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The Spatial Change and Distribution of Senior Citizens 1980 – 2020 in Sarawak, Malaysia
Get PDFThis research explores the spatial distribution and demographic shifts of senior citizens in
Sarawak, Malaysia from 1980 to 2020, highlighting the impacts of urbanization, social
policies, and infrastructure changes. Utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS)
techniques and analyzing secondary data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia
(DoSM), this study maps the trends and patterns affecting senior citizen populations in
urban and rural settings. The GIS approach was employed to analyze demographic data,
providing insights into the spatial dynamics of aging populations across Sarawak. This
method facilitated a detailed examination of how changes in urbanization and policy have
influenced the distribution and density of senior citizens. Results indicate a significant
increase in the senior population in major urban centers such as Kuching, Miri, and Sibu,
driven by robust urbanization and internal migration towards areas with better amenities
and healthcare services. The study also notes marked differences in the distribution of
senior citizens between rural and urban areas, shaped by infrastructural and policy
developments over the past four decades.The findings have substantial implications for
urban planning and public policy in Sarawak. They underscore the necessity to enhance
urban infrastructure and services to support an aging population and highlight the need for
integrated spatial planning and social services to address the requirements of rural senior
citizens. The research advocates for proactive and sustainable urban planning to improve
the quality of life for Sarawak’s elderly residents. Further investigation is suggested into
the effects of climate change and environmental factors on the residential choices of senior
citizens and longitudinal studies to evaluate the effectiveness of policies on their welfare.
This study contributes significantly to the fields of population demographics and
geographic research by demonstrating how GIS can be effectively used to analyze and
respond to the challenges of aging populations in the context of rapid urbanization and infrastructural evolution. It calls for leveraging geospatial technology in policy-making to
enhance community welfare, particularly for senior citizens
Simultaneous recovery of ammonium sulfate and ice from aqueous solution using eutectic freeze crystallization process
Get PDFThis study investigated the feasibility of eutectic freeze crystallization (EFC) process for ammonium sulfate (AS)
salt recovery from 41 wt% AS solution. The EFC experiments were conducted using a 1 L double-jacketed crystallizer coupled with a recirculating chiller under varying freezing time, seed mass and seed size. The EFC process demonstrated successful AS salt recovery and water purification with the highest ice purity attained at 96.28 %. The construction of a binary AS-water phase diagram allowed the determination of the eutectic tem perature, which was found to be − 19.06 ◦C at 40 wt% of AS solution. The results indicated that the increase in freezing time enhanced the AS nucleation rate, growth rate, yield and mean product crystal size. The intro
duction of seeding not only provided well-controlled crystal nucleation and growth during EFC process, but also
promoted the formation of larger, well-structured crystals and reduced agglomeration. Overall, the EFC process
is a viable and promising option for recovering AS from wastewater, which offers high potential towards
achieving zero liquid discharge goal, i.e. a sustainable and efficient approach in managing industrial effluent rich
in ammonium and sulfate contaminants
Stomach content analysis reveals insights into the feeding ecology of coastal cetaceans in Sarawak, Malaysia
No full textThis study examined the stomach contents of seven Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides),
two Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris), and one Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) retrieved
from stranding and bycatch events along the Sarawak coastline. From these stomach contents, 170 fish, 150
cephalopod, and six crustacean loose prey items were found, representing 23 prey species from 18 families. Prey
item importance was assessed using the percentage by number and percentage by frequency of occurrence
methods as well as a modified index of relative importance. The diet of finless porpoises comprised 64%
cephalopods, 33% fish and 3% crustaceans. The prey items found in Irrawaddy dolphins stomachs comprised
99% fish and 1% cephalopods. All three cetacean species were found to feed on fish across a wide range of
trophic levels. Finless porpoises and Irrawaddy dolphins shared the most numerically important fish family, the
Engraulidae (anchovies). Meanwhile, the Ariidae (catfish) family was the most numerically important fish family
for the humpback dolphin. A few prey species found in the stomach contents (i.e. anchovies, drums or croakers,
marine catfish and false trevally) are commercially important fish species in Sarawak. This overlap, coupled with
previous studies that demonstrate co-occurrence of cetacean hotspots and artisanal and commercial fishing
effort, suggests a high likelihood of cetacean-fisheries interactions and elevated risk of cetacean entanglement
and mortality. This is a serious concern, as humpback dolphins and finless porpoises are considered Vulnerable
and Irrawaddy dolphins Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. All dolphins and finless porpoises
are also listed as Totally Protected in Sarawak’s Wild Life Protection Ordinance (1998)
Pekeliling Pentadbiran Bil. 1 Tahun 2025: Penerimaan Pemakaian Surat Edaran Pelaksanaan Kenaikan Pangkat Secara One-Off Melibatkan Pegawai Kumpulan Pengurusan dan Profesional Gred 9, Gred 10 dan Gred 12 di bawah Sistem Saraan Perkhidmatan Awam (SSPA)
Get PDFRecommendations for enhancing research outcomes and the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation in post-stroke motor rehabilitation for local settings
Get PDFTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged
as a potential adjunct therapy for post-stroke motor
rehabilitation. While conventional rehabilitation methods
remain the primary approach to improving motor function
after stroke, many patients experience incomplete recovery,
necessitating the exploration of additional interventions.
