Attitudes towards ICT integration into curriculum and usage among university lecturers in Vietnam.

Although the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) into the curriculum was a crucial process in ensuring the quality of education, it has still not been given greater concern by the administrators and lecturers in some universities in Vietnam. The purpose of this descriptive-survey research is to determine lecturers' attitudes towards ICT integration into the curriculum and its use in the classroom. The research questions sought to measure the frequency of ICT use in teaching and learning among lecturers and their attitudes towards ICT integration into the curriculum to improve teaching; and to determine if a correlation existed between lecturers' attitudes towards ICT integration into the curriculum and their ICT use in the classroom. A population of 109 lecturers at a public university in Vietnam participated in this survey. The results of the correlation analysis identified a slightly moderate positive relationship between lecturers' attitudes towards ICT integration into the curriculum and their ICT use in the classroom. Although ICT was not highly used, lecturers recognized the benefits of ICT that they had chosen to incorporate into their teaching. These findings could be used for future research to promote positive educational changes through the integration of ICT into the curriculum in universities

Vietnamese EFL Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Attainments (Achievements) and Difficulties from a Teaching Practicum

This study explored how a teaching practicum prepared pre-service English teachers (PSETs) for their profession and what difficulties they encountered during their practicum. Forty-seven PSETs of the 2019 intake at a Vietnamese university provided information via a questionnaire, and eight participated in follow-up interviews. The PSETs’ perceived gains in teaching competencies were examined with reference to Vietnam’s English Teacher Competency Framework (ETCF), issued in 2012 by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). The results indicated that the teaching practicum significantly aided the PSETs’ attainments of most competency domains in the ETCF, particularly those that are associated with a greater appreciation of the values and responsibilities of being a teacher, enhanced knowledge of the curriculum and the English language, as well as the ability to reflect on and improve teaching practices. However, certain competency indicators across the competency domains, including practice with assessment, handling difficult pedagogical incidents, and organizing extracurricular activities to create a supportive and meaningful learning environment, were less clearly obtained than the others. Dealing with time constraints and workload, insufficient preparation for classroom practice, and safety precautions to deal with the post-COVID-19 pandemic were some of the major obstacles the PSETs encountered. The results have important implications for pre-service teacher education programs and the implementation of the ETCF for teacher development

DETERMINATION THE PRIORITY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING OVERSEAS INVESTMENT DESTINATIONS OF BUSINESSES USING AN ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS METHOD

Because of the great benefits overseas investment brings, countries and businesses are increasingly concerned with the question of an ideal investment destination. Many studies have shown that, factors of the consumption market, the infrastructure and resources, economic and political environment have a significant impact on the decision to choose an investment location, however the priority order of these factors are different for various research spaces. By studying the specific case of Viettel Group - one of the largest telecommunications groups in Vietnam that is having many international investment activities in recent years, the study has been verified the priority order of factors influencing the decision to choose an overseas investment location of this corporation. The research outcomes show that the group of factors that have the most influence on investment decisions is the group "Consumption market", more specifically, the sub-factor "Market Size" is considered more than the others.    Keywords: Investment Destinations, Foreign Investment Decision, Analytic Hierarchy Process

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

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

Protective effect of Tetracera scandens L. leaf extract against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in rats

Objective: To investigate the protective potential of ethanolic extracts of Tetracera scandens L. (T. scandens) against CCl4 induced oxidative stress in liver tissues. Methods: Dried leaf powder of T. scandens was extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Rats were administered with 100 mg/kg of ethanolic extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered with a single dose of CCl4 (1 mL/kg body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Various assays, such as serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation (carbonyl protein group), tumor necrosis factor alpha, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, were used to assess damage caused by CCl4 and the protective effects of the ethanol extract on liver tissues. Results: Hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 was evidenced by a significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase level, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl group, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, as well as decreased activity of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase). Treatment with ethanolic T. scandens extracts prevented all of these typically observed changes in CCl4-treated rats. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that T. scandens has a significant protective effect against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rat, which may be due to its antioxidant properties

PHÂN LẬP, TUYỂN CHỌN VÀ ĐỊNH DANH VI KHUẨN NỘI SINH HÒA TAN LÂN VÀ CỐ ĐỊNH ĐẠM TRÊN CÂY ĐINH LĂNG LÁ NHỎ (Polyscias fruticosa L. Harms)

