Toward precision medicine with nanopore technology

Currently, when patients are diagnosed with cancer, they often receive a treatment based on the type and stage of the tumor. However, different patients may respond to the same treatment differently, due to the variation in their genomic alteration profile. Thus, it is essential to understand the effect of genomic alterations on cancer drug efficiency and engineer devices to monitor these changes for therapeutic response prediction. Nanopore-based detection technology features devices containing a nanometer-scale pore embedded in a thin membrane that can be utilized for DNA sequencing, biosensing, and detection of biological or chemical modifications on single molecules. Overall, this project aims to evaluate the capability of the biological nanopore, alpha-hemolysin, as a biosensor for genetic and epigenetic biomarkers of cancer. Specifically, we utilized the nanopore to (1) study the effect of point mutations on C-kit1 G-quadruplex formation and its response to CX-5461 cancer drug; (2) evaluate the nanopore\u27s ability to detect cytosine methylation in label-dependent and label-independent manners; and (3) detect circulating-tumor DNA collected from lung cancer patients\u27 plasma for disease detection and treatment response monitoring. Compared to conventional techniques, nanopore assays offer increased flexibility and much shorter processing time

Trust Issues and Engaged Buddhism: The Triggers for Skillful Managerial Approaches

As a transitional economy, Vietnam has undergone tremendous changes over recent decades within a ‘fusion’ context that blends both traditional and modern values from its complex history. However, few studies have explored how contemporary issues in the context of Vietnam have brought both obstacles and skillful initiatives to managerial approaches to doing business. We draw on the concepts of social trust and institutional theory to explore how informal institutions such as religious forces can contribute to the development of individual trust and whether individuals are willing to extend trust beyond familial networks. We contribute to the notion of a moral conception of trust by exploring how Buddhism in particular has initiated distinctive managerial approaches in the context of Vietnam, in response to dilemmas of social trust. Our findings highlight that as an informal institution, engaged Buddhism yields significant impact on the formation of social trust. We carried out in-depth interviews in Vietnam with 33 organizational leaders who were Buddhist practitioners, using thematic analysis to elucidate our findings and arguments. The study reveals how the incorporation of Buddhist principles has fostered context-sensitive, non-extreme, and reflexive managerial approaches to enhance morality as a response to social trust issues

Spiritual factors in Vietnamese consumers' purchasing decisions

Consumer demand is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that exerts a profound influence on economic decision-making, market trends, and overall societal well-being. In this context, comprehending the determinants of consumer demand assumes paramount significance for various stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and scholars. Furthermore, the acknowledgment of spiritual factors as influential determinants in shaping the values and behaviors of a population introduces a nuanced dimension, particularly within culturally diverse societies such as Vietnam. This research endeavor seeks to engage with these pivotal dimensions by elucidating the role of spiritual factors in tandem with the determinants of consumer demand, with specific reference to the distinctive cultural milieu of Vietnam. Employing a comprehensive multidimensional methodology, encompassing qualitative interviews, surveys, quantitative data analysis, historical and cultural inquiries, logical reasoning, and empirical case studies, this study strives to unravel the intricate interplay between spirituality and consumer behavior. It aims to explicate the influence of deeply ingrained spiritual beliefs, firmly entrenched within Vietnamese culture, on various spheres of decision-making. These spheres span from the observance of auspicious birth rituals and naming conventions to the orchestration of significant life events and the valuation of high-value assets such as real estate and automobiles. Moreover, this research seeks to illuminate the enduring nexus between spirituality, cultural heritage, and the choices made by consumers. It endeavors to provide insights into the multifaceted dynamics governing decision-making processes within the Vietnamese context. Additionally, this inquiry extends its purview to the exploration of the economic implications and marketing strategies predicated upon spiritual underpinnings, underscoring the substantial role played by these spiritual beliefs in shaping the consumer landscape. Ultimately, this research aspires to furnish a holistic comprehension of how spirituality is interwoven into the fabric of daily existence in Vietnam, significantly molding the values and behaviors of its citizenry

Decoding the Digitalization-led Circular Economy in Finland

Objectives The objectives of this study are to examine how perception affects the approach taken by Finnish companies in implementing circular economy (CE) practices, evaluate the effectiveness of Finland’s policy approach for CE, and investigate the role of digitalization in shaping the practices of leading CE companies. Summary Environmental problems pose significant threats globally, and CE is a promising solution. Finland is committed to becoming a leader in CE implementation. This study aims to explore the adoption and implementation of CE practices among private enterprises in Finland, examining the role of digitalization and government policy approaches in promoting and scaling up CE. Conclusion CE implementation among private enterprises is context-dependent and focuses on practical applications. The Finnish government uses a combination of policies to achieve CE goals, but the effectiveness is uncertain. Digitalization can be crucial for particularly start-ups whose business models also align with CE principles

Public Investment Management of Higher Education in Vietnam : Current Issues and Policy Recommendations

