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A Systematic Review of Consent, Coercion, and Compassion : Understanding the Responses of Trafficked Women
Get PDFThe purpose of this research: is to examine the complex interplay of consent, coercion, and compassion in shaping the lived experiences and responses of trafficked women — a pervasive global issue with profound human rights and social implications.
Methodology: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted, resulting in the inclusion of 33 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2024. Records were identified through multiple academic databases, screened for eligibility, and evaluated against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A qualitative synthesis focused on the factors that entrap women in human trafficking networks and the continuum between perceived voluntary participation and coercive circumstances.
Main Findings: The findings reveal that sociocultural determinants, including economic vulnerability, gendered power imbalances, and institutionalized coercion, critically facilitate the recruitment and retention of women in trafficking contexts. Identified rehabilitation strategies include trauma-informed care, comprehensive legal assistance, and community-based reintegration programs. This review highlights the critical need to balance accountability mechanisms for perpetrators with survivor-centered, compassion-based support systems for victims.
Applications: These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and advocacy groups seeking to develop more effective, victim-sensitive anti-trafficking interventions and support frameworks.
Novelty/Originality: This review contributes a novel conceptual lens by critically analyzing the blurred boundaries between consent and coercion, and by emphasizing the role of compassion as both a protective and empowering factor in the recovery and reintegration of trafficked women, as this aspect remains underexplored in existing literature
Fostering Employee Innovation through Authentic Leadership: The Mediating Role of Technology Diversity in the Telecom Industry of Pakistan
Get PDFThis study investigates the relationship between authentic leadership and employees’ innovation, with a particular focus on the mediating role of technological diversity in Pakistan’s telecommunication sector. Drawing upon authentic leadership theory, the research conceptualizes leadership through four key dimensions: self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and internalized moral perspective. A quantitative, cross-sectional research
design was adopted, and data were collected from 379 executive-level employees across four major telecommunication companies—Jazz, Telenor, Ufone, and Zong—using proportionate stratified random sampling. Structural
Equation Modelling (SEM) using AMOS was employed for data analysis. The findings confirm that authentic leadership positively influences employees’ innovation and that technological diversity partially mediates this relationship. The results highlight the strategic importance of integrating ethical leadership with technological capability to foster innovation in fast-evolving and
competitive industries. The study contributes both theoretically and practically by emphasizing the role of leadership style and technological resources in
driving innovation performance in emerging market contexts
Efficacy of ACT for parents of children with special health care needs : Preliminary findings from Malaysia
Get PDFParents of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often experience heightened stress and psychological
distress, which not only affects parental well-being but also has cascading effects on their children. Despite the
importance of supporting parental psychological health, interventions addressing their well-being remain
underexplored, particularly in Malaysia. Culturally adapted interventions for these parents in the Malaysian
context are especially scarce. The present study addressed this gap by evaluating the My-CARE protocol, a
culturally adapted intervention targeting Chinese Malaysian parents of CSHCN in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Its preliminary efficacy was evaluated through a quasi-experimental study involving two groups (intervention
and control; n = 31 per group) across three time points: baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up.
Linear Mixed Model analysis indicated significant time effects on depression, stress, psychological flexibility, and quality of life. Additionally, significant Group × Time interactions were identified for depression, anxiety, stress, psychological inflexibility, parenting stress, and quality of life, demonstrating significant differential changes between groups over time. These findings offer preliminary evidence regarding the potential efficacy of an ACTbased, parent-focused group intervention targeting Chinese Malaysian parents of CSHCN. This study contributes
to the emerging literature on the potential value of culturally adapted ACT interventions for this population
The Multifaceted Impact of Social Media on Economic Growth in China
Get PDFThis study investigates the relationship between social media usage and economic growth in
China from 2017 to 2023, focusing on the role of key social media platforms such as
WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, and BiliBili. This study uses an Autoregressive Distributed Lag
(ARDL) method to examine time series data and investigate social media's effects on China's
short-term and long-term GDP and control variables including Total Retail Sales of
Consumer Goods (TRSCG) and Aggregate Financing to the Real Economy (AFRE). The
research chooses ARDL because of its strength in dealing with limited sample sizes and
adaptability in handling regressors with various integration orders, setting it apart from
traditional cointegration tests. Furthermore, this study utilizes a bounds test method to
identify enduring connections between the factors. This study examines the impact of social
media on the economic growth of China as a whole, as well as that of major factors like
TRSCG and AFRE. It examines the impact of social media platforms WeChat, Weibo, and
Douyin, which have a negative impact, but BiliBili has a positive impact on economic
