The influence of brand equity on consumer responses toward Cho Gao dragon fruits brand

This thesis study wants to implement a model test for better understandings of brand equity and consumer responses toward Cho Gao Dragon Fruit brand. With the rapid growth of agriculture, including domestic consumption and export of the dragon fruits, it is crucial to differentiate the Cho Gao Dragon Fruits to other competitors in both domestic and foreign markets. Using Structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data of 274 questionnaires to investigate the effects of brand equity and its dimensions on consumer responses. The results show that brand equity dimensions such as brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality are interrelated and those dimensions have a direct and significant effect on brand equity, except brand awareness. The results support the assumption that brand equity has a positive relationship with consumer responses. The findings shed light on the current issues of the market for dragon fruits, which enables us to provide some suggestions for the Government to facilitate farmers and traders in building brand names, marketers for doing marketing activities, and students to know about brand equity of agricultural product such as dragon fruits

Appropriate Antibiotic Use and Associated Factors in Vietnamese Outpatients

Background: Inappropriate antibiotic use among outpatients is recognized as the primary driver of antibiotic resistance. A proper understanding of appropriate antibiotic usage and associated factors helps to determine and limit inappropriateness. We aimed to identify the rate of appropriate use of antibiotics and identify factors associated with the inappropriate prescriptions. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in outpatient antibiotic use at a hospital in Can Tho City, Vietnam, from August 1, 2019, to January 31, 2020. Data were extracted from all outpatient prescriptions at the Medical Examination Department and analyzed by SPSS 18 and Chi-squared tests, with 95% confidence intervals. The rationale for antibiotic use was evaluated through antibiotic selection, dose, dosing frequency, dosing time, interactions between antibiotics and other drugs, and general appropriate usage. Results: A total of 420 prescriptions were 51.7% for females, 61.7% with health insurance, and 44.0% for patients with one comorbid condition. The general appropriate antibiotic usage rate was 86.7%. Prescriptions showed that 11.0% and 9.5% had a higher dosing frequency and dose than recommended, respectively; 10.2% had an inappropriate dosing time; 3.1% had drug interactions; and only 1.7% had been prescribed inappropriate antibiotics. The risk of inappropriate antibiotic use increased in patients with comorbidities and antibiotic treatment lasting >7 days (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study indicated a need for more consideration when prescribing antibiotics to patients with comorbidities or using more than 7 days of treatment

Study on total lipid content, lipid class composition of some fire and soft corals collected in Nha Trang, Vietnam

For the first time, the total lipid content and lipid class composition of  the Vietnamese soft corals (Sinularia brassica, Sinularia flexibilis) and fire corals (Millepora dichotoma, Millepora platyphylla) were investigated. The results indicated that the total lipid content of the investigated species was significantly different. Compositions of the lipid classes were analyzed using TLC and image analysis program Sorbfil TLC Videodensitometer DV and the results showed that phospholipids (PL, 10.91–16.02%), monoalkyldiacylglycerols (MADAG, 20.69-39.92%) and hydrocarbon wax (HW, 29.83-37.17%) were the main lipid classes of the total lipid in soft coral species. Meanwhile, PL (24.11-33.23%), TG (14.27–34.92%), ST (10.10–14.50%) and HW (12.08–19.95%) were predominant in fire coral species. ST, TG and FFA contents in soft and fire corals were at low level. DG was only present in the Sinularia flexibilis but not in other studied corals

Transitions in diatom assemblages and pigments through dry and wet season conditions in the Red River, Hanoi (Vietnam)

