Vietnamese consumer's perspective on green beauty care products: Exploring the impact of animal welfare concerns and skepticism toward green advertising.

Green consumers increasingly consider animal welfare (AW) in their decision-making, demonstrating a growing awareness of ethical considerations beyond conventional environmental concerns. However, with an increase in greenwashing, skepticism has grown among consumers. Regardless of manufacturers' efforts to enhance consumer awareness via green advertising, consumer skepticism toward these advertisements creates doubt and consequently reduces positive attitudes and intentions to buy green products. This study investigated the variables that impact Vietnamese consumers' decision-making processes toward green beauty care products. Specifically, we focused on the role of AW concerns and skepticism toward green advertising. For this study, we adopted the timulus-response organism (SOR) framework, which is known for its ability to analyze the impact of environmental stimuli (S) on personal perceptions (O), leading to specific responses (R). We elucidated the relationship between concern for AW and green advertising skepticism (GAS) as stimulus factors, green brand trust (GBT) and attitude toward green products (ATT) as organism factors, and three sub-dimensions of behavioral intentions (BI): green purchase intention (GPI), word-of-mouth (WOM), and willingness to pay (WPP) as response factors. We explored the mediating effect of ATT on the relationship between GAS-GPI and AW-GPI. This study involved 386 Vietnamese participants surveyed using convenience sampling. Smart PLS v3.2.9 software was used to analyze the data using structural equation modeling. The hypothesis test using PLS-SEM confirmed that (a) GBT had a positive effect on BI and ATT; (b) ATT had a positive effect on BI; (c) GAS had a negative effect on GBT and WPP, but not on GPI and WOM; and (d) AW had a positive effect on GPI and WOM, but not on ATT and WPP. Surprisingly, this study found insufficient statistical evidence to support the mediating role of ATT in the relationship between GAS-GPI and AW-GPI. This study highlights the importance of integrated advertising and education campaigns in increasing customer awareness toward green products and the significance of comprehending the cultural context when developing marketing strategies, especially in emerging markets such as Vietnam, where environmental concerns are skeptical and AW issues are relatively new. The study delved into the Vietnam market and specifically examined beauty care products labeled as "not tested on animals." Additionally, we addressed a gap in the existing research by investigating the combined influence of AW concerns and GAS on the formation of green behavioral intentions (GBI).

Influence of titanium dioxide and composite on the accuracy of an intraoral scanner for bilateral upper posterior edentulous jaw (Kennedy class I) scanning: An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: The accuracy of 3-dimensional images produced by the intraoral scanner (IOS) is affected by scanning-aid materials. This in vitro study aimed to elucidate the influence of scanning-aid materials on the accuracy (trueness and precision) of digital scanning on the bilateral upper posterior edentulous jaw (Kennedy class I). METHODS: The asymmetrical bilateral upper posterior edentulous model (reference model) was generated using a 3D printer with three groups (application of TiO2 powder - composite and no-treatment control). The experimental scans were executed (n = 10 per group) using TRIOS3 (3shape), while one reference scan was obtained by an industrial scanner (Solutionix - C500). Values of trueness and precision were evaluated using the 3D superimposition method on mean deviation values. The accuracy was assessed using mean deviation values following the 3D superimposition method. RESULTS: IOS had high trueness (20.6 µm), and significant differences were found between the no-treatment and TiO2 groups. Considering the cut-off value of deviations as 300 µm for clinical acceptability, the analysis clarified the most variations in the control group. There was a significant difference between the no-treatment group and others in the maxillary tuberosity area relating to long-span edentulous. The composite group had the best precision values (1.1 µm). Significant differences were found between composite and TiO2 groups (2.7 µm). CONCLUSIONS: The bilateral upper posterior edentulous jaw digital impressions obtained using IOS were accurate. However, the digital images in the palate and maxillary tuberosity area related to long-span edentulous differed significantly. TiO2-containing powder and composite landmarks affected the accuracy and stability of the IOS. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Scanning aid materials can increase the accuracy of the bilateral upper posterior edentulous jaw scanning with IOS.

The relationship between financial decisions and equity risk.

This study was conducted to determine the impact of financial decisions on equity risk in enterprises. The factors representing financial decisions include investment decisions, working capital decisions, and funding decisions. The equity risk is represented by beta in firms. Research and analysis of panel data with generalized least squares (GLS) via industry construction companies listed on the Vietnam Stock Exchange from 2015 to 2019. The data analysis results show that investment decisions do not affect equity risk, working capital decisions have a positive impact on equity risk, and funding decisions have a negative impact on equity risk. Furthermore, this study shows that agency theory does not exist in the relationship between financial decisions and equity risk in industry-construction enterprises in Vietnam. From this result, the authors also provide implications to help investors and corporation managers make decisions according to their goals based on signs of financial decisions.

Improvement of physicochemical properties of reduced-cholesterol butter by the addition of ß-sitosteryl oleate.

Beta-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) has been shown to successfully lower the cholesterol content of dairy products, such as butter, but the process tends to negatively impact the overall quality and consistency. In this study, ß-sitosterol, which is similar in structure as cholesterol, was reacted with oleic acid to form ß-sitosteryl oleate (BSO), and this was used to improve the consistency of reduced-cholesterol butter. The reaction was catalyzed by sodium bisulfate (2%, w/w) at 140 °C, and the highest degree of esterification (94.3%) was obtained after 9 hr of reaction using a ß-sitosterol-oleic acid molar ratio of 1:5. Ultra-pasteurized cream was then treated with 15% (w/v) ß-CD at 40 °C with stirring (100 rpm), for 30 min. Results indicated a 95.4% reduction in cholesterol content. Finally, the reduced-cholesterol cream was constituted to contain 3, 5, and 10% (w/w) BSO, after which fat was extracted from the three formulations and their melting profiles compared to that of milk fat. The cream containing 3% BSO showed a profile similar to milk fat and was, therefore, used to formulate BSO-incorporated reduced-cholesterol butter (BSOB). Instrumental analyses showed that BSOB was comparable to the control butter with respect to physical properties, such as hardness/firmness and adhesiveness. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A modified plant sterol, beta-sitosteryl oleate, was incorporated into a reduced-cholesterol butter to improve its physicochemical properties. The reduced-cholesterol butter was comparable to regular butter with respect to its consistency and melting properties and could be made into sticks. In addition to the reduced-cholesterol butter, this product could provide the foundation for new products blending butter and oils to create other low-cholesterol, reduced saturated-fat products, possibly in stick form.