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Fulltext Coexistence and Conflict between the Island Flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) and Humans on Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia

Aziz SA, Clements GR, Giam X, Forget PM, Campos-Arceiz A

Hum Ecol Interdiscip J, 2017;45(3):377-389.
PMID: 28680192 DOI: 10.1007/s10745-017-9905-6

As tropical landscapes become increasingly human-dominated, conflicts between people and wildlife threaten ecological processes. Old World fruit bats such as flying foxes are especially susceptible to extinction risk because there is low interest in their conservation, particularly when they are considered pests. In order to arrest fruit bat declines, there is an urgent need to understand human-bat conflict and its implications. On a tropical island in Peninsular Malaysia, we conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate coexistence between people and the island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus). Among 119 respondents, knowledge of ecosystem services provided by flying foxes was extremely low. Most respondents held negative attitudes towards the bats, and older male locals were more likely to support killing them. This was also true for older owners of fruit trees who derived income from selling fruit, and experienced flying fox raids. Our results can be used to design appropriate interventions to support conservation efforts, and has important implications for managing conflicts between humans and synanthropic wildlife.
Fulltext Material Characterization of a Magnetorheological Fluid Subjected to Long-Term Operation in Damper

Utami D, Ubaidillah, Mazlan SA, Imaduddin F, Nordin NA, Bahiuddin I, et al.

Materials (Basel), 2018 Nov 06;11(11).
PMID: 30404193 DOI: 10.3390/ma11112195

This paper investigates the field-dependent rheological properties of magnetorheological (MR) fluid used to fill in MR dampers after long-term cyclic operation. For testing purposes, a meandering MR valve was customized to create a double-ended MR damper in which MR fluid flowed inside the valve due to the magnetic flux density. The test was conducted for 170,000 cycles using a fatigue dynamic testing machine which has 20 mm of stroke length and 0.4 Hz of frequency. Firstly, the damping force was investigated as the number of operating cycles increased. Secondly, the change in viscosity of the MR fluid was identified as in-use thickening (IUT). Finally, the morphological observation of MR particles was undertaken before and after the long-term operation. From these tests, it was demonstrated that the damping force increased as the number of operating cycles increases, both when the damper is turn on (on-state) and off (off-state). It is also observed that the particle size and shape changed due to the long operation, showing irregular particles.
Fulltext The effect of salt water ageing on the mechanical and rheological properties of magnetorheological elastomer

Ahmad Khairi MH, Mazlan SA, Ubaidillah U, Khaidir REM, Nordin NA, Johari MAF, et al.

Sci Rep, 2023 Apr 10;13(1):5810.
PMID: 37037883 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33171-6

This paper aims to investigate the mechanical and rheological properties of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) in marine ecosystems. The prepared samples comprised silicone rubber (SR) and 70 wt% micron-sized carbonyl iron particles (CIPs), immersed in an artificial marine ecosystem using salt water (Natrium Chloride) for 30 days. The mechanical properties of MRE samples were evaluated using hardness and quasi-static tensile tests. While the rheometer was used to investigate the rheological properties of their storage modulus condition with magnetic field stimulation. Further analysis of the defects and damages caused by salt water ageing was done through morphological observation using scanning electron microscope (SEM) technology. The results showed that the hardness and tensile strength of MRE samples that were soaked in salt water were affected over time. Lower values of hardness and tensile strength were obtained after 30 days due to the presence of Na+ and Cl-, which acted as an accelerator to the hydrolyzation process of the MRE. The process then, enhanced the water ingress capability into the matrix to cause the molecular changes. Interestingly, for rheological properties, 30 days of salt water ageing allowed the water molecules to move the MRE matrix molecular chains apart, a process known as plasticization and thus increasing the MR effect. Furthermore, morphological evidence was established to determine the MRE changes during salt water ageing. The research findings should greatly contribute to a better understanding of the effect of salt water on the performance of MRE.
Evaluation of Methadone Treatment in Malaysia: Findings from the Malaysian Methadone Treatment Outcome Study (MyTOS)

Ali N, Aziz SA, Nordin S, Mi NC, Abdullah N, Paranthaman V, et al.

