was effective with acceptable morbidity and mortality at the UMC. There was no observed impact of the interval time between the Hartmann procedure and laparoscopic Hartmann reversal on the short-term operative outcomes.

In this paper, we developed highly accurate ensemble machine learning models integrating Reduced Error Pruning Tree (REPT) as a base classifier with the Bagging (B), Decorate (D), and Random Subspace (RSS) ensemble learning techniques for spatial prediction of rainfall-induced landslides in the Uttarkashi district, located in the Himalayan range, India. To do so, a total of 103 historical landslide events were linked to twelve conditioning factors for generating training and validation datasets. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the training and validation performances of the models. The results showed that the single REPT model and its derived ensembles provided a satisfactory accuracy for the prediction of landslides. The D-REPT model with RMSE = 0.351 and AUC = 0.907 was identified as the most accurate model, followed by RSS-REPT (RMSE = 0.353 and AUC = 0.898), B-REPT (RMSE = 0.396 and AUC = 0.876), and the single REPT model (RMSE = 0.398 and AUC = 0.836), respectively. The prominent ensemble models proposed and verified in this study provide engineers and modelers with insights for development of more advanced predictive models for different landslide-susceptible areas around the world.

An effective hybrid optimization method is proposed by integrating an adaptive Kriging (A-Kriging) into an improved partial swarm optimization algorithm (IPSO) to give a so-called A-Kriging-IPSO for maximizing the buckling load of laminated composite plates (LCPs) under uniaxial and biaxial compressions. In this method, a novel iterative adaptive Kriging model, which is structured using two training sample sets as active and adaptive points, is utilized to directly predict the buckling load of the LCPs and to improve the efficiency of the optimization process. The active points are selected from the initial data set while the adaptive points are generated using the radial random-based convex samples. The cell-based smoothed discrete shear gap method (CS-DSG3) is employed to analyze the buckling behavior of the LCPs to provide the response of adaptive and input data sets. The buckling load of the LCPs is maximized by utilizing the IPSO algorithm. To demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed methodology, the LCPs with different layers (2, 3, 4, and 10 layers), boundary conditions, aspect ratios and load patterns (biaxial and uniaxial loads) are investigated. The results obtained by proposed method are in good agreement with the literature results, but with less computational burden. By applying adaptive radial Kriging model, the accurate optimal results–based predictions of the buckling load are obtained for the studied LCPs.

Working at an oil and gas facility, such as a drilling rig, production facility, processing facility, or storage facility, involves various challenges, including health and safety risks. It is possible to leverage emerging digital technologies such as smart sensors, wearable or mobile devices, big data analytics, cloud computing, extended reality technologies, robotic systems, and drones to mitigate the challenges faced by oil and gas workers. While these technologies are not new to the oil and gas industry, most of its existing digital transformation initiatives follow business or process-centric approaches, in which the critical driver of the technology adoption is the enhancement of production, efficiency, and revenue. As a result, they may not address the challenges faced by the workers. As oil and gas workers are among the essential assets in the oil and gas industry, it is vital to address the challenges faced by these workers. This paper proposes a human-centric digital transformational framework for the oil and gas industry to deploy existing digital technologies to enhance their workers’ health, safety, and working conditions. The paper outlines the critical challenges faced by oilfield workers, introduces a system architecture to implements a human-centric digital transformation, discusses the opportunities of the proposed framework, and summarizes the key impediment for the proposed framework.

