In this article, we propose the R2GQA system, a retriever-reader-generator question answering system, consisting of three main components: Document Retriever, Machine Reader, and Answer Generator. The Document Retriever module employs advanced information retrieval techniques to extract the context of articles from a dataset of legal regulation documents. The Machine Reader module utilizes state-of-the-art natural language understanding algorithms to comprehend the retrieved documents and extract answers. Finally, the Generator module synthesizes the extracted answers into concise and informative responses to questions of (...) students regarding legal regulations. Furthermore, we built the ViRHE4QA dataset in the domain of university training regulations, comprising 9,758 question-answer pairs with a rigorous construction process. This is the first Vietnamese dataset in the higher regulations domain with various types of answers, both extractive and abstractive. In addition, the R2GQA system is the first system to offer abstractive answers in Vietnamese. This paper discusses the design and implementation of each module within the R2GQA system on the ViRHE4QA dataset, highlighting their functionalities and interactions. Furthermore, we present experimental results demonstrating the effectiveness and utility of the proposed system in supporting the comprehension of students of legal regulations in higher education settings. In general, the R2GQA system and the ViRHE4QA dataset promise to contribute significantly to related research and help students navigate complex legal documents and regulations, empowering them to make informed decisions and adhere to institutional policies effectively. Our dataset is available for research purposes. (shrink)

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is gaining popularity due to its superior mechanical properties, including high strength, toughness, durability, and excellent seismic performance. However, the risk of explosive spalling in UHPC structures exposed to fire poses a significant challenge, fundamentally hindering comprehensive studies on fire safety and limiting the broader engineering applications of UHPC. In this study, the mixture proportion of UHPC was developed and optimized by comparing the usage of yellow river and standard sands, different types of chemical admixtures, and different (...) curing regimes. Furthermore, a sensitive case study was also conducted to optimize the calcined bauxite content to improve UHPC's fire resistance. For these purposes, 189 UHPC cubes, incorporating variations in particle types, superplasticizer types, and curing regimes, were tested under three thermal levels, such as 200℃,400℃, and 600℃. The microstructural evolution of heated cube specimens was then observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination. Calcined bauxite was then considered to replace the standard sand to improve the fire resistance of UHPC and enhance the residual compressive strength of cube specimens under thermal conditions. For this purpose, 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% calcined bauxite content was designed as six case studies. Furthermore, the degradation of UHPC strength was also investigated for the corresponding six case studies by conducting the uniaxial compressive experiments. Finally, the microstructural evolution under both thermal conditions and calcined bauxite content was observed and discussed. (shrink)

Objectives: The official implementation of clinical pharmacy in Vietnam has arrived relatively late, resulting in various stressors. This study aims to evaluate job stress level and suggest viable solutions.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on clinical pharmacists in 128 hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City. Job stress questions were derived from the Healthcare Profession Stress Inventory.Results: A total of 197 CPs participated, giving a response rate of 82.4%. Participants were found to have moderate job stress with an overall mean stress (...) score of 1.5 and stress rate of 52.8%. The sample size was statistically adequate and the HPSI was valid and reliable. Patient care responsibility was the main stressor, especially in public hospitals, followed by job conflicts. Lack of experience, low income, and inability to participate in clinical ward rounds caused significant stress to CPs regarding job recognition and job uncertainty. More practice-oriented training programs in bachelor curricula and clinical practice should be applied to help CPs gain more experience, self-confidence, and diminish job stress.Conclusion: CPs in HCMC have moderate stress. More practice-oriented training programs should be prioritized to lessen stress for CPs. (shrink)

In markets where vegetables are commonly cultivated with heavy use of synthetic pesticides, it is particularly important for consumers to be able to identify genuine organic produce. Organic Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) certification offers smallholder farmers an affordable way to build trust among consumers and secure premium prices for their organic produce. In Vietnam, the demand for vegetables with no, or low, pesticide residues is growing. The attractiveness of PGS certification should increase accordingly, but the number of organic PGS certified (...) farmers in Vietnam are stagnating or even decreasing. The aim of this study is to explain this paradox by investigating the factors that influence the adoption of organic PGS certification among Vietnamese vegetable farmers. We follow a mixed methods approach, combining a qualitative analysis of farmer interviews (n = 62) and a quantitative analysis of a farm survey data (n = 434) using a sample selection model that estimates adoption contingent on farmers’ awareness of PGS certification. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, we found that social relationships and positive attitudes towards farming and the environment drive the adoption of organic PGS. Barriers include insufficient knowledge of organic farming techniques, labour shortages, and ageing farmers. At the systemic level, support by (non-)governmental institutions facilitates adoption, but challenges such as lower yields and limited access to premium markets remain. To promote organic PGS among Vietnamese vegetable farmers, efforts should focus on disseminating organic farming techniques that boost yields, alleviate labour demands, and ensure secure markets for premium-priced organic vegetables. (shrink)

