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Status of decline and conservation of amphibians of the Middle East
Get PDFDespite sustained and widespread civil unrest and military conflict disrupting academic research in the Middle East, dedicated scientists from various countries have collaborated in assessing the current state of knowledge about the amphibians of the region and in producing this Part 8 of Volume 11. To them we are deeply indebted. Perhaps a tiny ray of optimism in a deeply despairing world can be gleaned from the realization that in even the darkest hours, some minor good may accrue from even the most savage of circumstances
Step-Up Multiple-Input Battery Integrated High-Gain DC-DC Converter for Renewable Energy Application
No full textThe challenges faced by renewable energy (RE) sources like solar and wind energy, are a limitation to their potential as viable replacement to fossil fuels in the foreseeable future. Top of these are the problems of irregular or unpredictable availability and low output voltage levels. Multiple input DC-DC converters (MIC) provide the liberty to apply more than one RE source in order to ameliorate the shortcomings. For hybrid RE systems (HRES), it is required that the DC voltage at the inverter level is within the 300 Volts (V) to 450 V range. This means that MICs should deliver a high voltage gain during operation. In addition, the stochastic nature of RE sources mean that MICs be fitted with battery storage capability to handle periods of power unavailability or abundance. Such HRES should have an optimal energy management profile. In this project, a three-input DC-DC converter has been proposed using the non-coupled inductor and boost technique. The aim of this project is to design a three-input converter that produces a high voltage gain, and possesses bidirectional battery storage and two unidirectional ports. The configuration is developed. Three operation modes are obtained for the three-inductor topology and the respective output voltage equations derived. The proposed topology has been investigated theoretically and simulated via the MATLAB/Simulink platform. Software and hardware integration of a designed prototype has been carried out using dSPACE DS1104 digital controller board to generate switching signals. The prototype converter is able to deliver a measured output voltage of 315 V with input voltage of 12 V and 24 V for two input sources in the primary operation mode. The battery discharging during the second operation mode supported a meagre 1.11 % reduction in output voltage despite decreased input voltage levels from the RE sources. Charging the battery during the third operation mode produced a 4.35 % decrease in output voltage. The energy management algorithm proposed can deliver power via single, double or triple source depending on load status. The artificial neural network controller adapted for control of the primary operation mode showed good voltage regulation by eliminating overshoots and reducing the settling time by 30 %. The RE sources are able to individually or simultaneously charge the battery while delivering energy to the load. All the input sources are able to deliver power to the load depending on the integrity of supply. Finally, the simulations and experiments conducted show proof of concept for the developed converter
Cryptic radiation within the tadpole-carrying guardian frogs from Borneo, Limnonectes palavanensis and L. finchi (Anura: Dicroglossidae), with the description of eight new species.
No full textwe assess genetic, morphological, bioacoustic, and ecological variation within two nominal taxa of tadpole-carrying frogs, the Smooth guardian Frog (Limnonectes palavanensis) from Borneo and Palawan and the rough guardian Frog (L. finchi) from Borneo. The nominal taxon L. palavanensis has been considered to have a wide geographic range on the islands of Palawan and Borneo, both located on Sundaland. Our integrative approach on variation reveals significant differences not only between the populations from Palawan and Borneo but also between sites on Borneo. we designate a lectotype of Limnonectes palavanensis, present a redescription and restrict the range of the nominal species to Palawan Island in the Philippines. we present multiple lines of evidence to demonstrate that the Bornean populations, hitherto assigned to L. palavanensis, in fact represent multiple distinct and evolutionary independent lineages and describe seven new species: Limnonectes gunungensis sp. nov., L. kinabaluensis sp. nov., L. nephophilus sp. nov., L. oreibates sp. nov., L. phylax sp. nov., L. sarawakensis sp. nov., and L. suboliferus sp. nov. we found that the nominal taxon L. finchi consists of two deeply divergent genetic lineages that exhibit consistent corresponding differences in morphology and ecology. we describe the unnamed lineage as a new species, L. gyrinophorus sp. nov. The 10 species within the L. palavanensis group and the L. finchi group can be distinguished by quantitative morphometrics (discriminant analysis, success rate: 91.2% among adult males, 90.3% among adult females) and several qualitative morphological characters, as well as by pairwise genetic divergence of 4.4–18.6% in a segment of the mitochondrial 16S rrNA gene. with few exceptions, the lineage members show allopatric distributions, separated in altitudinal and geographical space. Five of the eight species of the L. palavanensis group from which bioacoustic data are available are distinguished by properties of their advertisement calls. we provide the first analysis of advertisement call properties of L. finchi
Artificial intelligence adoption in nursing students' academic writing : A qualitative study
No full textBackground
There has been an increase in the use of AI-based tools, such as Grammarly and ChatGPT, in academic writing, offering potential benefits and challenges to students across various fields.
