An empirical study on factors influencing consumer impulsive purchase behavior: a case of Ho Chi Minh city in the 4.0 era

The fourth industrial revolution (the 4.0 era) has provided companies with more opportunities to attract potential clients across technology-based platforms, thus, bringing new factors that offer a tremendous incentive to buy impulsively, namely Contextual Targeting. Nevertheless, far too little attention has lately been paid to impulse buying behavior in Vietnam. This study offers a comprehensive view on how impulsive behavior is produced, analyzes factors having considerable significance to the impulsiveness, and proposes tactics businesses may use to maximize their sales. The data for this study were selected randomly from the population of Ho Chi Minh city via a survey in the second half of February 2020. From Exploratory Factors Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis, results reveal that contextual targeting of advertising, packaging, and moods are strongly linked to impulse buying behaviors of Vietnamese consumers, especially in Ho Chi Minh city in the 4.0 era. The study proposes appropriate tactics for businesses to employ as a cheat-sheet, which helps manipulate customer mannerism to maximize profits

Adsorptive removal of Pb (II) using exfoliated graphite adsorbent:influence of experimental conditions and magnetic CoFe2O4 decoration

The worm-like exfoliated graphite (EG) based adsorbents prepared from low-cost natural graphite flakes via facile synthesis processes have been found to be efficient adsorbents when it comes to removing Pb (II) from aqueous solution. EG was fabricated by chemical intercalation and microwave assisted exfoliation. Furthermore, the magnetic exfoliated graphite (MEG) was developed by incorporating CoFe2O4 particles into the EG layers using the citric acid based sol-gel technique. Adsorption behaviour of Pb (II) on the as-prepared adsorbents was investigated by taking several experimental conditions into consideration such as contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, and pH value. The results with initial neutral pH indicated that the adsorption isotherms for Pb (II) on the EG and MEG were well consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model revealing the maximum adsorption capacity of 106 mg/g and 68 mg/g for EG and MEG, respectively. The adsorption kinetics of Pb (II) was found to adhere to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The chemical interaction between ? electrons on graphite sheets and Pb (II) ions was suggested to play an essential role in the adsorption mechanism. The introduction of magnetic CoFe2O4 to the EG was found to induce the shift of optimal pH value to a more basic condition. The characterization of the adsorbents was performed using relevant analysis techniques such as Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X–ray powder diffraction (XRD), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR). The results of this work suggest a high possibility for application of the as-prepared modified graphite to remove hazardous substances in practical wastewater treatment systems. ABSTRAK:  Penyerap Pengelupas Grafit (EG) yang berupa seperti cacing dihasilkan dari grafit semulajadi yang murah melalui proses sintesis serpihan, ia juga merupakan penyerap yang bagus dalam mengasingkan Pb (II) daripada larutan akues. EG direka dengan tindak balas interkalasi kimia dan pengelupasan melalui gelombang mikro. Tambahan, pengelupas grafit magnet (MEG) telah dihasilkan dengan memasukkan zarah CoFe2O4 ke dalam lapisan EG menggunakan teknik sol-gel yang berasaskan asid sitrik. Tindak balas penyerapan Pb (II) pada penyerap yang disiapkan ini, dikaji dengan mengambil kira beberapa keadaan eksperimen seperti waktu disentuh, konsentrasi awal, dos penyerap dan nilai pH.  Hasil keputusan pH neutral awal menunjukkan bahawa isoterm penyerapan bagi Pb (II) pada EG dan MEG adalah konsisten dengan model isoterm Langmuir. Ini menunjukkan kapasiti penyerapan maksimum 106 mg/g dan 68 mg/g bagi EG dan MEG, masing-masing. Penyerapan kinetik Pb (II) didapati mematuhi model kinetik pesudo-order-kedua. Interaksi kimia antara elektron ? pada helaian grafit dan ion Pb (II) memainkan peranan penting dalam mekanisme penyerapan. Pengenalan magnet CoFe2O4 kepada EG didapati telah mengubah nilai pH optimum kepada keadaan asal. Pengelasan penyerapan dilakukan menggunakan teknik analisis yang relevan seperti Mikroskop Elektron Pengimbasan (SEM), Difraksi Serbuk sinar-X (XRD), Magnetometer Sampel-Getaran (VSM) dan Inframerah Perubahan-Fourier (FTIR). Hasil kerja ini mencadangkan kemungkinan besar bagi penggunaan grafit ubah suai yang disediakan bagi membuang bahan berbahaya dalam sistem rawatan air sisa praktikal

The Impact of TikTok UGC Videos on Online Purchase Intention: Mediating Role of Cognitive States

