Inadequate Policy Research Articles

Exploring the management mode for breeding new species suitable for deep sea mariculture in China: Best practices, challenges, and prospects

High-value fish species are crucial for deep-sea mariculture success, and China has implemented best management practices for breeding new species in these environments. This study identifies management modes of breeding seedling suitable for deep-sea in China by field interviewing representative provinces selected for their representativeness, suitability, and data availability. It explores local government best practices and examines the challenges and prospects. The results indicate that Shandong, Fujian, Guangdong, and Zhejiang employ a combination of management modes, including state-supported, market-oriented, industry-association-supported, and north-south cooperation modes. Despite advancements in management modes fostering the breeding of new species for deep-sea mariculture, challenges like limited land policies, inadequate land policy, inadequate technical and financial resources, degradation of traditional fish germplasm, and inefficient stock enhancement persist. Future management should prioritize optimizing land policy approval, in-situ germplasm conservation, resource banks, and stock enhancement. Furthermore, relay breeding and technical collaboration between northern and southern provinces are vital to enhancing Chinese seedling breeding advantages.

Prioritizing barriers to augmented reality adoption in online food cart businesses

ABSTRACT The online food service industry is exploring innovative ways to enhance customer engagement, with augmented reality (AR) emerging as a promising tool. However, limited research exists on AR adoption in online food cart businesses. This study identifies, prioritizes, and analyzes barriers to AR adoption using the Analytic Hierarchy Process and Interpretive Structural Modeling on data from 37 respondents. The findings reveal a lack of technological awareness as the most significant barrier, while inadequate government support and policies influence other obstacles. The findings provide insights for researchers and managers, guiding strategies to overcome adoption barriers in the online food cart businesses.

Scoping review of registration of observational studies finds inadequate registration policies, increased registration, and a debate converging towards pro-registration.

We aimed to examine a) the policies of national and international clinical trial registries regarding observational studies; b) the time-trends of observational study registration; c) the published arguments for and against observational study registration. Scoping review of registry practices and published arguments. We searched the websites and databases of all 19 members of the World Health Organization's Registry Network to identify policies relating to observational studies and the number of observational studies registered annually from the beginning of the registries to 2022. Regarding documents with arguments, we searched Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and top medical and epidemiological journals from 2009 to 2023. We classified arguments as "main" based on the number (n≥3) of documents they occurred in. Of 19 registries, 15 allowed observational study registration, of which seven (35%) had an explicit policy regarding what to register and two (11%) about when to register. The annual number of observational study registrations increased over time in all registries, e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov increased from 313 in 1999 to 9,775 in 2022. Fifty documents provided arguments concerning observational study registration: 31 argued for, 18 against, and one was neutral. Since 2012, 19 out of 25 documents argued for. We classified nine arguments as main: five for and four against. The two most prevalent arguments for were the prevention of selective reporting of outcomes (n=16) and publication bias (n=12), and against were that it will hinder exploration of new ideas (n=17) and it will waste resources (n=6). Few registries have policies regarding observational studies; an increasing number of observational studies were registered; there was a lively debate on the merits of registration of observational studies, which, since 2012, seems to converge towards pro-registration.

“Fertility fear” on Chinese social media: The disciplined female reproductive bodies and resistance towards motherhood

ABSTRACT Despite China’s shift to the ‘comprehensive two-child’ policy in 2019, fertility rates continue to decline. This study examines the discourse of ‘fertility fear’ (kongyu 恐育) among young, unmarried Chinese women, particularly on social media platforms like Weibo, RED, and Douban. By analysing trending hashtags such as #Marriage and Fertility Fear, the study explores the anxieties surrounding motherhood. Anchored in the theoretical frameworks of biopolitics and feminist studies on motherhood, it explores historical and current state controls over female reproductive autonomy. The study discusses how patriarchal norms and societal pressures enforce strict reproductive timelines, stigmatizing deviations and maintaining gender inequalities. Online discourses often blame male irresponsibility for reproductive fears while overlooking systemic issues like inadequate family policies and capitalist labour dynamics. Moreover, the antithetical narrative dichotomy between childless women and mothers reflects a broader rejection of traditional motherhood constructs, with the latter criticized for capitulating to patriarchal dictates. By dissecting the ‘fertility fear’ discourse, this study illuminates the interplay between state policies, societal norms, and personal agency in reproductive decisions. It provides insights into the evolving dynamics of gender, motherhood, and female autonomy in post-reform China, emphasizing the need to address both individual and structural aspects of reproductive governance.

