Credit Scoring for Vietnam’s Retail Banking Market: Implementation and Implications for Transactional versus Relationship Lending

As banking markets in developing countries are maturing, banks face competition not only from other domestic banks but also from sophisticated foreign banks. Combined with a dramatic growth of consumer credit and increased regulatory attention to risk management, the development of a well-functioning credit assessment framework is essential. As part of such a framework, we propose a credit scoring model for Vietnamese retail loans. First, we show how to identify those borrower characteristics that should be part of a credit scoring model. Second, we illustrate how such a model can be calibrated to achieve the strategic objectives of the bank. Finally, we assess the use of credit scoring models in the context of transactional versus relationship lending.financial economics and financial management ;

Attachment security as a basis for gratitude: an empirical investigation

Gratitude is a positive, higher order affect with significant links to well-being. Research has shown that an attitude of gratitude increases well-being and life-satisfaction and is a protective factor against mental health problems. However, little is known about how trait gratitude is developed or what mechanisms are involved in the link between gratitude and well-being. While there are a number of extant theories of gratitude they tend to be limited in scope, are not well tested, and lack an empirical support base. This thesis proposes that attachment theory can address some of the current theoretical limitations in the field and provide a framework for studying gratitude. A critical overview of the gratitude and attachment literature is presented as well as an analysis of how attachment processes may relate to gratitude. A research program with five studies (N = 837) is presented across four empirical chapters. These test the viability of an attachment theory framework for gratitude and examined the hypothesis that attachment security facilitates gratitude arousal and relates to trait gratitude. A cross-sectional study found that individual differences in attachment functioning significantly predicted state and trait gratitude, providing evidence for the validity of attachment as framework for the study of gratitude. Two experimental studies used affective subliminal priming methodology to explore the relationship between normative attachment function and gratitude at the cognitive processing level of experience. Together these studies provide tentative evidence that attachment security and gratitude are found within the same cognitive information network and that individual differences in attachment avoidance and anxiety inhibit information processing of gratitude information. Two more studies examined the link between attachment security and gratitude using supraliminal affective priming at the affective level of experience. The first of these studies provided evidence showing that attachment security leads to more reports of gratitude than positive affect, attachment insecurity, and neutral condition. The second study replicated the results of the first in an independent sample. Implications of the findings for both theory and clinical applications are discussed in detail. Overall, the research presented provides evidence supportive of an attachment theory of gratitude, contributes novel information regarding gratitude in the context of attachment processes, and sets a foundation for future research inquiries regarding a theory of gratitude through the attachment framework

Dynamic Assembly of Cascade Enzymes by the Shape Transformation of a DNA Scaffold

Within cells, the close spatial arrangement of cascade enzymes facilitates the channeling of intermediates and enhances cascade reaction efficiency. Reconfigurable DNA nanostructures, owing to their structural controllability and precise spatial addressability, are promising tools for mimicking such processes. In this study, a 3D DNA origami scaffold, with a dynamic shape transformation from its open boat form to a closed hexagonal prism induced by toehold-mediated strand displacement, is designed to investigate the enzyme cascade reaction of xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase from D-xylose metabolic pathway. Enzymes are assembled on the DNA scaffold in its open state, which is subsequently closed by the assistance of DNA sequence-specific closing keys. The enzyme cascade efficiency is much higher in the static encapsulated closed state than in the open state due not only to the enzyme proximity but also the environmental factors of 3D DNA structure. These results provide novel insights into controlling enzyme cascade reactions by inducing the shape transformation of DNA nanostructures and how environmental factors affect the action of multi-enzyme complexes in the cell

Determinants Influencing Vietnamese Farmers’ Intention in Applying New Technologies in Agricultural Farming

This paper used survey data from 273 farmers planting fruit trees in 23 provinces to assess the impact of some factors on the intention of applying new technologies to agricultural production of Vietnamese farmers. Research results have identified and measured a number of factors that have a positive impact and some negative factors hinder farmers' intention to apply new technologies. These findings are the basis to recommend policies and solutions to promote Vietnamese farmers to apply new technologies. Keywords: Agricultural farming; Applicability, Belief; Benefit; Market demand; Communication DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-6-06 Publication date: February 29th 2020

Identification and estimation of the marine ecosystem services surrounding selected offshore islands of Vietnam

