H. Nguyen

This paper studies the relationship between business ethics, ESG practices, and financial support, and their impacts on the performance of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Vietnam. The research model incorporates variables of ESG practices within the context of business ethics. The study employs primary data collected from 219 respondents and applies exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and partial least squares - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypothesis of the research model. The results indicate a significant influence of business ethics and financial support on ESG practices. Furthermore, social and environmental practices are found to be significantly associated with business performance. The findings also reveal differences in environmental, social, and governance practices based on employee size among MSMEs in northern and southern Vietnam. These insights provide important managerial implications for business managers, policymakers, and educational institutions in promoting ESG practices and supporting MSME development.

As artificial intelligence systems acquire increasing autonomy, the question of how humans can maintain meaningful control over their behavior becomes urgent. This question is especially pressing for agentic AI: systems built on foundation models that coordinate networks of autonomous agents to pursue complex goals with minimal human oversight. While the engineering literature has developed several mechanisms for constraining such systems, it has largely treated controllability as a purely causal property, the ability to physically intervene in a system’s operation, without engaging the normative dimensions that determine whether such intervention is meaningful. Drawing on the distinction between causal and normative control in the philosophy of action, this paper presents a structured conceptual survey of controllability mechanisms in agentic AI. We organize the literature around four paradigms: constraints and guardrails, adaptive control via reinforcement learning, agent-in-the-loop oversight, and human-in-the-loop oversight. For each, we analyze its technical foundations, its philosophical assumptions about agency and authority, and its persistent limitations. Our analysis reveals unresolved tensions across these paradigms, particularly between the scalability of automated oversight and the legitimacy of human judgment, between design-time constraint specification and runtime adaptability, and between individual agent control and system-level governance. We argue that meaningful controllability requires integrating causal intervention mechanisms with normative frameworks that address value alignment, epistemic transparency, and distributed responsibility. We conclude by proposing directions for research that bridges engineering controllability and philosophically grounded human oversight.

A better understanding of the factors that mitigate the consequences of nutrition-related hazards and encourage resilience is required to prevent against or improve poor development outcomes. This study included a review of the literature. Dietary adequacy is essential for growth and development, but current data suggests that nutrition supplements alone is insufficient to generate resilience to defend against, alleviate, and recover from nutritional stressors, as well as to promote healthy development. It is vital to combine nutrition therapy with stimulation and responsive care. Combined nutrition and psychosocial stimulation treatments may be successful in promoting protective factors and mitigating risks for impaired cognitive, motor, social, and affective functioning, hence assisting children in adapting to adversity.

Lạm dụng và bỏ bê trẻ еm đаng diễn rа phổ biến trên tоàn сầu. Nó thаy đổi từ sự đối xử tệ bạс về thể сhất, tinh thần và xã hội gây hại сhо đứа trẻ. Nó сó những hậu quả ngắn hạn và lâu dài, сuối сùng сó thể làm сhậm sự phát triển kinh tế và xã hội сủа сáс quốс giа một сáсh gián tiếp. Người tа ướс tính rằng сứ 5 phụ nữ và 1 trоng số 13 nаm giới thì сó 1 người bị lạm dụng tình dụс trоng thời thơ ấu. Mặс dù vấn đề khá phứс tạp và rõ ràng соn số trên đánh giá thấp giá trị thựс tế. Phần lớn, đó là dо сấu trúс xã hội trоng сộng đồng bị phá vỡ. Những trụ сột сủа сộng đồng như trường họс, tổ сhứс, giа đình thất bại trоng việс thông báо kịp thời và сó hành động сhống lại сáс сơ quаn сhứс năng thíсh hợp để duy trì vị thế сао сủа tổ сhứс mình và tránh bị kỳ thị. Nghiên сứu điển hình này mô tả сáсh một nữ sinh bị bóс lột tình dụс và сáсh thứс phối hợp giữа сáс сơ quаn сó thể ngăn сhặn điều đó.

