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The study aims to explore the career experiences of Malay Muslim women (MMW) managers in Malaysia. By applying an intersectionality lens to the role congruity theory of prejudice, we seek to uncover how the interaction of multiple identities influences the career experiences of MMW.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 MMW in managerial positions probing their career experiences and progress.

Our findings demonstrate how role incongruities are experienced from multiple intersecting identities, namely ethnicity (Malay), religion (Muslim), gender (woman) and work (manager), which results in unique experiences of prejudice. Most importantly, analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that MMW experience prejudice differently in Malay majority (in-group) and non-Malay majority (out-group) work contexts. Thus, our findings are presented based on these two work contexts. In sum, these findings shed light on the prevailing career blocks of women in management in a developing context.

Our work has theoretical and practical implications for scholars and practitioners on diversity management in understanding the myriads of challenges women experience in their careers. The paper provides a complex account of how intersecting identities, workplace contexts and macro contexts significantly contribute to a unique experience of prejudice hindering women’s progress.

Our findings evidence the value of intersectionality and contextual considerations when understanding the nature of role incongruities and prejudice as a socially constructed process. We also illustrate the value of considering workplace contexts to provide a more fine-grained understanding of Muslim women’s career experiences.

Monocytes are a leukocytes’ subset that plays an important role in immunity. Protein kinase B (AKT) is involved in monocytes' survival, proliferation and differentiation. Using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) as an inducer for cell line U937 differentiation into macrophage-like cells may be used as a model for cancer cell therapy or other biomedical research studies. The authors investigated the Akt1 signaling pathway's involvement with PMA as a differentiating agent and survival in the U937 cell line.

PMA was utilized to stimulate the differentiation of the U937 cell line into macrophage-like cells at a concentration of 10 nM. Akt1-phosphorylated Serine 473, Bad-phosphorylated Serine 136 and Caspase9-phosphorylated Serine 196 were tested by flow cytometry for the involvement of the Akt1 signaling pathway during differentiation in addition to the expression of CD14, CD206 and CD83. DNA cell cycle variation analysis was done using PI staining and cell viability and apoptosis detection using Annexin V and PI flow cytometry.

There was a decrease in phosphorylated Akt1 and Bad activation and an increase in Caspase9 activation, with an increase in surface markers CD14, CD206 and CD83 acquired by PMA-differentiated cells. DNA cell cycle analysis revealed cell accumulation in the G2/M phase and fewer cells in the S phase of PMA-induced U937. Apoptosis induction for Ly294002 or Wortmannin-inhibited cells and part of PMA-induced cells were detected.

These results may be used to create a model for biomedical research studies and advance the understanding of the mechanism involving differentiation of the U937 cell line.

As lubricating oils are used, their performance deteriorates and they become contaminated. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the lubrication performance of reclaimed 5 W-30 a fully synthetic used engine oil (UEO) with wear tests after refining it from a solvent-based extraction method using solvent (1-PrOH) and adsorbent materials such as cement, celite and deep eutectic solvent (DES).

The treated oil mixtures were prepared by blending engine oils with various adsorbent materials at 5% (w/w) in organic 1-PrOH solvent at a UEO: solvent ratio of 1:2 (w/w). The measurement of kinematic viscosity, density, the total acid number (TAN) and elemental analysis of oil samples was done by the ASTM standards D445/D446, D4052, D974 and D6595, respectively. Adsorbents and treated oil samples characterized by SEM-EDX, FTIR and UV analysis, respectively. Meanwhile, lubricating performance in tribological applications was evaluated through the wear test device using a rotating steel alloy 1.2379 cylinder and a stationary 1.2738 pin under 20, 40 and 80 kg load conditions. Worn surface analysis was done with SEM and 2.5D images.

It was found that when using the combination of cement and celite as an adsorbent in the reclamation of used engine oil demonstrated better lubricant properties. The properties of used engine oil were improved in the manner of kinematic viscosity of 32.55 from 68.49 mm²/s, VI (Viscosity index) value of 154 from 130, TAN of 3.18 from 4.35 (mgKOH/g) and Fe content of 11 from 32 mg/L. The anti-wear properties of used engine oil improved by at least 32% when 5% cement and 5% celite adsorbent materials were used together.

The paper is based on findings from a fully synthetic 5 W-30 A5 multi-grade engine lubrication oil collected after driving approximately 12.000 km.

