Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 402 in total

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  1. Koch M, ĎuriŠ Z
    Zootaxa, 2018 Feb 27;4387(3):567-579.
    PMID: 29690481 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.3.9
    A new species of the portunid genus, Monomia Gistel, 1848, is described from the South China Sea in Vietnam. Monomia lucida sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to M. argentata (A. Milne-Edwards, 1861), which was originally described from Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. In addition to the stout, forward-directed anterolateral teeth of the carapace, the subrectangular sixth segment of the male pleon, and the long and slender laterally bent first gonopods, adults of the new species reach a greater size, and can also be distinguished from M. argentata by the colour pattern on the natatory dactylus. The independent specific status of M. lucida sp. nov. is also supported by molecular evidence. Aside from a comparison of this new species with other known congeners, new photographs of the holotype of M. samoensis (Ward, 1939) are also provided.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  2. Sugau JB, van der Ent A
    Bot Stud, 2015 Dec;57(1):4.
    PMID: 28510789 DOI: 10.1186/s40529-016-0119-9
    BACKGROUND: Kinabalu Park, in Sabah (Malaysia) on Borneo Island, is renowned for the exceptionally high plant diversity it protects, with at least 5000 plant species enumerated to date. Discoveries of plant novelties continue to be made in Sabah, especially on isolated ultramafic outcrops, including in the genus Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae) with P. linearifolium from Bukit Hampuan on the southern border of the Park, and P. silamense from Bukit Silam in Eastern Sabah, both narrow endemics restricted to ultramafic soils.

    RESULTS: A distinctive new species of Pittosporum (P. peridoticola J.B.Sugau and Ent, sp. nov.) was discovered on Mount Tambuyukon in the north of Kinabalu Park during ecological fieldwork. The diagnostic morphological characters of this taxon are discussed and information about the habitat in which it grows is provided. The soil chemistry in the rooting zone of P. peridoticola has high magnesium to calcium quotients, high extractable nickel and manganese concentrations, but low potassium and phosphorus concentrations, as is typical for ultramafic soils. Analysis of foliar samples of various Pittosporum-species originating from ultramafic and non-ultramafic soils showed a comparable foliar elemental stoichiometry that is suggestive of 'Excluder-type' ecophysiology.

    CONCLUSION: Pittosporum peridoticola is an ultramafic obligate species restricted to Kinabalu Park with only two known populations within the boundaries of the protected area. It is vulnerable to any future stochastic landscape disturbance events, such as forest fires or severe droughts, and therefore its conservation status is 'Near Threatened'.

    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  3. Cámara-Leret R, Frodin DG, Adema F, Anderson C, Appelhans MS, Argent G, et al.
    Nature, 2020 08;584(7822):579-583.
    PMID: 32760001 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2549-5
    New Guinea is the world's largest tropical island and has fascinated naturalists for centuries1,2. Home to some of the best-preserved ecosystems on the planet3 and to intact ecological gradients-from mangroves to tropical alpine grasslands-that are unmatched in the Asia-Pacific region4,5, it is a globally recognized centre of biological and cultural diversity6,7. So far, however, there has been no attempt to critically catalogue the entire vascular plant diversity of New Guinea. Here we present the first, to our knowledge, expert-verified checklist of the vascular plants of mainland New Guinea and surrounding islands. Our publicly available checklist includes 13,634 species (68% endemic), 1,742 genera and 264 families-suggesting that New Guinea is the most floristically diverse island in the world. Expert knowledge is essential for building checklists in the digital era: reliance on online taxonomic resources alone would have inflated species counts by 22%. Species discovery shows no sign of levelling off, and we discuss steps to accelerate botanical research in the 'Last Unknown'8.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands*
  4. Stoicescu C, Lataire Q, Peters K, Amon JJ, Kamarulzaman A, Ali R, et al.
    Lancet, 2022 01 29;399(10323):419-421.
    PMID: 35032436 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00003-4
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands
  5. Fadzly N, Burns KC, Zuharah WF
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2013 Dec;24(2):31-50.