Aim
This study aimed to explore how nursing students perceive the use of AI tools in their academic writing and identify the factors influencing their adoption.
Methods
A descriptive qualitative research design was employed. Eleven nursing students (9 from public and 2 from private universities) across Malaysia participated through snowball and purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis with NVivo 14.
Results
Four themes emerged: perceived strengths of AI adoption (increased productivity and improved writing quality); perceived flaws (concerns over data accuracy and plagiarism); influential factors (peer and family support); and systemic barriers (lack of formal training and financial constraints).
Conclusions
AI tools provide academic advantages, but ethical concerns and resource limitations must be addressed. Theoretically, this study informs AI adoption in higher education. Practically, it offers insights to guide institutional support and integration.
Keywords
AI-based tools, Academic writing, Artificial intelligence (AI)Nursing education, Perceptions, Undergraduate nursing students, Thematic analysi
Malaria Surveillance in Kalimantan Province Bordering Malaysian Borneo: Exploring Community Perceptions, Molecular Prevalence and Drug Resistance Markers
No full textIndonesia aspires to eradicate malaria by 2030. Malaria cases have fallen drastically because of national strategic plans and policies, and the Ministry of Health has issued a certification of eradication status to various districts. Over the past 20 years, Kalimantan of the Indonesian Borneo has reported a remarkable decline in malaria cases. This low prevalence, however, contrasts sharply with the zoonotic infection caused by the simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi that continues to be prevalent in Malaysian Borneo. Given that both regions have a similar epidemiological risk of zoonotic malaria infection and share the same natural habitat, this situation appears incongruous. Therefore, this study was designed to improve our understanding of malaria dispersion along the Kalimantan-Malaysia Borneo border in Indonesia during the malaria elimination phase with an investigation of the distribution of malaria in three Kalimantan provinces that border Malaysian Borneo. To achieve this goal, data collection and blood sampling were conducted in West, East and North Kalimantan provinces that bordering Malaysian Borneo between June 2020 and April 2021. A structured questionnaire was administered to 639 households with respondents aged from 15 to 87 years old (median = 37 years old), consisting of demographic information, knowledge and prevention practices, managing illnesses and attitudes towards contributing factors of zoonotic malaria within the communities. Of these, almost half had primary education level (n=302, 47.6%) and worked in the agricultural sector (n=314, 49.1%). The knowledge in identifying at least two classical symptoms of malaria (n=400, 62.6%) and relating it with mosquito bites (n=407, 63.7%) was remarkable. More than half of the respondents owned bed nets (n=343, 53.7%) and used them in a daily basis. However, most of these bed nets were not treated with insecticide. Indoor residual insecticide spraying by the health authority was not common. It was a common practice that 84.5% of the respondent’s sought treatment at health facilities when suspected of malaria. Regarding the potential of acquiring zoonotic malaria, 36.2% of respondents lived near the forest and 15.8% experienced the presence of monkeys within 500 meters of their house. Additionally, blood samples were taken from 1,125 respondents. aged 1 to 87 years old who attended health facilities and those who lived in risk areas. Nested PCR assays and phylogenetic analysis based on the SSU rRNA genes revealed that the prevalence of malaria was low (0.7%) with four human Plasmodium sp infections (2 P. vivax and 2 P. malariae), three simian Plasmodium infections (2 P. knowlesi and 1 P. inui) and one unidentified species. Moreover, the PkSICAVar-based PCR analysis revealed more P. knowlesi infections in this study site, resulting in a total of 11 single P. knowlesi infections, with 1 mixed infection with P. vivax. Analyses of the drug resistance genes, which were chloroquine resistance-associated multi-drug resistance gene 1 (pvmdr1) and artemisinin resistance-associated kelch-12 propeller domain (pvk12) on P. vivax infections from West Kalimantan showed remarkable point mutations when compared to the reference P. vivax from Central America. All P. vivax infections showed F1076L mutant allele on the pvmdr1, and a consistent non-synonymous mutation S123L in the pvk12 gene. This study confirms the first human infection of zoonotic parasites P. knowlesi and P. inui in West Kalimantan, raising the prospect that simian Plasmodium infection is a substantial public health issue in Kalimantan border, as it is in nearby Malaysian Borneo. These findings emphasise the relevance of employing molecular methods to estimate the prevalence of human and zoonotic malaria along the Kalimantan-Malaysian Borneo border, as well as providing baseline genetic information on antimalarial drug resistance in this region, which may be used to monitor the emergence of malaria parasites that are resistant to antimalarial drugs used in the Kalimantan. However, it is essential to emphasise the significance of continuous malaria surveillance within this community to sustain the current low malaria cases and achieve the country's malaria-free status by 2030
