In the realm of intercultural film transmission, cultural discount is a prevalent phenomenon that reflects the devaluation of cultural content among audiences from diverse backgrounds. Despite South Korea’s robust film industry and its aggressive global expansion, there is limited research on the cultural discounts experienced by Chinese audiences when consuming South Korean films. This study undertakes a qualitative survey involving 25 Chinese viewers to investigate the cultural discount in their engagement with the South Korean film Concrete Utopia (2023), which was a contender at the Academy Awards in 2024. The research findings suggest that various content elements, such as film setting, verbal expression translation, nonverbal expression, visual image, and non-diegetic music, did not significantly contribute to cultural discounts among Chinese audience participants. The primary cultural discount experienced by Chinese audience participants centres on the portrayal of human darkness and is evident in the plot and thematic elements of Concrete Utopia. A subset of these participants also noted that the film's tragic ending led to a noticeable cultural discount. This study contends that after South Korea abolished its film censorship system in the late 1990s, the South Korean film market witnessed a surge in productions exploring humanity's dark aspects. South Korean audiences have developed sufficient aesthetic sophistication and viewing experience to effectively interpret such films. In contrast, China's propaganda framework emphasizes societal beauty and brightness, while its censorship regulations restrict filmmakers from depicting darkness of society and human nature. Consequently, Chinese audiences have limited exposure to films addressing these themes. This scarcity has resulted in limited interpretive capacity, leading to cultural discount when viewing works like Concrete Utopia.

Water is crucial for life, ecosystems, and economic activities, necessitating its equitable distribution and sustainable management to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 6, “clean water and sanitation,” includes specific emphasis on integrated water resources management (IWRM) and the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems, which are mentioned in targets 6.5 and 6.6. Implementation of IWRM frameworks involving governments, local communities, and civil society is essential for effective shared water governance. This study examines the Mekong River Basin as a shared river basin that is exacerbated by rapid economic development and hydropower projects that reduce sediment flow, disrupting ecosystems and local livelihoods. The study utilized qualitative research, in which the data were collected by in-depth interviews with a purposive sampling method based on the Chiang Khong population’s career sector and the relevant literature. It has been found that governance challenges in managing shared water resources include complex political dynamics and inadequate legal frameworks, and the absence of inclusive decision-making exacerbates tensions among riparian countries. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that considers ecological, socio-economic, and political factors. Applying the concept of governing the commons to the Mekong Basin faces challenges, especially power imbalances and competing interests. However, it offers opportunities for cooperation and collective action. Stakeholders, including national governments, the private sector, NGOs, and local residents, play unique roles in promoting sustainable water management. This study advocates for a holistic approach to water governance, integrating ecological, socio-economic, and political considerations and emphasizes the roles of national governments, the private sector, NGOs, and local communities in promoting sustainable water management. Addressing the shared water issues requires multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve the SDG targets and ensure the Mekong Basin’s long-term water resource and ecosystem sustainability.

The Chinese variety show ROCK & ROAST has emerged as a significant cultural phenomenon. Distinguished by its incisive deployment of satirical discourse, the program addresses pressing societal issues while evoking emotional resonance from its audience. This study investigates the pivotal role of satirical discourse in the show, highlighting its capacity to foster social reflection and challenge entrenched norms. While previous research has predominantly focused on humor, this study fills a significant gap by analyzing the role of satire—more pointed and socially critical than humor—in fostering public discourse and societal reflection. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, this study draws on data from five seasons of 'ROCK & ROAST,' employing transcription, thematic categorization, and statistical analysis. The findings reveal four primary thematic categories: injustice and social bias against women (43.75%), satire directed at men (31.25%), critique of workplace phenomena (12.5%), criticisms of social behavior and trends (12.5%). Female comedians often employ a feminist perspective to critique gender inequality, while male performers engage in broader societal commentary through satire. These divergent perspectives enrich the discourse, highlighting the varied ways in which satire articulates and critiques social realities. Furthermore, the study identifies emotional resonance as a central factor driving audience engagement, grounded in shared identities, experiences, and societal pressures, particularly among women and working-class viewers. By examining the multifaceted role of satire in ROCK & ROAST, this study contributes to the fields of sociolinguistics and media studies by exploring how satirical language serves as both an artistic and sociopolitical tool in contemporary Chinese entertainment. This study contributes to the fields of sociolinguistics and media studies by elucidating how satire functions as an artistic and sociopolitical force in contemporary Chinese entertainment.

