Metals in Sediment Cores from Nine Coastal Lagoons in Central Vietnam

Problem statement: After being dramatically hit by war events, Vietnam is presently experiencing a huge economical and social development. However, very few data, relative to pollution levels and trends, are available for the correct management of critical areas such as coastal lagoons, where many economical activities are linked to high value environmental features. Approach: A set of sediment cores from nine coastal lagoons of central Vietnam (Lang Co, Truong Giang, An Khe, Nuoc Man, Nuoc Ngot, Thi Nai, O Loan, Thuy Trieu and Dam Nai) were sampled in 2008 and analyzed to assess metal and (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, U and Zn) and As levels and historical trends. Results: Concentrations are generally low, with the exception of As, which often exceeds ERL guidelines and Ni that does the same at O Loan. In some cases, concentrations-depth profiles account for recent increasing trends but surficial values are still low when compared to both international guidelines and polluted sediments all around the world. Sediment grain size seems to affect the depth distribution of a number of metals and when normalized to the content of silt and clay, values are particularly high at Dam Nai and Thi Nai, due to the very coarse composition of surficial sediments. Conclusion: Metal concentrations in lagoon sediments derive from the composition of rocks and soils in the watersheds. However, recent increasing trends need for further monitoring

Oil pollution in the Vietnamese waters

Enumeration of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms (HDM) and their degradative capacity studies were carried out in area IV of South China Sea (Vietnamese water). Microbial most probable number (MPN) varied from 101 to 105 cell/ ml of surface seawater or gram of sediment. Some microbial communities and bacterial strains isolated from 97 collected samples show high hydrocarbon degradation and surfactant producing abilities. Preliminary results of our microbial study indicated that oil pollution in IV area was not found in 30 research stations. Slight oil contamination was observed in 28 survey stations

Oil pollution in the Vietnamese waters

Enumeration of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms (HDM) and their degradative capacity studies were carried out in area IV of South China Sea (Vietnamese water). Microbial most probable number (MPN) varied from 101 to 105 cell/ ml of surface seawater or gram of sediment. Some microbial communities and bacterial strains isolated from 97 collected samples show high hydrocarbon degradation and surfactant producing abilities. Preliminary results of our microbial study indicated that oil pollution in IV area was not found in 30 research stations. Slight oil contamination was observed in 28 survey stations

PCDD/Fs in sediments of Central Vietnam coastal lagoons: In search of TCDD

Samples from nine Central Vietnam coastal lagoons, together with three soils and sediments collected in 24 two freshwater reservoirs of the Thua Thien-Hué province, were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p- 25 dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). Total concentrations are low, from 192 to 2912 pg g1 and depth 26 profiles in Tam Giang-Cau Hai (TG-CH) sediment cores show only minor changes over time in PCDD/F 27 input and composition. Octachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) is the prevailing congener (approximately 28 90%), indicating combustion as the main PCDD/F source to these coastal systems, whereas natural forma- 29 tion might be partly responsible for the presence at depth. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 30 largely sprayed together with Agent Orange over the study areas during the war (1961–1971), is absent 31 or very low. This result supports the hypothesis of strong degradation soon after spraying. Multivariate 32 statistical analyses account for the presence of local, short-range sources as observed in the northern part 33 of the TG-CH lagoon

The global response: How cities and provinces around the globe tackled Covid-19 outbreaks in 2021

Background: Tackling the spread of COVID-19 remains a crucial part of ending the pandemic. Its highly contagious nature and constant evolution coupled with a relative lack of immunity make the virus difficult to control. For this, various strategies have been proposed and adopted including limiting contact, social isolation, vaccination, contact tracing, etc. However, given the heterogeneity in the enforcement of these strategies and constant fluctuations in the strictness levels of these strategies, it becomes challenging to assess the true impact of these strategies in controlling the spread of COVID-19.Methods: In the present study, we evaluated various transmission control measures that were imposed in 10 global urban cities and provinces in 2021 Bangkok, Gauteng, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, London, Manila City, New Delhi, New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo.Findings: Based on our analysis, we herein propose the population-level Swiss cheese model for the failures and pit-falls in various strategies that each of these cities and provinces had. Furthermore, whilst all the evaluated cities and provinces took a different personalized approach to managing the pandemic, what remained common was dynamic enforcement and monitoring of breaches of each barrier of protection. The measures taken to reinforce the barriers were adjusted continuously based on the evolving epidemiological situation.Interpretation: How an individual city or province handled the pandemic profoundly affected and determined how the entire country handled the pandemic since the chain of transmission needs to be broken at the very grassroot level to achieve nationwide control

