Emotion-Aware Music Recommendation

People often listen to songs that match their mood. Thus, an AI music recommendation system that is aware of the user’s emotions is likely to provide a superior user experience to one that is unaware. In this paper, we present an emotion-aware music recommendation system. Multiple models are discussed and evaluated for affect identification from a live image of the user. We propose two models: DRViT, which applies dynamic routing to vision transformers, and InvNet50, which uses involution. All considered models are trained and evaluated on the AffectNet dataset. Each model outputs the user’s estimated valence and arousal under the circumplex model of affect. These values are compared to the valence and arousal values for songs in a Spotify dataset, and the top-five closest-matching songs are presented to the user. Experimental results of the models and user testing are presented

Prospects of Blended Learning Implementation at FPT University Can Tho, Vietnam

Drawing on the evaluations of students’ attitudes toward learning aspects the mixed-method research aims to examine the prospects of Blended Learning at FPT University in Can Tho. Four hundred sixty-seven students partook in the study by providing answers for a 30-item questionnaire with open-ended questions. The results showed that most students have positive attitudes towards factors constructing their Blended Learning adaptability, including (1) Study Management and Online Learning, (2) Classroom Learning, and (3) Learning Flexibility. The results of Binary Logistic Regression also clarified the good promise of Blended Learning implementation and the discovery of other concerns that hindered informants’ willingness, namely Worriment about Learning Effectiveness, Online Learning Barriers, and Learners’ Ego. The research findings served as a reference for FPT University and other higher institutions to better grasp how students perceive Blended Learning to develop strategies for successful practices

Antimalarial activity of the anticancer histone deacetylase inhibitor SB939

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes posttranslationally modify lysines on histone and nonhistone proteins and play crucial roles in epigenetic regulation and other important cellular processes. HDAC inhibitors (e.g., suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid [SAHA; also known as vorinostat]) are used clinically to treat some cancers and are under investigation for use against many other diseases. Development of new HDAC inhibitors for noncancer indications has the potential to be accelerated by piggy-backing onto cancer studies, as several HDAC inhibitors have undergone or are undergoing clinical trials. One such compound, SB939, is a new orally active hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitor with an improved pharmacokinetic profile compared to that of SAHA. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activities of SB939 were investigated. SB939 was found to be a potent inhibitor of the growth of Plasmodium falciparum asexual-stage parasites in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 100 to 200 nM), causing hyperacetylation of parasite histone and nonhistone proteins. In combination with the aspartic protease inhibitor lopinavir, SB939 displayed additive activity. SB939 also potently inhibited the in vitro growth of exoerythrocytic-stage Plasmodium parasites in liver cells (IC50, similar to 150 nM), suggesting that inhibitor targeting to multiple malaria parasite life cycle stages may be possible. In an experimental in vivo murine model of cerebral malaria, orally administered SB939 significantly inhibited P. berghei ANKA parasite growth, preventing development of cerebral malaria-like symptoms. These results identify SB939 as a potent new antimalarial HDAC inhibitor and underscore the potential of investigating next-generation anticancer HDAC inhibitors as prospective new drug leads for treatment of malaria

Targeted sequencing from cerebrospinal fluid for rapid identification of drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis

Mortality from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains around 30%, with most deaths occurring within 2 months of starting treatment. Mortality from drug-resistant strains is higher still, making early detection of drug resistance (DR) essential. Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) produces high read depths, allowing the detection of DR-associated alleles with low frequencies. We applied Deeplex Myc-TB-a tNGS assay-to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 72 adults with microbiologically confirmed TBM and compared its genomic drug susceptibility predictions to a composite reference standard of phenotypic susceptibility testing (pDST) and whole genome sequencing, as well as to clinical outcomes. Deeplex detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in 24/72 (33.3%) CSF samples and generated full DR reports for 22/24 (91.7%). The read depth generated by Deeplex correlated with semi-quantitative results from MTB/RIF Xpert. Alleles with <20% frequency were seen at canonical loci associated with first-line DR. Disregarding these low-frequency alleles, Deeplex had 100% concordance with the composite reference standard for all drugs except pyrazinamide and streptomycin. Three patients had positive CSF cultures after 30 days of treatment; reference tests and Deeplex identified isoniazid resistance in two, and Deeplex alone identified low-frequency rifampin resistance alleles in one. Five patients died, of whom one had pDST-identified pyrazinamide resistance. tNGS on CSF can rapidly and accurately detect drug-resistant TBM, but its application is limited to those with higher bacterial loads. In those with lower bacterial burdens, alternative approaches need to be developed for both diagnosis and resistance detection

