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Rapid Assessment of Non-Volant Mammals in Selected Areas of Peninsular Malaysia
Get PDFNon-volant mammals in Peninsular Malaysia face numerous threats, primarily driven by habitat loss, fragmentation and illegal hunting. These threats highlight the importance of conducting wildlife surveys in the available forested areas to enhance the current strategies for conservation and management, particularly for a threatened taxon like non-volant mammals. This study aimed to document and update information of non-volant mammals from four areas: Tasik Bera (Pahang state), Tasik Kenyir, Pulau Redang and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Campus (Terengganu state). Cage traps and Visual Encounter Survey methods were utilised to record non-volant mammals from August 2022 until March 2023. This study successfully documented 123 individuals from 27 non-volant mammal species, representing 11 families from six orders. Tasik Bera demonstrated the highest species count at 18, followed by UMT Campus with six, while Tasik Kenyir and Pulau Redang each recorded four species. The species diversity was the highest at Tasik Bera (H? = 2.65) and the lowest at Pulau Redang (H? = 1.01). Macaca fascicularis, Tupaia glis and Paradoxurus hermaphroditus were recorded from three of four sites. This study has added new geographically recorded species for Tasek Bera (11 species) and UMT Campus (4 species). This study has advanced our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of non-volant mammals, enhancing our understanding in this field. This understanding is crucial for implementing efficient conservation and management strategies, aiding in the development of targeted conservation strategies to protect these species and their habitats
Estrous Behaviour and Vulva Score in Captive Female Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Get PDFThe ex-situ propagation of the Malayan tapir in Malaysia is an important conservation strategy to increase the population of this endangered species. However, the scarcity of reproductive physiology studies impedes potential conservation efforts. This study aimed to investigate the expression of estrus signs through observation of estrus behaviour and vulva score in captive Malayan tapirs. This study was conducted from January to April at the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Conservation Centre, Selangor, Malaysia. A total of five female Malayan tapirs aged between 3 to 18 years old were involved in this study. Two of the tapirs were kept with a male partner, while three others were kept individually. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras with night vision and audio recording function connected to a digital video recorder were used to record the female activity from 1930 to 0730 hours. The recorded videos were evaluated for estrus behaviour such as vocalisation, flehmen response, urine spraying and excretion smelling. The vulva score (scale of 0 to 4) was determined based on the vulva size and the presence of discharge. The most common estrus behaviour observed in the female Malayan tapirs was vocalisation (81%), followed by flehmen response (10%), urine spraying (5%) and excretion smelling (4%). The paired females were observed to exhibit more estrus behaviours than the non-paired females. Vulva changes were observed in both groups with evidence of cyclic pattern with an average median length of 31.0 days (range of 28 days to 33 days). Mann-Whitney U test revealed significant difference between paired group and non-paired group for vocalisation and urine spraying. Meanwhile, Spearman’s rho test showed a strong positive correlation between vulva score and flehmen response and very strong positive correlation between vulva score and excretion smelling. This study provides important information for the establishment of future captive propagation programmes
Effect of Salinity Stress on Growth, Physiology and Anatomy of Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) cv. Kang Kog
Get PDFPumpkin is an important economic crop with high nutritional value. Different pumpkin varieties experience diverse growth problems due to soil salinity. This research studied the physiological and anatomical adaptations of the Kang Kog pumpkin cultivar to salinity stress. Pumpkin seedlings were grown under a hydroponic system using Hoagland’s solution with NaCl concentrations of 0 mM, 25 mM, 50 mM, 75 mM and 100 mM for four weeks. Results showed that pumpkin leaf number, leaf width, leaf length, root number, root length, plant height, stem diameter, fresh weight and dry weight significantly decreased after exposure to high NaCl concentrations. Chlorophyll a and green intensity measured as SPAD units also significantly decreased, while chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm, Fv’/Fm’) and chlorophyll b content of all treated groups were not significantly different when compared to the control group. Fibre strands and cuticles in all treatments were significantlythicker compared to the control group, while vessel diameters and vascular bundle sizes of the treated groups significantly decreased compared to the control group. Results showed that salinity stress did not impact chlorophyll b and chlorophyll fluorescence. Kang Kog pumpkins can adapt and grow in slightly saline environments. Our results provide important information for pumpkin breeding programs efforts that can be used in combining with other agronomic characters to improve tolerant cultivars under initial salinity stress tolerance
Effects of Shade and Leachate from Invasive Chromolaena odorata (Siam Weed) on Seedling Growth and Development of Native Tree Species in Nepal
