The Role of Social Network Sites in English Language Teaching_Harnessing the Potential of Facebook and YouTube as Learning Tools

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the role of Social Network Sites (SNSs) in the context of English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and learning. It examines the definitions and potential applications of SNSs, with a specific focus on Facebook and YouTube. The paper discusses the educational and instructional implementations of these SNSs, as well as the challenges and drawbacks faced by both teachers and students when utilizing them. Furthermore, it explores the pedagogical implications of incorporating the cutting-edge features offered by SNSs, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional and technologically driven learning environment

Quantifying antimicrobial access and usage for paediatric diarrhoeal disease in an urban community setting in Asia.

OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial-resistant infections are a major global health issue. Ease of antimicrobial access in developing countries is proposed to be a key driver of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) epidemic despite a lack of community antimicrobial usage data. METHODS: Using a mixed-methods approach (geospatial mapping, simulated clients, healthcare utilization, longitudinal cohort) we assessed antimicrobial access in the community and quantified antimicrobial usage for childhood diarrhoea in an urban Vietnamese setting. RESULTS: The study area had a pharmacy density of 15.7 pharmacies/km2 (a pharmacy for every 1316 people). Using a simulated client method at pharmacies within the area, we found that 8% (3/37) and 22% (8/37) of outlets sold antimicrobials for paediatric watery and mucoid diarrhoea, respectively. However, despite ease of pharmacy access, the majority of caregivers would choose to take their child to a healthcare facility, with 81% (319/396) and 88% (347/396) of responders selecting a specialized hospital as one of their top three preferences when seeking treatment for watery and mucoid diarrhoea, respectively. We calculated that at least 19% (2688/14427) of diarrhoea episodes in those aged 1 to <5 years would receive an antimicrobial annually; however, antimicrobial usage was almost 10 times greater in hospitals than in the community. CONCLUSIONS: Our data question the impact of community antimicrobial usage on AMR and highlight the need for better education and guidelines for all professionals with the authority to prescribe antimicrobials

No Clinical Benefit of Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy for Pediatric Diarrhea in a High-Usage, High-Resistance Setting.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric diarrheal disease presents a major public health burden in low- to middle-income countries. The clinical benefits of empirical antimicrobial treatment for diarrhea are unclear in settings that lack reliable diagnostics and have high antimicrobial resistance (AMR). METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicenter cross-sectional study of pediatric patients hospitalized with diarrhea containing blood and/or mucus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Clinical parameters, including disease outcome and treatment, were measured. Shigella, nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS), and Campylobacter were isolated from fecal samples, and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined. Statistical analyses, comprising log-rank tests and accelerated failure time models, were performed to assess the effect of antimicrobials on disease outcome. RESULTS: Among 3166 recruited participants (median age 10 months; interquartile range, 6.5-16.7 months), one-third (1096 of 3166) had bloody diarrhea, and 25% (793 of 3166) were culture positive for Shigella, NTS, or Campylobacter. More than 85% of patients (2697 of 3166) were treated with antimicrobials; fluoroquinolones were the most commonly administered antimicrobials. AMR was highly prevalent among the isolated bacteria, including resistance against fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. Antimicrobial treatment and multidrug resistance status of the infecting pathogens were found to have no significant effect on outcome. Antimicrobial treatment was significantly associated with an increase in the duration of hospitalization with particular groups of diarrheal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In a setting with high antimicrobial usage and high AMR, our results imply a lack of clinical benefit for treating diarrhea with antimicrobials; adequately powered randomized controlled trials are required to assess the role of antimicrobials for diarrhea

The transfer and decay of maternal antibody against Shigella sonnei in a longitudinal cohort of Vietnamese infants.

BACKGROUND: Shigella sonnei is an emergent and major diarrheal pathogen for which there is currently no vaccine. We aimed to quantify duration of maternal antibody against S. sonnei and investigate transplacental IgG transfer in a birth cohort in southern Vietnam. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over 500-paired maternal/infant plasma samples were evaluated for presence of anti-S. sonnei-O IgG and IgM. Longitudinal plasma samples allowed for the estimation of the median half-life of maternal anti-S. sonnei-O IgG, which was 43 days (95% confidence interval: 41-45 days). Additionally, half of infants lacked a detectable titer by 19 weeks of age. Lower cord titers were associated with greater increases in S. sonnei IgG over the first year of life, and the incidence of S. sonnei seroconversion was estimated to be 4/100 infant years. Maternal IgG titer, the ratio of antibody transfer, the season of birth and gestational age were significantly associated with cord titer. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal anti-S. sonnei-O IgG is efficiently transferred across the placenta and anti-S. sonnei-O maternal IgG declines rapidly after birth and is undetectable after 5 months in the majority of children. Preterm neonates and children born to mothers with low IgG titers have lower cord titers and therefore may be at greater risk of seroconversion in infancy

Excess body weight and age associated with the carriage of fluoroquinolone and third-generation cephalosporin resistance genes in commensal Escherichia coli from a cohort of urban Vietnamese children.

