• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 2006

While sludge settles down in a column, sludge settling characteristic is influenced by effect parameters, interparticle force, wall effect etc. As the height of a column changes, the settling velocity of sludge-water interface changes, too. At lower sludge concentration, particular effect was not observed by the difference of column height, however it was observed that settleability of sludge was greatly influenced by column height when sludge settling was poor or sludge concentration was high. It is therefore required to consider the effect of column height when the power model for sludge interface settling is established. In the tests, there was hardly any $SVI_{ts}$(SVI after "t" minutes) difference in each column after 10min at $1.5kg/m^3$ of sludge concentration. When sludge concentration was at $2.5kg/m^3$, $SVI_{ts}$ tended to be constant after 20min. At $3.5kg/m^3$, $SVI_{ts}$ increased to 30minuets. The purpose of this work is to establish the correction factor that is able to compensate the errors derived from each different height of column.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.248-253
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• 2018

Radiation protection in the scrotum to reduce the risk of genetic effect in the future is very important. This study aimed to measure the scrotal dose outside the treatment fields by using the radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeter (RPLGD). The characteristics of RPLGD model GD-302M were studied. Scattered dose to scrotum was measured in one liposarcoma case with the prescribed dose of 60 Gy. RPLGDs were placed in three different locations: one RPLGD was positioned at the posterior area which closer to the scrotum, and the other two RPLGDs were placed between the penis and the scrotum. Three RPLGDs were employed in each location. The scattered doses were measured in every fraction during the whole course of treatment. The entire number of 100 RPLGDs showed the uniformity within ±2%. The signal from RPLGD demonstrated linear proportion to the radiation dose (r = 0.999). The relative energy response correction factor was 1.05. The average scrotal dose was 4.1 ± 0.9 cGy per fraction. The results presented a wide range since there was a high uncertainty during RPLGD placement. The total scrotal dose for the whole course of treatment was 101.9 cGy (1.7% of the prescribed dose). The RPLGD model GD-302M could be used to measure scattered dose after applying the relative energy correction factor.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-88
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate why people voluntarily contribute knowledge to others, primarily strangers, in the electronic network of practice for job examination expected potential competing. This paper is organized as follows. First, we introduce the electronic network of practice which is the knowledge sharing community for job examination, and discuss the key issues for understanding knowledge sharing in these networks on the basis of individual motivations, relational capital, sense of community, and sense of rivalry to develop a research model for this study. To test the proposed research model, we adopted the survey method for data collection, and examined our hypotheses by applying the multiple regression analysis method to the collected data. Our unit of analysis was the individual. The findings of this study show that the intention of knowledge sharing is influenced by the reputation and the enjoy helping as the factors of individual motivations, by the reciprocity as the factor of relational capital, and by a sense of rivalry as a psychological factor. Lastly, contributions of this study and future research opportunities are also discussed.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

This research proposes a model of SERVQUAL scale calibration and uses the SERVPERF model to study the relationship between quality of ATM service and customer satisfaction. The research uses the combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology with the Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method; Confirmation Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SPSS and AMOS 20.0 data analysis software. The survey was conducted with 800 questionnaires with the convenient sampling method. The number of remaining sample for analysis was 779 responses of individual customers using ATM card services of Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) Vinh Long. The results show that the satisfaction of customers using ATM cards of Vietcombank Vinh Long is influenced by 4 factors with the order of importance as follows: (1) Price; (2) Network; (3) Reliability; (4) Empathy. Thereby, the author suggests some managerial implications to Vietcombank Vinh Long management to enhance the ATM service quality, then improve customer satisfaction. This research still has some limitations: (1) The study does not investigate other influencing factors, (2) The convenient sampling method has not been generalized well, (3) The research is only conducted for Vietcombank.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.159-167
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• 2019

The current higher education in Vietnam demonstrates the intense competition among local universities. Undoubtedly, the issue of enhancing the brand value to attract students is now placed at the top to Vietnamese universities. The research aims to identify the objective and subjective factors affecting the brand value of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as mediated by students' perceptions. This paper employs the mixed research methods and data were then analyzed by measuring Cronbach's Alpha coefficient for reliability, analyzing EFA, and using PATH model to test the experiment on the research model affecting HUTECH's brand value. Probability sampling used is Stratified sampling and 500 students of 8 faculties of HUTECH surveyed by convenience sampling. Additionally, this paper also proposes some managerial implications on enhancing the brand value of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City. The results indicate that the new factor, namely geographic location is the most influential factor to enhance the brand value of private universities in general and HUTECH in particular. Brand still plays a determinant role in students' trust when choosing a university. Finally, some implications proposed to enhance the brand value of private universities in Ho Chi Minh City in the context of fierce competition in attracting students.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

Nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotube fibers exhibit greater stiffness, strength and damping properties in comparison to conventional composites reinforced with carbon/glass fibers. Consequently, most of the nanocomposite research is focused in understanding the dynamic characteristics, which are highly useful in applications such as vibration control and energy harvesting. It has been observed that those nanocomposites show better stiffness when the geometry of nanotubes is straight as compared to curvilinear although nanotube agglomeration may exist. In this work the damping behavior of the nanocomposite is characterized in terms of loss factor under the presence of nanotube agglomerations. A micro stick-slip damping model is used to compute the damping properties of the nanocomposites with multiwall carbon nanotubes. The present formulation considers the slippage between the interface of the matrix and the nanotubes as well as the slippage between the interlayers in the nanotubes. The nanotube agglomerations model is also presented. Results are computed based on the loss factor expressed in terms of strain amplitude and nanotube agglomerations. The results show that although-among the various factors such as the material properties (moduli of nanotubes and polymer matrix) and the geometric properties (number of nanotubes, volume fraction of nanotubes, and critical interfacial shear stresses), the agglomeration of nanotubes significantly influences the damping properties of the nanocomposites. Therefore the full potential of nanocomposites to be used for damping applications needs to be analyzed under the influence of nanotube agglomerations.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.169-175
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• 2018

Objectives: The rate of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women diagnosed as they age is one of the main concerns of health cares. Recently new strategies used to prevent progressions of MetS toward the diagnosis of diabetes have focused on plant flavonoids. This study was aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of flavonoids fraction of Mespilus germanica leaves (MGL) on MetS in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods: Twenty-four adult female Wistar rats, weighing 200 to 250 g, were divided into 3 groups: Sham surgery, OVX + Salin, or OVX + Flavonoid. Three weeks after ovariectomy, animals displayed MetS criteria received flavonoid injection (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for 21 days. Then the body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, visceral fat, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid profiles and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) were measured. Results: Treatment with flavonoids fraction of MGL significantly decreased serum level of insulin (P = 0.011), glucose (P = 0.024), $TNF-{\alpha}$ (P = 0.010), also MetS Z score (P = 0.020) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P = 0.007). Lipid profiles and visceral fat showed insignificant reduction. Conclusions: Flavonoids of MGL attenuates some of the MetS components possibly via reduction in $TNF-{\alpha}$ inflammatory cytokine.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.25-42
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• 2014

Objectives: To observe the effects of Herb medication on Polycystic Ovary (PCO) in rats. Methods: Riss (Research Information Sharing Service) was searched for Oriental medicine about PCO on 2000~2014. So, Experimental studies using PCO model induced by Estradiol Valerate (EV) was selected to analyze how effects they were. Consequently, 10 studies published on 2000~2014 were selected to analyze about weight of model and both ovaries, the number aries, the number of follicle and corpus of follicle and corpus luteum, the level of serum Androstenedione (ADD) and total estrogen, the level of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF), the crossover rate and the number of implantation. Results: Among them, there was significantly difference between treatment group and control group in weight of both ovaries, the number of follicle and corpora lutea, the crossover rate and the number of implantation. Conclusions: The effects of Herb medication was observed on making weight of ovaries with PCO to promote. The study about effect of Herb medication on NGF and CRF with PCOS had to be conducted. The further research have to focus on treatment of subfertility and infertility, that is field showing the advantage of Oriental medicine.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2017

A water treatment utility in South Korea operates a large system of pressurized hollow fiber membrane (PHFM) modules. The optimal selection of membrane module for the full scale plant was critical issue and carried out using Risk-based Life Cycle Cost (RbLCC) analysis based on the historical data of operation and maintenance. The RbLCC analysis was used in the process of decision-making for replacing aged modules. The initial purchasing cost and the value at risk during operation were considered together. The failure of modules occurs stochastically depending on the physical deterioration with usage over time. The life span of module was used as a factor for the failure of Poisson's probability model, which was used to obtain the probability of failure during the operation. The RbLCC was calculated by combining the initial cost and the value at risk without its warranty term. Additionally, the properties of membrane were considered to select the optimum product. Results showed that the module's life span in the system was ten years (120 month) with safety factor. The optimum product was selected from six candidates membrane for a full scale water treatment facility. This method could be used to make the optimum and rational decision for the operation of membrane water purification facility.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.363-370
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• 2021

This study aims to revisit the issues and misconceptions about financial inclusion (FI) indices. For indices construction, this study uses two approaches: one approach following the methodology of Sarma (2008) which is based on UNDP methodology, while the other is the Dynamic Factor Model (DFM)-based index of Stock and Watson (2002) and Rehman et al. (2021). The data of 18 economies of Asia from 1997 till 2017 is used for indices construction and analysis. The authors constructed macro and micro-level financial inclusion indices based on the different types of financial inclusion indicators. Second, the authors have critically evaluated two different approaches, and the results show that Sarma (2008)-based index show financial inclusion's level, while DFM-based index reveal fluctuation in the current year's financial inclusion level due to the prior variations. For measuring the level of financial inclusion, the Sarma (2008) index is effective, while for forecasting the level of financial inclusion, the DFM approach is more appropriate. Furthermore, the micro and macro aspects of financial inclusion should be reflected in separate indices for better understanding and in-depth insights.