University of Southampton Malaysia

Purpose This research explores the relationship between digital financial inclusion, technological innovation and unemployment. This study aims to examine how progress in digital finance and technology influences unemployment rates. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on data from 101 countries covering the years 2004–2020, the study uses several econometric techniques. These include the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM), two-stage least squares (2SLS), propensity score matching (PSM) and entropy balancing to address concerns related to endogeneity. To ensure the robustness of the results, the analysis also incorporates alternative indicators and conducts subsample analysis for both developed and developing nations. Findings The main findings reveal that both digital financial inclusion and technological innovation are significantly associated with lower unemployment rates. These negative effects remain consistent across different models and data subgroups, highlighting the robustness of the results. The use of other methods such as the two-step system GMM, 2SLS, PSM and entropy balancing strengthens the robustness of the conclusions drawn. Originality/value This study offers fresh perspectives on how digital finance and technological advancements can serve as tools to combat unemployment. By applying a range of analytical approaches and examining multiple proxy measures, the research delivers a well-rounded analysis of how digital and technological developments relate to labor market outcomes.

Thermomechanical Metamaterials The cold spray technique, primarily meant for component repair applications, preserves the original material properties owing to non-melting, producing dense, well-adhered coatings with minimal oxidation or thermal distortion. The image illustrates the powder metals being deposited on the substrate from a spray gun, with a magnified inset showing the jetting behavior of individual particle during high-energy impact. The orientation maps of the powders in-flight and after coating, highlights the microstructural evolution in each impacted particle viz-a viz the whole coating. More information can be found in the Research Article by Malar Vadani, Sabeur Msolli, Ayan Bhowmik, and co-workers (10.1002/adem.202501848).

In this study, pure tungsten (W) and pure copper (Cu) blocks were welded using laser beam welding with a high-entropy alloy (HEA) (FeCoNiCrCu) as the intermediate layer. The effects of laser power (1500, 1750, and 2000 W) on the microstructure, hardness, strength, and toughness of the composite welded joints were investigated. Results indicated that under optimized process parameters (1750 W, 2 mm/s), the fusion zone near the Cu side, close to the heat source, exhibited a microstructure with a Cu-rich phase matrix dispersed with irregularly sized round and fine dendritic crystals. Additionally, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cr were uniformly distributed within the Cu matrix, and a fine-grained Cu region was observed at the lower part of the interface near the Cu side. The HEA intermediate layer near the W side exhibited a morphology of elongated and uniform equiaxed grains. At the interface on the W side, NiW and Ni4W phases were formed. The hardness of the joint increased gradually from the Cu side to the W side, and the interaction region between the HEA intermediate layer and the base materials (Cu and W) expanded with increasing laser power. With increasing laser power, the fracture morphology transitioned from equiaxed dimples to elongated dimples and then to a combination of equiaxed and elongated dimples. The shear strength of the W/HEA/Cu laser welded joints initially increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum of 187 MPa at 1750 W.

The Asia Pacific, led by the resource-dependent ASEAN-5, is the largest carbon contributor, yet its firms exhibit critically low transparency. This study examines the relationship between voluntary Sustainability Assurance (SA) and carbon disclosure transparency using 875 firm-year observations (2018–2022). Applying panel regression and several robustness tests, we find that SA adoption has a positive relationship with the magnitude of disclosed carbon emissions, indicating enhanced transparency. This positive relationship is significantly more pronounced in firms with high environmental performance and greater property, plant, and equipment (PPE) efficiency, suggesting SA aligns with genuine sustainability efforts rather than symbolic reporting. Furthermore, SA increases the likelihood of disclosing the complex Scope 3 emissions. However, the effectiveness of SA is conditional: its transparency benefit is statistically significant only within mandatory sustainability reporting (SR) regimes and in non-environmentally sensitive industries, highlighting crucial variations across regulatory and industrial contexts within ASEAN-5. This research provides evidence on the role of SA in emerging markets, extending Agency Theory by demonstrating its function as a credibility signal that reduces information asymmetry. We offer practical guidance for managers seeking market differentiation, and for regulators aiming to align voluntary SA with IFRS S1/S2 to enhance disclosure quality.

