AN INVESTIGATION INTO EFL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARD BENEFITS OF MOODLE QUIZ-SUPPORTED LISTENING PRACTICE

Researchers have pointed out that Moodle usage, a type of software supporting blended learning enhances learning beyond the classroom. It is proven that blended learning takes place when Moodle is employed. The aim of this study was to investigate what perceptions the EFL university students had toward the Moodle Quiz-supported listening practice. This was a descriptive research. The instrument of this study was a questionnaire developed by generating a list of factors derived from the literature to find out what perceptions EFL students at Tay Do University had toward the Moodle Quiz-supported listening practice. The questionnaire was based on close-ended five-point Likert scale statements. The findings showed that the participants held a positive perception toward the Moodle Quiz-supported listening practice as it enhanced learning outcomes, enhanced their interest/enjoyment in listening to English, promoted their independent learning, fostered a flexible learning environment, and provided authentic materials.  Article visualizations

Image Compression Using Burrows-Wheeler Transform

Tämän työn tarkoituksena on tutkia kuvan pakkausta Burrows-Wheelerin muunnosta käyttämällä. Kuvan tiivistämisessä tarkoituksena on tiivistää kuva muotoon, joka tallennetaessa saatetaan mahdollisimman pieneen tilaan, sekä nopeuttaa kuvan siirtämistä tietoliikenteen välityksellä. Burrwos-Wheeler muunnos perustuu annettuun datan uudelleenjärjestämiseen, niin että muunnoksen jälkeen data on helpompi pakata. Ennen kuin voidaan käyttää Burrows-Wheelerin muunnosta, kuva pitäisi ensin esikäsitellä diskreettillä kosinimuunnoksellä, diskreettillä aallokemuunnosellä tai ennustuskoodauksellä. Tämän jälkeen 2D-kuvan pikseliit skannataan käyttämällä esilaisia skannausmenetelmiä, ja voidaan hyödyntää Burrows-Wheelerin menetelmällä. Burrows-Wheelerin yhteydessä käytetään hyväksi esim. move-to-front ja run-length-koodaus menetelmiä ennen varsinaista entropiakoodausta, jotta kuva voitaisiin tiivistää mahdollisimman pieneen tilaan. Työssä tutkitaan sekä häviöllistä että häviötöntä kuvan pakkausta.The purpose of this thesis was to study image compression using the Burrows-Wheeler transform. The aim of image compression is to compress the image into a format which saves the storage space and provides an efficient format for transmission via telecommunication channels. The Burrows-Wheeler transform is based on block sorting, which rearranges data into an easier format for compressing. Before utilizing the Burrows-Wheeler transform, the image need to be pre-process by using a discrete cosine transform, a discrete wavelet transform or predictive coding. Then the image is converted from a 2-dimensional to a 1-dimensional pixel sequence with different scanning methods. The forward Burrows-Wheeler transform is applied on block of the image data. While compressing the image into the smallest storage space, the move-to-front and run-length encoding can be used to improve the compression ratio before entropy encoding. This thesis studies both lossless and lossy image compression

AN INVESTIGATION INTO DIFFICULTIES IN ENGLISH LISTENING OF FRESHMEN MAJORING IN ENGLISH AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM

English is a very popular language in the world. However, learning a foreign language is not an easy process for learners, especially the English listening process. In fact, most learners believe that it is hard for them to master this skill. Therefore, the research “An Investigation into Difficulties in English Listening of Freshmen Majoring in English at a University in the Mekong Delta” was conducted with the purpose of helping these students to recognize clearly their own problems in English listening. Statistical data were collected from eighty-five English-majored freshmen. The main instrument of the study was a questionnaire. The findings of the research would point out the students’ difficulties in linguistics, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, intonation and accent; background knowledge; and difficulties from their own minds. One more notable purpose of this research is that thanks to the results, students can now solve their own problems, so that they can study better. Article visualizations

PROBLEMS IN VIETNAMESE-ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF RELATIVE CLAUSES FOR ENGLISH-MAJORED JUNIORS AT TAY DO UNIVERSITY, VIETNAM

Realistically, Vietnamese-English translation is not easy for Vietnamese students to master, and relative clauses are not typical in Vietnamese. Therefore, learners cannot avoid mistakes in their translation practice. Concerned researchers carried out a study to identify common Vietnamese-English translation errors in terms of English relative clauses. The participants were 60 juniors from the Bachelor of English course at Tay Do University. Test papers and interviews were employed as the instruments. The collected data from the two instruments mentioned above were all analyzed carefully afterward. The results of the study showed that the students suffered from a variety of grammar and vocabulary problems hindering them from translating Vietnamese into English correctly. Article visualizations

