Payment Methods in Acquisitions of Association of Southeast Asian Nations Bidders

This paper examines the determinants of methods of payment in M&A transactions in ASEAN countries. We take into account the effects of characteristics of bidders, targets and countries on the choice of method of payment. The findings document the importance of bidders' technology status, targets' ownership status, relative size of bidders and targets, and especially the corporate governance variables in the countries that involved in those M&A transactions. In addition, crisis periods also distinguish the choices of payment method for domestic and cross-border M&As in ASEAN countries. Keywords: Methods of payment, ASEAN countries, Mergers, Acquisitions JEL Classifications: G32, G34, G3

Costing analysis of national HIV treatment and care program in Vietnam

The study found that HIV treatment and care costs in Vietnam are economical, yet there is potential to further promote efficiency through strengthening competitive procurement, integrating HIV services, and promoting earlier antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Non-antiretroviral (ARV) costs in adults at stand-alone facilities were 44% (first year ART) and 24% (later year ART) higher than those at integrated facilities. As well, early treatment before patients’ progress to advanced immunodeficiency will prevent an increase in new HIV infections, while decreasing need for ART in the future. This study provides a first-ever evidence base for nationwide HIV treatment and care costs in Vietnam

Depression, anxiety and stress among healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Northern Vietnam

IntroductionThe outbreak of coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) had significant effects on the mental well-being in general, particularly for healthcare professionals. This study examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and identified the associated risk factors amongst healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in a tertiary hospital located in Vietnam.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary-level hospital, where the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) web-based questionnaire was employed. We analyzed the determinant factors by employing multivariate logistic models.ResultsThe prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were 19.2%, 24.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. Factors such as engaging in shift work during the pandemic, taking care of patients with COVID-19, and staff’s health status were associated with mental health issues among health professionals. In addition, having alternate rest periods was likely to reduce the risk of stress.ConclusionThe prevalence of mental health problems in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively high. Having resting periods could potentially mitigate the development of stress among health professionals. Our findings could be taken into account for improving mental health of the health professional population

High prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants in commensal members of the Enterobacteriaceae in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic members of the Enterobacteriaceae are a well-defined global problem. We hypothesized that one of the main reservoirs of dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes in Vietnam is non-pathogenic intestinal flora, and sought to isolate antimicrobial-resistant organisms from hospitalized patients and non-hospitalized healthy individuals in Ho Chi Minh City. The results identified substantial faecal carriage of gentamicin-, ceftazidime- and nalidixic acid-resistant members of the Enterobacteriaceae in both hospitalized patients and non-hospitalized healthy individuals. A high prevalence of quinolone resistance determinants was identified, particularly the qnrS gene, in both community- and hospital-associated strains. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that a combination of quinolone resistance determinants can confer resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin, even in the apparent absence of additional chromosomal resistance mutations in wild-type strains and laboratory strains with transferred plasmids. These data suggest that intestinal commensal organisms are a significant reservoir for the dissemination of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in Ho Chi Minh City

‘When I tried to explain, they shouted back at me!’: exploring how community pharmacists navigate tensions implementing antimicrobial stewardship in Vietnam

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global and national health challenge, accelerated by ‘irrational’ antibiotic use. In response, Vietnam has been implementing a public health plan of antimicrobial stewardship since 2013 to reduce antibiotic sales in community pharmacies, although it has had limited effect. Given that private pharmacies are increasingly the entry point to access healthcare, reflective of the inhibited accessibility of primary healthcare, understanding how the positioning of community pharmacists shapes the delivery of antimicrobial stewardship plans warrant further investigation. This qualitative analysis draws on data from 24 in-depth interviews with licensed community pharmacists in Vietnam. Interviewees described being constrained in rationing the sale of antibiotics by tensions within their professional role, in which the delivery of antimicrobial stewardship within their public health commitments rubs up against commercial and social obligations to their livelihoods and communities respectively. The concept of ‘resistance’ provides insight into what obstructs the integration of national antimicrobial stewardship guidance and policy, hindering the transformation of local practices concerning antibiotic sales at the community level. Findings reveal opportunities to recast community pharmacists as ‘productive anchors’ who can facilitate the appropriate use of antibiotics and strengthen links to primary care within the local context. Structural changes are needed, however, so that people do not use antibiotics as a proxy for health care. Improving the accessibility of primary healthcare would also curtail the reliance on community pharmacists’ to dispense antibiotics as a local mechanism of financial protection and social care within community

STUDY ON NITRIFICATION PROCESS BY AERATED SUBMERGED BIOFILTER (ASBF)

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth Using Satellite Data Associated with Ground-based Observations over Urban and Rural Areas