Women Participation and Party Politics in the Gambia’s Democratic Process, 1997-2020

For an all-inclusive party politics in a democracy to be achieved, all members of the society, irrespective of sex, religion and class, must be engaged in the spirit of human rights and freedom. This study investigated women participation in party politics in the Gambia with an established all-inclusive and gender-friendly mechanism under the second republic. It explored the extent of conformity with global practices and national policy on gendering in the country. The study extrapolated, through the gender lenses that are descriptive in analysis, on women’s participation in party politics with focus on various challenges besetting the process as a result of males’ dominance and government inadequate national policies to address the quagmires. For this reason, efforts are stepped up by human rights activists and gender scholars on how best to continue to address discrimination issues against women and how their participation level could be increased. Findings concluded that, if an all-inclusive party politics is to become realistic and effective in the Gambia, a public-private partnership and government re-strategy, through policy frameworks that are dynamic and pragmatic and which will be consultative enough in nature would be ideal.

Reforming public sector supply chains in Limpopo: Unveiling governance challenges and strategic imperatives

Supply Chain Management (SCM) plays a vital role in any organization, facilitating trade both globally and locally. An organization with a robust SCM can easily meet demands, ensuring that goods or services are readily available and delivered promptly. However, poor structuring and management of SCM can lead to significant challenges, including service delivery failures. This study aims to analyze supply chain practices in the public sector in Limpopo Province, specifically focusing on public entities. The study seeks to identify weaknesses within the supply chain practices of public entities in Limpopo, highlighting issues such as lack of strategic alignment, inadequate policy implementation, and poor enforcement of SCM rules and regulations. A qualitative research approach was employed, collecting data through interviews with various experts from different public sectors to address the identified flaws in SCM practices. The findings reveal that there is a significant misalignment between supply chain and organizational strategies, which has led to service delivery backlogs, high levels of corruption, and continuous strikes across the province for better services. The study also finds that top-level management, including provincial leaders, do not perceive SCM as vital enough to warrant their attention, resulting in limited support for SCM practitioners. The lack of strategic focus and governance failures in SCM contribute to financial inefficiencies and poor service delivery, underscoring the need for provincial leaders to adopt a more strategic approach to SCM as a tool for improving public service delivery. This study provides insights into the critical role of SCM in the public sector, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies, policy enforcement, and managerial support to mitigate governance and compliance failures. The research underscores the necessity for public entities in Limpopo to realign SCM strategies with organizational goals to enhance service delivery and combat corruption.

Barriers to the Adoption of E-Learning in Higher Education Institutes (HEI)

E-learning has the potential to revolutionize higher education institutes (HEIs), yet its adoption faces significant barriers. This study aims to identify and analyze the interdependent relationships among these barriers within the HEIs. This research classifies e-learning adoption barriers into different levels through an interpretive structural modelling (ISM-MICMAC) to prioritize and explore their contextual relationships. The findings reveal that the financial constraints barriers are the primary barriers, followed by the limited technological infrastructure, inadequate policy and institutional support, and technical support challenges. While the study acknowledges potential limitations, such as overlooked barriers and possible biases in expert opinions, it offers actionable insights for policymakers and managers to address these challenges. By providing strategies for overcoming barriers, this research supports the effective and seamless integration of e-learning systems in HEIs, establishing a strong foundation for future advancements.

Building a Genomics-Informed Nursing Workforce: Recommendations for Oncology Nursing Practice and Beyond.

Genomics is a foundational element of precision health and can be used to identify inherited cancers, cancer related risks, therapeutic decisions, and to address health disparities. However, there are structural barriers across the cancer care continuum, including an underprepared nursing workforce, long wait times for service, and inadequate policy infrastructure that limit equitable access to the benefits of genomic discoveries. These barriers have persisted for decades, yet they are modifiable. Two distinct waves of efforts to integrate genomics into nursing practice are analyzed. Drawing on research and observations during these waves, this discussion paper explores additional approaches to accelerate workforce development and health system transformation. Three recommendations for a third wave of efforts to integrate genomics are explored. (1) Collaborate across the domains of nursing practice, professions, and sectors to reset priorities in response to emerging evidence, (2) Education in leadership, policy and practice for rapid scale-up of workforce and health system transformation, and (3) Create a research framework that generates evidence to guide nursing practice. Preparing nurses to lead and practice at the forefront of innovation requires concerted efforts by nurses in all five domains of practice and can optimize health outcomes. Leveraging nursing as a global profession with new strategies can advance genomics-informed nursing.