    PMID: 24575247 MyJurnal
    Fruit phenotypes are often hypothesised to be affected by selection by frugivores. Here, we tested two hypotheses concerning frugivore-fruit interactions from the perspective of fruit colours. We measured the spectral properties of 26 fruits and the associated leaves of plants from 2 islands in New Zealand. Visual observations were also performed to record the birds that fed on the fruits. First, we tested the fruit-foliage hypothesis, where fruit colours are assumed to be evolutionarily constrained by their own leaf colour to maximise colour contrast and fruit conspicuousness. We ran a null model analysis comparing fruit colour contrast using an avian eye model. Second, we tested the frugivore specificity hypothesis, where specific fruit colours are thought to be connected with a specific bird frugivore. We performed a regression on the number of bird visits against the fruit colour in tetrahedral colour space based on an avian eye calculation using Mantel's test. The results show that fruit colours are not constrained by their own leaf colours. There is also no relationship or pattern suggesting a link between a specific fruit colour and specific bird visitors. We suggest that although fruit colour is one of the most highly discussed components, it is not the most important single deciding factor in frugivore fruit selection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  6. Zhu H
    Ecol Evol, 2017 12;7(23):10398-10408.
    PMID: 29238563 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3561
    The tropical climate in China exists in southeastern Xizang (Tibet), southwestern to southeastern Yunnan, southwestern Guangxi, southern Guangdon, southern Taiwan, and Hainan, and these southern Chinese areas contain tropical floras. I checked and synonymized native seed plants from these tropical areas in China and recognized 12,844 species of seed plants included in 2,181 genera and 227 families. In the tropical flora of southern China, the families are mainly distributed in tropical areas and extend into temperate zones and contribute to the majority of the taxa present. The genera with tropical distributions also make up the most of the total flora. In terms of geographical elements, the genera with tropical Asian distribution constitute the highest proportion, which implies tropical Asian or Indo-Malaysia affinity. Floristic composition and geographical elements are conspicuous from region to region due to different geological history and ecological environments, although floristic similarities from these regions are more than 90% and 64% at the family and generic levels, respectively, but lower than 50% at specific level. These differences in the regional floras could be influenced by historical events associated with the uplift of the Himalayas, such as the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina geoblock, clockwise rotation and southeastward movement of Lanping-Simao geoblock, and southeastward movement of Hainan Island. The similarity coefficients between the flora of southern China and those of Indochina countries are more than 96% and 80% at family and generic levels, indicating their close floristic affinity and inclusion in the same biogeographically floristic unit.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  7. Hui-hui Wang, Jing-lan Liu, Rong Zhang, Jia-kai Liu, Yu-qi Zou, Zhen-ming Zhang
    Sains Malaysiana, 2017;46:2375-2381.
    This paper had selected watermifoil (Myriophyllum veticillatum Linn.), softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus Vahl) and yellow-flowered iris (Iris wilsonii), in showing the water purification through different configuration. AFIs with different combination of aquatic plants were set up to purify the water quality for 50 days. This paper aimed to evaluate chemical and vegetative characteristics of each type of plant and also to find configuration of aquatic plants to maximize the contaminants removal efficiency by artificial floating island (AFI). The result indicated that the trophic waterbody promote the growth of plants and all of the AFIs have the ability to purify water and reduce contaminants. However, the most effective way is by combination of these three aquatic plants which has strong capacity to remove COD, NO3-, total nitrogen, total phosphorous and improve pH levels. Watermifoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum Linn.) is better than yellow-flowered iris (Iris wilsonii) and softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus Vahl) in disposing water pollutants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  8. Cui L, Rao D, Zhang M
    Mitochondrial DNA B Resour, 2020 Nov 03;5(3):3670-3672.
    PMID: 33367054 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1832595
    The Asiatic softshell turtle, also known as the black-rayed softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea; Accession no: MT039230), is found in northeastern India (Mizoram), Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. This turtle is thought to have been introduced into the Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, and Yunnan, China, through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Herein, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of A. cartilaginea for the first time using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The assembled mitogenome was 16,763 bp in length and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), and one control region (CR). The PCGs based maximum-likelihood phylogeny discriminated A. cartilaginea from other Testudines and clusters within family Trionychidae with the sister taxa of Nilssonia nigricans.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  9. Binns CW, Lee MK, Kagawa M, Low WY, Liqian Q, Guldan GS, et al.
