The Photocatalytic Activity of the Bi2O3-B2O3-ZnO-TiO2 Glass Coating

Due to the low melting temperature, the glazes based on the Bi2O3-B2O3-ZnO system are used as coatings on the surface of industrial glass substrates. Moreover, the composition of these coatings does not contain PbO, meeting the optical and environmental properties requirements. In this study, TiO2 was used in the Bi2O3-B2O3-ZnO glaze system to improve its photocatalytic ability. This can be considered a four – component glass system Bi2O3-B2O3-ZnO-TiO2. The heating microscopy results show that the melting temperature of the glaze system is 606 °C. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results show that the TiO2 polyhedra are located independently in the structure without participating in forming a glass network. Thanks to that, the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 are maintained. The X-ray diffraction patterns results show that the formed TiO2 nanocrystals are rutile and anatase crystals. The results of determining the band gap energy using UV-Vis show that the band gap energy of the base glaze system increases with the addition of TiO2. The methylene blue decomposition results also showed that the ability to decompose organic increased when TiO2 was added to the glaze coating. The characteristics such as melting temperature, microstructure, and photocatalytic capacity of Bi2O3-B2O3-ZnO-TiO2 white glazes (5 and 10 % weight of TiO2) also were indicated in this paper

Expectations Regarding Gastein Healing Gallery Treatment and Their Connection to Health-Related Quality of Life

The present study examines connections between patient expectations and health-related quality of life. We explore a key distinction between expectations about general health and expectations for functional improvement. Patients were 1444 individuals with multiple conditions experiencing chronic pain who were seeking treatment at the Gastein Healing Gallery in Böckstein, near Bad Gastein, Austria. In addition to measures of expectations, patients completed measures of pain, mental and physical health, life satisfaction, fatigue, and sleep problems. Structural equation models were used to fit a latent variable model where both expectation variables were used to predict health-related quality of life. Results showed that expectations regarding potential functional improvement resulting from treatments at the Gastein Healing Gallery were associated with improved health-related quality of life. Expectations about general health improvements related to treatment were not associated with health-related quality of life. To facilitate optimal healing, clinicians may decide to emphasize expectations about functional recovery when discussing treatment methods similar to those offered at the Gastein Healing Gallery, and in so doing, health-related quality of life may benefit

Assessment of the results of clinical pharmacists’ interventions on the use of antibiotics at a medical center in Vietnam between 2021 and 2022

Context: The rational use of antibiotics is a priority when antibiotic resistance has become severe. Clinical pharmacists’ interventions can help increase the rate of rational antibiotic use. Aims: To determine the effect of clinical pharmacists’ interventions on the use of antibiotics and factors related to inappropriate antibiotic use in inpatients at the Department of Surgery, Gia Rai Town Medical Center, Vietnam. Methods: An interventional and cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, at the Department of Surgery, Gia Rai Town Medical Center, Vietnam. Results: There were 710 patients (355 patients in pre-intervention and 355 patients in post-intervention) included in this study. The group of antibiotics used the most was beta-lactam (pre- and post-intervention rates were 60.2% and 61.0%, respectively). The parenteral route was the most commonly used (63.9% in pre-intervention and 60.7% in post-intervention). The rationality of the indication increased after the intervention (from 85.7% to 96.2%); the rationality of the dose increased after the intervention (from 90.5% to 95.2%); the rationality of the number of times of use increased after the intervention (from 90.4% to 98.4%); the rationality of the time increased after the intervention (from 94.8% to 95.1%); the general rationality increased after the intervention (from 66.5% to 85.6%). Infections were associated with inappropriate antibiotic use (p<0.05). Conclusions: Effective clinical pharmacists’ interventions helped raise the rate of rational use of antibiotics. Besides, inappropriate antibiotic use was found to be associated with infections, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions in this field

REGULAR ACTIVITIES OF ADULT PTYAS MUCOSA (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN A FARMING CONDITIONS OF NGHE AN PROVINCE, VIET NAM

In the feeding condition in Cua Lo Town, Nghe An province, Viet Nam, adult Ptyas mucosa (P. mucosa) operates seasonally and day and night with the rule: The active season is from March to December and hibernating in January and February every year. For the rule of day and night operation: In March and April, they are mainly active from 6-18h; from May to July, they are operates at the 2 time periods: 7-11h (at most 8-10h), and 15-20h; In August, they are also operates 2 time periods, but from 5-11h, and 14 - 20h; From September to December, it operates at one period (6 or 7-19h), not active at night. The activity of adult P. mucosa is closely dependent on the temperature and humidity of the environment (20-40oC, 40-100%), the most favorable is 27- 31oC, 76-92%. They officially hibernate in January and February when the ambient temperature is below 17oC for many days

Age distribution of dengue cases in southern Vietnam from 2000 to 2015.

BackgroundDengue is the most common vector-borne viral infection. In recent times, an increase in the age of cases with clinical dengue has been reported in the national surveillance system and published literature of Vietnam. This change not only alter the risk of transmission and disease burden in different populations but also will impact for prevention and control strategies. A retrospective study was conducted from 2000 to 2015 in 19 provinces of southern Vietnam to describe the changes in age distribution of dengue cases and circulating serotypes.Methodology/principal findingsThe study is a time trend analysis of the data aggregated from the database of dengue surveillance system. The database consisted of clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue in southern Vietnam from 2000 to 2015. In the study period, the mean age of dengue cases increased from 12.2 ± 8.8 years old (y/o) to 16.8 ± 13.3 y/o between 2000 and 2015. Majority of severe cases were observed in the age group of 5-9 y/o and 10-14 y/o. Overall, the mortality and case fatality rates (CFR) were lowest during 2010 to 2015, and all four serotypes of dengue were observed.Conclusions/significanceWith the exception of severe form, the age distribution of clinical cases of dengue appears to be shifting towards older age groups. An increase in the mean age of clinical cases of dengue has been observed in southern Vietnam over the past decade, and the highest incidence was observed in age group of 5-14 y/o. All serotypes of dengue were in circulation