This study aimed to determine phosphorus-solubilizing and nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria from Ming aralia. Thirteen leaf and 11 root samples collected in Tri Ton district, An Giang province, were used for isolating endophytic bacteria on the LGI medium. Thirty-five strains were isolated from Ming aralia. All isolates are resistant to pH 5.0. Two strains have the highest phosphorus-solubilizing activity at 29.5 and 29.7 mg/L. Two others have the highest nitrogen-fixing ability and IAA synthesis at 23.0 and 6.87 mg/L. One of the strains solubilizing phosphorus and one fixing nitrogen were identified as Bacillus cereus and B. circulans by 16S rDNA sequences with complete similarity to Bacillus cereus S5 (KU927490.1) and B. circulans H170 (MH671645.1) in Genbank.Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm xác định dòng vi khuẩn nội sinh hòa tan lân và cố định đạm trên cây đinh lăng. Mười ba mẫu lá và mười một mẫu rễ đinh lăng thu thập tại huyện Tri Tôn, tỉnh An Giang, được sử dụng để phân lập vi khuẩn nội sinh trên môi trường LGI. Ba mươi lăm dòng vi khuẩn nội sinh cây đinh lăng đã được phân lập. Các dòng vi khuẩn đều có khả năng chịu đựng được pH 5. Hai trong số các dòng vi khuẩn có khả năng hòa tan lân cao, với hàm lượng 29,5 và 29,7 mg/L. Hai dòng vi khuẩn khác có khả năng cố định đạm và tổng hợp IAA cao nhất, với hàm lượng 23,0 và 6,87 mg/L. Một dòng vi khuẩn hòa tan lân và một dòng vi khuẩn cố định đạm được định danh dựa trên đoạn gene 16S rDNA là Bacillus cereus và B. circulans, hoàn toàn tương đồng với chủng vi khuẩn Bacillus cereus S5 (KU927490.1) và B. circulans H170 (MH671645.1) trên ngân hàng gen

Ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury in mice

AbstractObjectiveTo investigated the protective potential of ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury.MethodsDried roots of S. baicalensis were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Mice were administered 200 mg/kg of the ethanol extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered a single dose of LPS (5 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Both protein and mRNA levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in liver tissues were evaluated by ELISA assay and quantitative PCR. Cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB protein levels in liver tissues were analyzed by western blotting.ResultsLiver injury induced by LPS significantly increased necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB in liver tissues. Treatment with ethanol extracts of S. baicalensis prevented all of these observed changes associated with LPS-induced injury in liver mice.ConclusionsOur study showed that S. baicalensis is potentially protective against LPS-induced liver injury in mice

Determination of drug-related problems among type 2 diabetes outpatients in a hospital in Vietnam: A cross-sectional study.

IntroductionDrug-related problems (DRPs) are common in clinical practice and occur at all stages of the medication process. The major factor contributing to DRPs is prescription, although patients' poor adherence to treatment is also a significant factor. This study evaluated type 2 diabetes outpatients in a hospital in Vietnam for drug-related problems (DRPs) and related variables.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 495 outpatients who met the criteria and 157 people agreed to participate in the interview. Medication order review and medication adherence review were used to identify DRPs. The types of DRP were based on the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) categories version 9.0. The identification and assessment DRPs were carried out by clinical pharmacists and get agreed upon by physicians who had not directly prescribed patients who participated in the study.ResultsA total of 762 DRPs were identified via prescribing review process, the average number of DRP on each prescription was 1.54±1.07, while 412 DRPs were determined through patient interviewing. The most frequent DRPs were "ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction) occurring" (68.8%). The main causes were "patient is unable to understand instructions properly" or "patient is not properly instructed", "patient stores insulin inappropriately", "patient decides to use unnecessary drugs" and "patient intentionally uses/takes less drug than prescribed or does not take the drug at all for whatever reason" which accounted for 65.0%, 41.4%, 38.2%, and 28.7%, respectively. From the prescribing review, the most observed DRPs were "Inappropriate drug according to guidelines/formulary" and "No or incomplete drug treatment in spite of existing indication", accounting for 45.0% and 42.9%, respectively. There was a significant association between age (OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.01-11.30), duration of diabetes (OR 3.61, 95%CI: 1.11-11.74), presence of comorbidity (OR 5.31, 95%CI: 1.97-14.30), polypharmacy (OR: 2.95, 95%CI: 1.01-8.72) and DRPs. In patients, poor knowledge of antidiabetic agents was the main reason to lack adherence and occurring ADR (OR 2.73, 95%CI: 1.32-5.66, p = 0.007 and OR 2.49, 95%CI: 1.54-4.03, p = 0.001 respectively).ConclusionDRPs occurred in the prescribing stage and relating to patient's behavior of drug administration was high. Clear identification of DRPs and the associated factors are essential for building the intervention process to improve effectiveness and safety in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Insights into Molten Salts Induced Structural Defects in Graphitic Carbon Nitrides for Piezo-Photocatalysis with Multiple H2O2 Production Channels

Recently, the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) in the presence of graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) via a piezo-photocatalytic process has considerably ignited global interest in achieving sustainability. To fabricate porous g-C3N4, soft templates are frequently employed, leading to structural modifications originating from heteroatoms. However, many recent reports have ignored the roles of trace quantity of heteroatoms. Hence, to understand the impacts of the mentioned factors, we fabricated g-C3N4 containing oxygen and halogen atoms in the structures for piezo-photosynthesis of H2O2. Based on our analyzed results, oxygen atoms might be inserted into g-C3N4 in-plane structures, while halogen atoms tend to become intercalated between g-C3N4 layers. Furthermore, the presence of ammonium molten salts during the synthesis alters the concentration of mono and cluster vacancies of carbon and nitrogen in the materials. These defective contributions would meaningfully accelerate catalytic performance by providing trapping states. From the mechanistic view, different reduction and oxidation channels would play a pivotal role in generating H2O2. Thus, this study highlights the importance of modulating in-plane and out-of-plane structures of g-C3N4, benefiting catalytic properties under simultaneous irradiation