Dong Thap Research Articles

<span>Researching consultation demand of high school students in Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province</span>

The satisfaction of the consultation demand in schools is essential and urgent to indirectly prevent negative behaviors of students when they cannot control themselves, thereby helping students regulate their emotions and behaviors, and guide them to make appropriate directions and choices and improve their situation in a positive direction. The research surveyed 450 students at high schools in Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province. Research findings show that high school students have quite high consultation demand with a variety of different demands that need to be satisfied. However, reality shows that students do not have access to consultation activities to satisfy their demand due to being influenced by many subjective and objective factors. This requires practical solutions to satisfy students' consultation demand.

<span><strong>Factors affecting learning activeness of students from the Faculty of Social Sciences Teacher Education, School of Education, Dong Thap University</strong></span>

Students' activeness in learning plays an important role in comprehending the content of university teaching because the nature of university teaching is a unique cognitive activity of a research nature of students under the organization and instructions by teachers. Therefore, activeness in learning requires students to be proactive in assigned learning tasks, forming a sense of self-study and self-research during university studies and in professional activities in their future careers. Students' activeness in learning is the result of subjective and objective factors. This article presents the results of a survey of the current status of factors affecting the active learning of students at the Faculty of Social Sciences Teacher Education at Dong Thap University to serve as a basis for further research on methods of student education.

Ultrastructural Characteristics of the Mature Spermatozoon of Artyfechinostomum malayanum (Digenea: Echinostomatidae), an Intestinal Parasite of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae) in Vietnam.

The study of sperm characteristics has proven useful for elucidating interrelationships in several groups of Platyhelminthes, such as digeneans. Thus, in the present work, the ultrastructural organization of the mature spermatozoon of the digenean Artyfechinostomum malayanum (Echinostomatidae), a parasite of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, was investigated for the first time using transmission electron microscopy. The male gamete of A. malayanum exhibits two axonemes of different lengths, showing the 9 + '1' pattern of the Trepaxonemata, a nucleus, two mitochondria, two lateral expansions, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, external ornamentation, spine-like bodies, and granules of glycogen. Thus, the mature spermatozoon follows a Type V sperm model proposed for digeneans. We also highlight some noteworthy characteristics in Echinostomatidae with possible phylogenetic implications, such as two lateral expansions in the anterior region of the spermatozoon and two mitochondria.

Association between emotional intelligence and mental health status based on sex differences among undergraduates in Vietnam

Public health concerns about mental health problems have recently received attention, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Emotional intelligence (EI) is a significant factor linked to mental health status, including depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS), with sex playing a significant role in both DAS and EI status. This study aimed to describe DAS and EI status and assess sex differences in the associations between EI and DAS among undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted across three educational institutions in Dong Thap province, southern Vietnam, using the validated Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify correlations between DAS and EI, and the sex differences in the associations between DAS and the four SSEIT constructs - emotion perception (EP), utilizing emotion (UE), managing self-relevant emotion (MSE), and managing others' emotion (MOE) - were examined using linear regression models. Among the 674 participants, 51.6% experienced mental health problems (64.1% for females, 35.9% for males), 47.0% experienced anxiety, 32.5% experienced depression, and 27.4% experienced stress. The average EI score was 119.3 ± 18.9 (120.0 ± 19.1 for females, 118.0 ± 18.5 for males), with 58.9% of participants having normal EI, while 29.2% and 11.9% had low and high EI, respectively. Negative correlations were observed between EI scores and depression (R=-0.16, p<0.001) and anxiety (R=-0.09, p=0.020), especially among females. Findings indicated that MSE showed significant associations with DAS, especially in females (all β<-0.318, all p<0.001). Our study highlights the importance of considering sex in mental health prevention programs targeting EI skills to manage students' self-relevant emotions better.

Immunogenicity of Abdala COVID-19 vaccine in Vietnamese people after primary and booster vaccinations: A prospective observational study in Vietnam

ObjectivesWe studied the immunogenicity after primary and booster vaccinations of the Abdala COVID-19 vaccine, a receptor-binding domain protein subunit vaccine, in Vietnamese people by determining the level of neutralization and cross-neutralization activities against the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and its variants and SARS-CoV-1. MethodsWe performed a prospective observational study, enrolling adults aged 19-59 years in Dong Thap province, southern Vietnam, and collected blood samples from baseline until 4 weeks after the booster dose. We measured anti-nucleocapsid, anti-spike, and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and assessed the cross-neutralization against 14 SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV-1. Complementary antibody data came from Vietnamese health care workers fully vaccinated with ChAdOx1-S. ResultsAfter primary vaccination, anti-spike antibody and neutralizing antibodies were detectable in 98.4% and 87% of 251 study participants, respectively, with neutralizing antibody titers similar to that induced by ChAdOx1-S vaccine. Antibody responses after a homologous (Abdala COVID-19) or heterologous (messenger RNA BNT162b2) booster could neutralize 14 SARS-CoV-2 variants (including Omicron) and SARS-CoV-1. ConclusionsAbdala COVID-19 vaccine is immunogenic in Vietnamese people. Enhanced antibody response after a booster dose could cross-neutralize 14 SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV-1. Our results have added to the growing body of knowledge about the contribution of protein subunit vaccine platforms to pandemic control.