Get PDFThe weed Chromolaena odorata has negative impacts on invaded ecosystems. Canopy of its aerial parts and allelochemicals released by the weed can suppress the growth and survival of native species. Field assessment of native trees Aegle marmelos and Senegalia catechu evidenced that a declining trend of their seedlings under higher canopy of C. odorata. Experiments carried out in pots revealed the negative effects of the weed’s leachate and shade on growth and development of A. marmelos. The leachate increased proline levels in A. marmelos seedlings by ca. 33% in shade and 43% in light. Specific leaf area and secondary roots were decreased significantly under both light and shade conditions by leachate. In the light condition, leachate reduced seedling biomass by ca. 26% and root length by 16%. Shade alone decreased overall seedling growth, including leaf area and biomass with poor root growth and increased specific leaf area. Results showed that A. marmelos is susceptible to shade and C. odorata leachate during its early stage of growth and development. In addition to other factors contributing to the decline of A. marmelos population in nature, the invasion of C. odorata intensifies the challenge. Our study clarifies that the invasion of C. odorata in native habitat has further contributed to the population decline of native species alongside other contributing factors in nature. Hence, there is an urgent necessity to control and manage C. odorata to protect native species. Removal of C. odorata from the invaded site will be beneficial for approaching light for native seedlings as well as preventing the leaching substances into the soil
Structure and Composition of Prey Communities Associated with Malaysian Mahseer, Tor tambra Diet Based on DNA Metabarcoding: Implication for Conservation
Get PDFQuantifying dietary composition is crucial for basic ecological research and to formulate conservation management. For predatory fishes, DNA-metabarcoding can yield more accurate estimates than conventional morphological-based analyses. In Southeast Asia, Malaysian mahseers are experiencing declines in the wild due to their commercial and aesthetic value. Current practice in artificial propagation for mahseer has yet to fulfil high market demand due to constraints in dietary formulations that affect fish fertility and optimal growth. Here we applied cytochrome oxidase I (COI) metabarcoding with one species of Malaysian mahseer, Tor tambra or ‘kelah’, to characterise their food assimilation and feeding habits from seven different locations of wild and farm origins. Prey DNA sequences were grouped into 54 taxonomic groups at the species level.The diet comprised four predominant classes: Insecta, Actinopterygii, Arachnida and Aconoidasida. Representative taxa from each class were detected in wild and farmed fish. However, less than a quarter of the total taxa overlapped between both fish origins. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) indicated greater prey taxonomic diversity and composition in wild fish across different rivers compared to those in farmed fish (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 1.959, p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that prey availability from the surrounding play roles in determining the fish food composition and dietary overlap. Expanding dietary analyses could offer ways to optimise diet for cultured fish as one of strategies to reduce fishing pressure on wild populations
The Impact of Organisational Changes on Teamwork in Healthcare: A Systematic Review
Get PDFHealthcare organisations have to frequently undergo significant reforms, ranging from structural reforms to operational modifications, to address evolving challenges, such as an ageing population, technological advancements, and emerging diseases. These organisational changes significantly affect teamwork in healthcare, which is a critical component for ensuring patient safety, enhancing clinical performance, and maintaining staff satisfaction. The relationship between organisational changes and teamwork is ill-defined. PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Science (WOS) databases were searched for relevant literature on the impact of organisational changes on teamwork processes and outcomes in healthcare settings. Based on predefined selection criteria, 24 studies were considered suitable for inclusion; data from these studies were synthesised using thematic analysis. Three primary themes of organisational changes—organisational restructuring, operational changes, and adaptive response and capacity development—which affected team dynamics in various ways, were identified. Both planned and emergent changes produce mixed effects on teamwork; while planned changes are aimed at improving cooperation and efficiency and minimising negative impacts, they may inadvertently disrupt teamwork. In contrast, emergent changes can encourage resilience and adaptability within teams. Finally, the success of organisational changes in improving teamwork outcomes depends heavily on implementation strategies, contextual factors, and team characteristics. This review highlights the importance of employing established change management frameworks to address the complexities of organisational change. Further research, particularly from low- and middle-income countries, is essential to develop strategies and approaches for establishing effective healthcare teams in diverse settings
Short Story Projects and Social Awareness: Students’ Experiences with Gender and Social Inclusion in a Project-Based Learning Context
Get PDFProject-Based Learning (PjBL) is a teaching strategy that involves students in useful and relevant projects. This study investigates the students’ perspectives, difficulties, and learning experiences prior to, during, and after following a short story project that integrates gender and social inclusion issues. The project involved 26 English Department students from one of the Malang state universities in Indonesia using a case study design. Self-reflection reports on Padlet and observations were used to gather data. The results show that students had a favourable opinion of the short story project and valued how it improved their behavioural, affective, and cognitive abilities. Students felt they had improved comprehension of story elements as they also promoted critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. However, they faced both internal (writer’s block and poor self-confidence) and external problems (idea generation, creating engaging short story elements and time restrictions). The study suggests that incorporating PjBL with gender and social issues improves students’ writing skills, increases their social awareness and enhances their learning engagement. The results also imply that PjBL fosters 21st-century abilities like critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating social issues into writing classes in order to improve students’ academic and personal growth