PURPOSE: Antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are a well-established global health issue. We aimed to assess the prevalence of and epidemiological factors associated with the carriage of ciprofloxacin- and ceftriaxone-resistant Escherichia coli and associated resistance genes in a cohort of 498 healthy children residing in urban Vietnam. METHODOLOGY: We cultured rectal swabs onto MacConkey agar supplemented with resistant concentrations of ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. Additionally, we screened meta-E. coli populations by conventional PCR to detect plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR)- and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-encoding genes. We measured the associations between phenotypic/genotypic resistance and demographic characteristics using logistic regression.Results/Key findings. Ciprofloxacin- and ceftriaxone-resistant E. coli were cultured from the faecal samples of 67.7 % (337/498) and 80.3 % (400/498) of children, respectively. The prevalence of any associated resistance marker in the individual samples was 86.7 % (432/498) for PMQR genes and 90.6 % (451/498) for β-lactamase genes. Overweight children were significantly more likely to carry qnr genes than children with lower weight-for-height z-scores [odds ratios (OR): 1.24; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 10.5-1.48 for each unit increase in weight for height; P=0.01]. Additionally, younger children were significantly more likely to carry ESBL CTX-M genes than older children (OR: 0.97, 95 % CI: 0.94-0.99 for each additional year, P=0.01). CONCLUSION: The carriage of genotypic and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance is highly prevalent among E. coli in healthy children in the community in Vietnam. Future investigations on the carriage of antimicrobial resistant organisms in LMICs should focus on the progression of carriage from birth and structure of the microbiome in obesity

Effects of water scarcity awareness and climate change belief on recycled water usage willingness: Evidence from New Mexico, United States

The global water crisis is being exacerbated by climate change, even in the United States. Recycled water is a feasible alternative to alleviate the water shortage, but it is constrained by humans’ perceptions. The current study examines how residents’ water scarcity awareness and climate change belief influence their willingness to use recycled water directly and indirectly. Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) analytics was employed on a dataset of 1831 residents in Albuquerque, New Mexico, an arid inland region in the US. We discovered that residents’ willingness to use direct recycled potable water is positively affected by their awareness of water scarcity, but the effect is conditional on their belief in the impacts of climate change on the water cycle. Meanwhile, the willingness to use indirect recycled potable water is influenced by water scarcity awareness, and the belief in climate change further enhances this effect. These findings implicate that fighting climate change denialism and informing the public of the water scarcity situation in the region can contribute to the effectiveness and sustainability of long-term water conservation and climate change alleviation efforts

The Role of Maternally Acquired Antibody in Providing Protective Immunity Against Nontyphoidal Salmonella in Urban Vietnamese Infants: A Birth Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) organisms are a major cause of gastroenteritis and bacteremia, but little is known about maternally acquired immunity and natural exposure in infant populations residing in areas where NTS disease is highly endemic. METHODS: We recruited 503 pregnant mothers and their infants (following delivery) from urban areas in Vietnam and followed infants until they were 1 year old. Exposure to the dominant NTS serovars, Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis, were assessed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O antigen-specific antibodies. Antibody dynamics, the role of maternally acquired antibodies, and NTS seroincidence rates were modeled using multivariate linear risk factor models and generalized additive mixed-effect models. RESULTS: Transplacental transfer of NTS LPS-specific maternal antibodies to infants was highly efficient. Waning of transplacentally acquired NTS LPS-specific antibodies at 4 months of age left infants susceptible to Salmonella organisms, after which they began to seroconvert. High seroincidences of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis LPS were observed, and infants born with higher anti-LPS titers had greater plasma bactericidal activity and longer protection from seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS: Although Vietnamese infants have extensive exposure to NTS, maternally acquired antibodies appear to play a protective role against NTS infections during early infancy. These findings suggest that prenatal immunization may be an appropriate strategy to protect vulnerable infants from NTS disease

Diarrhoeal disease in children under five years of age in an urban community in Viet Nam

