Economic interdependence: A deterrent to Sino-American armed conflict

This thesis is devoted to examine the impact of economic interdependence on the interstate relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. Specifically, all three propositions emerging from the ongoing controversy over the economics-security nexus inclusive of “economic interdependence increases conflict”, “economic interdependence decreases conflict” and “economic interdependence is irrelevant to conflict” shall be tested in an empirical analysis of Sino-American relationship. Three significant findings have emerged. Firstly, strong economic ties have actually caused tensions between Washington and Beijing. However, these issues of great disputes are not strong enough to turn into a Sino-American war because both countries have gained tremendous benefits from their strong economic ties and are not willing to destroy the economic ties that lock them together. Secondly, it is undeniable that economic interdependence has greatly promoted peace and stability between Washington and Beijing. However, there are three grounds for skepticism. To begin with, leaders always put security concerns over the prospects for economic loss, especially in times of insecurity and vulnerability. Furthermore, it is not yet certain that the linkages between the two sides in different areas can guarantee peace between the two countries. Also, there is a little historical evidence to believe that economic interdependence alone can bring lasting stability in the international order. Thirdly, the third proposition "economic interdependence is irrelevant to conflict” perfectly fits the Sino-American relationship. To start with, Washington and Beijing have used trade to maximize their national power not to suppress conflict. In addition, we should not limit the future of Sino-American relationship to the discussion of economic factors. Both sides have kept their relationship relatively stable not only because of strong economic ties but also other factors such as: the emergence of non-traditional threats and the mutual possession of nuclear weapons

Tính chất đàn hồi và nhiệt động lực học của nano tinh thể cadmi selenide

The elastic and thermodynamic of zincblende CdSe nano crystals have been investigated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The type of CdSe structure was optimized from the experimental parameter values. The mechanic characterization was determined based on the computed values of independent elastic constants C11, C12, and C44. The temperature dependence of a series of thermodynamic properties functions such as free energy, entropy, enthalpy, and heat capacity are calculated and analyzed in detail.Các tính chất đàn hồi và nhiệt động lực học của nano tinh thể (NC) cadmi selenide (CdSe) có cấu trúc zincblend đã được nghiên cứu trên cơ sở tính toán nguyên tắc ban đầu bằng phương pháp phiếm hàm mật độ (DFT). Thông số cấu trúc tinh thể được tối ưu hóa phù hợp với giá trị từ kết quả thực nghiệm. Các hệ số đặc trưng cho tính chất cơ học được xác định thông qua các giá trị tính toán ba hệ số đàn hồi độc lập C11, C12, C44. Sự phụ thuộc vào nhiệt độ của một số hệ số đặc trưng cho tính chất nhiệt động lực học như năng lượng tự do, entropy, entanpy và nhiệt dung cũng được khảo sát và phân tích một cách chi tiết

Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes and genetic relationship of Escherichia coli serotype O45, O113, O121, and O157 isolated from cattle in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A total of 39 Escherichia coli strains serotype O45, O113, O121, and O157 isolated from cattle in the Mekong Delta were examined the antimicrobial susceptibility to 13 antibiotics by the disc-diffusion method. Those strains were also analyzed for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes by PCR assay, and their genetic relationship by ERIC-PCR assay. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that those strains were sensitive to most of the examined antibiotics, but were relatively high resistance to ampicillin (64.10%), and colistin (53.85%). Those E. coli strains could be resistant against one to eight antibiotics with 22 resistance patterns obtained. Moreover, those E. coli strains harbored one to seven antibiotic resistance genes. Gene tetA (51.28%) and blaampC (48.72%) were detected frequently while gene tetB, blaCMY, and cat1 were not found in those E. coli strains. A total of 21 combined patterns of antibiotic resistance genes were recorded, and the most frequent combined pattern was blaampC+tetA (12.82%). ERIC-PCR analysis revealed that each E. coli serotype exhibited various genetic patterns with 40%-100% of similarity. The most elevated number of patterns were in E. coli O157 (nine patterns), followed by E. coli O121 (six patterns). The prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes and diverse genetic characteristics in those E. coli strains originated from cattle constitute potential risks to local health in the Mekong Delta

