State Level Research Articles

A students-as-partners-inspired approach to assessment rubric design

The global popularity of the students-as-partners (SaP) model in the higher education sector demonstrates that students, through their lived experiences, have valuable perspectives to contribute to shaping university curricular and co-curricular experiences. While there are numerous inherent benefits associated with facilitating SaP arrangements, incorporating such practices to influence curricular change can be difficult in highly regulated and accredited courses. This article presents a successfully trialled SaP-inspired model involving assessment rubric design in the Bachelor of Laws degree offered at Curtin University in Australia, which is subject to multiple layers of regulation at national and state levels by public and private bodies. The SaP-inspired model presented in the paper is a useful starting point for academics wanting to engage in SaP co-creation of curricular initiatives in contexts that are not especially conducive to SaP, for example, heavily regulated and accredited courses. This article further contributes to existing SaP literature as it presents qualitative and quantitative data collected from the students who engaged in the SaP-inspired model, as well as data collected from students who experienced the SaP-inspired outputs first hand. This article commences with a student reflection on the SaP-inspired model, written by Ryan Kirby who participated in the workshop and assisted in the creation of the assessment rubric and supplementary materials.

Компоненты сыворотки крови как индикатор состояния растительноядных рыб

The results of studies of total protein and its fractions, as well as aminotransferases of blood serum of pond herbivorous fish are presented. Studies allow us to assess the activity of aminotransferases (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases), the activity of which in the blood serum somehow characterizes the condition and /or degree of damage to some organs of fish. Seasonal and age dynamics, as well as sex differences of the studied parameters in fish, have been established. Sex differences in these indicators are most noticeable in fish aged 0+ to 2 years. The data obtained allow us to judge the specific protein status, which differs in species characteristics and variability depending on the habitat conditions of fish, which gives an idea of the level of the physiological state of fish when grown in modern fish farms, and also allows us to assess the quality of the environment surrounding fish.

Atomically Precise Control of Topological State Hybridization in Conjugated Polymers.

Realization of topological quantum states in carbon nanostructures has recently emerged as a promising platform for hosting highly coherent and controllable quantum dot spin qubits. However, their adjustable manipulation remains elusive. Here, we report the atomically accurate control of the hybridization level of topologically protected quantum edge states emerging from topological interfaces in bottom-up-fabricated π-conjugated polymers. Our investigation employed a combination of low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, along with high-resolution atomic force microscopy, to effectively modify the hybridization level of neighboring edge states by the selective dehydrogenation reaction of molecular units in a pentacene-based polymer and demonstrate their reversible character. Density functional theory, tight binding, and complete active space calculations for the Hubbard model were employed to support our findings, revealing that the extent of orbital overlap between the topological edge states can be finely tuned based on the geometry and electronic bandgap of the interconnecting region. These results demonstrate the utility of topological edge states as components for designing complex quantum arrangements for advanced electronic devices.

