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This current study assessed the toxicity of selected heavy metals in paddy and sediments of non-major production sites in Southern Peninsular Malaysia, complemented by bibliometric analysis of research trends and health implications of rice contamination. Paddy (grains, stems, roots) and soil samples were collected from seven selected sites in the Southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia and analyzed for their heavy metals content. The health risk assessments were conducted based on estimated daily intake, and the Web of Science database was used for bibliometric analysis. The results indicated elevated levels of manganese, Mn (0.4 ± 0.07), especially in the roots, compared to other heavy metals. Generally, the heavy metal levels in paddy grains were below FAO/WHO’s tolerable daily intake levels, indicating minimal non-carcinogenic risks to both adults and children. The bibliometric analysis indicated a significant increase in related publications, reflecting growing academic interest. This study highlights the potential of non-major sites to produce rice with lower contamination levels, provides insights into research trends, and identifies future investigation areas, especially for major production sites and post-COVID-19 periods. Therefore, this study offers a robust scientific context, identifies research gaps, benchmarks findings, and guides future research directions, ensuring an in-depth perception on heavy metal contamination and its health risks. © This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This article explores the intersection between traditional textile craftsmanship and digital innovation through the Hands series, a project that integrates tangible and virtual artefacts. Grounded in post-digital aesthetics, Hands examines the rematerialisation of textile heritage by combining traditional techniques with immersive technologies such as augmented reality and digital modelling. The project questions the physical and digital dichotomy, proposing new ways of experiencing textile art beyond its material constraints. By incorporating multisensory elements and interactivity, Hands redefines the engagement between spectators and artefacts, expanding the narrative potential of textile traditions in contemporary artistic practice. This study critically analyses how post-digital textile aesthetics can serve as a bridge between preservation and innovation, fostering an enriched sensory experience. The discussion highlights the challenges and opportunities of integrating emerging technologies into artistic processes, reinforcing the relevance of sensory engagement in digital art contexts.

As a special administrative region of China, Macau, despite its small size and limited resources, has been actively promoting low-carbon development to address the global climate change challenge. In recent years, Macao has provided important support for achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality by formulating a series of policies, such as energy management, promotion of green buildings and optimization of waste treatment. However, despite the clarity of the policy framework, its actual implementation and effectiveness still need to be systematically reviewed. This study uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, interviews and questionnaires to gain an in-depth understanding of the social acceptance and public participation of policies, and quantitative data to analyze the implementation effects of policies, with a view to revealing the advantages and disadvantages of low-carbon policies in Macao. The research results will systematically evaluate the effectiveness of low-carbon policies in Macao from multiple levels. On the one hand, quantitative data will provide a clear empirical basis for the progress of low-carbon policies; On the other hand, qualitative research will reveal key social and technological barriers to policy implementation, helping to understand the impact of public attitudes and behaviour on policy effectiveness. These results can not only provide reference for Macao's future low-carbon policy adjustment, but also provide experience for other similar cities to cope with similar challenges in low-carbon development. The importance of this study lies in its dual contribution to academia and practice. At the academic level, this study has enriched the theoretical research on low-carbon city development, especially the special challenges of carbon emission reduction in resource-limited cities. At the practical level, the results of this study can directly provide policy makers with specific suggestions for improving low-carbon policies, such as resource allocation, technology introduction and public awareness. Through these analyses, the study hopes to provide a practical roadmap for Macao to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality, as well as a valuable reference for the low-carbon development of similar cities around the world.

Counterfeiting in luxury fashion presents unique opportunities for brands. While it negatively impacts them by diluting exclusivity, it also affects consumer psychology in unexpectedly positive ways. Authentic consumers may feel pride in being copied, enhancing their perceived status by owning something only a few can possess. Additionally, counterfeits act as free marketing tools, increasing brand awareness on a scale not otherwise accessible, especially for niche or inconspicuous luxury brands. Moreover, counterfeiting offers an opportunity for differentiation through sustainability. Counterfeiters, focused on low-cost production, often cannot commit to sustainable and ethical standards. Luxury brands can leverage this by emphasizing their commitment to sustainability, distancing themselves from counterfeits. Strategically, this allows brands to attract consumers who previously purchased counterfeits, converting them into loyal customers of authentic products. This chapter explores how luxury fashion brands can leverage these dual dynamics to strengthen their market position.