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in infectious disease is a major global health issue. AMR is a particular problem in low to middle-income countries (LMICs), where infectious diseases, such as diarrhoea, remain common and are commonly treated haphazardly with antimicrobials. The aim of my thesis was to provide a comprehensive study of diarrhoeal disease in children under the age of five years in the community in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Viet Nam. Additionally, I aimed to fill in a knowledge gap regarding antimicrobial usage for diarrhoea, the extent of AMR organisms in healthy children within the population, and investigate a potential solution for limiting AMR in the community. Active surveillance for diarrhoea in a prospective longitudinal cohort of 748 children followed for 24 months found a high incidence of diarrhoeal disease in the urban community (71.87/100 child-years of observation [95%CI: 65.68 -78.44]). Faecal samples were screened using conventional microbiology and multiplex molecular methods and found that the aetiology of this disease is highly variable. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses were detected at a high prevalence, but the most common were Salmonella and norovirus, respectively. Antimicrobials were commonly used for diarrhoeal treatment in hospital. Additionally, a mixed-methods approach in the community found an ease of access to antimicrobials for diarrhoeal management in the community through local pharmacies. However, despite antimicrobials being widely available in the community, antimicrobial usage was almost 10 times greater in the hospitals. Widespread antimicrobial access may induce the selection of antimicrobial resistant organisms (AROs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). An assessment of the prevalence of and risk factors for carrying AROs and ARGs demonstrated a high prevalence of carriage antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and associated resistance genes to fluoroquinolones and third generation cephalosporins. Both these groups are commonly used to treat diarrhoea in this setting. Children of higher body weight and height z-score were more likely to carry fluoroquinolones resistance genes and younger children were more likely to carry either third generation cephalosporin resistance genes individually or in combination with fluoroquinolones resistance genes. Lastly, hypothesising that improved breastfeeding practices may reduce diarrhoeal disease and impact antimicrobial usage and consequently AMR, I investigated risk factors for suboptimal breastfeeding using data from a birth cohort conducted in both an urban and a semi-rural area. The study indicated that having a Caesarean section and neonatal complications prevented mothers from breastfeeding their infants during the hospital stay. Work from this thesis will contribute to the efforts of tackling AMR in a LMIC, specifically in Viet Nam where there is extensive exposure to antimicrobials and sustained exposure to enteric pathogens. </p

Diarrhoeal disease in children under five years of age in an urban community in Viet Nam

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in infectious disease is a major global health issue. AMR is a particular problem in low to middle-income countries (LMICs), where infectious diseases, such as diarrhoea, remain common and are commonly treated haphazardly with antimicrobials. The aim of my thesis was to provide a comprehensive study of diarrhoeal disease in children under the age of five years in the community in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Viet Nam. Additionally, I aimed to fill in a knowledge gap regarding antimicrobial usage for diarrhoea, the extent of AMR organisms in healthy children within the population, and investigate a potential solution for limiting AMR in the community. Active surveillance for diarrhoea in a prospective longitudinal cohort of 748 children followed for 24 months found a high incidence of diarrhoeal disease in the urban community (71.87/100 child-years of observation [95%CI: 65.68 -78.44]). Faecal samples were screened using conventional microbiology and multiplex molecular methods and found that the aetiology of this disease is highly variable. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses were detected at a high prevalence, but the most common were Salmonella and norovirus, respectively. Antimicrobials were commonly used for diarrhoeal treatment in hospital. Additionally, a mixed-methods approach in the community found an ease of access to antimicrobials for diarrhoeal management in the community through local pharmacies. However, despite antimicrobials being widely available in the community, antimicrobial usage was almost 10 times greater in the hospitals. Widespread antimicrobial access may induce the selection of antimicrobial resistant organisms (AROs) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). An assessment of the prevalence of and risk factors for carrying AROs and ARGs demonstrated a high prevalence of carriage antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and associated resistance genes to fluoroquinolones and third generation cephalosporins. Both these groups are commonly used to treat diarrhoea in this setting. Children of higher body weight and height z-score were more likely to carry fluoroquinolones resistance genes and younger children were more likely to carry either third generation cephalosporin resistance genes individually or in combination with fluoroquinolones resistance genes. Lastly, hypothesising that improved breastfeeding practices may reduce diarrhoeal disease and impact antimicrobial usage and consequently AMR, I investigated risk factors for suboptimal breastfeeding using data from a birth cohort conducted in both an urban and a semi-rural area. The study indicated that having a Caesarean section and neonatal complications prevented mothers from breastfeeding their infants during the hospital stay. Work from this thesis will contribute to the efforts of tackling AMR in a LMIC, specifically in Viet Nam where there is extensive exposure to antimicrobials and sustained exposure to enteric pathogens. </p

Aggregating image and text quantized correlated components

Conference of 2016 IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 2016 ; Conference Date: 26 June 2016 Through 1 July 2016; Conference Code:123331International audienceCross-modal tasks occur naturally for multimedia content that can be described along two or more modalities like visual content and text. Such tasks require to "translate" information from one modality to another. Methods like kernelized canonical correlation analysis (KCCA) attempt to solve such tasks by finding aligned subspaces in the description spaces of different modalities. Since they favor correlations against modality-specific information, these methods have shown some success in both cross-modal and bi-modal tasks. However, we show that a direct use of the subspace alignment obtained by KCCA only leads to coarse translation abilities. To address this problem, we first put forward a new representation method that aggregates information provided by the projections of both modalities on their aligned subspaces. We further suggest a method relying on neighborhoods in these subspaces to complete uni-modal information. Our proposal exhibits state-of-the-art results for bi-modal classification on Pascal VOC07 and improves it by over 60% for cross-modal retrieval on FlickR 8K/30K