Spatial heterogeneity in unintended pregnancy and its determinants in India

BackgroundUnderstanding the geographic variation of unintended pregnancy is crucial for informing tailored policies and programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Although spatial analyses of unintended pregnancy have been conducted in several developing countries, such research is lacking in India. This study addresses this gap by investigating the geographic distribution and determinants of unintended pregnancy in India.MethodsWe analysed data from the National Family Health Survey-5 encompassing 232,920 pregnancies occurring between 2014 and 2021 in India. We conducted a spatial analysis to investigate the distribution of unintended pregnancies at both state and district levels using choropleth maps. To assess spatial autocorrelation, Global Moran’s I statistic was employed. Cluster and outlier analysis techniques were then utilized to identify significant clusters of unintended pregnancies across India. Furthermore, we employed Spatial Lag Model (SLM) and Spatial Error Model (SEM) to investigate the factors influencing the occurrence of unintended pregnancies within districts.ResultsThe national rate of unintended pregnancy in India is approximately 9.1%, but this rate varies significantly between different states and districts of India. The rate exceeded 10% in the states situated in the northern plain such as Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, as well as in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Moreover, within these states, numerous districts reported rates exceeding 15%. The results of Global Moran’s I indicated a statistically significant geographical clustering of unintended pregnancy rates at the district level, with a coefficient of 0.47 (p < 0.01). Cluster and outlier analysis further identified three major high-high clusters, predominantly located in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh, northern West Bengal, Bihar, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, alongside a few smaller clusters in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. This geographic clustering of unintended pregnancy may be attributed to factors such as unmet needs for family planning, preferences for smaller family sizes, or the desire for male children. Results from the SEM underscored that parity and use of modern contraceptive were statistically significant predictors of unintended pregnancy at the district level.ConclusionOur analysis of comprehensive, nationally representative data from NFHS-5 in India reveals significant geographical disparities in unintended pregnancies, evident at both state and district levels. These findings underscore the critical importance of targeted policy interventions, particularly in geographical hotspots, to effectively reduce unintended pregnancy rates and can contribute significantly to improving reproductive health outcomes across the country.

Cost of COVID-19 vaccine delivery in nine States in Nigeria via the U.S. Government Initiative for Global Vaccine Access

BackgroundIn 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated with implementing partners, African Field Epidemiology Network and Sydani Group, to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Nigeria. To characterize the costs of COVID-19 vaccination, this study evaluated financial costs per dose for activities implemented to support the intensification campaign for COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsThis retrospective evaluation collected secondary data from existing expenditure and programmatic records on resource utilization to roll out COVID-19 vaccination during 2022. The study included incremental financial costs of the activities implemented to support an intensification campaign for COVID-19 vaccination across nine states and six administrative levels in Nigeria from the perspective of the external donor (U.S. Government). Costs for vaccines and injection supplies, transport of vaccines, and any economic costs, including government in-kind contributions, were not included. All costs were converted from Nigerian Naira to 2022 U.S. Dollars (US$).ResultsThe estimated financial delivery cost of the COVID-19 vaccination intensification campaign was US$0.84 per dose (total expenditure of US$6.29 million to administer 7,461,971 doses). Most of the financial resources were used for fieldwork activities (86%), followed by monitoring and supervision activities (8%), coordination activities (5%), and training-related activities (1%). Labor (58%) and travel (37%) were the resource inputs that accounted for the majority of the cost, while shares of other resource inputs were marginal (1% for each). Most labor costs (79%) were spent on payments for mass vaccination campaign teams, including pay-for-performance incentives. By administrative level, the largest share of costs (46%) was for pay-for-performance incentives at the community, health facility, or campus levels combined, followed by local government area level (24%), community level only (15%), state level (9%), national level (3%), campus level only (1%), and health facility level only (< 1%).ConclusionsFindings from the evaluation can help to inform resources needed for vaccination activities to respond to future outbreaks and pandemics in resource-limited settings, particularly to reach new target populations not regularly included in routine childhood immunization delivery.

Molecular Characterization and Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages in Central India.