Subst Use Misuse, 2018 01 28;53(2):239-248.
PMID: 29116878 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1385630

BACKGROUND: Opioid misuse and dependence is a global issue with a huge negative impact. In Malaysia, heroin is still the main illicit drug used, and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been used since 2005.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of MMT.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 103 treatment centers between October and December 2014 using a set of standard questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 20.
RESULTS: There were 3254 respondents (93.6% response rate); of these 17.5% (n = 570) transferred to another treatment center, 8.6% (n = 280) died, 29.2% (n = 950) defaulted, and 7.6% (n = 247) were terminated for various reasons. Hence, 1233 (37%) respondents' baseline and follow-up data were further analyzed. Respondents had a mean age of 39.2 years old and were mainly male, Malay, Muslim, married (51.1%, n = 617), and currently employed. Few showed viral seroconversion after they started MMT (HIV: 0.5%, n = 6; Hepatitis B: 0.3%, n = 4; Hepatitis C: 2.7%, n = 29). There were significant reductions in opioid use, HIV risk-taking score (p < 0.01), social functioning (p < 0.01), crime (p < 0.01), and health (p < 0.01). However, there were significant improvements in quality of life in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. Factors associated with change were being married, employed, consuming alcohol, and high criminality at baseline. Lower methadone dosage was significantly associated with improvements in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains.
Conclusion/Importance: The MMT program was found to be successful; hence, it should be expanded.
Fulltext Evaluation of six decontamination procedures for isolation of Mycobacterium avium complex from avian feces

Sattar A, Zakaria Z, Abu J, Aziz SA, Gabriel RP

PLoS One, 2018;13(8):e0202034.
PMID: 30096205 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202034

Culture is considered the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of mycobacterial infections. However, consensus about the most suitable culture procedure for isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria is lacking. The study compared the recoveries of mycobacteria after decontamination of spiked and fresh avian feces with 4% sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 12% sulfuric acid (H2SO4), or 1% cetylperidinium chloride (CPC), with and without mixture of three antibiotics, namely vancomycin (VAN, 100 μg/ml), nalidixic acid (NAL, 100 μg/ml), and amphotericin B (AMB, 100 μg/ml). The antibiotic mixture was referred to as VNA. Decontamination procedures were evaluated using two (n = 2) avian fecal samples spiked with 106, 104, and 102 CFU/ml of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (ATCC 15769) and fresh avian feces (n = 42). M. avium subsp. avium was detected on the culture media from spiked samples (106 and 104 CFU/ml) decontaminated with NaOH, NaOH-VNA, H2SO4, and H2SO4 -VNA for 2-6 weeks. These bacteria were detected in 2-4 weeks when using CPC and CPC-VNA. M. avium subsp. avium cannot be isolated on culture media from spiked samples (102 CFU/ml) decontaminated with any decontaminating agent. Two mycobacterial isolates, namely, Mycobacterium terrae and M. engbaekii, were isolated from field samples decontaminated with NaOH and CPC-VNA. With regard to the contamination rate, the use of CPC-VNA showed lower contamination rates (5.5% and 19.0%) from spiked and field samples than those of the other methods (NaOH: 22.2% and 59.5%, NaOH-VNA: 16.7% and 21.4%, H2SO4: 11.1% and 40.5%, H2SO4-VNA: 5.5% and 21.4%, and CPC: 66.7% and 50%). In conclusion, the decontamination of fecal samples following a two-step procedure with 1% CPC and VNA can ensure high recovery rate of many mycobacteria with the lowest contamination in cultures.
Fulltext Elucidating the diet of the island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) in Peninsular Malaysia through Illumina Next-Generation Sequencing

Aziz SA, Clements GR, Peng LY, Campos-Arceiz A, McConkey KR, Forget PM, et al.

