The Demand of Urban Consumers for Safe Pork in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

This study applied the contingent valuation method to analyze the consumers’ demand for the proposed safe pork. The data was collected by face-to-face interviewing 884 urban households in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The results revealed that the majority of consumers (about 64%) paid attention to the proposed safe pork. Their willingness to pay was about VND 176,000 ($ 7.65) per kg, nearly double compared to the market price of conventional pork. The results showed that the respondents who had higher household income, larger proportion of elderly and children in the family, paid higher price of a conventional pork, and get more knowledge score on the safe pork are more likely, while the respondents who have more number of family members are less likely to pay for the proposed safe pork

Evaluation of Asaoka and Hyperbolic Methods for Settlement Prediction of Vacuum Preloading Combined with Prefabricated Vertical Drains in Soft Ground Treatment

This study evaluated the use of the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods to estimate the ultimate settlement of soft ground treated by vacuum preloading combined with prefabricated vertical drains. For this aim, a large-scale physical laboratory model was constructed. The model was a reinforced-tempered glass box containing a soil mass with dimensions of 2.0 × 1.0 × 1.2 m (length × width × depth). Physical models of this scale for the same purpose are rare in the literature. The soil was taken from a typical coastal region in Dinh Vu Hai Phong, Vietnam. The surface settlement near and between the two drains was measured right after the vacuum preloading started. Important properties of the soil were tested to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment method. The measured settlement was used in the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods to predict the potential ultimate settlement. The results showed the superiority of the vacuum consolidation approach in improving fundamental engineering properties of soft soil. Furthermore, the ultimate settlement predicted by both methods showed a good agreement with the measured value, proving that the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods are suitable for the estimation of the ultimate settlement of soft soil treated with vacuum consolidation

RESEARCH ON THE MANUFACTURING MAGNESIUM FROM THANHHOA DOLOMITE BY PIDGEON PROCESS

The magnesium and magnesium alloys has applied widely in different industrial aspects in Vietnam in the modern life. Especially, the products from magnesium alloys implementing in the automotive have increased rapidly since the car elements tend to be generated by the light alloys in order to save the fuel. However, in the current time, Vietnam has no factories to produce the magnesium to adapt the domestic demand although it owns an enrich resource of raw materials. This research indicates the possibility of using the dolomite ore in Thanhhoa – Vietnam to make the magnesium as well as evaluate the primary factors like recovering temperature, reducing agent rate, recovering time having effect on the reduction efficiency of Thanhhoa dolomite by metallothermic method in vacuum (Pidgeon Process). This is basic process, low investment and suitable for the small and medium scales in Vietnam. The experiment includes heating, indicating the chemical ingredients and recovering experiment on the dolomite after calcination (dolime) by using ferrosilicon. The thermodynamic model is created to estimate the recovering efficiency in the Pidgeon. The result shows that the CaO/MgO molar ratio of calcination dolomite in Thanhhoa is nearly 1.5 which is suitable to produce magnesium in the case of highly-required efficiency and pureness. Besides, the result from the furnace of the experiment is lower than the one in the model. The samples are set up to check the influence of the rate of ferrosilicon in the compound. The result indicates that the ideal efficiency reaches 85 % with 30 % ferrosilicon. Moreover, the study confirms that the optimal operating conditions in this process are recovering during three hours at 1200 °C and 100 Pa pressure. This result proves the potential application of Thanhhoa dolomite in the industry suitable with the current condition in Vietna

Choice modeling approach to evaluate the economic value of renewable energy development

Purpose. This research aims to quantify the willingness to pay (WTP) of urban residents in the Mekong Delta for the environmental and social benefits associated with renewable energy projects. By analysing their preferences and priorities regarding renewable energy implementation, this study aims to contribute to the increasing knowledge on the drivers of sustainable energy transitions in developing regions. Methodology / approach. This paper leverages a choice modeling (CM) framework to analyse the economic viability of renewable energy investments in Vietnam. The CM technique is advantageous for its ability to capture individual preferences for complex goods or services characterised by multiple attributes and trade-offs. This enables a detailed assessment of the diverse economic values associated with renewable energy sources, beyond their traditional energy generation capacity, including environmental externalities, social impacts, and potential synergies with other sectors. Results. Residents showed significant WTP for renewable energy initiatives improving landscape aesthetics, wildlife habitats, air quality, and job opportunities. Higher income, education, and knowledge level are positively associated with greater WTP. Younger respondents showed a strong position in favor of renewable energy sources. Households with more children were less likely to support the status quo, and married respondents were more pro-renewable. Perceived community involvement emerged as a significant factor in supporting renewable energy policies. Originality / scientific novelty. This study represents a novel application of CM within the Vietnamese context, providing valuable quantitative data for policymakers and stakeholders. By estimating WTP for specific renewable energy attributes, we inform cost-benefit assessments and support the development of efficient policies for managing renewable energy investments. This data facilitates resource allocation and prioritisation of projects with the highest societal value. Practical value / implications. Our findings underscore the crucial role of public awareness and education in driving renewable energy implementation. Residents with a clear understanding of the benefits demonstrate a higher WTP. Hence, we recommend a multifaceted communication strategy to educate the public about the environmental, social, and economic benefits of renewable energy. This involves utilising diverse channels like community meetings, media outreach, online platforms, and expert engagement to disseminate accurate and engaging information. By fostering knowledge and understanding, we can cultivate a strong public mandate for renewable energy investment, facilitating informed decision-making and accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future in the Mekong Delta