Since the first reported case of COVID-19 in December 2019, several SARS-CoV-2 variants have evolved, and some of them have shown higher transmissibility, becoming the prevalent strains. Genomic epidemiological investigations into strains from different time points, including the early stages of the pandemic, are very crucial for understanding the evolution and transmission patterns. Using whole-genome sequences, our study describes the early landscape of SARS-CoV-2 variants in central India retrospectively (including the first known occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in Madhya Pradesh). We performed amplicon-based whole-genome sequencing of randomly selected SARS-CoV-2 isolates (n = 38) collected between 2020 and 2022 at state level VRDL, ICMR-NIRTH, Jabalpur, from 11899 RT-qPCR-positive samples. We observed the presence of five lineages, namely B.1, B.1.1, B.1.36.8, B.1.195, and B.6, in 19 genomes from the first wave cases and variants of concern (VOCs) lineages, i.e., B.1.617.2 (Delta) and BA.2.10 (Omicron) in the second wave cases. There was a shift in mutational pattern in the spike protein coding region of SRAS-CoV-2 strains from the second wave in contrast to the first wave. In the first wave of infections, we observed variations in the ORF1Ab region, and with the emergence of Delta lineages, the D614G mutation associated with an increase in infectivity became a prominent change. We have identified five immune escape variants in the S gene, P681R, P681H, L452R, Q57H, and N501Y, in the isolates collected during the second wave. Furthermore, these genomes were compared with 2160 complete genome sequences reported from central India that encompass 109 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Among them, VOC lineages Delta (28.93%) and Omicron (56.11%) were circulating predominantly in this region. This study provides useful insights into the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains over the initial course of the COVID-19 pandemic in central India.

The Effectiveness of the International Environmental Law: The Issues of State Sovereignty, National Interests, and Differing Levels of Commitments

This study aims to explore the main challenges facing international environmental law and affecting its effectiveness. Although many international texts and agreements have been adopted to address environmental degradation and promote sustainable resource development, most of these agreements remain ineffective in achieving the objectives of these agreements. The critical study reveals that these legal frameworks face many challenges that affect the effectiveness of these texts, for example, there are issues such as national sovereignty, the lack of unified implementation at the state level, insufficient funding, and weak institutional frameworks. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analytical view of the factors that affect the effectiveness of these texts and frameworks. The issues of national sovereignty, insufficient funding, weak institutional frameworks, different levels of commitment, lack of political will, and global cooperation will be mainly discussed here. By focusing on the most important challenges facing international environmental law, this research aims to contribute to developing international environmental law to make it more effective.

A novel approach to assessing food insecurity for small geographic areas using household living budgets

AbstractThe USDA Economic Research Service has monitored food insecurity at national and state levels since 1995 using the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement. But if a food insecurity measure is to inform action and target interventions, it must be constructed for smaller geographic levels that consider geographic price differences. This article constructs a novel measure of food insecurity using an alternative approach based on financial needs of households, known as the household living budget (HLB). The HLB is defined as the income required to satisfy a household's essential needs, enabling it to maintain a modest yet sufficient standard of living while covering federal and state income taxes. The HLB is constructed at the census tract level and incorporates three key determinants of food insecurity: household size and composition, household income, and food costs. We demonstrate how the HLB along with publicly available data can be used to construct a food insecurity measure using a residual income approach to assess if households are able to afford paying for food expenditures and assess the qualification thresholds of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Food insecurity estimates are obtained for households in Washington, D.C. and benchmarked to regional results provided by a survey sponsored by the Capital Area Foodbank.

Fertility Preservation for Iatrogenic Infertility: Patient Barriers and Opportunities for the Reproductive Medicine Workforce.

Iatrogenic infertility can result from medically necessary treatments that reduce fertility potential such as gonadotoxic chemotherapy and radiation but also brain and pelvic surgery, biologics for autoimmune disease, and hormone therapy. Fertility preservation (FP) involves freezing embryos, oocytes, ovarian tissue, sperm, or testicular tissue for future procreation and may be the only option for some patients who hope to use their autologous gametes for future reproduction. Although there is a growing awareness to refer patients at risk for iatrogenic infertility to reproductive specialists, patients seeking FP continue to face a multitude of barriers. The most prohibitive factor is cost, but poor accessibility to specialty care, lack of education of providers and patients, and stigmatization around reproductive health may all lead to delayed referrals.We discuss several opportunities for the reproductive medicine workforce to help address barriers to FP. One method to make FP more accessible to patients in a shorter timeframe would be to make it more affordable through improved insurance coverage. Currently, there is no active federal legislation mandating that insurance plans cover FP; however, there have been several success stories at the state level. Additionally, education of providers and patients through multispecialty collaboration and targeted campaigns, can have a profound impact on expediting referral for fertility care. Promising new technologies and innovation in healthcare delivery are also on the horizon.Unaddressed fertility concerns are very distressing to patients and detrimental to their quality of life. Urologists can contribute significantly to improving the care for these patients clinically and through advocacy and education.

