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SUCCESSFUL SELF-EMPLOYMENT RE-EMPLOYMENT AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS IN TAIWAN: AN ADULT LEARNING PERSPECTIVE
Get PDFGlobal aging presents a significant challenge, leading to the rise of the concept of "encore career," where continue working after retirement benefits individuals, families, and society. This study aims to explore the re-employment process of middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan through self-employment. Using qualitative research methods, 33 successfully self-re-employed individuals were interviewed, with an average age of 57.3 and an average self-employment duration of 5.6 years. Findings include: (1) External factors for re-employment include meeting economic needs and ensuring financial security, while intrinsic motivation centers on self-fulfillment; (2) Learning motivation stems from acquiring knowledge and experience in new work; (3) Participants overcame employment challenges through self-empowerment, consulting experts, persistent efforts, and leveraging past experiences and resources; (4) Benefits of re-employment include a sense of achievement, expanded social networks, and enhanced quality of life. These findings provide insight for policymakers and middle-aged or elderly individuals considering self-employment.
 
WELL-BEING AT WORK: PERCEPTION OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGERS- AN EXPLORATORY CONTEXTUALIZATION STUDY
Get PDFIn a context where labor market competitiveness is intense and the quest for productivity is relentless, well-being at work emerges as a crucial pillar and strategic challenge for Human Resources Managers concerning employee performance and retention. HR professionals are increasingly viewed as strategic partners in driving organizational success. This study contributes to the field by deepening the research on HRMs' perceptions of workplace well-being from an employer's perspective. By focusing specifically on how HR professionals perceive and address well-being at work, this research offers valuable insights into their strategic role and the challenges they face. This perspective is crucial for understanding the employer's viewpoint on well-being and for developing targeted strategies that align with organizational goals in Morocco. This study explores the concept of well-being at work from the perspective of HRMs in Morocco through a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with HR professionals across various sectors. The theoretical foundation is rooted in Karasek and Theorell's Demand-Control-Support model, Ryff's Psychological Well-Being model, and Seligman's PERMA model. We have chosen an integrative research model that combines these theoretical perspectives to offer a more comprehensive understanding of complex phenomena. The study contributes theoretically by applying these models to the Moroccan context, revealing unique challenges and perceptions that enrich the global discourse on workplace well-being. The study emphasizes that focusing on well-being is crucial for enhancing organizational performance, strengthening employer branding, and reducing turnover. Adopting a strategic approach to well-being can significantly improve organizational outcomes and foster a more engaged workforce. By integrating theoretical models with empirical data, this study provides a robust framework for understanding and enhancing well-being at work, thereby contributing to both academic literature and practical management strategies within the Moroccan context
EFFECT OF PARTICLE SHAPE AND SIZE ON THE GRIPPING PERFORMANCE OF A GRANULAR JAMMING GRIPPER: A DEM-BASED STUDY
Get PDFGranular jamming grippers are soft robotic systems capable of conforming to and securely grasping a wide variety of objects by leveraging the solidification of granular media under vacuum (Brown et al., 2010). The performance of such grippers is closely linked to the physical characteristics of the grains inside the membrane. This study investigates how the shape and size of granular particles affect the gripping behavior using numerical simulations based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) (Delaney et al., 2012). A series of simulations were conducted to analyze different particle geometries (spherical vs. non-spherical) and size distributions (monodisperse vs. polydisperse). The effectiveness of each configuration was evaluated based on the number and distribution of contact points established between the granular media and the grasped object during the jamming process. Preliminary results indicate that non-spherical and polydisperse particles tend to increase contact density and improve surface conformity (Delaney & Cleary, 2010; Santarossa et al., 2023), potentially enhancing grip stability. These insights contribute to the understanding of how granular morphology influences jamming-based gripping, providing useful guidelines for the design and selection of particle types in soft robotic applications
CD154 ELEVATING CELLULAR IMMUNITY BY UP-REGULATING THE PERCENTAGES OF ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC POSITIVE INTERFERON-GAMMA EXPRESSING CELLS
Get PDFCD154 plays a central role in the development and regulation of adaptive immune responses in mammals and thus may act as a potential molecular adjuvant due to its enhancement of cytokine expression in immune cells. In this study, CD154-coding sequence was linked with the E2 antigen sequence of the Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) to produce an E2-CD154 vaccine and the specific pathogen free piglets at the age of 4-week old was used as an animal model. The CpG adjuvant, a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, was used as a positive control. The animals were randomized into three groups and primarily vaccinated with E2-CD154, E2-CpG or the commercial Bayovac® E2 vaccines, respectively. All animals were boosted 2 weeks after primary vaccination. Results showed that the percentages of CD3+CD4+, CD4+IL2+ and CD4+IFNγ+ T cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells on 7-d (7 days) after primary vaccination were significantly enhanced in the E2-CD154 group as compared with the other two groups. Noteworthy, CD8+IL-2+ populations were increased on 21-d and CD4+IL2+ showed the highest expression on 28-d after booster in those of the E2-CD154 group. In addition, significantly increased E2-specific IFNγ+ cells were found on 10-d and 14-d after the primary vaccination and 21-d and 28-d after booster in those of the E2-CD154 group. These results indicate that CD154 elevated T cells activities for producing high levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ. Thus, CD154 may act as a potential immunomodulatory adjuvant by increasing antigen-specific positive IFNγ-expressing cells
