Vietnamese EFL High School Teachers’ Self-assessment of their English Language Proficiency in Relation to the Official Assessment Test Results

The current study explored how Vietnamese EFL high school teachers self-assessed their current English proficiency. It also compared teachers’ self-ratings with the results they obtained in the Project 2010 test, which was  used to assess English level of EFL teachers across Vietnam as part of the implementation of the National Foreign Language Project 2020. The data were drawn from 15-item online questionnaire with 94 teacher participants. The findings revealed that teachers perceived themselves as being more proficient in skills of writing and reading, compared to listening, spoken production (e.g., making presentations) and spoken interaction (e.g., making conversations). Most of them rated their current English proficiency level lower than the level they achieved in the Project 2020 test.  The findings offer information  about the language aspects that teachers were least proficient, which can be used to specify what support they actually desire from in-service training courses.  Also, as teachers are at the centre of the Project 2020, their perceptions of their own English proficiency provide insightful input to enhance the effectiveness of this educational reform

Nutrient cycle in an integrated recirculating aquaculture system

Intensive marine aquaculture may cause negative impacts on the aquatic environment by causing water pollution, algae bloom and reduction in biodiversity of the surrounding aquatic environment. The nutrient-rich effluents from aquaculture activities contain nitrogen and phosphate which serve as a nutrient source for bivalve, algae and invertebrates. Seaweed and mussels have been integrated with marine species in culture systems to remove the waste from aquaculture farms. The research has explored the nutrient uptake capacities of green seaweed (Ulva lactuca) and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) integrated with western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus) in the integrated closed recirculating aquaculture systems (IRAS) and has evaluated the nutrient retention of seaweed and animals in the system.One experimental unit of an IRAS consisted of three tanks: a mussel tank, a prawn tank and a waste-collection tank. The mussel tank and the prawn tank were set on the top and lower tiers of a metal frame; the waste-collection tank was on the floor. Water was pumped from the waste-collection tank to the reservoir tank by a submersible pump, circulated to the prawn tank and then returned to the waste collection tank through gravity.A series of experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions to investigate the water quality; survival, growth of western king prawn and nutrient budget in the IRAS. The research results proved that the recirculating culture system could maintain acceptable water quality for western king prawn at stocking densities till 16 prawn m-2 and at feeding rate of 3.0% of wet weight biomass. Increasing the stocking densities results in decreasing the water quality in the culture media, the growth and survival of western king prawn reared in the recirculating aquaculture system. In contrast, increasing feeding rate did not improved growth and survival rate of western king prawn but feed utilization efficiency decreased significantly with increasing the feeding rates. Total phosphorus (TP) and orthophosphate (PO43-) concentrations increased linearly with increasing the feeding rates of western king prawn. High percentage of nutrient inputs accumulated into tank bottom at higher stocking densities whereas over 50% of nutrient inputs were in discharged water at harvest in lower stocking densities.Inclusion green seaweed into western king prawn culture system improved the water quality in the IRAS. Concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate (NO3-) and PO43- in the integrated culture system were lower than those in the monoculture system. Green seaweed effectively removed 24.02-99.05% TAN and 13.80-96.40% PO43- in the culture media. Feed utilization efficiency in integrated culture was significantly enhanced by 24.90 % nitrogen (N) and 19.41% phosphorus (P). Nutrient budget revealed that western king prawn and green seaweed retained 28.00-31.90% and 6.53-29.71% N of total nitrogen (TN) inputs at harvest, respectively while P retention was 13.46-14.63% and 1.62-13.50% of TP inputs, respectively. The rest of total nutrient input was in discharged water and tank sediments.Integrated culture of blue mussel and western king prawn could improve the water quality in the IRAS though effectively removing of the total bacteria (TB), total suspended solids (TSS) and total nitrogen (TN) in the cultured media. However, concentrations of NO2-, NO3- and PO43- were increased due to the mussel excretion. Growth and survival of western king prawn were not affected by adding blue mussels into western king prawn culture in IRAS at stocking rate of 250 mussel m-2 and 16.07 prawn m-2. When stocking rates exceed density of 312.5 mussel m-2 and =21.36 prawn m-2, growth and survival of both western king prawn and blue mussel in the IRAS were declined significantly due to the low water quality and crowded effects in the culture media. Inclusion of blue mussels into western king prawn culture was enhanced the feed utilization efficiency further up to 10.63 % N and 4.89 % P and reduced the nutrient discharged through draining at harvest. N and P contents accumulated in mussel tanks increased linearly with the increasing mussel stocking densities in the IRAS. The results indicate that the use of integrated aquaculture system is a step forward to achieve sustainability in aquaculture

A Novel Self-organizing Fuzzy Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller Based Overlapping Gaussian Membership Function for Controlling Robotic System

This paper introduces an effective intelligent controller for robotic systems with uncertainties. The proposed method is a novel self-organizing fuzzy cerebellar model articulation controller (NSOFC) which is a combination of a cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) and sliding mode control (SMC). We also present a new Gaussian membership function (GMF) that is designed by the combination of the prior and current GMF for each layer of CMAC. In addition, the relevant data of the prior GMF is used to check tracking errors more accurately. The inputs of the proposed controller can be mixed simultaneously between the prior and current states according to the corresponding errors. Moreover, the controller uses a self-organizing approach which can increase or decrease the number of layers, therefore the structures of NSOFC can be adjusted automatically. The proposed method consists of a NSOFC controller and a compensation controller. The NSOFC controller is used to estimate the ideal controller, and the compensation controller is used to eliminate the approximated error. The online parameters tuning law of NSOFC is designed based on Lyapunov’s theory to ensure stability of the system. Finally, the experimental results of a 2 DOF robot arm are used to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed controller

