Mangroves As Coastal Bio-Shield: A Review of Mangroves Performance in Wave Attenuation

Mangroves have been recognized as soft structures that provide coastline protection. The capability of dampening waves helps minimize destruction from catastrophic events including erosive wave attacks, torrential storms, and tsunamis. Mangroves act as the first line of coastal defense in natural tragedies such as during the Super Typhoon Haiyan 2013 and Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004, whereby the leeward mangrove area encountered less damage than the unprotected area. This has further brought the attention of researchers to study the attenuation performance of these coastal vegetations. Based on an extensive literature review, this paper discusses the attenuation mechanism of mangroves, the factors influencing the dissipation performance, studies on mangrove dissipation via different approaches, the dissipation efficiency, mangrove conservation and rehabilitation efforts in Malaysia and implementation of mangrove as coastal bio-shield in other countries. The study highlights that mangrove parameters (such as species, width, density etc.) and wave parameters (such as wave period and incident wave height) are among the contributing factors in mangroves-induced wave attenuation, with different efficiency rates performed by different mangroves and waves parameters. Towards that end, several improvements are proposed for future research such as to incorporate all influencing dissipation factors with specific analysis for each species of mangroves, to perform validation on the studied mangroves attenuation capacity in different settings and circumstances, as well as to address the extent of protection by the rehabilitated mangroves. A systematic and effective management strategy incorporating ecological, forestry, and coastal engineering knowledge should be considered to ensure a sustainable mangroves ecosystem and promising coastline protection by mangroves. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091772 Full Text: PD

Assessment on pollutant removal of interconnected wet detention pond

Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been used worldwide to control urban stormwater runoff. The objective of this paper is to assess the urban wet detention ponds on quality control for commercial and residential development in Denai Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Field monitoring was conducted in this study area. Eight water samples were collected at 8 different locations from upstream to downstream of catchment area. All parameters were tested on-site except for TSS which was conducted at laboratory. The value of turbidity increased due to the occurrence of erosion and the side slope of detention pond. Total suspended solid (TSS) removal efficiency of Pond B is between 13 - 24%. However, this pond did not perform well in removing total phosphorus (TP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH -N) due to low concentration of dissolved oxygen. It is indicated3that the water samples is classified under Class III of Department of Environment (DOE) Water Quality Classification which further treatment is required. Maintaining the detention pond could reduce pollutant loadings to meet targeted requirements of water quality improvement

Personal values and leadership styles-orientation among owner and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises

Personal values and leadership styles have attracted much attention in the literature. In addition, the literature emphasizes the relationships between personal values and leadership styles adopted in organizations. However, the review of the small business literature reveals that limited studies have strived to investigate the relationships between personal values and leadership styles in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the local context. This study attempted to address this issue by examining the relationships between personal values and leadership style-orientation among the owners and the managers of the SMEs. The data for the study was collected by mailing structured questionnaires to 140 SMEs.The results of the study indicated that three of the jive personal values found among the owners and managers of SMEs are positively related to the four leadership style-orientation adopted in these firms

Accounting information usage and performance of SMEs in the northern region

Firms need accounting information to make decision.Only with good accounting information inputs can firms come up with effective decision to survive, compete and strategize in the present global competition. More precisely firms need accounting information to make effective strategic decision.However in Malaysia there are limited studies carried out on the usage of accounting information, thus there is a need to carry out more studies on accounting information especially among SMEs.In view of the limited studies in the area this study endeavors to investigate accounting information usage among SMEs, particularly the relationship between accounting information usage and performance of the SMEs. In this research, the list of SMEs registered with the Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC) Northern Branch was used as the sampling frame.Questionnaires were sent to 500 SMEs selected from the sampling frame.From the 500 SMEs only 61 responses of the firms were usable for analysis, providing a response rate of 15 percent. Descriptive analysis, mean and standard deviation scores, and correlation analyses were carried out out on data obtained from the respondents.There are a number of findings from the study such as there are various uses and users of SMEs accounting information.The accounting information need to fulfill certain requirement of the users. Further cash flow and strategic accounting information seems to be important for the SMEs.However a significant finding of this study is the presence of the relationship between accounting information usage and performance of the SMEs

Exploring the effectiveness of export assistance programs on Malaysian SMEs

This article reports a research that focused on export assistance programs. More specifically, the study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of 38 export assistance programs offered to Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The data for the study was collected from 76 SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The findings of the study indicated that the SMEs were not only aware of the programs, but they also found the export assistance programs to be helpful, and that they had benefited from using the programs

The Impact of Providing Surface Cover on the Soil Loss and Water Discharge under the Moderate Rainfall Event