Optičku je dubinu aerosola (AOD) moguće točno izračunati na temelju uzastopnih mjerenja izravnog i difuznog Sunčeva zračenja na tlu. Međutim, prostorna pokrivenost i frekvencija lokacije uzrokuju određena ograničenja. Stoga su satelitske snimke ispravan alat za dobivanje proizvoda optičke dubine aerosola s više prostornih informacija i obrazaca raspodjele aerosola. Daljinskim istraživanjima aerosola možemo bolje razumjeti najbolji pristup računanju optičke dubine aerosola u urbanim i ruralnim područjima i mogu se uočiti razlike zbog svojstava površinske reflektivnosti. Ovaj se članak bavi konceptima smanjenja kontrasta i pristupima tamnih meta koji se ispituju snimkama Landsata i opažanjima Sunčevog fotometra za povezivanje raspodjele optičke dubine aerosola iznad grada Taipeija u Tajvanu. Za područja sa svijetlim površinama kao što su gradovi navedeni se koncepti primjenjuju metodom koeficijenta disperzije zajedno sa Sunčevim fotometrom kako bi se u velikoj mjeri smanjile pogreške. Za razliku od toga, algoritam tamne mete s odnosom površinske refleksije između plavih (0,49 μm), crvenih (0,66 μm) i infracrvenih (2,1 μm) spektralnih pojaseva prikladan je za vlažno tlo i područja s vegetacijom. Računanje prostorne raspodjele optičke dubine aerosola uspoređuje se s proizvodima MODIS AOD-a i AERONET-a kako bi se provjerila točnost rezultata. RMSE je bio u rasponu od 0,2 do 0,4 i oko 50% podataka bilo je unutar granica očekivane pogreške (EE=± (0,05+0,15 AODsunphometer).Aerosol optical depth (AOD) can be retrieved accurately with sequential ground-based measurements of direct and diffuse solar radiance. However, spatial coverage and location frequency cause certain limitations. Hence, satellite image data are a proper tool for obtaining aerosol optical depth products with more spatial information and patterns of aerosol distribution. Currently, aerosol remote sensing may enhance our understanding of the optimal approach to AOD retrieval over urban and rural areas, and how it differs due to the characteristics of surface reflectivity. The article deals with the concepts of contrast reduction, and dark target approaches are examined using Landsat imaging and the observation of a sun photometer for integrating aerosol optical depth distribution over the city of Taipei in Taiwan. For areas with bright surfaces, such as urban areas, the above concepts were applied using the dispersion coefficient method with a sun photometer, in order to reduce errors considerably in the product. In contrast, a dark target algorithm with a relationship of surface reflectance between the blue (0.49 μm), red (0.66 μm), and infrared (2.1 μm) spectral bands is suitable for moist soils and vegetation areas. The retrieval of AOD spatial distribution is compared with MODIS AOD products and AERONET to verify the accuracy of the results. The RMSE ranged from 0.2 to 0.4, and about 50% of the data were within expected error margins (EE=± (0.05+0.15 AODsunphotometer)

A prospective multi-center observational study of children hospitalized with diarrhea in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

We performed a prospective multicenter study to address the lack of data on the etiology, clinical and demographic features of hospitalized pediatric diarrhea in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Over 2,000 (1,419 symptomatic and 609 non-diarrheal control) children were enrolled in three hospitals over a 1-year period in 2009-2010. Aiming to detect a panel of pathogens, we identified a known diarrheal pathogen in stool samples from 1,067/1,419 (75.2%) children with diarrhea and from 81/609 (13.3%) children without diarrhea. Rotavirus predominated in the symptomatic children (664/1,419; 46.8%), followed by norovirus (293/1,419; 20.6%). The bacterial pathogens Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Shigella were cumulatively isolated from 204/1,419 (14.4%) diarrheal children and exhibited extensive antimicrobial resistance, most notably to fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. We suggest renewed efforts in generation and implementation of policies to control the sale and prescription of antimicrobials to curb bacterial resistance and advise consideration of a subsidized rotavirus vaccination policy to limit the morbidity due to diarrheal disease in Vietnam

