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Comparing language tests and test preparation materials holds important implications for the latter's validity and reliability. However, not enough studies compare such materials across a wide range of indices. Therefore, this study investigated the text complexity of IELTS academic reading tests (IRT) and IELTS reading practice tests (IRPrT). Fine-grained quantitative analyses were undertaken to delineate measures of lexical, syntactic, and discourse complexity across a corpus of 108 IRT and 108 IRPrT published by Pearson, Macmillan, and Cengage Learning. The results suggest little difference between IRT and IRPrT at the lexical level; however, there were significant differences in some measures of syntactic and discourse level complexity. The findings bear implications for stakeholders including learners as test takers, instructors, material developers, and language testing researchers. We interpret this to mean that while IRPrT materials are lexically conducive to the practice for IRT and can provide a similar experience, the IRPrT do show some differences in the amount of subordination and idea repetition at the discourse level. Therefore, instructors and learners may seek to supplement practice with these structures when preparing for IRT, and the designers of such practice materials should consider aligning these factors in the future.

In the present work, AlN was modified with vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), and its effect on the properties of a thermally conductive composite of high impact polystyrene (HIPS), and AlN was investigated. Three composites, HIPS/AlN5, HIPS/AlN9, and HIPS/moAlN9, were prepared by mixing HIPS and AlN in a toluene solution, followed by hot pressing. The HIPS/AlN composite was characterized by tensile test, impact strength, flexural strength, and hardness shore D. The sample HIPS/moAlN9 showed the improvement of these properties compared to that of the HIPS/AlN9 sample. The increment of those mechanical properties was due to the good interaction between the modified AlN and HIPS resin matrix, which was revealed by morphology observation by SEM. Incorporating modified AlN into the HIPS matrix was also found to enhance the thermal conductivity by about 20%, from 0.15 for HIPS to 0.18 (W/m·K) for HIPS/moAlN9. It was explained due to the good adherence of AlN to the HIPS, which provided more thermal conductive routes than HIPS/AlN. This approach provides a possible strategy to prepare thermally conductive HIPS composite, which may be suitable for electronic device that required heat dissipation.

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) has a serious public health impact, and its incidence is rising due to the aging population. There is limited evidence and consensus to guide the management of PC in Southeast Asia (SEA). We present real-world data on clinical practice patterns in SEA for advanced PC care. Method: A paper-based survey was used to identify clinical practice patterns and obtain consensus among the panelists. The survey included the demographics of the panelists, the use of clinical guidelines, and clinical practice patterns in the management of advanced PC in SEA. Results: Most panelists (81%) voted prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as the most effective test for early PC diagnosis and risk stratification. Nearly 44% of panelists agreed that prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging for PC diagnostic and staging information aids local and systemic therapy decisions. The majority of the panel preferred abiraterone acetate (67%) or docetaxel (44%) as first-line therapy for symptomatic mCRPC patients. Abiraterone acetate (50%) is preferred over docetaxel as a first-line treatment in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer patients with high-volume disease. However, the panel did not support the use of abiraterone acetate in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) patients. Apalutamide (75%) is the preferred treatment option for patients with nmCRPC. The cost and availability of modern treatments and technologies are important factors influencing therapeutic decisions. All panelists supported the use of generic versions of approved therapies. Conclusion: The survey results reflect real-world management of advanced PC in a SEA country. These findings could be used to guide local clinical practices and highlight the financial challenges of modern healthcare.

In the present research, fountain solution without isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for Ultraviolet offset curing ink (UV ink) was prepared by using Ethylene Glycol Mono-butyl Ether (EGME) as a substitute for IPA. The effect of EGME concentration on the water pick-up characteristics, tack value, rheological behaviors, and curing time of UV offset inks was investigated. Water pick-up characteristics, tack value and rheological behaviors were measured by Duke Ink water emulsification tester, Tack-o-scope and cone-plate rheometer, respectively. The curing time of the UV ink was evaluated by the rub test of printed sheet samples proofed on the polymer film at the standard solid ink density and the same ink thickness. The results revealed that an increase in EGME concentration increased the water pick-up characteristics of the UV ink. There was no significant influence of EGME on the tack value of UV inks. However, the tack value of UV ink was significantly affected by fountain concentration in UV inks and UV ink color. The addition of EGME reduced the dynamic viscosity and thixotropic property of UV inks but did not change the flow behavior of UV ink as shear thinning. This study indicates that UV ink emulsified with a higher EGME concentration fountain solution needs a longer curing time. The cyan UV ink has the longest curing time. Finally, the fountain solution of 10% EGME exhibited good performance in water pick-up characteristics, tack value, rheological behaviors, and curing time of UV inks.

Abstract Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a significant causal agent of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), with huge production losses of white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, cultivated globally, including aquaculture farms in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Controlling this disease is critical because of the worldwide expansion of antimicrobial‐resistant V. parahaemolyticus isolates. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of multi‐antibiotic resistance (MAR) in V. parahaemolyticus isolated from AHPND white leg shrimp extensively cultivated in Bac Lieu Province (Mekong Delta). Based on biochemical tests and toxR‐PCR positive detections, 34 V. parahaemolyticus isolates were identified. Antibiotic susceptibility examination revealed that most of the isolates were phenotypically multidrug resistant, including resistance to ceftazidime (100%) and amoxicillin (97.06%), followed by colistin (74%) and erythromycin (65%). These isolates were highly sensitive to doxycycline (94%), followed by florfenicol (74%) and flumequine (71%). There were 27 distinct MAR phenotypes detected among 34 isolates, with 14.71% of the isolates exhibiting the antibiotic profile AMO‐CEF‐CEP‐COL‐ERY, followed by 11.76% for each of the profiles AMO‐CEP‐TET‐COL and AMO–CEP–COL. In particular, 25 isolates (75%) were resistant to at least 5 (of the 12) antibiotics tested. A hierarchical clustering analysis of antibiotic‐resistant V. parahaemolyticus isolates indicated cross‐transmission across farms and its ability to survive in aquatic environments for extended periods (over 3 months). Our findings support the hypothesis that the variety of MARPs in V. parahaemolyticus is the result of human activities. Environmentally friendly therapy strategies should be used for the prophylaxis and treatment of V. parahaemolyticus infection.