Background: User-Generated Content (UGC) videos have received considerable attention in recent years thanks to their great potential for buyers and sellers. However, the effect of this content on consumer behavior remains unclear, especially in the context of developing countries (e.g., Vietnam). By applying the Stimulus-Organism-Response model (S-O-R model), this paper examines the effect of UGC videos on online purchase intention. Moreover, the mediating role of cognitive responses, consisting of perceived credibility, perceived diagnosticity, and mental imagery, is also examined to offer valuable insights to businesses, enabling them to leverage and effectively promote the trends of UGC videos. Method: A convenience sampling method was employed to collect the data. A total of 318 valid respondents participated in this survey. The data was analyzed with the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling method (PLS-SEM). Results: The findings show that UGC videos have a direct impact on online purchase intention. This paper also verified that cognitive states mediate the relationship between stimuli and subsequent behavioral intentions. Conclusion: Our research findings enrich the literature on consumer’s online purchase intentions by applying the S-O-R framework by highlighting the role of cognitive responses, and improving generalizability by contributing additional consumer behavior findings in developing Asian nations. Moreover, this paper offers businesses insights into the formation of customers\u27 purchase intentions while watching UGC videos. Based on that, this paper raises practical recommendations regarding promoting the UGC video trend and creating UGC videos effectively to improve the cognitive states perceived by customers, including credibility, diagnostic value, and mental imagery

Effects of protein levels of commercial diets on the growth performance and survival rate of rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus) at the nursing stage

This study aimed to determine the effect of a commercial diet's protein level on the fry-to-fingerling stage. Thirty days-old fries having the initial length and weight of 18.25 ± 0.15 mm fish-1 and 0.036 ± 0.50 g fish-1 respectively have been used in this study. Diet having three protein levels i.e. 30% (trial 1 as control), 35% (trial 2), 40% (trial 3), and 45% (trial 4), respectively, have been used to evaluate the effect of protein, and each trial has been repeated three times. During the study, stocking density was allocated to 1000 fish per composite tank with a volume of 1 m3. After 30 days of rearing, the weight of fingerlings in trial 1 reached up to 1.50 ± 0.02 g fish-1 and it was recorded as 1.52 ± 0.01g for trial 2, these two were lower than that of trials 3 and 4, where fingerling weight was reported 1.69 ± 0.01 and 1.58g fish-1 respectively and obtained the best weight compared to others. The length of fingerlings at the end of the experimental period was also changed in different trials and it was recorded 47.12; 46.92; 50.97; and 48.89 mm fish-1 for trail 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, among the tested combinations lower fingerlings length was recorded for trial 2 (35% CP), but it is not significantly different for trial 1 and 2 and a significant difference (P < 0.05) was reported for trail 2, 3, and 4. The survival rate of fingerlings ranged from 67.27 to 72.33%. Meanwhile, the herd distribution coefficient variation (CVW) in the treatment using 40% protein (trial 3) was the highest at 72.33% (p < 0.05). The results of the study can be concluded that the level of protein has a significant effect on the various growth parameters of fingerlings

Factors affecting the creativity of high school students

Creativity is a vital personality quality of each individual. Each person has their potential for creativity, and it can be nurtured and developed in an appropriate and safe environment. The purpose of the study was to find out which factors from schools and students themselves affect creativity as well as the association between creativity and age, gender and giftedness of students, which then a basis to adjust and establish appropriate methods from schools, families, and students themselves to develop elements and their creativity. The study was conducted on 108 high school students in three grades from giftedness and non-giftedness schools. The data was collected through a survey method using a self-constructed questionnaire and drawing creativity test TCT-DP to determine students' creativity levels and personal information. The study's finding, which uses mathematical methods and one-way analysis of variance, reveals that factors affecting elements and creativity level are objective factors including education environment from school; behavior of teachers, and subjective factors including interests, perspectives, and thoughts of students. It was also found that there were no significant differences in the components of creativity and creativity among students in different grades, gender, and groups of giftedness schools

Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF and MODS assay for the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) in children is rarely confirmed due to the lack of effective diagnostic tools; only 10 to 15% of pediatric TB is smear positive due to paucibacillary samples and the difficulty of obtaining high-quality specimens from children. We evaluate here the accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF in comparison with the Micoroscopic observation drug susceptibility (MODS) assay for diagnosis of TB in children using samples stored during a previously reported evaluation of the MODS assay. METHODS: Ninety-six eligible children presenting with suspected TB were recruited consecutively at Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City Viet Nam between May to December 2008 and tested by Ziehl-Neelsen smear, MODS and Mycobacterial growth Indicator (MGIT, Becton Dickinson) culture. All samples sent by the treating clinician for testing were included in the analysis. An aliquot of processed sample deposit was stored at −20°C and tested in the present study by Xpert MTB/RIF test. 183 samples from 73 children were available for analysis by Xpert. Accuracy measures of MODS and Xpert were summarized. RESULTS: The sensitivity (%) in detecting children with a clinical diagnosis of TB for smear, MODS and Xpert were 37.9 [95% CI 25.5; 51.6], 51.7 [38.2; 65.0] and 50.0 [36.6; 63.4], respectively (per patient analysis). Xpert was significantly more sensitive than smear (P=0.046). Testing of additional samples did not increase case detection for MODS while testing of a second sputum sample by Xpert detected only two additional cases. The positive and negative predictive values (%) of Xpert were 100.0 [88.0; 100.0] and 34.1 [20.5; 49.9], respectively, while those of MODS were 96.8 [83.3; 99.9] and 33.3 [19.6; 49.5]. CONCLUSION: MODS culture and Xpert MTB/RIF test have similar sensitivities for the detection of pediatric TB. Xpert MTB RIF is able to detect tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance within two hours. MODS allows isolation of cultures for further drug susceptibility testing but requires approximately one week to become positive. Testing of multiple samples by xpert detected only two additional cases and the benefits must be considered against costs in each setting. Further research is required to evaluate the optimal integration of Xpert into pediatric testing algorithms

