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MM25: More Than Just a Cough: A Dual Diagnosis of Lung Carcinoma and Hidden Hookworm Infection
No full textIntroduction: Chronic respiratory symptoms often raise suspicion for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), especially in
high-prevalence regions. However, a broad differential diagnosis is essential, particularly when initial investigations
return negative. This case illustrates the value of comprehensive assessment in uncovering multiple underlying
pathologies in an apparently straightforward presentation. Case report: A 60-year-old man, a chronic smoker with no
known medical history, presented with progressive breathlessness and a 3-month history of chronic cough, weight
loss, and anorexia. He also reported right-sided pleuritic chest pain for two days, increasing fatigue and dizziness,
suggestive of long-standing anaemia. Physical examination was unremarkable, but chest X-ray showed right middle
zone opacity with pleural effusion. Initial microbiological investigations for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) were
negative on auramine staining and culture. A thoracocentesis was performed and pleural fluid was sent for
histopathology, which revealed metastatic small cell squamous carcinoma. Blood tests showed microcytic
hypochromic anaemia, prompting stool microscopy, which showed hookworm ova. The stool specimen was then
referred to Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak for further species identification via
molecular analysis, which subsequently confirmed the presence of Necator americanus. Despite chronic parasitic
infection, his eosinophil count was low, suggesting long-standing parasitemia. He was treated with albendazole and
supportive therapy for respiratory symptoms. Despite appropriate interventions, the patient’s condition
deteriorated and unfortunately, he succumbed to death. Discussion: This case underscores the importance of
considering alternative diagnosis in chronic respiratory presentations, especially when MTB tests were negative. A
multidisciplinary approach revealed not only advanced lung malignancy but also an overlooked parasitic infection
contributing to chronic anaemia. Thus, highlighting the challenges in managing late-stage presentations with
multiple coexisting conditions
A Sustainable Livelihood Approach: Understanding Determinants of Crop Preferences among Rural Farmers in Nanga Entabai, Sarawak
No full textThe Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) provides a framework for understanding people's capacities and assets in sustaining their livelihoods, especially in the face of risks and vulnerabilities. In the context of Sarawak, this study applies the SLA to explore how rural communities maintain their livelihoods amid rapid changes in land use patterns - primarily driven by development policies. These changes have led to adverse outcomes, including inconsistent cash income due to market fluctuations. Through the lens of SLA, this research examines how rural farmers make decisions regarding crop choices in response to a range of characteristics such as money return, input cost and weather conditions. The data was gathered during a focus group discussion that was guided by a matrix ranking activity.
Findings reveal a significant shift in crop preference among Iban farmers from diversified farming systems to a strong reliance on a single crop - pepper. Pepper is now the dominant livelihood activity due to its relatively high market value, shorter yield cycle and lower sensitivity to weather conditions. This study is crucial in examining local strategies and values in shaping sustainable agricultural practices and inform future policy considerations on rural development and land governance in Sarawak
Protecting Yourself from Malaria: Malaria Chemoprophylaxis
No full textPlanning a trip to Africa, Asia, and rural areas in Southeast Asia? There’s one word you’ll hear quite often:malaria. A potentially deadly disease caused by a parasite transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito
Molecular Characterisation of Upland and Lowland Rice from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
No full textA total of 39 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers distributed across 12 chromosomes were screened to assess
genetic polymorphism among rice accessions. From the 39 tested SSR primer pairs, eight markers (RM1, RM489,
RM552, RM444, RM257, RM481, RM166 and RM164) exhibited clear polymorphic banding patterns and strong
amplification, while the remaining were excluded due to monomorphism or unclear bands. Among the selected
primers, RM257 recorded the highest polymorphic information content (PIC) value (0.9316), while RM552 had
the lowest (0.4029), with an average PIC of 0.6891. The observed number of effective alleles (Ne) was 1.543 in
the lowland population and 1.566 in the upland population. Nei’s gene diversity (h) was 0.329 for lowland and
0.318 for upland populations, suggesting a low level of genetic divergence. Similarly, Shannon’s Information Index
(I) values were 0.475 and 0.490 for lowland and upland populations, respectively. Analysis of Molecular Variance
(AMOVA) revealed that 20% of genetic variation existed among populations, while 80% occurred within
populations. Clustering analysis using a UPGMA dendrogram based on SSR genotypes grouped the 44 rice
accessions into two major clusters, each further divided into sub-clusters. However, no clear grouping was
observed based on morphological traits or geographical origin, likely due to the higher sensitivity of molecular
markers in detecting underlying genetic differences that are not always reflected in visible traits. Unlike
conventional morphological classification which relies on observable characteristics such as grain shape, plant
height or habitat, genome-based clustering captures deeper genetic relationships that offer a more accurate picture
of population structure. Simultaneously, the Maturase-K barcoding gene marker grouped the accessions into a
single large cluster, which also included 94 accessions from diverse origins and three accessions of Oryza
rufipogon, indicating genome-level similarities. These findings underscore the utility of molecular markers in
revealing genetic diversity and population structure. The insights gained from this study can support the
development of targeted rice breeding programs essential for advancing sustainable agriculture
Bird of another feather and an exotic shadow puppet - The case of the Zus Coffee SetemKu release.
