186 research outputs found
Knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia: The emergence of an epistemic landscape
Knowledge clusters are central places within an epistemic landscape, i.e. in a wider structure of knowledge production and dissemination. They have the organisational capability to drive innovations and create new industries. Examples of such organisations in knowledge clusters are universities and colleges, research institutions, think tanks, government research agencies and knowledge-intensive firms with their respective knowledge workers. The following paper will look at Malaysia and its path towards a Knowledge-based economy. We first describe the development strategy of the Malaysian government which has emphasized cluster formation as one of its prime targets. We then provide evidence of the current state of knowledge cluster formation in Peninsular Malaysia and try to answer the following questions. If the formation of a knowledge cluster (especially in the ICT and multimedia industry) has been the government policy, what has been the result? Has Malaysia developed an epistemic landscape of knowledge clusters? Has the main knowledge cluster really materialised in and around Cyberjaya in the MSC Malaysia? Data collected from websites, directories, government publications and expert interviews have enabled us to construct the epistemic landscape of Peninsular Malaysia. Several knowledge clusters of a high density of knowledge producing institutions and their knowledge workers have been identified and described. The analysis of the knowledge output, measured in terms of scientific publications, patents and trademarks show that existing knowledge clusters have, indeed, been productive as predicted by cluster theory. On the other hand government designed development corridors do not always coincide with the distribution of knowledge assets. The analysis of our data pertaining to Cyberjaya, the MSC Malaysia and the “corridors” needs to be developed further to produce more robust results.Malaysia; Cyberjaya; knowledge and development; knowledge-based economy (KBE); knowledge clusters; knowledge corridors; epistemic landscape; development strategy
Flexible and stretchable circuits for smart wearables
—Flexible and stretchable circuits have recently
gained traction in the market due to the popularity of wearables
and the rapid advancement in microsensors, big data and the
Internet of Everything. For devices to be truly wearable, they
need to conform to the shape of the human body, allowing ease
of use, with sensors being pervasive but not intrusive. To allow
this, electronics engineers need to shift their mindsets of
manufacturing transistors, circuits and sensors on rigid planar
surfaces to flexible, multidimensional and free-form substrates.
This review manuscript describes the motivation for designing
such circuits, its fabrication techniques, design considerations,
performance evaluation and applications. It is expected that
stretchable circuits will be a new way forward for integrated
circuit technology and will continue to push the boundaries of
manufacturing processes in the years to come
The symbolic universe of Cyberjaya, Malaysia
This paper analyses how various actors have used potent urban symbols to assert their vision of a modern, globalized Malay identity in the construction of the recently founded knowledge city of Cyberjaya, part of the flagship Multimedia Super Corridor project. As the state controls both the land and the urban planning process it has attempted to impose its own particularistic vision of Malaysian society on urban space and urban structures. This is demonstrated through an analysis of the discursive vision behind Cyberjaya, the logos of government corporations, the use of architectural forms and motifs, and the treatment of urban space itself. The discussion suggests the spatial and symbolic universe of Cyberjaya draws on both patterns of ‘traditional’ Malay life as well a projected vision of a modernized Malay identity that resonates with a globalized Islam. This generates contestations in which other possible imaginings of Cyberjaya’s symbolic space become possible
Chemical Constituents of Vitex ovata (Verbenaceae)
Three compounds, luteolin, ursolic acid and
meta-hydroxybenzoic acid were isolated from the leaves of Vitex ovata. The structures of the compounds were
identified using modern spectroscopic techniques
Flexible and Stretchable Circuits for Smart Wearables
Flexible and stretchable circuits have recently gained traction in the market due to the popularity of wearables and the rapid advancement in microsensors, big data and the Internet of Everything. For devices to be truly wearable, they need to conform to the shape of the human body, allowing ease of use, with sensors being pervasive but not intrusive. To allow this, electronics engineers need to shift their mindsets of manufacturing transistors, circuits and sensors on rigid planar surfaces to flexible, multidimensional and free-form substrates. This review manuscript describes the motivation for designing such circuits, its fabrication techniques, design considerations, performance evaluation and applications. It is expected that stretchable circuits will be a new way forward for integrated circuit technology and will continue to push the boundaries of manufacturing processes in the years to come
