Impact of bacteria and yeast with probiotic properties on performance, digestibility, health status and gut environment of growing pigs in Vietnam

This thesis aimed to evaluate the effects of six lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains and Bacillus subtilis H4, Saccharomyces boulardii Sb, and a microbial enzyme mixture, supplemented to basal diets on the performance, diet digestibility, health status, and gut environment of growing pigs under Vietnamese conditions. The results showed that three different 3-strain-LAB complexes, comprising combinations of Enterococcus faecium 6H2, Lactobacillus acidophilus C3, Pediococcus pentosaceus D7, L. plantarum 1K8 and L. plantarum 3K2 improved performance, digestibility, health status and gut environment of the LAB-supplemented piglets in the first two weeks post-weaning (Per I), but not in the following 3 weeks (Per II). Adding an LAB strain (L. fermentum NC1) alone or combined with the Bacillus, or combined with a Bacillus and yeast complex, to a 3-strain-LAB complex showed improvements in the performance, diet digestibility, health status and gut environment of the probiotics-supplemented piglets in both Per I and II. The inclusion of Bacillus resulted in higher nutrient digestibility, and the addition of Saccharomyces showed improvements in the scouring scores of the piglets. Supplementation with either a microbial enzyme mixture alone or a combination of a 3-strain-LAB complex and yeast in a weaner diet improved the performance and diet digestibility in piglets in Per I. In Per II, no changes in performance or digestibility were found in enzymes-fed piglets, while improved performance and diet digestibility were obtained in piglets fed the LAB-yeast diet. There was lack of response of piglets to this enzyme mixture when these enzymes were supplemented to the diet that contained the complex of LAB and yeast in both Per I and II. Dietary supplementation with the combination of Bacillus, Saccharomyces and 4-strain-LAB complex had positive effects on performance and digestibility in grower pigs, but not in finisher pigs, while supplementation with the Bacillus alone or combined with Saccharomyces did not affect the performance and digestibility in grower and finisher pigs. The results of these studies suggest that combinations of suitable strains of Bacillus, Saccharomyces and LAB can be used as an alternative to antibiotic feed additives in pig production under the conditions of Vietnam

Navigating Digital Transformation in Retail: A Resource Orchestration Analysis Towards Achieving Online-to-Offline Channel Integration Strategy

The rise of e-commerce market exchanges has disrupted the traditional Brick and Mortar (B&M) retailing sector, compelling B&M retailers to adopt strategic responses to sustain their market positions. Online-to-Offline (O2O) retailing has emerged as a promising approach to harness the potential synergies between online and offline channels. However, scholarly inquiry into the process of implementing O2O retailing remains limited. To address the research gap, this study presents a resource orchestration analysis of O2O implementation, using a successful case study from a leading B&M in Asia. Drawing from the theoretical lens of resource orchestration, the study uncovers key processes encompassing structuring, bundling, and leveraging stages. These processes involve structuring unified IT and cross-channel management resources, bundling these resources to build O2O integration and O2O differentiation capabilities, and leveraging these capabilities to deliver O2O value. By shedding light on the intricate mechanisms involved in O2O implementation, this research contributes to advancing the theoretical understanding and managerial practice of O2O retailing strategies

The relationship between brand equity and intention to buy: the case of convenience stores

The research aims to identify the components of brand equity that affect consumer purchasing intentions and measure the effect of brand equity components on the intention of consumer purchases at the convenience stores in Ho Chi Minh City. The authors conduct the group discussions, expert discussion, and then analyze data from 200 valid questionnaires with four components of brand equity, namely perceived quality, brand loyalty, brand association, brand awareness. The results of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) show that all four elements have a positive effect on the customer' intention to purchase in the convenience store of Ho Chi Minh City. In particular, the brand association factor has the strongest influence, followed by perceived quality, brand awareness, and brand loyalty. This research contributes that the results confirm the theory of Aaker (1991), Brown and Stayman (1992), Cobb-Walgren et al. (1995), MacKenzie (1986) in the new context of convenience stores in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Besides, the study gives some recommendations to help convenience stores improve the elements of brand equity and it, to enhance attraction for consumers

Synthesis of hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber by oxidative depolymerization of deproteinized natural rubber

Hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber (HTLNR) was prepared by the depolymerization of deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) in mixture of toluene and water at 60oC for 24 hours in the presence of ammonium persulfate as an initiator and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a homogenizing agent. GPC analysis revealed that the number-average molecular weight (Mn) and weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of HTLNR were found to be 4.334×103 g/mol and 11.702×103 g/mol, respectively, with polydispersity index (PDI) of  2.7. The chemical structure of HTLNR was determined by FTIR and 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analysis. The mechanism of depolymerization and hydroxylation of NR to form HTNR based on the analytical data is also suggested in this study

Investigation of anti-inflammatory lignans from the leaves of Symplocos sumuntia Buch-Ham ex D Don (Symplocaceae)

