Helium gas inhalation for suicide is a relatively new technique and practically unheard of in Malaysia. The internet has helped spread this technique rapidly across the globe. We report a case of helium gas inhalation as a suicide attempt in Malaysia. Such a case offers a diagnostic challenge upon presentation. Simple techniques of ensuring adequate oxygenation can help in treatment of such cases.
Information on situation of air pollution is critically needed as input in four disciplines of research including risk management, risk evaluation, environmental epidemiology, as well as for status and trend analysis. Two normal practices were identified to evaluate daily air pollution situation; first, pollution magnitude has been treated as the common indicator, and second, the analysis was often conducted based on hourly average data. However, the information on the magnitude level alone to represent the pollution condition based on a rigid point data such as the average was seen as insufficient. Thus, to fill the gap, this study was conducted based on continuously measured data in the form of curves, which is also known as functional data, whereby pollution duration is emphasised. A statistical method based on curve ranking was used in the investigation. The application of the method at Klang, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam air quality monitoring stations located in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, has shown that pollution duration decreases as the magnitude increases. Shah Alam has the longest pollution duration at low and medium magnitude levels. Meanwhile, all the three stations experienced quite a similar length of average pollution duration for the high magnitude level, that is, about 2.5 days. It was also shown that the occurrence of PM10 pollution at the area is significantly not random.
Due to conservation and rehabilitation efforts, mangrove forests represent some of the largest environmental niches in Malaysia. However, there is little information on the potential risks posed by mosquitoes that are directly and indirectly associated with mangrove forests. To study the potential health risk to humans active within and in close vicinity of mangrove forests, this research focused on the day biting habits of mosquitoes in mangrove forests of Kedah, Malaysia. The bare leg catch (BLC) method was used to collect adult mosquitoes during a 12-h period from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in both disturbed and less disturbed areas of mangroves. In total, 795 adult mosquitoes from 5 genera and 8 species were collected, and over 65% of the total mosquitoes were collected from the less disturbed area. The predominant species from the less disturbed area was Verrallina butleri; in the disturbed area the dominant species was Culex sitiens. The peak biting hour differed for each species, with Aedes albopictus and Cx. sitiens recorded as having a bimodal biting activity peak during dawn and dusk. For Ve. butleri an erratic pattern of biting activity was recorded in the less disturbed area but it peaked during the early daytime for both collection points. Overall, the distinct pattern of day biting habits of mosquitoes within mangroves peaked during dawn and dusk for the less disturbed area but was irregular for the disturbed area throughout the day. The presence of vectors of pathogens such as Ae. albopictus for both areas raises the need for authorities to consider management of mosquitoes in mangrove forests.
Essential thrombocythemia is one of the myeloproliferative neoplasms. Palpable purpura is a rare manifestation that may delay diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of essential thrombocythemia in a 50-year-old man, who presented with recurrent thigh pain for the past one year with nonspecific localized purpura. His full blood count revealed isolated thrombocytosis of 880,000/µL with an impression of myeloproliferative disorder from peripheral blood film. He was referred urgently to the hematology team, which proceeded with a venesection. His condition improved with hydroxyurea. This was a rare case of chronic presentation of myeloproliferative neoplasm detected at a primary care clinic.
Dementia is typically characterized by the deterioration of cognitive abilities and is a common disorder among the elderly in Malaysia. However, behavioral and psychological symptoms are also present in approximately 90% of dementia patients.1 We report the manifestation of these symptoms in an elderly woman with dementia and the treatment thereof.
Lobonychiumpalpiplus Roewer, 1938, originally reported from Indonesian Borneo, is redescribed based on the specimens from Malaysia. The genitalia of this species are described for the first time and a new genital terminology is proposed. The rediscovery expands the known distribution of the species to Malaysian Borneo.
Road transport is the movement of passengers or goods on the road. To date, issues concerning the safety of students
and school institutions have continued to attract public attention. The recent spate of incidents inside and outside
the school compound has brought the issue of children safety into our attention. These include the escalating number
of road casualties. This study was conducted to observe road hazard outside the school compound and analyse the
safety risks faced by school children by using the risk matrix. The risks are calculated to include likelihood and
severity of hazard as identified in the Guideline of HIRARC 2008. The area selected was the East Coast state of
Peninsular Malaysia, with over 111 schools randomly selected in Kelantan. Results were then analysed and six
highlighted hazards were discussed. The results show that the main road posed the highest risk due to speeding
vehicles. These vehicles failed to slow down when approaching the school area. The school
administration must enhance the safety of the staff, students, and public while in the school area. In conclusion, road
safety awareness must be instilled among teachers, students, parents and road users alike.