Hung Manh Than,1,* Vuong Minh Nong,2,* Cap Trung Nguyen,1 Khiem Phu Dong,3 Hoa Thi Ngo,4 Tra Thu Doan,2 Nga Thu Do,2 Trang Huyen Thi Nguyen,5 Thanh Van Do,2 Co Xuan Dao,6 Tuan Quang Nguyen,6 Thach Ngoc Pham,3 Cuong Duy Do2 1Emergency Department, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Center for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 5Department of Public Health, Thang Long University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 6Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Cuong Duy DoCenter for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, No. 78, Giai Phong Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi 100000, VietnamTel +84 983 264 868Email doduy.cuong@bachmai.edu.vnPurpose: Mental health is an important component of the protection strategy for healthcare workers (HCWs). However, it has not been well described in Vietnam during the COVID-19 outbreak. This study aims to measure the psychological distress and health-related quality-of-life among frontline healthcare workers during the peak of the outbreak in Vietnam.Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey on 173 health workers at two national tertiary hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam from March to April 2020. The psychological distress was measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – 21 Items (DASS-21), Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). EQ-5D-5L was used to determine the health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes.Results: Among 173 HCWs, the proportion of reported depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress was 20.2%, 33.5%, and 12.7%, respectively. The median EQ-5D-5L index score was 0.93 (IQR=0.85– 0.94), and the anxiety/depression aspect had the highest reported problems. The most COVID-19-specific concerns among frontline HCWs were the reduction of income (59%) and the increase of living costs (54.3%). HCWs working in the COVID-19-designated hospital had a significantly higher rate of mental health problems and had a lower HRQoL outcome than those working in non-COVID-19-designated hospitals. Other factors associated with psychological distress and sleep problems include age, job title, income, chronic diseases status, and years of working in healthcare settings. HCWs who were ≥ 30 years old, had higher working years, had higher incomes, and had mental health and sleep problems were more likely to have lower HRQoL scores.Conclusion: We reported a moderate rate of psychological distress and lower HRQoL outcomes among frontline HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam. Various factors were found to be associated with mental health and HRQoL that might be useful for implementing appropriate interventions for HCWs in low-resource settings.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, mental health, psychological distress, health-related quality-of-life, health workers

The main goal of this article further extends the ES-MITC3 element based on first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) for the free vibration analysis of functionally graded porous (FGP) plates resting on the partially supported elastic foundation (PSEF). The ES-MITC3 element is the union between the mixed interpolation of tensorial components (MITC) technique and an edge-based smoothed finite element method (ES-FEM). The elastic foundation (EF) is a Winkler-Pasternak’s model with two parameters consisting of Winkler-stiffness (k1) and Pasternak-stiffness (k2). The porosity distribution in plates is assumed to vary according to the even distribution (case 1) and uneven distribution (case 2) rules. The governing equation is derived from Hamilton's principle. Numerical examples are performed to verify the accuracy and reliability of the present method. In addition, the effects of types of PSEF, material properties and geometry characteristics on the free vibration behavior of FGP plates are fully investigated.

Big data (BD) analytics is one of the critical components in the digitalization of the oil and gas (O&G) industry. Its focus is managing and processing a high volume of data to improve operational efficiency, enhance decision making and mitigate risks in the workplace. Enhanced processing of seismic data also provides the industry with a better understanding of BD applications. However, the industry still exercises caution in adopting new technologies. The slow pace of technology adoption can be attributed to various causes, from the obstacles to the integration with existing systems, to cybersecurity for defending the BD system against cyber attacks. In some applications using wearable devices, physiological and location-tracking data also causes concerns related to workplace privacy implications. These shortcomings give rise to uncertainties about the practical benefits and effectiveness of applying BD in O&G activities. The objective of this paper is to perform a systematic review of BD analytics within the context of the O&G industry. This paper attempts to evaluate technical and nontechnical factors affecting the adoption of BD technologies. The study includes BD development platforms, network architecture, data privacy implications, cybersecurity, and the opportunities and challenges of adopting BD technologies in the O&G industry.

Abstract Introduction Dementia severity can be empirically described by the latent dementia phenotype “δ” and its various composite “homologs”. We have explored δ's blood‐based protein biomarkers in the Texas Alzheimer's Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) study. However, it would be convenient to replicate those associations in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). To this end, we recently engineered a δ homolog from observed cognitive performance measures common to both projects (i.e., “dT2A”). Methods We used nine rationally chosen peripheral blood‐based protein biomarkers as indicators of a latent variable “INFLAMMATION”. We then associated that construct with dT2A in structural equation models adjusted for age, gender, depressive symptoms, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allelic burden. Significant factor loadings and INFLAMMATION's association with dT2A were confirmed in random splits of TARCC's relatively large sample, and across biofluids in the ADNI. Results Nine proteins measured in serum (TARCC) or plasma (ADNI) explained ≅10% of dT2A's variance in both samples, independently of age, APOE, education, and gender. All loaded significantly on INFLAMMATION, and positively or negatively, depending on their known roles are PRO‐ or ANTI‐inflammatory proteins, respectively. The parameters of interest were confirmed across random 50% splits of the TARCC's sample, and replicated across biofluids in the ADNI. Discussion These results suggest that SEM can be used to replicate biomarker findings across samples and biofluids, and that a substantial fraction of dementia's variance is attributable to peripheral blood‐based protein levels.

