Satellite imagery system in malaria transmission resulting from the land use/land cover change

This study analyzed the changes in land use and land cover trends and their implication on malaria transmission using satellite imagery applications. Deforestation or human land use activity related to water and development has expanded the ideal habitats for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, resulting in an upsurge of malaria transmission. The presence of these habitats and breeding increased the contact between humans and mosquitoes, thus increasing the number of malaria cases. The decrease of canopy and forest cover has increased the temperature, resulting in the shortening of aquatic stages and sporogony development of the mosquitoes. This study aims to provide an understanding of the relationship between the topography effect over the land-use factor and land cover change on malaria for more than ten years from 2005 to 2019 of transmission. Malaria case data obtained were analyzed for the trends, incidence rate, and spatial distribution. Remote Sensing and geographic information system were used to determine the land use and land cover change in selected districts of North Borneo in Sabah, as the study areas. The malaria incidence rate shows an increase from 2005 to 2019, with 149.64%. The transmission of the malaria vector dynamics and abundance with topography changes has changed with time, including with forest declination at 8.38%, and cropland change decreased at 16.61%. However, an expansion of 33.6% was observed for oil palm plantations. Overall, the results have shown that the range of incidence rate was found` highly viable from 0.29/1000 persons to 4.09/1000 people. In conclusion, using geographic information system remote sensing with malaria integrated topography transmission information will be targeted by zoning most affected areas or the most productive larval habitat for remedial measures. This study can help to reduce the malaria vector population through environmental management related to the mosquito larval cycle in different land-use settings and change by minimizing the transmission by the targeted malaria control program

Effect of heavy metal contamination on the DNA Mutation on Nepenthes plant from abandoned mine

Objective: Heavy metal contamination on water, soil, crops and including to the other living organisms, including their effects on DNA mutation in abandoned mine is highlighted in this study Methodology: In this study, 6 toxic metals, Zn, Pb, Fe, Cd, Cr and Mn in Nepenthes plants at an abandoned copper mine site were investigated. A total of 20 Nepenthes plants were collected from different sites of the abandoned mine. Metal concentration was determined using the Inductively Coupled Plasma/Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP/OES) technique and electrophoresis gel and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) amplification processes for DNA mutation analysis. The total concentration trend of metal concentrations recorded with Cu (up to 88.797 mg kg–1)>Mn (39.018 mg kg–1)>Zn (30.260 mg kg–1)>Pb (8.206 mg kg–1)>Cd (0.168 mg kg–1). Results: The results also showed that concentration of heavy metals in Nepenthes plants collected from the abandoned mine were much higher than in control plants. However, the concentrations were still under the tolerance limit of heavy metals in plants except for Cu concentration. Besides, the concentration of heavy metals generally is higher in the flowers of the plants. For DNA analysis, based on the image obtained the result showed the DNA bands were located at the same location with the control Nepenthes which indicated there is no mutation occurred for the Nepenthes collected from the abandoned mine. Conclusion: From the result it is suggested that pitcher plant such Nepenthes may act as a potential phytoextraction of heavy metal from contaminated soil or water compounds at the abandoned mine

Tahap Celik Alam Sekitar Dalam Kalangan Pelajar Tingkatan Lima di Sabah

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti tahap ‘Celik Alam Sekitar’ dalam kalangan pelajar di negeri Sabah. Sampel adalah terdiri daripada 110 orang responden yang dipilih secara rawak mudah dalam kalangan pelajar tingkatan 5 di sebuah sekolah menengah di daerah Tawau, Sabah. Pendekatan kuantitatif dengan teknik tinjauan digunakan dalam kajian ini. Data deskriptif yang diperolehi menunjukkan bahawa tahap elemen pembangunan mampan pada Celik Alam Sekitar adalah lebih tinggi berbanding elemen lain dalam konstruk ini. Data ini juga menunjukkan tahap Celik Alam Sekitar responden berada pada tahap tinggi (skor min= 4.20, SP= 0.30). Manakala Ujian-t menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan bagi celik alam sekitar dalam kalangan pelajar sekolah menengah harian berdasarkan jantina walaupun perbezaan min menunjukkan pelajar perempuan melebihi daripada pelajar lelaki. Kesimpulannya, tahap celik alam sekitar bagi pelajar adalah pada tahap yang boleh dibanggakan dan responden menyetujui elemen pembangunan mapan dimasukkan dalam definisi ‘Celik Alam Sekitar’

