Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 361 in total

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  1. Okajima S, Masumoto M
    Zootaxa, 2014;3846(3):301-47.
    PMID: 25112255 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3846.3.1
    Azaleothrips, a phlaeothripine genus of fungus-feeding species, is presumably endemic to the Oriental Region between India and Japan. Although only 10 species have been known in this genus until now, a total of 35 species is recorded here, of which 26 are newly described: from Indonesia--A. bali sp.n., A. bulelengi sp.n., A. dentatus sp.n., A. dorsalis sp.n., A. floresi sp.n., A. inflavus sp.n., A. simulans sp.n., A. sulawesicus sp.n., from the Philippines--A. apoensis sp.n., A. bifidius sp.n., A. luzonensis sp.n., A. mindanaoensis sp.n., A. philippinensis sp.n., from Taiwan--A. atayal sp.n., A. formosae sp.n., A. taiwanus sp.n., from Thailand--A. flavicollis sp.n., A. phuketanus sp.n., A. pulcher sp.n., A. toshifumii sp.n., from Vietnam--A. laocai sp.n., A. vietnamensis sp.n., from W. Malaysia--A. malaya sp.n., A. reticulatus sp.n., A. richardi sp.n., A. templeri sp.n. In addition A. magnus Chen, described from Taiwan, is newly synonymized with A. moundi. Azaleothrips laevigatus, described from southern Japan, is newly recorded more widely in Southeast Asia. A key to 33 species is provided, but A. bhattii and A. lineus cannot be recognized because of the poor information in the original descriptions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  2. Fakhriah Kamaruddin, Mohamed Nor Zalipah
    MyJurnal
    This study aimed to determine the potential pollinating agents of Ixora coccinae and Ruellia simplex at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) campus based on the foraging activities of the flower visitors. The diurnal observations (0700 hr to 1800 hr) were conducted for a total of 144 hours and 96 hours for I. coccinae, for R. simplex respectively. The flower visitor activities (landing or hovering at the flowers) and the time spent at the flowers however were recorded for only the first 10 minutes of every hour between 0700 hr and 1000 hr for four days. A total of 383 flower visitations was recorded by 17 insect species and a bird species, the olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis). For I. coccinae, the most common visitors were Apis cerana, Heterotrigona itama and Xylocopa confusa, in which all species were found to show only landing behaviour to forage at the flowers, and the time spent foraging at the flowers was not significantly different between the species (Kruskal-Wallis test, H = 1.323, df = 2, p = 0.055). For R. simplex, the most common visitors were A. cerana with 100% landing, and C. jugularis which recorded 80% landing and 20% hovering during their visits to the flowers. Between the two, A. cerana recorded significantly longer time spent at the flowers as compared to C. jugularis (Mann-Whitney test, U = 17.355, p < 0.001). Based on the visitation rate and feeding behaviour of the flower visitors, A. cerana, H. itama and X. confusa were the potential pollinating agents for I. coccinae while for R. simplex, A. cerana showed higher potential to be a pollinating agent as compared to C. jugularis. Therefore, this study highlighted the importance of recording the behaviour of each flower visitor to determine the relative contribution to the pollination success of the plant species visited.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  3. CHEAH PEI SHYUAN, HAYATI MOHD YUSOF, ASMA ALI, NOOR SALIHAH ZAKARIA
    MyJurnal
    Food insecurity is normally associated with lower socioeconomic status and improper feeding practices which may consequently affect growth and development of young children. This study aims to assess household food security status and its association with child feeding practices and children’s weight status among low income mothers in Terengganu. A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted at four public maternal and child health clinics (MCH) located in Terengganu. A total of 107 of low-income mothers between ages of 18 to 45 years with net household income less than RM 3000 who has at least one child aged two years and above were recruited. The instruments used were Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) and weight-for-age child growth chart for children’ weight status at aged one year. Descriptive statistic and non-parametric tests were employed (SPSS 20). Majority of the households were food secure (85.0%). Yet, it is also important to note that about 15% of the household had experienced some degree of food insecurity. There was no significant correlation between household food security and all child feeding practice domains. Most of the mothers had children with normal weight (mean Z-score =-0.72+0.99). There was statistically significant association between household food security status and weight of children at one year of age (p=0.01). In conclusion, majority of the households experienced food secure. Household food security were associated with children’s weight status at early age but not correlated with parent’s child feeding practice.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  4. Ali AH, Asokan S
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Apr;26(1):9-20.
