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Spatial Divergence in Ageing and Dependency Burden Across Administrative Districts in Sarawak (2010–2020)
No full textThe demographic megatrend of population ageing presents profound challenges for Malaysia’s development agenda, particularly in East Malaysian states like Sarawak, where the pace of demographic transition is regionally uneven. While national-level projections forecast Malaysia becoming an aged nation by 2030, subnational disparities in ageing patterns and dependency burden are rarely analysed in spatially explicit terms. This gap limits the ability of local policymakers to plan for age-related pressures on social infrastructure, healthcare, and economic productivity. This study aims to examine the spatial divergence of ageing and dependency burden across administrative districts in Sarawak between 2010 and 2020. Using demographic data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the study calculates two key indicators: the Old-Age Dependency Ratio (OADR) and the Total Dependency Ratio (TDR). To identify spatial clusters of significant demographic burden, Hotspot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) was applied to 2020 data. Additionally, K-means Cluster Analysis was employed to classify districts into distinct ageing profiles based on their demographic transition rates and elderly population growth. The findingsreveal growing spatial inequality in ageing and dependency trends across the state. Several central and interior districts emerged as ageing hotspots with significantly higher OADR values. The cluster analysis identified five distinct district typologies (Clusters A–E), highlighting regions with rapid demographic ageing and those with persistently youthful structures. These insights demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of demographic ageing and challenge the applicability of one-size-fits-all policies. The study underscores the value of spatial analytical methods for informing decentralised policy design. By pinpointing regional disparities, the results support more targeted and equitable distribution of social services, healthcare infrastructure, and ageing related interventions, critical for achieving inclusive and resilient demographic outcomes in line with national family and population development goals
Advertisement calls of seven species of Sarawak frogs from the family Megophryidae
No full textThe vocalization patterns of frogs in the family Megophryidae from Sarawak, Malaysia, play a crucial
role in their behavioral ecology. This study aims to document and analyze the advertisement calls of seven Megophryidae species across diverse habitats in Sarawak. Using field recordings and acoustic analysis, distinct call characteristics, including frequency, duration, and temporal patterns, were identified. Advertisement calls were recorded and analyzed using SoundRuler Acoustic Analysis (ver.
0.9.6.0) and Praat Acoustic Software, allowing for species differentiation based on call parameters. The results revealed species-specific variations in vocalization, with pulse note count, note repetition rate, and dominant frequency emerging as the most distinguishing features. Leptobrachium ingeri exhibited the highest number of pulsed notes per call, while Leptobrachella gracilis demonstrated the highest note repetition rate, and Leptobrachella mjobergi produced the highest dominant frequency.
These findings enhance our understanding of species-specific vocalizations and their ecological significance, particularly in mate selection, territorial defense, and environmental adaptation. This study underscores the importance of acoustic monitoring in biodiversity conservation and provides a foundation for future research on amphibian communication in tropical ecosystems
REKA App Builder's Creator Basic Guides
No full textThe REKA / LEAP Creator Basic Guides provide a comprehensive introduction to building, managing, and deploying applications on the REKA platform using the LEAP App Builder. Designed for creators of all levels, this guide walks through the full application lifecycle—from creator onboarding and app setup to form design, datasets, dashboards, workflows, and advanced capabilities such as Lambda, Secrets, Cogna (AI), Krypta (blockchain), and digital signatures. It also covers essential operational features including navigation structure, user and access management, file buckets, endpoints, import/export, restore points, and issue reporting. With step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and best practices, this guide serves as a foundational reference for efficiently designing secure, scalable, and maintainable applications on the REKA platform
The CoA-MSA Consensus Statement on Green Anaesthesia: a starter toolkit for sustainable practice in Malaysia
No full textThe healthcare sector contributes approximately 4%–5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with anaesthetic practice identified as a notable source. Recognising the
urgent need for environmentally sustainable approaches, the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA) and College of Anaesthesiologists (CoA) have developed a national consensus statement to guide green and sustainable anaesthesia practice
in Malaysia
Development of Healthy Coping Intervention Framework for Childhood Trauma Among Malaysian Young Adults
No full textChildhood trauma has enduring effects on young adults’ emotional well-being, coping patterns,
and resilience. In Malaysia, culturally grounded and accessible trauma-informed interventions
remain limited. This study examines coping mechanisms among Malaysian young adults with
childhood trauma and develops a validated Healthy Coping Framework. Guided by the
Transactional Model of Coping, Narrative Theory, and Resilience Theory, an explanatory
sequential mixed-methods design was applied across three phases. Phase 1 involved a needs
assessment with 205 survey responses and 10 interviews. Quantitative findings showed that
individuals with higher trauma exposure reported significantly greater maladaptive coping.
