IS014001 and OSHAS 18001, Effective EHS Management Tools for Shoe Factories in Vietnam Case Study

With growing demand from stakeholders, Vietnamese shoe factories desperately need to effectively implement sound EHS management systems. The ISO14001 and OSHAS 18001 standards ( the Standards ) have emerged as effective EHS management tools to serve those needs. However, the Vietnamese shoe industry has very limited experience in implementing those standards. They also do not understand the concept of cost-effectiveness and the challenges of implementation. Small medium enterprises anticipated difficulties in technology improvement required by the ISO 14001 due to resources limitation and all local companies concern about cost prohibited certification and no tangible market benefits (Greening Trade in Vietnam, 16). The purpose of this study was to identify the drivers, the values added, the challenges and the success factors of implementing the Standards at three shoe factories in Vietnam. The results tend to indicate that: 1) the key drivers of implementing the Standards were from stakeholder chain of actions, i.e. corporate policy, multinationals, customers, NGOs and labor groups. There was a shift from external directed to internal values regarding implementing standards at the studied factories; 2) implementing the Standards was value added. The benefits outweigh the costs. The key benefits include reduced injury, reduced waste handling costs and improved multinationals (clients) satisfaction; 3) key challenges include the workforce\u27s lack of knowledge of EHS Standards, no existing trade specific ISO 14001 and 18001 model at the time of implementing the Standards and the lack of standardized waste treatment and disposal facilities; and 4) key success factors include leadership\u27s commitment and employees\u27 involvement, top-down management , employee empowerment, and training. Most importantly, the study demonstrates evidence of successful implementing the Standards in shoe factories in Vietnam with improved EHS results

Cost optimization of two-stage helical gearboxes with second stage double gear-sets

In practice, the cost of a gearbox plays a very important role in the trade. Therefore, reducing the cost of gearboxes is an important task not only when manufacturing the gearboxes but also when designing them. In order to reduce the cost of a gearbox, there are many solutions in which determining the optimal partial gear ratios of a gearbox is an effective measure. This is because it not only the size, the mass but also the cost of a gearbox depends greatly on the partial gear ratios. This work presents a method for calculating the cost function of two-stage helical gearboxes with second-stage double gear-sets based on the mass of the components that construct the gearbox. The cost objective function is minimized to achieve the optimal transmission ratios. Furthermore, screening experiments are carried out with nine important input parameters that have significant effects on the optimum transmission ratio of the second stage. These parameters are the total gearbox ratio, the coefficient of wheel face width of the first stage, coefficient of wheel face width of the second stage, the allowable contact stress of the first stage, the allowable contact stress of the second stage, the output torque, the cost of gearbox housing, the cost of gears, and the shaft cost. The experimental results of were analysed by using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) method with the help of Minitab 19 software. The results demonstrate that the effective weight of the input parameters and their interactions on the output response was investigated. Also, a regression model for computing the optimal transmission ratio of the second stage was proposed. This brings significance not only in the design process but also in manufacturing since the gearbox cost can decreas

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: Vietnam

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Farm income / Irrigation management / Institutions / Legal aspects / Water rates / User charges / Participatory management / Privatization / Participatory rural appraisal / Performance indexes / Irrigation programs / Irrigation systems / Pumping / Irrigation canals / Social aspects / Economic aspects / Rivers / Hydrology / Dams / Households / Income / Regression analysis / Drainage / Cooperatives / Water delivery / Water distribution / Rice / Financing / Drought / Vietnam / Red River Delta / Nam Duong Irrigation System / Nam Thach Han Irrigation System / Han River

Direct Observation of Exceptional Points in Photonic Crystal by Cross-Polarization Imaging in Momentum Space

This study explores exceptional points (EPs) in photonic crystals (PhCs) and introduces a novel method for their single-shot observation. Exceptional points are spectral singularities found in non-Hermitian systems, such as leaky PhC slabs. However, directly observing EPs in PhC systems using regular reflectivity spectroscopy is a considerable challenge due to interference between guided resonances and background signals. In this work, we present a simple, nondestructive technique that employs crossed polarizations to directly observe EPs in momentum-resolved resonant scattering. This approach effectively suppresses the background signal, enabling exclusive probing of the guided resonances where EPs manifest. Our results demonstrate the formation of EPs in both energy-momentum mapping and isofrequency imaging. All experimental findings align seamlessly with numerical simulations and analytical models. Our approach holds great potential as a robust tool for studying non-Hermitian physics in PhC platform

In vitro antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds from Calocybe indica

Nowadays, the use of mushrooms in medicine is ubiquitous and has achieved particular success. The antioxidants in mushrooms can deactivate free radicals. This study assesses the antioxidant potential of mushroom Calocybe indica with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging methods and the total antioxidant capacity. The mushroom’s ethanol extract exhibits acceptable activity with a low IC50 value (240.11 μg/mL), approximately 2.9 times lower than that of the mushroom Ophiocordyceps sobolifera extract. The ABTS scavenging rate of the extract is around 60% at 500 µg/mL, and the total antioxidant capacity is equivalent to 64.94 ± 1.03 mg of GA/g or 77.42 ± 0.42 μmol of AS/g.  The total phenolics, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids are equivalent to 29.33 ± 0.16 mg of GAE/g, 17.84 ± 0.11 mg of QUE/g (5.04 ± 0.04%), and 4.96 ± 0.04 mg of oleanolic acid/g, respectively. Specifically, the total triterpenoid content has been reported for the first time. The mushroom can have potential biomedical applications

THÀNH PHẦN HÓA HỌC VÀ HOẠT TÍNH CHỐNG OXY HÓA CỦA CÁC DỊCH CHIẾT TỪ HOA XUYẾN CHI (Bidens pilosa)