    PMID: 26868589
    The diurnal time-activity patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) were studied between 2005 and 2006 in the Nagapattinam District of Southern India. Bee-eaters were observed to spend an average of 52.5% of their day time scanning, 21.3% feeding, 13.3% flying, 8.8% resting and 4.1% engaging in preening activities. The time spent on scanning varied among seasons in 2005 (p<0.05) and among time blocks (p<0.05), but it did not vary among years or habitats (p>0.05). The feeding patterns differed among years, seasons within years, time blocks and habitats (p<0.05). The flying habits varied among years, time blocks and habitats (p<0.05) but did not change between seasons within years (p>0.05). The resting habits differed among years and habitats (p<0.05) but did not differ among seasons within years or time blocks (p>0.05). Preening differed among years and time blocks (p<0.05) but did not vary among seasons within years or habitats (p>0.05). We conclude that several factors, such as food availability, environmental factors and predation threats, may affect the diurnal activity patterns of Bee-eaters between habitats and seasons; a further study could clarify this conclusion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  5. Perera E, Rodriguez-Viera L, Montero-Alejo V, Perdomo-Morales R
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2020 Jul;31(2):187-209.
    PMID: 32922675 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2020.31.2.10
    Digestive proteases from marine organisms have been poorly applied to biomedicine. Exceptions are trypsin and other digestive proteases from a few cold-adapted or temperate fish and crustacean species. These enzymes are more efficient than enzymes from microorganism and higher vertebrates that have been used traditionally. However, the biomedical potential of digestive proteases from warm environment species has received less research attention. This review aims to provide an overview of this unrealised biomedical potential, using the debridement application as a paradigm. Debridement is intended to remove nonviable, necrotic and contaminated tissue, as well as fibrin clots, and is a key step in wound treatment. We discuss the physiological role of enzymes in wound healing, the use of exogenous enzymes in debridement, and the limitations of cold-adapted enzymes such as their poor thermal stability. We show that digestive proteases from tropical crustaceans may have advantages over their cold-adapted counterparts for this and similar uses. Differences in thermal stability, auto-proteolytic stability, and susceptibility to proteinase inhibitors are discussed. Furthermore, it is proposed that the feeding behaviour of the source organism may direct the evaluation of enzymes for particular applications, as digestive proteases have evolved to fill a wide variety of feeding habitats, natural substrates, and environmental conditions. We encourage more research on the biomedical application of digestive enzymes from tropical marine crustaceans.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  6. Dhang CC, Heo CC, McAlpine D, Kurahashi H, Ahmad NW, Mohamad AM, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2008 Dec;25(3):264-6.
    PMID: 19287370
    Signal fly, Scholastes sp. (Diptera: Platystomatidae) was observed associated with animal carcasses in Malaysia. The first observation was on a monkey carcass, which was killed by using a handgun and immediately placed in a forested area in Gombak, Selangor while the second observation was on a pig that died of natural causes and whose carcass was placed in an oil palm plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor. Both animal carcasses were visited by Scholastes sp. flies during the fresh decomposition period. However, the role Scholastes flies in the decomposition process remains unknown. In this paper, we report the occurrence of Scholastes sp. on animal carcasses in Malaysia for the first time.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  7. Heo CC, Mohamad AM, Jeffery J, Kurahashi H, Omar B
    Trop Biomed, 2008 Dec;25(3):252-3.
    PMID: 19287365
    A forensic entomological study conducted in an oil palm plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, Malaysia on 3 August 2007 revealed that a housefly, Musca domestica Linnaeus oviposited its eggs on a freshly dead pig. This finding indicated that housefly might play an important role in forensic investigation in determining post-mortem interval (PMI), although it was not yet found in human corpses or any animal carrion. This preliminary paper presented a first record of Musca domestica eggs found on animal carcass in the country.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  8. Norasmah B, Abu Hassan A, Che Salmah MR, Nurita AT, Nur Aida H
    Trop Biomed, 2006 Dec;23(2):134-9.
