Approximation solution for steel concrete beam accounting high-order shear deformation using trigonometric-series

Steel concrete beams have a reasonable structure in terms of using material and high load carrying capacity. This paper deals with an approximate solution based on a trigonometric series for the static of steel concrete beams. The displacement field is based on the higher-order theory using Reddy’s hypothesis. The governing equations are derived from variation principles. An approximate solution based on the representation of displacement fields by trigonometric series is developed to solve the static problem of steel concrete beams. In order to verify the accuracy of the present approximate solution, numerical results are compared with those of exact solutions using classical beam theory. The displacements and nominal stress distributions in the depth direction are obtained with various high of beams. The present approximate approach can accurately predict the displacements and stresses of steel concrete beams

Approximation solution for steel concrete beam accounting high-order shear deformation using trigonometric-series

Steel concrete beams have a reasonable structure in terms of using material and high load carrying capacity. This paper deals with an approximate solution based on a trigonometric series for the static of steel concrete beams. The displacement field is based on the higher-order theory using Reddy’s hypothesis. The governing equations are derived from variation principles. An approximate solution based on the representation of displacement fields by trigonometric series is developed to solve the static problem of steel concrete beams. In order to verify the accuracy of the present approximate solution, numerical results are compared with those of exact solutions using classical beam theory. The displacements and nominal stress distributions in the depth direction are obtained with various high of beams. The present approximate approach can accurately predict the displacements and stresses of steel concrete beams

Exploring Value Co-Destruction Process in Customer Interactions with AI-Powered Mobile Applications

Background: Mobile applications have emerged as important touchpoints for addressing service requests and optimizing human resources. Within the service industry, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into these applications has enabled the inference of product demand, provision of personalized service offers, and enhancement of overall firm value. Customers now engage with these apps to stay informed, seek guidance, and make purchases. It is important to recognize that the interactive and human-like qualities of AI can either foster the co-creation of value with customers or potentially lead to the co-destruction of customer value. Although prior research has examined the process of value co-creation, the present study aims to investigate the underlying factors contributing to the value co-destruction process, specifically within AI-powered mobile applications. Method: Our research employs topic modelling and content analysis to examine the value co-destruction process that occurs when customers engage with AI apps. We analyze 7,608 negative reviews obtained from eleven AI apps available on Google Play and App Store AI apps. Results: Our findings reveal six distinct types of value - utilitarian, hedonic, symbolic, social, epistemic, and economic value - that can be co-destroyed during the process. System failure, self-threat and privacy violation are some contributing factors to this value co-destruction process. These values change over time and vary depending on the type of app. Conclusion: Theoretically, our findings extend the concept of value co-destruction in the context of AI apps. We also offer practical recommendations for designing an AI app in a more service-friendly way

The Impact of Personal Financial Literacy on the Choice of Lending Channel by Vietnamese Householders Who Just Escaped Poverty

Purpose: The Newly-Escaped-Poverty-List householders (NEPLH) in Vietnam served as the survey subjects for this study, which sought to determine the impact of "Personal Financial Literacy" on "The Probability of Using Lending Services of Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (P_VBSP)" and "The Probability of Using Informal Private Lending Services (P_ILC)".   Design/methodology/approach: Survey data were collected from 186 respondents, by structured online questionnaire with convenient non-probability sampling technique.  Aspects of personal financial literacy (FLi) such as personal financial knowledge (FL1), personal financial skills (FL2), personal financial attitude (FL3), and personal financial behavior (FL4) are measured. When respondents were divided into groups based on subgroup criteria (CVj), such as gender, age, marital status, role in the family, career, education level, religion, and number of years since being removed from the list of poor households, ANOVA techniques were used to examine differences in various aspects of personal financial literacy. The impact of FLi and subgroup variables (CVj) on P_VBSP and P_ILC was assessed using the binary logistic regression analysis technique.   Findings: Research results show that  there is a statistical difference in the average score of FL1, FL2, FL3 and FL4. The research findings also show that FL2, FL4, and "Career Status – CAR" have a positive impact on P_VBSP, while "Aged group - AGE", "Education level - EDU", and "Number of years since being removed from the list of poor households - YEAR" have a negative impact on P_VBSP. Meanwhile, the P_ILC is positive influenced by the AGE factor and moves in the opposite direction of FL2, FL4, EDU, and YEAR.   Research, Practical & Social implications: The research findings provide the basis for governance implications as well as policy recommendations to promote financial literacy among the NEPLH in Vietnam, encouraging them access policy lending services from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, and at the same time help them stay away from informal private lending services, thereby helping them to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable economic development family.   Originality/value: A theoretical framework for personal finance literacy, including (i) financial knowledge, (ii) financial attitude, (iii) financial skills, and (iv) financial behavior, has been developed by the authors after reviewing earlier studies. At the same time, it is more significant to measure financial literacy by objective assessment than relying on the subjective self-assessment of each respondent in the context of actual study in Vietnam. In the model analyzing the influence of personal financial literacy on the decision of Newly-Escaped-Poverty-List householders in choosing the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies or Informal Private Credit Channels, the authors also took into account additional factors including gender, age group, marital status, role in the family, career, education level, religion, and number of years since being removed from the list of poor households

Safety assessment and the effect of squalene isolated from schizochytrium mangrovei pq6 on serum hdl - cholesterol levels in animal models

In this paper, the acute and subchronic toxicity and the effect of squalene isolated from heterotrophic marine microalga Schizochytrium mangrovei PQ6 on the serum levels of HDL-C were investigated using animal models. The results of acute toxicity study showed that by oral administration of the squalene on albino mice at the highest dose of 58.25 g/kg of whole body of mice/day, the LD50 was not determined. Squalene at doses of 400 mg and 1,200 mg/kg/day for 60 consecutive days have allowed the normal behavior, body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, liver and kidney functions, morphology of liver, kidney and spleen, total plasma cholesterol content, however, HDL-C level was higher in squalene treated mices compared to control group (p 0.05). In addition, at doses of 600 and 1,200 mg/kg/day for 60 continuous days, squalene treated mice showed the increase in HDL-C level and HDL-C/total cholesterol ratio and the decrease in the contents of LDL-C and VLDL-C without affecting the body and liver weights and levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.  

