An Adoption Model of Software as a Service (SaaS) in SMEs

Software as Service (SaaS) model of cloud computing is currently one of the most advanced technology innovations. Due to its scalability and network-based operation, SaaS offers opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the latest technology without costly investment on IT infrastructure and expertise. Despite its benefits, SMEs’ adoption of SaaS is not prevalent. In this paper, by synthesizing Diffusion of Innovation theory, Technology-Organization-Environment theory and Protection Motivation theory, we propose a conceptual model which explains adoption factors of SaaS in SMEs. Our proposed model extends focus on protection motivation of SMEs in assessing SaaS adoption risks in addition to technology, organisation, and environment factors

Influence of operating conditions and membrane fouling on water flux during seawater desalination using air gap membrane distillation

Membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a promising process for seawater desalination applications to augment fresh water supply in remote coastal areas. Amongst four basic MD configurations, air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) exhibits the highest thermal efficiency, and thus is the most used configuration for small-scale seawater desalination. In this study, the influences of operating conditions and membrane fouling on water flux of a lab-scale AGMD process with actual seawater feed were systematically investigated. The experimental results demonstrated strong impacts of feed temperature, circulation rates, and membrane fouling on the process water flux. Increasing feed temperature exponentially raised water flux but also aggravated polarization effects of the AGMD process. Elevating water circulation rates, particularly of the feed stream, helped alleviate polarization effects, hence improving the process water flux. During the AGMD process of raw seawater feed, the accumulation of organic matters on the membrane reduced its active surface for water evaporation, increased polarization effects, and therefore significantly reduced the process water flux. Pretreatment of the seawater feed by 0.45 mm paper filters removed organic foulants from the feed, and hence helped sustain the water flux of the AGMD process at water recoveries up to 70 %. When the process water recovery exceeded 70 %, water flux rapidly dropped owing to the precipitation of sparingly soluble salts (e.g. CaSO4, CaCO3) on the membrane. Subsequent cleaning the fouled membrane using vinegar removed nearly all foulants from the membrane surface to restore the membrane hydrophobicity, and thus the process water flux. The results reported in this study manifest that seawater AGMD desalination can be a practical process to supply drinking water to small and remote communities in Vietnam. Keywords. Membrane distillation (MD), air gap membrane distillation (AGMD), seawater desalination, membrane fouling, membrane fouling mitigation

Giant compound odontoma of the mandible in an adolescent

Abstract Odontomas are one type of benign odontogenic hamartoma that includes the compound and complex odontoma. They are generally reported not to exceed 3 cm in diameter. Odontomas with a diameter exceeding 3 cm are considered giant odontomas. An accurate diagnosis of odontomas cannot be made during the clinical examination. The majority of compound odontoma is diagnosed most commonly during radiographic screening. It should be done in coordination with a histological examination after surgical treatment. We report a case of giant compound odontoma of the mandible in a young boy. The tumor is treated by surgical excision under general anesthesia

ĐẶC ĐIỂM PROTEASE NGOẠI BÀO TỪ CHỦNG Bacillus tequilensis ON1

A bacterial strain with casein hydrolytic activity was isolated from shrimp waste sludge from a culture pond at Phong Dien, Thua Thien Hue. Molecular identification using 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence shows a high similarity to Bacillus tequilensis on the NCBI database. Hence, the isolate was named B. tequilensis ON1. Extracellular protease activity value is 192,42 U·mL–1 after 24 h culture. Zymogram SDS-PAGE electrophoresis shows that the major extracellular protease has a molecular weight of 130 kDa. The enzyme exhibits maximal activity at 50 °C and pH 8. Protease activity increases in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, while Mn2+ inhibits protease activity. The protease activity was more active and stable in hydrophobic organic solvents.Từ mẫu bùn thải của ao nuôi tôm tại huyện Phong Điền, tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế, chúng tôi đã phân lập được chủng vi khuẩn phân giải casein. Định danh phân tử thông qua giải trình tự 16S rRNA và so sánh với cơ sở dữ liệu GenBank cho thấy chủng phân lập tương đồng cao với vi khuẩn Bacillus tequilensis và được đặt tên là B. tequilensis ON1. Hoạt tính protease ngoại bào đạt giá trị cao nhất 192,42 U·mL–1 sau 24 giờ nuôi cấy. Điện di SDS-PAGE trên nền cơ chất cho thấy protease ngoại bào chính của chủng ON1 có khối lượng phân tử khoảng 130 kDa. Enzyme ngoại bào hoạt động tối ưu ở 50 °C và pH 8. Hoạt tính protease tăng lên khi có mặt Ca2+ và Mg2+, trong khi đó Mn2+ ức chế hoạt động của protease. Protease hoạt động và ổn định hơn trong các dung môi hữu cơ kỵ nước

