Water Security in the Mekong River Basin Challenges, Causes and Solutions

Water, an essential element in sustaining life is of special importance to society and economic development. Although renewable, water resources are not infinite. It can be said that equitable and sustainable water resource management in the context of climate change is a challenge that all Mekong countries have been facing. The challenge becomes bigger in the context of water scarcity when the total amount of water is sharply decreasing and the water quality is declining, failing to meet domestic and industrial needs. Based on a study into the current situation of water security in the Mekong River, the author points out the basic challenges that threaten water security in the river basin. At the same time, the author discusses the reasons leading to this situation. Based on the research on the current situation of challenges and underlying causes, the author proposes a number of necessary solutions to cope with current and upcoming challenges. These solutions, including legal, diplomatic, economic and political solutions, should be implemented in a synchronized and long-term manner in the future

Một đóng góp về văn hóa thặng dư sinh thái

Nhân ngày Báo chí Cách mạng, 21-6-2024, cuốn sách về văn hóa do Tổng Bí thư Nguyễn Phú Trọng chủ biên, có tựa đề Xây dựng và phát triển nền văn hóa Việt Nam tiên tiến, đậm đà bản sắc dân tộc, được Nhà xuất bản Chính trị Quốc gia Sự thật in và phát hành cuối tháng 6-2024, đã ra mắt đông đảo độc giả. Sự kiện lễ giới thiệu sách được tác giả Nhật Minh tường thuật ngay cùng ngày

Likely impact of Antarctic sea ice loss on shifting sociocultural values

In 2023, Antarctic sea ice declined to historically low levels, prompting researchers to use CMIP6 climate models to assess the event’s rarity and connection to climate change

Co distribution in ferromagnetic rutile Co-doped TiO2_2 thin films grown by laser ablation on silicon substrates

Pure rutile Co-doped TiO$_2$ films were fabricated successfully by the conventional pulsed laser deposition technique on silicon substrates from a ceramic target. Under the right fabrication conditions, Co concentration in the films could be almost the same as in the synthesized target, and films under various conditions all are ferromagnetic well above room temperature. Even though Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy measurements show that Co atoms seem to be mostly localized near the surface of the films and less exist in deeper levels, other experimental evidences show that the ferromagnetism does not come from Co segregations but from the Co-doped TiO$_2$ matrix. Rutile Ti$_1-x$Co$_x$O$_2$ thin films grown by a very simple technique on low-price silicon substrates showing Curie temperature (TC) above 400 K appear to be very attractive to applications.Comment: 1 file, 13 pages, 4 figures. to be published in Appl. Phys. Lett. (2003

China's Angel Investment Policy

Purpose: This paper summarized and systematized the case of China's policies applied to attract angel investment which turned this country into a global highlight in angel investment.   Theoretical framework: The authors conducted a literature review on start-up and angel investment to introduce angel investment in China, analyze the role of angel investments in developing start-ups, and factor determinants and policy of angel investment in China.   Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper uses qualitative method to provide overviews on the case of China in attracting angel investment for their start-ups with an updated analysis on their relevant factor determinants and policies that contributed to the success of China.   Findings: It is found that the Chinese Government has actively carried out packages, including tax incentives, built programs, investment cooperation funds, developed networks, and angel investment education systems to boost funding readiness for firms. They also focus on promoting the start-up ecosystem and providing financial support to implement an innovation-driven development strategy to raise the nation's competitiveness.   Research, practical & social implications: This paper provides some suggestions for Chinese government in making policies to enhance the role of angel investments in developing start-ups.   Originality/Value: This paper contributes to the evolvement of research about start- up and angel investment, particularly in China, in the context of high-tech  production and breakthrough technologies, by providing a policy perspective to imply lessons for other countries

Lyapunov-based synchronization of two coupled chaotic Hindmarsh-Rose neurons

This paper addresses the synchronization of coupled chaotic Hindmarsh-Rose neurons. A sufficient condition for self-synchronization is first attained by using Lyapunov method. Also, to achieve the synchronization between two coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neurons when the self-synchronization condition not satisfied, a Lyapunov-based nonlinear control law is proposed and its asymptotic stability is proved. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, numerical simulations are performed