TREATING CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA AND COMPLEX TRAUMA THROUGH JUNGIAN DREAMWORK: A PRISON-BASED CASE STUDY
Get PDFThis case study documents the integrative treatment of a woman with chronic schizophrenia, complex PTSD, and comorbid anxiety and depression, incarcerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her primary symptoms included persistent hallucinations, trauma-driven nightmares, and emotional dysregulation. Traumatic themes of incest, supernatural forces, and violent dream figures dominated her inner world, exacerbated by institutional isolation, grief over a deceased brother, and unresolved family betrayal. Treatment combined Jungian dreamwork, guided hypnagogic induction, symbolic reframing, and trauma-focused narrative therapy. Hallucinatory content was interpreted as disowned psychic fragments; she was taught lucid dreaming, meditative coping skills, and dream preparation rituals. Through these techniques, she gained increasing agency in her dream life and began re-integrating dissociated parts of the self. Art assignments and metaphor-based dialogues enabled her to visualize and confront the “poltergeist” figure (a symbolic condensation of unresolved trauma and fear). Parallel work focused on dismantling distorted family loyalty and confronting historical abuse. She ultimately rejected financial dependency on her abuser, reasserted personal boundaries, and re-engaged with psychiatric care after initial resistance to medication. Her hallucinations diminished, and she reframed residual trauma as material for growth rather than doom. This case illustrates the power of symbolic and integrative interventions in treating schizophrenia complicated by developmental trauma. It further highlights the therapeutic challenges and innovations necessitated by pandemic-era incarceration
FROM CALLIGRAPHY TO CONCEPTUAL: THE TRANSFORMATION OF ISLAMIC IDEAS IN MODERN MALAYSIAN ART PRACTICE IN THE 1970S
Get PDFThis paper examines the transformation of Islamic ideas in modern art practice in Malaysia, focusing on the 1970s, a period marked by a shift from calligraphic visualization to conceptual expression. The development of modern Malaysian art is unique, emerging from the ideological convergence influenced by Islam as a way of life (ad-din) and the injection of Western modern values during the British colonial era. This context has given rise to dilemmas and questions regarding the identity of Islamic and modern art in Malaysia. This review identifies two main approaches to integrating Islamic elements into local modern art. Firstly, an approach where Western forms absorb Islamic elements, commonly adopted by artists formally trained in Western fine arts, who imbue their works with Islamic images, motifs, or techniques such as Jawi script. Syed Ahmad Jamal and Husin Hourmain exemplify this by leveraging the plasticity of Jawi script for modern expression. Secondly, a less common approach, where Islamic visual forms absorb Western elements, as seen in the work of Haji Omar Basaree, a trained calligrapher who applies modern styles in traditional khat art. The 1970s witnessed a growing awareness among Malay artists to revisit their cultural and traditional roots. This spurred a deeper exploration of Islamic ideas, moving beyond the decorative use of Jawi script to a profound engagement with Islamic metaphysics and cosmology. Artists such as Ponirin Amin and Zakaria Awang demonstrated a propensity for conceptual works that convey contemplation and personal monologues with Islam. This transformation signifies an evolution in the understanding and representation of Islam within Malaysian modern visual art, progressing from superficial visual elements to more sophisticated and profound interpretations, reflecting an ideological shift from modern to contemporary
EXPLORING CAREER ANCHORS OF TAIWANESE DIGITAL NOMADS: PERSPECTIVE OF GEN Z AND MILLENNIALS
Get PDFWith the advancement of technology and the widespread adoption of remote work, career paths and work styles have become increasingly diverse. Particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, more individuals are engaging in location-independent work, blurring the boundaries between work, life, and place. While existing literature in Western contexts has extensively examined the motivations, identities, and challenges of digital nomads, research from non-Western societies remains scarce. To address this gap, this study investigates the career anchors of Taiwanese Gen Z and Millennial digital nomads through a literature review and a questionnaire survey based on Edgar H. Schein’s career anchors (Schein, n.d.). Preliminary findings indicate that “autonomy” and “lifestyle” emerge as dominant career anchors among the respondents. This suggests a shift away from traditional work values toward self-directed, mobility-driven career paths. The study aims to contribute a non-eastern perspective to the global understanding of lifestyle-based career models. Future research will include qualitative interviews and may provide actionable insights for employers, policymakers, and support organizations to better address the evolving needs and well-being of this emerging workforce.