development, utilizing identical fundamental economic metrics. Further research indicates
that the existence of a long-term relationship between the variables is backed by the error
correction term (ECT). These observations provide important suggestions for policymakers
and businesses on incorporating social media into economic development plans
Efficient Energy Recovery from Bamboo Leaves Waste: Graphite and Graphene Oxide Electrodes in Double Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell Configuration
Get PDFMicrobial Fuel Cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable method for generating electricity by utilizing bacteria to convert organic waste into energy. This research explores the use of bamboo leaves, an abundant renewable resource in Malaysia, as a substrate in MFCs, with a focus on enhancing energy recovery from bamboo leaves using graphite and graphene oxide electrodes. Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) face substantial limitations in achieving stable and efficient power output, which restricts their broader application. The inherently low and unpredictable power generation of MFCs
often fails to meet practical energy demands, especially in rural and remote areas where reliable energy is essential. These challenges are compounded by inefficiencies in microbial. The main aim is to (i) to investigate the impact of different bacterial sources on the performance of MFCs (ii) to evaluate the relationship between bamboo leaf concentrations and MFC output and formulate strategies to optimize substrate use for peak energy efficiency and (iii) to compare and assess the effectiveness of graphite versus Graphene Oxide electrodes, with a focus on advancing MFC
design through innovative engineering. The system configured as MFC contains two chambers as anode and cathode, and bamboo leaf is used as substrate. The electrodes that are used in this experiment were made of Fabricated Graphene Oxide electrode and graphite. The study found
Effective Microorganisms (EM) to be more efficient than Chicken Manure (CM), achieving a higher power density of 98.37 x 10^-5 W/m² in open circuits. Graphene oxide electrodes outperformed graphite, with a peak power density of 32.3 x 10^-5 W/m² in closed circuits using
EM, due to better conductivity and surface area. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing bacterial sources and electrode materials for improved MFC efficienc
Effect of Different Mediators on Bio-Energy Generation and Palm Oil Mill Effluent Treatment in an Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cell-Adsorption System
No full textPalm oil mill effluent (POME) discharged without treatment into watercourses can pollute the water source. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) has gained high attention as a green technology of converting organic wastewater into bio-energy. As an approach to overcome the limitations of the existing POME treatment methods, air-cathode MFC-Adsorption system is introduced as an innovative technology to treat POME and generate bio-electricity simultaneously. However, the use
of conventional MFC with proton exchange membrane in large scale applications is restricted by the high cost and low power generation. Addition of mediator in MFC is essential in order to increase the electron transfer efficiency, hence enhancing the system performance. This study therefore aims
to investigate the effect of different type of mediators i.e. congo red (CR), crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) on the performance of an affordable air-cathode MFC-Adsorption system made from earthen pot with POME as the substrate. The addition of different mediators altered the pH of the MFC-Adsorption system, in which more alkaline system showed better performance. The voltage generated in the system with CR, CV and MB mediator was 120.58 mV, 168.63 mV and 189.25 mV whereas the current generated was 2.41 mA, 3.37 mA and 3.79 mA, respectively. The power density
of 290.79 mW/m³, 568.72 mW/m³ and 716.31 mW/m³ was produced in the MFC-Adsorption system with CR, CV and MB mediator, respectively. The highest POME treatment efficiency was achieved in MFC-Adsorption system with MB mediator, which resulted in biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, turbidity and ammoniacal nitrogen removal of 75.3%, 84.8%, 91.5%, 86.1% and 23.31%, respectively. Overall, the air-cathode MFC-Adsorption system with addition of MB mediator was feasible for POME treatment and simultaneous bio-energy generation
Essential Oil from Citrus medica Waste and Its Repellent Activity Against Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)
No full textCitrus medica is enriched with beneficial antioxidant agents and has promising potential as a mosquito repellent. Most commercial mosquito repellents contain N,N,-diethyl-3-methybenzamide (DEET), damaging the synthetic fabric and plastic, thus producing toxic reactions. This study was conducted to identify the application of C. medica peels as new mosquito repellents formulated using essential oil of C. medica peels. Methodologically, the essential oil of C. medica peels was extracted via hydro-distillation method and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The insect repellent of C. medica essential oil nanoemulsion (EON) spray was formulated. This EON was further characterized and assessed for its stability as well as mosquito repellency properties. Major chemical constituents were successfully identified in C. medica peels, in which D-Limonene constituted almost 64.57%. The formulated EON was found to be slightly turbid, bluish-white, and isotropic. The pH of EON was 5.45, which was skin-friendly, with 0.8896 ± 0.0016 cP viscosity at 27 °C, which was lower than water (0.8539 cP). The conductivity readings (- 234V) used to establish the oil-in-water nanoemulsion were substantiated by spherical and homogenous shapes with no aggregation seen on a scanning electron microscope. From the repellency test, EON showed good potential with more than 70% mosquito repellency. In conclusion, mosquito repellents formulated from C. medica peel essential oil showed good mosquito repellency that effectively reduces vector-borne diseases, which significantly threaten many lives
Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the SMEs Performance in Nigeria
