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Social (in)justice in Bangladesh in the context of globality
No full textThis chapter explores the multifaceted and dynamic nature of social justice in Bangladesh in a global context. Historical injustices, economic disparities, and ongoing struggles for communities’ rights and representation at the local, national, and international levels are all germane to the understanding of social justice. When examining social justice in Bangladesh today, or, for that matter, in any other society, one must consider global conditions. This caution is essential in precluding justifications that invoke relativistic arguments. Avoiding the trap of cultural relativism and adhering to global, universal values of rights, fairness, equal justice, and freedom from discrimination will help achieve social justice. This chapter focuses on the durable issues of social justice in Bangladesh and not the ephemeral and everyday ones whcih are subjected to politicization in the ambit of the realpolitik
Association of family history of cardiovascular disease with the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults in the United Arab Emirates: The UAE healthy future study
Full text linkIntroduction Family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, and the risk increases with number of family members affected. It offers insights into shared genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that influence heart disease risk. In this study, we aimed to estimate the association of family history of CVD and its risk factors, as well as the number of affected parents or siblings, with the prevalence of major cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) such as hypertension, dysglycemia, dyslipidemia and obesity in a sample of young adults. Methods The study utilized a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS), involving 5,058 respondents below the age of 40 years. Information on parental and sibling health regarding heart disease and stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes (T2D), high cholesterol and obesity, was gathered through a self-completed questionnaire. CRFs were estimated based on body measurements, biochemical markers and self-reported conditions. Multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the associations between categories of family history and the estimated CRFs. Results More than half (58%) of the sample reported having a positive family history of CVD or its risk factors. The most common family history reported was T2D and hypertension, which accounted for 39.8% and 35% of the sample, respectively. The prevalence of all CRFs was significantly higher among those with a positive family history compared to those without family-history (P \u3c 0.001). The prevalence and likelihood of having a CRF increased as the number of parents and/or siblings affected increased, indicating a potential dose-response trend. The odds were highest among individuals with both parental-and-sibling family history of disease, where they increased to 2.36 (95% CI 1.68-3.32) for hypertension, 2.59 (95% CI 1.86-3.60) for dysglycemia, 1.9 (95% CI 1.29-2.91) for dyslipidemia and 3.79 (95% CI 2.83-5.06) for obesity. Conclusion In this study, we addressed the effect of family history as an independent risk factor on the major CRFs for the first time in the region. We observed that the majority of young Emirati adults had a positive family history of CVD-related diseases. Family history showed a strong association with the increased prevalence of CRFs. Additionally, having more relatives with specific diseases was associated with a higher risk of developing CRFs. Identifying people with a history of these conditions can help in early intervention and personalized risk assessments
Technology Anxiety in Virtual Reality Adoption: Examining the Impact of Age, Past Experience, and Cybersickness
Full text linkThis study examines the role of Technology Anxiety (TA), age, past use, and cybersickness in the adoption of Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research integrates age and past use as antecedents of TA and evaluates their influence on perceived ease of use (PEoU), perceived enjoyment (PENJ), and user attitudes. Data from 206 participants were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) following a VR pilgrimage experience. The findings challenge conventional assumptions, revealing that past VR use increased TA, contradicting prior studies that associate familiarity with reduced anxiety. Additionally, older users exhibited lower TA levels than younger participants, highlighting a potential shift in how age influences technology adoption. TA significantly enhanced PENJ, indicating that anxiety may amplify emotional engagement in immersive settings, rather than solely acting as a barrier. While TA enhanced PEoU, it had a negative correlation with cybersickness, suggesting that anxious users might interact with VR more cautiously, thereby limiting sensory mismatches. Moreover, cybersickness did not significantly influence attitudes toward the system, emphasizing the dominance of engagement over physical discomfort in emotionally significant experiences. Attitude toward the system strongly predicted use intention, highlighting the necessity of designing VR experiences that balance usability with emotional engagement. This study provides new insights into the psychological and demographic factors influencing VR adoption and offers practical strategies for optimizing user experience, particularly in religious and cultural applications
Life cycle analysis of mechanical recycling vs. conventional incineration for brominated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) derived from WEEE
No full textThis study provides the first comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing pre-mechanical recycling methods for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) containing restricted brominated flame retardants (BFRs). By evaluating the environmental impacts of BFR extraction techniques, this research addresses a critical gap in prior studies that predominantly focused on extraction efficiency. This research identifies BFR removal, required for compliance with EU Regulation 2019/1021, as the most environmentally impactful stage of the recycling process. While ABS recycling was found to offset 60–100 % of environmental impacts compared to virgin production, particularly in resource consumption and global warming, energy consumption emerged as a key factor influencing environmental performance across most extraction methods. Among the techniques analyzed, Soxhlet extraction exhibited the lowest environmental impact, followed by supercritical CO2 and flask-shake solvent extractions. In contrast, the dissolution-precipitation method demonstrated a significantly higher environmental footprint due to its reliance on organic solvents, which contribute 80–90 % of impact categories such as greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions (19.69 kg CO2 eq.) despite the high solvent recycling efficiency of 80 %. The findings also revealed that mechanical recycling, when combined with extraction techniques, is more environmentally favorable than incineration in terms of abiotic resource depletion. Nonetheless, incineration remains the most viable option when considering overall environmental performance metrics. This study underscores the urgent need for BFR extraction optimization to enhance the sustainability of brominated plastic WEEE mechanical recycling
