Diverse Ceramic Technologies in Neolithic Southern Vietnam: The Case of Rach Nui

The initial appearance of fine, incised, and impressed ceramics dating to the Neolithic period (4200–3000 B.P.) in southern Vietnam was associated with the emergence and spread of sedentary settlements, cereal agriculture, and new forms of material culture. However, differences existed in contemporary ceramic technologies between sites. This article presents a preliminary characterization of the pottery found at Rach Nui, a habitation site with an economy focused on vegeculture and foraging that was located at the confluence of the Vam Co Dong, Dong Nai, and Vam Co Tay rivers. The rim forms and decorations at Rach Nui are presented alongside a characterization of the tempers and clays from a small sample of sherds using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX). The Rach Nui ceramics are compared to previous studies of pottery from An Son, located upstream on the Vam Co Dong River. The results of the characterization and comparison indicate that Rach Nui potters focused on local production of a limited range of vessels compared to primarily agricultural settlements like An Son. This research on Rach Nui pottery demonstrates that by ca. 3500 B.P., the inhabitants of the various Neolithic settlements of southern Vietnam, and perhaps more broadly across Mainland Southeast Asia, had established their own social and cultural traditions that were reflected in locally specific ceramic technologies

Craniometrics reveal "two layers" of prehistoric human dispersal in eastern Eurasia

This cranio-morphometric study emphasizes a "two-layer model" for eastern Eurasian anatomically modern human (AMH) populations, based on large datasets of 89 population samples including findings directly from ancient archaeological contexts. Results suggest that an initial "first layer" of AMH had related closely to ancestral Andaman, Australian, Papuan, and Jomon groups who likely entered this region via the Southeast Asian landmass, prior to 65–50 kya. A later "second layer" shared strong cranial affinities with Siberians, implying a Northeast Asian source, evidenced by 9 kya in central China and then followed by expansions of descendant groups into Southeast Asia after 4 kya. These two populations shared limited initial exchange, and the second layer grew at a faster rate and in greater numbers, linked with contexts of farming that may have supported increased population densities. Clear dichotomization between the two layers implies a temporally deep divergence of distinct migration routes for AMH through both southern and northern Eurasia

The current state of high school physical education: Exploring socialization and Aligning with the 2018 high school education program

The aim of this study was to assess the current state of physical education program implementation and the socialization of physical education in high schools in Vietnam. A questionnaire was designed using Google Form, consisting of 15 questions. Questions 1 to 11 were related to the physical education program, while questions 12 to 15 focused on the socialization of physical education. The survey included 345 participants, including education administrators and high school teachers, and was conducted online in Hanoi city and Lai Chau province. The survey employed a rating scale divided into four levels: non-satisfied, partially satisfied, satisfied, and well satisfied. The results indicate that the actual implementation of physical education programs in high schools falls short of the targets set by the 2018 high school education program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam. Furthermore, there are significant limitations in terms of socializing physical education activities, as these activities have not had a substantial positive impact on the quality of physical education teaching in high schools.   &nbsp

A XÁC ĐỊNH HÀM LƯỢNG MỘT SỐ KIM LOẠI ĐỘC TRONG MỸ PHẨM MÀ HỌC SINH TRUNG HỌC PHỔ THÔNG THƯỜNG SỬ DỤNG

Content of some toxic metals (Pb, Cd, and As) in 18 cosmetic samples that high-school students in cities, plains, and mountainous regions often use is examined and determined by using atomic absorption spectroscopy with high reliability and accuracy. Their content is assessed according to the cosmetic type and compared with Vietnam and ASEAN’s standards. It is also compared with that in authentic cosmetics, determined by the same method.Hàm lượng một số kim loại độc (Pb, Cd và As) trong 18 mẫu mỹ phẩm mà học sinh trung học phổ thông trên ba địa bàn khác nhau gồm thành phố, đồng bằng và miền núi thường sử dụng được xác định, giám định bằng phương pháp quang phổ hấp thụ nguyên tử với độ tin cậy và độ chính xác cao. Hàm lượng Pb, Cd và As được đánh giá theo loại mỹ phẩm, so sánh với quy chuẩn cho phép của Việt Nam và ASEAN cũng như so sánh với mỹ phẩm chính hãng được xác định cùng phương pháp

