The Impact of Microfinance on Women Empowerment in The Case of Vietnam

In recent years, most microfinance programs have focused on gender issues with significant support given to poor female clients with the goal of facilitating their access to capital. An interesting fact to be considered is that women are regarded as wonderful clients, as they appear to engage in a more efficient manner in the saving process and the repayment of microloans when compared to men. Based on existing studies, researchers suggest that women are also more responsible regarding the management of finances in the context of poor families (Aggarwal et al., 2015; D\u27Espallier et al., 2011; Mayoux, 2005)

Pinhole Multistep Centrifuge Outflow Method for Estimating Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties with Small Volume Soil Samples

If soil hydraulic conductivity or water holding capacity could be measured with a small volume of samples, it would benefit international fields where researchers can only carry a limited amount of soils out of particular regions. We performed a pinhole multistep centrifuge outflow method on three types of soil, which included granite decomposed soil (Masa soil), volcanic ash soil (Andisol soil), and alluvial clayey soil (paddy soil). The experiment was conducted using 2 mL and 15 mL centrifuge tubes in which pinholes were created on the top and bottom for air intrusion and outflow, respectively. Water content was measured at 5, 15, and 30 min after applying the centrifuge to examine the equilibrium time. The results showed that pinhole drainage worked well for outflow, and 15 or 30 min was sufficient to obtain data for each step. Compared with equilibrium data, the retention curve was successfully optimized. Although the curve shape was similar, unsaturated hydraulic conductivities deviated largely, which implied that K-s caused convergence issues. When K-s was set as a measured constant, the unsaturated hydraulic properties converged well and gave excellent results. This method can provide soil hydraulic properties of regions where soil sampling is limited and lacks soil data

Effects of cellulose nanofibers on soil water retention and aggregate stability

Innovative solutions that address global challenges such as water scarcity and soil erosion are critical for maintaining sustainable agriculture. Due to their water-absorbing and soil-binding properties, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) can be applied to soil to enhance soil water retention and aggregate stability. In this study, we analyzed the effects of the drying temperature, dosage, irrigation water quality, and soil type on the efficacy of CNFs. Our results revealed that CNF dried at 5 degrees C is more effective at absorbing water than others, and adding 1% CNF enhanced soil water content up to 98%. The CNF samples absorbed water due to their hydrophilic molecular groups and morphological structure, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. CNF addition increased the soil volumetric water content and prolonged water retention by 22 days in the paddy soil samples, highlighting its potential for drought-prone areas. Furthermore, irrigation water quality, such as pH and cation values, influenced the interactions between CNF and water molecules, suggesting adjustments to the water retention curve. In its hydrated state, CNF promotes colloid flocculation and binds to soil particles, thereby strengthening the bonds crucial for aggregate formation and stability. CNF enhanced macro-aggregate formation by up to 48% and 59% in the masa and paddy soil samples, respectively. Our study emphasizes the potential of CNF for water conservation, soil health, and overall agricultural sustainability

A hybrid heuristic optimization algorithm PSOGSA coupled with a hybrid objective function using ECOMAC and frequency in damage detection

Presence of damage leads to variation in modal properties of observed structures. The majority of studies use the changes in natural frequencies for damage detection. The reason is that the frequencies are often easily measurable with high accuracy by using reasonable sensors. However, frequencies are more sensitive to environmental effects, such as temperature, in comparison with mode shapes. Besides, defects in symmetric structures can cause the same changes in frequency. In contrast, mode shapes are more sensitive to local damage because they own local information and are independent of symmetric characteristics. These make mode shapes have dominant advantages in detecting nonlinear and multiple damage. ECOMAC is an index derived from mode shapes. It is a fact that these indices are not always possible to detect faults successfully in structures. Therefore, in this paper, a hybrid optimization algorithm, particle swarm optimization – gravitational search algorithm, namely PSOGSA, is used to improve the accuracy of infect detection using a hybrid objective function combined ECOMAC and frequency based on the inverse problem. Numerical studies of a two-span continuous beam, a simply supported truss, and a free-free beam, are utilized to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the proposal. From the obtained results, the proposed approach shows high potential in damage identification for different structures

A hybrid heuristic optimization algorithm PSOGSA coupled with a hybrid objective function using ECOMAC and frequency in damage detection