PeerJ, 2017;5:e3176.
PMID: 28413729 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3176

There is an urgent need to identify and understand the ecosystem services of pollination and seed dispersal provided by threatened mammals such as flying foxes. The first step towards this is to obtain comprehensive data on their diet. However, the volant and nocturnal nature of bats presents a particularly challenging situation, and conventional microhistological approaches to studying their diet can be laborious and time-consuming, and provide incomplete information. We used Illumina Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) as a novel, non-invasive method for analysing the diet of the island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) on Tioman Island, Peninsular Malaysia. Through DNA metabarcoding of plants in flying fox droppings, using primers targeting the rbcL gene, we identified at least 29 Operationally Taxonomic Units (OTUs) comprising the diet of this giant pteropodid. OTU sequences matched at least four genera and 14 plant families from online reference databases based on a conservative Least Common Ancestor approach, and eight species from our site-specific plant reference collection. NGS was just as successful as conventional microhistological analysis in detecting plant taxa from droppings, but also uncovered six additional plant taxa. The island flying fox's diet appeared to be dominated by figs (Ficus sp.), which was the most abundant plant taxon detected in the droppings every single month. Our study has shown that NGS can add value to the conventional microhistological approach in identifying food plant species from flying fox droppings. At this point in time, more accurate genus- and species-level identification of OTUs not only requires support from databases with more representative sequences of relevant plant DNA, but probably necessitates in situ collection of plant specimens to create a reference collection. Although this method cannot be used to quantify true abundance or proportion of plant species, nor plant parts consumed, it ultimately provides a very important first step towards identifying plant taxa and spatio-temporal patterns in flying fox diets.
Fulltext Optimal energy for cell radiosensitivity enhancement by gold nanoparticles using synchrotron-based monoenergetic photon beams

Rahman WN, Corde S, Yagi N, Abdul Aziz SA, Annabell N, Geso M

Int J Nanomedicine, 2014;9:2459-67.
PMID: 24899803 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S59471

Gold nanoparticles have been shown to enhance radiation doses delivered to biological targets due to the high absorption coefficient of gold atoms, stemming from their high atomic number (Z) and physical density. These properties significantly increase the likelihood of photoelectric effects and Compton scattering interactions. Gold nanoparticles are a novel radiosensitizing agent that can potentially be used to increase the effectiveness of current radiation therapy techniques and improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. However, the optimum radiosensitization effect of gold nanoparticles is strongly dependent on photon energy, which theoretically is predicted to occur in the kilovoltage range of energy. In this research, synchrotron-generated monoenergetic X-rays in the 30-100 keV range were used to investigate the energy dependence of radiosensitization by gold nanoparticles and also to determine the photon energy that produces optimum effects. This investigation was conducted using cells in culture to measure dose enhancement. Bovine aortic endothelial cells with and without gold nanoparticles were irradiated with X-rays at energies of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 81, and 100 keV. Trypan blue exclusion assays were performed after irradiation to determine cell viability. Cell radiosensitivity enhancement was indicated by the dose enhancement factor which was found to be maximum at 40 keV with a value of 3.47. The dose enhancement factor obtained at other energy levels followed the same direction as the theoretical calculations based on the ratio of the mass energy absorption coefficients of gold and water. This experimental evidence shows that the radiosensitization effect of gold nanoparticles varies with photon energy as predicted from theoretical calculations. However, prediction based on theoretical assumptions is sometimes difficult due to the complexity of biological systems, so further study at the cellular level is required to fully characterize the effects of gold nanoparticles with ionizing radiation.
Evaluation of mean glandular dose and modulation transfer function for different tube potentials and target-filter combinations in computed radiography mammography