<span>Diversity of flowering plants in Gao Giong ecotourism area, Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province</span>

The study was conducted to assess the diversity of flowering plants (Magnoliophyta) in Gao Giong ecotourism area, Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap provine, through field surveys and plant sampling collection in typical habitats. The results recorded 89 families, 249 genera and 337 species. Taxa belonging to Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledonae) are more diversified than Liliopsida (Monocotyledonae) with 240 species, 174 genera and 68 families. Families of most species members are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae and Amanrathaceae. Genera of most diverse species are Cyperus, Ficus, Ipomoea, Nymphaea and Alternanthera. The flora has 5 main types of stem forms: woody plants, herbs, shrubs, vines and parasitic plants in which herbaceous plants dominate with 192 species. Value used of plants has been 10 main groups. Among these, medicinal plants have most diversity with 205 species (60.83%). Gao Giong ecotourism has 2 endangered species listed in Vietnam’s Red Book (2007) of Oryza rufipogon and Elaeocarpus hygrophilus.

<span>Some data about the food composition of amphibians in Cao Lanh city, Dong Thap province </span>

On the rice field ecosystem in Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province, there are 6 species of amphibians distributed: Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Kaloula pulchra and Hylarana guentheri have the most diversity of feed ingredients; Fejervarya limnocharis, Hoplobatrachus rugulosus and Ichthyophis bannanicus have less food diversity; Scolopendomorpha and Polydesmoidea are the least, accounting for 1,2%. Amphibians have the most food frequency in Coleoptera, followed by Hymenoptera and Orthoptera. Amphibians are usually terrestrial, eating mainly insects. The frequency of pests was lowest in the period from sowing seeds until the rice had 3 leaves germinated, the lowest in the period of yellow rice until after harvest, the highest at the stage of rice with milk in the grain to the stage of green - ripened rice. The frequency of encounters of Hoplobatrachus rugulosus and Fejervarya limnocharis is lowest at the stage of seeding until rice germination, decrease gradually in the period of ripe rice until after harvest, stage 4 (Rice with milk in the grain until green ripening) has the highest frequency. In stage 1, there is the lowest frequency of encountering amphibians and pests, frequency increases gradually to stage 2 and peaks at stage 4, decreasing at stage 5.

<span>Predicting learning status of informatics students at Dong Thap University based on machine learning models</span>

For effective student support, it is essential to forecast student academic performance status. This study explores student academic performance and applies four machine learning (ML) models to predict student learning alert status. The research collects input data to build a model including parameters such as entrance grades, information about accommodation, learning environment, and first-semester result from undergraduates of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Education, Dong Thap University. The effective ML techniques such as Logistic regression (LR), Support vector machine (SVM), Decision trees (DTs), and Random Forest (RF) are suggested to predict student learning alert status. The outcomes are evaluated on metrics like Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F1 score. The results show that the forecasting ability of logistic regression models outperforms in classifying student performance compared to other methods by yielding optimal classification results like high accuracy and Sensitivity followed by RF, SVM, and DTs.

Leptospira infection in bats in Vietnam

Bats from three provinces in Vietnam (Lai Chau, Son La, and Dong Thap) were examined for the presence of pathogenic Leptospira or specific antibodies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Tissue specimens from 298 bats belonging to 11 species were analyzed using a real-time PCR assay specific for leptospires of pathogenic species. Leptospiral DNA was identified in 40 bats from following species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus (5/9; 55.5 %), Rousettus leschenaultii (17/42; 40.4 %), Myotis hasseltii (8/25; 32 %), Taphozous longimanus (3/12; 25 %), and Eonycteris spelaea (7/32; 21.9 %). Based on secY phylogeny, sequences from M. hasseltii bore a strong resemblance to L. borgpetersenii. Sequences from other species revealed unique lineages: one of them resembled Leptospira sp., previously identified in Rousettus madagascariensis (Madagascar) and Rousettus aegyptiacus (South Africa); the second lineage showed close relation to L. kirshneri; and the third held an intermediary position between L. noguchii and L. interrogans. Through ELISA, anti-Leptospira antibodies were found in 83 of 306 bats, with the highest seroprevalence observed in R. leschenaultii (44/48; 91.6 %), R. amplexicaudatus (6/8; 75 %), and E. spelaea (19/25; 76 %). 66 of these ELISA-positive samples were tested using MAT; 41 of them were confirmed in MAT as positive. The predominant serogroups in our study were Tarassovi and Mini.

