On the Effectiveness of Adversarial Samples against Ensemble Learning-based Windows PE Malware Detectors

Recently, there has been a growing focus and interest in applying machine learning (ML) to the field of cybersecurity, particularly in malware detection and prevention. Several research works on malware analysis have been proposed, offering promising results for both academic and practical applications. In these works, the use of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or Reinforcement Learning (RL) can aid malware creators in crafting metamorphic malware that evades antivirus software. In this study, we propose a mutation system to counteract ensemble learning-based detectors by combining GANs and an RL model, overcoming the limitations of the MalGAN model. Our proposed FeaGAN model is built based on MalGAN by incorporating an RL model called the Deep Q-network anti-malware Engines Attacking Framework (DQEAF). The RL model addresses three key challenges in performing adversarial attacks on Windows Portable Executable malware, including format preservation, executability preservation, and maliciousness preservation. In the FeaGAN model, ensemble learning is utilized to enhance the malware detector's evasion ability, with the generated adversarial patterns. The experimental results demonstrate that 100\% of the selected mutant samples preserve the format of executable files, while certain successes in both executability preservation and maliciousness preservation are achieved, reaching a stable success rate

Circular economic development in Vietnam

 In Vietnam, economic activity has so far been mainly based on the traditional approach, which is linear economy. This is also the basic cause leading to the shortage of natural resources and especially causing serious environmental pollution. In order to realize rapid and sustainable development, to harmoniously deal with the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection, to "do not trade off" economic growth with environmental pollution and degradation, to switch to an eco-friendly economy. circular economy is the right direction. However, this transformation requires seizing the opportunities and accepting the challenges that need to be overcome. The article analyzes opportunities and challenges of circular economy development and proposes solutions to promote circular economy development for Vietnam in the coming time

Mutagenesis development of actinoplanes sp. KCTC 9161 by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) and screening for acarbose production

Acarbose has been widely used in the therapy of type II diabetes (non-insulin dependent) because it controls blood sugar contents of patients after meals. Acarbose, a pseudo-oligosaccharide, acts as a competitive -glucosidase inhibitor. Acarbose is produced by the strains of Bacillus, Streptomyces and Actinoplanes sp. The aim of this study was to develop mutagenesis for an Actinoplanes sp. strain and screening for acarbose production. The spores of Actinoplanes sp. KCTC 9161 strain were subjected to be mutated by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) for screening and finding mutant strains that were capable of production of higher acarbose (an inhibitor of α-glucosidase) higher than wild type strain. Firstly, the original NTG solution was prepared in phosphate buffer 0.05 M, pH 6.9 and the safety concentration of NTG was determined at 5 mg/ml. Then, the spores were incubated with different NTG amounts and duration. The living colonies were transferred to fermentation medium. The results obtained showed that 15 mutant strains were produced higher acarbose than wild type when used thin layer chromatography method for analysis and comparing with standard acarbose (Sigma). Three cell lines among total tested 15 mutant lines of Actinoplanes sp. KCTC 9161 produced acarbose at a higher level or indicated a higher inhibitory activity toward α-glucosidase than the original strain. Enzymatic inhibitory ativity of α-glucosidase of three mutant strains (Actinoplanes sp. KCTC- L4, L11, L14) was increased 1.3 fold higher than wild type and Actinoplanes sp. KCTC spores were very sensitive to NTG toxic, 98% spores could not survive at the treatment condition of 50 µg NTG for 30 minutes. In addition, an applicable protocol for mutating Actinoplanes sp. using NTG was suggested for further research

CDIO-based teaching at universities: A case study for students majoring in electrical and electronic engineering technology, Vietnam

In the 1980s of the twentieth century, universities in developed countries began to realize the growing gap between the capabilities of new graduate engineers and the actual requirements of engineering branches. The strong progress of technology requires engineers to have the intellectual abilities and necessary job-specific skills to master that progress. This paper focuses on Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate (CDIO) approach-based teaching for students majoring in electrical and electronic engineering technology at engineering universities in Vietnam to demonstrate the feasibility of the teaching model. The experimental method of synthesizing qualitative and quantitative results for 90 students in control and experimental classes was used. The experimental and control classes both had 45 students. SPSS software version 22 was used to gather data and evaluate the learning results of the two experimental and control groups. According to the findings of the T-test analysis of the independent variables for the two groups, the experimental class performed better in academics and had students in the experimental group who were more satisfied with their post-test scores. This result contributes to confirm that the use of the CDIO-based teaching model in Vietnam is effective for students majoring in electrical and electronic engineering technology

