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Two new taxa from Vietnam are described and illustrated: Rhododendron tephropeploides, in subsection Tephropepla, and R. chunii subsp. vietnamense, in subsection Tsutsusi.

International audience

Key messages The last decade has seen significant and marked improvements in the legal framework on mangrove protection, increased funding and involvement of non-state actors in mangrove protection and development, lower rates of mangrove forest loss and larger areas of planted mangroves in Vietnam. Despite these remarkable achievements, challenges remain for mangrove conservation, particularly when major drivers of mangrove deforestation and degradation have yet to be properly addressed as they are closely linked to national economic development priorities. Weak law enforcement, overreliance on inadequate central budget financing for mangrove protection, and inequitable distribution of benefits and rights relating to mangrove resources further challenge effective, efficient and equitable mangrove management. The government still affords more attention to planting new mangroves than providing strong incentives for conserving existing mangrove forests. Future mangrove protection and development in Vietnam requires stronger political will from the government to find a balance between economic development and mangrove conservation priorities, as well as participatory decision-making processes where the private sector and local communities are provided with better incentives to engage in mangrove protection.

For the first time, Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions co-doped into semiconductor ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were successfully synthesized by a wet chemical method. The presence of Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions in ZnS QDs was verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–visible absorption spectra analyses revealed that the as-synthesized QDs had a zinc blende (ZB) structure with a particle size of about 3–4 nm. The optical properties of Sm3+ ions in ZnS QDs were studied through the excitation, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and PL-decay lifetime by using the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory. The luminescent quenching phenomenon of Sm3+ was observed when its concentration was higher than a specified value. For the ZnS QDs co-doped Tb3+ and Sm3+, the luminescent intensity of Sm3+ ions was enhanced because of the energy transfer (ET) process from Tb3+ ions to Sm3+ ions. The main interaction mechanism for the Tb3+-Sm3+ and Sm3+-Sm3+ energy transfer processes was determined by using the Inokuti-Hirayama (I–H) model.

Bao cao chuyen đề nay của CIFOR đanh gia những cơ hội va thach thức trong qua trinh huy động tai chinh thực hiện Chiến lược phat triển lâm nghiệp (VFDS) giai đoạn 2006-2020. Sau 10 nam thực hiện VFDS, nganh lâm nghiệp đa đạt được nhiều thanh tựu đong gop vao sự phat triển của đất nước. Tuy nhien, huy động tai chinh cho việc thực hiện VFDS luon gặp nhiều thach thức.Đầu tư vao bảo vệ va phat triển rừng cho tới nay la rất thấp, đặc biệt la đối với rừng đặc dụng va rừng phong hộ, với việc phân bổ nha nước la khong đủ để đap ứng nhu cầu thực tế. Tiềm nang của nganh lâm nghiệp trong đong gop vao sự gia tang GDP quốc gia chưa được nhận thức đầy đủ bởi cac nha hoạch định chinh sach vi vậy những tiềm nang nay chưa được tối đa hoa. Ngoai ra, chưa co dữ liệu nao về tai chinh lâm nghiệp cũng như cơ hội va thach thức cho việc huy động cac nguồn tai chinh cho nganh lâm nghiệp tại Việt Nam được thu thập va phân tich. Do đo nghien cứu nay la nghien cứu đầu tien được tiến hanh để đanh gia tinh hinh hiện tại, phân tich cả cơ hội va thach thức của huy động tai chinh cho cả việc thực hiện chiến lược cũng như việc đầu tư vao nganh lâm nghiệp.Nguồn tai chinh thực hiện VFDS bao gồm ngân sach nha nước, ODA, FDI va khu vực tư nhân. Chi trả dịch vụ moi trường rừng tuy la một cơ chế khuyến khich tai chinh mới nhưng đa tạo động lực cho cac ben cung cấp dịch vụ moi trường rừng bảo vệ va phat triển rừng tốt hơn. Cộng đồng, ca nhân va cac doanh nghiệp cũng la nguồn đong chinh cho việc thực hiện VFDS va bảo vệ phat triển rừng.Một hệ thống tai chinh lâm nghiệp minh bạch va co trach nhiệm giải trinh cao sẽ giup cac nha hoạch định chinh sach cải thiện kế hoạch tai chinh cho nganh lâm nghiệp, cũng như tập trung vao việc khai thac va sử dụng nguồn tai chinh tiềm nang va co hiệu quả hơn. Tim kiếm những nguồn tai chinh mới để bổ sung cho những nguồn hiện co la cần thiết. Nganh lâm nghiệp cũng cần tiếp tục cải thiện cac cơ chế phap lý a chinh sach cũng như tạo ra một moi trường phap lý thuận lợi để huy động tối đa những nguồn tai chinh tiềm nang cho việc bảo vệ va phat triển rừng.