EFFECTS OF SALT STRESS ON PLANT GROWTH AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION IN SOME WETLAND GRASS SPECIES IN THE MEKONG DELTA

Salt stress causes serious damage to many cellular and physiological processes that leads to yield reduction. The study induced salt stress using Hoagland solution added NaCl to evaluate its effects on plant growth and biomass allocation of some wetland grass species in order to identify salt-tolerant species for replacing and/or supplementing rice/grass in rice-shrimp model and salt-affected area in the Mekong Delta. The study also seeks to evaluate the response of leaf chlorophyll (SPAD unit) and proline content in salt-treated plants to varying application of salinity. Typha orientalis, Lepironia articulata, Eleocharis dulcis and Scirpus littoralis were studied in hydroponics condition with four levels of NaCl of 5, 10, 15, 20‰ and the control treatment (without adding NaCl). The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The salt-treated plants showed visually clear responses of inhibited growth under salt stress condition compared to the control plants. Among the four studied species, T. orientalis produced the highest dry shoot biomass (15.5 g DW/plant), while E. dulcis had the lowest value (2.8 g DW/plant). However, only T. orientalis showed significantly decreased in biomass as salinity increased with 9.3 and 4.6 times lower of fresh and dry biomass in plants grown at the salinity level of 20‰ compared to those grown in the control treatment. The other three plant species did not affect by salinity levels. The results indicated that S. littoralis, L. articulata and E. dulcis could tolerate at high salinity of 20‰ (eq. to the EC value in the nutrient solution of 38.0 dS/m) and could be potential candidate to grow in the rice-shrimp model or in the salt-affected soils. 

Culturally adaptive storytelling intervention versus didactic intervention to improve hypertension control in Vietnam: a cluster-randomized controlled feasibility trial

BACKGROUND: Vietnam is experiencing an epidemiologic transition with an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Novel, large-scale, effective, and sustainable interventions to control hypertension in Vietnam are needed. We report the results of a cluster-randomized feasibility trial at 3 months follow-up conducted in Hung Yen province, Vietnam, designed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of two community-based interventions to improve hypertension control: a storytelling intervention, We Talk about Our Hypertension, and a didactic intervention. METHODS: The storytelling intervention included stories about strategies for coping with hypertension, with patients speaking in their own words, and didactic content about the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors including salt reduction and exercise. The didactic intervention included only didactic content. The storytelling intervention was delivered by two DVDs at 3-month intervals; the didactic intervention included only one installment. The trial was conducted in four communes, equally randomized to the two interventions. RESULTS: The mean age of the 160 study patients was 66 years, and 54% were men. Most participants described both interventions as understandable, informative, and motivational. Between baseline and 3 months, mean systolic blood pressure declined by 8.2 mmHg (95% CI 4.1-12.2) in the storytelling group and by 5.5 mmHg (95% CI 1.4-9.5) in the didactic group. The storytelling group also reported a significant increase in hypertension medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Both interventions were well accepted in several rural communities and were shown to be potentially effective in lowering blood pressure. A large-scale randomized trial is needed to compare the effectiveness of the two interventions in controlling hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02483780

Effectiveness of cervical pessary compared to cervical cerclage with or without vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in women with twin pregnancies and a short cervix : Study protocol for a two-by-two factorial randomised clinical trial

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluation of awake prone positioning effectiveness in moderate to severe COVID-19

Evidence mainly from high income countries suggests that lying in the prone position may be beneficial in patients with COVID-19 even if they are not receiving invasive ventilation. Studies indicate that increased duration of prone position may be associated with improved outcomes, but achieving this requires additional staff time and resources. Our study aims to support prolonged (≥ 8hours/day) awake prone positioning in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease in Vietnam. We use a specialist team to support prone positioning of patients and wearable devices to assist monitoring vital signs and prone position and an electronic data registry to capture routine clinical data

Urinary catecholamine excretion, cardiovascular variability, and outcomes in tetanus

Severe tetanus is characterized by muscle spasm and cardiovascular system disturbance. The pathophysiology of muscle spasm is relatively well understood and involves inhibition of central inhibitory synapses by tetanus toxin. That of cardiovascular disturbance is less clear, but is believed to relate to disinhibition of the autonomic nervous system. The clinical syndrome of autonomic nervous system dysfunction (ANSD) seen in severe tetanus is characterized principally by changes in heart rate and blood pressure which have been linked to increased circulating catecholamines. Previous studies have described varying relationships between catecholamines and signs of ANSD in tetanus, but are limited by confounders and assays used. In this study, we aimed to perform detailed characterization of the relationship between catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline), cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and blood pressure) and clinical outcomes (ANSD, mechanical ventilation required, and length of intensive care unit stay) in adults with tetanus, as well as examine whether intrathecal antitoxin administration affected subsequent catecholamine excretion. Noradrenaline and adrenaline were measured by ELISA from 24-h urine collections taken on day 5 of hospitalization in 272 patients enrolled in a 2 × 2 factorial-blinded randomized controlled trial in a Vietnamese hospital. Catecholamine results measured from 263 patients were available for analysis. After adjustment for potential confounders (i.e., age, sex, intervention treatment, and medications), there were indications of non-linear relationships between urinary catecholamines and heart rate. Adrenaline and noradrenaline were associated with subsequent development of ANSD, and length of ICU stay