The results are significant, as they suggest practical regeneration of used engine oil is achievable. Additionally, blending fresh oil with reclaimed used engine oil in a 1:1 ratio reduced wear loss by over 10% compared to fresh oil.

Reusing used engine oils can reduce their environmental impact and bring economic benefits.

This study showed that the properties of UEO can be enhanced using the solvent extraction-adsorption method. Furthermore, the study provided valuable insights into the metal concentrations in engine oil samples and their impact on lubrication performance. The order of the number of the grooves quantity and the possibility of the observed scuffing region trend relative to the samples was UEO > 5W-30 fresh oil > Treated oil sample with the adsorbent cement and celite together.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-06-2024-0209/

The chapter is devoted to the in-depth analysis of the compliance between the Shari’ah rules and digital currency within the context of Islamic finance. The emergent trend of digital currencies, especially virtual based as in the case of Bitcoin, has raised questions on the issue of their compatibility with ethical and legal moral rights. The paper covers core issues like Shari’ah implementation, the utilization of tangible assets, crypto as a medium of exchange and some obstacles in merging crypto into Islamic banking. Besides that, the paper outlines workable solutions for overcoming these difficulties, including the introduction of Shari’ah-compliant cryptocurrencies, the development of a regulatory framework and the need for enlightenment and collaboration. Furthermore, the manuscript will exhibit some Islamic-centric digital currencies, e.g. the Islamic Coin and OneGram, to illustrate that a successful integration into Islamic finance is possible. Furthermore, future estimations consider the implications of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in Islamic finance which brings up both opportunities and challenges. The conclusion calls for ongoing research and innovation spanning traditional as well as digital (cryptocurrencies) in order to achieve Shari’ah harmonization and eventual evolution of the Islamic finance sector.

This study explores the ethical challenges of integrating derivatives into Islamic finance. It aims to reconcile the principles of Shari’ah law with modern financial practices. It seeks to understand how derivatives, characterised by their complexity and speculative nature, can align with Islamic moral values, ensuring financial stability and social equity.

Adopting a doctrinal legal research methodology, the investigation delves into primary and secondary sources encompassing the Quran, Hadith, contemporary scholarly articles, and regulatory documents. The approach enables a comprehensive analysis of Islamic legal texts and principles, assessing their applicability to derivatives within a framework emphasising Shari’ah compliance and ethical integrity.

The research identifies pathways for the ethical integration of derivatives in Islamic finance, highlighting the potential of these financial instruments to enhance economic justice and societal welfare when aligned with Shari’ah principles. It uncovers regulatory frameworks and innovative practices that can mitigate ethical dilemmas, ensuring derivatives contribute positively to the Islamic financial system.

This paper offers original insights into reconciling financial innovation with Islamic ethical mandates by applying a doctrinal legal research methodology to studying derivatives in Islamic finance. It contributes to the academic discourse on Islamic finance and ethics, providing a nuanced framework for developing Shari’ah-compliant derivative products that uphold the principles of risk-sharing, transparency and social equity. This investigation enriches the understanding of ethical practices in Islamic finance, proposing a model for balancing modern financial mechanisms with traditional Islamic values.

Ethical entrepreneurship and financing models based on Islamic principles are insufficiently researched and discussed in the emerging plural economic landscape. So far, Islamic theorists have made commendable efforts in this direction. To fill the knowledge gaps, this study aims to explore more rigorously the interdependence of halal entrepreneurship and Islamic finance in creating a strong halal ecosystem.

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, a systematic literature review (SLR) of 33 articles from 2001 to 2024 was conducted to answer three research questions. Publications were obtained using purposive sampling from the Scopus database. They were selected based on the ranking of high-quality journals, global coverage relevance to research and base years of publications.

Three key findings emerged from the SLR using the PRISMA protocol. First, halal entrepreneurship and Islamic finance complement each other by providing Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments, fostering ethical practices, enhancing market reach and ensuring business operations adhere to Islamic principles, thereby creating a cohesive halal ecosystem. Second, the strategic integration of halal entrepreneurship and Islamic finance – through innovation, sustainability practices, Shari’ah-compliant products, effective marketing and regulatory support – promotes economic growth, social welfare and sustainable development within the halal ecosystem. Third, Maqasid-ul Shari’ah principles guide halal entrepreneurship and Islamic finance by ensuring ethical standards, promoting social justice, emphasizing sustainability and ensuring that business and financial practices benefit society and adhere to Islamic ethical standards. These findings aid in developing a theoretically grounded conceptual framework for future empirical investigation.

