Investigation of plasma-treated water for plant growth

This thesis investigated nitrate and hydrogen peroxide generation in contact with water and studied this plasma-treated water for plant growth. The plasma-treated water significantly stimulated wheat seedling growth, as nitrate serves as a N fertilizer and hydrogen peroxide acts as a signalling molecule for plants. This thesis suggests plasma-treated water has potential for wider applications in agriculture

Formulation of the sustainable educational development framework (sedf) to improve migrant workforce contribution in malaysia

Malaysia has witnessed an influx of foreign workers since independence, chiefly owing to its rapidly expanding economic opportunities. Low-skilled or unschooled migrants are prevalent in the labour market and constitute one-third of the national workforce. Excess low-skilled labour imposes immense pressure on the Malaysian economy, which reduces the probability of economic transformation through automation. Malaysia has the vision to be a high-income nation, and it needs a high ratio of skilled workers to achieve the target. Focusing on educational qualifications, skill testing, different kinds of training, and sharing knowledge, this study aimed to redesign some crucial factors in the recruitment, placement, employment and repatriation phases of foreign workers in Malaysia that would enhance sustainability. This study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed methods design, characterized by qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (face-to-face survey) data collection and analysis, respectively. In total, nine experts (qualitative phase) from different sectors in labour migration management and three hundred migrant workers (quantitative phase) in Malaysia were interviewed. For qualitative data, the analysis was done through the thematic analysis method taking assistance from the qualitative data analysis software NVIVO (version 1.6). Whereas the survey data analysis method is practised here with the help of SPSS 25. The results highlighted the need to re-evaluate the following crucial factors with some other issues –firstly in recruitment phase- establishing minimum educational qualifications, mandatory skill testing, establishing Malay learning centres in the country of origin, and ensuring compulsory pre-departure training for selected workers; secondly in deployment stage- confirming first orientation program after arrival in Malaysia; thirdly, in employment level of foreign workers- improvements in foreign workers‘ skills and expertise, and finally, in repatriation phase- providing various training programs and information about further employment, sharing success stories of reintegration. Thus the study formulated a sustainable educational development framework (SEDF) based on the findings of all phases of foreign workers in Malaysia. This re-evaluation will secure foreign workers‘ right to recruitment, deployment, employment and repatriation phases and thereby increase their sustainability. These findings have implications for reshaping policies around foreign workers‘ management and for increasing foreign workers‘ contribution to the Malaysian society and economy

Chemical and biological investigations of Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf.

U radu je opisana izolacija pet sastojaka petroleterske i diklormetanske frakcije metanolnog ekstrakta kore biljke Delonix regia: lupeol (1), epilupeol (2), β-sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4) i p-metoksibenzaldehid (5). Nadalje, testirano je antimikrobno djelovanje različitih ekstrakata difuzijskom metodom na disku (15 μg mm2). Zone inhibicije za sastojke topljive u petroleteru, tetraklormetanu i diklormetanu bile su 914 mm, 1113 mm, odnosno 920 mm, dok je zona inhibicije standarda kanamicina bila 2025 mm. U biološkom pokusu smrtnosti morskih kozica najveću toksičnost pokazali su spojevi topljivi u tetraklormetanu (LC50 = 0,83 μg mL1), dok je topljivost sastojaka topljivih u petroleteru i diklormetanu bila LC50 14,94, odnosno 3,29 μg mL1, a standarda vinkristin sulfata 0,812 μg mL1. Ovo je prvo izvješće o izolaciji sastojaka, antimikrobnom djelovanju i citotoksičnosti biljke D. regia.In this study five compounds, lupeol (1), epilupeol (2), β-sitosterol (3), stigmasterol (4) and p-methoxybenzaldehyde (5) were isolated from the petroleum ether and dichloromethane fractions of a methanolic extract of the stem bark of Delonix regia. Antimicrobial screening of the different extracts (15 μg mm2) was conducted by disc diffusion method. The zones of inhibition demonstrated by the petroleum ether, carbon tetrachloride and dichloromethane fractions ranged from 914 mm, 1113 mm and 920 mm, respectively, compared to kanamycin standard with the zone of inhibition of 2025 mm. In brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the carbon tetrachloride soluble materials demonstrated the highest toxicity with LC50 of 0.83 μg mL1, while petroleum ether and dichloromethane soluble partitionates of the methanolic extract revealed LC50 of 14.94 and 3.29 μg mL1, respectively, in comparison with standard vincristine sulphate with LC50 of 0.812 μg mL1. This is the first report on compounds separation from D. regia, their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT: A BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Migration and development are closely associated issues for many years in the social studies because of their enormous socio-economic impacts both for the country of origin as well as the country of destination. It is as both an income maximization and risk minimization decision. International migration is a promising livelihood option for a developing country like Bangladesh which has myriad of development initiatives from migrants’ experiences and remittances. This review article provides a brief discussion on the diasporas’ movement, remittances and their contribution to socio-economic development of Bangladesh. International migration has contributed to the development of Bangladesh at the individual, community and national levels. Remittance has a significant effect on the welfare of migrants’ household as well as GDP, balance of payments and foreign exchange earnings of Bangladesh. It is greater than foreign aid and foreign direct investment (FDI). It should be ensured for appropriate utilization of migrants’ experiences for the micro and macro level development of Bangladesh, an emerging tiger of south Asia in the 21st century.  Article visualizations

