Regional marine turtle tagging and statistics in Southeast Asia

The recommendations from the First Workshop on Marine Turtle Research and Conservation, held in January 1996, established the needs for the compilation of turtle statistics for the region and initiated as well as coordinated the turtle tagging programmes for the region. The Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (MFRDMD) had thus proposed two regional projects under the 3-year programme beginning in 1998 and the projects were the Regional Marine Turtle Tagging and the Regional Marine Turtle Statistics in Southeast Asia. The schedules of activities, expected outputs and forms prepared using standard format were provided with the paper

Sea Turtle Information Kit

This Sea Turtle information kit contains 5 volumes of book

Water Warriors Living Lab: Towards an integrated “Heartware - Hardware – Software” Approach to Water Management

This paper presents the experience of the Water Warriors Living Lab, a bottom-up sustainable campus action research initiative in applying the integrated ‘Heartware - Hardware – Software’ approach for water management at the University of Malaya since the year 2013. It advances the proposition that a heartware approach is needed to enhance campus sustainability efforts, in addition to the more strategic hardware and software approaches. The paper describes how the Water Warrior’s experience in applying the heartware approach has been a strengthening factor in resolving water conservation issues at the university (specifically in lake management), and discusses important lessons learned to date. Our theoretical and empirical insights can hopefully provide renewed appreciation on how local, organic and humanistic factors can be essential ingredients for the long term ‘sustainability’ of campus sustainability efforts.Keyword: Campus sustainability, living lab, water management, heartware, bottom-u

First report of decompression sickness (DCS) in a sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) stranded in southern Peninsular Malaysia

Decompression sickness, a condition in whales caused by bubble formation in certain body tissues from dissolved inert gases. It occurs during transition from a high pressure environment to one of lower pressure, resulting in a range of conditions from itching to joint pain, convulsions, and death. A carcass of a stranded Sei Whale, Balaenoptera borealis, found on the shores of southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia was presented for postmortem. Investigation results showed that the male Sei Whale, named Si Corner showed pathologic lesions as seen from histology with the formation of fibrosis, emphysema and edema in the lungs and hepatic atrophy which indicated chronic starvation. It believed that he also suffering from “Barotrauma or decompression sickness” which affected the ear or lungs which lead to unbalanced movement due to changes in air pressure. This may have caused the whale to beach and consequent mortality. The pathologic lesions found give an insight into possible causes of death of beached whales in Malaysia

Food and Feeding Habits of Fishes in Brunei Bay, Malaysia

The study of the food and feeding habits of fishes is crucial in understanding their ecology. Food and feeding habits of the 30 fish species belonging to 22 families from Bukit Sari and Awat-awat of Lawas in the Bay of Brunei were studied on 11th February 2020 and 12th February 2020 respectively. Samples were collected using “Kabat” nets, casting nets, and seine nets. The dietary components of each species were studied and expressed as a percentage of numerical composition (N), percentage of weight composition (W), and percentage of frequency of occurrence (F). Diet compositions of the species were estimated using the Index of Relative Importance (%IRI) and trophic level (TROPHj). The major food and their Index of Relative Importance (%IRI) showed the highest was shrimps (64.25%) followed by crabs (11.78%), zooplankton (6.94%), fish (6.91%), algae (4.21%), plants (1.48%), mollusks (1.01%) and others below 1.0%. TROPHj value ranged from 2.0 to 4.2 and the trophic level value of 25 fish species was carnivorous, followed by 2 species (detritivorous and herbivorous) respectively, and 1 species (piscivorous). The findings of the study may offer important data for developing management plans for the region's fishing resources

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London