The rapid integration of generative neural networks into the practice of medical research presents an unprecedented challenge to the system of academic certification. The ability to automatically generate coherent, scientifically plausible text calls into question the integrity of dissertation work and the validity of academic degrees as markers of genuine research competency. This paper analyzes the epistemological risks posed by "synthetic" dissertations, including the fabrication of data, the erosion of methodological transparency, and the degradation of established scientific schools. It examines contemporary methods for detecting AI-generated text — ranging from stylometric analysis to software-based detectors — and discusses their inherent limitations. As a systemic response to this crisis, a comprehensive set of measures is proposed: the introduction of mandatory in-person writing of the dissertation’s final section in a controlled environment with video surveillance; the tightening of quantitative criteria for admission to the dissertation defense (including H-index requirements, a multifold increase in the number of required publications, and a minimum length of professional service); and a fundamentally new model for the periodic recertification of academic degrees, similar to professional accreditation, which includes the possibility of degree revocation in cases of insufficient publication activity. The implementation of these measures would create a multi-layered system of protection for the body of medical science, preventing the infiltration of "synthetic" researchers and preserving the value of the academic degree as an authentic testament to scientific contribution.

Background: Circular economy encourages environment protection and social prosperity while giving the green light to economic growth with sustainable development in a country. The apparel industry both globally and Sri Lanka faces considerable environmental challenges and it is recognized as a major consumer of water. Aim: This study seeks to identify the challenges and opportunities of adopting circular economy practices to enhance resource efficiency in the apparel manufacturing industry of Sri Lanka, under social, environmental, and economic aspects. Methods: Within the apparel industry, circular design, product life extension, textile recycling, and resource efficiency were identified as key circular economy practices. Qualitative research approach was adopted to identify the social, environmental, and economic aspects of circular economy adoption. Target population consisted of key stakeholders in Sri Lanka’s apparel manufacturing sector, including lean managers, sustainability officers, supply chain professionals, and employees involved in circular economy-related practices. Given the qualitative nature of this study, a purposive sampling strategy was adopted to select 4 respondents. A semi-structured interview used as the primary method of data collection and content analysis used to identify key factors through participants’ responses. Results: The results revealed that circular economy is understood among Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers as a strategic shift from linear “take-make-dispose” model to a closed-loop system that keeps materials in use for as long as possible. Despite facing notable challenges such as high initial costs, limited infrastructure, and low awareness, companies are making steady progress through innovation, collaboration, and commitment to sustainability goals. The social findings revealed the need for awareness and training to drive behavioral change, while environmental results confirmed significant achievements in waste reduction, water reuse, and carbon footprint minimization. Economically, although initial investments are high, long-term cost savings, market differentiation, and stronger buyer relationships make circular adoption a viable and strategic direction for the industry. Implications: Apparel manufacturers in Sri Lanka need to implement circular economy principles as port of their core business strategy rather than as isolated sustainability projects. Capacity building in employees and suppliers through continuous awareness and training program; collaborating across the supply chain actors, leveraging circularity for brand differentiation; developing the supportive policy frameworks; expanding recycling and waste management infrastructure and establishing regulatory and certification system would encourage to take part in circular transformation. Further Study: This study focused on the manufacturing perspective; future research could explore consumer behavior, buyer expectations, and government policy roles in enabling circular transformation.

External quality assurance in arthroplasties in Germany is largely based on the EndoCert certification system and the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD). Both systems provide extensive data; however, their added value emerges only through methodologically sound and contextualized interpretation. This article aims to outline which EPRD data are relevant in the context of EndoCert certification and how these data can be analyzed and interpreted in aquality-oriented manner. The key EPRD data sources, like annual overview, hospital-specific reports, PROM reports, and the annual report, are systematically categorized, and their informative value is discussed with regard to EndoCert requirements. Structured use and interpretation of EPRD data enable EndoCert centers to perform adifferentiated assessment of outcome quality and support data-driven quality management within the certification process.

