Terumbu karang adalah ekosistem yang paling mempunyai kepelbagaian biologi di planet ini. Terumbu karang hanya dijumpai dalam lingkungan pengecilan parameter julat yang sempit, yang meletakkan terumbu karang berisiko di seluruh dunia. Terumbu karang dipengaruhi oleh kesan antropogenik dan alam sekitar yang mengubah taburan genera karang. Memahami di mana jenis karang yang berbeza terletak dan bagaimana setiap genus terjejas oleh tekanan tempatan dan global adalah penting untuk pemuliharaan. Teknik coral video transect mula digunakan pada bulan Mei 2016 untuk membandingkan taburan genera karang di tapak yang dipengaruhi oleh faktor-faktor yang berbeza. Tapak yang mempunyai impak paling sedikit mencatatkan pelitupan karang yang paling tinggi, tapak yang berkaitan dengan sedimen mencatatkan pelitupan yang paling rendah, dan tapak yang mempunyai aktiviti pelancongan yang tinggi mempunyai pelitupan alga yang paling besar. Acropora didapati dominan di Kepulauan Bidong dan Pulau Redang, manakala Favia, Fungia dan Porites mempunyai perlindungan karang yang agak tinggi di setiap tapak
Kajian kuasai-eksperimental ini dijalankan bertujuan untuk mengukur kesan terapi keluarga ke atas herotan kognitif pesalah remaja. Subjek kajian terdiri daripada 18 orang pesalah jenayah remaja yang menerima perintah bon berkelakuan baik berserta perintah tambahan bengkel interaktif sebagai kumpulan rawatan dan 18 orang pesalah remaja yang menerima perintah bon berkelakuan baik tanpa perintah tambahan bengkel interaktif sebagai kumpulan kawalan. Herotan kognitif diukur menggunakan soal selidik laporan kendiri Cognitive Distortion Scale (CDS). Subjek rawatan diberikan enam sesi terapi keluarga dalam jangka masa 2 - 3 bulan selama 50 ke 90 minit bagi setiap sesi. Ujian SPANOVA digunakan untuk mengukur kesan terapi keluarga ke atas pesalah remaja. Hasil kajian menunjukkan terapi keluarga berkesan secara signifikan untuk mengurangkan herotan kognitif pesalah remaja.
This study describes the development of a multimedia environmental fate and transport model of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) at Sungai Sayong watershed. Based on the latest estimated DDT emission, the DDT concentrations in air, soil, water and sediment as well as the transfer processes were simulated under the equilibrium and steady-state assumption. Model predictions suggested that soil and sediment was the dominant sink of DDT. The results showed that the model predicted was generally good agreement with field data. Compared with degradation reaction, advection outflow was more important processes occurred in the model. Sensitivities of the model estimates to input parameters were tested. The result showed that vapour pressure (Ps) and organic carbon water partition coefficient (KOC) were the most influential parameters for the model output. The model output-concentrations of DDT in multimedia environment is very important as it can be used in future for human exposure and risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) at Sungai Sayong Basin.
Dalam kajian ini, pendekatan pengelompokan kabur Gustafson-Kessel (Gx) telah digunakan untuk mengelaskan 35 stesen hujan di Semenanjung Malaysia ke dalam rantau homogen. Pertama, algoritma pengelompokan kabur GK digunakan untuk mengenal pasti rantau awal. Kemudian, diuji keserasian dan kehomogenan rantau berkenaan. Akhir sekali, penyesuaian rantau dilakukan untuk mendapatkan rantau homogen. Hasil kajian mendapati 35 stesen hujan kajian boleh dibahagikan kepada enam rantau yang homogen. Rantau 1 meliputi bahagian barat laut dan utara Semenanjung Malaysia, rantau 2, 3 dan 4 meliputi bahagian barat, rantau 5 meliputi bahagian barat daya dan rantau 6 meliputi bahagian timur. Hasil kajian ini juga memperlihatkan bahawa berdasarkan nilai purata Indeks Kerpasan Piawai (sPi) skala masa satu bulan, rantau 2 lebih sering mengalami keadaan kemarau melampau. Walau bagaimanapun, berdasarkan sPi skala masa satu bulan, peristiwa kemarau terjadi secara rawak dalam semua rantau yang dianalisis , bahkan semua rantau tersebut pernah mengalami kejadian kemarau melampau dalam tempoh masa setahun. Hasil kajian ini turut menunjukkan bahawa pendekatan pengelompokan kabur Gustafson-Kessel boleh digunakan untuk membina rantau homogen.
