The causal relationships between components of customer-based brand equity for a destination: Evidence from South Korean tourists in Danang city, Vietnam

The main purpose of this study is to examine the causal relationships between components of customer-based brand equity for a tourist destination. We have collected data from 252 South Korean tourists in Danang City and tested some hypotheses by applying structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show that: (1) destination brand awareness has a significant and positive effect on destination brand image, but not on destination perceived quality and destination brand loyalty; (2) destination brand image has positive and direct influences on destination perceived quality and destination brand loyalty; and (3) destination perceived quality has significant positive impacts on destination brand loyalty. Lastly, these findings have managerial implications for decision makers

ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA MỘT SỐ YẾU TỐ ĐẾN QUÁ TRÌNH CHẾ TẠO NANO BẠC SỬ DỤNG DỊCH CHIẾT LÁ VỐI LÀM TÁC NHÂN KHỬ

In this study, we use the aqueous extract of Robusta plant leaves as a reducing agent and alginate as a surfactant to synthesize silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate (AgNO3). The influence of extraction time and the solid-liquid ratio, the concentration of AgNO3, the volume ratio between silver nitrate solution and the extract of Robusta leaves, and the reaction time on the synthesis were investigated. The optimal conditions are as follows: 15 g of leaves/200 mL, silver nitrate concentration 4 mM, Vextract/VAgNO3 4:100, 1% sodium alginate solution, and reaction time 45 minutes. The obtained solution of silver nanoparticles has a yellow-brown color. The TEM, XRD, and FT-IR measurements of the samples show that the silver nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized. The particles are spherical with an even size and 19.0-26.6 nm in diameter.Trong nghiên cứu này, chúng tôi trình bày phương pháp điều chế dung dịch nano bạc (Ag) từ bạc nitrate (AgNO3) sử dụng dịch chiết lá vối làm tác nhân khử và alginate là chất hoạt động bề mặt. Chúng tôi khảo sát ảnh hưởng của nồng độ AgNO3, tỷ lệ thể tích giữa AgNO3 và dịch chiết lá vối và thời gian phản ứng đến quá trình tạo nano Ag. Điều kiện tối ưu để tổng hợp nano Ag sử dụng dịch chiết lá vối gồm nồng độ AgNO3 4 mM, tỷ lệ thể tích Vdịch chiết /VAgNO3 = 4:100, nồng độ alginate 1%, thời gian phản ứng 45 phút tại nhiệt độ phòng. Dung dịch nano Ag thu được có màu vàng nâu đồng nhất. Kết quả đo TEM, SEM, XRD và FT-IR của các mẫu cho thấy nano Ag đã được tổng hợp thành công; hạt nano có dạng hình cầu, cấu trúc đồng đều với kích thước hạt khoảng 19,0–26,6 nm

Effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy offers a promising approach to addressing this challenge by providing a convenient single-tablet solution that enhances the effectiveness of blood pressure control. In our systematic review, we assess the effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC in managing blood pressure.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across four primary electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), and Google Scholar, as of 8 February 2022. Additionally, we performed a manual search to find relevant articles. The quality of the selected articles was evaluated using the Study Quality Assessment Tools (SQAT) checklist from the National Institute of Health and the ROB2 tool from Cochrane.Results: Our systematic review included 17 eligible articles. The findings show that the use of perindopril/amlodipine FDC significantly lowers blood pressure and enhances the quality of blood pressure control. Compared to the comparison group, the perindopril/amlodipine combination tablet resulted in a higher rate of blood pressure response and normalization. Importantly, perindopril/amlodipine FDC contributes to improved patient adherence with minimal side effects. However, studies conducted to date have not provided assessments of the cost-effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC.Conclusion: In summary, our analysis confirms the effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC in lowering blood pressure, with combination therapy outperforming monotherapy and placebo. Although mild adverse reactions were observed in a small subset of participants, cost-effectiveness assessments for this treatment remain lacking in the literature