For culverts on slopes greater than critical, rougher material causes greater depth of flow and less velocity in culverts of equal size. Velocity varies inversely with resistance thus roughness elements resistance is obviously an important factor in reducing velocity at the outlets of culverts on steep slopes to prevent scour in downstream of culverts on roads. The criteria for design directives of new energy dissipaters must provide for sufficient energy dissipation, characterized by simplicity of design, effectiveness of energy dissipation and low construction cost. In this study, two physical models were built with producing roughness elements at the end part of the culverts to evaluate the outlet velocities of high-energy culverts. The results showed that with a slope ranging from 5 % to 13 %, the proposed roughness elements reduce energy dissipation from 48.7 % to 52.9 % for roughness elements without gaps and from 51.6 % to 53.9 % for roughness elements with gaps. This result also indicated that the roughness elements in the sloping box culverts can be used to replace energy dissipater structures in the downstream of the box culverts in the Central region of Vietnam.

The proposal of a system for the safe recovery of unexploded ordnance (UXO), chemical weapons (CW) and chemical warfare agents (CWA) dumped at sea mainly after WWI and WWII is described in this work. The proposed solution addresses the tasks required to neutralise thousands of tons of dumped material and the currently available solutions and proposed ideas. Requirements concerning the features of a recovery system are defined and scrutinised, these being intended to ensure the safety of this phase of the UXO/CW neutralisation process. To meet this requirement, the concept of a remotely operated, two-component working size underwater vehicle is proposed, supplemented by a properly sized and outfitted surface platform that is an important part of the recovery system. Finally, the basic components of the proposed system configuration are characterised, together with their functions during the recovery of dangerous CWA-related objects.

The study aims to determine the technical efficiency and factors affecting the technical efficiency of lettuce farmers in Dalat City. The study’s primary data were collected by surveying structured questionnaires from 100 lettuce farmers in Dalat City. The Cobb-Douglas production, combined with the technical inefficiency according to the one-stage estimation method, was estimated by the program Frontier 4.1. The calculated results illustrate that the average technical efficiency of lettuce farmers is 0.76; with the usage level of available inputs and present techniques, Dalat lettuce production in the rainy season may increase by 24%. Besides, the study has also indicated that factors such as lettuce cultivated area, number of seedlings, and amount of pure potassium fertilizer positively influence lettuce yield. In contrast, the amount of pure nitrogen fertilizer negatively affected lettuce output. However, the education level and experience of household heads in lettuce cultivation positively affected technical efficiency. Therefore, to improve lettuce productivity and technical efficiency in Dalat City, the study suggests that farmers need to increase the amount of potassium fertilizer and reduce nitrogen fertilizer. In addition, state agencies recommend teaching lettuce farmers about the balanced and reasonable application of N, P, and K fertilizers through documents or training courses.

In marine vessel operations, fuel costs are major operating costs which affect the overall profitability of the maritime transport industry. The effective enhancement of using ship fuel will increase ship operation efficiency. Since ship fuel consumption depends on different factors, such as weather, cruising condition, cargo load, and engine condition, it is difficult to assess the fuel consumption pattern for various types of ships. Most traditional statistical methods do not consider these factors when predicting marine vessel fuel consumption. With technological development, different statistical models have been developed for estimating fuel consumption patterns based on ship data. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are some of the most effective artificial methods for modelling and validating marine vessel fuel consumption. The application of ANN in maritime transport improves the accuracy of the regression models developed for analysing interactive relationships between various factors. The present review sheds light on consolidating the works carried out in predicting ship fuel consumption using ANN, with an emphasis on topics such as ANN structure, application and prediction algorithms. Future research directions are also proposed and the present review can be a benchmark for mathematical modelling of ship fuel consumption using ANN.

Due to recent emission-associated regulations imposed on marine fuel, ship owners have been forced to seek alternate fuels, in order to meet the new limits. The aim of achieving low-carbon shipping by the year 2050, has meant that alternative marine fuels, as well as various technological and operational initiatives, need to be taken into account. This article evaluates and examines recent clean fuels and novel clean technologies for vessels. The alternative fuels are classified as low-carbon fuels, carbon-free fuels, and carbon neutral fuels, based on their properties. Fuel properties, the status of technological development, and existing challenges are also summarised in this paper. Furthermore, researchers have also investigated energy-saving devices and discovered that zero-carbon and virtually zero-carbon clean fuels, together with clean production, might play an important part in shipping, despite the commercial impracticability of existing costs and infrastructure. More interestingly, the transition to marine fuel is known to be a lengthy process; thus, early consensus-building, as well as action-adoption, in the maritime community is critical for meeting the expectations and aims of sustainable marine transportation.

Background: Chicken infectious anemia (CIA) caused by chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) is considered one of the most important immunosuppressive diseases affecting chicken and recently poses a great economic burden to the poultry industry worldwide. Aim: This study aims to identify the presence of CIAV in the Mekong delta (MD), Vietnam and to determine genotypes of CIAVs that are currently circulating in this area. Methods: Organ samples (spleen, liver, and thymus) of 144 chickens suspected with CIA from 47 poultry farms were collected. A total of 47 pooled samples, each containing two to four chickens of each farm, were tested for the presence of CIAV. Results: Twenty out of 47 pooled organ samples (pool of two to four chickens per farm) were positive for CIAV using PCR targeting the viral VP1 gene. The VP1 amplicons of eight representative CIAVs were subjected for sequencing and genetic characterization. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial VP1 gene sequence revealed that the CIAVs detected in the MD grouped into different genotypes of II, IIIa, and IIIc together with CIAVs previously detected in the northern Vietnam and other Asian countries. The phylogenetic analysis also confirmed that detected CIAVs genetically differed from vaccine strains. In addition, deduced amino acids of the VP1 identified several critical amino acid substitutions in the VP1 protein that are likely associated with the virulence of CIAV. Conclusion: This is the first report to detect and determine genetic characterization of the circulating CIAVs in the MD. Therefore, this study provides important understanding on the evolution of CIAVs and highlights the importance of implementing prompt control measures against CIAVs in the MD and Vietnam. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(6.000): 690-696]

