bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Genotypes for Yield and Quality in Mid-hills of Bagmati Province, Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Surendra Lal
Published: January 2024

The study was carried out to evaluate and select high yielding, insect pest and disease resistant hot pepper genotypes with preferred characters at open field conditions for central mid-hills of Nepal in 2018 and 2019. Seedlings of six hot pepper genotypes AVPP9905, AVPP9813, AVPP0506, Suryamukhi, Pusa Jwala and Kantipure were transplanted on April first week at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. Crop geometry was maintained with the 60 x 60 cm in randomized complete block design with three replications and fertilized with 150:120:100 NPK kg + 20 ton FYM per hectare. Observations were recorded on vegetative growth, insect pest and disease, yield attributing parameter and response of consumers and farmers. Among the tested genotypes, AVPP9905 showed superior performance that was vigoros, earliest days to flowering (41) and fruit set (47 days), least insect damage (2.0), least disease; alternaria leaf spot (1.8 ), higher number of fruits per node (1.25), superior yield (26.19 t/ha) and 960 g per plant. Consumers and farmers preference were 4.4 and 4.5.and the maximum fruit size was 18.7 g. The second superior cultivar was AVPP0506 which showed vigor (4.0), medium days to flowering (44.3) and fruit set (49 days), less insect damage (2.2), less disease; alternaria leaf spot (2.1), higher number of fruits per node (1.3), superior yield (14.28 t/ha) and 548 g per plant, consumers (3.8) and farmers preferred (4.8). Hence it could be generalized that introduced genotypes from the world Vegetable Centre, Taiwan were more promising than local check cultivars (Pusa Jwala and Kantipure) in terms of growth, fruit yield and insect pest and disease resistance, and farmers and consumers preference. These two genotypes are recommended for cultivation in central mid-hills of Bagmati Province in open field conditions.
Online shopping attitude and purchase intention of Nepalese consumers: Moderated mediation of social media
Authors: Shrestha Sajeeb Kumar
Published: January 2024

People's perception of online shopping grows day by day and becomes an essential part of the urban lifestyle. This study attempts to measure Nepalese consumers' online shopping attitudes and purchasing intention to this phase witnessing the social media moderation. The analysis uses a quantitative research-based descriptive and causal research design. To gather responses from sample respondents, structured questionnaires were used, and surveys were carried out. Two hundred cross-section data was gathered. For checking the psychometric and econometric components of the suggested causal model, partial least square structural equation modeling was used. Trust is important factor for purchase intention in online platform. The same case, product variety and country of origin did not support for purchase intention in online mode. Attitude successfully mediates product variety, country of origin and trust to online purchase intention. Moderated mediation is not possible for social media with attitude to online purchase intention. This research has led to the development of online marketing strategies for online shoppers in the virtual community.
Strategic human resource development: A study of training and development in Nepalese commercial banks
Authors: Niraula Ganesh Pd. , Kharel ShreeKrishna , Shrestha Rohit Kr.
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study is to determine how strategic human resource development has been taken in the context of training and development by the employees of Nepalese commercial banks. Strategic human resource development has greater focus on training and development which can enable the management of banks to make appropriate policies and programs to strengthen the banks' profitability and efficiency. The qualitative case study research design is used in this study. Three research questions were set to seek the answers from the participants/ informants of commercial banks which were related to strategic human resource development (SHRD) and its relationship with training and development, SHRD and their issues in Nepalese commercial banks and new roles and structure that improve SHRD for training and development. Some human resource officials were taken as informants/participants from different commercial banks to furnish the answers. Data were gathered in verbatim form, transcribed, coded, and generated theme using qualitative data software Atlas-ti. This study concludes that SHRD can be a challenge for Nepalese commercial banks because of inadequate investment and a lack of alignment in T&D, by evaluating needs, determining essential skills, and implementing the appropriate programs that SHRD synchronizes T&D with business objectives, it may be useful to implement new structures and roles to enhance SHRD in Nepalese commercial banks.
Drivers of changing cropping patterns in Nepal: A review
Authors: Oli Lal Bahadur
Published: January 2024

This paper reviews various aspects of drivers of changing cropping patterns in Nepal based on secondary data sources. Data were acquired from Google Scholar and Research Gate database 32 relevant professional journal articles in between 2000-2022 were intensively reviewed. The drivers of changing cropping patterns are complex and interrelated in the farming system. Spatial analysis of cropping patterns of different geographical scales shows that cropping pattern is an integral part of a behavioral focus to reflect the space relation of the community people. The drivers of changing cropping patterns are numerous and intricately linked. It is challenging to gauge the relative significance of the effects ascribed to each scale of the driver or the interactions between them at any particular geographic region. The study revealed that there are several types of drivers for changing cropping patterns. Among these various types of drivers, the theme of technological advancement/inputs, climate change, infrastructural development, road connectivity, and market demand play prominent roles in changing cropping patterns however other drivers such as off-farm employment, agriculture service extension/training, government policies, population growth/change/migration (rural to urban; international.), are also remarkable in this studies. In the Nepalese context, this study indicates that the more prominent role playing drivers of changing cropping patterns are technological advancement /inputs, infrastructural development and road connectivity, and market demand and climate change however land degradation and government policies also play a role to shifting cropping patterns. These all drivers interact and link with each other, leading to changing cropping patterns in Nepal.
Climate change and adaptive strategies for agriculture in Panchkhal Municipality
Authors: Shrestha Suman Kumar
Published: January 2024

