Effects of Mannan Oligosaccharide (MOS) on the Survival, Physiological, and Immunological Response of the Black Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798) when Challenged with two Different Stressors

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the resistance of the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) to two different stressors, bacterial infection by Vibrio alginolyticus, and the environmental pollutant ammonia (NH3). Prawns were fed two different diets, 0% (control diet) and 0.15% MOS, for 8 weeks prior to exposure to the stressors. They were then tested for survival, physiological, and immunological parameters, as indicators of health status. When the two groups were exposed to NH3 and bacterial infection, survival of prawns fed the MOS diet was significantly higher (P<0.05) than prawns fed the control diet. Similarly, the wet hepatosomatic index (Hiw), dry hepatosomatic index (Hid), hepatopancreatic moisture content (HM), total hemocyte count (THC), and granular cell percentage (GC%), of the MOS fed prawns was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in prawns fed the control diet. Bacteremia of the MOS fed prawns was lower (P<0.05) than the control diet-fed prawns after bacterial infection. Findings demonstrated the potential of MOS to improve the survival, health status, and immunity of black tiger prawns when challenged with bacterial infection and NH3 exposure

Online Load Balancing for Network Functions Virtualization

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) aims to support service providers to deploy various services in a more agile and cost-effective way. However, the softwarization and cloudification of network functions can result in severe congestion and low network performance. In this paper, we propose a solution to address this issue. We analyze and solve the online load balancing problem using multipath routing in NFV to optimize network performance in response to the dynamic changes of user demands. In particular, we first formulate the optimization problem of load balancing as a mixed integer linear program for achieving the optimal solution. We then develop the ORBIT algorithm that solves the online load balancing problem. The performance guarantee of ORBIT is analytically proved in comparison with the optimal offline solution. The experiment results on real-world datasets show that ORBIT performs very well for distributing traffic of each service demand across multipaths without knowledge of future demands, especially under high-load conditions

Reactions of pigs to a hot environment

When compared to other species of farm animals, pigs are relatively sensitive to high environmental temperatures because the pig cannot sweat and is relatively poor at panting. Little information is available about the ambient temperatures above which group-housed pigs start to adapt their mechanisms of balancing heat loss and heat production. The temperature above which an adaptive response occurs (also called the critical temperature or inflection point temperature) may well differ depending on which physiological or behavioral parameter is studied. The objective of these studies was to determine the reactions of pigs to a hot environment (experiment 1) and to study the effects of different cooling systems (sprinklers and water bath) on behavioral, physiological and productive parameters (experiment 2). In experiment one 12 groups of 10 pigs of 60 kg were studied in respiration chambers. Each day, the temperature was increased by 20 C from low (160 C) to high (320 C). In experiment two 12 groups of 5 pigs were studied under the humid tropical climate of Viet Nam. The pig¿s first visible reaction to increasing ambient temperature was a change in behavior. Wallowing was the first of all behavioral changes. It occurs at relatively low ambient temperature: from 16 to 170 C. The first physiological reaction to high ambient temperatures was an increase in respiration rate; on average this occurred at 22.40 C. An increase in rectal temperature occurred above an average ambient temperature of 26.10 C. This implies that pigs can prevent an increase in their body temperature for an ambient temperature range of about 3.70 C. An increase in rectal temperature and an extra reduction in feed intake are indicators that room temperature is clearly above the upper limit of the thermal neutral zone. Pigs in pens with sprinklers or water bath had lower respiration rate and skin temperature than pigs in control pens, especially during the hot period of the day in pens with outside yard. No effect of cooling on the rectal temperature was found. Pigs in pens with outside yard without cooling were less active than pigs in cooling pens. Pigs in control pens were lying more in lateral position than pigs in the cooled pens. Pigs in pens with sprinklers had the highest feed intake and the highest daily gain. It is concluded that the availability of cooling systems reduces heat stress in pigs. The indicators of heat stress found in this study could be used as set points for these cooling systems, in order to improve animal performance and welfare in hot conditions