Abdul Aziz SA, Mohd Saparudin AK, Harun AZ

Malays J Med Sci, 2013 May;20(3):23-30.
PMID: 23966821 MyJurnal

BACKGROUND: Different target-filter combinations in computed radiography have different impacts on the dose and image quality in digital radiography. This study aims to evaluate the mean glandular dose (MGD) and modulation transfer function (MTF) of various target-filter combinations by investigating the signal intensities of X-ray beams.
METHODS: General Electric (GE) Senographe DMR Plus mammography unit was used for MGD and MTF evaluation. The measured MGD was compared with the dose reference level (DRL), whereas the MTF was evaluated using ImageJ 1.46o software. A modified Mammography Accreditation Phantom RMI 156 was exposed using different target-filter combinations of molybdenum-molybdenum (Mo-Mo), molybdenum-rhodium (Mo-Rh) and rhodium-rhodium (Rh-Rh) at two different tube voltages, 26 kV and 32 kV with 50 mAs.
RESULTS: In the MGD evaluations, all target-filters gave an MGD value of < 1.5 mGy. The one-way ANOVA test showed a highly significant interaction between the MGD and the kilovoltage and target-filter material used (26 kV: F (2,12) = 49,234, P = 0.001;32 kV: F (2,12) = 89,972, P = 0.001). A Tukey post-hoc test revealed that the MGD for 26 kV and 32 kV was highly affected by the target-filter combinations. The test of homogeneity of variances indicates that the MGD varies significantly for 26 kV and 32 kV images (0.045 and 0.030 (P < 0.05), respectively). However, the one-way ANOVA for the MTF shows that no significant difference exists between the target-filter combinations used with 26 kV and 32 kV images either in parallel or perpendicular to the chest wall side F (2,189) = 0.26, P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Higher tube voltage and atomic number target-filter yield higher MGD values. However, the MTF is independent of the X-ray energy and the type of target-filter combinations used.
Effects of buffer properties on cyclodextrin glucanotransferase reactions and cyclodextrin production from raw sago (Cycas revoluta) starch

Kamaruddin K, Illias RM, Aziz SA, Said M, Hassan O

Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2005 Apr;41(Pt 2):117-25.
PMID: 15202937

Results from the present study have shown that the ionic species of buffers, pH values and reaction temperature can affect the enzyme unit activities and product specificity of Toruzyme (Novo Nordisk A/S Bagsvaerd, Denmark) CGTase (cyclodextrin glucanotransferase). Applying a similar reaction environment (acetate buffer, pH 6.0; temperature, 60 degrees C), the CGTase was found to be capable of producing pre dominantly beta-cyclodextrin from either raw or gelatinized sago (Cycas revoluta) starch. Changing the buffer from acetate to phosphate reduced the yield of beta-cyclodextrin from 2.48 to 1.42 mg/ml and also affected the product specificity, where production of both alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins were more pronounced. The decrease in the production of cyclodextrins in phosphate buffer was significant at both pH 6.0 and 7.0. However, changing the buffer to Tris/HCl (pH 7.0) showed a significant increase in beta-cyclodextrin production. Increasing the ionic strength of sodium acetate and Tris/HCl buffers at pH 6.0 and 7.0 to equivalent ionic strength of phosphate buffers showed no significant effects on cyclodextrin production. Higher yield of cyclodextrins at pH 7.0 when Tris/HCl was used might be due to the binding of chloride ions at the calcium-binding sites of the CGTase, resulting in the shift of the optimum pH close to physiological environment, leading to an increase in the activities and specificity.
Fulltext Cutaneous vasculitis: a review of aetiology and clinical manifestations in 85 patients in Malaysia

Muthupalaniappen L, Aziz SA, Gangaram HB, Hussein SH

Med J Malaysia, 2009 Sep;64(3):210-2.
PMID: 20527269 MyJurnal

Cutaneous vasculitis presents with a variety of clinical morphologies and causes significant morbidity. A total of 85 patients with cutaneous vasculitis at Hospital Kuala Lumpur were retrospectively reviewed. Palpable purpura was seen in 49.4% and frequently involved the lower limbs (50.6%). Identifiable causes include drugs (28.2%), infections (20.0%) and connective tissue disorders (16.5%). Non steroidal antiinflammatory were the commonest group of drugs responsible for 25% of cases while B-haemolytic streptococci was the leading infectious cause (64.7%).
Immunophenotyping analysis of lymph node biopsies by flow cytometry

Raja-Sabudin RZ, Hamid AA, Yusof N, Alauddin H, Aziz SA, Kulaveerasingam S, et al.

Saudi Med J, 2012 Oct;33(10):1131-3.
PMID: 23047221
Major health impact of accelerated aging in young HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy

Rajasuriar R, Chong ML, Ahmad Bashah NS, Abdul Aziz SA, Mcstea M, Lee ECY, et al.

AIDS, 2017 06 19;31(10):1393-1403.
PMID: 28358731 DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001475

BACKGROUND: Aging among HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a significant clinical challenge; however, studies assessing multidimensional aspects of aging are lacking. We characterized 10 geriatric conditions encompassing multiple functional domains, its health impact and associated risk factors in HIV-infected and age-matched uninfected controls.