DẪN LIỆU MỚI VỀ MÔI TRƯỜNG NƯỚC VÀ SINH VẬT TRONG CÁC HANG NGẦM VÀ HỒ NƯỚC MẶN KHU VỰC VỊNH HẠ LONG, CÁT BÀ

Submerged caves and saltwater lakes are 2 common habitat types in Ha Long and Cat Ba. However, depending on many different reasons so far they have been poorly studied both on environmental and biological characteristics. The initial results on environment and biological communities in 3 submerged caves (Hang Sang, Hang Toi, Qua Bang) and 3 saltwater lakes (Ang Dau Be, Ang Du, Ang Qua Bang) showed that: status of water environment was different among lakes, especially in the closed lake as Ang Du where salinity was low (9‰), while salinity in the lakes connected to the sea was equal to marine environment (23 - 27‰). Concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in saltwater lakes was high from 7.63 - 9.03 mg/L and higher than that in submerged caves and surrounding marine environment. Physical and chemical factors of water in the submerged caves were equivalent to the marine environment because these caves are connected to the sea and water regularly goes in and out according to tidal fluctuation. Organism communities in the submerged caves were abundant with over 142 species being found. The popular groups, sponge and soft coral, were distributed along the length of the caves. Several species with high economic value were commonly observed in the caves, including stone crab Myomenippe hardwickii, flower crab Portunus pelagicus, cone snails Trochus pyramis, shoemaker spinefoot Siganus sutor, snapper Lutjanus russelii ... Species that permanently live in cave were not detected. In the lakes where water is well exchanged to the sea, coral reefs were found and they formed a narrow reef around the lake. Sandy bars often appeared around the lake at the depth of 0.5 - 2 m, containing specialty species as phi (Sanguinolaria diphos), snout otter clam (Lutraria rhynchaena), sea cucumbers with high density (Ang Dau Be, Ang Qua Bang). There was no coral reef in the closed lake (Ang Du) because of low salinity. In this lake, stratification of temperature and salinity led to temperature on surface lower than that on bottom from 30C to 60C, this phenomenon is unusual.Hang ngầm và hồ nước mặn là 2 dạng sinh cảnh khá phổ biến ở Hạ Long và Cát Bà, do nhiều nguyên nhân khác nhau đến nay chúng rất ít được quan tâm nghiên cứu. Các kết quả nghiên cứu bước đầu về môi trường và quần xã sinh vật trong 3 hang ngầm (Hang Sáng, Hang Tối, Hang Quả Bàng) và 3 hồ nước mặn (Áng Đầu Bê, Áng Dù, Áng Quả Bàng) cho thấy: Môi trường nước có sự khác biệt giữa các hồ, đặc biệt là trong hồ kín như Áng Dù có độ muối thấp (9‰), trong khi các hồ có cửa thông với biển có độ muối gần tương đương với môi trường ngoài (23 - 27‰). Hàm lượng chất khí hòa tan như DO trong các hồ nước mặn khá cao từ 7,63 - 9,03 mg/l, cao hơn trong hang ngầm và cao hơn ở môi trường biển xung quanh. Các yếu tố vật lý và hóa học trong môi trường nước tại các hang ngầm gần tương đương với môi trường bên ngoài do có các hang ngầm đều thông với biển và có nước chảy thường xuyên theo sự lên xuống của thủy triều. Quần xã sinh vật trong các hang khá phong phú với trên 142 loài được tìm thấy, phổ biến nhất là hải miên và san hô mềm, chúng phân bố dọc chiều dài hang. Có một số loài có giá trị kinh tế cao thường gặp trong hang là Cù kì Myomenippe hardwickii, ghẹ Portunus pelagicus, ốc nón Trochus pyramis, cá dìa Siganus sutor, cá hồng Lutjanus russellii ... Chưa phát hiện thấy các loài chuyên biệt sống cố định trong hang. Ở các hồ nước lưu thông với môi trường bên ngoài có sự xuất hiện của rạn san hô, chúng tạo thành một dải hẹp bao quanh hồ. Các bãi cát thường xuất hiện quanh hồ ở độ sâu 0,5 - 2 m có các loài đặc sản như phi phi, tu hài, hải sâm với mật độ khá cao (Áng Đầu Bê, Áng Quả Bàng). Trong áng kín không có rạn san hô do nước có độ muối thấp, có sự phân tầng của nhiệt độ và độ muối làm cho nhiệt độ ở tầng mặt thấp hơn tầng đáy 3 - 60C đây là hiện tượng bất thường ở các hồ này

A Multi-Center Randomized Trial to Assess the Efficacy of Gatifloxacin versus Ciprofloxacin for the Treatment of Shigellosis in Vietnamese Children

The bacterial genus Shigella is the most common cause of dysentery (diarrhea containing blood and/or mucus) and the disease is common in developing countries with limitations in sanitation. Children are most at risk of infection and frequently require hospitalization and antimicrobial therapy. The WHO currently recommends the fluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin, for the treatment of childhood Shigella infections. In recent years there has been a sharp increase in the number of organisms that exhibit resistance to nalidixic acid (an antimicrobial related to ciprofloxacin), corresponding with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. We hypothesized that infections with Shigella strains that demonstrate resistance to nalidixic acid may prevent effective treatment with ciprofloxacin. We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare 3 day ciprofloxacin therapy with 3 days of gatifloxacin, a newer generation fluoroquinolone with greater activity than ciprofloxacin. We measured treatment failure and time to the cessation of individual disease symptoms in 249 children with dysentery treated with gatifloxacin and 245 treated with ciprofloxacin. We could identify no significant differences in treatment failure between the two groups or in time to the cessation of individual symptoms. We conclude that, in Vietnam, ciprofloxacin and gatifloxacin are similarly effective for the treatment of acute dysentery