The Factors of Consumer Intension of Using Mobile Payment in Vietnam

Purpose: Within the context of emerging mobile technologies, Mobile payment or M-payment has been introduced as the new trend for payment methods bringing more value and convenience to consumers. However, the development of M-payment services is still quite timid in some Southeast Asia countries including Vietnam. This is also the reason and motivation for the author to do this research.   Theoretical framework: The goal of this study is to spot some factors that affect the use behavior (UB) of M-payment consumers in five major metropolises that were most influential on the economy in Vietnam.   Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative questionnaire was used to measure the responses of participants and Partial Least Squares (PLS) method was employed to analyze the collection data as well as test all hypotheses.   Findings: The results indicated that SI has been the important factor leading to the BI to use M-payment followed by SV and SC issues and BI also had a strong influence on the UB of consumers. Since M-payment is still in the infancy stage and is one of the most exciting mobile applications for the next few years in Vietnam, the identification of important factors concerning M-payments.   Research, Practical & Social Implications: To investigate the factors affecting UB of Vietnamese M-payment consumers, the researcher proposed a research model which analyzes the impact of various variables extracted from system quality (ST), service quality (SV), security (SC), social influence (SI) on behavioral intention (BI) to use and BI on M-payment UB.   Originality/value: This study will assist merchants and software developers to design and improve the systems and services to ensure the full acceptance and continuous use of the systems. Finally, a set of suggestions for the subsequent research works also was listed at the end of this study

Differential Cytotoxicity of Curcumin-Loaded Micelles on Human Tumor and Stromal Cells

peer reviewedAlthough curcumin in the form of nanoparticles has been demonstrated as a potential anti-tumor compound, the impact of curcumin and nanocurcumin in vitro on normal cells and in vivo in animal models is largely unknown. This study evaluated the toxicity of curcumin-loaded micelles in vitro and in vivo on several tumor cell lines, primary stromal cells, and zebrafish embryos. Breast tumor cell line (MCF7) and stromal cells (human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells, human fibroblasts, and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells) were used in this study. A zebrafish embryotoxicity (FET) assay was conducted following the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Test 236. Compared to free curcumin, curcumin PM showed higher cytotoxicity to MCF7 cells in both monolayer culture and multicellular tumor spheroids. The curcumin-loaded micelles efficiently penetrated the MCF7 spheroids and induced apoptosis. The nanocurcumin reduced the viability and disturbed the function of stromal cells by suppressing cell migration and tube formation. The micelles demonstrated toxicity to the development of zebrafish embryos. Curcumin-loaded micelles demonstrated toxicity to both tumor and normal primary stromal cells and zebrafish embryos, indicating that the use of nanocurcumin in cancer treatment should be carefully investigated and controlled.3. Good health and well-bein

Spatiotemporal evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants during large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, Vietnam, 2021

We analyzed 1,303 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from Vietnam, and found the Alpha and Delta variants were responsible for a large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2021. The Delta variant was confined to the AY.57 lineage and caused >1.7 million infections and >32,000 deaths. Viral transmission was strongly affected by nonpharmaceutical interventions

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

A comparative study on the self-help approach in rural development between Vietnam's new rural development and Korea's Saemaul Undong

Vietnam's "Doi Moi", initiated in 1986, translated to high economic growth and rapid urbanization for the country, but also widened the gap between rural and urban areas. Vietnam's National Target Program on New Rural Development for 2010 - 2020 was aimed at developing the rural economy and improving the living standards of rural people, but after five years the urban-rural gap remains substantial. Two of the main reasons are the lack of investment capital and lack of effective ways to mobilize community involvement. In contrast, during the 1970s, rural areas in Korea experienced huge improvements under the "Saemaul Undong" movement. The program's success at promoting sustainable development in Korea's rural areas has inspired rural programs in other developing countries. In this paper, we compare and contrast the two movements to provide explanations for the different results between the two countries. Based on this analysis, and policy implications stemming from it, we recommend resource mobilization strategies to change villagers' attitude and increase their involvement in Vietnam's rural development movement, aligning with the inclusivity principle "people know, people discuss, people do and people check

Status of heavy metal (Pb, Cd) pollution in agricultural soil in Dong Mai lead recycling craft village in Hung Yen, Vietnam

The newly planned lead recycling zone in Dong Mai village has been operating with primary treatment systems using lime to neutralize acid in wastewater is a good sign for the local environment, yet the real problem that needs further attention and proper solutions is the accumulation of heavy metals typically lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in agricultural land near the old Pb recycling area. In this context, 27 soil samples were collected and analyzed by AAS method to assess the situation and the quality of the agricultural soil. The results showed that the levels of Cd in the soil were still in acceptable level according to National Regulation. However, the lead contents in all of the soil samples exceeded National Regulation. The level of Pb pollution in soil was inversely proportional to the distance with old lead melting zone. The lead content in the soil sample collected at the distance of 50 m radius to the old melting zone reached 7070 ppm, which was 100 times higher than the allowable value of National Regulation.Khu tái chế chì mới tại thôn Đông Mai đã được quy hoạch và đi vào hoạt động cùng hệ thống xử lý sơ bộ với vôi bột là một tín hiệu đáng mừng cho môi trường nơi đây, nhưng vấn đề cần quan tâm và giải quyết triệt để là sự tích lũy một lượng lớn kim loại nặng điển hình là chì (Pb) và cađimi (Cd) trong đất nông nghiệp gần những khu tái chế chì cũ. 27 mẫu đất đã được thu thập và phân tích bằng phương pháp AAS để đánh giá tình trạng, chất lượng đất nông nghiệp tại đây. Kết quả cho thấy hàm lượng Cd trong đất vẫn trong mức độ cho phép theo Quy chuẩn quốc gia. Tuy nhiên, 100% các mẫu đất đều có hàm lượng chì vượt quá mức cho phép theo Quy chuẩn quốc gia. Mức độ ô nhiễm Pb trong đất tỷ lệ nghịch với khoảng cách tới khu lò nấu chì cũ. Mẫu đất cách 50 m so với khu vực lò cũ có hàm lượng chì lên tới 7070 ppm, gấp hơn 100 lần so với Quy chuẩn quốc gia

