Harmonizing multi-sectorial water management with minimum flow requirements in an anthropogenically impacted river basin. The case of Vu Gia – Thu Bon, Central Viet Nam

The low flow phenomenon is significantly concerned since it severely impacts socio economic activities. During low flow periods, diminished freshwater resources are often unable to provide adequate water for crop production, hydropower generation and urban water supply, as well as to maintain water quality of freshwater bodies due to high concentration of pollutants and saltwater intrusion. Accordingly, determining the required minimum flows in rivers during low flow periods is important to reduce the impact of saltwater intrusion and maintain a sustainable water supply for different water users such as agriculture, domestic use and industries. Located in the central coastal zone of Viet Nam, the Vu Gia – Thu Bon river basin experiences drought during the dry season along with salt intrusion due to low flow. The region was chosen as an in-depth case study since it provides crucial information regarding the low flow phenomenon and drought situation during the period 1976 - 2014. This research aims to develop a generally applicable methodology to assess minimum flow requirements in the rivers. The goal of this thesis is (1) to analyze the low flow phenomenon and minimum flow requirements; (2) to quantify the potential water demand from the different user categories; (3) to assess the performance of the existing irrigation system in regards to water supply availability and water demand; (4) to determine the required minimum flow to prevent salt intrusion and satisfy the water demand from different activities during low flow periods; and (5) to derive a generally applicable methodology to assess minimum flow requirements in multi-sectorial water management scenarios. Firstly, statistical analysis was conducted to examine trends in precipitation and flow during the study period. Thereafter, a flow duration curve and SPEI index were calculated to understand the flow pattern and drought events in the region. The potential water demand was quantified for the agricultural sector, as well as domestic and industrial uses to map the water utilization pattern. The Penman – Monteith equation was applied to calculate the potential evapotranspiration using the data from the dry year 2005. Furthermore, the performance of the irrigation system was accessed by analyzing the two indicators of Relative Water Supply and Relative Irrigation Supply. Finally, a calculation of the minimum flow requirement was carried out by applying the hydrodynamic model MIKE 11. The model was run for different upstream discharge datasets to test the response of the salt concentration, and then define where the salt concentration remains under threshold values at chosen measurement points. Six different scenarios were developed to predict the minimum flow requirements toward the changes in potential water use, sea level rise and water use efficiency. In general, the analysis of precipitation and flow revealed strong increasing trends, however these were mostly seen in rainy season. On the other hand, the SPEI index showed a decrease of drought events in the years post 2000. The yearly potential demand of the Vu Gia -Thu Bon Delta was calculated as 309 million m3, of which 203 million m3 is for agriculture, 89 million m3 is for domestic use, and only 17 million m3 is for industry. Furthermore, the analysis of Relative Water Supply and Relative Irrigation Supply revealed the constraints of the irrigation system to supply sufficient water for the crops, especially from February to June. Finally, the results of the six scenarios were mapped presenting the spatial and temporal extents of the minimum flow requirements in the Vu Gia – Thu Bon river basin. The described methodology includes transferable state-of-the-art techniques, making it an applicable approach to determine the minimum flow requirement in an anthropogenically influenced river basin. This methodology has been successfully tested in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin and can be extrapolated to similar river basins

The impact of non-technological innovation on technical innovation: do services differ from manufacturing? An empirical analysis of Luxembourg firms

Generally speaking, the support of technological innovation has been viewed in terms of input such as R&D and instruments such as legal protection. The literature on innovation highlights the interactive nature of the innovation process in which non-technological activities are essential. However, few works have taken into account the role of other innovative strategies such as marketing and organisational innovation, a role which may differ according to whether the firm is involved in manufacturing or in services. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to fill this gap by highlighting the effects of non-technological innovation strategies on technological innovation. For the empirical work, we used firm-level data drawn from the Community Innovation Survey 2006 for Luxembourg. Our results show that the effects of non-technological innovations differ depending on the phase of the innovation process. Marketing and organisational innovations significantly increase the likelihood of innovation, but not the commercial success of innovation. The study also shows the differentiated effects of the two types of non-technological innovation in manufacturing and service, and confirms the key role of organisational innovation for services.CIS; Innovation; Marketing; Organisation; Technological Innovation

Why do Academic Scientists Engage in Interdisciplinary Research ?

This article provides a first empirical study of the determinants of the propensity to which academic scholars tend to perform interdisciplinarity research. For that purpose we introduce a measure of interdisciplinarity as the diversity of their research production across scientific domains. Our dataset concerns more than nine hundred permanent researchers employed by a large French university which is ranked first among French universities in terms of Impact. As expected we find that the traditional academic career incentives do not stimulate interdisciplinary research while having connections with industry does. The context of work in the laboratory (size, colleagues’ status, age and affiliations) strongly affects the propensity to undertake interdisciplinary research.Economics of science, Academic incentives, Interdisciplinary research, Laboratory, University.

Do firms rely on sources of information for organizational innovation?

