The distribution and abundance of zooplankton species of Harapan and Aman
Lakes were investigated in relation to physical parameters and chlorophyll-a content. Both
lakes were characterised by the occurrence of algal bloom problem. The composition of
zooplankton was collected at monthly intervals from November 2013 to February 2014.
The total number of taxa in Harapan and Aman Lakes were 23 and 27, respectively.
Rotifera was the highest abundance group represent 64% of the total species recorded
followed by Copepoda (29%) and Cladocera (7%). Three dominant zooplankton that been
recorded in both the lakes are Brachionus forficula, Brachionus nilsoni, and Trichocerca
sp. High abundance of these species indicates that the lakes are eutrophic water bodies.
Overall, zooplankton species distribution and abundance in the study sites are influenced
by various environmental factors such as water transparency and chlorophyll-a content.
Kajian ini untuk menunjukkan bahawa penentuan tanah air umat Melayu perlu dilihat dalam perspektif pendekatan atau teori yang baru, yakni teori 'The New Malay Homeland'. Ahli Linguistik sejarah pada abad ke-20 dan pada abad ini, iaitu pada abad ke-21 banyak telah melakukan kajian untuk membuktikan bahawa sebenarnya umat Melayu bukan bermigrasi daripada Yunan, sebaliknya daripada Taiwan dan kemudiannya menjadikan Borneo sebagai tanah air kedua umat Melayu. Untuk menjitukan lagi teori ini, maka kajian rekonstruksi dan klasifikasi bahasa Iban di Sarawak dilakukan agar maklumat-maklumat fosil linguistik yang wujud dalam bahasa Iban pada peringkat purbanya dapat membuktikan dan memperkukuhkan hujah bahawa teori di atas adalah benar. Dua kaedah kajian diaplikasi dalam penelitian ini, iaitu kaedah kepustakaan dan kaedah lapangan. Kaedah kajian kepustakaan lebih melihat kepada aspek pembacaan untuk mendapatkan maklumat berkaitan bidang kajian. Kajian-kajian awal ke atas bahasa Iban sejak abad ke-18 sehinga abad ke-21 telah diselidiki. Maklumat berkaitan bidang ilmu linguistik bandingan juga telah dibaca secara seksama. Berkaitan kaedah kajian lapangan, metode semak dan metode cakap dengan pengaplikasian teknik-teknik khas telah dilakukan. Berdasarkan lokasi kajian, tujuh varian bahasa Iban telah diteliti, yakni varian Iban Sri Aman (SA), Betong (BTG), Sarikei (SKEI), Sibu (SBU), Kapit (KPT), Bintulu (BTL) dan Limbang (LMBG) . Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahawa bahasa Iban Purba Sarawak (IPS) memiliki enam fonem vokal *a, *a, *i, *u, *e, *o; tiga diftong *-uy, *-ay, *-aw dan sembilan belas konsonan, iaitu *p, *b, *t, *d, *k, *g, */, *s, *h, *1, *r, *m, *n, *0, *N, *dZ, *tS, *w, dan *y. Beberapa inovasi fonologi juga diperoleh apabila perbandingan dilakukan antara IPS dengan Bahasa Melayik Purba (BMP), iaitu i) BMP *h > IPS */; ii) BMP *-d > IPS *zero, iii) BMP *-g > IPS *zero, iv), dan BMP *r, *1 > IPS *r. Pada tahap morfologi wujud inovasi dan retensi antara IPS dan BMP, iaitu BMP *ni/di > IPS *ba/ dan morfem BMP *{une (N)}, *{be(R)} dan *ite(R)1 diretensi sepenuhnya dalam IPS. Berdasarkan dapatan daripada kajian ini membuktikan bahawa terdapat ikatan rapat antara BMP dengan IPS dapatan ini juga membuktikan bahawa Borneo adalah tanah air kedua umat Melayu setelah umat ini bermigrasi keluar daripada Taiwan.
