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Growing environmental concerns influence consumer buying decisions and behaviours. This study investigates the factors that affect the green purchase behaviours of Generation Z consumers in Vietnam. Employing the value–attitude–behaviour (VAB) framework, the study examines the intricacies of green consumption behaviour. Study data were collected through an online questionnaire from 283 young Vietnamese consumers who frequently purchase green products. We performed the quantitative analysis by the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and found that price consciousness and attitude towards green products directly influence green purchase behaviour. Environmental concern and green perceived value indirectly influence green purchase behaviour through consumer attitude. Furthermore, the influence of price consciousness enhances the relationship between attitude and green purchase behaviour. These findings provide valuable implications for managers aiming to attract young, environmentally conscious consumers and promote green consumption behaviours.

This study aims to examine the relationship between firm size and firm growth in Vietnam. The literature does not in general give support to Gibrat’s law stating that the expected increase in firm size is proportionate to its initial size, or that firm growth rates are independent of firm size. The present study relies on a sample of 578 listed Vietnamese companies representing eight different industries and covering the period 2010 to 2020. The analysis reveals that growth in firm revenues does not give support to a hypothesis of independence of initial firm sizes. When the firm size is measured by total assets the opposite result appears, i.e. the Gibrat’s law is not rejected. When including also the age of the firms in the test methodology the conclusion will be that firm growth—measured by revenue or assets—in all cases will decrease with firm size.

Abstract Background N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a biomarker used for the diagnosis of heart failure. There is a relationship between NT-proBNP levels and body mass index (BMI). The study aimed to explore the impact of BMI on NT-proBNP concentrations and to examine whether other factors independent of or combined with BMI affect NT-proBNP values in patients with heart failure. Results A total of 293 participants were recruited. The mean age was 68.9 ± 13.2 years, males accounted for 46.4% of the total cohort, the mean BMI was 23.1 ± 4.0 kg/m2, and the median NT-proBNP level was 3776 (1672–8806) pg/ml. There was an inverse relationship between BMI and log NT-proBNP (r = − 0.29; p

ECHONET Lite stands as a leading protocol for smart home appliances in Japan, and the publication of data models plays a critical role in fostering collaboration with other ecosystems, not just for ECHONET Lite but for any protocol or standard. Typically, data models are meticulously crafted by experts through the arduous task of condensing and summarizing extensive specification documents. As an illustration, generating a data model solely for the ECHONET Lite protocol (without incorporating other protocols) can demand thousands of working hours. This paper presents an AI-driven solution aimed at alleviating the burden of laborious, repetitive tasks prone to errors during the creation of data models from ECHONET Lite specifications, automating these processes to save human effort. The proposed solution employs Natural Language Processing techniques to extract key vocabularies from natural language descriptions of the specification, mirroring the approach of experts. Consequently, this solution can generate several data models for the ECHONET Lite protocol in a matter of seconds, all using a standard laptop. The findings indicate that machines are capable of emulating experts in extracting vocabularies, ensuring both syntactic error-free outcomes and consistency in the generated data models. Furthermore, the machine offers rapid, dependable results and enhances the reusability of exported data models across various platforms. The generated data models meet the same requirements as those created by humans. This solution is integrated into an official workflow for generating data models for the ECHONET Lite web API and others.

Addressing the current antibiotic-resistance challenge would be aided by the identification of compounds with novel mechanisms of action. Epilancin 15X, a lantibiotic produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis 15 × 154, displays antimicrobial activity in the submicromolar range against a subset of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria. S. epidermidis is a common member of the human skin or mucosal microbiota. We here investigated the mechanism of action of epilancin 15X. The compound is bactericidal against Staphylococcus carnosus as well as Bacillus subtilis and appears to kill these bacteria by membrane disruption. Structure–activity relationship studies using engineered analogs show that its conserved positively charged residues and dehydroamino acids are important for bioactivity, but the N-terminal lactyl group is tolerant of changes. Epilancin 15X treatment negatively affects fatty acid synthesis, RNA translation, and DNA replication and transcription without affecting cell wall biosynthesis. The compound appears localized to the surface of bacteria and is most potent in disrupting the membranes of liposomes composed of negatively charged membrane lipids in a lipid II independent manner. Epilancin 15X does not elicit a LiaRS response in B. subtilis but did upregulate VraRS in S. carnosus. Treatment of S. carnosus or B. subtilis with epilancin 15X resulted in an aggregation phenotype in microscopy experiments. Collectively these studies provide new information on epilancin 15X activity.

Tourism is on the pathway of returning and contributes to the economic development of many countries. Understanding the decision-making process of tourism customers in the post-pandemic context is crucial for a strong recovery of the tourism sector. The paper aims to identify the determinants of travel intention and the link between travel intention and travel behaviour in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. A total number of 431 questionnaires regarding the individual behaviour of Vietnamese travellers were collected. The empirical results reveal that electronic word of mouth, crisis management, and destination image in COVID have positive relationships with travel intention. Besides, travel intention is positively linked with the customers’ travel behaviour during the post-pandemic era. By contrast, the results do not support the conclusion regarding the relationship between risk communication, the healthcare system, non-pharmaceutical interventions and the travel intention of customers. Finally, the practical implications are included for enhancing a faster recovery process of the tourism sector.

