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The relationship between age and seroprevalence can be used to estimate the annual attack rate of an infectious disease. For pathogens with multiple serologically distinct strains, there is a need to describe composite exposure to an antigenically variable group of pathogens. In this study, we assay 24,402 general-population serum samples, collected in Vietnam between 2009 to 2015, for antibodies to eleven human influenza A strains. We report that a principal components decomposition of antibody titer data gives the first principal component as an appropriate surrogate for seroprevalence; this results in annual attack rate estimates of 25.6% (95% CI: 24.1% – 27.1%) for subtype H3 and 16.0% (95% CI: 14.7% – 17.3%) for subtype H1. The remaining principal components separate the strains by serological similarity and associate birth cohorts with their particular influenza histories. Our work shows that dimensionality reduction can be used on human antibody profiles to construct an age-seroprevalence relationship for antigenically variable pathogens. Multi-strain pathogens, such as influenza, present challenges for interpretation of seroprevalence data as estimates may vary by strain. Here, the authors develop a method for estimating age-specific seroprevalence based on principal components analysis and apply it to influenza data from Vietnam.

Lactiplantibacillus pentosus is a lactic acid bacterium frequently detected in various fermented foods; however, the genomic traits related to its biotechnological potential have been underexplored. In this study, 34 catalase-negative isolates were obtained from pickled mustard greens, among which strain P7 exhibited the highest exopolysaccharide (EPS) yield (781.9 ± 14.7 mg/L) and was capable of growing in a chemically defined medium lacking riboflavin. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 3,749,478 bp circular chromosome with 46.5% G + C content and 3389 protein-coding genes. A phylogenomic analysis identified P7 as L. pentosus. Functionally, 1 mg/mL EPS extracted from P7 demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, with DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities of 89.8 ± 4.6% and 76.5 ± 9.5%, respectively. The use of 0.2 mg/mL EPS also protected Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells from oxidative stress. A comparative genomic analysis indicated the presence of nearly complete biosynthetic pathways for riboflavin, folate, and pyridoxine. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the production of 23.8 ± 0.4 µg/mL riboflavin, 36.6 ± 0.6 µg/mL folic acid, and 0.42 ± 0.02 µg/mL pyridoxine in the culture supernatant, which have not been previously reported. Additionally, strain P7 produced 91.2 ± 12.3 g/L of lactic acid after 24 h of incubation. These results support the potential of L. pentosus P7 as a candidate for industrial applications in the production of EPS, B-group vitamins, and lactic acid.

Fermentation technology using endophytes is considered a potential alternative approach for producing pharmaceutical compounds like podophyllotoxin (PTOX). In this study, fungus TQN5T (VCCM 44284) was selected from endophytic fungi isolated from Dysosma versipellis in Vietnam for PTOX production through TLC. The presence of PTOX in TQN5T was further confirmed by HPLC. Molecular identification indicated TQN5T as Fusarium proliferatum with 99.43% identity. This result was asserted by morphological characteristics such as white cottony, filamentous colony, layer and branched mycelium, and clear hyphae septa. Cytotoxic assay indicated both biomass extract and culture filtrate of TQN5T presented strong cytotoxicity on LU-1 and HepG2 with IC50 of 0.11, 0.20, 0.041, and 0071, respectively, implying anti-cancer compounds were accumulated in the mycelium and secreted into the medium. Further, the production of PTOX in TQN5T was investigated in the fermentation condition supplemented with 10 µg/ml of host plant extract or phenylalanine as elicitors. The results revealed a significantly higher amount of PTOX in the PDB + PE and PDB + PA at all studied time points in comparison with PDB (control). Especially, after 168 h of culture, PTOX content in the PDB with plant extract reached the peak with 314 µg/g DW which is 10% higher than the best yield of PTOX in previous studies, denoting F. proliferatum TQN5T as a promising PTOX producer. This is the first study on enhancing the PTOX production in endophytic fungi by supplementing phenylalanine—a precursor for PTOX biosynthesis in plants into fermented media, suggesting a common PTOX biosynthetic pathway between host plant and endophytes.Key points• Fusarium proliferatum TQN5T was proven for PTOX production.• Both mycelia extract and spent broth extract of Fusarium proliferatum TQN5T presented strong cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines LU-1 and HepG2.• The supplementation of 10 µg/ml host plant extract and phenylalanine into fermentation media of F. proliferatum TQN5T improved the yield of PTOX.