Nowadays, the power systems are getting more and more complicated because of the delays introduced by the communication networks. The existence of the delays usually leads to the degradation and/or instability of power system performance. On account of this point, the traditional load frequency control approach for power system sketches a destabilizing impact and an unacceptable system performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a new LFC based on adaptive integral second-order sliding mode control approach for the large-scale power system with communication (...) delays. First, a new linear matrix inequality is derived to ensure the stability of whole power systems using Lyapunov stability theory. Second, an AISOSMC law is designed to ensure the finite time reachability of the system states. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the AISOSMC is designed for LFC of the LSPSwCD. In addition, the report of testing results presents that the suggested LFC based on AISOSMC can not only decrease effectively the frequency variation but also make successfully less in mount of power oscillation/fluctuation in tie-line exchange. (shrink)

This study examines the hypothesis that the stopping rule-a traditional postnatal sex selection method where couples decide to cease childbearing once they bear a son-plays a role in high sex ratio of last births (SRLB). The study develops a theoretical framework to demonstrate the operation of the stopping rule in a context of son preference. This framework was used to demonstrate the impact of the stopping rule on the SRLB in Vietnam, using data from the Population Change Survey 2006. The (...) SRLB of Vietnam was high at the level of 130 in the period 1970-2006, and particularly in the period 1986-1995, when sex-selective abortion was not available. Women were 21% more likely to stop childbearing after a male birth compared with a female birth. The SRLB was highest at parity 2 (138.7), particularly in rural areas (153.5), and extremely high (181.9) when the previous birth was female. Given the declining fertility, the stopping rule has a potential synergistic effect with sex-selective abortion to accentuate a trend of one-son families in the population. (shrink)

In recent years Vietnam has experienced a high sex ratio at birth SRB) amidst rapid socioeconomic and demographic changes. However, little is known about the differentials in SRB between maternal socioeconomic and demographic groups. The paper uses data from the annual Population Change Survey (PCS) in 2006 to examine the relationship of the sex ratio of the most recent birth with maternal socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the number of previous female births. The SRB of Vietnam was significantly high at (...) 111.4 (95% CI 109.7–113.1) for the period 1st April 2000 to 31st March 2006. Multivariate analysis reveals that sex of the most recent birth is strongly related with the number of previous female births. This association is consistent across different socioeconomic and demographic groups of women. Given the high SRB in Vietnam, further research into the reasons for high SRB in these groups is required, as are intervention programmes such as those raising the public awareness of its negative consequences. © Cambridge University Press, 2010. (shrink)

This article aims to analyse the positioning of Vietnamese authors within the space of Francophone periodicals during the colonial era by examining the modalities of their intellectual and symbolic inscription within a cultural field structured by relations of domination. Drawing on a study of two representative publications – the Bulletin de la Société d’Enseignement Mutuel du Tonkin (Bulletin de la SEM) and La Nouvelle Revue Indochinoise (NRI) – the article explores how these journals functioned as sites of recognition, legitimation and (...) testing of Vietnamese voices expressed in the French language. The analysis mobilises a multidisciplinary theoretical framework that brings together Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology of fields and the cultural transfer approach developed by Michel Espagne. This theoretical intersection makes it possible to shed light simultaneously on authors’ positioning strategies, the forms of intellectual habitus they construct, and the processes of cultural hybridisation at work within these periodical spaces. (shrink)

O Confucionismo, originário dos ensinamentos de Confúcio entre os séculos V e VI a.C., desempenhou um papel determinante na formação das bases culturais, sociais e políticas da Ásia Oriental. No século XXI, sua influência expandiu-se muito além das suas raízes históricas, à medida que estudiosos e governos reinterpretam os princípios confucionistas para enfrentar questões contemporâneas em governança, educação, liderança e desenvolvimento ético. Valores centrais como humanidade, integridade moral, harmonia e responsabilidade filial passaram a aparecer em debates globais sobre sustentabilidade, coesão (...) social e liderança responsável. Baseando-se em pesquisas interdisciplinares da filosofia, sociologia, ciência política e estudos de gestão, a produção acadêmica recente destaca a crescente relevância do Confucionismo na legitimidade política, transformação educacional, ética empresarial e ética global baseada em virtude. Apesar de suas contribuições, ainda há preocupações quanto ao uso político indevido da retórica confucionista, à persistência de normas hierárquicas e à sua compatibilidade com os ideais democráticos. Ainda assim, a tradição continua demonstrando adaptabilidade, sugerindo que sua influência global se expandirá contanto que os valores confucionistas sejam criticamente reinterpretados e integrados às necessidades das sociedades modernas e diversas. (shrink)

A filosofia moral de Confúcio é uma das tradições éticas mais influentes da Ásia Oriental e continua a embasar discussões contemporâneas sobre desenvolvimento humano, harmonia social e responsabilidade moral. Embora tenham sido formulados durante um período de desordem política, seus ensinamentos apresentam um modelo sistemático de cultivo moral que vincula a virtude pessoal à ética relacional e à governança estável. Este artigo oferece um exame conciso do pensamento ético de Confúcio através da análise do conteúdo de textos clássicos e do (...) diálogo com a produção acadêmica histórica, comparada e moderna. Virtudes centrais como ren (humanidade), li (ritual), yi (retidão), zhi (sabedoria) e xin (confiabilidade) são interpretadas como um arcabouço integrado para a formação do sujeito moral e para a construção de comunidades harmoniosas. O estudo também revisa os principais debates acadêmicos em ambas as tradições orientais e ocidentais. Apesar das limitações associadas à hierarquia e às normas patriarcais, a ética confucionista permanece relevante para questões contemporâneas em administração pública, liderança, educação cívica e cultura organizacional. A análise conclui que a ênfase de Confúcio na formação do caráter, na responsabilidade relacional e na governança humanizada oferece significativa orientação para enfrentar os desafios modernos, incluindo o declínio da confiança e a fragmentação dos valores morais compartilhados em um mundo cada vez mais globalizado. (shrink)

