Thin films of Co1.7Fe1.3O4 prepared by radio frequency sputtering - the first step towards their spinodal decomposition

Pure thin films of Co1.7Fe1.3O4 spinel iron cobaltites were prepared for the first time by radio frequency sputtering. Such films are made of small crystallites of about 20 to 30 nm in diameter. Because Co1.7Fe1.3O4 films have a composition located in the miscibility gap of Fe3O4–Co3O4, they can be submitted to spinodal transformation below about 900 °C. This transformation was also confirmed at 600 °C by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies. It was demonstrated however that this spinodal transformation occurs after only a few hours at low temperature. Indeed, after annealing in air at 300 to 450 °C for a few hours, the spinodal transformation leading to two-phase spinels, one rich in iron and the other rich in cobalt, was clearly revealed by Raman spectroscopy and electrical measurements

Preparation of iron cobaltite thin films by RF magnetron sputtering

Iron cobaltite thin films with spinel structure have been elaborated by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering from a Co1.75Fe1.25O4 target. Influence of argon pressure on structure, microstructure and physical properties of films has been examined. Iron–cobalt oxide thin films essentially consist of one spinel phase when deposited at low pressure (0.5 and 1.0 Pa). At high pressure (2.0 Pa), the global stoichiometry of the film is changed which results in the precipitation of a mixed monoxide of cobalt and iron beside the spinel phase. This in-situ reduction due to an oxygen loss occurring mainly at high deposition pressure has been revealed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Microstructural evolution of thin film with argon pressure has been shown by microscopic observations (AFM and SEM). The evolution of magnetic and electrical properties, versus argon pressure, has been also studied by SQUID and 4 point probe measurements

Trends in, projections of, and inequalities in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health service coverage in Vietnam 2000-2030: A Bayesian analysis at national and sub-national levels

Background: To assess the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) service coverage in Vietnam with trends in 2000-2014, projections and probability of achieving targets in 2030 at national and sub-national levels; and to analyze the socioeconomic, regional and urban-rural inequalities in RMNCH service indicators. Methods: We used national population-based datasets of 44,624 households in Vietnam from 2000 to 2014. We applied Bayesian regression models to estimate the trends in and projections of RMNCH indicators and the probabilities of achieving the 2030 targets. Using the relative index, slope index, and concentration index of inequality, we examined the patterns and trends in RMNCH coverage inequality. Findings: We projected that 9 out of 17 health service indicators (53%) would likely achieve the 2030 targets at the national level, including at least one and four ANC visits, BCG immunization, access to improved water and adequate sanitation, institutional delivery, skilled birth attendance, care-seeking for pneumonia, and ARI treatment. We observed very low coverages and zero chance of achieving the 2030 targets at national and sub-national levels in early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, family planning needs satisfied, and oral rehydration therapy. The most deprived households living in rural areas and the Northwest, Northeast, North Central, Central Highlands, and Mekong River Delta regions would not reach the 80% immunization coverage of DPT3, Polio3, Measles and full immunization. We found socioeconomic, regional, and urban-rural inequalities in all RMNCH indicators in 2014 and no change in inequalities over 15 years in the lowest-coverage indicators. Interpretation: Vietnam has made substantial progress toward UHC. By improving the government\u27s health system reform efforts, re-allocating resources focusing on people in the most impoverished rural regions, and restructuring and enhancing current health programs, Vietnam can achieve the UHC targets and other health-related SDGs

CSA: Thực hành nông nghiệp thông minh với khí hậu ở Việt Nam

During the last five years, Vietnam has been one of the countries most affected by climate change. Severe typhoons, flooding, cold spells, salinity intrusion, and drought have affected agriculture production across the country, from upland to lowland regions. Fortunately for Vietnam, continuous work in developing climate-smart agriculture has been occurring in research organizations and among innovative farmers and entrepreneurs. Application of various CSA practices and technologies to adapt to the impact of climate change in agriculture production have been expanding. However, there is a need to accelerate the scaling process of these practices and technologies in order to ensure growth of agriculture production and food security, increase income of farmers, make farming climate resilient, and contribute to global climate change mitigation. This book aims to provide basic information to researchers, managers, and technicians and extentionists at different levels on what CSA practices and technologies can be up scaled in different locations in Vietnam

Assessing decentralised policy implementation in Vietnam : The case of land recovery and resettlement in the Vung Ang Economic Zone

