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Infestation of cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) induced oxidative stress in leaves of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. "Nam Dan") with a burst in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) products such as superoxide anion radical (O 2 .-) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) recorded around 24 hours after aphid feeding. A continuous increase in content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in lipid peroxidation and a defined percentage of injury in aphid-infested leaves (2.20 -8.79 %) were resulted from the cellular oxidative damage. An enhanced activity of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) was recorded in leaves of soybean "Nam Dan" from 24 to 48 hours post-infestation (hpi). The enhancement of these enzymes function as the antioxidative response that controlled both ROS-accumulation playing as defensive element and ROSdetoxifying, therefore, reduce the oxidative damage within 48-96 hpi. Activity of SOD and CAT also can improve the tolerance of soybean "Nam Dan" to infestation from A. craccivora.

We report on the design and construction of an Early Warning Environmental Radiation Monitoring Station (EWERMS), used ONLINE in the environmental radiation monitoring and early warning network. It has a high sensitivity and can send a prompt alarm signal via Internet to the emergency management office. It includes four gamma probes: one NaI(Tl) and three Geiger Mueller (GM) detectors. The NaI(TL) detector is used to monitor spectrum environmental radiation and measure the isotopic composition, the GM detectors are used to detect and measure high gamma ray rates. The instrument has been designed to be used outdoor and tolerate large and rapid temperature variations. The photomultiplier tubes (PMT), amplifiers and Analog To Digital (ADC) gains are stabilized using pulsed LEDs as precision reference light sources.

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Siliquamomum phamhoangii (Zingiberaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Kon Ka Kinh National Park in the Central Highlands, Vietnam. The new species is characterized by a combination of petiolate leaves, mostly yellow flowers, 3-lobed white calyx, ovate labellum, short anther crest and lateral staminodes connate to labellum in basal 1/3. A key to all known species of Siliquamomum species is given.