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Economic growth and foreign direct investment in Africa: the mediating role of state fragility and natural resources
Get PDFUsing data from 43 African countries from 2000-2018, the study employed the Dynamic System GMM approach to examine the moderating effect of state fragility and natural resources on the FDI–economic growth nexus. The study found that FDI does not affect Africa's economic growth directly or indirectly after interacting with FDI with state fragility and natural resources. The insignificant impact of FDI on economic growth in Africa may be because for FDI to promote economic growth, some necessary factors, such as institutional development and the state of the economy, must be developed to a certain level high enough for the effect to be experienced. Given that African countries are fragile with low levels of institutional development, the FDI-Growth nexus is insignificant. The study recommends that African countries establish stable economies and develop their institutions to benefit from FDI inflows
Leaving no one behind: addressing the sexuality of people with disabilities
Get PDFAddressing the sexuality of individuals with disabilities is important within the framework of global health and societal inclusivity. Despite comprising 16% of the world’s population, this demographic faces sexual autonomy inequality. Acknowledging this intersection is pertinent for achieving inclusive healthcare and upholding the commitments of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Dispelling stereotypes and promoting dialogue are key to empowering individuals with disabilities and ensuring equitable access to sexual health resources. Integrating sexual health and rights into broader healthcare systems is vital for creating an inclusive society where no one is left behind. This article advocates for the need to address the specific sexual health needs and rights of individuals with disabilities, to implement inclusive policies, and to foster a healthcare environment that respects and supports their autonomy and dignity
Musical Ensembles and Inclusivity
Get PDFStudents’ paths towards studying music in Higher Education are very different than they were even a decade ago. With fewer students able to study music for A-Levels, GCSEs, or BTECs, applicants are increasingly self-taught or educated informally. This has challenged the Music course team to adapt our curriculum and delivery to become inclusive of a wider population of potential students and, consequentially, more sustainable.
My primary efforts in this area have centred around how staff and students make music together. Building on YSJ Music’s history of ensemble practice, our current curriculum is interlinked with research on democratising the learning experience within musical ensembles. Key to this is giving the students a large role in choosing the ensembles they want to run and participate in – thus learning ‘musical independence […] by making musical decisions that matter’ (Shieh and Allsup, 2016: 33). This autonomy has not only increased students’ perceived ownership over their learning but also recognises and builds on their musical and cultural backgrounds. As a by-product, this has diversified the range of musics that are encountered throughout the degree. Basing the ensembles modules—the backbone of our course—on student autonomy impacts staff as much as it empowers students. Playing in students’ ensembles challenges staff to learn musics and repertoires they are not familiar with whilst modelling the transferable skills and experiential learning that will carry graduates through their careers. Thus, increasing students’ autonomy through ensemble musicking may help create a learning environment inclusive of their musical and cultural backgrounds.
This creative response demonstrates collaborative devising and rehearsing of music with students with accompanying contextual posters
Navigating Grey Zones: A Study of Informal Business Networks in Emerging Economies
Get PDFThis study investigates how businesses in emerging economies strategically use informal networks to navigate regulatory and market challenges. Through a comprehensive literature review and case studies from Uganda, Nigeria, and India, the research highlights the dual role of informal networks in both economic and social dimensions. These networks are essential for overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, accessing resources, and managing risks where formal institutions are often inadequate. The study introduces a dual-framework theory emphasizing the cost-saving and relational benefits of these networks. It also explores the behavioural factors—such as trust, relational capital, and social norms—that sustain these networks' effectiveness. Sectoral differences in the reliance on informal networks are analyzed, with a focus on agriculture, manufacturing, construction, retail, and services. The paper concludes by discussing policy implications and suggests ways to integrate informal practices into the formal economy while retaining their adaptive benefits. Future research directions are also proposed to better align informal networks with formal structures for sustainable growth in emerging markets
Sex Workers and the Mpox Response in Africa
Get PDFThe ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa, now classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, presents a severe challenge, particularly for vulnerable populations like sex workers. Despite the endemic presence of mpox in Africa since the 1970s, recent developments, including the emergence of a new clade Ib strain with increased transmissibility, have exacerbated the situation. Sex workers are at heightened risk due to their occupational exposure, compounded by stigma, criminalization, and limited access to healthcare. These factors significantly impede efforts to control the spread of the virus, leading to underreporting and inadequate intervention. This article highlights the urgent need for an inclusive public health response that prioritizes the health and safety of sex workers. Such a response should involve tailored health services, legal protections, and community engagement to ensure that this marginalized group is not overlooked. The decriminalization of sex work is also proposed as a critical public health measure to improve access to care and reduce stigma, ultimately curbing the spread of mpox in Africa