Engineering graduates often enter the workforce with underdeveloped emotional intelligence (EI), leading to challenges in emotional regulation, decision-making, and social interactions that subsequently impact their employability and job performance. Despite its recognized importance for professional success, the integration of EI into engineering education remains inconsistent. This study aims to identify the essential Emotional Intelligence competencies required for successful engineering problem-solving. Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with practicing engineers in a manufacturing setting. The findings reveal three key EI competencies frequently demonstrated by engineers, which are now formulated as empirical insights: (1) Initiative – Taking proactive steps to address issues and empirically validate assumptions; (2) Adaptability – Strategically adjusting to changes and collaborating across departments to manage uncertainty; and (3) Self-Recognition – Deep awareness of one's strengths, limitations, and the impact of one's behaviour on the team. These findings offer clear empirical insights into the critical role of Emotional Intelligence within the manufacturing engineering context, suggesting that engineering education programs should explicitly teach these skills.

Informal family caregivers are often the primary providers of care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Although supporting these caregivers is a core component of palliative care, there is a notable lack of context-specific research on caregiver burden from Southeast Asia. This study aimed to examine the experience of caregiving in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia with consultative palliative care services, exploring both the burden experienced and the factors that mitigate or exacerbate it. A qualitative-dominant mixed-method study using an explanatory sequential design was conducted in a Malaysian tertiary hospital. Sixteen informal family caregivers were purposively sampled. The 12-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12) was used to assess caregiver burden, followed by semistructured interviews. Data were thematically analysed, and findings from both phases were synthesised. ZBI-12 scores indicated low to moderate burden: 50% low, 31% moderate and 19% high. Eight key themes emerged. The four contributing factors were impact on personal life and identity, emotional and psychological strain, physical challenges due to direct care responsibilities and financial burden with resource limitations. Protective factors included coping strategies and resilience, having support systems, access to training and resources, and spiritual coping. Caregivers reporting lower burden levels demonstrated more protective than contributing factors. Informal family caregivers of palliative care patients often experience significant caregiving burden due to multiple contributing factors. The presence of protective factors can help mitigate its effects. Interventions that enhance caregiver training, provide psychosocial support and improve access to resources may help reduce this burden.

Inkjet printing has emerged as a promising technology for the digital manufacturing of wearable health monitoring devices. Respiration rate monitoring is a vital parameter for wearable healthcare applications. In addition to offering accurate and non-invasive respiration rate measurements, flexible strain sensors have been extensively tested for their potential to provide reliable long-term performance at low cost without compromising user comfort. In this work, we design and fabricated a disposable paper-based flexible silver/reduced graphene-oxide hybrid printed strain sensor for respiration rate monitoring. The inkjet-printed strain sensors exhibit a stable electromechanical response, validated through statistical analysis. Physiological evaluations were conducted by placing the sensors on chest and abdomen regions under spontaneous, normal and deep breathing conditions. The result revealed that sensors placed near the hypochondriac region provide the highest sensitivity, while challenges such as poor adhesion on chest curvature must also be addressed. To further enhance sensitivity and reliability, additional experiments were conducted on the upper chest and lumbar regions which improved the measurement of respiration rate. Overall, the inkjet-printed sensors achieve high accuracy for respiration rate measurements while maintaining user comfort, highlighting their potential as an affordable and practical wearable respiratory rate monitoring device.

This work examines the effects of prolonged heat‐treatment on the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of cold spray (CS) IN718. The heat treatment reduced coating porosity from 3% to 0.8%. The ageing treatment results in a synergistic effect of precipitation hardening from intermetallic phases and carbides, with a simultaneous reduction in the work‐hardened microstructure through recovery, manifested as reduced dislocation density in the coating. The as‐sprayed coatings exhibit reduced cohesive strength and toughness, along with a significant anisotropy in tensile characteristics, which is a primary objective of the study. The causes of the mechanical anisotropy in the CS coatings have been elucidated. The postprocessing resulted in an increase of ≈120% in cohesive strength and ≈75% in ductility of the coating due to the aforementioned alterations in microstructures. The tensile response of the coatings in both as‐sprayed and heat‐treated conditions has been analysed using numerical modelling, which utilizes crack widths and their densities within the coating. The model clearly shows that cracks perpendicular to the loading affect tensile strength. The model agrees with experimental tensile strength data and accurately predicts crack widths and densities in each anisotropic direction. The finite element models reveal an empirical connection between tensile strength and crack size.