Zero-automatic queues and product form

We introduce and study a new model: 0-automatic queues. Roughly, 0-automatic queues are characterized by a special buffering mechanism evolving like a random walk on some infinite group or monoid. The salient result is that all stable 0-automatic queues have a product form stationary distribution and a Poisson output process. When considering the two simplest and extremal cases of 0-automatic queues, we recover the simple M/M/1 queue, and Gelenbe's G-queue with positive and negative customers

The Global Acceptance and Development of Probiotic-Containing Products as Functional Food

Probiotics have been associated with a range of health benefits and have been made available to the consumers via a range of functional food products. However, it has showed that there still a gap between countries in the acceptance to health benefits of probiotics. The national variation in the acceptance and awareness of consumers to probiotic-containing products have affected greatly to the different development of probiotic markets in the world. The global market for this type of functional foods in the coming years is expected to increase significantly. The Asia in general and Japan in particular still is the major market, whereas Europe countries and the US market obtain quickly rate of growth. Several factors affecting the success of probiotic-containing products also are indicated to achieve greater popularity of this type of functional foods. Keywords: probiotics, prebiotics, microencapsulation, functional food, potential market

The Global Acceptance and Development of Probiotic-Containing Products as Functional Food

ABSTRACTProbiotics have been associated with a range of health benefits and have been made available to the consumers via a range of functional food products. However, it has showed that there still a gap between countries in the acceptance to health benefits of probiotics. The national variation in the acceptance and awareness of consumers to probiotic-containing products have affected greatly to the different development of probiotic markets in the world. The global market for this type of functional foods in the coming years is expected to increase significantly. The Asia in general and Japan in particular still is the major market, whereas Europe countries and the US market obtain quickly rate of growth. Several factors affecting the success of probiotic-containing products also are indicated to achieve greater popularity of this type of functional foods.Keywords: probiotics, prebiotics, microencapsulation, functional food, potential market

ENHANCING COMMUNICATION COMPETENCE VIA ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES OF SPEAKING SKILLS FROM COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH

In teaching language, testing and evaluation play a very important role in helping teachers identify the proficiency, levels of acquiring knowledge, language skills of students, and assessing the problems that exist in learning and teaching. Thanks to assessment activities, teachers actively adjust and improve teaching methods, helping students solve the difficulties they face. This article focuses on the assessment activities of English-speaking skills through Communicative Approach (CA) for law-major students in order to improve speaking skills effectively. The study was conducted to 80 law-major students at the Hanoi Law University. The findings showed that communicative approach assessment measures bring about a number of benefits and challenges as well as expresses the perspectives of students towards applying CA in assessing speaking skill

Some Issues Regarding the New Rural Development Program in Vietnam

The research focuses on presenting and analyzing several key concepts related to the New Rural Development Program in Vietnam. The presentation begins by defining crucial terms such as rural and new rural in Vietnam. Additionally, the article outlines the legal foundations and the government's target programs for building new rural areas, while discussing the necessity of constructing new rural areas in the current developmental context. This is a detailed and comprehensive article, offering readers an overview of the history and content of this program in enhancing the quality of life in rural Vietnam

Women's perceptions regarding financial planning with specific reference to investment

Investment planning (as one of the key components of financial planning) is seen as an important solution to investment problems and challenges. Previous research however indicated that compare to men, women are not as confident and knowledgeable about financial and investment matters. As a result, women do not conduct investment planning until it is often too late and when they are confronted with a financial crisis or a life predicament such as a divorce or death. Given the lack of research attention focusing on women's perceptions of financial and investment planning in South Africa, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the objective of this research is to investigate the factors that influence women‟s Perceived successful investment planning in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. After conducting a comprehensive literature study, seven factors (independent variables) namely Values, Attitudes, Time horizon, Personal life cycle, Risks and Returns, Investment Knowledge, were identified as influencing the Perceived successful investment planning (dependent variable) of women. Various hypotheses were formulated to be tested in the empirical investigation. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were tested among 207 respondents. The Exploratory Factor Analysis, as well as the Cronbach‟s alpha coeffient analysis, revelead that Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values are important factors that influence the women‟s Perceived successful investment planning. As a result of these analyses, the hypotheses had to be reformulated. In order to establish whether correlations existed between the various factors investigated in this study, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were calculated. Positive correlations were found between all the variables, except between Values and Personal life cycle and between Values and Perceived successful investment planning. To analyse the association in which the effects of the independent variables (Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values) have on the dependent variable (Perceived successful investment planning) of this study, multiple regression analysis was conducted. Only one independent variable emerged as having a significant influence on Perceived successful investment planning of women, namely Investment knowledge. In order to investigate the influence of the various demographic variables on the dependent variable, an Analysis of Variance was performed. No significant differences were found between the selected demographic variables, namely Age, Ethnic group, Marital status, Education and Investment experience and the independent variables or dependent variable of this study. By investigating the influence of women‟s Perceived successful investment planning, this study has added to the body of knowledge of both financial and investment planning. Based on the empirical results of this study, several recommendations have been made in an attempt to assist women to make better investment decisions and manage their investment planning more effectively