This study aims to explore the difficulties and challenges faced by regular primary school teachers in Macao when dealing with inclusive students in the classroom. As the concept of inclusive education deepens, the number of inclusive students in Macao has been increasing, but the growth of schools participating in inclusive education has been slow, posing more challenges for regular primary school teachers. This research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining classroom observations and in-depth interviews to comprehensively understand the issues teachers face. The study conducted structured observations of 15 lessons, covering 5 grade levels and 5 subjects, and carried out in-depth interviews with 7 teachers. The findings reveal: (1) Inclusive students generally experience difficulties in classroom participation, task completion, and independent learning; (2) Teachers generally lack sufficient professional knowledge and skills to effectively address the needs of inclusive students; (3) Schools lack resources and support, including adaptive curriculum arrangements and assessment methods for inclusive students; (4) There are contradictions between current educational policies and practical needs, such as the no-retention policy for grades 1-4, which may lead to missing the best intervention timing for inclusive students. Based on the research results, this paper proposes recommendations including strengthening teacher professional development, optimizing school resource allocation, improving educational policies, reinforcing early identification and intervention mechanisms, and promoting home-school cooperation. These findings and suggestions provide important references for policy-making and practical improvements in inclusive education in Macao. 本研究旨在探討澳門普通小學教師在課堂應對融合學生時所面臨的困難及挑戰。隨著融合教育理念的普及，澳門融合學生數量不斷增加，但參與融合教育的學校數量增長緩慢，使得普通小學教師面臨更多挑戰。本研究採用混合研究方法，結合課堂觀察和深度訪談，以全面了解教師面臨的問題。 研究對15節課進行了結構化觀察，涵蓋5個年級和5個學科，並對7位教師進行了深度訪談。研究發現：（一、）融合學生在課堂參與、任務完成和自主學習等方面普遍存在困難；（二、）教師普遍缺乏足夠的專業知識和技能來有效應對融合學生；（三、）學校資源和支援不足，缺乏針對融合學生的適應性課程安排和評核方式；（四、）現行教育政策與實際需求之間存在矛盾，如一至四年級不留級制度可能導致錯過融合學生最佳干預時機。 基於研究結果，本文提出了加強教師專業發展、優化學校資源配置、完善教育政策、強化早期識別和干預機制，以及促進家校合作等建議。這些發現和建議為澳門融合教育的政策制定和實踐改進提供了重要參考。 關鍵詞：融合教育，普通小學教師，融合學生，澳門

本研究旨在探討跨學科教學方法在數學教育中的應用效果,特別聚焦於編 程與數學課程的整合。探討結合數學與編程的跨學科教學設計對小學四年級學 生的影響,旨在提升學生的數學和編程學習的成效。研究採用 5E 教學模式, 將 Scratch 3.0 編程活動融入數學課程,並進行實驗以評估其成效。研究對象為 澳門一所學校兩個四年級普通班級(A 班和 B 班)的學生,分為實驗組和對照 組。研究採用交叉設計,進行兩次實驗:實驗一以 A 班為實驗組、B 班為對照 組,進行《旋轉對稱圖形》單元的跨學科教學;實驗二則互換角色,以 B 班為 實驗組、A 班為對照組,進行《可以被 3 整除的數》單元的跨學科教學。研究 使用數學單元測驗卷、數學學習動機量表,以及學生的數學測驗成績和編程學 習動機量表作為評估工具。 研究結果顯示: 一、數學成績提升:實驗組學生的數學成績顯著高於對照組。 二、數學學習動機增強:實驗組學生在數學興趣和自我效能感方面均有顯 著提升。 三、編程學習動機提升:實驗組在編程社會價值、感知編程效用、編程興 趣和自我效能方面均有顯著的提升。 結論指出,實施編程活動融入數學科的跨學科教學,提升學生的數學成 績、數學和編程的學習動機。建議應推廣此類跨學科教學,並加強教師培訓及 教學資源開發,以提高學生的學習動機和成效。未來研究可擴大樣本範圍,探 討長期效果及多學科整合的影響。 This study investigates the impact of interdisciplinary teaching design integrating mathematics and programming on fourth-grade elementary school students, aiming to enhance their learning outcomes in both subjects. The research employs the 5E instructional model, incorporating Scratch 3.0 programming into the mathematics curriculum, and conducts experiments to evaluate its effectiveness. The study subjects are two regular fourth-grade classes (Class A and Class B) from a school in Macau, divided into experimental and control groups. A crossover design is used, conducting two experiments: in Experiment 1, Class A serves as the experimental group and Class B as the control group for the "Rotational Symmetry Figures" unit; in Experiment 2, the roles are reversed, with Class B as the experimental group and Class A as the control group for the "Numbers Divisible by 3" unit. The study uses mathematics learning motivation and programming learning motivation scales as assessment tools. Major research findings are as follows: 1. Improved mathematics performance: The experimental group's mathematics scores were significantly higher than the control group's. 2. Enhanced mathematics learning motivation: The experimental group showed significant improvements in mathematics interest and self-efficacy. 3. Increased programming learning motivation: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in programming social value, perceived programming utility, programming interest, and self-efficacy. The conclusion indicates that the 5E instructional model effectively promotes the integration of mathematics and programming, enhancing students' learning outcomes. It is recommended that educational institutions promote such interdisciplinary teaching and strengthen teacher training and teaching resource development to improve students' learning motivation and effectiveness. Future research could expand the sample size to explore long-term effects and the impact of multi-disciplinary integration.