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2017 Mar;29(2):98-101.
    PMID: 28325079 DOI: 10.1177/1010539517694295
    Nutrition is a major determinant of health throughout all stages of life and together with smoking is the most important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in the Asia Pacific Region. The workshop participants examined Dietary Guidelines and Food Guides that are in use in our region, together with additional materials from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World Cancer Research Foundation. The resulting set of guidelines is meant as a reminder of the main issues to be covered in a general public health education program. It may also be of value in reminding public health practitioners, educators, administrators, and policy makers of current nutrition issues. It may additionally be useful as a checklist of the issues to be considered in public health programs and regulations. The main areas of nutrition that are included in the Guidelines are eating a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereals, and nuts. Choose fish, poultry, and meats grown in a sustainable way. Appropriate growth, including avoiding obesity, and physical activity are important. Breastfeeding is the basis of infant nutrition and nutrition of mothers is an important public health measure. Negative factors in the Asian diet include salt, refined sugar, alcohol and fats. The APACPH Dietary Guidelines will need to be kept under review and modified to meet regional differences in food supply. The Guidelines will be useful as a checklist of the issues to be considered in public health programs, addressing both acute and chronic diseases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands
  10. Kura NU, Ramli MF, Ibrahim S, Sulaiman WN, Aris AZ, Tanko AI, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Jan;22(2):1512-33.
    PMID: 25163562 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3444-0
    In this work, the DRASTIC and GALDIT models were employed to determine the groundwater vulnerability to contamination from anthropogenic activities and seawater intrusion in Kapas Island. In addition, the work also utilized sensitivity analysis to evaluate the influence of each individual parameter used in developing the final models. Based on these effects and variation indices of the said parameters, new effective weights were determined and were used to create modified DRASTIC and GALDIT models. The final DRASTIC model classified the island into five vulnerability classes: no risk (110-140), low (140-160), moderate (160-180), high (180-200), and very high (>200), covering 4, 26, 59, 4, and 7 % of the island, respectively. Likewise, for seawater intrusion, the modified GALDIT model delineates the island into four vulnerability classes: very low (<90), low (90-110), moderate (110-130), and high (>130) covering 39, 33, 18, and 9 % of the island, respectively. Both models show that the areas that are likely to be affected by anthropogenic pollution and seawater intrusion are within the alluvial deposit at the western part of the island. Pearson correlation was used to verify the reliability of the two models in predicting their respective contaminants. The correlation matrix showed a good relationship between DRASTIC model and nitrate (r = 0.58). In a similar development, the correlation also reveals a very strong negative relationship between GALDIT model and seawater contaminant indicator (resistivity Ωm) values (r = -0.86) suggesting that the model predicts more than 86 % of seawater intrusion. In order to facilitate management strategy, suitable areas for artificial recharge were identified through modeling. The result suggested some areas within the alluvial deposit at the western part of the island as suitable for artificial recharge. This work can serve as a guide for a full vulnerability assessment to anthropogenic pollution and seawater intrusion in small islands and will help policy maker and manager with understanding needed to ensure sustainability of the island's aquifer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands*
  11. Joffry SM, Yob NJ, Rofiee MS, Affandi MM, Suhaili Z, Othman F, et al.
    PMID: 22242040 DOI: 10.1155/2012/258434
    Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomataceae) is one of the 22 species found in the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia. Considered as native to tropical and temperate Asia and the Pacific Islands, this commonly found small shrub has gained herbal status in the Malay folklore belief as well as the Indian, Chinese, and Indonesian folk medicines. Ethnopharmacologically, the leaves, shoots, barks, seeds, and roots of M. malabathricum have been used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, cuts and wounds, toothache, and stomachache. Scientific findings also revealed the wide pharmacological actions of various parts of M. malabthricum, such as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities. Various types of phytochemical constituents have also been isolated and identifed from different parts of M. malabathricum. Thus, the aim of the present review is to present comprehensive information on ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of M. malabathricum.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands
  12. Zain RB
    Oral Oncol, 2001 Apr;37(3):205-10.