Amorphophallus kienluongensis is described as a new species from southern Vietnam. It is morphologically close to A. brevispathus Gagnep. (Thailand) and A. prolificus Hett. & A.Galloway (Thailand). However, it differs from both these species by a stigma with a central depression and an obconic male portion. So far A. kienluongensis is known only from the Kien Luong district of the Kien Giang province, southern Vietnam. The plant grows on limestone hills where its habitat is under threat owing to quarrying for cement manufacture. Therefore this species could be ranked as CR (‘critically endangered’) in the IUCN ranking.

Key messagesDespite being a new funding source, PFES now contributes 22% of total forestry sector investment.The impact of PFES funding differs by location and actor group.To enhance the scale of PFES, and its impacts as a key funding source, the sector must sustain and maximize the potential of existing revenue, carry out strategic investment and use of PFES revenue, and expand to include new potential PFES sources.

Để nâng cao quy mo va tac động của PFES như la một nguồn kinh phi chinh hỗ trợ cho nganh lâm nghiệp cần thực hiện cac biện phap sau: duy tri va tối đa hoa cac khoản thu tiềm nang, thực hiện đầu tư chiến lược va sử dụng nguồn thu từ PFES hiệu quả, đồng thời mở rộng phạm vi cac nguồn chi trả dịch vụ moi trường rừng tiềm nang.

Key messagesDespite the great potential REDD+ shows for generating and contributing finance to support forestry in Vietnam, a reduction in both funds and funder commitment to REDD+, challenges in meeting funder requirements, and the significant finance required to implement the national REDD+ program in Vietnam, all imply that in reality REDD+’s contribution as a major financial source for the forestry sector is limited.Although the government has identified various public and private funding sources to cover the different phases of REDD+, the international public sector remains the primary funding source; limited contributions come from the private sector and state.To date the spending of REDD+ finance has been uncoordinated and fragmented, due to a lack of clarity on what Vietnam’s REDD+ priorities are.Effective and efficient implementation of REDD+ activities in Vietnam is being impeded by: limited and inaccurate data regarding REDD+ finance in Vietnam; an unclear definition of what REDD+ finance is; the absence of a national REDD+ financial tracking system; and limited technical capacity (within both government and civil society organizations) when it comes to monitoring REDD+ finance.To increase the potential for REDD+ to financially contribute to forestry in Vietnam, the following is required: better coordination across sectors and amongst donors and government agencies; enhanced capacity building on the tracking and management of REDD+ finance; development and effective implementation of REDD+ policies and measures, so that the government can access result-based payments from different international funding sources.

REDD+ co tiềm nang lớn trong việc tạo lập va đong gop tai chinh để hỗ trợ cho nganh lâm nghiệp ở Việt Nam. Tuy nhien, việc giảm cả nguồn vốn va sự cam kết tai trợ cho REDD+, thach thức trong việc đap ứng cac yeu cầu của nha tai trợ, kho khan để đảm bảo yeu cầu về nguồn tai chinh cần co giup thực hiện chương trinh REDD+ quốc gia cho thấy tiềm để REDD+ trở thanh nguồn đong gop chinh cho nganh lâm nghiệp con hạn chế.