The symbolic universe of Cyberjaya, Malaysia
This paper analyses how various actors have used potent urban symbols to assert their vision of a modern, globalized Malay identity in the construction of the recently founded knowledge city of Cyberjaya, part of the flagship Multimedia Super Corridor project. As the state controls both the land and the urban planning process it has attempted to impose its own particularistic vision of Malaysian society on urban space and urban structures. This is demonstrated through an analysis of the discursive vision behind Cyberjaya, the logos of government corporations, the use of architectural forms and motifs, and the treatment of urban space itself. The discussion suggests the spatial and symbolic universe of Cyberjaya draws on both patterns of ‘traditional’ Malay life as well a projected vision of a modernized Malay identity that resonates with a globalized Islam. This generates contestations in which other possible imaginings of Cyberjaya’s symbolic space become possible
Regenerating Muslim inventors – the present future
Much discussion has been done about the golden era of Muslim civilization and its decline over
the past centuries. Recent downturn of events in the Middle East has given birth to the Muslim
refugee crisis, coupled with terrorist attacks have fueled the growth. Now more than ever,
Muslim need inspirational role models, to survive this crisis and backlash. This paper intends
to highlight the achievements of Muslim scientists, engineers and innovators, dating from the
early 9th century to the more recent 21st century. Some of the works discussed in this paper are
not so commonly discussed, such as the work of Banu Musa on control theory and mechanical
pumps by Al-Jazari. Next special highlight is done on the works of Muslim Nobel Prize winners
as well as their attempts to encourage other Muslims to be involved in science and technology.
Finally, we discuss the successful Muslim inventors of the 21st century, both who created
modern devices for communications and lasers. The paper concludes with a critical discussion
on what are the qualities that these Muslim technologists had to succeed and how the modern
generation can emulate them
Normal soaking extraction (NSE) of rotenone from Derris elliptica
Derris elliptica or the tuba plant contains rotenone, bio-active compound known that has the potential to be used as bio-pesticide. Bio-pesticide is the best-known alternative bio-pesticide which has the potential to replace the use of conventional pesticides, as it is more environmentally friendly. The main objective of the paper is to obtain the best extraction solvent for optimizing the yield in rotenone extraction. Rotenone was extracted from Derris root using three different parts of roots and three types of solvent in Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE). The types of Derris roots are: (1) Fine root (2) Coarse root (3) Stem. The three types of solvent system are: (1) Acetone 95 % (v/v), (2) Chloroform 99.9 % (v/v) and (3) a mixture of ethanol: H2O (9:1) added with oxalic acid (1mg/ml). The liquid crude extracts were further cleaned up to remove the fine debris of roots. The presence of rotenone was confirmed using qualitative analysis Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and thereupon the determination of rotenone content was carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). From the results obtained, it was found that the Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE) using acetone 95 % (v/v) was the best method to extract the highest yield of rotenone; 1.14 % (w/w)
The world-first deployment of narrowband IoT for rural hydrological monitoring in UNESCO biosphere environment
The success of a rural wireless monitoring system depends on establishing a
reliable wireless link over the TCP/IP communication protocol in a challenging terrain and
elevation profile. Several studies have shown that link reliability in a rural area can neither
be predicted with high accuracy nor precisely modeled using existing mathematical channel
modeling tools. Hence, the use of the empirical approach to infer wireless link reliability.
This work focuses on the revival of a rural hydrological/water monitoring system with
emphasis on the wireless link located in Tasik Chini, a lake with UNESCO biosphere status.
The contributions of this study include: understudy the link reliability of a centralized
wireless sensor network infrastructure system using the 2G and Long Range (LoRa)
wireless network, the performance limitation of the low data wireless sensor network in a
rural environment, approaches to revive rural water station monitoring center and finally
highlight potential opportunities in rural wireless communications. View les
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