Factors contributing to animal health risks: Implication for smallholder pig production in Vietnam

In Vietnam, there are about four million households producing pigs of which more than half are producing at small scale, i.e., about one to two pigs per production cycle. One of the most critical constraints to pig production, especially for small scale, is the presence of animal disease. Many types of diseases have been reported by smallholder pig producers in Hung Yen such as diarrhea, pneumonia, fever, blue ear, head edema and pasteurellosis. The percentage of sick pigs is highest among piglets (27 percent), as compared with growing pigs and fatteners (five percent each). Diseases could lead to death of pigs, resulting in economic losses to the pig producers. Estimates of the cost of mortality in pig production in Hung Yen were about 3.3 million VND per household, accounting for about 13.6 percent of total income from pig production. Results of this study suggest that there are some practices that contribute to mitigating disease risk and those practices can be easily applied at small scale of pig production. These practices are related to applying a suitable production scale, isolating different age classes of pigs, designing pig houses and using specialized livestock farming tools and sanitation. The value of losses avoided from the above practices is estimated at 320.3 USD per household per year

Structure elucidation off seven steroids from Sinularia conferta.

Seven steroids were isolated from the methanol extract of the soft corals Sinularia conferta. These steroids were elucidated as 7a-methoxyergosta-5,24(28)-diene-3b-ol (1), ergosta-5-ene-3β,7α-diol (2), 3β,7α-dihydroxyergosta-5,24(28)-diene (3), 3β-hydroxyergosta-5,24(28)-diene-7-one (4), ergosta-24(28)-ene-3β,5α,6β-triol-6-acetate (5), ergosta-24(28)-ene-3β,5α,6β-triol (6), and ergosta-3β,5α,6β-triol (7) by 1D and 2D-NMR experiments and comparison with reported data. Keywords. Sinularia conferta, Alcyoniidae, soft coral, steroid

All-dielectric Metamaterial for Electromagnetically-induced Transparency in Optical Region

Metamaterial (MM) is emerging as a promising approach to manipulate electromagnetic waves, spanning from radio frequency to the optical region. In this paper, we employ an effect called electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) in all-dielectric MM structures to create a narrow transparent window in opaque broadband of the optical region (580-670 nm). Using dielectric materials instead of metals can mitigate the large non-radiative ohmic loss on the metal surface. The unit-cell of MM consists of Silicon (Si) bars on Silicon dioxide (SiO$_{2}$) substrate, in which two bars are directed horizontally and one bar is directed vertically. By changing the relative position and dimension of the Si bars, the EIT effect could be achieved. The optical properties of the proposed MM are investigated numerically using the finite difference method with commercial software Computer Simulation Technology (CST). Then, characteristic parameters of MM exhibiting EIT effect (EIT-MM), including Q-factor, group delay, are calculated to evaluate the applicability of EIT-MM to sensing and light confinement

STRUCTURE ELUCIDATION OF FOUR STEROIDS FROM THE SOFT CORAL SINULARIA NANOLOBATA

Four steroids namely 3β-hydroxyergosta-5,24(28)-diene-7-one (1), dissesterol (2), 16α-hydroxysarcosterol (3), and sarcophytosterol (4) were isolated form the soft coral Sinularia nanolobata using various chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR data and comparison with the reported values

Sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia among Vietnamese children less than five years of age

The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia in Vietnamese children. For this, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 40 villages (clusters) of four ecological regions in Vietnam during Apr-May 2001. In total 1657 children less than 5 years old were included by a cluster random sampling method. The prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol <0.70 μmol/L) was 12.0% and the prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin <110g/L) was 28.4 %. In the children under 6 months the prevalence of sub clinical vitamin A deficiency was 35.1 % whereas the prevalence of anemia in this group was as high as 61.7%. The prevalence of children with both sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia was 6.1%. Sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia prevalence differed significantly across the regions, with highest prevalence in the Northern Mountainous areas for vitamin A deficiency and in the Northern Mountainous area and Mekong River Delta for anemia. It is concluded that sub clinical vitamin A deficiency and anemia are still important public health problems in Vietnam. Sustainable strategies for combating vitamin A deficiency and nutritional anemia are needed and should concentrate on target groups, especially infants and malnourished children in high risk regions

Factors Influence on Promotion Mix in E-marketing: Case of Technology Services Enterprise in Vietnam