METHODS: HIV-infected individuals were recruited from the outpatient clinic in University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia and controls from the community. All participants were aged at least 25 years of age with no acute illness, and HIV-infected individuals were on stable ART. Geriatric conditions were assessed and the burden scored as a composite of geriatric conditions present in an individual (total score = 10). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors and health impact associated with the burden of geriatric conditions.

RESULTS: We analyzed data from 336 HIV-infected individuals (total HIV+), of whom 172 were matched for age, sex, and ethnicity with 172 HIV-uninfected controls (matched subset). In the total HIV-positive cohort, median (interquartile range) age was 44 (38-51) years and CD4 T-cell count was 562 (398-737) cells/μl. The burden of geriatric conditions was significantly higher in the HIV-infected group compared with controls (P
Assessment of sarcopenia in virally suppressed HIV-infected Asians receiving treatment

Abdul Aziz SA, Mcstea M, Ahmad Bashah NS, Chong ML, Ponnampalavanar S, Syed Omar SF, et al.

AIDS, 2018 05 15;32(8):1025-1034.
PMID: 29547442 DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000001798

OBJECTIVES: In a clinic-based, treated HIV-infected cohort, we identified individuals with sarcopenia and compared with age, sex and ethnically matched controls; and investigated associated risk factors and health outcomes.
DESIGN: Sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) causes significant morbidity to the elderly, leading to frequent hospitalizations, disability and death. Few have characterized sarcopenia in the HIV-infected who experience accelerated aging.
METHODS: Sarcopenia was defined as low muscle mass with weak grip strength and/or slow gait speed using lower 20th percentiles of controls. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were used to explore risk factors and health-related outcomes associated with sarcopenia among HIV-infected individuals.
RESULTS: We recruited 315 HIV-infected individuals aged at least 25 years with at least 1-year history of undetectable viral load on treatment (HIV RNA <50 copies/ml). Percentage of sarcopenia in 315 HIV-infected was 8%. Subsequently, 153 of the 315 were paired with age, sex and ethnically matched HIV-uninfected. The percentage of sarcopenia in the HIV-infected (n = 153) compared with uninfected (n = 153) were 10 vs. 6% (P = 0.193) respectively, whereas of those at least 50 years of age among them were 17% vs. 4% (P = 0.049), respectively. Associated risk factors among the HIV-infected include education level, employment status, BMI, baseline CD4 cell count, duration on NRTIs and GGT levels. Identified negative outcomes include mortality risk scores [5.42; 95% CI 1.46-9.37; P = 0.007) and functional disability (3.95; 95% CI 1.57-9.97; P = 0.004).
CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is more prevalent in HIV-infected at least 50 years old compared with matched controls. Our findings highlight associations between sarcopenia with loss of independence and greater healthcare burden among treated HIV-infected individuals necessitating early recognition and intervention.
Fulltext Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Esketamine Nasal Spray Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Patients with Treatment-resistant Depression- an Asian Sub-group Analysis from the SUSTAIN-2 Study

Jeon HJ, Ju PC, Sulaiman AH, Aziz SA, Paik JW, Tan W, et al.

Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci, 2022 Feb 28;20(1):70-86.
PMID: 35078950 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2022.20.1.70

Objective: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of intranasal esketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression from the Asian subgroup of the SUSTAIN-2 study.
Methods: SUSTAIN-2 was a phase 3, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study comprising a 4-week screening, 4-week induction, 48-week optimization/maintenance, and 4-week follow-up (upon esketamine discontinuation) phase. Patients with treatment-resistant depression received esketamine plus an oral antidepressant during the treatment period.
Results: The incidence of ≥ 1 serious treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) among the 78 subjects from the Asian subgroup (Taiwan: 33, Korea: 26, Malaysia: 19) was 11.5% (n = 9); with no fatal TEAE. 13 Asian patients (16.7%) discontinued esketamine due to TEAEs. The most common TEAEs were dizziness (37.2%), nausea (29.5%), dissociation (28.2%), and headache (21.8%). Most TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity, transient and resolved on the same day. Upon discontinuation of esketamine, no trend in withdrawal symptoms was observed to associate long-term use of esketamine with withdrawal syndrome. There were no reports of drug seeking, abuse, or overdose. Improvements in symptoms, functioning and quality of life, occurred during in the induction phase and were generally maintained through the optimization/maintenance phases of the study.
Conclusion: The safety and efficacy of esketamine in the Asian subgroup was generally consistent with the total SUSTAIN-2 population. There was no new safety signal and no indication of a high potential for abuse with the long-term (up to one year) use of esketamine in the Asian subgroup. Most of the benefits of esketamine occurred early during the induction phase.
Fulltext Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus carriage by young Malaysian footballers during indoor training

William JL, Radu S, Aziz SA, Rahim RA, Cheah YK, Liwan A, et al.