Qualitative thematic analysis generated ten themes—such as self-doubt, intergenerational trauma,
emotional neglect, identity conflict, and cultural dissonance—highlighting the psychosocial
complexity of trauma experiences. Integrated findings informed the construction of the Healthy
Coping Framework. Phase 2 focused on developing the framework and psychoeducational module.
Expert evaluation indicated strong content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.835), while a pilot study with
28 participants demonstrated high treatment fidelity (94.6%) and feasibility of implementation.
Phase 3 implemented the final module across nine workshops involving 227 participants. Pre–post
assessments showed statistically significant improvements in coping awareness, emotional
regulation, and resilience, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.00). This study addresses a critical
gap in Malaysian mental health research by providing an empirically supported, culturally
responsive trauma-informed coping framework. It offers practical tools to enhance coping and
resilience among young adults and holds potential for broader application in community,
educational, and clinical settings.
Keywords: Childhood Trauma, Young Adults, Malaysia, Coping Strategies, Resilienc
Fishes
No full textThe Niah River, spanning a catchment area of 134,940 hectares and extending over 113.12 km, plays a critical role in the region’s ecosystem. Niah National Park, covering 3,138 hectares (approximately 2% of catchment area) supports a variety of aquatic habitats, including slow-flowing tributaries, swamps and cave passages within the Niah Caves Complex. The Niah River itself remains turbid throughout the year, primarily due to extensive land use activities, particularly oil palm plantations. While land use impacts are evident within the drainage system, the pristine forests within the Park provide a buffering effect, mitigating to some extent, these disturbances. The historical significance of the area is highlighted by visits from notable figures such as Tom Harrisson, a former Sarawak Museum Curator, who
explored the region in 1960 and 1963, and Lord Medway (at present, the Earl
of Cranbrook), who visited the site on 22 August 1959. Although the Park’s
geological history is well known, knowledge about its ichthyofauna remains
limited. To date, approximately 21 fish species from 12 families have been recorded from the main river, tributaries and swampy habitats within the area (see Checklist). Fish found outside the Park serve as a vital protein source for
Iban communities living along its perimeter. More extensive explorations are expected to lead to the discovery of additional fish species to the list appended
Deep Learning-Driven Beam-Steering for Dual-Polarized 28 GHz Antenna Arrays in 5G Wireless Networks
No full textThis study explores the development of a 28 GHz array antenna with beam-steering capability, consisting of four elements with dual linear polarization at ±45 degrees. We propose a method for synthesizing the array antenna’s radiation pattern using an active element pattern-deep neural network (AEPDNN). Beam-steering has become an attractive feature for researchers, as it enables users to move freely without affecting signal strength. An array analysis was conducted using a feedforward deep neural network (DNN) to generate a radiation pattern that achieves the desired steering angles. The proposed method takes
radiation patterns as inputs and outputs the corresponding phase values for the antenna elements. The training
dataset for the array antenna consisted of 6,859 radiation patterns, generated by adjusting the antenna element
phases, which were then used to train the DNN model with minimal complexity. The radiation pattern was
computed using AEP method since it is faster and less complex compared to full-wave modelling methods.
