Determinants Influencing Liquidity of Listed Steel Firms in Vietnam

This study is conducted to investigate the impact levels of determinants influencing liquidity of listed steel firms on Vietnam Stock Exchange. Data were collected from audited financial statements of 25 listed food processing firms from 2014 to 2017. This research employs the least squares method (OLS) and tests to determine the influence of factors on the liquidity of listed sample firms. The results indicate that return on assets (ROA), operating period (AGE) and asset structure (AS) have positive impacts on the liquidity. In contrast, the firm size and debt ratio has the opposite effects. Based on the findings, a number of recommendations are proposed to increase the liquidity ratio of listed firms in the future. Keywords: Liquidity, steel firms, determinants, Vietnam Stock Exchange DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-7-10 Publication date:March 31st 201

Heat Stress Affects Seed Set and Grain Quality of Vietnamese Rice Cultivars during Heading and Grain Filling Period

Environmental stress trigger a variety of rice plant response, ranging from alters seed set, grain yield and grain quality during flowering and grain filling stage.  Efforts are required to improve our understanding of the impact of heat stress on rice production, which are essential strategies in rice cultivation. This article investigated the seed set, yield components and grain yield of Vietnamese rice cultivars (Indica germplasm) under high temperature environment during the flowering and grain filling stage. Six rice cultivars, including popular cultivars and new cultivars of Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, and one popular extraneous cultivar with differences in maturing time, were grown in pots at high temperature (HT) and natural temperature condition as control (CT). All rice cultivars were subjected to the high temperature starting from the heading stage to the harvest maturity, applied by greenhouse effect. The greenhouse has about 25 cm window opening on 3 sides for air ventilation. The seed set rate of the heat-sensitive rice genotypes decreased significantly under HT, leading to a significant reduction in grain yield. The lowest seed set was recorded in “OM4900” (44.3%) and “OM18” (39.9%) under high temperature environment. The lower yield in all rice cultivars at an elevated temperature resulted in a dramatic decrease of filled grains and contributed to a loss of 1000-grain weight. ‘“OM892” is a potential rice cultivar for heat tolerant breeding program due to the seed set percentage was above 80% in both HT and CT conditions. High temperature during the grain filling stage resulted in a decreased amylose and increased chalkiness for all OM cultivars

Factors affecting consumer’s bargaining behavior: The case of fashionable clothing

Shopping is one of the current trends of the Vietnamese. According to Nielsen’s research results about consumer confidence in the fourth quarter of 2017, more than half of Vietnamese people (51%) use their spare money to buy new clothes at modern business models such as supermarkets, shopping centers, or at very traditional models like street vendors and wet markets where haggling (also known as bargaining) is considered as a common habit for Vietnamese. This is due to business characteristics from a very long time ago in Viet Nam. The bargaining behavior is not so hard to recognize in shopping. Even now, a large part of foreign tourists is familiar with the bargaining culture. This study aimed to discover bargaining behavior, the factors affecting such a behavior in buying fashionable clothing of the consumers in Ho Chi Minh City, and to consider whether the differences in bargaining behavior exist among different groups of gender, age, and income. The research was conducted using mixed methods concluding qualitative research (in-depth interview and focus group) and quantitative one (survey). The results showed that Attitude towards bargaining, Perceived behavioral control, Interest in bargaining affect Consumer’s bargaining behavior when buying fashionable clothes. Results were validated in Ho Chi Minh City context, and some conclusions were also presented

When Intervention Becomes Imperative: A Case Report of Spontaneous Vulvar Edema During Pregnancy

