Depression and Anxiety as Key Factors Associated With Quality of Life Among Lung Cancer Patients in Hai Phong, Vietnam

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death. People living with cancer experience a variety of symptoms that might profoundly affect their quality of life (QoL).Objective: The study aims to identify factors associated with the QoL of patients with lung cancer at the oncology department of Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong city, Vietnam in 2018.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from lung cancer inpatients in Hai Phong city, Vietnam. The EQ-5D-5L and the EuroQol (EQ)-visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) were used to assess health-related quality of life (QoL). A multivariable regression analysis was performed on the EQ-5D utility score and the EQ VAS score as dependent variables, and socioeconomic, social support, and psychological factors as potential predictors.Results: A total of 125 lung cancer patients were enrolled in this study. The highest proportion of respondents reporting any problems was in anxiety/depression (92.8%), pain/discomfort (81.2%), usual activities (75.2%), and mobility (60%) dimensions, while the lowest percentage was in self-care dimension (40.8%). The multivariate analyses showed that a low QoL score was significantly associated with depression, incapacity to pay, low response to treatment, and presence of side effects.Conclusion: QoL of lung cancer patients is associated with anxiety/depression and other factors that can be modified by specific interventions. It is therefore possible to take care of psychological aspects to improve the QoL of Vietnamese people suffering from this condition

Fabrication of Electrochemical Electrodes Based on Platinum and ZnO\text{ZnO} Nanofibers for Biosensing Applications

Platinum (Pt) electrodes were designed in imitation of screen-printed electrodes, and prepared by microelectronic techniques. These electrodes were then modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofibers for biosensing applications. ZnO nanofibers with average length $\sim 20-30\; \mu$ m and diameter $\sim 150$ nm in hexagonal crystalline structure are prepared using electrospinning method. Their surface characteristics were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical properties of modified Pt electrodes were investigated in comparison with commercial carbon screen-printed electrodes. The results showed that the cyclic voltammogram of modified Pt electrodes was stable, but has much lower resistance compared to that of carbon screen-printed electrodes

Direct Observation of Exceptional Points in Photonic Crystal by Cross-Polarization Imaging in Momentum Space

This study explores exceptional points (EPs) in photonic crystals (PhCs) and introduces a novel method for their single-shot observation. Exceptional points are spectral singularities found in non-Hermitian systems, such as leaky PhC slabs. However, directly observing EPs in PhC systems using regular reflectivity spectroscopy is a considerable challenge due to interference between guided resonances and background signals. In this work, we present a simple, nondestructive technique that employs crossed polarizations to directly observe EPs in momentum-resolved resonant scattering. This approach effectively suppresses the background signal, enabling exclusive probing of the guided resonances where EPs manifest. Our results demonstrate the formation of EPs in both energy-momentum mapping and isofrequency imaging. All experimental findings align seamlessly with numerical simulations and analytical models. Our approach holds great potential as a robust tool for studying non-Hermitian physics in PhC platform

A label-free electrochemical biosensor based on screen-printed electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles for quick detection of bacterial pathogens

In this study, carbon screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were prepared for label-free detection of Escherichia coli(E. coli) O157. AuNPs were synthesized by an electrochemical method and then modified on the carbon SPEs to improve the stability and effectiveness of the biosensor. Anti-E. coli O157 antibody was immobilized on the modified SPEs via -NHS cross-linking. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were selected to investigate electrochemical properties of modified carbon SPEs in a 5.0 mM K3[Fe(CN)6]/ K4[Fe(CN)6] added with 0.1 M KCl as well as to detect E. coli O157 bacteria. Results showed that the carbon SPEs were successfully modified with AuNPs of 18.0 ± 1.6 nm. The electrochemical signal of modified SPEs was stable after CV cycles, and the charge transfer resistance (Rct) decreased approximately to half of its initial value. Importantly, electrochemical biosensors based on AuNPs-modified carbon SPEs could detect E. coli O157 in the range of 10–106 CFU/mL without labels. The limit of detection was found at 15 CFU/mL with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1, and the time of detection was about 30 min. The success of as-prepared biosensor could open a strategy of portable diagnostics for label-free and quick detection of bacterial pathogens causing food-borne diseases, hospital-acquired infections as well as the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

Removal of Nitramine Explosives in Aqueous Solution by UV-Mediated Advanced Oxidation Process in Near-Neutral Conditions