Motivated by a call for risk discourse research in non-Western settings, this study examines how Vietnamese road safety video advertisements are constructed and interpreted. Following a literature review of risk and gender, the study first sets out socio-semiotic multimodal analysis of video advertisements to detail how concepts of risk and gender are constructed. Afterwards, I take an ethnographic-based approach in a series of interviews with professional Vietnamese women to gain insights into these concepts. Findings of the study reveal the expected (...) female roles as wives and mothers in Vietnamese advertising as interpreted by Vietnamese women. The study contributes to an understanding of risk in this Asian setting and opens up the potential for a critical, interpretive approach to risk discourses that are grounded in lived experiences. (shrink)

As conventionally understood, corruption relies on a set of universally agreed rules that determine what constitutes the appropriate allocation of organizational resources. This article explores whether rule-based approaches to corruption are applicable where business organizations, such as public private partnerships, and the public fundamentally disagree about what constitutes an appropriate allocation of resources. Drawing on empirical research about PPPs in Vietnam, this article compares how government, business organizations, and the public conceptualize the transfer of public assets into private ownership. It (...) argues that a public interest approach to corruption is needed where PPPs privatize public assets within the law, but against the express wishes of the public. (shrink)

Purpose Citizen engagement (CE) in public policy is increasingly considered to be an important feature of governance worldwide. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of e-government usage (EGU) on citizens’ engagement. In addition, the study investigates the mediating effect of government reputation (GR) and the moderating role of digital divide (DD) in EGU and citizens' engagement relationship. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 938 respondents in Vietnam with a random method. This study used the partial least squares (...) – structural equation modeling method to examine hypotheses. Findings The results show that e-government and GR are critical determinants of CE. Furthermore, GR plays a mediating role in the relationship between e-government and CE. The results also show how DD moderates this nexus. Practical implications The findings of this study provide valuable evidence and implications. Public officials must improve the GR and administrative capacity as the determination for the CE. Moreover, the government should continually carry out policies to reduce the DD. Originality/value By investigating the mediating and moderating effects of GR and DD, this study has significantly contributed to advancing the body knowledge of e-government. (shrink)

Motivated by the increasing economic significance of investment advisory industries and the prevalence of wrongdoing in financial planning services, we examine whether, and to what extent, employee misconduct is shaped by their local corruption culture. Using novel data of more than 4.7 million adviser-year observations of financial advisers and the Department of Justice’s data on corruption, we find that financial advisers and advisory firms located in areas with higher levels of corruption are more likely to commit misconduct. These results hold (...) for both individual advisor and firm level analyses and are robust to the use of various fixed effects, model specifications, proxies for corruption and misconduct, and an instrumental variable approach. Using the passage of the Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Provision, which provides incentives for reporting corruption incidences and thereby reduces the incentives for fraud, we find that the relation between local corruption culture and adviser misconduct is attenuated after the provision enacted by the SEC. Overall, our study highlights the externalities of corruption culture on individual ethics and the essential role of whistleblowing laws in reducing corruption-prone norms. (shrink)

Medical ethics play a fundamental role in global healthcare, ensuring that patients receive care marked by dignity, compassion and fairness. Vietnam’s 12 ethical principles, codified in 1996, integrate universal ethical standards with local sociocultural and ideological traditions, particularly emphasising emotional sacrifice, holistic care and social responsibility. While these principles promote professional excellence and community service, this essay argues that their application within Vietnam’s under-resourced healthcare system has unintended consequences for physician well-being. An analysis of key domains—including emotional burden from holistic (...) care expectations, administrative and educational overload, emergency care pressures and end-of-life responsibilities—reveals how systemic shortcomings intensify professional strain. Evidence from Vietnam and international comparisons shows that without structured delegation of non-clinical duties, protected working conditions and integrated palliative care systems, physicians face escalating risks of emotional exhaustion, moral injury and career attrition. Unlike healthcare models in developed countries, where ethical standards are balanced by institutional safeguards, Vietnam’s framework demands near-unlimited commitment without corresponding systemic support. Unless ethical expectations are recalibrated and support structures are modernised, Vietnam’s medical ethics, though noble in aspiration, risk undermining the very sustainability of its healthcare workforce. This essay highlights the need for urgent reform to align Vietnam’s ethical ideals with contemporary clinical realities, ensuring that both patient-centred care and physician resilience are protected. (shrink)

This study analyzes how algorithmic governance transforms the legal system in Vietnam through its National Program for Digital Transformation (PTDN), thus filling the lacuna in legal semiotics concerning changes from human-centered signification to algorithmic signification. Using a qualitative-interpretive approach, semiotic analysis is applied to urban case studies, weaving the data from e-contracts, AI-constructed administrative decisions, and legal practices (March 2024–February 2025). Findings reveal that algorithms make legal texts computational signifiers, thereby improving efficiency but obscuring intent; favor data over narrative coherence; (...) and supplant human discretion with algorithmic authority, which is very much a factor of Vietnam’s collectivist legal culture. These transformations threaten the substance of justice, and in that regard, transparent algorithmic governance is a must. The placement of the computational interpretant in theoretical development connects semiotic theory with a non-Western perspective on AI law. It thereby equips policymakers to devise accountable regulations, judges to employ a semiotic toolkit for overseeing AI-imposed rulings, and legal practitioners to assist in disbursing efficiency and oversight. This state-led form of digitalization makes clear Vietnam’s somewhat distinct position in world AI governance, therefore opening pathways for longitudinal- and rural-focused studies on AI’s societal implications. (shrink)

