Bank Risk Management: A Regulatory Perspective

The globalization of financial markets, information technology development, and increasing competition have largely affected bank business and its risk management. Together with these forces, regulatory factors play a significant role. This chapter approaches bank risk management under the regulators’ perspective with an emphasis on the risk-based capital regulation. Specifically, how bank risk is regulated under the risk-based capital regulation and whether the regulation shapes bank risk are discussed in detail. In such a way, the chapter provides better understanding of the risk-based capital regulation and bank risk-taking behaviors

Preparing for the Next Global Threat: A Call for Targeted, Immediate Decisive Action in Southeast Asia to Prevent the Next Pandemic in Africa

Global investments have had great impact on malaria—these are now at risk of being reversed. Cambodia is where drug resistance historically emerges and spreads globally to drive resulting pandemics—we are currently watching history repeat itself. Despite large investments and recent success in driving down overall rates of malaria, high levels of resistance to nearly all antimalarial drugs are now widespread in Cambodia. Malaria cases are again rising in both Cambodia and Vietnam. Nearly incurable malaria in this region is a real and present threat. Critical actions to prevent further spread of the emerging incurable parasites are: (1) Commitment and real sense of urgency through declaration of a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” or a similar set of directives; (2) Establish leadership with sufficient authority, respect, expertise and operational funding; (3) Engage affected security forces to stop disease transmission and support elimination operations; (4) Utilize surveillance as a core intervention with result-based funding targeting malaria transmission foci with rapid and effective action. Immediate decisive action is needed in Southeast Asia to prevent the next malaria pandemic. This chapter highlights persistent gaps in the region with methods to address them. In 2015–2016, our collaboration with NIMPE pilot tested tools to intervene in actual forest transmission foci. Our study district saw a 96% decrease in malaria from 2014 to 2017, with the entire province seeing the largest decrease in Central Vietnam in this same timeframe. We describe methods to tackle transmission foci, with both an integrated prevention and treatment package. We call on all stakeholders to make changes to current investments to address this critical challenge

Good coups, bad coups: evidence from Thailand’s financial markets

This study investigates the short-run and long-run impact of coups on Thailand’s financial markets. Using daily data from the stock and foreign exchange markets during the period 2005–2017, the study shows (1) both coups in 2006 and in 2014 exert short-run impact on Thailand’s stock and foreign exchange markets; (2) however, the direction and magnitude of impact are different and opposite in the two coups; and (3) in the long run, the coups exhibit minimal impact on the currency market, but induce better market performance (positive return and decrease in the return volatility) despite an increase in liquidity risk of the stock market. Against common beliefs about negative consequences of the coup d’états, this study suggests that the uncertainty surrounding coups can bring good investment opportunities for investors to earn abnormal profits. Moreover, in the long term, the coup can drive the country to better stability and development

In silico single polymorphism analysis of RPMS1 and A73 gene in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most frequent cancer types in Vietnam, with high mortality rate. Therefore, the early diagnosis and detection of NPC is urgently needed to improve patient survival. Recent studies have confirmed that the infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and polymorphism in RPMS1 and A73 are considered as the etiological factor associated with NPC. However, in Vietnam, there are no studies relevant to the identification of polymorphism of RMPS1 and A73. With the aims, in future, to develop a technique based on detecting the frequencies of RPMS1 and A73 variants as biomarkers of prognosis and early diagnosis of NPC, we conducted the initial in silico analysis (1) Data collection, statistical analysis the frequencies detection of RPMS1 and A73 variants from various previous published studies; (2) Determine experimental methods to predict and diagnose early NPC and examine necessary steps in silico. As the results, we established the systematic databases of RPMS1 and A73 polymorphism, and evaluation the primer set for the amplification of RPMS1 and A73, which could be applied in further studies related to the identification of RPMS1 and A73 gene polymorphism to find out the potential biomarkers for screening, diagnosis as well as NPC treatment

Study, Design and Construction of an Early Warning Environmental Radiation Monitoring Station

We report on the design and construction of an Early Warning Environmental Radiation Monitoring Station (EWERMS), used ONLINE in the environmental radiation monitoring and early warning network. It has a  high sensitivity and can send a prompt alarm signal via Internet to the emergency management office. It includes four gamma probes: one NaI(Tl) and three Geiger Mueller (GM) detectors. The NaI(TL) detector is used to monitor spectrum environmental radiation and measure the isotopic composition, the GM detectors are used to detect and measure high gamma ray rates. The instrument has been designed to be used outdoor and tolerate large and rapid temperature variations. The photomultiplier tubes (PMT), amplifiers and Analog To Digital (ADC) gains are stabilized using pulsed LEDs as precision reference light sources

