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First detection of rabies virus in encephalitic goats (Capra hircus) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo: a case study report
No full textBackground Effective surveillance is essential for detecting rabies virus (RABV) spillover into non-canid mammalian
species, which represents an emerging concern for public and veterinary health. This report describes the first
documented cases of dog associated rabies in goats in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia, highlighting the critical
implications for veterinary and public health.
Case presentation Two goats were reported to exhibit clinical signs consistent with rabies, including recumbency,
hypersalivation, stiffness, dehydration, and episodes of pedalling movements and opisthotonos. Both animals
experienced rapid clinical deterioration, leading to their death. The epidemiological investigation found that they
had been in contact with a domestic dog displaying neurological signs consistent with rabies and no evidence of
rabies vaccination. However, laboratory confirmation of RABV was not possible due to the advanced decomposition
of the dog carcass. The rapid immunochromatographic diagnostic test (RIDT) and Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test
(DFAT) analyses confirmed the presence of RABV antigen in the brain tissues of both goats. Phylogenetic analysis of
RABV sequences obtained from the brain tissue by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) revealed that the isolates were
closely related to previous dog-associated RABV isolates from Sarawak. These findings support the diagnosis and
suggest a likely transmission link to the suspected rabid dog present on the farm.
Conclusion This study underscores the critical need for enhanced rabies control strategies, including widespread
vaccination of dogs and rigorous surveillance. The genetic similarity between the RABV detected in goats and those
previously detected in dogs and cats in Sarawak suggests a persistent rabies transmission cycle in the region. As
such, ongoing surveillance and preventive efforts remain essential to prevent outbreaks and protect both animal and
human health
Factors Affecting China’s Tea Exports to Malaysia: An ARDL Analysis
No full textThis study employed quarterly data spanning from 2005 to 2024 to investigate the factors affecting China’s tea exports to Malaysia using demand theory. The Autoregressive
Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach and Granger causality test were applied to examine the long-run and short-run impacts of key variables, including the prices of China’s tea
and coffee imported by Malaysia, Malaysia’s GDP, Malaysia’s tea production, and the international oil price. The ARDL bounds testing confirmed the existence of a long-run
equilibrium among these variables. The empirical findings revealed that an increase in the price of China’s tea significantly reduced export volumes, whereas Malaysia’s GDP
exerted a strong positive influence. The price of coffee exhibited a significantly negative effect, suggesting an unconventional substitution relationship with tea. Both Malaysia’s domestic tea production and the international oil price imposed downward pressures on China’s tea exports. Furthermore, the Granger causality analysis indicated that the price of China’s tea, the price of coffee, and Malaysia’s GDP all exerted short-run effects on China’s
tea exports to Malaysia. These findings contribute to the export demand literature and offer implications for policies aiming to enhance bilateral tea trade between China and Malaysia
Depression among Tuberculosis Patients in Sarawak
No full textTuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health issue in Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak, which consistently reports high case burdens. Depression is a common comorbidity among TB patients, adversely affecting treatment adherence and outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression among TB patients in Sarawak. The prevalence was 9.9%. Bivariate
analysis showed associations with social support, patient satisfaction, and treatment side effects, but only stigma and marital status remained significant after adjustment. These findings underscore the need for integrated mental health strategies that address stigma, enhance social support, and improve patient experiences within TB care services
NAFAS eCitra Exhibition 2025.
No full textNaFas is a lyrical abstract animation. The work emerges from my ongoing exploration of light projections and their ability to carry stories across surfaces. This piece draws its breath from today’s global flotillas that set sail toward G with aid and hope.
Here, technology and narrative intersect to remind us that humanity's voyage is ongoing: from shore to shore, generation to generation, a continuity of endurance and compassion.
