A new radio-frequency (RF) liquid permittivity measurement system using a filter-based microfluidic sensor is proposed in this paper. Integrating the filter-based sensor with an RF source, a power ...divider, and a gain/phase detector can form a new permittivity measurement system without using a bulky and expensive vector network analyzer (VNA) to acquire measured data. Since two coupled resonators with a strong coupling synthesize the filter-based sensor, it can provide a stronger electric-field concentration in the sensing area and improve the sensor's sensitivity. The 8-μL water-ethanol mixtures with ethanol volume fractions (EVF) ranging from 10% - 90% in 10% increments are used as the test liquids to evaluate the proposed sensor and system. Compared with the measured results using the commercial dielectric probe kit, the maximum errors of ε′ r and ε″ r using the filter-based sensor with a VNA are -4.34% and 13.24%, respectively. At the same time, ε′ r and ε′ r errors are 8.28% and 14%, respectively, using the proposed permittivity measurement system. Since the proposed permittivity measurement system can flexibly synthesize the sensing area size, control the electric-field intensity, and get rid of a VNA, it makes it easier to satisfy the requirements of various microfluidic sensing scenarios.
In this paper, a new microwave humidity sensor is proposed with the near-field self-injection-locked (NFSIL) technology. This sensor is composed of a humidity sensing oscillator and a frequency ...demodulator. The sensing oscillator is designed at 7.67 GHz using a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity with embedded air holes. It is used to generate an electric-field distribution in the air holes and in the near-field region. According to the self-injection-locked (SIL) theory, as the moist air is distributed in the sensing region, the oscillation frequency of the SIW oscillator varies corresponding to different relative humidity (RH) levels, namely a frequency-modulated signal produced by this sensing oscillator. A delay-line frequency discriminator is then treated as a demodulator to obtain the voltage outputs, which are related to their corresponding RH. The proposed humidity sensor has been experimentally demonstrated to have an effective capability for humidity detection over a RH range of 50%-90%. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed sensor is the first microwave sensor to detect RH without using a vector network analyzer.
Along with the acceleration of green marketing in recent years, greenwash has been utilized by firms to get ahead of their rivals. Underpinned by the cognition–affect–behavior (C-A-B) paradigm, this ...study examines a model linking greenwash and green skepticism with green purchase intentions. It also investigates the moderating role of information and knowledge on the relationship between greenwash and green purchase intentions. Data were obtained from 419 Vietnamese consumers who had been involved in purchasing green vegetables using an online survey. Multivariate data analysis demonstrated that greenwash was negatively associated with green purchase intentions and that green skepticism mediated this negative association. In addition, the moderating effect of information and knowledge was confirmed. These findings enrich the extant knowledge on the relationship between greenwash and green purchase intentions. They also have important implications for firms that aim to reduce consumers’ skepticism and increase their intentions to purchase green food.
To compare the longer-term development outcomes in children born after freeze-only versus fresh embryo transfer (ET) in women with an ovulatory cycle.
Long-term follow-up study (NCT04099784) of ...babies born alive after the first ET in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates after use of a freeze-only versus fresh ET strategy (NCT02471573).
Private clinic.
Of 391 couples randomized to each treatment group in the RCT, 132 (97 singleton/35 twins) and 123 (95 singleton/28 twins) in the freeze-only and fresh ET groups had live birth; 113 parents (86%) from the freeze-only group (147 babies) and 99 (80%) from the fresh ET group (120 babies) returned questionnaires for this follow-up study.
Use of a freeze-only or fresh ET strategy after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with a follicle-stimulating hormone/gonadotropin-releasing antagonist protocol.
Developmental status at ≥2 years after birth, determined using the Developmental Red Flags and Ages & Stages Third Edition (ASQ-3) Questionnaires.
Mean age of children at the end of follow-up was 37 months. Height (95.0 ± 6.1 vs. 95.7 ± 5.6 cm) and weight (14.9 ± 2.6 vs. 14.8 ± 2.6 kg) were similar in the freeze-only and fresh ET groups (results were similar when singletons and twins were analyzed separately). Overall, ASQ-3 scores for problem solving were significantly better in the freeze-only versus fresh ET group (overall: 53.6 ± 8.4 vs. 51.1 ± 10.2), with no significant between-group difference when singletons (52.3 ± 10.1 vs. 51.0 ± 9.9) and twins (55.0 ± 5.5 vs. 51.4 ± 11.1) were analyzed separately. Fine motor skills scores were numerically higher (with P values approaching statistical significance) in the freeze-only versus fresh ET group in the overall analysis (47.8 ± 11.6 vs. 44.9 ± 12.6) and twins (49.85 ± 8.72 vs. 43.93 ± 12.71), but not singletons (46.0 ± 13.4 vs. 45.4 ± 12.6). The overall proportion of children with abnormal ASQ-3 (6.8% vs. 8.3%) or abnormal Red Flags (5.4% vs. 6.7%) findings in the freeze-only and fresh ET groups was low and did not differ significantly between groups.