Sensors play an essential role in gathering environmental information for greenhouse farming. Wireless sensor network creates and manages links between sensor blocks in the system. As a result, not only various environmental parameters can be collected, but the sensor location can also be flexibly deployed. Sensor blocks require low energy consumption and inexpensive implementation costs with typical operating conditions. The research has built a wireless sensor network based on open Radio Frequency (RF) technology. Each sensor block has a low deployment cost and operates independently via a solar-powered unit. A novel communication protocol is designed for the proposed sensor network. In addition, a greenhouse controller exploiting designed wireless sensor networks is also constructed to evaluate the practicality of the system. Sensor networks developed are intended to be applied to the existing agricultural greenhouses in the surveyed area. The greenhouse is medium-sized, and the system implemented in practice is for vegetable farming. As a result, the controller can connect to the Internet to serve IoT links and applications. Experimental results prove the practicality of sensor blocks and the stability and efficiency of the wireless sensor network. It helps to reduce deployment costs and improve applicability. In addition, the sensor blocks are designed and built with low energy consumption, which can be operated with a small solar power source.

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the most common disease in children under 5 years. Maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) affect children's morbidity and mortality from acute respiratory infections. The study aimed to assess the mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in caring for children under five with ARIs and identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study interviewed mothers of children under 5 with ARIs. A questionnaire was used to assess the maternal KAPs. Each question was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The KAPs levels were measured in mean values. Results: A total of 172 mothers were included in the study. Mean item scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ARIs were 3.8 ± 0.6, 4.2 ± 0.4, and 3.9 ± 0.4, respectively. Only 38.4%, 30.3%, and 47.5% of mothers had good KAPs scores about watching for danger signs, using antibiotics, and giving cough syrups, respectively. Mothers with higher education levels and higher income obtained higher KAPs scores than their counterparts (4.1 ± 0.4 vs. 3.5 ± 0.7) (p = 0.01), (4.2 ± 0.4 vs. 3.7 ± 0.4) (p = 0.03), respectively. Factors affecting maternal KAPs were education level, occupation, and family income (p

The haptic impression of textile surface properties has a decisive influence on its evaluation and ultimately on its acceptance and usability. Many solutions are used to replicate a static contour or shape, e.g. to feel controls on common touch displays. In contrast, this project investigates whether it is possible to simulate the roughness or friction behaviour of a textile surface using a commercially available mobile device.

This study focuses on investigating the relationship between tourist quality service, satisfaction and loyalty among international visitors who came to Vietnam. Specifically, this research also aims to discover the mediating effects of tourist satisfaction on the relationship between tourist quality service and loyalty (revisit and recommend to others). By using the data collected from 516 international visitors who travelled in Vietnam, authors use a meta-analytic path analysis to show that only two factors of tourist quality service had significant effects on tourist satisfaction and loyalty, including tangibles and responsiveness. Moreover, tangibles and responsiveness not only had direct effects, but they also they had some indirect impacts on tourist loyalty throughout tourist satisfaction. Interestingly, the relationship between tourist satisfaction and their loyalty was strongest.

This research proposes a modified metaheuristic optimization algorithm, named as improved stochastic fractal search (ISFS), which is formed based on the integration of the quasiopposition-based learning (QOBL) and chaotic local search (CLS) schemes into the original SFS algorithm for solving the optimal capacitor placement (OCP) in radial distribution networks (RDNs). The test problem involves the determination of the optimal number, location, and size of fixed and switched capacitors at different loading conditions so that the network total yearly cost is minimized with simultaneous fulfillment of operating constraints. Also, the hourly on/off scheduling plans of switched shunt capacitors (SCs) considering a modified cost objective function are obtained. The proposed ISFS algorithm has been tested on two IEEE 69-bus and 119-bus RDNs and a practical 152-bus RDN. For clarifying the effectiveness and validation of the ISFS, the simulated results have been compared with those of other previously utilized solution approaches in the literature as well as the original SFS. From result comparison, the proposed ISFS outperforms other previous approaches regarding solution quality and statistical performance for the compared cases, especially in the complex and large-scale networks. Notably, compared with the original SFS, the proposed ISFS shows a significantly better performance in all the tested cases.

The aim of this article is to present a hybrid integral formulation for modelling structures made by conductors and thin electromagnetic shell models. Based on the principle of shell elements, the proposed method provides a solution to various problems without meshing the air regions, and at the same time helps to take care of the skin effect. By integrating the system of circuit equations, the method presented in this paper can also model the conductor structures. In addition, the equations describing the interaction between the conductors and the thin shell are also developed. Finally, the formulation is validated via an axisymmetric finite element method and the obtained results are compared with those implemented from another shell formulation.

We identify two seemingly disparate structures: supercharacters, a useful way of doing Fourier analysis on the group of unipotent uppertriangular matrices with coefficients in a finite field, and the ring of symmetric functions in noncommuting variables. Each is a Hopf algebra and the two are isomorphic as such. This allows developments in each to be transferred. The identification suggests a rich class of examples for the emerging field of combinatorial Hopf algebras.