The use of organochlorine pesticides has caused concern due to their effects on human health and the Malaysian aquatic ecosystem, particularly so in view of their persistent and bioaccumulative properties. Since the extent of organochlorine pesticide pollution in Malaysian waterways is unknown except for isolated instances, a systematic survey has now been carried out. Water samples from various rivers were extracted, cleaned up with Florisil and analysed for the individual organochlorine pesticides by gas chromatography (GC) with an electron capture detector (ECD). DDE, DDT and heptachlor were present in all the river water samples of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Other organochlorine pesticides were also identified from the water samples. However, the levels of all these are still below criteria values for Malaysian aquatic life, indicating that organochlorine pesticide pollution is less of a problem than other organic or inorganic pollutants.
Nineteen pairs of gaseous and surface seawater samples were collected along the cruise from Malaysia to the south of Bay of Bengal passing by Sri Lanka between April 12 and May 4, 2011 on the Chinese research vessel Shiyan I to investigate the latest OCP pollution status over the equatorial Indian Ocean. Significant decrease of α-HCH and γ-HCH was found in the air and dissolved water phase owing to global restriction for decades. Substantially high levels of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT, trans-chlordane (TC), and cis-chlordane (CC) were observed in the water samples collected near Sri Lanka, indicating fresh continental riverine input of these compounds. Fugacity fractions suggest equilibrium of α-HCH at most sampling sites, while net volatilization for DDT isomers, TC and CC in most cases. Enantiomer fractions (EFs) of α-HCH and o,p'-DDT in the air and water samples were determined to trace the source of these compounds in the air. Racemic or close to racemic composition was found for atmospheric α-HCH and o,p'-DDT, while significant depletion of (+) enantiomer was found in the water phase, especially for o,p'-DDT (EFs = 0.310 ± 0.178). 24% of α-HCH in the lower air over the open sea of the equatorial Indian Ocean is estimated to be volatilized from local seawater, indicating that long-range transport is the main source.
Persistent organochlorines in air, river water and sediment samples were analysed from eastern and southern Asia (India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia) and Oceania (Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands) to elucidate their geographical distribution in tropical environment. The concentrations of organochlorines in these abiotic samples collected from Taiwan, Japan and Australia were also monitored for comparison. Atmospheric and hydrospheric concentrations of HCHs (hexachlorocyclohexanes) and DDTs (DDT and its metabolites) in the tropical developing countries were apparently higher than those observed in the developed nations, suggesting extensive usage of these chemicals in the lower latitudes. CHLs (chlordane compounds) and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were also occasionally observed at higher levels in the tropics, implying that their usage area is also expanding southward. Distribution patterns of organochlorines in sediments showed smaller spatial variations on global terms, indicating that the chemicals released in the tropical environment are dispersed rapidly through air and water and retained less in sediments. The ratios of organochlorine concentrations in sediment and water phases were positively correlated with the latitude of sampling, suggesting that persistent and semivolatile compounds discharged in the tropics tend to be redistributed on a global scale.
Mussel samples were used in this study to measure the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorines (OCs) in the coastal waters of Asian countries like Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. PBDEs were detected in all the samples analyzed, and the concentrations ranged from 0.66 to 440 ng/g lipid wt. Apparently higher concentrations of PBDEs were found in mussels from the coastal waters of Korea, Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines, which suggests that significant sources of these chemicals exist in and around this region. With regard to the composition of PBDE congeners, BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-100 were the dominant congeners in most of the samples. Among the OCs analyzed, concentrations of DDTs were the highest followed by PCBs > CHLs > HCHs > HCB. Total concentrations of DDTs, PCBs, CHLs, and HCHs in mussel samples ranged from 21 to 58 000, 3.8 to 2000, 0.93 to 900, and 0.90 to 230 ng/g lipid wt., respectively. High levels of DDTs were found in mussels from Hong Kong, Vietnam, and China; PCBs were found in Japan, Hong Kong, and industrialized/urbanized locations in Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India; CHLs were found in Japan and Hong Kong; HCHs were found in India and China. These countries seem to play a role as probable emission sources of corresponding contaminants in Asia and, in turn, may influence their global distribution.