    PMID: 11287272
    This is an update on cultural and dietary risk factors for oral precancer and cancer. It is an overview on ethnic differences (where possible) and socio-cultural risk factors (tobacco/areca nut/betel quid, alcohol use and dietary factors) in relation to oral precancer and cancer. While studies were from Western countries, India and China, this update also attempts to include and highlight some studies conducted in the Asia-Pacific region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands/epidemiology
  13. Sinev AY, Yusoff FM
    Zootaxa, 2015;4000(5):581-91.
    PMID: 26623748 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.5.7
    Fauna of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) of Sabah state of Malaysia, Borneo Island, was evaluated for the first time. Samples from 40 locations were studied, and 31 species of Cladocera were revealed, including three species of Sididae, one species of Daphnidae, one species of Moinidae, four species of Macrothricidae, two species of Ilyocryptidae, and 20 species of Chydoridae. One species of Ilyocryptidae, Ilyocryptus yooni Jeong, Kotov and Lee, 2012, is recorded for Malaysia for the first time, and one more, Anthalona sp., is probably new for science. Of 31 species recorded for Sabah, only three are true planktonic species and 28 are substrate-associated species. Absence of large natural lakes, habitats with most rich cladoceran fauna, can be an important factor limiting diversity of Cladocera in Sabah.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  14. Sinev AY, Yusoff FM
    Zootaxa, 2018 Jun 21;4438(2):362-372.
    PMID: 30313150 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.10
    Unlike those in the mainland of Southeast Asia, the Cladocera of the Malay Archipelago has not been intensively studied, except for the state of Sabah in the north-eastern part of the Borneo island. This study aimed to complete the inventory of the Cladocera in Sabah by looking at different types of water bodies including oxbow lakes, small lakes, reservoirs, ponds, ditches and paddy fields. From 32 sites examined, 35 species of cladocerans, nine of which were new records to Sabah, were found from 25 localities. With this new finding, the total number of cladoceran species in Sabah increased to 39 species, including five species of Sididae, four species of Daphniidae, one species of Moinidae, five species of Macrothricidae, two species of Ilyocryptidae, and 22 species of Chydoridae. Only 8 % ( three species) of Sabah cladocerans are true planktonic. This study illustrated that most cladocerans were associated with substrates in the littoral zone and thus appropriate sampling methods should be employed in different microhabitats for comprehensive biodiversity assessment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  15. Zulkifli SN, Yun-Low W, Yusof K
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):10-6.
    PMID: 10050201
    This paper assessed the role of public health schools on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia Pacific region. Economic development and its associated effects, particularly in the ASEAN countries, for example, migrant labour, ageing, environmental health, turbulence and social climate, has a tremendous impact on maternal and child health. Based on these current issues, it is evident that public health schools can play a major role in maternal and child health in terms of policy formulation and programme development. Several areas were proposed as to what schools of public health can do, namely, through networking, communication, research and training.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands
  16. Lim SG, Aghemo A, Chen PJ, Dan YY, Gane E, Gani R, et al.
    Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2017 01;2(1):52-62.
    PMID: 28404015 DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(16)30080-2
    The Asia-Pacific region has disparate hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology, with prevalence ranging from 0·1% to 4·7%, and a unique genotype distribution. Genotype 1b dominates in east Asia, whereas in south Asia and southeast Asia genotype 3 dominates, and in Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos), genotype 6 is most common. Often, availability of all-oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is delayed because of differing regulatory requirements. Ideally, for genotype 1 infections, sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir, sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir, or ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir plus dasabuvir are suitable. Asunaprevir plus daclatasvir is appropriate for compensated genotype 1b HCV if baseline NS5A mutations are absent. For genotype 3 infections, sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir for 24 weeks or sofosbuvir, daclatasvir, and ribavirin for 12 weeks are the optimal oral therapies, particularly for patients with cirrhosis and those who are treatment experienced, whereas sofosbuvir, pegylated interferon, and ribavirin for 12 weeks is an alternative regimen. For genotype 6, sofosbuvir plus pegylated interferon and ribavirin, sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir, or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin for 12 weeks are all suitable. Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin has been replaced by sofosbuvir plus pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and all-oral therapies where available, but cost and affordability remain a major issue because of the absence of universal health coverage. Few patients have been treated because of multiple barriers to accessing care. HCV in the Asia-Pacific region is challenging because of the disparate epidemiology, poor access to all-oral therapy because of availability, cost, or regulatory licensing. Until these problems are addressed, the burden of disease is likely to remain high.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands/epidemiology
  17. Yoo KY
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2010;11(4):839-44.