This study examined the environmental sustainability practices of two key institutions in Zambia—the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)—with the aim of assessing current approaches, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening sustainability management. Guided by a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, the research first collected and analyzed quantitative data from 42 respondents using SPSS, followed by qualitative data from three key informants, which were analyzed through thematic analysis to provide a deeper explanation of the quantitative findings. The quantitative results revealed that 97.1% of MGEE respondents and 87.5% of ZEMA respondents confirmed that their organizations have sustainability policies, with near-universal adoption of sustainability practices across both institutions. However, a significant disparity emerged in environmental management systems certification, with 91.2% of MGEE respondents confirming externally certified frameworks compared to only 50.0% at ZEMA. Thematic focus areas differed markedly, with ZEMA concentrating on climate education (50%) and waste management (50%), while MGEE focused predominantly on climate education (85%). Financial constraints emerged as the dominant challenge, affecting 59% of MGEE and 63% of ZEMA respondents, followed by operational efficiency limitations affecting 35-38% of respondents. Qualitative findings further clarified implementation gaps, highlighting inadequate financial resources, low staffing levels, insufficient monitoring equipment, and outdated policy frameworks dating from 1997 and 2009 as major barriers to effective sustainability implementation. The study concludes that while Zambia has made significant progress through policy reforms and institutional structures that promote environmental sustainability, operational challenges continue to limit full implementation. The study recommends accelerating policy modernization, enhancing staff involvement in sustainability planning, strengthening financial and technical capacity, developing strategic public-private partnerships, expanding community engagement programs, and leveraging external pressure strategically to advance sustainability commitments.

Palm oil is a critical dietary fat in Nigeria, yet growing evidence suggests extensive quality degradation and adulteration in local markets. This study assessed the physicochemical quality of palm oil sold in major Benue State markets (Makurdi, Otukpo, Benue Zone C) and compared it with oils obtained directly from rural production sources within Benue (Otukpa, Akpa, Edumoga, Igumale) and neighbouring states (Ankpa, Olamaboro, Ogoja). Thirty‑six samples were collected from twelve markets and seven source locations and analysed for moisture content, saponification value, peroxide value, iodine value, free fatty acid (FFA) content and specific gravity, benchmarked against Codex Alimentarius and Standards Organization of Nigeria specifications. Makurdi, particularly North Bank market, exhibited the most severe deterioration and likely adulteration, with moisture up to 0.91%, saponification values up to 239.95 mg KOH/g, peroxide values up to 17.84 meq/kg and FFA as high as 13.15%, all far exceeding recommended limits. Otukpo markets showed comparatively better quality, with moisture 0.29–0.50%, saponification 186.45–201.50 mg KOH/g, peroxide 5.70–11.05 meq/kg and FFA 2.71–5.00%, indicating reduced but still notable quality concerns. Benue Zone C samples had consistently low peroxide values (3.52–5.90 meq/kg) and generally acceptable FFA (2.30–7.35%), but several oils displayed markedly low iodine values (39.35–44.45 g I₂/100 g), strongly suggesting adulteration with highly saturated fats. In contrast, most source oils from Benue and non‑Benue locations showed saponification values within 190–209 mg KOH/g, peroxide values below 10 meq/kg, and FFA below or near the 5% limit for crude palm oil, implying that serious adulteration and oxidation occur primarily during distribution and retail rather than at production sites. These findings highlight significant public health risks from consumption of oxidised and adulterated palm oil in Benue markets and underscore the urgent need for strengthened regulatory surveillance, rapid field testing of key quality indices, certification and traceability systems, improved storage and handling practices, and consumer education to safeguard the palm oil value chain.