A reassessment of the taxonomy of Lygosoma bampfyldei based on morphology and color pattern indicates that it is a species complex containing L. bampfyldei Bartlett, 1895 from the Rajang River, Sarawak and Croker Range, Sabah in East Malaysia; L. peninsulare sp. nov. from Bukit Larut, Perak and 13.5 km east of Jeli, Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia; L. kinabatanganensis sp. nov. from the Kinabatangan District, Deramakot camp (=Deramakot Sabah Forestry Department), Sabah, East Malaysia; and L. schneideri Werner, 1900 from Djapura, Indragiri, Sumatra, Indonesia-resurrected herein from the synonymy of L. bampfyldei. The new taxonomy aligns itself well with a growing body of literature demonstrating that semi-fossorial and fossorial Sundaic skinks are more diverse than previously considered.
Up to three nominal species of the cyprinid fish genus Poropuntius (i.e. P. deauratus [Valenciennes in Cuvier Valenciennes 1842], P. normani [Smith 1931], and P. smedleyi [de Beaufort 1933]) have been reported to occur in Peninsular Malaysian freshwater ecosystems. However, low morphological differentiation among species of Poropuntius causes confusion and it is still unknown how many valid species of Poropuntius occur in this region. The goal of this study is to review the taxonomic status of Poropuntius in Peninsular Malaysia by using morphological and molecular characters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on a morphometric dataset including 281 specimens of Poropuntius from Peninsular Malaysia and P. normani from Thailand (type locality) failed to identify non-overlapping clusters within sampled specimens. A phylogenetic tree based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) showed intraspecific levels of genetic differentiation within Poropuntius of Peninsular Malaysia and the specimens of P. normani from Thailand form a monophyletic group. Our results strongly support the presence of only one species of Poropuntius in Peninsular Malaysia, P. normani. We demonstrate that P. smedleyi described from Johor, southern Peninsular Malaysia, is a junior synonym of P. normani. The previous reports of the presence of P. deauratus in Peninsular Malaysia are doubtful because this species was described from Vietnam where, in all evidence, it is endemic.
We describe a gall midge Macarangamyia itiokai Elsayed Tokuda gen. n., sp. n. belonging to the subtribe Schizomyiina (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Asphondyliini) inducing petiole galls on Macaranga bancana (Miq.) in Lambir Hills National Park, Borneo, Malaysia. The new genus is distinguishable from all known genera of Schizomyiina by the unique dorsally-placed aedeagus slit, the short, membranous, protrusible ovipositor, with scattered strong setae ventrally and dorsally, and the presence of spiracles on all larval thoracic segments. It is compared and separated from its closely related Oriental genera of Schizomyiina.
A new species of the porcellanid genus Raphidopus Stimpson, 1858, is described on the basis of specimens from Penang and Kuala Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Raphidopus brevipes n. sp. is distinguished from its allied congeners, R. indicus Henderson, 1893 and R. johnsoni Ng Nakasone, 1994, by the proportionally narrower carapace and stouter ambulatory legs, as well as the different dentition on the cutting edge of the dactylus of the larger cheliped. Raphidopus johnsoni, previously known only by the holotype from Singapore, is now also recorded from Phuket (Thailand) and Java (Indonesia). Raphidopus indicus and R. johnsoni are rediagnosed on the basis of the respective type material and other specimens. A key to species of the genus Raphidopus is provided.
The present research sought to examine the teamwork performance among AIM microcredit
participants based on Tuckman (1965) model. Hence, the author elaborates the level of teamwork
process such as forming, norming, storming and performing in a group among AIM participant in
Daerah Hulu Langat. The AIM is replication of the Grameen Bank approach in Malaysia and the
teamwork concept was apply which is the scheme must be apply in a group and not in individual. Selfadministrative
questionnaire was applied to conduct a data collection and a sample of 160 respondents
among participant from Sungai Gabai, Sungai Ramal, Sungai Chua, Sungai Tangkas, Bukit Mewah,
Semenyih and Sungai Jelok in Kajang were chosen based on stratified and simple random sampling
techniques to complete the survey. Researcher suggests the finding indicate that the high level stage in
teamwork process is forming, storming and performing stage. Only norming stage was in moderate
level. Consequently, high and positive teamwork resulted efficiencies in the microfinance group.
Teamwork with the right process can achieved positive outcome among AIM microcredit participants.
Various claims have been made about the extinction of Malay Reservation Land in the country. Before
independence, the land depreciation was due to the acquisition of land by the British colonial
government for mining, opening of new villages during the communist threat and the mortgage and
sale activities by the Malay landowners to non-Malays. After independence, land depreciation linked
with the acquisition of land by the government through the Land Acquisition Act, 1960. This study is a
content analysis study involving material derived from the secondary source text and earlier research
findings. Emphasis is given to analyze the statistical size of Malay Reservation Land in the country.
Results show that the allegations regarding the depreciation trend of the Malay Reservation Land is
inaccurate and misleading. While the analysis of the size of the Malay Reservation Land found that the
actual percentage of Malay Reservation Land in 2009 was 30.13 percent instead of 11.83 percent as
claimed. The percentage grew steadily in 2013 to 31.85 percent. The analysis also found that there was
confusion about the actual size of Malay Reservation Land in the country.