    PMID: 17322814
    A field study on foraging activity and proteinacous food preference was performed on the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) (Fabricius) at the School of Biological Sciences and Desasiswa Bakti Permai, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. Foraging activity studies of 4 colonies of S. geminata were conducted in the field for 24 hours. Foraging activity significantly increased 4 hours before sunset and maximum foraging occurred at midnight until early morning. Three types of proteinacous food; anchovy, meat and egg yolk were tested among the five colonies of S. geminata in the field. The egg yolk was the most preferred food (100%) followed by meat (31%) and anchovy (15%).
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior/physiology*
  9. Ooi CP, Rohani A, Zamree I, Chua WS
    Trop Biomed, 2005 Jun;22(1):69-71.
    PMID: 16880756 MyJurnal
    Artificial feeding of mosquitoes with blood meal is an important technique in the studies of mosquito feeding. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining suitable artificial membranes for mosquito feeding from other sources, several easily obtainable membranes in Malaysia were tested for their suitability as a replacement. Skin of chicken, fish, and salted sausage were obtained and tested against cattle skin membrane as a control. The results showed that cattle skin is still the most favorable membrane to be used, with full engorgement rate of around 57% using fresh human blood. However, processed chicken skin was shown having potential for further testing since with feeding using human blood kept overnight at 4 degrees C, an engorgement rate of 50% was obtained.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior*
  10. Ullah MZ, Awais MM, Akhtar M, Anwar MI, Navid MT, Khan I, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2018 Dec 01;35(4):1028-1040.
    PMID: 33601850
    Toxoplasmosis is a protozoal infection of zoonotic potential with worldwide geographical distribution which affects nearly all warm-blooded animals including mammals and birds. Keeping in view, this study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis along with associated risk factors and its haematological impacts in small ruminants of district Multan, Pakistan. In this study, a total of 250 sera samples collected from sheep (n=125) and goats (n=125) from three tehsils of Multan were examined using commercially available Latex agglutination test kit for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. The haematological profiles of Toxoplasma seropositive and seronegative animals were determined by using automated haematology analyser. Overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants was 42.80% with a higher prevalence rate (44.80%) in sheep as compared to goats (40.80%). Sex, existence of co-morbid conditions, feeding pattern and presence of pet cats and dogs were identified as significant (P<0.05) risk factors associated with the presence of antibodies against toxoplasmosis. The breed was found to be a significant (P=0.026) risk factor for the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in goats but not in sheep. Haematological analysis revealed significantly altered leukocytic counts (P<0.05) in seropositive sheep and goats as compared to seronegative ones. Our findings showed that small ruminants of the Multan District in Pakistan are toxoplasma seropositive and may pose a serious threat of public health concern in the region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  11. Kittiwattanawong K, Ponlawat A, Boonrotpong S, Nanakorn N, Kongchouy N, Moonmake S, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Jun 01;37(2):397-408.
    PMID: 33612809
    The Anopheles dirus mosquito is a primary malaria vector that transmits many species of Plasmodium parasites in Thailand and is widely spread across its geographic area. In the current study, the levels of expression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) gene in An. dirus mosquitoes infected with P. vivax were examined. The level of the gene's expression determined by mRNA extraction in An. dirus females (n=2,400) was studied at different times (0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after feeding), with different types of blood feeding (non-feeding, parasite-negative blood feeding, parasite-positive blood feeding) and in different parts of the body of mosquito samples (thorax and abdomen). The datasets were analyzed based on their relative expression ratio by the 2-ΔΔCT method and were tested for significant differences with ANOVA. The results showed that the An. dirus SOCS gene was stimulated in the abdomen 12 h and 24 h after blood feeding about three times more highly than in unfed females, with the difference being significant. At 24 h after P. vivax-infected blood feeding, the SOCS gene in the abdomen was expressed more highly than 24 h after parasite-negative blood feeding and expression was almost 36 times higher than in the control group who were not fed blood. However, in the thorax at all times after feeding and non-feeding, there was no expression of the SOCS gene. Therefore, the SOCS gene in An. dirus was most highly expressed 24 h post-feeding with a P. vivax-infected bloodmeal, which indicates that the SOCS gene in the major malaria vector in Thailand plays an important role in its immune system and its response to P. vivax infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  12. Singh S, Yong SK, Jalaludin NH, Brau E, Shamsudin NN, Keawbaingam N, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Dec 01;37(4):1146-1151.