A field experiment was conducted from June to December, 2013 to study the genetic diversity of 15 modern T. Aman rice
varieties of Bangladesh (Oryza sativa L.) with a view to assess the superior genotype in future hybridization program
for developing new rice varieties that is suitable for the target environment. Analysis of variance for each trait showed
significant differences among the varieties. High heritability associated with high genetic advance in percent of mean
was observed for plant height and thousand seed weight which indicated that selection for these characters would be
effective. Hence, thrust has to be given for these characters in future breeding program to improve the yield trait in rice.
Multivariate analysis based on 10 agronomic characters indicated that the 15 varieties were grouped into four distant
clusters. The inter cluster distance was maximum between cluster II and cluster IV. The highest intra-cluster distance was
found in cluster IV. Based on positive value of vector 1 and vector 2, plant height and 1000-seed weight had maximum
contribution towards genetic divergence. From the results, it can be concluded that the varieties BRRI dhan40, BRRI
dhan44, BRRI dhan46, BRRI dhan49 and BINA dhan7 may be selected for future hybridization program.
A survey was conducted to catalogue the diversity of anurans in District IV of the Muda Agriculture Development Authority Scheme (MADA) in Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia, from July 1996 to January 1997. Eight species of anurans from three families were present in the study area. Of these, the Common Grass Frog (Fejevarya limnocharis) was the most abundant, followed by Mangrove Frog (Fejevarya cancrivora), Long-legged Frog (Hylarana macrodactyla), and Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus). Puddle Frog (Occidozyga lima), Taiwanese Giant Frog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus), and Banded Bullfrog (Kaluola pulchra) were rare during the sampling period, and only one Paddy Frog (Hylarana erythraea) was captured. A simple identification key for the anurans of this area is included for use by scientists and laymen alike.
Drepanosticta adenani sp. nov. (holotype ♂, from a tributary of Sungai Jela, Nanga Segerak area, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Aman Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, 18 vii 2016, deposited in the Natural History Museum, London) is described from both sexes.
Introduction: The prevalence of stress among Malaysian police is high in which 38.8% polices have severe stress related to work resources and workplace environment. Psychosocial safety climate is one of the indicators that can be used to avoid psychosocial health problems. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the risk factors of psychosocial safety climate and to measure the effectiveness of a customised safety website in improving the safety climate. Methodology: This study involved 105 police officers who were randomly selected from nine different departments in PDRM Bukit Aman. A survey adapted from previous study was used to determine the psychosocial safety climate levels among respondents. Then, occupational safety website was introduced to the respondents and being used for two weeks. Lastly, post survey was done to see the difference of psychosocial safety climate before and after the use of the website. Results and Discussion: Findings showed that team psychological safety (r=0.381, p= , p=
Since 2003, highly pathogenic A(H5N1) influenza viruses have been the cause of large-scale death in poultry and the subsequent infection and death of over 140 humans. A group of 55 influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from various regions of South East Asia between 2004 and 2006 were tested for their susceptibility to the anti-influenza drugs the neuraminidase inhibitors and adamantanes. The majority of strains were found to be fully sensitive to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir carboxylate, zanamivir and peramivir; however two strains demonstrated increased IC50 values. Sequence analysis of these strains revealed mutations in the normally highly conserved residues 116 and 117 of the N1 neuraminidase. Sequence analysis of the M2 gene showed that all of the A(H5N1) viruses from Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia contained mutations (L26I and S31N) associated with resistance to the adamantane drugs (rimantadine and amantadine), while strains from Indonesia were found to be a mix of both adamantane resistant (S31N) and sensitive viruses. None of the A(H5N1) viruses from Myanmar contained mutations known to confer adamantane resistance. These results support the use of neuraminidase inhibitors as the most appropriate class of antiviral drug to prevent or treat human A(H5N1) virus infections.