Using a nationwide survey of provincial institutional quality and a sample of private manufacturing small and medium scale enterprises, this paper contributes to the literature by considering for the first time the effects of corruption on the financial performance of Vietnamese private SMEs. Interestingly, contrary to previous findings, we find that corruption when measured by a dummy variable, does not affect firms’ financial performance after controlling for heterogeneity, simultaneity and dynamic endogeneity. However, the intensity of bribery and the majority of (...) the forms of corruption were found to have negative impacts on firms’ financial performance. Hence, a typical approach using only a dummy variable for bribery might not adequately evaluate the impact of bribe intensity or even ignores the negative impacts of some types of bribes on firms’ financial performance. The findings suggest that anti-corruption measures are vital for the development of the Vietnamese private SMEs. (shrink)

English proficiency is increasingly crucial in Vietnam’s globalized landscape, with standardized tests like IELTS serving as key indicators of language ability. However, effectively translating international test scores to local grading systems remains a challenge. This study aimed to establish a reliable conversion method between IELTS scores and end-of-term grades for high school students in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Utilizing a quantitative, correlational design, we analyzed data from 371 students in grade 10 at Le Quy Don specialized school. Data sources included mock (...) IELTS scores administered by The Forum and official end-of-term grades. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between the variables. A significant positive correlation (r =0.432,p < 0.01) was found between IELTS scores and end-of-term grades. Linear regression analysis yielded a statistically significant model (End-of-term grade = 0.501 × IELTS + 5.843) for predicting grades based on IELTS scores. A conversion table was developed to provide a practical reference for educators. This study provides a valuable tool for bridging the gap between IELTS scores and academic performance in a Vietnamese educational context. The conversion table can inform educational decision-making regarding student placement, targeted support, and curriculum development, ultimately enhancing the understanding of English proficiency expectations for students and educators alike. (shrink)

The purpose of the study is to explore the in-depth understanding of participants' journeys from helplessness to resilience and post-traumatic growth during COVID-19. The participants’ experiences are taken into consideration and examined in depth. To do so, we employ a phenomenological methodology which is concerned particularly with individual experiences and is exploratory. 90 participants (17 males, 72 females, and the other 1, aged 18-52) were invited to participate in the survey with two self-report questions. The participants’ levels of education include: (...) graduate (n=66), postgraduate (n=18), college (n=1), and others (n=3) were willingly shared their experiences focusing on two self-report questions on personal diaries and 1) Naming an incident during the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted you? 2) What is your greatest support to overcome adversity during the pandemic? We found four key themes: (1) feelings of helplessness, including confusion, meaninglessness, and disconnection; (2)Theme 2: Finding Inner Strength and Personal Resources (e.g., awareness of self-efficacy ); (3) Theme 3: Having Family and Community Support (e,g., appreciation of others, ability for adaptation); and (4) Theme 4: Belief in the Divine Presence (e.g., attunement to priorities). These findings offer valuable implications for the field of Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture. (shrink)

Online book fairs are being held in Vietnam to replace traditional offline events that have been shelved owing to the COVID-19 crisis. This study aims to explore book consumers’ perceptions regarding digital book fairs and their evaluation of the first-ever national online book fair held in Vietnam. In-depth interviews were conducted to obtain insights from people who had attended the online book event. The findings provide acceptance of and support for the organization of digital book fairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. (...) Attendees generally appreciated the convenience of the national online book fair and the promotional programmes offered by various publishers and distributors. Furthermore, some attendees enjoyed the novelty of the event and the feeling of being included in the reading community. Nevertheless, most of the attendees highlighted several limitations, especially the lack of social and face-to-face interaction. These findings have implications for online book fair organizers, publishers, and book distributors alike. (shrink)

This study proposes the Cognitively and Morally Contingent Theory of Planned Behavior (CMC-TPB) to explain when the intention-behavior link in sustainable consumption holds. Rather than treating media literacy and moral disengagement as parallel predictors, CMC-TPB positions them as the cognitive and moral preconditions under which TPB-based intention formation remains credible. Green purchase intention is then more likely to translate into buying behavior when enactment is supported by efficacy beliefs and cohort-linked consumption conditions. We test CMC-TPB using survey data from 317 (...) Vietnamese consumers in a media-saturated, collectivist emerging market where responsibility for sustainable consumption is often diffused across individuals, families, firms, and regulatory actors. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM with mediation, moderation, and multi-group comparisons across Generation Z and Generation Y. Results show that media literacy significantly reduces moral disengagement and strengthens green purchase intention, while moral disengagement undermines intention formation. Green purchase intention strongly predicts green buying behavior, and indirect effects support the proposed cognitive-moral pathways. Boundary analyses further show that perceived consumer effectiveness strengthens intention enactment, while generational differences emerge primarily in intention-behavior consistency: this link is stronger among Generation Y than Generation Z, although the moderating effect of perceived consumer effectiveness does not differ significantly across cohorts within the shared collectivist context. The study advances TPB-based ethics and sustainability research by specifying the cognitive-moral contingencies under which intention becomes action and clarifies when and for whom TPB works in sustainable consumption. It also offers actionable implications for anti-greenwashing communication and targeted media-literacy interventions. (shrink)