Abstract This paper investigates how and why circular economy (CE) practices, particularly inter-firm waste exchange and industrial symbiosis (IS), are emerging yet remain constrained in Ghana, and identifies policy-relevant pathways to scale these practices in support of green industrialization. Empirically, the study is based on qualitative field research combining semi-structured interviews with 23 Ghanaian firms across agriculture, manufacturing, and waste recycling, including three in-depth mini case studies of recycling companies, complemented by four structured interviews with policymakers and sector experts. The findings show that production companies in Ghana already exchange, or have strong potential to exchange, diverse waste streams. Organic agricultural and food-processing waste is reused for compost and biofuel, while plastics, paper, textiles, metals, and sewage sludge are recycled into secondary raw materials, fertilizers, biochar, or irrigation water, linking agriculture, industry, and waste management. However, the scaling of waste exchange is constrained by high transportation and processing costs, especially labor-intensive collection, sorting, and handling, alongside inconsistent waste quality, weak certification systems, competition for valuable waste streams, and inadequate collection and sorting infrastructure. The paper identifies key enablers for scaling IS, including targeted financial incentives focused on labor-intensive processing stages, improved waste management infrastructure, integration of informal waste workers, clear quality standards, and supportive regulatory frameworks. By providing a grounded, country-level analysis, the study contributes empirical evidence to CE and IS scholarship in Sub-Saharan Africa and offers concrete policy insights for aligning waste management, employment creation, and green industrialization in Ghana and comparable contexts. Graphical abstract

Objective : This literature review aims to analyse and compare consumers’ perceptions of organic food in developed and emerging countries, with a particular focus on cultural, health-related, institutional and economic factors shaping attitudes and adoption behaviours. Method : The study is based on a narrative review of empirical and theoretical publications published between 2000 and 2024, identified through major international academic databases. Articles were selected according to their relevance to the analysis of motivations, perceptions and institutional frameworks related to organic food consumption. Results : The literature reveals significant contrasts across contexts. In developed countries, organic food is mainly associated with environmental and ethical concerns, as well as trust in certification and regulatory systems. In contrast, in emerging countries, consumer perceptions are primarily driven by health concerns, food safety issues, perceived naturalness and risk reduction. Economic constraints, product availability and institutional trust emerge as cross-cutting factors influencing organic food adoption. Conclusion : By highlighting context-specific perceptions of organic food, this review contributes to a better understanding of organic food consumption dynamics in developed and emerging economies and provides insights for public policies and the development of organic food sectors.

Population aging and increasing disease complexity have increased the demand for specialized care provided by clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). However, Taiwan still lacks a comprehensive institutional framework, highlighting an urgent need to establish a structured CNS system to enhance the quality of care. This study was designed to develop a CNS system to strengthen the nursing profession and improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery. A mixed-methods approach combining a literature review, the modified Delphi technique, focus group interviews, and expert consensus forums was used to develop a locally adapted CNS framework for Taiwan. The CNS framework was developed through a rigorous and systematic process. Initially, three rounds of expert focus group discussions were conducted to identify core components and inform the development of a structured questionnaire. Subsequently, 30 expert panelists participated in two rounds of Delphi surveys to evaluate and refine the proposed framework. The finalized framework comprised 19 articles organized into six chapters and demonstrated a high level of consensus, with convergence rates of 94.0%-94.3% for feasibility and 93.6%-95.8% for appropriateness. The resulting CNS system structure consists of: general principles (3 articles), appointment (6 articles), core competencies and responsibilities (4 articles), selection (2 articles), continuing education (2 articles), and performance evaluation (2 articles). The CNS system developed in this study contributes substantively to expanding nursing roles and enhancing care quality in Taiwan. Future implementation should focus on strengthening interprofessional support to improve system feasibility in practice. Also, an appropriately funded and supported CNS certification system should be established. Finally, CNS contents must be incorporated into graduate-level nursing education to ensure the quality of CNS practice.

Key Points Real‐World Evidence (RWE) application in regulatory decisions remains limited. Clear standards are needed for data quality, transparency, and acceptable study designs for the use of RWE in regulatory contexts. Registry certification system and research plan review system for RWE research would help reduce regulatory uncertainty. To balance data protection and research utility, relaxation of privacy protection regulations for designated government‐managed registries could be considered.