From sharing to shaping: Role of knowledge quality and ambidexterity in SME innovation performance
No full textThis study investigates the role of knowledge sharing quality (QKS) in shaping innovation performance within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), emphasizing the mediating effects of organizational ambidexterity. Drawing on the knowledge-based view and dynamic capabilities perspective, we propose that the extent and quality of knowledge shared—specifically its accuracy, relevance, and actionability—critically influence innovation outcomes. Survey data from 260 SME managers in Serbia were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that tacit knowledge sharing significantly enhances QKS, whereas explicit knowledge sharing does not. Furthermore, QKS positively affects innovation performance. Critically, exploitative and explorative ambidexterity mediate this relationship—the capacity to balance refinement and exploration is essential for translating high-quality knowledge into innovation success. These results extend prior research by unpacking the mechanisms through which SMEs can convert knowledge resources into innovation capability. Implications for theory and practice are discussed, offering actionable insights for SME leaders seeking to foster innovation through strategic knowledge management
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HPV infection, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination among Emirati women
No full textObjectives: This study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, cervical cancer (CC), and HPV vaccination among Emirati women with the goal of informing the development of targeted public health interventions. Study design: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among Emirati women from January to May 2024 among Emirati women. A systematic sampling approach was used to recruit participants from Zayed University, Ajman University, and Al Tawam Hospital, in which context every third eligible adult female visitor was invited to participate in this research. The main outcome measures were KAPs practices regarding HPV infection, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination. Results: The study included 216 Emirati women (median age: 21 years, range: 18–60 years). While 64.4% of the participants reported good knowledge about HPV infection and CC, only 58.3% reported good knowledge regarding HPV vaccination. Negative attitudes toward HPV infection and CC were reported by 76.9% of the participants. Preventive practices were reportedly high (72.2%), but only 28.2% of the participants had actually received the HPV vaccination. Conclusion: Despite relatively high levels of CC awareness, misconceptions about HPV transmission and vaccination persist among Emirati women. Enhancing health education, involving healthcare providers, and addressing cultural concerns are essential for efforts to improve HPV prevention strategies and increase vaccine uptake in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Sustainable Purpose- and Passionpreneurship: New-Age Lifestyle or a Necessity for Sustainable Development?
No full textEntrepreneurship has proven to be a dynamic force for societal change in urgent global transformation toward sustainability. While governments and established institutions often move slowly, a new wave of entrepreneurs—guided by passion, purpose, and a holistic worldview—are actively shaping alternative paths to sustainable development. This study investigates how entrepreneurs integrate personal purpose, well-being, and a holistic approach into their businesses and lifestyles. Drawing on observations and interviews with selected entrepreneurs, the research employs thematic analysis to explore their motivations, decision-making processes, and the role of environments in shaping their ventures. The findings highlight a distinctive approach of conscious entrepreneurs: a shift from profit maximisation to values-based operations, educational marketing to foster authentic client engagement, and a regenerative leadership style that prioritises balance, relational intelligence, and co-creation. Unlike digital nomads or traditional influencers, these entrepreneurs represent a grounded, intentional lifestyle rooted in inner development and collective transformations. The results of this study contribute to a growing body of interdisciplinary literature on sustainability and entrepreneurship by offering an expanded understanding of purpose and passion in sustainable/conscious entrepreneurship and proposing an updated business model canvas for such entrepreneurs
From Prospective to Prepared Teacher: Initial Teacher Education Case Studies from Around the World
No full textLENS: Lightweight and Explainable LLM-Based APT Detection at the Edge for 6G Security
No full textExpected to be deployed in the early 2030s, sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks, with their high speed and integration with cutting-edge technology such as intelligent edge computing, expand the attack surface and face serious cyber threat risks such as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). This type of cyber attack can imitate benign network traffic and operate for long periods of time without being detected by traditional detection systems. This paper introduces LENS, a lightweight and explainable LLM-based network security framework designed to address this cybersecurity threat for 6G environments. LENS uses a fine-tuned DistilBERT model to convert raw network streams into natural language commands using contextual metadata and is trained on the CICAPT-IIoT (2024) dataset generated using real-time network traffic data. To evaluate the proposed model, adapted versions of DeepLog and EarlyCrow are compared using F1-score, false positive rate, and explainability metrics for binary APT classification on the CICAPT-IIoT dataset. All models are trained using a high-performance GPU (Nvidia A10) and validated by deploying on a real-world resource-constrained edge node (Raspberry Pi 4). The results confirm that LENS has higher performance in APT detection with 0.82 accuracy and 0.82 recall despite consuming higher energy compared to the other two baselines, and is applicable for edge-enabled 6G environments
Privacy, identity, and fairness: Unpacking ethical influences on metaverse adoption in university learning
No full textAs immersive technologies like the Metaverse continue to reshape higher education, it becomes increasingly vital to examine the ethical dimensions shaping student engagement with these platforms. This study investigates how university students perceive privacy, digital identity, informed consent, and algorithmic fairness in Metaverse-based classrooms, and how these perceptions influence their trust and behavioral intention to adopt the technology. A quantitative survey was conducted with 310 university students, all of whom had prior exposure to virtual learning platforms. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4.0, the study found that Metaverse Ethical Dimensions (MED) significantly influence both Trusting Intention (TRI) (β = 0.740, p \u3c 0.001) and Intention to Use (IU) (β = 0.573, p \u3c 0.001). Additionally, TRI partially mediates the relationship between MED and IU (β = 0.206, p = 0.001). These results highlight the central role of ethical design and user trust in promoting the adoption of Metaverse-based classrooms