Research on Factors Affecting Credit Risk of Joint Stock Commercial Banks on Vietnam Stock Market

Design/methodology/approach: The article aims at identifying factors affecting credit risk of commercial banks in Vietnam. The study uses data collected from financial statements of 15 typical joint stock commercial banks out of a total of 27 joint stock commercial banks listed on the Vietnam stock exchange from 2012 to 2022 with panel data of 15 joint stock commercial banks for the period 2012 - 2022. The banks in the research data are the those with the largest total assets in the banking system. After collecting and processing data, research sample includes 165 observations and the study uses E-view software in quantitative analysis to build a regression model to determine the relationship and level of influence of Internal factors to credit risk of listed joint stock commercial banks.   Findings: Research results indicate that factors affecting credit risk of listed joint stock commercial banks include: Ratio of equity to total assets, capital structure of the bank, and operational performance of the banks.   Research, Practical & Social impications: These results confirm the importance of taking into account micro finance factors when making financing. Understanding the impact of these factors and relationships contributes to decision and risk management.   Originality/value: In order to limit credit risk it is necessary to focus on: Ensuring reasonable equity; Stricter control over loan capital; Optimal use of resources

Difficulties encountered by teachers in using storytelling to teach very young learners

Storytelling is widely applied in second language teaching, especially to Very Young Learners (VYLs), as this teaching technique is believed to be highly effective. However, storytelling application in VYLs classrooms may be challenging since these learners possess unique characteristics in terms of second language acquisition, which might cause a variety of difficulties for teachers. This paper examines the difficulties Vietnam - USA Society English Center’s teachers encounter during their storytelling application to teach VYLs. Accordingly, 60 teachers at the language school, who were selected based on their teaching experience, participated in the study. An online survey was carried out in order to find out the participants’ opinions on storytelling application challenges regarding the teaching method, the learners’ characteristics, and the materials. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with twelve randomly chosen teachers to better understand their rationale and suggestions for those difficulties. For data analysis, descriptive statistics were calculated for questionnaire information while the qualitative responses were transcribed and put into themes. The results revealed that the participants encountered certain challenges while delivering storytelling lessons which mainly stemmed from the students and other subjects namely teachers and materials. The findings from this study may help teachers to mitigate the challenges of the storytelling lesson

Isolation, screening antimicrobial activity and identification of fungi from marine sediments of the area Thanh Lan, Co To, Vietnam

Marine environment is rich in natural product resources, including marine microorganisms, especially fungi which are not only seen as a potential source of highly applicable bioactive substances but also can provide for science new chemical structures. The objective of this study is to isolate and screen fungal strains with antibacterial activity from the marine environment. Twenty five strains of fungi were isolated from marine sediments of Thanh Lan, Co To island and assessed on antibiotic activity against 7 tested microbial strains, including three Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853, Salmonella enterica ATCC13076), three Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis ATCC29212, Stapphylococus aureus ATCC25923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 13245), and the yeast Candida albicans ATCC10231. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the tested microorganisms was determined for the crude extracts obtained from the culture broths after ethyl acetate extraction and vacuum rotary evaporation. Three strains with the highest antimicrobial activity M26, M30 and M45 were capable of inhibiting 4 - 5 of the 7 tested microorganisms with MIC values from 64 to 256 μg/ml, depending on each tested strain. Morphological and phylogenetic investigations based on 18S rRNA gene sequences of the three selected strains showed that strains M26 and M30 belonged to the genus Penicillium, whereas strain M45 belonged to the genus Neurospora. The sequences of 18S rRNA gene of three strains M26, M30 and M45 were registered on GenBank database with accession numbers: MH673730, MH673731, MH673732, respectively. Research results showed that marine environment has a great potential in isolation of fungal strains for the search for antibacterial substances as well as other biologically active compounds

Synthesis of cuprous oxide nanocubes combined with chitosan nanoparticles and its application to p-nitrophenol degradation