The ongoing coronavirus 2019 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in a severe ramification on the global healthcare system, principally because of its easy transmission and the extended period of the virus survival on contaminated surfaces. With the advances in computer-aided diagnosis and artificial intelligence, this paper presents the application of deep learning and adversarial network for the automatic identification of COVID-19 pneumonia in computed tomography scans of the lungs. The complexity and time limitation (...) of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction swab test makes it disadvantageous to depend solely on as COVID-19’s central diagnostic mechanism. Since CT imaging systems are of low cost and widely available, we demonstrate that the drawback of the RT-PCR can be alleviated with a faster, automated, and reduced contact diagnostic process via the use of a neural network model for the classification of infected and noninfected CT scans. In our proposed model, we explore the benefit of transfer learning as a means of resolving the problem of inadequate dataset and the importance of semisupervised generative adversarial network for the extraction of well-mapped features and generation of image data. Our experimental evaluation indicates that the proposed semisupervised model achieves reliable classification, taking advantage of the reflective loss distance between the real data sample space and the generated data. (shrink)

This paper examines the impact of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) power and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of commercial banks. The sample includes 31 Vietnamese banks from 2010 to 2023. This study uses the Generalized Method of Moments dynamic approach to address heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and potential endogeneity issues. The findings demonstrate a positive relationship between the CEO’s power and CSR. Conversely, banks with extensive ESOP programs tend to make employees more focused on short-term profits (...) and stock prices, thereby reducing their motivation to invest in CSR activities. Furthermore, powerful CEOs moderate the association between ESOP and CSR. Our findings align with Agency Theory, Managerial Entrenchment Theory, and Temporal Orientation Theory. These findings provide managerial implications for developing sustainable CSR in emerging economies. (shrink)

The relationship between greenwashing and visitors' green behavior remains an under-researched topic in the tourism and hospitality literature, despite evidence of the harmful effect of greenwashing on the reputation and competitive advantage of organizations. This study extends attribution theory into the green context to develop a research framework for investigating the interrelationship between greenwashing, green trust, and green word-of-mouth (WOM), especially the roles of green trust and connectedness to nature. We conducted a survey of 289 visitors staying in four- and (...) five-star hotels in Vietnam. The findings indicated that hotels should avoid greenwashing due to its negative impact on visitors' green trust and green WOM. Moreover, the study found that greenwashing had an indirect and negative influence on green WOM based on visitors' green trust. Importantly, the research revealed the value of connectedness in moderating green attitudes and behaviors among visitors. (shrink)

This study analyzes how ChatGPT portrays and describes itself, revealing misleading myths about AI technologies, specifically conversational agents based on large language models. This analysis allows for critical reflection on the potential harm these misconceptions may pose for public understanding of AI and related technologies. While previous research has explored AI discourses and representations more generally, few studies focus specifically on AI chatbots. To narrow this research gap, an experimental-qualitative investigation into auto-generated AI representations based on prompting was conducted. Over (...) the course of a month, ChatGPT (both in its GPT-4 and GPT-4o models) was prompted to “Draw an image of yourself,” “Represent yourself visually,” and “Envision yourself visually.” The resulting data (n = 50 images and 58 texts) was subjected to a critical exploratory visual semiotic analysis to identify recurring themes and tendencies in how ChatGPT is represented and characterized. Three themes emerged from the analysis: anthropomorphism, futuristic/futurism and (social)intelligence. Importantly, compared to broader AI imaginations, the findings emphasize ChatGPT as a friendly AI assistant. These results raise critical questions about trust in these systems, not only in terms of their capability to produce reliable information and handle personal data, but also in terms of human–computer relations. (shrink)

A decrease in cortical excitability tends to be easily followed by an increase induced by external stimuli via a mechanism aimed at restoring it; this phenomenon is called “homeostatic plasticity.” In recent years, although intervention methods aimed at promoting motor learning using this phenomenon have been studied, an optimal intervention method has not been established. In the present study, we examined whether subsequent motor learning can be promoted further by a repetitive passive movement, which reduces the excitability of the primary (...) motor cortex before motor learning tasks. We also examined the relationship between motor learning and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Forty healthy subjects participated. Subjects were divided into two groups of 20 individuals each. The first group was assigned to perform the motor learning task after an intervention consisting in the passive adduction–abduction movement of the right index finger at 5 Hz for 10 min, while the second group was assigned to perform the task without the passive movement. The motor learning task consisted in the visual tracking of the right index finger. The results showed that the corticospinal excitability was transiently reduced after the passive movement in the RPM condition, whereas it was increased to the level detected in the control condition after the motor learning task. Furthermore, the motor learning ability was decreased immediately after the passive movement; however, the motor performance finally improved to the level observed in the control condition. In individuals carrying the Val/Val genotype, higher motor learning was also found to be related to the more remarkable changes in corticospinal excitability caused by the RPM condition. This study revealed that the implementation of a passive movement before a motor learning tasks did not affect M1 excitatory changes and motor learning efficiency; in contrast, in subjects carrying the Val/Val polymorphism, the more significant excitatory changes in the M1 induced by the passive movement and motor learning task led to the improvement of motor learning efficiency. Our results also suggest that homeostatic plasticity occurring in the M1 is involved in this improvement. (shrink)

