Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 143 in total

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  1. Clink DJ, Groves T, Ahmad AH, Klinck H
    PLoS One, 2021;16(2):e0246564.
    PMID: 33592004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246564
    Great argus pheasants are known for their elaborate visual mating displays, but relatively little is known about their general ecology. The use of passive acoustic monitoring-which relies on long-term autonomous recorders-can provide insight into the behavior of visually cryptic, yet vocal species such as the great argus. Here we report the results of an analysis of vocal behavior of the Bornean great argus (Argusianus argus grayi) in Sabah, Malaysia, using data collected with 11 autonomous recording units. Great argus regularly emitted two call types, the long call and the short call, and we found that although both call types were emitted throughout the day, the short calls were more likely to occur during the morning hours (06:00-12:00LT). Great argus were less likely to call if there was rain, irrespective of the time of day. A substantial portion of calls at our site (~20%) were emitted between the hours of 18:00-06:00LT. We found that for nighttime calls, calling activity increased during new moon periods and decreased during periods of rain. We attribute the negative influence of rain on calling to increased energetic costs of thermoregulation during wet periods, and propose that the influence of the lunar cycle may be related to increased predation risk during periods with high levels of moonlight. Little is known about the behavioral ecology of great argus on Borneo, so it is difficult to know if the results we report are typical, or if we would see differences in calling activity patterns depending on breeding season or changes in food availability. We advocate for future studies of great argus pheasant populations using paired camera and acoustic recorders, which can provide further insight into the behavior of this cryptic species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  2. Keith SA, Maynard JA, Edwards AJ, Guest JR, Bauman AG, van Hooidonk R, et al.
    Proc Biol Sci, 2016 05 11;283(1830).
    PMID: 27170709 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0011
    Coral spawning times have been linked to multiple environmental factors; however, to what extent these factors act as generalized cues across multiple species and large spatial scales is unknown. We used a unique dataset of coral spawning from 34 reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans to test if month of spawning and peak spawning month in assemblages of Acropora spp. can be predicted by sea surface temperature (SST), photosynthetically available radiation, wind speed, current speed, rainfall or sunset time. Contrary to the classic view that high mean SST initiates coral spawning, we found rapid increases in SST to be the best predictor in both cases (month of spawning: R(2) = 0.73, peak: R(2) = 0.62). Our findings suggest that a rapid increase in SST provides the dominant proximate cue for coral mass spawning over large geographical scales. We hypothesize that coral spawning is ultimately timed to ensure optimal fertilization success.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  3. Jamil NA, Yew MH, Noor Hafizah Y, Gray SR, Poh BK, Macdonald HM
    Public Health Nutr, 2018 Dec;21(17):3118-3124.
    PMID: 30176950 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980018002057
    OBJECTIVE: To compare the contributions of UVB exposure and diet to total vitamin D among Asians living in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Aberdeen (AB).

    DESIGN: Longitudinal study.

    SETTING: UVB exposure (using polysulfone film badges) and skin colour and dietary vitamin D intake (by web-based questionnaire) were measured at each season in AB and during south-west (SWM) and north-east monsoons (NEM) in KL.

    SUBJECTS: One hundred and fifteen Asians in KL and eighty-five Asians in AB aged 20-50 years.

    RESULTS: Median summer UVB exposure of Asians in AB (0·25 SED/d) was higher than UVB exposure for the KL participants (SWM=0·20 SED/d, P=0·02; NEM= 0·14 SED/d, P<0·01). UVB exposure was the major source of vitamin D in KL year-round (60%) but only during summer in AB (59%). Median dietary vitamin D intake was higher in AB (3·50 µg/d (140 IU/d)), year-round, than in KL (SWM=2·05 µg/d (82 IU/d); NEM=1·83 µg/d (73 IU/d), P<0·01). Median total vitamin D (UVB plus diet) was higher in AB only during summer (8·45 µg/d (338 IU/d)) compared with KL (SWM=6·03 µg/d (241 IU/d), P=0·04; NEM=5·35 µg/d (214 IU/d), P<0·01), with a comparable intake across the full year (AB=5·75 µg/d (230 IU/d); KL=6·15 µg/d (246 IU/d), P=0·78).

    CONCLUSIONS: UVB exposure among Asians in their home country is low. For Asians residing at the northerly latitude of Scotland, acquiring vitamin D needs from UVB exposure alone (except in summer) may be challenging due to low ambient UVB in AB (available only from April to October).

