DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED SUITE OF REGIONAL TOURISM SATELLITE ACCOUNTS (TSAS): A CASE STUDY FROM AUSTRALIA

This paper presents an overview of the development of a set of TSA for each of the six Australian states and two territories. The paper discusses the nature of TSA, their importance, as well as the particular challenges of developing regional TSA. These issues include data limitations, the treatment of interstate trade, taxes/subsidies and reconciliation with the national TSA

Assessing the Potential of Climate Smart Agriculture in Large Rice Field Models in Vietnam

This study assesses the economic, social, and environmental impacts of Large Field Models (LFMs) and their potential for promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). In Vietnam, the government introduced the Large Field Model (LFM), a type of production organization, in which enterprises or cooperatives establish a cooperative relationship with farmers to apply a unification production procedure by providing production inputs (including material and technical support) and/or buying outputs from producers. These LFMs can be classified under three different forms based on the extent of those linkages: (1) farmers contribute land and/or labour to farmer cooperatives; (2) farmers sign contracts with cooperatives or enterprises and receive inputs; and (3) farmers lease out/sell their land to cooperatives or enterprises. Although the key objectives of constructing LFMs come from requirements in improving rice quality and rice production efficiency, these models also have potential for applying CSA to achieve three CSA pillars: productivity, resilience and mitigation. Productivity: the LFMs ensure integration between enterprises and farmers, wherein rice production is promoted, given that the output is sold at a more stable price. Therefore, farmers confidently manage their business to increase productivity. In addition, higher output price and lower production cost is observed from LFMs’ production. Better output price comes from the commitments of enterprises and higher rice quality produced from LFMs. The reduction in production costs is also achieved by taking advantage of economy of scale to apply modern agricultural machinery (such as tractors) and thus reduce labour costs. Resilience: this CSA pillar is created indirectly from LFMs. In general, as farmers use LFMs, they have a better chance to access certified seeds and follow the production procedures of enterprises under the direct support from technicians, and they are less likely to be exposed to disease epidemics than non-participant farmers. In addition, farmers who sign contracts with enterprises/cooperatives or work in LFMs tend to share their knowledge and discuss weather issues with technicians before deciding when to sow or harvest to reduce climate risks. Mitigation: the LFM production contributes to reduced GHG emissions. LFMs created a foundation to apply advanced cultivation methods and to follow strictly modern techniques such as: One Must Five Reductions (1M5Rs), Three Reductions Three Gain (3R3G), 4 Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), System of Rice Intensification (SRI), and Deep Fertilizer Placement (DPF). The synchronized irrigation timing or flattened surface field of LFMs also contributes more efficient water use. Moreover, this model changes farmer behaviours toward more efficient and environmentally friendly paddy straw treatment to mitigate environmental impacts. In sum, there are potentials for promoting CSA application in LFMs. The integration developed through LFMs will produce friendly and mutually beneficial networks of farmers to share knowledge and modern techniques. This also encourages farmers to improve cultivating skills and output quality to sustain their contracts with better enterprises in the long run. In addition, the pressure from climate risks will push farmers to act collectively to adapt and mitigate environmental impacts. These potentials should be accompanied by the strong support from the government through its response to climate changes in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs). However, there are still many constraints for expanding CSA application into LFMs. First, traditional cultivation and small landholding habits make it difficult for enterprises to accumulate land to form LFMs. Even when farmers agree to contribute their land to cooperatives, this model is still struggling to establish the appropriate benefit-sharing method in order to keep it working smoothly in the long run, especially due to land price fluctuations. Second, there are infrastructure-related issues. Some types of CSA practices require infrastructure support, for example irrigation systems for applying Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). Finally, there is a need for a legal mechanism to bind contracts between enterprises and farmers, especially under high price volatility. Vietnam’s policy system to enhance CSA application and expand LFMs is still characterized by limitations related to effectiveness, validation and public-private participation. This requires a change to attract the participation of local government, enterprises, and farmers. For example, experience from other countries shows that in the case of small scale production, legal measures would not be feasible because of high transaction costs. Therefore, using community value to bind farmers to contracts is the most feasible measure that has been proven. In addition, support for developing agricultural insurance and infrastructure investment is important. However, before expanding CSA application into LFMs, detailed studies of LFMs in each region are required because each model might be more efficient for one specific region with a specific crop

Conditions for isotropic liquefaction of model granular materials

In the current understanding of soil mechanics, the liquefaction phenomenon is almost synonymous to the vanishing of the effective intergranular stress. It occurs only for fully saturated granular media deviatorically sheared in constant volume. In this article, we present an unexpected isotropic compressibility behaviour of model granular materials with a very simple experimental set-up. Loose granular assemblies experience multiple sudden collapses associated with volumetric compaction and axial contraction. Ultimately, spontaneous liquefaction is observed above a threshold void ratio e{30}^{liq}. We detail the three conditions for isotropic liquefaction of model granular assemblies to occur

Unexpected collapses during isotropic consolidation of model granular materials

AbstractThis paper reports the unexpected instantaneous instabilities of idealized granular materials under simple isotropic drained compression. Specimens of monosized glass beads submitted to isotropic compression exhibit a series of local collapses under undetermined external stress with partial liquefaction, experience sudden volumetric compaction and axial contraction of various amplitude. Short-lived excess pore water pressure vibrates like an oscillating underdamped system in the first dynamic transient phase and rapidly disperses in the subsequent longer dissipation phase. However, very dense samples maintain a collapse-free behaviour below a threshold void ratio e30col at 30 kPa of stress. The potential mechanisms that could explain these spontaneous collapses are discussed