Climate change is a modern global crisis caused by human activities that emit greenhouse gases and alter the Earth's natural systems. It is now an undeniable global burning issue, affecting the complex relationship between the physical landscape, natural resources, and how communities adapt to the effects of climate change. Climate change brings many uncertainties to the livelihoods of farming communities that depend on weather and climate. The purpose of this paper is to examine the climate change and adaptive strategies of the farmers in Panchkhal Municipality using an explanatory mixed-methods research design. Primary data were collected from field observation, questionnaires, and interviews. Secondary data were collected from the Center Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM). The finding shows the many impacts of climate change, such as hot waves, floods, landslides, droughts, increased diseases in agriculture production, and drying up water resources. Similarly, it shows that traditional adaptive strategies have been changing due to a decline in food crop production over the last two decades. Thus, strong policy efforts need to be prepared to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on traditional farming methods.
Unlocking economic opportunities: Analyzing relationship between educational attainment, skilled training and monthly income of labor migrants
Authors: Mahato Santosh K. , Paudel Devi Prasad
Published: January 2024

This research examines the relationship between skill training, educational attainment, and monthly income among labor migrants, with a focus on recognizing the importance of education and skill in enhancing employability and income potential for unlocking their economic opportunities. Using a quantitative research approach, data is collected through surveys conducted among 385 labor migrants. The findings pointed out the correlation between the level of education and the monthly income of labor migrants as the calculated Chi-square value (χ²) of 0.046 was lower than the predetermined significance level p of 0.05. Also, there is correlation between skilled training and monthly income as a Chi-square value (χ²) of 0.000, which was lower than the predetermined significance level (p) of 0.05. The study reveals that labor migrants with more advanced education and specialized training typically earn greater monthly incomes in comparison to those without such training or with lower educational qualifications.
Inequalities in Health between First Nations Adults Living Off-Reserve and Non-Indigenous Adults in Canada: A Decomposition Analysis
Authors: Hu Min , Hajizadeh Mohammad , Bombay Amy
Published: January 2024

Le présent article, qui s’appuie sur le sous-échantillon d’adultes des Premières Nations de l’Enquête auprès des peuples autochtones (EAPA) de 2017 et d’adultes non autochtones de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes de 2017 (N = 35 390), examine les inégalités en matière d’état général de santé et de santé mentale autodéclarés, d’asthme diagnostiqué et de diabète diagnostiqué entre les adultes non autochtones et les adultes des Premières Nations vivant hors réserve au Canada. L’approche Blinder-Oaxaca a été utilisée pour décomposer les inégalités de chaque résultat sur la santé en différences de caractéristiques et en différences de rendement. L’étude révèle que les résultats sur la santé des adultes des Premières Nations sont 5 à 10% inférieurs à ceux des populations non autochtones; les personnes adultes des Premières Nations non inscrites se déclarant en moins bonne santé que les personnes adultes des Premières Nations inscrites, à l’exception du diabète. L’étude révèle également que les caractéristiques observables représentent 20 à 45% des inégalités en matière d’état de santé général, de santé mentale et de diabète. Les facteurs socio-économiques, tels que la situation de l’emploi, le revenu et le niveau d’études, représentent 10 à 25% des différences en matière d’auto-évaluation de l’état de santé général, de santé mentale et de diabète diagnostiqué chez les membres des Premières Nations, qu’ils soient ou non inscrits, par rapport à la population non autochtone. Bien que cette contribution n’ait pas été en mesure d’évaluer d’autres voies critiques par lesquelles divers aspects du colonialisme continuent de nuire aux peuples des Premières Nations, les résultats laissent à penser que l’amélioration du statut socio-économique des peuples des Premières Nations vivant hors réserve pourrait potentiellement réduire les inégalités en matière de santé entre ces personnes et la population non autochtone au Canada.
The High Costs of Caring: Measuring the Prevalence and Consequences of Birth-Related Career Interruptions for Immigrant Care Workers in Canada
Authors: Lightman Naomi
Published: January 2024

Le présent article examine la question de la prévalence et des conséquences du retrait du marché du travail du personnel immigrant des soins à autrui au Canada après la naissance d’un enfant. Les analyses ont été menées principalement à partir des données issues de la Base de données longitudinales sur les immigrants (BDIM) de 2009-2018, en comparant un échantillon de personnes immigrantes entrées au Canada par le biais du Programme des aides familiaux résidants/Programme des aides familiaux (PAFR) avec celui des personnes qui sont arrivées dans le cadre des programmes économiques ou au titre de la catégorie du regroupement familial. Les résultats démontrent que les immigrantes PAFR étaient les plus susceptibles d’avoir subi une interruption de carrière liée à la naissance d’un enfant au cours de cette période et qu’elles avaient en moyenne des réductions de revenu beaucoup plus grandes après l’interruption, malgré la pénurie actuelle dans le secteur des soins à autrui. L’article se termine par une discussion sur les changements potentiels de la politique fédérale visant remédier aux disparités existantes.
Shrimp Infectious Diseases and Diagnostics in the Philippines
Authors: Tare Maria Violeta , Samora Vanessa May , Maningas Mary Beth
Published: January 2024