Advancing emigrants' rights in India: strategies of civil society in spaces for engagement

ABSTRACT This article explores Indian civil society's efforts to promote the rights of migrant Indian labourers working abroad in low-wage employment as a response to weakly institutionalized rights frameworks in the global and India's national governance of labour migration. Existing scholarship has explored civil societies' advocacy in multi-national fora, at regional levels, and as forms of transnationally organized networks, but only marginally at the analytical level of migrant-origin states. The article examines their multi-level and multi-stakeholder strategies through the analytical lens of spaces for engagement. Drawing on original qualitative data, this article shows that civil society organizations play a leading role in (e)migration governance in India and are key to understanding the politics of migration of the world’s largest migrant-origin state. In particular, the local and subnational levels are important entry points to advance their agendas in the context of migrant-origin states.

Competencies for sustainable financial and economic management: Their impact on human capital development and national security

The relevance of the study is determined by the orientation of modern society towards the strategy of sustainable development. The advent of the era of “globalization through sustainable development” is accompanied by the strengthening of “old” threats and the emergence of “new” ones. According to the article, the sustainability viewpoint systemically links the social, economic, and environmental domains into a dynamic, long-term view, which is the fundamental contribution of the perspective to the examination of security challenges. It also signifies a paradigm change in how public administration functions when analyzing security risks at the state and federal levels. Competences for sustainable financial and economic management are considered in frames of sustainable public management, implying, in particular, positive impact on human capital and contributing to national security through ESG paradigm implementation.

About ways to form digital literacy of students in primary school

The article examines the tasks of primary general education in the light of the state-set goal of digital transformation of society. According to decisions adopted at the state level, by 2030 it is expected to achieve "digital maturity" of key sectors of the economy and social sphere, including education. In this regard, significant efforts are being made to create electronic educational resources and services. However, research shows that a full-fledged digital transformation of education is impossible without due attention to the formation of digital literacy of students already in primary school. The article analyzes the experience of developing digital literacy in primary schools in Russia and abroad, shows the need to introduce a course in informatics or digital literacy in primary schools for the successful use of created digital educational materials and services at all levels of education.

Институт уполномоченных по правам человека в России: концептуальные основы и эволюция

The article examines the development of the institution of human rights commissioners in Russia. The author comes to the conclusion that Russian practice demonstrates the evolutionary development of the institution of human rights commissioners. This institution is a reflection of the federal structure of the state. The Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation and the Human Rights Commissioners in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are competently independent constitutional figures. Their interaction is carried out on the basis of coordination through various forms, which largely developed on the basis of practical activities and were subsequently enshrined in federal legislation. There is a clear tendency to expand the powers of Russian human rights defenders in all areas of their activities, and the «legal tools» of the commissioners are being strengthened. All this allows us to conclude that the institution of human rights commissioners has high authority and is in demand both at the state level and in the environment of civil relations.

Stress-dilatancy behavior of marine coral sand incorporating non-plastic fines

The existed understanding of stress-dilatancy behavior is predominantly based on experiments conducted with clean quartz sand, with limited research focusing on coral sand. Particularly, impacts of fines and density state on stress-dilatancy response of marine coral sand is of significant concern. This work presents a systematic investigation into these issues through meticulously controlled geotechnical tests, coupled with corresponding discussion and interpretation. Results show that at a high stress level, both pure coral sand and its mixtures consistently undergo shear contraction regardless of fines proportion and density state. However, mixtures with minimal fines experience shear contraction initially, followed by dilatancy under a medium-low stress level. Friction angle at peak state (φps) and critical state (φcs), excess friction angle (φex), and maximum dilatancy angle (ψmax) decrease powerfully as increasing fines content. Besides, the lower and upper limits of variation for φps, φcs, φex concerning ψmax were presented. Correlation between φex and ψmax highlights that Bolton's stress-dilatancy equation, developed for pure sand, remains applicable provided that fines content remains below the threshold value. Additionally, gray correlation result suggests that fines post the dominant influence on above behaviors, followed by density state and stress level. Finally, potential mechanism behinds the influences of fines and density state was explored from the view of particle column buckling.