Ha Thi Thu Tran,1,* Yen Hoang Nguyen,1,* Thuy Dinh Vuong,2 Loi Van Bui,3 Hue Thi Doan,1 Ha Thi Thu Le,1 Thien Cong Le,1 Thai Quoc Nguyen,4 Son Ngoc Do,5 Phuong Doan Nguyen,6 Chinh Quoc Luong,5 Tung Son Vu,7 Son Nam Tran,8 Ngoc Bao Doan,9 Long Bao Hoang,10 Tuan Van Nguyen1,11 1Department of Psychiatry, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Department of Schizophrenia, Vietnam National Institute of Mental Health, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Department of Stress-Related Disorders, Vietnam National Institute of Mental Health, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Center of Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Center for Emergency Medicine, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 6Outpatient Department, Construction Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 7Department of Mood Disorders, Vietnam National Institute of Mental Health, Hanoi, Vietnam; 8Department of Oncology, Vietnam National Hospital of Traditional Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam; 9School of Preventive medicine and Public health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 10Research and Training Management Department, Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 11Vietnam National Institute of Mental Health, Hanoi, Vietnam*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ha Thi Thu Tran, Email tran_thuha@hmu.edu.vnObjective: To evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological disturbances in the Vietnamese healthcare workers (HCWs) at COVID-19 field hospitals.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) to measure PTSD and the Depression Anxiety Stress scale (DASS) to measure other psychological disturbances. The anxiety about COVID-19 was evaluated by the fear of COVID-19 (FOC) scale. A self-developed questionnaire was used to assess work conditions and HCW’s major concerns and preparedness. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the severity of PTSD. A structural modeling equation (SEM) model was fitted to examine the correlation between PTSD and other psychological disturbances.Results: A total of 542 HCWs participated in this study. The prevalence of PTSD was 21.2%, most cases were mild. In the ordinal logistic regression analysis, a history of mental illness, poor preparedness, working in a condition with poor resources, a greater number of concerns, and greater fear of COVID-19 were independently associated with higher severity of PTSD. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 46.8%, 38.3%, and 60.2, respectively. In the SEM model, PTSD and psychological disturbances had a strong correlation (standardized covariance 0.86).Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD and other psychological disturbances was alarmingly high among HCWs who worked at COVID-19 field hospitals. The reported associated factors can be useful for policymakers and health authorities in the preparation for future pandemics.Keywords: PTSD, COVID-19, healthcare workers, DASS, fear of COVID, psychological disturbances

This research investigated an up-draft gasification system of paper waste sludge (PWS) to generate syngas. Lower heating value (LHV) and cold gas efficiency (CGE) are influenced by PWS moisture content and equivalence ratio (ER). Supply air for gasification by increasing ER reduced LHV due to increased inert gas (N2) content. PWS moisture provides steam for the water-gas shift reaction that increases LHV and CGE. But the moisture of the PWS higher than 15 % significantly reduced the gasification temperature (less than 800 ?), causing the overall gasification efficiency to decrease. According to the response surface methodology (RSM) using Design Expert software, the optimum conditions were predicted that PWS moisture of 11.09 %, ER of 0.104, syngas produced with an LHV of 10.48 MJ/kg, and a CGE of 67.55 %. Experimenting with a real model has similar results with small differences compared to the RSM model in the same conditions. Syngas from the real model has an LHV of 10.22 ± 0.24 MJ/kg and a CGE of 65.68 ± 1.02 %. PWS gasification under optimal conditions is an effective PWS treatment method that not only solves PWS but can also generate energy in the form of syngas.

This study investigates the sulfuric acid hydrolysis process to improve the efficiency of paper waste sludge (PWS) hydrolysis in a paper recycling plant. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the influence of factors, including liquid-to-solid ratio, acid concentration, temperature, and time on the hydrolysis process. The optimal conditions for hydrolysis were determined to be a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1/30.15, an acid concentration of 8.17 wt%, at a temperature of 91.31 ?, and a reaction time of 6.15 h, which yielded the highest sugar content of 11.12 g.L-1 (with the hydrolysis efficiency of 61.4 %). The resulting sugar solution was then fermented by Acetobacter xylinum bacteria to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) layers. This study addresses the environmental organic pollution caused by PWS and transforms it into a more valuable form with high carbon content and purity, such as BC.

AbstractGlobally, agriculture is both a victim and contributor to anthropogenic global warming. While farmers’ climate change perception generally increases, a low-carbon agricultural transition is not always an easy choice. There are numerous studies looking at the constraints hampering farmers’ adoption of adaptation strategies in climate-prone areas worldwide. The extent to which their assertion applies to farmers in carbon-intensive agricultural areas with less experience of climate change effects, however, is not clear and cannot be assumed given the shared social and cultural specificities of the farming population. This paper seeks to address this gap by scrutinizing critical determinants of farmers’ adaptation action in agriculturally rich An Giang province, where climate change impacts are generally less evident. Intense crop cultivation in the province involves the liberal use of fertilizers, crop-residue burning, frequent tilling, and other harmful farming practices that release carbon. Primary data were collected through household surveys (n = 133), field observation, and in-depth interviews (n = 24). A chi-square (χ2) test and a binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing farmers’ adaptation decisions. The results indicated that farmers’ adaptation intent and decisions in the research area were significantly determined by market accessibility, uncertainty/instability of existing crops, and extreme weather conditions. These findings shed new light on approaches that are likely to motivate or hamper farmers’ climate-friendly transition in carbon-intensive agricultural hubs. We suggest that adaptive farming initiatives that have the potential to improve marketability and sustainability should be a starting point for mobilizing farmers for a low-carbon farming transition.

AbstractDrawing upon the resource-based view, this study examines the effects of two key elements of market orientation, i.e. customer orientation and competitor orientation, on the use of management accounting information to enhance firm performance. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) results from data collected from top- and mid-level managers working in 279 large companies in Vietnam indicate both customer and competitor orientation have positive effects on the use of management accounting systems (in terms of broad scope, timeliness, aggregation, and integration). This, in turn, enhances firm performance. The study’s results provide various theoretical and managerial implications for building and developing management accounting systems for Vietnamese companies.

