Societal Growth Research Articles

Construction of women's empowerment index for Bangladesh

IntroductionThis study is dedicated to refining and enhancing the measurement model of women's empowerment in Bangladesh. Women's empowerment, a crucial and multifaceted aspect of societal growth, is often hindered by gender disparities. This is particularly evident in societies like Bangladesh, where women face inequalities in education, economic opportunities, and decision-making power. To address these disparities effectively, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of women's empowerment. Therefore, this study aims to refine and enhance the measurement model to capture the multifaceted nature of women's empowerment accurately.MethodsTo gather data for this study, a structured questionnaire was administered to married women of reproductive age (15–49) in eight Mouza/Mohalla in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This unique approach allowed us to capture a diverse range of perspectives. We used thirty-three indicators across economic, socio-cultural, household, and psychological dimensions to measure women's empowerment. The sample data were then randomly divided for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to identify and validate a comprehensive multidimensional framework.ResultsOut of 625 respondents, only 36% of women worked, and ~39% married before age 18. Employing thirty-three items in EFA led to identifying eight critical factors (economic independence, control over household financial decisions, household decision-making, reproductive decision-making, freedom of movement, media exposure, positive self-esteem, and negative self-esteem). These factors, which explained 72.661% of the total variance in the data, provide a practical framework for understanding and addressing women's empowerment. Each component was then divided into two sub-dimensions to acquire a better understanding. The CFA indicated a good model fit for each dimension, and convergent and discriminant validity assessments were used to establish reliability and validity, further enhancing the practical implications of our findings.ConclusionsThe results of our rigorous exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses not only confirmed the sample structures and internal consistency but also provided significant insights. The findings suggested an adequate fit for all CFA models, indicating the robustness of our measurement model. According to the CFA results, each dimension's variables are satisfactory, and all the dimensions can be combined to create a single index measuring women's empowerment. This comprehensive understanding of women's empowerment, with its specific dimensions and factors, equips policymakers and practitioners with the knowledge to develop a wide range of interventions appropriate to particular facets of empowerment, thereby fostering societal growth and gender equality.

Effectively Utilizing Infrastructure to Achieve Economic and Societal Growth in Developing Countries

Developing countries can benefit economically and socially from the construction of infrastructure. However, poor policy decisions regarding investment in public goods and services often impede infrastructure’s effectiveness in achieving such benefits. This paper seeks to provide a coherent framework for developing countries to consider when planning and implementing infrastructure projects. Gathering insights and policy suggestions from various relevant studies, it proposes three factors necessary for developing countries to consider. These three factors emphasize individual quality of life and long-term development instead of simple short-term economic growth described by basic economic indicators. They also account for the social and environmental concerns or implications of infrastructure construction, often overlooked in many policy agendas. The first factor is the efficiency of expenditure and accessibility of infrastructure, achieved through the consideration of diminishing returns to scale for capital investment and an emphasis on the delivery, not just the provision, of public services; the second is resilience and sustainability in the context of local environmental attributes and regional independence during the decision-making process; the third is the maximization of indirect benefits, most notably the increases in human capital and productivity caused by infrastructure construction.

Ecological risk and corporate sustainability: Examining ESG performance, risk management, and productivity

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance is an essential indicator of sustainable corporate behaviour that balances short-term gains with long-term societal growth and ecological preservation. We scrutinise the influence of ESG performance on corporate risk-taking and the resulting impacts on firm productivity. Using data from Chinese listed firms from 2009 to 2020, our analysis indicates a significant negative relationship between corporate ESG performance and risk-taking, with a resultant increase in total factor productivity. Regional green innovation and environmental regulatory frameworks significantly augment the effects of ESG performance on risk management. The results extend the understanding of the intricate role of ESG commitments in risk management, and offer constructive insights for corporate decision-making and policy development aimed at confronting the environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Restructuring Religious Education for Development Sustainability in the 21st Century Nigeria

