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Future of Work in Asia: Transforming Work Models, Workforce Dynamics and Workplace Technology
No full textOne of a series of titles on the Futures of Asia, this book explores diverse facets of Asia’s work landscape during the transformative 2020s, offering insights into pivotal transformations and potential trajectories. The covered topics include future work models, the role of technology in the future workplace, the dynamics of the future workforce, and the evolving landscape of work. Examining the topics from corporate foresight and past-future to technological trends and environmental shifts, this book showcases a collaborative effort from multidisciplinary researchers navigating the complexities of forecasting and envisioning Asia’s work futures. This book offers valuable insights into the dynamic discourse on future studies, while offering a nuanced understanding of the work possibilities that lie ahead of Asia as well as deciphering Asia’s evolving impact and roles within the broader global context. This is an insightful read for scholars with an interest in Asian work and future studies
Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Scarabaeidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in Sarawak.
No full textBeetles of Scarabaeidae have many ecological roles in terrestrial ecosystems. They are important as agricultural pests, biological control agents, pollinators, decomposers, and biological and environmental indicators. Despite their abundance in the ecosystem, there is no comprehensive checklist of scarab beetle, and lack of distribution models of the studied taxa to map high biodiversity area using their distribution. Hence, this study aims to document and compare the diversity of scarab beetles and predict their spatial distribution across different localities in Sarawak. Therefore, this study utilised various sampling methods such as handpicking, aerial netting, baited traps, flight intercept traps, and light traps covering 17 localities within Sarawak. As a result, a total of 1,551 beetle individuals were collected representing 126 total species from six subfamilies (Apodiinae, Cetoniinae, Dynastinae, Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, and Scarabaeinae). Among these, Melolonthinae was recorded as the most speciose and abundant subfamily with 49 species (39.99%) and 909 individuals (58.61%), respectively. In terms of individual count, the most abundant species was represented by Apogonia destructor with 315 individuals (20.31%). By localities, Sebangkoi is the most speciose site recorded with 46 beetle species, whereas Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary was recorded with the most abundant with 311 individuals. Overall, Sabal Agroforestry had the highest biodiversity indices (Simpson 1-D = 0.9451; Shannon = 3.352). Besides, heath forest was recorded as the most diverse forest type for scarab beetles
(Simpson 1-D = 0.9655; Shannon = 3.548). Additionally, the Jaccard similarity index was calculated between localities and forest types, where Gua Temurang and Gua Raya were
found to have the highest index among all localities with 0.381. Meanwhile, limestone forests and mixed dipterocarp forests shared the highest Jaccard similarity index of 0.2609. For spatial distribution of Scarabaeidae in Sarawak, selected genera, namely, Ixorida sp. v (AUC = 85.4%), Chalcosoma spp. (AUC = 85.1%), Apogonia spp. (AUC = 90.6%), Anomala spp. (AUC = 90.1%) and Onthophagus spp. (AUC = 87.0%) were analysed and all models showed similar distribution prediction toward the coastal line of
Sarawak. Of these, Bio 4, Bio 13, Bio 15, Bio 17, and Bio 18 were found as the most contributing environmental variables, representing temperature seasonality, precipitation of
wettest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of driest quarter and precipitation of warmest quarter, respectively. In general, these models could be useful especially to the local authorities for future planning of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem’s management.
However, it is recommended that further studies can be rigorously conducted in terrestrial landscapes to provide a more comprehensive database for future conservation efforts
A Corpus-Based Cross-Cultural Study of Feminist Conceptual Metaphors in American and Chinese Magazines
No full textExisting studies on metaphors in magazines show generalized feminist conceptual metaphors. There is lack of research on how cultural values shape the construction of “woman” via feminist conceptual metaphors in different ideological contexts. This study adopts Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Social Role Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and Cultural Dimensions Theory to conduct a corpus-based comparative analysis of feminist conceptual metaphors in American and Chinese magazines. In this study, 1,098 articles with 1,664,733 words in the American magazines Ms. and Bust and 4, 182 articles with 3,631,345 words in the Chinese magazines 中国妇女 (Women of China) and 婚姻与家庭 (Marriage and Family) from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. AntConc 4.2.4 and SegmentAnt 1.0.0 tools were used for analysis. Analysis involved using Collostructional Analysis and Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) methods. The prevailing metaphors employed in American magazines include “war” and “journey”, which serve to construct women as resistors challenging gender binaries, fighting for individual rights (political, economic, and reproductive autonomy), and acknowledging other genders. In Chinese magazines, “architecture” and “force” are dominant metaphors. These metaphors serve to portray women as fundamental pillars of the social system, emphasizing their role in national development within the context of state frameworks, and placing a strong emphasis on the concept of harmonious integration. Cross-cultural analysis reveals shared metaphors (war, architecture, and journey) but divergent contexts. Conceptual metaphors in American magazines reflect an individualism and masculinity while conceptual metaphors in Chinese magazines reflect a collectivist ideology and femininity. Conceptual metaphors in magazines actively reconstruct women’s social roles and quietly stratify the needs of intersecting identities. They shape who counts in gender equality across cultures