Explosive compounds are hazardous to the environment, posing a serious risk to human and animal health and the ecosystem. The primary goal of research was to compare the efficiency of UV/H2O2, photo-Fenton, electro (EO)/ UV/H2O2 processes at near-neutral pH (pH=6) on the degradation of nitramine explosives (NAs), such as hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), and tetryl (TET), in an aqueous solution. The effect of operational conditions, likely pH of the solution, initial H2O2 concentration, initial Fe2+ concentration, and solution temperature, was observed. The removal kinetics fit with first-order kinetics and were in the order: photo-Fenton >EO/UV/ H2O2 > UV/ H2O2. The results showed higher rate constant values for TET, RDX and HMX removal by UV/ H2O2 (k = 0.07778, 0.03791 and 0.03786 min-1), EO/UV/ H2O2 (k = 0.16599, 0.1475 and 0.08674 min-1) and photo-Fenton (k = 0.18018, 0.1501 and 0.09336 min-1) processes. Furthermore, TET, RDX and HMX were mineralized at 59.7%, 45.1%, and 25.1 %, respectively, under optimum conditions after 60 min of the photo-Fenton process. From the economic perspective, photo-Fenton only requires 2.132–4.113 kWh m-3 to completely reduce NAs. Finally, acute toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri was defeated after usage of near-neutral photo-Fenton. Thus, photo-Fenton at circum-neutral is promising for low-cost, eco-friendly and efficient processes for treating nitramine explosives in aqueous solutions

Stable Electrochemical Measurements of Platinum Screen-Printed Electrodes Modified with Vertical ZnO Nanorods for Bacterial Detection

The study is aimed at investigating the stability of electrochemical and biosensing properties of ZnO nanorod-based platinum screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) applied for detection of bacterial pathogens. The platinum SPEs were designed and patterned according to standard photolithography and lift-off process on a silicon wafer. ZnO nanorods (NRs) were grown on the platinum working electrode by the hydrothermal method, whereas Salmonella polyclonal antibodies were selected and immobilized onto ZnO NR surface via a crosslinking process. Morphological and structural characteristics of ZnO NRs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the ZnO NRs were grown vertically on platinum electrodes with a diameter around 20-200 nm and a length of 5-7 mu m. These modified electrodes were applied for detection of Salmonella enteritidis at a concentration of 10(3) cfu/mL by electrochemical measurements including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The ZnO NR-modified platinum electrodes could detect Salmonella bacteria well with stable measurements, and the signal to noise ratio was much higher than that of 3:1. This study indicated that ZnO NR-modified platinum SPEs could be potential for the development of biochips for electrochemical detection of bacterial pathogens

Examining the Factors Influencing the Level of Circular Economy Adoption in Agriculture: Insights from Vietnam

The development of a circular economy in agricultural production has become a trend for many countries, especially as global natural resources worldwide are increasingly depleting. Therefore, the economic model transition to address the challenge of balancing economic growth and environmental protection, in general, and the plan for agricultural production development, in particular, is highly necessary. In this study, the authors examine the factors influencing the level of circular economy application in agriculture in Vietnam. The research employs a survey method using questionnaires to collect data from individuals and households engaged in the agriculture sector in Vietnam. Out of the 500 distributed questionnaires, 421 valid responses were collected. The influencing factors will be measured using a Likert scale, and to assess their reliability, the authors used Cronbach’s Alpha and inter-item correlation coefficients. To test the research hypotheses, the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method is utilized. The results reveal that among the factors included in the principal component analysis, financial factors have the strongest influence, followed by technological application, awareness, production scale, and finally, government policies. In summary, this study sheds light on the importance of various factors influencing the adoption of circular economy practices in agriculture. It can provide valuable information to policymakers, enabling them to make informed macro and micro-level decisions aimed at increasing the proportion of businesses applying circular economy principles in agricultural production

Examining the Factors Influencing the Level of Circular Economy Adoption in Agriculture: Insights from Vietnam

The development of a circular economy in agricultural production has become a trend for many countries, especially as global natural resources worldwide are increasingly depleting. Therefore, the economic model transition to address the challenge of balancing economic growth and environmental protection, in general, and the plan for agricultural production development, in particular, is highly necessary. In this study, the authors examine the factors influencing the level of circular economy application in agriculture in Vietnam. The research employs a survey method using questionnaires to collect data from individuals and households engaged in the agriculture sector in Vietnam. Out of the 500 distributed questionnaires, 421 valid responses were collected. The influencing factors will be measured using a Likert scale, and to assess their reliability, the authors used Cronbach’s Alpha and inter-item correlation coefficients. To test the research hypotheses, the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method is utilized. The results reveal that among the factors included in the principal component analysis, financial factors have the strongest influence, followed by technological application, awareness, production scale, and finally, government policies. In summary, this study sheds light on the importance of various factors influencing the adoption of circular economy practices in agriculture. It can provide valuable information to policymakers, enabling them to make informed macro and micro-level decisions aimed at increasing the proportion of businesses applying circular economy principles in agricultural production