Solid-phase extraction (SPE) of organochlorine pesticide residues from environmental water samples was evaluated using octadecyl (C18)-bonded porous silica. The efficiency of SPE of these pesticide residues from reagent water samples at 1-5 micrograms dm-3 levels was compared with those obtained by solvent extraction with hexane and Freon TF (trichlorotrifluoroethane). Average recoveries exceeding 80% for these organochlorine pesticides were obtained via the SPE method using small cartridges containing 100 mg of 40 microns C18-bonded porous silica. The average recovery by solvent extraction with hexane and Freon TF exceeded 90% in both instances. It was concluded that the recoveries and precision for the SPE of organochlorine pesticides were poorer than those for the solvent extraction method. Organochlorine pesticide residue levels in environmental water samples from two major rivers flowing through predominantly rice-growing areas were monitored by gas chromatography using the solvent extraction method with hexane. Exceptionally high levels of organochlorine pesticide residues such as BHC, DDT, heptachlor, endosulfan and dieldrin were found in these water samples.
This study investigates the presence and distribution of organochlorine pesticides in streams and the lake in the Sembrong Lake Basin in Malaysia. The catchment of Sembrong Lake has been converted to agricultural areas over the past 30 years, with oil palm plantations and modern agricultural farming being the main land use. Surface water samples were collected from eight sites comprising the stream and lake and analysed for 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). In situ measurement of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity were also undertaken at each site. Aldrin, endrin, δ-BHC, 4,4-DDT, methoxychlor and endosulfan were the main OCPs detected in the lake basin. The total OCP concentration ranged between 5.42 and 349.2 ng/L. The most frequently detected OCPs were δ-BHC, heptachlor and aldrin. The maximum values detected were 23.0, 43.2 and 50.4 ng/L respectively. The highest concentration of OCPs was attributed to 4,4-DDT, but such high residue was rare and only detected once. Other OCP residues were low. Significant differences in the mean values were observed between lake and stream for dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and α-endosulfan concentration (p
Resistance status of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) collected from Sabah, East Malaysia, was evaluated against four major classes of adulticides, namely pyrethroid, carbamate, organochlorine, and organophosphate. Adult bioassays conforming to WHO standard protocols were conducted to assess knockdown and mortality rates of Ae. albopictus. Among tested pyrethroid adulticides, only cyfluthrin, lambda-cyaholthrin, and deltamethrin were able to inflict total knockdown. The other adulticide classes mostly failed to cause any knockdown; the highest knockdown rate was only 18.33% for propoxur. With regards to mortality rate, Ae. albopictus was unanimously susceptible toward all pyrethroids, dieldrin, and malathion, but exhibited resistance toward bendiocarb, propoxur, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and fenitrothion. Additionally, correlation analysis demonstrated cross-resistance between bendiocarb and propoxur, and malathion and propoxur. In conclusion, this study has disclosed that pyrethroids are still generally effective for Aedes control in Sabah, Malaysia. The susceptibility status of Ae. albopictus against pyrethroids in descending order was cyfluthrin > lambda-cyhalothrin > deltamethrin > etofenprox > permethrin.
The present study aims to investigate the susceptibility status of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) collected from residential areas in Sabah, Malaysia towards eight WHO-recommended dosages of larvicides representing the classes of organophosphates and organochlorines. Field and reference strains of Ae. albopictus larvae were bioassayed in accordance to WHO standard methods using diagnostic dosages of bromophos, malathion, fenthion, fenitrothion, temephos, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dieldrin. The results revealed that Ae. albopictus was resistant (mortality < 90%) towards malathion, temephos, and DDT. In addition, most of the Ae. albopictus strains exhibited a wide range of susceptibilities against bromophos, with mortality ranged from 49.33 to 93.33%. On the contrary, only dieldrin was able to induce 100% mortality against all strains of Ae. albopictus. Tolerance to fenitrothion, fenthion, and chlorpyrifos, with mortality ranging from 81.33 to 97.33%, was also observed in this study.
