• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• 제8권8호
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 2021

For many years, many academics and practitioners have paid attention to the increasing popularity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its relationship with financial performance. They have shown that creating social and sustainable responsibility can strengthen the organization's financial performance as the organization can achieve its current needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs. While much theoretical and empirical evidence has been provided to support this argument in developed countries, this topic is under-researched, and the outcomes are controversial in developing countries. Therefore, this paper aims to examine and investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance in Vietnamese organizations. The dataset includes 27 firms listed on the stock market exchanges in Ho Chi Minh city (HOSE) and Hanoi (HNX) from 2015 to 2019. The disclosure approach is adopted to measure corporate social activities; four areas were developed: environment, community, employee and product, customer, and supplier practices. Return on average equity (ROE) and return on average assets (ROA) are two proxies for measuring financial performance. The research results confirm the existing literature with a strong correlation between employees and returns on average assets.

• 수완나부미
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.133-160
• /
• 2022

This paper examines narratives of women's marginal position in Bao Ninh's Short Stories and Svetlana Alexievich's Unwomanly Face of War from a feminist narratological approach. In analyzing voices of marginalized women, direct and indirect descriptions of women's beauty and pain, and private-public narratives of women's love stories, this paper aims to identify presentations of women's real authority in the text written by a male author, Bao Ninh, and in the one by a female author. The paper argues that juxtaposing these texts reveals an overturn of the traditional conception of sexual and gender differences. Specifically, distinguishing between male/female discourse does not show powerful /nonpowerful language, but recognizes the real authority of each type of discourse based on sexual differences. The writing also illustrates that masculine language becomes powerless and deficient in the women's world; meanwhile, in writing about herself, woman establishes a type of a powerful feminine discourse, which blends both emotional, enthusiastic, and gossipy characteristics of female language and direct, rational, and strong ones of male language. Thus, the feminists' radical segregation on male/female discourses to overturn masculine authority and create a language for women at par with men has been clearly shifted when comparing the two writers' texts based on the juxtapositional model of the comparative literature.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• 제9권5호
• /
• pp.313-324
• /
• 2022

We investigate the impacts of tariff, tariff-rate quota, conformity assessment, and traceability requirements set by the rice importers using panel data of 17 rice exporters exporting to 119 countries in two years 2015 and 2018, using both Ordinary least square (OLS) and Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPLM) methods. Results from our gravity models strongly indicate that tariff and tariff rate quota remain significantly detrimental to the world's rice exporters because these measures place downward pressure on the rice exporters' prices and the importers' import quantity, creating barriers to market participation. Our study also provides strong evidence about the role of origin certificates in allowing rice exporters to gain access to foreign markets. Meanwhile, regulatory standards such as traceability requirements and logistical and distributional requirements imposed by the rice importers are found to be major obstacles to rice importation from less-developed countries. Our study provides insights into tariff and non-tariff barriers existing in the global rice market, which is likely to assist policymakers operating in developing countries to help shape their policies and bolster rice competitiveness.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.129-136
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A variety of immunomodulators can improve the efficacy of low-dose chemotherapeutics. Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a mushroom mycelia extract, has been shown to be a strong immunomodulator. Whether AHCC could enhance the antitumor effect of low-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) via regulation of host immunity is unknown. MATERIALS/METHODS: In the current study Hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice were treated with PBS, 5-FU ($10mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.p), or AHCC ($360mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, i.g) plus 5-FU, respectively, for 5 d. $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, $CD^{8+}$, and NK in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr levels were measured by biochemical assay. IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ in serum were measured using the RIA kit and apoptosis of tumor was detected by TUNEL staining. Bax, Bcl-2, and TS protein levels were measured by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA level was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Diet consumption and body weight showed that AHCC had no apparent toxicity. AHCC could reverse liver injury and myelosuppression induced by 5-FU (P < 0.05). Compared to mice treated with 5-FU, mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had higher thymus index, percentages of $CD^{3+}$, $CD^{4+}$, and NK cells (P < 0.01), and ratio of $CD^{4+}$/$CD^{8+}$ (P < 0.01) in peripheral blood. Radioimmunoassay showed that mice treated with AHCC plus 5-FU had the highest serum levels of IL-2 and $TNF{\alpha}$ compared with the vehicle group and 5-FU group. More importantly, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU produced a more potent antitumor effect (P < 0.05) and caused more severe apoptosis in tumor tissue (P < 0.05) compared with the 5-FU group. In addition, the combination of AHCC and 5-FU further up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) (P < 0.01), while it down-regulated the expression of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the claim that AHCC might be beneficial for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.349-360
• /
• 2018

