STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ACTIVE LEARNING IN INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

There is a growing interest in active learning as a shift from traditional lecturing to improving student-centred learning in English. However, in the Vietnamese context of teaching and learning at tertiary levels, little research has examined students’ perceptions of active learning in approaching Introduction to Literature. This study is therefore aimed to look into this area of interest. Participants in this study were 94 students from junior and seniors majoring in high-quality programs at a university in the Mekong Delta. Data were collected from questionnaires. The findings show that students had positive perceptions of active learning in studying this course. Implications for teaching and learning this course are made.  Article visualizations

Self-injurious Behavior of Children with Autism in Vietnam: Across Sectional Study

This study explored self-injurious behaviour (SIB) of autistic children in Vietnam through a crosssectional design. 60 informants, including 57 parents and 3 caregivers completed the questionnaire on problem behaviour consisting of aggression, self-injury, stereotyping, property destruction, other problem behaviours and their functions. Results revealed that children experienced all mentioned problem behaviours, especially self-injurious behaviour. The topographies of self-injurious behaviour of the children included head-hitting, head-scratching, head-banging, hair-pulling, face-hitting, facepuncturing with a pen, ear-scratching, lip-picking, hand-biting, hand-scratching, hand-pinching, and belly-scratching. The most common area of self-injurious behaviour is the head. The functions of these problem behaviours were expressed in four types (social positive reinforcement, social negative reinforcement, automatic positive reinforcement and automatic negative reinforcement). Social positive reinforcement appeared as a prominent function. Out of these 57 children, 21 of them who were autistic with self-injurious behaviour went through a functional behaviour assessment (FBA) in which the four conditions known as attention, tangible items, escape from task/activities, automatic stimulation were tested. The results of functional behaviour assessment (FBA) further indicated the correspondence between the FAST-R and FBA outcome on function of problem behaviour, especially self-injurious behaviour. The research concluded that the prominent function of these self-injurious behaviours was social function. It means self-injurious behaviours usually occur within a condition of social interaction, especially, in this present study, in the tangible condition. The antecedent of selfinjurious behaviour is the removal of tangibles (e.g. food, preferred items). This paper contributes to our knowledge of self-injurious behaviour of children with autism in Vietnam where empirical research of this field was still very rare

Synthesis and photocatalytic property of Prussian blue/g-C3N4 composite applied to degradation of rhodamine B under visible light

In this work, the Prussian blue/g-C3N4 (PB/g-C3N4) composite was synthesized from Prussian blue and g-C3N4 via a simple method. The composite was characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The material’s photocatalytic performance was studied via the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). The results show that the composite degraded RhB more than pristine Prussian blue under visible light after 60 min. This material is promising for organic waste treatment

STUDY ON NITRIFICATION PROCESS BY AERATED SUBMERGED BIOFILTER (ASBF)

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Rifampicin tolerance and growth fitness among isoniazid-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates: an in-vitro longitudinal study.

Antibiotic tolerance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis leads to less effective bacterial killing, poor treatment responses and resistant emergence. There is limited understanding of antibiotic tolerance in clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis . Therefore, we investigated the rifampicin tolerance of M. tuberculosis isolates, with or without pre-existing isoniazid-resistance. In-vitro rifampicin survival fractions determined by minimum duration of killing assay in isoniazid susceptible (n=119) and resistant (n=84) M. tuberculosis isolates. Rifampicin tolerance was correlated with bacterial growth, rifampicin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and isoniazid-resistant mutations. The longitudinal isoniazid-resistant isolates were analyzed for rifampicin tolerance based on collection time from patients and associated emergence of genetic variants. The median duration of rifampicin exposure reducing the M. tuberculosis surviving fraction by 90% (minimum duration of killing-MDK90) increased from 1.23 (95%CI 1.11; 1.37) and 1.31 (95%CI 1.14; 1.48) to 2.55 (95%CI 2.04; 2.97) and 1.98 (95%CI 1.69; 2.56) days, for IS and IR respectively, during 15 to 60 days of incubation respectively. Increase in MDK90 time indicated the presence of fast and slow growing tolerant sub-populations. A range of 6 log 10 -fold survival fraction enabled classification of tolerance as low, medium or high and revealed isoniazid-resistance association with increased tolerance with faster growth (OR=2.68 for low vs. medium, OR=4.42 for low vs. high, P -trend=0.0003). The high tolerance in longitudinal isoniazid-resistant isolates was specific to those collected during rifampicin treatment in patients and associated with bacterial genetic microvariants. Our study identifies a range of rifampicin tolerance and reveals that isoniazid resistance is associated with higher tolerance with growth fitness. Furthermore, rifampicin treatment may select isoniazid-resistant isolate microvariants with higher rifampicin tolerance, with survival potential similar to multi-drug resistant isolates. These findings suggest that isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis needs to be evaluated for rifampicin tolerance or needs further improvement in treatment regimen