    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  4. Bienaymé A, Servant M
    DOI: 10.1007/BF01884062
    During two years the authors have assembled monthly analytical data of oilpalms, from 15 different stations. The determinations spread as far as the French, Portuguese and Spanish territory in Africa and British Malaya also. The following analyses were carried out: iodine number, titer point, melting point and the carotenoids of these oils, according to origine, race and time of gathering. As to iodine number and amount of carotenoid, the race is decisive for these data; the oils from the natural stock of the Ivory Coast have a higher iodine number (57-60). The oils from the natural stock of Togo, Dahomey, Portuguese and French Guinea are richer in carotene (up to 0.16, even 0.19%) with medium iodine number (54-56). The oils from the industrial plantations, with selected trees of the race Dura-Deli, from the Far East as well as from the Ivory Coast, have lower iodine numbers (52-53) and are poor in carotene (0.05). South of the equator in Africa, all analysed races of oil palms had a lower iodine number (53-55) and were poor in carotene (0.05). During one year the amount of carotene fluctuates about one third of its maximum; this maximum is rather striking in Togo and Dahomey; it is to be found from January to May; period of high production of the oil in the Palm groves, e.g. in the dry season with warm climate and good insolation. Heavy rain-showers effect a rapid decrease of the contents of carotene after six weeks (duration of the formation of the fruit). Furthermore, the residual oils (extracted by solvents) were analysed; they are 2 to 3 times richer in carotenoids than the common palm oil; but the contents of β-carotene seems somewhat lower. The authors think it possible to find exactly defined uses for the different oils. © 1958 Uitgeverij Dr. W. Junk.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  5. Zafirah Z, Azidah A
    Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:433-439.
    Thrips (Thysanoptera) are common pests on legume plants, yet little is known about their ecology or diversity in Peninsular
    Malaysia. In legumes, thrips are typically found in flowers, where their feeding activity causes malformations that
    eventually lead to crop damage. In this study, we examined the diversity of thrips species, particularly Megalurothrips
    usitatus, in three selected legume farms around Peninsular Malaysia (Janda Baik, Pahang; Bestari Jaya, Selangor; and
    Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan). Each month from April 2013 to May 2014, depending on growing season, legume flowers were
    inspected for thrips in five random plots from each farm. Sampling was performed six times in Bestari Jaya and Jelebu
    and twelve times in Janda Baik. The most abundant thrips species on legumes was M. usitatus (89.97%) followed by
    Thrips parvispinus (9.77%), T. hawaiiensis (0.13%) and Ceratothripoides brunneus (0.12%). The abundance of M. usitatus
    was not different between long bean, French bean and winged bean which equally distributed among different arbitrary
    strata on legume plants. Temperature and light intensity were found to be positively correlated with the abundance of
    M. usitatus, but relative humidity showed a negative relationship. M. usitatus was found in large numbers during hot
    and dry months, but in lower numbers during raining season. This study suggested that wet season may help to regulate
    the populations of M. usitatus on legume plants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  6. Sayang Mohd Deni, Suhaila Jamaluddin, Wan Zawiah Wan Zin, Abdul Aziz Jemain
    This study attempts to trace changes in the wet spells over Peninsular Malaysia based on the daily rainfall data from 32 selected rainfall stations which include four sub-regions; northwest, west, south and east, for the period of 1975 to 2004. Six wet spells indices comprising of the main characteristics (maximum, mean, standard deviation), the persistency of two consecutive wet days and the frequency of the short and long duration of wet spells will be used to identify whether or not these indices increase or decrease over Peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon seasons. The study indicates that the eastern areas of the peninsula could be considered as the wettest areas since almost all the indices of wet spells over these areas are higher than over the other regions during the northeast monsoon (NE). The Mann-Kendall (MK) trend test revealed that almost all of the stations located in the eastern areas of the peninsula exhibited a positive trend in the mean, variability and persistency of wet spells indices during the NE monsoon, while a negative trend was observed during the southwest monsoon (SW) in these areas. Moreover, these indices showed a positive trend, and at the same time a decreasing trend was observed in the frequency of the long wet spells in most stations located over the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia during the SW monsoon for the period of 1975 to 2004.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  7. Wahidah Sanusi, Kamarulzaman Ibrahim
    Sains Malaysiana, 2012;41:1345-1353.