Br J Sports Med, 2004 Feb;38(1):12-4.
PMID: 14751938

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that athletes are carriers of Staphylococcus aureus during physical activity.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the mean total plate count of S aureus carried by footballers before and after training at an indoor venue.
METHODS: Forty Malay and 20 Indian students volunteered to participate. There was also a control group consisting of 40 Malay and 20 Indian students who were not active. The experimental group were active footballers who had played at school or club level. The subjects were healthy and free of skin infection. The experiment was divided into three sessions, with 20 subjects present at each. At each session, the subjects trained for one hour. Swabs were taken from the skin, nose, and ear before and after training. For the control group, swabs were taken only once from the skin, nose, and ear. The swabs were subjected to biochemical tests and then streaked and cultured aerobically in Baird Parker agar plates for 24 hours at 37 degrees C. Black colonies with a clear zone were presumed to be S aureus, and the mean total plate count of the colonies was estimated. Gram staining, catalase, coagulase slide, coagulase tube, acetoin production, o-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG), and mannitol fermentation tests were used to confirm the colonies as S aureus. A haemolysin test was conducted with human blood to confirm haemolytic activity.
RESULTS: All subjects in the experimental group were carrying S aureus both before and after training. The estimated mean total counts of colonies from the skin, ear, and nose for the Malays before training were 33, 71, and 312 respectively. Counts after training were 21, 44, and 452 respectively. The results for the Indians were 72, 80, and 309 respectively before training and 55, 200, and 466 respectively after training. The positive results for Gram staining, catalase, coagulase slide, coagulase tube, acetoin production, ONPG, and mannitol fermentation tests were 100%, 96%, 95%, 95%, 93%, 93%, and 90% respectively. All subjects in the control group were also carrying S aureus.
CONCLUSIONS: All of the players were carriers of S aureus during training. The decrease in total count from the skin for both races may be due to lysozyme activity lysing the bacterial cells. Contamination of the environment with these bacteria may have increased the estimated total plate count in the nose. The experimental group face a higher risk of infection because of lower immunity during training and higher rate of injuries compared with the control group.
Estimating the population density of the Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus) in a selectively logged forest in Peninsular Malaysia

Rayan DM, Mohamad SW, Dorward L, Aziz SA, Clements GR, Christopher WCT, et al.

Integr Zool, 2012 Dec;7(4):373-380.
PMID: 23253368 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-4877.2012.00321.x

The endangered Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus) is threatened by large-scale habitat loss, forest fragmentation and increased hunting pressure. Conservation planning for this species, however, is hampered by a severe paucity of information on its ecology and population status. We present the first Asian tapir population density estimate from a camera trapping study targeting tigers in a selectively logged forest within Peninsular Malaysia using a spatially explicit capture-recapture maximum likelihood based framework. With a trap effort of 2496 nights, 17 individuals were identified corresponding to a density (standard error) estimate of 9.49 (2.55) adult tapirs/100 km(2) . Although our results include several caveats, we believe that our density estimate still serves as an important baseline to facilitate the monitoring of tapir population trends in Peninsular Malaysia. Our study also highlights the potential of extracting vital ecological and population information for other cryptic individually identifiable animals from tiger-centric studies, especially with the use of a spatially explicit capture-recapture maximum likelihood based framework.
Fulltext MH17: the Malaysian experience

