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This study aims to investigate the influence of gamification on students' engagement, learning effectiveness, and satisfaction in higher education, as well as the function of engagement and learning effectiveness in moderating the connection. Data were obtained quantitatively from 306 undergraduate and graduate students in Vietnam who participated in gamified lectures. The links between gamification, student engagement, learning effectiveness, and satisfaction were investigated using structural equation modeling. The results suggested that challenge and enjoyment directly influenced students' engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, the presence of challenge directly affected learning effectiveness. Engagement and learning effectiveness served as mediators between gamification and students' satisfaction. Educational institutions, instructors, and academics may use gamification to improve students' engagement, satisfaction, and learning effectiveness, leading to more inspirational and successful learning experiences in higher education. This study provides significant insights for higher education stakeholders and encourages instructors and institutions to adopt creative teaching methodologies that meet the demands of current students. Adoption of gamification can result in more dynamic and engaging learning environments, which will boost students' experiences and overall educational quality.

Although researchers have previously discussed the consequences of extracurricular activity (ECA) participation, the question of which factors affect the intention to participate in ECAs has been less addressed. By incorporating the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and signaling theory, this study investigates the role of the components of the TPB and signal quality in the intention to join ECAs. In addition, the contingent effects of students' demographic profiles, such as their gender, their year in school, and whether they have a part-time job, are examined. A sample of 386 students at various universities in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, was used to test a model that incorporates the relationships between TPB components and signal quality by means of the partial least squares (PLS) technique. The results of this study indicate that the three components of the TPB have positive impacts on the intention to join ECAs. In addition, signal quality affects both attitude and intention. Finally, students' demographic profiles, such as their gender, their year in school, and whether they have a part-time job, have moderating roles in the relationship from attitude and subjective norms to intention. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and was conducted in Vietnam only. Future research should consider longitudinal studies and make comparisons between countries with diverse cultures. As another limitation, this study investigated only university students. Future research, therefore, is needed to consider other subjects and different sectors, such as high school pupils. The results of this study suggest that ECA organizers should send clear, consistent, and credible signals to potential members. Additionally, parents, teachers and other influencers should talk to and encourage students to join ECAs. As a major contribution of this study, it incorporates the TPB and signaling theory to examine the antecedents of ECA participation.

This study examines the extent of market participation among Chăm pottery producers in Vietnam and the factors that influence this extent. The research utilized the total market participation index to assess the level of market participation and Tobit regression to examine the factors influencing market participation. Primary data were collected from a sample of 150 pottery households. The study demonstrates that pottery households are involved in the market to varying degrees. Factors such as family size, hired labourers, production space, self-owned transportation, average distance to customers, amount of advertising, and credit accessibility positively affect their participation in the market. Shipping damage, government assistance, non-pottery income, and education level of household head have a negative effect. The findings indicate that government assistance should consider the requirements of pottery households to develop efficient support measures. The research serves as a useful reference for policymakers and managers in devising strategies to promote both the growth of traditional craft production and the sustained well-being of ethnic groups. This, in turn, would contribute to the overall economic advancement of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: (1) To investigate the prevalence of frailty defined by the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS), a new scale for assessing frailty, in older patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); (2) To identify associations between frailty and the prescriptions of cardiovascular medications, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and in‐hospital adverse outcomes. Methods: An observational study was conducted in patients aged older than 60 years with ACS at Thong Nhat Hospital from August to December 2022. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score is retrospectively calculated for all participants based on ICD‐10 codes, and those with HFRS scores ≥5 were defined as frail. Logistic regression models were applied to examine the relationship between frailty and the study outcomes. Results: There were 511 participants in the study. The median age was 72.7, 60% were male and 29% were frail. Frailty was associated with lower odds of beta‐blocker use at admission (OR.49 95% CI.25–.94), treatment with PCI during hospitalisation (OR.48, 95% CI.30–.75), but did not show an association with prescriptions of cardiovascular drugs at discharge. Frailty was significantly associated with increased odds of adverse outcomes, including major bleeding (OR 4.07, 95% CI1.73–9.54), hospital‐acquired pneumonia (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.20–5.42), all‐cause in‐hospital mortality (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.37–7.20) and non‐cardiovascular in‐hospital mortality (OR 10.73, 95% CI 1.93–59.55). Conclusions: The HFRS was an effective tool for stratifying frailty and predicting adverse health outcomes in older patients with ACS. Further research is needed to compare the HFRS with other frailty assessment tools in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of social commerce (S-commerce) has necessitated the development of effective advertising strategies. Despite claims that gamification offers several benefits when integrated with S-commerce, its significance in emerging markets remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of gamification on advertising effectiveness in emerging markets such as Vietnam. Personalization and privacy concerns (S-commerce's recent prominent factors) were also assessed. A quantitative approach was used in this study. Data were collected through a survey of 477 individuals exposed to gamification advertising on S-commerce platforms. The results demonstrate that gamification significantly influences the intention to interact with advertisements through both hedonic and utilitarian mechanisms. However, this factor only affects attitudes toward advertising through hedonic mechanisms. The influence of attitudes toward advertising on consumer behavioral intentions was also reinforced in our study. Moreover, the empirical findings show that personalization significantly influences gamification and attitudes toward advertising. Finally, privacy concerns were found to have no effect on gamification and attitudes toward advertising and, simultaneously, produced only a small negative effect on the intention to interact with advertisements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognising the rapid growth and enormous potential of gamification and social media advertising in today's digital age, along with the increasing popularity of social commerce (s-commerce), especially in emerging markets, this study analysed attitudes towards gamification advertising in the Vietnamese s-commerce context. This study followed a quantitative approach by conducting interviews with 386 users who interacted with gamification advertising on s-commerce platforms in Vietnam. The empirical results indicate that perceived gamification in advertising (as measured by the experience of gamification