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PM 0.1 has been believed to have adverse short- and long-term effects on human health. However, the information of PM 0.1 that is needed to fully evaluate its influence on human health and environment is still scarce in many developing countries. This is a comprehensive study on the levels, chemical compositions, and source apportionment of PM 0.1 conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam. Twenty-four-hour samples of PM 0.1 were collected during the dry season (November to December 2015) at a mixed site to get the information on mass concentrations and chemical compositions. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to investigate the simultaneous influence of meteorological factors on fluctuations in the daily levels of PM 0.1 . Multiple linear regression models could explain about 50% of the variations of PM 0.1 concentrations, in which wind speed is the most important variable. The average concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble ions (Ca 2+ , K + , Mg 2+ , Na + , NH 4 + , Cl − , NO 3 − , SO 4 2− , C 2 O 4 2− ), and elements (Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Sb, Ba, Tl, Pb, Na, Fe, Mg, K, and Ca) were 2.77 ± 0.90 μg m −3 , 0.63 ± 0.28 μg m −3 , 0.88 ± 0.39 μg m −3 , and 0.05 ± 0.02 μg m −3 , accounting for 51.23 ± 9.32%, 11.22 ± 2.10%, 16.28 ± 2.67%, and 1.11 ± 0.94%, respectively. A positive matrix factorization model revealed the contributions of five major sources to the PM 0.1 mass including traffic (gasoline and diesel emissions, 46.28%), secondary emissions (31.18%), resident/commerce (12.23%), industry (6.05%), and road/construction (2.92%).

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is one of the cities in developing countries where many concentrations of air pollutants exceeded the Vietnam national technical regulation in ambient air quality including TSP, NO x , Ozone and CO. These high pollutant concentrations have destroyed the human health of people in HCMC. Many zones in HCMC can’t receive more air pollutants. The objectives of this research are: (i) Air quality modeling over HCMC by using the TAPM-CTM system model by using a bottom up air emission inventory; and (ii) Study loading capactities of air pollutant emissions over Ho Chi Minh City. Simulations of air pollution were conducted in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the largest city of Vietnam by using the TAPM-CTM model. The model performance was evaluated using observed meteorological data at Tan Son Hoa station and air quality data at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science. The model is then applied to simulate a retire 1-year period to determine the levels of air pollutants in HCMC in 2017, 2025 and 2030. The results show that the highest concentrations of CO, NO 2 , and O 3 in 2017 exceeded the National technical regulation in ambient air quality (QCVN 05:2013) 1.5, 1.5, and 1.1 times, respectively. These values also will increase in 2025 and 2030 if the local government does not have any plan for the reduction of emissions, especially, SO 2 in 2030 also will be 1.02 times higher than that in QCVN 05:2013. The emission zoning was initially studied by calculating and simulating the loading capacities of each pollutant based on the highest concentration and the National technical regulation in ambient air quality. The results show that the center of HCMC could not receive anymore the emission, even needs to reduce half of the emission. Under the easterly prevailing wind in the dry season, the high pollution was more likely to be experienced in the west of Ho Chi Minh. In contrast, the eastern regions were the upwind areas and the pollutants could transport to the downwind sectors. It was recommended that the best strategy for emission control in HCMC is avoiding industrial and urban development in the upwind areas to achieve better air quality for both areas. In the case of necessity to choose one area for development, the downwind sector is preferred. The results show that TAPM-CTM performed well as applied to simulate the air quality in HCMC and is a promising tool to study the emission zoning.

Increasing antibiotic resistance is a matter of grave concern for consumers, public health authorities, farmers, and researchers. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as novel and effective non-antibiotic tools to combat infectious diseases in poultry. In this study, we evaluated six avian AMPs including 2 truncated cathelicidins, [CATH-1(6–26) and CATH-2(1–15)], and 4 avian β-defensins (ABD1, 2, 6 and 9) for their bactericidal and immunomodulatory activities. Our findings have shown CATH-1(6–26) and ABD1 being the two most potent avian AMPs effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria investigated in these studies. Moreover, CATH-1(6–26) inhibited LPS-induced NO production and exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity to HD11 cells. While, ABD1 blocked LPS-induced IL-1β gene induction and was non-toxic to HD11 cells. Importantly, in ovo administration of these AMPs demonstrated that ABD1 can offer significant protection from early chick mortality (44% less mortality in ABD1 treated group versus the control group) due to the experimental yolk sac infection caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli . Our data suggest that in ovo administration of ABD1 has immunomodulatory and anti-infection activity comparable with CpG ODN. Thus, ABD1 can be a significant addition to potential alternatives to antibiotics for the control of bacterial infections in young chicks.