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

ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA TỶ LỆ BỔ SUNG CHỦNG NẤM MEN NML04 VÀ NML02 PHÂN LẬP ĐƯỢC TỪ BÁNH MEN LÁ “BA NANG” ĐẾN KHẢ NĂNG LÊN MEN VÀ CHẤT LƯỢNG RƯỢU THÀNH PHẨM

This study investigates the fermentation ability and the rice wine quality produced with yeast strains NML02 and NML04 isolated and selected from the traditional yeast starter "Ba Nang" of the Van Kieu people in Da Ban, Ba Nang Commune, Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province. The results show that the addition of 0.2 g of NML04 and 0.2 g of NML02 to 1 kg of rice at the liquid fermentation stage (25 °C and after nine days of fermentation) provides the wine with higher organoleptic quality, such as colour, clarity, smell and taste, than the control. The wine is methanol-free. The aldehyde and furfurol content in the wine is 86.2 and 0.86 mg/L ethanol 100%, lower than that of the control. The quality of the wine obtained is heavily dependent on the yeast addition rate.Nghiên cứu này khảo sát khả năng lên men và chất lượng rượu thành phẩm khi bổ sung hai chủng nấm men NML02 và NML04 được phân lập, tuyển chọn từ bánh men lá truyền thống “Ba Nang” của người đồng bào Vân Kiều ở bản Đá Bàn, xã Ba Nang, huyện Dakrong, tỉnh Quảng Trị. Kết quả cho thấy khi bổ sung 0,2 g chủng nấm men NML04 và 0,2 g chủng nấm men NML02  vào 1 kg gạo ở giai đoạn lên men lỏng (tại 25 °C và sau 9 ngày lên men) cho kết quả rượu thành phẩm với chất lượng cảm quan cao hơn so với mẫu đối chứng ở tất cả các chỉ tiêu về màu sắc, độ trong và mùi, vị. Tất cả các mẫu đều không chứa methanol. Hàm lượng aldehyde và furfurol trong mẫu rượu thành phẩm từ thí nghiệm thu được là 86,25 và 0,86 mg/L Etanol 100%, thấp hơn so với mẫu đối chứng. Chất lượng rượu thu được phụ thuộc nhiều vào tỉ lệ bổ sung nấm men

Perceptions of Dentists and Non-Professionals on Some Dental Factors Affecting Smile Aesthetics: A Study from Vietnam

Aim: It is important to meet the aesthetic expectation regarding the smile concept of both dentists and non-professionals after treatment is complete. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the effects of altered displays in incisors, gingival margin, and other smile-related-factors on dentists&rsquo; vs. non-professionals&rsquo; aesthetics perceptions. Materials and method: We altered the features of 42 digital smile photographs to generate the changed displays in incisors, gingival margin, and other smile-related-factors. Then, these altered photographs were presented to 51 dentists and 51 non-professionals, and each picture was rated by each participant with a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (very ugly) to 100 (very beautiful). Results: We found that the alterations in incisors, gingival margin, and other factors affected studied groups&rsquo; aesthetic perception of smile. The ugly smile threshold rated by both groups for crown length of maxillary central incisors was 2.0 mm. This threshold was 2.5 mm for dentists, with moving the gingival margin of maxillary lateral incisors to the incisal ridge. The ugly thresholds for other smile-related-factors were different between studied groups; for example, the ugly thresholds for gingival exposure levels were 3 and 4mm for dentists and non-professionals, respectively. Thus, our data indicate that altered displays in incisors, gingival margin, and other smile-related-factors affected perceptions of both studied groups on smile aesthetics, but dentists tended to feel more refined than non-professionals. Dentists and non-professionals had significantly different aesthetic perceptions of the alteration of the gingival exposure level. Conclusion: Both dentists and non-professionals&rsquo; perceptions should be fully considered during orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment to achieve optimum aesthetic results