Search

Abstract Secure environmental contexts are crucial for hominin interpretation and comparison. The discovery of a Denisovan individual and associated fauna at Tam Ngu Hao 2 (Cobra) Cave, Laos, dating back to 164–131 ka, allows for environmental comparisons between this (sub)tropical site and the Palearctic Denisovan sites of Denisova Cave (Russia) and Baishiya Karst Cave (China). Denisovans from northern latitudes foraged in a mix of forested and open landscapes, including tundra and steppe. Using stable isotope values from the Cobra Cave assemblage, we demonstrate that, despite the presence of nearby canopy forests, the Denisovan individual from Cobra Cave primarily consumed plants and/or animals from open forests and savannah. Using faunal evidence and proxy indicators of climates, results herein highlight a local expansion of rainforest at ~ 130 ka, raising questions about how Denisovans responded to this local climate change. Comparing the diet and habitat of the archaic hominin from Cobra Cave with those of early Homo sapiens from Tam Pà Ling Cave (46–43 ka), Laos, it appears that only our species was able to exploit rainforest resources.

Over the past twenty years, government advisory bodies have placed increasing emphasis on the need for adaptive measures in response to the effects of human-induced climate change. Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs), which incorporate macroeconomic and climate variables, feature prominently in advisory content, though they rarely draw on data from outside strictly constrained hypothetical systems. This has led to assertions that they are not well-suited to approximate complex systemic human-environment processes. Modular, interdisciplinary approaches have offered a way to address this shortcoming; however, beyond climate records, prehistoric data continue to be under-utilised in developing such models. In this paper we highlight the contribution that archaeology and palaeoecology can make to the development of the next generation IAMs that are expected to enhance provision for more local and pro-active adaptations to future climate change. We present data from one of Southeast Asia's most heavily developed river deltas: the Red River (Song Hong) Delta, in Vietnam and localised analysis from the Tràng An Landscape Complex World Heritage Site, on the delta's southern margin. Comparison is made between Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP) 5-8.5 and SSP2-4.5 emission projection models and the Mid-Holocene inundation of the Red River Basin. We highlight the value to taking a scientific long view of coastal evolution through an illustrative set of eight research foci where palaeo-data can bring new and localised empirical data to bear on future risk management planning. We proceed to demonstrate the applicability of palaeoenvironmental, zooarchaeological and historical evidence to management and the development of sustainable conservation strategies using Tràng An as a case study. In so doing, we further highlight the importance of knowledge exchange between scientific, corporate, non-governmental, local, and state stakeholders to achieve tangible results on the ground.

Abstract The capability of Pleistocene hominins to successfully adapt to different types of tropical forested environments has long been debated. In order to investigate environmental changes in Southeast Asia during a critical period for the turnover of hominin species, we analysed palaeoenvironmental proxies from five late Middle to Late Pleistocene faunas. Human teeth discoveries have been reported at Duoi U’Oi, Vietnam (70–60 ka) and Nam Lot, Laos (86–72 ka). However, the use of palaeoproteomics allowed us to discard the latter, and, to date, no human remains older than ~ 70 ka are documented in the area. Our findings indicate that tropical rainforests were highly sensitive to climatic changes over that period, with significant fluctuations of the canopy forests. Locally, large-bodied faunas were resilient to these fluctuations until the cooling period of the Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4; 74–59 ka) that transformed the overall biotope. Then, under strong selective pressures, populations with new phenotypic characteristics emerged while some other species disappeared. We argue that this climate-driven shift offered new foraging opportunities for hominins in a novel rainforest environment and was most likely a key factor in the settlement and dispersal of our species during MIS 4 in SE Asia.

Objectives : To investigate the phytochemical constituents of Vietnamese Dalbergia oliveri and their inhibition of NO production. Methods : The ethyl acetate soluble fraction was subjected to column chromatography using silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 to isolate compounds. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance data and comparison with previously reported literature. The anti-inflammation effects of the isolated compounds on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells were measured using the Griess reaction. Results : Nine secondary metabolites ( 1 − 9 ) were isolated successfully from the heartwood of D. oliveri . The chemical structures of these compounds were identified as daidzein ( 1 ), formononetin ( 2 ), 3,7-dihydroxy-4 ′ -methoxyflavone ( 3 ), liquiritigenin ( 4 ), 3 ′ -methoxydaidzein ( 5 ), dalbergin ( 6 ), butin ( 7 ), sativanone ( 8 ), and isoliquiritigenin ( 9 ). This is the first time that compounds 1 , 3 , 5 − 8 have been isolated from D. oliveri . In the NO production inhibition, compounds 7 and 9 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity, with IC 50 values of 7.6 and 11.2 μM, respectively, followed by 3 − 6 , with IC 50 values from 19.6 to 28.7 μM. Conclusion : The results suggested that D. oliveri and its natural products might exert anti-inflammatory effects due to their NO-inhibiting actions.

