The influence of CEO characteristics on corporate environmental performance of SMEs: Evidence from Vietnamese SMEs

Drawing on upper echelon theory, this study investigates the impact of CEOs’ (chief executive officers) demographic characteristics on corporate environmental performance (CEP) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We hypothesized that CEO characteristics, including gender, age, basic educational level, professional educational level, political connection, and ethnicity, affect SMEs’ environmental performance. Using the cross-sectional data analysis of 810 Vietnamese SMEs, this study provides evidence that female CEOs and CEOs’ educational level (both basic and professional) are positively related to the probability of CEP. We also find that based on the role of institutional environment on CEP, political connections had a negative effect on CEP in the context of Vietnam. Another finding is that SMEs with chief executives from ethnic minority groups show a higher level of the probability of corporate environmental performance than companies operated by Kinh chief executives. Since CEP is an essential dimension of corporate social responsibility, a strategic decision for SMEs, it is crucial for the company to select appropriate CEOs based on their demographic characteristic

THE IMPACT OF PROTESTANTISM ON THE ECONOMY OF THE COHO CHIL PEOPLE IN LAM DONG PROVINCE

This study examines the relationship between Protestantism and the Coho Chil economy using qualitative methods to analyze data from fieldwork in the Coho Chil Protestant communities of Lam Dong Province. The research shows that Protestantism has a positive impact on the economy of the Coho Chil community. This impact is manifested in casting out superstitious and magical practices and in applying economic rationalization. The Protestant doctrine and sermons by clergy have influenced the thinking of the people and their economic performance. Protestantism creates a social network and social capital that not only influences their economic life, but also provides timely material support for Christians in need. This paper serves as an additional resource for research related to the relationship between religion and the economy – an intriguing topic that is not found in much previous research in Vietnam.This study examines the relationship between Protestantism and the Coho Chil economy using qualitative methods to analyze data from fieldwork in the Coho Chil Protestant communities of Lam Dong Province. The research shows that Protestantism has a positive impact on the economy of the Coho Chil community. This impact is manifested in casting out superstitious and magical practices and in applying economic rationalization. The Protestant doctrine and sermons by clergy have influenced the thinking of the people and their economic performance. Protestantism creates a social network and social capital that not only influences their economic life, but also provides timely material support for Christians in need. This paper serves as an additional resource for research related to the relationship between religion and the economy – an intriguing topic that is not found in much previous research in Vietnam

Characterizing the trophic niche of non-native psedorasbora parva and the consequences for native fish communities.

Introductions of non–native fish can be a key driver of environmental change that has major implications for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, including the adverse consequences of increased inter-specific competition for native fishes. Here, the consequences of an introduction of a model non-native fish on the trophic position and trophic niche size of native fishes were investigated, along with assessment of the mechanisms of resource partitioning or sharing between the co-existing species. The model non-native fish was topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, a highly invasive fish in Europe that originates from Southeast Asia. The study was completed over three spatial scales: experimental mesocosms over 100 days, small and established aquaculture ponds where P. parva had co-existed with native species for approximately 8 years, and wild ponds colonized by P. parva. Given difficulties in using stomach contents analysis for small cyprinid fishes, stable isotope analysis (13C and 15N) was used to determine the effects of P. parva on the trophic ecology of co-existing fishes. The experimental mesocosms used P. parva and three native fishes in allopatric and sympatric contexts. At the end of the 100 day period, in all cases it was revealed that there was strong trophic niche divergence between P. parva and the sympatric native fishes, with no evidence of food resource sharing, and with P. parva always feeding at a significantly lower trophic level. For all species, trophic niche sizes were reduced in sympatry when compared with allopatric contexts. This pattern was also observed in the small aquaculture ponds, with strong divergence between P. parva and all co-existing species, with no sharing of food resources between species, and with P. parva again always feeding at lower trophic levels than the native fishes. In four wild fish communities, the situation was more complex, as P. parva was present in multispecies communities that also contained other non-native fishes. In these communities, there was some evidence of trophic niche overlap between P. parva and the other fishes, although the extent of this was always low. Moreover, P. parva tended to have a limited trophic niche breadth compared with the other fishes, with little evidence suggesting P. parva was strongly influencing food web structure and the feeding relationships of the other species. In entirety, these outputs suggest that introductions of P. parva rarely compete directly with native fishes for food resources, with trophic niche divergence more evident. This suggests that following P. parva introduction, their consequent resource partitioning with native fishes avoids the adverse consequences of interspecific competition, promoting their co-existence in the community. Given that current risk assessments for P. parva tend to indicate high risks to native fishes due to impacts including the adverse consequences of inter-specific competition, then these outputs might have important implications for their risk management

