Lang Son Research Articles

Old world fruit bats (Pteropodidae, Chiroptera) from the pleistocene of Vietnam

Isolated teeth of a lesser short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838), a fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820), and a dawn bat Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871) are described from the Middle Pleistocene Tham Hai cave locality in northern Vietnam (Lang Son Province). These are the first fossil findings of the Old World fruit bats in Vietnam. The Middle Pleistocene association of Pteropodidae from the Tham Hai locality may largely reflect the composition of species that roosted in local caves.

Review of biodiversity assessment and resource management orientation for sustainable rural development in Lang Son province, Vietnam

This study examines the conservation and biodiversity management efforts in Lang Son province, Vietnam, in the context of global environmental concerns. Under Decision No 2447/QD-UBND, the province’s Special-use Forest Planning focuses on conserving areas such as the Huu Lien Nature Reserve and the Mau Son special-use forests. This initiative covers a substantial planned land area to sustain biodiversity and foster rural development up to 2030. Recent surveys indicate a notable increase in plant species within these areas, from 842 species in 2017 to 961 in 2019, and significant efforts towards conserving endangered species like the Asiatic black bear and the Annam flying frog. The province encompasses diverse ecosystems spread across 832,075.82 ha, characterized by varied terrains and climates contributing to its rich biodiversity. These regions are crucial for various species, including those listed in conservation documents, such as the 77 plant species recorded. RAP-Plant analysis and Monte Carlo simulation indicate that Lang Son’s biodiversity, with a Shannon index of 2.85 and Simpson index of 0.75, is threatened by a projected forest area decline to 514,578.61 ha by 2040, risking extinction for rare species like Hoang dan and Lan kim tuyen. Furthermore, Lang Son’s strategic initiatives towards sustainable agricultural practices, forest management, and restoration efforts highlight the integration of biodiversity conservation into broader socio-economic development plans. The province’s approach aligns with global strategies emphasizing the protection of endangered and endemic species as essential to maintaining ecological balances and supporting sustainable development. This study underscores the importance of comprehensive regional planning and community engagement in biodiversity conservation efforts to mitigate economic development, illegal activities, and climate change challenges. Threats such as illegal logging and habitat fragmentation persist, necessitating more vital community-based conservation efforts and robust legal frameworks.

Training and Retraining Policies for Civil Servants in Vietnam

In practice of civil servant management in countries, training and retraining policies are developed and implemented as a main measure to improve the quality of civil servants, then build up a team of qualified and capable civil servants for serving the people. This study develops a theoretical framework on training and retraining policies and considers the impact of these policies on the quality of Vietnamese civil servants. The research model is developed with independent scales/variables "Training policies", "Retraining policies" and dependent scale/variable "The quality of civil servants". A direct survey was conducted with 350 commune-level civil servants from 5 provinces representing 3 regions of Vietnam, including: Thai Nguyen province, Lang Son province (Northern region), Quang Binh province (Central region), Binh Duong province, Bac Lieu province (Southern). The results show that the implementation of training policies to update and supplement working knowledge and skills for civil servants has not been effective and received little recognition from civil servants in localities; The implementation of training policies to update and supplement working knowledge and skills for civil servants has not been effective. The findings suggest solutions to make the more effective implementation of training and retraining policies for civil servants in Vietnam.

NEW RECORDS OF ECHOLOCATION CALLS OF <i>Hipposideros khaokhouayensis </i>

Phou Khao Khouay leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros khaokhouayensis) is a globally rare and vulnerable species of the family Hipposideridae. It has been known only from the type locality in Laos and two localities in Vietnam. Its echolocation calls were included in several publications but still poorly understood. Between November 2023 and April 2024, the authors conducted three field surveys in Lang Son province and Hai Phong city, northeastern Vietnam, in order to seek further understanding of its potential distribution and echolocation behavior. Twelve adult individuals of the species were captured using harp traps and mist nets for identification in the field based on their morphological diagnoses to confirm the target species' identity. The PCTape system was employed to record echolocation calls while bats were emerging from caves. Seven sound parameters (CF frequency, CF duration, tFM frequency, tFM bandwidth, tFM duration, pulse duration, and inter-pulse interval) of the recorded calls were analyzed and measured using the Selena software. Their values are in a range of 90.2 - 91.1 kHz, 3.1 - 8.9 ms, 75.6 - 84.5 kHz, 6.1 - 15.0 kHz, 0.9 - 1.7 ms, 4.5 - 10.1 ms and 15.1 - 31.4 ms, respectively. The present study results are considerably different from descriptions in previous publications. This paper also provides the first data on the inter-pulse interval of the species echolocation calls and a methodological note on this sound parameter.