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to provide a comprehensive insight on public investment management practices in higher education and experiences of developed countries, to analyse the current approaches to public investment management in Vietnam and to propose applicablepolicy recommendations.Design/methodology/approach: Case study based on literature of public investment in higher education and analysis of legal documents, reports and data regarding Vietnam’s current practices in the field.Findings: Public investment management practices of Vietnam still follow the traditional approach, which has shown various weaknesses and drawbacks in terms of efficiency, lack of unification, and incapability of higher education institutions to seek for autonomy and alternative operational resources.Research and practical limitations/implications: Lack of quantitative data and survey tools to enhance the practical implementation of the study.Originality/value: This paper can become a reference resource for policy makers in terms of promoting reforms in the public investment system for higher education in the future.Paper type: Case study

Polymorphism of Xenobiotic Detoxification Genes and Male Infertility

Infertility is a multifactorial disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors. It is observed in 10–15% of couples, among which male infertility contributes for half the cases. Thus, identifying underlying causes of male infertility and for proper methods for treating and/or preventing sperm damage is of paramount importance. It is found that one of the factors that has been recently implicated in male infertility is oxidative stress, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced during the metabolic process, as well as during the exposure to environmental chemical agents and their interaction with tissue-specific enzymes. Several studies have identified genetic variations at different loci, connected with male infertility, that may shed light on some idiopathic cases of seminal fluid abnormalities. In this chapter, we make an effort to decipher the contribution of polymorphisms in xenobiotic detoxification genes in the male infertility development

An inquiry into the determinants of Vietnamese product export

Export led growth is the model of economic development that Vietnam has been following. While there are a great number of studies on the determinants of aggregate export of Vietnam, there are few that analyze the impacts of different factors on the export of different product groups. This paper aims at filling this gap in research on international trade of Vietnam. The results show that the fast GDP growth of Vietnam, the large population of importing countries, the wide economic gap between Vietnam and the importing countries, the depreciation of domestic currency, the free trade agreements that Vietnam signed and the shared border with the importing countries contribute to the increase of Vietnam’s export of all product groups. In contrast, the GDP of importing countries and population of Vietnam have no clear impacts on the export of any product groups.

Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Organizational Learning Support Employee Creativity: Evidence from Vietnamese SMEs

Purpose: The current study aims to investigate the mediating role of organizational learning (OL) on the relationship between transformational leadership (TFL) and employee creativity (EC) in Vietnamese SMEs.   Theoretical framework:  The world underwent enormous and ongoing changes in SMEs after the Covid-19 pandemic. Leaders and employees must be more effective and adaptive to enhance systems and processes and meet client requests. Recently, SMEs in Vietnam have struggled to improve CEOs and staff with the professional credentials necessary to compete in the market and integrate.   Design/methodology/approach:  The framework and hypotheses were examined using SEM on SPSS and AMOS software to analyse the data after receiving 397 valid responses from SMEs in Vietnam.   Findings: Findings confirmed that TFL positively affects EC and OL. The role of individual motivation on individual consideration outweighs those of the other characteristics of TFL. OL played a partly mediator role in the relationship between TFL and EC.   Research, Practical & Social implications: This study provides an inventory of knowledge about the reality of OL and its mediating role on the relationship between TLF and EC, which contributes to enriching the library in overall and Vietnamese in specific in this subject.   Originality/value: This paper is one of the first papers in the Vietnamese SMEs context to address the mediating effect of OL between TLF and EC.

VOLATILE COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES AGAINST FOOD-BORNE BACTERIA OF VIETNAMESE THYME (Thymus vulgaris L.) ESSENTIAL OIL

The essential oil (EO) obtained from the leaves of the thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) grown in Vietnam was found to contain thymol (39.79%), cymene (17.33%), and γ-terpinene (13.45%) as the main volatile components. The antimicrobial activities of this oil were screened against several food-borne bacteria and fungi species. Significant growth inhibition effects against food-borne bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella Typhimurium were observed using the standard disc diffusion method. Thyme EO showed the antibacterial effect against all the test pathogenic strains with the inhibition zones were 23.3 ± 0.4 mm, 24.7 ± 0.4 mm, 29.0 ± 0.7 mm, 32 ± 0.7 mm in diameter against B. subtilis,  E. coli, S. Typhimurium and S. aureus, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined by micro-dilution method in MHB liquid medium was 1.56 µl/ml. The bactericidal concentrations (MBC) was 3.13 µl/ml for three isolates from B. subtilis,  E. coli, and S. aureus, while the MBC tested for S. typhi was 1.56 µl/ml. The antifungal properties of the thyme EO were also determined in this study against three important pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum with the inhibition zones ranging approximately from 23.20 ± 0.06 to 44.10 ± 0.03 mm. On the other hands, the results also showed the antioxidant activity of Vietnamese thyme EO and suggested that thyme EO can be applied in food industries as natural flavoring preservatives/additives to control food spoilage and food born bacteria and fungi