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Healthcare for People with Disabilities
No full textThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare delivery represents a transformative opportunity to enhance the lives of people living with disabilities. AI-driven technologies, such as assistive devices, conversational agents, and rehabilitation tools, can mitigate health disparities, improve diagnostic accuracy, and facilitate effective communication with healthcare providers, fostering more equitable healthcare environments. This commentary explores these applications while addressing the ethical challenges and limitations associated with AI deployment. Specific challenges, such as algorithmic bias, privacy risks with patient data, and the complexity of designing inclusive technologies, are discussed to provide a balanced perspective. For example, biased diagnostic tools may lead to inequitable care, and privacy breaches can compromise sensitive data. Key areas of focus include personalised care through AI-powered systems, the design of inclusive AI technologies incorporating continuous feedback loops and partnerships with advocacy groups, and the development of AI-enabled robotics for physical assistance. This commentary paper emphasises the importance of addressing these limitations alongside advancing ethical AI practices and ensuring continuous user involvement to meet the diverse needs of people living with disabilities, ultimately promoting greater independence and participation in society. Ultimately, while AI holds transformative potential in advancing equitable and inclusive healthcare for people with disabilities, addressing ethical challenges, overcoming limitations, and fostering user-centred design are essential to fully realise its benefits and ensure these innovations promote autonomy, accessibility, and well-being
Pixelator v2: A Novel Perceptual Image Comparison Method with LAB Colour Space and Sobel Edge Detection for Enhanced Security Analysis
Get PDFIn this paper, we introduce Pixelator v2, a novel perceptual image comparison method designed to enhance security and analysis through improved image difference detection. Unlike traditional metrics such as MSE, Q, and SSIM, which often fail to capture subtle but critical changes in images, Pixelator v2 integrates the LAB (CIE-LAB) colour space for perceptual relevance and Sobel edge detection for structural integrity. By combining these techniques, Pixelator v2 offers a more robust and nuanced approach to identifying variations in images, even in cases of minor modifications. The LAB colour space ensures that the method aligns with human visual perception, making it particularly effective at detecting differences that are less visible in RGB space. Sobel edge detection, on the other hand, emphasises structural changes, allowing Pixelator v2 to focus on the most significant areas of an image. This combination makes Pixelator v2 ideal for applications in security, where image comparison plays a vital role in tasks like tamper detection, authentication, and analysis. We evaluate Pixelator v2 against other popular methods, demonstrating its superior performance in detecting both perceptual and structural differences. Our results indicate that Pixelator v2 not only provides more accurate image comparisons but also enhances security by making it more difficult for subtle alterations to go unnoticed. This paper contributes to the growing field of image-based security systems by offering a perceptually-driven, computationally efficient method for image comparison that can be readily applied in information system security
Brain Re-Engineering Concept & Reimagination: Strategy for Promoting Ethics, Values & Inclusivity in Food Chain Security
Get PDFIt is projected that the demand for food will surge by 70%, which aligns with rapid population growth. Research findings from a UN study indicates that about 9.9% of global population still goes hungry, so the thought of feeding almost 10 billion persons is still anticipated as daunting. With environmental changes hard to predict, we must turn to innovation in agriculture technology. Their importance in tackling this issue cannot be over emphasized. Hence, the concept of brain re-engineering and reimagination which underscores it as a prospective strategy for enhancing nations through women empowerment, youth engagement, among other areas on food chain security initiatives when practiced ethically, valuably and inclusively, in order to unlock transformation in an economy. It emphasizes on harnessing the potential of the women and youths by redirecting their energy and innovative capabilities towards modernized food chain practices which much have some touch of inclusivity, ethics and value. Through this, it aims o foster a generation of leaders in food chains to drive the needed transformation as it were
Going Green in ASEAN: Assessing the Role of Eco‐Innovation, Green Energy, Industrialization, and Environmental Taxes in Achieving Carbon Neutrality
No full textCarbon emissions are a primary driver of environmental degradation and pose noteworthy risks to global efforts in combating climate change, particularly in ASEAN economies. While CO2 emissions are central to understanding environmental impacts, they represent just one aspect of the broader sustainability framework. This study examines the roles of eco‐innovation, green energy, globalization, economic growth, industrialization, and environmental taxes in reducing CO2 emissions within ASEAN economies from 1990 to 2022. Utilizing a cross‐sectional ARDL model, we explore the correlations among these factors, with special attention to the environmental dimension of sustainable development. Our findings highlight the negative relationships between eco‐innovation, green energy, industrialization, environmental taxation, and CO2 emissions, which contribute significantly to environmental sustainability both immediately and later on. Additionally, the study reveals reciprocal causal links between these elements and the emissions of CO2, offering critical policy insights for advancing environmental goals within the structure of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially those about climate action (SDG 13), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and sustainable industrialization (SDG 9). These insights provide a pathway for policy interventions that target CO2 mitigation while recognizing the diverse aspects of sustainable development