Reinforced concrete (RC) moment frames supported on two ground levels have been widely constructed in mountainous areas with medium to high seismicity in China. In order to investigate the seismic collapse behavior and risk, a scaled frame model was tested under constant axial load and reversed cyclic lateral load. Test results show that the failure can be induced by the development of story yielding at the first story above the upper ground. The strong column and weak beam mechanism can be well realized at stories below the upper ground. Numerical analysis model was developed and calibrated with the test results. Three pairs of six case study buildings considering various structural configurations were designed and analyzed, showing similar dynamic characteristics between frames on two ground levels and flat ground of each pair. Incremental dynamic analyses (IDA) were then conducted to obtain the seismic collapse fragility curves and collapse margin ratios of nine analysis cases designated based on the case study buildings, considering amplification of earthquake effect and strengthening measures. Analysis results indicate that the seismic collapse safety is mainly determined by the stories above the upper ground. The most probable collapse mechanism may be induced by the story yielding of the bottom story on the upper ground level. The use of tie beam and column strengthening can effectively enhance the seismic collapse safety of frames on two ground levels.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제12권6호
• /
• pp.865-871
• /
• 2002

A bacterium having strong chitinolytic activity on $0.2\%$ colloidal chitin-containing agar medium was isolated from coastal soil in Korea. Based on the nucleotide sequence of conserved segment of a 165 rRNA gene, the bacterium was identified as Paenibacillus illinoisensis KJA-424. The population of P. illinoisensis KJA-424 and chitinase activity significantly increased for the first 2 days of incubation. On SDS-PACE analysis with $0.01\%$ glycol chitin, three protein bands (63, 54, and 38 kDa) with chitinolytic activity were detected tooted. The effect of P illinoisensis KJA-424 on the egg hatch of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) was investigated. After 7 days of incubation with the chitinase-producing P. illinoisensis KJA-424, none of the eggs hatched, whereas a $39.8\%$ egg hatching rate was observed in the water control. Inverted and scanning electron microscopic observations demonstrated that P. illinoisensis KJA-424 deformed and destroyed the eggshell of M. incognita. In conclusion, chitinase-produced by p. illinoisensis KJA-424 caused the lysis of M. incognita eggshell and resulted in the inhibition of egg hatching in vitro.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제30권7호
• /
• pp.1005-1012
• /
• 2020

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been a serious environmental issue that threatens soil and aquatic ecosystems. In this study, an acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain S4, was isolated from the mud of an AMD storage pond in Vietnam via enrichment in anoxic mineral medium at pH 5. Comparative analyses of sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and dsrB gene involved in sulfate reduction revealed that the isolate belonged to the genus Desulfovibrio, and is most closely related to Desulfovibrio oxamicus (with 99% homology in 16S rDNA sequence and 98% homology in dsrB gene sequence). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of dsrB gene showed that strain S4 represented one of the two most abundant groups developed in the enrichment culture. Notably, strain S4 was capable of reducing sulfate in low pH environments (from 2 and above), and resistance to extremely high concentration of heavy metals (Fe 3,000 mg/l, Zn 100 mg/l, Cu 100 mg/l). In a batch incubation experiment in synthetic AMD with pH 3.5, strain S4 showed strong effects in facilitating growth of a neutrophilic, metal sensitive Desulfovibrio sp. strain SR4H, which was not capable of growing alone in such an environment. Thus, it is postulated that under extreme conditions such as an AMD environment, acid- and metal-tolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-like strain S4 would facilitate the growth of other widely distributed SRB by starting to reduce sulfate at low pH, thus increasing pH and lowering the metal concentration in the environment. Owing to such unique physiological characteristics, strain S4 shows great potential for application in sustainable remediation of AMD.

