LARGE DEFLECTION OF CANTILEVER FUNCTIONALLY GRADED SANDWICH BEAM UNDER END FORCES BASED ON A TOTAL LAGRANGE FORMULATION

A two-node beam element for large deflection analysis of cantilever functionally graded sandwich (FGSW) beams subjected to end forces is formulated in the context of total Lagrange formulation. The beams consist of three layers, a homogeneous core and two functionally graded layers with material properties varying in the thickness direction by a power gradation law. Linear functions are adopted to interpolate the displacement field and reduced integral technique is applied to evaluate the element formulation. Newton-Raphson based iterative algorithm is employed in combination with arc-length control method to compute equilibrium paths of the beams. Numerical investigations are given for the beam under a transverse point load and a moment to show the accuracy of the element and to illustrate the effects of material inhomogeneity and the layer thickness ratio on the large deflection behavior of the FGSW beams

Large displacements of FGSW beams in thermal environment using a finite element formulation

The large displacements of functionally graded sandwich (FGSW) beams in thermal environment  are studied using a finite element formulation. The beams are composed of three layers, a homogeneous core and two functionally graded face sheets with volume fraction of constituents following a power gradation law. The material properties of the beams are considered to be temperature-dependent.  Based on Antman beam model and the total Lagrange formulation, a two-node nonlinear beam element taking the effect of temperature rise into account  is formulated and employed in the study. The element with explicit expressions for the internal force vector and tangent stiffness matrix is derived using linear interpolations and reduced integration technique to avoid the shear locking. Newton-Raphson based iterative algorithm is employed in combination with the arc-length control method to compute the large displacement response of a cantilever FGSW beam subjected to end forces.  The accuracy of the formulated element is confirmed through a comparison study. The effects of the material inhomogeneity, temperature rise and layer thickness ratio on the large deflection response of the beam are examined and highlighted

Multivalvular involvement associated with Libman-Sacks endocarditis detected by multimodality imaging: A case report

Libman-Sacks endocarditis accounts for 6–11 percent of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and is associated with varying degrees of valvular dysfunction, increased risk for stroke and transient ischemic attacks, and increased mortality. In previous studies, left-sided valvular Libman-Sacks vegetations were more frequently detected than right sided vegetations; reported cases of bilateral involvement is very rare. A comprehensive clinical assessment and the multimodality imaging is of utmost importance in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. In this case report, we describe a 31-year-old female patient with uncontrolled systemic lupus erythematosus initially presented with gastrointestinal symptoms but eventually had a vegetation-like structure on the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve which was revealed during routine echocardiography. Two-dimensional/three-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and cardiac computed tomography further characterized the mitral valve vegetation and revealed an additional vegetation of the pulmonary valve. Echocardiography remains the cornerstone for the detection of Libman-Sacks vegetations. Cardiac MRI and cardiac CT are useful in characterizing lesion size and effects and may prove particularly helpful in the assessment of right-sided or multivalvular endocarditis. The presence of focal brain lesions on brain MRI prompted antithrombotic therapy

Targeting effect of folate on cancer cell through curcumin carrier nano-system

Folate receptor (FR) is well known for its overexpression on surface of various cancer cell lines, which is identical to normal tissue. Folic-based targeting drug delivery systems, therefore, are one of the most effective targeting carriers that effectively bind to FR up-regulated cancer cells. Curcumin was used both for labeling and chemotherapy. The materials were characterized and structurally confirmed by FT-IR spectra, fluorescent images and FE-SEM images. Bioassays were conducted on HeLa and HT29 cancer cell lines after 4 and 12 hours. Results show that folic acid significantly enhanced both targeting efficiency and internalization of curcumin to FR-expressing cancer cells

Targeting effect of folate on cancer cell through curcumin carrier nano-system

Folate receptor (FR) is well known for its overexpression on surface of various cancer cell lines, which is identical to normal tissue. Folic-based targeting drug delivery systems, therefore, are one of the most effective targeting carriers that effectively bind to FR up-regulated cancer cells. Curcumin was used both for labeling and chemotherapy. The materials were characterized and structurally confirmed by FT-IR spectra, fluorescent images and FE-SEM images. Bioassays were conducted on HeLa and HT29 cancer cell lines after 4 and 12 hours. Results show that folic acid significantly enhanced both targeting efficiency and internalization of curcumin to FR-expressing cancer cells

Expansion of KPC-producing Enterobacterales in four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam

Objectives : The incidence of carbapenem resistance among nosocomial Gram-negative bacteria in Vietnam is high and increasing, including among Enterobacterales. In this study, we assessed the presence of one of the main carbapenemase genes, blaKPC, among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, between 2010 and 2015, and described their key molecular characteristics. Methods : KPC-producing Enterobacterales were detected using conventional PCR and were further analysed using S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE), Southern blotting and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for sequence typing and genetic characterisation. Results : blaKPC genes were detected in 122 (20.4%) of 599 CRE isolates. blaKPC-carrying plasmids were diverse in size. Klebsiella pneumoniae harbouring blaKPC genes belonged to ST15 and ST11, whereas KPC-producing Escherichia coli showed more diverse sequence types including ST3580, ST448, ST709 and ST405. Genotypic relationships supported the hypothesis of circulation of a population of ‘resident’ resistant bacteria in one hospital through the years and of transmission among these hospitals via patient transfer. WGS results revealed co-carriage of several other antimicrobial resistance genes and three different genetic contexts of blaKPC-2. Among these, the combination of ISEcp1–blaCTX-M and ISKpn27–blaKPC–ΔISKpn6 on the same plasmid is reported for the first time. Conclusion : We describe the dissemination of blaKPC-expressing Enterobacterales in four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, since 2010, which may have started earlier, along with their resistance patterns, sequence types, genotypic relationship, plasmid sizes and genetic context, thereby contributing to the overall picture of the antimicrobial resistance situation in Enterobacterales in Vietnam

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

Temporal and spatial infiltration characteristics of soil under acacia and pine plantations in the mountainous area of Van Don, Quang Ninh, Vietnam

To determine the soil infiltration characteristics of pine and acacia plantations, we used a double-ring infiltrometer in 15 different locations of up-hill, mid-hill and down-hill part in each kind of plantation from June to August, 2018. The spatial infiltration characteristics of the soil at three plots (with no tree, with acacia tree and with pine tree) was determined by dye tracer method. The factors having an impact to the infiltration process were also analyzed. The main findings include: (1) The soil infiltration rate under both pine and acacia plantation decreased over time and it was the highest in the bottom of the hill and the lowest in the middle of the hill. The infiltration rate and the total infiltrated water in one hour at the acacia plantation were higher than ones at the pine plantation. However, statistical significant difference was only found for stable infiltration rate between two plantations; (2) The area and the depth of infiltrated water were the highest at the plot without trees, smaller at the soil of acacia plot and smallest at the soil of pine plot. All spatial infiltration rates were within the findings of previous studies; (3) The result indicated that soil with high ground cover has high infiltration rate.Để xác định đặc điểm thấm nước của đất dưới rừng trồng Thông và Keo, vòng đôi đo tốc độ thấm đã được sử dụng để đo ở sườn trên, sườn giữa và sườn dưới (5 lần/ ví trí) cho mỗi loại hình rừng từ tháng 6-8/2018. Trong khi, thuốc nhuộm được sử dụng để kiểm tra đặc điểm thấm nước của đất theo không gian trên 3 ô (ô không có cây, ô trồng Keo và ô trồng Thông). Các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến đặc điểm thấm nước cũng được phân tích. Kết quả chính thu được: (1) Tốc độ thấm ở cả hai loại rừng giảm dần theo thời gian và cao nhất ở sườn dưới, nhỏ nhất ở sườn giữa. Cả tốc độ thấm và tổng lượng nước thấm trong một giờ của rừng keo đều cao hơn so với rừng Thông. Tuy nhiên, chỉ có tốc độ thấm ổn định là khác biệt có ý nghĩa thống kê; (2) Diện tích và độ sâu nước thấm xuống đất cao nhất ở ô không có cây, nhỏ hơn ở ô trồng Keo và nhỏ nhất ở ô trồng Thông; (3) Độ che phủ thực vật càng cao thì lượng nước thấm càng lớn

Vocational Rehabilitation for Persons With Visual Impairment at the Community: A Case Study in Dong Da District, Hanoi City, Vietnam

Work has been emphasized by the WHO, ILO, and UNESCO for years as to how individuals can escape poverty, secure the necessities and improve his/her economic and social status. In this sense, vocational rehabilitation is regarded as the means for persons with disabilities to access work. However, in the absence of either these programs or full respect for their right to work, they have been encountering different barriers in employment accessibility. This happens more seriously in developing countries, including Vietnam. Through mixed methods of desktop reviews, a survey with 110 persons with visual impairment in the community, and in-depth interviews with 10 key stakeholders, the article aims at briefing an overview on current situations of their employment as well as vocational rehabilitation services and support for occupations in Dong Da District, Hanoi City. Several key findings indicate that they have been coping with unemployment or low-tech and low-paid jobs. There is an intensive gap between needs and service supplies in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial components. In the community, available programs target supporting them in terms of physical aspects rather than cognitive and social components. Finally, the authors discuss more various vocational programs, capacity building to other potential providers, and awareness-raising