Background and aims – Biomonitoring is an important tool for assessing river water quality, but is not routinely applied in tropical rivers. Marked hydrological changes can occur between wet and dry season conditions in the tropics. Thus, a prerequisite for ecological assessment is that the influence of ‘natural’ hydrological change on biota can be distinguished from variability driven by water quality parameters of interest. Here we aimed to (a) assess seasonal changes in water quality, diatoms and algal assemblages from river phytoplankton and artificial substrates through the dry-wet season transition (February–July 2018) in the Red River close to Hanoi and (b) evaluate the potential for microscopic counts and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments for biomonitoring in large tropical rivers.Methods – River water (phytoplankton) and biofilms grown on artificial glass substrates were sampled monthly through the dry (February–April) to wet (May–August) season transition and analysed via microscopic and HPLC techniques.Key results – All phototrophic communities shifted markedly between the dry and wet seasons. Phytoplankton concentrations were low (ca. thousands of cells/mL) and declined as the wet season progressed. The dominant phytoplankton taxa were centric diatoms (Aulacoseira granulata and Aulacoseira distans) and chlorophytes (Scenedesmus and Pediastrum spp.), with chlorophytes becoming more dominant in the wet season. Biofilm diatoms were dominated by Melosira varians, and areal densities declined in the wet season when fast-growing pioneer diatom taxa (e.g. Achnanthidium minutissimum, Planothidium lanceolatum) and non-degraded Chlorophyll a concentrations increased, suggesting active phytobenthos growth in response to scour damage. Otherwise, a-phorbins were very abundant in river seston and biofilms indicating in situ Chlorophyll a degradation which may be typical of tropical river environments. The very large range of total suspended solids (reaching > 120 mg L-1) and turbidity appears to be a key driver of photoautotrophs through control of light availability.Conclusions – Hydrological change and associated turbidity conditions exceed nutrient influences on photoautotrophs at inter-seasonal scales in this part of the Red River. Inter-seasonal differences might be a useful measure for biomonitoring to help track how changes in suspended solids, a major water quality issue in tropical rivers, interact with other variables of interest

Experimental cultivation of Spirulina platensis using My An mineral water, Thua Thien Hue province

Spirulina platensis was experimentally cultivated by semi-continuous method at 20m2 scale pilot to effectively use the available bicarbonate and minerals of the My An mineral water, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province, and reduce production cost. Analyses of My An water quality showed that this mineral water source was suitable to cultivate Spirulina Platensis after removing H2S. The average algal yield reached to 10gDW/m2.day. The obtained algal biomass contained high nutrient compositions and was a suitable source for functional food (68.32 % protein, 7.32 % lipids containing Omega-3 and Omega-6, and low heavy metal concentration). The obtained results indicated that the My An mineral water source was indeed a suitable water source for producing Spirulina platensis biomass as a functional food

Improving Treatment Outcome of Pemphigus Vulgaris on Vietnamese Patients by Using Desmoglein Elisa Test

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is a chronic disease, is characterized by the presence of flacid bullous in skin and mucosa. There are 2 main autoantibodies against desmoglein3 (Dsg3) and desmoglein1 (Dsg1). AIM: The aims of this study were to evaluate the before and after treatment outcome with corticosteroid, using Desmoglein ELISA test. METHOD: Forty patients with Pemphigus include 36 PV and 4 PF (28 women, 12 women) were enrolled. The titers of Dsg in pemphigus patients by using ELISA test were done before and 1-month treatment RESULTS: Both anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 levels were significantly reduced after treatment (P &lt; 0.05). The severity of skin lesions was correlated with anti-Dsg1 antibody level and the severity of oral lesions was significantly correlated with anti-Dsg 3 antibody levels (p &lt; 0.05) CONCLUSION: It is recommended that we can predict and improve the outcome of treatment by using Desmoglein ELISA test

Growth, electronic and electrical characterization of Ge-Rich Ge-Sb-Te alloy

In this study, we deposit a Ge-rich Ge-Sb-Te alloy by physical vapor deposition (PVD) in the amorphous phase on silicon substrates. We study in-situ, by X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopies (XPS and UPS), the electronic properties and carefully ascertain the alloy composition to be GST 29 20 28. Subsequently, Raman spectroscopy is employed to corroborate the results from the photoemission study. X-ray diffraction is used upon annealing to study the crystallization of such an alloy and identify the effects of phase separation and segregation of crystalline Ge with the formation of grains along the [111] direction, as expected for such Ge-rich Ge-Sb-Te alloys. In addition, we report on the electrical characterization of single memory cells containing the Ge-rich Ge-Sb-Te alloy, including I-V characteristic curves, programming curves, and SET and RESET operation performance, as well as upon annealing temperature. A fair alignment of the electrical parameters with the current state-of-the-art of conventional (GeTe)n-(Sb2Te3)m alloys, deposited by PVD, is found, but with enhanced thermal stability, which allows for data retention up to 230 °C

