University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) refers to a range imaging method for distance objects based on the principle of laser ranging. LiDAR environmental mapping technology is often highly praised for its precise mapping information with intricate features for various detection or tracking based applications. The research proposes a novel method for independently identifying and filtering noise clusters in 2-Dimensional (2D) LiDAR scans based on 2 distinct clustering algorithms of K-Means and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN). Results show DBSCAN to be the better choice as it is more robust and resistance to noise and outliers in the dataset and is capable of identifying clusters of any shape making it more versatile. Furthermore, to address the issue of dead zones present in LiDAR scanning, an innovative solution based on interpolating the discontinuous spatial results of the LiDAR scanning result to further reconstruct a 3-Dimensional (3D) viewing model by stacking multiple copies of 2D LiDAR scanning results with varying elevation is demonstrated by the results of the study to be a viable economical alternative for 3D LiDAR mapping.

The construction of a computer-based system (CBS) begins ideally with the elicitation of its requirements and the writing of a specification of its requirements, usually in the form of a natural-language (NL) requirements specifications (RS). This chapter begins by describing (1) three kinds of NL RSs: software requirements specification, a.k.a. SRSs, user manuals, and user stories, and (2) the qualities, such as correctness and lack of ambiguity, that they as NL RSs must have to serve their purpose of adequately specifying the requirements of a CBS. The chapter then defines the kinds of defects that an RS, being written in an NL, may suffer, with an emphasis on ambiguity as the kind of defect arising specifically from the use of NL to write the RS. The chapter describes how some defect-detection tools work. It observes that whether an NL RS has any of these kind of defects is fundamentally algorithmically undecidable. However, searching for instances of a finite number of indicators of some kinds of defects, such ambiguity or vagueness, is feasible with 100% recall. While an RS may not have such a defect without the presence of one its indicators, not every occurrence of an indicator of a defect is part of an instance of the defect. The chapter reviews efforts to empirically evaluate a defect-detection tool’s (1) effectiveness: how well a defect-detection tool detects the defects in its scope, often expressed in terms of recall and precision, and (2) usefulness: whether detecting these defects in an RS positively affects the quality of the CBS that is constructed from the RS. The chapter observes that the construction of many a defect-detection tool is accompanied by an empirical demonstration of its effectiveness, but not by any demonstration of its usefulness. Moreover, each of three attempts to empirically demonstrate usefulness of abstraction finding failed; neither did any of the found ambiguities cause serious problems nor were any of the serious problems caused by ambiguities. Instead, in each case, as a result of a robust requirements analysis process, all the stakeholders happened to agree on the meaning of every considered ambiguity. The chapter concludes by wondering whether any defect-detection tool is useful.

This chapter outlines key discourses pertaining to digital media and networked societies (and States). The Deleuzian principle of asignifying rupture posits an important opportunity to understand the nature of digital rhizomorphic publics in Southeast Asia, particularly in de-territorialising and re-territorialising between different societal causes and collectives. Alongside notions of belonging and identity, this chapter redefines collective responsibility as Connective Responsibility—regenerative and resilient given its colonial past, and critiques certain forms of solidarity as an outcome of collective guilt and/or saviourism. Movements of the individual between digital spaces and communities can propel a resilience that is continuous, creative, and inclusive. An analysis of 11,615 scraped data followed by a survey with 3856 respondents across the region provides insight on the perception of societies with regard to their systems of governance and key societal challenges to be addressed. The findings suggest the need for an inclusive digital ecosystem and several key ethical considerations in its implementation. Case studies from Malaysia and the region affirm that participatory modes of engagement and decision-making are essential to re-conceptualise the meaning and practice of “governance” in this region. Beyond the Marxist framework of data colonialism lies a productive approach to capacity-building affordances, collaborative actions, and participatory environments towards a rhizomorphic ecosystem of co-governance in this region.

This concluding chapter brings together the key arguments and insights presented throughout the book, emphasizing the critical need for a renewed digital social contract for Southeast Asia grounded in decolonial frameworks. It emphasizes the need to address inequalities, algorithmic exploitation, and the lasting impacts of colonialism by fostering ecological regeneration, inclusivity, and peacebuilding. The chapter revisits the concept of digital media ecovillages (DMEVs) as spaces for dialogue, resilience, and collaboration and underscores the importance of ethical guidelines, community-focused narratives, and regional partnerships in promoting trust, accountability, and participatory governance. The chapter underscores the potential of sociocratic digital interventions to reshape state-society relations, strengthen cultural identities, and to encourage equitable access to digital resources across the region. This approach calls for ongoing reflection and innovation to support Southeast Asia’s path toward a sustainable and inclusive digital future.

