In the present study, experiments using zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite for immobilization of Cd and Pb ions in artificial soil were conducted. The conditions which affect Cd and Pb ion immobilization ...in soil were evaluated, namely soil pH (5-7), the mass ratio of adsorbents (1%, 3% and 5%), incubation time (15 days, 30 days and 45 days) and soil moisture (30%, 50% and 70%). The results indicated that the optimal soil pH, mass ratio of adsorbents, incubation time and soil moisture for immobilization of Cd and Pb ions by the adsorbent were, respectively, 7.0, 3%, 30 days and 70%. The exchangeable Cd ion content in the contaminated soil dropped from 22.17 mg kg
−1
(87.65%) to 11.03 mg kg
−1
(43.48%) and 6.47 mg kg
−1
(26.36%) on incubation with zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite, respectively, while the exchangeable Pb content fell from 23.28 mg kg
−1
(90.02%) to 14.12 mg kg
−1
(54.04%) and 9.47 mg kg
−1
(35.24%) using zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite as absorbents in contaminated soil, respectively. Fe-Mn oxide occluded (F2), carbonate bound (F3) and organically complexed (F4) were the main forms for immobilization of the exchangeable Cd and Pb when the zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite absorbents were separately cultivated into soil. Precipitation, co-precipitation and electrostatic attraction were the main mechanisms of exchangeable Cd and Pb immobilization onto the Mg/Al LDH-zeolite to form carbonate metals (CdCO
3
and PbCO
3
). This was due to the surface functional groups of the adsorbent and the presence of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides, Mn oxides, and Si and O elements in the Mg/Al LDH-zeolite's constituents. The efficiency of Cd and Pb immobilization by the Mg/Al LDH-zeolite was higher than that by zeolite from 1.5 to 1.6 times. The Mg/Al LDH-zeolite showed an enhanced ability of exchangeable Cd and Pb immobilization in contaminated soil.
In the present study, experiments using zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite for immobilization of Cd and Pb ions in artificial soil were conducted.
Background: Streptococcus suis can cause severe systemic infection in adults exposed to infected pigs or after consumption of undercooked pig products. S. suis is often misdiagnosed, due to lack of ...awareness and improper testing. Here we report the first fifty cases diagnosed with S. suis infection in northern Viet Nam. Methodology/Principal Findings: In 2007, diagnostics for S. suis were set up at a national hospital in Hanoi. That year there were 43 S. suis positive cerebrospinal fluid samples, of which S. suis could be cultured in 32 cases and 11 cases were only positive by PCR. Seven patients were blood culture positive for S. suis but CSF culture and PCR negative; making a total of 50 patients with laboratory confirmed S. suis infection in 2007. The number of S. suis cases peaked during the warmer months. Conclusions/Significance: S. suis was commonly diagnosed as a cause of bacterial meningitis in adults in northern Viet Nam. In countries where there is intense and widespread exposure of humans to pigs, S. suis can be an important human pathogen.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) retention and 5 early-warning indicators (EWIs) of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) were abstracted at 27 adult and 4 pediatric clinics in Vietnam in 2009. Of 4531 adults and ...313 children, 81.2% and 84.4% respectively were still on ART at 12 months. More than 90% of the clinics monitored achieved the World Health Organization (WHO) targets for lost-to-follow-up (LTFU), ART prescribing practices, and ARV supply continuity. Only 83.9% of the clinics met the target for first-line ART retention and 79.3% met the target for clinic appointment-keeping. Clinic factors (i.e. number of patients, administrative level, and geographical region) were associated with ART retention and LFTU. Data were useful in guiding public health action to optimize ART services.
In this report, we describe the structure of a robust and highly conductive 3D graphene oxide hydrogel. The reduced graphene oxide hydrogel or rGH is fabricated by a crosslinking reaction with ...ethylene diamine followed by a hydrazine reduction. The material showed a high electrical conductivity of 1351 S m super(-1) and a specific surface area of 745 m super(2) g super(-1) with 10.3 MPa break strength. When used as electrodes for a supercapacitor, it showed a high specific capacitance of 232 F g super(-1).