BackgroundThe optimal diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) are challenging due to underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment monitoring. Lipid-related genes are crucial components of the host immune response in TB. However, their dynamic expression and potential usefulness for monitoring response to anti-TB treatment are unclear. MethodologyIn the present study, we used a targeted, knowledge-based approach to investigate the expression of lipid-related genes during anti-TB treatment and their potential use as biomarkers of treatment response. Results and discussionThe expression levels of 10 genes (ARPC5, ACSL4, PLD4, LIPA, CHMP2B, RAB5A, GABARAPL2, PLA2G4A, MBOAT2, and MBOAT1) were significantly altered during standard anti-TB treatment. We evaluated the potential usefulness of this 10-lipid-gene signature for TB diagnosis and treatment monitoring in various clinical scenarios across multiple populations. We also compared this signature with other transcriptomic signatures. The 10-lipid-gene signature could distinguish patients with TB from those with latent tuberculosis infection and non-TB controls (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve > 0.7 for most cases); it could also be useful for monitoring response to anti-TB treatment. Although the performance of the new signature was not better than that of previous signatures (i.e., RISK6, Sambarey10, Long10), our results suggest the usefulness of metabolism-centric biomarkersConclusionsLipid-related genes play significant roles in TB pathophysiology and host immune responses. Furthermore, transcriptomic signatures related to the immune response and lipid-related gene may be useful for TB diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

In EFL countries where English is rarely practiced outside the classroom, textbooks have become the major input source for learners. Particularly in Vietnam, multiple textbook series are available simultaneously for the same grade. Thus, it is important to examine if their vocabulary is appropriate and of similar difficulty. This study aims to investigate and compare the lexical demands, sophistication, diversity, and lengths of reading passages in the eight latest series for Vietnamese 10th graders with 53,360 tokens in total. The results revealed that the most frequent 1,000, 2,000-3,000, and roughly 4,000-word families in the BNC/COCA wordlist, plus proper nouns, marginal words, transparent compounds, and acronyms, were respectively needed for 85%, 95%, and 98% coverage. Additionally, pairwise comparisons uncovered that the passages differ significantly in length yet insignificantly in lexical sophistication and diversity. Therefore, the series appear to be well-suited to co-implementation and facilitative to vocabulary development despite not being optimized for independent learning. The study still calls for simplifying the eight textbook series to promote meaning-focused output. Finally, implications for exploiting and revising these textbook series are discussed.

By investigating Vietnamese English learners' perspectives on influential cultural factors and barriers these factors bring to the development of learner autonomy, this study seeks to draw attention to proper consideration of the host cultural values in importing and implementing Western educational theories. A phenomenological approach was employed, and qualitative data were collected from in-depth interviews with 15 English majored students from a public university in the Mekong Delta. Using Hofstede et al.'s (2010) six-dimensional model of cultural differences as a theoretical framework, the study reveals that all the six dimensions, at different levels, hinder the development of learner autonomy. The study also uncovers cultural assimilation - a state in which individuals perceive a certain cultural characteristic as their personality traits without any adjustment, corresponding to the Restraint factor. These results emphasize the significance of cultural analysis and imply the need for constructing a culturally appropriate pedagogy to promote learner autonomy. The paper concludes by discussing some possible directions for further research in the field.

Although group work activities are commonly employed in communicative second language (L2) classes, there are few studies that investigate how much teachers and students, the two main stakeholders, agree or differ on how group work activities should be conducted. To fill this gap, this study, which was carried out at a public university in Vietnam, examined the perceptions of both teachers and students to uncover matches and mismatches in their perceptions of important issues for effective group work implementation. The study explored the actual experiences of six teachers and ten students, who were chosen by convenience sampling. Thematic analysis of the interviews indicated that the benefits of group work were widely agreed upon, as were the preferences for group size and self-selection of group members. However, there was disagreement over ways of grouping, the role of leadership, and the use of peer assessment. The findings have significant implications for relevant stakeholders, especially in the Asian English as a foreign language (EFL) context, about what would work well and what needs to be addressed to maximize the effectiveness of group work implementation.

This study examines the impact of CSR practices on employee work engagement and intention to stay in the hotel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on Social Exchange Theory and Stakeholder Theory to analyze the effects of CSR on employee outcomes. The empirical analysis utilizes an ordered logit model and Likert scale data collected from hotel workers. The findings contribute to understanding the role of CSR in attracting and retaining talented employees and building sustainable tourism economies. By employing the ordered logit model, this study provides a robust statistical approach to uncover the relationships between variables. The findings have implications for hotel industry practitioners and policymakers in promoting CSR practices and improving employee engagement and retention.

The advancement of the economy has negatively affected the environment. Green products/services were made as solutions to the problem. Even though there is much research on influential factors to green consumption, the relationship between religiosity to green purchases is scattered and contains many gaps. Therefore, a theoretical model was developed to study the relationship of two dimensions of religiosity to green purchases under the effect of gratitude and greenwashing factor. Theoretical and practical contributions were the concern within this research paper. First, three new theoretical ideas included in the research paper were introduced for the academic community to explore as there have not been any previous studies that research these ideas. Second, as the event of Corona pandemic played an important alert in humans to raising their awareness of protecting the environment, this research paper will help Marketers and Policymakers to imply the results and benefit their businesses, and their countries accordingly. A sample of 483 respondents was collected by convenient and snowball sampling method through a questionnaire-based survey from big cities of Vietnam. Through the PLS-SEM analysis method, the results reveal some findings. First, people with inner religious tendencies can take action to purchase green products/services more easily than those with outer tendency. Second, the gratitude factor does not moderate the relationship between green purchase intention and green purchase behavior. Third, the greenwashing factor does not moderate the relationship between the two dimensions of religiosity and green purchase behavior.

This article investigates the predictors of purchase behavior of the generation Z (Gen Z) in the Vietnamese organic food sector. We proposed a research model by extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with the motivation–opportunity–ability (MOA) framework to address the gap between purchase intention and behavior in the organic food market. Data from a self-administered online survey with 426 respondents living in the three biggest cities of Vietnam were analyzed in SmartPLS software to test proposed hypotheses. Our findings show that trust is the most crucial factor affecting the purchase behavior of Gen Z in the Vietnamese organic food sector. Notably, perceived barriers (PB) were found to positively influence purchase behavior. The present study suggests the organic food producers and suppliers to change their marketing strategies and policies in response to the demanding Vietnamese Gen Z.

Purpose – Based on the contingency theory and resource-based view, this study develops and tests a moderated mediation model explaining the performance implications of the interaction between the accountants’ participation in strategic decision-making (APAR) and accounting capacity (ACAP) in promoting the use of management accounting systems (MAS) toward enhancing firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, the authors tested the proposed model and its hypotheses with survey data from 340 large Vietnamese firms. Findings – The results indicate that (1) MAS act as the full mediator in the positive relationship between APAR and firm performance, and (2) ACAP positively moderates the effect of APAR on the use of MAS. Originality/value – This study bridges the gap between accounting and strategic management literature by elucidating the mechanism by which the involvement of accountants in strategic issues improves the use of MAS toward enhancing firm performance and increases the current understanding of ACAP as a boundary condition for this mechanism.