The Impact of Water Resource Utilization on Afghanistan's International Relations: Challenges and Opportunities for Transboundary Water Management

Water resources are among the most vital natural elements and play a significant role in international relations, particularly for countries that rely heavily on these resources. This study examines the impact of water resource management on Afghanistan's international relations, particularly with neighboring countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. As a landlocked nation, Afghanistan relies heavily on its water resources, which are crucial to its political, economic, and social stability. Mismanagement and unsustainable use of these shared resources can lead to international tensions, social unrest, and environmental degradation. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the research analyzes the opportunities and challenges associated with water resource management. It emphasizes the need for international cooperation, legal frameworks, and modern technologies. The findings suggest that effective water resource management can foster regional cooperation and improve Afghanistan's socio-economic conditions, while inadequate policies may heighten tensions. The study offers strategic recommendations to address these challenges and promote sustainable development.

Multifaceted approach to reduce duplicate therapy errors in the emergency department

Medication errors continue to pose a significant risk to patient safety, accounting for half of the avoidable harm in healthcare systems around the world. In emergency departments (EDs), factors such...

A phenomenology inquiry into the challenges of empowering women in Malaysia corporate sector

The purpose of the study is to explore the challenges of empowering women in Malaysia’s corporate sector. The study utilized a qualitative method that is guided by phenomenological inquiry to understand the challenges of empowering women in corporate sectors. The finding established five main challenges of empowering women in the corporate sector which consist of: challenges to balance work and family obligations, lack of role models and representation in leadership roles, inadequate policies, enforcement and support for gender equality, limited access to education and training and fear of speaking up and judgment. The study depends mainly on women leaders as a primary source of data. The experiences being shared may be different from each other based on their role and positions. The study will be appropriate for corporate sectors and human resource management to develop policies and procedures that are needed to empower women within organizations and corporate sectors.

The Nexus Between “Village” Banking Model & Women’s Financial Inclusion in Zambia

This study explores the relationship between the ‘Village’ (cooperative microcredit) Banking Model and the financial inclusion of women in Zambia, using the AFRIZAM CO-OPERATIVE as a case study. Multiple regression and correlational analyses were employed as quantitative approaches, while the thematic analysis, elucidated via the saturation strategy, constituted the qualitative approach. The study employed a mixed-method approach, with a sample size of 109 individuals. Findings indicate that co-operative society models significantly promote financial inclusion among women in Zambia. Specifically, savings, access to credit and social capital indicate that holding other factors constant, a 1% increase in each variable significantly increases financial inclusion by 25.5%, 28.1% and 44.3%, respectively. Among the challenges that hinder the financial inclusion of women at Afri-Zam, the study revealed that administrative inefficiencies and inadequate policy support persistently hinder the optimal financial inclusion of women. To mitigate these challenges and augment financial inclusion prospects, the study recommends policy actions that include strengthening savings initiatives among village banking microcredit institutions, enhancing access to credit among women, building and leveraging social capital, addressing administrative inefficiencies by streamlining bureaucratic processes and continuing financial literacy campaigns among women, among others.

Primary Impediments to Investing in Azerbaijan’s Renewable Energy Projects

This article investigates the primary impediments to investing in Azerbaijan's renewable energy sector, highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to sustainable energy sources. Despite Azerbaijan's significant renewable energy potential, particularly in hydroelectric, wind, and solar power, the sector's development is hindered by financial, institutional, regulatory, technical, and informational barriers. The research underscores the limited impact of renewables on the country's energy mix, driven by inadequate policy implementation and fluctuating investment levels. It calls for comprehensive legislative reforms, strategic foreign investments, and the adoption of new technologies to overcome these obstacles. The article also discusses Azerbaijan's efforts to showcase its renewable energy initiatives at COP29, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in achieving the country's ambitious energy goals. By addressing the identified challenges, Azerbaijan could accelerate its transition to a sustainable energy future, contributing significantly to global climate objectives.

Sources and intensity of access to agricultural information technologies by smallholder farmers: evidence from Northwest Ethiopia

Agriculture is a key sector in many African economies, making access to accurate agricultural information vital for boosting productivity. This study investigated the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural information in the East Gojjam zone of Amhara, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey of 403 households was conducted, and data were analyzed using Stata software with the Ordered Probit model. The study found that farmers’ access to agricultural information is significantly influenced by factors such as experience, exposure to electronic and printed media, farm size, access to extension services, input availability, market distance, proximity to development centers, and participation in Farmer Training Centers (FTC). Major constraints to information access included inadequate government policies, insufficient extension services, limited information sources, poor infrastructure, network issues, and a lack of effective knowledge exchange. The study recommends that smallholder farmers increase exposure to various media channels and participate in FTC programs. Additionally, the Ethiopian government should prioritize infrastructure improvements (mobile networks, roads, and electricity), expand extension services, and diversify information sources to improve farmers’ access to relevant agricultural knowledge. Addressing these barriers will help enhance agricultural productivity in the study area.