Herbal Medicine for Cardiovascular Diseases: Efficacy, Mechanisms, and Safety

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant health burden with an ever-increasing prevalence. They remain the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The use of medicinal herbs continues to be an alternative treatment approach for several diseases including CVDs. Currently, there is an unprecedented drive for the use of herbal preparations in modern medicinal systems. This drive is powered by several aspects, prime among which are their cost-effective therapeutic promise compared to standard modern therapies and the general belief that they are safe. Nonetheless, the claimed safety of herbal preparations yet remains to be properly tested. Consequently, public awareness should be raised regarding medicinal herbs safety, toxicity, potentially lifethreatening adverse effects, and possible herb–drug interactions. Over the years, laboratory data have shown that medicinal herbs may have therapeutic value in CVDs as they can interfere with several CVD risk factors. Accordingly, there have been many attempts to move studies on medicinal herbs from the bench to the bedside, in order to effectively employ herbs in CVD treatments. In this review, we introduce CVDs and their risk factors. Then we overview the use of herbs for disease treatment in general and CVDs in particular. Further, data on the ethnopharmacological therapeutic potentials and medicinal properties against CVDs of four widely used plants, namely Ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, Ganoderma lucidum, and Gynostemma pentaphyllum, are gathered and reviewed. In particular, the employment of these four plants in the context of CVDs, such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, peripheral vascular diseases, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and dyslipidemias has been reviewed, analyzed, and critically discussed. We also endeavor to document the recent studies aimed to dissect the cellular and molecular cardio-protective mechanisms of the four plants, using recently reported in vitro and in vivo studies. Finally, we reviewed and reported the results of the recent clinical trials that have been conducted using these four medicinal herbs with special emphasis on their efficacy, safety, and toxicity.This work has been made possible thanks to grants (Ager S.O.S.) and (fondo di Ateneo per la ricerca 2019) to GP and Qatar University grant (IRCC-2019-007) to GN and GP

Discorvery of Entomopathogenic fungi Cordyceps takaomontana at Langbian Mountain, Lam Dong, Vietnam

The stromata of Cordyceps takaomontana Y. Kobayashi (1941) were found on the Langbian Mountain, Da Lat, Vietnam at the height of 1.650 meter above sea level, on the larva of Lepidoptera. Stromata were lemon-yellow, clavate to enlongated clavate, arising from a white pseudosclerotium. The fertile head was on the top part of stromata, darker colored in comparison to the stipe. Perithecium was narrowly ovoid, superficial and forming dark yellow punctate on the surface of stromata. Ascus was cylindrical with semi-spherical cap. Ascospores were cylindrical, truncated and separately after discharge from the ascus. Pure culture was isolated on Potato Glucose Agar (PGA) medium: white colony in young and yellow in old. The isolated mycelium was not homogenous in thickness and in growth rate at the peripheral area. Conidiophores were phialide, tapering to both apexes. Conidia had elliptical shape and formed into chains after maturation. DNA was isolated, then purified from pure mycelium and used to amplifying the nrLSU (nuclear ribosomal large subunit) and rpb1 (RNA polymerase II largest subunit) genes. The amplified products were used for sequencing, proof-reading by some professional softwares before combining with other nrLSU and rpb1 sequences. Then this database was used to search for the suitable evolution model as well as to construct the phylogenetic trees. The results of phylogenetic analysis completely supported the morphological classification: DL0038A and DL0038B were Cordyceps takaomontana Y. Kobayashi (1941)

Household out-of-pocket payments for illness: Evidence from Vietnam

BACKGROUND: In Vietnam, illnesses create high out-of-pocket health care expenditures for households. In this study, the burden of illness in the Bavi district, Vietnam is measured based upon individual household health expenditures for communicable and non-communicable illnesses. The focus of the paper is on the relative effect of different illnesses on the total economic burden of health care on households in general and on households that have catastrophic health care spending in particular. METHODS: The study was performed by twelve monthly follow-up interviews of 621 randomly selected households. The households are part of the FilaBavi project sample – Health System Research Project. The heads of household were interviewed at monthly intervals from July 2001 to June 2002. RESULTS: For the population in the Bavi district, communicable illnesses predominate among the episodes of illness and are the reason for most household health care expenditure. This is the case for almost all groups within the study and for the study population as a whole. However, communicable illnesses are more dominant in the poor population compared to the rich population, and are more dominant in households that have very large, or catastrophic, health care expenditure, compared to those without such expenditures. CONCLUSION: The main findings indicate that catastrophic health care spending for a household is not usually the result of one single disastrous event, but rather a series of events and is related more to "every-day illnesses" in a developing country context than to more spectacular events such as injuries or heart illnesses