Consumption of rainwater harvesting in terms of water quality

Rainwater harvesting is seen as part of solution to avoid water shortage in the future as it offers a sufficient supply and more economical if compare to the conventional way. The scarcity of water supply is becoming a concern due to the growing population of human along with environment pollutions. Rainwater harvesting is considered the most accessible source which could be easily used for potable purposes both for household and commercial activities. Therefore, in this study, the physical, microbiological and chemical rainwater quality samples were analyzed using membrane filtration technique (ELE Paqualab 50), ICP-OES and Hach methods, to ensure the suitability of rainwater harvesting for domestic consumption. The study reveals that overall quality of the rainwater is quite satisfactory as per WHO and Malaysian standards, where the pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, salinity, NO3- , SO4 2- , Zn and Pb were still under the permissible limits. However, the microbiological parameters (total coliform, fecal coliform and E. coli) and chemical (Cr) were found exceeded the standards, due to poor hygienic practices of the harvesting system. It can be concluded that the rainwater harvesting is still safe to drink and can be a potential alternative source of water supply in the future

Rainwater chemistry of acid precipitation occurrences due to long-range transboundary haze pollution and prolonged drought events during southwest monsoon season: climate change driven

The purposes of this research were to study the characteristics chemistry of pH, anions and cations in rainwater, and to identify the possible sources that contributing to the acid precipitation during southwest monsoon season with occurrence of extreme drought event. During the southwest monsoon season, it normally occurs along with haze phenomenon that every year will hit Southeast Asia. This condition will aggravate with high acidic particles in the atmosphere due to the prolonged drought. The analysed parameters which involved pH, anions (NO3 -, SO4 2- and Cl-) and cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) were analysed using pH meter, Hach DR 2800, argentometric method and ICP-OES. From the findings, it showed that acid rain occurred during the southwest monsoon season with the range of pH values from 4.95 ± 0.13 to 6.40 ± 0.03 and the total average of pH 5.71 ± 0.32. Anions NO3 -, SO4 2- and Cl- were found to be the dominant compositions of the acid rain occurrences with higher concentrations detected. In overall, rural area recorded with higher acidity of precipitation at total average of pH 5.54 ± 0.39 compared to urban area at pH 5.77 ± 0.26. Rural area surprisingly recorded higher frequency occurrences of acid rain with pH lesser than 5.6 and below compared to urban area. As for public health and safety, all rainwater samples during the acid rain event were found exceeded the allowable limits of NWQS and WHO standards, that shown not suitable for skin contact, recreational purposes even for drinking purposes

Hubungan Antara Suri Teladan dan Celik Alam Sekitar dalam kalangan Pelajar Tingkatan Lima di Tawau, Sabah

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti tahap dan hubungan elemen ‘Suri Teladan’ dan ‘Celik Alam Sekitar’ dalam kalangan pelajar di negeri Sabah. Sampel adalah terdiri daripada 110 orang responden yang dipilih secara rawak mudah dalam kalangan pelajar tingkatan 5 di sebuah sekolah menengah di daerah Tawau, Sabah. Pendekatan kuantitatif dengan teknik tinjauan digunakan dalam kajian ini. Data deskriptif yang diperolehi menunjukkan bahawa tahap Celik Alam Sekitar (skor min= 4.20, SP= 0.30) dan ‘Suri Teladan’ (skor min= 4.09, SP= 0.34) pada guru adalah tinggi. Manakala Ujian-t menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan bagi celik alam sekitar dalam kalangan pelajar sekolah menengah harian berdasarkan penglibatan kelab dan persatuan. Namun begitu ujian korelasi Pearson menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang positif antara suri teladan dan celik alam sekitar. Kesimpulannya, tahap celik alam sekitar bagi pelajar adalah pada tahap yang boleh dibanggakan dan responden bersetuju bahawa suri teladan berhubungan positif dengan celik alam sekitar

Combined climate impacts and vulnerability index on coastal ecosystems in prediction of future scenarios: extended sustainable indicator tool for adaptive strategy