For Southeast Asian societies to engage more meaningfully in discussions and decisions affecting their communities, digital media interventions should be built on principles of inclusivity, ethics, and shared narratives. This chapter explores the potential of Digital Media Ecovillages (DMEVs) to restore, repair, renew, and regenerate communities in this region. This is conceptualised by adapting the CFIR (Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research) and Co-Production intervention frameworks to identify reflexive questions and domains for the design of a prototype applied to two digital health intervention projects undertaken between 2019 and 2025, namely Jiwa Ibu and MyPlantAI. Engaging with two different segments of the community (women/mothers in rural areas and cancer survivors/patients/caregivers) to develop digital health applications, I explore the potential for creative inclusivity in addressing healthcare needs in Malaysia. In reviewing the co-creation processes adopted in both projects, this chapter expands the ‘us with them’ dichotomy in Chap. 3 to emphasise the importance of the “doing with” typology in participatory intervention research with the intention to deepen relationships between communities, technology, and stakeholders through recurrent cycles of planning, action, and reflection. Through the incorporation of techno-social and techno-design principles, I posit that creative inclusivity is foundational to broader objectives of social justice and knowledge production in a regenerative and participatory ecosystem.

The strength of connective resilience lies in its shared narratives. In pursuit of a digital decolonialism, Southeast Asian societies must reconsider the dynamics of power and space, focusing on the socio-political implications of evolving digital ecosystems. This chapter analyses how digital spaces serve as platforms for governance, resistance, and participatory culture, while reflecting on the dualities and fragmentations inherent in these processes. By exploring symbolic disruptions and community-led initiatives, the chapter reveals both the challenges and potential of collaborative governance in contexts shaped by structural and historical complexities. This analysis is guided by a critical framework that interrogates the intersections of digital infrastructures, colonial legacies, and (creative) participatory practices and calls for approaches that resist digital orientalism. Drawing from a dataset of 2306 digital artefacts, including memes, videos, and user-generated content, it highlights the role of shared narratives and cultural resilience that are crucial to understanding identity formation that drives participatory culture in this region. This chapter recontextualises the notion of ‘becoming’, not as ‘us versus them’ but ‘us with them’, thus moving the interaction beyond reaction to engagement in a process. Finally, it explores a possible regenerative intervention of the Metaverse combined with a unique AI-model to shape inclusive and equitable digital futures.

The need for Southeast Asian communities to reclaim their rights and voices in the global (and local) digital ecosystem has become more urgent and apparent given the heightened division, discrimination, and polarisation in society. Digital spaces are increasingly subjected to capitalism and data colonialism, and digital media interventions have largely become tools for the entitled. Furthermore, the dehumanising nature of research and innovations on the digital seem to have distracted us from understanding the key elements that enable adoption and implementation of digital interventions for societal good. This chapter contextualises Digital Sociocracy as a theory for a decolonial participatory governance by revisiting the rhizomorphic approach through the constructs of an updated state-in-society model and considers the opportunities that emerge from the fragmentation of social control. This calls for a shift in State participation which supports sociocratic network societies that are formed within and between specific Digital Media Ecovillages. The Southeast Asia Decolonial Framework for Inclusive Networking, Engagement and Dialogue (DE-FINED), as a practical toolkit for participatory intervention research and for rethinking State-society dynamics. Highlighting possibilities from strategic co-governance, this chapter also discusses the potential for shared narratives and regional co-governance partnerships to address power imbalances and social injustices towards building a more meaningful participatory governance in this region.