Lạm dụng và bỏ bê trẻ еm đаng diễn rа phổ biến trên tоàn сầu. Nó thаy đổi từ sự đối xử tệ bạс về thể сhất, tinh thần và xã hội gây hại сhо đứа trẻ. Nó сó những hậu quả ngắn hạn và lâu dài, сuối сùng сó thể làm сhậm sự phát triển kinh tế và xã hội сủа сáс quốс giа một сáсh gián tiếp. Người tа ướс tính rằng сứ 5 phụ nữ và 1 trоng số 13 nаm giới thì сó 1 người bị lạm dụng tình dụс trоng thời thơ ấu. Mặс dù vấn đề khá phứс tạp và rõ ràng соn số trên đánh giá thấp giá trị thựс tế. Phần lớn, đó là dо сấu trúс xã hội trоng сộng đồng bị phá vỡ. Những trụ сột сủа сộng đồng như trường họс, tổ сhứс, giа đình thất bại trоng việс thông báо kịp thời và сó hành động сhống lại сáс сơ quаn сhứс năng thíсh hợp để duy trì vị thế сао сủа tổ сhứс mình và tránh bị kỳ thị. Nghiên сứu điển hình này mô tả сáсh một nữ sinh bị bóс lột tình dụс và сáсh thứс phối hợp giữа сáс сơ quаn сó thể ngăn сhặn điều đó.

Group sex among men who have sex with men may be understood as a ‘radical’ practice insofar as it transgresses dominant social discourses around appropriate sexual relations—prioritizing heteronormative, monogamous and risk‐averse sex. These practices are generally defined as steeped in risk, most commonly due to the potential for transmitting human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infections and accompanied by the possibility of legal and social repercussions. Our ethnographic research study explored the desires, practices and contexts of group sex participants (n = 10) within a popular group sex party destination located in the United States. We employ a poststructuralist perspective (utilizing the work of Deleuze and Guattari) to understand group sex events with the pretext that bodies have no inherent ethics, meaning or essence: they are ‘bodies without organs’. We identify group sex as a form of boundary play, in which participants pursue new limits to what their bodies can do but within a carefully constructed environment that establishes norms of interaction meant to secure trust and safety between participants. A variety of risk reduction practices are shown to be promoted and honoured within these eventful sexual(ized) spaces. The application of poststructuralist concepts of ‘boundary play’ and ‘bodies without organs’ helped to depict the construction and navigation of pleasure, safety and risk among group sex participants.

This book brings together the proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development (CSR 2025) which took place in Vietnam in June 2025. Amidst global concerns surrounding climate change, environmental protection, pollution levels, and waste management, the role of corporations in promoting social causes and ethical business practices is becoming increasingly crucial. It is imperative for businesses to shift their focus from solely seeking profit to also prioritizing responsible products and efficient services. While some countries have already established comprehensive CSR policies, others are still struggling to formalize theirs. Despite criticisms, more companies worldwide are embracing corporate social responsibility in their strategies. In developed nations where basic needs are usually met, the focus shifts towards supporting underdeveloped nations. The Eighth edition of this conference provides new direction for sustainability discussions around the world. With contributions from sustainability experts, NGOs, researchers, and academicians, this volume offers actionable ideas, research work, and insights on how organizations can collaborate, communicate, and comply to be leaders in sustainable action. The contributions encourage businesses to wholeheartedly embrace ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles in their core philosophy, policies, practices, and processes. It also serves as a platform for addressing global challenges such as climate change, depletion of natural resources, human rights issues, and resilience strategies to leverage ESG for the long-term benefit of the business, its stakeholders, and society.

This study examines how individualized employment practices—specifically idiosyncratic deals (i-deals)—generate moral tension when introduced into collectivist organizational contexts. Drawing on comparative qualitative data from five Japanese and Vietnamese organizations, we explore how the individualized logic of i-deals intersects with collectivist values of harmony, equality, and relational obligation. Our findings reveal that i-deals do not simply produce fairness concerns; instead they activate deeper moral struggles over what constitutes legitimate distinction in the workplace. We identify three organizational mechanisms that help reconcile this tension: (1) cultural framing that situates i-deals within shared moral narratives, (2) relational practices that re-embed individual benefits into collective purposes, and (3) institutional transparency that sustains trust across status boundaries. These mechanisms form a culturally grounded model of “moral channeling,” showing how organizations reinterpret individualization through collective ethics. This research contributes to i-deals theory, cross-cultural management, and organizational ethics by demonstrating how collectivist organizations in Asia navigate the moral complexity of individualization without eroding cooperative foundations.