Concentrations and congener profiles of seven di- to hexachlorinated benzenes (CBzs) were characterized in bottom ash and fly ash samples collected simultaneously from one medical waste incinerator (MEWI) and one municipal waste incinerator (MUWI) in northern Vietnam. Total concentrations of seven CBzs in the fly ash samples ranged from 6.98 to 34.4 (median 19.1) ng g −1 in the MEWI, and ranged from 59.1 to 391 (median 197) ng g −1 in the MUWI. Concentrations of CBzs in the bottom ash samples of the MEWI (median 1.95; range 1.53–5.98 ng g −1 ) were also lower than those measured in the MUWI samples (median 17.4; range 14.5–42.6 ng g −1 ). Levels of CBzs in the fly ash samples were significantly higher than concentrations measured in the bottom ash samples, partially indicating the low-temperature catalytic formation of these pollutants in post-combustion zone. In general, higher chlorinated congeners (e.g., hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, and 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene) were more abundant than lower chlorinated compounds. However, compositional profiles of CBzs were different between the ash types and incinerators and even between the same sample types of different sampling days, suggesting that the formation of CBzs in these incinerators is complicated and influenced by many factors. Emission factors and annual emission amounts of CBzs were estimated for the two incinerators by using actually measured data of CBz concentrations in the ash. Daily intake doses and cancer risks of ash-bound CBzs estimated for workers in the two incinerators were generally lower than critical values, but cancer risks caused by other relevant pollutants (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxin-related compounds) were not considered.

Patient-reported outcome comparisons require measurement equivalence, which is seldom tested in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) diabetes research. We examined equivalence of the Diabetes Self-Management Instrument-35 (DSMI-35), Diabetes Distress Scale-17 (DDS-17), and Asian Diabetes Quality of Life (AsianDQOL) scale across sex, fasting-glucose stratum, and educational attainment in Vietnamese adults with type 2 diabetes. We conducted a secondary analysis of 374 adults (female 152, male 222; lower-FBG < 154 mg/dL, = 212; higher-FBG = 162; secondary-or-lower = 202; tertiary-or-higher = 172). Multi-group CFA (lavaan) tested configural, metric, and scalar equivalence of a parcel-level three-factor model (parcel-level equivalence does not imply item-level equivalence). Path equality was evaluated with scaled Satorra-Bentler likelihood-ratio tests; indirect effects were bootstrapped ( = 5000). Scalar-equivalence change-index criteria (ΔCFI ≤ 0.010; ΔRMSEA ≤ 0.015) were met for all groupings; however, for fasting glucose the configural baseline fit was weak (RMSEA 0.117-0.119), so fasting-glucose equivalence is reported only as provisional and is not interpreted at the level of the sex and education findings. McDonald's ω was ≥ 0.959 in every subgroup. Structural paths did not differ by sex (Δχ (3) = 1.18, = 0.758; not powered for equivalence) but differed by education (Δχ (3) = 71.16, < 0.001), with the cross-sectional association structure differing by education (distress-channelled in tertiary-or-higher and partly direct in secondary-or-lower participants); because the data are cross-sectional, these are differences in association structure, not established mediation. The fasting-glucose structural comparison was not interpretable because the lower-FBG subgroup (FBG < 154 mg/dL, = 212) had a non-positive-definite latent covariance matrix. Scalar equivalence criteria were met for sex and education and only preliminarily supported for fasting-glucose stratum, where elevated configural RMSEA (0.119) cautions against firm interpretation. The self-management → distress → quality-of-life pathway showed no detected sex difference but differed by educational attainment. Measurement equivalence testing, including configural-fit assessment, should be routine in LMIC patient-reported outcome validation.

The use of eggshells as an alternative source of calcium carbonate for groundnut can reduce the impact on the natural reserves of limestone, a non-renewable natural source. This study aimed to investigate the effects of eggshell powder application on the growth and yield of groundnut. The calcium treatments were lime application (A0) at 500 kg ha −1 and four rates of eggshell powder application including A1 (200 kg ha −1 ), A2 (300 kg ha −1 ), A3 (400 kg ha −1 ), and A4 (500 kg ha −1 ). Two application times, T1 (applying 5-days before sowing) and T2 (applying 5-days after flowering) were employed. The result showed that eggshell powder could be a useful alternative source to supply Ca for groundnut. Application of eggshell powder before sowing resulted in significantly higher pod yield and total calcium uptake with better growth parameters than after flowering. Increasing eggshell powder application rates also increased soil pH and calcium contents, and plant calcium uptake. The application rate of eggshell powder before sowing at the rate of 300 kg ha −1 produced the highest pod yield and was suggested to be optimum.