Intertidal and larger marine ecosystems surrounding the islands of Bach Long Vi (Northern Vietnam), Con Co (Central Vietnam) and Tho Chu (Southernmost Vietnam) which have typical and valuable ecosystems are planned as marine protected areas. They are the study area of this paper on identification and estimation of these ecosystem services. The total economic valuation concept is used to estimate the total value of the ecosystems during the period March 2014 to October 2015. The marine ecosystems surrounding Bach Long Vi Island were estimated servicing 599,047.8 million VND (Vietnam Dong)/year in total (corresponding to 26.62 million USD (US dollar—1 USD = 22,503.68 VND (rate May 1, 2015)); calculated per hectare; this value corresponds with 94 million VND/year. The marine ecosystems surrounding Con Co Island provide a total monetary service of 267,518 million VND/year (approximately, 12 million USD/year); this corresponds with 307 million VND/ha/year. The marine ecosystems surrounding the Tho Chu archipelago were worth 565,236 million VND/year (approximately, 25 million USD/year); this corresponded with 125.47 million VND/ha/year. These figures show the most significant service value of marine ecosystems, particularly around the three islands

Rational design of a DNA sequence-specific modular protein tag by tuning the alkylation kinetics

Sequence-selective chemical modification of DNA by synthetic ligands has been a long-standing challenge in the field of chemistry. Even when the ligand consists of a sequence-specific DNA binding domain and reactive group, sequence-selective reactions by these ligands are often accompanied by off-target reactions. A basic principle to design DNA modifiers that react at specific sites exclusively governed by DNA sequence recognition remains to be established. We have previously reported selective DNA modification by a self-ligating protein tag conjugated with a DNA-binding domain, termed as a modular adaptor, and orthogonal application of modular adaptors by relying on the chemoselectivity of the protein tag. The sequence-specific crosslinking reaction by the modular adaptor is thought to proceed in two steps: the first step involves the formation of a DNA–protein complex, while in the second step, a proximity-driven intermolecular crosslinking occurs. According to this scheme, the specific crosslinking reaction of a modular adaptor would be driven by the DNA recognition process only when the dissociation rate of the DNA complex is much higher than the rate constant for the alkylation reaction. In this study, as a proof of principle, a set of combinations for modular adaptors and their substrates were utilized to evaluate the reactions. Three types of modular adaptors consisting of a single type of self-ligating tag and three types of DNA binding proteins fulfill the kinetic requirements for the reaction of the self-ligating tag with a substrate and the dissociation of the DNA–protein complex. These modular adaptors actually undergo sequence-specific crosslinking reactions exclusively driven by the recognition of a specific DNA sequence. The design principle of sequence-specific modular adaptors based on the kinetic aspects of complex formation and chemical modification is applicable for developing recognition-driven selective modifiers for proteins and other biological macromolecules

Fact or Fiction

Fake news is increasingly pervasive, and we address its problematic aspects to help people intelligently consume news. In this project, we research machine learning models to extract objective sentences, encouraging unbiased discussions based on facts. The most accurate model, a convolutional neural network, achieves an accuracy of 85.69%. The team implemented an end-to-end web system that highlights objective sentences in user input to make our model publicly accessible. The system also provides additional information about user input, such as links to related web pages. We evaluate our system both qualitatively by interviewing users, and quantitatively with surveys consisting of rating scale questions. Received positive feedback indicates the usability of our platform

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Matrix Model Among Methadone Patients Using ATS in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This study assessed the effectiveness of the application of the Matrix model in patients undergoing methadone treatment for Amphetamine-type substance (ATS) in Ho Chi Minh City. A total of 951 methadone patients were screened; 60 (16%) met the inclusion criteria and of those 51 (85%) completed 16 weeks of study procedures. Most of the participants were ATS users with moderate or higher risk of dependence. Compared to the non-intervention group, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in positive urine tests for methamphetamine (a decrease from 100% to 11% vs. a decrease from 100% to 98% for the non-intervention group, p<0.001) and for opiates (a decrease from 36.7% to 3.7% vs. a decrease from 43.3% to 29.2% for the non-intervention group). In the intervention group, the quality of life increased from 76.74 points to 85.5, the proportion of depression decreased from 43.3% to 18.5%, anxiety decreased from 30% to 11.1%, and stress decreased from 76.7% to 29.6%. In the non-intervention group, quality of life decreased from 75.2 points to 74.5 points, the proportion of depression decreased slightly from 40% to 36%, anxiety decreased from 33.3% to 24%, and stress decreased from 76.7% to 76.0%. The intervention group was significantly more likely to adhere to methadone treatment (p<0.001). The proportions of participants in the intervention group and non-intervention group who discontinued treatment were 10% and 20%, respectively. The study results suggested that the MATRIX model could help reduce ATS and opiate use and improve mental health as well as treatment adherence