EFL Agreeing and Disagreeing Discourses in Facebook

Agreeing and disagreeing are two common speech acts that occur in social conversations. Driven by the fact that there are direct and indirect way for expressing agreement and disagreement, and there are also mitigating strategies to protect interlocutors from face-threatening in disagreeing discourses, this study examined EFL students’ use of discourse strategies in their Facebook interaction. Thirty-four pre-intermediate EFL students at a university in Vietnam took part in this study. Data analysis shows that direct discourses is linguistically limited while indirect ones exhibit wider language use. Students also demonstrate two different directions of using mitigating strategies for their disagreeing discourses. Some pedagogical implications are also suggested in this study. Keywords: agreeing, disagreeing, direct, indirect, strategies DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/86-03 Publication date: February 28th 202

Silicon quantum-dots-based optical probe for fluorometric detection of Cr6+ ions

In this report, silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) with the NH2 functional group were synthesized with the hydrothermal method. The as-prepared SiQDs exhibit a strong fluorescence emission peak               at 441 nm when excited at 355 nm and are effectively quenched upon adding Cr6+ ions. Hence, SiQDs were used as an optical probe to detect Cr6+ ions in solutions. The crystal structure of SiQDs was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to determine the linker groups on the SiQDs surface. The fluorescence spectroscopic technique with an excitation wavelength of 355 nm was used to quantify the Cr6+ ion concentration in the solutions in the range of 0.1–1000 µM. Competition from common coexisting ions, such as K+, Na+, Al3+, Zn2+, and Pb2+, was ignorable. The test with actual samples showed good linearity for the Cr6+ concentration range of 0.1–50 µM

Assessment of genetic diversity among the main fourteen cocoa varieties in Vietnam using plant c/d sequences

This work focused on clarifying the genetic diversity of fourteen cocoa clones in Vietnam. Primers plant c and plant d were used to analyze the genetic relationship. All detected band were encoded into binary matrix and the dendrogram was generated using the program NTSYS-PC 2.1 The similarity matrix was subjected to cluster analysis by unweighted pair group method for arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The genetic clustering of 14 Cocoa varieties showed genetic differences ranged from 0 to 41%. At around 59% similarity, fourteen TD clones could be divided into three groups: A, B, and C. Group A had ten clones (TD1, TD2, TD3, TD5, TD6, TD7, TD8, TD9, TD11, TD12), in group B there were 2 clones (TD10 and TD13), and two clones belonged to group C (TD14 và TD15). Group B with 80% homologous had a relationship closer than groups A and C. Two clones in group A correlated approximately 76.4% similarity and group C showed 73% similarity rate. This result contributed important signification for Vietnamese Cocoa breeding and selection cultivar activities

Transmission of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Virus in Gia Luong District, Ha Bac Province, Vietnam, After Je Vaccination, 1993-1994

A total of 15,183 children under 10 years old (37% of target population) was immunized with JE vaccine in Gia Luong District, Ha Bac Province, Vietnam, in 1993 to 1994. JE virus transmission was investigated by swine antibody survey and virus isolation from field mosquitoes. By the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, 73-90% of swine were antibody positive all year round, with high geometric mean titer (GMT) of 92.67-95.14 in May and June. By suckling mouse brain inoculation, 6 JE virus strains were isolated from Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. vishuni, as well as laboratory reared F1 from field-caught Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. Serodiganosis by IgM-capture ELISA (MAC-ELISA) carried out on 60 of 85 clinical encephalitis cases detected 43 positives (71.66%). All these serologically confirmed JE cases had not been vaccinated. The results supported the vaccine efficacy to prevent overt JE

Synthesis of Multifunctional Eu(III) Complex Doped Fe₃O₄/Au Nanocomposite for Dual Photo-Magnetic Hyperthermia and Fluorescence Bioimaging

In this paper, the luminescent complex Eu(3-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)3 was integrated with Fe3O4 and gold (Au) nanoparticles to form a multifunctional nanocomposite, Fe3O4/Au/Eu(TTA)3 (FOASET NC), for dual magnetic-photothermal therapy and biomedical imaging. Upon functionalization with amine-NH2, the FOASET NC exhibits a small size of 60–70 nm and strong, sharp emission at λmax = 614 nm, enhanced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au nanoparticles that provided an effective label for HT29 colorectal cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy imaging. In addition, a hyperthermia temperature (42–46 °C) was completely achieved by using these FOASET NCs in an aqueous solution with three heating modes for (i) Magnetic therapy (MT), (ii) Photothermal therapy (PT), and (iii) Dual magnetic-photothermal therapy (MPT). The heating efficiency was improved in the dual magnetic-photothermal heating mode

Development of a Pteris vittata L. compound database by widely targeted metabolomics profiling