The concept of circular economy (CE) as a pragmatic path to contribute to the ecosystem's sustainability has drawn the attention of many scholars and practitioners during the last decade. Circularity aims to decouple environmental pressure from economic growth by addressing two ends: the unlimited extraction of virgin resources and pollution through anthropogenic processes. CE is becoming an area of interest in quality education for ecosystem sustainability, and its integration into higher education programmes is noticeable. Adopting an appropriate strategy for teaching CE has become crucial for the process of internalizing the concepts in students, as the conceptualization of CE is vague and still developing. While popularly used in higher education, case studies have not been explored in great depth as an approach to teaching CE. This chapter is focused on building themes to examine the effectiveness of using case studies to facilitate the internalization process of CE concepts in students. In-depth interviews were conducted with the ten facilitators, the whole population of respondents who used case studies in their respective courses. Data was analyzed thematically, and a study framework was developed using grounded theory. Three themes, student engagement, student reflection on concepts, and lifelong learning, were identified to measure the effectiveness of the process of internalization of CE concepts using a case study approach. Interestingly, the interviews also suggest that the relevance of the case studies used, time constraints and institutional and operational constraints, could hamper the investigation of the effectiveness of the approach to teaching. It is recommended that filling the gaps in CE content, building a wider pool of case studies appealing to students from different backgrounds, and rectifying institutional constraints will be necessary before a major study is conducted to examine the success of using case studies.

Underground office workspaces (UOW) have emerged as a sustainable option in land-scarce megacities. Yet, the main challenge is to design and manage underground spaces that cater to the psychological needs of occupants. By integrating insights from social psychology, urban studies, and policy making, we identify and provide evidence for a key psychological mechanism underlying the adoption of UOW: “locus of control”, a psychological process that reflects whether people feel in control of their environment or see it as shaped by external forces. Study 1 (N = 1093) revealed that individuals who believe external forces strongly impact their lives tend to have more negative attitudes toward working at UOW, perceiving negative aspects of the underground environment (e.g., confinement) as more salient. Study 2 (N = 217) builds on the findings of Study 1 by demonstrating that individuals who feel strongly influenced by external forces actively avoid UOW as their workplace, as evidenced by differences in locus of control between current underground and aboveground office workers. The present findings uncover a key psychological mechanism that can facilitate the adoption of UOW and invites engineers, designers and management to develop UOW environments that promote a sense of control and autonomy, fostering sustainable and occupant-friendly urban infrastructure.

Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol known for its therapeutic potential, but faces limitations in clinical application due to its poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. This study envisaged developing stable ternary inclusion complexes of CUR with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and ascorbic acid (AA) as the ternary substance. Inclusion complexes were prepared by kneading and autoclaving method. Phase solubility studies revealed that the AL type relation between CUR and βCD. We observed The AA improved the stability of the ternary complexes with its stability constant as 138.8M− 1, complexation efficiency as 0.198, utility number as 3.96 and the bulk as 4.80. The solubilization power improved from − 17.42 to 1.33. Cytotoxicity assays using the A549 lung cancer cell line demonstrated that the ternary complex exhibits potent anticancer activity, comparable to pure CUR. In vitro dissolution tests showed a marked increase in the release rate of CUR from the ternary complex. Our study demonstrates that the inclusion of AA significantly enhances the solubility, stability, and biological efficacy of CUR. The higher stability constant and complexation efficiency of CUR-βCD-AA was due to improved interaction facilitated by AA. The inclusion complexes showed improved antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureas and Staphylococcus epidermis Enhanced dissolution rates and strong cytotoxic effects against A549 lung cancer cells further support the potential of this ternary complex in overcoming CUR’s bioavailability limitations. These results suggest that the CUR-βCD-AA ternary complex effectively enhances curcumin’s solubility, stability, and anticancer activity, offering a promising formulation strategy to overcome curcumin’s bioavailability challenges and improve its therapeutic potential.

This study aims to select a reinforcement incorporation method for 3D-printed concrete structures. Different reinforcement incorporation methods are used at present, however a selection of reinforcement incorporation methods needs special attention. The CRITIC objective weighting method with MABAC and SAW MCDM techniques is used. The selection process involves evaluating alternatives based on four key criteria: degree of automation, complication arising from reinforcement incorporation, time of incorporation, and structural efficacy. The alternatives considered include no reinforcement, conventional reinforcement, micro reinforcement, post-tensioned reinforcement, and sync reinforcement. During the selection process, the degree of automation and structural efficacy emerges as highly influential criteria. The CRITIC-driven MABAC and SAW models provide a ranking for the reinforcement incorporation methods. Conventional reinforcement is found to be the most preferable choice, followed by micro reinforcement and sync reinforcement. It is important to leverage the degree of automation in the post-tensioned method. Based on the findings, it is recommended to avoid employing 3D-printed concrete structures without reinforcement due to their low structural efficacy. This research provides valuable insights and guidance for selecting the most appropriate reinforcement incorporation method in 3D-printed concrete projects, promoting improved structural integrity and overall efficiency.