ĐẶC TRƯNG KHAI THÁC NGUỒN LỢI ĐỘNG VẬT ĐÁY CÓ GIÁ TRỊ KINH TẾ CHỦ YẾU Ở THỦY VỰC NHA PHU, KHÁNH HÒA

The exploitation characteristics of zoobenthos resources with economic value at the Nha Phu waters were determined by five field trips carried out from 2011 - 2016. The results shows that Nha Phu waters have had great exploitation pressure, with high density of boats (11.9 motorboats/100 ha, 7.7 boats/100 ha and 16.2 people/100 ha), average days of fishery exploitation being high (185 days/fishery/year) and concentrating mainly in the dry season (70% of total average days of fishery/year), specially the destructive artisanal fisheries, (56% of total time of fishery). The average yeild of fishery was dominant in the dry season (73% of total commercial yield and 93% of total number of benthic animal seeds), in which the destructive artisanal fisheries possess 73% of the entire yield of benthic animal. Yields of zoobenthos have decreased seriously, specially for crustaceans (17%). It may be due to greater pressure of fishery exploitation, especially the destructive artisanal fisheries. The results of this study will contribute the scientific basis and data to planning for effective exploitation and management of fisheries resources.Đặc trưng khai thác nguồn lợi động vật đáy có giá trị kinh tế chủ yếu ở thủy vực Nha Phu, Việt Nam được xác định thông qua 5 chuyến điều tra khảo sát từ năm 2011 - 2016. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy, thủy vực Nha Phu có áp lực khai thác lớn, với mật độ phương tiện (11,9 ghe/100 ha, 7,7 sỏng/100 ha và 16,2 người/100 ha), số nghề (13 nghề) và thời gian khai thác trung bình nghề khá cao (185 ngày/nghề/năm) và tập trung chủ yếu vào mùa khô (chiếm gần 70% tổng thời gian hoạt động trung bình nghề/năm), đặc biệt nghề khai thác hủy diệt tận thu như xiết điện, lưới lồng, cào máy, giã cào (chiếm trên 56% tổng thời gian năm). Sản lượng của các nghề khai thác chiếm ưu thế vào mùa khô (chiếm trên 73% tổng sản lượng khai thác thương phẩm (423,9 tấn/năm) và trên 93% tổng con giống (161.000 con giống/năm) động vật đáy cả năm), trong đó các nghề hủy diệt, tận thu chiếm chiếm trên 73% tổng sản lượng động vật đáy. Thành phần và sản lượng nguồn lợi động vật đáy có chiều hướng suy giảm nghiêm trọng, đặc biệt nguồn lợi giáp xác (giảm 17%). Nguyên nhân có thể do thời gian hoạt động trung bình/năm và doanh thu của các loại nghề khá cao, đặc biệt nghề khai thác mang tính hủy diệt, tận thu. Kết quả nghiên cứu này cung cấp cơ sở khoa học và dữ liệu cho quy hoạch khai thác và quản lý nguồn lợi thủy sản hợp lý

Residual Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Dyslipidemia

Cardiovascular disease poses a major challenge for the 21st century. Although good control of blood pressure and type 2 diabetes and reducing low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels can improve cardiovascular outcomes, a substantial residual risk remains existed after treatment in most patient populations. Recently, many efforts have been directed at finding the important role of low high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, especially triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and lipoprotein (a) in the metabolism of atherosclerotic plaque formation Therefore, based on the recent evidence, identification and treatment of these risk factors may play a role in optimizing therapeutic strategy, particularly in high risk subjects along with conventional treatment. In clinical practice, adequate attention should be paid when screening and managing residual cardiovascular risk factors in dyslipidemia in term of individualized approach. The ongoing trials will give more answers to elucidate this important area

ĐÁNH GIÁ HIỆU QUẢ TẠI CÁC MÔ HÌNH DOANH NGHIỆP THAM GIA QUẢN LÝ RẠN SAN HÔ VÌ MỤC ĐÍCH DU LỊCH SINH THÁI Ở VỊNH NHA TRANG

