The impact of financial inclusion on income inequality in transition economies

inancial inclusion is considered as a critical factor that contributes to the reduction of income imbalance. This paper uses a two-stage least squares (2SLS) model and two different financial inclusion index to examine the impact of financial inclusion on income inequality in 22 transition economies over 11 years from 2005 to 2015. The paper finds that there was a negative relationship between the financial inclusion index and the GINI coefficient. The paper also suggests some policy recommendations to reduce income inequality through developing financial inclusion

Robust Adaptive Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller for 1-DOF Nonlaminated Active Magnetic Bearings

This paper presents a robust adaptive cerebellar model articulation controller (RACMAC) for 1-DOF nonlaminated active magnetic bearings (AMBs) to achieve desired positions for the rotor using a robust sliding mode control based. The dynamic model of 1-DOF nonlaminated AMB is introduced in fractional order equations. However, it is challenging to design a controller based on the model\u27s parameters due to undefined components and external disturbances such as eddy current losses in the actuator, external disturbance, variant parameters of the model while operating. In order to tackle the problem, RACMAC, which has a cerebellar model to estimate nonlinear disturbances, is investigated to resolve this problem. Based on this estimation, a robust adaptive controller that approximates the ideal and compensation controllers is calculated. The online parameters of the neural network are adjusted using Lyapunov\u27s stability theory to ensure the stability of system. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.The simulation results indicate that the CMAC multiple nonlinear multiple estimators are close to the actual nonlinear disturbance value, and the effectiveness of the proposed RACMAC method compared with the FOPID and SMC controllers has been studied previously

Ownership, technology gap and technical efficiency of small and medium manufacturing firms in Vietnam: A stochastic meta frontier approach

The ownership - efficiency relationship in a firm has always been an important topic. In this paper, we focus on the state owned versus non-state-owned status of Vietnamese manufacturing firms, to shed light into the relationship between these two variables when using a more state-of-the-art method as a stochastic meta-frontier method. Applying the method for two periods: one during the global economic crisis and the other after the end of the crisis, the study determines that in both periods, there was a strong evidence that non-state-owned firms performed much better than state owned counterpart. We also found that the difference became even larger during the harsh time and sub-industries with non-state-owned firms could outperform the state-owned firms, significantly

Using Solvent Vapor Annealing for the Enhancement of the Stability and Efficiency of Monolithic Hole-conductor-free Perovskite Solar Cells

In the last few years, perovskite solar cells have attracted enormous interest in the photovoltaic community due to their low cost of materials, tunable band gap, excellent photovoltaic properties and easy process ability at low temperature. In this work, we fabricated hole-conductor-free carbon-based perovskite solar cells with the monolithic structure: glass/FTO/bl-TiO$_{2}$/(mp-TiO$_{2}$/mp-ZrO$_{2}$/mp-carbon) perovskite. The mixed 2D/3D perovskite precursor solution composed of PbI$_{2}$, methylammonium iodide (MAI), and 5-ammoniumvaleric acid iodide (5-AVAI) was drop-casted through triple mesoporous TiO$_{2}$/ZrO$_{2}$/carbon electrode films. We found that the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solvent vapor annealing strongly influenced on the growth of mixed 2D/3D perovskite on triple mesoscopic layers. It resulted in the better pore filling, better crystalline quality of perovskite layer, thus the improved stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cell was attributed to lower defect concentration and reduced recombination

The structure of student engagement in online learning: A bi‐factor exploratory structural equation modelling approach

Enhancing student engagement plays a critical role in reducing student drop‐out rate in online learning as students usually feel isolated and disconnected in this learning environment. This requires a clear conceptualization of the student engagement construct and its underlying structure. However, the conceptual understanding of the student engagement construct has long been impeded by the inconsistency in its multidimensional structure and the conceptual ambiguity among its components. This study aims to examine the underlying structure of student engagement in online learning based on the bi‐factor exploratory structure equation modelling framework (B‐ESEM). Four competing models representing the underlying structure of student engagement in online learning were compared based on their degree of fit to survey data from 363 students in an online undergraduate program. Students' responses to the online learning engagement questionnaire were best represented by a B‐ESEM model that provided simultaneous assessment of a global engagement factor and specific factors of behavioural, cognitive, affective and social engagement while controlling for item cross‐loadings. However, behavioural engagement only retained limited specificity once the global engagement factor was taken into account. The study findings offer a solution to reconcile the inconsistency in the multidimensional structure of student engagement and reduce the conceptual ambiguity among its components, thus contribute to better measuring student engagement in online learning

Development and Characterization of Soy Lecithin Liposome as Potential Drug Carrier Systems for Codelivery of Letrozole and Paclitaxel