ads) has a significant positive indirect effect on attitudes towards advertising via hedonic and utilitarian values. In addition, this study experimentally verified the impact of the prominent characteristics of s-commerce (interactivity, personalisation, and privacy concerns) on both the gameful experiences of ads and attitudes towards advertising in the s-commerce market. Our research has meaningful implications for marketers and social networking platform developers, in that marketers should be more proactive in gamifying advertisements to improve customer attitudes towards them. For social networking platform developers, it is essential to develop optimal algorithms to enhance the interactivity of the platform by taking advantage of a database to generate relevant advertising recommendations for users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of covid-19 has called for an urgent need to further understand the relationship between students' motivated behavior and their engagement. This study aimed to investigate the links between adaptive cognition and adaptive behavior and the engagement of college and university students during and after the covid-19 pandemic. The recent study was framed within several relevant theories, namely the self-determination theory, the need achievement theory, and the job demand-resource theoretical model. Structural equation modeling with JASP software version 0.14.1 was employed as a robust method to investigate complex relationships in the proposed research model. Data were collected through an online survey using a structured questionnaire. Respondents comprised 263 students registered at two higher education institutions in Viet Nam. Analysis results yielded the positive and significant influence of adaptive cognition (1 = 0.224) and adaptive behavior (1 = 0.489) on student engagement. Furthermore, anxiety predicted student engagement in our theoretical model, and the relationship was positive (1 = 0.132). We also found a strongly influential relationship between adaptive cognition and adaptive behavior (1 = 0.783). These findings proposed a critical implication: to promote student engagement in the context of post-covid, management bodies and leaders in higher education institutions should adopt a comprehensive approach in which the provision of psychological conditions is an integral part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of solar radiation is crucial for harnessing this abundant natural resource effectively. Measuring solar radiation directly requires ground station networks, which are either unavailable or very limited in many regions of the world, including Vietnam, particularly in remote areas due to resource constraints. Therefore, this study was carried out with the objective to develop hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) models to predict solar radiations correctly using other meteorological data such as wind speed, relative humidity, maximum and minimum temperature and rainfall which can be measured at site easily. In this study, we have proposed three novel hybrid AI models, namely ANFIS-GA, ANFIS-BBO and ANFIS-SA, which combine the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) technique with genetic algorithm (GA), biogeography base optimization (BBO) and simulated annealing (SA), respectively, for predicting daily solar radiation in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam. The performance of these hybrid models was evaluated using statistical indicators, including correlation coefficient (R), root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). The results demonstrate that all three optimized models outperform the single ANFIS model. Among them, the ANFIS-BBO model exhibits the highest predictive capability (RMSE = 3.141 MJ/m2, MAE = 2.439 MJ/m2, R = 0.874). Sensitivity analysis reveals that maximum temperature is the most influential factor for predicting daily solar radiation. The findings of this study have significant implications for predicting solar radiation using AI methods, particularly ANFIS-BBO, with minimal meteorological data in remote locations not only in Vietnam but also globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Langbian Plateau, a biodiversity hotspot in the southern Annamites of Viet Nam, has undergone extensive hunting pressure. However, the limited information on the effects of overexploitation on the current status and community composition of wildlife hinders effective conservation efforts, including the implementation of targeted patrols to reduce snaring. In this study, we conducted a camera‐trapping survey across the Langbian Plateau, consisting of a broadleaf evergreen and coniferous habitat mosaic. We recorded 46 ground‐dwelling mammals and birds, including several threatened Annamite endemics. Using multi‐species Royle‐Nichols model and landscape covariates, we found higher richness in broadleaf evergreen forest located in more remote and less rugged areas. We then used species responses to covariates to predict species distribution and identify high‐priority areas for conservation. Furthermore, we constructed diversity profiles that indicated higher biodiversity in broadleaf evergreen forest compared to the coniferous forest. Finally, we used a dissimilarity index to assess the level of defaunation, revealing 16% of the community had been lost, with higher levels of defaunation for threatened and larger‐sized species. Our findings provide insights into the status, distribution, and occurrence of the ground‐dwelling mammal and bird communities in the Langbian Plateau, and can help stakeholders design more effective conservation strategies to protect existing populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the slope hazards caused by rainfall, not all of them occur directly during storm washout, and the wetting–drying cycles' effect on the rainfall–evaporation process is an important cause of shallow slope instability. In this study, taking the slope of the open-pit coal mine dumps in Cam Pha, in the Quang Ninh region of Vietnam, as the research object, we carry out experiments on the physical properties of the rock body under different wetting–drying cycles, as well as numerical analyses. The results show that the wetting–drying cycles significantly affect the physical and mechanical parameters and permeability of the rock body. In the process of the wetting–drying cycle, a transient saturated zone occurs on the surface of the slope, and the range of the unsaturated zone inside the slope body decreases with the increase in the number of wetting–drying cycles. Moreover, the infiltration line keeps moving downward, but the rate of downward movement is slowed down by the decrease in the gradient of matrix suction affected by rainfall. Under the influence of the wetting–drying cycles, the slope displacement, plastic zone, and maximum shear strain increment range gradually approach the slope surface with the wetting–drying cycles, and the displacement peak gradually increases. A dump is a site for the centralized discharge of mining waste, formed by the crushing and stockpiling of the original rock formation. Bang Nau is the name of the dump considered in this study. After multiple rainfall events, the slope stability under five wetting–drying cycles decreases from 1.721 to 1.055, and the landslide mode changes from a whole landslide to a single-step shallow landslide, with a certain landslide risk. It is necessary to strengthen the slope stability as the landslide risk is very high, and it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring and inspection of the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the factors influencing the development of green banking in Vietnam. The study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research methods to analyze the impact of banking technology on green banking development. The findings indicate that banking technology plays a significant role in the development of green banking. The article provides policy recommendations for Vietnamese commercial banks to contribute to the growth of green banking and the green economy. It emphasizes the importance of policies, the legal framework, and collaboration between banks and the community in promoting green banking. The study acknowledges its limitations and suggests further research to address these limitations. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Adjunctive glucocorticoids are widely used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated tuberculous meningitis despite limited data supporting their safety and efficacy. