Automatic detection of pavement crack feature on images taken from specialized road surface survey vehicle

Approaching to PDCA (Plan - Do - Check - Take Action) in management of infrastructure asset requires digital transformation, sufficient data and strong database supporting management, analysis as well as creation of data-driven decision making tools. For pavements, data including condition indicators such as roughness and rutting depth are collected automatically during the survey vehicle travelling. However, pavement crack ratio and crack features of pattern and segmentation have not been detected by the system but manual in the case in Vietnam. The paper presents result of research on algorithm of statistic machine learning model in AI applying deep learning algorithm to automatically detect crack feature on pavement photos for enhancement of the performance and productivity of current survey technology. In the research, a deep architecture using convolutional neural network (CNN) for crack segmentation on gray scale images has been developed. The results show the CNN model for crack segmentation is better than other methods using traditional digital processing such as the Gabor filters or threshold and machine learning such as Adaboost

Music in the Festival of Vietnamese People (Thanh Hoa) - Issues

The article focuses on studying music in festivals of Vietnamese people in Thanh Hoa. Through the collected material, the authors have synthesized, explored the cultural aspects of the composition and analyzed the music. The result of the research is to find out the meaning of music in contributing to the festival\u27s appearance and to find out the operating rules and basic characteristics of music. From there, several discussions are given to preserve and promote music in the festival to achieve higher efficiency in life. The research results are the judgments about the culture and music constituting the overall festival, including (1) Meaning of festival organization; (2) Space and time of the festival; (3) Musical genres and performances in festivals; (4) Musical characteristics. The study also identifies appropriate research methods, and musical analysis techniques are also the basis for making objective judgments. This research will serve as the basis for the research, conservation, and promotion of folk music in larger and more comprehensive aspect

A STUDY OF INDONESIA’S STOCK MARKET: HOW PREDICTABLE IS IT?

Using monthly data from January 1995 to December 2017, this paper tests whetherIndonesian stock index returns are predictable. In particular, we use eight macrovariables to predict the Indonesian composite and six sectoral index returns using thefeasible generalized least squares estimator. Our results suggest that the Indonesianstock index returns are predictable. However, the predictability depends not only onthe macro predictor used but also on the indexes examined. Second, we find that themost popular predictor is the exchange rate, followed by the interest rate. Finally, ourmain findings hold for a number of robustness tests.Using monthly data from January 1995 to December 2017, this paper tests whetherIndonesian stock index returns are predictable. In particular, we use eight macrovariables to predict the Indonesian composite and six sectoral index returns using thefeasible generalized least squares estimator. Our results suggest that the Indonesianstock index returns are predictable. However, the predictability depends not only onthe macro predictor used but also on the indexes examined. Second, we find that themost popular predictor is the exchange rate, followed by the interest rate. Finally, ourmain findings hold for a number of robustness tests

Financial Sector Reforms in Vietnam: Selected Issues and Problems

The purpose of this report is to concentrate on performing in-depth analyses of selected issues of prominence and importance for the future success of the reform process rather than describing the current day-to-day operations and procedures in the financial sector. This eclectic approach implies that other important issues such as the development of a payment system, the state and prospects for the inter-bank markets, and the human capital and organisational issues in the state-owned banks are neglected and/or not analysed in depth. They are, however, omissions due to constraints imposed by funds and time available rather than a failure to comprehend their importance. In this context, the present report should thus be viewed as a first step towards establishing an open dialogue about the nature and speed of the financial sector reforms in Vietnam based on recurrent independent assessments of financial sector issues and problems.Financial Sector Reforms, Vietnam

Quantifying organic carbon storage and sources in sediments of Dong Rui mangrove forests, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province using carbon stable isotope

