The Ability of Teachers at Tuyen Quang Province’s Primary School to Organize STEM Educational Activities

The effectiveness of students' learning is significantly impacted by primary teachers' capacity to plan STEM instructional activities. If the study reveals the precise state of the teachers' capacity to plan STEM education activities in selected primary schools in Tuyen Quang Province. It will serve as the foundation for initiatives that will increase teachers' ability to plan STEM educational activities and improve the standard of instruction in primary schools. 210 administrators, teachers, and 350 students from 7 primary schools in Tuyen Quang Province of were interviewed in-depth using analysis and synthesis of theoretical approaches, questionnaire surveys mixed with observation, and in-depth interviews. We have got preliminary results on the level of teachers' attainment of the capacity to plan STEM educational activities using quantitative data processing techniques on SPSS software. The competencies are often evaluated at an average to slightly above average level. Based on the aforementioned research findings, we offer some suggestions for managers to take into account when developing a strategic plan to enhance teachers' ability to plan STEM-related educational activities

Sterols from Vietnamese marine sponge Tethya aurantium

Chemical investigation on Vietnamese marine sponge Tethya aurantium resulted in the isolation of five sterols, including 5R,6R-epoxy-24R*-ethylcholesta-8-en-3β,7α-diol (1), 24-methylenecholesta-5-en-3β-ol (2), 24-norcholesta-5,22E-dien-3β-ol (3), 5α,8α-epidioxy-24R*-ethylcholesta-6-en-3β-ol (4), and 5α,8α-epidioxy-24S-methylcholesta-6,22E-dien-3β-ol (5). Their chemical structures were successfully determined using NMR and ESI-MS analysis as well as in comparison with the reported literatures. Stereochemistry of C-24 in the side chain of isolated sterols was also discussed. This is the first study on chemical constituents from the sponge T. aurantium. Keywords. Steroid, Tethya aurantium, Vietnamese sponge

Genetic landscape and personalized tracking of tumor mutations in Vietnamese women with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Vietnamese women, but its mutational landscape and actionable alterations for targeted therapies remain unknown. After treatment, a sensitive biomarker to complement conventional imaging to monitor patients is also lacking. In this prospective multi‐center study, 134 early‐stage breast cancer patients eligible for curative‐intent surgery were recruited. Genomic DNA from tumor tissues and paired white blood cells were sequenced to profile all tumor‐derived mutations in 95 cancer‐associated genes. Our bioinformatic algorithm was then utilized to identify top mutations for individual patients. Serial plasma samples were collected before surgery and at scheduled visits after surgery. Personalized assay tracking the selected mutations were performed to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the plasma. We found that the mutational landscape of the Vietnamese was largely similar to other Asian cohorts, showing higher TP53 mutation frequency than in Caucasians. Alterations in PIK3CA and PI3K signaling were dominant, particularly in our triple‐negative subgroup. Using top‐ranked mutations, we detected ctDNA in pre‐operative plasma in 24.6–43.5% of the hormone‐receptor‐positive groups and 76.9–80.8% of the hormone‐receptor‐negative groups. The detection rate was associated with breast cancer subtypes and clinicopathological features that increased the risk of relapse. Interim analysis after a 15‐month follow‐up revealed post‐operative detection of ctDNA in all three patients that had recurrence, with a lead time of 7–13 months ahead of clinical diagnosis. Our personalized assay is streamlined and affordable with promising clinical utility in residual cancer surveillance. We also generated the first somatic variant dataset for Vietnamese breast cancer women that could lay the foundation for precision cancer medicine in Vietnam