A new species of black fly, Prosimulium kazukii, is described based on female, male and pupal specimens collected from central Honshu, Japan. It is placed in the Prosimulium magnum species-group, and is characterized in the female and male by yellow thoraces, and in the pupa by the frons and dorsal surface of the thorax without distinct tubercles. By these characters, it is distinguished from all four related species (P. apoina Ono, P. kalibaense Ono, P. sarurense Ono, and P. yezoense Shiraki) of the same species-group in Japan. The female of this new species was previously known as an aberrant form of P. yezoense.
The classification, annotated list and keys for the black fly species from Peninsular Malaysia are updated. The number of black fly species increased from 38 in 1995 to 62 (including a new species herein described) in 2018. The 62 species are classified in four subgenera of the genus Simulium: one species in Daviesellum, 35 species in Gomphostilbia, five species in Nevermannia and 21 species in Simulium. Species in the latter three subgenera are further placed in species-groups or subgroups. Keys are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae. Simulium (S.) perakense sp. nov. is described and placed in the S. striatum species-group. The males of S. (G.) decuplum, S. (G.) tahanense, S. (S.) malayense, the female of S. (G.) adleri, and the female and larva of S. (G.) varicorne are described for the first time. The female, male, pupa and larva of S. (G.) trangense, the male and pupa of S. (G.) varicorne and the pupa of S. (G.) adleri are redescribed. Simulium (G.) sp. A is identified as S. (G.) pegalanense. Brief notes for each species are given on morphological characteristics, aquatic habitats and geographical distributions.
The Barsine inflexa and the B. flavodiscalis species-groups are reviewed. Six new species are described: B. victoria Volynkin Černý, sp. nov. (North West Myanmar and North East India), B. kanchenjunga Volynkin Černý, sp. nov. (North East India), B. dejeani Volynkin Černý, sp. nov. (South West China: Sichuan), B. thagyamin Volynkin Černý, sp. nov. (North Myanmar), B. hreblayi Volynkin Černý, sp. nov. (North Thailand) and B. siberuta Volynkin Černý, sp. nov. (Indonesia: Siberut Island). Adults, male and female genitalia of all species are illustrated.
Accurate identification of mosquitoes is crucial for the management and control of vector species. Although Singapore is a tropical country with high mosquito diversity, there are no identification keys specific to its mosquito fauna. An illustrated identification key to the genera of the adult female mosquitoes of Singapore is presented. Twenty genera are characterized and two genera found in Malaysia, Culiseta and Topomyia, are also included. The key will aid non-taxonomically trained operational officers in adult mosquito identification. The key to the genera provides the first crucial step in the process to species identification.
Three new species of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854 are described: C. artemis sp. n. (southeastern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), C. butyracea sp. n. (Vietnam) and C. kucheri sp. n. (Vietnam). The first two species are related to the Himalayan C. moelleri (Elwes, 1890) and the Indochinese C. intercomma Černý, 2009. Despite the external similarity of C. kucheri sp. n. to C. moelleri and its allies, by the genitalia structure this species is related to C. gazella (Moore, 1872). Adults and male and female genitalia of new and related species are illustrated.
Two new species of black flies, Simulium mainitense and S. tukurongense, are described from Palawan, the Philippines. Both species are placed in the Simulium nitidithorax subgroup of the Simulium tuberosum species-group of Simulium (Simulium). They are characterized by the female sensory vesicle of medium length, pupal thorax covered with round tubercles, and anterodorsal trichomes on the pupal thorax longer than frontal trichomes. This combination of characters separates these two new species from S. quasifrenum Delfinado, the only previously known member of the S. nitidithorax subgroup from Palawan, and nine other related species from Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and India. Simulium mainitense sp. nov. is distinguished from S. tukurongense sp. nov. in the female by the somewhat larger body size, and greater length ratio of the labrum against the clypeus; and in the pupa by the much longer gill filaments.
Background: Menopause is a condition that every woman faces in later life and can have many associated effects which might disrupt the quality of life.
Aim: To determine both the prevalence of menopause and menopausal symptoms in a group of employed Malaysian women and to determine their sources of information regarding menopause.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among female teachers aged 35 and above in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia between 1 June and 31 December 2000. A total of 550 self administered questionnaires were distributed to teachers selected through simple random sampling of selected schools.
Results: The response rate was 78.9%. The prevalence of menopause was 21.9%. There was a high prevalence of skin dryness (44.2%), hot flushes (43.2%), fatigue (41.0%) and excessive sweating (34.7%) among the menopausal respondents and there was a significant difference between menopausal and non menopausal symptoms of respondents (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of menopause and each menopausal symptom are high in the present group of women. Improved health care programs about the menopause might help give women a better quality of life.