本研究旨在探討澳門 25-34 歲年齡層個人對生育權的認知與理解,以及這 些觀點對其生涯規劃和性別平等態度的影響。澳門作為一個快速發展的特別行 政區,關於生殖權的討論仍然較為缺乏,這使得本研究特別重要,因為它有助 於填補這一領域的知識空白。本研究採用質性研究方法,通過有目的抽樣,對 20 名年齡在 25-34 歲之間的澳門居民進行半結構訪談,並以詮釋學方法分析數 據。 研究發現如下: 1. 男性參與者更關注個人角色和責任,並反思社會期望和文化價值觀。 2. 女性參與者則更關注社會期望與個人自主權的衝突,並關心性別平等和 個人權利。 這些差異突顯了性別角色和社會責任在男性和女性身上的不同詮釋,並反映 了社會、文化和個人因素對於性別觀點的塑造作用。研究結果對於推動澳門的 性別平等政策和生殖權利保障具有重要意義,並為後續研究提供了實證基礎。 This study aims to explore the awareness and understanding of reproductive rights among individuals aged 25-34 in Macau, as well as the impact of these views on their career planning and attitudes towards gender equality. As a rapidly developing Special Administrative Region, Macau still lacks extensive discussion on reproductive rights, making this research particularly important as it helps to fill the knowledge gap in this field. The study employs qualitative research methods, using purposive sampling to conduct semi-structured interviews with 20 Macau residents aged 25-34, and analyzes the data using hermeneutic methods. The findings of the study are as follows: 1. Male participants are more concerned with individual roles and responsibilities, and they reflect on societal expectations and cultural values. 2. Female participants are more focused on the conflict between societal expectations and personal autonomy, and they are concerned with gender equality and individual rights. These differences highlight the varying interpretations of gender roles and social responsibilities between men and women and reflect the influence of social, cultural, and personal factors on gender perspectives. The research results have significant implications for promoting gender equality policies and reproductive rights protection in Macau, providing an empirical basis for subsequent studies.

Este livro é resultado do I International Meeting da Law and Development Research Network (LDRN) ou Rede de Pesquisa Direito e Desenvolvimento. As temáticas do encontro internacional foram os objetivos do desenvolvimento sustentável, o desenvolvimento e a inclusão socioeconômicos. O evento foi organizado pelo grupo de pesquisa Direito e Sociedade Econômica (DISE), que completa uma década, orientado à pesquisa e à solução de problemas socioeconômicos sob a ótica jurídica. Está vinculado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (PPGD/UNESC), localizado em Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brasil. O evento contou com o apoio institucional da Universidade São José (USJ, Macau-China), da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (UEM, Moçambique) e da UNESC. Participaram do comitê científico Prof. Dr. Almeida Zacarias Machava (UEM); Prof. Dr. Ângelo Patrício Rafael (USJ); Prof. Dra. Camila Villard Duran, ESSCA School of Management, França; Prof. Dr. Fernando de Magalhães Furlan, UNICEPLAC, Brasil; e Prof. Dra. Rúbia Carneiro Neves, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil. A coordenação-geral coube ao Prof. Dr. Yduan de Oliveira May, UNESC, coordenador do DISE e da LDRN. Cumprimenta-se o Prof. Dr. Ansoumane Douty Diakité (USJ) pelo prefácio, no qual discorre com generosidade suas impressões das atividades da LDRN e a ordenação temática deste livro.