Carbon Dots ZIF-8 Membrane for Lead(II) Removal
No full textHeavy metal pollution has become a significant problem in past years, owing to the fast growth of polluting industries. The most hazardous heavy metals, such as lead(II), might have catastrophic consequences for human health and this problem should be overcome. Therefore, a reasonable approach to tackle this issue is by introducing a membrane material derived from the combination of ZIF-8 and carbon dots material to remove the lead(II) from the aqueous solution. The aim of this research study is to fabricate carbon dots-ZIF-8 (CDs@ZIF-8) membrane and to evaluate the performance of modified ZIF- 8 membrane on the removal of heavy metal. This study was conducted through three phases in brief. The study started with the preparation of CDs@ZIF-8 membrane which involved the preparation from sago hampas, modification of alumina hollow fibre membrane using APTES and insitu solvothermal preparation. The second phase involved various kinds of characterization analysis; FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD and PSA. Subsequently, the removal of lead(II) by CDs@ZIF-8 membrane performance had been evaluated through the batch adsorption study and cross-flow filtration system. The 160°C CDs@ZIF-8 membrane exhibits better adsorption performance than the 200°C CDs@ZIF-8 membrane with a maximum lead(II) absorption potential of 95.16 mg/g and remove up to 74.73% of the lead(II) ions with the flux of 38.55 Lm-2h-1. The Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order model best
matched the lead(II) adsorption process onto the CDs@ZIF-8 membrane
Morphological and Genetic Characterisation of Seahorse Species (Syngnathidae : Hippocampus spp.) in the Waters of Sabah, Malaysia
No full textSeahorse are teleosts belonging to the genus Hippocampus which consists of 57 species. Among the 57 species, only 12 species exist in Malaysian waters and 11 species in the coastal waters of Sabah. These records and checklists pre-date 2015, and no known studies or field surveys have
been conducted in Sabah since then. In this study, a field survey was conducted in selected areas of Sabah waters to document the species composition through morphological and genetic identification. Out of the 11 species that were recorded previously, only two species (Hippocampus
barbouri and Hippocampus comes) were found and identified using taxonomic keys. CO1 mitochondrial gene was used for genetic identification and phylogenetic tree reconstruction of Maximum Likelihood (ML). The dataset comprises sequences of 11 species from Malaysian waters (excluding H. satomiae). The genetic distances, i.e., p-distances, for H. barbouri and H. comes were recorded to be less than 1% inter-species and more than 10% intra-species, which confirmed the distinct species genetically. Furthermore, findings highlight the urgency of implementing conservation strategies to protect the remaining populations, in light of limitations of this study
The Malaysia Plan : A Policy Initiative and/or a Shopping List
No full textThe Malaysia Plan, a cornerstone of national development strategy, is designed to guide economic and social progress through five-year planning cycles. Many countries implemented the five-year development plan because of the failure of the market or price mechanism to promote growth, efficiency and equity. The plan can help to accelerate the country’s economic growth and development through resource mobilization and allocation. However, its effectiveness has been increasingly questioned due to persistent gaps between
policy formulation and implementation. The process of making a Malaysia Plan is a lengthy exercise, involving all levels of the civil service, and numerous technical committees and taskforces. This paper critically examines whether the Malaysia Plan functions as a coherent policy initiative or merely a political shopping list. Drawing on document analysis and case-based evidence from Sarawak—specifically the Kuching Outer Ring Road and Samarahan projects—the study explores how institutional fragmentation, shifting political priorities, and budgetary constraints undermine project execution. The analysis is framed within institutionalism theory, revealing that over 60% of approved projects are not completed within the plan period. These findings suggest that the Malaysia Plan, while ambitious in scope, often fails to translate strategic objectives into actionable outcomes. The paper concludes with recommendations for enhancing institutional accountability, improving project selection transparency, and aligning budgetary processes
with long-term planning goals
A Comparative Study on Knowledge of Euphemism Between Two Generations of the Bidayuh Biatah of Sarawak
No full textEuphemism is a linguistic phenomenon often intrinsically linked with culture, reflecting or mirroring the values and norms of a particular language speaker’s community. This study addresses the insufficient research on euphemisms, particularly among the Bidayuh Biatah speakers. Additionally, there is a linguistic variation between the older and younger generations within the Bidayuh Biatah community, with older speakers often seen as preservers of their language, while the younger speakers are described as speakers of ‘youth language’. This study aimed to analyse euphemisms and compare the Bidayuh Biatah euphemism phenomenon among younger and older generations, highlighting aspects, strategies, and functions as well as the speakers’ understanding of the cultural influences on Bidayuh Biatah euphemisms to a certain extent. The research employed an ethnographic research design, comprising qualitative approach. The qualitative approach involved collecting data through open-ended, in-depth interviews with 16 informants from Kampung Quop: eight older and eight younger