Old World Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae, Chiroptera) from the Pleistocene of Vietnam.

Isolated teeth of a lesser short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838), a fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820), and a dawn bat Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871) are described from the Middle Pleistocene Tham Hai cave locality in northern Vietnam (Lang Son Province). These are the first fossil findings of the Old World fruit bats in Vietnam. The Middle Pleistocene association of Pteropodidae from the Tham Hai locality may largely reflect the composition of species that roosted in local caves.

Adverse Childhood Experience among Adolescents in the Ethnic Minorities of Lang Son Province

The objective of this paper was to investigate the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and associated factors among adolescents of the ethnic minorities of Lang Son province. This cross-sectional research was carried out in Lang Son province. A total of 845 students in boarding schools participated in the study. Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q) was used to measure ACEs. Multivariate Logistic Regression was performed to identify associated factors with ACEs. Emotional abuse is the most common ACE, experienced by 21.9% of the participants, followed by emotional neglect at 14.4% and parental divorce at 11%. Overall, 48.7% experienced ACEs in their lifetime. The frequency of parental visits every two months significantly increases the likelihood of adverse experiences (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.43-4.05, p-value = 0.0009), and living in households with fewer than ten people versus ten or more significantly decreases the risk (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.33-0.70, p-value < 0.0001). Additionally, internet use for 4 hours/day (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15-0.38, p-value < 0.01), 5 hours/day (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13-0.51, p-value < 0.01), and six or more hours/day (OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.11-0.43, p-value < 0.01) are also significantly associated with lower odds of adverse experiences, suggesting protective effects of extended daily internet use against adverse childhood experiences. This study underscores a significant prevalence of ACEs among adolescents in ethnic minority communities in Lang Son province, pointing to an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address these challenges.

Mental health among ethnic minority adolescents in Vietnam and correlated factors: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to measure the rate of depression, anxiety and stress among ethnic minority adolescents and identify relationships between demographic characteristics, behaviours and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) factors with different mental disorders. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Lang Son province, Vietnam, among adolescents in boarding schools for ethnic minorities. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale–21 (DASS-21) and the ACEs Questionnaire were used. Information on age, gender, ethnicity, frequency of home visits, frequency of parental visits, number of people living together, quality of friendship, physical activity, and frequency of Internet use was also collected. Multivariate Logistic and Tobit regression were employed. ResultsAmong 845 students, the rates of stress, anxiety and depression were 24.7 %, 54.4 % and 59.0 %, respectively. There were 48.9 % experiencing at least one ACEs, and the mean number of ACEs was 1.1 (SD = 1.8, range = 0–6). The number of ACEs was positively associated with anxiety score (Coef. = 0.28), stress score (Coef. = 0.28), and depression score (Coef. = 0.16). Having fair or poor friendships was positively associated with anxiety, stress and depression scores. Adolescents using the Internet daily or not using the Internet had a significantly lower anxiety score than those using the Internet at the weekend. Finally, information sources such as friends or television were negatively associated with stress and anxiety scores. ConclusionThis study revealed the high prevalence of mental health problems and ACEs among ethnic minority adolescents in current sample. The present study illustrates an immediate demand for interventions to address ACEs and cognitive issues to improve adolescents’ well-being.

Molecular characterization of lumpy skin disease virus in North Central Vietnam during 2021 and early 2022.

In October 2020, the first outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Lang Son Province, Vietnam were reported by our laboratory. The disease had rapidly spread to the South, and it was reported in 55 of 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam by the end of 2021. The most economic loss caused by this disease occurred in the north-central region in 2021 where approximately 46,788 LSD virus (LSDV) infected cattle and buffaloes have been reported and 8,976 animals have been culled. However, the information on this pathogen circulating in this region is missing. Here, we describe the molecular characterization of LSDV circulating in north-central Vietnam in 2021 and early 2022. In total, 155 LSDV samples were collected during this period and three of these samples from each province were further characterized by Sanger sequencing analysis based on three key maker genes (GPCR, RPO30, and p32). Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on GPCR, RPO30, and p32 genes indicated that LSDV strains circulating in north-central Vietnam are closely related to previously reported strains in Vietnam regions which bordered China and all LSDV strains were 100% identical. These results show the importance of continuous monitoring and characterization of circulating LSDV strains and are important for vaccine development for the control and eradication of LSD in Vietnam.

