The increasing interest in understanding the evolutionary relationship between members of the Pteropodidae family has been greatly aided by genomic data from the Old World fruit bats. Here we present the complete mitogenome of Geoffroy's rousette, Rousettus amplexicaudatus found in Peninsular Malaysia . The mitogenome constructed is 16,511bp in length containing 37 genes; 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a D-loop region. The overall base composition is estimated to be 32.28% for A, 25.64% for T, 14.09% for G and 27.98% for C, indicating a slightly AT rich feature (57.93%). A phylogenetic and BLASTn analysis against other available mitogenomes showed Malaysian R. amplexicaudatus matched 98% similarity to the same species in Cambodia and Vietnam. However, it differed considerably (92.53% similarity) with the same species in the Philippines. This suggests flexibility in Rousettus sp. with regards to adapting to mesic and dry habitats, ability for long-distance dispersal and remarkably precise lingual echolocation thus supporting its wide-range distribution and colonization. Further taxonomical and mitogenomic comparatives are required in resolving the evolutionary relationship between Rousettus spp.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations aims to act as a single market and allow free movement of goods, services, and manpower. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the current regulatory framework for health claims in Southeast Asia and to highlight the current barriers and opportunities in the regulatory frameworks in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. To date, 5 countries in Southeast Asia, i.e., Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, have regulations and guidelines to permit the use of health claims on food products. There are inconsistencies in the regulations and the types of evidence required for health claim applications in these countries. A clear understanding of the regulatory frameworks in these countries may help to increase trade in this fast-growing region and to provide direction for the food industry and the regulatory community to develop and market food products with better nutritional quality tailored to the needs of Southeast Asian consumers.
Research on health assessments has shown the importance of social relations as a factor influencing health, especially among older people. Drawing upon sociological theories of social integration and social exchange, this research examines two domains of social relations which are expected to influence assessed health. In addition, the study uses a cross-national sample (N = 3,407) of noninstitutionalized older people from the Republic of Korea, Fiji, Malaysia, and the Philippines to determine if modernization conditions the relationships between social relations and health. Results indicate that social integration has a positive effect on subjective health assessments in all nations, whereas social contributions are significant only in Korea. Findings suggest that health assessments by elders in the most modernized nations appear to be much more influenced by the contributions they make to the social order than is the case in nations which are less modernized.
Childhood obesity is increasing dramatically in many Southeast Asian countries, and becoming a significant public health concern. This review summarizes the evidence on associations between parental feeding practices, child eating behaviors, and the risk of overweight and obesity in Southeast Asian children 2-12 years old. We systematically searched five electronic academic/research (PubMed, PsycINFO, ProQuest Nursing, Medline, and CINAHL) databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement for peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2000 and December 2016. Fourteen observational studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Reviewed studies were examined separately for preschool- and school-aged children and revealed that non-responsive parental feeding practices and unhealthy child eating behaviors were associated with a risk of child overweight and obesity in several Southeast Asian countries. Nonetheless, due to the small number of identified studies (n = 14) and because only about half of the Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia) were represented (5/11) in the examined studies, additional research is needed to further understand the factors associated with childhood obesity among children in Southeast Asia to develop interventions that are tailored to the specific needs of Southeast Asian countries and designed to address practices and behaviors that may promote childhood obesity.
The objectives of this article are (1) review the contribution of traditional midwives to family planning communication in several Asian countries; (2) organize knowledge gathered from various studies into general guidelines for the most effective use of traditional midwives in family planning programs; and (3) present hypotheses for future research. In certain countries where pilot projects have tested the potential performance of traditional midwives in family planning programs, results have been encouraging. In other nations, more research is needed to determine the contribution traditional midwives can make to the family planning program.
PIP: Traditional midwives are found in almost every village and in many urban neighborhoods in the developing world, delivering the majority of births in these areas. Several Asian nations have begun to recognize the potential contribution of traditional midwives to modern family planning and health programs. A total of about 17,000 traditional midwives have been trained as family planning recruiters in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Because traditional midwives deliver a large number of births in Asian nations, the potential is great for them to reach large numbers of women regarding family planning -- particularly poor, illiterate women. There is much to be learned from the traditional health system and governmental health and family planning programs should join hands with these older systems.
