This paper is focused on analysing the uniqueness of stereoscopic 3D visuality and its more and more matured narrative potency in the digital incarnation. Drawing on Kracauer’s classic remark (1961) that ‘the nature of film is the redemption of physical reality,’ first I argue for 3D’s enhanced ability to (re)construct and recreate a perceptual ‘hyper-reality’ based on 3D’s (actual or virtual) two-camera mechanism and its integration with digital technologies as well as High Frame Rate (HFR), 360 Degree Production, and 4 K/8 K. Furthermore, based on 3D’s cross-parallax ontologies, I argue that the alternation or layering of flatness and depth in 3D visuality enhances 3D narrative by highlighting the dramatic qualities of characters and volumetric spaces. I eventually compare the 3D and 2D versions of the opening scene in Gravity (2013) to exemplify the unique and transformative mode of ‘3D realism’ –the immersive 3D stereoscopic hyperrealism.

The contribution of the diaspora has always been measured in terms of remittances to the country of origin. This article examines academic diasporas that contribute to their countries of origin in times of crisis and beyond through scholarly and innovative work. I argue that in times of crisis, the links between the diaspora and the country of origin are strengthened. Altruism, humanitarianism, benevolence, spirit, nostalgia, and the desire to rediscover origins are the main motivators for connection. This article proposes an alternative framework for analyzing the academic and intellectual contribution of the diaspora to its origins in times of crisis. This article is based on a thorough examination of triangulations between established and emerging diaspora theories and contemporary practices. Destination countries benefit from expertise and knowledge, while source countries can use diaspora intellectual resources to mitigate the effects of crises.

Book review of An Analysis of the Philippine Economic Crisis: A Workshop Report by Dante Canlas et al.

Two anomalous events occurred along the coast of north Borneo: (a) large numbers of small pelagic fish (“Tamban”) jumped onto the shore at Tambisan in Lahad Datu, Sabah, East Malaysia, on 24 December 2013; and (b) large numbers of live clams appeared at Lumut beach, Brunei Darussalam, on 3 January 2014. The paper attempts to explain the occurrence of these anomalous events by comparing plausible explanations based on atmosphere-oceanic interactions with wind, wave and surface ocean current patterns generated using MeteoInfo, an open-source GIS software. Reanalysed data were obtained from Live Access Servers (LAS), notably NOAA’s geophysical fluid dynamics lab using its WaveWatch3 and OceanWatch models. Although the study is not conclusive, it found some patterns that support the proposed hypotheses and provide plausible scientific explanations for the events. The fish incident at Tambisan therefore appears to be caused by ocean currents forcing pelagic shoals into a constricted channel, while the clams at Lumut were mobilised and deposited by waves-generated currents produced by atmospheric circulation a few days leading to the incident. Other factors, such as Internal Waves or Solitons, were also discussed. A major challenge encountered is presenting large number of the maps generated, in printed format, and in a way that does not reduce their readability.

Particulate matter (PM10) is the pollutant causing exceedances of ambient air quality thresholds, and the key indicator of air quality index in Brunei Darussalam for haze related episodes caused by the recurrent biomass fires in Southeast Asia. The present study aims at providing suitable forecasts for PM10 exceedances to aid in health advisory during haze episodes at the four administrative districts of the country. A framework based on random forests (RFs), genetic algorithm (GA) and back propagation neural networks (BPNN) computational intelligence techniques has been proposed in which the final prediction is made by the BPNN model. A hybrid combination of GA and RFs is initially applied to determine optimal set of inputs from the initial data sets of largely available meteorological, persistency of high pollution levels, short and long term variations of emissions rates parameters. The inputs selection procedure does not depend on the back propagation training algorithm. The numerical results presented in this paper show that the proposed model not only produced satisfactory forecasts but also consistently performed better via several statistical performance indicators when compared with the standard BPNN and GA optimisation based on back propagation training algorithm. The model also showed satisfactory threshold exceedances forecasts achieving for instance best true predicted rate of 0.800, false positive rate of 0.014, false alarm rate of 0.333 and success index of 0.786 at Brunei-Muara district monitoring station. Overall, the current study has profound implications on future studies to develop a real-time air quality forecasting system to support haze management.