Agroforestry Systems: A Pathway to Resilient and Productive Landscapes

Agroforestry, the integration of trees, crops, and livestock on the same land, offers a sustainable approach to enhancing agricultural productivity while mitigating environmental challenges. This review highlights the important role agroforestry systems play in promoting resilient and productive landscapes, particularly in the face of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Agroforestry systems, including alley cropping, silvopasture, and home gardens, provide significant ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved soil health, water conservation, and enhanced biodiversity. These systems not only stabilize microclimates and reduce soil erosion but also improve soil fertility and water infiltration, making them vital for climate adaptation. Socio-economically, agroforestry diversifies income sources for smallholder farmers by generating products like timber, fruits, and fodder, while contributing to food security through year-round crop availability and improved nutrition. Despite these benefits, the adoption of agroforestry faces substantial barriers, including socio-cultural resistance, knowledge gaps, inadequate policy support, and limited access to markets and credit. High initial costs, perceived risks, and competition for resources between trees and crops further impede its widespread implementation. Addressing these challenges requires enhancing extension services, policy reforms, financial incentives, and market access to support smallholder farmers. Future directions emphasize integrating agroforestry into national agricultural policies and climate action plans, supported by research on optimizing species selection, pest management, and sustainable resource use. By the synergies between agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and Sustainable Development Goals, agroforestry presents a viable pathway for transforming agricultural systems into more resilient, productive, and sustainable models. Scaling up agroforestry can help restore degraded lands, sequester carbon, and enhance the livelihoods of rural communities, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

Sensory Health and Universal Health Coverage in Canada-An Environmental Scan.

Background/Objectives: The World Federation of the Deafblind Global Report 2023 reports that many countries do not have a comprehensive identification, assessment, and referral system for persons with deafblindness, a combination of hearing and vision loss, across all age groups and geographic regions. The scan seeks to inform researchers, policymakers, and community-based organizations about the status of and gaps in sensory healthcare initiatives in Canada, with the intent to raise awareness to enhance the integration and coordination of eye and ear care services. Methods: We conducted an environmental scan of Canada's healthcare system and current public health policies addressing vision and hearing care in Canada at the federal and provincial levels. The scan was conducted using published literature searches from five scientific databases-Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL-in combination with the gray literature review of federal, provincial, and territorial governments and non-profit organizations' websites from April 2011-October 2022. Out of 1257 articles screened, 86 studies were included that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. In total, 13 reports were included in the gray literature search, with 99 total articles used in the analysis. Results: The thematic findings indicate stigma and discrimination toward individuals with disabilities and marginalized communities (Indigenous people, rural communities, recent immigrants, people of older age, and people with disabilities), including hearing, vision, or dual sensory loss, persist. Barriers to vision and hearing healthcare access include inadequate policies, underinvestment in vision and/or hearing services, limited collaboration and coordinated services between hearing and vision services, discrepancies in insurance coverages, and lack of health system support. Conclusions: This scan demonstrates the persisting barriers to vision and/or hearing services present in Canada, stemming from inadequate policy and limited service coordination. Future work to address gaps, evaluate public education, and develop integrated sensory healthcare initiatives to enhance coordinated eye and ear care services, as recommended in the WHO Report on Hearing and Vision, is imperative.

The role of Islamic education teachers in enhancing higher-order thinking: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Teaching strategies used by teachers have a direct impact on how well their students learn high-order thinking skills. The purpose of this study was to summarise prior research on the application of higher-order thinking skills from the perspective of a teacher in Islamic education. The PRISMA guidelines were used to search for the relevant literature on five different databases (Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Ovid). One thousand one hundred and fifty-eight relevant studies were found in these databases which were screened for duplicates on Endnote software. The result indicated the main challenges that Islamic education teachers encounter while attempting to teach higher-order thinking skills in their classes. Two of these issues are inadequate professional development and the widespread implementation of conventional teacher-centred practices. Though more people are beginning to recognise the value of critical thinking and problem-solving skills development, there is still a lack of consistency and advancement in their application, especially in areas with inadequate institutional support and policy structures.