Assessment of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Lactobacillus farciminis HN11 as a Probiotic Candidate

Background and Objective: Lactobacillus farciminis is an obligate homofermentative bacterial species in fermented foods. Although other species such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in Lactobacillus genus have been well characterized, probiotic characteristics of Lactobacillus farciminis still need to investigate. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate probiotic characteristics and antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus farciminis HN11 isolated from Solanum macrocarpon sauces in Hue city, Vietnam. Material and Methods: Lactobacillus farciminis HN11 was cultured in Rogosa and Sharpe media and antibacterial activity of the free-cell suspension was assessed against Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus K5, Vibrio parahaemolyticus KS-02, Vibrio owensii KS-05, Vibrio alginolyticus KS-08, Vibrio alginolyticus A1-1 and Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion method. Various probiotic characteristics of the isolate including antibacterial and antioxidant activities, autoaggregation and coaggregation were assessed. Furthermore, hemolytic and amino-acid dercarboxylase activities were assessed for biosafety assessment. The strain abilities to resist sodium chloride and bile salts were assessed as well. Results and Conclusion: Lactobacillus farciminis HN11 exhibited significant resistance to NaCl and bile salts. The strain expressed high coaggregation abilities for Escherichia coli, significant autoaggregation abilities and antibacterial activities against Vibrio spp. and Escherichia coli. Antioxidant assessment showed that Lactobacillus farciminis HN11 contained high antioxidant activities. This strain was negative for hemolytic and amino-acid dercarboxylase activities. Moreover, ampicillin and chloramphenicol inhibited growth of Lactobacillus farciminis HN11. This study assessed characteristics of Lactobacillus farciminis HN11 and showed its great potentials as a probiotic in fermented foods, enhancing antioxidant and decreasing harmful foodborne bacteria. Although, encapsulation of the strain within acid resistance materials is suggested to better protect it against high-acid contents of the stomach. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Two plant-associated Bacillus velezensis strains selected after genome analysis, metabolite profiling, and with proved biocontrol potential, were enhancing harvest yield of coffee and black pepper in large field trials

Elimination of chemically synthesized pesticides, such as fungicides and nematicides, in agricultural products is a key to successful practice of the Vietnamese agriculture. We describe here the route for developing successful biostimulants based on members of the Bacillus subtilis species complex. A number of endospore-forming Gram-positive bacterial strains with antagonistic action against plant pathogens were isolated from Vietnamese crop plants. Based on their draft genome sequence, thirty of them were assigned to the Bacillus subtilis species complex. Most of them were assigned to the species Bacillus velezensis. Whole genome sequencing of strains BT2.4 and BP1.2A corroborated their close relatedness to B. velezensis FZB42, the model strain for Gram-positive plant growth-promoting bacteria. Genome mining revealed that at least 15 natural product biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs) are well conserved in all B. velezensis strains. In total, 36 different BGCs were identified in the genomes of the strains representing B. velezensis, B. subtilis, Bacillus tequilensis, and Bacillus. altitudinis. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated the potential of the B. velezensis strains to enhance plant growth and to suppress phytopathogenic fungi and nematodes. Due to their promising potential to stimulate plant growth and to support plant health, the B. velezensis strains TL7 and S1 were selected as starting material for the development of novel biostimulants, and biocontrol agents efficient in protecting the important Vietnamese crop plants black pepper and coffee against phytopathogens. The results of the large-scale field trials performed in the Central Highlands in Vietnam corroborated that TL7 and S1 are efficient in stimulating plant growth and protecting plant health in large-scale applications. It was shown that treatment with both bioformulations resulted in prevention of the pathogenic pressure exerted by nematodes, fungi, and oomycetes, and increased harvest yield in coffee, and pepper.Peer Reviewe