A Study of Asparagus Preservation Capacity of Chitosan-Alginate and Chitosan-Carrageenan Biofilms

Fresh postharvest green asparagus rapidly deteriorate due to its senescence process and high transpiration rate. This thesis aims to utilize the available sources of carrageenan and alginate for combining with pure chitosan coating solution, thus create a new multi-component coating that can overcome the limitations of pure chitosan coating, and show more effective in maintaining the quality of postharvest green asparagus. The gel solution ratio 2:1 (v/v) of chitosan 1% (w/v) and alginate 0.2% (w/v), had ability to prolong shelf-life of asparagus for 3 days (from weight loss point of view) and 7 days (from visual quality point of view) compared to control sample. The weight loss was less than about 12% and also ensured lower firmness change, maintained higher chlorophyll content, exhibiting better quality of asparagus compared to control and chitosan coated sample. The chitosan-alginate (2:1 v/v) coated asparagus achieved highest sensory score in day 7 and 14 of storage and lowest total aerobic growth in 14 days of storage at 4 ºC. The coating biofilm of chitosan-alginate could be considered as the new multi-component edible coating which showed high effectiveness in quality preservation and shelf-life extension of asparagus

ADSORPTION OF MERCURIC ION FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS USING MODIFIED FLY ASH

In this study, fly ash was treated with NaOH solution (FAN) before modifying with (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane - MPTMS (FAMPS). By using FTIR, FESEM, XRD, EDX, and BET techniques, the change in structure, composition and morphology of FAN and FAMPS was evaluated. The FTIR spectra of FAN and FAMPS showed that there is no chemical reaction between the MPTMS and FAN. After modification, the FAMPS has a rough surface with composition difference from the FAN. Mercuric ion adsorption behavior as well as adsorptionisotherm models (Langmuir and Freundlich) of the FAN and FAMPS were also investigated and discussed. Thanks to FAN modification, the mercuric ion removal percent of the FAMPS was higher than that of the FAN. Owing to the adsorption data, Freundlich isotherm modelwas fitted for the mercuric ion adsorption process

Treatment of landfill leachate through struvite precipitation and nitrogen removal bacteria and poly-phosphate bacteria (in-pots experiment)

Abstract— Landfill leacheate is a type of wastewater which contains large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, therefore it needed to be treated before releasing to directly to the environment. The combination between struvite precipitation and nitrogen removal and poly-P bacteria into wastewater for landfill leachate treatment has been found to be a cost-effective practive, a viable technology in terms of environmental protection and sustainability, especially in the developing-countries. For optimum struvite crystallization from landfill leachate, the Mg:PO4 molar ratio as (1.2:1) was used, the pH of reaction was adjusted to 9 and the sample was stirred continously during 40 minutes. The supernatant sample was then added 1% nitrogen removal bacteria (Pseudomonas stutzeri D3b strain) and 1% poly-P bacteria (Kurthia sp. TGT1013L strain), 5 g glucose/L and aeration 12/24h during 3 days, ammonium concentration reduced significantly from 1076 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L and orthophosphate concentration decreased noticeably from 24.91 mg/L to 7.6 mg/L