Background: Facial nerve palsy is one of the most common complications in parotid gland surgery. This report evaluates the effectiveness of applying Tumescent solution for preserving the facial nerve in parotidectomy. Material and methods: Prospective and descriptive clinical study on 34 patients undergoing parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation. Before skin incision, 5–10 min, we injected 100–200 ml of the Tumescent solution into the surgical area. We recorded the surgical method, tumor size, length of surgery, pathological results and facial nerve dysfunction. All patients were followed for a period ranging from 6 to 24 months. Results: There were 14 patients with malignant tumors and 20 patients with benign tumors. The length of surgery lasted from 90 to 180 min, with an average of 126.8 min. The number of patients having temporary facial paralysis was 22 cases (64.7%), recovery time ranged from 1 week to 6 months, and no permanent facial paralysis cases were recorded. The clinical occurrence of Frey's syndrome was five cases (14.7%). Conclusions: The application of Tumescent solution for preserving facial nerves in parotidectomy could minimize nerve injury and shorten the length of surgery.

Cryptotia is a rare congenital auricular deformity among Caucasians but more common in Asians. Various operative techniques have been described, such as skin graft, V-Y plasty, Z plasty, and islands skin flap. Among those techniques, V-Y plasty has many advantages and is indicated for severe cases. However, several problems remain when this method is adopted, such as conspicuous scars and lowered hairline. To overcome these problems, the authors have developed a new technique, multiple V-Y advancement modification, which stitches the skin flaps together to a tight, discrete central focal point. This technique has the advantage of hiding scars behind the earlobe, providing enough skin for the deformed areas, minimizing the condition of the hairline being lowered and auriculocephalic sulcus depth.

There have been many studies on the blockchain, however blockchain research in the accounting field is scarce. The article outlines the characteristics and steps to apply blockchain in accounting. The article also identifies and measures the factors affecting the application of blockchain in accounting in enterprises, proving that the application of blockchain impacts the quality of the accounting information system of enterprises. The article shows that incorporating blockchain in accounting will help the accounting at businesses optimize the security, safety, and transparency of accounting information. We collected data on 195 manufacturing firms in six sectors. This study’s primary data analysis method is the SEM structural equation modeling method. The article used AMOS software to evaluate and measure the influence of each factor on the application of blockchain and the effect of blockchain on the accounting information system in enterprises. The article analyzed four aspects: the level of information technology of the accountant (IT), Information Security Infrastructure (SI), Training (TR), and Legality and Regulation (LR), affecting the application of blockchain in the business. The independent variables TR (training) and IT (information technology) have an impact on BL (Blockchain). We also find that the independent variable IT (information technology) has the most substantial impact on Blockchain adoption, followed by the independent variable TR (training), which has the second most influential impact on Blockchain adoption. For the accounting information system, the results show that applying blockchain will substantially impact accounting information, along with the safety factor of information infrastructure SI also has an evident influence. The results show that applying blockchain in accounting, information technology, and professional training are core issues with significant influence. The issue of guaranteed infrastructure also determines the effectiveness and efficiency of blockchain applications for accounting information systems. I declare that this is my scientific work; it is my original work. I commit that all data sources and ideas are my research and have never been published anywhere.

The Zika virus 2015 epidemic showed an unusual phenotype for human flaviviruses, specifically fetal infection. We previously showed that in utero inoculation with the Asian Zika virus isolated from the human sample causes persistent infection in porcine fetuses. Here, we characterized the evolution of the Asian Zika virus in the fetal brain and placenta. Interestingly, the Asian Zika virus acquired generic African lineage K101R (A408G) and R1609 K (G4932A) mutations during in utero infection. Both African mutations were nonsynonymous and had a high frequency of nearly 100% in the fetal brain. Then, we synthetically generated the wild-type Asian variant and fetal brain-specific variant with generic African-lineage K101R and R1609 K mutations. In mosquito C6/36 cells, but not in human and pig cells, the fetal brain-specific variant showed higher virus loads compared to the Asian wild-type prototype. While in utero infection with both variants caused comparable virus loads in the placenta and amniotic fluids, fetuses injected with the fetal brain-specific variant had the trend to higher virus loads in lymph nodes. Also, introduced K101R and R1609 K mutations were stable and had high nearly 100% frequency at 28 days after in utero inoculation in both directly injected and trans-infected fetuses. These findings evoke concerns because Zika persists in pig herds and mosquitoes on farms in Mexico. It will be essential to identify how persistent in utero infection affects virus evolution and whether in utero-emerged Zika variants have the potential for shedding into the environment, more efficient transmission, and more aggressive infection phenotypes.

Metamaterials, recognized as advanced artificial materials endowed with distinctive properties, have found diverse applications in everyday life, military endeavors, and scientific research. Starting from monolayer metamaterials, multilayer ones are increasingly researched, especially in the field of electromagnetic wave absorption. In this article, we propose a multilayer metamaterial-absorber (MA) structure comprising two resonant layers crafted with copper and FR-4 dielectric. The presented multilayer MA structure exhibited an absorption greater than 90% in a frequency range from 4.84 to 5.02 GHz, with two maximum absorption peaks at 4.89 and 4.97 GHz. The bandwidth of the multilayer MA surpassed that of the individual single-layer MAs, with extension fractions reaching 360% and 257%, respectively. Through the simulation and calculation, the field distribution and equivalent circuit model elucidated that both individual magnetic resonances and their interplay contribute significantly to the absorption behavior of the multilayer MA. The absorption of the proposed multilayer MA structure was also investigated for the oblique incidence in the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes. In the TE mode, the absorption intensity of two maximum peaks was maintained at over 93% up to an incident angle of 40 degrees and dropped to below 80% at an incident angle of 60 degrees. In the TM mode, the absorption was more stable and not significantly affected by the incident angle, ranging from 0 to 60 degrees. An absorption greater than 97% was observed when the incident angle increased from 0 to 60 degrees in the TM mode. Additionally, the approach in our work was further demonstrated by adding more resonant layers, making 3- and 4-layer structures. The results indicated that the absorption bandwidths of the 3- and 4-layer structures increased by 16% and 33%, respectively, compared to the bilayer structure. Furthermore, we analyzed the thermal distribution within the MA to understand the dissipation of absorbed electromagnetic energy. This research offers valuable insight into the augmented MA through a multilayer structure, presenting the implications for microwave applications like electromagnetic shielding, as well as in the design of MAs for terahertz devices and technologies, including emission and thermal imaging. These findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge in enhancing the absorption capabilities across various frequency ranges, expanding the potential applications of metamaterials.