Awareness And Risk Behaviors Towards Zoonotic Disease Among Ethnic Minority In Mountainous Area Of Central Vietnam

Background: As a result of the population explosion and rapid urbanization, human activities have been causing negative impacts on the environment. The changing patterns of transmissible diseases among wild animals, livestock and human have been getting more and more complicated in the context of climate change. Ethnic community from mountainous and isolated areas undoubtedly are the most vulnerable, with the high risk of emerging and re-emerging zoonosis. Objectives: To explore the awareness and risk behaviors of the residents in Nham commune, A Luoi district towards zoonosis transmission. To determine the factors related to the risk behaviors of the residents. Methods: A sectional-cross study was conducted among 230 residents whose ages range from 18 – 85, currently living in Nham commune, A Luoi district, adjacent to the Vietnam – Laos border. All participants were interviewed directly with a questionnaire including the following categories: demographics, household wealth, awareness of zoonosis, livestock management and behaviors related to wildlife animals. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine factors associated with risk behaviors. Results: The proportion of respondents who have heard about zoonotic diseases was 40%. The majority of subjects raise free-range livestock (83,4%), especially on poultry and cow. The percentage of participants who consumed culled sick and dead animals accounted for 26%, over 30% of villagers slept in forest and more than 50% consumed bushmeat. Risk behaviors related to management livestock and wildlife were statistically significantly associated with gender, age of subjects, educational background, household wealth, information approach on zoonosis, and the number of livestocks. Conclusions: The proportion of respondents who have heard about zoonotic diseases was 40%. The high-risk group falls on those who consume dead domestic animals, wildlife animals and sleep in the forest. Behaviors of human-wildlife contact and zoonosis are quite common with the Nham locals, which emphasizes the necessity for intervention programs in zoonotic disease control.

A modern purification by accelerated solvent extraction and centrifugal partition chromatography and biological evaluation of capsaicin from Capsicum chinense

A special alkaloid compound known as capsaicin, which can only be found in the fruit of the Capsicum plant, was isolated and tested for its anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this work is to establish a simple and quick approach for capsaicin purification utilizing centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) as well as an effective method - accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), for extracting capsaicin from Capsicum chinense. After purification, capsaicin was validated by HPLC-DAD at 281 nm to be > 90% purity. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated capsaicin was also investigated, and the IC50 value of the capsaicin was determined to be 57.61 µg/mL. The current work emphasizes how an ASE and CPC system may combine to extract high-purity capsaicin from Capsicum chinense, which have the anti-inflammatory activity, as we evaluated in the experiment

EFFECT OF PRO-OXIDANT ADDITIVES ON DEGRADATION OF MULCH FILM BASED ON RECYCLED POLYETHYLENE

The effect of pro-oxidant additives (Iron, Cobalt and Manganese stearates) on the biodegradation of recycle polyethelene mulching films was studied in both accelerated weather and natural exposure conditions. The degradation degree of film was determined by measuring mechanical properties and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The results showed that the mechanical properties of film samples with pro-oxirant additives decreased rapidly, and that surface film with additives was degraded clearly compared to the films without additives after 30 cycles of accelerated weather. Reliability in terms of acceleration are 28 - 30 cycles of exposure and in the natural conditions reached 10-12 months

Discrimination, social capital, and financial constraints: the case of Viet Nam

This paper examines the relationship among gender, social capital, and access to finance of micro, small,and medium enterprises in the manufacturing sector in Viet Nam. Our dataset is from the 2011, 2013, and2015 results of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Survey in Viet Nam. Using the Heckman technique to control for sample selection bias, the estimates do not provide evidence for discriminationagainst female-owned enterprises in the formal lending market. Specifically, female entrepreneurs havea higher probability of getting a loan and they pay lower interest rates in comparison with male entrepreneurs. No discrimination in formal credit markets may arise from the preference for informal loansover formal loans as entrepreneurs tend to borrow informal loans before applying for formal ones.Further analysis shows that social capital could facilitate loan applications: firms that have a closer relationship with government officials and other business people can get loans of longer duration

Global estimates on the number of people blind or visually impaired by cataract: a meta-analysis from 2000 to 2020

Background: To estimate global and regional trends from 2000 to 2020 of the number of persons visually impaired by cataract and their proportion of the total number of vision-impaired individuals. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published population studies and gray literature from 2000 to 2020 was carried out to estimate global and regional trends. We developed prevalence estimates based on modeled distance visual impairment and blindness due to cataract, producing location-, year-, age-, and sex-specific estimates of moderate to severe vision impairment (MSVI presenting visual acuity &lt;6/18, ≥3/60) and blindness (presenting visual acuity &lt;3/60). Estimates are age-standardized using the GBD standard population. Results: In 2020, among overall (all ages) 43.3 million blind and 295 million with MSVI, 17.0 million (39.6%) people were blind and 83.5 million (28.3%) had MSVI due to cataract blind 60% female, MSVI 59% female. From 1990 to 2020, the count of persons blind (MSVI) due to cataract increased by 29.7%(93.1%) whereas the age-standardized global prevalence of cataract-related blindness improved by −27.5% and MSVI increased by 7.2%. The contribution of cataract to the age-standardized prevalence of blindness exceeded the global figure only in South Asia (62.9%) and Southeast Asia and Oceania (47.9%). Conclusions: The number of people blind and with MSVI due to cataract has risen over the past 30 years, despite a decrease in the age-standardized prevalence of cataract. This indicates that cataract treatment programs have been beneficial, but population growth and aging have outpaced their impact. Growing numbers of cataract blind indicate that more, better-directed, resources are needed to increase global capacity for cataract surgery.</p

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic