Geographical variation in morphological leaf traits of Huperzia serrata (lycopodiaceae) from Vietnam

Morphological leaf traits can be used to assess adaptive responses of plants to environmental conditions. To assess how the representation of Huperzia serrata leaf traits, such as leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW) and leaf area (LA) response to changes in mean annual temperature (MAT), sunshine duration (SuH), mean annual precipitation (MAP), air humidity (Hu), intraspecific variation of the morphological leaf traits of the species was analyzed along a geographical gradient of Vietnam. The results showed that among the three populations at the three sites, leaf sizes increased with MAT and MAP. Huperzia serrata, climatic factors, morphological leaf traits, Vietnam.

CAMELLIA SINENSIS VAR. MADOENSIS (SECT. THEA, THEACEAE), A NEW TAXON FROM VIETNAM

Camellia sinensis var. madoensis is described and illustrated as a new variety of Camellia sinensis (section Thea, Theaceae) from Xuan Loc Commune, Song Cau District, Phu Yen Province. The new variety is easily distinguishable from C. sinensis var. sinensis by style free ½ to the base. The ITS sequence of this variety is also different from that of Camellia sinensis and its other varieties, while the matK gene sequences are nearly identical among Camellia taxa

A Hybrid Photorealistic Architecture Based on Generating Facial Features and Body Reshaping for Virtual Try-on Applications

Online shopping using virtual try-on technology is becoming popular and widely used for digital transformation because of sustainably sourced materials and enhancing customers’ experience. For practical applicability, the process is required for two main factors: (1) accuracy and reliability, and (2) the processing time. To meet the above requirements, we propose a state-of-the-art technique for generating a user’s visualization of model costumes using only a single user portrait and basic anthropometrics. To start, this research would summarize different methods of most virtual try-on clothes approaches, including (1) Interactive simulation between the 3D models, and (2) 2D Photorealistic Generation. In spite of successfully creating the visualization and feasibility, these approaches have to face issues of their efficiency and performance. Furthermore, the complexity of input requirements and the users’ experiments are leading to difficulties in practical application and future scalability. In this regard, our study combines (1) a head-swapping technique using a face alignment model for determining, segmenting, and swapping heads with only a pair of a source and a target image as inputs (2) a photorealistic body reshape pipeline for direct resizing user visualization, and (3) an adaptive skin color models for changing user’s skin, which ensures remaining the face structure and natural. The proposed technique was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively using three types of datasets which include: (1) VoxCeleb2, (2) Datasets from Viettel collection, and (3) Users Testing to demonstrate its feasibility and efficiency when used in real-world application

CAMELLIA SINENSIS VAR. MADOENSIS (SECT. THEA, THEACEAE), A NEW TAXON FROM VIETNAM

Camellia sinensis var. madoensis is described and illustrated as a new variety of Camellia sinensis (section Thea, Theaceae) from Xuan Loc Commune, Song Cau District, Phu Yen Province. The new variety is easily distinguishable from C. sinensis var. sinensis by style free ½ to the base. The ITS sequence of this variety is also different from that of Camellia sinensis and its other varieties, while the matK gene sequences are nearly identical among Camellia taxa.Camellia sinensis var. madoensis được mô tả và minh họa với vai trò là một thứ mới của Camellia sinensis (section Thea, Theaceae) ghi nhận tại xã Xuân Lộc, huyện Sông Cầu, tỉnh Phú Yên. Thứ mới này có thể dễ dàng phân biệt với C. sinensis var. sinensis bởi vòi nhụy rời ½ tính từ đế. Trình tự ITS của thứ này cũng khác với Camellia sinensis và các thứ khác của nó

Risk factors for cannula-associated arterial thrombosis following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: a retrospective study

Background Hemostatic dysfunction during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to blood-circuit interaction and the consequences of shear stress imposed by flow rates lead to rapid coagulation cascade and thrombus formation in the ECMO system and blood vessels. We aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors for cannula-associated arterial thrombosis (CaAT) post-decannulation. Methods A retrospective study of patients undergoing arterial cannula removal following ECMO was performed. We evaluated the incidence of CaAT and compared the characteristics, ECMO machine parameters, cannula sizes, number of blood products transfused during ECMO, and daily hemostasis parameters in patients with and without CaAT. Multivariate analysis identified the risk factors for CaAT. Results Forty-seven patients requiring venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) or hybrid methods were recruited for thrombosis screening. The median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 11 (interquartile range, 8–13). CaAT occurred in 29 patients (61.7%), with thrombosis in the superficial femoral artery accounting for 51.7% of cases. The rate of limb ischemia complications in the CaAT group was 17.2%. Multivariate analysis determined that the ECMO flow rate–body surface area (BSA) ratio (100 ml/min/m2) was an independent factor for CaAT, with an odds ratio of 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.66–0.95; P=0.014). Conclusions We found that the incidence of CaAT was 61.7% following successful decannulation from VA-ECMO or hybrid modes, and the ECMO flow rate–BSA ratio was an independent risk factor for CaAT. We suggest screening for arterial thrombosis following VA-ECMO, and further research is needed to determine the risks and benefits of such screening

Educate to prevent: science-based materials on food hygiene and safety

Uma importante estratégia para a redução do impacto das doenças de origem alimentar é a prevenção e a promoção da saúde. A população escolar foi escolhida como público-alvo para aumentar a literacia para a saúde e promover práticas saudáveis e seguras relacionadas com os alimentos, através do projeto “Educar para Prevenir”. Foram produzidos e publicados materiais educativos para o público escolar e professores. Estes materiais, que compreendem três diferentes tipos de ferramentas, foram publicados como um kit. O desenvolvimento destes materiais baseou-se na recolha de dados de surtos de doenças de origem alimentar, de 2009 a 2013, do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA). O risco de ocorrência e os fatores contributivos, bem como as boas práticas, foram identificados e usados como base para a elaboração dos materiais educativos. Adicionalmente, foram usados materiais da Organização Mundial da Saúde como o programa “Cinco Chaves para uma Alimentação Mais Segura”. Nas próximas etapas deste projeto serão produzidos novos materiais para estudantes contendo informação sobre a composição nutricional dos alimentos e a compreensão da rotulagem alimentar.An important strategy to reduce food borne diseases burden is prevention and health promotion. The student’s population was chosen as the target audience for improving health literacy and promoting healthy and safe practices relating to food trough the Project “Educar para Prevenir” (Education for Prevention). School educational materials on food safety, on teacher level, were developed and published, aiming the different school levels. These materials comprised 3 different kinds of tools were published as a kit. The development of these materials was based on data collected foodborne outbreaks from 2009 to 2013, at the National Institute of Health (INSA). The occurrence risk and contributing factors were identified as well as the good practices and were the basis for the elaboration of the educational materials. In addition, some World Health Organization materials, such as “Five Keys to Safer Food” programme, were used. On the next steps of the project include new materials for students will be produced, including information about nutritional composition of the food and understanding of the food labelling.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing the efficacy and safety of magnesium sulfate for management of autonomic nervous system dysregulation in Vietnamese children with severe hand foot and mouth disease.