Redefining Law Enforcement: Policy Innovations for Gender Equality in South African Law Enforcement

This study examines the ongoing issue of gender inequality within South African law enforcement, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms to establish an equitable and supportive environment for female officers. Despite the existing efforts to address these disparities, women in policing continue to face significant challenges, including systemic gender bias, limited opportunities for career advancement, and inadequate support structures. The research explored the perspectives of 18 current and retired women officers, who were identified as key informants due to their experience and understanding of the challenges faced by female officers. Using semi-structured interviews, the study uncovered four major themes which are leadership and attrition, factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in law enforcement, perceived barriers to career progression, and challenges encountered at police academies that affect women’s ability to complete their training. The findings suggest that systemic barriers, lack of mentorship, and inadequate institutional policies remain critical issues that hinder women’s full participation and success in law enforcement careers. The study highlights the need for law enforcement agencies to implement targeted policies that promote gender diversity in recruitment, provide equal access to professional development opportunities, and create a workplace culture that values and supports female officers. By addressing these key areas, law enforcement agencies can foster a more inclusive and effective organizational framework. This research contributes to the broader scholarship on gender inequality in policing by providing valuable insights into the specific challenges women face and recommending policy reforms that can help create a more gender-inclusive law enforcement sector. Keywords: Leadership, Training, Gender, Attrition, Law Enforcement

Practices, Challenges, and Future of Digital Transformation in Smallholder Agriculture: Insights from a Literature Review

Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in global agricultural development. The digital transformation of smallholder agriculture can enhance productivity, increase farmers’ income, ensure food security, and promote sustainable rural development. However, existing studies often fail to analyze the holistic nature of this transformation and lack a systematic review of the relevant literature. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive presentation of the current studies on the digital transformation of smallholder agriculture through logical synthesis and reflective summarization, thereby offering valuable academic insights and practical guidance for the digital transformation of smallholder farming. This study constructs an analytical framework centered on “government–technology–smallholders” using a literature review methodology, systematically examining the main practices, challenges, and future strategies for the digital transformation of smallholder agriculture. Our review reveals that current practices primarily focus on digital agricultural production, rural e-commerce, and agricultural information exchange. We identify key challenges at the government, technical, and smallholder levels, including inadequate digital agriculture policies, limited availability of digital applications, difficulties in adapting uniform technologies to the diverse contexts of smallholders, insufficient resources and endowment among smallholder farmers, significant group disparities, and constraints imposed by social and cultural factors. To enhance the digital transformation of smallholder agriculture, it is essential to improve the supply of policy resources, increase attention to and responsiveness toward smallholder needs, and refine digital governance policies. Additionally, we must develop user-friendly digital applications that cater to the varied digital needs of farmers, reduce access costs, enhance digital literacy, foster an inclusive environment for digital agricultural development, and respect and integrate the social and cultural contexts of smallholder communities. This study deepens the understanding of digital transformation in smallholder agriculture and provides theoretical insights and practical guidance for policymakers, technology developers, and smallholder communities. It contributes to sustainable agricultural development and supports rural revitalization and shared prosperity.

Food Security in the Rural Mapuche Elderly: Analysis and Proposals.

The increase in population longevity often occurs in contexts of inequity and relative poverty, accompanied by economic deterioration. This becomes a social determinant that has a direct impact on food security. This phenomenon particularly affects certain groups and territories, although there is still a lack of disaggregated references. Intersections between factors such as being a rural inhabitant, Indigenous, woman, or elderly person are observed in relation to food security, which forces us to pay greater attention to gaps that have remained invisible for years. The objective of this study is to analyze the main factors that affect the food security of Mapuche men and women over 60 years of age living in the rural area of Temuco, Chile. Qualitative, descriptive, and interpretative research was carried out, observing the process from the interpretative symbolic paradigm and the complexity approach. The data are made up of the discourses of these subjects, whose analysis allowed for the identification of results. These results show that producing their own food enables rural Mapuche elders to achieve food security. The cultural food heritage preserved by Mapuche elders, especially women, acts as a facilitating factor, as do community spaces that reinforce their culture. Among the obstacles to food security are migration to the city for work, pathological aging, and the limited production of culturally healthy foods (affected by environmental problems, cultural changes, the destabilization of group identity, and public policies that are incongruent with the territorial worldview). While rural Mapuche elders retain valuable practices for their food security, inadequate policies, migration and environmental degradation present significant challenges.