• 상하수도학회지
• /
• 제20권3호
• /
• pp.411-429
• /
• 2006

To improve Service quality for water and wastewater works, most water and wastewater utility effort to develop not only facility construction but also operation optimization. The operation is optimized by accurate estimation for ongoing situation. And from the accurate estimation, utility operator gain a information about their service quality and problems, So we developed a evaluation tool (Performance Indicators: PI) for service activity of water and wastewater works. The PI was developed in many countries and some international organizations (World Bank, IWA etc.) for service benchmarking. And ISO (international organization for standardization) just has been making a service standard for water and wastewater system (So called ISO/C224). This proceeding for making a service standard is ongoing now and will be launched in 2007. In our study, PI was composed of 6 parts (A human resource, facility management, operation, service quality, finance and environment). To evaluate water utilities, performance indicators for water was consisted of 100 items. Each 2 water utilities were estimated by this performance indicator. From the study, we just know that the performance indicator was a very useful tool to estimate utility service quality. And from the result, it is possible to know the strong and weak point of estimated utilities.

• 한국통신학회논문지
• /
• 제33권1A호
• /
• pp.74-84
• /
• 2008

UWB(ultra wideband)는 기존의 무선통신망 시스템에게 간섭을 주지 않고 공존할 수 있는 매력적인 기술로 유비쿼터스 홈 실현을 위한 핵심기술로 인식되고 있다. 하지만 UWB 신호는 펄스 당 매우 낮은 에너지를 갖기 때문에 동일한 주파수 대역을 사용하는 협대역 통신시스템들에 의해서 강한 간섭을 받게 된다. 특별히 5GHz에서 작동하는 IEEE 802.11a 시스템은 FCC에서 규정한 UWB 신호의 대역폭과 겹쳐지게 되고 UWB 시스템에게 심각한 간섭효과를 준다. 본 논문에서는 IEEE 802.15.4a 채널환경에서 대역제한된 AWGN으로 모델링한 IEEE 802.11a 간섭신호가 DS-UWB 시스템에 미치는 간섭효과를 살펴보고 특이값 분해 알고리즘을 이용하여 수신된 신호로부터 IEEE 802.11a 신호를 추출하여 간섭을 억압하는 기법을 제안한다. 특이값 분해 알고리즘이 적용된 간섭억압기법을 통하여 단일 사용자 DS-UWB 시스템과 다중 사용자 DS-UWB 시스템에서 BER 성능이 향상된 것을 확인하였다.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제31권6호
• /
• pp.575-589
• /
• 2019

The main focus of this study is to numerically investigate the influence of strong earthquake and tsunami-induced wave impact on the response and behavior of a cable-stayed steel bridge with large caisson foundations, by assuming that the earthquake and the tsunami come from the same fault motion. For this purpose, a series of numerical simulations were carried out. First of all, the tsunami-induced flow speed, direction and tsunami height were determined by conducting a two-dimensional (2D) tsunami propagation analysis in a large area, and then these parameters obtained from tsunami propagation analysis were employed in a detailed three-dimensional (3D) fluid analysis to obtain tsunami-induced wave impact force. Furthermore, a fiber model, which is commonly used in the seismic analysis of steel bridge structures, was adopted considering material and geometric nonlinearity. The residual stresses induced by the earthquake were applied into the numerical model during the following finite element analysis as the initial stress state, in which the acquired tsunami forces were input to a whole bridge system. Based on the analytical results, it can be seen that the foundation sliding was not observed although the caisson foundation came floating slightly, and the damage arising during the earthquake did not expand when the tsunami-induced wave impact is applied to the steel bridge. It is concluded that the influence of tsunami-induced wave force is relatively small for such steel bridge with large caisson foundations. Besides, a numerical procedure is proposed for quantitatively estimating the accumulative damage induced by the earthquake and the tsunami in the whole bridge system with large caisson foundations.