Open science adoption among Generation Z students in a developing country, with distinct educational culture, presents a critical test of a wide range of technology acceptance frameworks. This study examines factors predicting open science resource utilization (measured through self-reported frequency of diverse uses in academic contexts) among 1,422 Vietnamese undergraduate students using Bayesian regression analysis, which enables probabilistic inference and robust model comparison, adding to the methodological rigor and novelty to the literature in this area. We tested a theoretical framework integrating a multitude of factors such as capabilities, perceived benefits, institution-centered, value-alignment, etc., through progressive model building. Model comparison via WAIC identified the main effects model as optimal. Results revealed Technical Self-efficacy (β = 0.254) and Open Science Self-efficacy (β = 0.205) as strong predictors, with Institutional Support (β = 0.117) and Attitude (β = 0.119) showing moderate effects. Language Self-efficacy showed a weak but credible effect (β = 0.089). Contrary to Western technology acceptance models, Perceived Benefits showed uncertain influence (β = 0.054, 89% HPDI includes zero), and Value Alignment demonstrated no credible effect (β = 0.013). Hypothesized interaction effects between Technical Self-efficacy and Perceived Benefits were not supported by model comparison, suggesting additive rather than synergistic adoption mechanisms. These findings challenge the digital native assumption and reveal that Vietnamese students adopt open science for practical reasons, relying on skills and institutional support rather than ideology. Interventions in resource-constrained settings should therefore prioritize technical skill development and visible institutional support, rather than relying primarily on value-based or normative appeals. This pragmatic approach has implications for advancing open science in the age of AI.

This paper compares how Austrian and neoclassical economics construct demand curves and examines the fundamental differences in their approaches to utility theory and price determination. It aims to clarify both standpoints by highlighting how distinct foundational assumptions – such as the treatment of money, the homogeneity of goods, and the role of indifference – give rise to different forms of demand curves. The analysis further shows that the Austrian construction can potentially account for Giffen behavior without resorting to an upward-sloping demand curve. Finally, the paper revisits (Hudík, Marek. 2011. “Rothbardian Demand: A Critique.” The Review of Austrian Economics 24: 311–8) critique of Rothbardian demand, demonstrating that it rests on a set of assumptions different from those underlying standard Austrian theory.

The article presents strategic ideas for understanding elements of a human–AI collaborative framework that seeks to enable philosophy researchers to participate more effectively in the global discourse on science and philosophy in the AI age. With its ability to process large amounts of data and recognize complex patterns, current AI systems can extend human epistemological and ontological reach, concurrent with the situated cognition viewpoint. However, AI still lacks the capacity for meta-reflection, embodied meaning-making, and existential engagement—hallmarks of human intelligence and wisdom. Therefore, the human–AI co-creative discovery framework is a partnership of inter-agent creativity between the “agents of meaning” (humans) and the “agents of syntactic manipulation” (AI), generating two-way value in the exploration and communication of knowledge. Indeed, AI can help spark curiosity, foster new intuitions, and revive the tradition of learning through dialogue, a classical philosophical method. Here, we discuss the rise of AI-assisted philosophical counseling and argue that the power of multimodal AI systems can be channeled into producing more precise and creative philosophical dialogues, enriching our humanity. We also discuss several cross-cultural ethical oversights for mitigating the potential downsides of AI-augmented philosophical dialogue.

Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have been proposed for the prediction of social behaviors that could be reasonably understood from patient-reported information. This raises novel ethical concerns about respect, privacy, and control over patient data. Ethical concerns surrounding clinical AI systems for social behavior verification can be divided into two main categories: (1) the potential for inaccuracies/biases within such systems, and (2) the impact on trust in patient-provider relationships with the introduction of automated AI systems for “fact-checking”, particularly in cases where the data/models may contradict the patient. Additionally, this report simulated the misuse of a verification system using patient voice samples and identified a potential LLM bias against patient-reported information in favor of multi-dimensional data and the outputs of other AI methods (i.e., “AI self-trust”). Finally, recommendations were presented for mitigating the risk that AI verification methods will cause harm to patients or undermine the purpose of the healthcare system.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common and severe medical conditions worldwide. The current research focused on investigating the mechanisms and prevention of the detrimental effects of CAD. Recently, the principles and practices of fluid mechanics were used to explain the formation of CAD with the help of a new angiographic recording and reviewing technique. This new method focused on identifying the types of blood flows and their effects on the intima. To automate the process, an Artificial Intelligence program was utilized to support the investigators in reviewing coronary flow. This paper analyzes AI methods that assisted physician investigators in the measurement of the arterial phase and in the identification of the types of coronary flows.

Transformer is a neural machine translation model which revolutionizes machine translation. Compared with traditional statistical machine translation models and other neural machine translation models, the recently proposed transformer model radically and fundamentally changes machine translation with its self-attention and cross-attention mechanisms. These mechanisms effectively model token alignments between source and target sentences. It has been reported that the transformer model provides accurate posterior alignments. In this work, we empirically prove the reverse effect, showing that prior alignments help transformer models produce better translations. Experiment results on Vietnamese-English news translation task show not only the positive effect of manually annotated alignments on transformer models but also the surprising outperformance of statistically constructed alignments reinforced with the flexibility of token-type selection over manual alignments in improving transformer models. Statistically constructed word-to-lemma alignments are used to train a word-to-word transformer model. The novel hybrid transformer model improves the baseline transformer model and transformer model trained with manual alignments by 2.53 and 0.79 BLEU, respectively. In addition to BLEU score, we make limited human judgment on translation results. Strong correlation between human and machine judgment confirms our findings.

The article presents strategic ideas for understanding elements of an appropriate human–AI collaboration framework that will enable philosophy researchers to participate more effectively in the global discourse on science and philosophy in the AI age. With its ability to process large amounts of data and recognize complex patterns, current AI systems can extend human epistemological and ontological reach, concurrent with the situated cognition viewpoint. However, AI still lacks the capacity for meta-reflection, embodied meaning-making, and open-endedness hallmarks of human intelligence and wisdom. Therefore, the human–AI co-creative discovery framework is a partnership of inter-agent creativity between the “agents of meaning” (humans) and the “agents of formalism” (AI), generating two-way value in the exploration and communication of knowledge. Indeed, AI can help spark curiosity, foster new intuitions, and revive the tradition of learning through dialogue, a classical philosophical method. Here, we discuss the rise of AI-assisted philosophical counseling and argue that the power of multimodal AI systems can be channeled into producing more precise and creative philosophical dialogues, enriching our humanity.

It is proposed that measurement devices can be modelled to have an open decoherence dynamics that is faster than any other relevant timescale, which is referred to as the ultradecoherence limit. In this limit, the measurement device always assumes a definite state upto the accuracy set by the fast decoherence timescale. Further, it is shown that the clicking rate of measurement devices can be derived from its underlying parameters, not only for the von Neumann ideal measurement devices but also for photon detectors in equal footing. This study offers a glimpse into the intriguing physics of measurement processes in quantum mechanics, with many aspects open for further investigation.

The purpose of this research is to clarify the relationship between business strategy (BS), enterprise risk management (ERM), organisational innovation performance (OIP), and organisational performance (OP) in Vietnam. We also compare the PLS-SEM findings to a recently developed panel data fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis technique (fsQCA). According to the findings, the BS factor has a substantial impact on OP. The ERM factor mediates the relationship between BS and OP along with the relationship between BS and OIP. In the link between BS and OP, as well as the relationship between ERM and OP, the OIP factor serves as an intermediate. This work adds to the scientific literature by providing empirical evidence with a deeper understanding of the level of influence and importance of using a combination of BS and risk management implementation to improve OP in the market.