NaFas seeks to gesture toward the unseen strength within it, where the resilience of those who set sail against all odds and the enduring dream of freedom meet
Advances in Engineered Cementitious Composites: A Comprehensive Review
No full textEngineered cementitious composites (ECC) represent a significant innovation in construction materials due to their exceptional flexibility, tensile strength, and durability, surpassing traditional concrete. This review systematically examines the composition, mechanical behavior, and real-world applications of ECC, with a focus on how fiber reinforcement, mineral additives, and micromechanical design improve its structural performances. The present study reports on the effects of various factors, including different types of mineral admixtures, aggregate sizes, fiber hybridization, and specimen dimensions. Key topics include ECC’s strain hardening properties, its sustainability, and its capacity to resist crack development, making it ideal for high-performance infrastructure projects. Additionally, the review discusses recent advancements in ECC technology such as hybrid fiber reinforcement and the material’s growing use in seismic structures. The paper also addresses the primary obstacles, including high initial costs and the absence of standardized specifications, while proposing future research paths aimed at optimizing ECC’s efficiency and economic viability
KAJIAN INTERPRESTASI UNSUR ALAM DALAM SEMPAMA JAKU IBAN: ANALISIS IMPLIKATUR
No full textThis study explores the interpretation of natural elements in Sempama Jaku Iban (Iban proverbs)
using implicature analysis based on the Relevance Theory proposed by Sperber and Wilson
(1986). Sempama, as a form of oral literature within the Iban community, is rich with natural
symbolism that reflects life philosophy, social norms, and moral values. This qualitative research
analysed 20 selected nature-based proverbs sourced from the book Sempama Jaku Iban (Iban
Metaphor) by Casper Kayong Umping (2010). The data were analysed by mapping explicit and
implicit meanings to uncover both literal and underlying messages conveyed through elements
such as flora and fauna. Findings reveal that natural elements are widely used as metaphors to
deliver moral advice, social criticism, and cultural values that are deeply connected to the Iban
way of life. This study also proposes several strategies to sustain the use of Sempama Jaku Iban
in modern educational and cultural contexts. Ultimately, the study contributes not only to a deeper
pragmatic understanding of Iban proverbs but also supports the preservation of the Iban
community’s linguistic and cultural heritage
The Cultural Brand Strategy of Xinyang, China, from the Perspective of an International Garden City: Opportunities and Challenges
No full textThis paper takes Xinyang City, China, which was awarded the title of International Garden City, as the entry point to explore Xinyang's opportunities and challenges regarding cultural brand strategy in depth. By analyzing the advantages of Xinyang in terms of natural resources, historical culture, ecological construction, etc., this paper expounds on its favorable conditions for shaping cultural brands. Meanwhile, considering the current actual situations, such as market competition and cultural dissemination, analyze the challenges it faces. In response to these opportunities and challenges, strategic suggestions are put forward for cultural brands, aiming to provide references for Xinyang to enhance the city's cultural soft power and international competitiveness. This study,
through various research methods such as field investigation, literature collection, data collection
from government official websites, and questionnaire surveys, found that Xinyang City's ability to win the honorary title of International Garden City proves that Xinyang has relatively favorable conditions in terms of natural conditions, humanistic history, and urban construction. However, it also provides opportunities and challenges for the construction of its urban cultural brand. Through in-depth research, it is found that the popularity of Xinyang's urban cultural brand is not high, the
competitive pressure is large, the exploration of the characteristics of cultural brands is not in-depth
enough, the development of the cultural industry lags, and the dissemination of cultural brands is insufficient. Therefore, it is concluded that Xinyang needs to strengthen the dissemination of urban cultural brands, deeply explore the characteristics of cultural brands, promote the development of the cultural industry, and implement a differentiated competition strategy. This research is conducive to enhancing the cultural brand of Xinyang City and has certain reference significance for the
construction of cultural brands in other cities
Identification of Contributing Factors of Household Food Insecurity Among Indigenous People (Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia Under Cash Economy: A Qualitative Approach
No full textThe Orang Asli (OA) were recognised as a marginalised group with their disadvantageous living conditions exposing them to household food insecurity. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the potential
contributing factors linked with the difficulties experienced by OA households of Peninsular Malaysia in purchasing
enough food under a cash-based economy. Materials and methods: This qualitative study (case study design) involved 61 mothers of three main OA ethnic groups (Senoi, Proto-Malay, and Negrito) from three purposively selected
districts across Pahang, Perak, and Kelantan states in Peninsular Malaysia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were
conducted with the aid of controlled interview protocol to gather their opinions pertaining to their hardship in purchasing food from markets. Thematic analysis was performed manually during data analysis. Results: The findings
revealed the varying influence of the following factors on household food insecurity: sociodemographic factors (low
pay and impermanent job, care for small children, lack of transport, and large-sized households), economic factors
(the high price of petrol, non-food necessities and transport fares) and geographical factors (lack of grocery shops
within walking distance, inconsistent operating hours of nearby grocery shops, higher prices at nearby grocery shops,
nearby grocery shops not fulfilling demand and dissatisfactory road conditions). Conclusion: It was concluded that
local authorities should acknowledge the perceived contributing factors towards household food insecurity among
the OA to understand more comprehensively the needs of the affected communities from their own point of view so
that effective strategies can be planned in order to ultimately reduce their burden
Urban connected vehicle lane planning based on improved Frank Wolfe algorithm
No full textAs the new generation of information technology matures and improves, the functions of intelligent connected vehicles become more and more perfect, and the number of urban
connected vehicles is also increasing. To provide an effective optimization scheme to the mixed traffic flow road network in the networked environment, the study investigates
the lane planning for urban connected vehicles method. First, a lane planning for urban connected vehicles bi-level programming model is constructed. Then, the upper-level
model is solved using improved whale optimization, and the lower-level model is solved using improved Frank-Wolfe algorithm. The results showed that the accuracy and recall
of the proposed improved whale optimization algorithm on the Iris dataset were 95.27% and 92.65%, respectively, which were superior to traditional whale optimization algorithm,
moth flame optimization algorithm, moth flame optimization algorithm combined with chaos strategy, and adaptive firefly optimization algorithm. The proposed improved
Frank Wolfe algorithm can converge at around 30 iterations, with a convergence limit of around 10-4, which is superior to the traditional Frank Wolfe algorithm. The minimum total
travel cost of the road system gradually decreases with the increase of the fairness index threshold. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed urban
connected vehicle lane planning model and solving algorithm. The research results contribute to improving the operational safety and efficiency of the road network TS, thereby
improving the current traffic situation of the urban TS