Morphological, anatomical and genetic diversity of Nanhaia speciosa (Champ. ex Benth.) J.Compton & Schrire from Northern Vietnam

Abstract. Ong PX, Cao CB, Khang DT, Huy TG, Cao PB, Chu HD, Nguyen DV, La HV. 2024. Morphological, anatomical and genetic diversity of Nanhaia speciosa (Champ. ex Benth.) J.Compton & Schrire from Northern Vietnam. Biodiversitas 25: 1174-1184. Nanhaia speciosa (Champ. ex Benth.) J.Compton & Schrire has been considered a captivating plant species known for its remarkable attributes and contributions to ecological systems and human use. This medicinal plant originated from tropical Southeast Asia regions. However, the investigation of this species in Vietnam has been still lacking. This study comprehensively analyzed N. speciosa samples obtained in Vietnam; the morphological and anatomical characteristics of N. speciosa leaflets and flower samples collected from different regions were analyzed. As a result, the structural components of the flower were slightly similar between these samples, whereas the leaflet shape exhibited variations in the leaflet base, petiole, and leaflet apex. According to the ISSR and RAPD analysis, we demonstrated that N. speciosa found in ND genotypes (Tan Yen, Bac Giang) exhibited clearly different genetic backgrounds from CSS (Loc Binh, Lang Son) and CSD (Son Dong, Bac Giang) genotypes. Based on the clustering diagram of ISSR markers, 15 plant genotypes were classified into 2 large clusters, A and B, with genetic similarity ranging from 0.62 to 0.90. The RAPD dendrogram illustrated two main clusters, C and D, with genetic similarity ranging from 0.57 to 0.92. Therefore, this study could provide a solid foundation for identifying and characterizing N. speciosa species in Vietnam and a direction for advanced research on conservation, sustainable breeding, and exploiting pharmaceutical values.

Status of knowledge on prevention and treatment of exposure to sharp objects among nursing students at Lang Son Medical College

Objective: To describe the knowledge on prevention and treatment of exposure to sharp objects among nursing students at Lang Son Medical College. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study on 120 nursing students at Lang Son Medical College was conducted from January to July 2022. Results: 45% of nursing students demonstrated correct knowledge about preventing and treating exposure to sharp objects. Specifically, the percentage of correct knowledge about the causes and risks of injury from sharp objects was 29.2%; the percentage of correct knowledge of the possibility of exposure to hepatitis B and C was higher than that of HIV after being injured from sharp objects was 39.2%; the percentage of correct knowledge about injuries from sharp objects during patient care was 35.8%. Conclusion: The study found that the level of knowledge among nursing students at Lang Son Medical College regarding the prevention and management of exposure to sharp objects is moderate. It is essential to identify and address areas of limited knowledge to ensure that students are adequately prepared before undertaking clinical practice in healthcare settings.

A bagworm damaging chestnut trees in Vietnam

The bagworm Acanthoecia larminati Heylaerts, 1904 (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) is reported for the first time damaging chestnut trees (Castanea mollissima, Castanopsis boisii and Lithocarpus bacgiangensis) in plantations in Vietnam. Field surveys revealed that C. mollissima trees were severely damaged by A. larminati. The damage incidence (P%) and damage index (DI) in C. mollissima plantations in Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa and Kon Tum provinces were 20.2–81.6% and 0.36–2.74, respectively. The C. mollissima trees in Dien Bien, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces were more severely damaged than in the other locations. Damage from this pest in C. boisii and L. bacgiangensis plantations in Lang Son, Bac Giang and Hoa Binh provinces was lower, with P% being 11.8–17.5% and DI being 0.13–0.27. Further research is needed to monitor outbreaks, identify biological and ecological characteristics, and develop control solutions for managing this pest.

Status of practice on prevention and treatment of exposure to sharp objects among nursing students at Lang Son Medical College in 2022

Objective: To describe the status of practice on prevention and treatment of exposure to sharp objects among nursing students at Lang Son Medical College in 2022. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study was implemented among 120 nursing students at Lang Son Medical College from January to July 2022 using “Evaluation of Nursing Students’ Practices in Preventing Injuries Caused by Sharp Objects” measurement with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.793. Results: The percentage of nursing students at Lang Son Medical College who satisfactorily practice on prevention and treatment of exposure to sharp objects was 36.7%. Of which: 64.2% of students used cotton or gauze to break glass tubes; The percentage of students using both hands to cover the needle cap before and after injecting medicine were 38.3% and 48.3%, respectively; 21.7% of students did not wear gloves when their hands were injured; 72.5% of students passed around sharp objects when performing procedures; 71.7% of students did not put injection needles or infusion needles into sharps containers/containers immediately after injection. Conclusion: Practice of preventing and treating exposure to sharp objects among nursing students at Lang Son Medical College was at a low level.