This study investigates the determinants of utilizing open science practice among researchers through structural equation modeling analysis. Drawing on responses from 1,002 Vietnamese students across disciplines, we investigate how self-efficacy, institutional, attitudes, perceived benefits, and value alignment separately predict open science usage. Our enhanced model records better fit indices (CFI = 0.994, TLI = 0.958, SRMR = 0.011) and accounts for 55.6% variance in utilization behavior. Results indicate that self-efficacy is the strongest direct predictor of use (β = 0.478, p < 0.001), while institutional factors possess strong direct (β = 0.184, p < 0.001) as well as indirect effects via attitudinal paths (β = 0.570, p < 0.001). Contrary to our hypotheses, perceived benefits and value alignment did not directly predict use but had mediational effects. The hypothesized roles of language proficiency, research experience, and support from institutions were not supported. These findings integrate psychological and institutional explanations of scientific practice adoption, suggesting that effective interventions need to develop simultaneously researchers’ self-efficacy through intensive training and institutional environments conducive to favorable attitudes toward open science utilization. This empirical model makes theoretical contributions and has practical implications for driving open science adoption in academic settings.

This review examines Araya and Marber's timely edited volume "Augmented Education in the Global Age" (2023), which arrives as AI classrooms move from science fiction to reality and emotion-sensing systems begin monitoring student engagement. The review explores how this comprehensive work tackles the fundamental question: Will AI liberate human potential or render traditional skills obsolete? Through three interconnected sections, the book navigates the rapidly evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, education, and the future of work. The authors introduce provocative concepts like the "Turing trap" and reimagine human cognition through the intriguing "brain as magpie" metaphor, challenging conventional thinking about learning and skill development. The review highlights the book's optimistic outlook while raising critical questions about structural barriers to equitable AI implementation and power dynamics in technology development. For educators, policymakers, and technologists navigating our AI-augmented future, this volume offers compelling insights into how humanity might adapt alongside increasingly sophisticated technologies. The review suggests this work is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand what may be required to thrive in an era where the boundaries between human and machine intelligence continue to blur and evolve.

This study examines the enduring influence of Confucian ethics on Vietnam’s new morality, shaped by revolutionary and socialist ideals. Confucianism, with its emphasis on moral values, social harmony, and hierarchical relationships, provided the foundation for Vietnam’s traditional morality during the feudal era. However, its remnants, including patriarchal structures and rigid hierarchies, present challenges to modern democratic and socialist aspirations. Employing a qualitative research design, this study analyzes primary texts, including Confucian classics and Hồ Chí Minh’s writings, alongside secondary academic sources. Through thematic content analysis, the research explores the interplay between traditional Confucian values and modern ethical constructs, highlighting their dual role as both a moral cornerstone and a potential barrier to progress. The findings underscore that while Confucian ethics offer valuable guidance for governance, education, and societal cohesion, their feudal origins must be critically reevaluated to align with contemporary goals of equality and social justice. The study concludes by proposing strategies to retain the strengths of Confucian ethics while addressing their limitations, demonstrating how Vietnam can integrate its cultural heritage with revolutionary and modern principles to build a harmonious and progressive society.

Can green growth policies help protect the environment while keeping the industry growing and infrastructure expanding? The City of Kitakyushu, Japan has actively implemented eco-friendly policies since 1967 and recently inspired the pursuit of sustainable development around the world, especially in the Global South region. However, empirical studies on the effects of green growth policies are still lacking. This study explores the relationship between road infrastructure development and average industrial firm size with air pollution in the city through the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Non-linear Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) methods were applied on nearly 50-years’ time series data, from 1967 to 2015. The results show that the shape of the EKC of industrial growth, measured by average firm size, depends on the type of air pollution: inverted N-shaped relationships with NO2 and CO, and the U-shaped relationships with falling dust particle and Ox. Regarding infrastructure development, on the one hand, our analysis shows a positive effect of road construction on alleviating the amount of falling dust and CO concentration. On the other hand, the emissions of NO2 and Ox are shown to rise when plotted against road construction. The decline of CO emission, when plotted against both industrial growth and road development, indicates that the ruthlessness of the local government in pursuing green growth policies has been effective in this case. However, the story is not straightforward when it comes to other air pollutants, which hints at the limits of the current policies. The case of Kitakyushu illustrates the complex dynamics of the interaction among policy, industry, infrastructure, and air pollution. It can serve as an important reference point for other cities in the Global South when policies are formed, and progress is measured in the pursuit of a green economy. Finally, as an OECD SDGs pilot city and the leading Asian green-growth city, policymakers in Kitakyushu city are recommended to revise the data policy to enhance the findability and interoperability of data, as well as to invest in the application of big data.