Spontaneous idiopathic vulvar edema during the second trimester is a rare condition. The approach to managing this condition involves relieving symptoms, identifying underlying causes, and implementing appropriate treatment. Managing such cases during pregnancy is challenging because of concerns for potential adverse fetal outcomes. Conservative management expects the condition to be relieved spontaneously postpartum, whereas invasive treatment offers a more rapid resolution. Treatment choices are controversial because each method has its pros and cons and influences the delivery process to a certain extent. Surgical drainage becomes a viable option when patients are not responsive to medications. We report a case of spontaneous massive vulvar edema in a 22-year-old primigravida in her 23rd week of pregnancy. After ruling out other notable causes of vulvar edema, we decided to intervene using an invasive procedure because she complained of progressive symptoms and discomfort. Subsequently, the edema subsided postprocedure, and the patient experienced successful labor with no complications. This report aims to alert clinicians that drainage attempts should be considered in pregnant patients with worsening symptoms

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Enhancing the photoactivity of TiO

A series of TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by the sol-gel method. The TiO2/SiO2 monolith was also synthesized by dip-coating process. The crystalline structure of TiO2/SiO2 powders was identified as pure anatase. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2/SiO2 powders was evaluated by photodegradation of 20 ppm methylene blue (MB) using a 26W lamp which has the wavelength in the visible light region under different Ti: Si molar ratios and calcination temperatures. The TiO2/SiO2 powders which have Ti: Si molar ratio of 85:15 (TS15) and calcined at 550tC showed the highest photodegradation yield of 84 % after 3h irradiation. Furthermore, the 550˚C calcined TS15 monolith performed the MB degradation yield of 88.9 % after 3h irradiation and its photoactivity still remained after 4 recycle times. The results of this study demonstrated that the TS15 monolith photocatalyst has a reasonable efficiency in the degradation of methylene blue, it could be a promising photocatalyst for removal and degradation of organic pollutants

Comparative study of two indoor microbial volatile pollutants, 2-Methyl-1-butanol and 3-Methyl-1-butanol, on growth and antioxidant system of rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings

2-Methyl-1-butanol (2MB) and 3-Methyl-1-butanol (3MB) are microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and found in indoor air. Here, we applied rice as a bioindicator to investigate the effects of these indoor microbial volatile pollutants. A remarkable decrease in germination percentage, shoot and root elongation, as well as lateral root numbers were observed in 3MB. Furthermore, ROS production increased by 2MB and 3MB, suggesting that pentanol isomers could induce cytotoxicity in rice seedlings. The enhancement of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity provided evidence that pentanol isomers activated the enzymatic antioxidant scavenging systems, with a more significant effect observed in 3MB. Furthermore, 3MB induced higher activity levels of glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and the GSH/GSSG ratio in rice compared to the levels induced by 2MB. Additionally, qRT-PCR analysis showed more up-regulation in the expression of glutaredoxins (GRXs), peroxiredoxins (PRXs), thioredoxins (TRXs), and glutathione S-transferases (GSTUs) genes in 3MB. Taking the impacts of pentanol isomers together, the present study suggests that 3MB exhibits more cytotoxic than 2MB, as such has critical effects on germination and the early seedling stage of rice. Our results provide molecular insights into how isomeric indoor microbial volatile pollutants affect plant growth through airborne signals

The Effect of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Thermal Conductivity and Cellular Size of Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane (PU) foam is known as the popular material for the applications in many fields of industry and life. To improve the mechanical and thermal properties of this material, in this research, PU foam was reinforced with aniline-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrum of modified MWCNTs showed the aniline was grafted on the surface of MWCNTs through the appearance of –NH2 stretches. The effect of MWCNTs with and without modification on the density, porosity, compressive strength, and heat conductivity of PU/MWCNT foam nanocomposites was investigated. The dispersibility of MWCNTs in the PU matrix was enhanced after modification with aniline. Compressive strength of PU nanocomposite reached the highest value after adding 3 wt.% of modified MWCNTs into PU foam. Besides, the water uptake of PU nanocomposites using 3 wt.% of MWCNTs was decreased to 13.4% as compared to that using unmodified MWCNTs. The improvement in thermal conductivity of PU/aniline-modified MWCNT nanocomposite was observed due to the change in the cellular size of PU foam in the presence of MWCNTs as shown by SEM images