Background: Wilson disease (WD) is caused by mutations in the copper-transporting P-type adenosine triphosphatase encoded by the ATP7B gene. In this study, we screened and identified the ATP7B mutations among unrelated Vietnamese pediatric patients. Methods: One-hundred-thirteen pediatric patients with clinically diagnosed WD were recruited. DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood. Mutations in the ATP7B gene were identified by Sanger sequencing. Results: Approximately 98% of the clinically diagnosed WD patients carried ATP7B mutations. A total of 35 different ATP7B variants were detected, including five novel mutations (L658P, L792P, T977K, IVS4 + 1G > A and IVS20 + 4A > G). Remarkably, this study revealed that S105* was the most prevalent variant (32.27%), followed by L1371P (9.09%), I1148T (7.27%), R778L (6.36%), T850I (5.45%), V176Sfs*28 and IVS14-2A > G (4.55%). Most ATP7B mutations were located in the exon 2 (37.73%), exon 16 (10.00%), exon 8 (9.55%), exon 20 (9.09%), exon 10 and exon 18 (5.45%), exon 14 (5.00%), exon 13 and intron 14 (4.55%). We developed a streamlined procedure to quickly characterize mutations in the ATP7B gene in the Vietnamese children, starting with sequencing exon 2 and subsequently to exons 8,10,13-16,18, and 20 to allow quick diagnosis of clinically suspected patients. Conclusion: The mutational spectrum and hotspots of ATP7B gene in the Vietnamese population were fairly different from other East Asian populations. A streamlined procedure was developed to screen exon 2 in ATP7B gene among suspected WD patients to reduce genetically diagnostic cost, to facilitate early detection and intervention in countries with limited resources.

Urbanisation and demographic growth are putting pressure on surface water quality in many large cities. Microbial water quality, as determined by the presence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) was investigated in 15 urban lakes in the inner city of Hanoi, Vietnam from 2021 to 2023. FIB (total coliforms, TC and Escherichia coli, EC) numbers exceeded the allowed values of the Vietnam technical regulation for surface freshwater QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT in most studied lakes. High domestic sewage discharge from residential areas and surface runoff from surrounding areas were the major sources of lake water pollution. High FIB numbers in these lakes mean that the use of water for market gardening or leisure activities or the consummation of fish and other aquatic products from these lakes may pose a risk to the population. These results provide the base of a dataset on water quality, which is a necessary precursor for any scientifically based management plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung bean starches are widely used for producing transparent, good-quality noodles in the food industry. This study isolated starches from eight mung bean varieties and investigated how the amylose contents (19.1–32.9%) of the beans affected the structures, physicochemical properties, and resistant starch (RS) fractions of these starches. The starches were classified into three groups according to their amylose content: low-amylose starches with 30% amylose contents (T135 and DX044 varieties). The amylose content of mung bean starches negatively correlated with the average degree of polymerization ($$\overline {D{P_n}} $$) of the starch, whereas the mung bean variety dictated the average chain length ($$\overline {C{L_n}} )$$, degree of order, and short-range molecular order of the starch. All mung bean starches were found to have an A-type crystalline structure with a relative crystallinity of 25.8–34.7%. The starches with higher amylose contents exhibited higher peaks, final viscosities, and setbacks than the other starches. The contents of the RS fraction were in the range of 3.6–13.0%; the starches of the DX14, T135, and DX044 varieties had higher contents of the RS fractions (9.0%, 9.9%, and 13.0%, respectively) than the starches from the other mung bean varieties. Abbreviations: MB1, starch isolated from TN182 variety; MB2, starch isolated from DXVN7 variety; MB3, starch isolated from DX208 variety; MB4, starch isolated from DX14 variety; MB5, starch isolated from KPS1 variety; MB6, starch isolated from V123 variety; MB7, starch isolated from T135 variety; MB8, starch isolated from DX044 variety.