The DNN model was initially tested using radiation patterns from an ideal square shape. After training, the model was evaluated by inserting desired beam-steering angles of 5 and 10 degrees, and it was found that the radiation pattern produced by the DNN closely matched the intended input pattern. The DNN learning process takes approximately 2 to 3 minutes in terms of processing time. The training and validation Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and loss values converge to a minimum range of 1.3 to 2.3. Furthermore, the
AEP-DNN method was successfully validated using the pattern multiplication method, full-wave modelling, and measurement methods to verify the feasibility and reliability of the training and validation data, as well as the resulting radiation pattern. This antenna, incorporating AEP-DNN technology, holds significant potential for various applications, particularly in mobile communications
Do Innovation Strategies Shape Export Diversification? An Exploration from Middle Income Countries
No full textIt has been almost three decades that economies are striving for innovations to uplift their production frontier. This study endeavors to find the impact of Technology Choice Index (TCI) and patents to shape the export diversification scenario in sixty five middle income countries for the period 1995-2021. The countries are further segregated in two groups i.e. Upper Middle Income (UMI) and Lower Middle Income (LMI). The employed estimation technique is Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQR). The results favour both
innovation strategies to affect diversification in exports. Moreover, higher incentives for innovative output and higher productivity for manufacturing produce will have stronger
spillover effects upon diversified export frontier. Further, these findings suggest that adopting TCI should be at a balance between risks and benefits attached to it, as policy tool in these countries. The optimal increase in TCI and patents filing will remain a fortifying option for
middle income countries to increase export diversification. Future studies need to dig export diversification at country specific sectoral level
Economics and Finance Readings : Selected Papers from Asia-Pacific Conference on Economics & Finance, 2024
No full textThe Asia Pacific Conference on Economics and Finance (APEF 2024) was successfully held on December 12–13, 2024, at the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium. The conference brought together researchers from diverse countries, including Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Macao, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, UAE, UK, and the USA, to present a total of 41 research papers covering a wide range of pressing topics in economics and finance.
The conference featured keynote presentations from Heron Lim, Assistant Director at APAC Economist, Moody’s Analytics, Singapore, who provided insights into ‘Détente, Deglobalisation, Disaster—A Preview of 2025 Topics’, and Dr. Kai-Hong Tee from Loughborough University, UK, who explored ‘Liquidity and Trading in the Mutual Fund Market’.
Beyond serving as a research platform, APEF plays a vital role in sustaining the development of economics and finance research in the Asia Pacific. By fostering collaboration across institutions, disciplines, and geographical boundaries, APEF provides an avenue for knowledge exchange that supports policy innovation, financial resilience, and economic sustainability. The conference not only highlights emerging challenges and opportunities in the region but also nurtures a continuous research ecosystem that informs decision-making at both institutional and governmental levels. This book presents a curated selection of 11 outstanding papers from APEF 2024, offering readers profound insights into the evolving economic and financial landscape of the Asia Pacific. The collective contributions within these papers serve as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and industry professionals committed to shaping a more resilient and sustainable economic future
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PAPER-BASED PRODUCTS: PRISMA REVIEW OF PROCESS-BASED, INPUT–OUTPUT, AND HYBRID METHODS
No full textLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely used method for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle. A critical component of LCA is life cycle inventory (LCI) - a phase that quantifies all inputs (materials, energy) and outputs (emissions, wastes) of a product or system - which requires selecting an appropriate data acquisition method aligned with the study’s goals and context. This systematic review analyses 26 studies from SCOPUS using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method on the LCA of paper-based products (office paper, corrugated boxes, carton board packaging, and tissue papers), categorizing them into three methods: Process-Based, Input-Output (IO), and Hybrid. Each method’s alignment with research objectives, data sources, and system boundaries is examined. The findings indicate that the hybrid method—combining detailed process data with broader secondary databases and/or economic models—offers greater adaptability and completeness. The hybrid method is particularly useful when balancing data availability with assessment scope. To support method selection, this review presents a flowchart that serves as a support for method selection for future researchers and practitioners in choosing appropriate methods for LCA