Rhabdamia spilota Allen Kuiter 1994 (Apogonidae), a poorly known cardinalfish previously known only from the Philippines, Indonesia and the Red Sea, is redescribed on the basis of 70 specimens (20.9-61.2 mm standard length) (including types), from the Indo-West Pacific (Red Sea, Andaman Sea, Japan, South China Sea, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Caledonia, and Australia). Because most reports of the similar species R. gracilis (Bleeker 1856), following its original description, were based on misidentifications, R. gracilis is also redescribed (based on 98 Indo-West Pacific specimens from Seychelles, Maldives, Andaman Sea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Caledonia, and Australia, 27.9-59.3 mm standard length); a lectotype is designated for it. Rhabdamia spilota differs from R. gracilis in having 27-33 (mode 30-31) developed gill rakers [vs. 22-27 (mode 24) in the latter], 27-33 (30) gill rakers including rudiments [vs. 23-27 (24-25)], a black stripe from the jaw tips to the anterior margin of the orbit (vs. black pigments only at snout and tip of lower jaw), 3-6 reddish brown to blackish blotches on the opercle and anterior of body (vs. blotches absent), and indistinct black pigment restricted to caudal fin outer margins (vs. pigment scattered over entire fin). Rhabdamia gracilis exhibits sexual dichromatism, female specimens larger than 41.3 mm SL having one or two black stripes on the lateral surface of the body; the stripes are absent in males and smaller females. No evidence of sexual dichromatism was found in R. spilota.
A taxonomic description of all castes of Colobopsis explodens Laciny & Zettel, sp. n. from Borneo, Thailand, and Malaysia is provided, which serves as a model species for biological studies on "exploding ants" in Southeast Asia. The new species is a member of the Colobopsis cylindrica (COCY) group and falls into a species complex that has been repeatedly summarized under the name Colobopsis saundersi (Emery, 1889) (formerly Camponotus saundersi). The COCY species group is known under its vernacular name "exploding ants" for a unique behaviour: during territorial combat, workers of some species sacrifice themselves by rupturing their gaster and releasing sticky and irritant contents of their hypertrophied mandibular gland reservoirs to kill or repel rivals. This study includes first illustrations and morphometric characterizations of males of the COCY group: Colobopsis explodens Laciny & Zettel, sp. n. and Colobopsis badia (Smith, 1857). Characters of male genitalia and external morphology are compared with other selected taxa of Camponotini. Preliminary notes on the biology of C. explodens Laciny & Zettel, sp. n. are provided. To fix the species identity of the closely related C. badia, a lectotype from Singapore is designated. The following taxonomic changes within the C. saundersi complex are proposed: Colobopsis solenobia (Menozzi, 1926), syn. n. and Colobopsis trieterica (Menozzi, 1926), syn. n. are synonymized with Colobopsis corallina Roger, 1863, a common endemic species of the Philippines. Colobopsis saginata Stitz, 1925, stat. n., hitherto a subspecies of C. badia, is raised to species level.
In accordance upon conservation efforts, this research emphasizes on prevention of
environmental pollution and considers the elements of sustainable of infrastructure
construction materials, which is interlocking pavement block. The development of this
innovative product apply the concept of 3Rs and waste to wealth by using the
agricultural waste product, coconut shell, where widely available with very minimum
cost worldwide especially in tropical country such as India, Indonesia, Philippines,
Thailand and Malaysia. The main objective of this research is to produce an
environmental friendly product with a good quality, low cost and lightweight known as
Green Interlocking Pavement (GIP Block). The chemical composition of coconut shell
ash and ordinary Portland cement being identified and compared to know whether it
is able to react as a good binder in the mixture or not. The quality of GIP Block
considered is compressive strength, water absorption and bulk density. All the blocks
were curing in seven and 28 days before implementing the entire test. The existing
interlocking pavement used as bench mark and GIP Block 0% of proportion of coconut
shell ash used as control variables. The specimen of the interlocking pavement
prepared in this research is 10%, 20% and 30% proportion of coconut shell ash to
partially replace the quantity of cement. The ratio of the interlocking pavement apply
in this research is 1:2 which stand for one part cement and two part of sand. The
findings withdrawn from this research are: first, the chemical characteristic of the
coconut shell ash and cement. Second, the value of bulk density slightly reduces as the
percentage of coconut shell ash increases. Third, the additional of coconut shell ash to
partially replace the quantity of cement in the product reduce the compressive
strength and increase the percentage of water absorption.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Optimal sleeping habits are important for health development of infants. The role of culture in sleep habits cannot be underestimated. We aimed to characterize sleep patterns, sleep practices, and sleep problems; and assess the sleep settings and parental perceptions of sleep problems in children from birth to 36 months in countries in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region.
PARTICIPANTS: Parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers (birth to 36 months old) from countries in Southeast Asia participated in this study.
METHODS: Data was collected using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire for a total of 5,987 children from 6 countries in the SEA region (967 Indonesia/ID, 997 Malaysia/MY, 1,034 Philippines/PH, 1,001 Singapore/SG, 988 Thailand/TH, and 1,000 Vietnam/VN).