Shrimp farming accounts for a significant percentage of commercial aquaculture and is an integral part of the continuous growth of the economy, particularly in the Philippines. Shrimp hatcheries and farms contribute to food security and export revenues of the country. Hence, it is essential to review and make an update on the various diseases that may affect shrimp production and the available technologies for diagnosis. This paper reports notable diseases of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic origins that have been known to be present in the Philippines, with an emphasis on diagnostic methods for each disease.
The Role of Technological Progress in Social Development: Evidence from Europe in the Light of Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Baldissera Annalisa
Published: January 2024

This study aims to analyze the relationships between two vari­ables associated with the growth of modern economies: technological prog­ress and social development. The research intends to test these relations with­in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN in 2015 in order to achieve the preservation of the planet, the welfare of the popula­tion, peace and prosperity. To this end, the research analyzes the correlations, within the European Union, between technological progress and social devel­opment in the period 2015-2021, that is from the year in which the 2030 Agen­da for Sustainable Development was adopted by the United Nations Mem­ber States to today. The variables representative of technological progress are drawn from the indicators belonging to Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation and In­frastructure, while for social development the study referred to the indica­tors of Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. The results show that, al­though the two phenomena are positively correlated, not all connections are equally strong.
Environmental (Sustainability) Reporting in 2020 and 2021 by Real Estate Companies from German Speaking Countries
Authors: Gałkiewicz Dominika P. , Wollmann Bernd
Published: January 2024

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations, such as the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) and the forthcoming Taxon­omy Regulation in the European Union (EU), have had and will continue to have a lasting impact on the real estate sector and various other stakeholders within the market. This study, therefore, compares the current European reg­ulation with standard sustainability reporting practices in the real estate (RE) industry in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In particular, we aim to inves­tigate what type of information related to environmental issues is being reg­ularly provided and by how many of the 55 largest RE firms in the years 2020 and 2021. We show that the majority of the environmental indicators recom­mended by the European Real Estate Association (EPRA) are more often re­ported in 2021 than in 2020. For example, a 30% or higher reporting frequen­cy in 2021 could be observed for the energy intensity of rentable area kWh/m2, scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions t CO2e, EPRA recommendations implementation, and citing of standards used. Irrespective of the positive development, howev­er, there is still a lot of room for improving reporting quality as small reporting frequencies are identifiable for the following “E” measures: energy consump­tion BOP MWh (6 in 2020 and 4 in 2021), emissions intensity of BOP kg CO2e/m2 (8 in 2020 and 7 in 2021) and Scope 3 t CO2e (7 in 2020 and 11 in 2021). The pro­vided evidence highlights how low the reporting of “E” measures recommend­ed by the EPRA generally is. In January 2023, the Corporate Sustainability Re­porting Directive (CSRD) was officially enacted, marking a significant mile­stone in the field of corporate sustainability reporting. This newly established directive represents a significant advancement in the regulatory framework governing corporate social and environmental information disclosure. About 50,000 companies will now be required to report on sustainability. Thus, it is key for individuals, organizations, and politicians introducing new sustain­ability reporting rules in Europe to understand that too complex rules may not be appropriately complied with and keep uniform EU taxonomy report­ing requirements besides CSRD easy to apply in the future.
The Importance of Human Capital as a Strategic Management Factor in the Banking Sector of the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Pavlović Goran , Milićević Srdjan
Published: January 2024

Resources that are rare, valuable, difficult to imitate and substitute are a key factor of competitive advantage. Human capital, which includes unique knowledge, skills, abilities and employee experiences, is one of the most important resources of modern organizations and a key constituent of intellectual capital. Because the competition in the banking sector of the Re­public of Serbia is increasingly pronounced, as evidenced by the trend of fre­quent mergers and acquisitions of banks, it is clear that human capital is of particular importance, due to the fact that the performance of banking op­erations requires unique knowledge and competencies, as well as agility and willingness of employees to continuously learn and develop. Banks treat in­vestment in human capital as a strategic process that can provide long-term benefits and sustainable competitive advantage, especially when it comes to financial performance. Therefore, creating a competitive advantage for banks requires a strategic approach to human resource management, which will enable the development, improvement and use of human capital. Taking into account the above, the main goal of this paper is to examine the impor­tance of human capital, as a strategic factor, for bank performances in the Re­public of Serbia.
The Influence of Foreign Direct Investment on Research and Development in EU Countries
Authors: Janjić Ivana , Jovanović Marija , Todorović Tanja , Pavlović Aleksandra
Published: January 2024

