Role of GmNAC019 transcription factor in salinity and drought tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Increasingly severe drought and salinity stress due to global climate change have made these stresses bigger threats to ecosystem and agriculture. Previous studies reported that GmNAC019, a soybean NAC transcription factor - encoding gene, displayed induced expression upon drought treatment in wild-type cultivars. In this study, drought and salinity stresses were applied on GmNAC019-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants to verify the contribution of GmNAC019 in regulating plant response to the stress conditions. Results from the water loss rate and survival rate assays revealed that the transgenic line conferred improved tolerance to drought stress as evidenced by lower leaf water loss and significantly higher rate of survival than seen in the wild-type plants. Similarly, the survival rate assay for testing salinity effects on plants by growing the plants on MS medium supplemented with different NaCl concentrations also indicated that the transgenic plants had a better tolerance to salt stress as they displayed lower rate of root growth inhibition and higher survival rate. Taken these results altogether, it is suggested that GmNAC019 might play important role in aiding plant response to drought and salinity stresses. Specific functions of this gene should be elaborated in future studies to evaluate its potential application for crop improvement

Knowledge and attitudes about research ethics among social researchers in Vietnam: A cross-sectional study

Social research has attracted significant attention in Vietnam during recent years with more questions and discussions about how to promote the research outputs and publications in this area. However, there is limited information about the knowledge and attitudes of social researchers for research ethics in Vietnam. This paper aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes of social researchers about research ethics in Vietnam. A survey with 1200 questionnaires, through convenience sampling, was sent either printed copies or email to social researchers in the universities and research institutions in Vietnam. Our response rate was 65% (782), with mean age: 35.9 years (sd=.307). The results show that around one fifth had been trained with research ethics (23.5%), which led to significant responses to the "do not know" about the research ethics principles and research ethics committee with 14.3% and 55.3%, respectively. Despite such few experiences on the research ethics, the participants presented a positive understanding of the general principles of research ethics and positive attitudes to the importance of the related general ethics principles to social research in Vietnam. Such understandings and attitudes also led to the readiness to apply the research ethics values and principles while there are no formal ethical guidelines in Vietnam social research. These findings suggest that Vietnamese social researchers understood most critical ethics principles in social research and expect formal ethical guidelines

Introducing vocational qualifications in care to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

While social work is now a recognised profession in 84 countries, it is an area which is still in its infancy in the developing world. In Vietnam, the process of developing the understanding and practice of social work is unfolding. One recent initiative has been the introduction of vocational qualifications in Care to the Vietnamese system of social services, an initiative with which the authors of this paper were centrally involved. This paper describes the authors' experience of introducing a vocational qualification into two of the country's key sites for care provision , namely Social Protection Centres and Communes (village communities). A new range of social need has been growing in Vietnam, alongside its rapid economic development. Care services such as Social protection Centres and Communes have found themselves under increasing pressure to respond to these needs. Like many developing countries, social services are delivered by a largely unqualified workforce. The paper describes the approach taken to determine the content and most appropriate system for delivering a new qualification for this group of staff in Vietnam. The paper justifies the selection of a vocational qualification system and provides a reflective commentary on this initiative in the light of current developments in Social Work in the United Kingdom

THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL CULTURE ON BILATERAL TRADE IN VIETNAM

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or to what extent national culture influences bilateral trade flows between Vietnam and its trading partners. Using a panel dataset of 52 countries from 2001 till 2011 and six cultural dimensions of Hofstede, the regression analysis performed by gravity model shows that national culture and bilateral trade flows between Vietnam and trading partners are significantly correlated. This study's implications may help macro-policy makers devise better export promotion policies and boost the volume of bilateral trade between Vietnam and other countries around the world

GENETIC POLYMORPHISM OF 23 Y-CHROMOSOME SHORT TANDEM REPEAT LOCI IN THE KINH POPULATION OF VIETNAM

Y-chromosome microsatellites or short tandem repeats (STRs) have been proved to be ideal markers to delineate the differences between individuals in human population. Nowadays, Y-STR testing using the PowerPlex® Y23 amplification kit is considered as an extremely sensitive analysis method and has the potential to be used to perform forensic caseworks, and to explore the complexity in population substructures. However, little is known about the forensic Y-chromosome databases in the Vietnam population. In this study, 23 Y-STR loci (DYS576, DYS389I, DYS389 II, DYS448, DYS19, DYS391, DYS481, DYS549, DYS533, DYS438, DYS437, DYS570, DYS635, DYS390, DYS439, DYS392, DYS393, DYS458 DYS456, DYS643, YGATAH4, and DYS385a/b) were investigated in 120 non-related males of the Kinh population in Northern Vietnam using PowerPlex® Y23 system kit (Promega). Our results showed that allele frequencies of 23 loci in the sample population, with the calculated average gene diversity (GD) for each locus, ranged from 0.24 (DYS438) to 0.92 (DYS385a/b). In addition, a total of 120 different haplotypes were found, all of them were unique. Therefore, we found that the haplotype diversity was 1 with a discrimination capacity of 100%, which serves as an essential prerequisite for using Y-chromosomal STR with PowerPlex® Y23 System kit in forensic application in Vietnam. We also compared genetic distances between Kinh population and 10 other neighboring populations from Y-chromosome haplotype reference database (YHRD). The Kinh population is significantly different from other populations. In conclusion, it was indicated that the 23 Y-STR loci were highly genetically polymorphic in the Kinh population in Vietnam and might be of great value in forensic application

Understanding Acceptability and Willingness-to-pay for a C-reactive Protein Point-of-care Testing Service to Improve Antibiotic Dispensing for Respiratory Infections in Vietnamese Pharmacies: A Mixed-methods Study