The epidemiology and aetiology of diarrhoeal disease in infancy in southern Vietnam: a birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies indicate a high burden of diarrhoeal disease in Vietnamese children, however longitudinal community-based data on burden and aetiology are limited. The findings from a large, prospective cohort study of diarrhoeal disease in infants in southern Vietnam are presented herein. METHODS: Infants were enrolled at birth in urban Ho Chi Minh City and a semi-rural district in southern Vietnam, and followed for 12 months (n=6706). Diarrhoeal illness episodes were identified through clinic-based passive surveillance, hospital admissions, and self-reports. RESULTS: The minimum incidence of diarrhoeal illness in the first year of life was 271/1000 infant-years of observation for the whole cohort. Rotavirus was the most commonly detected pathogen (50% of positive samples), followed by norovirus (24%), Campylobacter (20%), Salmonella (18%), and Shigella (16%). Repeat infections were identified in 9% of infants infected with rotavirus, norovirus, Shigella, or Campylobacter, and 13% of those with Salmonella infections. CONCLUSIONS: The minimum incidence of diarrhoeal disease in infants in both urban and semi-rural settings in southern Vietnam was quantified prospectively. A large proportion of laboratory-diagnosed disease was caused by rotavirus and norovirus. These data highlight the unmet need for a rotavirus vaccine in Vietnam and provide evidence of the previously unrecognized burden of norovirus in infants

The Efficacy and Safety of Hyaluronic Acid Microinjection for Skin Rejuvenation in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Aging is an increasing concern of modern society, particularly facial ageing. In recent years, the microinjection technique has increasingly been emphasised as a skin rejuvenation strategy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays an important role in the hydration of the extracellular space and can thus improve skin hydration, firmness and viscoelastic properties. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of HA microinjection in skin rejuvenation. METHODS: We enrolled thirty participants underwent three sessions of HA microinjection involving multiple injections in the face or back of the hands at 2-week intervals. The aesthetic outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Clinical evaluation was based on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS). RESULTS: Evaluation of photographs from 2, 4 and 8 weeks revealed significant clinical improvement in the brightness, texture and wrinkling of the skin. Analysis of the GAIS and WSRS scores revealed statistically significant results after 2 months. CONCLUSION: Most of the participants felt satisfied with the treatment (93.3%)

The Effectiveness of Narrow Band Uvb (Nb-Uvb) In the Treatment of Pityriasis Lichenoides Chronica (PLC) In Vietnam

AIM: This prospective clinical study presents the experiences with NB-UVB monotherapy in the treatment of PLC on Vietnamese patients. METHODS: We enrolled at National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (NHDV), Vietnam, 29 PLC patients with generalised disease involving at least 60% of the total body surface (based on Nine’s Rule) and/or failed to respond to other modalities of treatment. Patients were treated with NB-UVB followed the guideline of the psoriatic treatment of AAD-2010, three times weekly. RESULTS: A complete response (CR) was seen in 24 out of 29 PLC patients (82.8%) with a mean cumulative dose of 9760.5 mJ/cm2 after a mean treatment period of 4.6 weeks (13.8 ± 7.4 exposures). Mild side effects were observed: 69% erythema minimum, 55.2% irritation related to dry skin. No severe side effects were seen during the study. No relapses occurred in 24 CR patients within a mean period of 3 months after the last treatment. CONCLUSION: NB-UVB therapy is an effective and safe option for the treatment and management of PLC