Purpose: The objective of this study is to clarify factors affecting the promotion mix in E-Marketing, with specific target audience being enterprises operating in the technology service industry in Vietnam.   Theoretical framework: Based on the promotion theory and social exchange theory, this study focuses on the factors that influence on the promotion decision in firms.   Design/Methodology/Approach: This study applies both qualitative and quantitative methods with data collected from a questionnaire survey.   Findings: There are 4 factors respectively Sales Promotion, Advertising, Public Relations and Personal Selling that affect the mixed promotion activities in E-Marketing of technology service enterprises in Vietnam.   Research, practical & social implications: This study propose solutions to improve the promotion activities in the e – marketing of firms in Vietnam.   Originality/Value: This study is one of the early studies that have focused in this field in Vietnam.Propósito: El objetivo de este estudio es aclarar los factores que afectan la combinación de promoción en E-Marketing, con un público objetivo específico que son las empresas que operan en la industria de servicios de tecnología en Vietnam. Marco teórico: Basado en la teoría de la promoción y la teoría del intercambio social, este estudio se centra en los factores que influyen en la decisión de promoción en las empresas. Diseño/metodología/enfoque: este estudio aplica métodos cualitativos y cuantitativos con datos recopilados de una encuesta de cuestionario. Hallazgos: Existen 4 factores, respectivamente, Promoción de Ventas, Publicidad, Relaciones Públicas y Ventas Personales que afectan las actividades mixtas de promoción en E-Marketing de las empresas de servicios de tecnología en Vietnam. Implicaciones de investigación, prácticas y sociales: este estudio propone soluciones para mejorar las actividades de promoción en el marketing electrónico de las empresas en Vietnam. Originalidad/valor: Este estudio es uno de los primeros que se han centrado en este campo en Vietnam.Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo é esclarecer os fatores que afetam o mix de promoção no E-Marketing, tendo como público-alvo específico as empresas que operam no setor de serviços de tecnologia no Vietnã.. Referencial teórico: Com base na teoria da promoção e na teoria das trocas sociais, este estudo se concentra nos fatores que influenciam a decisão de promoção nas empresas.. Desenho/metodologia/abordagem: Este estudo aplica métodos qualitativos e quantitativos com dados coletados de uma pesquisa por questionário. Resultados: Existem 4 fatores, respectivamente, Promoção de Vendas, Publicidade, Relações Públicas e Vendas Pessoais que afetam as atividades de promoção mista em E-Marketing de empresas de serviços de tecnologia no Vietnã. Pesquisa, implicações práticas e sociais: Este estudo propõe soluções para melhorar as atividades de promoção no e – marketing de empresas no Vietnã. Originalidade/valor: Este estudo é um dos primeiros estudos que se concentraram neste campo no Vietnã. Palavras-chave:  Mix de promoção; E-Marketing; Serviços de tecnologia; Vietn

Characterizing pig value chains in Vietnam: descriptive analysis from survey data

The traditional pig sector plays a significant role in Vietnam’s economy from production, especially for farmers in rural areas, to consumption (more than 90% of pork consumed is supplied by conventional wet markets). At the same time, the traditional pig sector is under threat from animal health and food safety risks that impact both its profitability and future viability. However, little research exists on defining key intervention points that could manage risks in a propoor, cost-effective manner. Our study highlighted and reviewed the contrast between pig value chains in two provinces (Hung Yen and Nghe An) that represent different levels of economic development in the county. Based on semi-structured questionnaires, 400 pig producing farmers and 400 pork consumers were surveyed in both provinces during July and August 2013, paying particular attention to typologies of production and consumption in rural, semi-urban, and urban zones. We also obtained information on 200 other intermediary value chain actors through semi-structured and in-depth interviews. Preliminary descriptive analysis revealed the main characteristics of various actors in the sampled value chains, including (vet and feed) input suppliers, producers, traders, slaughterhouses (or abattoirs), processors, retailers, and consumers. In particular, we found that actors in Hung Yen are more likely to be active and commercialised in pig value chains than those in Nghe An. At the same time, Nghe An is exposed to operate its chains more ‘self-sufficiently’, with ownproduced inputs, particularly feeds, and has more state-owned farms involved in breed supply. In both study sites, middlemen often perform multiple functions and are generally the most powerful actors in the surveyed chains since they have better access to information and dominate value-added activities. This may imply a potential control point for risk management in response to diseases transmitted in short-term as well as (pro-poor) profit distribution in longerterm. Moreover, the behaviours of actors in these two provinces are dissimilar in terms of production and consumption practices as a result of differences in production scale, knowledge, attitude and habits. Information from this study will provide more insightful understanding of these existing value chains and serve as the base for further economic and risk analysis

CHOLESTANE-TYPE STEROIDS FROM THE OCTOCORAL Verrucella corona

Using various chromatographic separations, three cholestane-type steroids were isolated from the methanol extract of the octocoral Verrucella corona. Their structures were elucidated to be (22E)-cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol-7-one (1), trans-liagosterol (2), and guggulsterol-II (3), by detailed analysis of the 1D and 2D-NMR data as well as comparison with those reported. Among them, compound 2 showed significant cytotoxicity against eight human cancer cell lines as HepG2, HL-60, KB, LNCaP, LU-1, MCF7, SK-Mel2, and SW480

Polyhydroxylated sterols from the soft coral sarcophyton pauciplicatum

The methanol extract of the soft coral Sarcophyton pauciplicatum afforded four sterols as (24S)-ergostane-3β,5α,6β,25-tetraol 25-monoacetate (1), (24S)-ergostane-3β,5α,6β,25-tetraol (2), (24S)-ergostane-1β,3β,5α,6β,25-pentaol 25-monoacetate (3), and (24S)-ergost-25-ene-1β,3β,5α,6β-tetraol (4) after subjecting it to various chromatographic experiments. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D-NMR experiments and comparison of their NMR data with reported values. This is the first report of these compounds from                       S. pauciplicatum