Some Factors Affecting Agricultural Land Use Management in Lang Son Province, Vietnam

The study aims to identify some factors affecting agricultural land use management and propose solutions to improve it in Lang Son province. Secondary data were collected from agencies related to agricultural land use management. Primary data were collected through a direct survey of 250 officials and civil servants implementing agricultural land use management and through 2 steps. Step 1 identifies factors that may influence agricultural land use management. Step 2 collects opinions on the level of influence of the factors identified in Step 1. The hypothetical model of factors affecting land use management has 10 independent variables and 01 dependent variable, and they were evaluated through the testing criteria using SPSS20.0 software. Agricultural land use management is influenced by 28 factors belonging to 10 factor groups, with impact rates ranging from 3.65% to 23.57%. The group of factors of inspection, examination, and sanctioning of land related administrative violations has the most impact, and the group of factors of infrastructure conditions has the least impact on land use management. Proposed solutions include strengthening inspection, examination, and strict penalties for land violations; Completing and properly resolving complaints, denunciations, and land disputes; improving human resources; Organizing and implementing well land use management, etc.

Application of decision analysis module in water resources allocation of inter-provincial river basins: A case study at the Bang Giang - Ky Cung river basin, Vietnam

The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method has been widely applied in numerous studies related to water allocation worldwide. However, in Vietnam, very few works have addressed the determination of priority orders and water allocation proportions using this method. This paper focuses on the application of AHP, integrated into the decision analysis module for Excel tool (DAME), to determine the priority order and proportion of water resource allocation for the Bang Giang - Ky Cung river basin using various input data, such as water usage, production values, growth rates, etc. The results, based on scenarios of socio-economic growth up to 2025 for Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Bac Kan provinces, taking into account four main water user categories (industry, livestock, agriculture, aquaculture), and considering the entire basin, indicate that the highest proportion of water resource allocation is for the agriculture, approximately 34%, followed by livestock at 33%, industry at 22%, and finally aquaculture at 11%. The findings of this paper can serve as a reference for near-future planning to promote the development of water sectors, increase production capacity, and effectively manage water resources to meet socio-economic development targets for the period from 2021 to 2025 in the provinces located within the basin.

Xác định thành phần loài Rickettsia trên chuột và một số ngoại ký sinh trùng ở khu vực đóng quân một số đơn vị quân đội miền Bắc

Rickettsia, a gram-negative bacterium, and an obligate intracellular bacterium, can potentially cause fatal acute fever if not promptly detected and treated. It's often transmitted to humans by arthropods like ticks, fleas, and lice. Rodents and small mammals can serve as key hosts for various Rickettsia species. Our study aimed to identify Rickettsia species using nested PCR and gene sequencing of ompA, ompB, 17-kDa, and gltA genes based on 29 DNA samples, which tested positive for Rickettsia spp collected from mice, ticks, fleas, and lice at military units in Lang Son, Nghe An, Hai Duong, and Bac Giang, The phylogenetic analysis showed that 9/29 (31%) of Rickettsia samples belonged to Rickettsia felis species, 1/29 (3.5%) of Rickettsia samples exhibited a 99.5% ompB gene sequence similarity to Rickettsia heilongjiangensis species .

Chemical components and antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic (aflatoxin b1 and fumonisin b1) activity of star anise (Illicium verum) essential oils in Yen Bai Province, Vietnam

In Vietnam, star anise is grown in the provinces of Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lang Son, Bac Kan, and Cao Bang. The study aimed to analyze the chemical components, and antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic (aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1) activity of star anise essential oils. By the gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method, 15 chemical components were predicted in the star anise essential oils. The major components were trans-anethole (67.05%), caryophyllene oxide (12.73%), limonene (4.27%), α-terpineol (2.43%), and myrcene (2.39%). The antifungal activity at 100 ppm recorded 85.24±0.05%, 76.73±0.06%, 69.37±0.02%, and 67.96±0.04% inhibition for Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Fusarium verticillioides, and Penicillium, respectively. Complete inhibition of 100% was observed at 200 ppm and 300 ppm for both A. flavus and A. parasiticus and at 400 ppm for F. verticillioides and Penicillium. Complete aflatoxin B1 inhibition was achieved at 100 and 200 ppm for A. flavus and A. parasiticus.