Presence of damage leads to variation in modal properties of observed structures. The majority of studies use the changes in natural frequencies for damage detection. The reason is that the frequencies are often easily measurable with high accuracy by using reasonable sensors. However, frequencies are more sensitive to environmental effects, such as temperature, in comparison with mode shapes. Besides, defects in symmetric structures can cause the same changes in frequency. In contrast, mode shapes are more sensitive to local damage because they own local information and are independent of symmetric characteristics. These make mode shapes have dominant advantages in detecting nonlinear and multiple damage. ECOMAC is an index derived from mode shapes. It is a fact that these indices are not always possible to detect faults successfully in structures. Therefore, in this paper, a hybrid optimization algorithm, particle swarm optimization – gravitational search algorithm, namely PSOGSA, is used to improve the accuracy of infect detection using a hybrid objective function combined ECOMAC and frequency based on the inverse problem. Numerical studies of a two-span continuous beam, a simply supported truss, and a free-free beam, are utilized to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the proposal. From the obtained results, the proposed approach shows high potential in damage identification for different structures

Linear Macropore Installation to Reduce Red-Soil Erosion in Sugarcane Fields

This study determines the cause of soil erosion in red soils in sugarcane fields, especially even with the use of subsoiling fissures, and to compare the effectiveness of a novel artificial linear-macropore with the insertion of fibrous material into the fractures. Four column treatments (tillage, subsoiling, linear-macropore with plant residue fillings, and no-tillage-with-mulching) were established. A subsoiler was used to break up hard soil layers to enhance infiltration, whereas mulching reduced the impact of raindrops on the soil. Sugarcane residue was inserted in the empty fissure to reinforce the structure, making linear macropore. Simulated rainfall with 20 mmh−1 was applied to the soil surface for 6 h per day for two days. Surface runoff, soil erosion, and drainage were measured during each run. Erosion was minimal (1/7 reduction), and bottom drainage was observed in the linear-macropore and no-tillage-with-mulching plots. Conversely, due to the formation of an impermeable layer or surface crust, high erosion (0.282 t-C ha−1 yr−1) and decreased drainage levels were detected in the subsoiling and tillage plots. Moreover, the aboveground protrusion of fibrous material at the linear-macropore maintained infiltration, even following crust formation. Field application of these four management strategies revealed the effectiveness of linear-macropore and mulching in reducing surface flow. Linear-macropore application maintains appropriate levels of infiltration, and insertion of plant residue fillings reinforces the macropore structure while also avoiding clogging. Hence, the linear-macropore scheme may represent an effective strategy for reducing surface runoff and red soil erosion

An experimental study and a proposed theoretical solution for the prediction of the ductile/brittle failure modes of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with external steel plates

An experimental study and a proposed theoretical solution are conducted in the present study to investigate the ductile/brittle failure mode of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with an external steel plate. The present experimental study has fabricated and tested six steel plate-strengthened RC beams and one non-strengthened RC beam under 4-point bending loads. The proposed theoretical model is then developed based on the observed experimental results to analyze the crack formation, to determine the distance between vertical cracks and to quantitatively predict the ductile/brittle failure mode of plate-strengthened RC beams. The experimental study shows that the failure mode is based on the sliding of concrete along with the external plate. This slip is limited between two vertical cracks, from which the maximum stress in the external steel is determined. Based on comparisons conducted in the present study, excellent agreements of the stresses/strains in soffit steel plates, crack distances, and system failure modes between the current theoretical solution and the previous and present experimental results are observed.&nbsp

Refinement of an inverse analysis procedure for estimating tensile constitutive law of UHPC

As regard to cementitious composite materials added a certain dosage of fiber, estimation of tensile constitutive law through inverse analysis methods is no longer extraordinary. However, development or improvement to achieve an effective method for estimating such a tensile behavior of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) or Ultra high-performance concrete (UHPC) is still an interesting topic to researchers. In this respect, the paper presents a development of inverse analysis method developed by Lopez to obtain the stress-strain behavior of UHPC from the four-point bending test. By applying optimization algorithm into the iterative procedure of method, an improvement could be obtained for the inverse analysis with a high degree of automation in calculation. A post-process treatment for inverse analysis results is also proposed to bring a finer agreement between the tensile behavior curve obtained by the inverse analysis and result curve of uniaxial tensile test (UTT). The effectivity of process is shown through a comparison between the result obtained by the proposed method and the result in Lopez’s public paper