This article delves into the application of blockchain technology in enhancing intellectual property (IP) protection within the e-commerce sector, providing a comprehensive analysis of its future prospects. By examining the core characteristics and working principles of blockchain, the paper reveals the unique advantages it offers in strengthening IP protection for e-commerce. The article elaborates on how blockchain’s features of decentralization, data immutability, and timestamping contribute to a secure, transparent, and efficient IP protection mechanism in the e-commerce field. Furthermore, the paper discusses the practical application of blockchain technology in IP registration, management, transaction, and rights protection, highlighting its significant impact on security traceability, transaction cost reduction, and efficiency improvement. Lastly, the article anticipates the future role of blockchain technology in IP protection in e-commerce and believes that with continued technological advancements and enhanced policy support, blockchain will play an increasingly pivotal role in this domain. The paper also proposes potential challenges and solutions that require attention, aiming to foster the healthy and sustainable development of blockchain technology.

Digital labor, as a new theoretical form of "audience commodity theory" in the digital media era, represents a new form of production and labor. This paper explores the unique features of digital labor in labor form, labor products and labor time, and combining Marx's theory, it further reveals the alienation and exploitation of human social relations, emotional value and social class in the process of digital labor, and finally makes suggestions on the unequal relationship between platform and workers in the process of digital labor.

The subjective well-being (SWB) concept specific to the elderly Orang Asli is still vague, with limited research. Understanding SWB can give a holistic picture of elderly Orang Asli’s well-being status because SWB considers individual evaluations and perspectives based on life experiences in various dimensions relevant to the elderly Orang Asli’s culture, language, belief system, and lifestyle. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the concept of SWB of elderly Orang Seletar. An exploratory case study research design is implemented in this qualitative study. 15 informants who participated in an in-depth interview session in Kampung Bakar Batu Perling, Johor Bahru, and aged 50 years old and above. Based on the findings of the study, there were seven major themes in discussing the concept of SWB which are (i) sufficiency; (ii) comfort; (iii) satisfaction; (iv) preference/favorite; (v) happiness; (vi) tranquillity and (vii) awareness. The finding of the study shows that there were eight domains of SWB of elderly Orang Asli Seletar which are (i) physical health; (ii) mental health; (iii) family and community; (iv) sea and nature; (v) culture preservation; (vi) basic needs; (vii) education; and (viii) spiritual. In conclusion, SWB should be the core element to determine the development of elderly Orang Seletar to ensure their thrive. From mainstream society’s eye, elderly Orang Seletar’s lives may be seen as inadequate and modest. However, it is different from what is felt by them.

The study’s goal is to evaluate how microfinance initiatives affect women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. For this study, we analyzed data on a variety of women’s empowerment-related issues, including both beneficial and detrimental elements that stand in the way of women’s empowerment. Therefore, in order to accomplish the specified goal, we choose a suitable and intentional methodology. We employ diverse data gathering approaches to examine the gathered data and achieve the primary goal of the research project. It presents the positive effects of microfinance on women, such as (1) the enhancement of women’s authority in financial affairs; and (2) the augmentation of their ability to make decisions in household; and (3) community matters following their participation in the microfinance program. This also provides an analysis of the data pertaining to the adverse effects of microfinance on women. It examines how women encounter various challenges and engage in unethical behaviors after obtaining a loan, leading to heightened levels of stress following their participation in the microfinance program. This study looks into the advantages and disadvantages of Grameen Bank’s microcredit program for women. A questionnaire gathered primary data for this study from women participating in the microfinance program in Gopalgonj. To collect information and comprehend respondent behavior, I used case study, analytical and descriptive study design. Regression analysis, correlation, and percentage are used to examine the data. The findings indicate that women’s decision-making skills have improved due to their financial stability, but they have also experienced increased life challenges and high levels of stress.

Afforestation is a main tool for preventing desertification and soil erosion in arid and semiarid regions of Iran. Large-scale afforestation, however, has poorly understood consequences for the future ecosystems in the term of ecosystems protection. The objective of the present study is to identify changes in soil properties following different intervals of planting of Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) in semiarid afforestation of Iran (Chitgar Forest Park, Tehran). For this purpose, sand, silt and clay ratios, bulk density, soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, total soil N, and total carbon was measured. Our study highlighted the potential of the invasive trees by A. altissima, to alter soil properties along chronosequence. Almost all soil quality attributes showed a declining trend with stand age. A continuous decline in soil quality indicated that the present land management may not be sustainable. Therefore, an improved management practice is imperative to sustain soil quality and maintain long-term productivity of plantation forests. Thinning activity will be required to reduce the number of trees competing for the same nutrients especially in a older stand to protect forest soils.

The paper at hand analyses the principal-agent relationship, where comparative perspective between principals’ (municipalities) and agents’ (public utility providers) in the field of water and wastewater management is scrutinized. The goal of the paper is twofold: firstly, to present empirical results validating principal-agent relationships that emerged due to the reorganization process of public enterprises; secondly, to highlight the similarities and differences between the perspectives of principals and agents regarding motives, advantages and disadvantages, and price-setting in relation to the reorganization process. The empirical research is based on the primary data collected through two self-prepared and structured online questionnaires—one for municipalities, and the other for public utility providers. The results reveal similarities between public enterprises and municipalities in motivating factors for full municipal ownership. However, differences are seen among the advantages of the reorganization process. Price-setting by public utilities is recognized as a motivating mechanism for agents.