Get PDFThis study investigates the multifaceted impacts of internal and external factors resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Motivated by the need to understand the challenges SMEs face during global crises, this study aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, business owners, and stakeholders. The objective is to develop targeted strategies to enhance SMEs' performance and foster economic recovery in Nigeria. The variables examined include internal factors such as downsizing and fear of existing business and external factors like a reduction in demand and revenue. The study's methodology employs a cross-sectional and quantitative approach, utilizing a snowball sampling method. An online questionnaire was distributed to company owners, managers, and supervisors of SMEs in urban areas, initially targeting 100 participants but eventually reaching 300 respondents nationwide through social media channels. The results indicate that the performance of SMEs during the COVID-19 Pandemic requires constant measurement to make informed decisions regarding business operations, whether to continue, fortify, or downsize. The findings show that adapting to rapid innovation is crucial for identifying new business opportunities. Furthermore, the study reveals a significant relationship between SME performance and both downsizing and fear of existing business, as well as a positive relationship between performance and a reduction in demand or revenue. These results imply that understanding the dynamics of internal and external factors can help SMEs better navigate crises and improve their resilience. The insights gained from this research can guide the development of strategies to support SMEs, ultimately contributing to the economic recovery and growth of Nigeria
Floral Biology, Reproductive Strategies, and Cluster Analyses of Selected Calamoids of Sarawak (Arecaceae)
Get PDFThe Calamoids are from the subfamily Calamoideae and account for one-fifth of Arecaceae,
the palm family. The floral biology and breeding strategies in the tribe Calameae of
Calamoideae is still relatively unknown despite its importance that supports a billion-dollar
industry in rattan products. This study aims to investigate the floral biology and breeding
strategies of three members of Calameae, Calamus lobbianus, Calamus pygmaeus, and
Salacca vermicularis. The data on floral biology, floral visitors, and floral availability were
collected and analysed. The Nectar availability was investigated by further measurement of
nectar concentration and volume. Pollination studies were conducted to investigate the
breeding mechanisms. Seed dispersal study was further conducted on S. vermicularis via
camera trapping. Investigation on the population genomics of C. pygmaeus was conducted
to elucidate on the asexual propagation as a viable breeding strategy by performing single
nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion deletion analyses. For both species of Calamus,
anthesis started in the early morning for pistillate and staminate plants, ended by late noon
(staminate plants) but lasted till the next day in pistillate plants. Although both species
appeared to be aseasonal in flowering, C. lobbianus exhibited a male-biased population
while C. pygmaeus did not exhibit any sex bias. Nectar was observed to be extruded from
the base of the petals of the staminate flowers and sterile male flowers of the pistillate plants
of C. lobbianus. The concentration and volume of the nectar of the staminate flower and
sterile male flower of C. lobbianus peaked at c. 11% and 9 µl around 1100 (Day 1) and c.
13% and 8 µl around 0930 (Day 1) respectively but only appeared as a layer of glistening
exudate in C. pygmaeus. Floral scent was not detected in any of the inflorescences of both
species. Several insect visitors were observed to be the primary visitors of both Calamus
species which include two species of Tetragonula, a species of Liostenogaster sp., andiv
Stenodyneriellus sp. Experiments on breeding mechanism of C. lobbianus and C. pygmaeus
indicate that both species are most likely apomictic. Anthesis in staminate flowers of S.
vermicularis began around noon and persisted until early morning on the second day whilst
anthesis in pistillate flowers began around evening and took up to 40 hours to fully bloom.
Floral scent was present throughout anthesis for staminate and pistillate plants. Apomixis is
not present in this species. Several insect visitors were observed, namely Heterotrigona
(Apidae) sp. as well as members of Curculionidae, Sciaridae, Formicidae, and Acaridae.
Three species of visitors are likely the dispersal agents of S. vermicularis, namely Hystrix
sp. (Hystricidae: Hystricinae), Tragulus sp. (Tragulidae), and Lariscus insignis (Sciuridae:
Callosciurinae). A mongoose (Herspetidae) was observed foraging nearby. Phylogenetic
analysis and DAPC analysis concluded that the C. pygmaeus found to consist of genetic
clones forming genets with distinct genetic makeup among subpopulations
Comparative Analysis of Local and Transferred ANN Models in Landslide Susceptibility Prediction in a Tropical Region
Get PDFLandslides are a common form of natural disaster in the tropics due to heavy rainfall in the wet season. Due to the hazards that come with landslides, determining the susceptibility of an area is of utmost importance. Currently, this is done through an ML-based approach. However, some areas may lack the required data. Thus, this study focused on comparing the impact of a transferred ML model from a comprehensive data region to a localized model. This was done by developing an ANN model trained on data from Western Sarawak and comparing it to the localized model in the west coast of Sabah and Selangor. The transferred ANN model results were acceptable, with recall scores of 0.89 and 0.86 for the west coast of Sabah and Selangor, respectively, while the localized models both achieved a recall score of 1. AUC scores were also comparable, at 0.988 and 0.995 for the west coast of Sabah and Selangor, respectively, while the localized models both achieved an AUC of 1. For the LSMs, in both target areas, the transferred ANN model predictions were heavily skewed in comparison to the localised model. It is recommended that future studies test the transferability in other tropical regions beyond Southeast Asia