    Climate changes have become serious issues that have been widely discussed by researchers. One of the issues concerns with the study in changes of rainfall patterns. Changes in rainfall patterns affect the dryness and wetness conditions of a region. In this study, the three-dimensional loglinear model was used to fit the observed frequencies and to model the expected frequencies of wet class transition on eight rainfall stations in Peninsular Malaysia. The expected frequency values could be employed to determine the odds value of wet classes of each station. Further, the odds values were used to estimate the wet class of the following month if the wet class of the previous month and current month were identified. The wet classification based on SPI index (Standardized Precipitation Index). For station that was analyzed, there was no difference found were between estimated and observed wet classes. It was concluded that the loglinear models can be used to estimate the wetness classes through the estimates of odds values.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  8. Wan Zin Wan Zawiah, Abdul Aziz Jemain, Kamarulzaman Ibrahim, Jamaludin Suhaila, Mohd Deni Sayang
    Statistical distributions of annual extreme (AE) and partial duration (PD) for rainfall events are analysed using a database of 50 rain-gauge stations in Peninsular Malaysia, involving records of time series data which extend from 1975 to 2004. The generalised extreme value (GEV) and generalised Pareto (GP) distributions are considered to model the series of annual extreme and partial duration. In both cases, the three parameter models such as GEV and GP distributions are fitted by means of L-moments method, which is one of the commonly used methods for robust estimation. The goodness-of-fit of the theoretical distribution to the data is then evaluated by means of L-moment ratio diagram and several goodness-of-fit (GOF) tests for each of the 50 stations. It is found that for the majority of stations, the AE and PD series are well fitted by the GEV and GP models, respectively. Based on the models that have been identified, we can reasonably predict the risks associated with extreme rainfall for various return periods.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  9. Norela Sulaiman, Toh LF, Hazzila Abdul Samat, Ismail Sahid, Maimon Abdullah, Mohd. Rozali Othman
    Sains Malaysiana, 2007;36(2):91-95.
    This study was carried out to determine the concentrations of cypermethrin in total suspended particulate in air in several farming areas of Cameron Highlands. Samples of total suspended particulate were collected using a high volume air sampler (Model Graseby) from six different sampling sites around Cameron Highlands. Laboratory analysis of total suspended particulate was conducted by the standard method. High dosages of cypermethrin were used by farmers in the dry season. Results of the study showed that the concentrations of cypermethrin in total suspended particulate in the air samples were higher during the dry season (May-July 2004) compared to the rainy season (September-October 2004). There was a significant positive correlation between the concentrations of cypermethrin and total suspended particulate (p<0.05).
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  10. Suhaila J, Sayang Mohd Deni, Wan Zawiah Wan Zin, Abdul Aziz Jemain
    This study investigated the spatial pattern and trends of the daily rainfall data in Peninsular Malaysia based on seasonal rainfall indices. Five rainfall indices which describe the main characteristics of rainfall, the total amount of rainfall, frequency of wet days, rainfall intensity, extreme frequency, and extreme intensity, were employed in this study. The statistics of rainfall indices were calculated in terms of their means for four regions in Peninsular Malaysia for the period 1975 to 2004. The findings indicate that the southwest monsoon had the greatest impact on the western part of the Peninsula, particularly in characterizing the rainfall pattern of the northwest region. During this season, the northwest region could be considered as the wettest region since all rainfall indices tested are higher than in other regions of the Peninsula. Otherwise, the northwest region is denoted as the driest part of the Peninsula during the northeast monsoon period. The northwest region is less influenced by the northeast monsoon because of the existence of the Titiwangsa Range, which blocks the region from receiving heavy rainfall. On the other hand, it is found that the lowlands areas such as the eastern part of the Peninsula are strongly characterized by the northeast monsoonal flow. Based on the results of the Mann-Kendall test, as the trend of the total amount of rainfall and the frequency of wet days during the southwest monsoon decrease at most of the stations, the rainfall intensity increases. In contrast, increasing trends in both the total amount of rainfall and the frequency of wet days were observed at several stations during the northeast monsoon, which give rise to the increasing trend of rainfall intensity. The results for both seasons indicate that there are significantly decreasing trends in the frequency of wet days during the extreme events for most of the stations on the peninsula. However, a smaller number of significant trends was found for extreme intensity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  11. Mohd Shafiq Zakeyuddin, Amir Shah Ruddin Md Sah, Mohd Syaiful Mohammad, Nurul Fazlinda Mohd Fadzil, Zarul Hazrin Hashim, Wan Maznah Wan Omar
    Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:853-863.