Khoo LS, Hasmi AH, Abdul Ghani Aziz SA, Ibrahim MA, Mahmood MS

Malays J Pathol, 2016 Apr;38(1):1-10.
PMID: 27126658 MyJurnal

A disaster is a natural or man-made (or technological) hazard resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment. It is a phenomenon that can cause damage to life and property and destroy the economic, social and cultural life of the people; and overwhelms the capacity of the community to cope with the event. The recent tragic aviation accidents in 2014 involving Malaysia Airlines flights MH370 and MH17 shocked the world in an unprecedented manner. This paper focuses on the Malaysian experience in the MH17 mission in Ukraine as well as the first ever international Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operation for the Malaysian DVI team. The DVI operations in Hilversum, the Netherlands were well described in stages. The Netherlands' Landelijk Team Forensische Opsporing as the lead DVI team in Hilversum operated systematically, ensuring the success of the whole mission. This paper discusses the lessons learned by the Malaysian team on proper DVI structure, inter- and intra-agency cooperation, facilities planning and set up, logistics and health and safety aspects, as well as effective communication and collaboration with other international delegates. Several issues and challenges faced by the Malaysian team were also documented. In addition, the authors shared views, opinions and recommendations for a more comprehensive DVI operation in the future.
Campylobacteriosis and Control Strategies against Campylobacters in Poultry Farms

Zainol MFA, Safiyanu MB, Aziz SA, Omar AR, Chuang KP, Mariatulqabtiah AR

J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2024 Jan 15;34(45):1-7.
PMID: 38719774 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2311.11045

Campylobacteriosis is a significant foodborne illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria. It is one of the most common bacterial causes of gastroenteritis worldwide, with poultry being a major reservoir and source of infection in humans. In poultry farms, Campylobacters colonize the intestinal tract of chickens and contaminate meat during processing. Vaccines under development against Campylobacters in poultry showed partial or no protection against their cecal colonization. Therefore, this review will elaborate on campylobacteriosis and emphasize the control strategies and recent vaccine trials against Campylobacters in poultry farms. The epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of Campylobacter infection, along with specific mention of poultry Campylobacter contamination events in Malaysia, will also be discussed.
Fulltext Recent Progress of Rice Husk Reinforced Polymer Composites: A Review

Suhot MA, Hassan MZ, Aziz SA, Md Daud MY

Polymers (Basel), 2021 Jul 21;13(15).
PMID: 34371993 DOI: 10.3390/polym13152391

Recently, because of the rising population, carbon overloading, and environmental distress, human beings have needed to increase awareness and responsibility for the reduction of agricultural waste. The utilization of agricultural waste as a filler material in reinforced polymers is a fascinating discovery. This review paper attempts to study the physical, mechanical, and thermal behavior of rice husk (RH) as a fiber for reinforcing various synthetic polymers, based on recent studies, conducted between 2017 and 2021. It also highlights that advanced modification techniques could further improve the performance of composites by tailoring the physical and chemical substances of the fiber or matrix. The thermal properties, including flame-retardance and thermal behavior, are also discussed. The characteristics of the fiber-matrix interaction between RH and the polymer matrix provide essential insights into the future-ready applications of this agricultural waste fiber. The way forward in researching RH polymer composites is finally reviewed.
Fulltext Factors Influencing Professional Help-Seeking Behavior During First Episode Psychosis in Schizophrenia: An Exploratory Study on Caregivers' Perspective

Wong DTL, Tong SF, Daud TIM, Aziz SA, Midin M

Front Psychiatry, 2019;10:962.
PMID: 32116809 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00962

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that leads to significant productivity loss and is listed in the top 15 global burdens of disease. One important contributor to the high disease burden is duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) which can be shortened with promotion of professional help-seeking behavior. This study explored caregivers' perspective on factors influencing professional help-seeking behavior during first episode psychosis (FEP) in schizophrenia in Malaysia. The results of this study would inform the development of intervention strategies targeted at promoting professional help-seeking behavior in caregivers of individuals experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP). This is a thematic exploratory study which employed purposive sampling using focus group discussion (FGD). These interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Basic thematic approach was used in analyzing the transcribed interviews. Two main themes identified were adequacy of knowledge and stigma. These two factors were found to co-influence each other. Stigma undermined the impact of knowledge on professional help-seeking; likewise, the reverse was also observed. Intervention strategies for promoting help-seeking behavior during FEP should simultaneously focus on improving knowledge about schizophrenia and reducing the stigma attached to it.

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