Practically, policymakers, Islamic financial institutions and halal entrepreneurs can leverage this integrated approach to drive economic growth, social welfare and sustainable development, aligning operations with Maqasid-ul Shari’ah to ensure ethical standards and societal benefits. In addition, the findings aid in developing a theoretically grounded conceptual framework for future empirical investigation, both theoretically and methodologically.

Given the paucity of studies in this multidisciplinary area, this paper offers new insights into the interdependence of halal entrepreneurship and Islamic finance, grounded in the finance–growth nexus theory and Maqasid-ul Shari’ah principles. Unlike other exploratory studies, this research presents a theoretically grounded conceptual framework, paving the way for future empirical investigations.

The purpose of this study is to explore the concept “the social creation of mental illness”, consider whether there is enough research evidence to support the thesis that mental illness can be socially caused, compare the social model to the medical model of the creation of mental illness and explore what may be necessary for the social causation model of mental health to be widely adopted and acted upon.

This study conducts a literature review seeking to identify the likely candidates for socially caused mental illness and explores whether there was research or other evidence for “the social creation of mental illness”.

Each area that was examined, from the literature, supported the notion of social factors being linked to, and predictive of, the social creation of mental illness; there appears to be a prima facie case for mental illness being predominantly socially created.

It is one thing to identify risk factors, links with and predictors of mental ill health. It is quite another to prove the chain of causality between particular types of social trauma and the emergence specific mental dysfunctions. In the same way that tobacco was widely known to be dangerous to physical health, yet it took decades to collate enough evidence to persuade physicians and politicians to act, it is likely that it will be some time before the causal link between social factors and emerging mental dysfunction can be demonstrated with enough rigour to encourage politicians and mental health professionals to act. This paper seeks to make a contribution to that process.

If social factors are found to be the primary creators of mental illness, then more appropriate methods of helping those afflicted can be developed.

Currently, the mental health system is based on the medical model. Vast and increasing resources are being allocated to mental health, yet the numbers of people disabled by mental health problems continues to increase. It appears that the medical model is false and failing. If the most common causes of mental ill health are social, then more appropriate help can be provided, and preventative measures can be developed.

By laying out some of the evidence that social factors are a primary predictor or cause of mental illness, it is hoped that future researchers can devise mechanisms to identify the causal route between various forms of social harm and the development of mental illness.

Sexual violence has a profound impact on victim-survivors across the world, and these consequences extend beyond cultural boundaries. While the mental health consequences are well established across the Western world, less is known about the impact on victims in China. This is somewhat surprising given the size of the population. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to provide a rapid review of existing studies that have investigated mental health outcomes for victim-survivors of sexual violence in China.

In this brief review paper, the authors conduct and provide a thematic synthesis and scrutiny of evidence surrounding two rarely reported yet common types of sexual violence experienced by victim-survivors in China, intimate partner sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse, examining the impact on survivor mental health.

Taken together, studies show wide-ranging and severe psychological consequences, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality and identity difficulties and suicidal attempts and ideations.

The unique cultural traditions that appear to exacerbate victim-survivor abuse experiences, non-disclosure practices and mental health outcomes are also identified and considered with future interventions in mind.

Significant gaps between end-user expectations and the actual performance of buildings have been reported. Engaging end-users in the design phase is proposed to address this issue; however, practical implementation faces numerous challenges due to limited details of methods, tools and techniques for effective user engagement. This study aims to critically analyse the challenges in end-user engagement in the design process, thereby proposing a new, enhanced framework for end-user engaged building design.

A systematic literature review was conducted, involving a comprehensive search across Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Google Scholar, yielding 481 articles. After eliminating duplicates and irrelevant studies, this pool was narrowed down to 31. Meta-synthesis of the existing body of knowledge and its extrapolation were performed.

Three design approaches – participatory, user-centred and co-design exist to facilitate user engagement during the design process, aiming to mitigate performance gaps. However, they encounter significant challenges, including a lack of standardised processes for identifying the right users, acquiring and reconciling end-user requirements and evaluating designs. A new framework for enhanced end-user engagement in the design phase is proposed to address these challenges.

The proposed framework would enhance user engagement in building design, consequently mitigating performance gaps and bolstering occupant productivity and satisfaction. Additionally, the study identifies the challenges associated with the user-engagement process and consolidating user feedback, which is often vague and ambiguous by nature. Addressing these challenges is identified as future research needs to yield better outcomes from end-user engagement.