Work-related accidents is a controversial topic in Malaysia as evidenced by the increased number of occupational accidents throughout the years. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between management practices and safety performance in an or-ganization. The four management practices investigated are (a) training, (b) management commitment, (c) communication and feedback, and (d) employee involvement. The most effective safety practice is also identified. The data was collected at a manufacturing com-pany located in Shah Alam, Malaysia using closed-ended questionnaire. 95 respondents from the production line were involved in this study. The result found that training had a very weak relationship to the safety performance while the management commitment, as well as the communication and feedback, revealed to have a weak impact on safety perfor-mance. On the other hand, the analysis showed that employee involvement is the most ef-fective safety practice to the safety performance, as it had a moderate impact on safety per-formance.
Previous research has found that interaction processes between coach and athlete have always been the
strongest factor for sports performance. Other researches have drawn conclusions to other factors in the
coach-athlete relationship, such as culture and gender. Research has generally shown that effective
communication required the development of trust and respect between coach and athlete (Yukelson,
1984). The review focuses on an analysis of past literature on communication styles, culture, and
gender as potential key factors influencing the coach-athlete relationship. This review paper examined
studies specific to the empirical studies on athletes and coaches from the Western and Asian
perspectives. In particular, the review analysed empirical studies on communication, gender and
culture as potential factors influencing the coach-athlete relationship. The review concluded that while
various studies on the coach-athlete relationship had been done, a majority of the empirical studies
were within Western perspectives. Such empirical study is particularly under-researched in Malaysia.
Therefore, the paper concludes by suggesting that future research which explores the aspects of
communication styles, culture, and gender within the Malaysian context is timely.
Salah satu syarat untuk menjadi sebuah negara maju adalah tersedianya modal insan yang unggul yang
lahir daripada Institusi Pengajian Tinggi. Kerajaan Malaysia telah memberikan peruntukan yang besar
untuk mencapai matlamat tersebut. Walau bagaimanupun, terdapat kekangan dan keterhadan kewangan
Kerajaan untuk memenuhi keseluruhan biaya Institusi Pengajian Tinggi. Oleh itu, semua pihak terkait
perlulah mencari alternatif dan jalan keluar bagi mengatasi masalah ini. Wakaf merupakan salah satu
sistem ekonomi Islam yang dikatakan sangat berpotensi bagi membangunkan pendidikan. Kertas kerja
ini mempunyai dua tujuan. Pertama, untuk mengenal pasti pembangunan wakaf pendidikan dengan
kajian kes di Universiti College Bestari (UCB), Terengganu, Malaysia. Kedua, menganalisis isu
kelestaraian wakaf dan kaedah-kaedah yang digunakan UCB dalam mempastikan kelestarian wakaf
tersebut. Bagi mencapai kedua-dua tujuan ini kaedah kualitatif yang melibatkan temu bual mendalam
dua orang responden telah dijalankan. Data yang diperolehi di analisis menggunakan kaedah analisis
kandungan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa pembangunan wakaf di UCB sudah bermula sejak tahun
1998. Pengurusan dan pentadbiran wakaf UCB dilakukan di bawah tiga agensi (joint venture) yang
setiapnya merupakan pemegang saham iaitu PEYATIM (Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Malaysia)
(50%), PERKAYA (Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak Yatim) Terengganu (30%) dan YAKIN (Yayasan
Kebajikan Negeri Terengganu) (20%). Antara kaedah yang digunakan untuk melestarikan wakaf
pengajian tinggi di UCB adalah penjagaan dan pengelolaan aset yang telus dengan kepimpinan yang
kuat, sistem pemasaran dan kaedah wakaf yang mudah. Sumbangan kerajaan dan juga peranan alumni
dikatakan juga membantu pembangunan wakaf tersebut. Kajian ini membuktikan bahawa sistem wakaf
memiliki potensi untuk membantu membangunkan pendidikan yang lestari.
A new species, Cnestusquadrispinosus, is described from Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, and East Malaysia (Sabah). It is compared to three related species of Cnestus which lack a mycangial tuft of hairs on the pronotum, and have an impressed elytral declivity.
The genus Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839 (Araneae: Salticidae) is one of the most diversified salticid groups in Southeast Asia, with 23 species previously recorded from Borneo. Based on the collections accumulated from 2004 to 2014 in the Lambir Hills National Park, we herein describe six new species: M. amabilis sp. nov., M. hashimotoi sp. nov., M. lagarosoma sp. nov., M. leptosoma sp. nov., M. salaputium sp. nov. and M. tintinnabulum sp. nov. In addition, we describe the female of M. endoi Yamasaki Ahmad, 2013 for the first time. The male-female combination in M. amabilis sp. nov., M. tintinnabulum sp. nov. and M. endoi were confirmed by DNA barcoding.
Platiana Schimmel, 1993 is a moderately large genus in Dimini endemic to South East Asia. Hitherto only four species of this genus were known from Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we describe and figure Platiana cechovskyi sp. nov. from the Cameron Highlands. This species is characteristic by its relatively small body, dark coloration, and strongly serrate antennae which are rarely encountered in Dimini. An identification key to the Platiana species from Peninsular Malaysia as well as a distribution map for all known species are provided.