In the present work, a dual-drug-loaded soy lecithin liposomal system was developed by coencapsulation of Letrozole (LET) with Paclitaxel (PTX) to improve the efficacy in breast cancer therapy. Liposomes were synthesized by the thin film layer hydration. To sufficiently evaluate the characteristics of these liposomes, the particle size, zeta potential, morphology, drug encapsulation, in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity were ascertained. Results showed promisingly anticancer potentials, as the following parameters indicated: nanosize diameter (around 193 nm) and negative surface charge. Data collected from the coloaded drug liposomes showed suitable encapsulation efficiency (50.56% for PTX and 31.13% for LET). Controlled and sustained releases were achieved up to 72 h for both the loaded drugs following the diffusion mechanism. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity study on the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) given the dual-drug-loaded liposome showed greater inhibition of cell growth than the single drug. Consequently, LET and PTX coloaded liposomes made from soy lecithin are expected to be an ingenious drug-delivery system for combination chemotherapy

Proposed Techniques to Supplement the Loss in Nutrient Cycling for Replanted Coffee Plantations in Vietnam

Nutrient cycling of the coffee ecosystem is often characterized by nutrient losses during the harvest, tree’s growth, leaching and erosion. The “Coffee Rejuvenation Strategies in Vietnam” has risked not being complete on schedule, with the low survival rate of seedlings on replanted soil, due to the nutrient loss and imbalance supplements after a long-term of monoculture and intensive cultivation. In this study, measures, including biochemical and organic treatments were applied to replanted coffee farm, in order to supplement the loss of nutrient cycling. Survival rate, growth indicators, and soil properties from the controls and treatments, were monitored and compared during the experimental periods. The results suggested the optimal tillage model as follow: Remove old coffee trees with their stumps and roots; liming 1.5 tons/ha; dry tillage soil for the first 6 months; Intercrop Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta) with new coffee plants for the next 6 months; From the second year, apply 5 kg of microbial organic fertilizer /hole/year; bury 30 kg of green manure/hole/2–3 years; apply NPK fertilizers according to the governmental recommended procedure. This would be a proposed integrating tillage method to supplement the lost nutrients and restore the fertility of replanted coffee soil in Vietnam

Robust Adaptive Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller for 1-DOF Nonlaminated Active Magnetic Bearings

This paper presents a robust adaptive cerebellar model articulation controller (RACMAC) for 1-DOF nonlaminated active magnetic bearings (AMBs) to achieve desired positions for the rotor using a robust sliding mode control based. The dynamic model of 1-DOF nonlaminated AMB is introduced in fractional order equations. However, it is challenging to design a controller based on the model's parameters due to undefined components and external disturbances such as eddy current losses in the actuator, external disturbance, variant parameters of the model while operating. In order to tackle the problem, RACMAC, which has a cerebellar model to estimate nonlinear disturbances, is investigated to resolve this problem. Based on this estimation, a robust adaptive controller that approximates the ideal and compensation controllers is calculated. The online parameters of the neural network are adjusted using Lyapunov's stability theory to ensure the stability of system. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.The simulation results indicate that the CMAC multiple nonlinear multiple estimators are close to the actual nonlinear disturbance value, and the effectiveness of the proposed RACMAC method compared with the FOPID and SMC controllers has been studied previously

Influence of Structural Variations in Push-Pull Zinc Porphyrins on Photovoltaic Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We designed and synthesized two new zinc porphyrin dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Subtle molecular structural variation in the dyes significantly influenced the performance of the DSC devices. By utilizing these dyes in combination with a cobalt-based redox electrolyte using a photoanode made of mesoporous TiO2, we achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 12.0% under AM1.5G (100mWcm(-2)) simulated solar light. Moreover, we obtained a high PCE of 6.4% for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells by using 2,2,7,7-tetrakis-(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9,9-spirobifluorene as a hole-transporting material

Development, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of Paclitaxel and Anastrozole Co-Loaded Liposome

Paclitaxel (PTX) and anastrozole (ANA) have been frequently applied in breast cancer treatment. PTX is well-known for its anti-proliferative effect meanwhile ANA has just been discovered to act as an estrogen receptor α (ERα) ligand. The combination therapy of PTX and ANA is expected to improve treating efficiency, as ANA would act as a ligand binding with the ERα gene expressed in breast cancer cells and thereafter PTX would inhibit the division and cause death to those cancer cells. In this study, liposome-based nanocarriers (LP) were developed for co-encapsulation of PTX and ANA to improve the efficacy of the combined drugs in an Estrogen receptor-responsive breast cancer study. PTX-ANA co-loaded LP was prepared using thin lipid film hydration method and was characterized for morphology, size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation and in vitro drug release. In addition, cell proliferation (WST assay) and IN Cell Analyzer were used for in vitro cytotoxicity studies on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Results showed that the prepared LP and PTX-ANA-LP had spherical vesicles, with a mean particle size of 170.1 ± 13.5 nm and 189.0 ± 22.1 nm, respectively. Controlled and sustained releases were achieved at 72 h for both of the loaded drugs. The in vitro cytotoxicity study found that the combined drugs showed higher toxicity than each single drug separately. These results suggested a new approach to breast cancer treatment, consisting of the combination therapy of PTX and ANA in liposomes based on ER response