Investigation of small-scale farming status of Tire track eel (Mastacembelus favus) in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Tire track eel (Mastacembelus favus) is an economically important freshwater fish in the Mekong Delta. However, there is a lack of academic information about the current farming status, feed, and feeding related to this species in the region. Therefore, a field survey of small scale farming of tire track eel was conducted in An Giang, Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Kien Giang provinces of Vietnam. The objective of the survey was to determine the current farming practices information on households, especially the feed and feeding status of tire track eel in order to improve and develop a suitable feed for this fish in the future. The results showed that most of the small-scale farmers cultured fish in earthen ponds with or without plastic liners. Tire track eels were fed with feeds of other species and typically fed 3 - 5 times/d during the fingerling stage, and twice per day during the grow-out period. In terms of feed ingredients, crude protein contents in the feeds were 39.5 - 45.5% while crude lipid contents were 7.7 - 12.7%. Feed conversion ratios of tire track eels were 2 - 5. The farming periods of fish were 11.8 - 14 months when the fish reached the harvesting sizes of 318.2 - 421.4 g/fish, with the survival rates of 40 - 80%. It took 2.5 months to cultivate the fingerling stage (around 3 g/fish) from the fry with the survival rate of 55.7%. It was reported that this species was raised with a simple technique and got less illness compared to other fish species. However, the main reason of fish deaths during farming period related to management factors such as poor water quality due to decomposition of uneaten feed in water or lacks of dissolved oxygen due to high stocking density or power supply failures.

Investigation of acute, sub-chronic toxicity, effects of mangiferin and mangiferin solid dispersion (HPTR) on Triton WR1339-induced hyperlipidemia on Swiss albino mice

Mangiferin is a xanthonoid found in Mango leaves in abundance with many effects as a hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agent, plant metabolite, and so on. However, nowadays, mango leaves are merely a waste product in Vietnam. To take advantage of this valuable medicinal resource, extraction conditions of mangiferin using classical and ultrasound methods were researched, and mangiferin was purified from Cat Chu mango leaves (Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae) collected in Dong Thap. Ultrasound-assisted extraction method was conducted with the following conditions and mangiferin was extracted at a percentage of 6.728% with a purity of 91.11%. Purified mangiferin was evaluated using molecular absorption spectroscopy UV-Vis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA: TGA/DSC), and dissolution measurement method. To optimize the solubility and permeability of mangiferin, the solid dispersion system (HPTR) was made by the combination of HPMC 6M:mangiferin at the ratio of 1:5. To investigate the acute, sub-chronic toxicity and hypolipidemia effect of HPTR as compared to purified mangiferin, we followed guidelines for preclinical and clinical trials of Traditional Medicine and Herbal Medicines by the Vietnam Ministry of Health and OECD, and used tyloxapol (Triton WR1339, 400 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce hyperlipidemia. Our results indicated that purified mangiferin and HPTR extract showed no acute toxicity and sub-chronic toxicity and has potential as an antihyperlipidemic agent. The HPTR brought about a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-c when compared to mangiferin, however there was no significance between them.

First report on microplastics in a freshwater clam, Corbicula baudoni, in Vietnam

The widely reported microplastic presence in aquatic animals has been concerned due to the potential ecological and human health risks. The microplastics in marine mollusk have been studied worldwide, however, information on microplastics in freshwater mussels has been limited. In this study, we monthly monitored microplastics in small (mean length of 14 mm, weight of 1.1 g) and large (mean length of 21 mm, weight of 3.6 g) sizes of freshwater clam (Corbicula baudoni) from Mekong River in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam, from February to September 2022. Two microplastic shapes of fiber (99%) and fragment (1%) were observed in tissue of all clam samples. The microplastic abundance (mean ± standard deviation) in the small size clams was 3.4 ± 1.4 items/individual, and 15.8 ± 9.9 items/g wet weight, whereas that in large size clams was 14.6 ± 10.0 items/individual, and 18.2 ± 14.2 items/g wet weight. We found a positive correlation between the microplastic abundance in the clams and their size and weight. In all clam samples, the shorter fibers were the higher numbers they were. Seven microplastic colors were observed in which the highest proportion of the colors was black (∼ 40%), followed by white (∼ 26%), and blue (∼ 17%). The polymeric characterization by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry revealed that the items were polymers of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile, nylon, and rayon. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on microplastics in freshwater clam from Mekong River and in Vietnam. The common presence of microplastics with high abundance in the clams indicates a high potential health risk to local inhabitants who daily consume the clams as food. Further studies on the effects of microplastics from food on human health are highly suggested.