Фактори активізації соціальних інвестицій бізнесу в Україні та Польщі

Introduction. Contemporary global challenges affect the development of business and the startup ecosystem around the world. In particular, the increase in geopolitical risks due to the full-scale war in Ukraine actualizes the issue of social investments of business. However, these processes have a different nature in different countries. For example, in Poland, social entrepreneurship is aimed at facilitating public access to social services, using new technologies and artificial intelligence for digitalization and increasing business competitiveness. An ecosystem of high-tech startups and social entrepreneurship is being formed at the state level. At the same time, in times of full-scale war in Ukraine, social investment of businesses has become especially important. A new approach to doing business is being formed, according to which startups develop not only new technologies but also support social and humanitarian initiatives. Problem Statement. Assessing the factors of social investment activation on the example of Ukrainian and Polish businesses. The purpose is to identify and evaluate the key factors influencing the development and efficiency of social investments in Polish and Ukrainian business. Methods. General scientific and special methods were used, in particular: scientific abstraction and epistemological (content) analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, analogies and systematization, system-structural analysis, expert evaluation method, index method and grouping method. Results. The levels of manifestations and possibilities of activation of social investments at different levels, which is based on SDG standards (a combination of environmental, social and public management principles), which create the basis for sustainable development and growth in the world, have been studied. National economies and individual businesses incorporate ESG principles into their development strategies. Compliance with these principles is possible only if there is a sufficient amount of involved investments. The specifics of state policy in the context of the development of social investments, trends in the development of business and startups in Ukraine and Poland, and successful cases of the implementation of social business projects are analyzed. The conducted analysis made it possible to single out the factors of activation of social investments of business in both countries at the global, state and business levels. Conclusions. Today's challenges require a change in business priorities. Even high-tech startups are revising their development strategies in terms of social investments, activities in accordance with ESG principles. At the global level, factors for the activation of social business investments are common to Ukraine and Poland. At the state level, it is possible to distinguish common groups of factors of business activation in Ukraine and Poland, which have different manifestations for each of the countries. Business representatives demonstrate different approaches to social investments: Polish companies actively integrate corporate volunteering, educational and cultural projects into development strategies, while in Ukraine social entrepreneurship is associated with the need to restore social infrastructure, rehabilitation and integration of these groups into public life.

EVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATION OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM OF DEFENSE GOODS, SERVICES AND WORKS IN UKRAINE