Bidens pilosa is used in traditional medicine in Vietnam. The antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract and fractions from the flowers of Bidens pilosa was evaluated through DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging and the total antioxidant capacity method. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibits the highest activity with the lowest IC50 value (IC50 = 31.54 μg·mL–1 and IC50 = 35.33 μg·mL–1 for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity), and the total antioxidant capacity was 85.05 ± 0.28 mg GA·g–1. The composition of Bidens pilosa flowers: the total phenolic, total flavonoid, polysaccharides, and triterpenoid, was examined by using the colorimetric method, and their quantities are equivalent to 59.35 ± 0.83 mg GAE·g–1, 42.35 ± 1.50 mg QE·g–1, 4.44 ± 0.02%, and 32.88 ± 0.66 mg acid oleanolic·g–1, respectively. Specifically, the polysaccharide and total triterpenoid content of Bidens pilosa flowers was reported for the first time.Xuyến chi đã được sử dụng trong các bài thuốc cổ truyền Việt Nam. Khả năng chống oxy hóa của cao toàn phần và các cao phân đoạn từ hoa cây Xuyến chi được đánh giá thông qua ba mô hình: tổng khả năng chống oxy hoá, khả năng bắt gốc tự do DPPH và khả năng bắt gốc ABTS. Kết quả cho thấy cao ethyl acetate có khả năng chống oxy hóa tốt nhất với IC50 nhỏ nhất (IC50 = 31,54 μg·mL–1 và           IC50 = 35,33 μg·mL–1 tương ứng với khả năng bắt gốc DPPH và ABTS) và hàm lượng các chất chống oxy hóa cao nhất (85,05 ± 0,28 mg·g–1 acid gallic). Hàm lượng các hợp chất có hoạt tính sinh học (tổng các hợp chất phenol, tổng flavonoid, tổng triterpenoid và polysaccharide) trong dịch chiết hoa cây Xuyến chi được xác định bằng phương pháp trắc quang. Hàm lượng tổng các hợp chất phenol và flavonoid là 59,35 ± 0,83 mg GAE·g–1 và 42,35 ± 1,50 mg QE·g–1; hàm lượng polysacharide và triterpenoid là 4,44 ± 0,02% và 32,88 ± 0,66 mg acid oleanolic·g–1. Lần đầu tiên, tổng hàm lượng triterpenoid và polysacharide trong hoa Xuyến chi được công bố

A generic assay for whole-genome amplification and deep sequencing of enterovirus A71

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) has emerged as the most important cause of large outbreaks of severe and sometimes fatal hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) across the Asia-Pacific region. EV-A71 outbreaks have been associated with (sub)genogroup switches, sometimes accompanied by recombination events. Understanding EV-A71 population dynamics is therefore essential for understanding this emerging infection, and may provide pivotal information for vaccine development. Despite the public health burden of EV-A71, relatively few EV-A71 complete-genome sequences are available for analysis and from limited geographical localities. The availability of an efficient procedure for whole-genome sequencing would stimulate effort to generate more viral sequence data. Herein, we report for the first time the development of a next-generation sequencing based protocol for whole-genome sequencing of EV-A71 directly from clinical specimens. We were able to sequence viruses of subgenogroup C4 and B5, while RNA from culture materials of diverse EV-A71 subgenogroups belonging to both genogroup B and C was successfully amplified. The nature of intra-host genetic diversity was explored in 22 clinical samples, revealing 107 positions carrying minor variants (ranging from 0 to 15 variants per sample). Our analysis of EV-A71 strains sampled in 2013 showed that they all belonged to subgenogroup B5, representing the first report of this subgenogroup in Vietnam. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a high-throughput next-generation sequencing-based assay for whole-genome sequencing of EV-A71 from clinical samples

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

A hidden HIV epidemic among women in Vietnam

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The HIV epidemic in Vietnam is still concentrated among high risk populations, including IDU and FSW. The response of the government has focused on the recognized high risk populations, mainly young male drug users. This concentration on one high risk population may leave other populations under-protected or unprepared for the risk and the consequences of HIV infection. In particular, attention to women's risks of exposure and needs for care may not receive sufficient attention as long as the perception persists that the epidemic is predominantly among young males. Without more knowledge of the epidemic among women, policy makers and planners cannot ensure that programs will also serve women's needs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>More than 300 documents appearing in the period 1990 to 2005 were gathered and reviewed to build an understanding of HIV infection and related risk behaviors among women and of the changes over time that may suggest needed policy changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It appears that the risk of HIV transmission among women in Vietnam has been underestimated; the reported data may represent as little as 16% of the real number. Although modeling predicted that there would be 98,500 cases of HIV-infected women in 2005, only 15,633 were accounted for in reports from the health system. That could mean that in 2005, up to 83,000 women infected with HIV have not been detected by the health care system, for a number of possible reasons. For both detection and prevention, these women can be divided into sub-groups with different risk characteristics. They can be infected by sharing needles and syringes with IDU partners, or by having unsafe sex with clients, husbands or lovers. However, most new infections among women can be traced to sexual relations with young male injecting drug users engaged in extramarital sex. Each of these groups may need different interventions to increase the detection rate and thus ensure that the women receive the care they need.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Women in Vietnam are increasingly at risk of HIV transmission but that risk is under-reported and under-recognized. The reasons are that women are not getting tested, are not aware of risks, do not protect themselves and are not being protected by men. Based on this information, policy-makers and planners can develop better prevention and care programs that not only address women's needs but also reduce further spread of the infection among the general population.</p