Vol. 23 No. 1 (2025)

 Vietnam is reported as home to approximately 9-10 species of the genus Kaempferia. This study aimed to identify the species of Kaempferia collected from Kon Ka Kinh National Park using DNA barcode methods and morphological observations which focused on key plant parts of rhizomes, leaves, and flowers. Rhizomes areswollen clusters with a yellow-brown outer surface. Leaves aresimple, oval-shaped, 7-9cm long and 5-7cm wide. Flowers emerge from the rhizome, large, irregular, and bisexual. DNA electrophoresis yielded intact, clear bands. Sequencing of the rbcL gene showed 100% similarity (527/527 nucleotides) to Kaempferia galanga L. in genetic databases. Based on both morphological description and DNA barcode results, the scientific name of the Kaempferia species found in Kon Ka Kinh National Park was identified as Kaempferia galanga L., a member of the gingerfamily (Zingiberaceae).

Rhizosphere fungi are known for their ability to antagonize plant pathogens, promote growth, and induce disease resistance in plants. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Penicillium citrinum CTND-2405, isolated from rhizospheric soil, in inducing resistance on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum sp. Basil seeds were soaked for 4 hours in either a spore suspension of P. citrinum (106 cfu/ml) or sterile water, with or without artificial inoculation of Colletotrichum sp. Polyphenolic accumulation and fluorescence responses in leaf tissues were observed under a fluorescence microscope. In greenhouse experiments, five treatments were tested: seed soaking with P. citrinum spores, soaking in sterile water, additional spore applications at 3, 6, 9 days post-planting, and chemical fungicide applications. Results showed that seed soaking with P. citrinum followed by pathogen inoculation triggered earlier and stronger polyphenolic accumulation and fluorescence responses. Combining seed soaking with spore applications further reduced anthracnose incidence and severity, and disease control efficiency up to 59.92% compared with the control treatment.

Mast cell tumors commonly occur in the skin of dogs. This study provided information on the clinical features, and gross and histological lesions of the canine mast cell tumors so as to serve for diagnosis and treatment. The research investigated 8 dogs from 7 to 11 years old. The dogs were diagnosed with mast cell tumors shoing symptoms such as solitary nodules, swelling, ulcer, and haemorrhage in the skin. The result of examining histopathology showed that mast cell tumor includes two types: cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors in which subcutaneous mast cell tumor was worse than cutaneous mast cell tumor in prognosis.

African swine fever (ASF) is a dangerous infectious disease with a mortality rate of up to 100%. Collecting saliva samples for diagnosis to monitor ASF has many advantages, but the low viral load in saliva samples, it affects the sensitivity of diagnostic methods. This study improved the saliva sample processing to increase the sensitivity of the diagnosis method. Semi-alkaline proteinase (SAP) and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used to process saliva samples. The optimal volume ratio of SAP and PEG solutions to saliva samples was 1:3 and 1:0.4, respectively. The results of ASFV diagnosis from saliva samples after processing with SAP and PEG showed increased sensitivity of real-time PCR reaction. Of 12 field samples, 7/12 samples gave positive results after processing with SAP and PEG compared to only 4/12 positive samples when not processed with SAP and PEG. Thus, applying the saliva sample processing increased the sensitivity of the real-time PCR method in ASF diagnosis, promising to be a useful support tool for ASF surveillance.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of reduced crude protein (CP) level with supplementing standard ileal digestible essential amino acids (SID-EAA) on growth performance, feed efficiency and meat quality of Luong Phuong broilers. The experiment was a completely randomized design with 5 dietary treatments and 5 replicates. Total 750 Luong Phuong chickens were randomly located to one of 5 diets with reducing CP levels 1-4% compared with the standard CP diet and growth performance and meat quality were recorded accordingly. The results showed that reducing crude protein levels in the diet reduced the growth rate of chickens (P <0.05). Low protein diets did not affect the feed intake but increased feed coversation ratio (FCR) (P <0.05). However, at 1 and 2% protein reductions, the differences in both growth rate and feed conversion were not significant compared with the control group. Treatment 3 had the lowest feed cost (29,543 VND/kg), 539 VND/kg (1.792%) lower than the control group. Reducing CP at 4% (NT5) reduced breast meat ratio, increased 24h pH and increased breast meat toughness of chicken. In conclusion, the appropriate protein reduction level with SID-EAA supplement was less than 2% in the diet for Luong Phuong chicken.

The aim of this study was to calculate the water demand of some main crops in Hung Yen province in 2023. The study used the modeling method applying CROPWAT 8.0 model to calculate the water demand for the main crops in Hung Yen province (rice, corn, citrus, longan, banana, and lychee). The planting area of the main crops in 2023 was 64,115.22ha. The rainfall in 2023 was 1,212.8mm. The total water demand of the main crops in the province in 2023 iwas about 224.894 million m3. The group of annual crops had a water demand of 189.959 million m3, of which rice had the largest water demand of 186.448 million m3, accounting for 82.9%. The total water demand of fruit trees was about 34.976 million m3, of which longan trees had the highest water demand. By locality, An Thi district had the highest water demand of 53.129 million m3/year (23.6%), while Van Giang district had the lowest of 1.515 million m3/year. The remaining localities had water demand ranging from 9.838-32.209 million m3/year.