It is inadvisable to limit the quality assurance system for defense-related goods/services/works solely to a set of mechanisms; it must necessarily encompass vertical and horizontal connections both among the relevant functional blocks (subsystems) and between the entities involved in their operation. In the context of not only geopolitical challenges but also the ongoing daily struggle against an aggressor state, it is critically important to establish an effective and efficient system for controlling the quality of defense-related goods/services/works. This article is dedicated to the systematization of the characteristics of transformational changes and the outlining of methodological foundations for the effective functioning of the quality assurance system for defense- related goods, works, and services in Ukraine. A conceptual three-level model of the quality assurance system for defense-related goods, services, and works has been formulated by distinguishing the essential parameters of their operation at the global, national, and micro levels. The peculiarities of forming a quality assurance system for defense-related products at both the micro and macro levels have been justified. It has been emphasized that the effectiveness of the evolutionary transformation of the quality assurance system for defense-related products at all levels of its representation should be characterized by the penetration of market forces into the mechanism of its operation. Attention has been drawn to the substantive directions for implementing the requirements of NATO standards in the AQAP series (AQAP 2110) within the framework of a corporate quality management system in accordance with ISO 9001. Since there are no legal or legislative requirements mandating the implementation of quality management systems, the enhancement and improvement of the efficiency of internal business and production processes should be a direct concern of the enterprise itself, driven by market forces. At the same time, the state should create stimulating mechanisms, for instance, by employing soft regulation; in military procurement specifications, it should mandate the presence of a certificate of compliance with AQAP requirements for the enterprises involved. The expected effects of the transformation of the studied system include economic, organizational, and worldview effects. A comparative analysis of the evolutionary transformation of the quality assurance system for defense-related goods, services, and works has been conducted based on the following criteria: the object and subject of control; the function performed by the control subject; the breadth of the controlling institution’s functionality; the perimeter of the controlling institution’s authority; the level of depth of control; and the level of subordination of the controlling institution to the Ministry of Defense. Despite the complexity of the task declared at the state level regarding the functioning of the state guarantee system for the quality of defense-related products, which is influenced not only by objective factors but also by worldview factors, its implementation has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of Ukraine’s defense products and substantially improve Ukraine’s rankings in terms of transparency, institutional maturity, and the ecological soundness of economic relations in the defense sector.

The Impact of the Corona Pandemic on the Revenues and Expenditures of the Jordanian General Government and the Gross domestic Product

The research aimed to know The impact of the Corona pandemic on the revenues and expenditures of the Jordanian general government and the gross domestic product And reached the following results: The Corona Covid-19 pandemic is greater than being limited to a health crisis, it is a humanitarian disaster that led to changes and transformations that attacked the heart of societies and their economies, so it was imperative for countries to work on the continuity of economic activity and the preservation of the wheel of production in the country while limiting the spread of the disease. It led to a complete and total halt to any economic activity, which caused the cancellation of many capital expenditures scheduled in the context of strict measures, as the restrictions imposed on travel and trade resulted in a decrease in revenues and an increase in expenditures, and the Corona pandemic caused an increase in the deficit rate in the state's general budget, as a result of the large expenses incurred by the state, with a clear decrease in annual revenues, but the state was able in the years following the pandemic to reduce the deficit rate in the budget and cancel many capital expenditures and freeze the performance of some economic activities, which is considered a severe blow to the domestic product, considering that revenues and expenditures enable the state to play its role effectively, as the decrease in revenues and the increase in expenditures call for a review of the structure of government institutions and the duties assigned to them The services it provides, which calls for a mix of its services to ensure mitigation of the pandemic and any crisis that the country may be exposed to, which confirms the validity of the first hypothesis and in light of such crises, and practicing that pivotal role that links the actors in the economic sectors, which allows them to be stronger than before, which confirms the validity of the second hypothesis. They recommended the following: Establishing permanent centers for crisis and risk management at the state level and at the level of the various economic sectors, and activating coordination between them to deal with various crises and risks, and developing training programs for workers on how to deal with crises and how to deal with their effects, and appointing experts and specialists to monitor, analyze and prepare reports on the various crises that the various sectors are going through and building a comprehensive database to predict crises before they occur. 10- Strengthening relations between the various governmental, civil and economic sectors with the media institutions due to their importance in spreading awareness and participating in conferences and interviews that help spread knowledge, and the need to benefit from the experiences of other countries in how to overcome crises.