The use of reproductive healthcare at commune health stations in a changing health system in Vietnam

Background: With health sector reform in Vietnam moving towards greater pluralism, commune health stations (CHSs) have been subject to growing competition from private health services and increasing numbers of patients bypassing CHSs for higher-level health facilities. This study describes the pattern of reproductive health (RH) and family planning (FP) service utilization among women at CHSs and other health facilities, and explores socio demographic determinants of RH service utilization at the CHS level

Economic interdependence: A deterrent to Sino-American armed conflict

This thesis is devoted to examine the impact of economic interdependence on the interstate relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. Specifically, all three propositions emerging from the ongoing controversy over the economics-security nexus inclusive of “economic interdependence increases conflict”, “economic interdependence decreases conflict” and “economic interdependence is irrelevant to conflict” shall be tested in an empirical analysis of Sino-American relationship. Three significant findings have emerged. Firstly, strong economic ties have actually caused tensions between Washington and Beijing. However, these issues of great disputes are not strong enough to turn into a Sino-American war because both countries have gained tremendous benefits from their strong economic ties and are not willing to destroy the economic ties that lock them together. Secondly, it is undeniable that economic interdependence has greatly promoted peace and stability between Washington and Beijing. However, there are three grounds for skepticism. To begin with, leaders always put security concerns over the prospects for economic loss, especially in times of insecurity and vulnerability. Furthermore, it is not yet certain that the linkages between the two sides in different areas can guarantee peace between the two countries. Also, there is a little historical evidence to believe that economic interdependence alone can bring lasting stability in the international order. Thirdly, the third proposition "economic interdependence is irrelevant to conflict” perfectly fits the Sino-American relationship. To start with, Washington and Beijing have used trade to maximize their national power not to suppress conflict. In addition, we should not limit the future of Sino-American relationship to the discussion of economic factors. Both sides have kept their relationship relatively stable not only because of strong economic ties but also other factors such as: the emergence of non-traditional threats and the mutual possession of nuclear weapons

Are the estimates of catastrophic health expenditure among rural poopulation too high? A comparison of studies in Vietnam.

Objective: To describe the proportion of the households that experienced catastrophic health expenditure and to compare the magnitude of catastrophic health expenditure that is estimated from three different data sets in Vietnam. Methods: The study we are comparing with is based on data from the Vietnam Living Standard Survey (VLSS) 1997/98. We have used data from the 2001 re-survey. The FilaBavi sample consists of 11,089 households. We have also conducted a special survey from July 2001 to June 2002. The sample is smaller, 629 households, but they have been followed for an entire year with monthly interviews. For VLSS and FilaBavi, re-census survey households were interviewed once with a recall period of one month. Findings: In the VLSS data and in the FilaBavi re-census survey it was found that 9%-10% of the households experienced catastrophic healthcare spending. But, only 5% (average per month) and 1% (for the whole year) of the households in the special survey report catastrophic spending. Conclusions: We suggest that the major reason for the difference in the estimates is the different data collection methods. When doing a cross sectional study with a relatively short recall period there is a risk that households will tend to overestimate non-recurrent large expenditures as that for health

Survey on Ecological Ethics Status of Vietnamese Students of Economic and Business Administration Sector in the Current Period

The ecological ethics of students today is not a new issue but has always been of concern, especially during the explosive development of information technology. This study provides information on the ecological ethics situation, the contents, methods, and forms of surveying the ecological ethics status of Vietnamese students in economics and business administration. Through the study, the ecological ethics status of Vietnamese students majoring in economics and business administration has been shown on the following issues: (1) Perception, (2) Consciousness, (3) Standards, and (4) Eco-ethical behavior, thereby proposing some solutions to improve ecological ethics for Vietnamese students in the field of economics and business administration in the current context