The study aims to identify the factors affecting the land inventory work in 2019 and propose solutions to improve the effectiveness of land inventory work in Bac Ninh city, Bac Ninh province. The methods used in the study were secondary and primary investigation; exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and linear regression analysis. The research results have identified 6 groups of factors affecting the results of land inventory in Bac Ninh city, i.e. document source (+0.361), implementation organization (+0.344), technical technology (+0.327), human resource (+0.326), funding source (+0.279) and legality (+0.211). From there, solutions were proposed to improve the effectiveness of land inventory work in Bac Ninh city. These were solutions to complete the cadastral map system and land database, legal solutions and implementation organization; technological and technical solutions, human resource solutions, and funding solutions.

This study aimed to analyze the policy implementation on social assistance in Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province. Based on the secondary data of Bao Yen district people's commitee and the results of a survey of 43 social affairs officers, along with 90 beneficiaries, the study shows that Bao Yen district had provided subsidies to 3,304 meritorious people, 2,687 poor households, 3,080 elderly people, 880 disabilities people and 21 orphans in 2022. Thanks to the efforts of the entire political system, social assistance activities were implemented synchronously and effectively. However, the implementation of policies in the district still had many shortcomings such as identifying the right beneficiaries, limited local budget, and the social affairs officers holding concurrent positions, affecting the effectiveness of policy implementation. The study proposed several solutions to strengthen the policy implementation of social assistance for Bao Yen district such as completing the apparatus for implementing social assistance policies; increasing the mobilization of non-budgetary resources; regularly inspecting and supervising the implementation of regimes and policies, and reforming administrative procedures in the social assistance.

This study was to examine factors affecting the community participatin in conservation of medicinal plants at Thuong Lo commune, Nam Dong District, Thua Thien Hue province. The research model was developed using the Norm Activation Model (NAM) and was empirically tested using data gathered from structured interviews with 150 households who are members in community-based forest management groups. It found that despite the favourable natural condition, the medicinal plants at commune had small production scale caused by the low participation of the local households. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that all two components of awareness of consequences (AC) and ascription of responsibility (AR) significantly influenced personal norm on community participatin in conserving medicinal plants. The personal norm was the most salient determinant of households' participation. The findings of this research provide a clearer understanding of factors driving the biodiversity conservation of medicinal plants among households and serve as basis for developing interventions on biodiversity conservation in Thua Thien Hue province.

This study analyzes women's empowerment in agricultural production in the Mekong River Delta and the factors influencing its extent. The Abbreviated Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI) is used to measure empowerment levels, while the Tobit model identifies influencing factors. Structured interviewing wasn applied to collect data from 365 households across four provinces (Ca Mau, Can Tho, Kien Giang, and Vinh Long). The findings reveal that while 72.9% of women achieved empowerment in agricultural production, significant disparities existed in accessing financial resources and leadership opportunities. The Women's Empowerment in Agriculture index had an average score of 0.83. A Tobit regression model identified key factors influencing women's empowerment, including age, Internet access, participation in training programs, and household land area. The study underscores the need for targeted policies to enhance women's empowerment in agricultural production in the region.

This study aimed to assess the awareness, attitudes and acceptability of risk of farmers in some provinces of Northern Vietnam when they convert to organic farming. The study combined empirical research methods with surveys to understand how farmers make their decisions. The results showed that farmers with high risk acceptability invested more in organic farming. Farmers with positive attitudes towards the environment and a clear awareness of their health were also more likely to convert to organic farming. In addition, this study also showed that the age and education level of farmers affected their intention to convert to organic farming. Older and more educated farmers were less likely to convert to organic farming.

The study aimed to identify factors affecting the purchasing decisions of Vietnam National University of Agriculture students and promotes some suggestions for developing e-commerce platforms for this customer group. Based on previous studies on the same topic, Cronbach's Alpha test, exploratory factors, and regression analysis were used to indicate the influencing factors and the level of influence of each factor through survey on 436 students. The results showed 5 groups of factors affecting students' purchasing decisions on e-commerce platforms. The factor "Characteristics of e-commerce platforms" had the strongest impact, followed by the factors "Risk" and "Product information", and finally the two factors "Financial capacity of students" and "Product selling price". This is a useful basis for e-commerce platforms to develop business and marketing strategies suitable for student customers.

The aim of study is to introduce the Goodwill-based method applying for university valuation in different calculation-based methods. In combination with current regulations in Vietnam, the study highly recommended the Goodwill method, based on both income approach and expert approach as the two most suitable for valuing higher education institutions. When applied those two methods to an unnamed university, the valuation results using the income approach yielded the unisversity’s value of VND 8,903 billion under normal conditions (r = 3%) and VND 8,419.5 billion under risk-adjusted conditions (r = 12%). Meanwhile, according to expert approach, the univeristy’s value was VND 8,275.1 billion and VND 7,977 billion, respectively. Based on this research result to further enhance the accuracy and applicability of the valuation methodology for university in the future, the university needs to: (i) change its point of view in the university value appraisal; (ii) fully account for both the value of tangible and intangible assets of the univeristy; (iii) develop and regularly update the univerisity’s database; and (iv) carry out the different organization’s valuation methods for benchmarking among others.

The study focused on the current situation of start-up coffee entreneurship by young workers to clarify the shortcomings and difficulties in the process of starting a business, through doing a survey of 88 young farmers or workers in Cu M'ga district and Buon Ho town of Dak Lak province, to serve as a basis for proposing appropriate solutions. The research results show that young workers have faced many difficulties in terms of land area, capital, infrastructure, knowledge for starting a business and accessing support policies. Therefore, to attract young workers to start a business, beside of the initiative of young fworkers in terms of capital, area, infrastructure or knowledge for starting a business, policy support is needed to motivate young workers to access credit, land and training in an accessible, fair, transparent and appropriate manner.