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving HIV-positive adults (218 years of age) with tuberculous meningitis in Vietnam and Indonesia. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a 6-to-8-week tapering Apcourse of either dexamethasone or placebo in addition to 12 inonths of asntituber-culosis chemotherapy. The primary end point was death from any cause during the 12 months after randomization. RESULTS: A total of 520 adults were randomly assigned to receive either dexamethasone (263 participants) or placebo (257 participants). The median age was 36 years; 255 of 520 participants (49.0°6) had never received antiretroviral therapy, and 251 of 484 participants (51.9°6) with available data had a baseline CD4 count of 50 cells per cubic millimeter or less. Six participants withdrew from the trial, and five were lost to follow-up. During the 12 months of follow-up, death occurred in 116 of 263 participants (44.10/0) in tile clexaillethasorle group and irl 126 of 2-57 pfirticipants (49. 090) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0. 66 to 1.10; P=0.22). Prespecified analyses did not reveal a subgroup that clearly benefited from dexamethasone. The incidence of secondary end-point events, including cases of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome during the first 6 months, was similar in the two trial groups. The numbers of participants with at least one serious adverse event were similar in the dexamethasone group (192 of 263 participants [73.090]) and the placebo group (194 of 257 participants [75.5°6]) (P=0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Among HIV-positive adults with tuberculous meningitis, adjunctive dexamethasone, as compared with placebo, did not confer a benefit with respect to survival or any secondary end point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This quantitative study used the Stimulus-Organism-Response theory to examine the relationships among authentic experience, tourist satisfaction, place attachment, and behavioral intention in religious destination context. The survey questionnaire was designed to obtain the data. The responses of 566 tourists that paid a visit to the Father Diep Church, a famous religious destination in southern Vietnam, were analyzed. The results revealed that tourist satisfaction significantly influenced on place attachment, destination revisit intention, and word-of-mouth. Furthermore, word-of-mouth and revisit intentions were sharply and positively impacted by place attachment, whereas the influence of authentic experience on tourist satisfaction, revisit intention, and word-of-mouth was noteworthy. Moreover, demographic factors, such as being female, being a business tourist, and observing a different religion (non-Catholic), were associated with higher revisit intention. These findings could provide guidelines for developing marketing strategies for religious destinations and be theoretically based on for further empirical validation. Plain Language Summary: Behavioral Intention: Vietnamese Religious Tourism This study develops and tests a conceptual model that offers hypotheses regarding place attachment, authentic experience, tourist satisfaction, word of mouth, and destination revisit intention with respect to a case of Vietnamese religious tourism. We collected data using a survey questionnaire, and the respondents comprised 566 tourists visiting the Father Diep Church, a famous religious destination in southern Vietnam that inherited both Catholic and Confucian traditions. This study addresses gaps in the literature by investigating the relationships among place attachment, authentic experience, satisfaction, destination revisit intention, and word of mouth for the Father Diep Church study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is one of the main socioeconomic and financial centers of Vietnam. The city also faces serious air pollution. However, the city polluted with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) has rarely been studied. We used positive matrix factorization (PMF) to analyze BTEX concentrations measured at two sampling locations to identify the main sources of BTEX in HCMC. The locations represented residential area (i.e., To Hien Thanh) and industrial area (i.e., Tan Binh Industrial Park). At the To Hien Thanh location, the average concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene were 6.9, 14.4, 4.9, and 12.7 µg/m3, respectively. At the Tan Binh location, the average concentrations of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene were 9.8, 22.6, 2.4, and 9.2 µg/m3, respectively. The results showed that PMF was a reliable model for source apportionment in HCMC. Traffic activities were the main sources of BTEX. Besides, industrial activities also contributed to BTEX emissions, especially the location near the industrial park. The majority of BTEXs at the To Hien Thanh sampling site come from traffic sources accounting for 56.2%. Activities from traffic and photochemical reactions (42.7%) and industrial sources (40.5%) were the main sources affecting BTEX emissions at the sampling site of Tan Binh Industrial Park. This study can be used as a reference for mitigation solutions to reduce the BTEX emission in HCMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and social consequences of their purchases. Research on the green promotion mix, green brand equity, and green purchase intentions has been fragmented. This study used the stimulus–organism–response framework to test the direct influence of green promotion tools on green brand equity dimensions and green purchase intention. A survey-based questionnaire was utilized to gather the data from participants who purchased milk products in Vietnam (n = 780). We analyzed the data using the partial least squares (PLS) method, a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique, with the assistance of SmartPLS computer program 3.0. The results reveal that green promotion tools have a significantly positive influence on green brand equity dimensions as well as green purchase intention. The results also reveal a relationship between green brand equity components, which is important for understanding corporate branding. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into how attitudes toward green advertising and sponsorship affect various elements of green brand equity, green purchase intention to generate and manage green brand equity, and green purchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The purpose of this study was to assess if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in lung mucins MUC5B and MUC5AC are associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis outcomes. Methods Independent SNPs in MUC5B and MUC5AC (genotyped by Illumina HumanOmniExpress array) were assessed for associations with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) concentrations (measured by immunoassay) in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) patients. SNPs associated with CSF TNF concentrations were carried forward for analyses of pulmonary and meningeal tuberculosis susceptibility and TBM mortality. Results MUC5AC SNP rs28737416 T allele was associated with lower CSF concentrations of TNF (P = 1.8 × 10−8) and IFN-γ (P = 2.3 × 10−6). In an additive genetic model, rs28737416 T/T genotype was associated with higher susceptibility to TBM (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.49; P =.02), but not pulmonary tuberculosis (OR, 1.11, 95% CI,.98–1.25; P =.10). TBM mortality was higher among participants with the rs28737416 T/T and T/C genotypes (35/119, 30.4%) versus the C/C genotype (11/89, 12.4%; log-rank P =.005) in a Vietnam discovery cohort (n = 210), an independent Vietnam validation cohort (n = 87; 9/87, 19.1% vs 1/20, 2.5%; log-rank P =.02), and an Indonesia validation cohort (n = 468, 127/287, 44.3% vs 65/181, 35.9%; log-rank P =.06). Conclusions MUC5AC variants may contribute to immune changes that influence TBM outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are thought to be the major cause of neonatal calf diarrhea worldwide. RVA-induced diarrhea in calves results in large economic losses to farmers in terms of treatment costs and reduced weight gain. Recent studies reveal that bovine RVA is caused predominantly by G6P[1] in China, G10P[11] in Japan, and G6P[5] in South Korea, Bangladesh, and Uruguay. In Vietnam, most RVA studies have been conducted in humans, with little information available for viruses in livestock. Therefore, for the first time, we performed a genetic analysis of RVAs prevalent in Vietnamese cows. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of G- and P-type bovine RVAs (BoRVAs) prevalent in Vietnam. Between 2017 and 2018, the prevalence of BoRVAs detected in diarrhea samples from 8 regions was as low as 1.9% (11/582). The prevalence of the G-type was 45.5% for G6 and 18.2% for G10; however, 36.3% remain unidentified. Interestingly, all BoRVAs were investigated as P[11], and there was no diversity within this P-type. Geographically, the G6 and G10 types were not identified in any specific area; rather, they occurred in both Northern and Southern Vietnam. G6P[11] and G10P[11], which are combined G- and P-types, were identified in 71.4% and 28.6% of BoRVA-positive samples, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the G6-type detected in Vietnamese cows is similar to strains derived from China, Japan, and Korea, whereas the G10 type is closely related to the Chinese strain. In addition, the P11 strain detected in Vietnamese cows is similar to the Spanish and Chinese strains. The BoRVA-positive rate was higher in cows aged less than 2 months (3.2%, 3/94) than in those aged 2 months or more (1.6%, 8/488). In summary, we detected the presence of G6P11 and G10P11 BoVRAs on Vietnamese cow farms, and found that they were more predominant in young calves than in older cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a quantitative driving index for implementing green building in Vietnam as a case study in developing countries. Using literature review and expert interviews, 19 driving forces affecting green building implementation were identified in the Vietnamese context. Via obtained data from a questionnaire survey, four principle factors were grouped from defined drivers. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation method was utilized to develop a driving index (DI) for developing the green building in Vietnam. DI model indicated that environmental impact is the most crucial group for green building implementation in Vietnam. Apart from this, the result of the comparative analysis also indicated that most driving forces for adopting green building in developing countries related to environmental and social problems. These results provide the decision‐makers with a comprehensive tool to assess the expectations for green building implementation in both Vietnam and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Since 2010, more than 527,000 refugees have resettled in the United States (US), most from Asia, fleeing war, violence, and persecution. However, there is little research that integrates findings about health among Southeast Asian refugees (SEAR). Design: We conducted an integrative review of studies that examined health status, risk factors, and barriers to healthcare access among SEAR in the US. We synthesized findings of studies published from 1980, when the Refugee Act was enacted, to 2022 using five databases. We reviewed 20 articles and data were extracted into a table for synthesis. Results: Participants were from Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and the Thailand‐Myanmar border. Hypertension (12%–64%), hypercholesterolemia (37%–39%), diabetes (0.6%–27%), heart disease (7%), bone and muscle problems (23%–50%), and chronic pain (8%–51%) were most common physical health problems; and PTSD (45%–86%) and depression (20%–80%) were the most common mental health problems. Trauma, resettlement stress, lack of community or religious engagement were associated with mental health problems. Language differences, transportation, and lack of health insurance were the most significant obstacles to receiving healthcare. Conclusion: SEAR experienced worse physical and mental health than the general US population. Different patterns of disease were identified depending on gender, time settled in the US, and ethnic group. Qualitative and longitudinal studies will elucidate refugees' experience and should guide interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and social consequences of their purchases. Consequently, marketers and businesses are increasingly incorporating more detailed environmental information into their offerings, such as eco-labels and green advertising. This study examines the influence of eco-labels and green advertising on green brand equity in emerging markets, such as Vietnam. Data were gathered from 870 consumers who purchased milk products in Vietnam. The results revealed that eco-labels and green advertising have a positive and significant influence on green brand equity components. Furthermore, the results reveal the relationship between green brand equity components, which is important for understanding corporate branding efforts. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the effects of eco-labels and green advertising on different elements of brand equity to generate and manage brand equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single bioaugmentation reactor and a side‐stream gaslift membrane bioreactor combined with bioaugmentation are conducted to treat real wastewater from a centralized piggery slaughterhouse in Vietnam. The bioaugmented reactor is inoculated with heterotrophic microorganisms (Bacillus sp.) isolated from piggery slaughterhouse wastewater. The results of a single bioaugmentation experiment show high removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (84.8%–97.5%) and total nitrogen (TN) (69.9%–87.2%) at loading rates of 1.28–3.89 and 0.14–0.37 kg m−3 d−1, respectively. The combined system demonstrates a significantly higher TN removal efficiency (89.0%–96.1%) (p < 0.001), more stable flux (36.0–38.4 L m−2 h−1), and transmembrane pressure (0.95–1.05 bar), and better capacity of separation of solid–liquid phases compared to the single bioaugmentation. High COD and TN removal efficiency is possibly due to assimilation and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification processes. The results of this study also indicate the feasibility and propitious efficiency of the bioaugmented gaslift membrane bioreactor for piggery slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam has high rates of antibiotic use and resistance. Measuring resistance in commensal bacteria could provide an objective indicator for evaluating the impact of interventions to reduce antibiotic use and resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and bacterial recovery for different sampling strategies. We conducted a cross-sectional mixed methods study in a rural community in Ha Nam Province, northern Vietnam, and collected structured interviews, samples, and in-depth interviews from households. Out of 389 households invited, 324 participated (83%), representing 1502 individuals. Samples were collected from these individuals (1498 stool, 1002 self-administered nasal swabs, and 496 HW-administered nasopharyngeal swabs). Pneumococci were recovered from 11.1% (128/1149) of the total population and 26.2% (48/183) of those under 5-years. Recovery was higher for health-worker (HW)-administered swabs (13.7%, 48/350) than self-administered swabs (10.0%, 80/799) (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.07–3.96). Cost per swab was cheaper for self-administered ($7.26) than HW-administered ($8.63) swabs, but the overall cost for 100 positive samples was higher ($7260 and $6300 respectively). Qualitative interviews revealed that HW-administered nasopharyngeal swabs took longer to collect, caused more discomfort, and were more difficult to take from children. Factors affecting participation included sense of contribution, perceived trade-offs between benefits and effort, and peer influence. Reluctance was related to stool sampling and negative perceptions of research. This study provides important evidence for planning community-based carriage studies, including cost, logistics, and acceptability. Self-administered swabs had lower recovery, and though cheaper and quicker, this would translate to higher costs for large population-based studies. Recovery might be improved by swab-type, transport medium, and better cold-chain to lab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous disease with poor prognosis and limited treatment options, which highlights the need for reliable biomarkers. This study aims to explore molecular markers that allow stratification of HCC and may lead to better prognosis and treatment prediction. Materials and methods: We studied 20 candidate genes (HCC hub genes, potential drug target genes, predominant somatic mutant genes) retrieved from literature and public databases with potential to be used as the