ベトナム北部におけるチャ遺伝資源の共同探索収集

We performed a collaborative exploration between Japan and Vietnam for collecting tea genetic resources in northern Vietnam in 2002. According to the discussion on the schedule, area, targets and strategy for the exploration at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on November 26th, a trip to northern Vietnam was performed to investigate tea. Tea genetic resources were widely observed in north Vietnam. However, new tea varieties released by the Vietnam Tea Research Institute such as pH1, LDP1 and TRI777 have quickly replaced old ones. A total of 6 tea genetic resources were collected and investigated during the exploration

Neutron Yield from (γ, n) and (γ, 2n) Reactions following 100 MeV Bremsstrahlung in a Tungsten Target

The photonuclear reactions of (γ, xn) or (γ, xnp) types can be used to produce high-intensity neutron sources for research and applied purposes. In this work a Monte-Carlo calculation has been used to evaluate the production yield of neutrons from the (γ, n) and (γ, 2n) reactions following the bremsstrahlung produced by a 100 MeV electron beam on a tungsten target

HIV and TB co-infection in South Sudan: a three year retrospective study

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HIV/TB co-infection among patients attending the HIV clinic at Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH) from 2011 to 2013.Method and Materials: This was a retrospective study using data abstracted from the registration book in the HIV clinic. A data sheet was used to collect relevant variables. Data were entered, organized and analyzed using SPSS Version 20 Software. A p-value of 0.05 or less was considered significant.Results: Out of 2,577 patients attending the HIV clinic in JTH from 2011 to 2013, 2,547 (99%) were included in this study. Of these, 27.4% were seen in 2011, 34.1% in 2012 and 38.5% in 2013. There were 1,010 (39.7%) males and 1,537(60.3%) females with a male to female ratio of 2:3. The mean age (x, SD, range) was 30.8 +/-10.8 (0.2-68) years which for males was 33.3+/- 12.2 (1-68) years and 29.1+/-9.5 (0.2-65) years for females. There were 2,318 (91%) HIV monoinfected patients and 229 (9%) HIV/TB co-infected patients. There were 122 HIV/TB co-infected males and 107 females. 39.3% of patients with HIV/TB were aged 25-34 years, and 9.3% were aged 0 14 years. The p-value between the groups and within the groups was statistically significant at p= 0.005. Munuki payam had the highest percentage (31.7%) of HIV/TB co-infection.Conclusion: HIV/TB remains a major challenging health problem with a prevalence of 9%

The Study of Isomeric Ratios in Photonuclear Reactions Forming High Spin Isomers in the Giant Dipole Resonance Region

We studied the isomeric ratios  in  odd-odd nuclei $^{196}$Au,$^{182}$Ta  and $^{194}$Ir  with    high spin isomeric states  produced  in $^{197}$Au$(\gamma,  n)$ $^{196m,g}$Au, $^{183}$W$(\gamma,  p)$ $^{182m,g}$Ta  and $^{185}$Pt$(\gamma,  p)$$^{194m,g}$Ir  reactions  by  using  the activation  technique  and  $\gamma$-ray  spectroscopic  method  in  the  giant    dipole  resonance  (GDR)  region.  The high-purity natural Au, W and Pt  foils in disc shape were irradiated with bremsstrahlungs  generated from an  electron  accelerator  Microtron.  The  irradiated  foils  were  measured  by  the  high  resolution  $\gamma$-ray spectroscopic system which consists of a Ge(HP) detector and a multichannel analyzer. In order to improve the  accuracy  of  the  experimental  results,  necessary  corrections  were  made  in  the  $\gamma$-ray  activity measurements and data analysis.  The results were  analyzed,  discussed and compared with those of other authors  as well as with theoretical model calculations.  The study shows that the isomeric ratios in  nuclei with high spin isomeric states are much lower than that in low spin isomeric state isomers

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Vietnamese version of the evidence-based practice competency questionnaire for registered nurses (EBP-COQ Prof©)

Background & Aim: Establishing strategies to enhance evidence-based practice (EBP) requires a reliable instrument for assessing EBP competency. This study focused on translating and validating the Evidence-Based Practice Competency Questionnaire for Registered Nurses (EBP-COQ Prof©) in the Vietnamese context. Methods & Materials: Through a methodological approach, this study performed cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation. The study involved 372 nurses selected through convenience sampling. Content validity was established using the Content Validity Index for Items (I-CVI) and the Content Validity Index for Scales (S-CVI). Construct validity was assessed via exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Criterion validity was examined by comparing EBP-COQ Prof© competency between nurses with and without prior EBP education. Results: The Vietnamese version of EBP-COQ Prof© maintained consistency with the original version following cross-cultural adaptation. Content validity was confirmed with I-CVI> 0.78 and S-CVI/AVE= 0.97. EFA and CFA revealed consistent components with the original version: attitude (8 items), knowledge (11 items), skills (6 items), and utilization (10 items). Cronbach's alpha values were high: attitudes (0.965), knowledge (0.962), skills (0.909), and utilization (0.926). ICC values were also significant: attitudes (0.754), knowledge (0.895), skills (0.823), and utilization (0.966). Nurses with prior EBP education demonstrated higher EBP-COQ Prof© competency. Conclusion: The translated and validated EBP-COQ Prof© provides a robust tool for assessing EBP competency among Vietnamese nurses. Its reliability, validity, and sensitivity to educational effects underscore its potential for promoting EBP in nursing