Empirical Analysis on Non-Performing Loans of Listed Banks in Vietnam

Non-performing loans has always been a serious concern for the banking system in Vietnam over the years, especially after the financial crisis year 2008. The huge volume of non-performing loans may lead to severe consequences for the whole economy at both macroeconomic and microeconomic level. The determinants of the NPLs problems are identified by building up models that explain non-performing loans by macroeconomic factors and bank-specific factors which are adjusted from the earlier studies to fit with the context in Vietnam. In short, the level of NPLs is primarily contributed by bank-specific factors. Also, it is recommended that banks should improve lending policies to prevent the increase in non-performing loans. Last but not least, it is urgent for the State Bank of Vietnam in general and banks themselves in particular to conduct a strict procedure in implementation, control, management, and supervision of all activities in order to carry out solutions in time before the problems are getting worse. Keywords: NPLs, macroeconomic, banks DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-6-03 Publication date: February 29th 202

Studying of The Viability of Selected Probioitcs in Soy Milk to Develop A Functional Beverage Product

In this research, Lactobacillus casei (L.casei) and  Lactobacillus plantarum (L.plantarum) were added into two soymilk products. The number of survival probiotics as well as the effects of probiotic strains, soymilk brands and additives to the quality of final product were also studied. The initial number was added around 107 to 108(CFU/ml) into Fami and Vinasoy soy milk. The number of survival probiotics was stable during the first four weeks with about 107 (CFU/ml) and then decreased to around 106 (CFU/ml) in the sixth week. In term of soymilk’s quality, the pH decreased dramatically while the Brix fell slowly after storing seven days in both soymilk products. The influence of food additive-fructose oligosaccharides adding to microencapsulate probiotics was also examined to increase storage time and final product quality

REGULATING AN EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMME ON SWIMMING SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 AND 7 BAC LIEU CITY, BAC LIEU PROVINCE, VIETNAM

The paper employs traditional sports research methodologies involving document reference, interview, pedagogical observation, and pedagogical testing. Based on theoretical, practical, pedagogical, and scientific principles, the authors construct an extra-curricular program in swimming and drowning prevention skills for students in grades 6 and 7 in Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu province. The program is designed to provide students with the ability to identify danger, and grasp the causes of drowning and how to prevent them, thereby developing self-defense skills and drowning prevention. The study team creates a program to teach lower secondary pupils the aforesaid skills in addition to instructing them how to utilize buoys, ropes, towels, poles, and to swim 25 meters breaststroke.  Article visualizations

Do business linkages play a role in upgrading workers’ skills among small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam?

Business linkages are of interests to many firms as they can have positive impacts on firms’ performance. Nevertheless, there have been few studies on possible influence of business linkages on motivation to upgrade workers’ skills among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Applying a Probit estimation model with Fixed-Effects techniques for panel data with a sample covering more than 6,000 observations of SMEs from Vietnam, the study provides key findings. First of all, the increase in the number of business linkages helps SMEs to upgrade workers’ skills by reducing the percentage of unskilled workers. Secondly, the rise in workers’ skills increases the probability that SMEs train their existing workers, but not new workers. Finally, the increase in firm size plays an important role for SMEs in Vietnam to upgrade their workers’ skills