Over the last few decades, in modern conditions of globalization, the innovation landscape has changed quickly, affecting the world. In de­veloped countries and economies in transition, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has become a driver of economic development and modernization. Research and Development (R&D) is widely acknowledged as a critical fac­tor that stimulates innovation and technological advancement to increase productivity and economic growth. FDI promotes rapid economic restruc­turing and facilitates the acquisition of new technologies. FDI, as a crucial conduit of cross-border technology diffusion, is a significant factor influenc­ing R&D activities in an economy. One of the most efficient ways for national economies to overcome the technology gap with their global competitors is to use knowledge spillovers from FDI. In order to improve their technical ca­pacity, countries may encourage companies to invest more in R&D through FDI and absorb technology transfers from it. This paper’s objective is to test the influence of FDI net inflows on the R&D investment in the sample of 27 EU countries for the period 2015-2021. To provide an empirical investigation of the influence of FDI on R&D, regression analyses were performed. The re­sults of the analysis confirm the importance of FDI for R&D in the case of EU countries. This study revealed that FDI has a positive influence on R&D. The evaluation of the obtained results can serve as a foundation for drawing fur­ther conclusions, contributing to the existing literature and FDI strategy of EU economies.
Gender and Identity Politics: Arupa Patangia Kalitaâ€™s Felanee (The Story of Felanee) and Rita Chowdhuryâ€™s Ei Samay Sei Samay (Times Now and Then)
Authors: Medhi, Tezpur University, India Hemjyoti
Published: January 2024

This paper explores how two contemporary women writers in Asamiya refract the question of identity politics through a gendered prism in a multiethnic and multilingual landscape of the Brahmaputra valley in the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries. The period since the late 1970s has been one of intense sociopolitical movements, armed rebellions and state supported armed repressions in large parts of northeastern India. While a few women (including the writer Rita Chowdhury (1960-) discussed in this paper) have been at the forefront of some of these movements such as the Assam Movement (late 1970s and 1980s), women in general have been at the receiving end of the violence unleashed both by armed rebels fighting against the Indian state as well as by the stateâ€™s armed machinery. An understanding of this context is crucial to conceptualise the terms through which we shall approach the texts Felanee (2003) and Ei Samay Sei Samay (2007) as both texts are situated in conflict-ridden times. While Rita Chowdhuryâ€™s Ei Samay Sei Samay draws on the authorâ€™s experience of being closely involved in the Assam Movement, Felanee spans a time period which saw several movements and rebellions, sometimes running parallel to each other as ethnic groups increasingly claimed nationhood within or outside the political borders of the Indian state. Finally, the article gestures towards another issue â€“ the question of whether writers in Asamiya engage with identity politics differently from Northeast Indian writers writing in English. While most writers writing in English have received critical attention, I believe it is equally important to understand how writers in the vernaculars have engaged with similar questions.
From Islamic Feminism to Radical Feminism: Roquiah Sakhawat Hossein to Taslima Nasrin
Authors: Zaman, Independent University, Bangladesh Niaz
Published: January 2024

This paper examines four women writers who have contributed through their writings and actions to the awakening of women in Bangladesh: Roquiah Sakhawat Hossein, Sufia Kamal, Jahanara Imam and Taslima Nasrin. The first three succeeded in making a space for themselves in the Bangladesh tradition and carved a special niche in Bangladesh. All three of them were writers in different genres â€“ poetry, prose, fiction â€“ with the last best known for her diary about 1971. While these iconic figures contributed towards womenâ€™s empowerment or peopleâ€™s rights in general, Taslima Nasrin is the most radically feminist of the group. However, while her voice largely echoes in the voices of young Bangladeshi women today â€“ often unacknowledged â€“ she has been shunned by her own country. The paper attempts to explain why, while other women writers have also said what Taslima Nasrin has, she alone is ostracised.
English in Myanmar: Usage of English Adjective Phrases by Burmese and Rohingya Bloggers
Authors: Phyu Hnin Pwint , Lotfie Maskanah M.
Published: January 2024

Myanmar is unique in that it was a country colonised by Britain, but its current post-colonial linguistic situation suggests that it is in Kachruâ€™s Expanding Circle rather than the Outer Circle. The lack of stable use of English, however, does not mean there is neither an underlying system nor a set of discernible characteristics to describe the variety. This paper is an attempt to describe a structural aspect of the English used by Myanmarese speakers. It presents an investigation of English adjective phrases used by the Burmese and the Rohingya, two ethnic groups in Myanmar whose mother tongues belong to different language families. Adjective phrases from forty blog articles were analysed in order to identify their forms and functions, as well as similarities and differences between the two groups. Findings indicate that adjective phrases with adverb modifiers were the most frequently used form by both Burmese and Rohingya speakers. There is evidence to show that the forms and functions of the adjective phrases were influenced by the speakersâ€™ first languages. Other factors such as educational background and register may have also played a role.
Navigating Filiation/Affiliation: Re-visioning Diasporic Experience in Yasmine Gooneratneâ€™s A Change of Skies
Authors: Singh Nidhi
Published: January 2024

