In Malaysia malaria is still a major public health problem. At the end of 1986 it was estimated that 14.6% of the population lived in malaria prone areas and 8.4% lived in endemic areas. Malaria eradication and control programmes were instituted separately at different times in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Inaccessibility of endemic areas, opening of lands for developmental projects and emergence of drug resistant strains of P. falciparum are problems that make control of this infection difficult. Malaria vaccine is being developed.
This data article is constructed using avian (bird) counts from a recently identified trail in Kenyir rainforest, East Peninsular Malaysia. Avian chirps and naked eye visual were simultaneously used to locate the birds. After visual binocular and digital image inspection, identification of avian species were carried out using reference books. Data tabulation are divided by monsoon seasons and months before interpret using Shannon and Evenness indices. The highlights like feeding guilds, nativity, iconic species and statuses in the wild are presented with the data to increase its value. Within these, a total of 457 avian individuals from 36 avian family groups were recorded from which, 25 of these avian species occur as near threatened, vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered in the wild. Having these, the tabulated data becomes a calendar for seasonal availability of avian species which considers the 1.0 km trail suitable for bird watching, scientific study and ecotourism purposes.
The type of Ranatra spinifrons Montandon, 1910 is redescribed and this taxon is reported from Brunei for the first time. Ranatra heoki sp.n. is described from Sarawak and belongs to the Ranatra gracilis group (sensu Lansbury, 1972). The present paper also provides the first records of the following species for Borneo: Ranatra parmata Mayr, 1865 (from Sabah and Kalimantan); Ranatra rafflesi Tran Polhemus, 2012 (from Sarawak). The latter is also reported from Sumatra for the first time. Ranatra longipes longipes Stål, 1861, previously known from Kalimantan and Sabah, is now reported from Sarawak for the first time. Thus, six species of Ranatra are currently known from Borneo.
The fairness of raters in music performance assessment has become an important concern in the field of music. The assessment of students' music performance depends in a fundamental way on rater judgements. The quality of rater judgements is crucial to provide fair, meaningful and informative assessments of music performance. There are many external factors that can influence the quality of rater judgements. Previous research has used different measurement models to examine the quality of rater judgements (e.g., generalizability theory). There are limitations with the previous analysis methods that are based on classical test theory and its extensions. In this study, we use modern measurement theory (Rasch measurement theory) to examine the quality of rater judgements. The many-facets Rasch rating scale model is employed to investigate the extent of rater-invariant measurement in the context of music performance assessments related to university degrees in Malaysia (159 students rated by 24 raters). We examine the rating scale structure, the severity levels of the raters, and the judged difficulty of the items. We also examine the interaction effects across musical instrument subgroups (keyboard, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussions and vocal). The results suggest that there were differences in severity levels among the raters. The results of this study also suggest that raters had different severity levels when rating different musical instrument subgroups. The implications for research, theory and practice in the assessment of music performance are included in this paper.
The Oriental leafhopper genus Kalasha Distant is reviewed with redescriptions and photos of all known species, and two new species are described and illustrated. The female ovipositor of K. nativa Distant is described and photographed. Kalasha sondaica Jacobi, 1914 is proposed as a junior synonym of K. nativa Distant, 1908. A key to species of the genus is provided. Kalasha nativa Distant, originally described from India (Assam), is recorded from Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam for the first time, also representing the first records of the genus from Malaysia and Thailand.
Since the book-formatted, monographic treatment of the lizards of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and their adjacent islands by Grismer (2011), 47 additional species have been added to that fauna bringing the total to 174. One species, Cyrtodactylus stresemanni, was removed from the lizard fauna based on its likely mislabeled type locality; 44 species were described as new-29 gekkonids, 11 scincids, five agamids, and one dibamid; and three others, Cnemaspis narathiwatensis, Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus, and Scincella melanosticta were recently discovered in northern Peninsular Malaysia. Taxonomic changes for seven previously described species occurring after 2011 are noted and significant, new locality records are documented here for additional species. The intent of this review is to provide an up to date peer-reviewed checklist for the lizard species of this region prior to a pending updated book monograph.
The male of Indolestes anomalus Fraser, 1946 is described and the holotype female is depicted. Its occurrence in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia is discussed, and the type locality is clarified (South Vietnam, Đồng Nai River basin).
Stool samples obtained from 120 Malay children, aged below 6 years, in Mukim Ijok, Kuala Selangor, were tested. Enteric pathogens were found in 7.5% of specimens. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was the most common enteric pathogen isolated (6.7%) followed by Salmonella spp (0.83%). The rate of isolation was independent of age and sex.
