STUDENTS' PERCEPTION OF THE INFLUENCE OF INTONATION IN ENGLISH ON CONVEYING THE MEANING OF SPEECH IN COMMUNICATION

In communication, intonation plays an important role in conveying the meaning of a speech. In this article, we study students' perception of the influence of intonation in conveying the meaning of speech in communication to propose solutions to help students overcome intonation errors when communicating, as well as, help teachers have appropriate intonation teaching methods. Our data and analysis are based on research documents, surveys, and in-depth interviews with students. According to the study results, most students are well aware of the importance of intonation and of the factors affecting intonation, and they are also aware of the causes of intonation errors. However, students do not apply their knowledge of intonation to speech, they stop at the cognitive level. The study indicates that students often make intonation mistakes in Tag-question, Wh-question, and Imperative sentence in communication.  Article visualizations

Optimization of culture conditions of Streptomyces antibioticus strain 1083 to improve the antimicrobial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila

Fish is a healthy, high protein and low fat food that encourages the health and growth of people, especially children. However, in fact fish is very sensitive to many diseases which affects the productivity and quality of fish. Therefore, identifying the cause of the diseases and finding preventive measures become an urgent task today. In the previous study, we isolated Streptomyces antibioticus strain 1083 that has the ability to antagonize Aeromonas hydrophila - a pathogenic bacterium in fish. Based on the obtained results, we continue to perform this study to determine optimal conditions for the culture of S. antibioticus strain 1083 in order to produce antimicrobial compounds against A. hydrophila. The production of antagonists by the strain 1083 was optimized by controlling the condition of different inoculations such as media, pH, temperature and incubation period. The results indicated that International Streptomyces Project 2 (ISP2) was the best medium for S. antibioticus strain 1083 to produce the highest antimicrobial activity against A. hydrophila with 32 mm in diameter of inhibited zone. The actinomycete strain 1083 could express the maximum antimicrobial activity when they were incubated in shaker incubator (200rpm) at 40oC with pH8 in 8 days. The ability of the actinomycete strain in antagonism against A. hydrophila was evaluated by adding different culture medium volume of S. antibioticus strain 1083. With adding 10% cultured solution volume of S. antibioticus strain 1083 into the culture medium of A. hydrophila, after 1 day of inoculation the number of pathogenic bacteria cells were completely eliminated

Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase Genotype and HIV Infection Influence Intracerebral Inflammation and Survival From Tuberculous Meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most devastating form of tuberculosis, yet very little is known about the pathophysiology. We hypothesized that the genotype of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (encoded by LTA4H), which determines inflammatory eicosanoid expression, influences intracerebral inflammation, and predicts survival from TBM. METHODS: We characterized the pretreatment clinical and intracerebral inflammatory phenotype and 9-month survival of 764 adults with TBM. All were genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphism rs17525495, and inflammatory phenotype was defined by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte and cytokine concentrations. RESULTS: LTA4H genotype predicted survival of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected patients, with TT-genotype patients significantly more likely to survive TBM than CC-genotype patients, according to Cox regression analysis (univariate P = .040 and multivariable P = .037). HIV-uninfected, TT-genotype patients had high CSF proinflammatory cytokine concentrations, with intermediate and lower concentrations in those with CT and CC genotypes. Increased CSF cytokine concentrations correlated with more-severe disease, but patients with low CSF leukocytes and cytokine concentrations were more likely to die from TBM. HIV infection independently predicted death due to TBM (hazard ratio, 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 2.79-5.56) and was associated with globally increased CSF cytokine concentrations, independent of LTA4H genotype. CONCLUSIONS: LTA4H genotype and HIV infection influence pretreatment inflammatory phenotype and survival from TBM. LTA4H genotype may predict adjunctive corticosteroid responsiveness in HIV-uninfected individuals

STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN TRA CU DISTRICT, TRA VINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM

By using a cross-sectional study, this study aimed to determine the ratio of occupational stress, stress levels and the relationship between stress status and social characteristics of the sample, factors at work, as well as how secondary school teachers respond to stress in Tra Cu District, Tra Vinh Province. The study conducted a survey to investigate 466 teachers currently teaching at 14 secondary schools in Tra Cu District, Tra Vinh Province, from May 2020 to June 2020. Research results showed that the percentage of teachers who suffered mild stress and severe stress was 18.9% and 8.1%, respectively. The signs of stress in teachers correlated with several factors such as job demand, work control and ways of coping at work. When the average score of the assessment “job demand” or “work control” increased by one point, the rate of stress on teachers was reduced by 23% (95% CI: 0.73 – 0.81) and 12% (95% CI: 0.84 – 0.93) respectively. By contrast, the average score of “confrontation” increased by one point  leading to 3.21 times higher (95% CI: 2.61 – 3.96) possibility of causing stress. As well as the average score of "avoidance" increased by one point, the possibility of causing stress in teachers increased 3.03 times (95% CI: 2.45 – 3.74). The findings showed that mental health problems in teachers at secondary schools, in general and in Tra Cu District, Tra Vinh Province in particular, had not received sufficient attention. Therefore, the problems should be taken seriously not only by teachers school administration

Viral Etiology of Encephalitis in Children in Southern Vietnam: Results of a One-Year Prospective Descriptive Study