 
CLIMATE JUSTICE, SYMBOLIC REPAIR, ETHICAL INTERVENTION THROUGH NARRATIVE AND COMMUNAL HEALING: Received: 25th September 2025, Revised: 27th October 2025, 30th October 2025, Accepted: 10st November 2025, Date of Publication: 11th November 2025
No full textThis paper explores how gendered rituals and testimonial practices function as idioms of survival in climate-stressed regions of Kenya—specifically Turkana, Samburu, and Kwale. These regions were selected for their distinct ecological vulnerabilities, ritual traditions, and gendered survival grammars: Turkana’s drought mourning rites, Samburu’s age-set cosmologies, and Kwale’s matrilineal forest rituals offer plural idioms of symbolic repair. Framed by the theme “Climate justice, symbolic repair, and ethical intervention through narrative and communal healing,” the study introduces the concept of idioms of survival to theorize ritual and testimony as embodied archives of climate memory and moral economies of care. Drawing on a braided methodology—participatory narrative ethnography, ritual mapping, and idiomatic prompt design—the paper examines how mourning, fertility, initiation, and ecological testimony encode ethical responses to climate disruption.
The study pursues three core objectives:
To document and analyze gendered rituals as symbolic technologies of survival
To expand testimonial justice into ecological and gendered domains
To propose culturally attuned frameworks for climate ethics and adaptation
Through case studies and dialogic analysis, the findings reveal how rituals and testimonies offer alternative logics of resilience—ones that challenge technocratic policy and foreground plural cosmologies. The paper contributes to African feminist thought, ritual studies, and climate ethics, while offering practitioner models for ritual-informed programming and policy design. Ultimately, it calls for a reimagining of climate justice—one that listens to the idioms that sustain life
BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING: EMPOWERING FEMALE LEADERSHIP IN CENTRAL ASIA'S MINING SECTOR: Received: 28th November 2024, Revised: 10th February 2025, 3rd March 2025, Accepted: 30th May 2025, Date of Publication: 12th November 2025
No full textIn the context of corporate law in Central Asia's mineral resources mining sector, there is an increasing debate on the inclusion of female leaders. This article will investigate this topic, focusing on how women are navigating leadership roles in a traditionally male-dominated business. The study offers light on the opportunities and challenges that female leaders confront in mining. It focuses on the challenges they face, including gender biases and a lack of supportive laws, while also highlighting their contributions to innovation and good business practices. By making strategic recommendations, the article hopes to foster a more inclusive atmosphere for female leadership in the Central Asian mining industry. Hence, the mining sector can unlock a wealth of talent and expertise, and foster sustainable development by empowering female leadership in the region
CULTURAL HERITAGE AT RISK IN SICILY: MILITARY INTERFERENCE AT THE CASTLE OF BRUCOLI (SYRACUSE, 1941-42)
Get PDFWithin the vast European context, Italy was strongly affected by World War 2 from June 1940. Particularly, Sicily, a Mediterranean island rich heritage remains, became a major target for enemy aircraft bombing due to its proximity to the African frontline, especially right before the Allied landing (July 1943). In such an emergency context, Italian authorities actualized a series of measures to protect monuments (e.g. installing protective scaffoldings and sandbags). However, protecting cultural heritage often clashed with the military necessity of defending Sicily from any potential enemy attack. What do we know about peculiar quarrels between military and safeguarding national authorities in case a monument was supposed to be safeguarded? Benefitting from a series of archival records which are still fully neglected by scholars, the main aim of my paper is to evaluate a vital case study on the protection of the medieval Castle of Brucoli, a small coastal historical centre, 35 km north from Syracuse. Between 1941 and 1942, a battalion of the Italian army stationed in Sicily began to utilize the castle for military purposes to store straw and firewood. The Superintendent of Monuments in Catania protested vehemently for such a decision asking the intervention of Giuseppe Bottai, Fascist Minister of Education. My paper is strictly connected to a major research project carried out at Ghent University (2020-22) whose results are now forthcoming as a monograph. First, I outline the history of heritage protection in Sicily in the early 1940s contextualizing the event of the Castle of Brucoli in the wider European framework. Then, I assess the episode highlighting the historical relevance of data through records. My analysis will lead towards vital outcomes including a remarkable reconstruction of social, military and civilian networks involved in the protection/use of monuments in war context complementing results of the above-mentioned project profitably