An Effective Health System Approach to End TB: Implementing the Double X Strategy in Vietnam.

Countries that are high burden for TB must reverse the COVID-19 pandemic's devastating effects to accelerate progress toward ending TB. Vietnam's Double X (2X) strategy uses chest radiography (CXR) and GeneXpert (Xpert) rapid diagnostic testing to improve early detection of TB disease. Household contacts and vulnerable populations (e.g., individuals aged 60 years and older, smokers, diabetics, those with alcohol use disorders, and those previously treated for TB) with and without TB symptoms were screened in community campaigns using CXRs, followed by Xpert for those with a positive screen. In public non-TB district facilities, diabetics, respiratory outpatients, inpatients with lung disease, and other vulnerable populations underwent 2X evaluation. During COVID-19 restrictions in Vietnam, the 2X strategy improved access to TB services by decentralization to commune health stations, the lowest level of the health system, and enabling self-screening using a quick response mobile application. The number needed to screen (NNS) with CXRs to diagnose 1 person with TB disease was calculated for all 2X models and showed the highest yield among self-screeners (11 NNS with CXR), high yield for vulnerable populations in communities (60 NNS) and facilities (19 NNS), and moderately high yield for household contacts in community campaigns (154 NNS). Computer-aided diagnosis for CXRs was incorporated into community and facility implementation and improved physicians' CXR interpretations and Xpert referral decisions. Integration of TB infection and TB disease evaluation increased eligibility for TB preventive treatment among household contacts, a major challenge during implementation. The 2X strategy increased the rational use of Xpert, employing a health system-wide approach that reached vulnerable populations with and without TB symptoms in communities and facilities for early detection of TB disease. This strategy was effectively adapted to different levels of the health system during COVID-19 restrictions and contributed to post-pandemic TB recovery in Vietnam.

Injection Molding Condition Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Coconut-Wood-Powder-Based Polymer Composite.

This study investigates the mechanical properties of coconut sawdust powder combined with polypropylene (PP). The effect of compatibility content, wood powder (WP) content, and injection molding parameters on the properties of coconut wood powder composite (WPC) is evaluated. The results could be used to figure out the optimal mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, elastic modulus, and flexural strength by selecting suitable parameters and composition. The bonding between the WP particles and the PP matrix is good, and the WP is uniformly distributed across the composite matrix, as indicated in the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results. Interestingly, with the presence of the compatibilizer oleamide, increasing the WP content from 20 wt.% to 40 wt.% did not result in WP accumulation in the composite matrix. Notably, at 20 wt.% WP, the elongation is the highest (at 7.40 wt.%), while at 30 wt.% WP, the elastic modulus reaches the highest value. The maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) value is obtained at 35 wt.% WP. Higher WP mostly results in greater flexural strength and shore D hardness. At 40 wt.% WP, the WPC achieves its peak shore D hardness of 77.6. The Taguchi results suggest that WP content is the most critical factor in the UTS value of coconut WPCs. The filling pressure ranks second, followed by the packing pressure. Finally, unlike the other characteristics, the melt temperature has a minimal impact on the UTS value.

Effect of LED Illumination Cycle and Carbon Sources on Biofilms of Haematococcus pluvialis in Pilot-Scale Angled Twin-Layer Porous Substrate Photobioreactors.

Light-emitting diodes are increasingly used as artificial light sources in Haematococcus pluvialis cultivation due to the fact of their energy advantages. The immobilized cultivation of H. pluvialis in pilot-scale angled twin-layer porous substrate photobioreactors (TL-PSBRs) was initially performed with a 14/10 h light/dark cycle and showed relatively low biomass growth and astaxanthin accumulation. In this study, the illumination time with red and blue LEDs at a light intensity of 120 µmol photons m-2 s-1 was increased to 16-24 h per day. With a light/dark cycle of 22/2 h, the biomass productivity of the algae was 7.5 g m-2 day-1, 2.4 times higher than in the 14/10 h cycle. The percentage of astaxanthin in the dry biomass was 2%, and the total amount of astaxanthin was 1.7 g m-2. Along with the increase in light duration, adding 10 or 20 mM NaHCO3 to the BG11-H culture medium over ten days of cultivation in angled TL-PSBRs did not increase the total amount of astaxanthin compared with only CO2 addition at a flow rate of 3.6 mg min-1 to the culture medium. Adding NaHCO3 with a 30-80 mM concentration inhibited algal growth and astaxanthin accumulation. However, adding 10-40 mM NaHCO3 caused algal cells to accumulate astaxanthin at a high percentage in dry weight after the first four days in TL-PSBRs.