The importance of education to national development and growth especially in Nigeria cannot be overlooked. It plays vital roles in the resources essential for societal growth and it should be noted that these resources include human resources as individuals are responsible for nation building. Education comprises basic knowledge and skills required for sustainable living. These knowledge and skills constitute moral values and codes which are learnt through religious education. Hence, religious education remains vital and relevant particularly in the 21st century Nigeria. In the 21st century, religious education in Nigeria continues to experience problems ranging from the implementation of irrational educational policies by the constituted authorities particularly against educational system, poor funding, mismanagement and misappropriation, political instability, bad governance, just to mention a few. It is not a dispute that these lingering issues have indented the place of religious education and its values in the educational system which has been debased. Nevertheless, acquiring quality education should be measured on global standards, such that the acquired knowledge could match up with the global scale. Therefore, it is crucial to revisit and reconstruct religious education particularly to conform to the 21st century Nigerian society. This is to attain a stable and life - long relevance within the Nigerian educational system. It is a qualitative discourse and it engages primary and secondary sources of data information, it adopts the functional theory which spells out the functions of religious education to the national development particularly in the 21st century as well as the theory of relevance which reflects the relevance of religious education as tool to instill morals and mould individuals into good and patriotic citizens. It includes discussions on the challenges militating against religious education in the 21st century. The relevance of religious education at this era, and recommended suggestable strategies to sustain its relevance further into the future.

From Grievances to Growth

Abstract Past animosities and complex geopolitics make the Israel-Palestine conflict complex and require a multifaceted approach. As modernization theory fails to address such conflicts, we combine post-colonial theory, identity politics, critical geopolitics, with modernization theory to provide a more complete picture. A comprehensive strategy for building a strong and united Palestinian society is presented in this paper, which emphasizes democratic changes, military power rebalancing, international law, and economic independence. Education and technological progress drive societal growth, so strong governance systems are essential for political stability. We demonstrate how these methods work and what are their drawbacks by analyzing real-life examples of how social, economic, and political factors affect conflict. In the study, governments, civil society, and international organizations are a key focus for finding a long-term solution. This extensive research on conflict resolution and growth expands the conversation and offers lessons that can be applied to various conflict situations.

ADAPTING TO CHANGE IN THE MODERN WORLD: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ECONOMIC AND SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES

The capacity to adapt to change is critical for both individual achievement and societal growth in the quickly changing global scene of today. This study investigates how higher education can provide students with the tools they need to successfully handle difficulties related to sustainability and the economy. Utilizing multidisciplinary viewpoints from the fields of education, economics and environmental studies, this research delves into the tactics and methods used by universities to cultivate flexibility and fortitude in their students. This research attempts to uncover critical competencies and pedagogical strategies that support skill development for solving complex economic and sustainability concerns by looking at case studies and best practices from different educational environments. This research also examines the relationship between environmental sustainability and economic growth, highlighting the value of holistic methods in the creation of curricula for higher education. In the end, this study adds to the continuing conversation about the role of higher education in equipping students to prosper in a changing, globally interconnected world where sustainability and adaptation are essential to long-term success and the welfare of society. Additionally, this article emphasizes the significance of acquiring 21st-century skills for success in the contemporary workforce, including as critical thinking, creativity, cooperation, communication, and technological literacy. In order to successfully solve economic and environmental concerns, the research ends with recommendations for enhancing programmes for skill development, funding faculty development, encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration, and interacting with stakeholders.

TAMIL FILM AND SUSTAINABILITY: A NEW TURN FROM ILLUSION TO REALITY - AN ANALYSIS

Gender-based discrimination, climate change catastrophes, and expanding populations are the most concerning factors of the twenty-first century. The entire world requires rapid action to control the current challenge. To meet the world's population's needs and to improve the lives of every living being, there must be a disciplined livelihood to deal with the problems that man creates. The benefits of the seventeen sustainable goals structured by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 bring an admirable global notice to society. Each is distinct in its way and extremely valuable and beneficial to humans and other living beings. Artists of various kinds contribute a lot to achieving these sustainability goals through their artistic creations. Congenially, a participatory outlook on these goals is more prominently seen in many regional film industries in Indian cinema. Among them, the Tamil film industry has recorded these 17 targeted concepts at different times and in variant ways of life. Eliminating poverty, providing quality education, reducing inequality, establishing good health and well-being, and other SDG themes can be appropriately traced in Tamil cinema from its early days. This paper analyses the SDG as depicted in two female-centric Tamil films, 36 Vayadhinile (2015) and Raatchasi (2019). Both films portray refreshing characters battling towards a strong hope for sustainable societal growth and uncover the major SDG goals on the screen for the audience's cognizance. The core possibilities of pursuing Sustainable Development Goals likely with tangible results are identified in the paper with a thorough study of the several SDG plans portrayed in the films.