In this work, nanocellulose (NCs) was prepared from bleached wood pulps by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO) - mediated oxidation method using sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) as oxidizer. By this method, both the chemical modification of the cellulose structure and the mechanical treatment played a very important role in obtaining NCs. Thus, the effects of pH values, oxidizer content on the oxidation degree of the cellulosic molecules and the effects of both the oxidation degree and the ultrasonic times during the mechanical disintegration of oxidized cellulose were investigated. The structure and properties of NCs were characterized by Fourier - transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X- ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, phase - contrast microphotograph and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The oxidization degree of cellulosic molecules was determined by the carboxylate content in the cellulosic molecules. The higher the carboxylate content, the higher was the oxidation degree. The results revealed that the optimal reaction conditions to get high carboxylate content and reaction yield were NaClO content of 10 mmol/g, pH of 10, and oxidation reaction time of 253 min. At these reaction conditions, the carboxylate content and reaction yield were 1.18 mmol/g and 87 %, respectively. With an ultrasonic treatment time up 60 min, NCs with 10–30 nm in widths and lengths of 40–60 nm were obtained. The crystalline degree of NCs was 65.2 % and it was nearly unchanged compared to that of pristine cellulose.

This work developed a strategy to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnO by doping it with silver nanoparticles (Ag) to improve the light adsorption and separation of charge carriers, which further increases the conversion of CO2. The loading of Ag over ZnO (Ag-ZnO) was confirmed by characterization methods (SEM, XRD, and XPS), and the photocatalytic activities of Ag-ZnO were significantly enhanced. As the result, the production rates of CO and CH4 by doped Ag-ZnO were 9.8 and 2.4 µmol g−1 h−1, respectively. The ZnO that had the production rate of CO was 3.2 µmol g−1 h−1 and it is relatively low for the production of CH4 at around 0.56 µmol g−1 h−1. The doping of Ag over ZnO displayed a high conversion rate for both CO and CH4, which were 3 and 4.2 times higher than that of ZnO. The doped Ag-ZnO photocatalyst also had high stability up to 10 cycles with less than 11% loss in the production of CO and CH4. The improvement of photocatalytic activities of Ag-ZnO was due to the Ag doping, which enhanced the light adsorption (400–500 nm) and narrowed band gap energy (2.5 eV), preventing the charge carrier separation. This work brings an efficient photocatalyst for CO2 conversion in order to reduce carbon dioxide concentration as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

Endophytic fungi are recognized for their many potential applications in agriculture, such as supporting cropland expansion and increasing the yield and resistance of plants by creating antibiotics that inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, they can produce enzymes that break down hard-to-solubilize substances within soil, dissolve phosphates, fix nitrogen, reduce metals, and produce hormones that promote plant growth (auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellins) to keep crops healthy. In this report, three strains of endophytic fungi, namely, N1, N2, and N3, were isolated from the roots of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Hemsl., Polyscias fruticosa, and Angelica dahurica in some localities in Vietnam. Through a screening process, it was found that they can produce high levels of indole acetic acid (IAA), resolve phosphates, and resist disease, and they were selected to as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to make probiotics in order to increase medicinal plant yields. The results show that the three strains of fungi have the ability to degrade phosphate to 341.90, 1498.46, and 390.79 ppm; the content of IAA produced in the culture medium reached 49.00, 52.35, and 33.34 ppm. Based on some morphological characteristics and an internal transcribed spacer gene sequence analysis of the fungal strains, N1, N2, and N3 were named Penicillium simplicissimum CN7, Talaromyces flavus BC1, and Trichoderma konilangbra DL3, respectively, which have the ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungal strains, such as fungus C. gloeosporioides (CD1), fungus F. oxysporum, fungus L. theobromae N13, and N. dimidiatum. They grow significantly over a period of 5 to 6 days.

Abstract Background Wilson disease (OMIM # 277900) is a autosomal recessive disorder characterized by accumulation of copper in liver and brain. The accumulation of copper resulting in oxidative stress and eventually cell death. The disease has an onset in a childhood and result in a significant neurological impairment or require lifelong treatment. Another serious consequence of the disease is the development of liver damage and acute liver failure leading to liver transplant. The disorder is caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, encoding a P-type copper transporting ATPase. Case presentation We performed genetic analysis of three unrelated patients from three different Vietnamese families. These patients had clinical features such as numbness of hands and feet, vomiting, insomnia, palsy, liver failure and Kayser–Fleischer (K–F) rings and were diagnosed with Wilson disease in the Human Genetics Department, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital. The entire coding region and adjacent splice sites of ATP7B gene were amplified and sequenced by Sanger method. Sequencing data were analyzed and compared with the ATP7B gene sequence published in Ensembl (ENSG00000123191) by using BioEdit software to detect mutations. Conclusions In this study, five mutations in the ATP7B gene were found. Among of these, three mutations were novel: c.750_751insG (p.His251Alafs*19) in exon 2, c.2604delC (p.Pro868Profs*5) in exon 11, and c.3077 T > A (p.Phe1026Tyr) in exon 14. Our results of the mutations associated with Wilson disease might facilitate the development of effective treatment plans.