The study of technological proficiency is a key concern within a nation's educational and social programs. Throughout their academic journey, ranging from primary through secondary education and afterwards in higher education, students cultivate and enhance a diverse range of abilities, including technology proficiency. Information technology has changed the way businesses and higher education institutions work and the strategies they use. Colleges and universities worldwide are spending a lot of money on IT resources for students and faculty. Hence, this study investigates the trend of studies conducted in the field from 2000–2023 using bibliometric analysis. The bibliometric data generated contains 831 documents and was analyzed using VOSViewer software. Highlights of the findings revealed that the highest number of documents was published in 2020–2023, they were mostly sourced from journals, and top institutions performing research were from the USA, Australia, Israel, England, and Mexico. Antonella Nuzzaci was the author with the most publications, and the journals with most articles in the field were the Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning Education, and Information Technologies. The results of co-occurrences based on Total Link Strength revealed keywords such as universities, internet, online learning, technology, and curriculum. The most cited documents were published from 2000–2005, and the most cited journals are Education and Information Technologies, Small Business Economics, and TechTrends. The trend of research on technological proficiency in higher education from 2000–2023 serves as reliable data to consider for further studies related to the field and for references and literature. The findings add value to current studies or topics of interest.

Reading comprehension is a crucial component of academic life, especially for students majoring in English. However, EFL students face various challenges in their learning, including, for example, the interpretation of reading materials and a lack of motivation. In this respect, students could utilize self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies to increase their learning autonomy and motivation, which are believed to contribute to academic success. Given that Vietnamese EFL learners also apply SRL strategies, this study aims to investigate the degree to which English majors employ SRL strategies in reading. The study also attempts to examine the most and least frequently used strategies and the differences, if any, between the two genders regarding SRL strategy use. 130 English-majored students from a university in the Mekong Delta were involved in the study. The quantitative data were gathered using a closed-ended questionnaire adapted from Duong and Ta (2022), and a follow-up interview for qualitative data was conducted with five students randomly chosen from the participants. The findings revealed that students generally employed SRL strategies to enhance reading comprehension, with different levels across the eight subcategories of strategy. In addition, a statistical test showed no significant difference between the male and female students regarding their implementation of SRL strategies. These results suggest pedagogical implications for teachers and learners, emphasizing the importance of SRL strategies in developing reading skills. Thus, teachers are expected to raise students’ awareness and practical employment of SRL to achieve their academic goals.

The concept dissertation is a critical and analytical text the author communicates to the public. However, creators may be too subjective and associative in their descriptions, thus losing the ability to effectively communicate with the public. The study aims to enhance public understanding by incorporating moderately objective descriptions to foster a wider acceptance of art and design. Utilizing the text-to-image function of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC), this study explores a method for creators, as artificial intelligence (AI) collaborative partners, to improve the concept dissertation promptly and with faithful simulation feedback based on data. The researcher conducted a practical experiment involving 22 experienced creators in a master’s program, well-versed in the art and design field, collecting data on text, generative images, and observational notes, which were then cross analyzed using content analysis and the general inductive approach. The results indicated that the participants practiced writing objectively by generating AI images and providing immediate feedback, fostering reflection and awareness, and encouraging participants to remain objective and explore ways to improve the text. This study reveals that AI is a tool for content generation and a collaborative partner that respects and responds to the participants’ creative intent in the learning environment. In the AI collaborative method, the creators controlled the subjective–objective balance with the public by emphasizing the complexities of thinking and inspired expressions. This study enhances the collaborative potential between participants and AI, facilitating rapid exploration and transformation and improving communication between artists and the public.