Kajian yang dijalankan ini bertujuan untuk menilai indeks kualiti air di sekitar kawasan lombong di Sungai Pelepah Kanan, Kota Tinggi, Johor. Sebanyak enam stesen pensampelan telah dipilih dari bahagian hulu ke hilir sungai ini untuk menilai indeks kualiti air di sepanjang sungai tersebut. Tiga replikasi sampel telah diambil daripada setiap stesen pensampelan. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan pada dua musim yang berbeza iaitu musim kering (Julai) dan musim hujan (Disember) 2007. Parameter in-situ yang ditentukan dalam kajian ini ialah suhu, pH, oksigen terlarut (DO) dan konduktiviti. Parameter ex-situ yang dianalisis dalam makmal ialah turbiditi air, jumlah pepejal terampai (TSS), keperluan oksigen biokimia (BOD), keperluan oksigen kimia (COD) dan ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N). Berdasarkan Piawaian Interim Kualiti Air Kebangsaan Malaysia (INWQS) hasil kajian yang diperolehi menunjukkan semua stesen pensampelan di Sungai Pelepah Kanan pada bulan Julai berada dalam kelas I kecuali oksigen terlarut dan pH berada dalam kelas II. Selain itu, hasil kajian pada bulan Disember juga menunjukkan semua parameter fiziko-kimia berada dalam kelas I-II kecuali pH berada dalam kelas III. Ujian korelasi menunjukkan terdapat hubungan bererti antara parameter-parameter fiziko-kimia yang di tertentukan. Analisis Indeks Kualiti Air (IKA) menunjukkan nilai purata IKA pada bulan Julai adalah 96.88 (kelas I) manakala pada bulan Disember telah merosot ke 84.03 (kelas II). Berdasarkan kepada nilai IKA dan perbandingan dengan INWQS, indeks kualiti air Sungai Pelepah Kanan adalah berada pada tahap yang bersih dan kurang mengalami pencemaran yang serius daripada aktiviti antropogenik mahupun pencemaran secara semula jadi.
Magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) employing oil-palm fiber activated carbon (OPAC) modified with magnetite (Fe3O4) and polypyrrole (OPAC-Fe3O4-PPy) was successfully used for the determination of two organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), namely endosulfan and dieldrin in environmental water samples. Analysis was performed using gas chromatography with micro-electron capture detection (GC-μECD). The effects of three preparation variables, namely Fe3O4:OPAC ratio, amount of pyrrole monomer, and amount of FeCl3 oxidant were optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD) (R2 < 0.99, p-value < 0.001%). The optimum conditions were as follows: Fe3O4:OPAC ratio of 2:1 w/w, 1 g of FeCl3 and 100 μL of pyrrole monomer. The experimental results obtained agreed satisfactorily with the model prediction (> 90% agreement). Optimized OPAC-Fe3O4-PPy composite was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope, vibrating sample magnetometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Four numerical parameters of MSPE procedure was optimized using BBD. The significance of the MSPE parameters were salt addition > sample solution pH > extraction time and desorption time. Under the optimized conditions (extraction time: 90 s, desorption time: 10 min, salt: 0%, and pH: 5.8), the method demonstrated good linearity (25-1000 ng L-1) with coefficients of determination, R2 > 0.991, and low detection limits for both endosulfan (7.3 ng L-1) and dieldrin (8.6 ng L-1). The method showed high analyte recoveries in the range of 98.6-103.5% for environmental water samples. The proposed OPAC-Fe3O4-PPy MSPE method offered good features such as sustainability, simplicity, and rapid extraction.
Molecular structure and properties of 2-fluoro-4-bromobenzaldehyde (FBB, C7H4BrFO) was experimentally investigated by X-ray diffraction technique and vibrational spectroscopy. Experimental results on the molecular structure of FBB were supported with computational studies using the density functional theory, with the Becke-3-Lee-Yang-Parr functional and the 6-311+G(3df,p) basis set. Molecular dimer formed by the intermolecular hydrogen bonding was investigated. Potential energy distribution analysis of normal modes was performed to identify characteristic frequencies. FBB crystallizes in orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with the O-trans conformation. In order to investigate halogen effect, the chloro- (CBB) and bromo- (BBB) analogs of FBB have also been studied theoretically. It is observed that all compounds prefer the stable O-trans conformation. Although the free energy difference between the O-cis and O-trans conformers is less than 2.5 kcal/mol, the free energy rotational barrier is at least 7.4 kcal/mol. There is a good agreement between the experimentally determined structural parameters, and vibrational frequencies of FBB and those predicted theoretically.