No full textThe personalised stamp sheet issued by Zus Coffee in Malaysia in 2025 is described. Errors in the identification and depiction of a prominent bird species, and of a shadow puppet type are discussed
Literasi Kewangan dan Perancangan Persaraan Dalam Kalangan Penjawat Awam Di Kuching, Sarawak : Kajian Awal
No full textKajian ini meneroka hubungan antara literasi kewangan dan perancangan persaraan dalam kalangan penjawat awam di Kuching, Sarawak. Menyedari peranan penting pengetahuan kewangan dalam menjamin keselamatan kewangan jangka panjang, kajian ini menilai tahap kemahiran dan pemahaman kewangan yang dimiliki oleh penjawat awam bagi persediaan persaraan yang berkesan. Menggunakan pendekatan kaedah kuantitatif, data dikumpul melalui soal selidik berstruktur daripada sampel penjawat awam yang mewakili populasi sasaran. Analisis tertumpu kepada aspek seperti pengurusan bajet, tabiat menyimpan, pengetahuan pelaburan, dan pengurusan risiko. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan wujudnya jurang ketara dalam literasi kewangan yang mempengaruhi tingkah laku perancangan persaraan seperti konsistensi simpanan, kepelbagaian sumber pendapatan, dan persediaan menghadapi cabaran kewangan selepas persaraan seperti kos penjagaan kesihatan dan inflasi. Kajian ini menekankan keperluan program pendidikan kewangan yang disasarkan serta campur tangan dasar bagi mengatasi jurang tersebut, demi memastikan penjawat awam bersedia untuk persaraan yang stabil dari segi kewangan. Hasil kajian ini diharapkan dapat membimbing penggubal dasar, pendidik, dan institusi kewangan dalam meningkatkan literasi kewangan serta tahap kesiapsiagaan persaraan dalam kalangan kakitangan sektor awam
Evaluation of Species-Specific PCR Primers for Detecting Pork DNA in Food Seasoning Products
No full textFood adulteration remains a critical issue, particularly in highly processed foods where DNA degradation reduces the effectiveness of species identification. This study evaluated the performance of three different lengths of species-specific primers (398, 288 & 149 bp) targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene in pork and aimed to determine the most effective primer for detecting
pork DNA in food seasoning products using species-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Furthermore, species-specific primers for bovine and chicken were applied as controls to confirm species identification. The DNA was extracted from raw meat, binary mixtures, and seasonings. Sensitivity was tested with low pork concentrations, and the applicability of pork-specific primers was further evaluated in seasoning products without halal certification to assess potential pork adulteration. The results show that the DNA extracted from raw meat samples exhibited high purity (OD260/280:1.82 –2.00) and concentration (114.83
to 257.16 ng/µL), whereas food seasoning products yielded extremely lower values of purity (OD260/280:0.97 – 1.81) and
concentration (2.75 to 66.18 ng/µL). Despite DNA degradation in processed foods, PCR products remain detectable. The
shortest 149 bp primer demonstrated the highest sensitivity among the primers, successfully detecting pork DNA at a minimum concentration of 1% (w/w) in a binary meat mixture. The results demonstrated the absence of pork DNA in all non-pork labelled samples. However, the detection of chicken DNA in fermented pork cube samples indicated potential mislabelling or crosscontamination during processing. These findings emphasise the importance of primer selection for detecting highly degraded DNA. This also underscores the applicability of species-specific PCR as a practical and robust approach for routine food authentication, providing a valuable tool to ensure halal compliance within the food industry
Navigating the Journey of Self: A Systematic Review of Gender Identity Formation in Transgender and GenderDiverse Adults from a Global Literature
No full textThis study presents a multidimensional framework for understanding gender identity development among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) adults, integrating personal, social, and cultural-contextual factors into a cohesive model. Building upon Lev’s transgender emergence theory and Sevelius’s gender affirmation framework, we analyzed qualitative data from 15 studies (N = 461 participants).