Competition of substituents for ortho direction of metalation of veratric acid

a b s t r a c t LTMP (5 equiv) metalates randomly veratric acid (1). Under external quench conditions, the thermodynamically more stable lithium 2-lithio-3,4-dimethoxybenzoate (2) reacts with a variety of electrophiles to give versatile building units that are not easily accessible by conventional means. Under in situ quench conditions (LTMP/TMSCl), a reversal of regioselectivity is observed and 6-trimethylsilyl-3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid (10) is formed predominantly

Démarche-qualité appliquée aux projets de recherche

Une démarche-qualité est un processus mis en œuvre par l'institution pour maîtriser et assurer la qualité de ses activités afin d'améliorer sa performance et sa reconnaissance. Ce processus doit être continu dans le temps, progressif et demande l'adhésion de tous, en particulier de l'équipe de direction de l'institution. La démarche-qualité permet à l'institution d'identifier des risques prévisibles, des difficultés et des obstacles pensés comme des menaces au renforcement de la qualité de ses activités, de les analyser et de mettre en place des mesures correctrices et innovantes dans un processus d'amélioration continu. La démarche-qualité peut conduire à un objectif de certification sans que ce soit une obligation. Le présent guide se veut un outil permettant à l'institution et son personnel de s'approprier l'approche. Il ne doit pas être considéré comme une contrainte, mais un support d'accompagnement. En ce sens, il peut être abordé rubrique par rubrique indépendamment les unes les autres. Il n'est pas nécessaire de répondre à des questions pour lesquelles on ne dispose pas d'éléments pertinents. Il est aussi tout à fait possible que les utilisateurs puissent faire émerger d'autres indicateurs qui leursont propres.Les indicateurs proposés n'ont pas vocation à conduire les utilisateurs à unedémarche d'analyse complexe de données, mais à orienter leur réflexion dans laréalisation de l'auto-diagnostic pour améliorer le fonctionnement de l'institutiondans le cadre de la démarche-qualité

Identifying New Resistance to Cassava Mosaic Disease and Validating Markers for the CMD2 Locus

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a crucial staple crop, and provides carbohydrate energy to more than half a billion people in the tropics. Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is the most important disease of cassava in Africa. Since Sri Lanka Cassava Mosaic Virus (SLCMV) was first reported in South East Asia in 2015, establishing sustainable solutions to CMD has become a top priority for the cassava program at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and its partners. In the present study, we screened two populations for CMD resistance: VNM142, 142 clones collected from farms throughout Vietnam, and CIAT102, 102 clones resistant to CMD or mites, which were introduced from CIAT. High broad-sense heritability was observed in all the trials (>0.80). From the population VNM142, eight clones showed high CMD resistance with CMD severity scores less than 2.0. Two resistant clones had the same DNA fingerprinting with the accessions CR63 (PER262 or TAI9) and KM57 (VNM8) in the genebank, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMD resistance in the genebank at CIAT. We also used the two populations to validate the CMD markers S12_7926132 and S14_4626854. Both markers explained 51% of the population variance in the segregating population CIAT102, but only 11% in the diverse population VNM142. Thus, we concluded that the two CMD markers could not be used to select for CMD resistance in diverse populations, but could predict the CMD resistance in segregating populations when the susceptible parents do not have resistant marker alleles and the resistance of the CMD2 donors is confirmed

The Global Response: How Cities and Provinces Around the Globe Tackled Covid-19 Outbreaks in 2021.

Background: Tackling the spread of COVID-19 remains a crucial part of ending the pandemic. Its highly contagious nature and constant evolution coupled with a relative lack of immunity make the virus difficult to control. For this, various strategies have been proposed and adopted including limiting contact, social isolation, vaccination, contact tracing, etc. However, given the heterogeneity in the enforcement of these strategies and constant fluctuations in the strictness levels of these strategies, it becomes challenging to assess the true impact of these strategies in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Methods: In the present study, we evaluated various transmission control measures that were imposed in 10 global urban cities and provinces in 2021- Bangkok, Gauteng, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, London, Manila City, New Delhi, New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo. Findings: Based on our analysis, we herein propose the population-level Swiss cheese model for the failures and pitfalls in various strategies that each of these cities and provinces had. Furthermore, whilst all the evaluated cities and provinces took a different personalized approach to managing the pandemic, what remained common was dynamic enforcement and monitoring of breaches of each barrier of protection. The measures taken to reinforce the barriers were adjusted continuously based on the evolving epidemiological situation. Interpretation: How an individual city or province handled the pandemic profoundly affected and determined how the entire country handled the pandemic since the chain of transmission needs to be broken at the very grassroot level to achieve nationwide control. Funding: The present study did not receive any external funding