This study examines the changing rainfall patterns in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) utilizing observational data spanning from 1978 to 2022. We employ the Mann–Kendall test, the sequential Mann–Kendall test, and innovative trend analysis to investigate trends in annual, wet, and dry season rainfall, as well as daily rainfall events. Our results show significant spatial variations. Ca Mau, a coastal province, consistently showed higher mean annual and seasonal rainfall compared to the further inland stations of Can Tho and Moc Hoa. Interestingly, Ca Mau experienced a notable decrease in annual rainfall. Conversely, Can Tho, showed an overall decrease in some months of the wet season and an increase in dry season rainfall. Furthermore, Moc Hoa showed an increase in the number of rainy days, especially during the dry season. Principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed strong correlations between annual rainfall and extreme weather events, particularly for Ca Mau, emphasizing the complex interplay of geographic and climatic factors within the region. Our findings offer insights for policymakers and planners, thus aiding the development of targeted interventions to manage water resources and prepare for changing climate conditions.

The diversity in structure and herbicidal properties detected in natural phytotoxic compounds could bring about advantages for development bio-herbicides. The present study was carried out search for potential weed inhibitors from the parts of Mimosa pigra L. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of leaf of M. pigra showed inhibitory activity during the time that Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyardgrass) germinates and grows, which is greater than that of other extracts. From this active extract, potent growth inhibitors were isolated and identified by column chromatography (CC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR). The six compounds were purified in this study namely: lupeol (C1, 13.2 mg), stigmastane-3,6-dione (C2, 14.7 mg), quercetin (C3, 20.2 mg), chrysoeriol (C4, 28 mg), methyl gallate (C5, 21.5 mg) and daucosterol (C6, 16.0 mg). The C2 (quercetin) compound completely inhibited the emergency, shoot height and root length of E. crus-galli at 1 mg/mL concentration (IC50 shoot height = 0.56 mg/mL). This was also the first study to report the isolation and allelopathic activity of lupeol, chrysoeriol and daucosterol from M. pigra leaf. Findings of this study highlighted that quercetin from M. pigra may become bio-herbicide to control barnyard grass and other grass weeds for the development of safe agriculture.

Aim: Ovarian cancer is a serious malignancy with high prevalence and mortality. Methods: We isolated and characterized an ovarian high-grade serous cancer cell line (M4) from a tumor of a Vietnamese patient with ovarian carcinoma. Results: The M4 cancer cell line showed good proliferation and stability in culture. Morphologically, the M4 cells showed similar characteristics to tumor cells such as a polyhedral shape, large irregular nuclei, high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, high nuclear density and expressing cancer markers like CA125, p53 and Ki67 markers. Conclusion: We have successfully isolated and characterized the M4 cell line from a Vietnamese patient with ovarian carcinoma.

In this study, Ce1-xLaxNiO3 catalysts (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) and Ce1-xLaxNiO3 on porous silica were prepared by co-precipitation. The effect of the La content on the catalytic activity in methane bi-reforming was investigated in the temperature range of 550 °C-750 °C. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were analysed by several methods, including X-ray diffraction, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, CO2 temperature-programmed desorption, N2 adsorption isotherm, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. From the research results, the suitable substitution rate of La in Ce1-xLaxNiO3 was found to be x = 0.4; its conversions of CH4 of 94% and CO2 of 92% were achieved at 700 °C and GHSV 30000 mL/(g.h). However, the intense coke accumulation on Ce0.6La0.4NiO3 limited its development. The porous silica carrier improved the structure and properties of the Ce0.6La0.4NiO3 catalyst. The SiO2-supported catalyst (Ce0.6La0.4NiO3/SiO2) showed excellent stability and coke resistance, which had stable activity for 100 h of time on stream, structure stability and low coke accumulation; 2.37 mgC/gcat formed after 100 h (coke formation rate of 0.02 mmolC/(gcat.h)), which demonstrated that it was one of the best coke-resistant perovskite catalysts for the BRM reaction. The large surface area of silica and strong interaction of Ni with metal oxide reduced the metal Ni particle size to the threshold size (2−4 nm), where the strongly reduced coke accumulation, high basicity, and vacancy oxygen content of CeO2 and La2O3 were considered major contributors to the high activity and exceptional coke resistance. The high structural stability, anti-sintering performance and high coke resistance all contributed to the excellent durability of the Ce0.6La0.4NiO3/SiO2 catalyst. This work provides a new resolution for the development of coke-resistant perovskite catalysts for methane reforming.

This paper explores whether green mindfulness is the motivation behind green innovation and whether this relationship is moderated by green transformational leadership. The paper also investigates the indirect influence of green mindfulness on environmental performance through the mediating mechanism of green innovation. The above goals are necessary to find solutions that meet environmental goals, especially in emerging countries such as Vietnam. Data was collected from an online survey of 278 managers in manufacturing firms in Vietnam and analyzed using SmartPLS software with the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results showed that green mindfulness directly affects green innovation, which in turn, contributes positively to environmental performance. Green mindfulness also increases environmental performance through the mediating role of green innovation. Moreover, green transformational leadership moderates the effects of green mindfulness on green innovation. These results contribute to the ability to achieve environmental goals in manufacturing firms. The study shows the role of green mindfulness and green transformational leadership in promoting green innovation and environmental performance in manufacturing firms in emerging market contexts.

This study develops and tests a moderated mediation model regarding the effectiveness of internal control structure on organizational ethical behaviors via the mediating role of internal control effectiveness and the moderating role of organizational mindfulness in the relationship between internal control structure and internal control effectiveness. The proposed model and its hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS3 with survey data from 540 large Vietnamese manufacturing and service firms. This study found the following: (1) The internal control structure positively affects internal control effectiveness, which in turn promotes ethical organizational behaviors; and (2) The effect of internal control structure on internal control effectiveness is amplified by strengthening organizational mindfulness. The findings demonstrate that combining internal control systems and organizational mindfulness contributes to the ethical business practices of firms in an emerging market. Our study bridges the gap in the literature on internal control and mindfulness by providing empirical evidence on how the interaction between organizational mindfulness and internal control systems can promote ethical business practices. Additionally, our study advances the current understanding of how internal control systems can interact with organizational mindfulness to influence ethical business practices in the context of an emerging market.