This commentary article examines the role of tDCS in poststroke motor recovery, focusing on its mechanisms,
efficacy, and limitations. Herein, the variability in research findings and individual patient responses as well as the recommended methods for optimising tDCS use in local
clinical settings are highlighted
Job Crafting and Employee Engagement Among Employees in Public Organisations in Malaysia
No full textOrganizations are continuously seeking ways to make jobs more meaningful to improve employee engagement and productivity. It is important to understand public sector employee perceptions of job crafting and engagement as this group represent a significant number of the workforce, and their engagement directly influences organisational performance. This study investigates the relationship
between job crafting and employee engagement among employees in public organisations in Malaysia. A cross-sectional, quantitative research approach was employed with a self-administered survey questionnaire disseminated among employees from two public organisations in Malaysia (N = 114). The respondents comprised of 65 millennials and 49 non-millennials. Findings from an independent sample t-test showed no significant differences in employee engagement levels between millennials and non-millennials. The job crafting dimensions (increasing structural resource and social resources, increasing challenging job demands, and decreasing hindering job demands) were significantly
associated with employee engagement. Public organisations and human resource development practitioners can leverage these insights to design interventions and formulate policies that encourage job crafting behaviours thereby fostering a highly engaged workforce
A Study on the Impact of Chamber Size, Configuration, Environmental Factors and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) Integration on Microbial Fuel Cell Voltage
No full textThe study examines the effect of chamber size, Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) arrangement, environmental conditions on voltage production, and the influence of connecting Power Management System (PMS) with MFC. A 6-unit single-chamber MFC device was built using soil as a catalyst and coconut leaves as a substrate. It was then connected to a PMS. The study showed that a 350 ml MFC unit arranged in series produced a greater voltage of 457 mV compared to a 700 ml container. The smaller chamber was connected in series and integrated with a PMS consisting of a charge pump, DC-DC boost converter, and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), which led to a maximum stable voltage of 10.56 V. It highlights the possibility of increasing voltage consistently by using smaller MFC chambers, dirt as a catalyst, coconut leaves as a substrate, and aluminum as an electrode, together with a thorough PMS setup
Developing engineering students’ empathy skills using serious games in project management : an exploratory study
No full textThis study explores the integration of serious games into engineering education to enhance empathy skills, a critical but often overlooked soft skill in technically focused curricula. Using a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design, the research examines the effectiveness of the HR Toxic Workplace game, which simulates a toxic work environment to foster empathy and project management skills. Forty-nine engineering project management students from a Malaysian public university participated in four weeks of weekly gameplay sessions. Empathy was assessed using Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), which measures both cognitive and affective components across four subscales: Perspective Taking, Empathic Concern, Personal Distress, and Fantasy. Data were collected before and after the intervention through quantitative and qualitative instruments. Results indicate significant improvements in empa-thy, especially in the areas of perspective taking and personal distress. These outcomes demonstrate that serious games can provide immersive and interactive experiences that support empathy development, which traditional classroom methods may lack. This study adds to existing research on serious games in education and shows their value in addressing the empathy gap in engineering. It also suggests broader potential for gamified learning strategies in higher education
Exploring the Potential Effects of Tinospora crispa Extracts on RAGE Expression, Cytokine Modulation, and Cell Morphology in Methylglyoxal-Induced Osteoblast Inflammation
No full textHigh blood sugar levels are the primary cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a complex illness in which bone loss is a major but frequently disregarded consequences. One contributing factor is the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE), where compounds like methylglyoxal (MGO) react with proteins, impairing their function and causing oxidative stress. This process accelerates tissue damage in uncontrolled diabetes due to prolonged high blood sugar and oxidative stress, thus contributing to diabetic bone loss. Despite T. crispa’s established anti-hyperglycaemic properties, its role in mitigating MGO-induced bone disorders is poorly understood. This study explored the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycation properties of T. crispa water (TiW) and methanol (TiM) extracts, alone or combined with metformin, in MGO-stimulated hFOB 1.19 osteoblast cells. Phytochemical screening, GC-MS, FRAP, and BSA-MGO assays evaluated the extracts’ active compounds and properties. Cell viability assays identified non-toxic doses (>80%) for TiW (3000 μg/mL) and TiM (476 μg/mL). Luminex assays and ELISAs measured inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, M-CSF), RAGE components (flRAGE, sRAGE), and RANKL, while cell morphology was assessed for structural changes. Results showed that TiW (3000 μg/mL) and TiM (476 μg/mL) significantly reduced IL-1β levels. Additionally, TiM (238 μg/mL and 476 μg/mL) combined with metformin lowered IL-1β and IL-6 to undetectable levels, indicating synergistic effects. TiW increased sRAGE concentrations, suggesting reduced AGE binding and inflammation, while TiM exhibited varied effects on M-CSF levels. TiW combined with metformin significantly reduced flRAGE levels, supporting a synergistic effect. Morphometric analysis revealed TiM (238 μg/mL) with metformin mitigated MGO-induced cell damage, preserving cell health and structure. In conclusion, T. crispa extracts, particularly in combination with metformin, exhibit promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-glycation properties. These findings highlight the potential of T. crispa in preventing T2DM-associated bone loss by modulating inflammatory pathways, reducing AGE-RAGE interactions, and preserving osteoblast integrity