Tourism Performance and Economic Development in India

There are several reasons to travel, and these reasons combine to form the tourism industry, which is one of the world's major service sectors in terms of sales and earnings in foreign currencies. It becomes clear that tourism is a powerful stimulus for inclusive societal growth, which benefits both general development and the reduction of poverty. Worldwide recognition is accorded to its key position and significance in propelling economic improvement and augmenting employment prospects. India's tourism industry is expanding rapidly, with great potential for generating employment and foreign exchange profits in addition to driving the country's overall economic and social progress. India has many tourist spots that are popular with both domestic and foreign visitors, such as Mysore, Delhi, Goa, and Amritsar. Particularly important for the expansion of India's services sector and a major source of job creation is the tourism sector. The tourist sector in India can significantly boost infrastructure development due to its enormous growth potential. Additionally, it can promote several other economic sectors through interdependent linkages, promoting cross-sectoral synergies and advancing total economic development in industries including construction, handicrafts, horticulture, poultry, transportation, and agriculture.

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics to study mechanisms of Paecilomyces cicadae-fermented Radix astragali in the treatment of hyperuricemia

The prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) is rising annually due to societal growth and changes in lifestyle. Bidirectional solid-state fermentation of substrates has demonstrated encouraging uses in the clinical treatment of HUA. To investigate the powerful therapeutic potential of solid-state fermentation products of Radix astragali and Paecilomyces cicadidae (RPF), multi-omics analysis was applied. Spearman analysis between serum biomarkers and differential expressed genes (DEGs) was used to estimate the potential mechanism of RPF against HUA, which was induced by high purine diet (HPD) and potassium oxonate. This study found that the serum uric acid, triglycerides, glucose, and creatinine level were decreased in HUA rats after RPF treatment. In addition, RPF effectively attenuated renal inflammation and lipid accumulation in the livers. Untargeted metabolomics and transcriptome sequencing technology demonstrated that the pathway regulated by RPF were “caffeine metabolism”, “fatty acid biosynthesis”, and “AMPK signaling”. Moreover, the correlation demonstrated that metabolites (allantoin, pyridoxamine, cytidine, cortodoxone, corticostrone) and DEGs (Phald3, Ccdc80) showed significantly positive correlations under RPF influence. Overall, findings of current study indicated the interactions between serum metabolites and renal genes. In line with these findings, the mechanism of the anti-HUA effect of RPF was revealed. In summary, the current study suggest pharmacological support for treating HUA with RPF.

Intelligent manufacturing: bridging the gap between the Internet of Things and machinery to achieve optimized operations

The access gateway layer in the IoT interior design bridging the gap between several destinations. The capabilities include message routing, message identification, and a service. IoT intelligence can help machinery industries optimize their operations with perspectives on factory processes, energy use, and help efficiency. Automation can bring in improved operations, lower destruction, and greater manufacture. IoT barriers are exactly developed for bridging the gap between field devices and focused revenues and industrial applications, maximizing intelligent system performance and receiving and processing real-time operational control data that the network edge. The creation of powerful, flexible, and adjustable Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) can enable associates with information and tailored solutions to increase productivity while remaining safe. An innovative strategy for data-enabled engineering advances based on the Internet of Manufacturing Things (IoMT) is essential for effectively utilizing physical mechanisms. The proposed method HMI-IoMT has been gap analysis to other business processes turns into a reporting process that can be utilized for improvement. Implementing a gap analysis in production or manufacturing can bring the existing level of manpower allocation closer to an ideal level due to balancing and integrating the resources. Societal growth and connection are both aided in the built environment. Manufacturing operations are made much more productive with the help of automation and advanced machinery. Increasing the output of products and services is possible as a result of this efficiency, which allows for the fulfillment of an expanding population's necessities.