Prevalence of Marek’s disease virus in unvaccinated healthy backyard chickens in Cantho city, Vietnam and genetic characterization of meq gene

An investigation was carried out to survey the prevalence of Marek’s disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1) on unvaccinated healthy backyard chicken flocks from four districts in Cantho city and to analyze the genetic characterization of the meq gene. A total of 353 feather follicle samples were collected from 50 unvaccinated chicken flocks for Marek’s disease to investigate prevalent MDV-1 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The four represent strains were chosen for meq gene sequencing. The results revealed that 26 out of 353 samples were positive for MDV-1 accounting for 7.37%. There were significant differences in the prevalence of MDV-1 on chickens among districts (P<0.05). The Meq protein of the four strains (VT, CD, PD, and TL) contained 20.14% proline and three regions of proline repeats. Besides, all four strains occurred with amino acid point mutations. These strains had only a substitution of proline at position 217 as well as interruption of consecutive proline at site 2. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these strains were within a group relating to virulent Italian isolates

Factors affecting intention to purchase organic agriculture products among Vietnamese

Globally, customer intention to purchase has become the essential part of the product and organization's success in the market. More recently, the idea has captured the attention of academic and policymakers alike. Therefore, the current article analyses product quality features such as agreeableness, emotional stability conscientiousness, openness to experience and extroversion on the intention to purchase organic agricultural products in the context of Vietnam. The study also analyses the mediating role of customer satisfaction between the association of product quality features and intention to purchase organic products in Vietnam. The present study uses questionnaires to collect data pertaining to the health sector of Vietnam. The current study employs the smart-PLS to analyze the constructs and items' reliability as well as the association among constructs. The results show that product quality features except extroversion have a positive and significant association with intention to purchase organic products in Vietnam. The results also reveal that customer satisfaction significantly and positively mediates among the associations of product quality features and intention to purchase organic products in Vietnam. This study is suitable for policymakers while formulating policies that may directly or indirectly affect customers' intention to purchase organic agricultural products.Luong Thu Thuy (Faculty of Economics, Academy of Finance, Vietnam), Tran Thi Phuong Diu (Faculty of Economics, Academy of Finance, Vietnam), Nguyen Dinh Hoan (Faculty of Economics, Academy of Finance, Vietnam), Vu Viet Ninh (Faculty of Economics, Academy of Finance, Vietnam), Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga (Faculty of Economics, Academy of Finance, Vietnam)Includes bibliographical reference

Ammonia oxidation capacity of bacillus bacteria in swine wastewater after biogas treatment

Nitrogen removal with biological methods plays a crucial role in wastewater treatment technology. The treatment begins with the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite to facilitate the subsequent nitrification and denitrification. Various strains of ammonia-oxidising bacteria have been reported. In this study, we use three Bacillus bacteria isolated from swine wastewater to oxidise ammonia. Different initial densities (103, 104, 105, and 106 CFU·mL–1) of each strain were examined. The results show that the combination of all the bacteria at a ratio of 1:1:1 and a density of 105 CFU·mL–1 exhibits the most effect. The findings contribute to the diversity of ammonia-oxidising bacterial species and pose a great potential for applying these strains in wastewater treatment

STEM education and outcomes in Vietnam: Views from the social gap and gender issues

United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4 Quality Education has highlighted major challenges for all nations to ensure inclusive and equitable quality access to education, facilities for children, and young adults. The SDG4 is even more important for developing nations as receiving proper education or vocational training, especially in science and technology, means a foundational step in improving other aspects of their citizens’ lives. However, the extant scientific literature about STEM education still lacks focus on developing countries, even more so in the rural area. Using a dataset of 4967 observations of junior high school students from a rural area in a transition economy, the article employs the Bayesian approach to identify the interaction between gender, socioeconomic status, and students’ STEM academic achievements. The results report gender has little association with STEM academic achievements; however, female students (αa_Sex[2] = 2.83) appear to have achieved better results than their male counterparts (αa_Sex[1] = 2.68). Families with better economic status, parents with a high level of education (βb(EduMot) = 0.07), or non-manual jobs (αa_SexPJ[4] = 3.25) are found to be correlated with better study results. On the contrary, students with zero (βb(OnlyChi) = -0.14) or more than two siblings (βb(NumberofChi) = -0.01) are correlated with lower study results compared to those with only one sibling. These results imply the importance of providing women with opportunities for better education. Policymakers should also consider maintaining family size so the parents can provide their resources to each child equally