Particulate Matter 2.5 and Respiratory Symptoms in Urban and Suburban Schoolchildren in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Objective: To document the pattern of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) concentration in urban and suburban schools in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and to estimate the prevalence of wheezing and rhinitis among schoolchildren according to sociodemographic characteristics and school-related conditions. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two suburban and two urban schools in HCMC. PM2.5 concentrations were monitored hourly from August to December in 2022. Children aged 9-13 years (N=1,033) provided data on wheezing and rhinitis symptoms in the previous year. The daily levels of PM2.5 were monitored in each school. Respiratory symptoms were compared between areas and across school-related conditions. Results: Geometric means of the daily PM2.5 concentration in the suburban and urban areas were 61.2 μg/m3 and 31.0 μg/m3, respectively (p-value<0.001). In both areas, PM2.5 levels increased in the evening to high levels at night and early morning. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms did not differ significantly between the suburban and urban areas: wheezing 20.6% and 16.9%, and rhinitis 55.7% and 61.5%, respectively. However, school-related conditions in which the prevalence was increased were travelling to school by bus, spending more than 15 minutes/day on the road and attending extra classes outside normal school hours. Conclusion: Despite the significantly higher PM2.5 levels in suburban schools, the prevalence of wheezing and rhinitis did not reveal significant differences between areas. However, respiratory symptoms were more common among those travelling by bus, having been infected with Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), spending longer time on the road and attending classes outside normal school hours

Acceptance and user experiences of a wearable device for the management of hospitalized patients in COVID-19–designated wards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: action learning project

Background: Wearable devices have been used extensively both inside and outside of the hospital setting. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in some contexts, there was an increased need to remotely monitor pulse and saturated oxygen for patients due to the lack of staff and bedside monitors. Objective: A prototype of a remote monitoring system using wearable pulse oximeter devices was implemented at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August to December 2021. The aim of this work was to support the ongoing implementation of the remote monitoring system. Methods: We used an action learning approach with rapid pragmatic methods, including informal discussions and observations as well as a feedback survey form designed based on the technology acceptance model to assess the use and acceptability of the system. Based on these results, we facilitated a meeting using user-centered design principles to explore user needs and ideas about its development in more detail. Results: In total, 21 users filled in the feedback form. The mean technology acceptance model scores ranged from 3.5 (for perceived ease of use) to 4.4 (for attitude) with behavioral intention (3.8) and perceived usefulness (4.2) scoring in between. Those working as nurses scored higher on perceived usefulness, attitude, and behavioral intention than did physicians. Based on informal discussions, we realized there was a mismatch between how we (ie, the research team) and the ward teams perceived the use and wider purpose of the technology. Conclusions: Designing and implementing the devices to be more nurse-centric from their introduction could have helped to increase their efficiency and use during the complex pandemic period

Rifampicin tolerance and growth fitness among isoniazid-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from a longitudinal study

Antibiotic tolerance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis reduces bacterial killing, worsens treatment outcomes, and contributes to resistance. We studied rifampicin tolerance in isolates with or without isoniazid resistance (IR). Using a minimum duration of killing assay, we measured rifampicin survival in isoniazid-susceptible (IS, n=119) and resistant (IR, n=84) isolates, correlating tolerance with bacterial growth, rifampicin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and isoniazid-resistant mutations. Longitudinal IR isolates were analyzed for changes in rifampicin tolerance and genetic variant emergence. The median time for rifampicin to reduce the bacterial population by 90% (MDK90) increased from 1.23 days (IS) and 1.31 days (IR) to 2.55 days (IS) and 1.98 days (IR) over 15–60 days of incubation, indicating fast and slow-growing tolerant sub-populations. A 6 log10-fold survival fraction classified tolerance as low, medium, or high, showing that IR is linked to increased tolerance and faster growth (OR = 2.68 for low vs. medium, OR = 4.42 for low vs. high, p-trend = 0.0003). High tolerance in IR isolates was associated with rifampicin treatment in patients and genetic microvariants. These findings suggest that IR tuberculosis should be assessed for high rifampicin tolerance to optimize treatment and prevent the development of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis

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

EVALUATION OF PROMISSING SPONGE GOURD (LUFFA CYLINDRICAL) ACCESSIONS IN SUMMER-AUTUMN SEASON 2014 IN THUA THIEN HUE

ABSTRACTTen promising Sponge gourd accessions included A2, A6, A7, A13, A16, A17, B29, B30, ĐC and QN were evaluated for growth, morphological traits, fruit quality and yield. The experiment was carried out in Hue University of Agricultural and Forestry from June to October in 2014. The results showed that all promising accessions grew well. Different morphological traits were observed among promising lines. Accessions A7, A13 and A17 obtained higher yield than the others. Only fruits of accession B29 had aroma and sticky. These varieties can be used in sponge gourd breeding program to breed good varieties.Key words: Sponge gourd, Luffa cylindrical, Thua Thien Hue