In the hype of multi-/inter-disciplinarity, is the voi-ce or voices of theistic religions and the attendant philosophical moral awareness (etymologically bet-ter rendered as conscientização in Portuguese) still meant to be heard? Can classical tales of saints and sinners remain part of the canon of public literacy? How existential is the threat of “organised religions” or otherwise established ecclesiastical structures posed to society when they are accused of attempting to fight proxy crusades against humanitarian enlightenment under the guise of religious literature? Are tenets pro-pounded by scholars like Gavin D’Costa in Theology and the Public Square (2005) to be politely bracketed when discussing perennial values? Values that respon-sible media strive to propagate, particularly the value of human dignity eulogised by the life exemplars of great figures in times of existential crises of whatever magnitude. With these questions in mind, this article will hearken back to the stories of two “grandees” in the Roman Catholic tradition who left their marks on the pages of the development of modern English and Chinese literacy. Newman’s Apologia pro vita sua(1865) is just but one of the tactical devises for his defense of creedal integrity, while Ma Xiangbo engaged in catholicising the Chinese national ethos through educational literacy for close to half a century. We shall phenomenologically draw inspirations from their parallel vision and experience on what lends power to the medium of words and deeds in shaping informed public conscience in regard to the core values of truth, good, and beauty.

Critical thinking disposition (CTD) is increasingly recognized as an important trait in education, reflecting the inclination and habits necessary for addressing complex challenges in today's world. This study assessed the CTD of students enrolled in a tourism and gaming management programme, focusing on two key dimensions: Analyticity and Open-Mindedness. This study was conducted at a university in Macao and involved 65 participants. The students were presented with an article relevant to their major, written in Traditional Chinese, and were asked to provide their opinions on each statement in the article. A rubric was designed to analyze their responses and assess their Analyticity and Open-Mindedness within the CTD framework. The results demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and revealed an association between Analyticity and Open-Mindedness. Using Python programming, the study analyzed the frequency of parts of speech (POS) in students' responses, introducing a novel approach for evaluating CTD in Traditional Chinese. Regression modeling showed that parallel and adversative conjunctions significantly predicted Analyticity, while the frequency of conjunction use varied across Open-Mindedness classifications. These findings highlighted an innovative and objective method for assessing CTD through text analysis, offering promising applications for educational research in Traditional Chinese-speaking contexts.

In this paper, we demonstrate that the effects of Dark-Matter, partially in the way proposed by the Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), emerge naturally from the standard theory of General Relativity (without any modification) under a new proposed vacuum solution. There is a family of metric solutions able to reproduce the galaxy rotation curves and the relevant scales where the Dark-Matter effects are supposed to appear in a galaxy. This family of solutions deviate from the standard spherically symmetric solution. The proposed formulation, being relativistic by nature, opens the scenario where we can test the relativistic effects attributed to Dark-Matter and having relevance in cosmology. Among such effects, we have gravitational lensing, effects on the CMB scenario and effects on the formation of galaxies.

The pandemic exposed weaknesses in the global trade system, making it clear that climate actions are the priority in the recovery. International organizations are urging countries to seize this opportunity and integrate climate-friendly trade and investment rules to promote sustainable development. Trade is recognized as a powerful tool for tackling climate change, offering economies ways to both reduce emissions and adapt to environmental changes. In this paper, we investigate the digital and sustainable trade facilitation measures implemented in ASEAN countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. We use a well-established trade model, the gravity model, to assess the impacts of trade facilitation efforts, particularly those that leverage digital technologies and promote sustainability. The data for this analysis comes from the UN Global Survey on digital and sustainable trade facilitation in 2017, 2019, and 2021. The results show that trade facilitation measures are crucial to increasing trade among the ASEAN countries. Measures of transparency of trade procedures, trade formality alleviation, and cross-border paperless trade have significant positive impacts on bilateral trade between ASEAN countries.