The objective of this study is to quantify the organic carbon (OC) storage and its sources in sediments of Dong Rui mangrove forests, Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh province by analyzing TOC (total organic carbon), TN (total nitrogen), C/N ratios, δ13C isotopes and sediment grain sizes. The results showed that the fine-grained sediment fraction (63 µm) ranged from 8.58 to 82.10%; TOC, TN contents, C/N ratios and δ13C values ranged from 0.21 to 10.20%, 0.01 to 0.34%, 15.07 to 46.09 and –27.75 to –25.84‰, respectively. The variation of δ13C and C/N ratios, and the correlation between TOC, TN and the fine-grained sediment fractions indicated that mangrove forests play important roles in OC sequestration and accumulation of fine-grained sediments. The OC storage in sediments varied from 16.7 to 78.3 MgC ha-1 with an average of 57.2 ±14.9 MgC ha-1. Nowadays, the mangrove forest area in Dong Rui is about 2194.1 ha, thus, the total OC in sediment pool up to 45 cm in depth, contained 1.26(±0.3)×105 MgC, equivalent to 4.6(±1.2)×105 Mg CO2. These results demonstrated that the conservation of Dong Rui mangrove forest not only provides opportunities for coastal protection and disaster mitigation and other provision values, but also enhancing carbon sequestration and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.References Alongi, D.M., 2011. Carbon payments for mangrove conservation: ecosystem constraints and uncertainties of sequestration potential. Environmental Science Policy 14, 462-470. Alongi, D.M., Sasekumar, A., Chong, V.C., Pfitzner, J., Trott, L.A., Tirendi, F., Dixon, P., Brunskill, G.J., 2004. Sediment accumulation and organic material flux in a managed mangrove ecosystem: estimates of land - ocean - atmosphere exchange in peninsular Malaysia. Marine Geology 208, 383-402. Bouillon, S., Connolly, R., Lee, S., 2008. 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Protocols for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of structure, biomass and carbon stocks in mangrove forests, 86 pp., Center for International Forest Research, Bogor, Indonesia. Kristensen, E., Bouillon, S., Dittmar, T., Marchand, C., 2008. Organic carbon dynamics in mangrove ecosystems: A review. Aquat Bot 89, 201-209. Lamb, A., Wilson, G., Leng, M., 2006. A review of coastal palaeoclimate and relative sea-level reconstructions using δ13C and C/N ratios in organic material. Earth Science Reviews 75, 29-57. Lovelock, C.E., Ruess, R.W., Feller, I.C., 2011. CO2 efflux from cleared mangrove peat. PLoS ONE 6, 1-4. Ong, J.E., 1993. Mangroves - a carbon source and sink. Chemosphere 27, 1097-1107. Quy, T.D., Tue, N.T., 2011. Spatial distribution of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), TOC/TN ratio, and stable carbon isotopes value (δ13C) in surface sediments of Tien Yen Bay, northeast Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences 33, 615-624 (In Vietnamese). Reimers, C.E., Suess, E., 1983. The partitioning of organic carbon fluxes and sedimentary organic matter decomposition rates in the ocean. Marine Chemistry 13, 141-168. Richard, M., Angus, M., Tim, H., 2011. The potential for mangrove carbon projects in Vietnam. SNV REDD+, Hanoi. Schumacher, B.A., 2002. Methods for the determination of total organic carbon in soils and sediments. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington. Siikamäki, J., Sanchirico, N., Jardine, J., McLaughlin, S., Morris, D.F., 2012. Blue carbon: global options for reducing emissions from the degradation and development of coastal ecosystems. Resources for future, Washington. Spalding, M., Kainuma, M., Collins, L., 2010. World atlas of mangroves. Earthscan from Routledge, London. Tuan, H.V., Quy, T.D., Vuong, N.V., Nhuan, M.T., 2012. Orientation of functional zoning for sustainable use of environment and natural resources in Tien Yen Bay. Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences 34, 486-494 (In Vietnamese). 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Sedimentation in an estuarine mangrove system. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 29, 566-575

The Effects of Technology-Assisted Listening Practice on Moodle on English-Majored Freshmen’s Motivation for Learning Listening at a University in The Mekong Delta

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of technology-assisted listening practice on MOODLE on English-majored freshmen's motivation for learning English listening at a university in the Mekong Delta. Approach/Methodology/Design: Two groups of sixty-four mixed-gender freshmen majoring in English language studies participated in this quasi-experimental study. To collect data, a pre-questionnaire, a post-questionnaire, and interviews were employed. Findings: The findings indicated that technology-assisted listening practice on MOODLE improved English-majored freshmen's listening motivation in specific areas for learning listening; however, this was a variance development. Practical Implications: This study was aimed to help language teachers and students benefit from technology-assisted listening teaching and learning. Originality/value: This study innovates by applying the MOODLE system to increase students’ listening motivation at a university in the Mekong Delta

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC SERVICE MOTIVATION, WORK ENJOYMENT, AND TASK PERFORMANCE: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN VIETNAM

This study aimed to examine the impact of health workers' public service motivation during their participation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic at a time of the highest number of infections and deaths in Vietnam. This study was conducted through a cross-sectional survey using an intentional sampling technique (n=200). In addition, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to illustrate the proposed hypotheses. We found that compassion in the workplace, self-sacrifice, and attraction to policy-making impacted work enjoyment positively and significantly. In particular, there was a positive and significant relationship between work enjoyment and task performance but no evidence of the relationship between Commitment to the public interest and work enjoyment. This study further demonstrates the importance of public service motivation of health workers in pandemic response, as previous studies have found. This finding suggests that the government and policymakers in Vietnam should develop policies to promote health workers' public service motivation during their engagement in response to the health crisis.&nbsp