This study presents the coastal vulnerability due to the forecasted climate change impact on the marine environment, including the sea level rise physical trait of risk impact. A combined methodology using Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), which corresponds to the greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, is used in this research; combined with Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) to rank the relative risk for each of the marine ecosystem zones in relation to the potential hazard exacerbated by climate change and sea-level rise. This method presents vulnerability in numerical data, which cannot be calculated directly based on their physical properties. From the results, it shows that the coastal areas of the study area of Marudu Bay would experience a warmer atmosphere both under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 with an increment of 1.0 °C and 1.7 °C; meanwhile, the climate projection for total exhibits of increase in total precipitation by 2.6 mm/day and 1.6. mm/day under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 at the regional measure. At the same time, the projection simulates an increase of sea level by 0.21 m and 0.27 m over the northern region of Marudu Bay under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. In addition, 43.84 ha and 57.02 ha of land estimated would be potentially inundated by the mid-century year 2050 under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. By the end of the century 2100, the sea level is projected to increase locally at about 0.32 m under RCP 4.5 and 0.38 m under RCP 8.5, consequently resulting in a total of 66.84 ha and 79.78 ha of additional inundation coverage. Therefore, the result from this study can be used when making effective adaptive strategies and conservation planning despite its inherent uncertainties

Extended air pollution index (API) as tool of sustainable indicator in the air quality assessment: El-Nino events with climate change driven

The main purpose of this research is to detect the air quality changes with a shorter period of timescale over space that can improve and optimize the risk characterization and conjunctive air quality assessment. Air quality assessment could be based on a very large number of various indicators, including the physical parameter, chemical and biological namely sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), humidity, air pressure and temperature. Nevertheless, often it is not easy to interpret the results of the air quality status when numerous quality elements are analyzed since each parameter indicates different types of quality classes. Moreover, providing appropriate information on air quality to policymakers, including the public, can be challenging. Hence, with this research there is a need to interpret the results in a more simple way and realistic enough by producing one single number for better and more subjective classification on the air quality rather than using the concentrations-based. Therefore, the Air Pollution Index (API) application in this research will overcome this problem by providing a single score that characterizes the air quality and contamination in a more absolute way. In line with that also, the study could help to improve the existing methodology for air quality assessment in a more simplified way and better evaluation of the air quality status, thus can become an alternative way for analysis of changes in air quality, especially in the absence or limitations of the historical or baseline data for comparison, in response for a better and more sustainable indicator in air quality assessment and management. The research shows that the API values across the Regions were recorded largely higher when El-Nino events occurred during the southwest monsoon season with more than 50% frequency of unhealthy days to hazardous status were detected from the API assessment. HYSPLIT model also shows that the air mass has mostly passed through the biomass burning areas from the neighboring country. Hence, the extension application of API was established in this research with the purpose of strengthening the air quality management in Malaysia, and to maximize the usage of the API and at the same time to filling up the gap of the uncertainty on the overall air quality in Malaysia, especially in terms of combine effects of the air pollutants parameters

Concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in water during Southwest monsoon in Salut-Mengkabong lagoon, Tuaran, Sabah

Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) in water were determined adjacent to aquaculture sites located in Salut-Mengkabong Lagoon, Tuaran, Sabah. Samples collected from six stations were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The average concentrations of Cr, Cu Pb and Zn in lagoon water were 3.43 × 10-3, 4.37 × 10-3, 2.55 × 10-2, 1.51 × 10-1mg/L respectively and concentration for Cd was below detection limit. Referring to Malaysia Marine Water Quality Criteria and Standard (MMWQS), concentrations of Cd and Cr were in acceptable range whereas Cu, Pb and Zn were slightly higher than the standard. This study offers result of five heavy metals’ concentrations during south-west monsoon which is important reference for aquaculture activities and lagoon water quality management

Climate change scenarios over Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s regions most vulnerable to climate change impacts with low-lying land, more severe floods and droughts, larger populations, higher dependency on agriculture for the economic sector, and low resilience of communities. Therefore, a study on how future climate change will affect this region has been conducted, and the results are provided in this paper. Projected surface temperatures and total precipitation from the baseline period of 2013 up to 2100 for Southeast Asia were investigated using the Global Climate Model (GCM) and the Weather Research Forecast (WRF) v3.9.1.1 modelling systems under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 future climate scenarios. The results showed that future temperatures were projected to increase under both climate scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5; however, precipitation was projected to decrease. The temperature was projected to increase by 0.93◦C and 2.50◦C under RCP4.5 and 8.5. Meanwhile, precipitation greatly varied under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios in both monsoonal seasons. We conclude that the change in climate variables, particularly the temperature and precipitation, could potentially increase the vulnerability of this region