Rifampicin resistant 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis' in Vietnam, 2020–2022

Objective: We conducted a descriptive analysis of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Vietnam’s two largest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. Methods: All patients with rifampicin resistant tuberculosis were recruited from Hanoi and surrounding provinces between 2020 and 2022. Additional patients were recruited from Ho Chi Minh city over the same time period. Demographic data were recorded from all patients, and samples collected, cultured, whole genome sequenced and analysed for drug resistance mutations. Genomic susceptibility predictions were made on the basis of the World Health Organization’s catalogue of mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with drug resistance, version 2. Comparisons were made against phenotypic drug susceptibility test results where these were available. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for previous episodes of tuberculosis. Results: 233/265 sequenced isolates were of sufficient quality for analysis, 146 (63 %) from Ho Chi Minh City and 87 (37 %) from Hanoi. 198 (85 %) were lineage 2, 20 (9 %) were lineage 4, and 15 (6 %) were lineage 1. 17/211 (8 %) for whom HIV status was known were infected, and 109/214 (51 %) patients had had a previous episode of tuberculosis. The main risk factor for a previous episode was HIV infection (odds ratio 5.1 (95 % confidence interval 1.3–20.0); p = 0.021). Sensitivity for predicting first-line drug resistance from whole genome sequencing data was over 90 %, with the exception of pyrazinamide (85 %). For moxifloxacin and amikacin it was 50 % or less. Among rifampicin-resistant isolates, prevalence of resistance to each non-first-line drug was < 20 %. Conclusions: Drug resistance among most MDR-TB strains in Vietnam’s two largest cities is confined largely to first-line drugs. Living with HIV is the main risk factor among patients with MDR-TB for having had a previous episode of tuberculosis

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Economic impacts of Covid-19 - The case of Vietnam

Number of appendices: 1At the end of December 2019, Chinese health officials reported a number of multiple acute respiratory syndromes in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Chinese scientists quickly identified the new coronavirus as the main cause. This disease is now known as corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been seen at all in humans. Compared to other Asian countries, Vietnam has achieved significant results in how it ad-dressed the coronavirus outbreak. However, Covid-19, poses a significant challenge to the country's economic growth and may continue unless fully addressed. The thesis’s purpose is to list down the impacts of Covid-19 that can have on Vietnam’s economy and several solutions to address the issues

Reduced-fat chocolate through formulation innovation

The objective of this study was to investigate how to decrease the viscosity of reduced fat chocolate. This was with the aim of improving the industrial feasibility and the sensory properties of reduced fat chocolate.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Short Helix-Constrained Peptides As RSV Fusion Inhibitors And Vaccine Candidates

