Some Impact of the English Competence Assessment Test Based on Output Standards on English Teaching at Tan Trao University

The standardized English proficiency assessment has yielded significant and positive impacts on the English teaching and learning processes at Tan Trao University. This assessment not only serves as a tool to evaluate students' English proficiency but also constitutes an integral component of the educational process, encompassing curriculum design and instructional methodologies. One of the paramount effects of this assessment is the establishment of clear standards regarding proficiency levels and requisite skills. This initiative provides educators and students with a precise understanding of the competencies required for English language acquisition. Consequently, the university can devise tailored language programs that ensure students are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in academic and professional environments. Furthermore, the assessment instills a sense of pressure on students as they prepare and engage in a high-stakes testing environment. However, this pressure serves as a motivator for students to enhance their individual English proficiency. Consequently, students are propelled towards autonomy and responsibility in their English language learning endeavors, whether through supplemental coursework or independent study. the assessment fosters improvements in the quality of English language instruction at the university. Educators must possess comprehensive knowledge of the assessment's content and requisite skills, prompting them to explore and implement effective pedagogical strategies. This results in a diversification of teaching methodologies, ranging from the utilization of extensive learning resources to the organization of practical activities and classroom discussions.&nbsp

Chemical composition and antibacterial property of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. belonging to the Astearaceae family has been long used worldwide by various communities as a traditional medicine. We studied the antibacterial activity of different extracts from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. against Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas dhakensis, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus . The processing of this extract using repeated column and thin layer chromatographic techniques resulted in the isolation of three compounds including luteolin (1), kaempferol (2), and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (3), which were identified by NMR. Among them, kaempfreol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside was isolated for the first time and shows good antibacterial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila which is major pathogen for the aquaculture industry. The results demonstrate the beneficial effects of E. prostrata as an antimicrobial and bioactive compound for medicinal usages.

Awareness and preparedness of healthcare workers against the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey across 57 countries.

BACKGROUND: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. METHODS: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from February to May 2020. We used a hierarchical logistic regression multivariate analysis to adjust the influence of variables based on awareness and preparedness. We then used association rule mining to identify relationships between HCW confidence in handling suspected COVID-19 patients and prior COVID-19 case-management training. RESULTS: We surveyed 24,653 HCWs from 371 hospitals across 57 countries and received 17,302 responses from 70.2% HCWs overall. The median COVID-19 preparedness score was 11.0 (interquartile range [IQR] = 6.0-14.0) and the median awareness score was 29.6 (IQR = 26.6-32.6). HCWs at COVID-19 designated facilities with previous outbreak experience, or HCWs who were trained for dealing with the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, had significantly higher levels of preparedness and awareness (p<0.001). Association rule mining suggests that nurses and doctors who had a 'great-extent-of-confidence' in handling suspected COVID-19 patients had participated in COVID-19 training courses. Male participants (mean difference = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.46; p<0.001) and nurses (mean difference = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.53, 0.81; p<0.001) had higher preparedness scores compared to women participants and doctors. INTERPRETATION: There was an unsurprising high level of awareness and preparedness among HCWs who participated in COVID-19 training courses. However, disparity existed along the lines of gender and type of HCW. It is unknown whether the difference in COVID-19 preparedness that we detected early in the pandemic may have translated into disproportionate SARS-CoV-2 burden of disease by gender or HCW type

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

Willingness to Pay for Improved Urban Domestic Water Supply System: The Case of Hanoi, Vietnam

Access to a reliable and safe domestic water supply is a serious challenge for many developing countries worldwide. In the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, the municipal government is facing a number of difficulties in providing sufficient water in a sustainable manner due to the increasing urban population and the serious pollution of both surface and groundwater resources, but this is also due to a lack of resources to invest in the supply system. This study aimed to investigate water users’ willingness to pay for the improvement of Hanoi’s domestic water supply system. A contingent valuation process based on a survey of 402 respondents was used to explore citizens’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the improvement of their urban water supply. The results show that Hanoi’s urban communities (more than 90%) were generally satisfied with the quantity of their water supply, but tended to be dissatisfied with its quality, with 80% of the respondents using advanced water purifiers before drinking and cooking. Respondents were also concerned about the overall reliability of the service, with 40% of respondents indicating that they received no check and maintenance service. A WTP regression model was developed based on the survey findings. The average WTP is 281,000 dong/household/month (approximately 12.2 USD at the exchange rate of 1 USD to about 23,000 VND), equivalent to 1.4% of the average household income at the end of 2019, indicating the level of affordability of monthly water payments among Hanoi citizens

Predicting land use effects on flood susceptibility using machine learning and remote sensing in coastal Vietnam

Flood damage is becoming increasingly severe in the context of climate change and changes in land use. Assessing the effects of these changes on floods is important, to help decision-makers and local authorities understand the causes of worsening floods and propose appropriate measures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of climate and land use change on flood susceptibility in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, using machine learning techniques (support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF)) and remote sensing. The machine learning models used a flood inventory including 1,864 flood locations and 11 conditional factors in 2017 and 2021, as the input data. The predictive capacity of the proposed models was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the mean absolute error (MAE). Both proposed models were successful, with AUC values exceeding 0.95 in predicting the effects of climate and land use change on flood susceptibility. The RF model, with AUC = 0.98, outperformed the SVM model (AUC = 0.97). The areas most susceptible to flooding increased between 2017 and 2021 due to increased built-up area. HIGHLIGHTS Machine learning algorithms were applied for flood susceptibility modeling.; The RF model had the highest AUC value (0.98).; The areas highly flood susceptibility increased between 2017 and 2021.

sj-docx-1-npx-10.1177_1934578X221134882 - Supplemental material for Sarcokontums A and B, Two New 13,27-Cyclo-Pentacyclic Triterpenes from the Stems and Leaves of <b><i>Sarcosperma kontumense</i></b> Gagnep. ex Aubrév

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-npx-10.1177_1934578X221134882 for Sarcokontums A and B, Two New 13,27-Cyclo-Pentacyclic Triterpenes from the Stems and Leaves of Sarcosperma kontumense Gagnep. ex Aubrév by Nguyen Quoc Vuong, Vu Van Chien, Nguyen Thi Hue, Pham Thi Hang, Nguyen Hoang Nam, Nguyen Le Tuan, Pham Van Cuong, Duong Thi Hai Yen, Nguyen Xuan Nhiem, Bui Huu Tai and Phan Van Kiem in Natural Product Communications</p