Problematics of filiation and affiliation underscore the Janus-faced diasporic sensibility of Yasmine Gooneratne, equipoised between the esoteric pull of the ancestral allegiances and the allure of a promising future in the new land. Gooneratneâ€™s novel A Change of Skies (1991) explores the trajectory of journey and consequent experiences of two generations of diaspora. There is a constant negotiation of the emotional and the social, the cultural and the political.Exposed to European influence during colonial era, independent South Asian nations have been progressively impacted by forces of modernisation and Globalisation. Technological advancement revolutionised communication and opened the floodgates of cross-border movement owing to the opportunities generated. The floating population of transnationals constantly navigate the porous boundaries of filiation and affiliation. The body of literature produced by the diaspora is haunted by these contradictory allegiances, as is evident in the novels of Gooneratne. The paper attempts to interrogate Yasmine Gooneratneâ€™s re-visioning of immigrant experiences from the vantage point of diasporic consciousness shaped by colonial/postcolonial island nation Sri Lanka and the settler colony of island continent Australia.
â€œThe Hopes, the Aspirations, the Guilt Embedded in Our Shaken Livesâ€: Romesh Gunesekeraâ€™s Noontide Toll
Authors: Perera Senath Walter
Published: January 2024

The fiction of Sri Lankan diasporic writer Romesh Gunesekera has generated considerable debate among critics. While some accuse him of pursuing an Orientalist agenda to the extent of being a native informant; others, especially those residing in the West, have lauded him for faithfully depicting the socio-political climate that prevailed in Sri Lanka. The two decades that have elapsed since the publication of Reef, however, have witnessed a subtle transformation in his fiction and in criticsâ€™ response to the same. Noontide Toll (2014), which is Gunesekeraâ€™s first work on Sri Lanka since the cessation of the war, is more contemplative than exotic, and his critique of the island largely understated rather than explicit. Eschewing the controversial strategy of privileging the country of adoption over that of origin which some accused him of in Reef, Gunesekera here makes his narrator Vasantha exploit the post-war obsession for travel to transport in his van local and foreign customers who are scarred by their past and negotiate the present with uncertainty as they contemplate the need to construct a future. By having many of his characters in this work adopt a more philosophical approach to life, in making subtle adjustments to his authorial strategies, and in showing a willingness to treat the multifarious issues currently faced by the nation in a nuanced and in-depth manner, the author has succeeded in â€œneutralisingâ€ the debate on his work.
The Compassionate Social Sphere: Native Christian Auto/biographies in Colonial India, 1870-1920
Authors: Nayar Pramod K.
Published: January 2024

This essay examines the construction of a compassionate social sphere in native missionary biographies and autobiographies from colonial India, 1870-1920. It proposes that the native converts begin the fashioning of such a social sphere when they become dissidents within the home and the family. From this assertion of agency in terms of their choice of faith and their disillusionment with, primarily Hinduism, they move on to constructing moral webs, constituted by textual labours and networks of labour wherein the missionary works to produce texts and generates a series of connections with existing missionary networks and building new ones among the converts. In this process they create a compassionate social sphere founded on Christian faith and labour.
Transplanted Gender Norms and Their Limits in Monica Aliâ€™s Brick Lane
Authors: Hasan Md. Mahmudul
Published: January 2024

In Brick Lane (2003), Monica Ali describes both the spatial and metaphysical geography of Bangladeshi immigrants living in the diaspora in Britain. Face-to-face with immigrant anxieties as well as material constraints in the host society, diasporic patriarchy seeks to transplant gender norms of its country of origin and imposes domestic seclusion on women under its control. Against such a cultural backdrop, Ali depicts the problem of identity and gendered expectations of women in the diaspora. There is a persistent concern over womenâ€™s nomadic existence in patriarchal society and over their profound loss of confidence and cultural belonging. This specific, cultural pattern finds a concrete expression in Aliâ€™s description of the transplantation of Bangladeshi gender ideology in London, as the novel unravels its limits and inefficacy in the postcolonial world of information technology.
Unchaste Desires: Gender- and Identity-Related Disquiet in Monica Aliâ€™s Brick Lane
Authors: Prasasti Wigati Dyah
Published: January 2024

This paper examines how patriarchal conduct in a Bangladeshi immigrant family living in London portrayed in Monica Aliâ€™s Brick Lane (2003) has stimulated the unchaste desires of the main female character, Nazneen â€“ a religious and culture-obedient wife and mother. When she needed to actualise herself as part of her journey to signify her identity, her husband played a dominant role in selecting a job perceived to be suitable for a housewife with limited knowledge about the world. As a devoted wife holding tightly to her religious and indigenous cultural values, she respected her husbandâ€™s decision by accepting the sewing job he settled on which could be carried out without necessarily leaving the house. This choice of work, the decision taken by the paterfamilias, unexpectedly brought her to a most romantic sexual experience. I argue that the decision has resulted in new complexities. The job sparked an affair, which introduced her to both an imagined world of romanticism and a horrific world of unchastity. The complex feeling of disquiet and helplessness at becoming affectionately involved with a young man supposed to be her business partner consequently shook her identity as a woman, a wife, a mother, a believer, and, in a diasporic sphere, an immigrant who upheld Bangladeshi customs and traditions.
National and Diasporic Identity in Shirley Geok-lin Limâ€™s Among the White Moon Faces and Tash Awâ€™s Five Star Billionaire
Authors: Huat Lim Walter Swee
Published: January 2024