This CIFOR Occasional Paper assessed opportunities and challenges in mobilizing finance to implement the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy (VFDS) for 2006-2020. After 10 years of VFDS implementation, the forestry sector has witnessed many achievements contributing to the development of the country. However, financial mobilization for implementation of the VFDS has always been limited.Investment into forest protection and development, especially for special use forests and protected forests, has to date been minimal, with state allocations insufficient to meet requirements. The potential contribution of the forestry sector in increasing national GDP has not been fully recognized by policymakers and therefore has not yet been maximized. In addition, no data have yet been collected and analyzed on forestry finance and nor have the opportunities and challenges for mobilizing financial resources for the forestry sector in Vietnam. This research was thus conducted to assess the current situation, analyzing both the opportunities and challenges of financial mobilization, both for implementation of the strategy as well as for forestry sector investment.Funding for VFDS already stems from ODA, FDI and the private sector. Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) is a new financial incentive mechanism that provides incentives for forest users to better protect and develop forests, where investments from communities, individuals and enterprises are the main contributors responsible for increases in the budget from non-state sources.A transparent and accountable forestry finance system will help policymakers by improving financial planning for the forestry sector, as well as targeting financial resources for greater returns. Finding new sources of finance to complement existing ones is essential. The forestry sector also needs to continue to improve its legal mechanisms and policies and create a favorable legal environment to mobilize the maximum possible financial resources for forest protection and development.

Trichinellosis is an emerging parasitic zoonosis in North Vietnam. In this survey, hunted and farm-bred wild boars as well as synanthropic rats were sampled in two provinces of northwest Vietnam where outbreaks of trichinellosis have recently occurred. Evidence of Trichinella infection was studied by parasitological, serological and molecular methods. The results showed relatively low prevalence of Trichinella spiralis in hunted wild boars (2/62 (3.2%; 95% CI: 0.8- 4.8)) and rats (23/820 (2.8%; 95% CI: 13.7-32.3)). Parasite burdens in the muscle tissues were between 0.1 and 0.03 larvae/g, and 0.1 and 7 larvae/g in wild boars and rats, respectively. Seroprevalence in farm-bred wild boars was negative. The findings of Trichinella-infected rats in 7 of the 20 districts of Dien Bien and Son La provinces suggest that the parasite is circulating in these regions. These results indicate that the local population and health centers should be made aware of the risks of eating raw or undercooked meat dishes prepared from wild animals.

Background In 2002, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) required all 18 Renal Networks to participate in a Vascular Access Quality Improvement Program (QIP). The Northwest Renal Network (NWRN 16) chose to increase arteriovenous fistula (AVF) use. NWRN 16 hypothesized that strategies which targeted the improvement of AVF rate and the reduction of catheter use were the same. In December 2001, 44.2% of hemodialysis (HD) patients in the NWRN 16 received HD using an AVF which met the Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) 40% AVF guideline for prevalent patients. However, 43% of HD facilities (2869 patients) had less than 40% of AVF and higher HD catheter rates than the average Network catheter rates (25.0 vs. 20.3%). To address the needs of underperforming facilities, NWRN 16 provided education and tools for their vascular access decision makers to promote AVF creation and catheter reduction. Methods In 2002, NWRN 16 sponsored four regional workshops targeted at nephrologists, vascular surgeons, HD nurses, and interventional radiologists. Results Percentage of AVFs in use in invited facilities increased from 31.3% pre-intervention to 56.2% at 4 yrs: 78% increase (99% confidence interval: 77.8% to 81.5%). Percentage of catheters increased from 25% to 25.8%: 3.2% change over 4 yrs (99% confidence interval: 2.5% to 4%). Conclusion The success of Network 16's AVF interventions demonstrates the effectiveness of Network education promoting multidisciplinary teamwork, and innovative strategies to increase dramatically AVF use without substantial increase in catheter use.

Background In December 2001, 44.2% of hemodialysis (HD) patients in the Northwest Renal Network (NWRN 16) received dialysis using an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Substantial differences were noted in percentages of patients with AVF, ranging from 5% to 90% of the facility population, suggesting wide variation in physician practice patterns within the Network. To address the needs of facilities having Methods In 2002, the Network sponsored 4 regional workshops targeted to nephrologists, vascular surgeons, dialysis nurses, and interventional radiologists. Results 46 facilities (43% of all Network facilities) had Conclusion Low prevalent AVF rates in many NWRN 16 facilities may have resulted from differences in physician practice patterns. The success of Network 16 AVF Intervention demonstrates the effectiveness of Network education promoting multidisciplinary teamwork, innovative strategies to increase AVF rates among dialysis patients.