Building biological indicators for soil quality assessment in Dong Thap Muoi (Mekong Delta Vietnam): An application of the expert Delphi

Assessing soil quality promotes sustainable agricultural practices, especially in areas where agriculture is vital to the economy. This paper focuses on building biological indicators to assess soil quality and to promote sustainable agricultural practices in the Dong Thap Muoi region of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. A panel of 17 experts with extensive experience in soil biology and agricultural sciences is gathered to help identify these indicators and to create a reliable framework using the Expert Delphi Method, a consensus-building approach. After a test round and two official rounds of the Delphi process, three main dimensions (biological organisms, biological quality, and relational indicators) and a total of 24 specific indicators are identified. The research finding highlights the importance of biological indicators in evaluating soil health and how they can help improve legal frameworks. These indicators are key for making decisions about land management, policy development, resource distribution, and environmental protection in selected area. Additionally, the need for further research to develop experimental models and practical solutions is indicated, ultimately advancing sustainable agricultural practices particularly in Dong Thap Muoi and more broadly in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

<span>Using teaching facilities to support Khmer ethnic students at some primary schools in Soc Trang, An Giang and Dong Thap in learning Vietnamese</span>

This article studies the use of visual teaching aids in supporting Khmer students at some primary schools in Soc Trang, An Giang, and Dong Thap provinces to learn Vietnamese well. Specifically, the article points out the influence of mother tongue on pronunciation and word use of Khmer students at some primary schools in Soc Trang, An Giang and Dong Thap provinces in learning Vietnamese. It also shows that visual teaching aids can facilitate stundents learning to read, write, speak, and narrate in Vietnamese language, and makes clear the demand for visual support of Khmer students in some schools when learning Vietnamese. From those results, the author proposes the measure related to using visual teaching aids in teaching reading, writting, speaking, and storytelling in Vietnamese for Khmer students at some surveyed primary schools. This study used theoretical research methods to find out the influence of mother tongue on learning Vietnamese of Khmer primary school students, collected information about mispronunciation and the need for visual support of 80 Khmer students in Soc Trang, An Giang and Dong Thap provinces. The results show that students' pronunciation and word use errors are related to the similarities in sounds and meanings of the two languages, and the rate of needing visual support to learn Vietnamese is very high. Therefore, the article proposes to use visual teaching aids to support Khmer primary school students at the above provinces in learning Vietnamese with some specific instructions and examples. The study has limitations on the size of the survey sample and will be improved in next studies.

<span><strong>TESOL-major students’ perceptions and practices on group autonomy at Dong Thap University</strong></span>

For decades, researchers around the world have expressed concern about group autonomy outside the classroom. However, this topic has received little attention in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. To address this gap, a study was conducted with 107 first-year TESOL-major students in the Foreign Languages Faculty at Dong Thap University. They were invited to complete a set of questionnaires to explore their perceptions and practices regarding group autonomy behind class. The findings revealed that the majority of students understood the importance and role of group autonomy in their learning process. However, the results also indicated that just half of them could learn autonomously without teacher requirements, and group work frequency was quite low. This study provides valuable insights into the literature on autonomous learning in the local context.

<span>Solutions to improving Google Earth, Earth Pro, and Maps application in teaching Physical Geography to Geography Pedagogy students, Dong Thap University</span>

The project proposes solutions to improving the application of Google Earth, Earth Pro, and Maps in teaching Physical Geography to Geography Pedagogy students, Dong Thap University. On surveying and assessing the current situation, some solutions are proposed such as: For lecturer: Chossing software and integrated contents; Coordinating with other teaching software, forms and media; Practicing regularly; Promoting student autonom; For students: Raising awareness; Participating in thematic reporting sessions; Enhancing self-study and research; Frequently deloying software; Other solutions: Increasing investment in facilities, references; Sharing thematic reports. The survey results for lecturers, subject students and geography experts outside the school were mostly rated at Quite Agree (Important) and Totally Agree (Very important) for the solutions that we have implemented.

