Ownership complexity and loan quality: Evidence for listed commercial banks in Vietnam

This paper examines the relationship among aspects of bank ownership complexity, including ownership dispersion and type, and the quality of bank loan portfolio. The data used for analysis is an unbalanced panel consisting of 13 listed commercial banks in Vietnam for the period of 2010 - 2019. The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio is used as an indicator of loan quality. The results showed that ownership dispersion, calculation based on the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index of large shareholding, improves the loan quality. Foreign ownership is also found to have positive impact on the loan quality. However, there is no relationship established between government ownership and loan quality.

Assessment of impact of combined heat on the environment of urbanized areas (case study of Ulan-Ude, Russia)

Combined heat and power plants (CHPP) are an important component of the energy balance in many countries. However, of all types of power plants, CHPPs have the largest impact on the environment. In recent years, the urban ecology has become one of the key indicators that determine the quality of life of city residents. The article evaluates the impact of the CHPPs in Ulan-Ude on the example of CHPP-1. The main sources of environmental pollution, and, accordingly, the zone of exposure of CHPP-1’ pollutants have been identified. Virtually the entire territory of the city of Ulan-Ude falls under this zone, but since northwestern winds prevail in this area, the north-western part of the city is most affected. Based on the results of a detailed dispersion calculation, we defined the following substances which should be monitored: nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mineral oil, and inorganic dust (70-20% SiO2 and coal dust). The concentration of these substances in the air is significant.

Systematic Approach to Transboundary Radioactivity Monitoring for Accidents in External Nuclear Power Plants

Past nuclear accidents demonstrated that radioactive materials from an accident in a nuclear power station (NPS) can disperse to other countries or even across the globe. This means all countries need to be prepared to respond to a nuclear power emergency even if they have no nuclear power program. This study aims to propose a structured framework for such a country to perform transboundary atmospheric dispersion assessment of an accidental release in an external NPS with limited calculation resources. A trial calculation of a hypothetical release from an interfacing system loss of coolant accident (ISLOCA) in Unit 1 of Fangchenggang NPS during different representative meteorological scenarios is carried out to demonstrate the usability of the proposed framework. It was found that a relatively large release can reach the border of Thailand within 24 hours when the wind along the dispersion pathway is basically in northeast direction with significant amount of rainfall, though it may not be able to trigger the alarm at the radiation monitoring stations. However, it is highly likely that the release that fulfills the aforementioned conditions be detected by one of the stations within 48 hour-timeframe. As the trial calculation could deliver insightful findings with limited calculation resources, the proposed transboundary atmospheric dispersion calculation framework can be used in other non-nuclear power countries to prepare for emergency response to accidents in external NPSs.

ESTE ANNUAL IMPACTS—SYSTEM FOR ASSESSMENT OF RADIOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF OPERATIONAL DISCHARGES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES

Described are models and approaches of the software tool ESTE Annual Impacts, a system for analyzes of radiological impacts of operational discharges to the atmosphere and hydrosphere from nuclear facilities. As a result, evaluated are radiological impacts to the population (to representative person and collective doses) and the environment (plants and animals). Described are models applied for calculation of dispersion in the atmosphere and hydrosphere (river, dam, sea). Method of application of sea currents for dispersion calculation in marine environment is also presented. The system is used by operators of the operated and decommissioned nuclear facilities at the site Bohunice (Slovakia), by regulatory authority of the Czech Republic for facilities at the sites Dukovany and Temelín and by operator of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (Iran). In addition, the system is tool for analyses of environmental impacts assessments, applied in environmental impacts assessments process for newly prepared nuclear sources in Slovakia and Czech Republic.

Assessment of the risk of dust influence on human health in urban built-up areas

The non-carcinogenic risk of chronic effects Rch and immediate effects Rn caused by human exposure to dust depending on the urban development density was determined. The equation was obtained which sets the relation between the concentration of dust in the atmospheric air and the air temperature, humidity, wind velocity, the coefficient of housing development density, the specific load of dust pollution on the atmosphere. It can be used in practice in the course of dispersion calculation and risk assessment, including the forecasting ones.