IntroductionIt is assumed that host defense systems eliminating the pathogen and regulating tissue damage make a strong impact on the outcome of tuberculosis (TB) disease and that these processes are affected by rifampicin (RIF) resistance–conferring mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, the host responses to the pathogen harboring different mutations have not been studied comprehensively in clinical settings. We analyzed clinico-epidemiological factors and blood transcriptomic signatures associated with major rpoB mutations conferring RIF resistance in a cohort study.MethodsDemographic data were collected from 295 active pulmonary TB patients with treatment history in Hanoi, Vietnam. When recruited, drug resistance–conferring mutations and lineage-specific variations were identified using whole-genome sequencing of clinical Mtb isolates. Before starting retreatment, total RNA was extracted from the whole blood of HIV-negative patients infected with Mtb that carried either the rpoB H445Y or rpoB S450L mutation, and the total RNA was subjected to RNA sequencing after age-gender matching. The individual RNA expression levels in the blood sample set were also measured using real-time RT-PCR. Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess possible associations.ResultsIn our cohort, rpoB S450L and rpoB H445Y were major RIF resistance–conferring mutations [32/87 (36.8%) and 15/87 (17.2%), respectively]. H445Y was enriched in the ancient Beijing genotype and was associated with nonsynonymous mutations of Rv1830 that has been reported to regulate antibiotic resilience. H445Y was also more frequently observed in genetically clustered strains and in samples from patients who had received more than one TB treatment episode. According to the RNA sequencing, gene sets involved in the interferon-γ and-α pathways were downregulated in H445Y compared with S450L. The qRT-PCR analysis also confirmed the low expression levels of interferon-inducible genes, including BATF2 and SERPING1, in the H445Y group, particularly in patients with extensive lesions on chest X-ray.DiscussionOur study results showed that rpoB mutations as well as Mtb sublineage with additional genetic variants may have significant effects on host response. These findings strengthen the rationale for investigation of host-pathogen interactions to develop countermeasures against epidemics of drug-resistant TB.

Introduction. A method for designing power amplifiers for use in the transmitting channels of X-band transceiver modules is investigated. The design process was aimed at optimizing the relationship between the basic amplifier characteristics, including the operating frequency band, output power level, output linearity, high harmonics suppression, etc. Aim. Investigation of a method for designing an X-band UHF power amplifier, which is capable of optimizing the relationship between its main characteristics. Materials and methods. Theoretical calculations were combined with experimental studies into the design of a UHF power amplifier. The stages of the design process are described in detail, including major ideas, principal circuits, and strip circuits. Evaluations were conducted using the Keysight ADS high frequency circuit simulation tool. Results. A method for designing X-band UHF power amplifiers on the basis of a close combination of theory, simulation, and experimental adjustment was described in detail. Conclusion. A prototype of an X-band PA was developed; an approach to developing a methodology for manufacturing, measuring, and testing X-band PAs is described.

Wind power has been widely utilized and has become a safe and renewable energy source in many countries. In Vietnam, many wind power farms have been built in coastal provinces such as Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Vung Tau, and the Central Highlands. For onshore wind power farms, the dynamic loads generated from wind and the operation of the turbine will act on soil ground and affect the long-term strength and liquefaction potential of soil, especially for sandy soil. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the potential for liquefaction of the sandy soil layer in wind power farms. In this study, the liquefaction potential of sand distributed in onshore wind power farms in Soc Trang province, Vietnam was evaluated using the undrained cyclic triaxial test. The sand specimens were remolded using dry pluviation and moist tamping methods to simulate the field density. The analysis of test results showed that the very fine sand with a loose state distributed at the depth of less than or equal to 11.5 m could be liquefied under the testing conditions. While the fine sand specimens with a dense to very dense state distributed deeper than 30 m were not liquefied under testing conditions. However, for these specimens, the pore water ratio could be increased by 11.3 to 18.6% and this increase can lead to a decrease in soil strength.

Lipidomics coverage improvement is essential for functional lipid and pathway construction. A powerful approach to discovering organism lipidome is to combine various data acquisitions, such as full scan mass spectrometry (full MS), data-dependent acquisition (DDA), and data-independent acquisition (DIA). Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a useful model for discovering toxic-induced metabolism, high-throughput drug screening, and a variety of human disease pathways. To determine the lipidome of C. elegans and investigate lipid disruption from the molecular level to the system biology level, we used integrative data acquisition. The methyl-tert-butyl ether method was used to extract L4 stage C. elegans after exposure to triclosan (TCS), perfluorooctanoic acid, and nanopolystyrene (nPS). Full MS, DDA, and DIA integrations were performed to comprehensively profile the C. elegans lipidome by Q-Exactive Plus MS. All annotated lipids were then analyzed using lipid ontology and pathway analysis. We annotated up to 940 lipids from 20 lipid classes involved in various functions and pathways. The biological investigations revealed that when C. elegans were exposed to nPS, lipid droplets were disrupted, whereas plasma membrane-functionalized lipids were likely to be changed in the TCS treatment group. The nPS treatment caused a significant disruption in lipid storage. Triacylglycerol, glycerophospholipid, and ether class lipids were those primarily hindered by toxicants. Finally, toxicant exposure frequently involved numerous lipid-related pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway. In conclusion, an integrative data acquisition strategy was used to characterize the C. elegans lipidome, providing valuable biological insights into hypothesis generation and validation.

This study firstly adopts a state-of-the-art deep learning approach based on a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network for predicting the hourly water level of Mekong estuaries in Vietnam. The LSTM models were developed from around 8,760 hourly data points within 2018 and were evaluated using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). The results showed that the NSE values for the training and testing steps were both above 0.98, which can be regarded as very good performance. Furthermore, the RMSE were between 0.09 and 0.11 m for the training and between 0.10 and 0.12 m for the testing, while MAE for the training ranged from 0.07 to 0.08 m and varied from 0.08 to 0.10 m for the testing. The LSTM networks appear to enable high precision and robustness in water level time series prediction. The outcomes of this research have crucial implications in river water level predictions, especially from the viewpoint of employing deep learning algorithms.