Rach Nui: Ground stone technology in coastal Neolithic settlements of southern Vietnam

The discovery of a small portable grinding stone at Rach Nui in southern Vietnam provides significant new insights into regional Neolithic trade networks and ground stone technologies. Previous research held that the manufacture of stone tools took place near stone sources in the interior, along the Dong Nai and Be River basins, but the Rach Nui grinding stone comes from a Neolithic site in the Mekong Delta, approximately 80km to the south-east. This suggests that some manufacturing occurred away from raw material sources. Technological analysis indicates that the artefact was a portable tool for the polishing, maintenance and repair of ground stone adzes. Its discovery at Rach Nui may indicate the presence of specialist tool makers or itinerant traders. This research illustrates the complexity of Neolithic trading networks, and highlights the technological expertise that circulated alongside finished and incomplete object

Site formation processes of outdoor spaces in tropical environments: a micro-geoarchaeological case study from backyard Lo Gach, southern Vietnam

In the tropics, outdoor areas are important arenas of social life and the scene of economic and daily activities. Yet, outdoor areas are not often detected due to destructive post-depositional processes and low archaeological visibility. Here, we use microarchaeology to establish the settlement history and outdoor use of space at Lo Gach in Long An Province, southern Vietnam. The radiocarbon chronology identifies two phases of occupation: an initial presence at 3300–3000 cal. BP and later activity at 2750–2400 cal. BP. Microarchaeological analysis of the stratigraphy reveals complex sequences of organic waste severely transformed by chemical diagenesis. The results indicate that the excavated area at Lo Gach was an outdoor ‘backyard’ containing external surfaces utilised for a range of activities including rice processing, disposal of combustion residues, in situ burning, and recurrent foot traffic. Intensified rice agriculture and the systematic management of organic waste were the main structuring rhythms of social life that were performed at the Lo Gach settlement

Effectiveness of Spironolactone in Terms of Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Heart Failure with a Reduced Ejection Fraction in the Vietnamese Population

Background: Galectin-3 is a biomarker that has been demonstrated to play a significant role in myocardial fibrosis and remodeling in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Furthermore, spironolactone has the ability to control galectin-3 levels in heart failure patients. Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine the factors associated with the increase in galectin-3 and the alteration of galectin-3 concentration in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction after 12 weeks of treatment with spironolactone. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 122 patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. Those patients were nonusers of spironolactone and presented for examination or had been hospitalized at the Can Tho Cardiovascular Hospital in Vietnam. The demographic and cardiovascular risk factor details were obtained at baseline, and galectin-3 levels were measured at baseline and also 12 weeks after taking spironolactone 25 mg once daily vs. 50 mg once daily. Results: The median baseline galectin-3 was 54.82 ± 26.06. Galectin-3 levels were positively correlated with age, NT-proBNP, and negatively correlated between EF and galectin-3 levels (p p p p < 0.05) (reduced 6.87%), respectively. Conclusion: Treatment with spironolactone played an essential role in reducing galectin-3 concentrations, especially spironolactone 50 mg once daily, which showed a significant effect on reducing galectin-3 compared with a 25 mg once-daily dose