本書由36 位不同界別的領袖、專家和學者，分享與人口老齡化相關的精闢觀察與洞見，探索創新永續的生活和經濟模式，包括相關的政策、黃金時代經濟的發展、中國安老服務的新視野、醫康養老新發展、智齡科技的應用、永續人才和社區發展等議題，為業界提供參考，亦為45 歲以上的黃金一代應對未來退休生活提供啟發。 「我們的生活越來越受創新技術的影響，我們的社會也更加重視綠色生活和可持續發展。科技和綠色生活方式必須融入智齡產品和服務中。」 —— 陳茂波 香港特別行政區財政司司長 「我們的共同目標是在老齡化世界中不讓任何人掉隊。」 —— 威廉•史密斯博士 聯合國紐約總部老年事務非政府組織委員會主席 「我們深信人口老化為全球帶來嶄新的機遇。中、老年人是唯一正在不斷增長的人力資源，也是創新產品和服務的龐大消費群體。」 —— 容蔡美碧 黃金時代基金會創會主席

By using both the weak-value formulation as well as the standard probabilistic approach, we analyze Hardy’s experiment introducing a complex and dimensionless parameter (ϵ), which eliminates the assumption of complete annihilation when both the electron and the positron departing from a common origin cross the intersection point P. We then find that the paradox does not exist for all the possible values taken by the parameter. The apparent paradox only appears when ϵ=1, which is just a singular value. In this paper we demonstrate that this particular value is forbidden inside the scenario proposed by the experiment.

The aviation sector is transforming as electrification emerges as a promising technology. Adopting battery-electric aircraft (BEA) - aircraft that solely rely on rechargeable onboard batteries - is a sustainable alternative to conventional aviation that could change short-haul regional travel habits for business and leisure travellers. This study examines the factors influencing individuals’ public acceptance in China's Greater Bay Area (GBA) context. Given the limited research, a qualitative methodology grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) examines the underlying factors influencing behavioural intentions (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and perceived risks). The findings indicate that participants recognise the technology's environmental benefits and potential to enhance regional connectivity; however, they still have concerns about safety, infrastructure, and operations. The respondents’ perceived ease of access, information available, and endorsements from reputable sources also have essential roles in influencing broader acceptance. Addressing these factors with appropriate communication efforts is vital for promoting trust and accelerating technology acceptance and use. Although exploratory, this study offers insights to develop strategies for infrastructure readiness, build public confidence, and endorse sustainable aviation. The research is conducted within the GBA context. Still, the findings also apply to regions with fragmented geographies or developing transportation networks, thus contributing to global environmental sustainability and advancing regional integration goals.

Critical thinking disposition (CTD) is increasingly recognized as an important trait in education, reflecting the inclination and habits necessary for addressing complex challenges in today's world. This study assessed the CTD of students enrolled in a tourism and gaming management programme, focusing on two key dimensions: Analyticity and Open-Mindedness. This study was conducted at a university in Macao and involved 65 participants. The students were presented with an article relevant to their major, written in Traditional Chinese, and were asked to provide their opinions on each statement in the article. A rubric was designed to analyze their responses and assess their Analyticity and Open-Mindedness within the CTD framework. The results demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and revealed an association between Analyticity and Open-Mindedness. Using Python programming, the study analyzed the frequency of parts of speech (POS) in students' responses, introducing a novel approach for evaluating CTD in Traditional Chinese. Regression modeling showed that parallel and adversative conjunctions significantly predicted Analyticity, while the frequency of conjunction use varied across Open-Mindedness classifications. These findings highlighted an innovative and objective method for assessing CTD through text analysis, offering promising applications for educational research in Traditional Chinese-speaking contexts.

We demonstrate that the flavor oscillation when a neutrino travels through spacetime, is equivalent to permanent changes on the vacuum state condition perceived by the same particle. This can be visualized via the Quantum Yang Baxter equations (QYBE). From this perspective, the neutrino never breaks the symmetry of the ground state because it never selects an specific vacuum condition. Then naturally the Higgs mechanism cannot be the generator of the neutrino masses. The constraints emerging from this model predict a normal mass hierarchy and some specific values for the mass eigenvalues once we fix the mixing angles. Interestingly, the model suggests that the sum of the mix angles is equal to $\pi/2$.