The models of coral reef management for the development of ecological tourism were conducted under the coordination among the 3 businesses (Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company, Vinpearl Nha Trang and Tri Nguyen Tourism), Institute of Oceanography and Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources Environment. The analysis of trends of coral cover, density of reef fishes and big size invertebrates at 3 sites allowed assessing effectiveness of 3 years’ management. The stability of hard coral cover, except the decline at southern Hon Tam due to impacts of the typhoon in Nov., 2017 indicated no increased damage to corals from human activities. However, the dominance of small size fish ( 10 cm in length), the decline of density of larger size fish and the poorness of large size invertebrate showed continuous overexploitation at these managed areas.Mô hình quản lý rạn san hô vì mục đích du lịch sinh thái được thực hiện với sự tham gia của Viện Hải dương học, Sở Tài nguyên và Môi trường Khánh Hòa và 3 doanh nghiệp bao gồm Công ty TNHH Nhà nước MTV Yến Sào, Công ty TNHH Vinpearl Nha Trang và Công ty Du lịch Trí Nguyên. Hiệu quả sau 3 năm quản lý được đánh giá thông quan phân tích xu thế biến động về độ phủ san hô, mật độ cá rạn và sinh vật đáy kích thước lớn. Sự ổn định độ phủ san hô ở khu vực Sau Sao - Vinpearl và Bãi Sạn - Hòn Miếu chứng tỏ san hô không bị suy thoái. Trong khi đó, độ phủ san hô ở Nam Hòn Tằm tăng rõ rệt trong giai đoạn 2015–2017 nhưng giảm đột ngột vào năm 2018 do bão số 12 diễn ra vào tháng 11/2017. Tổng mật độ cá rạn biến động không rõ rệt với ưu thế là nhóm cá có kích thước nhỏ hơn 10 cm, trong khi nhóm cá có kích thước lớn suy giảm đáng kể về mật độ. Mật độ động vật đáy kích thước lớn rất thấp và chủ yếu thuộc về các nhóm không có giá trị kinh tế. Phân tích này chứng tỏ rằng hoạt động quản lý đã ngăn chặn được tác động của con người gây suy thoái san hô nhưng chưa có hiệu quả với hoạt động khai thác nguồn lợi quá mức

Dengue Dynamics in Binh Thuan Province, Southern Vietnam: Periodicity, Synchronicity and Climate Variability

Dengue has become a major international public health problem due to increasing geographic distribution and a transition from epidemic transmission with long inter-epidemic intervals to endemic transmission with seasonal fluctuation. Seasonal and multi-annual cycles in dengue incidence vary over time and space. We performed wavelet analyses on time series of monthly notified dengue cases in Binh Thuan province, southern Vietnam, from January 1994 to June 2009. We observed a continuous annual mode of oscillation with a non-stationary 2–3-year multi-annual cycle. We used phase differences to describe the spatio-temporal patterns which suggest that the seasonal wave of infection was either synchronous with all districts or moving away from Phan Thiet district, while the multi-annual wave of infection was moving towards Phan Thiet district. We also found a strong non-stationary association between ENSO indices and climate variables with dengue incidence. We provided insight in dengue population transmission dynamics over the past 14.5 years. Further studies on an extensive time series dataset are needed to test the hypothesis that epidemics emanate from larger cities in southern Vietnam

The Role of Host Traits, Season and Group Size on Parasite Burdens in a Cooperative Mammal

The distribution of parasites among hosts is often characterised by a high degree of heterogeneity with a small number of hosts harbouring the majority of parasites. Such patterns of aggregation have been linked to variation in host exposure and susceptibility as well as parasite traits and environmental factors. Host exposure and susceptibility may differ with sexes, reproductive effort and group size. Furthermore, environmental factors may affect both the host and parasite directly and contribute to temporal heterogeneities in parasite loads. We investigated the contributions of host and parasite traits as well as season on parasite loads in highveld mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae). This cooperative breeder exhibits a reproductive division of labour and animals live in colonies of varying sizes that procreate seasonally. Mole-rats were parasitised by lice, mites, cestodes and nematodes with mites (Androlaelaps sp.) and cestodes (Mathevotaenia sp.) being the dominant ecto- and endoparasites, respectively. Sex and reproductive status contributed little to the observed parasite prevalence and abundances possibly as a result of the shared burrow system. Clear seasonal patterns of parasite prevalence and abundance emerged with peaks in summer for mites and in winter for cestodes. Group size correlated negatively with mite abundance while it had no effect on cestode burdens and group membership affected infestation with both parasites. We propose that the mode of transmission as well as social factors constrain parasite propagation generating parasite patterns deviating from those commonly predicted

Observation of associated near-side and away-side long-range correlations in √sNN=5.02 TeV proton-lead collisions with the ATLAS detector

Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and pseudorapidity (Δη) are measured in √sNN=5.02  TeV p+Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using approximately 1  μb-1 of data as a function of transverse momentum (pT) and the transverse energy (ΣETPb) summed over 3.1<η<4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. The correlation function, constructed from charged particles, exhibits a long-range (2<|Δη|<5) “near-side” (Δϕ∼0) correlation that grows rapidly with increasing ΣETPb. A long-range “away-side” (Δϕ∼π) correlation, obtained by subtracting the expected contributions from recoiling dijets and other sources estimated using events with small ΣETPb, is found to match the near-side correlation in magnitude, shape (in Δη and Δϕ) and ΣETPb dependence. The resultant Δϕ correlation is approximately symmetric about π/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos⁡2Δϕ modulation for all ΣETPb ranges and particle pT