The increasing demand for sustainability communication has led in the emergence of practices of greenwashing, greenhushing, and greenwishing, which collectively represent the spectrum of paradoxes in corporate sustainability reporting. This systematic literature review analyzes how organizations create discrepancies between sustainability disclosure and actual performance through the exaggeration, concealment, or overly optimistic portrayals of sustainability initiatives. This study examines these phenomena by analyzing institutional, market, and methodological factors that influence corporate accountability. A systematic literature review following the PRISMA framework was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. As a result, 24 studies that satisfy the inclusion criteria were selected. The results of the thematic synthesis revealed three main research clusters: (1) Governance, Institutions and Ecosystem Drivers, i.e., how board composition, political connections and regulatory frameworks influence disclosure; (2) Markets and Stakeholders, i.e. how investors, consumers and partners respond to credibility gaps, and (3) Measurement, Methods and Paradoxes, which highlight methodological approaches in Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) assessments, assurance mechanisms and certification systems that influence sustainability disclosure issues. Evidence suggests that sustainability reporting is influenced not only by business intentions but also by institutional incentives, stakeholder pressures, and the constraints inherent in current assessment systems. The findings from this study not only enhance theoretical and practical understanding of disclosure authenticity but also suggest a relationship between mechanisms such as credibility, regulatory monitoring, and interdisciplinary evaluation approaches with corporate communications.

Autonomous vehicles rely on complex sensing systems to perceive their environment and ensure safe operation. This review analyses the main sensor technologies used in self-driving vehicles, including cameras, LiDAR, radar, ultrasonic sensors and GNSS/IMU-based localisation systems. A core set of 40 primary research articles was systematically analysed to compare the capabilities, limitations and integration challenges of sensing technologies used in autonomous vehicles. In addition to these primary studies, further references were included to provide background information and describe emerging developments in autonomous sensing systems. The review shows that no single sensor technology can provide reliable perception under all environmental conditions. Camera systems offer rich visual information but are sensitive to lighting and weather conditions, while LiDAR provides highly accurate three-dimensional geometry but suffers from signal attenuation in rain and fog. Radar sensors demonstrate superior robustness in adverse weather and enable direct velocity measurement, although their spatial resolution remains limited compared to optical sensors. As a result, modern autonomous vehicles rely on multi-sensor fusion architectures that combine complementary sensing modalities to improve reliability and safety. The analysis also identifies several key research gaps in the current literature. In particular, there is a lack of systematic evaluation of trade-offs between sensor performance, computational requirements and vehicle energy consumption. Furthermore, the safety certification of artificial intelligence-based perception systems and the integration of emerging technologies such as FMCW LiDAR and terahertz radar remain open research challenges. Overall, the results suggest that the future of autonomous vehicle perception will depend not only on improvements in individual sensors but also on robust sensor fusion architectures, safety-certified AI models and energy-efficient sensor processing platforms. These findings provide guidance for researchers and engineers developing next-generation sensing systems for autonomous driving.

Quality assessment in arthroplasty is gaining increasing importance in the context of growing transparency requirements in healthcare systems. With the introduction of the German Hospital Transparency Act and the Federal Hospital Atlas, the comparable presentation of treatment outcomes has become acentral focus. Reliable risk adjustment models are aprerequisite for this, as they must adequately account for differences in patient case mix. This article aims to describe the current state of risk adjustment in arthroplasty, highlight existing limitations, and discuss potential future developments based on the authors' own research. Anarrative review of national and international approaches to risk adjustment in registries and certification systems was conducted. The focus is on the observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios used in the German Arthroplasty Registry (EPRD) and their comparison with model-based approaches applied in international registries. In addition, results from the authors' own studies on the integration of joint-specific risk factors and machine learning methods are presented. Current risk adjustment models are largely based on routine data and patient-specific risk factors and capture clinically relevant joint-specific risk factors insufficiently. The authors' own studies demonstrate that systematic inclusion of such parameters improves the prediction of postoperative complications following total knee arthroplasty. Further development of risk adjustment is essential for fair and valid quality assessment in arthroplasty. In particular, joint- and procedure-specific risk factors should be more strongly integrated in future models to avoid bias in quality comparisons.