<span>Building compound-sentence exercises for 5<sup>th</sup>-graders in competency-based teaching</span>

Surveying compound-sentence exercises types in the Vietnamese-Language subject of the 2006 Primary School Program and those currently in some primary schools, Dong Thap province, the article clarifies a number of issues on building compound sentence exercises teaching 5th-graders for competency development. In particular, the article focuses on those exercises aligned with 3 lesson types in the cognitive-level order: awareness, understanding and application. These exercises provide teachers with more resources to apply to teaching; thereby, helping students identify the structural features of compound sentences and use them effectively in communication.

Developing the professional capacity of preschool teachers through pedagogical training activities

The primary purpose of educational programs is to enhance students’ knowledge and skills through pedagogical training activities. However, preschool teachers in Vietnam face limitations in their professional capacity. Thus, this study aimed to address issues by evaluating the level of implementation of pedagogical training activities for preschool education students. The study used a scale for students' pedagogical practice activities to gather quantitative data from 629 participants (managers, lecturers and preschool teachers) in Dong Thap province in Vietnam to assess the extent of implementation of pedagogical training activities for preschool education students. The results showed that preschool teachers may not possess the essential knowledge of pedagogical practices. Pedagogical training uses conventional work-and-activity techniques despite the fact that it prioritizes innovation. Moreover, all school managers, teachers and students recognized the necessity of developing the professional capacity of preschool teachers. These findings illustrate the critical need for revitalizing educational approaches that are consistent with Vietnam's developing preschool teacher professional development context. The present study proposes some measures to innovate pedagogical practice activities in order to meet the requirements for developing the professional capacity of preschool teachers in Vietnam. Such initiatives hold promise for reshaping the educational landscape and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the primary education sector of Vietnam.

Creation of the Route of Bamboo, a Contribution to Net Zero by 2050 in Vietnam

The Phu An bamboo village, created in 1999, maintains over 200 taxa of living bamboo, collected in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia, and was awarded the UNDP Equatorial Prize in 2010. This ex situ conservation not only provides data for basic research and preserves biodiversity resources, but also contributes to actions on CO2 to reduce the greenhouse effect in climate change and create sustainable livelihoods for the community. From the Phu An Bamboo village, the "Bamboo Route" has been built since 2016 from the north to the south of Viet Nam, with the aim of multiplying bamboo in situ conservation sites, associated with research programs and public awareness actions on the importance and environmental benefits of bamboos. Along the bamboo route, an ex situ conservation site has been developed at Dong Thap with plants of 67 different vernacular species, another at Phan Rang, in the arid region, with 62 species, and a third at Dak Nong, where the climate is more favourable, with 12 different vernacular species from the in situ conservation site at Chieng Ban, Son La, where 19 vernacular species have been recorded. Thanks to its fast-growing characteristics and large biomass production, bamboo plays an important role in carbon sequestration. Research to mesure CO2 absorption was done in three different habitats on three different bamboo species. The CO2 absorption capacity of Bambusa blumeana Schultes in Gao Giong, Dong Thap province, indicates an important role of this thorny bamboo under climate change conditions. On the " Route of Bamboo", we studied also the surface area of bare soil from north to south, except in the Mekong Delta, we can plant more than 200,000 ha of thorny bamboo to complete the existing surface area of 1.5 million ha which could contribute 30% of Viet Nam’s CO2 absorption. This enables us to estimate how planting 50% of these areas could contribute to Viet Nam’s Net 0 2050 target.

Identification and Antibiotic Resistance Edwardsiella tarda from Clown Knifefish (Chitala chitala) in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

This investigation is intended to isolate, identify, and assess the pathogenicity of Edwardsiella tarda, which originated from diseased clown knifefish. A total of 43 isolates were obtained from infected fish samples in Hau Giang and Dong Thap provinces of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Two isolates of DT37 and HG41 were identified as E. tarda by morphological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Experimental challenge studies revealed that isolate DT37 leads to 83.33% at a 108 CFU/ml concentration after 60 hours. Meanwhile, in isolate HG41, mortality reached 100% within 48 hours post-injection at the highest concentration of 108 CFU/ml. The challenged clown knifefish exhibited gross signs of abnormal swimming, skin ulcerations, and petechial hemorrhages in the body. Internally, ascites with hemoperitoneum, light-colored nodules on the liver, hemorrhagic kidneys, and splenomegaly were also recorded. The LD50 of two isolates, DT37 and HG41, was 4.89 × 105 and 4.07 × 105 CFU/ml, respectively. The antibiogram result showed that most of the isolates were highly susceptible to ampicillin (65%), enrofloxacin (85%), florfenicol (100%), flumequine (90%), cefotaxime (80%), and trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (70%). However, the bacterial isolates were highly resistant to doxycycline (75%) and streptomycin (100%).