Kakvoća tjestenine bogate vlaknima, obogaćene prahom kore lubenice različitih veličina čestica

Research background. Watermelon rind, a by-product of watermelon juice processing, contains large amounts of dietary fibre and phenols with antioxidant capacity. The use of agro-industrial by-products would both improve economic benefits and reduce environmental emissions. The aim of this research is to examine the effect of the particle size of watermelon rind powder on the quality of high-fibre pasta. Experimental approach. The nutritional, physical and physicochemical quality of three samples of watermelon rind powder, sieved through three sieves with aperture size of 400, 210 and 149 μm, were analysed. Durum wheat semolina with watermelon rind powder mass fraction of 10 % were mixed and used to make pasta. Nutritional, textural and cooking quality, sensory acceptability, in vitro glycaemic index and antioxidant bioaccessibility of high-fibre pasta with added watermelon rind powder of different particle sizes were evaluated and compared. Results and conclusions. When the sieve aperture size was reduced from 400 to 149 µm, the soluble dietary fibre and total phenolic contents of watermelon rind powder were increased by 35 and 15 %, respectively, while its insoluble dietary fibre content was decreased by 21 %. Decrease in sieve aperture size from 410 to 149 µm reduced phenolic bioaccessibility of the fortified pasta from 63 to 57 %, but enhanced its predicted glycaemic index from 50 to 69. It also decreased the pasta hardness by 13 %, but improved its elongation rate and tensile strength by 13 and 40 %, respectively. The finer the particles of the watermelon rind powder, the longer the optimal cooking time, the higher the water absorption index, and the lower the cooking loss of the supplemented pasta. Consumers did not notice any significant differences in the overall acceptability among all pasta samples. Novelty and scientific contribution. The particle size of the watermelon rind powder had a major effect on nutritional value, texture and cooking quality of the fortified pasta. In particular, the predicted glycaemic index and antioxidant bioaccessibility of high-fibre pasta were significantly affected by the particle size of the dietary fibre material used in the recipe.Pozadina istraživanja. Kora lubenice, nusproizvod prerade soka lubenice, sadržava velike količine prehrambenih vlakana i fenola s antioksidacijskim svojstvima. Korištenjem agroindustrijskih nusproizvoda poboljšala bi se ekonomska učinkovitost procesa i smanjila emisija u okoliš. Svrha je ovog istraživanja bila ispitati utjecaj veličine čestica praha kore lubenice na kakvoću tjestenine bogate vlaknima. Eksperimentalni pristup. Ispitane su nutritivna, fizikalna i fizikalno-kemijska kakvoća triju uzoraka praha kore lubenice, prosijanih kroz tri sita veličine otvora 400, 210 i 149 μm. Krupica od durum pšenice pomiješana s 10 % praha kore lubenice upotrijebljena je za izradu tjestenine. Procijenjeni su i uspoređeni sljedeći parametri: nutritivna i teksturalna kakvoća te ona nakon kuhanja, senzorska prihvatljivost, in vitro glikemijski indeks i antioksidacijska biološka raspoloživost tjestenine bogate vlaknima s dodatkom praha kore lubenice različitih veličina čestica. Rezultati i zaključci. Smanjenjem veličine otvora sita s 400 na 149 µm povećali su se udjel topljivih prehrambenih vlakana za 35 % i ukupni udjel fenola u prahu kore lubenice za 15 %, dok se udjel netopljivih prehrambenih vlakana smanjio za 21 %. Smanjenjem veličine otvora sita s 400 na 149 µm smanjila se biološka raspoloživost fenola iz obogaćene tjestenine sa 63 na 57 %, ali se njezin predviđeni glikemijski indeks povećao s 50 na 69. Također se smanjila tvrdoća tjestenine za 13 %, no poboljšala se njezina rastezljivost za 13 % i vlačna čvrstoća za 40 %. Što su čestice praha kore lubenice bile sitnije, to je dulje bilo optimalno vrijeme kuhanja, veći je bio indeks upijanja vode i manji gubitak proizvoda nastao kuhanjem. Potrošači nisu primijetili nikakve bitne razlike u ukupnoj prihvatljivosti uzoraka obogaćene tjestenine. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Veličina čestica praha kore lubenice uvelike je utjecala na nutritivnu vrijednost, teksturu i kakvoću obogaćene tjestenine nakon kuhanja. Konkretno, veličina čestica prehrambenih vlakana u materijalu korištenom u recepturi bitno je utjecala na predviđeni glikemijski indeks i antioksidacijsku biološku raspoloživost tjestenine bogate vlaknima