Coastal vulnerability assessment: a case study in Kien Giang, western part of the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam

Climate change, particularly sea-level rise, threatens low-lying coastal systems, such as small islands on coral atolls, and deltas where millions of people are living. The Mekong River Delta is considered especially at risk. Although most of the delta is only a few metres above sea level, there have been few assessments of vulnerability at local scale. The aim of this thesis is to provide quantitative and qualitative information to guide the process of adaptation and provide visualisations that will enhance local authority’s decision making to adapt to climate change, particularly sea-level rise. It focuses on the seven coastal districts within Kien Giang province in the western, micro-tidal section of the delta. A framework is adopted that integrates biophysical effects and socioeconomic stressors for the case study area and consists of three main components of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method of multi-criteria decision making was integrated directly into a geographic information system (GIS) to derive a composite vulnerability index that indicated areas or hotspots most likely to be vulnerable to sea-level rise. The hierarchical structure comprised three components: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity (level 1); and eight sub-components (level 2): seawater incursion, flood risk, shoreline change, population characteristics, landuse, as well as socioeconomic, infrastructure, and technological capability. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool was used to calculate rates of shoreline change along the Kien Giang coast over time in order to derive the shoreline change sub-component that contributed to the exposure component. Beyond this, a further 22 variables (level 3) and 24 sub-variables (level 4) related to vulnerability were also mapped. Based on the weights of variables derived from AHP pair-wise comparisons, a final map was generated to visualise areas reported into five categories of relative vulnerability; very low, low, moderate, high to very high vulnerability. Several regional patterns emerged. Relatively high exposure to seawater incursion, flood risk, and moderate loss of mangroves characterised the coastal fringe of each district. Those areas found to be most sensitive tended to have moderate population density, generally with a large rural population and high proportions of ethnic households with limited availability of agricultural land. Many aspects of adaptive capacity could only be represented at district scale, with the least adaptable areas consisting of large proportions of poor households, low income, and moderate densities of transport, irrigation, and drainage systems. Finally, most coastal districts were determined to be of moderate to relatively high vulnerability, with scattered hotspots along the Kien Giang coast, which coincided with settlement areas. The results obtained, enable identification and prioritisation of the areas, or hotspots most likely to be vulnerable, for which site-specific assessments might further assist the local authorities and communities in better coastal management and conservation. However, the limitations of data accessible at an entire district can influence the outcome. Social vulnerability remains a challenge because it is changing over time and space

An Overview of Cham Islam in An Giang Vietnam

Located in the upstream of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, An Giang is characterized by an agricultural province, which has both plains and hills, and has a border about 100km with Cambodia. An Giang is also the province with the largest number of Cham Islam living in the South. According to official document, the province has 15,327 Cham Islam, accounting for 0.67% of An Giang population. Although the population is less than the other ethnics of the province, the Cham community in An Giang always shows the spirit of solidarity and mutual affection. Cham Islam plays an important role and contribute to unique culture in An Giang. This paper aims to clarify the progress of establishment, development and residential distribution of Cham ethnic group in An Giang, Vietnam. Authors utilized qualitative data gathered from exchange learning and in-depth interviews to examine how Cham Islam has emerged and developed in the study areas. It also focuses on their features of economy, culture, society, education and training, health, architecture, religion, and belief in comparison with Cham people in the central of Vietnam. Consequently, the researcher figures out the similarity and distinction of Cham people in the two regions; thereby, affirms positive values which need to be inherited and promoted in order to help Cham community integrate and develop in contemporary context

Reclamation of Marine Chitinous Materials for Chitosanase Production via Microbial Conversion by Paenibacillus macerans