Pichia pastoris versus Saccharomyces cerevisiae:a case study on the recombinant production of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) is a glycoprotein that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of neutropenia and leukemia in combination with chemotherapies. Recombinant hGM-CSF is produced industrially using the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, by large-scale fermentation. The methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, has emerged as an alternative host cell system due to its shorter and less immunogenic glycosylation pattern together with higher cell density growth and higher secreted protein yield than S. cerevisiae. In this study, we compared the pipeline from gene to recombinant protein in these two yeasts. RESULTS: Codon optimization in silico for both yeast species showed no difference in frequent codon usage. However, rhGM-CSF expressed from S. cerevisiae BY4742 showed a significant discrepancy in molecular weight from those of P. pastoris X33. Analysis showed purified rhGM-CSF species with molecular weights ranging from 30 to more than 60 kDa. Fed-batch fermentation over 72 h showed that rhGM-CSF was more highly secreted from P. pastoris than S. cerevisiae (285 and 64 mg total secreted protein/L, respectively). Ion exchange chromatography gave higher purity and recovery than hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Purified rhGM-CSF from P. pastoris was 327 times more potent than rhGM-CSF from S. cerevisiae in terms of proliferative stimulating capacity on the hGM-CSF-dependent cell line, TF-1. CONCLUSION: Our data support a view that the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris is an effective recombinant host for heterologous rhGM-CSF production

Spatiotemporal evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants during large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, Vietnam, 2021

We analyzed 1,303 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from Vietnam, and found the Alpha and Delta variants were responsible for a large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2021. The Delta variant was confined to the AY.57 lineage and caused >1.7 million infections and >32,000 deaths. Viral transmission was strongly affected by nonpharmaceutical interventions

Recurrence of retroperitoneal mature cystic teratoma in an adult: A case report

Mature cystic teratoma is one of the most common tumors of the ovaries, testis, mediastinum, and retroperitoneum; however, secondary retroperitoneum lesions are rare entities in adults. We report a case of a 22-year-old female who was previously diagnosed with a mature teratoma of left ovarian was hospitalized due to dull abdominal pain in right hypochondria. Radiological evaluation revealed a mass in the right upper abdominal and flank region with an extension from the posterior aspect of the duodenum, composed of greasy and cystic elements. A tumor was resected through the Kocher's laparotomy and the pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of a mature cystic teratoma with no evidence of malignancy or immature components. Keywords: Secondary retroperitoneal teratoma, Mature cystic teratom

FACTORS INFLUENCING TEACHERS’ INTENTIONS TO USE REALISTIC MATHEMATICS EDUCATION IN VIETNAM: AN EXTENSION OF THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR

Although Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) has become familiar to many mathematics teachers, we still have little understanding of the extent to which mathematics teachers are willing to employ RME rather than traditional teaching approaches. Based on the theory of planned behavior, in conjunction with some other factors, including facilitating conditions and perceived autonomy, this study investigated a model explaining the continued intention of mathematics teachers to use Realistic Mathematics Education. A structural equation model was used to access data from an online survey involving 500 secondary school mathematics teachers in Vietnam. The results revealed that while attitude, perceived behavioral control and perceived autonomy have positive significant impacts on intention to use RME, it appears that subjective norms and facilitating conditions do not. These findings are of significance to stakeholders, including policymakers, school managers, and mathematics teachers