IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS ON BUSINESS RESULTS OF LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS IN INSURANCE COMPANIES IN HUE CITY

Abstract: On the basis of the leveraging Monte Carlo simulation method and @Risk – a risk analysis software, this study aims to identify and analyse the impacts of the potential risk factors on business results of life insurance products in the insurance companies in Hue city. Both the qualitative and quantitative method is applied. Data were collected from interviewing the leaders, financial managers and senior consultants at four most representative life insurance companies in the area, namely Bao Viet life insurance, Prudential, AIA, and PCI Sun Life using the DELPHI technique. The following findings are found. Firstly, besides the identified events, 10 other types of risks could affect the business results of life insurers. Secondly, these types of risks have varied frequencies and levels of impact on the three studied variables of the simulation model. Finally, the risk of rumours and the risk of new competitors appear to be the most significant dangers to the expected profits of life insurance companies.Keywords: Monte Carlo simulation, @Risk, Delphi technique, life insuranc

Preparation of antibacterial polypropylene grafted acrylic acid and immobilized silver nanoparticles by γ-irradiation method

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are now being widely used as antibacterial agents due to their strong bactericidal properties and low toxicity on mammalian cells. In this study, γ-rays irradiation method was used to synthesize AgNPs from silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution and to graft acrylic acid (AAc) onto porous polypropylene (PP). Porous PP grafted with AAc (PP-g-AAc) was then immobilized with AgNPs for preparing the antimicrobial materials (PP-g-AAc/AgNPs). The results demonstrated that the grafting yield of AAc onto PP increased by the increasing of irradiation dose as well as AAc concentration. The PP-g-AAc samples with grafting degrees from 1.2 to 29.8% were immobilized with AgNPs (d ~ 10 nm, 500 ppm) to obtain antimicrobial properties. The immobilized Ag contents were from 132 to 392 ppm and corresponded to the PP-g-AAc samples at grafting degrees from 1.2 to 29.8%. The in vitro antibacterial properties of PP-g-AAc/AgNPs materials on E. coli were evaluated and the results indicated that the bactericidal efficiency (η) increased by the increase of Ag contents in the tested materials. The germicidal activities against E. coli of PP-g-AAc/AgNPs containing 363 ppm Ag were found to be nearly 100% after treating in 30 min. In addition, the inhibition zone of this PP-g-AAc/AgNPs on E. coli was also found up to 28 mm in diameter. Thus, γ-rays radiation demonstrated a strong capability in grafting functional groups (AAc) onto porous PP. Furthermore, the porous PP grafted with AAc and immobilized with AgNPs might potentially be used for elimination of bacteria in water filtering

CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONS AND OPTIMIZATION OF TABLET CONTAINING EUCOMMIA ULMOIDES AND GARDENIA JASMINOIDES SPRAY-DRIED EXTRACTS

Objective: The E. ulmoides and G. jasminoides (EG) tablets containing 67 mg E. ulmoides spray-dried extract (ESE) and 173 mg G. jasminoides spray-dried extract (GSE) were prepared by employing the direct compression method. Due to the poor flowability and compressibility of the two spray-dried extracts, various excipients were added at different ratios so that the blends can be compressed into tablets with the required standards. This study aimed at the cause-effect relations and optimization of the EG tablet formulation.Methods: Different diluents including dibasic calcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA), silicified microcrystalline cellulose (SMCC), spray-dried lactose (SDL) and the active ingredients (blend of ESE and GSE at the ratio of 67:173, w/w) were separately investigated their own physical properties. The binary mixtures of the active ingredients with different ratios of DCPA, SMCC, and SDL were evaluated their flowability. D-optimal design based on three independent variables (% DCPA, % croscarmellose sodium (CCS) and % SMCC) was applied to evaluate the cause-effect relations and optimize the EG tablet formulation. The weight variation, disintegration time, hardness and friability were investigated as four dependent variables.Results: The flowability of the powders was found to be affected by the particle size distribution, particle shape and density. The three diluents could significantly improve the flowability of the active ingredients. All independent variables had significant effects on the dependent variables. An increase in % SMCC reduced the weight variation, hardness and increased the friability of tablets. Disintegration time was found to be in the negative relations with % CCS. The tablet hardness was in positive relations with % DCPA. The optimized EG tablet formulation composed of 9 % DCPA (w/w), 35 % SMCC (w/w), and 14 % CCS (w/w) of the excipient blend. The weight variation, disintegration time, hardness and friability of the optimized EG tablets were found to be 1.8 %, 11.7 min, 61.4 N, and 0.5 %, respectively.Conclusion: The ESE and GSE could be formulated into tablet by using direct compression method. The cause-effect relations and optimization of EG tablet formulation were studied and reported for the first time