Purpose: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Symplocos sumuntia Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don and identify the main secondary metabolites responsible for this effect.Methods: The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extract and isolated compounds was determined in terms of the ability to inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO), and expressions of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Compounds were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods.Results: The methanol extract of S. sumuntia leaves showed strong inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production and expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. A phytochemical assay-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of S. sumuntia leaves led to the isolation of four lignans which are arctigenin (1), matairesinol (2), monomethylpinoresinol (3) and pinoresinol (4). These compounds were identified for the first time from S. sumuntia. All four compounds inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), with arctigenin showing the most potent activity with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 4.08 μM.Conclusion: S. sumuntia is a promising source of anti-inflammatory agents, which may clarify to the therapeutic use of this plant in Vietamese traditional medicine.Keywords: Symplocos sumuntia, Symplocos caudata, Lignan, Arctigenin, Anti-inflammator

ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AGRITOURISM IN BINH DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM

This study evaluates the potential for agritourism development in Binh Dinh Province, Central Vietnam. The analytical hierarchical process is used to determine the weights of four factors with 25 measurement criteria to assess agritourism potential. The research results show that Binh Dinh Province has great agritourism potential based on four evaluation factors, including (1) local agricultural tourism resources, (2) the trend for agritourism development and the agritourism market, (3) the local community’s willingness, and (4) the supporting activities of the local government. In particular, the local agricultural tourism resources factor received the highest score, followed by the local community’s willingness and the supporting activities of the local government. The trend for agritourism development and the agritourism market was rated the lowest. Therefore, Binh Dinh has viable opportunities to encourage the growth of agritourism to improve farmers’ livelihoodsDu lịch nông nghiệp đem lại nhiều cơ hội cho phát triển kinh tế cũng như đa dạng hóa các loại hình du lịch và cải thiện đời sống sinh kế của người dân. Nghiên cứu sử dụng phương pháp phân tích thứ bậc (AHP) để tính các trọng số của các tiêu chí đánh giá tiềm năng phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp tại các huyện, thị xã phía bắc tỉnh Bình Định. Tiếp theo, kết quả mô hình hóa sơ đồ mạng cho thấy cả 4 địa phương An Lão, Hoài Ân, Phù Mỹ, thị xã Hoài Nhơn đều được đánh giá ở mức điểm cao về tiềm năng phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp trên các khía cạnh tài nguyên du lịch, xu hướng phát triển du lịch, sự ủng hộ của người dân địa phương và sự quan tâm của chính quyền địa phương. Tuy nhiên, yếu tố xu hướng phát triển thị trường du lịch nông nghiệp được đánh giá ở mức điểm thấp hơn. Điều này cũng xuất phát từ việc phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp tại các huyện, thị xã phía Bắc tỉnh Bình Định cũng mới bắt đầu nhận được sự quan tâm trong vài năm gần đây, số lượt khách tham quan các huyện, thị xã phía Bắc tỉnh Bình Định còn ít so với tiềm năng du lịch của địa bàn

Adsorption of ciprofloxacin using composite Film from PVA, agarose and maltodextrin

Rintangan antibiotik ialah salah satu masalah yang paling membimbangkan hari ini. Oleh itu, membran komposit telah digunakan secara meluas untuk penyingkiran antibiotik daripada air. Filem PVA/Agarosa/Maltodekstrin telah disintesis dengan tuangan dengan pelbagai nisbah komponen. Ia dinilai untuk ciri melalui kelembapan, keterlarutan, pengembangan dan keputusan BET. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa filem PVA/Agarosa/Maltodekstrin mempamerkan daya maju terbaik dalam persekitaran akuatik melalui keterlarutan rendah (68.88% ± 0.03), bengkak tinggi (431.77% ± 5.89) dan isi padu liang (0.034969 cm³/g). Kapasiti penjerapan PVA/Agarosa/Maltodekstrin telah diuji untuk beberapa antibiotik seperti Ciprofloksacin, Tetracycline, Oxy-Tetracycline dan Chloramphenicol. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa Ciprofloksacin telah dikeluarkan oleh filem PVA/Agarosa/Maltodekstrin lebih baik daripada antibiotik lain. Penjerapan antibiotik tertinggi diperoleh pada 20 minit, suhu 30 °C, dos 2 g/L, pH 6 dan kepekatan antibiotik 40 mg/L. Penjerapan Ciprofloksacin telah diramalkan melalui model kinetik dan isoterma penjerapan. Keserasian kinetik Pseudo First Order dan isoterma Dubinin-Radushkevich telah menunjukkan bahawa penjerapan berlaku mengikut mekanisme penjerapan fizikal dengan interaksi elektrostatik pada permukaan bahan. Kapasiti penjerapan maksimum direkodkan pada 4.48 mg/g berdasarkan isoterma Dubinin-Radushkevich