    PMID: 33612767 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.4.1146
    The immature stages of necrophagous insects such as Diptera and Coleoptera play a vital ecological role in carrion decomposition. These invertebrates reduce the necromass significantly through consumption and recycle nutrients into organic forms which are readily being used by autotrophs or served as an abiotic storage in the soil ecosystem. Fly and beetle larvae are frequently encountered decomposers on ephemeral resource patches; however, lepidopterans associated with carrion decomposition is seldom reported. Here, we report colonization of Monopis sp. (Tineidae) and an unknown species of Psychidae on a rat carcass, and a Lithosiini caterpillar (Arctiidae) on a rabbit carcass in Peninsular Malaysia for the first time. The feeding behaviour and their potential forensic implications are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  13. Kheirollahpour MM, Danaee MM, Merican AFAF, Shariff AAAA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2020;2020:4194293.
    PMID: 32508538 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4194293
    The importance of eating behavior risk factors in the primary prevention of obesity has been established. Researchers mostly use the linear model to determine associations among these risk factors. However, in reality, the presence of nonlinearity among these factors causes a bias in the prediction models. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of a hybrid model to predict the eating behaviors. The hybrid model of structural equation modelling (SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) was applied to evaluate the prediction model. The SEM analysis was used to check the relationship of the emotional eating scale (EES), body shape concern (BSC), and body appreciation scale (BAS) and their effect on different categories of eating behavior patterns (EBP). In the second step, the input and output required for ANN analysis were obtained from SEM analysis and were applied in the neural network model. 340 university students participated in this study. The hybrid model (SEM-ANN) was conducted using multilayer perceptron (MLP) with feed-forward network topology. Moreover, Levenberg-Marquardt, which is a supervised learning model, was applied as a learning method for MLP training. The tangent/sigmoid function was used for the input layer, while the linear function was applied for the output layer. The coefficient of determination (R2) and mean square error (MSE) were calculated. Using the hybrid model, the optimal network happened at MLP 3-17-8. It was proved that the hybrid model was superior to SEM methods because the R2 of the model was increased by 27%, while the MSE was decreased by 9.6%. Moreover, it was found that BSC, BAS, and EES significantly affected healthy and unhealthy eating behavior patterns. Thus, a hybrid approach could be suggested as a significant methodological contribution from a machine learning standpoint, and it can be implemented as software to predict models with the highest accuracy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior*
  14. Tan BL, Norhaizan ME
    World J Mens Health, 2021 Apr;39(2):195-207.
    PMID: 32648373 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.200014
    Prostate cancer has become the second leading cancer in men worldwide. Androgen plays an important role in normal functioning, development, and differentiation of the prostate, and thus is considered to be the most powerful candidate that mediates reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance in the prostate. The elevation of ROS has been associated with the progression and development of this disease. Conventional therapy has shown a high cure rate in patients with localized prostate cancer. Despite the patients respond favorably initially, this therapy fails to response in the advanced stage of the diseases even in the absence of androgens. Indeed, the onset and progression of prostate cancer could be prevented by changing dietary habits. Much information indicates that oxidative stress and prostate cancer can be modulated by dietary components rich in antioxidants. While there is substantial evidence to suggest an association between prostate cancer risk and ROS-mediated oxidative stress; therefore, the interactions and mechanisms of this phenomenon are worth to discuss further. This review aimed to discuss the mechanisms of action of oxidative stress involved in the progression of prostate cancer. We also highlighted how some of the vital dietary components dampen or exacerbate inflammation, oxidative stress, and prostate cancer. Overall, the reported information would provide a useful approach to the prevention of prostate cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  15. Sutris JM, How V, Sumeri SA, Muhammad M, Sardi D, Mohd Mokhtar MT, et al.
    Int J Occup Environ Med, 2016 01;7(1):42-51.
    PMID: 26772597 DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2016.705
    BACKGROUND: Agriculture is an important sector for the Malaysian economy. The use of pesticides in agriculture is crucial due to its function in keeping the crops from harmful insects. Children living near agricultural fields are at risk of pesticide poisoning.

    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the genotoxic risk among children who exposed to pesticides and measure DNA damage due to pesticides exposure.