The growing literature on knowledge and information has focused on the impact of information sources on technological innovation. Our objective was to explore the use made by firms of internal and external (market, research and generally available) sources of information for their organizational innovation practices? implementation. Furthermore, we studies whether these sources may vary according to whether the firm operates in the manufacturing or service industry. Multivariate probit models? results on 2008 Community Innovation Survey (CIS) data show notable differences between services and manufacturing, for instance that employees? skill levels are more important for manufacturing than for services. Overall, this paper provides strong evidence of the heterogeneity in firms? sources of information to engage in organizational innovation. On one hand, differences appear in the sources of innovation used for the various types of organizational innovation, indicating the appropriateness to differentiate organizational innovation practices rather than using an aggregated measure of organizational innovation. On the other hand, the sources of information vary according to the type of industry, even though some similarities appear. Managerial and theoretical implications for organizational innovation are provided.CIS; manufacturing/services; organizational innovation; sources of information

SOME COMMON ERRORS IN ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASS OF ENGLISH MAJORED FRESHMEN AT TAY DO UNIVERSITY, VIETNAM

In the 21st century, speaking is considered to be one of the most important skills for language learners. However, it is so difficult for students to master this skill. It is so difficult for students to master this skill because they encounter in some common mistakes when speaking in class. Therefore, the purpose of this research aimed at finding out common errors in English speaking class of English majored freshmen at Tay Do University. Specifically, this study is done to figure out whether English majored freshmen at Tay Do University encounter regularly with some mistakes while speaking English in class. In this study, a questionnaire embraced 28 questions, including questions and statements which were used as the main instruments to collect the data. The participants in this study were 91 English majored freshmen in the 3 classes of English 14A, 14B, 14C at Tay Do University. The results of the study pointed out that the English-majored freshmen had some common errors and difficulties with vocabulary, pronunciation, psychology in English speaking class. It is hoped that this research can be helpful for both the English-majored freshmen and other non-majored English students at Tay Do University to realize their common errors in the process of improving and developing their speaking skill. Article visualizations

Synergistic effects of organizational innovation practices and firm performance

Organizational innovation has been shown to be favourable for technological innovation. However, the question of which organizational practices should be combined ? and thus of their compatibility ? remains unanswered. We here empirically investigate the complementarities between different organizational practices (business practices, knowledge management, workplace organization and external relations). Firm-level data were drawn from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) carried out in 2008 in Luxembourg. Supermodularity tests provide evidence of the impact of complementary asset management to raise firms? innovative performance. The organizational practices? combinations differ according to whether the firm is in the first step of the innovation process (i.e. being innovative) or in a later step (i.e. performing as far as innovation is concerned). When adopting organizational practices, managers should therefore be aware of their effects on technological innovation. These results also have implications for public policies in terms of innovation support.Complementarities; Organizational innovation; Technological innovations; Supermodularity; Innovative performance

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF CAMELLIA NINHII SEED OIL COLLECTED IN LAM DONG PROVINCE

The seed oil of Camellia ninhii was studied for the first time on its fatty acid composition by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and antioxidant activity by the DPPH method. The results show that unsaturated fatty acids account for the largest amount, especially oleic acid with 45.43% of the total sample analyzed. In addition, other fatty acids, palmitic, linoleic, pentadecanoic, and two aromatic acids, benzoic and cinnamic, were present. The sample of C. ninhii seed oil exhibited mild antioxidant activity against DPPH free radicals with IC50 = 0.94 mg/mL

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEARNING STRATEGY USE IN ENGLISH AND MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS AT A COLLEAGUE IN CAN THO CITY, VIETNAM

Among the many factors that increase students’ achievement in the mastery of foreign languages, including English, are motivation and use of language learning strategies. Previous studies by a range of researchers have identified these two elements as the most important in obtaining success in language learning. This study carried out on 152 university students, roughly equal in gender, studying at a university in Can Tho, Vietnam, sought to discover the relationships between these two factors within the Vietnamese language learning context. In particular, the study sought to 1) discover which of two types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic, is most prevalent among the students studied; 2) their use of language learning strategies; 3) reveals the relationship between students' motivation and use of language learning strategies; and 4) describe the differences in their use of language learning strategies based on whether their motivation was high, medium or low. Research instruments included Schmidt et al.'s Questionnaire on Motivation in Learning English, and Oxford's Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (both modified for the Vietnamese language learning context and translated into Vietnamese), plus an interview with 18 of the students to gain greater insight into the answers they gave on the questionnaires. Results were obtained using standard deviations and t-tests. They showed that Vietnamese university students are mainly extrinsically motivated; that all strategies were used at least at a medium level, amidst other fluctuations; and that those metacognitive strategies are most prevalent among medium and high motivated students but affective strategies are most common among low motivation students. Recommendations flowing from these results are that teachers should prioritize the formal teaching of learning strategies and should attempt to increase intrinsic motivation by putting greater emphasis on making language learning fun and relevant to the students' interests and passions. Article visualizations

SOME COMMON DIFFICULTIES IN LISTENING OF ENGLISH MAJORED FRESHMEN AT TAY DO UNIVERSITY, VIETNAM

The aim of the research “Some common difficulties in listening of English majored freshmen at Tay Do University" is to figure out some major factors causing difficulties for students in listening to English. The research is carried out within 12 weeks. Participants of this study are 100 English majored freshmen course 13, chosen randomly (including students in class 13A, 13B, and 13C) at Tay Do University. During the research time, participants are given questionnaires and paper interviews to show their ideas. The questionnaire and paper interview are two main instruments of this study, which are used to gather information about students' problems facing in listening. As a result, the research through the expected outcome will show some difficulties in listening of English majored freshmen at Tay Do University that related to linguistics like vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, accents and intonation, and background knowledge and unfamiliar topics, psychological obstacle, and the length and speed rate of speech. Article visualizations

The impact of non-technological on technological innovations: do services differ from manufacturing? An empirical analysis of Luxembourg firms

International audienceThe literature on innovation highlights the interactive nature of the innovation process in which non-technological activities are essential. However, few works have taken into account the role of other innovative strategies such as marketing and organisational innovations. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to fill this gap. For the empirical work, we used firm-level data drawn from the Community Innovation Survey 2006 for Luxembourg. We find that the effects of non-technological innovations differ depending on the phase of the innovation process. Marketing and organisational innovations significantly increase the likelihood of innovation, but not the commercial success of innovation. The study also shows the differentiated effects of the two types of non-technological innovation in manufacturing and service firms