Fundamental properties of Alkali-intercalated bilayer graphene nanoribbons

Along with the inherent remarkable properties of graphene, adatom-intercalated graphene-related systems are expected to exhibit tunable electronic properties. The metal-based atoms could provide multi-orbital hybridizations with the out-of-plane pi-bondings on the carbon honeycomb lattice, which dominates the fundamental properties of chemisorption systems. In this work, using the first-principles calculations, the feature-rich properties of alkali-metal intercalated graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are investigated, including edge passivation, stacking configurations, intercalation sites, stability, charge density distribution, magnetic configuration, and electronic properties. There exists a transformation from finite gap semiconducting to metallic behaviors, indicating enhanced electrical conductivity. They arise from the cooperative or competitive relations among the significant chemical bonds, finite-size quantum confinement, edge structure, and stacking order. Moreover, the decoration of edge structures with hydrogen and oxygen atoms is considered to provide more information about the stability and magnetization due to the ribbon' effect. These findings will be helpful for experimental fabrications and measurements for further investigation of GNRs-based materials

Bridging Cultures in Academia: The Role of Mindfulness in Enhancing Intercultural Communication and Social Capital among Scholars

Studies that comprehensively incorporate mindfulness therapies and the theory of intercultural communication into the investigation of social capital are lacking in the body of existing literature. This restricts our comprehension of how these important components interact and affect social relationships in academic communities as a whole. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how mindfulness practices affect cross-cultural communication and, in turn, build social capital in academic environments. A mixed method was adopted in the study. In the first stage, focused group interviews are employed in the first stage with seven groups of nine Australian alumni, for a total of 63 participants who have experience conducting research and teaching abroad or in multicultural settings. In the second stage, 149 alumni were surveyed, and Process Macro SPSS\u27s Hayes model was used to analyse the data. The results showed that those who practice mindfulness are more likely to approach cross-cultural encounters with a greater awareness of and respect for different points of view. According to the findings, mindfulness can be a potent instrument for boosting perception of the community, networking, trust and safety, scholarly participation, citizen power, life values and diverse perspectives among academics. Scholars who engage in mindfulness practices have the potential to cultivate closer ties within academic communities, which could result in joint research opportunities, information exchanges, and career assistance. This study might offer academics a fresh theoretical viewpoint that improves the conceptual frameworks for mindfulness practice for enhancing academic social capital via intercultural communication

Systems for eliminating pathogens from exhaust air of animal houses

Recent outbreaks of highly infectious viral diseases like swine fever and avian influenza in The Netherlands have shown that despite extensive bio-security measures aiming at minimizing physical contacts between farms, disease spread could not be halted. Dust in exhaust air from swine and chicken houses may provide a favorable environment in which these viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms can survive and be transported over long distances to other farms. In a field study and in an experimental pilot-scale system, the effects of air scrubbers (bio-scrubber and acid scrubber) were tested. The field test showed higher bacterial counts in the outlet air than in the inlet air of the bio-scrubber (increase from 6.1 x 104 to 24.4 x 104 cfu/m3). An acid scrubber with sulfuric acid reduced bacteria emissions from 27 x 104 to 8.4 x 104 cfu/m3. In the pilot-scale cleaning system, different disinfectants were tested, including hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and peracetic acid. Peracetic acid gave by far the best results. It reduced bacteria and virus emissions to below detectable levels and reduced ammonia emissions by 96%. We conclude that an acid scrubber with sulfuric acid is very useful to reduce ammonia and dust emissions to the atmosphere; however, it cannot prevent the emission of pathogens. Peracetic acid reduces all these emissions, but is too costly to be used continuously. Therefore, an interesting option to prevent disease spread is to replace or supplement sulfuric acid in existing scrubbers with peracetic acid in times of high risk of disease outbreak

Challenges of Implementing Outcome-Based Assessment in Vietnamese Higher Education – A Qualitative Inquiry

This qualitative study investigates the key challenges faced by university lecturers in implementing outcome-based assessments (OBA) in higher education institutions in Vietnam, a country currently undergoing significant educational transformation. Utilizing a qualitative research design, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 lecturers from diverse academic fields in a institution. The data were thematically coded and interpreted through the lenses of Constructivism, Institutional Theory, and Diffusion of Innovations Theory. Nine major challenges emerged from the findings, including pedagogical hurdles, lack of training and resources, institutional constraints, and technological limitations. These challenges are contextualized within the existing theoretical frameworks and related literature. The study offers critical insights that are deeply rooted in cultural, institutional, and structural variables. These findings are pertinent for educators, administrators, and policymakers in Vietnam and potentially for those in similar educational settings, and they hold broader implications for professional development, institutional policies, technological infrastructure, and cultural shifts within the educational landscape

Multi-faceted identities of teacher assessors: A qualitative study in the Vietnamese educational context

