Awareness and preparedness of healthcare workers against the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey across 57 countries.

BACKGROUND: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been concerns related to the preparedness of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to describe the level of awareness and preparedness of hospital HCWs at the time of the first wave. METHODS: This multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital HCWs from February to May 2020. We used a hierarchical logistic regression multivariate analysis to adjust the influence of variables based on awareness and preparedness. We then used association rule mining to identify relationships between HCW confidence in handling suspected COVID-19 patients and prior COVID-19 case-management training. RESULTS: We surveyed 24,653 HCWs from 371 hospitals across 57 countries and received 17,302 responses from 70.2% HCWs overall. The median COVID-19 preparedness score was 11.0 (interquartile range [IQR] = 6.0-14.0) and the median awareness score was 29.6 (IQR = 26.6-32.6). HCWs at COVID-19 designated facilities with previous outbreak experience, or HCWs who were trained for dealing with the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, had significantly higher levels of preparedness and awareness (p<0.001). Association rule mining suggests that nurses and doctors who had a 'great-extent-of-confidence' in handling suspected COVID-19 patients had participated in COVID-19 training courses. Male participants (mean difference = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.22, 0.46; p<0.001) and nurses (mean difference = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.53, 0.81; p<0.001) had higher preparedness scores compared to women participants and doctors. INTERPRETATION: There was an unsurprising high level of awareness and preparedness among HCWs who participated in COVID-19 training courses. However, disparity existed along the lines of gender and type of HCW. It is unknown whether the difference in COVID-19 preparedness that we detected early in the pandemic may have translated into disproportionate SARS-CoV-2 burden of disease by gender or HCW type

Applying Bim and Related Technologies for Maintenance and Quality Management of Construction Assets in Vietnam

Maintenance and quality management is an important task that aims to maintain the quality and performance of a construction asset under its design and requirements, to ensure the safety and the needs of its owner(s) and user(s). However, in reality, the uniqueness and complexity of construction assets along with the diversity of stakeholders involved are significant challenges that make the maintenance has not achieved the desired effect and goals, thus affect the construction assets quality. The paper studies application of Building Information Modelling (BIM), and related technologies such as Barcode, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Sensor, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR) in many countries around the world; accompany with investigating into the readiness of these technologies in Vietnam. The study results show that all these technologies are available on the market in Vietnam. However, the technology readiness of the maintenance unit is narrow and needs to be improved. The study findings of the benefits and challenges of advanced technology adoption and the ability to implement them in Vietnam provide reliable ascertainment for researchers and construction asset managers in promoting the application of digital technologies to improve the quality and effectiveness of maintenance and quality management of construction assets in Vietna

Synthesis of ZnS:Mn–Fe3O4 bifunctional nanoparticles by inverse microemulsion method

ZnS:Mn–Fe3O4 bifunctional nanoparticles were synthesized by inverse microemulsion method for biomedicine applications. The bifunctional nanoparticles were combined from prepared ZnS:Mn and Fe3O4 nanoparticles in a SiO2 cover matrix. Results show that bifunctional nanoparticles, apart from exhibiting magnetism, have photoluminescence properties, which support the applications targeting biomedicine fluorescent diagnostics as well as magnetic cell sorting or drug delivery

A prospective scenario for the Red River Delta at 2050 horizon

Based on the use of the Seneque/Riverstrahler model, a prospective scenario of water quality has been developed based on expected demographic, land use and agricultural production changes in the Red River delta in northern Vietnam in order to evaluate the resulting changes in water pollution and nutrient loading delivered to the coastal zone at the horizon 2050. The Vietnamese population is predicted to reach 112 million in 2050 with 57% that live in urban area. The amount of wastewater expressed in kg of suspended matter, N and P per inhabitant per day is estimated to decrease by about 10% in 2050 compared with current values. On the other hand, the wastewater discharge should increase twice, i.e. to 200 l/inhabitant/day. Besides, if the productivity of agriculture in the Red River Delta is to be nearly doubled in the future, this would likely result in a N surplus of about 150 kgN/ha/yr on the agricultural soils. Assuming the same leached fraction as currently observed, this would imply a mean leaching rate of 15 kgN/ha/yr, i.e. 3 times the present level. By applying the above scenario to the Red River delta, our simulation shows that nutrient elements such as ammonium, phosphorus and silica seem to remain at the same concentration value. However, the concentration of these last elements will be largely on the dependence of the water volume due to the flood. Indeed, the delta floodplain improves largely the biogeochemical processes involved in the nutrient recycling. Our modelling results highlight that the Red River Delta system is already at its maximum of the nutrient recycling capacity. So an increase of discharge from urban wastewaters and from agricultural intensification will lead immediately and definitely to an increase of the polluted waters in the hydrological system of the Nhue and Day Rivers, in spite of efforts in urban wastewater treatments