Diabetes mellitus remains a major global public health challenge. Mobile applications and digital platforms offer innovative opportunities to enhance diabetes self-management. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diaB, a digitally delivered diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program, on clinical outcomes and diabetes-related knowledge in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This quasi-experimental, multicenter, open-label study involved 163 adults with type 2 diabetes, allocated to either a DSMES intervention group (n = 81) or a usual care control group (n = 82). The intervention group participated in a ten-week educational program delivered via the diaB mobile app and other digital platforms, based on the DSMES framework recommended by the American Diabetes Association. The program included online group video sessions led by doctors, nutritionists, and health coaches. Clinical outcomes—including fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, lipid profiles, weight, BMI, waist circumference, and diabetes knowledge (assessed using the Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test, MDKT)—were measured at baseline and after the intervention. The intervention group showed significant improvements in clinical outcomes. FBG decreased from 7.5 to 6.7 mmol/L (P < 0.001), with a greater reduction than the control group (P = 0.004). HbA1c declined from 7.8 to 7.3% (P < 0.001), with no significant change in the control group. In multivariable linear regression adjusted for the disease risk score (DRS), the intervention was independently associated with greater HbA1c reduction (β = –0.72; 95% CI –1.14 to –0.31; P = 0.001), while higher DRS predicted less improvement (β = +0.57; 95% CI 0.12 to 1.01; P = 0.013). The intervention group also demonstrated greater gains in MDKT scores (+ 3 vs. –1; P < 0.001), more favorable changes in lipid profiles (P < 0.001), and greater weight loss among participants with baseline BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 (–1.5 kg vs. 0 kg; P = 0.02). DiaB, a digitally delivered DSMES program, significantly improved glycemic control, diabetes knowledge, and metabolic outcomes. Integrating such digital interventions into routine diabetes care may enhance both clinical management and patient education in resource-limited settings.

Applying different regression estimators on balanced panel data, this article examines the impact of human capital and income inequality on climate change in Asian countries during the period 2007–2020. Results by the GMM estimator confirm that increases in income inequality and investments in human capital exacerbate environmental degradation in Asian countries. However, among the three variables that represent human capital, only HC3 (Gross enrollment ratio for tertiary school) plays a role in reducing the impact of income inequality on emissions of carbon dioxide. In addition, the study also provides evidence on the impact of other factors on CO 2 emissions such as renewable energy, economic growth, population, output in the agricultural and services sectors, trade openness, government expenditure and total investment in the economy. Besides, some important policy implications have been suggested to aim at securing sustained economic growth in Asia.

Using the GJR-GARCH method, this study examines the safe-haven role of gold, US dollar, and Bitcoin over a period including the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict from 3 April 2006 to 19 May 2023. The study supports the hypothesis that the safe-haven role of assets changes over periods of crisis. Specifically, gold loses its role as a safe-haven asset during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this role has been restored in the Dutch, US and German markets during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Similarly, Bitcoin is not a safe-haven asset during the COVID-19 pandemic but is a strong safe-haven asset for the stock markets of some European countries, and a weak safe-haven asset for China when the Russia-Ukraine conflict occurred. Only the USD acts as a stable safe-haven asset through periods of crisis. However, this role is weakened in Russia. These results partly help investors and portfolio managers choose a safe haven for their assets, especially during volatile market periods. Investors often want to protect their assets by diversifying their investment portfolios or using risk prevention tools. Especially when the financial market encounters instability caused by the crisis, investors tend to look for safe-haven assets such as precious metals, foreign currencies, and cryptocurrencies. This study re-evaluates the safe-haven role of gold, USD, and Bitcoin during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, then compares the research results with two previous crises, GFC 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Research results help investors choose appropriate assets during market volatility.