PHÂN TÍCH KHẢ NĂNG ỨNG DỤNG CÔNG NGHỆ BLOCKCHAIN VÀO CHUỖI CUNG ỨNG DẦU TRÀM TẠI HUẾ

On the basis of referenced studies on blockchain technology and the applicability of blockchain in supply chain management of agricultural products, the study analyzes the applicability of blockchain technology in melaleuca oil supply chain in Hue. The study applies both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The results of the qualitative research step help outline a new research framework with 6 groups of aspects to be assessed. Next, the study surveys 215 units/individuals involved in the melaleuca oil supply chain, the sample is selected by simple random method. The obtained results show that the groups of aspects related to readiness (REA), compatibility (COM), cooperatability (COO) and legal environment (LEG) are trickiest obstacles to the applicability of blockchain technology. In addition, the difference test shows that each group of units/individuals in the supply chain has different levels of readiness for the application of new technology.Trên cơ sở tham khảo các nghiên cứu về công nghệ chuỗi khối (blockchain) và khả năng ứng dụng của blockchain trong quản lý chuỗi cung ứng sản phẩm nông nghiệp, nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm phân tích khả năng ứng dụng công nghệ blockchain vào chuỗi cung ứng dầu tràm tại Huế. Nghiên cứu áp dụng đồng thời cả hai phương pháp nghiên cứu định tính và định lượng. Kết quả bước nghiên cứu định tính giúp phác thảo nên được khung phân tích mới với 6 nhóm khía cạnh cần đánh giá. Tiếp đến, nghiên cứu khảo sát 215 các đơn vị/cá nhân tham gia vào chuỗi cung ứng dầu tràm, mẫu được chọn theo phương pháp ngẫu nhiên đơn giản. Kết quả thu được chỉ ra rằng: các nhóm khía cạnh liên quan đến điều kiện sẵn có (REA), khả năng tương thích (COM) và môi trường pháp lý (LEG) là những trở ngại lớn nhất cho việc ứng dụng công nghệ blockchain. Ngược lại, khả năng hợp tác (COO), môi trường xã hội (SOC), và môi trường cạnh tranh (CE) là những nền tảng quan trọng thúc đẩy khả năng ứng dụng blockchain. Ngoài ra, kiểm định sự khác biệt cho thấy, mỗi nhóm đơn vị/ cá nhân trong chuỗi cung ứng có mức độ sẵn sàng khác nhau cho việc ứng dụng công nghệ mới

Theranostic Gold Nanoshells: from Synthesis to Imaging and Photothermal Therapy Applications

Gold nanoshells (GNSs) were grown on monodispersed aminoprotpyltriethoxysilane (APTES) functionalized of silica nanoparticles (NPs) cores with varying sizes ranging from 40-180 nm synthesized by Stober route. Gold shells were deposited onto the surface of silica NPs by tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC) and electroless gold plating method. The coverage of the gold nanoshells on the surfaces of the silica NPs was evaluated using UV-VIS/NIR spectrospcopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The plasmon resonance wavelengths of these gold nanoshells were tunable from visible to near infrared region. The GNSs were also bioconjugated with anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody for diagnostic breast cancer cells using dark field microscope technique. These GNS NPs play a role as nanoheaters transforming light to heat. With the present of these GNS NPs at volume density of $3.6\times 10^{10}$ NPs.cm$^3$ in chicken tissue samples, illuminated by 808 nm laser at the power density of 62~W.cm$^2$ the temperature of tissue sample reachs 110\rc{ }C after 20 minutes illumination

Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Dye Doped in Ormosil Nanospheres for Bioapplications

Dye-doped ORMOSIL (organically modified silicate) nanoparticles (NPs) have significant advantages over single-dye labeling in signal amplification, photostability and surface modification for various biological applications. The dyes: Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Rhodamine B (RB) were successfully incorporated into ORMOSIL nanoparticles fabricated by micellar nanochemistry from Trimethoxysilane CH$_3$Si(OCH$_3$)$_3$ precursor. The optical characterization of dye-doped ORMOSIL NPs was studied in comparison with it’s of free dye in solution. The results shown that the photostability of ORMOSIL dye doped nanospheres is much improved in comparison with it’s of dye in solution. Other studies of the photophysical properties such as anisotropy, fluorescence lifetime and energy transfer were also done