Construction workers are continuously exposed to the risk of heat-related illness due to prolonged outdoor work in high-temperature environments. According to the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service's occupational accident approval records, the construction industry accounted for 70 out of 147 approved heat-related occupational illness cases (48%) between 2018 and 2023, representing the highest proportion among all industries. While safety helmets are mandatory protective equipment, their enclosed structure may exacerbate heat accumulation in the head, thereby increasing thermal stress. This study examined, from normative and comparative legal perspectives, whether Korea's safety helmet certification system (KCs) adequately reflects the protective objectives of thermal stress mitigation and heat-related illness prevention at the institutional level. To this end, the KCs standards were systematically compared and analyzed against ANSI Z89.1 and EN 397 standards across categories including ventilation permissibility, regulatory approaches, and incorporation of thermal performance criteria. The analysis revealed that ANSI Z89.1 permits ventilated helmet designs through its Class C classification, and EN 397 provides ventilation as an optional feature, whereas the current KCs standards structurally restrict ventilated designs by requiring dielectric testing across all helmet classes. This creates an institutional contradiction with the current policy direction, in which the 2025 amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act strengthened employers' legal obligations to implement health protection measures during extreme heat events. Furthermore, although the ongoing revision discussions are considering restrictions such as a maximum total ventilation area of 8% and a diameter limit of 25 mm, clear certification criteria for thermal performance—including high-temperature environmental testing—have not yet been established, leaving the alignment with scientific evidence insufficiently ensured. This study argues for the need to redefine the protective purpose of the safety helmet certification system in the era of climate crisis—shifting from an impact protection-centered framework to one that encompasses thermal stress mitigation and heat-related illness prevention. To this end, the study offers policy recommendations including the introduction of a risk-based classification system, the establishment of high-temperature environmental performance testing, and the transition to a performance-based certification framework harmonized with international standards.

Many requirements of forest management standards of voluntary forest certification systems (VFC) regarding forest management completely comply with internationally recognized criteria for improved forest management (IFM) used in climate forest projects. This includes conservation of valuable forests (especially intact and old-growth), establishment of productive artificial stands, retention of key habitats (large trees, rare tree species, coarse woody debris), retention of other habitats of rare and threatened species, measures of preservation of mosaic landscape as well as minimization of the impact on vegetation cover, hydrological regime of the area and soils. Therefore, VFC can be viewed as an instrument, which additionally quantitatively contributes to climate change mitigation and forest adaptation relatively the baseline level of forest management. A certificate holder of VFC based on monitoring results and using standard methods to calculate carbon stock in forests is able to receive some quantitative estimates of increased carbon accumulation in certified forests. Such quantitative estimates can be used by retailers and large buyers of certified products to demonstrate their contribution to climate change mitigation and forest adaptation.

This article analyzes the problems and improvements to the legal regulation of mediation in international law. It examines international instruments that enshrine mediation as a means of peacefully resolving international disputes, such as the Charter of the United Nations, the Hague Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes of October 18, 1907, and United Nations resolutions. At the regional level, it analyzes documents of the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the African Union that emphasize the important role of mediation in resolving international disputes. The main idea of t his work is to explore the problems of international legal regulation of international mediation. Following their review, measures are proposed to improve mediation regulation, including the development of a universal international treaty, the institutionalization of mediation structures within the UN and regional mediation hubs, the development of digital platform, a mediator certification system, and others. The paper concludes that institutionalizing mediation activities, developing uniform standards, and creating digital platforms can improve the effectiveness of mediation processes. In this regard, Kazakhstan can actively participate in the development of international mediation, particularly by establishing a mediation hub that could provide support for its international peacekeeping initiatives.