Anglophone Chinese diasporic literature has historically focused on the sociocultural and political implications of the movement of Chinese subjects from the Middle Kingdom to the West, in particular the United States. In this representation of the Chinese diasporic experience, China symbolises political and economic â€œlack,â€ compelling many Chinese to consider looking overseas for a better life.

Malaysia-born author Shirley Lim contributes to the corpus of Anglophone Chinese diasporic literature by highlighting the significance of Southeast Asia in literary representations of the Chinese diasporic experience. In Among the White Moon Face, Lim emphasises the importance of the postcolonial experience in shaping the Southeast-Asian immigrantâ€™s choice of alternative national homelands. Choosing the United States instead of Great Britain as Shirley Limâ€™s adopted homeland carries ideological implications for the postcolonial author.

Like Shirley Lim, Taipei-born Chinese-Malaysian author Tash Aw represents Malaysia as the starting point for transnational crossings. Unlike Lim, however, Aw portrays China instead of the West as the land of promise. In Five Star Billionaire, Aw imagines the possibilities of Shanghai as a city representing Chinaâ€™s economic prosperity with all the problems that attend the pursuit of capital and dreams. Malaysian subjects of Chinese descent make their way to Shanghai in pursuit of their dreams. While courage and tenacity are valorised as attributes necessary for success, they do not always produce the desired result. Five Star Billionaire represents the fragmented and alienated nature of individual and social being fashioned by Asian capital.
Rethinking Islam in a Troubled World: Religious Themes in the Novels of Isa Kamari
Authors: Aveling Harry
Published: January 2024

Religion is a major topic in the novels of the prolific Singapore author Isa Kamari (1960-). In his earliest writing (One Earth, 2008), Islam is an unproblematic religion that offers clarity of doctrine, moral guidance in everyday life, psychological comfort and reassurance. It belongs, however, most naturally to small village situations and has begun to fail in larger urban contexts. Under the influence of globalisation and political resentment, a second movement has developed within Islam which places an emphasis on terrorism and violent action (Song of the Wind, 2009 and Intercession, 2010). A third and contrasting perspective focuses on the universal and inward spiritual nature of the Islamic revelation (Selendang Sukma, 2014 and The Tower, 2010). Isaâ€™s latest work, Tweet (2016), is influenced by Attarâ€™s mystical allegory, The Conference of the Birds (c. 1177), but argues for a spirituality that is committed to the transformation of worldly life in a positive and compassionate direction and not an escape from it.
Portrayals of Vigilantism in the KL Noir Anthologies
Authors: Philip Susan
Published: January 2024

This article examines the motif of vigilantism in selected stories from the four anthologies in the KL Noir series, published by Fixi Novo. The prevalence of the vigilante figure in these stories suggests a preoccupation among the authors not so much with crime, as with a lack of trust in the ability or willingness of the appointed authorities to effectively deal with crime. The stories often grapple with the moral ambiguity which comes with seeking justice, perhaps at the expense of the law, in a society in which the law appears to have failed its citizens. Focusing on the darkness allows the writers and the readers to confront some unsavoury truths about the city â€“ truths which seem to be at odds with the vision of gleaming towers and glitzy malls, but which more accurately represent a part of city life that many people have to encounter.
The Ambivalence of an Anglophile Subject in Kam Raslanâ€™s Confessions of an Old Boy: The Datoâ€™ Hamid Adventures
Authors: Mohd Shukri Abd Razak  , Nora Mohd Nasir  , Maimunah Abdul Kadir  , Mohamed Ismail bin Ahamad Shah
Published: January 2024

This paper focuses on ambivalence, a prominent concept in postcolonial studies and a recurrent theme in an anglophile subject in Kam Raslanâ€™s novel, Confessions of an Old Boy: The Datoâ€™ Hamid Adventures (2007). As a result of ambivalence, the anglophile subject feels alien in his perception of himself and also towards others. The subject is also ambivalent towards his own culture. Using this framework, this article focuses on Kam Raslanâ€™s protagonist, Datoâ€™ Hamid, as an ambivalent anglophile subject. The findings reveal that reverence for the English culture, coupled with a British colonial education is what gives rise to such characters. It is the British education that has indoctrinated English values into the nativeâ€™s life. The admiration of the anglophile towards the â€œEnglishâ€ culture can be seen in many aspects, such as language, dress code, behaviour, relationships, lifestyle, etc. All these elements become traits and characteristics of the anglophile. The study reveals the adoption, adaptation and assimilation of English traits and characteristics by the anglophile subject which has caused a sense of ambivalence in his perception of himself and towards the â€œother.â€
Kee Thuan Chye, Swordfish + Concubine
Authors: Susan Philip
Published: January 2024

