Summary of Baseline Household Survey Results: Vinh Loi district Bac Lieu province Viet Nam

The household baseline survey conducted in December 2014 to January 2015 collected data from 140 households in seven villages, including Tra Hat village, in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam. This is part of the baseline data collection activities in Tra Hat Climate Smart Village of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security. The objective is to collect household baseline data where data in five or 10 years in the same households will be compared to capture changes that may occur over time. Results showed that the households were highly dependent on farming, particularly rice, for food and income. Farming, however, was characterized by low crop and commercialization index. They diversified income sources by engaging in off-farm work within the area or migrating to other places to find work. The market influenced more farmers’ decisions related to crops, but climate-related factors were becoming significant. Adaptation and mitigation measures need to be enhanced. Providing the farmers with correct information can help them make better decisions about the future. Access to land, increased production, few natural disasters in the area, and improved irrigation were likely the reasons for enough food supply among most of the households

Study on conformational structure of tamarind seed polysaccharide and its sulfated derivative by light scattering method

The aim of this study was to study the conformational changing when sulfated groups were introduced to the molecular chain of native tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP). Light Scattering (LS) method was used to determine conformation of TSP and its sulfated derivative TSPS. The results indicated that both TSP and TSPS have a highly branched and more sphere-like molecule; however, after sulfation, the TSPS became more branched structure than native polysaccharide. Keywords. Tamarind seed polysaccharide, conformation, light scattering

Isothermal models of Chromium (VI) adsorption by using Fe3O4 nanoparticles

The ferromagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with the average particle size of about 10 nm were used to adsorb chromium (VI) in aqueous solution. The equilibrium of Cr(VI) adsorption can be achieved at the pH value of 2.5, in the contact time of 120 minutes. The mechanisms of Cr(VI) adsorption were evaluated by 4 isothermal adsorption models Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, and Temkin. The results showed that all four models are satisfied; especially, Redlich-Peterson is the most suitable model to describe the adsorption kinetic of Cr(VI) on ferromagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Analyzing farm household strategies for food security and climate resilience: The case of Climate-Smart Villages of Southeast Asia

This paper develops a conceptual framework with an indicator-based approach to assess Climate-Smart Villages (CSVs) and applies it to case study sites in Lao PDR (Ekxang CSV), Cambodia (Rohal Suong CSV), and Vietnam (Tra Hat CSV) in Southeast Asia. The intensification, extensification, diversification, commercialization, alteration of practices, use of common lands, migration strategies that can augment climate resilience, farm income, assets, and food security are assessed based on a composite index of the strategies and key outcome variables. The study demonstrates a method that can be applied widely for assessing climate-smart agriculture strategies and finding possible entry points for climate-smart interventions. The influence of gender in resource control and livelihood strategies is also discussed. It is also evident that the climate-smart interventions can augment different livelihood strategies of farmers and enhance the developmental and climate resilience outcomes. There is a need to prioritize the possible interventions in each case and implement them with the help of donor agencies, local institutions, and government offices

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

PRESENT DAY DEFORMATION IN THE EAST VIETNAM SEA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS

This paper presents velocities of present-day tectonic movement and strain rate in the East Vietnam Sea (South China Sea) and surroundings determined from GPS campaigns between 2007 and 2010. We determine absolute velocities of GPS stations in the ITRF05 frame. The result indicates that GPS stations in the North of East Vietnam Sea move eastwards with the slip rate of 30 - 39 mm/yr, southwards at the velocities of 8 - 11 mm/yr. Song Tu Tay offshore moves eastwards at the rate of ~24 mm/yr and southwards at ~9 mm/yr. GPS stations in the South of East Vietnam Sea move to the east at the rate of ~22 mm/yr and to the south at the velocities of 7 - 11 mm/yr. The effect of relative movement shows that the Western Margin Fault Zone activates as left lateral fault zone at the slip rate less than 4 mm/year.In Western plateau, the first result from 2012 - 2013 GPS measurement shows that the velocities to the east vary from 21.5 mm/yr to 24.7 mm/year. The velocities to the south vary from 10.5 mm/yr to 14.6 mm/year. GPS solutions determined from our campaigns are combined with data from various authors and international projects to determine the strain rate in the East Vietnam Sea. Principal strain rate changes from 15 nanostrain/yr to 9 nanostrain/yr in the East Vietnam Sea. Principal strain rate and maximum shear strain rate along the Red River Fault Zone are in order of 10 nanostrain/year. East Vietnam Sea is considered to belong to the Sunda block

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Effect of addition of nanoclays on properties of vinyl ester

Vinyl ester resins have been used in many engineering applications such as matrix for composites used in ships, chemical reservoirs, pipes etc. It is desirable to enhance a few important properties of the resin such as flammability resistance, water absorption resistance, and fracture toughness. The addition of nanoclays has been shown to enhance these properties of epoxy resins. The work in this project is to investigate the effect of adding nanoclays on these properties of vinyl ester. Commercial vinyl esters usually contain styrene, which serves both as a diluent and a crosslinking agent. The presence of styrene complicates the incorporation of clays into the vinyl ester. As such two types of vinyl ester were used. One is commercial vinyl ester (Derakane 411- 350) which contains styrene, and the other is vinyl ester synthesized in the laboratory, which is kept free of styrene during the clay incorporation. Different types of clays were examined. Different methods of mixing the clays in the vinyl ester were investigated. The results show that among the different clays, composites made using vinyl ester and Cloisite 20A show better performance. If the mixing conditions are right, there is significant improvement in fracture toughness. However there is some reduction in flexural strength upon the addition of the clays.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Nông nghiệp ứng phó với biến đổi khí hậu - Tài liệu dùng cho cán bộ địa phương các cấp của Việt Nam

Climate smart agriculture concepts and principles must be simplified for local government officials and other technical officer to be able to operationalize key elements into local development programs in Vietnam. Climate smart agriculture needs to be simplified and often demystified in order to enhance its wider up take at regional and local levels. The brochure is written in Vietnamese for the benefit local partners and technical persons who speak and read Vietnamese language only