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Forest fires are a significant source of air pollution in Asia. In this study, we integrate satellite remote sensing data and ground-based measurements to infer fire–air pollution relationships in selected regions of Vietnam. We first characterized the active fires and burnt areas at a regional scale from MODIS satellite data. We then used satellite-derived active fire data to correlate the resulting atmospheric pollution. Further, we analyzed the relationship between satellite atmospheric variables and ground-based air pollutant parameters. Our results show peak fire activity during March in Vietnam, with hotspots in the Northwest and Central Highlands. Active fires were significantly correlated with UV Aerosol Index (UVAI), aerosol extinction absorption optical depth (AAOD), and Carbon Monoxide. The use of satellite aerosol optical thickness improved the prediction of Particulate Matter (PM) concentration significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case-control twin study which examines the role of trauma as a psychopathologic symptom in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the study, researchers analyzed the psychopathologic symptoms of 104 identical twin pairs between 1996-2001 who were discordant for combat exposure in Vietnam. They found that veterans with PTSD who were exposed to combat in Vietnam showed significantly higher grades on the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised and other psychometric ways to measure psychopathology compared to combat unexposed twins.