Background: Pharmacies are popular first points of contact for mild infections in the community. Pharmacy services in many countries have expanded to include vaccines and point-of-care tests. In low- and middle-income countries such as Vietnam, poor enforcement of regulations results in substantial volumes of over-the-counter antibiotic sales. Point-of-care tests could provide an economically viable way to reduce antibiotic sales, while still satisfying customer demand for convenient healthcare. C-reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP-POCT) can reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory illness in primary care. Here, we explore the acceptability and feasibility of implementing CRP-POCT in pharmacies in Vietnam. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study between April and June 2021. A customer exit survey with 520 participants seeking acute respiratory infection treatment at 25 pharmacies evaluated acceptability and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for CRP-POCT and post-service satisfaction. Factors driving customers” acceptance and WTP were explored through mixed-effects multivariable regression. Three focus group discussions with customers (20 participants) and 12 in-depth interviews with pharmacists and other stakeholders were conducted and analyzed thematically. Results: Antibiotics were sold to 81.4% of patients with CRP levels <10 mg/L (antibiotics not recommended). A total of 96.5% of customers who experienced CRP-POCT supported its future introduction at pharmacies. Patients with antibiotic transactions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–4.48) and those suffering acute respiratory infection symptoms for more than 3 days (aOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08–4.08) were more likely to accept CRP-POCT, whereas customers visiting for children (aOR, 0.20; 95% CI, .10–.54) and those with preference for antibiotic treatment (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23–0.89) were less likely to accept CRP-POCT. A total of 78.3% (95% CI, 74.8–81.7) of customers were willing to pay for CRP-POCT, with a mean cost of US$2.4 (±1.1). Customer's income and cost of total drug treatment were associated with increased WTP. Enablers for implementing CRP-POCT included customers’ and pharmacists’ perceived benefits of CRP-POCT, and the impact of COVID-19 on perceptions of POCT. Perceived challenges for implementation included the additional burden of service provision, lack of an enabling policy environment, and potential risks for customers. Conclusions: Implementing CRP-POCT at pharmacies is a feasible and well-accepted strategy to tackle the overuse of antibiotics in the community, with appeal for both supply and demand sides. Creating an enabling policy environment for its implementation, and transparent discussion of values and risks would be key for its successful implementation

Effectiveness of a Case-based Educational Intervention Focusing on Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Prevention among Nursing Students

Objective: There is a relative lack of research regarding case-based educational interventions to improve blood and body fluid exposure prevention practice among nursing students. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of case-based educational intervention on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding blood and body fluid exposure prevention among nursing students, at some universities in Vietnam.  Material and Methods: This study employed a randomized control trial design. Simple random sampling was used to recruit the target population, to obtain 87 nursing students. Students’ knowledge, attitude and self-reported behavior scale on exposure prevention were used to collect data at three time-points. The 4-week case-based educational intervention was provided to the intervention group (42 students); whereas, the control group received only regular training.  Results: The findings revealed that there were significant, positive differences in students’ knowledge, and attitude toward blood and body fluid exposure prevention in the intervention groups than in the control group after receiving the intervention, which remained over time.  Conclusion: Higher educational institutions should provide case-based educational intervention to nursing students, so as to enhance their blood and body fluid exposure prevention practices

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

Influence of Spray Rate on Structural and Optical Properties of Sprayed ZnO Films

In this report, the ZnO nanostructure films have been deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique (USP) on fluorine doped tinoxide~(FTO) substrate using zinc acetate and aqueous 2-propanol as reactants. The effects of solution spray rate on structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO nanostructure films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and UV-Vis measurements. ZnO films were crystallized in the hexagonal wurtzite phase and preferential orientation changed with changing of spray rate. Grain size and roughness of films depended on spray rate. Increasing spray rate made the films grown with bigger grain size and higher roughness. Band gap energy was determined from the UV-Vis. Its value was found to be of 3.25 eV and was almost independent on the spray rate

Drivers of antibiotic use in Vietnam: implications for designing community interventions.

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge that threatens our ability to prevent and treat common infectious diseases. Vietnam is affected by high rates of antimicrobial resistant infections, driven by the overuse of antibiotics and the Vietnamese government has recognised antimicrobial resistance as a health security priority. This study aimed to understand how people in Vietnam use antibiotics in community settings, and the factors that impact their practices and decision-making regarding antibiotics. METHODS: We conducted 43 qualitative in-depth interviews with 50 community members in two urban and two rural sites in Vietnam. We conducted iterative, inductive thematic analysis alongside data collection through a process of systematic debriefings based on detailed interview summaries. Through this process, we developed a coding framework that was then applied to transcribed interview data. RESULTS: Frequent and indiscriminate use of antibiotics was driven by the powerful appeal that antibiotics held for many Vietnamese consumers. Consumers were discerning in making decisions in their purchase and use of antibiotics. Consumers' decisions were affected by perceptions of what constitutes high-quality medicine (effective, strong, accessible and affordable); privileging symptom control over diagnosis; social constructions of antibiotics as a trusted remedy with embodied evidence of prior efficacy, which is reinforced by advice from trusted sources in their community; and varied, generally incomplete, understanding of the concept of antibiotic resistance and its implications for individuals and for public health. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic use at the community and primary care level in Vietnam is driven by community members' social and economic response to what constitutes effective healthcare, rather than biomedical logic. Community-based interventions to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use need to engage with the entangled socio-structural factors that 'resist' current public health efforts to ration antibiotic use, alongside biomedical drivers. This study has informed the design of a community-based trial to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use