This study examines John Locke’s educational philosophy and explores its relevance and potential application in the context of contemporary Vietnamese education. John Locke (1632–1704), a pivotal figure in English philosophy, developed a comprehensive educational framework emphasizing intellectual, moral, and physical development. His approach is distinguished by its focus on moral education, the cultivation of good habits, and the use of gentle, persuasive teaching methods rather than punitive measures. Locke advocated for individualized education tailored to each child’s unique characteristics, an idea that continues to resonate in modern educational practices. This paper analyzes Locke’s educational objectives, content, and methods, highlighting their progressive nature and how they can be integrated into Vietnam’s ongoing educational reforms. By drawing on the positive elements of Locke’s philosophy, this study provides insights into how Vietnam can enhance its education system to better meet the needs of its students and align with international educational standards.

Social security is one of the important guidelines and policies of our Party and State that has been thoroughly grasped and guaranteed to be implemented during the country's development periods. In recent years, despite facing many difficulties and challenges, social security work in Vietnam has continued to achieve many positive results, policies have continuously improved, the material and spiritual life of people has improved. People are cared for better and better with the goal of "leaving no one behind".

In this article, we argue that YouTube’s algorithm should be programmed to make a modest but significant percentage (e.g. 2%) of recommendations for the climate. Just as a librarian has a (meta-editorial) responsibility to highlight certain titles and not others, we believe that so should YouTube’s algorithm. The company, we argue, has duties of content moderation, reparation and meta-editing, as well as strong consequentialist reasons to program its algorithm to do so. With 2 billion users, our proposed intervention could be an effective contribution to mitigating the climate crisis in a transparent and accountable way. We consider different setups, with varying degrees of transparency and centralization. We then address the worries that such a project may raise: the risk of manipulation, the threat of a slippery slope, and the concerns for freedom of expression. We conclude that none of these elements seriously undermine the desirability of our proposal.

The rapid advancement of information technology platforms and programming languages has transformed the dynamics and development of human society. The cyberspace and associated utilities are expanding, leading to a gradual shift from real-world living to virtual life (also known as cyberspace or digital space). The expansion and development of natural language processing models and large language models demonstrate human-like characteristics in reasoning, perception, attention, and creativity, helping humans overcome operational barriers. Alongside the immense potential of artificial intelligence (AI) are new security loopholes and more complex information security risks. As society is still trying to transition to a new phase to adapt to technological changes, the AI revolution continues to unfold, necessitating a reconsideration of the trajectory of societal transformation as it could exacerbate the aforementioned information security risks. Specifically, how should society evolve to keep pace with the transformative impact of the current AI technology wave? How can we manage and harness their power while ensuring information security as our presence in the virtual world increases? This article aims to shed light on and address these questions.

The study of cultural evolution has taken on an increasingly interdisciplinary and diverse approach in explicating phenomena of cultural transmission and adoptions. Inspired by this computational movement, this study uses Bayesian networks analysis, combining both the frequentist and the Hamiltonian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach, to investigate the highly representative elements in the cultural evolution of a Vietnamese city’s architecture in the early 20th century. With a focus on the façade design of 68 old houses in Hanoi’s Old Quarter (based on 78 data lines extracted from 248 photos), the study argues that it is plausible to look at the aesthetics, architecture, and designs of the house façade to find traces of cultural evolution in Vietnam, which went through more than six decades of French colonization and centuries of sociocultural influence from China. The in-depth technical analysis, though refuting the presumed model on the probabilistic dependency among the variables, yields several results, the most notable of which is the strong influence of Buddhism over the decorations of the house façade. Particularly, in the top 5 networks with the best Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) scores and p<0.05, the variable for decorations (DC) always has a direct probabilistic dependency on the variable B for Buddhism. The paper then checks the robustness of these models using Hamiltonian MCMC method and find the posterior distributions of the models’ coefficients all satisfy the technical requirement. Finally, this study suggests integrating Bayesian statistics in the social sciences in general and for the study of cultural evolution and architectural transformation in particular.