Viral encephalitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality in Vietnam. However little is known about the causes of the disease due to a lack of diagnostic facilities in this relatively resource-poor setting. Knowledge about the etiologies and clinical outcome of viral encephalitis is necessary for future design of intervention studies targeted at improvement of clinical management, treatment and prevention of the disease. We report the viral agents, clinical outcome and prognostic factors of mortality of encephalitis in children admitted to a referral hospital for children in southern Vietnam. We show that about one third of the enrolled patients die acutely, and that mortality is independently associated with patient age and Glasgow Coma Scale on admission. Japanese encephalitis, dengue virus and enterovirus (including enterovirus 71) are the major viruses detected in our patients. However, more than half of the patients remain undiagnosed, while mortality in this group is as high as in the diagnosed group. This study will benefit clinicians and public health in terms of clinical management and prevention of childhood encephalitis in Vietnam

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

Alveolar cell response to tracheal occlusion induced stretch in murine congenital diaphragmatic hernia hypoplastic lungs

Fetal tracheal occlusion (TO) is a clinical therapy that has been proven to promote stretch-induced lung growth by blocking the fetal trachea and preventing the egress of lung fluid. TO is offered as a prenatal intervention for patients with severe lung hypoplasia due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This is a birth anomaly defect of the diaphragm that allows the abdominal contents to enter the chest during fetal life, leaving insufficient space for normal lung development. The subsequent pulmonary hypoplasia in turn leads to postnatal respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension. In this project, we plan to investigate the effect of stretch in normal and hypoplastic lung tissue on the progenitor cells that take part in fetal lung development, especially during the canalicular/saccular stages as this coincides with TO therapy in human fetuses. As it is still unknown how TO can lead to lung maturation in CDH patients at the molecular level, and this window of lung development involves the dynamic activities of multiple progenitors/epithelial cells of interest, it will be valuable to investigate whether TO-induced mechanical stretch might affect these cells specifically in CDH hypoplastic lungs. Because the impact of stretch on stem/progenitor cells has never been assessed in an in vivo setting before, performing fetal TO in a mouse model will deliver a rare opportunity to investigate its capability to alter the properties of stem/progenitor cells similarly to previously demonstrated in vitro studies. Also as insufficient lung growth remains a problem after clinical TO, therapies that target lung progenitor cell populations via these mechanotransduction pathways might help improve or replace TO as a CDH treatment.status: publishe

Perverting peacekeeping: the organisational accountability of the United Nations for sexual exploitation and abuse on peacekeeping operations

Allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) have plagued peacekeeping operations for over a decade. Despite the United Nations (UN) extensive efforts to address the problem, acts of SEA continue to occur and cause great harm to victims and survivors, to the success of the peacekeeping operation, and to the reputation and credibility of the UN. Whilst the responsibility of the alleged perpetrator and of the State from which the perpetrator came have been considered in the literature, an area that has received less attention is the legal responsibility of the UN. In this thesis, this area of responsibility will be examined. The question will be asked: how can the organisational accountability of the UN be established for acts of SEA committed on its peacekeeping operations? To answer this question, this thesis will consider: first, whether acts of SEA are prohibited under international law and, therefore, whether these acts are a violation of international law; second, whether international organisations, such as the UN, have any obligations under international law; and, if so, if and how the UN may be held accountable for failing to uphold its obligations. In this thesis, it will be argued that the best international legal framework for the prohibition of acts of SEA is international human rights law. However, an analysis of the current legal system will demonstrate that it is difficult to hold the UN to account due to limitations in the personal and subject-matter jurisdiction of international, regional, and domestic judicial bodies. The unique contribution of this thesis will be to offer an alternative solution to establishing the organisational accountability of the UN. It will be proposed that the UN treaty bodies should be empowered with the competency to consider communications from individuals alleging a violation of their human rights through acts of SEA by UN personnel. The arguments presented in this thesis will outline: why the communications procedures of the UN treaty bodies are an effective process through which to resolve allegations of SEA; the legal and procedural changes that are needed to establish this process; the benefits for individual survivors, the UN, and the international community; and why this proposal is an effective, pragmatic, and economical solution to the problem of ensuring the organisational accountability of the UN for acts of SEA committed on its peacekeeping operations

Perverting peacekeeping: the organisational accountability of the United Nations for sexual exploitation and abuse on peacekeeping operations

Allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) have plagued peacekeeping operations for over a decade. Despite the United Nations (UN) extensive efforts to address the problem, acts of SEA continue to occur and cause great harm to victims and survivors, to the success of the peacekeeping operation, and to the reputation and credibility of the UN. Whilst the responsibility of the alleged perpetrator and of the State from which the perpetrator came have been considered in the literature, an area that has received less attention is the legal responsibility of the UN. In this thesis, this area of responsibility will be examined. The question will be asked: how can the organisational accountability of the UN be established for acts of SEA committed on its peacekeeping operations? To answer this question, this thesis will consider: first, whether acts of SEA are prohibited under international law and, therefore, whether these acts are a violation of international law; second, whether international organisations, such as the UN, have any obligations under international law; and, if so, if and how the UN may be held accountable for failing to uphold its obligations. In this thesis, it will be argued that the best international legal framework for the prohibition of acts of SEA is international human rights law. However, an analysis of the current legal system will demonstrate that it is difficult to hold the UN to account due to limitations in the personal and subject-matter jurisdiction of international, regional, and domestic judicial bodies. The unique contribution of this thesis will be to offer an alternative solution to establishing the organisational accountability of the UN. It will be proposed that the UN treaty bodies should be empowered with the competency to consider communications from individuals alleging a violation of their human rights through acts of SEA by UN personnel. The arguments presented in this thesis will outline: why the communications procedures of the UN treaty bodies are an effective process through which to resolve allegations of SEA; the legal and procedural changes that are needed to establish this process; the benefits for individual survivors, the UN, and the international community; and why this proposal is an effective, pragmatic, and economical solution to the problem of ensuring the organisational accountability of the UN for acts of SEA committed on its peacekeeping operations