Crop-specific management history of phosphorus fertilizer input (CMH-P) in the croplands of the United States: reconciliation of top-down and bottom-up data sources

Abstract. Understanding and assessing the spatiotemporal patterns in crop-specific phosphorus (P) fertilizer management are crucial for enhancing crop yield and mitigating environmental problems. The existing P fertilizer dataset, derived from sales data, depicts an average application rate over total cropland at the county level but overlooks cross-crop variations. Conversely, the survey-based dataset offers crop-specific application details at the state level yet lacks inter-state variability. By reconciling these two datasets, we developed long-term gridded maps to characterize crop-specific P fertilizer application rates, timing, and methods across the contiguous US at a resolution of 4 km × 4 km from 1850 to 2022. We found that P fertilizer application rate over fertilized areas in the US increased from 0.9 g P m−2 yr−1 in 1940 to 1.9 g P m−2 yr−1 in 2022, with substantial variations among crops. However, approximately 40 % of cropland nationwide has remained unfertilized in the recent decade. The hotspots for P fertilizer use have shifted from the southeastern and eastern US to the Midwest and the Great Plains over the past century, reflecting changes in cropland area, crop choices, and P fertilizer use across different crops. Pre-planting (fall and spring) and broadcast application are prevalent among corn, soybean, and cotton in the Midwest and the Southeast, indicating a high P loss risk in these regions. In contrast, wheat and barley in the Great Plains receive the most intensive P fertilization at planting and via non-broadcast application. The P fertilizer management dataset developed in this study can advance our comprehension of agricultural P budgets and facilitate the refinement of best P fertilizer management practices to optimize crop yield and to reduce P loss. Datasets are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10700821 (Cao et al., 2024).

Regulatory impact of a governmental approach for artificial intelligence technology implementation in Vietnam

This study assesses Vietnam’s state-level implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and analyses the government’s efforts to encourage AI implementation by focusing on the National Strategy on AI Development Program. This study emphasizes the possibility of implementing AI at the state level in Vietnam and the importance of conducting continuous reviews and enhancements to achieve sustainable and inclusive AI growth. Impact evaluations were conducted in public organizations alone, and implication evaluations were considered optional. AI impact assessments were constrained by societal norms that necessitated establishing relationships among findings. There is a lack of official information regarding the positive impact of Vietnam’s AI policy on the development of AI infrastructure, research, and talent pools. The study’s findings highlight the necessity of facilitating extensive AI legislation, and strengthening international cooperation. The study concludes with the following recommendations for improving Vietnam’s AI policy: implementing a strong AI governance structure and supporting AI education and awareness.

Harnessing traditional institutions for sustainable leadership and good governance in Nigeria

The subject of traditional institutions cannot be undermined in the project of sustainable leadership and good governance in Nigeria given the locus and crucial role of the institution in the past and modern Nigeria. It is incontrovertible that traditional and aboriginal values are held highly with reverence and respect in virtually all parts of Nigeria. To discountenance their relevance will be too costly in any leadership-cum-governance discourse. Towns, villages and cities were duly recognized and protected as the harbingers of culture, mores, norms and values. The contemporary government structure in Nigeria duly recognizes the importance of traditional institutions by having a Commission for Local Government (LG) and Chieftaincy Affairs at all State levels. Moreover, 5% of allocations to LGs go statutorily to the tradition institution in the State. Hitherto, the recklessness and abuse of the native authority system of local government administration in the 1950s–60s had led to the moderation and reforms of the system, which has continued to affect traditional institutions to date. To this end, the paper argues that traditional institutions hold so much values and cohesive practices as well as socially integrative potentials for nation-building so much that the State can leverage on them for sustainable leadership and overall good governance. The methodology adopted for collecting data for this study is descriptive research method, which relies on primary direct observation (eye-witness) account and relevant secondary materials such as texts, journal articles, official documents and internet materials. The data collected were analyzed and presented using thematic analysis and tables. National and international data already analyzed were found essential to drive home the argument of this study. The outcome of the paper provides useful information on how traditional institutions serve as a veritable platform for sustainable leadership and good governance in Nigeria. The paper concluded that traditional institutions, with its rich culture, values and practices, possess sufficient merits to propel the country towards sustainable leadership that would concomitantly induce economic, technological and political growth in Nigeria.