A Blinding Event from Ocular Melioidosis in a Young Man in Malaysia : A Case Report
No full textMelioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a significant public health concern in endemic regions such as Malaysia. It is often referred to as the “great mimicker” because it can afect various organs with nonspecific symptoms and signs, posing a diagnostic challenge. We report a sight-threatening case of ocular melioidosis manifesting as panophthalmitis and subretinal abscess formation, leading to irreversible blindness in a young male. The patient presented with acute right eyelid swelling, eye redness, and pain on a background of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and urosepsis. Ocular examination
revealed right eye conjunctival injection and chemosis, hypopyon and vitritis and a diagnosis of endogenous endophthalmitis was made. Concurrent liver and left gluteal abscess raised suspicion for disseminated melioidosis. Although blood and vitreous cultures were negative, serology B. pseudomallei immunoglobulin M (IgM) was positive (titre 1:360). Despite early initiation of systemic ceftazidime and later meropenem, the eye condition deteriorated further into panophthalmitis with a subperiosteal abscess. Due to a large retinal tear extending to the optic disc, surgical intervention was deemed futile.
The eye is now blind but no longer painful. The patient completed antimicrobial therapy and diabetes optimization. Given the endemicity of melioidosis in Malaysia, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for ocular involvement to prevent irreversible visual morbidity
Influence of Organic Friction Modifiers on Surface Energy Properties in Polyalphaolefin (PAO) Blends
Get PDFThe shift towards alternative fuels like
hydrogen, ethanol, and other sustainable
energy sources drives the need for highperformance lubricants to handle new thermal
and chemical challenges. Synthetic
polyalphaolefins (PAOs) are commonly utilised
due to their thermal stability, high viscosity
index, and reliable low-temperature flow. This
study investigates the impact of organic friction
modifiers—oleic acid (OA) and stearic acid
(SA)—on PAO-based lubricants' tribological and
interfacial characteristics. Blends containing
0.1–0.5 wt% OA or SA were tested. Contact
angle measurements indicated that the 0.3 wt%
OA blend significantly improved surface
wettability, achieving the lowest contact angles
on glass and steel surfaces. Surface energy
analysis revealed decreased surface tension
and better adhesion for the 0.3 wt% OA blend.
Friction testing showed that the 0.3 wt% OA
blend recorded the lowest coefficient of
friction; however, wear resistance largely
remained unaffected. These findings indicate
that OA improves frictional performance in PAO
lubricants, presenting a promising avenue for
optimising formulations for future energy
system
Climate-Friendly Commodity : A Glimpse on the Potential of Theobroma Cacao L. In Storing Carbon
No full textWithin agriculture ecosystems, the five main carbon pools are soils, belowground biomass, deadwood, litter, and aboveground biomass, which become the biggest percentage of carbon stock contributions. However, minimal data were
recorded on potential carbon stored within Malaysia’s aboveground biomass of cocoa trees. This study aimed to determine carbon stock potential using the destructive sampling method of six main compartments of Theobroma cacao L. biomass: leaves, branches, main stem, cocoa pods, taproot, and fibrous root. Four sample plots (40 × 5 m) within a hectare of cocoa area in Serian, Sarawak (0° 53 7 N, 110° 35 19 E) were established. Freshly cut samples were taken to Soil Laboratory of the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, UNIMAS for carbon determination using Elemental CHN Analyzer LCHN-A11 for every tree compartment.
Results showed that wooded compartments stored the highest carbon percentage compared to nonwoody compartments; taproot stored the highest carbon with 42.6% followed by the main stem, branches, fibrous root, pod, and leaves with 41.7%, 41.6%, 41.5%, 33.4%, and 32.5%, respectively. These data suggest that cocoa trees do have the potential to help mitigate carbon emissions by storing them in their standing
biomass. Data obtained are essential for strategizing possible policies for the cocoa sector in sustaining the environment as stated under National Factor Area 2030