Abstract. Kamaruddin N, Al-Edrus SSO, Haida Z. 2026. Market dynamics and structural challenges in competitiveness of bamboo in Malaysia’s wood-based industry. Asian J For 10 (1): r100113. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjfor/r100113. This study examines the competitiveness of bamboo within Malaysia’s wood-based industry, with particular attention to market dynamics and structural constraints influencing its industrial adoption. Using Porter’s Five Forces as an analytical framework, the study draws on structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview data from nine industry stakeholders, including manufacturers and relevant government agencies. The findings indicate high awareness of alternative raw materials among respondents, alongside a more cautious level of readiness to adopt bamboo in production. While most stakeholders recognise bamboo’s potential to complement conventional timber, fewer indicate readiness to invest in high-value engineered bamboo products. This pattern suggests that industry preparedness is shaped more by market uncertainty, investment risk, and supply-chain reliability than by technical feasibility. Analysis through Porter’s Five Forces positions bamboo as a promising yet structurally constrained competitor within Malaysia’s wood-based sector. Weak supplier power, strong buyer influence, persistent competition from established timber products, and high barriers to entry collectively limit bamboo’s competitive position. Qualitative insights further highlight challenges related to fragmented supply chains, limited certification systems, and uneven access to financing, which reduce firms’ willingness to commit to large-scale adoption. Although exploratory in nature and based on a limited sample, the study provides insight into the competitive conditions shaping bamboo’s industrial uptake in Malaysia. The findings highlight the importance of addressing structural and institutional constraints, particularly certification development, financing mechanisms, and industry–research linkages, to strengthen bamboo’s competitiveness. These insights are relevant to ongoing policy discussions under Malaysia’s National Agrocommodity Policy (2021-2030) and Biomass Action Plan (2022-2030), especially in supporting diversification within the wood-based industry.

This article provides a comprehensive review of the critical role of detection efficiency in demonstrating non-classicality across various device-independent and semi-device-independent scenarios. The central focus is the detection loophole, a challenge in which imperfect detectors can allow classical hidden variable models to mimic quantum correlations, thus masking genuine non-classicality. As a review, the article revisits the paradigmatic Bell scenario, detailing the efficiency requirements for the CHSH inequality—such as the 2/3 threshold for symmetric efficiencies—and traces the historical trajectory toward the first loophole-free tests. The analysis extends to other causal structures to explore how efficiency requirements are affected in different contexts. These include: the instrumental scenario, which for binary variables has recently been shown to follow the same inefficiency bounds as the bipartite dichotomic Bell scenario; the prepare-and-measure scenario, where inefficiencies impact the certification of a quantum system’s dimension and create security breaches in protocols such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); and the bilocality scenario, which exemplifies how employing multiple independent sources can significantly relax the required efficiencies to certify non-classical correlations.

Microreactors are one promising advanced reactor concept being pursued by the nuclear industry. They are distinguished by a relatively low power output of 20 MW(electric) or less. These microreactors are intended for deployment in applications where conventional small-capacity power solutions, such as diesel generators, are either economically unfeasible or logistically challenging. Such applications include providing electric power and/or heat for remote communities, mining sites, defense installations, and humanitarian and disaster relief missions. An important feature for the successful deployment of microreactors is their capability to be operated remotely. This capability can significantly reduce staffing costs by eliminating the need for licensed operators to be physically present at each reactor site. Instead, operators can be centralized in a single remote operations center placed in an economically advantageous location, thereby optimizing resources by consolidating expertise and enhancing operational efficiency. However, the implementation of a remote operation system for nuclear reactors raises new concerns regarding the security, reliability, and resilience of such a system. One way in which remote operations can be supported in a manner that maintains system security, reliability, and resilience is through the use of digital twins in a framework designed to verify and validate sensor data and commands communicated between the remote operations center and reactor. This framework, known as the digital twin certification system (DTCS), has previously been proposed as an operations architecture that can bring security and resiliency levels of remote nuclear-reactor operations to a level acceptable for commercial deployment. The DTCS makes use of a novel implementation of digital twins that increases a remotely located reactor operator’s situational awareness. This paper moves the proposed DTCS architecture from concept to reality by presenting the implementation and testing of the system. The rationale and implementation of the DTCS using tools such as DeepLynx and Apache Airflow is covered in-depth. This is followed by a demonstration of the DTCS by applying the implemented system architecture to the single primary heat extraction and removal emulator, a small-scale nonnuclear test bed that emulates the thermal behavior of a microreactor. The demonstration illustrates how the DTCS improves the security, reliability, and resilience of remote operations systems in both control and monitoring scenarios. In control scenarios, it is shown how the DTCS both validates that the correct command was received by the reactor facility and that the command was issued based on an accurate understanding of the reactor’s true state, rejecting it otherwise. In the monitoring scenarios, it is shown that the DTCS enhances operator confidence of the true reactor condition by confirming the reactor is in a normal state, and under abnormal conditions, provides alerts and diagnostic support to address unknown anomalies.

