This paper provides a comparative perspective on infrastructure provision in developing Asia's three largest countries: China, India, and Indonesia. It discusses their achievements and shortfalls in providing network infrastructure (energy, transport, water, and telecommunications) over the past two decades. It documents how three quite distinct development paths—and very different levels of national saving and investment—were manifested in different trajectories of infrastructure provision. The paper then describes the institutional, economic, and policy factors that enabled or hindered progress in providing infrastructure. Here, contrasting levels of centralization of planning played a key role, as did countries’ differing abilities to mobilize infrastructure-related revenue streams such as user charges and land value capture. The paper then assesses future challenges for the three countries in providing infrastructure in a more integrated and sustainable way, and links these challenges with the global development agenda to which the three countries have committed. The concluding recommendations hope to provide a platform for further policy and research dialogue.

This paper considers the problems surrounding the implementation of road infrastructure plans in a policy perspective. As the main pillar of regional connectivity, road networks provide the link across national markets, foster strong and sustainable economic growth, help meeting people’s basic needs, and promote trade and competiveness. It is argued that planning, implementing, and managing good transportation infrastructures poses a series of challenges that require competence, good governance, and the availability of funds. Such problems become more complex when road projects encompass different states and become transnational. The regional dimension of connectivity involves both opportunities and risks; a cooperative attitude by all parties is viewed as the best ingredient to achieve a positive balance. Since most countries cannot still rely on domestic resources, the paper stresses the role of virtuous policies in directing capital flows from abroad towards the infrastructural projects of Southeast Asia.

Given the increasing demand for sustainable energy sources and the challenges associated with the limited efficiency of solar cells, this review focuses on the application of gold quantum dots (AuQDs) in enhancing solar cell performance. Gold quantum dots, with their unique properties such as the ability to absorb ultraviolet light and convert it into visible light expand the utilization of the solar spectrum in solar cells. Additionally, these quantum dots, through plasmonic effects and the enhancement of localized electric fields, improve light absorption, charge carrier generation (electrons and holes), and their transfer. This study investigates the integration of quantum dots with gold plasmonic nanoparticles into the structure of solar cells. Experimental results demonstrate that using green quantum dots and gold plasmonic nanoparticles as intermediate layers leads to an increase in power conversion efficiency. This improvement highlights the significant impact of this technology on solar cell performance. Furthermore, the reduction in charge transfer resistance and the increase in short-circuit current are additional advantages of utilizing this technology. The findings of this research emphasize the high potential of gold quantum dots in advancing next-generation solar cell technology.

The power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with the surgeons’ expertise leads to breakthroughs in surgical care, bringing new hope to patients. Utilizing deep learning-based computer vision techniques in surgical procedures will enhance the healthcare industry. Laparoscopic surgery holds excellent potential for computer vision due to the abundance of real-time laparoscopic recordings captured by digital cameras containing significant unexplored information. Furthermore, with computing power resources becoming increasingly accessible and Machine Learning methods expanding across various industries, the potential for AI in healthcare is vast. There are several objectives of AI’s contribution to laparoscopic surgery; one is an image guidance system to identify anatomical structures in real-time. However, few studies are concerned with intraoperative anatomy recognition in laparoscopic surgery. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current state-of-the-art semantic segmentation techniques, which can guide surgeons during laparoscopic procedures by identifying specific anatomical structures for dissection or avoiding hazardous areas. This review aims to enhance research in AI for surgery to guide innovations towards more successful experiments that can be applied in real-world clinical settings. This AI contribution could revolutionize the field of laparoscopic surgery and improve patient outcomes.

The development and expansion of economies depend heavily on entrepreneurship, and Malaysia is no exception. Understanding the underlying elements that impact the success or failure of user adoption behaviour of online shopping activities is significant since entrepreneurship is critical in driving economic growth and innovation. The study includes 73 articles published from 2004 to the last of 2023 from Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We utilised qualitative methods and systematic review issues through the findings of “qualitative” studies as the last step inside a systematic review using Nvivo14. Our study’s result illustrated that applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in Malaysian e-commerce validates the relevance of established theoretical frameworks. This study explores the relationship between 20 independent variables and five mediator factors, with dependent variables, e-commerce in Malaysia. The results highlight the intricate relationships between these variables and their importance for companies, decision-makers, and other stakeholders involved in Malaysian infrastructure financing. This review provides legislators, educators, researchers, and businesspeople with new knowledge in Malaysia so that decision-makers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs can make informed decisions.