For the first time, cuprous oxide nanocubes (Cu2O NCBs) were successfully combined with chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) to generate Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites material with highly optical property and photocatalytic activity using a simple and eco-friendly synthetic approach at room temperature for 30 min. The synthesized Cu2O NCBs NPs/CS NPs were determined characterizations by Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X – ray Diffraction (XRD),  Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results show that the Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites have an average particle size of ~3-5 nm; in which, Cu2O has the form of nanocubes (Cu2O NCBs) with size ~3-4 nm and chitosan nanoparticles with spherical shape (CS NPs) with size ~4-5 nm. In addition, the percent (%) composition of elements present in Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites material have been obtained respective: Cu (23.99%), O (38.18%), and C (33.61%). Moreover, Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs composites material was also investigated for photocatalytic activity applied in p-nitrophenol degradation. The obtained results showed that the catalytic capability of Cu2O NCBs/CS NPs for p-nitrophenol reduction reached the highest efficiency >55% in the treatment time of 25 min, and this efficiency was higher than that result of using ZnO@chitosan nanoparticles (ZnO@CS NPs) catalyst under the same conditions for comparison

MOTIVATION TO STUDY ENGLISH OF NON-ENGLISH MAJORED FRESHMEN

Motivation is regarded as an influential factor in the success of any activity. It plays a significant role in reaching the desired goals, including learning English. This research aims to analyze the students' motivation and factors affecting their motivation to learn English. The population of this study was 326 freshmen in nine faculties of natural sciences at Tay Do University. The quantitative data was collected through the questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software. The results show that the students had motivation to learn English, but their motivation levels were not high. Additionally, the students had both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. However, the latter was higher than the former. Moreover, the results also indicate factors affecting learners’ motivation. The research findings contribute to improving English teaching and learning quality in Vietnam in general and in Tay Do University in particular. Article visualizations

Does the income of the chief executive officer affect the quality of corporate financial statements? An evidence from industrial firms in Vietnam

Research aims: This study examines the relationship between the CEOs’ income and the quality of financial statements of industrial firms listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HSX) during the three years from 2018 to 2020. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study investigated the influence of CEOs’ characteristics, particularly their income, on the quality of financial statements of listed firms in the Vietnamese industry by using features of information quality proposed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Random Effects model (REM), Fixed Effects model (FEM), and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regressions were applied for empirical examinations. Research findings: The results of this study demonstrated that a CEO’s income positively affected the quality of corporate financial statements. Additionally, the analysis results confirmed the positive correlation between the firm’s size and the quality of disclosed reports, consistent with prior studies. However, this study uncovered that Big4 auditors did not influence the quality of financial statements. Theoretical contribution/Originality: This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive perspective on the assessment of corporate financial statements quality and examining its association with the CEO’s income in the context of an emerging economy. Practitioner/Policy implication: The study is useful for investors and other financial statement users to assess the quality of corporate financial statements through the CEO’s profile; it also contributes as a scientific basis for firms to adjust the compensations offered to their CEOs. Research limitation: This study was limited by looking at the mono-directional impact of the CEO’s income on the financial statement quality. The following studies need a larger sample of industries and countries to strengthen the research findings. Also, further studies can broaden their perspectives to investigate the multidimensionality of this relation

TỔNG HỢP VẬT LIỆU Ni/UiO-66 THEO PHƯƠNG PHÁP TRỰC TIẾP VÀ GIÁN TIẾP

An archetypal metal-organic framework, UiO-6,6, synthesized with the solvo-thermal method, has a large specific surface area of 1071 m2·g–1. This material was modified with NiCl2 in the direct (Nix(tt)/UiO-66) and indirect (Nix(gt)/UiO-66) methods. The two modified materials were characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. Their crystalline and chemical structure is not much different. However, the thermal and porous properties differ from each other.UiO-66 là họ vật liệu khung hữu cơ kim loại tổng hợp bằng phương pháp nhiệt dung môi có diện tích bề mặt riêng lớn (1071 m2·g–1). Vật liệu UiO-66 này được biến tính bằng NiCl2 theo phương pháp trực tiếp (Nix(tt)/UiO-66) và gián tiếp (Niy(gt)/UiO-66). Kết quả đặc trưng hai vật liệu biến tính này bằng nhiễu xạ tia X, hiển vi điện tử quét và phổ hồng ngoại khác nhau không đáng kể. Tuy nhiên, phân tích nhiệt trọng lượng và đẳng nhiệt hấp phụ – khử hấp phụ N2 cho thấy có sự khác nhau giữa các phương pháp tổng hợp

IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ACTINOMYCETES STRAINS ISOLATED FROM SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE COASTAL AREA OF HUE, DA NANG AND QUANG NAM PROVINCES, VIETNAM

Microorganisms are of particular interest because of their ability to synthesize high-value secondary compounds and provide us with novel and diverse chemical structures. The most common source of antibiotics is Actinomycetes which provide around two-third of naturally occurring antibiotics, including many of medical importance. In this study, 81 strains of actinomycetes were isolated from 145 samples including: sediments, sponges, soft corals, echinoderms and starfish collected from three sea areas of Vietnam: Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam. The strains were fermented in A+ medium and fermentation broths were extracted 5 times with ethyl acetate. The extracts were evaporated under reduced  pressure to yield crude extracts. Quantitative assay was used to determine MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) of extract against 7 reference strains. From the results of screening, Seven strains of actinomycetes that have the highest biological activity (Code: G244, G246, G261, G266, G278, G280 and G290) were chosen to be identified by morphological and phylogenetic based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The results showed that 6 strains G246, G261, G266, G278, G280 and G290 belonged to the genus Streptomyces; and the strain G244 belonged to the genus Micromonospora. In particular, strains G244, G278, G280 were resistant 5/7 strains of microorganisms test, with values  MICs from 2 µg/mL to 256 µg/mL; and three strains G261, G266, G290 showed the inhibitory effect towards 4/7 strains of microorganisms test, with respective values MICs from 2 µg/mL to 256 µg/mL. Moreover, six of the seven selected strains were highly resistant to yeast Candida albicans ATCC10231 with MIC values from 2 µg/mL to 256 µg/mL. These results indicated that marine Actinomycetes in Vietnam are also a potential source to find bioactive substances

Role of Large Cabbage White butterfly male-derived compounds in elicitation of direct and indirect egg-killing defenses in the black mustard

To successfully exert defenses against herbivores and pathogens plants need to recognize reliable cues produced by their attackers. Up to now, few elicitors associated with herbivorous insects have been identified. We have previously shown that accessory reproductive gland secretions associated with eggs of Cabbage White butterflies (Pieris spp.) induce chemical changes in Brussels sprouts plants recruiting egg-killing parasitoids. Only secretions of mated female butterflies contain minute amounts of male-derived anti-aphrodisiac compounds that elicit this indirect plant defense. Here, we used the black mustard (Brassica nigra) to investigate how eggs of the Large Cabbage White butterfly (Pieris brassicae) induce, either an egg-killing direct [i.e., hypersensitive response (HR)-like necrosis] or indirect defense (i.e., oviposition-induced plant volatiles attracting Trichogramma egg parasitoids). Plants induced by P. brassicae egg-associated secretions expressed both traits and previous mating enhanced elicitation. Treatment with the anti-aphrodisiac compound of P. brassicae, benzyl cyanide (BC), induced stronger HR when compared to controls. Expression of the salicylic (SA) pathway- and HR-marker PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE1 was induced only in plants showing an HR-like necrosis. Trichogramma wasps were attracted to volatiles induced by secretion of mated P. brassicae females but application of BC did not elicit the parasitoid-attracting volatiles. We conclude that egg-associated secretions of Pieris butterflies contain specific elicitors of the different plant defense traits against eggs in Brassica plants. While in Brussels sprouts plants anti- aphrodisiac compounds in Pieris egg-associated secretions were clearly shown to elicit indirect defense, the wild relative B. nigra, recognizes different herbivore cues that mediate the defensive responses. These results add another level of specificity to the mechanisms by which plants recognize their attackers

Secondary metabolites produced by marine bacterirum micromonospora sp. G019

Nine compounds were isolated and characterized from the culture broth of the marine bacteria Micromonospora sp.G019 strain, which was isolated from sediment collecting at Ha Long Bay. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis including MS and 2D NMR, as well as by comparison with reported data in the literature