molecular markers. We analysed expression of the genes by RT-qPCR in 30 HCC tumour and adjacent non-tumour paired samples from Vietnamese patients. Fold changes in expression were then determined using the 2−∆∆CT method, and unsupervised hierarchical clustering was generated using Cluster v3.0 software. Results: Clustering of expression data revealed two subtypes of tumours (proliferative and normal-like) and four clusters for genes. The expression profiles of the genes TOP2A, CDK1, BIRC5, GPC3, IGF2, and AFP were strongly correlated. Proliferative tumours were characterized by high expression of the c-MET, ARID1A, CTNNB1, RAF1, LGR5, and GLUL1 genes. TOP2A, CDK1, and BIRC5 HCC hub genes were highly expressed (> twofold) in 90% (27/30), 83% (25/30), and 83% (24/30) in the tissue samples, respectively. Among the drug target genes, high expression was observed in the GPC3, IGF2 and c-MET genes in 77% (23/30), 63% (19/30), and 37% (11/30), respectively. The somatic mutant Wnt/ß-catenin genes (CTNNB1, GLUL and LGR5) and TERT were highly expressed in 40% and 33% of HCCs, respectively. Among the HCC marker genes, a higher percentage of tumours showed GPC3 expression compared to AFP expression [73% (23/30) vs. 43% (13/30)]. Conclusion: The custom panel and molecular markers from this study may be useful for diagnosis, prognosis, biomarker-guided clinical trial design, and prediction of treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panting score (PS) is a common research tool used to assess the physiological state of cows exposed to heat stress, but it is subjective. Infrared temperature (IRT), measured by either infrared thermometers or cameras, may be a more objective and reliable alternative. Very few studies thus far have evaluated the associations between PS, IRT, and milk production. We investigated the applicability of IRT compared with PS as a means of assessing heat stress and milk yield reduction in dairy cows in tropical smallholder dairy farms (SDF). In autumn 2017, SDF located across 4 typical dairy regions of Vietnam were each visited once to collect farm (n = 32) and individual cow data (n = 344). For each SDF, heat load index (HLI) inside the cowsheds, an indicator of environmental heat load calculated from ambient temperature, humidity, and wind speed, was measured. For each cow, PS (0 indicates a cow breathing normally, not panting; 4.5 indicates an extremely heat-stressed cow with excessive panting, tongue fully extended, and excessive drooling), IRT of the cow's body, single-day energy-corrected milk yield (ECM), body weight, and body condition score were measured. Cow genotype, age, lactation number, and days in milk were recorded. The IRT of the cows' inner vulval lip (IVuT) were measured with an infrared thermometer; and the IRT of the cows' vulval surface (OVuT), inner tail base surface (ITBT), ocular area, muzzle, armpit area, paralumbar fossa area, fore udder, rear udder, fore hoof, and hind hoof were also measured with an infrared camera. Multivariate mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between HLI with PS and IRT, and associations between PS and IRT with ECM while accounting for the effects of other cow variables. All IRT correlated positively with PS (Pearson correlation, r = 0.23–0.50). Each unit increase in HLI was associated with increases of 0.07 units in PS and 0.09 to 0.23°C in IRT. Each degree (°C) increase in IVuT, OVuT, and ITBT was associated with decreases of 0.75, 0.87, and 0.70 kg/cow per day in ECM, respectively, whereas PS and other IRT were not significantly associated with ECM. Thus, all IRT showed potential to assess the heat stress level of cows; and IVuT, OVuT, and ITBT, but not PS and other IRT, showed potential to predict ECM reduction in cows during heat stress. First cross (F1) Holstein Brown Swiss and F1 Holstein Jersey showed lower PS and yielded higher ECM than the third backcross (B3) Holstein Zebu (7/8 Holstein + 1/8 Zebu) and pure Holstein. Thus, F1 Holstein Brown Swiss and F1 Holstein Jersey could be more suitable for tropical SDF than B3 Holstein Zebu and pure Holstein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies increasingly develop green marketing functions and target green consumer segments since "green issues" have become mainstream. This study evaluates the influence of consumers' perceptions of green marketing mix functions on brand equity dimensions in the Vietnamese milk industry. The quantitative research results, through direct interviews with 477 consumers, suggest that green marketing mix tools positively impact brand equity creation and inter-relationships among the dimensions of this brand equity. The results provide valuable inputs for manufacturers to commence green marketing programs and campaigns that fit discrete market segments to improve marketing performance and overcome green challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of high siltation and accumulation of organic and waste material in the intertidal of the dammed Ba Lai River in Vietnam as part of the Mekong estuarine system was investigated by means of marine free-living nematodes. Nutrients content (nitrate, ammonium, total phosphorus, total nitrogen), total suspended solids, total organic carbon, coliform, bacteria E. coli, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, methane and hydrogen sulfide concentration, and the nematode communities were characterized in sediment at selected stations along the river above and below the dam. Our results found elevated methane concentrations at the upstream side of the dam while hydrogen sulfide concentrations found to be highest in the downstream side of the dam. Furthermore, methane and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were correlated to nematode community characteristics such as trophic composition densities and genera composition. There was a clear difference between the communities above and below the dam. The discontinuous nematode community distribution indicated that the Ba Lai River is impacted by dam construction. Potentially the high deposition and eutrophication could turn the area into a methane-rich area related to predicted impact on nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the impact of psychological contract violation, trust, satisfaction, and negative word of mouth on online repurchase intention in an emerging market such as Vietnam. The paper follows a quantitative approach through interviews with 566 consumers in Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest city in Vietnam. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and a T-Test. The research results suggest a relationship between psychological contract violation, trust, satisfaction, and negative word of mouth on online repurchase intention. The results also show that there are demographic differences such as gender and education level in the relationship between psychological contract violation and online purchase intention, which has not been explored in previous studies. This study will help administrators of e-commerce sites be aware of the important role of buyer's trust, satisfaction and expectations expressed through psychological contract. Besides, it helps remind managers to pay more attention in building and implementing business strategies to avoid mistakes that lead to breach of psychological contract to avoid negative word of mouth and increase online repurchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Diabetes self-management (DSM) enables maintenance of optimal individualized glycemic control for patients with diabetes through comprehensive lifestyle, medication adherence, and self-monitoring glucose level. This study aimed to evaluate DSM and to find associated factors among Vietnamese diabetes patients by using the Vietnamese version of Diabetes Self-Management Instrument (DSMI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a single hospital in the central Vietnam. DSM was assessed using the DSMI. The participant's socio-demographic and clinical features were obtained through face-to-face interviews and medical records. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine independent factors associated with total DSMI. Results: The mean total DSM score based on DSMI self-administered questionnaire scores was 88.4 ± 22.1, with a range of 47 to 140. The mean self-integration, self-regulation, interaction with health professionals, self-monitoring blood glucose, and adherence to the prescribed regime were 24.8, 22.3, 21.6, 10.2, and 9.5, respectively. 