These data provide physicians with additional information on which to base decisions about the relative merits of different approaches to infertility treatment. There do not appear to be any grounds for concern about worse outcomes after use of a freeze-only strategy. However, additional studies comparing childhood development after a freeze-only strategy, fresh ET, and natural cycles are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Desarrollo de niños nacidos por transferencia de embriones frescos versus congelados: seguimiento de un ensayo controlado aleatorio.
Comparar los resultados del desarrollo a largo plazo en niños después de la transferencia de embriones (TE) congelados versus frescos en mujeres con un ciclo ovulatorio.
Estudio de seguimiento a largo plazo (NCT04099784) de bebés nacidos vivos después de la primera TE en un ensayo controlado aleatorio (ECA) que compara las tasas de embarazo en curso y de nacidos vivos después TE congelados versus TE frescos (NCT02471573).
Clínica privada.
De 391 parejas aleatorizadas en cada grupo de tratamiento en el ECA, se dividieron en 132 recién nacido vivos (97 únicos / 35 gemelos) y 123 (95 únicos / 28 gemelos) en los grupos de TE congelados y TE frescos respectivamente; 113 padres (86%) del grupo de TE congelados (147 bebés) y 99 padres (80%) del grupo de TE fresco (120 bebés) devolvieron los cuestionarios para su seguimiento en el estudio.
Uso de una estrategia de TE frescos o congelados solamente después de la hiperestimulación ovárica controlada con un protocolo de antagonista liberador de gonadotropinas / hormona estimulante del folículo.
Estado del desarrollo a los 2 años después del nacimiento, determinado mediante la tercera edición de los cuestionarios de banderas rojas del desarrollo y edades y etapas (ASQ-3).
La edad media de los niños al final del seguimiento fue de 37 meses. La altura (95,0 _ 6,1 frente a 95,7 _ 5,6 cm) y el peso (14,9 _ 2,6 frente a 14,8 _ 2,6 kg) fueron similares en los grupos de TE congelados y frescos (los resultados fueron similares cuando se analizaron por separado a los hijos únicos y los gemelos). En general, las puntuaciones de ASQ-3 para la resolución de problemas fueron significativamente mejores en el grupo de TE congelado versus fresco (en general: 53,6 _ 8,4 frente a 51,1 _ 10,2), sin diferencias significativas entre los grupos cuando se utilizaron grupos de únicos (52,3 _ 10,1 frente a 51,0 _ 9,9) y gemelos (55,0 _ 5,5 frente a 51,4 _ 11,1), estos fueron analizados por separado. Las puntuaciones de las habilidades motoras finas fueron numéricamente más altas (con valores de P que se acercan a la significación estadística) en el grupo de TE congelado versus fresco en el análisis general (47,8 _ 11,6 frente a 44,9 _ 12,6) y gemelos (49,85 _ 8,72 frente a 43,93 _ 12,71), pero no para gestaciones únicas (46,0 _ 13,4 frente a 45,4 _ 12,6). La proporción general de niños con ASQ-3 anormal (6,8% frente a 8,3%) o signos de alarma anormales (5,4% frente a 6,7%) en los grupos de TE congelados y frente a TE frescos fue baja y no difirió significativamente entre los grupos.
Estos datos brindan a los médicos información adicional sobre donde basar sus decisiones sobre los éxitos relativos según los diferentes enfoques en el tratamiento de la infertilidad. No parece haber motivos para preocuparse por los peores resultados después del uso de una estrategia de congelación. Sin embargo, estudios adicionales que comparan el desarrollo infantil después de una estrategia de uso de congelados, TE frescos y ciclos naturales son necesarios antes de poder sacar conclusiones firmes.
(1) Background: This study aims to assess the magnitude of, and factors associated with, depression and anxiety among Vietnamese frontline hospital healthcare workers in the fourth wave of COVID-19; ...(2) Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was carried out within two weeks, October 2020, at a central COVID-19 treatment hospital. Depression and anxiety were measured with PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to recognize variables related to depression and anxiety, respectively; (3) Results: Among 208 frontline hospital healthcare workers, overall prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and both symptoms of depression and anxiety was 38.94%, 25.48% and 24.04%, respectively, in healthcare workers. In a reduced model after using multivariate stepwise logistic regression, age (OR = 0.9,
= 0.001), marital status (OR = 7.84,
= 0.027), profession (OR = 0.39,
= 0.028), having experienced traumatic stress following a work event (OR = 46.24,
< 0.001), feeling at very high risk for COVID-19 (OR = 0.02,
< 0.04), and affected by workplace conditions (OR = 5.36,
< 0.001) were associated with the symptoms of depression. With regard to symptoms of anxiety, single status (OR: 12.18,
= 0.002), being medical technician (OR: 68.89,
< 0.001), alcohol use (OR: 6.83,
= 0.014), using pain relief medications (OR: 25.50,
= 0.047), having experienced traumatic stress following a family event (OR: 130.32,
= 0.001), having experienced traumatic stress following a work event (OR: 181.55,
= 0.002), reporting at very high risk for COVID-19 (OR: 29.64,
= 0.011), treating moderate (OR: 6.46,
= 0.038) and severe (OR: 18.96,
= 0.004) COVID-19 patients, and being significantly affected by the community (OR: 6.33,
= 0.003) were increased risk factors for the symptoms of anxiety. Meanwhile, those living with 4-5 people (OR: 0.15,
= 0.011), specializing in infectious disease (OR: 0.13,
= 0.044)/resuscitation and emergency medicine (OR: 0.04,
= 0.046), and having knowledge preparation before participating in COVID-19 (OR: 0.008,
= 0.014) were less associated with the symptoms of anxiety; (4) Conclusions: There was a relatively high prevalence among Vietnamese hospital healthcare workers exhibiting symptoms of depression and anxiety during the ongoing pandemic. Greater attention to training in psychological skills should be suggested for those belonging to a younger age group, being single/widowed/divorced, treating moderate and severe COVID-19 patients, feeling at very high risk for COVID-19, being significantly affected a lot the community or workplace conditions, or experiencing traumatic stress following a family/work event in the past week.