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Kee Thuan Chye, The Peopleâ€™s Victory: How Malaysians Saved Their Country
Authors: Khairil Izamin Ahmad
Published: January 2024

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Manu Joseph, Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous
Authors: Shweta Garg
Published: January 2024

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Hariprabha Takeda, The Journey of a Bengali Woman to Japan and Other Essays. Trans. Somdatta Mandal
Authors: Pritha Kundu
Published: January 2024

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Somdatta Mandal, ed. The Persecuted Or Dramatic Scenes Illustrative of Present State of Hindoo Society, in Calcutta
Authors: Himadri Lahiri
Published: January 2024

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Honouring Dennis Haskell: A Poet and an Amigo of Asiatic and Asian Literature
Authors: Quayum Mohamad A.
Published: January 2024

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'A Need for Voices': The Poetry of Dennis Haskell
Authors: Dolin Kieran
Published: January 2024

This article presents a critical reading of the poetry of Dennis Haskell. Inspired by the experience of hearing the poet read, it uses the concept of poetic voice as an entry point for critical analysis. Haskell has described his poetic aim as being to â€œwrite a poetry that incorporates ideas but never ostentatiously â€¦ with as quiet as possible verbal skill, and in a way that evokes the deepest emotionsâ€ (Landbridge) . The paper identifies key aspects of voice in the poetry, drawing on arguments by Robert Pinsky and Al Alvarez that voice implies a reaching out to an auditor or reader, and thus has social and cultural dimensions. Attending to both technique and meaning, it first analyses two short lyric poems by Haskell, â€œOne Clear Callâ€ and â€œThe Call,â€ which explore the power of voice in poetic and pre-linguistic settings respectively. Poetic voice becomes a vehicle of social critique in â€œAustralian Languageâ€™s Tribute to the Times,â€ a bemused satire on the clichÃ©d language of modern politics and economics. In the next section of the paper the focus shifts to his recurrent creative interest in poems of international travel and in particular international flight. The experience of flying is the subject of lucid, practical philosophical reflections in â€œGA873: The Meaning of Meaningâ€ and â€œRealityâ€™s Conquests,â€ while in â€œAs You Are, As We Areâ€ and â€œOur Century,â€ Haskell presents vivid intercultural encounters in a voice that is candid, observant and responsive to others.
The Sliding Scale of Self-Repair in Dennis Haskellâ€™s Acts of Defiance
Authors: Richards Page
Published: January 2024

The contemporary lyricâ€™s rich possibilities for resituating history and life stories still remain largely unexplored. Lyric poetry and history have always had, understandably, an uneasy relationship; the lyric is traditionally linked to the symbolic, not to fact or even necessarily, as we know from medieval or earlier poems, to a speaker that we can name or authorise. Yet, the instrument and agency of lyric evolve too, like science and technology, making room for strengths previously unexploited, rooted and waiting. Dennis Haskellâ€™s powerful body of work, balancing on a delicate and self-referential focus on human language itself, offers us a glimpse into the future. This article offers a critical study of 21st ecosystems of human language, as acts of self-repair, a perspective permeating Dennis Haskellâ€™s pioneering and poetic cycle of work, resonant with medical discoveries in our era. As we look ahead through the lens of Haskellâ€™s â€œgeographies of time,â€ we also explore lyric legacies of the elegiac, pointing us to update continuously our apprehension of the human body of language among the larger balances, of earth and space, and, then again, with one another, up close.
In the company of Cavafy
Authors: Taylor Andrew
Published: January 2024

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Big Skies, Inner Rain
Authors: Curtis Tony
Published: January 2024

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Identity in Flux: The Sarong Party Girlâ€™s Pursuit of a â€œGood Lifeâ€
Authors: Ho Hannah M.Y. , Ho Debbie
Published: January 2024

This paper examines the identity of young Singaporean Chinese women, branded as â€œsarong party girls,â€ as part of the state governmentâ€™s moral crisis debate. Through an interdisciplinary lens, it combines the study of their literary representation with a linguistic analysis of Singlish, a local variety of Eglish spoken by most Singaporeans in informal domains. By discussing the main protagonist in Cheryl Lu- Lien Tanâ€™s novel Sarong Party Girls (2016) in this perspective, the authors argue that the identity crisis she experiences within herself is symptomatic of a wider conflict between Eastern and Western values that Singaporeans have not reconciled. While the Singaporean government enthuses over promoting Asian or shared values, its citizens continue to embrace Western influences that the former would rather eradicate. Therefore, Singaporeâ€™s state production of a national discourse of questionable morality of those not espousing moral Eastern standards accentuates citizensâ€™ conflicted identity. By illuminating the social-cultural conditions giving rise to, and, in turn, informed by the subject of women as problematic for the state, the authors frame the dilemma faced by the sexually autonomous woman with aspirations to marry a white and Western man as her identity in flux, signalled by her deviant behaviour, use of Singlish and material goals.
Lexical Aspect in the Development of the English Progressive Among Arab EFL Speakers
Authors: AlZahrani Alaa , Othman Normala
Published: January 2024