Online Peer Feedback (OPF) is a proven and effective peer editing tool in EFL writing classrooms. However, the level of effectiveness varies depending the relationship between peer editors and on the available peer editing tools. This study investigates the impact of multi-level anonymity in asynchronous OPF by addressing two key objectives 1) to compare the effectiveness of multi-level anonymity in asynchronous OPF with and without teacher feedback intervention; and 2) to evaluate the quality of multi-level anonymity in asynchronous OPF compared to traditional teacher feedback. The study utilized a randomized pretest-posttest control group design. 62 first-year English major students from a mid-sized university in Thailand were randomly assigned to a control group of 31, and they received triple-anonymity asynchronous OPF together with teacher feedback. The experimental group of 31 received triple-anonymity asynchronous OPF without any teacher feedback. All participants completed a narrative paragraph writing task, which was used for data collection and analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations. Two key findings emerged: 1) There was no significant difference in writing skill improvement between the experimental and control groups. Triple-anonymity asynchronous OPF with or without teacher feedback intervention are both practical peer assessment tools in EFL writing classrooms; and moreover, 2) there was a moderate positive correlation between peers and the teacher feedback in the experimental group. This indicates reliability of peer feedback in the triple-anonymity asynchronous OPF group without teacher intervention. These results suggest that the incorporation of triple-anonymity asynchronous OPF into writing instruction can develop students' writing skills and can enhance assessment methods in higher education EFL classrooms.

Given that airports serve as gateways for travellers to destinations around the word, they must offer competitive products and services to meet the expectations of targeted passengers. The Thai government has prioritized innovation and cutting-edge technology to modernize various industries, including affluent, medical, and wellness tourism. U-Tapao International Airport, Thailand’s third international airport and an aviation hub in the eastern region, must enhance its operational competency and strengthen its competitive advantage. This study aims to identify key high-value services (HVS) provided by airports by assessing the expectations and perceptions of affluent passengers. The airport’s service performance is also evaluated to identify areas in need of improvement. Exploratory factor analysis is utilized to identify key HVS, and data was collected from 350 passengers through a structured questionnaire survey. Findings showed that the advancement of technology and services, with a focus on automated procedures, improvements to new and standard products and services, innovative spatial design, and tech-driven solutions, is an important factor in meeting passenger needs. Moreover, traditional products and services are found to be significantly important to passengers. The insights offered implications that airport operators can incorporate into their future strategic plans.

The contrast between good and evil is a widely recognized characteristic of fantasy fiction. The growing number and influence of religious references and creative interpretations in fantasy literature indicate the need to analyze the distinction between good and evil that is often present in these works. The literary works chosen for this study are Good Omens (1990) by Pratchett and Gaiman, and Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, consisting of Northern Lights (1996), Subtle Knife (1998), and Amber Spyglass (2001). These two works examine the reinterpretation of the fall and the judgment day. These works review, mock, and challenge religious figures such as God, angels, and demons as well as the conventional understanding of good and evil. This study examines how the two works depict the author's distinct perspective, the protagonist's journey, and their challenge to the concept of moral standards. The religious allusions in these works comprise the portrayal of changing ideas and the interpretation of the absolute good and evil binary in fantasy literature. Therefore, our approval of the new version of evilness and its development entails more than just instructing children to differentiate superficially between what is morally correct and incorrect. The intricate portrayal of evilness in fantasy literature aimed at children could greatly enhance their ability to comprehend and integrate the multifaceted nature of human circumstances, hence fostering their cognitive growth.

Timor Leste's separation from Indonesia led to a problematic situation, leaving a deep psychological dilemma for the two countries, with historically strong relationships. This research aims to provide a critical reflection on the political and psychological problems in the aftermath of Timor-Leste's separation from Indonesia, as a sister region. Engaging the new historicism approach, this research delved into data obtained from the novel Tanah Air Beta by Sefriyana Khairil, published by Gradien Mediatama in 2010. The data were explored, described, and interpreted with the assumption that the data in the novel were in parallel with historical data external to the novel. These data were pertinent to pictures that reflected the separation, presented along with information on accompanying historical events to ensure depth of interpretation. The research results showed that the separation stemmed from New Order political repression, coupled with political issues. The separation resulted in mental outcomes associated with anxiety, unpreparedness, fear, and refusal of emerging political events. These psychological problems sparked the evolving sense of national solidarity between citizens. It was the same feeling as a citizen who underwent adversity as a result of a political act in choosing one of the two countries. The research underlined the importance of apt coping strategies to address potential separation to preempt similar political and psychological issues. These strategies are essential to mitigate the profound and enduring impact on a region whose inhabitants share close fraternal bonds.