Within the educational landscape of Vietnam, the professional identity of teachers when acting as assessors remains a comparatively uncharted domain and requires further explorations. Consequently, this qualitative investigation was initiated to delve deeper into the intricate identities Vietnamese teachers adopt in their capacities as assessors. Relying upon frameworks such as Constructivist Grounded Theory and Identity Theory, the study meticulously analyzed self-reported narratives from 15 tertiary lecturers based in Vietnam. Through this rigorous analysis, a spectrum of fifteen distinct identities was uncovered. These identities included “Gatekeepers of Knowledge and Competency”, “Nurturers”, “Diplomatists”, “Auditors”, “Confusian Sages”, “Innovators”, “Social Justice Advocators”, “Cultural Mediators”, “Emotional Anchors”, “Scalfolders”, “Technological Navigators”, “Lifelong Learners”, “Community Builders”, “Ethical Guardians”, and “Democratic Facilitators.” Intriguingly, these identities were not merely seen as additional layers to their professional duties; instead, they emerged as foundational components of teachers’ professional self-image. The forces molding these roles are diverse, encompassing deep-seated cultural values, prevailing educational paradigms, and personal lived experiences of educators. Unraveling these identities offers consequential implications for the broader educational sector. It underscores the imperative to holistically re-envision teacher training programs and assessment design, ensuring they resonate with the multifaceted roles educators play in steering both academic achievements and wider societal outcomes

In-action reflective teaching in Vietnam: A qualitative exploration of practices, influences and implications

Reflective teaching&nbsp;plays a crucial role in the field of education though its intricacies in particular cultural contexts like Vietnam are still little understood. This study aims&nbsp;to investigate reflective teaching practices in more detail within the context of Vietnamese education. &nbsp;This study used a qualitative methodology and semi-structured interviews with twelve Vietnamese teachers, each representing a different stage of their careers to shed light on the many forms of in-action reflective practices and their implementation, benefits, drawbacks&nbsp;and even cultural influences. The results of this in-depth investigation provided an overview of the wide range of in-action reflective practices that are actively used in the classroom. &nbsp;The enhancement of adaptive teaching methodologies and the bolstering of student engagement are prominent&nbsp;among the many advantages that were noted.&nbsp; Teaching in the Vietnamese context also presents unique challenges. Teachers often struggle with the demands of multitasking, the complexities of navigating uncertainties in real-time classroom scenarios&nbsp; &nbsp;and the predominant challenge of managing large class sizes. Moreover, it was surprising to learn how many Vietnamese cultural, social&nbsp; &nbsp;and educational factors influenced teacher understanding and use of in-action reflection. &nbsp;The understanding of reflective teaching practices is enhanced by the research findings&nbsp;which also have broad implications for areas such as instructional strategies, teacher preparation programmes, academic research perspectives and even the development of educational policies. &nbsp;The study strongly emphasizes the pressing need for more context-specific investigations into reflective teaching and underscores the indispensable role of reflection in fostering an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning

Extract and fraction of cashew nut testa ameliorate the hyperglycemic mice induced by Streptozotocin and high-fat diet

Drug strategy is a standard method for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), a non-communicable disease with increasing prevalence, which may cause side effects. Therefore, natural compounds with limited adverse effects have come back into vogue for treating T2D. This study aims to evaluate the effects on rehabilitating hyperglycemic mice of cashew nut testa (husk) extract and fraction known as potential bio-substances for improvement in T2D. First, the hyperglycemic mice were induced with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks and then were injected with streptozotocin (STZ, dozen for injection was 40 mg/kg/week) for 2 weeks. Next, the confirmed hyperglycemic mice were treated with pioglitazone (HG+PG group), total extract (HG+TE group), and saponin-rich fraction (HG+SRF group) for 3 weeks. Then, the evaluation was based on body mass; blood glucose (BG) level; BG tolerance, lipid profile, pancreatic histology and the expression IRS-1 in the pancreas. The results showed that body mass and BG level significantly increased in hyperglycemic mice. After substance treatment, there was no change in body mass in TE and SRF groups. However, BG level of HG+TE group mice significantly decreased compared to hyperglycemic mice and only BG tolerance of HG+SRF group was improved. Besides, HG+TE and HG+SRF groups modulated the triglyceride, HDL and LDL close to those expressed in normal mice. In addition, histological images of the pancreas revealed the restoration in both HG+TE and HG+SRF groups. Simultaneously, the IRS-1 expression in HG+TE group pancreas was restored to its expression in normal mice. These results demonstrate that the TE and SRF of cashew nut testa could ameliorate BG, lipid profile and pancreatic IRS-1 expression and restore the damaged pancreas and islets in hyperglycemic mice