Proteins frequently mediate their functions through small folded secondary structural motifs, such as α-helices accounting for >30% of protein structure. When such helices are sufficiently solvent-exposed, they can be recognized by other proteins and these protein- protein interactions are responsible for mediating infection, disease and human physiology. If these important helical epitopes could be recreated in short constrained peptides, they might be able to mimic both the structure and function of protein. Constraining peptides can also improve stability in biological media by decreasing proteolytic degradation. Short, chemically stable, peptide antigens that display key structural and functional properties of protein antigens may be suitable as vaccines or anti-viral drug candidates, being cheaper to make than proteins, safer to use than conventional pathogen-based vaccines, and easier to purify than proteins or pathogens. However, a number of obstacles need to be overcome in developing short peptide vaccines or drug candidates. Short peptides of less than 15 residues rarely have well defined structures in water, are readily degraded by proteolytic enzymes in the vascular and gastrointestinal systems, and not very immunogenic. Furthermore, B-cell responses elicited by immunogenic polypeptide antigens are governed by a number of poorly understood events, such as epitope structure, T-cell dependence, adjuvant used, route of immunization and immunogen (peptide) stability. This project evaluated short helix-constrained peptides as viral fusion inhibitors and as vaccine candidates against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Human RSV is a major cause of infant bronchiolitis worldwide, yet there is still no effective vaccine or drug available to combat it. The post-fusion state of the RSV F protein is a 6-helix bundle hairpin-like structure, including two heptad-repeat regions (HR-N and HR-C). Two short peptide inhibitors of RSV fusion, Inhibitor 1c and 2c designed and synthesized by Shepherd et al. from the sequence (RSV F483-495) in the HR-C helix, may prevent hairpin formation by binding between HR-N and HR-C regions. The sequence F483-495 also contains a putative B-cell epitope, which could form the basis for designing an RSV peptide vaccine. Based on the crystal structure of RSV F protein in a post fusion state, this sequence was constrained in two ways: (i) to present one helix face to compete with a native HR-C helix for 6-helix bundle formation, thereby inhibiting fusion; and (ii) to present the opposite, solvent-exposed, helix face for interaction with a host antibody, potentially creating an immunogenic peptide for inducing immune response. For inhibiting viral fusion, two helix-constrained peptides were synthesized, namely Ac- cyclo-(3,7;8,11)-FP[KDEFD][KSIRD]V-NH2 (Peptide 1c) and Ac-cyclo-(2,6;7,10)-(1- naphthyl)-[KDEFD][KSIRD]V-NH2 (Peptide 2c). They were evaluated for their viral inhibitory ability in A549, Vero, Cos-1 and Hep-2 cells by various neutralization assay protocols. In my studies, neither peptide showed the level of inhibition previously reported (Peptide 1c: IC50∼30 nM fusion, IC50 36 nM viral replication; Shepherd et al, 2006; Peptide 2c: IC50 190 pM fusion, Harrison et al, 2010) in my modified assay protocols antiviral plaque reduction. The activity of these compounds varied substantially, from very significant to negligible depending upon assay protocols and cell lines employed. Similar results were also observed here for a small nonpeptide RSV fusion inhibitor provided by Biota Holdings. Studies elsewhere for an HIV inhibitor DP178 and truncated constrained analogues have suggested that the length of the inhibitor may need to be longer against class 1 fusion proteins, so future work could perhaps extend peptide sequence to create a larger binding region that may increase affinity. The second objective was to evaluate helix-constrained peptides as prospective immunogens in mice. The immunogenicity of native sequence Peptide 4 (Ac- FPSDEFDASISQV-NH2) was compared with helix-constrained Peptide 2c (Ac-cyclo- (2,6;7,10)-(1-naphthyl)-[KDEFD][KSIRD]V-NH2) and Peptide 3c (Ac-cyclo- (1,5;8,12)- [KSDED]DA[KISQD]-NH2), as well as with their corresponding unconstrained sequences 2l \ua0 (Ac-(1-naphthyl)-KDEFDKSIRDV-NH2) and 3l \ua0 (Ac-KSDEDDAKISQD- NH2) by immunizing Balb/c mice. Serum was collected at various stages during a 16-week protocol and analysed by ELISA for antibodies raised against these peptides as well as F protein. The constrained peptide 3c showed little immunogenicity, and only unconstrained peptide 2l \ua0 (containing 1-Nal group) elicited significant antibody titres. The flexibility and the 1- Naphthylalanine may have enabled peptide 2l \ua0to interact with B-cells to stimulate antibody production. However, antibodies raised to either peptide 2l \ua0or cyclic peptide 3c were not specific for recombinant RSV F protein. Thus, the helix-constrained peptides did not reproduce the native epitope of the viral F protein domain in my experiments. It is possible that the lactam bridges, used to constrain peptide 2c and 3c to helices, might sterically hinder B-cell binding and prevented antibody responses. Constraining epitopes in different ways may be more effective strategy, since this work has focused on mimicking the HR-C alpha helix of the known post-fusion structure rather than a possibly, more important (but unknown), pre- fusion structure