    METHODS: In a cross-sectional study 180 Orang Asli Mah Meri children aged between 7 and 12 years were studied. They were all living in an agricultural island in Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. The data for this study were collected via modified validated questionnaire and food frequency questionnaire, which consisted of 131 food items. 6 urinary organophosphate metabolites were used as biomarkers for pesticides exposure. For genotoxic risk or genetic damage assessment, the level of DNA damage from exfoliated buccal mucosa cells was measured using the comet assay electrophoresis method.

    RESULTS: Out of 180 respondents, 84 (46.7%) showed positive traces of organophosphate metabolites in their urine. Children with detectable urinary pesticide had a longer tail length (median 43.5; IQR 30.9 to 68.1 μm) than those with undetectable urinary pesticides (median 24.7; IQR 9.5 to 48.1 μm). There was a significant association between the extent of DNA damage and the children's age, length of residence in the area, pesticides detection, and frequency of apple consumption.

    CONCLUSION: The organophosphate genotoxicity among children is associated with the amount of exposure (detectability of urinary pesticide) and length of residence in (exposure) the study area.

    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  16. Ali WN, Ahmad R, Nor ZM, Ismail Z, Lim LH
    PMID: 21710845
    Mosquitoes in malaria endemic areas needs to be monitored constantly in order to detect demographic changes that could affect control measures. A 12-month mosquito population survey was conducted in several malaria endemic areas in Pos Lenjang, Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia. Collection of mosquitoes using a human landing catch technique was carried out indoors and outdoors for 12 hours from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM for 42 nights. Anopheles maculatus Theobald (31.0%), Armigeres flavus Leicester (11.3%), Armigeres annulitarsis Leicester (11.0%), Culex vishnui Theobald (9.6%) and Aedes albopictus Skuse (7.0%) were the predominant species caught in the study area. The salivary gland and midgut of all anopheline mosquitoes were dissected to determine the presence of malaria parasites but none were positive. A high rate of human biting by An. maculatus was detected during December, but the rate was lower in January. Mosquito larvae were carried by the rapid current of the river downstream causing a decrease in the larvae population. Of the five predominant species, only Ar. annulitarsis exhibited a significant positive correlation in numbers with monthly rainfall (p < 0.05). An. maculatus biting activity peaked during 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Ae. albopictus, Ar. annulitarsis, and Ar. flavus exhibited similar activities which peaked during 7:00 PM to 8.00 PM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  17. Singh T
    PMID: 9656353
    Cyprinids are the largest group of cultured freshwater fish and thus the most important from the aspect of fish-borne parasitic zoonoses. The common practices employed in the culture of this group are described to provide background information which may be used in the formulation of strategies for the control of these zoonoses. Only the common carp is cultured in monoculture: all the rest of the carp species are usually cultured in polyculture systems incorporating several species. Polyculture of cyprinids may be carried out in ponds, cages or in free range culture in natural or man-made water bodies, Polyculture of cyprinids is often integrated with agriculture, such as livestock, poultry or crop farming, utilizing byproducts of the agriculture activity, especially manure, as a source of nutrient for the fish pond. If precautions are not taken, this practice may provide an avenue for the transmission of fish borne parasites to man.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
  18. Rahman WA, Che'Rus A, Ahmad AH
    PMID: 9561615
    Until today, malaria is still one of the most important diseases in Malaysia. This is because Malaysia is located within the equatorial zone with high temperatures and humidities, usually important for the transmission of malaria. The number of malaria cases were estimated to be around 300,000 before the launching of the Malaria Eradication Program (MEP). The program was successful in reducing the numbers progressively during the 1967-1982 period. During the period 1980-1991, the highest number of malaria cases recorded for the country was 65,283 in 1989 (16,902 in Peninsular Malaysia, 47,545 in Sabah and 836 in Sarawak) whilst the lowest was 22,218 (10,069 in Peninsular Malaysia, 11,290 in Sabah and 859 in Sarawak) in 1983. In Malaysia, there are 434 species of mosquitos, representing 20 genera. Of these, 75 species are Anopheles that comprise of 2 subgenus, i.e. Anopheles and Cellia. Of the 75 species, only 9 have been reported as vectors: An. maculatus, An balabacensis, An. dirus, An. letifer An. campestris, An. sundaicus, An. donaldi, An. leucophyrus and An. flavirostris. The behavior, seasonal abundance, biting activities and breeding sites of these species are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Feeding Behavior
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