Philosophy in Vietnam is defined as a system of the most universal points of view on the world and the place of man in this world. Philosophy often plays a key role it plays in one’s worldview and methodology. The question is: on what problems should philosophy focus in order to successfully carry out its worldview andmethodological role in the present context? Firstly, if international philosophers are focusing their research on problems caused by globalization, Vietnamese philosophers should orient their research (...) on the practical problems raised by building and developing our country in the context of globalization and international economic integration. Secondly, one of the important tasks for Vietnamese philosophers is to research the philosophical thought of Vietnam. Thirdly, one of the no less important tasks for people engaging in research and teaching of philosophy in Vietnam is to investigate the trends and ideas of preeminent world philosophers, both in the East as well as in the West. (shrink)

This article examines how legality is constituted beyond formal adjudicative settings through everyday culinary practice in Hanoi. Drawing on fifteen months of ethnographic research in three craft villages—Phu Thuong, Thanh Tri, and Uoc Le—the study analyzes how ritual memory, communal reciprocity, and bureaucratic certification converge in the regulation of heritage foods. Rather than treating cuisine solely as cultural heritage or economic commodity, the analysis approaches culinary production as a site where normative authority becomes socially recognizable. The findings identify a configuration (...) described as tri-anchored legality, in which sacred obligation, communal practice, and administrative classification interact without forming a strict hierarchy. Sensory judgment—touching rice grains, spreading batter, assessing elasticity, and evaluating aroma—functions as an embodied mechanism through which authenticity and compliance are verified. Communal practices of redistribution, hospitality, and ritual gifting further structure recognition by marking inclusion and reinforcing social equilibrium. Certification markers such as OCOP logos, hygiene documents, and traceability codes introduce a bureaucratic layer that renders products legible within contemporary regulatory frameworks. Taken together, these elements demonstrate how legality in culinary heritage settings emerges through the alignment of ritual memory, communal recognition, and institutional regulation. Law here does not operate primarily through textual rule or customary sanction alone. It is enacted through the interaction of embodied competence, shared expectations, and administrative classification within everyday practice. (shrink)

This study explores the connection between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosure and the competitive performance of family firm (FAFI) in the ASEAN-6 region (specifically Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). It investigates whether GHG emissions disclosure acts as a mediating factor and evaluates the moderating influences of ESG initiatives and corporate governance (COGO) structures. Grounded in a dataset of 3255 firm-year observations from publicly listed enterprises between 2020 and 2024, sourced from Refinitiv Eikon, we applied maximum likelihood structural (...) equation modeling to examine the proposed links. The findings indicate that FAFI tends to exhibit lower GHG emissions disclosure. GHG emissions disclosure harms competitiveness and serves as a mediator in the relationship between FAFI attributes and competitive performance. ESG practices have moderated the link between GHG emissions disclosure and competitiveness and have been moderated by COGO. This study provides actionable insights for FAFI in ASEAN. Thereby, it suggests ways to improve their competitiveness through GHG emissions management. The results highlight the significance of strong ESG initiatives, especially in the emissions phase, and underscore the important role of effective COGO in optimizing the value-creation potential of ESG. This research has added to our understanding of FAFI in ASEAN. The study has deeply analyzed how FAFI, GHG emissions disclosure, ESG, competitiveness, and COGO connect in ASEAN. The paper has clarified that GHG emissions disclosure acts as a mediator, and ESG activities have a moderating effect. The research has demonstrated how certain COGO mechanisms affect the strength of that moderating effect. (shrink)

Within the research community, it is generally accepted that consent processes for research should be culturally appropriate and tailored to the context, yet researchers continue to grapple with what valid consent means within specific stakeholder groups. In this study, we explored the consent practices and attitudes regarding essential information required for the consent process within hospital-based trial communities from four referral hospitals in Vietnam. We collected surveys from and conducted semi-structured interviews with study physicians, study nurses, ethics committee members, and (...) study participants and family members regarding their experiences of participating in research, their perspectives toward research, and their views about various elements of the consent process. In our findings, we describe three interrelated themes related to the consent process: words and regulation; reimbursement, suspicions, and joining; and responsibilities. In general, stakeholders had highly varied perspectives of nghiên cứu and researchers used varying levels of detail regarding all aspects of the study in the consent process to build trust with and/or promote potential research participants’ choices about taking part in research. Findings additionally highlight how researchers felt that offering financial reimbursements in a hospital setting, where payment for services was routine, would be unfamiliar to participants and could raise suspicions about the research. Participants, however, focused their discussions on reimbursement or alternative reasons for joining the study, such as health related benefits or altruism. Finally, participants often relied on their physician to help them decide about joining a study or not. Further research is needed to understand how researchers and participants make sense of and practice consent, and how that impacts participants’ decision-making about research participation. To promote valid consent within this context, it is important to engage with hospital-based trial communities as a whole. The data from this study will inform future research on consent, guide the revisions of consent related policies within our research sites and point to several larger issues surrounding researcher-participant expectations, communication, and trust. (shrink)