From 2006 plans were implemented to create a deep-sea water port linked to an Economic Zone in the coastal Province of Ha Tinh, located in north central Vietnam. The multi-purpose Zone entitled ‘Vung Ang’, was to attract foreign investors, while the port would provide a link to nearby Laos and Thailand. The project obviously had large implications for the administrations at various levels of governance from Hanoi to the coastal communes and villages, but even more serious impacts on the people living in the affected areas. A large area of about 23,000 hectares was to be cleared, affecting the people of 9 communes, in some of which all inhabitants had to leave their houses and homesteads, to be relocated to completely new settlements about 10 miles inland. These tightly knit communities were not too happy with the prospect to leave their homes and land, the burial places of their ancestors, and the long term comforts of community support networks. While initial decision making process started at the highest levels of Vietnam Governance, the implementation of port and industrial park construction and the related relocation policy was delegated to Ha Tinh province, which is consistent with current decentralisation policies in Vietnam. Actual implementation was carried out by the affected District and Commune level officials – with support from the Communist Party led Mass Organisations – who were in charge of the planning and implementation of the relocation process. This entailed a complex and sensitive series of steps to inform affected households, prepare relocation areas and allocate compensation and alternative housing. This paper describes the implementation dynamics of relocation by depicting and assessing the roles of all stakeholders involved, including the impacts - for better or for worse – of the relocated households. It brings out the way local authorities dealt with affected people, including efforts linked to the ideal of grass-roots democracy. Key areas of contestation are uncovered, such as inadequate infrastructure and low compensation rates. The paper has a second objective to assess the degree to which decentralisation in Vietnam has been actually implemented, and how this affects policy making processes such as the Vung Ang port/industrial zone project. The paper concludes that the relocation policy was implemented in a fairly efficient and harmonious way – with a very intensive engagement of the entire provincial administrative machinery, but that it is too early to assess the livelihood opportunities of the relocated households

Using cassava waste of the cassava starch processing as food for raising African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) to obtain vermicomposting and earthworm biomass

The raising earthworms by cassava waste is a useful solution to reduce environmental pollution caused by cassava starch processing. In this study, cassava waste (including cassava peel, cassava pieces and soil) was used as a food source for raising African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) with three experiments: E1, earthworms were raised in crushed cassava waste right after being discharged; E2, earthworms raised in crushed cassava waste that had been incubated with organic matter after decomposing microbiological preparation for the previous two weeks; E3, earthworms were raised in crushed cassava waste that had self-decomposed naturally for the previous two weeks. The cassava waste was decomposed naturally for 4 weeks for control. The results showed that the content of organic matter, humic acid and total nitrogen in organic cassava humus, obtaining from experiments, increased compared to the control; the total organic matter content reached from 10.4%-15.7%, higher than the control (8.2%) from 1.27-1.92 times, humic acid content reached 0.6 - 0.8% and total nitrogen reached 0.3%. Experiment 3 had the highest quality of humus (organic matter content 15.7%, total nitrogen 0.3%, humic acid 0.7% and fulvic acid 0.5%). The experiment 3 also had the highest earthworm biomass (3.6kg), increasing 30.5% compared to experiment 1 and 19.4% comparing to experiment 2. Therefore, experiment 3 was proposed for application in treatment of cassava waste at larger scale. The organic humus obtaining from raising earthworms by cassava waste can be used as raw material for vermicompost production. The earthworm biomass can be used as protein-rich food for domestic animals (such as chicken, tortoise, eel, fish, etc) or used as nutritious fertilizer.Nuôi giun bằng phế liệu sắn là giải pháp hữu ích nhằm giảm thiểu ô nhiễm môi trường do chế biến tinh bột sắn gây ra. Trong nghiên cứu này, bã thải sắn (bao gồm vỏ, đầu mẩu sắn và bùn đất) được sử dụng làm nguồn thức ăn giun đất Châu Phi (African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) với các thí nghiệm như sau: Thí nghiệm 1: Giun quế được nuôi trong bã thải sắn nghiền ngay sau khi được loại bỏ; Thí nghiệm 2: giun đất được nuôi trong bã thải sắn nghiền đã được ủ với chế phẩm vi sinh phân hủy chất hữu cơ trong hai tuần trước đó; Thí nghiệm 3: Giun đất được nuôi trong bã thải sắn nghiền được để tự phân hủy tự nhiên trong hai tuần trước đó. Đối chứng là bã thải sắn để phân hủy tự nhiên trong 4 tuần. Bên cạnh đó, bã thải sắn nghiền còn được ủ bằng chế phẩm vi sinh phân hủy chất hữu cơ trong 4 tuần để cung cấp thêm số liệu so sánh giữa các thí nghiệm (Thí nghiệm 4). Các thí nghiệm được theo dõi trong 4 tuần. Kết quả cho thấy: Kết quả cho thấy: hàm lượng chất hữu cơ, axit humic và nitơ tổng trong mùn sắn hữu cơ thu được từ thí nghiệm đều tăng so với đối chứng: hàm lượng chất hữu cơ tổng số đạt từ 10,4% -15,7%, cao hơn đối chứng (8,2%) so với 1,27-1,92 lần, hàm lượng axit humic đạt 0,6 - 0,8% và nitơ tổng số đạt 0,3%. Trong đó, thí nghiệm 3 có chất lượng mùn cao nhất (hàm lượng chất hữu cơ 15,7%, đạm tổng số 0,3%, axit humic 0,7% và axit fulvic 0,5%). Thí nghiệm 3 cũng có sinh khối giun quế cao nhất (3,6kg), tăng 30,5% so với thí nghiệm 1 và 19,4% so với thí nghiệm 2. Do đó, thí nghiệm 3 đã được đề xuất ứng dụng để xử lý phế thải sắn ở quy mô lớn hơn. Chất mùn hữu cơ thu được từ việc nuôi trùn quế bằng phế thải sắn có thể được sử dụng làm nguyên liệu để sản xuất phân trùn quế. Sinh khối trùn quế có thể dùng làm thức ăn giàu đạm cho vật nuôi (như gà, ba ba, lươn, cá ...) hoặc làm phân bón dinh dưỡng