Diseases caused by flaviviruses, including dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, are major health problems in Vietnam. This cross-sectional study explored the feasibility of domestic dogs as sentinels to better understand risks of mosquito-borne diseases in Hanoi city. A total of 475 dogs serum samples from 221 households in six districts of Hanoi were analyzed by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for antibodies to the pr-E protein of West Nile virus and other flaviviruses due to cross-reactivity. The overall flavivirus seroprevalence in the dog population was 70.7% (95% CI = 66.4–74.8%). At the animal level, significant associations between seropositive dogs and district location, age, breed and keeping practice were determined. At the household level, the major risk factors were rural and peri-urban locations, presence of pigs, coil burning and households without mosquito-borne disease experience (p < 0.05). Mosquito control by using larvicides or electric traps could lower seropositivity, but other measures did not contribute to significant risk mitigation of flavivirus exposure in dogs. These results will support better control of mosquito-borne diseases in Hanoi, and they indicate that dogs can be used as sentinels for flavivirus exposure.

Polychlorinated benzenes (PCBzs) including penta- and hexachlorobenzene can be unintentionally formed from thermal processes in different industrial activities, and very little information is available on the contamination and emission characteristics of these new persistent organic pollutants from industries in Vietnam. In this study, contamination of PCBzs (including penta- and hexachlorobenzene, named PeCBz and HCB, respectively) and PCBs (including CB-28, 52, 101, 153, 138, 180) in fly ash, bottom ash and soil from combustion processes of waste incineration, metallurgy (steel making and zinc production) and cement production from several provinces in the Northern Vietnam, including Hai Duong, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong and Thai Nguyen, was preliminary investigated. The PCBzs concentrations in fly ash, bottom ash and soil ranged from 2.7 to 100 ng g −1 , from 2.7 to 159 ng g −1 and from 0.28 to 33.9 ng g −1 , respectively. Relatively high residues of PeCBz in fly ash and bottom ash from municipal waste incinerators in some provinces from the Northern Vietnam were encountered. Total PCBs concentrations ranged from 18.0 to 8260 ng g −1 , from 1.0 to 10600 ng g −1 and from 14.5 to 130 ng g −1 for the fly ash, bottom ash and soil, respectively. Daily intakes of PeCBz, HCB and PCBs through soil ingestion and dermal exposure estimated for children ranged 0.33–9.93 (mean 3.14), 0.39–21.1 (mean 4.9) and 6.09–1530 ng/kg bw/day (mean 346), respectively; and these intakes were about 4.7–5.4 times higher than those estimated for adult. The intakes of PeCBz and HCB were relatively low, while those for PCBs exceeded WHO TDI for some samples.

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients prescribed with nilotinib as a second-line therapy and explores the influential factors. Methods A multicenter retrospective survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A total of 121 adult CML patients resistant to imatinib and used nilotinib for at least 3 months were enrolled. The influential features were assessed by multiple linear regression models. Results Patients had the mean age of 47.49 (SD = 13.67) years, dominated by middle-aged and male groups. The mean scores of functions ranged from 75 to 83, and those of symptoms were from 5 to 28, with the highest of fatigue (28.28), insomnia (22.87), and pain (21.07). The mean global health status/QoL score was 67.70 (SD = 16.80) with considerable financial difficulties (52.34 (SD = 32.15)). Male patients reported higher functional scores and fewer symptoms compared with female patients. All aspects of QoL became worse with increasing age. Besides age and gender, level of education, duration of nilotinib usage, and comorbidities were also significantly influential factors in many QoL domains. A predicted model for expected mean scores of QoL domains was built based on these factors. Conclusions The CML patients treated with nilotinib had the above-moderate QoL scores, a light decrease of functional scores, great financial difficulties, and still experienced symptoms. Strategies and more therapeutic considerations to enhance QoL for CML patients targeted toward women, the old, low educational level, and long duration of nilotinib usage, and many comorbidities are needed in the setting.

Purpose This study aims to answer two questions: do self-efficacy and outcome expectations serial mediate the effect of entrepreneurial education (EE) on the intention to start a business? and how can the social cognitive career theory explain entrepreneurial intention (EI)? Design/methodology/approach This study is based on the social cognitive career theory to examine the effect of EE on start-up intention via self-efficacy and outcome expectations by a serial mediation model. A sample of 1,232 students in Vietnam and the structural equal modelling method was used to test the hypotheses. Findings The results of this study reveal that entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) significantly mediates the effect of EE on the intention to start a business. Similarly, entrepreneurial outcome expectations (EOEs) mediate the association between EE and EI. Especially, the results of serial mediation analysis show that ESE and EOEs serially mediate the EE–intention relationship. Originality/value Under a new perspective of social cognitive career theory, the current study is expected to contribute to clarifying the gap in the relationship between EE and EI. In addition, this study also contributes to investigating the antecedents of ESE and outcome expectations and providing empirical evidence supporting the relevance of social cognitive career theory in explaining EI.