Southeast Asia hosts more felid species than any other region and, although smaller (< 30 kg) felids have important ecological roles, regional conservation has mainly focused on a few charismatic big cats. Information on the ecology and conservation status of small felids is often lacking or geographically limited. We used empirically derived scale-optimized models for seven species in three regions of Southeast Asia (mainland, Borneo and Sumatra) to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing protected areas network in preserving suitable habitats, and to map suitable areas lacking protection. Finally, we assessed whether small felids are good proxies of broader regional terrestrial biodiversity. On the mainland, the largest and most suitable habitats occurred in the Northern Forest Complex of Myanmar and in the region between Eastern Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. In these areas we also highlighted the most important protected areas. In Borneo, the most suitable habitats occurred in the central highlands and in the protected areas of Sabah. In Sumatra, the strongholds of habitat suitability were the Barisan Mountains, in the western extent of the island, and were highly concentrated within existing protected areas. We also found that the aggregated habitat suitability for small felids was correlated more strongly to terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity than was any single felid species individually, suggesting that areas that are suitable for multiple felid species have an association with high overall biodiversity. Overall, our assessment of the distribution of small felids in Southeast Asia highlights the fundamental importance of protected areas for biodiversity conservation, given that most species were highly associated with protected areas and regions with large extents of forest. Our results are a clarion call to expand the extent, and improve the conservation management, of protected areas in the remaining core habitat areas for multiple species in Southeast Asia, and to work to enhance and protect connectivity between them to ensure long-term demographic and genetic exchange among the region’s remaining wildlife populations.

Background There is a need to identify original molecules to develop drugs for the treatment of microbial infections. Such chemical entities could be found in secondary metabolites of rainforest plants that are not so well-known. This study examines the antibacterial and antibiotic- potentiating effects, and antiviral activities of six rainforest plants endemic to the primary rainforest of Malaysia. Methods Leaves, bark, fruits, and wood of Burkillanthus malaccensis, Cleistanthus bracteosus, Diospyros hasseltii, Kibatalia maingayi, Knema retusa, and Litsea spathacea were extracted successively with hexane, chloroform, and methanol, and tested against six human pathogenic bacteria species by disc diffusion and broth microdilution. The extracts were tested against influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) using MDCK cells. Results Of the 42 extracts tested, the hexane extract of fruits of D. hasseltii inhibited the growth of E. coli with the MIC value of 39 μg/mL. The chloroform extract of leaves of C. bracetosus potentiated the activity of levofloxacin against P. aeruginosa. The strongest antiviral activity was observed with the chloroform extract of leaves of C. bracteosus with the IC50 value of 6.3 μg/mL. The chloroform extract of bark of B. malaccensis with the IC50 value of 0.6 μg/mL was the most cytotoxic. Conclusion Preserving the primary rainforest of Malaysia is a means to preserve natural products with the ability to be developed as antimicrobial leads. In particular, D. hasseltii, C. bracteosus, and B. malaccensis could be examined for their active antimicrobial constituents.

Lactobacillus species show strong potential in fighting obesity-related inflammation and metabolic issues. Obesity causes inflammation in adipose tissue, which harms insulin sensitivity and leads to fat buildup. Lactobacillus strains like L. gasseri, L. reuteri, and L. plantarum help regulate lipid metabolism by boosting key genes, preventing fat cell formation, and encouraging fat breakdown. They also produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that improve gut health, activate metabolic pathways, and reduce inflammation. Studies in animals have shown that Lactobacillus can reduce body weight, fat, and inflammation, with L. plantarum being especially effective in improving gut microbiota and liver function. When combined with other probiotics or prebiotics, these strains work even better, enhancing lipid metabolism and reducing inflammation. These results suggest that Lactobacillus could be an effective way to manage obesity and related health problems by influencing metabolism, gut health, and inflammation. However, more research, particularly human clinical trials, is needed to confirm its potential as a dietary treatment for obesity.