    A study of spatial and temporal variations on water quality and trophic status was conducted twice a month from December
    2012 to January 2014 in four sampling stations at Bukit Merah Reservoir (BMR). The concentration of dissolved oxygen
    (DO), water temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total phosphorous (TP), PO4
    -
    , NO2
    -
    , NO3
    -
    , NH4
    + and
    net primary productivity had significant differences temporally (p<0.05) except for pH, total suspended solids (TSS)
    and chlorophyll-a. Based on correlation analysis, the amount of rainfall and rain days has negatively correlated with
    secchi depth and chlorophyll-a (p<0.01). The water level has significantly decreased the value of the temperature, pH,
    conductivity, TP and NO2
    -
    but it has positive correlation with NO3
    -
    and NH4
    +. Discharged from Sungai Kurau increased
    the value of conductivity, TSS, TP and NO2
    -
    as a result from runoff and erosion, thus decreasing the secchi depth values,
    NO3
    -
    and NH4
    +. The water quality of BMR is classified in Class II and TSI indicates that the BMR has an intermediate level
    of productivity (mesotrophic) and meets the objective of this reservoir which was to provide water for paddy irrigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  12. Aniza Ibrahim, Muhammad Mukhlisin, Othman Jaafar
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:1477-1484.
    Infiltration caused by rainfall will lead to the changes of moisture content and soil pore water pressure or matric suction of the soil. These changes indicate the behavior of the soil especially during wetting and drying process. This paper presents the experimental test result of rain water infiltration into soil column for two samples of soils. The main objectives were to study the effect of rainfall intensity and duration of soil infiltration process for the forest soil and to compare its result to the gravelly sand. Infiltration experimental in this study involved three main components; water supply system, soil column and instrumentations, including percolation collection system. This study uses two types of tensiometers; 5 and 10 cm long. The results of TDR and tensiometers which were used to obtained moisture content and matric suction, respectively, shows that the system was successfully developed. For the forest soil, the result showed that moisture content of the top section is higher compared with the other sections. On the other hand, for gravelly sand, the moisture content in middle section is higher compared with the top and bottom section of the soil. Meanwhile, matric suction for both soils dropped during rainfall and gradually increases towards drying process. Other than that the comparison of soil matric suction between 5 and 10 cm tensiometers shows significant results for gravelly sand compared to forest soil.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  13. Zulkafli Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal
    Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:1941-1951.
    This study assesses the influence of water quality on fish occurrences in Sungai Pahang, Maran District, Pahang, Malaysia. Water quality and fish samplings were conducted at seven sampling sites in the district for 13 consecutive months. We used canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) to determine the influence of water quality on monthly fish species occurrences. The ranges of water quality parameters were quite high considering the measurements were made during rainy and dry seasons throughout the year. A total of 2,075 individual fish was captured which comprised of 22 different families and 65 species. Family Cyprinidae recorded the highest number of fish species of the area (27 species; 41.5%), followed by Bagridae (five species; 7.69%) and Pangasiidae (five species; 7.69%). Three fish species categorized as endangered, including Balantiocheilos melanopterus, Probarbus jullieni and Pangasianodon hypophthalmus were also collected. The collected fish species were divided into three groups (A to C), which was clearly separated in the CCA ordination diagram. The most important water quality variables for the fish occurrences in this river were pH, followed by temperature, conductivity, alkalinity and phosphate. Data analysis indicates that the occurrence of fishes were influenced by a combination of water quality parameters, but not associated with sampling month. The results present a new data from a study of fish assemblage and their habitat condition which may be important in fisheries activity and fish conservation of the river in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  14. Gunawardena SA, Abeyratne P, Jayasena A, Rajapaksha S, Senadhipathi H, Siriwardana D, et al.
    Sci Justice, 2023 Sep;63(5):638-650.
    PMID: 37718011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2023.08.001
    Estimating the post mortem interval (PMI) in skeletonized cases is an extremely challenging exercise. Sri Lanka lacks adequate taphonomic research which is a serious limitation when assessing PMI in forensic death investigations. Methods that have been proposed to estimate PMI using the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) are mainly based on data from continental and temperate climates and have shown less reliability in tropical climates. With the intention of developing a region-specific, evidence-based guide which would be applicable to tropical climates like Sri Lanka, we selected thirteen skeletonized remains with known PMIs from forensic case records and analysed their taphonomy in relation to selected weather data. We also compared the ADD values within our dataset with reference ranges calculated using published formula. All except one were found from outdoor locations. The TBS ranged from 24 to 32 and had a weak positive correlation with the PMI. The earliest appearance of skeletonization was 15 days in a body found indoors. The highest rate of skeletonization was seen in a body with a TBS of 32 and a PMI of 23 days. The average daily temperature and relative humidity were similar across all the cases however, the amount of rainfall varied. Bodies exposed to monsoon rains (n = 6) had a lower mean rate of skeletonization compared to those that were not exposed (n = 4) suggesting lower rates of decomposition during periods of heavy rainfall. No correlation was found between ADD and TBS. In 9 (69.2%) cases, the actual ADD was much lower than reference ADD ranges for TBS values, indicating poor applicability of TBS and ADD based formulae in estimating PMI within the Sri Lankan climate. Our study shows a strong need for taphonomic and entomological research in tropical climates to further explore the impact of monsoons on biotic and abiotic factors affecting skeletonization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain*
  15. Osman NA, Ujang FA, Roslan AM, Ibrahim MF, Hassan MA
    Sci Rep, 2020 04 20;10(1):6613.