Exposure to traffic air pollutant have shown a significant health effect on respiratory systems and decreased in lung function among traffic policemen. The main objective of this study was to determine the relationships between personal exposure levels to PM2.5 and respiratory health among traffic policemen working at Traffic Police Station in Kuala Lumpur and general duty policemen attached to Police Headquarters, Bukit Aman. A cross sectional comparative study was conducted among 50 traffic policemen from Traffic Police Station Kuala Lumpur and 50 general duty policemen from Police Headquarters Bukit Aman as comparative group. A purposive sampling method was used to select the respondents based on inclusive criteria such as age between 25 to 60 years, no history of respiratory disease and working not less than 3 years as traffic policemen. Questionnaire based on ATS (1978) was used to collect information on socio-demographic and respiratory symptoms. Spirometer (Spirolab II Model) was used to perform lung function tests. Personal Air Sampling Pump (Aircheck 52) was used to measure personal exposure level to PM2.5. The mean exposure level of PM2.5 among the traffic policemen was 22.33 ± 8.54μg/m³ compared to only 5.60 ± 4.29μg/m³ for comparative group. There was a significant difference in all lung function parameters between the exposed group and comparative group.From the finding, it shows that there was significant relationship between working duration (years) and lung function parameters among both exposed and comparative group. The result from this research shows that traffic policemen were determined as having lower lung function parameters due to their nature of work and the environment. Also, there was a significant association between exposure to fine particle (PM2.5) and lung function among the exposed group. Finding from this study indicated that exposure to elevated concentration level to traffic related air pollutant was the risk factors in the development of respiratory diseases as shown by the higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the reduction in lung function among traffic policemen.
Rural health clinics in Sri Aman Division in Sarawak, Malaysia lack diagnostic tests for malaria. Many of the medical assistants in the clinic diagnose malaria solely on clinical ground. The study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis of rnahtria made by medical assistants using results of microscopy examination as gold standard. The study period was from September to December 2003. Three rural clinics without laboratory or diagnostic tests services and one urban clinic with laboratory facility serving malarious areas were selected. All patients clinically diagnosed as malaria by the attending medical assistants were included as clinical malaria cases. Blood slides were taken for examination of malaria parasites. Non clinical malaria cases were all other patients without clinical malaria for whom blood slides were taken for malaria parasites. Out of 362 patients included in the study, 75 were clinically diagnosed as having mahria. The sensitivity of headache, history of fever and chills/rigors to detect malaria cases was above 90% but the specificity and positive predictive value was low, below 40% and 20% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of malaria clinical diagnosis made by medical assistants was 82.1 %, 84 .4% and 30.7% respectively. Clinical diagnosis of malaria increases the slide positive rate by four folds. However the sensitivity, specincity and positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis by medical assistant and clinical characteristics was insufficient to enable each of them to be used alone to differentiate true malaria cases from non mahiria cases.
Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota (Brandt 1835), white threads fish or locally known as bat puntil is currently considered as the most abundant sea cucumber species in Malaysia. This study aimed to generate the genetic profile of H. leucospilota from Malaysia and then to determine the phylogenetic relationship between H. leucospilota and other members of genus Holothuria using partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene. In this study, specimens of H. leucospilota were collected from Intan Besar Island, Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Three main methods namely neighbour joining, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood were used for the phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Tree topologies showed that H. leucospilota has its own monophyletic clade clearly distinct from the other species. The pairwise genetic distance calculated further supported these findings. In addition, the results also should that the COI mtDNA gene is capable to unravel the phylogenetic relationship of H. leucospilota.
On December 26, 2004, an earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that caused death and destruction in twelve countries including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. One of the authors was a volunteer with FELDA WAJA AMAN MALAYSIA medical relief team that served the Aceh victims from 16th February to 24th February 2005 (8 weeks post tsunami). A study to determine the pattern of health ailments was conducted among children aged 18 years and below based at Seuneubok Camp, 30 km from Banda Aceh. All respondents were from Pulau Aceh and the total number of children seen and examined was 60. About 18% had lost their fathers, 10 % had lost their mothers and 27% had lost one or more of their siblings. 77% suffered some form of health ailments. The common health ailments were diarrhea (61%), respiratory complaints (59%) and fever (20%). About 38 % of preschoolers had loss of appetite and 28% had sleep disturbances. About 35% of the elementary school children suffered from sleep disturbances, 29% of the young adolescents suffered from headaches and 24% had sleep disturbances. Nearly a quarter (24%) of all the children felt fearful and anxious about the disaster. Nevertheless, 56% of the respondents wanted to return back to Pulau Aceh, although 14 % did not want to go back. Interestingly, 73% of the children voiced their gratitude to God for having been saved from death.