Recent research calls into question the predictive power of the Aspect Hypothesis as it has been found that it is advanced learners rather than beginners who show the developmental pattern predicted by the hypothesis. Following the identification of several design issues including lack of rigorous treatment of proficiency level and reliance on controlled elicitation tasks, this cross-sectional study used an Arab learner corpus (BALC) that controls proficiency level and task. This corpus-based study analysed the development of tense-aspect among Arabic-speaking EFL learners at two levels, beginner and advanced, by comparing their performance on 200 essays. Contrary to the recent research on Aspect Hypothesis, it was found that lexical aspect influences the early acquisition of the English progressive as the lower proficiency level in the present study extensively attached the progressive on activity verbs.
Edwin Thumboo, A Gathering of Themes
Authors: Yousof Ghulam-Sarwar
Published: January 2024

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Alfian Saâ€™at, Collected Plays Three: Nadirah, Parah, Your Sisterâ€™s Husband, Geng Rebut Cabinet (GRC)
Authors: Philip Susan
Published: January 2024

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Sumit Mandal, Becoming Arab: Creole Histories and Modern Identity in the Malay World
Authors: Naser Waseem
Published: January 2024

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TRS Sharma, Reading Alfred Korzybski through Inter-theoretic Explorations: Indian and Western
Authors: Choudhury Anindya Syam
Published: January 2024

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GJV Prasad, ed. India in Translation, Translation in India
Authors: Thomas Sanju
Published: January 2024

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Writing the City: In Conversation with Pooja Nansi
Authors: Ho Tammy Lai-Ming , Lee Jason Eng Hun
Published: January 2024

A well-known persona on the Singaporean literary arts scene, Pooja Nansiâ€™s poetic work draws inspiration from a myriad of artistic forms, such as hip-hop, song lyrics and spoken word. Born to Gujarati parents in 1981, Poojaâ€™s role as a poet, musician and literary advocate encompass issues as wide-ranging as ethnic and cultural diversity, community development and the showcasing of marginalised or minority voices. A graduate of the National University of Singapore, Pooja Nansi was a teacher for many years at Temasek Junior College until becoming a full-time writer; in 2015 she was writer-in-residence at Nanyang Technical University, where she continues to teach creative writing on a part-time basis.
Pengaruh Thrift Shop Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Produk Fashion
Authors: Saputra Harmawan Teguh , Sukmawati Agnestya Sukmawati
Published: January 2024

Minat seseorang terhadap gaya hidup juga tidak terlepas dari trend fashion yang sedang berekmbang. Fashion adalah gaya berpakaian dan dandanan yang sedang populer dan mengikuti zaman. Fashion adalah benda-benda dan atribut yang dipakai manusi untuk mengidentifikasikan diriseseorang secara khusus atau kelompok sosoalnya sebagai salah satu kesatuan dirinya atau pencitraan diri dan kepribadian seseorang. Masyarakat umumnya memiliki daya tarik yang berbeda beda satu dengan yang lain, dalam hal pemenuhanakan atribut fashion yang mereka butuhkan. Thift shop adalah salah satu pilihan yang banyak dipilih masyarakat. Pakaian bekas saat ini bukan hanya komoditi yang di pandang sebelah mata akan tetapi memiliki nilai tersendiri bagi penikmatnya. Penelitian ini memiliki tujuan untuk mengetahui apa saja pengaruh thrift shop terhadap keputusan pembelian produk fashion, di era yang saat ini di pengaruhi oleh gaya hidup dan perekembangan zaman. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kualitatif.
Keputusan Pembelian Konsumen Dalam Memilih Restoran Fastfood Menurut Harga, Kualitas Produk, Promosi,dan Citra Merk (Studi Kasus Pada Konsumen Restaurant Fastfood KFC)
Authors: Susilo Taufan Dwi Susilo , Rizqi Fitrotullaili Aulina
Published: January 2024

Berkembangnya dunia dengan sangat pesat hingga mencapai era modern dan globalisasi seperti saat ini, tentunya membawa perubahan besar. Perkembangan industri pangan dan teknologi memudahkan masuknya budaya asing ke Indonesia, salah satunya adanya budaya dalam mengonsumsi makanan fastfood. Munculnya restoran fastfood dijadikan solusi bagi beberapa kalangan masyarakat tentu sebagai pilihan utama dalam konsumsi makanan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh Harga, Kualitas Produk, Promosi, dan Citra Merek Terhadap proses Keputusan Pembelian Konsumen Dalam Memilih Restoran Fastfood KFC. sedangkan metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif. jenis data adalah data sekunder. Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan perpustakaan penelitian atau pengumpulan bahan yang diambil dari penelitian terkait perpustakaan penelitian. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Harga berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian, kualitas produk berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian, promosi berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap keputusan pembelian, dan Citra Merek terhadap keputusan pembelian berpengaruh signifikan.