    PMID: 32313095 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62815-0
    Phytoremediation is one of the environmental-friendly and cost-effective systems for the treatment of wastewater, including industrial wastewater such as palm oil mill effluent final discharge (POME FD). However, the effects of the wastewater on the phytoremediator plants, in term of growth performance, lignocellulosic composition, and the presence of nutrients and heavy metals in the plants are not yet well studied. In the present work, we demonstrated that POME FD increased the growth of P. purpureum. The height increment of P. purpureum supplied with POME FD (treatment) was 61.72% as compared to those supplied with rain water (control) which was 14.42%. For lignocellulosic composition, the cellulose percentages were 38.77 ± 0.29% (treatment) and 34.16 ± 1.01% (control), and the difference was significant. These results indicated that POME FD could be a source of plant nutrients, which P. purpureum can absorb for growth. It was also found that the heavy metals (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb) inside the plant were below the standard limit of the World Health Organization (WHO). Since POME FD was shown to have no adverse effects on P. purpureum, further research regarding the potential application of P. purpureum following phytoremediation of POME FD such as biofuel production is warranted to evaluate its potential use to fit into the waste-to-wealth agenda.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  16. Chang CJ, Hsu HH, Cheah W, Tseng WL, Jiang LC
    Sci Rep, 2019 04 01;9(1):5421.
    PMID: 30931981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41889-5
    In addition to monsoon-driven rainfall, the Maritime Continent (MC) is subject to heavy precipitation caused by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a tropical convection-coupled circulation that propagates eastward from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean. This study shows that riverine runoff from MJO-driven rainfall in the western MC significantly enhances phytoplankton biomass not only in the coastal regions but as far as the nutrient-poor Banda Sea, located 1,000 km downstream of the riverine source. We present observational estimates of the chlorophyll-a concentration in the Banda Sea increasing by 20% over the winter average within an MJO life cycle. The enhancement of phytoplankton in the central Banda Sea is attributed to two coinciding MJO-triggered mechanisms: enhanced sediment loading and eastward advection of waters with high sediment and chlorophyll concentrations. Our results highlight an unexpected effect of MJO-driven rainfall on the downstream oceanic region. This finding has significant implications for the marine food chain and biogeochemical processes in the MC, given the increasing deforestation rate and projections that global warming will intensify both the frequency and strength of MJO-driven rainfall in the MC.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain*
  17. Tani N, Abdul Hamid ZA, Joseph N, Sulaiman O, Hashim R, Arai T, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2020 01 20;10(1):650.
    PMID: 31959766 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57170-8
    Oil palm is an important crop for global vegetable oil production, and is widely grown in the humid tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Projected future climate change may well threaten palm oil production. However, oil palm plantations currently produce large amounts of unutilised biological waste. Oil palm stems - which comprise two-thirds of the waste - are especially relevant because they can contain high levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) that can serve as feedstock for biorefineries. The NSC in stem are also considered a potent buffer to source-sink imbalances. In the present study, we monitored stem NSC levels and female reproductive growth. We then applied convergent cross mapping (CCM) to assess the causal relationship between the time-series. Mutual causal relationships between female reproductive growth and the stem NSC were detected, with the exception of a relationship between female reproductive organ growth and starch levels. The NSC levels were also influenced by long-term cumulative temperature, with the relationship showing a seven-month time lag. The dynamic between NSC levels and long-term cumulative rainfall showed a shorter time lag. The lower temperatures and higher cumulative rainfall observed from October to December identify this as a period with maximum stem NSC stocks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  18. Aiken SR, Frost DB, Leigh CH
    Soc Sci Med Med Geogr, 1980 Sep;14D(3):307-16.
    PMID: 7455728
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain*
  19. Firth R
    The Geographical Journal, 1943;101:193-205.
    DOI: 10.2307/1789626
    Topics: Boats, Rice, Coasts, Human geography, Beaches, Fishers, Peasant class, Seas, Monsoons, Rainy seasons
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain
  20. Sam IC, Puthucheary SD
    J Infect, 2007 May;54(5):519-20.
    PMID: 16965821
    Matched MeSH terms: Rain*
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