Abstract Despite remarkable success in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis (TB), it remains one of the most devastating infectious diseases worldwide. Management of TB requires an efficient and timely diagnostic strategy. In this study, we comprehensively characterized the plasma lipidome of TB patients, then selected candidate lipid and lipid-related gene biomarkers using a data-driven, knowledge-based framework. Among 93 lipids that were identified as potential biomarker candidates, ether-linked phosphatidylcholine (PC O–) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) were generally upregulated, while free fatty acids and triglycerides with longer fatty acyl chains were downregulated in the TB group. Lipid-related gene enrichment analysis revealed significantly altered metabolic pathways (e.g., ether lipid, linolenic acid, and cholesterol) and immune response signaling pathways. Based on these potential biomarkers, TB patients could be differentiated from controls in the internal validation (random forest model, area under the curve [AUC] 0.936, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.865–0.992). PC(O-40:4), PC(O-42:5), PC(36:0), and PC(34:4) were robust biomarkers able to distinguish TB patients from individuals with latent infection and healthy controls, as shown in the external validation. Small changes in expression were identified for 162 significant lipid-related genes in the comparison of TB patients vs. controls; in the random forest model, their utilities were demonstrated by AUCs that ranged from 0.829 to 0.956 in three cohorts. In conclusion, this study introduced a potential framework that can be used to identify and validate metabolism-centric biomarkers.

Value chain analysis has a central role in determining the distribution of benefits of the participants to upgrade solutions to the value chain. This paper is based on an integrated approach of methods and results of research on agricultural product value chain analysis. Research focuses on analyzing value chain approaches commodity chain analysis, Porter’s value chain model, Global value chain and GTZ organization, the number of actors in the value chain, profit distribution among actors participating in the chain, some popular tools in value chain analysis, and solutions to upgrade the chain. On that basis, the paper also points out the gaps in the current agricultural value chain research: 1) There is no combination of SCP analysis framework with other approaches; 2) Researchers have not analyzed the causes of the markup through the actors or the market power of the actors; 3) There are few studies combine all three models: Porter’s five forces, PEST and SWOT to have a complete basis for proposing solutions to upgrade the value chain.

The effects of electronic word of mouth on travel intention have been investigated extensively. However, the interrelationships among electronic word-of-mouth communication, destination image, attitude toward the destination, travel intention, satisfaction toward tourist complaints, and loyalty in the tourism industry have yet to be determined. This study tries to extract some informed conclusions about the relationship through a meta-analysis. This study proposed a research framework in which 12 hypotheses were developed, and a total of 44 independent studies were collected and analyzed. The results from the research framework suggest that: (1) e-Word-of-Mouth communication positively influences the destination image, tourist attitude toward the destination, and travel intention; (2) tourist satisfaction is positively influenced by the destination image, tourist attitude toward the destination, and travel intention; (3) tourism satisfaction positively influence tourist complaints and loyalty. The theoretical and practical implications were discussed and applied to destination marketing and management.

In recent decades, many open pit (OP) mines have either already made the decision or are at the planning stage to change their mining activity from OP to underground (UG) to remain competitive. Technically, before the OP ends its operation, both OP and UG mining will have to be operated simultaneously for a certain period of time. It is well known that UG operation causes subsidence, discontinuous deformations, and changes in hydrogeological conditions. In case of UG operation located below the OP mine, slope deformation can be expected as a result of subsidence induced by UG exploitation.

This study investigates the perceptions of Vietnamese English-majored students towards online learning courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. While online learning has been shown to have numerous benefits, few studies have focused on exploring perceptions of Vietnamese learners of English (EFL) towards online learning course at university level in the Vietnamese context. To address this gap, the present study surveyed 60 Vietnamese EFL learners who have experience with online courses offered by a university in southern Vietnam, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) developed (Davis, Bagozzi, & Warshaw, 1989). The findings reveal various challenges and benefits of the online learning mode, which are reported by learners through their perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use when taking online courses. The learners' own experiences during online courses were also revealed. The outcomes of this study provide insights into the unique experiences of Vietnamese EFL learners with e-learning and offer suggestions for optimizing online education for this population in university settings.

Skeletal deformities are a common issue that poses a challenge that hinders the production of cultured finfish worldwide. The present study aims to describe for the first time skeletal deformities in cultured striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. A total of 68 striped catfish were collected from three nurseries in highly concentrated areas of Long An and Dong Thap provinces. These provinces are known for their numerous hatcheries and nursing farms of P. hypophthalmus in the country. The skeletal deformities recorded included saddleback syndrome, missing pectoral fins, lordosis and kyphosis, unilateral deformities of the opercular complex bones, branchiostegal ray and lower jaw deformities. Abnormalities in bone morphotypes between normal and deformed fish were analysed using X-ray scanning and double staining (alizarin red and alcian blue) methods. The morphological abnormalities, in general, can reduce the fillet yield of fish, thereby affecting their market value. Since P. hypophthalmus is the most important freshwater fish exported from the Mekong Delta, a regular monitoring program of skeletal deformities can contribute to identifying improved rearing protocols and enhance the product quality available in the markets.

The accounting literature is silent about how digital transformation can be transformed into outstanding business performance through cloud-based accounting effectiveness (CBAE) under the supervision of digital leaders. In the digital age, this mechanism is practically significant for emerging market firms to promote accounting practices and decision-making effectiveness. Thus, this study investigates how CBAE and decision-making quality (DMQ) mediate the impact of digital transformation on firm performance. In addition, the moderating effects of digital leadership on the relationships between digital transformation and CBAE and those between CBAE and DMQ are investigated. The proposed model and its hypotheses are evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on survey data from 252 large-sized Vietnamese firms. The study's findings are as follows: (1) digital transformation positively affects CBAE, which affects DMQ and firm performance; (2) when digital leadership is strong, the effects of digital transformation on CBAE and CBAE on DMQ are amplified. These findings demonstrate how the interaction between digital transformation and digital leadership can contribute to the success of firms in emerging markets that use cloud accounting. In addition, the current study elucidates the mechanism by which digital transformation influences the digitalization of accounting practices and contributes to our understanding of digital transformation research in accounting by introducing digital leadership as a boundary condition.

Green logistics has recently received considerable attention because of its practical benefits to businesses and the environment, particularly in developing countries. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the motivations behind green logistics practices and environmental performance. This study explores the impact of green logistics knowledge exploitation on green logistics management practices and green logistics performance. In addition, this study explains the moderating role of green intellectual capital in the relationship between green logistics knowledge exploitation and green logistics management practices. Based on responses from 142 Vietnamese logistics business managers, the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. To our knowledge, this is the first study to confirm 1) the influence of green logistics knowledge exploitation on green logistics performance through the mediating role of green logistics management practices, and 2) the moderating effect of green intellectual capital on the relationship between green logistics knowledge exploitation and green logistics management practices. These results have implications for environmental management practices in logistics operations and could help promote green logistics practices through green logistics knowledge exploitation and its subsequent enhancement of green logistics performance.