Pembentukan Undang-Undang yang Mengikuti Perkembangan Masyarakat

A law is a statutory regulation whose drafting requires a long time and lengthy procedures, as implemented in Law Number 12 of 2011 concerning Making Regulations. The stages of forming a statutory regulation start from planning, drafting, discussing, ratifying or determining, and ratifying. Legislation, especially laws, must be drafted well because they have an impact on both the state and society. However, if the preparation of statutory regulations takes a long time, then the public's demands for legal clarity cannot be met. Moreover, the rules designed to regulate events on the continent will increasingly lag behind the rapidly changing social developments of society. Therefore, solutions are needed to overcome problems related to regional development. For example, it allows the formation of very long laws and regulations through the government in lieu of laws (perpu) by taking into account the community's need for legal certainty. Additionally, thanking existing organizations for conducting research into issues that are no longer in line with societal growth might be a good way to go. So it can be a good recommendation in the revision of Regulation Number 12 of 2011.

Shifting Paradigms

Shifting Paradigms

The Contributing Factors of High Consumer Loyalty to Jellycat Brand

E-commerce platforms and social media have made brand-consumer connections easier in China. Jellycat has gained social media traffic due to its innovative product design. Jellycat brand products usually attract youthful consumers, who buy them consistently and build brand loyalty. This study examined Jellycat's brand loyalty factors. Consumer behavior, psychology, and marketing theories were used to draw conclusions from Jellycat's purchase data. Factor one: Jellycat's product design, which uses personification and inspiration from everyday objects to make toys, refreshes and gains customers. The essay advises the corporation to closely regulate product quality to attract long-term customers. Second, an emotional bond Jellycat's anthropomorphic toys help consumers who feel stressed and lonely during societal growth form profound emotional bonds. The article advises that the brand formally establish social media discussion groups to strengthen the emotional tie, increase brand-customer interactions, and boost loyalty. Brand recall comes in third. Due to its high traffic and visibility, the brand has a large social media following and is ready to buy. The report suggests Jellycat use social media influencers to boost brand awareness and loyalty.

Ectogenesis: understanding opportunities, implications, concerns, and ways forward

Ectogenesis is the practice of developing organisms in artificial settings, with applications that range from improving the outcomes of preterm babies to treating fertility issues. It was unveiled in 2017 and provides possibilities for both partial and full ectogenesis while sustaining fetal lambs with concepts like the biobag. Utilizing biobag artificial uteri, complete ectogenesis is the confinement of a woman’s pregnancy in an artificial womb from the inception of the embryonic stage to full gestation; while partial ectogenesis is the utilization of a biobag artificial uterus to continue gestation ex-utero. Ectogenesis may have advantages, but there are concerns about how it will affect children’s social and psychological development. It can benefit biological parenthood, newborn care, fetal therapy, maternal-fetal disputes, societal growth, reduce health risks, and alter cultural norms while promoting reproductive equity. Due to possible risks, rigorous research on human subjects is required before ectogenesis may be implemented. The paper seeks to provide a thorough study for society’s conversation and deliberation, examining its potential advantages as well as its technical, ethical, and regulatory elements.

Techno-economic-environmental analysis and fluid selection of transcritical organic Rankine cycle with zeotropic mixtures

Waste heat recovery is regarded as highly efficacious in ameliorating energy and environmental problems brought on by rapid economic and societal growth. The organic Rankine cycle (ORC), specifically transcritical ORC (tORC) garners significant attention for its potential in waste heat power generation. Researchers still seek to further improve performance for tORC, such as using zeotropic mixtures. Aimed at selecting the working fluid pairs that can bring better performance for tORC, this study provides a more comprehensive performance evaluation of tORC systems by developing a novel multi-attribute integrated assessment model that encompasses techno-economic-environmental aspects. To establish this model, the detailed mathematical models of the tORC are established first and used to obtain system performance indicators. Then, a refined analytic hierarchy process to assign weights to various performance indicators to complete the multi-attribute integrated assessment model. With the utilization of the proposed model, a thorough comparative analysis of the tORC system with ten groups of zeotropic mixtures is performed. Thus, the results of the working fluid selection can be obtained. Results show that R245fa/R600 and R600/R600a are more recommended than other working fluid pairs, with R600/R600a being the preferable choice when prioritizing environmental impact. While R245fa/R1234yf has the worst thermodynamic and environmental performance and R245fa/R227ea owns the worst economic performance. In conclusion, the findings show that employing a zeotropic mixture combines the benefits of the pure working fluids that comprise it. Compared to previous studies, this study provides a more comprehensive look at the selection of working fluids for tORC systems. It can offer valuable insights for selecting the appropriate working fluid more effectively for future applications.