Reversal of Deep Effect of Rocuronium by Sugammadex or Neostigmine after Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery: A Single Center Experience in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Using sugammadex allows to quickly reverse deep neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium in laparoscopic surgery, which results in great benefits during and after surgery by minimizing the problem of postoperative residual curarization. AIM: The aims of this study are comparing the efficacy of reversing neuromuscular blockade between sugammadex and neostigmine and evaluating its unwanted effects after laparoscopic abdominal surgery. METHODS: Subject of this prospective clinical comparative trial was patients who underwent abdominal laparoscopic surgery at 103 Military Hospital from October 2017 to October 2018. Eighty-four patients suffering from abdominal laparoscopic surgery under deep neuromuscular blockade were enrolled and divided randomly into two groups with 42 patients in each: Group N used neostigmine for neuromuscular blockade reversal and Group S applied sugammadex. At the end of surgery, neuromuscular blockade was reversed with either sugammadex or neostigmine. RESULTS: The reversal time to achieve train-of-four ratio &gt;0.9 in the sugammadex group was 2.42 ± 0.58 min, which was shorter than in the neostigmine group (11.83 ± 2.19 min) (p &lt; 0.05). The time until extubation in the sugammadex group was 3.69 ± 0.67 min, which was shorter than in the neostigmine group 11.90 ± 2.22 min (p &lt; 0.05). Reversal with sugammadex resulted in statistical significance of less sputum production (0% vs. 11.9%), dry mouth (0% vs. 28.57%), headache (2.38% vs. 7.14%), and nausea (4.76% vs. 14.28%) compared with neostigmine. However, 26.19% of patients in the neostigmine group presented bradycardia, whereas the concurrent administration of atropine in the neostigmine group resulted in increased heart rate. CONCLUSION: Sugammadex reversed neuromuscular blockade more rapidly and effectively than neostigmine in abdominal laparoscopic surgeries. The unwanted effects of sugammadex group were fewer than neostigmine group

MicroCT reveals domesticated rice (Oryza sativa) within pottery sherds from early Neolithic sites (4150-3265 cal BP) in Southeast Asia

Rice (Oryza sativa) was domesticated in the Yangtze Valley region at least 6000–8000 years ago, yet the timing of dispersal of domesticated rice to Southeast Asia is contentious. Often rice is not well-preserved in archaeobotanical assemblages at early Neolithic sites in the wet tropics of Southeast Asia and consequently rice impressions in pottery have been used as a proxy for rice cultivation despite their uncertain taxonomic and domestication status. In this research, we use microCT technology to determine the 3D microscale morphology of rice husk and spikelet base inclusions within pottery sherds from early Neolithic sites in Vietnam. In contrast to surface impressions, microCT provides images of the entire husk and spikelet base preserved within the pottery, including the abscission scar characteristic of domesticated rice. This research demonstrates the potential of microCT to be a new, non-destructive method for the identification of domesticated plant remains within pottery sherds, especially in contexts where archaeobotanical preservation is poor and chaff-tempered sherds are rare and unavailable for destructive analysis. The method has the potential to greatly advance the understanding of crop domestication and agricultural dispersal for ceramic cultures in different parts of the world.The research was funded by the Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University and ARC FT150100420 to TD

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of <i>FAM13A</i> Gene in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—A Case Control Study in Vietnam

Background: In 2018, GOLD addressed the issues of genotypes associated with risk factors for COPD. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) demonstrated an association between COPD and several genetic variants of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the FAM13A gene with the risk of COPD. Objective: To study the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2869967 and rs17014601 of the FAM13A gene in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subjects and research methods: 80 subjects diagnosed with COPD and 80 subjects determined not to have COPD according to GOLD 2020 criteria; the subjects were clinically examined, interviewed, and identified as possessing single nucleotide polymorphisms using the sanger sequencing method on whole blood samples. Results: The male/female ratio of the patient group and the control group was 79/1 and 39/1, respectively. The percentages of C and T alleles of rs2869967 in COPD patients were 50.6% and 49.4%, respectively. The percentages of C and T alleles of rs17014601 in COPD patients were 31.9% and 68.1%, respectively. At rs17014601, the ratio values of alleles T and C in the disease group and the control group were markedly different, making them statistically reliable (p = 0.031). The rate of CT genotype in the group of patients was considerably higher than that of the control group. The TT homozygous genotype had a lower risk of COPD compared with the other genotypes in the dominant model (ORTT/(CC + CT) = 0.441; CI95% = 0.233–0.833); this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012). Conclusions: With rs17014601, it is characteristic that the frequency of the T allele appears more than the C allele, and the CT heterozygous phenotype accounts for the highest proportion in rs17014601 and rs2869967 recorded in COPD patients. There is an association between the genetic variant of the SNP FAM13A-rs17014601 and the risk of COPD