48.1% of DM patients had good HbA1c control. Sex, educational status, BMI, waist circumference, medical nutrition therapy, and sufficient physical activities were factors independently predictive of DSMI total score. Conclusion: This study emphasizes that the DSM situation is seen to be average among DM patients with mean DSMI score 88.4 ± 22.1 and sex, educational status, BMI, waist circumference, medical nutrition therapy, and sufficient physical activities were independently predictive factors of DSMI total score. This evidence suggests that there is a need to enhance the effectiveness of DSM education programs among diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To document known risk factors, clinical severity, associated impairments and rehabilitation status of children presenting with cerebral palsy (CP) to the National Children's Hospital (NCH) in Hanoi, Vietnam. Active prospective ascertainment of cases of CP presenting between June and November 2017 to the NCH using surveillance modelled on the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance system in Australia. Data were collected on 765 children with CP (mean age: 2 years 7 months (SD 2 y 6 mo). Mean age at diagnosis was 1 year 8 months (SD 1 y 9 mo). Children predominantly had spastic CP (95.2%, n = 729), most were quadriplegic (69.6%, n = 532) and 60.3% (n = 454) were Gross Motor Functional Classification System level III-V. Of the children 76.2% (n = 583) had one/more associated impairments. 36.3% (n = 276) had presumed perinatal asphyxia, 26.5% (n = 202) were preterm. Physiotherapy (94.3%, n = 663) was the most common form of intervention used. Only 2.6% (n = 12) of the children who would have benefitted from assistive devices had wheelchairs. We established hospital-based surveillance of CP in Hanoi and confirmed a high burden and severity of CP with potentially preventable risk factors. These data will inform clinician training and health policy and identify need for evidence-based care and assistive devices. We identified a high number of children with severe forms of cerebral palsy (CP) in Hanoi, Vietnam through hospital-based surveillance. There is an urgent need for clinician training and access to and use of evidence-based interventions including assistive technology. This study will inform local capacity building and health policy for improved diagnosis and care of children with CP in Vietnam and other low and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HPV16, with typical mutations that differ in geographical distribution and carcinogenic potency, has implications for cervical cancer screening, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. DNASTAR and MEGA were used to identify HPV16 variants and construct a phylogenetic tree. The most prevalent HPV genotypes were HPV16 (63.9%), HPV18 (26.7%), and other HPV (6.9%). HPV16 alterations were found in all E6, E7, and L1 genes, including 15 missense and 18 synonymous mutations. Missense mutations include R10G, Q14H, D25E, H78Y, L83V (E6); M29V, R35K, L78R, L95P (E7); H73Y, T176 N, N178T, T317P, T386S, L472F/I (L1). HPV16 sublineages include A1 (17.2%), A2 (0.9%), A3 (56.0%), A4 (19.0%), D1 (4.3%), and D3 (2.6%). Although several mutations in the oncoproteins E6, E7, and L1 have been detected, mutations known to be associated with cervical cancer risk, such as D25E and L83V, occur at a relatively low frequency. This suggests that HPV16 mutations are associated with cervical cancer through a complicated mechanism. • HPV16 was the most prevalent among the nineteen HPV genotypes found in Vietnamese women with cervical cancer. • The frequency and types of mutations in HPV16 in Vietnam differ from those previously reported in Vietnam and worldwide. • HPV16 mutations with significant oncogenicity were found at a relatively low frequency or were not presented. • HPV16 is divided into six sublineages based on mutations in the E6, E7, and L1 genes: A1, A2, A3, A4, D1, and D3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are eight famous thermal water sources, with medium temperature, neutral pH, high ranges of TDS values located in different carbonate formations in Northern Vietnam. The chemical composition results showed the major elements present were Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, while trace amounts of rare earth elements (REE), Ag, As, Pb, Th, U were observed. The 210Po activity concentration and the annual committed effective doses for adults, children, and infants in all study areas were far less than 100 mBq L−1 and 0.1 mSv y−1, respectively. Some significant correlations between 210Po and other chemical components have been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and social implications of their consumption. To make ecologically responsible purchases consumers require environmentally relevant product information. Therefore, marketers and firms are increasingly using green marketing tools to integrate detailed environmental information into their offerings, such as eco-labels and green advertising. This study aims to test the direct impact of eco-labels and green advertising on green purchase intention and examine the mediating role of green brand equity dimensions. Data were gathered from a sample of 870 consumers who purchased milk products in Vietnam. The results reveal that eco-labels and green advertising positively and significantly influence green purchase intention directly and via adaptive green brand equity dimensions as a mediating influence mechanism. The study provides essential insights for firms and marketers investigating issues related to green purchase intention and green brand equity, thereby identifying the role of eco-labels, and green advertising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleeding associated with endothelial damage is a key feature of severe dengue fever. In the current study, we investigated whether Notch ligands were associated with bleeding in 115 patients with confirmed dengue infection in Vietnam. Soluble Notch ligands were determined by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seventeen of 115 patients (14.8%) experienced bleeding manifestations. High soluble delta-like ligand 1 (sDLL1) plasma levels was associated with bleeding (median, 15 674 vs 7117 pg/mL; P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that sDLL1 had the best test performance (area under the ROC curve, 0.852), with 88% sensitivity and 84% specificity. The combination with alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase slightly increased sDLL1 performance. sDLL1 may be useful to guide clinical management of patients with patients in endemic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have developed five spatially explicit ensemble predictive machine learning models for the landslide susceptibility mapping of the Van Chan district of the Yen Bai Province, Vietnam. In the model studies, Random Subspace (RSS) was used as the ensemble learner with Best First Decision Tree (BFT), Functional Tree (FT), J48 Decision Tree (J48DT), Naïve Bayes Tree (NBT) and Reduced Error Pruning Trees (REPT) as the base classifiers. Data of 167 past and present landslides and various landslide conditioning factors were used for generation of the datasets. The results showed that the RSSFT model achieved the highest performance in terms of Fgiurepredicting future landslides, followed by RSSREPT, RSSBFT, RSSJ48, and RSSNBT, respectively. Therefore, the RSSFT model was found to be more robust model than the other studied models, which can be used in other areas of landslide susceptibility mapping for proper landuse planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research aims: This study aims to: 1) determine the factors driving consumers' attitudes towards Facebook advertisements in Vietnam; 2) examine the impact of genders and Generation Z attitudes towards Facebook advertisement in Vietnam. Methodology/Approach: This study employs a quantitative approach. Data were gathered from a sample of 477 Facebook users who are exposed to Facebook advertisements and resided in Ho Chi Minh City. Research findings: The findings of this study show that personalisation, entertainment, interactivity, informativeness, and credibility have positive effects on attitudes towards advertising while irritation and privacy concerns appear to be negatively related. In addition, this study also illustrates that interactivity plays a role in stimulating the 'entertainment effect' amongst the consumers. As expected, privacy concern is found to have a negative impact on credibility. Theoretical contribution/originality: This study expands the previous empirical works by