In order to optimize the insulation design of a cold dielectric high temperature superconducting (HTS) cable, the composite insulation system has been investigated according to the arrangement of laminated polypropylene paper (LPP) and kraft paper in liquid nitrogen. LPP is a prominent insulating material with a high dielectric strength and low dielectric loss, which has been used previously as a HTS cable insulating materials. In addition kraft paper has been used for oil-field (OF) cable as insulating materials for a long time. In this paper, the dielectric properties on composite insulation system according to the arrangement of LPP and kraft paper was compared. The economic and dielectric performances of two insulating materials were considered and applied toward a HTS cable. Furthermore, from an economic satisfaction point the most suitable arrangement, and compared the dielectric properties of the mini-model cables were examined.

The estimation of radiation quality factor in space flights is a serious problem of space dosimetry. The solution of this problem is based on LET-spectra measurements. The “NAUSICAA”-device installed on the “MIR” station has a detector with a large geometric factor, that gives the possibility of measuring LET-spectra with sufficient statistic in relatively short time interval and hence the corresponding Q. LET-spectra are accumulated through 24 hour periods and equivalent dose (H), absorbed dose (D), quality factor and flux (F) are measured every 10 minutes. The obtained data permit the estimate of the diurnal Q and Q in South Atlantic Anomaly. These values vary in the range of 1.4 – 2.2. The analysis of these values including their comparison with the calculated results is given in this paper.

A dosimetric complex is proposed for use in long-term manned space flight on the orbital station and for the planned Mars expedition. This complex includes thermoluminescence dosimeters with on-board readout, a channel for continuous monitoring of dose rate and a channel for continuous measurement of absorbed and equivalent doses, as well as measurement of the LET spectra. The last four parameters are measured by a tissue-equivalent proportional counter.

During the French-Soviet space mission “Aragatz”, the experiment CIRCE (Compteur Integrateur de Rayonnement Complexe dans l'Espace) recorded the dose rate and quality factor values inside the MIR station. This paper presents results obtained with a new active dose equivalent meter based on microdosimetric techniques and using a low pressure tissue equivalent proportional counter. In terms of lineal energy CIRCE device works in the 0.2 - 1200 keV.μm −1 range in tissue. Preliminary studies were performed in photon, neutron and heavy ion beams, and in the real stratosphere cosmic radiation field. Long term measurements on-board MIR station from December 1988 to April 1989 gave an average quality factor value equal to 1.9 ± 0.3. Through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), the quality factor was equal to 1.4. The temporal orbital variations of the dose rates and quality factors have been established in space dosimetry for the first time.

During the French-Soviet space mission 'Aragatz', the experiment CIRCE (Computer Intégrateur de Rayonnement Complexe dans l'Espace) recorded the dose rate and quality factor values inside the MIR station. This paper presents results obtained with a new active dose equivalent meter based on microdosimetric techniques and using a low pressure tissue-equivalent proportional counter. In terms of lineal energy the CIRCE device works in the 0.2 - 1200 keV.µm-1 range in tissue. Preliminary studies were performed in photon, neutron and heavy ion beams, and in the real stratosphere cosmic radiation field. Long-term measurements on board the MIR station from December 1988 to April 1989 gave an average quality factor value equal to 1.9 ± 0.3. Through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), the quality factor was equal to 1.4. The temporal orbital variations of the dose rates and quality factors have been established in space dosimetry for the first time.

In a 7-year programme established to investigate the deposition of pollutants from the atmosphere, wet precipitation samples were collected in specially designed wet-only samplers at two sampling stations in the Delta area of The Netherlands. The measured concentrations of the ecotoxic heavy metals Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Co, the nutrients NH 4 + , NO 3 − and SO 4 2− and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in rain water and snow are presented. Investigation of the cationic and anionic composition of the wet precipitation at Yerseke in 1986 is also discussed and compared with results from other sampling locations in The Netherlands. In addition, a comparison with the results obtained as part of a larger sampling programme throughout West Germany is discussed.