Purpose Urbanization has emerged as one of the main determinants of the rising breast cancer incidence in Asia, but understanding the link is hindered by the lack of population-based prospective cohorts, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Given that mammographic density (MD) is one of the strongest breast cancer risk factors and that it is associated with known lifestyle and reproductive factors, we explored using MD to delineate factors associated with differences in breast cancer risk between women living in urban and rural areas. Methods Using data from a cross-sectional study of 9,417 women living in urban or rural areas recruited through hospital- or community-based opportunistic mammography screening programs, we conducted regression and mediation analyses to identify factors contributing to the differences in MD between urban and rural populations across Asian ethnic subgroups. Results Consistent with higher risk of breast cancer, age-and-BMI-adjusted percent and absolute MD measurements were significantly higher in women living in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. Mediation analyses showed that differences observed were partly explained by higher parity (7–9%) and breastfeeding (2–3%) among women living in rural areas. Notably, the effect of parity (number of children) was similar in Chinese and Malay women (16–17% and 7–8%, respectively), but not observed in Indian women. Hormonal use, smoking, and physical activity did not predict MD nor mediate the observed association. Conclusion Higher MD among women living in urban compared to rural areas is partially attributable to parity and breastfeeding practices, a significant proportion of attributable risk remains unknown.

The graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is an important optoelectronic and photocatalytic material; however, its application is limited by the high recombination rate of the electron-hole (e––h⁺) pairs. In this work, we reported a novel strategy combining two-step annealing treatment and ionic-liquid (IL) gating technology for effectively regulating the properties of g-C3N4, especially largely reducing the recombination rate of the e––h⁺ pairs, which is evidenced by a remarkable reduction of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity. Firstly, g-C3N4 samples with typical layered structure were obtained by annealing melamine with temperature of 600 °C. Further annealing of the samples at 600 °C with much longer time (from 4 h to 12 h) were found to effectively reduce the imperfections or defects, and thus the PL intensity (49% reduction). This large reduction of PL intensity is attributed to the improved interconnection of triazine units, the shortened charge transfer diffusion distances, and the reduced interlayer spacing, which facilitate electron relocation on the g-C3N4 surface. Secondly, by post-treating the annealed sample with IL, the PL intensities were found to be further reduced, mainly due to the passivation of charged defect centers by IL. Additionally, applying an external electric field in an IL environment can significantly enhance the charged defect passivation. Overall, by utilizing electric field-controlled IL gating, defect states in g-C3N4 were passivated, leading to a significant reduction in PL intensity and an extension of PL lifetime, thereby effectively decreasing the e––h⁺ recombination rate in the material. This study demonstrates a new approach for defect passivation, providing insights and strategies for modulating properties of advanced materials such as g-C3N4.

Background The increasing prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) and its inflammatory nature have attracted interest for treatment. Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been used to treat DED. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive and updated synthesis of evidence on the efficacy and safety of Cyclosporine A in treating moderate-to-severe DED. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CsA with artificial tears were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, up to 2024. Primary outcomes included tear breakup time, Schirmer’s test, fluorescein staining. Secondary outcomes include adverse events, ocular surface disease index, meibum expressibility, and goblet cell density. Meta-analyses were performed using a random effects model, and heterogenicity was evaluated using the I² statistic. Results Fifteen RCTs involving 1683 participants were analysed. Pooled analysis revealed better outcomes of CsA in tear breakup time (SMD0.85, 95%CI 0.35 to 1.34), Schirmer’s test (SMD0.50, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.95), and fluorescein-staining (SMD0.74, 95%CI -1.14-0.34). CsA was associated with more adverse events than ATs (Risk Ratio (RR) 3.13, 95%CI 0.94 to 10.45), but the difference was not statistically significant. Secondary outcomes, including the OSDI score (SMD − 0.88; 95% CI -1.26 to -0.50) and goblet cell density (SMD 1.06; 95% CI 0.04 to 2.08), also favoured CsA, although confidence intervals indicated potential variability. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that CsA is more effective than artificial tears in improving key clinical outcomes for moderate-to-severe DED treatment, although variability in effect sizes and a higher incidence of adverse events warrant careful interpretation. Future research should focus on longer-term studies to evaluate the role of CsA in delaying disease progression, optimising treatment duration, and addressing safety concerns.