    PMID: 21133587
    Cancer incidences as well as the most prevalent cancer types vary greatly across Asian countries since people have differing health behaviors as well as lifestyle factors related to cancer risk. Countries have varying systems of government organization, laws, resources, facilities, and management strategies for addressing the cancer burden. Examples such as Korea and Japan with existing national cancer control programs need to focus on early screening and detection and quality of screening methods. If screening and detection increase to cover more than 50% of the target population, survival rate increases and thus the number of cancer patients detected increases resulting in higher medical cost. Thus, expansion of cancer screening, in addition to smoking prevention, immunization increase, and diet control awareness, are needed for cancer prevention strategies. Countries such as Thailand, China, Malaysia, and Turkey need to begin organized efforts to reduce cancer deaths through state-wide cancer screening programs. Strategies focused on increasing survival among cancer patients are also needed. In addition, government organizations and law regulations need to be in place as the first step towards cancer prevention. For the countries such as Nepal, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Iraq which do not have any cancer-related organizations in place, the first step that is needed is to raise public awareness about cancer; a public awareness campaign is the number one priority and should begin immediately. The easiest and most feasible step at this point is dissemination of cancer education materials during school health education and physical health screening. This must be started immediately because we need to avoid the development of existing cancers where patients will need to seek specialized cancer treatment facilities that are non-existent in these regions. In addition, hospitals need to take a step further and start undergoing registration of cancer prevalence and incidence cases beginning at the regional level. Through the hospital census, countries will be able to determine the magnitude of the cancer burden. Moreover, countries with professionals and researchers with advanced cancer research, education, and training also need to contribute through international cooperation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pacific Islands
  18. Shen QI, Yin ZW
    Zootaxa, 2019 Jul 05;4629(2):zootaxa.4629.2.2.
    PMID: 31712519 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4629.2.2
    The pselaphine genus Sathytes Westwood is represented in Borneo by a single species. In this paper we describe four new species: S. borneoensis sp. nov., S. liuyei sp. nov., S. larifuga sp. nov., and S. shihongliangi sp. nov. All new species were collected by light traps in Sabah, and show unique combinations of male sexual characters that lead to ready species discriminations. A key to Sathytes species from Borneo is appended.
    Matched MeSH terms: Islands
  19. Lean SS, Yeo CC
    Front Microbiol, 2017;8:1547.
    PMID: 28861061 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01547
    Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that has become a serious healthcare concern within a span of two decades due to its ability to rapidly acquire resistance to all classes of antimicrobial compounds. One of the key features of the A. baumannii genome is an open pan genome with a plethora of plasmids, transposons, integrons, and genomic islands, all of which play important roles in the evolution and success of this clinical pathogen, particularly in the acquisition of multidrug resistance determinants. An interesting genetic feature seen in majority of A. baumannii genomes analyzed is the presence of small plasmids that usually ranged from 2 to 10 kb in size, some of which harbor antibiotic resistance genes and homologs of plasmid mobilization genes. These plasmids are often overlooked when compared to their larger, conjugative counterparts that harbor multiple antibiotic resistance genes and transposable elements. In this mini-review, we will examine our current knowledge of these small A. baumannii plasmids and look into their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Some of these plasmids, such as the Rep-3 superfamily group and the pRAY-type, which has no recognizable replicase genes, are quite widespread among diverse A. baumannii clinical isolates worldwide, hinting at their usefulness to the lifestyle of this pathogen. Other small plasmids especially those from the Rep-1 superfamily are truly enigmatic, encoding only hypothetical proteins of unknown function, leading to the question of whether these small plasmids are "good" or "bad" to their host A. baumannii.
    Matched MeSH terms: Genomic Islands
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