integrating two additional variables - personalisation and privacy concerns with user and gratification theory. Policy implications: The result provides valuable input for advertisers. It offers an insight into facilitators and barriers of consumer acceptance towards Facebook advertisements; and how these aspects could shape customers' perceptions of Facebook advertisements. Research limitation: First, the sample was constrained to Ho Chi Minh City, which may have limited the generalisability of the findings. Second, this study considered only a limited number of predictors of attitudes towards Facebook advertising. The next limitation is that this research was conducted for products and services advertised on Facebook in general and did not focus on a specific category of products or services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood stream infections (BSI) caused by Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae is a clinical challenge leading to high mortality, especially in developing countries. In this study, we sought to describe the epidemiology of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from Vietnamese individuals with BSI, to investigate the concordance of genotypic-phenotypic resistance, and clinical outcome of ESBL E. coli BSI. Methods: A total of 459 hospitalized patients with BSI were screened between October 2014 and May 2016. 115 E. coli strains from 115 BSI patients were isolated and tested for antibiotic resistance using the VITEK®2 system. The ESBL phenotype was determined by double disk diffusion method following the guideline of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Screening for beta-lactamase (ESBL and carbapenemase) genes was performed using a multiplex-PCR assay. Results: 58% (67/115) of the E. coli strains were ESBL-producers and all were susceptible to both imipenem and meropenem. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporin was common, 70% (81/115) were cefotaxime-resistant and 45% (52/115) were ceftazidime-resistant. blaCTX-M was the most common ESBL gene detected (70%; 80/115) The sensitivity and specificity of blaCTX-M-detection to predict the ESBL phenotype was 87% (76–93% 95% CI) and 54% (39–48% 95% CI), respectively. 28%% (22/80) of blaCTX-M were classified as non-ESBL producers by phenotypic testing for ESBL production. The detection of blaCTX-M in ESBL-negative E. coli BSI was associated with fatal clinical outcome (27%; 6/22 versus 8%; 2/26, p = 0.07). Conclusion: A high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates harbouring blaCTX-M was observed in BSI patients in Vietnam. The genotypic detection of blaCTX-M may have added benefit in optimizing and guiding empirical antibiotic therapy of E. coli BSI to improve clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is one of the major valuable water resources for the use of communities, agriculture, and industries. In the present study, we have developed three novel hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) models which is a combination of modified RealAdaBoost (MRAB), bagging (BA), and rotation forest (RF) ensembles with functional tree (FT) base classifier for the groundwater potential mapping (GPM) in the basaltic terrain at DakLak province, Highland Centre, Vietnam. Based on the literature survey, these proposed hybrid AI models are new and have not been used in the GPM of an area. Geospatial techniques were used and geo‐hydrological data of 130 groundwater wells and 12 topographical and geo‐environmental factors were used in the model studies. One‐R Attribute Evaluation feature selection method was used for the selection of relevant input parameters for the development of AI models. The performance of these models was evaluated using various statistical measures including area under the receiver operation curve (AUC). Results indicated that though all the hybrid models developed in this study enhanced the goodness‐of‐fit and prediction accuracy, but MRAB‐FT (AUC = 0.742) model outperformed RF‐FT (AUC = 0.736), BA‐FT (AUC = 0.714), and single FT (AUC = 0.674) models. Therefore, the MRAB‐FT model can be considered as a promising AI hybrid technique for the accurate GPM. Accurate mapping of the groundwater potential zones will help in adequately recharging the aquifer for optimum use of groundwater resources by maintaining the balance between consumption and exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Annamite striped rabbit Nesolagus timminsi is a little-known and Endangered lagomorph endemic to the Annamites ecoregion of Vietnam and Laos. The species' known distribution extends from the northern to central Annamites. Here, we report the first records of the species from the southern Annamites. We recorded camera-trap photographs of Annamite striped rabbit in Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park, located in Lam Dong province, Vietnam. The photographs represent the first records of the species from the southern Annamites, and a significant southern range extension. We discuss the implications of this finding for Annamite striped rabbit conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide is a natural hazard which causes huge loss of properties and human life in many places of the world. Mapping of landslide susceptibility is an important task for preventing and combating the landslides problems. Main objective of this study is to use different artificial intelligence methods namely support vector machines (SVM), artificial neural networks (ANN), logistic regression (LR), and reduced error-pruning tree (REPT) in the development of models for landslide susceptibility mapping of Muong Lay district of Vietnam. In total data of 217 landslide locations of the study area was used for the development and evaluation of the models. Nine landslide-conditioning factors were used for generating the datasets for training and validating the models. Results show that the SVM outperformed all other methods namely ANN, LR and REPT. Thus, it can be suggested that the SVM method is more useful in developing accurate and robust landslide prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

JC virus (JCV) causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunocompromised patients. The prevalence and genotype patterns of JCV vary between different geographical regions. This study was done to investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of JCV in patients with hematological malignancies in Vietnam. A total of 48 urine samples were collected from patients with hematological malignancies. DNA was extracted and detection of JCV was by nested‐polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis was obtained and a phylogenetic tree was constructed for genotyping of JCV. Twenty‐seven (56.25%) urine samples tested positive for JCV. JCV genotype 7 was only observed in this study. Subtype analysis showed that JCV subtype 7A was the most commonly prevalent, followed by 7B1 and 7C1. Other subtypes were not detected in this population. There were no significant differences associated with age, gender, and biochemical parameters between patients with JCV and without JCV excretion in urine. The present study showed a high prevalence of JCV in the urine of patients with hematologic malignancies. The most common genotype found in this population was JCV subtype 7A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of surface water treatment by using Moringa oleifera seeds by-products as bio-coagulant to remove turbidity and natural organic matter. This approach brings more benefits as compared to others, particularly, no chemical use, low cost, easy to implement but equivalent efficiency and also safe for the health. The surface water samples were collected from three sites in the Dong Nai River, Vietnam, with the average concentrations of pH, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) ranging from 6.2 ± 0.3 to 6.7 ± 0.2, 25.2 ± 2.5 to 41.7 ± 7.9 NTU, 22.4 ± 6.4 to 41.1 ± 5.9 mg L−1 and 0.70 ± 0.20 to 1.08 ± 0.15 mg L−1, respectively. The study has found that the optimum bio-coagulant dosage was 0.15 ml L−1 for the water samples in both rainy and dry seasons. In the rainy season, the turbidity removal efficiencies in Tan Luong Ferry, Nguyen Van Tri Park and Hoi Son Ferry ranged from 87.8 ± 2.9 to 93.3 ± 1.0%, while the tendency for dry season was obtained from 85.7 ± 2.5 to 94.3 ± 1.1%, respectively. The treated turbidity concentration met the Vietnam's National Technical Regulation on domestic water quality. Furthermore, the paired t tests used to compare the pre-treatment and post-treatment