Human nose can be found in many shapes and sizes. Racial, ethnic and environmental influences can result in different appearances of the nose. Nasal parameters such as nasal height, nasal width and nasal index were investigated in the Malay population, using convenient sampling methods. Study sample consisted of 80 young Malay adults (40 males, 40 females) aged 19-30 years. The mean + SD values of nasal height of Malay male and female were 52.2 + 5.3 and 50.4 + 9.7 respectively. The mean + SD values of nasal width of Malay male and female were 39.7 + 3.0 and 36.7 + 3.2 respectively. Mean nasal indices in male and female were 76.66 and 74.55 respectively. The predominant nose type in Malay was found to be of mesorrhine type (medium nose) in both male (67.5%) and female (70%). These findings were comparable with studies done in other Asian races such as Malaysian Indian, Chinese and other Indians. The findings of this study may contribute to satisfactory outcomes in cosmetic and reconstructive rhinoplastic surgery, anthropology, and forensic medicine in the Malay population.
We report a case of sciatic nerve entrapment resulting in a patient experiencing pain over the posterior aspect of the knee, simulating a Baker's cyst. Surgical exploration revealed a tight fibrous arch compressing the distal portion of the sciatic nerve, proximal to its bifurcation. Decompression of this entrapment led to complete relief of symptoms. This form of presentation is rare and should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a patient presents with complaints of pain in the back of the knee. Keywords: Sciatic nerve compression, pain in the back of the knee
Aims: To investigate whether in Malaysia, a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) less than 80 fl and a mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) less than 27 pg will identify carriers in pregnant women with severe forms of thalassaemia, a-thal 1 (a0) and classical b (b0)-thalassaemia. The results from this study will aid the implementation of a national program to screen for thalassaemia.
Methods: For classical b (b0)-thalassaemia, blood samples collected in EDTA from 153 pregnant women were taken for full blood counts and haemoglobin subtyping by automated blood counting and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) respectively. For a-thal 1 (a0), the full blood counts were obtained from archives of 30 pregnant women who were genotyped positive for the a-thal 1 (a0) during prenatal diagnosis for Hb Barts hydrops fetalis. The effects of storage on MCV, MCH and Hb A2 were determined by tests done daily for 3 weeks.
Results: By correlating red cell indices with high performance liquid chromatography and genotypic data, we show that mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <80 fl and mean corpuscular haemoglobin <27pg is able to detect all heterozygous carriers of a-thal 1 (a0) and classical b (b0)-thalassaemia. On storage, the MCV of heterozygous carriers with classical b (b0)-thalassaemia rose at 1% a day after 24 hours reaching a mean of 80 fl by day 15. However, the MCH and Hb A2 were stable for 3 weeks.
Conclusion: A mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <80 fl and mean corpuscular haemoglobin <27pg should be recommended as cut-off values for screening of carriers of a-thal 1 (a0) and classical b (b0)-thalassaemia. In blood samples, not processed within a day, MCH with a cut-off value of 27 pg is the recommended choice for screening of carriers. Keywords: Screen, thalassaemia, pregnant, MCV, MCH
The data used in this study consisted of milk yield (kg) taken at approximately fortnightly intervals from Gir x Friesian crossbred dairy cattle raised at Institut Haiwan Kluang, Malaysia. The data were first edited, smoothed and then fitted with mono-, di- and triphasic logistic functions. In general, parameter estimates for the first lactation were reasonable. However, for the second lactation the estimates were erratic and unreasonable because this was the atypical lactation for which the multiphasic functions were obviously unsuitable. Residual mean squares for the di- and triphasic functions of the first lactation were very similar (0.0002 and 0.0004, respectively) and smaller for the monophasic function (0.0894). For the second lactation, residual mean squares for the triphasic function (0.001) was the lowest compared to those for the mono- and diphasic functions (0.0345 and 0.0315). For the first lactation, the monophasic function did not fit the data well because it had large residuals. The di- and triphasic functions were almost similar in fitting the lactation and had low residuals. For the second lactation, both the mono- and diphasic functions did not fit the data very well and had rather large residuals. The triphasic function was the most fitting and had small residuals. Derived functions were generally lower for the first lactation than the second lactation: initial milk yields (4.88 to 6.0 kg versus 9.9 to 11.8 kg); peak milk yields (5.8 to 9.6 kg versus 12.8 to 15.7 kg) and 305-day milk yields (1147.7 to 1328.6 kg versus 1687.4 to 2296.1 kg).