Background Performance-based financing (PBF) has been implemented in a number of countries with the aim of transforming health systems and improving maternal and child health. This paper examines the effect of PBF on health workers’ job satisfaction, motivation, and attrition in Zambia. It uses a randomized intervention/control design to evaluate before–after changes for three groups: intervention (PBF) group, control 1 (C1; enhanced financing) group, and control 2 (C2; pure control) group. Methods Mixed methods are employed. The quantitative portion comprises of a baseline and an endline survey. The survey and sampling scheme were designed to allow for a rigorous impact evaluation of PBF or C1 on several key performance indicators. The qualitative portion seeks to explain the pathways underlying the observed differences through interviews conducted at the beginning and at the three-year mark of the PBF program. Results Econometric analysis shows that PBF led to increased job satisfaction and decreased attrition on a subset of measures, with little effect on motivation. The C1 group also experienced some positive effects on job satisfaction. The null results of the quantitative assessment of motivation cohere with those of the qualitative assessment, which revealed that workers remain motivated by their dedication to the profession and to provide health care to the community rather than by financial incentives. The qualitative evidence also provides two explanations for higher overall job satisfaction in the C1 than in the PBF group: better working conditions and more effective supervision from the District Medical Office. The PBF group had higher satisfaction with compensation than both control groups because they have higher compensation and financial autonomy, which was intended to be part of the PBF intervention. While PBF could not address all the reasons for attrition, it did lower turnover because those health centers were staffed with qualified personnel and the personnel had role clarity. Conclusions In Zambia, the implementation of PBF schemes brought about a significant increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in attrition, but had no significant effect on motivation. Enhanced health financing also increased stated job satisfaction.

Several plant parasitic nematode genera were identified in the Robusta coffee ( Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehn) tree roots and surrounding soil samples from three different coffee groups: coffee planted at 5 years (CYG), 18 years (CBG) and 40 years (COG) in Central Highland, Vietnam. They included Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., Apratylenchus spp., Criconemella spp., Xiphinema spp. and Rotylenchulus spp. Meloidogyne spp. was the most abundant genus, at 77% across all three groups. Endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy tissues of roots of the same Robusta coffee trees. In total, 77 bacterial strains were isolated and determined to be Bacillus spp., Serratia spp., Paenibacillus spp., Enterobacter spp. and Streptomyces spp. based on colony morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Overall, Streptomyces was the dominant genus and accounted for 49.35% of total isolated strains. Using statistical methods, we found a tendency in the abundance of endophytic bacterial isolates with the elevation or decrease of several nematode populations, indicating a relation between endophytic bacteria occurrence and nematode distribution. In in vitro anti nematode screening test, a Streptomyces sp. strain named CBG9 showed significant nematicidal activities against Meloidogyne incognita , inhibiting egg hatching (85.8%) and causing mortality of secondary stage juveniles (85%). This study explored the anti-nematode potency of endophytic bacteria isolated from coffee trees, which could provide a future application in suppression and management of pathogenic nematodes without the use of chemical pesticides.

The present study delves into the intricate correlation between fiscal spending and green growth, specifically focusing on the catalyzing effect of green finance. Spanning the timeframe from 2005 to 2021, our investigation encompasses 18 developing and 14 developed countries. Leveraging Bayesian regression analysis, our findings uncover a nuanced juxtaposition in the effect of R&D expenditure on green growth across these divergent contexts. In developing nations, R&D spending demonstrates a discouraging negative effect on green growth, supported by a robust probability of 76.74%. Conversely, in developed countries, R&D expenditure manifests a promising positive influence, with a likelihood of 71.33%. However, upon integrating the pivotal role of green finance, a synergistic relationship emerges, underscoring its potential as a catalyst for bolstering green growth in both categories of nations. Grounded in these discerning insights, we delineate tailored implications aimed at fortifying green finance initiatives within each cohort of countries.

Abstract Objectives To understand antibiotic prescribing and influencing factors to inform antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to reduce unwanted consequences of antibiotic use in hospitals in Vietnam, a lower-middle-income country in Asia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of doctors at three tertiary hospitals using non-probability convenience sampling, through a paper-based (Hospitals 1 and 2) or electronic (Hospital 3) survey. Questions included items on perceptions regarding antibiotic resistance and AMS, prescribing practices, knowledge, demographics and training. We used principal components analysis and mixed-effects models to examine practices and identify influencing factors. Results Among 314 surveyed participants, 61%, 57% and 59% in Hospitals 1, 2 and 3, respectively, felt certain about the appropriateness of their antibiotic prescriptions. In total, 9% reported sometimes prescribing antibiotics when not needed to meet patients’ expectations, and 13% reported doing so to avoid perceived complications. Higher prescribing confidence was found among those with positive perceptions about AMS (P < 0.0001), whereas negative perceptions about colleagues’ practices reduced this confidence (P < 0.0001). Individual preference for branded antibiotics was associated with more unnecessary prescribing whereas having higher prescribing confidence decreased the habits of prescribing when not needed. Conclusions This study provides important implications for design of hospital interventions to address influencing factors on antibiotic prescribing in Vietnam and similar resource-limited settings. Specific interventions should target improving knowledge through education and training for doctors, enhancing the support from the AMS team, and promoting guidelines and policies for appropriate antibiotic use in hospital.