Un-doped and Ni-doped FeS
2
nanoparticles (NPs) with a doping concentration of 4.0 at.% have been synthesized by a solvothermal method. The obtained materials have been characterized by means of XRD, ...SEM, BET, Raman and UV–VIS spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity has been evaluated based on degrading methylene blue with thin films of the NPs under UV–VIS light irradiation. An important observation was that the activity increases in the sequence FeS
2
NPs → Ni-doped FeS
2
NPs → composite of FeS
2
NPs/rGO. The enhanced energy gap and enlarged surface area, achieved by the Ni-doping and adding rGO were considered to be the main reason for the improved photocatalytic activity. Additionally, the mechanism of degradation has been studied using several scavengers. The photo-generated
·
OH
and
·
O
2
-
have shown to be dominant radicals in the visible light MB degradation. The presented data strongly suggest that the composite of FeS
2
NPs/rGO may be an efficient heterogeneous photo-catalyst for the degradation of the organic contaminant and water treatment. The proposed film forms of materials are promising for convenient reuse after a low-cost cleaning.
COVID-19 significantly disrupted tuberculosis (TB) services in Vietnam. In response, the National TB Program (NTP) integrated TB screening using mobile chest X-rays into COVID-19 vaccination events. ...This prospective cohort study evaluated the integrated model's yield, treatment outcomes, and costs. We further fitted regressions to identify risk factors and conduct interrupted time-series analyses in the study area, Vietnam's eight economic regions, and at the national level. At 115 events, we conducted 48,758 X-ray screens and detected 174 individuals with TB. We linked 89.7% to care, while 92.9% successfully completed treatment. The mean costs per person diagnosed with TB was 547. TB risk factors included male sex (aOR equivalent 6.44, p < 0.001), age of 45-59 years (aOR equivalent 1.81, p equivalent 0.006) and >=60 years (aOR equivalent 1.99, p equivalent 0.002), a history of TB (aOR equivalent 7.96, p < 0.001), prior exposure to TB (aOR equivalent 3.90, p equivalent 0.001), and symptomatic presentation (aOR equivalent 2.75, p < 0.001). There was a significant decline in TB notifications during the Delta wave and significant increases immediately after lockdowns were lifted (IRR(gamma1) equivalent 5.00; 95%CI: (2.86, 8.73); p < 0.001) with a continuous upward trend thereafter (IRR(gamma2) equivalent 1.39; 95%CI: (1.22, 1.38); p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed at the national level and in all regions but the northeast region. The NTP's swift actions and policy decisions ensured continuity of care and led to the rapid recovery of TB notifications, which May serve as blueprint for future pandemics.
•We studied housing & working conditions among migrants vs. non-migrants in Vietnam.•Migrants reported higher income but also more hazardous working conditions.•Stronger social protection policy and ...information channels for migrants are needed.
While internal migrants in Vietnam have been a key driving force in the country's rapid economic development, they also face many vulnerabilities. Our study seeks to explore possible inequalities in housing and working conditions between local and internal migrant industrial workers in Vietnam.
Cross-sectional surveys were conducted with 1200 industrial workers in four regions of Vietnam. Dependent variables included housing conditions (satisfaction with convenience of accommodation, sanitation and water of accommodation, and accommodation in general) and working conditions (satisfaction with income, monthly income, number of hazardous working conditions, and work-related stress measured through the modified Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire). The primary independent variable is migrant status. Covariates included region, gender, education, marital status, accommodation status, living arrangements, industry, age, monthly income, experience, and working hours.
Of the sample, 24.7% (n = 296) were migrants. Overall, no differences were found regarding housing conditions by migrant status. In adjusted regression models, migrants reported higher numbers of hazardous working conditions (β = 0.07, 95 %CI = 0.01–0.13, p = 0.01) and higher monthly income (β = 0.05, 95 %CI = 0.01–0.09, p = 0.02).
