Managerial Recommendations Improving the Competitive Capability of Firms Based on Total Quality Management during Covid-19 Pandemic

In 2021, the COVID-19 epidemic affected many aspects of the provinces' socio-economic fields, especially deeply affecting businesses at enterprises. The task of ensuring social security continues with the management agencies, who need appropriate solutions and support policies to encourage and help enterprises return to production and trade after the quarantine society quickly. The basis for management theory has contributed to improving the competitive capability based on improving Total Quality Management (TQM), such as the "just in time" system. TQM aims to enhance the quality of products and satisfy customers to the best extent possible. The distinguishing feature of TQM from previous quality management methods is that it provides a comprehensive system for managing and improving all aspects related to quality and involves the participation of the public, every department, and every individual to achieve the set quality goals. The article's novelty identifies factors influencing total quality management and competitive capability of firms in Vietnam with one percent significance. Methods: The authors surveyed 650 managers at many enterprises in Vietnam. And the authors used a convenient sampling method. SPSS tools processed 589 samples to measure Cronbach's alpha, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmation factor analysis (CFA), and test structural equation modeling (SEM). The authors proposed several recommendations to enhance the total quality management and competitive capability of firms. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2022-06-03-010 Full Text: PD

Genetic variation within and between three Vietnamese pine populations (Pinus merkusii) using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Pinus merkusii is an important species in Vietnam with many economic and biological contributions. The information on diversity within and between populations of a species is necessary for plantation programs, breeding and conservation strategies. Genetic diversity of three Vietnamese populations (NA, QB and QN) was analyzed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Nine RAPD primers produced 82 markers, 77 of which were polymorphic with 93.9% of polymorphism. The results showed higher genetic variation within populations (72%) than between populations (28%) and low Nei’s genetic differentiation index among populations (0.1867). The populations also clustered based on PCoA analysis where cluster I included NA and QB populations and Cluster II, the QN population. These results suggest that P. merkusii populations in Vietnam is necessary to develop the genetic resources.Keywords: DNA markers, genetic diversity, Pinus merkusii, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Vietna

Prevalence of Accidents and Injuries and Related Factors of Fishermen Fishing Offshore in the North of Vietnam

Introduction: Seafaring, particularly offshore fishing, exposes fishermen to various occupational risks leading to diseases and injuries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational risks, injury accidents, and contributing factors among offshore fishers in North Vietnam, to develop evidence-based recommendations to enhance their safety and well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 420 fishermen with a minimum of two years of experience. Interviews were conducted between 2018 and 2020. Results: The findings indicated that there is a 41.7% prevalence of accidents and an average injury rate of 280.2 per person per year. Most incidents occurred at night with 104 cases (59.4%), slips and falls 48 cases (27.4%), broken winch lines 40 cases (22.9%), and ship collisions 14 cases (8.0%) being the primary causes. The most common injuries included soft wounds in 92 cases (52.5%) and sprains/dislocations in 14 cases (8.0%). Fishermen with fewer than 10 years of experience exhibited a higher accident risk (odds ratio = 1.54; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-2.72), as did those in the role of a fisherman (odds ratio: 1.68; CI: 0.97-2.94) and those working without labor protection (odds ratio: 3.68; CI: 1.05-12.93). Conclusion: Lack of labor protection equipment increased the risk by 3.68 times, and fishermen in the friend group had a 2.02 times higher risk of injury. Addressing these risks requires adherence to labor protection regulations and safe working procedures

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Styrax argentifolius H.L. Li and their antioxidative activity

Searching for bioactive agents from medicinal plants, the phytochemical investigation on the EtOAc extract of the Vietnamese Styrax argentifolius leaves has resulted in the isolation and structural determination of five compounds, including one nor-neolignan egonoic acid (1), one lignan (+)-pinoresinol (2), one sterol (20R)-3β-hydroxysitgmasta-5,22-dien-7-one (3), and two triterpenoids lupeol (4), and 2α,3α,24-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (5). The chemical structures of these secondary metabolites were elucidated by NMR and MS spectral data. All isolated compounds were first observed in S. argentifolius species. Sterol 3 and triterpenoid 5 were detected in genus Styrax for the first time. With the IC50 value of 19.10 µg/mL, compound 2 possessed the strong activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay

Cytotoxic naphthoquinones from Diospyros fleuryana leaves

In the search for anti-cancer plants in Vietnam, the leaves of Diospyros fleuryana were selected for chemical investigation. Phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract led to the isolation of two naphthoquinones isodiospyrin (1), and 8'-hydroxyisodiospyrin (2), and one isoflavone 7-O-methylbiochanin A (3). The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determined by 1D-NMR (1H, and 13C-NMR), 2D-NMR spectra (HSQC, and HMBC), and MS spectroscopy. Compound 3 was isolated from genus Diospyros for the first time. Regarding the strong IC50 values of 2.27, and 8.0 µM against KB, and Hep cell lines respectively, cytotoxic examination suggested that compound 2 is a promising agent in anti-cancer treatment.Â

chemical constituents from methanolic extract of Garcinia mackeaniana leaves and their antioxidant activity

A phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of Garcinia mackeaniana leaves led to the isolation, and determination of five secondary metabolites, including one benzophenone 4,3',4'-trihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzophenone (1), two flavone C-glucosides vitexin (2) and its 2''-O-acetyl derivative (3), one biflavone amentoflavone (4), and one mono-phenol methyl protocatechuate (5). The chemical structures of these compounds were characterized by the NMR-spectroscopic method. These isolated compounds were isolated from G. mackeaniana species for the first time. Benzophenone derivative 1 has shown to be associated with a significant IC50 value of 14.97±0.8 µg/mL in the DPPH-antioxidant assay

Comparative analysis of root transcriptomes from two contrasting drought-responsive Williams 82 and DT2008 soybean cultivars under normal and dehydration conditions

The economically important DT2008 and the model Williams 82 (W82) soybean cultivars were reported to have differential drought-tolerant degree to dehydration and drought, which was associated with root trait. Here, we used 66K Affymetrix Soybean Array GeneChip to compare the root transcriptomes of DT2008 and W82 seedlings under normal, as well as mild (2h treatment) and severe (10h treatment) dehydration conditions. Out of the 38172 soybean genes annotated with high confidence, 822 (2.15%) and 632 (1.66%) genes showed altered expression by dehydration in W82 and DT2008 roots, respectively, suggesting that a larger machinery is required to be activated in the drought-sensitive W82 cultivar to cope with the stress. We also observed that long-term dehydration period induced expression change of more genes in soybean roots than the short-term one, independently of the genotypes. Furthermore, our data suggest that the higher drought tolerability of DT2008 might be attributed to the higher number of genes induced in DT2008 roots than in W82 roots by early dehydration, and to the expression changes of more genes triggered by short-term dehydration than those by prolonged dehydration in DT2008 roots vs. W82 roots. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that could be predicted to have a known function were further analyzed to gain a basic understanding on how soybean plants respond to dehydration for their survival. The higher drought tolerability of DT2008 vs. W82 might be attributed to differential expression in genes encoding osmoprotectant biosynthesis-, detoxification- or cell wall-related proteins, kinases, transcription factors and phosphatase 2C proteins. This research allowed us to identify genetic components that contribute to the improved drought tolerance of DT2008, as well as provide a useful genetic resource for in-depth functional analyses that ultimately leads to development of soybean cultivars with improved tolerance to drought

A New Technique of Two Iliac Cortical Bone Blocks Sandwich Technique for Secondary Alveolar Bone Grafting in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Alveolar cleft bone graft in the second stage of surgery was a crucial part of the cleft palate treatment protocol with many advantages: reconstructing bone for tooth eruption, supporting the periodontal structure for the teeth adjacent to the cleft, supporting and lifting the arch and preventing from collapsing of maxillary arch. Grafting technique and material are selected based on the treatment purpose that for orthodontic moving tooth into the arch or for dental implant rehabilitation. Cancellous material provides rapid vascularization and healing facilitating for tooth moving into the cleft site but easy to resorb that unsuitable for dental implant placement. While dense material is difficult to move teeth into the cleft but increase initial stability. Therefore, we offered a method that limit bone resorption, easily obtain the implant initial stability, quick osseointegration called two iliac cortical bone blocks sandwich technique for a purposes of dental implant rehabilitation. Treatment protocol started with orthodontic treatment prior alveolar bone grafting to create proper space for implant restoration. Our clinical experience with 32 cleft sites using two iliac cortical bone blocks sandwich had shown potential clinical application in follow-up time up to 96 months. Evaluation criteria of bone grafting for alveolar cleft included soft tissue condition of graft area, nasal fistula closure, bone grafting outcome, success in osseointegration and implant prosthesis. This chapter described in detail treatment procedure and outcomes of a new technique of two iliac cortical bone blocks sandwich for alveolar cleft in patients with unilateral cleft palate