The key concern of our research is to investigate concepts ensuring an integration of information and processes available at the layers 1 up to 3 of the protocol stack to realize an overall optimization of both resource usage efficiency and performance in self-configurable and self-healing wireless networks (cellular and ad hoc). The essence of the research avenue lies in the fact that, from an information theoretical point of view, information available at different layers of the protocol stack contains per se a certain degree of redundancy that can be used for cross layer optimization. For example, processes of the physical and MAC layers like directional channel estimation, synchronization, bit error rate and signal strength can be used to obtain a quite good estimation of the range (distance) between senders and receivers. On the other hand, position and topology information, for example, can be used to optimize a series of processes at the other layers, for example, channel estimation & adaptive modulation, power control, and mobility management (including movement detection, dynamic guard channel schemes, handoff and load balancing).

The authors present a high-performance 8 /spl times/ 8 CMOS signed multiplier using the wave pipelining technique. The multiplier architecture is based on the modified Booth algorithm and Wallace-Tree techniques. At the transistor level, a biased CMOS gate is used to balance the path delays; it provides a means of postprocess tuning, even though it has a disadvantage in power consumption. The multiplier is implemented with MOSIS 2-/spl mu/m technology, and simulation results show a tenfold speed-up over nonpipelined operation.

In order to perform a wide range of locomotive tasks, a legged robot should be able to autonomously adjust its stride and properly move its legs so as to fit the current locomotion requirement. We develop an adaptive intelligent system that controls the movement of a jointed leg during a running stride. This paper focuses on the ballistic controller, which controls the movement of the leg from the point of takeoff from the ground to the point of landing. The controller learns from experience to move the leg along a specified series of configurations which provide a smooth transition from takeoff to landing. Learning is online, so the controller adapts to the requirements of the stride on the fly. It can handle strides of different sizes and can scale obstacles. Very accurate control is achieved even during the first learning attempt.

Kgroo, a simulated 3-link folding legged uniped robot is presented and locomotion training of Kgroo with fuzzy-neural control is discussed. It is observed that for the uniped locomotion problem, global training of a fuzzy or neural controller is subject to failure. It is shown that, starting with a single jump example, a multiagent cerebellum model (MAC-J) can enable Kgroo to learn different jumps with a geometrical learning rate based on a learning-tuning-brainstorming theory. Technically, this work introduces effective means for decomposing the high-dimensional locomotion control problem into kernel spaces; theoretically, incremental learning and coordinated cerebellar agent discovery provide a natural explanation to certain explosive learning behaviors in human and animal locomotion control.

Locomotion training of legged machines is a difficult and challenging problem in robotics and artificial intelligence. The work focuses on controlling the running stride of a three link leg. The objective is to control the height, distance and angular momentum of the stride, all of which are determined at takeoff from the ground. We use a CMAC neural network (J.S. Albus, 1975) to control the leg during takeoff. The CMAC network uses local learning and also permits incremental learning. This enables the net to be retrained online to produce the correct signals for locally changed conditions. The CMAC controller trains quickly and generalizes well.

A finite element technique is used to model the drawdown of the water table that occurs when water is pumped from aquifers, and this is compared to data taken from the Hanoi region where groundwater has been pumped for many years. Comparisons are made of the drawdown of the water table and of the surface settlement with time and it is shown that reasonable predictions can be made of field behaviour. Calculated ground movements are then used with a pile analysis program that can compute displacements and moments in piles due to ground movement. It is shown that the movements caused by the lowering of the water table can cause significant moments in piled foundations, and that this can lead to structural damage.

The dosimetric experiments Dose-M and Liulin as part of the more complex French-German-Bulgarian-Russian experiments for the investigation of the radiation environment for Mars-96 mission are described. The experiments will be realized with dosemeter-radiometer instruments, measuring absorbed dose in semiconductor detectors and the particle flux. Two detectors will be mounted on board the Mars-96 orbiter. Another detector will be on the guiderope of the mars-96 Aerostate station. The scientific aims of Dose-M and Liulin experiments are: Analysis of the absorbed dose and the flux on the path and around Mars behind different shielding. Study of the shielding characteristics of the Martian atmosphere from galactic and solar cosmic rays including solar proton events. Together with the French gamma-spectrometer and the German neutron detectors the investigation of the radiation environment on the surface of Mars and in the atmosphere up to 4000 m altitude will be conducted.