Modelling nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from rice field in impacts of farming practices: A case study in Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province (Central Vietnam)

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emisison from paddy soil via the soil nitrification and denitrification processes makes an important contribution to atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. The soil N2O emission processes are controlled not only by biological, physical and chemical factors but also by farming practices. In recent years, modeling approach has become popular to predict and estimate greenhouse gas fluxes from field studies. In this study, the DeNitrification–DeComposition (DNDC) model were calibrated and tested by incorporating experimental data with the local climate, soil properties and farming management, for its simulation applicability for the irrigated rice system in Duy Xuyen district, a delta lowland area of Vu Gia-Thu Bon River Basin regions. The revised DNDC was then used to quantitatively estimate N2O emissions from rice fields under a range of three management farming practices (water management, crop residue incorporation and nitrogen fertilizer application rate). Results from the simulations indicated that (1) N2O emissions were significantly affected by water management practices; (2) increases in temperature, total fertilizer N input substantially increased N2O emissions. Finally, five 50-year scenarios were simulated with DNDC to predict their long-term impacts on crop yield and N2O emissions. The modelled results suggested that implementation of manure amendment or crop residue incorporation instead of increased nitrogen fertilizer application rates would more efficiently mitigate N2O emissions from the tested rice-based system.Phát thải nitơ ôxít (N2O) từ canh tác lúa nước (thông qua quá trình nitrat hóa và phản nitrat hóa) đóng góp đáng kể vào tổng lượng khí nhà kính có nguồn gốc từ sản xuất nông nghiệp. Quá trình phát thải N2O là không chỉ phụ thuộc vào các yếu tố sinh-lý-hóa học mà còn phụ thuộc các phương pháp canh tác. Trong những năm gần đây, việc ứng dụng mô hình hóa nhằm tính toán và ước lượng sự phát thải khí nhà kính ngày càng trở lên phổ biến. Trong nghiên cứu này, số liệu quan trắc từ thí nghiệm đồng ruộng và dữ liệu về đất đai, khí hậu, biện pháp canh tác được sử dụng để kiểm nghiệm và phân tích độ nhạy của mô hình DNDC (mô hình sinh địa hóa). Sau đó, mô hình được sử dụng để tính toán lượng N2O phát thải trong canh tác lúa nước dưới các phương thức canh tác khác nhau (về chế độ tưới, mức độ vùi phụ phẩm, bón phân hữu cơ, phân đạm) tại huyện Duy Xuyên, thuộc vùng đồng bằng thấp của lưu vực sông Vu Gia-Thu Bồn. Kết quả kiểm định chỉ ra rằng (1) sự phát thải N2O bị ảnh hưởng đáng kể do sự thay đổi chế độ tưới; (2) nhiệt độ tăng và lượng phân bón N tăng sẽ làm tăng phát thải N2O. Kết quả mô phỏng về tác động lâu dài (trong 50 năm) của các yếu tố đến năng suất cây trồng và phát thải N2O cho thấy: Việc sử dụng phân hữu cơ và phụ phẩm nông nghiệp thay thế cho việc bón phân đạm sẽ giúp giảm phát thải N2O đáng kể