Advancing Organizational and Societal Growth: The Role of Social Entrepreneurship within Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Advancing Organizational and Societal Growth: The Role of Social Entrepreneurship within Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Local Wastewater Treatment Plants and Their Role in the Circular Economy

The realization that we are highly dependent on the increasingly limited water resources and the opportunity offered by the circular economy for the reversibility of this important resource become a matter of personal and societal growth. The use of wastewater treatment plants has been proven to bring with it positives for both the environment and water, as well as for human health. The introduction of local waste water treatment plants in small agglomerations is the nowadays step towards a better and ecological environment, and in addition it leads to financial savings achieved by the low subsequent costs.

Urban and rural disparities: evaluating happiness levels in Indonesian women

Grasping the underlying determinants of happiness has significant implications for societal growth and individual well-being. To this end, our investigation delved deep into the factors enhancing happiness among Indonesian women, with a spotlight on the disparities evident in urban versus rural settings. From a robust sample size of 38,144 women, we employed logistic regression analysis (using a significance threshold of 0.05) and took advantage of Stata 17's spmap command to meticulously outline happiness averages across provinces. Our analyses revealed a compelling trend: urban women consistently reported more elevated happiness scores (71.51; 95%CI 71.40-71.62) compared to their rural peers (70.19; 95%CI 70.08-70.29), with a significant p-value of 0.001. Parsing this data further, we recognized that across urban and rural landscapes, the nexus between higher education levels, younger age, and augmented household income remained a strong predictor of happiness elevation. Intriguingly, though, densely populated urban hubs did not always translate to heightened contentment. As a directive, policymakers should amplify efforts towards enriching educational and economic landscapes for women in high-density zones. Moreover, the study suggests a pivotal need to explore the idiosyncratic attributes of distant provinces, aiming to translate those lessons to enrich urban living conditions.

Internet of Things (IoT)-Based Teaching and Learning: Modern Trends and Open Challenges

The effect of technology has caused many institutions to intend to change their approach to teaching and learning, resulting in the current model of teaching and learning being an active collaborative and self-directed one. The connection between education and technology has received attention as part of educational policy and practice. Debatable topics like how to use technology in the classroom have therefore punctuated complaints about declining educational standards, unemployed learners, duplicate curricula, and archaic institutional structure. In the framework of information and communication technologies and societal growth, the Internet of Things (IoT) is asserting its vital position. Institutions may improve learning outcomes with the use of the Internet of Things by offering enhanced learning experiences, increasing operational effectiveness, and collecting real-time, actionable insight into student performance. The current state of the Internet of Educational Things (IoET) is examined from several educational perspectives in this article; a few of them are highlighted, and both of their established and potential educational benefits are discussed. Additionally, it provides in-depth discussions on current issues and problems for the IoET from a variety of approaches. The investigation performs a bibliometric analysis with VOSviewer to focus on peer-reviewed research articles published in well-known publications databases over the past eight (8) years. The findings of this study should also act as a strong incentive for universities and colleges around the world to use IoT-based teaching and learning technology for improved academic achievement.

Yagya as a Medium of Communication: A Short Perspective

Yagya holds great significance in Indian culture as a powerful form of communication deeply rooted in Vedic philosophy. Unlike Western views on communication, the Indian perspective emphasizes introspection, leading to self-awareness, freedom, and truth. Yagya is not just a ritualistic practice but symbolizes the pursuit of inner clarity and comprehension, aiming to connect with one’s inner self and ultimate truth. Both Yagya and communication share the core essence of building connections and fostering understanding. Throughout history, Yagya has been a profound means of communication in India, imparting knowledge, promoting unity, and conveying timeless life lessons for positive transformation. It serves as a conduit to transmit wisdom and guidance to rulers and the public, fostering open dialogue and mutual understanding, even in contemporary times with Yagya-based movements continuing to spread positive values and promote personal and societal growth.