: Nguyen Trai is a man with a great personality in Vietnam. He has morality, culture, pure soul, and profound wisdom of all times. Nguyen Trai lived in the 15th century in a feudal society with many changes. The paper studied Nguyen Trai’s philosophical thoughts to help develop a prosperous and happy country using the nation’s traditional cultural values. The article uses the methodology of dialectical materialism as a general principle and a specific historical principle to evaluate (...) Nguyen Trai’s benevolence and righteousness in terms of compassion, justice, and management, associated with the interests of the people, the community, and society. The article also uses analytical and synthesis methods to highlight the content of benevolence and righteousness in the cultural tradition of the Vietnamese nation today. The Covid-19 pandemic had affected the world in general and Vietnam in particular. So Nguyen Trai’s thought culture is powerfully and effectively prompt in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam and other countries today. In this article, Nguyen Trai’s benevolence and righteousness fairness clearly define the responsibility of the state and the obligation of citizens to promote the traditional cultural values of the nation. Resumo: Nguyen Trai foi um grande filósofo patriótico vietnamita, uma das maiores personalidades de todos os tempos. Ele viveu no século XV; seus pensamentos se tornaram um grande exemplo de ética, cultura, alma e sabedoria vietnamitas. O artigo estudou os pensamentos filosóficos de Nguyen Trai, para ajudar a desenvolver um país próspero e feliz, usando os valores culturais tradicionais da nação. O texto utiliza a metodologia do materialismo dialético como princípio geral e como princípio histórico específico, a fim de avaliar a benevolência e a retidão de Nguyen Trai, em termos de compaixão, justiça e gestão, associadas aos interesses do povo, da comunidade e da sociedade. O artigo também usa métodos analíticos e de síntese, para destacar o conteúdo de benevolência e retidão, na tradição cultural da nação vietnamita hoje. A pandemia de Covid-19 afetou o mundo, em geral, e o Vietnã, em particular. Portanto, a cultura de pensamento de Nguyen Trai é poderosa e eficaz na resposta à pandemia de Covid19, no Vietnã e em outros países, na atualidade. Neste estudo, a benevolência e a justiça de Nguyen Trai definem claramente a responsabilidade do Estado e a obrigação dos cidadãos de promover os valores culturais tradicionais da nação. (shrink)

In the context of globalization and the subsequent transformations of this process, a cross-cultural and cross-social understanding between Eastern and Western philosophies appears inevitable. Concepts and elements, formerly separate, interweave and blend together. But the absence of a true synthesis of philosophical conceptions of human beings has not helped to overcome the spiritual and existential crises of modernity. In this paper, an examination of Buddhist and Heideggerian existentialist conceptions of human beings, human suffering and liberation is conducted, followed by identification (...) of key similarities and differences between them. The paper compares the similarities between Buddhism’s Nāma-Rūpa (mind-body interdependence) with Heidegger’s Dasein (being-there), and divergences between the former’s communal ethics of the Noble Eightfold Path with the latter’s individualistic “resolve” (“Entschlossenheit”). The concept of “cultural additivity” and syncretic tradition of Tam Giáo are applied to further mediate ideas from Buddhism and Heidegger through an integration of Taoism. (shrink)

International commercial arbitration is widely regarded as an effective mechanism for resolving cross-border disputes due to its efficiency, neutrality, and enforceability. However, the enforcement of arbitral awards is subject to public policy exceptions, as recognized in the New York Convention 1958 (Article V(2)(b)) and the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (Articles 34, 36). The concept of “public policy” lacks a uniform definition, leading to varying interpretations across jurisdictions. Some adopt a restrictive approach, limiting public policy to fundamental principles (...) of justice and morality, while others extend it to regulatory concerns. Vietnamese law codifies this principle under Article 68 of the Law on Commercial Arbitration 2010, allowing courts to annul awards violating “nguyên tắc cơ bản của pháp luật Việt Nam” (“fundamental principles of Vietnamese law”). Unlike the broad “public policy” terminology in international instruments, Vietnam’s phrasing introduces interpretative challenges. The absence of a statutory definition has led to inconsistent judicial applications, sometimes annulling awards based on procedural or substantive legal grounds without clear criteria. This divergence from international standards raises concerns over legal predictability in arbitration enforcement. The linguistic and legal translation of “public policy” into domestic law thus plays a crucial role in shaping Vietnam’s arbitration landscape, affecting its international arbitration credibility. (shrink)

Digital transformation incorporates new technology into all elements of business and will require the modification of old business models. Similarly, artificial intelligence (AI) is a relatively new disruptive technology with the potential to impact industry and society substantially. Cognitive techniques imitating human behaviour and thought have resulted in advanced analytical models that assist businesses in increasing sales and improving customer engagement, operational efficiency, and service quality by producing new relevant from existing data. These decision-making models are based on descriptive, predictive, (...) and prescriptive analytics. A legislative framework that oversees all digital development uniformly across countries and facilitates a fully regulated digital transformation process is required. However, this regulatory system must not hinder the digital revolution. This study shows that AI and digital transformation will be integrated into various applications and thus used extensively. Nonetheless, the implementation must be carried out in conformity with both standard regulations and the new realities. (shrink)

This short piece of communication has the sole purpose of identifying some evidence, supporting our view regarding a possible missing environment-nurturing cultural value. Here, we attempt to examine the presence of cultural studies within the boundary of deforestation research.