RESULTS: The sleep variables varied among SEA children studied. Bedtimes and nighttime sleep varied across the region by as much as 1 hr 34 min and 1 hr 15 min respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite being geographically very close together and having some common sociocultural characteristics, sleep variables in the young child within the SEA region do differ in significant ways.
The genus Doryscus Jacoby, 1887 is revised. Twelve new species are described: D. indochinensis sp. nov. from China (Yunnan), India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam; D. krausi sp. nov. from Laos and Thailand; D. kubani sp. nov., from China (Yunnan); D. geiseri sp. nov. from Singapore and Thailand; D. nepalensis sp. nov. from Bhutan, north India, and Nepal; D. luzonensis sp. nov., and D. mindanaoensis sp. nov. from Philippines; D. barclayi sp. nov., D. boreri sp. nov., D. javanensis sp. nov., and D. sumatrensis sp. nov. from Indonesia; D. wangi sp. nov. from East Malaysia (Sabah). Doryscus chujoi Takizawa, 1978 and D. varians (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963) are removed from synonymy with D. testaceus Jacoby, 1887. Doryscus nigricollis Jiang, 1992 and D. marginicollis Jiang, 1992 are regarded as junior synonyms of D. varians (Gressitt & Kimoto, 1963). A lectotype is designated for Doryscus testaceus Jacoby, 1887.
A new genus of onchidiid slugs, Wallaconchis Goulding & Dayrat, gen. n., is described, including ten species. Five species were previously described but known only from the type material: Wallaconchis ater (Lesson, 1830), W. graniferum (Semper, 1880), W. nangkauriense (Plate, 1893), W. buetschlii (Stantschinsky, 1907), and W. gracile (Stantschinsky, 1907), all of which were originally classified in Onchidium Buchannan, 1800. Many new records are provided for these five species, which greatly expand their known geographic distributions. Five species are new: Wallaconchis achleitneri Goulding, sp. n., W. comendadori Goulding & Dayrat, sp. n., W. melanesiensis Goulding & Dayrat, sp. n., W. sinanui Goulding & Dayrat, sp. n., and W. uncinus Goulding & Dayrat, sp. n. Nine of the ten Wallaconchis species are found in the Coral Triangle (eastern Indonesia and the Philippines). Sympatry is high, with up to six species found on the island of Bohol (Philippines) and eight species overlapping in northern Sulawesi (Indonesia). Wallaconchis is distinguished from other onchidiids by its bright dorsal colors (red, yellow, orange) but those are extremely variable and not useful for specific identification. Internally, the reproductive system can be used to identify all Wallaconchis species. The copulatory organs of Wallaconchis species are especially diverse compared to other onchidiid genera, and the possible role of reproductive incompatibility in species diversification is discussed. All specimens examined were freshly collected for the purpose of a worldwide revision of the Onchidiidae Rafinesque, 1815. The species are well delineated using DNA sequences and comparative anatomy. Mitochondrial DNA analysis yields thirteen molecular units separated by a large barcode gap, while nuclear DNA yields nine units. By integrating nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA with morphology, ten species are recognized. The natural history of each species (e.g., the microhabitat where they are found) is also documented. Nomenclature is addressed thoroughly (the types of all onchidiid species were examined, lectotypes were designated when needed, nomina dubia are discussed). Morphological characters, transitions to new microhabitats, and diversification processes are discussed in the context of a robust molecular phylogeny.
Within host communities, related species are more likely to share common parasitic agents, and as a result, morphological similarities have led researchers to conclude that parasites infecting closely related hosts within a community represent a single species. However, genetic diversity within parasite genera and host range remain poorly investigated in most systems. Strongyloides is a genus of soil-transmitted nematode that has been reported from several primate species in Africa and Asia, and has been estimated to infect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, although no precise estimates are available. Here we describe a case of infection with a cryptic species of Strongyloides in a Bornean (Philippine) slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis) living within a diverse community of several primate species in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Malaysian Borneo. Fresh fecal samples were collected from five primate species and nematode larvae cultured from these samples were selected for phylogenetic analyses. Sequences obtained for most larvae were identified as S. fuelleborni, grouping into three different clusters and showing no aggregation within specific hosts or geographic location. In contrast, a set of parasite sequences obtained from a slow loris clustered closely with S. stercoralis into a different group, being genetically distinct to sequences reported from other primate hosts, humans included. Our results suggest that although S. fuelleborni infects all haplorrhines sampled in this primate community, a different species might be infecting the slow loris, the only strepsirrhine in Borneo and one of the least studied primates in the region. Although more data are needed to support this conclusion, we propose that Strongyloides species in primates might be more diverse than previously thought, with potential implications for ecological and evolutionary host-parasite associations, as well as epidemiological dynamics.