Recent state-level changes in the Vietnamese household registration system may explain the lack of differences in housing conditions by migrant status. Future research should utilize longitudinal designs to examine impacts over time of state policy on migrants’ housing conditions as well as well-being. Regarding working conditions, findings highlight the need for stronger social protection policy and better information channels on occupational health and safety for migrants. Further research, including qualitative studies, is needed to explore why migrants face more hazardous working conditions.
In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, each country is presented with both opportunities and challenges, some unique and some shared with the global community. It is important to not only recognize, ...but to embrace them as drivers of the public to the current pandemic success. In this commentary, we discuss the opportunities and challenges that may affect ongoing public health programming in Australia within the current context of epidemiology. COVID-19 within Australia has to date been effectively suppressed through the implementation of nationally coordinated, in which the state delivered public policy, guidelines and practice, and successful establishment of a comprehensive testing, contact tracing, patient isolation and contact quarantine regime combined with national and state social distancing, hygiene etiquette and movement restrictions. However, despite its success to date great challenges lay ahead for future public health policy with the threat of a second wave, or more likely, multiple smaller outbreaks across various population centres. Therefore, policies that aim to balance the twin socioeconomic and health impacts are crucial. The experience of Australia in managing its COVID-19 response can provide a case study for other countries to reshape or adapt their policies and actions in the context of emerging global health crises.
In this study, we investigated the thermal stability properties in inert atmospheres of GaTe single crystals fabricated by a temperature gradient technique. The obtained crystals possess a monoclinic ...layered structure with high crystalline quality. To explore the thermal stability of GaTe, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed up to 1173 K in N2 and Ar atmospheres. GaTe crystals are thermally stable up to 700 K in Ar and stable up to 935 K in N2 due to the protective role of the physically adsorbed N2 molecules on GaTe surface. Annealing effect on the structural and optical properties of GaTe were examined after thermal treatment in N2 atmosphere at different temperatures; 573, 673, 773, and 873 K. Three prominent Raman modes at 97 cm−1 (Ag), 145 cm−1 (Ag), and 158 cm−1 (Bg) corresponding to the monoclinic GaTe phase almost remained, suggesting no structural damage at elevated temperatures. Especially, the photoluminescence (PL) intensity is improved as the annealing temperature increases and reaches a maximum at 673 K owing to the enhancement in the GaTe crystallinity. Above 873 K, we observed a significant reduction in the PL intensity, which is attributed to the vacancies induced by tellurium evaporation.
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•GaTe single crystals have successfully been grown by a temperature gradient technique.•GaTe is thermally stable up to 700 K in an Ar atmosphere and up to 935 K in a N2 atmosphere.•Thermal annealing under N2 gas at temperatures below 673 K increases the PL intensity through the crystallinity enhancement.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is among the leading causes of death in Vietnam. Survivors of TBI suffer from functional and cognitive deficits. Understanding that Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and ...Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are crucial in measuring the treatment and health-related quality of life among patients with TBI. This study aims to evaluate ADLs and IADLs among the TBI population in Vietnam and determine the correlated factors to these two indices. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 patients with TBI in Vietnam from February to September 2020. ADLs and IADLs scales were applied. Depression, quality of sleep, and social support scales were used. Multivariate Tobit regression was adopted to identify factors associated with ADLs and IADLs. Patients who received first aid had higher ADLs scores than those who had not, by a statistical difference with a p value = 0.04. The mean ADLs score was 5.4 (SD = 1.4). The mean score of IADLs was 7.3 (SD = 1.7). Female patients (Mean = 7.6, SD = 1.1) performed better in IADLs than male patients (Mean = 7.1, SD = 1.9). Both ADLs and IADLs were affected strongly by depression and Injury Severity scores (p < 0.01), whereas IADLs were significantly correlated to caregiver types and quality of sleep (p < 0.01). Family support was observed as a negatively correlated factor to IADLs. Findings from the study provided evidence for authorities to adjust the health strategies among patients with TBI. Proper prehospital care, a basic low-cost hospital care model, and mental health counseling services should be considered when developing health interventions in Vietnam.
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