Keris Siamang Tunggal: Unveiling Malay Artistic Culture
Get PDFOne crucial effect of technological advancement is evident in the powerful increase in the production and worldwide movement of audiovisual materials, thus promoting wide scale access and consumption of telecinematic products for education, entertainment, leisure, as well as information gathering. On a related note, Audiovisual Translation (AVT) field has emerged into a mature field of research in Translation Studies, revealing rapid increase in the audiovisual content flow in different forms with comprehensive, descriptive and scientific approaches. The goal of this paper is to look into the depiction of Malay artistic treasures in a foreign setting. In addition to this, the paper analyzes the way the English subtitle of “Keris Siamang Tunggal” depicts each of the Malay cultural items in “Keris Siamang Tunggal”. In this study, the author tested one of the successful Malaysia’s animated films “Keris Siamang Tunggal” which has tremendously portrayed unique and historical Malay cultural items - Malay folklores iconic figures, royal language, and other Malay cultural items such as traditional weapons, literature, performing arts, classical words, slangs, forms of address, and food identity - by means of English subtitles and visuals/images. This local animated film was chosen for the discussion, while Katan’s (2009) and Schwarz’s (2002) guide on cultural items translation with regards to the classification of cultural items and the translation of the items in the context of audiovisual medium, were selected to build the basis of the investigation and steer this descriptive-based study. Katan’s theory classifies etymology and types of cultural items, while Schwarz’s theory seems to be useful, given that she focuses on cultural concept in films and that she relates them to the ones that appear on the screen. The result demonstrated that Keris Siamang Tunggal has portrayed 30 Malay cultural items, consisting of Malay folklores iconic figures, royal language and other Malay cultural items that covered traditional weapon, literature, performing arts, classical words, slang, forms of address, as well as food identity. From the 30 items, seven (7) were the iconic figures adapted from Malay traditional folklores, six (6) were the royal language, and 17 were other cultural items. This paper came to the vital conclusion that Keris Siamang Tunggal played a significant role in helping to shape and solidify Malay artistic treasures to the eye of western world, thus opening foreign audience’s eyes to new ways of thinking, feeling and pursuing Malay culture
Exploring Students’ Problems to Interact in English Language in the Classroom at Tertiary Level Education in Rural Areas of Bangladesh
Get PDFSpeaking is one of the skills that human being use to communicate with one another expressing their ideas. Speaking in English to interact in the classroom with the students and teachers has always been a challenge in rural areas tertiary level education. The aim of this research is to explore the problems of using English to interact in the classroom at English study program in rural areas’ tertiary level education. This research used qualitative research with descriptive qualitative research design. Sixty students participated in this research were chosen by purposive sampling from first semester till seventh semesters at tertiary level of a private university which is situated in a rural area in Bangladesh. Questionnaire consisted of 21 items was distributed to collect the data from the participants. The data analysis shows that there were many problems in using English as the medium for classroom interaction at tertiary level because of some influential factors such as; affective factor, sociocultural factor, age or maturational constrains, aural medium, professional versus academic, environment, learning community. It is difficult to use English in classroom interaction without solving the problems by all the stakeholders. This research will be helpful for future English language instructors and students to overcome the obstacles of using English to interact in the classroom at tertiary level education in rural areas of Bangladesh. 
Indirectness in Contemporary Ghanaian Music: A Look at Avoidance Strategies from the Speaking Theory Perspective
No full textLanguage is a prime vehicle for communication. As language is used for communication, there is the need to avoid certain linguistic items in order not to break communication. In daily communication, speakers use language that ensures good relationships with others to avoid embarrassment, misunderstanding and friction (Zhang & You, 2009). This helps save one’s face in communication (Goffman, 1955). Many contemporary Ghanaian music feature subjects that demand the use of words that the Ghanaian culture disallows to be rendered in plain language. Many of these are words related to sexual relationship. To avoid face threatening, artists employ various avoidance strategies such as the use of homophones, metaphor, pronouns and ideophones. This paper takes a look at the works of two afro pop artists; Wendy Shay and Ebony Reigns to see how they employ indirectness to communicate explicit sexual content. In the analysis, the SPEAKING Theory by Hymes (1974) is applied. We show that, the artists are successful with the use of indirectness to conceal the unmentionables in Akan. However, the intent of the artists in communicating sexual content to the listener is clearly expressed through gestures. We conclude that, communicating sexual content through gestures is easier than to communicate same using words or language