Rapid urbanization has led to increased environmental pollution in Vietnam, especially air pollution issues. In this study, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with an automated identification and quantification system database to detect and quantitate compounds in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5). A total of 288 compounds classified in 19 pollutant categories based on their origins were detected in PM2.5 samples collected in three areas of Hanoi during winter. The total content of substances detected ranged from 41.08 to 795.00 ng.m−3. The characteristics and concentrations of organic pollutants differed among the industrial, urban, and agricultural sampling areas, with average concentrations of 179.00, 112.10, and 529.40 ng.m−3, respectively. In this comprehensive study on trace organic compounds conducted with samples collected at three sites, we investigating the basic impact of three main factors on the environment. This study contributes to the literature by providing a data set on the content of trace organic substances in the air at the study site.

The calibration of the water level in a hydraulic model experiment is a time-consuming task. In this study, the authors proposed a guide to adjust the water level in the fixed-bed hydraulic experiment, by establishing a connection between the water level increase (ΔZ) in the model with other factors such as roughness diameter (d), roughness density (s), and flow velocity (v). Based on the results of 105 model experiments with different d, s, and v, the study also suggested a process to design a model experiment. The results of the study were used to build a fixed-bed hydraulic experiment for a river section passing through the Ialy hydropower plant in Vietnam. The results showed that after 01 time of implementation, the water level in the experiment was close to the observed water level. The differences between the calculated and measured water levels have been significantly reduced, from 0.027–0.036 m to 0.003–0.008 m. This finding shows that the approach of the study saves time and effort in the process of setting up a hydraulic experiment.

BackgroundVietnam is one of the first low- to middle-income countries to develop and implement a national-scale electronic immunization registry. This system was finalized into the National Immunization Information System (NIIS) and scaled up to a national-level system in 2017. As a result, immunization coverage and the timeliness of vaccinations have drastically improved. The time spent on planning and reporting vaccinations has drastically reduced; as a result, vaccination planning and reporting has become more accurate and effective. However, to date, end users have been tasked with managing both the NIIS and paper-based systems in parallel until a formal assessment of the readiness to fully transition to the NIIS is conducted. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the readiness to move to an entirely digital NIIS in 2 provinces of Vietnam—Ha Noi and Son La. MethodsAll health facilities were surveyed to assess their infrastructure, capacity, and need for human resources. NIIS end users were observed and interviewed to evaluate their NIIS knowledge and skill sets. Data from immunization cards and facility paper-based logbooks were compared with data from the NIIS, and vaccine stocks at selected facilities were tallied and compared with data from the NIIS. ResultsOf the 990 health facilities evaluated, most used the NIIS to enter and track immunizations (987/990, 99.7%) and vaccine stocks (889/990, 90.8%). Most had stable electricity (971/990, 98.1%), at least 1 computer (986/990, 99.6%), and ≥2 trained NIIS end users (825/990, 83.3%). End users reported that the NIIS supported them in managing and reporting immunization data and saving them time (725/767, 94.5%). Although many end users were able to perform basic skills, almost half struggled with performing more complex tasks. Immunization data were compiled from the NIIS and immunization cards (338/378, 89.4%) and paper-based logbooks (254/269, 94.4%). However, only 54.5% (206/378) of immunization IDs matched, 57% (13/23) of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination records were accurate, and 70% (21/30) of the facilities had consistent physical vaccine stock balances. The feedback received from NIIS end users suggests that more supportive supervision, frequent refresher training for strengthening their skill sets, and detailed standardized guides for improving data quality are needed. ConclusionsThe readiness to transition to a digital system is promising; however, additional resources are required to address the timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of the data.

Summary: Background: COVID-19 elimination measures, including border closures have been applied in New Zealand. We have modelled the potential effect of vaccination programmes for opening borders.Methods: We used a deterministic age-stratified Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, Recovered (SEIR) model. We minimised spread by varying the age-stratified vaccine allocation to find the minimum herd immunity requirements (the effective reproduction number Reff