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The urgency of decarbonization has generated increasing interest in using mission-oriented innovation policies to achieve net-zero emissions. An energy transformation, however, requires managing a much more complex portfolio of supply- and demand-side initiatives than traditional, “linear” missions. “Transformative” innovation policy thus poses a formidable administrative and political challenge, particularly for large, federal, liberal market economies. Leveraging variation in state capacity within the US, we find that the Department of Defense is better positioned to pursue transformative, green innovation policies than the Department of Energy, despite the latter’s central position in national decarbonization efforts. Specifically, the Department of Defense’s scale and scope enable it to coordinate across a wide array of policy instruments, actors, and priorities. Whereas efforts to endow the Department of Energy with similar capacities sparked a backlash, the Department of Defense’s bipartisan mandate to confront geotech challenges and its ability to leverage secrecy have insulated it from political interference. In illustrating how one large, liberal polity has succeeded (and struggled) in pursuing decarbonization, we highlight the distinct administrative and political capabilities which underpin transformative innovation policy, the tension between them, and one strategy to soften this tradeoff.

In this study, chitosan and alginate were selected to prepare alginate/chitosan nanoparticles to load the drug lovastatin by the ionic gelation method. The synthesized nanoparticles loaded with drug were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser scattering and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The FTIR spectrum of the alginate/chitosan/lovastatin nanoparticles showed that chitosan and alginate interacted with lovastatin through hydrogen bonding and dipolar-dipolar interactions between the C-O, C=O, and OH groups in lovastatin, the C-O, NH, and OH groups in chitosan and the C-O, C=O, and OH groups in alginate. The laser scattering results and SEM images indicated that the alginate/chitosan/lovastatin nanoparticles have a spherical shape with a particle size in the range of 50–80 nm. The DSC diagrams displayed that the melting temperature of the alginate/chitosan/lovastatin nanoparticles was higher than that of chitosan and lower than that of alginate. This result means that the alginate and chitosan interact together, so that the nanoparticles have a larger crystal degree when compared with alginate and chitosan individually. Investigations of the in vitro lovastatin release from the alginate/chitosan/lovastatin nanoparticles under different conditions, including different alginate/chitosan ratios, different solution pH values and different lovastatin contents, were carried out by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The rate of drug release from the nanoparticles is proportional to the increase in the solution pH and inversely proportional to the content of the loaded lovastatin. The drug release process is divided into two stages: a rapid stage over the first 10 hr, then the release becomes gradual and stable. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model is most suitable for the lovastatin release process from the alginate/chitosan/lovastatin nanoparticles in the first stage, and then the drug release complies with other models depending on solution pH in the slow release stage. In addition, the toxicity of alginate/chitosan/lovastatin (abbreviated ACL) nanoparticles was sufficiently low in mice in the acute toxicity test. The LD 50 of the drug was higher than 5000 mg/kg, while in the subchronic toxicity test with treatments of 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg ACL nanoparticles, there were no abnormal signs, mortality, or toxicity in general to the function or structure of the crucial organs. The results show that the ACL nanoparticles are safe in mice and that these composite nanoparticles might be useful as a new drug carrier.

The work aims to study the removal of crystal violet (CV) using laterite soil with surface modification by surfactant (SML). Surface modification of laterite soil was conducted by pre-adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at pH 4 and low ionic strength to enhance removal of CV. The effective conditions for CV removal through adsorption technique using SML were optimized and found to be contact time 60 min, pH 6, adsorbent dosage 5 mg/mL, and 5 mM NaCl as background electrolyte. The highest removal of CV using SML reached to 86.5% under optimum conditions. We used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to evaluate the change of surface vibrational groups of laterite after SDS pre-adsorption and after CV adsorption while the different charged surface was determined by ζ potential measurements. The CV adsorption onto SML increased when increasing ionic strength from 1 to 10 mM. Nevertheless, at high ionic strength, this trend is reversal due to desorption of SDS from laterite surfaces. Adsorption isotherms of CV onto SML at different NaCl concentrations were tried to fit by Langmuir, Freundlich, and a two-step adsorption models. The adsorption kinetics were in good agreement with pseudo-second-order model. The removal efficiency of CV after four regenerations still reached higher than 85%. On the basis of adsorption isotherms, charged surface change by ζ potential and surface modification by FT-IR, we suggest that CV adsorption onto SML was induced by both non-electrostatic and electrostatic interactions. We also demonstrate that SML is a novel, reusable, and low-cost adsorbent for cationic dye removal from aqueous solution.

Purpose: This study investigates the factors affecting the intention to use mobile payment in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach: Research data was collected from 306 survey participants. Data analysis revealed significant relationships among the variables under investigation. Findings: Research results show that mobility, compatibility with other technologies, ease of use, favorable conditions, knowledge of mobile payment, trust and safety in use, and usefulness are strongly correlated with the intention to use mobile payment. However, the social impact does not significantly impact on the intention to use p mobile payment in Vietnam. Research limitations/implications: Firstly, the data collection method utilized in this research might introduce a common variance bias so longitudinal data collection techniques would be employed. Secondly, this study is conducted in developing countries, so further study could conduct cross-country studies employing multi-group analysis. Originality/value: This paper explores the intention to use mobile payment in Vietnam. From a theoretical standpoint, this study adds value to the scholarly discourse by examining individuals' inclination toward adopting mobile payment. From a practical standpoint, this study identifies the crucial elements that practices can leverage mobile payment services.