This study examines the relationships between university graduates' HEXACO traits and networking behavior for finding a job through job search network size. We integrate individual difference theory and social network theory to explain these links in two manners. We use individual difference theory to demonstrate that graduates with HEXACO personality traits have different job search network sizes, and we apply social network theory to test whether job search network size affect the networking intensity of graduates. The sample of 773 graduates was collected at two points with a 3 months-lagged time. Our results suggest that three HEXACO traits had an effect on job search network size. At the same time, job search network size play role in increasing networking behavior. Specifically, job search network size served as partial mediator in the relationships between HEXACO traits and networking behavior. The findings, theoretical, practical implications, and future research are discussed further.

INTRODUCTION In December 2021, an estimated 230,000 people were living with HIV in Viet Nam. General population HIV prevalence was less than 0.3%, with the epidemic concentrated in three key [...], : Introduction: In Viet Nam, key populations (KPs) face barriers accessing HIV services. Virtual platforms can be leveraged to increase access for KPs, including for HIV self‐testing (HIVST). This study compares reach and effectiveness of a web‐based HIVST intervention from pilot to scale‐up in Viet Nam. Methods: A mixed‐methods explanatory sequential design used cross‐sectional and thematic analysis. The pilot launched in Can Tho in November 2020, followed by Hanoi and Nghe An in April 2021. Scale‐up included Can Tho and Nghe An, with 21 novel provinces from April to December 2022. After risk assessment, participants registered on the website, receiving HIVST (OraQuick®) by courier, peer educator or self‐pick‐up. Test result reporting and completing satisfaction surveys were encouraged. Intervention reach was measured through numbers accessing the testing, disaggregated by demographics, and proportion of individuals reporting self‐testing post‐registration. Effectiveness was measured through numbers reporting self‐test results, testing positive and linking to care, and testing negative and using HIVST to manage pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Thematic content analysis of free‐text responses from the satisfaction survey synthesized quantitative outcomes. Results: In total, 17,589 participants registered on the HIVST website; 11,332 individuals ordered 13,334 tests. Participants were generally young, aged 6.3% of all tests were reactive (pilot: 176/3129, 5.6% reactive compared to scale‐up: 385/5811, 6.6% reactive, p = 0.063); of which most linked to care (509/522, 97.5%). One‐fifth of participants with a negative test initiated or continued PrEP (pilot; 19.8%, scale‐up; 18.5%, p = 0.124). Thematic analysis suggested that community delivery models increased programmatic reach. Live chat may also be a suitable proxy for staff support to increase result reporting. Conclusions: Web‐based self‐testing in Viet Nam reached people at elevated risk of HIV, facilitating uptake of anti‐retroviral treatment and direct linkage to PrEP initiations. Further innovations such as the use of social‐network testing services and incorporating features powered by artificial intelligence could increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the approach.

We describe the outcome of a large international interlaboratory study of the measurement of particle number concentration of colloidal nanoparticles, project 10 of the technical working area 34, "Nanoparticle Populations" of the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS). A total of 50 laboratories delivered results for the number concentration of 30 nm gold colloidal nanoparticles measured using particle tracking analysis (PTA), single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light spectroscopy, centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The study provides quantitative data to evaluate the repeatability of these methods and their reproducibility in the measurement of number concentration of model nanoparticle systems following a common measurement protocol. We find that the population-averaging methods of SAXS, CLS and UV-Vis have high measurement repeatability and reproducibility, with between-labs variability of 2.6%, 11% and 1.4% respectively. However, results may be significantly biased for reasons including inaccurate material properties whose values are used to compute the number concentration. Particle-counting method results are less reproducibile than population-averaging methods, with measured between-labs variability of 68% and 46% for PTA and spICP-MS respectively. This study provides the stakeholder community with important comparative data to underpin measurement reproducibility and method validation for number concentration of nanoparticles.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting inorganic nanocrystals, that have garnered interest in biological and medical spheres due, to their potential benefits in biomedical imaging and drug-delivery systems. Indium phosphide QDs shelled with zinc sulphide (InP/ZnS) are viewed as more biocompatible than previous heavy metal based QDs. However, little is known about how InP/ZnS QDs affect a key blood cell, the platelet. Understanding how platelets interact with QDs is critical as unwanted activation can lead to pathological thrombus formation. Herein, we demonstrate PEGylation of InP/ZnS QDs coated with lipoic acid (QD-LA) or coated with penicillamine (QD-Pen) surface ligands induced markedly less platelet aggregation, platelet–QD interactions, integrin activation, alpha granule secretion and restored platelet spreading in washed platelets in comparison to their non-PEGylated counterparts. Furthermore, in whole blood, PEGylation of QDs reduced the number of QDs in the thrombus, thereby helping to minimise the chance of dysfunctional thrombus formation. Overall, we show that QD PEGylation is important to help prevent QD mediated platelet activation. In combination with the most biocompatible coating, PEGylation markedly reduced platelet activation, widening the concentrations at which QDs were viable for development as potential drug delivery or imaging agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]