Synthesis of microcrystalline cellulose from banana pseudo-stem for adsorption of organics from aqueous solution

In this study, we proposed and tested a green method for producing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with high quality from waste banana pseudo-stem (BPS) after fruit harvesting. The MCC was synthesized by treating BPS with sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and H2O2solution.The produced MCC material was then characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis to explore its properties. The removal of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was conducted by batch adsorption method to evaluate the applicability of MCC for wastewater treatment. The results showed that the adsorption using MCC reached equilibrium after 15 min. The highest MB adsorption capacity of MCC reached 16.6mg/g at pH 6. The adsorption kinetics data were best described by the pseudo second order rate equation. Equilibrium isotherm data of adsorption were well fitted to the linear Langmuir isotherm model. Affecting factors such as adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of MB, and temperature were also investigated. These results suggest a great potential use of MCC for advanced wastewater treatment

Research to support and inform the development, implementation and/or evaluation of tobacco control policies in relation to the framework convention on tobacco control in low and middle-income countries

In order to enforce policies on tobacco control in Vietnam, reliable information on health and socio-economic hazards associated with tobacco farming is needed. The study investigates the harmful impact of tobacco cultivation and processing on health of tobacco farmers in a rural community in northern Vietnam. Objectives included estimation of health care costs as well as health beliefs related to tobacco cultivation and processing. The health of those who cultivate the crop is constantly put in peril. The study confirms that tobacco farming does not bring prosperity to the farmers while causing them a lot of health problems, especially among women

Evaluation Of Allelopathic Potential Of Cissus sicyoides Against the Growth Of Echinochloa Crus-Galli And Some Tested Plants

Many plant species in nature exert significant allelopathic potential as part of the defense mechanism system, many among their secondary metabolites (allelochemicals), including mineral constituents, which are responsible for the suppression of weeds and enhancing crop yield when directly incorporated into paddy fields. Cissus sicyoides is considered a high-potential allelopathic plant because of its invasion in nature and detected allelochemicals from the plant parts in some studies. The objective of this research was to exploit the allelopathic properties of C.sicyoides against paddy weeds and some indicator plants under laboratory bioassays and greenhouse conditions. The results demonstrated that C. sicyoides had significant inhibition on E. crus-galli, tested plants, and other paddy weeds. In the laboratory conditions, the extracts from C.sicyoides leaves inhibited the growth of Echinochloa crus-galli by 54.3%. The powders from C.sicyoides leaves inhibited the emergence of paddy weeds by approximately 100.0%. In the greenhouse conditions, the powders from C.sicyoides leaves by adding after 3 and 13 days inhibited the growth of E. crus-galli and the emergence of paddy weeds by 64.4%. Remarkably, negligible harmful effects on rice growth were observed. The findings of the study may provide useful information for the exploitation of this plant species to effectively control weeds in the rice fields for sustainable agriculture production

Smoke-free environment policy in Vietnam: What did people see and how did they react when they visited various public places?

Introduction: Since Vietnam has signed WHO framework on tobacco control (FCTC) in 2003 and has issued tobacco control law in 2013, there has been little research concerning about what impacts smoke-free regulations have had on public compliance. The objective of this study was to assess public exposure to secondhand smoke and reaction toward smoke-free policy regulations in Vietnam and the associated factor. Methods: Using the design of GATS (Global Adult Tobacco Survey), a nationally representative sample of 8,996 adults were approached for data collection. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factor.Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of respondents exposed to secondhand smoke was much higher in bars/café/tea shops (90.07%) and restaurants (81.81%) than in any other public places, universities (36.70%), government buildings (31.12%), public transport (20.04%), healthcare facilities (17.85%) and schools (15.84%). 13.23% of respondents saw smokers violate smoke-free regulations. Among those who saw them violate smoke-free regulations, just one-third cautioned them to stop smoking. Strikingly, a higher rate of cautioning smokers to stop smoking was observed among the older, married, and better educated respondents. Respondents who were married, better educated and in lower economic status were more likely to remind smokers to stop smoking.Conclusions: The study has called for strengthening two of the six MPOWER (Monitor, Protect, Offer, Warn, Enforce and Raise) components of the tobacco free initiative introduced by WHO, Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies and Protecting people from tobacco smoke