International audienceThe objective of this work was the development of a detailed, extensive and reliable database of the metabolomes of P. vittata. Using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry system (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) and based on the knowledge of retention time and mass spectral characteristics of an in-house collection of authentic standards, we screened for the presence of a large collection of natural compounds. The database represents 359 authenticated metabolites, comprising 220 primary and 139 secondary metabolites (70 flavonoids, 16 phenylpropanoic acid derivatives, five coumarins, two stilbenoids, 14 benzoic acids, nine phenols, 20 alkaloids and three terpenoids). Comparison of the accumulation of these compounds in two tissues showed that the aerial parts were enriched in flavonols, whereas the subterranean parts were enriched in anthocyanins. The comprehensive database developed here will be beneficial in improving the understanding of the chemical basis of plant therapeutic profile using multivariate analysis, with a particular example of antioxidant activity

Table1_Novel mutations in the SGCA gene in unrelated Vietnamese patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophies disease.DOCX

Background: Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a group of inherited neuromuscular disorders characterized by atrophy and weakness in the shoulders and hips. Over 30 subtypes have been described in five dominant (LGMD type 1 or LGMDD) and 27 recessive (LGMD type 2 or LGMDR). Each subtype involves a mutation in a single gene and has high heterogeneity in age of onset, expression, progression, and prognosis. In addition, the lack of understanding of the disease and the vague, nonspecific symptoms of LGMD subtypes make diagnosis difficult. Even as next-generation sequencing (NGS) genetic testing has become commonplace, some patients remain undiagnosed for many years.Methods: To identify LGMD-associated mutations, Targeted sequencing was performed in the patients and Sanger sequencing was performed in patients and family members. The in silico analysis tools such as Fathmm, M-CAP, Mutation Taster, PolyPhen 2, PROVEAN, REVEL, SIFT, MaxEntScan, Spliceailookup, Human Splicing Finder, NetGene2, and Fruitfly were used to predict the influence of the novel mutations. The pathogenicity of the mutation was interpreted according to the ACMG guidelines.Results: In this study, six patients from four different Vietnamese families were collected for genetic analysis at The Center for Gene and Protein Research and The Department of Molecular Pathology Faculty of Medical Technology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. Based on clinical symptoms and serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, the patients were diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. Five mutations, including four (c.229C>T, p.Arg77Cys; exon one to three deletion; c.983 + 5G>C; and c.257_258insTGGCT, p.Phe88Leufs*125) in the SGCA gene and one (c.946-4_946-1delACAG) in the CAPN3 gene, were detected in six LGMD patients from four unrelated Vietnamese families. Two homozygous mutations (c.983 + 5G>C and c.257_258insTGGCT) in the SGCA gene were novel. These mutations were identified as the cause of the disease in the patients.Conclusion: Our results contribute to the general understanding of the etiology of the disease and provide the basis for definitive diagnosis and support genetic counseling and prenatal screening.</p

Table3_Novel mutations in the SGCA gene in unrelated Vietnamese patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophies disease.DOCX

Background: Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a group of inherited neuromuscular disorders characterized by atrophy and weakness in the shoulders and hips. Over 30 subtypes have been described in five dominant (LGMD type 1 or LGMDD) and 27 recessive (LGMD type 2 or LGMDR). Each subtype involves a mutation in a single gene and has high heterogeneity in age of onset, expression, progression, and prognosis. In addition, the lack of understanding of the disease and the vague, nonspecific symptoms of LGMD subtypes make diagnosis difficult. Even as next-generation sequencing (NGS) genetic testing has become commonplace, some patients remain undiagnosed for many years.Methods: To identify LGMD-associated mutations, Targeted sequencing was performed in the patients and Sanger sequencing was performed in patients and family members. The in silico analysis tools such as Fathmm, M-CAP, Mutation Taster, PolyPhen 2, PROVEAN, REVEL, SIFT, MaxEntScan, Spliceailookup, Human Splicing Finder, NetGene2, and Fruitfly were used to predict the influence of the novel mutations. The pathogenicity of the mutation was interpreted according to the ACMG guidelines.Results: In this study, six patients from four different Vietnamese families were collected for genetic analysis at The Center for Gene and Protein Research and The Department of Molecular Pathology Faculty of Medical Technology, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. Based on clinical symptoms and serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, the patients were diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. Five mutations, including four (c.229C>T, p.Arg77Cys; exon one to three deletion; c.983 + 5G>C; and c.257_258insTGGCT, p.Phe88Leufs*125) in the SGCA gene and one (c.946-4_946-1delACAG) in the CAPN3 gene, were detected in six LGMD patients from four unrelated Vietnamese families. Two homozygous mutations (c.983 + 5G>C and c.257_258insTGGCT) in the SGCA gene were novel. These mutations were identified as the cause of the disease in the patients.Conclusion: Our results contribute to the general understanding of the etiology of the disease and provide the basis for definitive diagnosis and support genetic counseling and prenatal screening.</p