Over the past decade, the concepts of border have gained resonance in several disciplines within social sciences. While critical theory of borders has made tremendous advancements, scarcity of the scholarship in border studies is stillevident. Borders are, in general, cultural, social, territorial, geographical, political, sexual and racial separators. This article deals with geographical borders in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. Most countries in SEA share borders with each other. Under a range of circumstances and relationships such as trade, security and migration flows take place. Southeast Asia’s heterogeneity—politically, ethnically, religiously, economically, demographically and spatially—has crucial implications for neighbourly relationships, trade, border constructions, migration and refugee flows for all the countries. This article delves into the interplay between borders and heterogeneity in SEA and their outcomes. We argue that borders type determine the level of relationship between neighbouring countries and security outcome, trade and population mobility.

Documentation of ASEAN Chronology 1984 (January-June).

Documentation of ASEAN Chronology 1984 (July-December).

Documentation of ASEAN Chronology 1985 (January-April).

Book review of ASEAN Energy Issues, Proceedings of the Sixth Conference of the Federation of ASEAN Economic Associations, Bangkok, Thailand, 12-14 November 1981 edited by Praipol Koomsup.

Documentation of ASEAN-Japan Economic Council (AJEC) Code of Ethics.

Book review of Aspects of ASEAN edited by Werner Pfennig and Mark M.B. Suh.

Documentation of Basic Agreement on ASEAN Industrial Joint Ventures.

The huge amount of remittance transfers has brought migration studies to the fore in the public and private discourse on global development. Since the time migration studies occupied a space in the academe, most research has been devoted to remittances in cash and their use. Prior to the mid-nineties, the debate about the concept of migrants’ ‘remittance’ has not entailed other forms of remittances other than remittances in cash. This research explores another form of remittance, that is, biological remittance. This research firstly explores how migrant populations handle ‘biological remittance’ in their societies, and secondly compares the experiences of female migrant workers in two countries with distinct cultural and religious mores. We collected empirical information from two countries: Indonesia and the Philippines. A total of 38 respondents (17 from the Philippines and 21 from Indonesia) were selected for this study by using the snowball technique. While all the respondents, irrespective of countries of origin, face ordeals coping with their situation, Indonesians bear more psychological burden than the Filipinos. This research has crucial implications for scholars, researchers and policy-makers alike.

The present national history of the Sultanate of Brunei includes a fabricated history of official Brunei-China relations that extends as far back as the sixth century AD. The present paper treats the subject of Boni, a place well documented by pre-modern Chinese sources starting from the tenth century. It attempts to address some major issues in the use of these sources to establish Boni as a precursor of modern Brunei. Since the late 1970s writers within Brunei, foremost among them Robert Nicholl, have contributed to the project of a long history of pre-modern Brunei by interpreting the available Chinese sources very narrowly. Based on a close reading of the original texts, this essay argues that the majority of the texts until the Ming dynasty quote from the first extant source in the tenth century. Hence, official Chinese perception of Boni did not increase over time, but in fact did stagnate. Consequently, identification with a specific location in Borneo, as Nicholl and C. Brown suggested, is impossible. What the essay suggests is that with the extant official pre-modern Chinese texts Boni cannot be established as Brunei, but that more likely, Boni under different dynasties referred to various places on the north coast of Borneo.

This article presents the findings of a study measuring business people’s perceptions of English language use and its importance in the Chinese business community. Utilizing a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, an analysis of cross-validated data from 1505 questionnaire participants and 30 interviewees revealed that business people in China do not use English as frequently as their national language, Mandarin Chinese, in their dealings. Nevertheless, the findings also indicated that business people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of English as a medium of communication in the business world. The findings have meaningful implications for practitioners of English for specific purposes, policymakers, and materials developers.

This paper examines the cultural homogenization process in Brunei Darussalam. While the success and outcomes of cultural homogenization, in general, have been thoroughly examined and highlighted, recent research trends have also been focusing more on the processes of cultural homogenization on the ground, i.e., the responses and reactions of ordinary people who are, supposedly, at the receiving end of the homogenization process. In the case of Brunei Darussalam (hereinafter Brunei), cultural homogenization strategies were introduced as early as the 1950s, primarily for state-building purposes. Similar to conventional writings, official narratives of Brunei’s homogenization also focus more on the outcomes of the process. Thus, focusing on the Dusun ethnic group as its case study, this article questions the ways the Dusuns view and respond to the homogenization process. This study utilizes the interview data gathered from thirty-four Dusun respondents to examine how they perceive, understand, and react toward the process and related policies. The findings of the study suggest that the Dusuns generally accept the homogenization with a sporadic indication of contestation mainly due to the observable decline of ethnic culture and language. Modernization has also been identified as a notable agent, integrating successfully with the homogenizing process, and driving the latter to the desired outcomes.