BACKGROUND: Brainstem encephalitis is a serious complication of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in children. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation and hypertension may occur, sometimes progressing to cardiopulmonary failure and death. Vietnamese national guidelines recommend use of milrinone if ANS dysregulation with Stage 2 hypertension develops. We wished to investigate whether magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) improved outcomes in children with HFMD if used earlier in the evolution of the ANS dysregulation (Stage 1 hypertension). METHODS: During a regional epidemic we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of MgSO4 in children with HFMD, ANS dysregulation and Stage 1 hypertension, at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh city. Study participants received an infusion of MgSO4 or matched placebo for 72 h. We also reviewed data from non-trial HFMD patients in whom milrinone failed to control hypertension, some of whom received MgSO4 as second line therapy. The primary outcome for both analyses was a composite of disease progression within 72 h - addition of milrinone (trial participants only), need for ventilation, shock, or death. RESULTS: Between June 2014 and September 2016, 14 and 12 participants received MgSO4 or placebo respectively, before the trial was stopped due to futility. Among 45 non-trial cases with poorly controlled hypertension despite high-dose milrinone, 33 received MgSO4 while 12 did not. There were no statistically significant differences in the composite outcome between the MgSO4 and the placebo/control groups in either study (adjusted relative risk (95%CI) of [6/14 (43%) vs. 6/12 (50%)], 0.84 (0.37, 1.92), p = 0.682 in the trial and [1/33 (3%) vs. 2/12 (17%)], 0.16 (0.01, 1.79), p = 0.132 in the observational cohort). The incidence of adverse events was similar between the groups. Potentially toxic magnesium levels occurred very rarely with the infusion regime used. CONCLUSION: Although we could not demonstrate efficacy in these studies, there were no safety signals associated with use of 30-50 mg/kg/hr. MgSO4 in severe HFMD. Intermittent outbreaks of HFMD are likely to continue across the region, and an adequately powered trial is still needed to evaluate use of MgSO4 in controlling hypertension in severe HFMD, potentially involving a higher dose regimen. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01940250 (Registered 22 AUG 2013). Trial sponsor: University of Oxford

A modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score for dengue: development, evaluation and proposal for use in clinical trials

Background Dengue is a neglected tropical disease, for which no therapeutic agents have shown clinical efficacy to date. Clinical trials have used strikingly variable clinical endpoints, which hampers reproducibility and comparability of findings. We investigated a delta modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (delta mSOFA) score as a uniform composite clinical endpoint for use in clinical trials investigating therapeutics for moderate and severe dengue. Methods We developed a modified SOFA score for dengue, measured and evaluated its performance at baseline and 48 h after enrolment in a prospective observational cohort of 124 adults admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Vietnam with dengue shock. The modified SOFA score included pulse pressure in the cardiovascular component. Binary logistic regression, cox proportional hazard and linear regression models were used to estimate association between mSOFA, delta mSOFA and clinical outcomes. Results The analysis included 124 adults with dengue shock. 29 (23.4%) patients required ICU admission for organ support or due to persistent haemodynamic instability: 9/124 (7.3%) required mechanical ventilation, 8/124 (6.5%) required vasopressors, 6/124 (4.8%) required haemofiltration and 5/124 (4.0%) patients died. In univariate analyses, higher baseline and delta (48 h) mSOFA score for dengue were associated with admission to ICU, requirement for organ support and mortality, duration of ICU and hospital admission and IV fluid use. Conclusions The baseline and delta mSOFA scores for dengue performed well to discriminate patients with dengue shock by clinical outcomes, including duration of ICU and hospital admission, requirement for organ support and death. We plan to use delta mSOFA as the primary endpoint in an upcoming host-directed therapeutic trial and investigate the performance of this score in other phenotypes of severe dengue in adults and children

An improved model for waste management from fish farming in tidal river

This paper describes the improvements of the 3D model proposed by Trieu et al. (2010). The model was applied to simulate the pollutant transport from fish cages (group of cages located closely together that was assigned as the single point source of pollution discharge) in the river system. In contrast, the pollution discharge from both the pond culture and the cage culture was considered in the present study. Moreover, the complete suspension was modeled by calculating the concentration of particle wastes load from riverbed. Furthermore, the conservation of simulation was ensured by using the finite volume method instead of the finite difference method to solve the 2D flow field. The improved model simulated nutrient discharge from the intensive Pangasius farming in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The simulated output was verified with the observed data. A good agreement between the observed and simulated data proves that the improved model could help decision makers for better planning and monitoring purposes