Exploring the feasibility of introducing triple artemisinin-based combination therapy in the malaria treatment policy in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the processes regarding changing malaria treatment policies in Vietnam. Moreover, it explores the feasibility of introducing triple artemisinin-based combination therapy (TACT) in Vietnam to support the national malaria control and elimination plan. METHODS: Data were collected via 12 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, combined with a review of policy documents. RESULTS: TACT is considered as a useful backup strategy in case future treatment failures with current artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) would occur. Moreover, TACT is also considered as a promising strategy to prevent the re-establishment of malaria. However, regulatory procedures and implementation timelines for TACT were expected to be lengthy. Therefore, strategies to engage national decision-makers, regulators, and suppliers should be initiated soon, stipulating the benefits of TACT deployment. In Vietnam, a procedure to apply for an import permit without registration that has previously been applied to the introduction of artesunate-pyronaridine was proposed to accelerate the introduction of TACT. Global-level support through the World Health Organization recommendations and prequalification were considered critical for supporting the introduction of TACT in Vietnam. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate approach strategies and early stakeholder engagement will be needed to accelerate the introduction of TACT in Vietnam

Applied bioinformatics tools for analysis of Microrna-214 expression and prediction of its potential targets genes in Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

miRNA (microRNA) are short RNA molecules in length from 20 to 24 nucleotides that have been shown to play an important role in regulating gene expression in many different types of human cancer. Meanwhile, miRNA-214 is one of the known miRNAs involved in the formation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through overexpression that promotes proliferation and development of cancer cells. However, in Vietnam, the study of miR-214 related to NPC has not been conducted yet. With the aims to develop the further studies of miR-214 on NPC in Vietnamese patients, in this initial study, we conducted the analysis of miR-214 expression in previous publications, as well as the prediction of miR-214 potential target genes, which involved in many cellular pathways. Here we applied bioinformatics tools to predict miRNAs and their targets, and discuss the role of miR-214 in the context of human cancers. As the results, miR-214 acted as the oncogenic roles in NPC, relevanted to many pathways, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis and invasion through the its target genes LTF, Bim, Bax, LINC0086, etc. In conclusion, the use of computional approaches facilitate the further experimental validation of miRNAs in general, particularly miR-214, in Vietnamese NPC patients

Reduction in Plasmodium falciparum Pfk13 and pfg377 allele diversity through time in southern Vietnam

Background: Plasmodium falciparum has acquired resistance to artemisinin in Southeast Asia, with mutations in the P. falciparum Kelch-13 (Pfk13) gene associated with the resistance phenotype. The widespread use of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)s in Southeast Asia has led to the selection and spread of parasites carrying mutations in Pfk13. We characterised the allele diversity of Pfk13 and pfg377, an artemisinin-resistance neutral polymorphic gene, in parasite DNA extracted human blood from in southern Vietnam in 2003, 2012, 2015 and 2018.Method: This study was conducted in Bu Gia Map commune, Binh Phuoc province, Vietnam, from May 2018 to January 2019. Twenty-four samples from 2018 to 2019, 30 from 2003, 24 from 2012 and 32 from 2015 were analysed. Malaria-infected human blood was collected by finger-prick and used for molecular analysis. A nested-PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was used for Plasmodium species identification, followed by amplification and nucleotide sequencing of Pfk13 and region 3 of pfg377. Archived blood samples collected in the same region in 2012 and 2015 were also analysed as above for comparison.Results: The genetic diversity of Pfk13 and pfg377 was lower in 2018–2019 compared to 2012 and 2015. The number of distinct Pfk13 mutants decreased from three in 2012 and 2015, P553L, V568G and C580Y, to one, C580Y in 2018–2019. In 2018–2019, the frequency of C580Y mutant strains was 71% (17/24 isolates). All samples were wild type in 2003. In 2012 and 2015, there were single-strain infections as well as co-infections with two mutant strains or with mutant and wild strains, whereas there were no co-infections in 2018. pfg377 allele diversity decreased from five alleles in 2012 to two alleles in 2018–2019.Conclusion: The genetic diversity of P. falciparum was reduced at the two genetic loci surveyed in this study, Pfk13 and pfg377. In the case of the former gene, we observed an increase in the prevalence of parasites carrying the C580Y gene, known to confer reduced susceptibility to ACTs. The reduction in the diversity of pfg377 may be linked to the clonal expansion of parasite strains carrying the C580Y mutation, leading to an overall reduction in parasite genetic diversity across the population