Today, soft computing is a field that is used a lot in solving real-world problems, such as problems in economics, finance, banking... With the aim to serve for solving the real problem, many new theories and/or tools which were proposed, improved to help soft computing used more efficiently. We can mention some theories as fuzzy sets theory (L. Zadeh, 1965), intuitionistic fuzzy set (K Atanasov, 1986), neutrosophic set (F. Smarandache 1999). In this paper, we introduce a new notion of sup (...) port-neutrosophic set (SNS), which is the combination a neutrosophic set with a fuzzy set. So, SNS set is a direct extension of fuzzy set and neutrosophic sets (F. Smarandache). Then, we define some operators on the support-neutrosophic sets, and investigate some properties of these operators. (shrink)

Sweetpotato-pig production is an important system that generates income, utilizes unmarketable crops, and provides manure for soil fertility maintenance. This system is widely practiced from Asia to Africa, with many local variations. Within this system, pigs are generally fed a low nutrient-dense diet, yielding low growth rates and low economic efficiency. Our project in Vietnam went through a process of situation analysis, participatory technology development (PTD), and scaling up over a seven-year period to improve sweetpotato-pig production and to disseminate developed (...) technologies. The situation analysis included a series of pig production assessments in several provinces in northern and southern Vietnam, and pig supply-market chain identification was conducted in 13 provinces. The analysis of these studies informed the project of the following: (1) appropriate locations for our activities; (2) seasonal available feedstuff and farmers’ feeding practices; (3) market fluctuation and requirements; and (4) feeding and management improvement needs based on which the subsequent phase of PTD was designed. The PTD involved a limited number of farmers participating in sweetpotato varietal selection, sweetpotato root and vine silage processing, seasonal feeding combination, and pig feeding with balanced crop-feed diet and silage. Six years of multi-location and multi-season sweetpotato selection resulted in a few promising varieties that yielded up to 75% more dry matter and have since been formally released. The most significant results of silage processing and feeding trials include improved growth, higher feeding efficiency, increased year-round local feedstuff, and considerable labor reduction from eliminated cooking and vine cutting. Once these technologies were developed, a farmer-to-farmer training model was designed for scaling up the adoption and impact. Farmer trainers from seven communes in seven provinces received training in these technologies. In turn, they undertook the responsibility of training other farmers on sweetpotato selection, processing, and feeding. An impact study was also administered to monitor and evaluate (M&E) the dissemination process and to document the impact of the new technologies and farmer-to-farmer training model on pig growth and farmer income generation. The results showed that both participating and non-participating farmers have taken up the technologies, although the former demonstrates higher rates of adoption than the latter. The participants also generated more income and saved more labor from the adoption of the technologies. While the scaling up and M&E activities are on-going, the project has since broadened from a sweetpotato-pig system perspective to a pig-cropfeed system perspective based on farmers’ needs. It has included other crop feeds such as cassava and peanut stems in the research portfolio. New technologies based on on-going PTD will continuously be incorporated into the future training curriculum. (shrink)

A ascensão do populismo na Europa e na América do Norte ao longo da última década reflete uma crise profunda nos fundamentos da democracia liberal moderna. Este artigo argumenta que o populismo contemporâneo deve ser compreendido como uma reação aos colapsos políticos, econômicos e morais causados pelo neoliberalismo, um sistema que mercantilizou a vida social, erodiu as instituições públicas e exauriu a imaginação democrática dos cidadãos. Recorrendo a duas grandes tradições filosóficas do século XX, o Pragmatismo (John Dewey, Richard Rorty) (...) e a Teoria Crítica (Jürgen Habermas, Nancy Fraser, Axel Honneth), o artigo propõe uma abordagem combinada que é, ao mesmo tempo, crítica e reconstrutiva. No nível crítico, a Teoria Crítica ajuda a revelar como a lógica sistêmica do neoliberalismo fragmentou o “mundo da vida” (lifeworld) e substituiu a racionalidade comunicativa pela racionalidade instrumental. No nível reconstrutivo, o Pragmatismo sugere possibilidades para restaurar a confiança cívica e a comunidade democrática por meio da educação, do diálogo e da ação coletiva. A partir disso, o artigo sustenta que a combinação de um espírito crítico e um espírito pragmático pode fornecer um arcabouço teórico abrangente para compreender e responder à crise democrática na era pós-neoliberal. (shrink)

This chapter examines the life satisfaction of driver-partners engaged in the gig economy in Vietnam. The gig economy refers to a market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs. The chapter investigates the factors contributing to their life satisfaction and analyses how their occupations impact this aspect of their lives. Through the utilization of Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling, the survey data are examined to determine which factors can best explain several constructs. The (...) study reveals that economic benefits and trust among partners in their working communities positively correlate with the life satisfaction of driver-partners. Interestingly, increased reciprocity between driver-partners and customers does not necessarily elevate their satisfaction levels as expected. These findings can assist policymakers and managers in comprehending the key factors influencing life satisfaction among gig economy workers. (shrink)