A retrospective analysis of 49 patients with 55 liver abscesses evaluated by diagnostic ultrasonography was made. The sonographic appearances were varied and non-specific. 96% of the abscesses were in the right lobe of the liver. Sonographic features which were frequently observed include (a) predominantly hypoechoic internal echotexture (64%) (b) distal sonic enhancement (98%) (c) well-defined margin with an abrupt transition between normal liver parenchyma and lesion (96%) and (d) absence of wall echoes (89%). A combination of these features has considerable diagnostic value. Distal sonic enhancement is of particular diagnostic importance. In equivocal cases the diagnosis can be quickly determined by percutaneous needle aspiration under ultrasound guidance.
Child abuse is as age-old problem which involves physical, emotional and sexual abuse and also the unauthorised administration of drugs to children. The problem does not arise from just a single cause or factor but is multifactorial. One big area is the presence of social situational stresses prior to or during the episodes of abuse. The author has carried out a retrospective study of twenty cases of child abuse investigated by the Department of Social Welfare, Kuala Lumpur from December 1979 to January 1980. This paper describes part of the findings, namely the social situational stresses. The findings are found to be similar to those of other studies, both local and abroad.
The importance of epidemiology and epidemilogical knowledge of plantation health and disease in the planning of health care & effective management of a plantation is highlighted. The results of the survey of endemic diseases in the estates in Peninsular Malaysia are presented and compared with national disease patterns. The disease patterns in the plantations are similar to those for the country in general. Differences that exist are due to differences in the ecology of the plantations. The health effects of ecological changes consequent on development and progress are referred to. Most of the endemic communicable diseases encountered in the plantations can be prevented and controlled through the improvement of the micro environment of the plantations and the utilisation of simple available appropriate technologies for health care and services.
A study was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of health services at two maternal and child health (MCH) clinics in Kuala Lumpur. The time spent for individual patient care by the clinic staff was used as an indicator for the evaluation. The main objective was to derive a model of ideal operation time for specific patient care activities at a MCH clinic. Primary data was collected through systematic random sampling of patients between 25/7/1985 and 31/7/1985. Secondary data was obtained from available clinic records for July, 1985. The time a patient spent at the clinic and the time she spent at each examination station and waiting between stations was recorded with digital watches. Results show tha patients spent 80% of their time at the clinics waiting. The actual time spent on each patient was found to be considerably less than the ideal time measured under ideal conditions. Various recommendation are presented in the paper to reduce waiting time and extend examination time. The ideal patient capacity for the two clinics was also calculated.
Socioeconomic development in Malaysia, over the past few decades, has led to the improvement and expansion of the public healthcare system. This system has provided universal access to a low-priced package of comprehensive health care leading Malaysia to claim to have achieved universal health coverage (UHC). However, the Malaysian health landscape is changing rapidly. Provision of private care has grown especially in large urban towns, mainly in response to public demand. Thus far, private care has been predominantly bought and utilised by the rich but because of differentials in quality of care between the public and private sector, unabated expansion of the private health sector has the potential to adversely affect universal access to care. This effect may be accentuated in the coming years by demographic changes in the country specifically by the ageing of the population. This paper is intended to highlight challenges to UHC in Malaysia in the face of the changing health landscape in the country and to offer some suggestions as to how these challenges can be met.
In 2018, our team collected aerosols samples from five poultry farms in Malaysia. Influenza D virus was detected in 14% of samples. One sample had an 86.3% identity score similar to NCBI accession number MH785020.1. This is the first molecular sequence of influenza D virus detected in Southeast Asia from a bioaerosol sample. Our findings indicate that further study of role of IDV in poultry is necessary.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common anxiety disorder which can be chronic and sustained. An OCD sufferer experiences intrusive and repetitive thoughts, impulses, and behaviors, which ultimately cause extreme discomfort. We report a case of a patient that primarily presented with lower urinary tract symptoms who was subsequently treated with antibiotics. Nonetheless, the symptoms persisted. In subsequent consultations, the patient clarified the compulsive nature of his symptoms and was treated as a case of OCD. Therefore, it is crucial for physicians to correctly identify the nature of the symptoms to manage the disorder properly and to avoid unnecessary consultation and treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of other presentations of OCD.
Bronchial asthma causes great morbidity and mortality worldwide. Certain occupations especially those exposed to known triggers of asthma such as animal fur, dusts or solvents may trigger asthma attacks in a previously undiagnosed individual or worsen its’ control in a known asthmatic. This is especially true for adult-onset asthma. This may in turn the health of the affected workers and affect their productivity. Affected workers may be given job reassignment and eligible for medical compensation from Social Security Organisation (SOSCO). This case report will look at how two individuals in very distinct occupation were diagnosed with suspected occupational asthma.