The Role of Serial NT-ProBNP Level in Prognosis and Follow-Up Treatment of Acute Heart Failure after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

BACKGROUND: After coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, heart failure is still major problem. The valuable marker for it is needed. AIM: Evaluating the role of serial NT-proBNP level in prognosis and follow-up treatment of acute heart failure after CABG surgery. METHODS: The prospective, analytic study evaluated 107 patients undergoing CABG surgery at Ho Chi Minh Heart Institute from October 2012 to June 2014. Collecting data was done at pre- and post-operative days with measuring NT-proBNP levels on the day before operation, 2 hours after surgery, every next 24 h until the 5th day, and in case of acute heart failure occurred after surgery. RESULTS: On the first postoperative day (POD1), the NT-proBNP level demonstrated significant value for AHF with the cut-off point = 817.8 pg/mL and AUC = 0.806. On the second and third postoperative day, the AUC value of NT- was 0.753 and 0.751. It was statistically significant in acute heart failure group almost at POD 1 and POD 2 when analyzed by the doses of dobutamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline (both low doses and normal doses). CONCLUSION: Serial measurement of NT-proBNP level provides useful prognostic and follow-up treatment information in acute heart failure after CABG surgery

Genomic serotyping, clinical manifestations, and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis in hospitalized children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) are among the most common etiological agents of diarrheal diseases worldwide and have become the most commonly detected bacterial pathogen in children hospitalized with diarrhea in Vietnam. Aiming to better understand the epidemiology, serovar distribution, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and clinical manifestation of NTS gastroenteritis in Vietnam, we conducted a clinical genomics investigation of NTS isolated from diarrheal children admitted to one of three tertiary hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. Between May 2014 and April 2016, 3,166 children hospitalized with dysentery were recruited into the study; 478 (∼15%) children were found to be infected with NTS by stool culture. Molecular serotyping of the 450 generated genomes identified a diverse collection of serogroups (B, C1, C2 to C3, D1, E1, G, I, K, N, O, and Q); however, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was the most predominant serovar, accounting for 41.8% (188/450) of NTS isolates. We observed a high prevalence of AMR to first-line treatments recommended by WHO, and more than half (53.8%; 242/450) of NTS isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR; resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial classes). AMR gene detection positively correlated with phenotypic AMR testing, and resistance to empirical antimicrobials was associated with a significantly longer hospitalization (0.91 days; P = 0.04). Our work shows that genome sequencing is a powerful epidemiological tool to characterize the serovar diversity and AMR profiles in NTS. We propose a revaluation of empirical antimicrobials for dysenteric diarrhea and endorse the use of whole-genome sequencing for sustained surveillance of NTS internationally

Short Tandem Repeats Used in Preimplantation Genetic Testing of Î’-Thalassemia: Genetic Polymorphisms For 15 Linked Loci in the Vietnamese Population

BACKGROUND: β-thalassemia is one of the most common monogenic diseases worldwide. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of β-thalassemia is performed to avoid affected pregnancies has become increasingly popular worldwide. In which, the indirect analysis using short tandem repeat (STRs) linking with HBB gene to detect different β-globin (HBB) gene mutation is a simple, accurate, economical and also provides additional control of contamination and allele-drop-out ADO. AIM: This study established microsatellite markers for PGT of Vietnamese β-thalassemia patient. METHODS: Fifteen (15) STRs gathered from 5 populations were identified by in silico tools within 1 Mb flanking the HBB gene. The multiplex PCR reaction was optimized and performed on 106 DNA samples from at-risk families. RESULTS: After estimating, PIC values were ≥ 0.7 for all markers, with expected heterozygosity and observed heterozygosity values ranged from 0.81 to 0.92 and 0.53 to 0.86, respectively. One hundred percent of individuals had at least seven heterozygous markers and were found to be heterozygous for at least two markers on either side of the HBB gene. The STRs panel was successfully performed on one at-risk family. CONCLUSION: In general, a pentadecaplex marker (all < 1 Mb from the HBB gene) assay was constituted for β-thalassemia PGT on Vietnamese population

STUDY ON NITRIFICATION PROCESS BY AERATED SUBMERGED BIOFILTER (ASBF)

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Aquilaria yunnanensis S.C. Huang (Thymelaeaceae), A New Record for the Flora of Vietnam

Aquilaria yunnanensis S.C. Huang (Thymelaeaceae), known to be endemic to Yunnan, is recorded for the first time from Dong Son Ky Thuong Nature Reserve, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. A taxonomic description and DNA analysis based on our Vietnamese collections are presented, together with information on its distribution, habitat and colour photographs