Penuaan ovari telah dikaitkan dengan tekanan oksidatif dan kehilangan fungsi ovari. Tokotrienol telah dibuktikan dapat memberi kesan yang baik terhadap sistem pembiakan wanita. Walau bagaimanapun, peranan tokotrienol ke atas metabolisma ovari dan seterusnya peningkatan kualiti oosit dalam mencit tua masih tidak diketahui. Oleh itu, hubungan antara perubahan aktiviti metabolik dalam ovari dan kualiti oosit dalam mencit tua selepas suplementasi fraksi kaya tokotrienol (TRF) telah dikaji. Mencit betina berusia enam minggu digunakan sebagai kumpulan Muda. Mencit betina berusia enam bulan dibahagikan kepada empat kumpulan iaitu kumpulan pertama yang diberikan minyak jagung-bebas tokoferol (kawalan) manakala tiga kumpulan yang lain diberi suplimen TRF pada dos 90, 120, dan 150 mg/kg. Rawatan diberikan secara oral selama dua bulan. Pada akhir rawatan, mencit dari semua kumpulan disuperovulasi dan kemudian dikorbankan. Kualiti oosit dinilai dan analisis metabolomik secara tidak disasarkan, pada tisu ovari dijalankan dengan menggunakan 'liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry of quadrupole time-of-flight' (LC-MS Q-TOF). Peratusan oosit normal adalah lebih tinggi (p
Pengurusan kendiri asma menggunakan pelan tindakan asma secara bertulis (WAAP) penting dalam memastikan pengurusan asma yang berkesan kerana ia mengurangkan kadar kehadiran ke hospital. Kajian ini menilai peningkatan pengetahuan dan kawalan asma menggunakan WAAP di kalangan pesakit asma di Jabatan Kecemasan. Kajian cubaan kawalan rawak ini dijalankan selama 19 bulan di Jabatan Perubatan Kecemasan sebuah hospital universiti. Kajian ini melibatkan pesakit dewasa serangan asma ringan dan sederhana. Pesakit dibahagikan secara rawak kepada dua kumpulan iaitu kumpulan intervensi dan kawalan. Soal selidik pengetahuan penyakit asma diberikan pada pesakit. Pesakit dari kedua kumpulan menerima kaunseling tentang penyakit asma berdasarkan risalah asma yang telah disediakan. Kumpulan intervensi, kemudiannya menerima kaunseling WAAP mengikut keperluan individu tersebut. Kumpulan kawalan menerima kaunseling lisan berdasarkan perawatan. Susulan kajian dijalankan pada 1 dan 3 bulan. Pengetahuan penyakit asma dan kawalan penyakit asma dinilai melalui tinjauan telefon. Lima puluh pesakit telah dibahagikan secara rawak kepada kumpulan intervensi dan kawalan. Setiap kumpulan menerima 25 pesakit. Skor pengetahuan kumpulan intervensi jauh lebih tinggi daripada kawalan (16.88+0.44 vs 13.36+3.72; p19) pada 1 bulan berbanding kumpulan kawalan (20.64+3.26 vs 17.72+4.17). Kedua-dua kumpulan mencapai kawalan yang baik pada 3 bulan. Pengurusan kendiri asma dengan menggunakan WAAP di Jabatan Kecemasan meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kawalan asma di kalangan pesakit yang mendapat serangan asma ringan dan sederhana.
Artikel ini bertujuan mengkaji keberkesanan program SHIELDS daripada perspektif pelajar dan urusetia yang telah turut terlibat. Program SHIELDS adalah satu bentuk program campbased yang diperkenalkan hasil kerjasama antara Kementerian Pendidikan dan Pihak Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK). Nama SHEILDS ini adalah akronim yang bermaksud Sayangi Hidup, Elak Derita Selamanya. Sehubungan itu, program ini bertujuan meningkatkan kesedaran dan mengupayakan ketahanan diri murid (lingkungan umur 13 hingga 18 tahun) yang dikenalpasti berisiko dalam penyalahgunaan dadah. Kajian kuantitatif ini melibatkan dua fasa iaitu fasa pertama adalah mengedarkan soal selidik sebelum dan selepas program SHIELDS dijalankan. Manakala, fasa kedua pula adalah sesi follow up selepas 3 bulan terhadap 50 pelajar yang telah terlibat dengan program SHIELDS terlebih dahulu. Hasil kajian menunjukkan secara keseluruhan perspektif pelajar seramai 559 orang yang terlibat dengan program SHIELDS ini adalah baik dengan min=4.48. Kesimpulannya, dapatan ini menunjukkan bahawa program SHIELDS ini sewajarnya diteruskan dengan beberapa penambahbaikan untuk kelangsungan program dan kebaikan semua pihak yang terlibat.