Foreign Workers’ Recruitment and Reconsideration of Crucial Factors: A Sequential Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study of Migrant Labourers in Malaysia

Malaysia has witnessed an influx of foreign workers, mainly due to its rapidly expanding economy. However, low-skilled or uneducated migrants prevail in the labour market, which places immense pressure on the Malaysian economy. This study aimed to identify some crucial factors related to foreign workers requiring reconsideration at the recruitment phase. It was a sequential exploratory mixed-method study. Data were collected using qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (face-to-face surveys) methods. The study found that some recruitment factors should be reassessed, such as fixing the minimum educational qualification at the recruitment level, mandatory skill tests and compulsory pre-departure training for selected workers. The findings of this study will help in redesigning foreign worker recruitment policies. Moreover, the results will also assist in guiding the sustainable enhancement of workforce contributions to society and the Malaysian economy

Re-evaluation of foreign workers' placement and repatriation factors

Malaysia has witnessed an influx of foreign workers (FWs), mainly due to its rapidly expanding economy. However, Malaysian labour migration policies have remained a short-term solution to fill instant labour shortages since they were introduced. The current policy has weaknesses due to not successfully controlling FWs at all phases, including the placement and repatriation stages. The focus of policies on public safety—rather than on labour administration and long-term sustainable development— has left room for abuse of and restrictions on FWs by employers and agents. This study aimed to identify crucial factors related to FWs’ placement and repatriation phases, and focused on SDG 08 due to the connection between detected factors and sustainability via decent work. It adopted a sequential exploratory mixed methods design, characterised by qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (face-to-face survey) data collection and analysis, respectively. The results highlighted the need to re-evaluate certain placement and repatriation factors for faultless placement and impeccable return of FWs. The findings of this study will help in redesigning FWs’ placement and repatriation policies. Moreover, the results will also assist in reducing illegal/irregular FWs as well as mistreating of FWs inside Malaysia, and ensuring FWs’ contribution to Malaysian society and the economy

Foreign Workers’ Smooth Repatriation and Reassessment of Crucial Factors: A Mixed-Method Study of Migrant Labourers in Malaysia

Malaysia has witnessed an influx of foreign workers, mainly due to its rapidly expanding economy. However, Malaysian labour migration policies have remained a short-term solution to fill instant labour shortages since the relevant authority introduced it. The current policy has weaknesses due to not successfully controlling foreign workers at all phases, including therepatriation stage. Consequently, low-skilled or irregular migrant workers prevail in the labour market,and their number is increasing,which is discussed frequently.This study aimed to identify crucial factors related to foreign workers requiring reconsideration at the repatriation phase. It was a sequential exploratory mixed-method study. Data were collected using qualitative (in-depth interviews)0190 and quantitative (face-to-face surveys) methods. The study found that for impeccable return of foreign workers (FWs), some repatriation factors should be reassessed, such as providing various training programs and information about further employment, introducing the online job-matching platform, sharing success stories of reintegration, giving career certificates, confirming departure guarantee insurance, extending work permits and approving PR (permanent residency) status for expert workers. The findings of this study will help in redesigning foreign worker repatriation policies. Moreover, the results will also assistin reducing illegal/irregular foreign workers inside Malaysia andensurea smooth return of foreign workers to their country of origin after completing the employment contract. Keywords - Low-Skilled Foreign Workers; Repatriation Phase; Providing Training Programs, Giving Information About Employment, Online Job-Matching Platform, Sharing Successful Stories, Providing Career Certificate, Departure Guarantee Insurance, Extending Work Permit, Approving Pr Status

Foreign workers’ recruitment and reconsideration of crucial factors : A sequential exploratory mixed-methods study of migrant labourers in Malaysia

Malaysia has witnessed an influx of foreign workers, mainly due to its rapidly expanding economy. However, low-skilled or uneducated migrants prevail in the labour market, which places immense pressure on the Malaysian economy. This study aimed to identify some crucial factors related to foreign workers requiring reconsideration at the recruitment phase. It was a sequential exploratory mixed-method study. Data were collected using qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative (face-to-face surveys) methods. The study found that some recruitment factors should be reassessed, such as fixing the minimum educational qualification at the recruitment level, mandatory skill tests and compulsory pre-departure training for selected workers. The findings of this study will help in redesigning foreign worker recruitment policies. Moreover, the results will also assist in guiding the sustainable enhancement of workforce contributions to society and the Malaysian economy

Case Study: Foreign Workers in Malaysia

Malaysia has become a popular destination for many foreign workers since getting independence in 1957, owing to its rapidly growing economy and industrialisation. Most of the migrant workers in Malaysia are low-skilled or uneducated, and public debate is going on their outcome, whether it is substantial or not. The purpose of this study is to manifest the role and contribution of imported labour to the Malaysian economy. Evidence is collected from secondary sources- journal article, relevant books, and online databases. The review finds that the impact of migrant labour on Malaysian growth has not been studied holistically and sufficiently. Existing evidence shows that although it is somewhat positive, the public attitude is most adverse to illegal and irregular migrants. Therefore, more empirical research is required to determine the role of imported temporary workers on the economy of Malaysia, for its ongoing vision- to become a high-income nation