Characterization of a Novel Alphaherpesvirus Isolated from the Fruit Bat Pteropus lylei in Vietnam.

Herpesviruses exist in nature within each host animal. Ten herpesviruses have been isolated from bats and their biological properties reported. A novel bat alphaherpesvirus, which we propose to name "Pteropus lylei-associated alphaherpesvirus (PLAHV)," was isolated from urine of the fruit bat Pteropus lylei in Vietnam and characterized. The entire genome sequence was determined to be 144,008 bp in length and predicted to include 72 genes. PLAHV was assigned to genus Simplexvirus with other bat alphaherpesviruses isolated from pteropodid bats in Southeast Asia and Africa. The replication capacity of PLAHV in several cells was evaluated in comparison with that of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). PLAHV replicated better in the bat-originated cell line and less in human embryonic lung fibroblasts than HSV-1 did. PLAHV was serologically related to another bat alphaherpesvirus, Pteropodid alphaherpesvirus 1 (PtAHV1), isolated from a Pteropus hypomelanus-related bat captured in Indonesia, but not with HSV-1. PLAHV caused lethal infection in mice. PLAHV was as susceptible to acyclovir as HSV-1 was. Characterization of this new member of bat alphaherpesviruses, PLAHV, expands the knowledge on bat-associated alphaherpesvirology.IMPORTANCE A novel bat alphaherpesvirus, Pteropus lylei-associated alphaherpesvirus (PLAHV), was isolated from urine of the fruit bat Pteropus lylei in Vietnam. The whole-genome sequence was determined and was predicted to include 72 open reading frames in the 144,008-bp genome. PLAHV is circulating in a species of fruit bats, Pteropus lylei, in Asia. This study expands the knowledge on bat-associated alphaherpesvirology.

A bacterial acetyltransferase destroys plant microtubule networks and blocks secretion.

The eukaryotic cytoskeleton is essential for structural support and intracellular transport, and is therefore a common target of animal pathogens. However, no phytopathogenic effector has yet been demonstrated to specifically target the plant cytoskeleton. Here we show that the Pseudomonas syringae type III secreted effector HopZ1a interacts with tubulin and polymerized microtubules. We demonstrate that HopZ1a is an acetyltransferase activated by the eukaryotic co-factor phytic acid. Activated HopZ1a acetylates itself and tubulin. The conserved autoacetylation site of the YopJ / HopZ superfamily, K289, plays a critical role in both the avirulence and virulence function of HopZ1a. Furthermore, HopZ1a requires its acetyltransferase activity to cause a dramatic decrease in Arabidopsis thaliana microtubule networks, disrupt the plant secretory pathway and suppress cell wall-mediated defense. Together, this study supports the hypothesis that HopZ1a promotes virulence through cytoskeletal and secretory disruption.

Nanomolar concentrations of prostaglandin F2 alpha potentiate cholinergic contractions of rabbit isolated tracheal muscle.

The effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) on stimulation- or acetylcholine-evoked contractions were studied in isolated airway muscle preparations from rabbits, guinea-pigs and humans. Low concentrations of PGF2 alpha (10(-9) to 9 X 10(-8) mol/1) produced a dose-related (10-300%) increase in the contractile responses of the rabbit trachealis muscle to electrical stimulation at 2 Hz. This effect was inversely related to the rate of stimulation. In seven out of forty two preparations the resting muscle tone was also increased by 1.1 X 10(-8) mol/1 or higher concentrations of PGF2 alpha. This substance enhanced the contractile responses to acetylcholine (1-2.7 X 10(-8) mol/1) to the same extent as those to electrical stimulation. The potentiation produced by PGF2 alpha was not affected by indomethacin, mepyramine, methysergide or phenoxybenzamine. Electrically evoked contractions of isolated tracheal strips of guinea-pig or segments of human bronchial muscles were not changed significantly in the presence of 0.1-5 X 10(-8) mol/1 of PGF2 alpha. These results suggest that PGF2 alpha may modulate airway muscle tone by enhancing the postsynaptic stimulatory effect of acetylcholine released from the pulmonary cholinergic nerve endings. This modulation seems to be species-dependent.