In the context of global economic integration, there are many opportunities for promoting economic development, but there are also challenges of complexity and risk in business activities. This ...always raises many questions that need to be resolved for credit institutions. The internal control system of credit institutions has become increasingly important for the sustainable development of the national financial system. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the internal control system in the practical application of Vietnamese credit institutions. Descriptive statistics are applied to analyze data using SPSS software. The structured questionnaire is designed to collect objective opinions and purposive sampling techniques among 382 experts who are managers of credit institutions in 2020. The results show that all five components improve the effectiveness of the internal control system, and the internal control system plays a role in the safety of Vietnamese credit institutions. Thus, the Central Bank of Vietnam should improve the legal framework and related internal control provisions for credit institutions in accordance with international principles to improve the effectiveness of the internal control system.
The development of functional foods is key to promoting a healthy diet and preventing certain diseases. This study aims to examine several key factors that affect consumer attitude and intention with ...respect to purchasing functional foods in an emerging market economy. A research model was developed by extension of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), and then validated through obtaining data from 596 Vietnamese consumers who were interested in functional yogurts using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multivariate data analysis reveals that while health consciousness and subjective norm significantly enhance consumers' attitudes towards purchasing functional yogurts, perceived price of functional yogurts exerts a negative impact on such attitudes. Moreover, subjective norm and attitude appear to be key predictors of consumers' intentions to buy functional yogurts. These findings extend the extant literature relating to functional food purchase and consumption in emerging markets, and they have several important practical implications for functional yogurt manufacturers, retailers, and policymakers. A major implication is that education and communication programs that aim at increasing consumers' health consciousness and their awareness of functional foods' health benefits play an integral role in the success of functional food products such as functional yogurts. Research limitations and future research directions are also presented.
(1) Background: The present study measures the fear of COVID-19 among hospital healthcare workers and identifies several factors associated with increasing fear of COVID-19. (2) Methods: A ...cross-sectional, hospital-based survey was conducted on healthcare workforce recruited from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases from 1 October 2021 and 20 October 2021. We selected the participants who have been directly involved in diagnosing, treating, or providing nursing care to patients with COVID-19. The primary data was collected via sending the invitation directly to the participants, utilizing structured self-completed questionnaires. The seven-item fear of COVID-19 scale was used to measure the data. The responses of 208 hospital healthcare workers were included in the final analysis. (3) Results: Total score of COVID-19 fear was 19.62 (SD = 5.22). The COVID-19 fear score of 7 items ranged from 2.38 (SD = 0.83) to 3.21 (SD = 0.96). The lowest and highest scores were the item '
' and the item '
' was the highest, respectively. Linear regression of the COVID-19 fear showed that the factors positively correlated with the fear of COVID-19 among hospital healthcare workers were: being influenced by the community (
= 0.001), feeling at very high risk of COVID-19 (
= 0.03), and experiencing traumatic stress with an academic event (
= 0.042). (4) Conclusions: Although these findings merit further elaboration, these preliminary findings suggest relatively great fear of the COVID-19 pandemic among Vietnamese hospital healthcare workers and that social and personal connections are necessary for maintaining the mental wellbeing.
This article analyzes the India-Australia relationship within the challenged context of the US-China rivalry and of the rise of China. The details of this bilateral relationship need to be focused ...for analyzing cooperation trends and common national interests of the two countries. This paper will apply various theoretical perspectives of international studies for examining the empirical data from official declarations, policies of the two countries and academic research studies directly related to the India-Australia relationship. The hypothesis of this research is that the Indo-Pacific regional structuralization and great powers' rivalries would lead to the context in which the regional power competition and new regional institutions establishment would promote the common strategic interests and balancing policies between the US and China of the two countries. Therefore, the bilateral relationship between India and Australia would have opportunities for further development in the future.
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