speakers, selected based on specific criteria. A word list based on Allan and Burridge (1991) was created as a guide to elicit euphemism in Bidayuh Biatah from the informants. The conceptual framework of this study includes the nine aspects of euphemism as per Allan and Burridge (1991), euphemism strategies in Warren’s Model as suggested by Yetkiner (2006), and the functions of euphemisms outlined by Burridge (2012). The study found that the younger speakers use all nine aspects of euphemism, while the older speakers used eight, excluding referrals of gods. In terms of the strategies, the older generation employed strategies like phonemic replacement and vague reduplication, which were not used by the younger speakers. Conversely, younger speakers used strategies such as borrowing from Malay, which the older speakers did not use. Nevertheless, circumlocution is a common strategy and was often used by both generations. In terms of the euphemism functions based on Burridge (2012), this study revealed the presence of protective, underhand, uplifting, cohesive, and ludic euphemisms, excluding provocative euphemism. These functions reflected the Bidayuh Biatah cultural beliefs and practices through the euphemisms and their functions. Each of the existing euphemism functions provides insight into the complex relationships between cultural influences and euphemistic language use in daily communication among the Bidayuh Biatah community
Examining student engagement in online ideological and political learning within vocational colleges in China
No full textThis study examines student engagement in online ideological and political (I&P) courses at higher vocational institutions during the pandemic's shift to online education. Recognising limited research on engagement in such politically charged remote learning contexts, the study investigates institutional, technological, and pedagogical drivers (RQ1) and grade-level variations in interaction patterns (RQ2). Integrating Activity Theory, Social Interaction, and Critical Pedagogy frameworks, a 12-dimensional questionnaire was developed, validated, and applied to 611 responses. This research fills a critical gap by examining engagement where ideological discourse intersects with remote learning constraints, proposing an integrated AT-SOI-CP framework to reconcile technical and sociopolitical dimensions of online I&P education. Quantitative analysis found student-teacher, student-student, and tool use significantly predicted content engagement. However, statistical analysis showed no significant differences in student-teacher interaction (H = 5.178, df = 3, p = 0.159), student-student interaction (H = 7.309, df = 3, p = 0.063), or student-content interaction (H = 5.661, df = 3, p = 0.129) across academic years. The study concludes with recommendations for optimising online pedagogies in I&P courses, emphasising structured collaboration and equitable power dynamics. These findings contribute theoretically and practically to understanding how technological, social, and pedagogical factors shape engagement in evolving educational landscapes
PhyOnto : An Ontology based Framework for Educational Physics Units and Measurements
No full textThe study of physics plays a fundamental role in understanding the natural world and its complex phenomena. To support accurate representation and computation of physics knowledge, digital ontologies have been developed. This paper presents a comprehensive physics ontology, PhyOnto, which captures domain knowledge related to units and measurement tools – critical elements in physics education and calculation. The ontology is constructed using the Web Ontology Language (OWL) within Protégé, following the “101 method” for ontology development. A series of rigorous evaluations, including taxonomy assessment, competency question validation, and content review, were conducted to establish its reliability and completeness. PhyOnto demonstrates strong potential in supporting physics education and questionanswering systems by enabling structured knowledge representation for calculation-based reasoning
Revolutionising Tourism Accessibility for The Deaf and Hard of Hearing with XR Technology
No full textExtended Reality (XR) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for enhancing accessibility and inclusiveness across various industries, including tourism. Despite technological advancements, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals continue to face significant challenges in fully engaging with tourism experiences due to communication barriers and the lack of tailored accommodations. This systematic review explores the potential of XR technologies to improve accessibility for this community, evaluates their effectiveness in addressing existing challenges, and examines their impact on travel experiences. A total of 16 studies were identified through a keyword search in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The review analyses research methodologies, types of XR technologies utilised—including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—and the advantages and limitations of their implementation. Findings suggest that XR can bridge communication gaps by providing immersive sign language translations, real-time captioning, and interactive visual guides, thereby enabling more engaging, informative, and independent tourism experiences for deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers. However, challenges such as high development and implementation costs, usability concerns, and the absence of standardised guidelines limit widespread adoption. This review highlights the need for user-centred design, active collaboration with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and further empirical studies to validate XR solutions. Future research should focus on improving long-term user engagement, enhancing the usability of XR applications, and expanding their integration across different tourism sectors. By addressing these gaps, XR technology can contribute to a more inclusive, accessible, and immersive tourism landscape for all travelers