Vermicomposting using Lumbricus rubellus was conducted in two different durations, 10 and 30 weeks in the same plots. Three different of treatments combination were prepared with eight replicates for each treatment namely cow dung : kitchen waste in 30:70 ratio (T1), cow dung : coffee grounds in 30:70 ratio (T2), and cow dung : kitchen waste : coffee grounds in 30:35:35 ratio (T3). Macronutrients elements in the vermicompost from each treatment were measured in the tenth and thirtieth week. Comparatively longer duration of vermicomposting by using Lumbricus rubellus enhanced the quality of vermicompost by the increase of the macronutrient elements while reducing the heavy metal concentration and C/N ratio.
This study aims to identify the expression of emotions and how emotions are controlled by adolescents. The sample comprised three male and two female students who were from a secondary school located in Penang. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in this study. Transcribed contents of the interviews were analyzed. The main findings showed generally, adolescents like to have fun, seek to try something new, like to relax with friends, and they also follow their feelings. Female adolescents were found to be sensitive. Generally, adolescents indicated that they were more comforlable sharing problems with friends than with parents. Implications of findings area also discussed.
The effects of various concentrations of honey and sucrose on the longevity and fecundity of Apanteles metesae (Nixon), an endoparasitoid of oil palm bagworm, Metisa plana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) were studied in the laboratory. Our results showed that there were a significant difference (p<0.05) in the longevity of A. metesae fed on various concentrations of honey solutions. Longevity of A. metesae was significantly longer when fed on 50% honey than on pure honey. Nonetheless, longevity of A. metesae females when fed on 50% honey was relatively longer than other honey concentrations. The parasitoid lived significantly longer when fed on 20% sucrose than fed on 50% sucrose and distilled water. However, the parasitoid fed on 50% honey had a longevity that was statistically similar to 20% sucrose and 50% sucrose. Fecundity of A. metesae differed significantly (p<0.05) when fed on 50% honey, 20% sucrose and 50% sucrose. The highest and lowest fecundity was when the parasitoids fed on 20% sucrose and distilled water, respectively. Overall, the result showed that 20% sucrose was a more suitable diet for A. metesae females as compared with other diets.
Growth performance, sexual reproduction and clonal propagation of I. japonica population in contrast reciprocal habitats; Open Area of Forest Edge (OAFE) and Bamboo Forest (BF) on Jinyun Mountain were studied to understand the adaptability of growth and reproductive of I. japonica in different habitats. The results were as follows: quantitative characteristics of growth and clonal propagation of I. japonica at genet (a group of genetically identical individuals, consists of whole ramets) level and at ramet (a unit composed of a shoot and root, with independent morphological and physiological traits in the same genet) level were higher in BF. However, quantitative characteristics of sexual reproduction at genet and ramet level were higher in OAFE. Biomass and allocation also showed the same trend as quantitative characteristics. Reproductive components (at ramet level) were significantly different and had trade- off in contrast reciprocal habitats. Allocation to clonal propagation and sexual reproduction of mother ramet was significantly negative correlation with allocation to daughter ramet (especially in BF). There was a trade-off between reproduction components (allocation to sexual reproduction and clonal propagation of mother ramet) in OAFE. Therefore, it showed predominantly sexual reproduction in OAFE and clonal propagation in BF. The results indicated that the contrast environmental stress shaping growth performance and reproduction variation of I. japonica in genet and ramet level in contrasting habitats might pronounce adaptive population differentiation among forest habitats.
Education is one of the most important aspects for every individual including people with visual impairments. Visually impaired students also have the right to a good educational opportunity to higher education. In this regard, this article explores the issues and challenges of visually impaired students in higher learning institution. This study uses a full qualitative approach, a case study in the Klang Valley. In-depth interviews were used in data collection involving 5 students with visual impairment: four males and one female. The findings showed that among the major issues faced by visually impaired students pursuing higher education in tertiary institution were self-esteem, financial and public stigma. In addition, visually impaired students also faced challenges in accessibility, peer-to-peer acceptance and difficulties in learning at the university. In conclusion, this study emphasises on issues and challenges often faced by students with visual impairments at higher learning institution so that appropriate supports and facilities can be effectively provided by the university.
The incidence of wrist tuberculosis is rare. Clinical features and radiographs are not conclusive in the beginning, happen to delay the achievement of the diagnosis, and thus result in poor treatment. We present a case report of wrist tuberculosis that had delayed diagnosis. Hence, the initiation of antituberculous treatment was delayed, as the initial investigations were not conclusive of tuberculous infection. The patient was treated surgically multiple times before tuberculosis was diagnosed. Antituberculous chemotherapy was started for the patient for one year until she became afebrile and infective markers returned to normal. However, the patient developed left wrist stiffness due to arthrofibrosis and bony destruction of the wrist joint.