The articiles have been taken from diverse databasis such as PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Psych ARTICLES, Science Direct, JSTOR and the screening has been followed though PRISMA Flow Chart. The quality of the selected
qualitative research studies was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) quality evaluation instrument. Findings reveal that gender identity
development depends upon three interdependent dimensions: (1) personal dynamics (internal processes of recognition, body-mind dissonance, and identity negotiation), (2) social dynamics (community belonging and stigma management), and (3) cultural-contextual influences (structural barriers and intersectional positionality).
The results underscore the agenetic role of individuals in navigating their gender identities while also highlighting how systematic inequalities and intersectional marginalization shape divergent developmental trajectories. This review advances the field by proposing the expansion of linear, stage-based models to reflect the complex nonlinear and contextually embedded nature of TJD identity development
Meander-Line Technique for Size Reduction of VHF Patch Antenna in Lightning Energy Harvesting Applications
No full textThis paper presents a compact microstrip patch antenna design using a meander line structure for lightning energy harvesting applications. The antenna is designed to operate near 262.07 MHz, within the Very High Frequency (VHF) range where significant electromagnetic energy is emitted during lightning discharges. Based on studies of lightning signal characteristics, frequencies in the 30-300 MHz range are particularly rich in radiation from lightning phenomena such as stepped leaders and return strokes. To enable a practical energy-harvesting sensor, the proposed antenna is fabricated on an FR4 substrate (ϵr = 4.3, thickness = 0.16 cm) and optimized for size reduction. The meandered design achieves a compact footprint of 18 cm × 42 cm × 0.16 cm, resulting in a 54.6% reduction in size compared to a conventional rectangular patch antenna. Simulations were conducted using CST Microwave Studio Software, followed by prototype fabrication and measurement for performance validation
Optimization of Turbofan Engine Nacelles Design for Boeing 777X by Using Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis
No full textThe efficient design of turbofan engine nacelles is critical for enhancing aircraft performance and supporting sustainable
aviation goals. This study investigates the aerodynamic and thermal performance of various nacelle configurations for the
Boeing 777X GE9X engine, focusing on innovative cooling strategies and drag reduction. By Using Computational Fluid
Dynamics (CFD) simulations, nacelle shapes of varying lengths (10 m and 5.5 m), including long and short nacelles with
and without chevrons, as well as an optimized ultra-short nacelle, were analyzed under cruise conditions. Models were
developed using MATLAB and SolidWorks, and simulations were performed in ANSYS Fluent. Results indicate that the
long nacelle with chevrons provided the best overall thermal and aerodynamic performance among the conventional designs,
reducing drag and block fuel consumption by 10.13%. However, the optimized ultra-short nacelle, developed using a hybrid
NSGA-II and fmincon optimization approach by using MATLAB, achieved a significantly lower drag coefficient and
reduced block fuel consumption by 80.13%. These findings demonstrate the potential of advanced nacelle designs to
improve heat dissipation, reduce aerodynamic drag, and lower emissions, aligning with stringent EASA standards and
contributing to sustainable aviation advancements