dataset for COD and turbidity removal efficiencies were significant (p < 0.05) in three studied sites. Results indicated that Moringa oleifera extract is a promising material which is environmental-friendly and low cost to treat the surface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to define and measure key factors of the satisfaction and revisit-intention of pilgrimage tourists to Bà Chúa Xú Shrine in Vietnam. The study involved both qualitative and quantitative methods: (i) qualitative research was carried out through focus group discussions with pilgrimage tourists, and (ii) quantitative research was conducted through interviews with 288 pilgrimage tourists. The results showed that intentions to revisit the Ba Chua Zu Shrine was directly affected by satisfaction, destination image, cultural contact, and spirituality. The results reveal that pilgrimage destination image, spirituality and cultural contact had positive and direct significant influences on revisit-intention and via adaptive satisfaction as a mediating influence mechanism. The findings provide strong evidence to tourism administrators that destination image and cultural contact, in particular, improve pilgrim-tourist satisfaction and intent to return. This has implications for those in the tourism industry, including destination marketers, government officials, and site managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective -- Vietnam is one of the world's most severely affected countries by climate change. The consequences of climate change reduce the goal of poverty alleviation and sustainable development of the country. Quang Ninh is a coastal province with vigorous development in industry and tourism and is the leading province in Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) in Vietnam in recent years. Methodology/Technique -- However, for many years, Quang Ninh province has suffered many negative impacts of climate change. Based on empirical evidence, the article assesses the vulnerability in people's livelihoods under the impact of climate change in Quang Ninh province by using the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) developed by Hahn, Riederer, and Foster. Findings -- The paper also assesses livelihood vulnerability based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC.) The research results show that the components of responding well to climate change are not acceptable. Novelty -- The study also shows that there should be different policies, strategies, and reduction components to improve the capacity to respond to climate change to ensure sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livelihoods of millions of rice farmers in Vietnam's Mekong Delta have become increasingly vulnerable due to reduced rainfall and the resulting water stress. In this context, promoting water-saving practices, such as alternate wetting and drying technology, is vital to sustain rice production and enhance people's resilience to climatic changes in the Delta. Since this technology is not widely applied in the region, this study hypothesized that a precise water measurement using the Internet of Things technology could facilitate the uptake of the alternate wetting and drying rice cultivation practice. The study applied a rigorous research design to assess the differential benefits of applying the technology with sensors. Participating farmers were divided into three treatment groups that produced rice using either the continuously flooded irrigation technique, manual alternate wetting and drying tubes, or tubes with sensors. The on-farm trials' results showed that the precise water level measurements with the sensors allowed the farmers to maximize the benefits from alternate wetting and drying irrigation. The experimental results indicated an additional 13-20% of water savings over manual alternate wetting and drying. The technology also reduced irrigation energy costs by 25% and moderately enhanced rice yields by 2-11%. This pilot was the first to demonstrate in a large-scale open-field trial that it is feasible and beneficial for smallholder farmers to apply cutting-edge Internet of Things technology to increase water use efficiency in their rice farms. The technology adoption would significantly contribute to sustaining the agriculture-based livelihoods of people in the Delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil cohesion (C) is one of the critical soil properties and is closely related to basic soil properties such as particle size distribution, pore size, and shear strength. Hence, it is mainly determined by experimental methods. However, the experimental methods are often time-consuming and costly. Therefore, developing an alternative approach based on machine learning (ML) techniques to solve this problem is highly recommended. In this study, machine learning models, namely, support vector machine (SVM), Gaussian regression process (GPR), and random forest (RF), were built based on a data set of 145 soil samples collected from the Da Nang-Quang Ngai expressway project, Vietnam. The database also includes six input parameters, that is, clay content, moisture content, liquid limit, plastic limit, specific gravity, and void ratio. The performance of the model was assessed by three statistical criteria, namely, the correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). The results demonstrated that the proposed RF model could accurately predict soil cohesion with high accuracy (R = 0.891) and low error (RMSE = 3.323 and MAE = 2.511), and its predictive capability is better than SVM and GPR. Therefore, the RF model can be used as a cost-effective approach in predicting soil cohesion forces used in the design and inspection of constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the performance of different machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely, Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), and Boosting Trees (Boosted) algorithms, considering the influence of various training to testing ratios in predicting the soil shear strength, one of the most critical geotechnical engineering properties in civil engineering design and construction. For this aim, a database of 538 soil samples collected from the Long Phu 1 power plant project, Vietnam, was utilized to generate the datasets for the modeling process. Different ratios (i.e., 10/90, 20/80, 30/70, 40/60, 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, and 90/10) were used to divide the datasets into the training and testing datasets for the performance assessment of models. Popular statistical indicators, such as Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Correlation Coefficient (R), were employed to evaluate the predictive capability of the models under different training and testing ratios. Besides, Monte Carlo simulation was simultaneously carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed models, taking into account the random sampling effect. The results showed that although all three ML models performed well, the ANN was the most accurate and statistically stable model after 1000 Monte Carlo simulations (Mean R = 0.9348) compared with other models such as Boosted (Mean R = 0.9192) and ELM (Mean R = 0.8703). Investigation on the performance of the models showed that the predictive capability of the ML models was greatly affected by the training/testing ratios, where the 70/30 one presented the best performance of the models. Concisely, the results presented herein showed an effective manner in selecting the appropriate ratios of datasets and the best ML model to predict the soil shear strength accurately, which would be helpful in the design and engineering phases of construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study defines and measures marketing mix elements in consumer-based brand equity. It undertakes qualitative research through focus group discussions with 10 consumers. It conducts quantitative research through direct interviews with 477 consumers. The results reveal that brand awareness, brand associations, perceived quality, brand trust, and brand loyalty affect brand equity, while brand awareness, and brand trust affect brand loyalty. Advertising impacts brand awareness, brand associations, perceived quality, brand trust, while distribution intensity impacts brand awareness, brand associations, brand trust. However, the limited resources in conducting the research result in a small sample size of only 477 consumers. As a sampling technique, this study employs direct interview methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]