[[abstract]]: Chitinous materials from marine byproducts elicit great interest among biotechnologists for their potential biomedical or agricultural applications. In this study, four kinds of marine chitinous materials (squid pens, shrimp heads, demineralized shrimp shells, and demineralized crab shells) were used to screen the best source for producing chitosanase by Paenibacillus macerans TKU029. Among them, the chitosanase activity was found to be highest in the culture using the medium containing squid pens as the sole carbon/nitrogen (C/N) source. A chitosanase which showed molecular weights at 63 kDa was isolated from P. macerans cultured on a squid pens medium. The purified TKU029 chitosanase exhibited optimum activity at 60 ◦C and pH 7, and was stable at temperatures under 50 ◦C and pH 3-8. An analysis by MALDI-TOF MS revealed that the chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) obtained from the hydrolysis of water-soluble chitosan by TKU029 crude enzyme showed various degrees of polymerization (DP), varying from 3–6. The obtained COS enhanced the growth of four lactic acid bacteria strains but exhibited no effect on the growth of E. coli. By specialized growth enhancing effects, the COS produced from hydrolyzing water soluble chitosan with TKU029 chitinolytic enzymes could have potential for use in medicine or nutraceuticals.[[sponsorship]]MOST[[notice]]補正完

STUDY ON REMOVING COLOR IN THE EXTRACT SOLUTION FROM VEGETABLES FOR ANALYZING ORGANOCHLORIDE PESTICIDES RESIDUE IN HANOI MARKETS

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

CeO2 based catalysts for the treatment of propylene in motorcycle's exhaust gases

In this work, the catalytic activities of several single metallic oxides were studied for the treatment of propylene, a component in motorcycles' exhaust gases, under oxygen deficient conditions. Amongst them, CeO2 is one of the materials that exhibit the highest activity for the oxidation of C3H6. Therefore, several mixtures of CeO2 with other oxides (SnO2, ZrO2, Co3O4) were tested to investigate the changes in catalytic activity (both propylene conversion and CO2 selectivity). Ce0.9Zr0.1O2, Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 solid solutions and the mixtures of CeO2 and Co3O4 was shown to exhibit the highest propylene conversion and CO2 selectivity. They also exhibited good activities when tested under oxygen sufficient and excess conditions and with the presence of co-existing gases (CO, H2O)

Study on the effect of processing methods on the total polyphenol, 2,3,5,4’-tetrahydroxystilben-2-O-β-D-glucoside, and physcion contents in Fallopia multiflora Thunb. Haraldson root

This study investigated the changes in the ingredients in Fallopia multiflora Thunb. Haraldson (FMT) root after processing it with different methods such as soaking, stewing, and steaming or combined methods. The total polyphenol, 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilben-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG), and physcion contents in FMT products after processing were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) methods. The results demonstrated that the processing method and time significantly affected the contents of polyphenol, THSG, and physcion. The physcion and total polyphenol content increased or decreased during processing depending upon the processing time, while the THSG content gradually decreased with an increase in the processing time. The content of physcion (a substance that can cause liver toxicity) was analysed, and the suitable conditions for processing of the FMT products were determined as initial soaking in rice swill for 24 h and subsequent stewing with black beans and water for 12 h

ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AGRITOURISM IN BINH DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM

This study evaluates the potential for agritourism development in Binh Dinh Province, Central Vietnam. The analytical hierarchical process is used to determine the weights of four factors with 25 measurement criteria to assess agritourism potential. The research results show that Binh Dinh Province has great agritourism potential based on four evaluation factors, including (1) local agricultural tourism resources, (2) the trend for agritourism development and the agritourism market, (3) the local community’s willingness, and (4) the supporting activities of the local government. In particular, the local agricultural tourism resources factor received the highest score, followed by the local community’s willingness and the supporting activities of the local government. The trend for agritourism development and the agritourism market was rated the lowest. Therefore, Binh Dinh has viable opportunities to encourage the growth of agritourism to improve farmers’ livelihoodsDu lịch nông nghiệp đem lại nhiều cơ hội cho phát triển kinh tế cũng như đa dạng hóa các loại hình du lịch và cải thiện đời sống sinh kế của người dân. Nghiên cứu sử dụng phương pháp phân tích thứ bậc (AHP) để tính các trọng số của các tiêu chí đánh giá tiềm năng phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp tại các huyện, thị xã phía bắc tỉnh Bình Định. Tiếp theo, kết quả mô hình hóa sơ đồ mạng cho thấy cả 4 địa phương An Lão, Hoài Ân, Phù Mỹ, thị xã Hoài Nhơn đều được đánh giá ở mức điểm cao về tiềm năng phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp trên các khía cạnh tài nguyên du lịch, xu hướng phát triển du lịch, sự ủng hộ của người dân địa phương và sự quan tâm của chính quyền địa phương. Tuy nhiên, yếu tố xu hướng phát triển thị trường du lịch nông nghiệp được đánh giá ở mức điểm thấp hơn. Điều này cũng xuất phát từ việc phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp tại các huyện, thị xã phía Bắc tỉnh Bình Định cũng mới bắt đầu nhận được sự quan tâm trong vài năm gần đây, số lượt khách tham quan các huyện, thị xã phía Bắc tỉnh Bình Định còn ít so với tiềm năng du lịch của địa bàn