Northern Vietnam has a long history of human occupation, warfare, and agriculture; yet, the environmental consequences of human activity are poorly understood due to limited paleoecological records. Results from a terrestrial wetland sediment core from the tropical island, Quan Lan, in Ha Long Bay provide a local record of ecosystem responses to societal shifts due to warfare/instability and climate change. A multiproxy study, including pollen, macro charcoal, fecal stanols, and geochemistry, suggests that native vegetation was abundant and low-level, subsistence wet-rice agriculture and burning were in practice during a time of increased monsoon intensity between 1150 BCE and 950 CE. Between 950 and 1450 CE, a trading and military port was established on Quan Lan Island which served as a major hub of southeast Asian trade and protected the mainland from Mongol invasions. During this period, population near the wetland declined to undetectable levels, rice agriculture declined, burning ceased, and disturbance species expanded. A simultaneous shift toward a more arid climate, with possible extended years of drought, occurred during the Medieval Climate Anomaly based on regional climate records. Without a reliable source of freshwater, rice production declined and/or was supplemented by trade. When the mainland capital near present day Hanoi moved south to Hue after 1450 CE, the port ceased operation. During this time, climate became wetter, and precipitation and surface water more reliable than before. Population near the wetland increased as did burning and rice agriculture. The research has implications for understanding the maintenance of tropical biodiversity amidst long-term human occupation, political unrest, and climate change.

Ta Dung Nature park is an important ecological region, its buffer zone currently has coffee as the main crop. However, declines in coffee yields result in a relative reduction in spending power by households. This study aimed to assess land potential to proposal the land for coffee cultivation. Sustainable agriculture must nurture healthy ecosystems and support the sustainable management of land and natural resources. An approach based on integrated use of the Analytical Hierarchy ProcessGeographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing (AHP-GIS-RS) developed using 13 environmental sub-factors. Study result showed the land of development of current coffee cultivation have had an effect from the most important criteria is soil type (0.24), followed by land use cover unit (0.17) and irrigation system (0.15). Sub-factors (SF9: rock expose above soil; SF11 : flood status, SF1 2: irrigation system) have the largest “potential” land for coffee plants. Coffee plantation was recommended to orient in 6,82 % total of study area by the possibility of expanding cultivated area. A framework of potential model was provided for other industry crops in other study areas in Vietnam.

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sand mining, among the many activities that have significant effects on the bed changes of rivers, has increased in many parts of the world in recent decades. Numerical modeling plays a vital role in simulation in the long term; however, computational time remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose a sand mining component integrated into the bedload continuity equation and combine it with high-performance computing using graphics processing units to boost the speed of the simulation. The developed numerical model is applied to the Mekong river segment, flowing through Tan Chau Town, An Giang Province, Vietnam. The 20 years from 1999 to 2019 is examined in this study, both with and without sand mining activities. The results show that the numerical model can simulate the bed change for the period from 1999 to 2019. By adding the sand mining component (2002–2006), the bed change in the river is modeled closely after the actual development. The Tan An sand mine in the area (2002–2006) caused the channel to deviate slightly from that of An Giang and created a slight erosion channel in 2006 (−23 m). From 2006 to 2014, although Tan An mine stopped operating, the riverbed recovered quite slowly with a small accretion rate (0.25 m/year). However, the Tan An sand mine eroded again from 2014–2019 due to a lack of sand. In 2014, in the Vinh Hoa communes, An Giang Province, the Vinh Hoa sand mine began to operate. The results of simulating with sand mining incidents proved that sand mining caused the erosion channel to move towards the sand mines, and the erosion speed was faster when there was no sand mining. Combined with high-performance computing, harnessing the power of accelerators such as graphics processing units (GPUs) can help run numerical simulations up to 23x times faster.