Optimisation of the drying temperature of star anise by low-temperature drying technique combined with microwave

The purpose of this study is to optimise the drying temperature of star anise fruit using the low-temperature drying technique combined with microwaves on a heat pump combined with microwave drying system so that the drying time is shortest and the essential oil is highest. The raw materials used for the research are fresh anise harvested in Van Quan district, Lang Son province in August 2021. Experimentally, the effects of drying temperatures at the levels: 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55oC have been determined on drying time and essential oil content in dried anise fruit (moisture content of anise fruit after drying ≤10%). Research results have determined that the optimal temperature for drying anise fruits using the low-temperature drying technique combined with microwaves is 48.7±1oC, drying time is 530±5 minutes, and the essential oil content in dried star anise fruits reaches 9.9 ml/100 g. These experimental research results have provided a scientific basis for the essential oil content of Lang Son star anise fruit, and technical parameters for drying star anise fruit using low-temperature drying techniques combined with microwaves, helping the production and processing of anise on an industrial scale, increasing the value of goods and serving export purposes.

Characterisation of saponins from Hedera nepalensis in Vietnam northwest mountainous areas with the aid of high-resolution mass spectrometry

This research aims to explore the saponins composition of H. nepalensis in four northwest mountainous areas of Vietnam including Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Lang Son with the aid of high-resolution mass spectrometry. As a result, 42 saponins are successfully identified in H. nepalensis leaves by UHPLC‐Q‐TOF-MS/MS analyses, in which two 30-noroleanane and four oleanane triterpene saponins structures have been reported for the first time. Two structures of compound 20 were discovered in four samples. Two structures of compound 8 were found in H. nepalensis from Ha Giang and Lao Cai, while two structures of compound 28 were not observed in Lang Son. Different environmental and climatic circumstances in various places may have an impact on chemical constituents of H. nepalensis. By providing the phytochemicals profile of H. nepalensis leaves, our study supports the orientation for future research on this medicinal plant as well as other Hedera species.

Real-time operating decision support system for reservoir operation using weather forecast and a hydrological model

This paper presents the application of a real-time decision support system (DSS) for power generation and flood control at the Thac Xang hydropower plant in Lang Son province, Vietnam. The DSS consists of three key components: real-time operation and visualization, forecast, and optimized decision modules. The real-time operation and visualization module provides operators with a graphical interface that displays real-time data on the plant's status, such as water levels, reservoir levels, and power output. The weather forecasting module provides information about future precipitation. This information is used as input data for the inflow forecasting model. The real-time computing module takes into account current conditions, such as the water level in the reservoir to compute relevant variables such as current inflow rate or outflow rates from the reservoir. The simulation module is used to test different operating scenarios taking current and future inflow rates into account. This helps the plant operators to understand the impact of their decisions on the plant's performance. The simulation module can also be used to identify potential problems and develop contingency plans. Therefore, a mathematical model is developed. Particularly, this model uses real-time information of dams. The main objective is to maximize economic value over the time horizon by producing electricity when it is most valuable. An approach of a simulated annealing algorithm is used to solve this model. We also present a decision support software tool for small hydropower systems that provide hydropower equipment operators with the information required to optimize the dam's performance in terms of power efficiency and effectiveness.

THE INFLUENCE OF FOREST CANOPY COVER ON FRUIT-FEEDING BUTTERFLY COMMUNITIES IN THE HUU LIEN SPECIAL-USE FOREST, LANG SON PROVINCE

The alteration of tropical forest structures due to human activities can have negative impacts on various organism communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate how forest canopy cover affects the species composition and community structure of fruit-feeding butterflies in the karst ecosystems of the Huu Lien special-use forest, Lang Son Province. Three forest fragments with high (>80%), medium (50-80%), and low (<50%) levels of canopy cover were examined. We collected fruit-feeding butterflies using Van Someren-Rydon traps, with 30 traps deployed evenly across the three fragments from May 2022 to March 2023, recording 27 butterfly species of 557 individuals in total. The results indicated that the forest fragment with medium canopy cover had the highest species richness and diversity of fruit-feeding butterfly communities. Although most species were found in all three forest fragments, the Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis significantly separated the community structures of fruit-feeding butterflies among the three fragments. The two species, Kallima incognita Nakamura & Wakahara and Stichophthalma fruhstorferi Röber, were mainly found in the forest fragment with high canopy cover and were considered as indicator species for this forest type. This study demonstrated the impact of forest canopy cover on the structure of fruit-feeding butterfly communities and emphasized the importance of forest canopy cover in conserving and maintaining insect diversity in karst ecosystems.