The Halal economy has emerged as one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding sectors of the global economy, driven by the consumption demand of more than 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide. The Halal market has expanded beyond food products to encompass a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tourism, logistics, and Islamic finance. Vietnam is considered to possess significant potential to participate in the global Halal supply chain due to its abundant agricultural resources, strong food processing capabilities, and extensive network of free trade agreements. However, the Halal economic ecosystem in Vietnam remains at an early stage of development, with limitations related to institutional frameworks, certification systems, and enterprise capacity. This study examines the current state of the Halal economic and trade ecosystem in Vietnam and identifies key challenges hindering its development. Based on this analysis, several policy recommendations are proposed to promote the sustainable development of Vietnam’s Halal ecosystem and enhance its integration into the global Halal market.

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) is an important economic fruit crop in Rwanda grown for both domestic consumption and export markets. However, viral diseases pose a significant threat to passion fruit production. Among these, passion fruit woodiness disease (PWD) is the most destructive, causing yield losses of up to 100%. A survey was carried out to assess the distribution of Ugandan passiflora virus (UPV; Potyvirus passiflorafricanse) in major passion fruit growing areas. UPV is one of the major viruses known to cause PWD. The incidence of viral symptoms observed in the field did not differ significantly among districts, ranging from 81% in Rusizi to 100% in Rwamagana. However, mean symptom severity scores varied significantly between districts, with the highest severity recorded in Kayonza (3.1) and the lowest in Rulindo (1.9). Serological analysis detected potyviruses in 44% of the total samples (n = 216), including 43% of symptomatic (n = 144) and 47% of asymptomatic (n = 72) leaf samples collected from passion fruit fields. Further analysis using Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) detected UPV in 56% of symptomatic (n = 126) and 53% of asymptomatic (n = 60) samples, corresponding to 55% of the total samples tested (n = 186). The virus was present in all surveyed districts, with UPV infection prevalence of 89% in Rusizi, 75% in Rwamagana, 74% in Karongi, 59% in Nyamagabe, 44% in Nyaruguru, 38% in Kayonza, and 30% in both Gakenke and Rulindo. Fifteen partial coat-protein gene sequences for the Rwandan isolates were obtained. The newly described Rwandan isolates shared 97-99% nucleotide (nt) identity with one another, 89-94% with previously reported Rwandan isolates, 81-97% with Ugandan isolates, and 80-82% with Kenyan UPV isolates, suggesting that the Rwandan virus population is relatively homogenous. Genetic distances among the 15 new UPV isolates and previously reported Rwandan, Ugandan, and Kenyan isolates were very short (0.01-0.03), indicating high sequence similarity. All Rwandan isolates clustered into a single major clade, together with some Ugandan and Kenyan isolates. This close genetic relationship suggests a common ancestry and the regional spread of a single dominant UPV lineage. These findings highlight the need to reinforce seed and planting-material certification systems, as well as the need to enhance farmer capacity through targeted training on viral disease identification and management practices. This is vital to limiting the spread of viral diseases that threaten income security among smallholder passion fruit farmers.