Hydrological regime and water budget of the Red River Delta (Northern Vietnam)

International audienceThe Red River Delta (RRD) in Northern Vietnam represents a complex hydrological network of tributaries and distributaries that receive a large and seasonally fluctuating flow of water from the upper Red River basin and is also subjected to tidal influence. In this study, we attempted to assemble a database of discharge estimates within the RRD for 1996–2006 to elucidate the water circulation patterns in the system, enable quantification of major water fluxes and assess the water resources availability. Regular discharge measurements in the RRD are available for three upstream stations, while the other hydrological stations provide only water level records; however, the MIKE 11 model allowed overall calibration curves to be established, which enabled the conversion of available daily mean water level data into discharge values. Four gauging surveys were conducted under flood and dry season in 2007 and 2008 to experimentally validate these calibration curves. After the database was generated, a water balance was established for two years with contrasting climatic and hydrological characteristics. During the wet year (1996), the main branch of the Red River represented the largest input of freshwater to the sea (approximately 60%). Conversely, during the dry year (2006), the inputs were more evenly distributed among the three main fluvial branches. The total volume annually delivered to the sea from the RRD was approximately 140 and 100 km3 for 1996 and 2006, respectively. When the five sub-basins within the RRD were evaluated, it was shown that the water resources were far from evenly distributed within the area. In particular, the Bui sub-basin, which has the highest population density and the lowest water resources per unit area, is experiencing a critical situation in terms of pressure on water resources

High Gene Transfer by the Osmotic Polysorbitol-Mediated Transporter through the Selective Caveolae Endocytic Pathway

Cationic polymers have been the subject of intense research as nonviral gene delivery systems due to several advantages in comparison with viral vectors. However, the nonsimultaneous combination of high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity of nonviral vectors for gene delivery has long been an issue for scientists looking into ways to deliver genes into cells. Toward this goal, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated a safe and accelerated gene transfer system through polysorbitol-mediated transporter (PSMT) based on sorbitol diacrylate (SDA) and low molecular weight polyethylenimine (LMW PEI). The PSMT formed stable complexes with plasmid DNA in serum. The nano sizes and spherical shapes of PSMT/DNA complexes are not toxic, even at a high concentration of PSMT. The higher transfection efficiency of PSMT compared to PEI 25K was observed both in vitro, despite the existence of many hydroxyl groups, and in vivo. These improvements presumably stem from the osmotic property of polysorbitol and endosomal buffer capacity of PEI in PSMT. Most importantly, we confirmed that the selective cavaeolae endocytic pathway played a role in high transfection efficiency by osmotic PSMT-mediated gene delivery. We propose that PSMT is a promising nonviral carrier for the effective gene delivery to cancer cells via synergistic effects derived from rapid cellular uptake through the caveolae endocytic pathway and a high endosomal buffering capacity

Co2+ substituted for Bi3+ in BiVO4 and its enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible LED light irradiation

We investigated the fabrication of Co-doped BiVO4 (Bi1-xCoxVO4+δ, 0.05 < x < 0.5) by the substitution of Co ions for Bi sites in BiVO4. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that the substitution of Co2+ ions for Bi3+ sites in BiVO4 was successful, although a change in the crystal phase of BiVO4 did not occur. UV-vis DRS and PL results suggested that the Co-incorporation could slightly improve the visible light absorption of BiVO4 and induce the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs; therefore, a significant enhancement of photocatalytic performance was achieved. The Bi0.8Co0.2VO4+δ sample showed superior photocatalytic activity in comparison with other samples, achieving 96.78% methylene blue (MB) removal within 180 min. In addition, the proposed mechanism of improved photocatalytic activities and the stability of the catalyst were also investigated.This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 104.05-2017.315