In order to discover new antibacterial agents, series of 2-salicyloylbenzofuran derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activities against three Gram-(+) strains (methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) ATCC 29213, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300, and Streptococcus faecalis (S. faecalis) ATCC 29212) and one Gram-(−) strain (Escherichia coli (E. coli) ATCC 25922). The 2-salicyloylbenzofuran heterocycles were generated by Rap–Stoermer condensation of salicylaldehydes with phenacyl bromides and then converted to diverse O-ether derivatives by Williamson synthesis. The targeted products were screened for in vitro qualitative (zone of inhibition) and quantitative (MIC) antibacterial activities by agar well diffusion assay and agar dilution method. Amongst the compounds, those bearing carboxylic acid functional group were found to exhibit reasonable activity against Gram-(+) bacterial strains including S. faecalis, MSSA and MRSA with the most potent antibacterial agent 8h (MICs = 0.06–0.12 mM). Besides, the 2-salicyloylbenzofurans partly displayed inhibitory activity against MRSA with the best MICs = 0.14 mM (8f) and 0.12 mM (8h). Finally, the antibacterial results preliminarily suggested that the substituent bearing carboxylic acid group at salicyloyl-C2 and the bromine atoms on the benzofuran moiety seem to be the functionality necessary for antibacterial activities.

Marine litter is a significant threat to the marine environment, human health, and the economy. In this study, beach litter surveys along Vietnamese coasts were conducted in a local context to quantify and characterize marine litter using the modified GESAMP marine litter monitoring guideline. A total of 21,754 items weighing 136,820.2 g was recorded across 14 surveys from September 2020 to January 2021. Plastic was the most abundant type of litter by both quantity (20,744 items) and weight (100,371.2 g). Fishing gear 1 (fishing plastic rope, net pieces, fishing lures and lines, hard plastic floats) and soft plastic fragments were the most frequently observed items (17.65% and 17.24%, respectively). This study not only demonstrates the abundance and composition of marine litter in Vietnam, it also provides valuable information for the implementation of appropriate preventive measures, such as the redesign of collection, reuse, and recycling programs, and informs policy and priorities, with a focus on action and investment in Vietnam. Moreover, insights from this study indicate that citizen science is a useful approach for collecting data on marine litter in Vietnam.

Articular cartilage defects affect millions of people worldwide, including children, adolescents, and adults. Progressive wear and tear of articular cartilage can lead to progressive tissue loss, further exposing the bony ends and leaving them unprotected, which may ultimately cause osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease). Unlike other self-repairing tissues, cartilage has a low regenerative capacity; once injured, the cartilage is much more difficult to heal. Consequently, developing methods to repair this defect remains a challenge in clinical practice. In recent years, tissue engineering applications have employed the use of three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds for growing cells to regenerate damaged cartilage. However, these scaffolds are mainly chemically synthesized polymers or are crosslinked using organic solvents. Utilizing 3D printing technologies to prepare biodegradable natural composite scaffolds could replace chemically synthesized polymers with more natural polymers or low-toxicity crosslinkers. In this study, collagen/oligomeric proanthocyanidin/oxidized hyaluronic acid composite scaffolds showing high biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties were prepared. The compressive strengths of the scaffolds were between 0.25–0.55 MPa. Cell viability of the 3D scaffolds reached up to 90%, which indicates that they are favorable surfaces for the deposition of apatite. An in vivo test was performed using the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat skull model. Histological images revealed signs of angiogenesis and new bone formation. Therefore, 3D collagen-based scaffolds can be used as potential candidates for articular cartilage repair.

While the connection between job burnout and quiet quitting is evident, the inhibitor underlying this relationship remains elusive. This research explores the moderating effect of optimism – a personal resource on the relationship between job burnout and quiet quitting. This study utilized a survey method of 405 Vietnamese employees working in 19 Vietnamese banks and analyzed data using PLS-SEM via Smart PLS 4.0. The results reveal that three dimensions of job burnout, namely personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout, positively impact quiet quitting. In addition, optimism negatively moderates the links between personal burnout and work-related burnout with quiet quitting. Unexpectedly, optimism does not moderate the linkage between client-related burnout and quiet quitting. These results offer practical implications for human resource practices within Vietnamese banks.

Background DNA methylation on cytosine in the CpG dinucleotides is one of the most common epigenetic perturbations taking place during cancer initiation, progression, occurrence and resistance therapy. DNA methylation seems to be sufficiently stable epigenetic modification to be utilized as a cancer biomarker in in vitro diagnostic (IVD) settings. Nowadays, the SHOX2 methylation ( mSHOX2 ) is one of the most valuable DNA methylation biomarkers of lung cancer that is the leading cause of cancer death. It is being continuously validated across ethnicities, lifestyles and lifespan. This study focused on characteristics of mSHOX2 in Vietnamese patients with lung cancer since a lack of investigation and evidence of its utility in this country. Methods The probe and primer sets were designed according to the MethyLight method for quantitative assessment of the mSHOX2 in 214 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung tissues and 57 plasma samples. Results mSHOX2 in FFPE tissues allowed discriminating benign and malignant lung diseases with 60% (95% CI 50.7–68.8%) sensitivity and 90.4% (95% CI 82.6–95.5%) specificity. Importantly, based on mSHOX2 in plasma, lung cancer could be detected with 83.3% (95% CI 65.3–94.4%) sensitivity and 92.6% (95% CI 75.7–99.1%) specificity, respectively. There were insignificant associations between mSHOX2 with age, cancer stage, EGFR mutation and serum CEA, CYFRA21-1 concentrations except for that gender. Conclusion Our study indicated that mSHOX2 was satisfactory for distinguishing malignant from benign lung tissue and noninvasively detecting lung cancer.