Damage detection for a large-scale truss bridge using Tranmissibility and ANNAOA

In this paper, we propose an efficient approach to enhance the capacity of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to deal with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) problems.  Over the last decades, ANN has been extensively utilized for damage detection in structures. In order to identify damages, ANN frequently utilizes input information that is based on dynamic features such as mode shapes or natural frequencies. However, this type of data may not be able to detect minor damages if the structural defects are insignificant. To transcend these limitations, in this work, we propose utilizing transmissibility to create input data for the input layer of ANN. Moreover, to deal with local minimum problems of ANN, a combination between the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) and ANN is proposed. The global search capacity of AOA is employed to remedy the local minima of ANN. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a numerical model with different damage scenarios is considered. The suggested approach detects damage location precisely and with higher severity detection precision than the conventional ANN method

Damage detection for a large-scale truss bridge using Tranmissibility and ANNAOA

In this paper, we propose an efficient approach to enhance the capacity of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to deal with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) problems.  Over the last decades, ANN has been extensively utilized for damage detection in structures. In order to identify damages, ANN frequently utilizes input information that is based on dynamic features such as mode shapes or natural frequencies. However, this type of data may not be able to detect minor damages if the structural defects are insignificant. To transcend these limitations, in this work, we propose utilizing transmissibility to create input data for the input layer of ANN. Moreover, to deal with local minimum problems of ANN, a combination between the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) and ANN is proposed. The global search capacity of AOA is employed to remedy the local minima of ANN. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a numerical model with different damage scenarios is considered. The suggested approach detects damage location precisely and with higher severity detection precision than the conventional ANN method

The Efficiency and the Performance of the Logistics Global Supply Chain Activities to Vietnam Exportation: an Empirical Case Study

Purpose: This research paper aims to determine the factors affecting the efficiency and logistics performance index (LPI) of Vietnam's exports to foreign partners during 2018-2022 are due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Theoretical Framework: Based on the primary factors affecting the efficiency and performance of global supply chain activities in logistics for Vietnam's exports, including practical impact and logistics results of enterprises in Vietnam. Based on the primary factors affecting the efficiency and performance of global supply chain activities in logistics for Vietnam's exports, including (1). Customs efficiency (speed, simplicity and predictability of customs clearance procedures) (2). Quality of infrastructure related to trade and transport, including Roads, railways, ports, airports, warehouses and information technology ...(3). The level of ease when arranging to transport import and export goods with competitive prices (costs such as warehousing fees, port fees, tolls ... ) (4). Capacity and quality of logistics service providers ... (5). Ability to track and trace shipments. (6). Timeliness of the shipment to the destination within the specified time limit. The practical impact and logistics results of enterprises in Vietnam.   Method: The panel approach allows the authors to explore the heterogeneity in data across countries. Fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) models were used to estimate the model. Then, the Hausman test is carried out to decide which model is appropriate. The data were collected from 240 observations from Vietnam and 80 major export partner countries of Vietnam.   Findings: The research results show that the cost, time and capacity of providing logistics services have the most significant impact on Vietnam's exports.   Practical & social implications: Overall, to increase the efficiency and logistics efficiency of enterprises. The Vietnamese Government needs to cooperate and propose ideas to partner countries to improve logistics activities for exports from Vietnam. Logistics is beginning to play an increasingly important role in the competitiveness of economies.   Originality values: This study also confirms the sustainability of the extended gravity model using OLS and RE methods by substituting different variables for the country's logistics efficiency and solving the endogenous problem in the model while applying the regression method to industrial variables. We find that an 1% improvement in Vietnam's logistics would increase Vietnam's exports by 1.443%, and an 1% improvement in a partner country’s performance would help promote Vietnam's exports to this country by 0.546%

Facile Synthesis of Carbon Quantum Dots by Plasma-liquid Interaction Method

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are a novel type of fluorescent nano-materials with various unique properties. They are recently attracting enormous interest due to their superiority in water solubility, chemical inertness, low toxicity, ease of functionalization as well as resistance to photo-bleaching and potential applications in biomedical indication, photo-catalysis, energy conversion, optoelectronics, and sensing. In this work, we present a facile and environmentally friendly synthesis of CQDs based on plasma - liquid interaction method. This is a single-step method and does not use toxic chemicals. The size distribution of obtained CQDs is rather uniform at approximately 3 nm. The emission peak of CQDs shifts from 427 nm to 523 nm as the excitation wavelength is varied from 340 nm to 460 nm. The non-equilibrium reactive chemistry of plasma liquid interaction is responsible for acceleration of the CQDs formation process