A Literature Review of the Project-based Teaching Method in the Education of Vietnam

The teaching method is one of the main aspects to make a huge contribution to the success of any education system, and project-based teaching (PBL) is an important aspect to contribute to the success of education also. This research was conducted through a review of project-based teaching that has been used in the education system of Vietnam, including a sample, and setting that included imperial and theoretical literature selected from the fields of education. Findings show that this method has been applied to various sectors of education, from kindergarten education to higher education, in many disciplines and subjects, in schools and educational settings, and has become more widely popular than ever. This method, however, has its drawbacks because it takes time to master and teachers need more skills to manage the learning atmosphere. This method has been commonly accepted as one that can help teachers and learners understand more and get more benefits in the learning and teaching process

Erratum: Mott Transition in the Mass Imbalanced Ionic Hubbard Model at Half Filling

Erratum: Mott Transition in the Mass Imbalanced Ionic Hubbard Model at Half Filling[Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, Le Duc Anh, Hoang Anh Tuan, Nguyen Toan Thang and Tran Thi Thu Trang, Communications in Physics, Vol. 29, No. 3SI (2019), pp. 305-312]This paper was published on 22 October 2019 with an omission in the text of the author’s list. The author list should read asNGUYEN THI HAI YEN$^1$, LE DUC ANH$^2$, HOANG ANH TUAN$^{1,3,\dagger}$, NGUYEN TOAN THANG$^1$, TRAN THI THU TRANG$^4$ AND NGUYEN THI HUONG$^5$$^1$Institute of Physics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), Hanoi, Vietnam $^2$Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam $^3$Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam $^4$Ha Long University, Quang Ninh, Vietnam $^5$Thuy Loi University, Hanoi, Vietnam$^{\dagger}$E-mail: [email protected] author’s list has been corrected as of 29 November 2019. The author’s list has been corrected in the electronic version of the journal

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IN DESTINATION MARKETING: A NETWORK ANALYSIS OF TWO DESTINATIONS IN VIETNAM

Purpose –This paper aims to identify the stakeholders involved in tourism destination marketing networks. The involvement and collaboration of multiple individuals and organisations is widely recognised in destination marketing to promote a destination. Internal stakeholders of a destination and their collaboration are frequently studied in destination marketing research, but little attention is paid to the involvement of external stakeholders. Design/Methodology/Approach – Quantitative social network analysis is an important approach to understanding stakeholder connections and roles in tourism destinations. In this paper, this analysis was conducted using primary data collected from social network surveys in Da Nang and Hue, two local destinations in central Vietnam. Sixty-nine questionnaires were collected in Da Nang, and 60 questionnaires in Hue. The network data were each analysed separately using UCINET software. Findings – The results show the involvement of different stakeholders in marketing activities in these local destinations. Most of the marketing networks of Da Nang and Hue consist of business units. While the Da Nang marketing network focuses on critical stakeholders and fundamental business firms with strong financial resources and big brands, the Hue marketing network includes more diverse stakeholders and more significant participation of small and medium local firms. Originality of research – This research found the participation of national and international stakeholders located outside the two destinations studied in their marketing network. Their involvement was identified through their collaborative relationships with the DMOs and internal stakeholders of the two destinations to promote the destinations nationally and internationally