Status of heavy metal (Pb, Cd) pollution in agricultural soil in Dong Mai lead recycling craft village in Hung Yen, Vietnam

The newly planned lead recycling zone in Dong Mai village has been operating with primary treatment systems using lime to neutralize acid in wastewater is a good sign for the local environment, yet the real problem that needs further attention and proper solutions is the accumulation of heavy metals typically lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in agricultural land near the old Pb recycling area. In this context, 27 soil samples were collected and analyzed by AAS method to assess the situation and the quality of the agricultural soil. The results showed that the levels of Cd in the soil were still in acceptable level according to National Regulation. However, the lead contents in all of the soil samples exceeded National Regulation. The level of Pb pollution in soil was inversely proportional to the distance with old lead melting zone. The lead content in the soil sample collected at the distance of 50 m radius to the old melting zone reached 7070 ppm, which was 100 times higher than the allowable value of National Regulation.Khu tái chế chì mới tại thôn Đông Mai đã được quy hoạch và đi vào hoạt động cùng hệ thống xử lý sơ bộ với vôi bột là một tín hiệu đáng mừng cho môi trường nơi đây, nhưng vấn đề cần quan tâm và giải quyết triệt để là sự tích lũy một lượng lớn kim loại nặng điển hình là chì (Pb) và cađimi (Cd) trong đất nông nghiệp gần những khu tái chế chì cũ. 27 mẫu đất đã được thu thập và phân tích bằng phương pháp AAS để đánh giá tình trạng, chất lượng đất nông nghiệp tại đây. Kết quả cho thấy hàm lượng Cd trong đất vẫn trong mức độ cho phép theo Quy chuẩn quốc gia. Tuy nhiên, 100% các mẫu đất đều có hàm lượng chì vượt quá mức cho phép theo Quy chuẩn quốc gia. Mức độ ô nhiễm Pb trong đất tỷ lệ nghịch với khoảng cách tới khu lò nấu chì cũ. Mẫu đất cách 50 m so với khu vực lò cũ có hàm lượng chì lên tới 7070 ppm, gấp hơn 100 lần so với Quy chuẩn quốc gia

High biocompatible FITC-conjugated silica nanoparticles for cell labeling in both in vitro and in vivo models

Abstract Fluorescence nanosilica-based cell tracker has been explored and applied in cell biological research. However, the aggregation of these nanoparticles at physiological pH is still the main limitation. In this research, we introduced a novel fluorescence nano-based cell tracker suitable for application in live cells. The silica-coated fluorescein isothiocyanate isomer (FITC-SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) were modified with carboxymethylsilanetriol disodium salt (FITC-SiO2-COOH), integrating the dianion form of FITC molecules. This nanosystem exhibited superior dispersion in aqueous solutions and effectively mitigated dye leakage. These labeled NPs displayed notable biocompatibility and minimal cytotoxicity in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Significantly, the NPs did not have negative implications on cell migration or angiogenesis. They successfully penetrated primary fibroblasts, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and HeLa cells in both 2D and 3D cultures, with the fluorescence signal enduring for over 72 h. Furthermore, the NP signals were consistently observed in the developing gastrointestinal tract of live medaka fish larvae for extended periods during phases of subdued digestive activity, without manifesting any apparent acute toxicity. These results underscore the promising utility of FITC-SiO2-COOH NPs as advanced live cell trackers in biological research

Deep Eutectic Solvents: Green Approach for Cathode Recycling of Li-Ion Batteries

The overarching demand of modern electronics and electrification of transportation has tremendously increased usage of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As a result, massive amounts of solid waste are generated from the end-of-life LIBs and expected to increase by two- to threefolds in the near future. Without proper recycling strategies and infrastructure, the immediate threat of environmental pollution and wastage of resources is clear. One way to circumvent these challenges is to recycle the spent LIBs and recover the components and materials, especially heavy metals for future repurposing applications. This review highlights the recent discoveries on the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as an economical and environmentally friendly medium for metal recovery from spent LIBs. Herein, how the different hydrogen donors and acceptors affect the overall performance of DES in terms of leaching efficiency, time, temperature, and metal recovery rates are outlined. Very importantly, the mechanism of metal leaching from the metal oxides using DES is discussed. Finally, some potential strategies and opportunities for further development of novel DES for metal-recovery from not only spent LIBs but also other industries such as, mining, oil, and agriculture are outlined

A Dataset of Vietnamese Junior High School Students’ Reading Preferences and Habits

Books are the invaluable, colossal storage of mankind&#8217;s immense scholarship and are still commonly perceived as a more reliable source of knowledge even in this age of digitized information. Extensive reading is often promoted as being vital to cognitive development, especially for students in primary and secondary education. While it could now be considered common knowledge that reading is highly beneficial, reading habits vary among individuals in the same culture and receiving the same public education. This could be due to demographic variations and differences in socioeconomic status, or other factors such as family background and education. Despite the ample literature on reading habits, there still exists a lack of holistic approach with empirical results concerning the reciprocal interactions of reading and its relevant affecting factors. This data article presents a dataset of 1676 responses to the survey &#8220;Studying reading habits and preferences&#8222; of junior high school students in Vietnam. Result analysis facilitates evaluation of reading habits and their affecting factors, thus holding implications on education measures and policy. The dataset is available with the paper