The Relationship between Foreign Direct Investment, Current Account and Economic Growth in Vietnam: A Framework for International Capital Flow Management

The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), current account, and economic growth is a subject that always attracts the attention of researchers with studies that focus on both developed and developing countries. Many studies have shown that FDI has a positive effect on the growth of countries. However, this capital also brings some risks. Therefore, this study evaluates the relationship between foreign direct investment, current account, and economic growth in Vietnam. Using the VECM method combined with the Bayesian stability test, the research results have shown that, in both the short and long term, FDI and current accounts positively affect Vietnam’s economic growth. Based on research results, we propose policy implications to minimize the negative effects of FDI inflows and make the most of this capital source for the sustainable economic development of Vietnam

Optimal generation for wind-thermal power plant systems with multiple fuel sources

In this paper, the combined wind and thermal power plant systems are operated optimally to reduce the total fossil fuel cost (TFFC) of all thermal power plants and supply enough power energy to loads. The objective of reducing TFFC is implemented by using antlion algorithm (ALA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Cuckoo search algorithm (CSA). The best method is then determined based on the obtained TFFC from the three methods as dealing with two study cases. Two systems with eleven units including one wind power plant (WPP) and ten thermal power plants are optimally operated. The two systems have the same characteristic of MFSs but the valve loading effects (VLEs) on thermal power plants are only considered in the second system. The comparisons of TFFC from the two systems indicate that CSA is more powerful than ALA and PSO. Furthermore, CSA is also superior to the two methods in terms of faster search process. Consequently, CSA is a powerful method for the problem of optimal generation for wind-thermal power plant systems with consideration of MFSs from thermal power plants

Minimize electricity generation cost for large scale wind- thermal systems considering prohibited operating zone and power reserve constraints

Wind power plants (WPs) play a very important role in the power systems because thermal power plants (TPs) suffers from shortcomings of expensive cost and limited fossil fuels. As compared to other renewable energies, WPs are more effective because it can produce electricity all a day from the morning to the evening. Consequently, this paper integrates the optimal power generation of TPs and WPs to absolutely exploit the energy from WPs and reduce the total electricity generation cost of TPs. The target can be reached by employing a proposed method, called one evaluation-based cuckoo search algorithm (OEB-CSA), which is developed from cuckoo search algorithm (CSA). In addition, conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO) is also implemented for comparison. Two test systems with thirty TPs considering prohibited working zone and power reserve constraints are employed. The first system has one wind power plant (WP) while the second one has two WPs. The result comparisons indicate that OEB-CSA can be the best method for the combined systems with WPs and TPs

The capability of organic matter decomposition and nutrient uptake in coastal waters of Ca Na bay, Ninh Thuan province

This paper focuses on the capability of organic matter decomposition and inorganic nutrient uptake in the coastal waters of Ca Na bay (Ninh Thuan province) in October, 2018 (the rainy season) and May, 2019 (the dry season).  The results of laboratory experiments on organic decomposition, photosynthesis and nutrient uptake showed that the BODgh and the average values of k- decay rate in coastal waters of the surveyed area are higher in the rainy season compared with the dry season, with the average BODgh values of 5.474 mgO2/l and 4.768 mgO2/l respectively, and the corresponding k-values of 0.183 day-1 and 0.143 day-1. Howver, the half-life decay of organic matter is lower in the rainy season than in the dry season, with the corresponding values of 5.110 days and 5.571 days. In the studied area, the photosynthesis of phytoplankton strongly absorbs nitrate (NO3-), followed by ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO43-). The capability of nutrient uptake for nitrogen and phosphorus components was 9.17 mgN/m3/hour and 0.92 mgP/m3/hour, respectively in the dry season; and 7.31 mgN/m3/hour and 0.63 mgP/m3/hour in the rainy season. The results of the study are favorable condition for calculating the environmental capacity in the coastal waters of Ca Na bay in the future

The Challenges in Implementing Vietnam’s Nationally-Determined Contribution (NDC) in the Agriculture Sector under the Current Supporting Laws, Regulations, and Policies

This study reviews the current supporting laws, regulations, and policies in Vietnam and their applicability in the effective implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) agriculture activities in Vietnam. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is responsible for the development of NDC activities for the agricultural sector. It can be noted that there is a strong supporting legal framework in Vietnam. There are, however, some challenges and gaps that could potentially affect the effective implementation of NDC activities in agriculture. The study considered the following five areas as critical to NDC implementation: 1) awareness and technical capacity; 2) implementation coordination; 3) downscaling to the provinces; 4) engagement of private sector and NGOs; and 5) regulatory framework. Some recommendations are proposed on how to address the challenges in the five areas identified

Active fault-tolerance of the unmanned aerial vehicle automatic control systems

This paper presents an introductory overview of principles of the three-layer hierarchy of active fault-tolerance, providing, determination of the fault type with as many details as enough to get recoverable fault reason and failure toleration by flexible redundancy using; the conception of active fault-tolerant control in abnormal modes is described. Developed models and methods of a systematic approach to fault tolerance in the direction of the effective use of the signal, parametric and structural redundancies and selection of parrying tools. Performed experimental researches of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) automatic control systems (ACS)

FACTORS INFLUENCING VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ CHOICES TO ATTAIN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STANDARDS IN A UNIVERSITY IN VIETNAM

In the current era of globalization, English is considered a necessary skill for education and work and a criterion for evaluation in recruitment and graduation assessments in many places in Vietnam. According to the project entitled "Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System Phase 2008 - 2020", non-English majored university students must achieve a minimum of Level 3 according to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework used in Vietnam. Several universities have diversified their ways to meet these standards to facilitate students in meeting the English language outcomes, allowing students more opportunities to choose ways that are suitable for them. However, this also indicates that various influencing factors will impact students' selection of ways to meet these standards. This research explores the primary ways students choose to fulfill English language standards as stipulated and analyzes the factors influencing the choices of non-English major students in universities in Vietnam.  Article visualizations

A RESEARCH ON MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF THE GRINDING PROCESS USING SEGMENTED GRINDING WHEEL BY TAGUCHI-DEAR METHOD

In this study, the mutil-objective optimization was applied for the surface grinding process of SAE420 steel. The aluminum oxide grinding wheels that were grooved by 15 grooves, 18 grooves, and 20 grooves were used in the experimental process. The Taguchi method was applied to design the experimental matrix. Four input parameters that were chosen for each experiment were the number of grooves in cylinder surface of grinding wheel, workpiece velocity, feed rate, and cutting depth. Four output parameters that were measured for each experimental were the machining surface roughness, the system vibrations in the three directions (X, Y, Z). The DEAR technique was applied to determine the values of the input parameters to obtaine the minimum values of machining surface roughness and vibrations in three directions. By using this technique, the optimum values of grinding wheel groove number, workpiece velocity, feed-rate, cutting depth were 18 grooves, 15 m/min, 2 mm/stroke, and 0.005 mm, respectively. The verified experimental was performed by using the optimum values of input parameters. The validation results of surface roughness and vibrations in X, Y, Z directions were 0.826 (µm), 0.531 (µm), 0.549 (µm), and 0. 646 (µm), respectively. These results were great improved in comparing to the normal experimental results. Taguchi method and DEAR technique can be applied to improve the quality of grinding surface and reduce the vibrations of the technology system to restrain the increasing of the cutting forces in the grinding process. Finally, the research direction was also proposed in this stud