A nation’s development purely relies on the good road infrastructure which is necessary to promote the economic growth of the country. On the other side, the detrimental effects in the form of soil loss caused by its construction cannot be neglected. Roads, regardless of their small areal periphery are equally responsible to induce higher rates of erosion when compared with the agricultural lands. This study aimed to shelter the exposed soil surface once the gradients are constructed to mitigate undesirable siltation which raises water muddiness and worsens water carrying capacity of the stream channels. To cope with this issue a full scale field test was conducted on three plots which resembles the road embankments (~30°) provided with the different percentage of land covers i.e. Plot A (fully grass covered surface), Plot B (bare surface), and Plot C (50% of the grass covered surface). The soil loss examined was sandy loam. The sediment loss was observed manually at the catchment outlet of each plot whereas, the volume rate of water flow was observed in the designed bottom container. The runs were conducted for 2 hours under the simulated rainfall events of 52 mm hr-1. The impact of simulated rainfall on the soil loss was nullified by Plot A, the soil loss was severe for Plot B, and Plot C showed preeminent results in restricting soil from flowing away. Whereas, the values of water discharge were found varying for all the plots at different time intervals which are further discussed in this paper. Keywords: erosion by water, water discharge, exposed soil surface, land cover, simulated rainfal

Historical Storm Surges: Consequences on Coastal Resources and Shoreline Protection in East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Most of the storm surge event affected the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia has produced significantly high water levels thus caused severe flooding and destruction to coastal mitigation structures. Analysis of 28 years span of recorded water level data (1986 to 2013), from southern coast of Thailand to south-eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, show that the surge level is higher in the 80’s and started to decline in late 90’s and slowly increasing later in the twentieth century. Maximum surge is recorded in 1988 at Paknam Bangnara station in southern region of Thailand (max. storm surge, SSmax = 1.42 m) and Geting (SSmax = 0.93 m) in the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia which resulted in high erosion rate along these coasts. This paper explores the consequences of storm surge increment on the vulnerability of present coastal resources and shoreline protection structures along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The study reveals an increasing magnitude of storm surge and mean sea level increment in all the stations over the years which conform with the sea level rise assessment in IPCC AR5. Storm surge trends and the correlation between the stations are also investigated. A storm surge return levels corresponding to various return periods are derived as a guideline for engineers and developers to determine the optimum level in their design

A pilot study on the use of biolase in the treatment of recurrent aphthous ulcer

Recurrent Aphthous Ulcer (RAU) is a common oral pathology that produces pain which affects the lifestyle of the patient. Its aetiology and pathogenesis still remain unclear. A considerable number of treatments are available with the main goal directed towards pain relief. Previous studies on RAU treatment using low level laser therapy (LLLT) show immediate pain relief after application. Aim: This study aims to evaluate and compare treatment effectiveness in relieving pain provided by Waterlase (BIOLASE) LLLT and conventional topical corticosteroid using Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% dental paste. Methods: Thirty (30) volunteered patients of age between 18-27 years old were divided into two groups. Each group consists of 15 patients with 7 males and 8 females. Group 1 patients were treated by using LLLT while group 2 patients were treated by using triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%. The patient’s details, pain intensity and clinical photographs were recorded in a specially prepared case sheet. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare significance in pain reduction provided by both methods of treatment. Results: Both groups showed significant pain reduction immediately, day 3 and day 7. Higher reduction in pain intensity was observed immediately (p=0.001) and 3 days (p=0.002) after treatment in group 1 patients (LLLT) compared to group 2 patients (triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%). Conclusion: Waterlase (BIOLASE) LLLT is clinically more effective in relieving pain compared to Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1%

The outcome of the seminal fluid parameter collected via coitus interruptus versus mastubation

A one year study was carried out to determine the outcome of the seminal fluid parameters collected via masturbation and coitus interruptus in 151 patients who were undergoing intrauterine insermination (IUI) and patients who came for seminal analysis. There were no statistically significant difference in terms of volume, concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology from specimens collected via coitus interruptus compared to specimens collected via masturbation. Pregnancy outcomes were also comparable

THE BEST FIT PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION MODEL FOR THE ESTIMATION OF EXTREME RAINFALL IN LIMBANG, SARAWAK

In Malaysia, the increment of annual rainfall patterns is causing frequent floods, mainly in Sabah and Sarawak. Limbang river basin was selected as a case study due to it was facing of high-risk flooding problem mainly during the transition of climate. This study was aimed to estimate the frequency of rainfall under various return periods and to identify the best fit model probability distribution of annual maximum rainfall based on twenty-four hours sample in Limbang. The three statistical models were used, which are Gumbel, Log-Pearson type III, and Log-Normal. Based on the goodness of fit tests, Chi-Square, Kolmogorov Smirnov test, and the Log-Normal was found to be the best fit model for the station of Panduran. The Log-Pearson type III was found to be the best-fit distribution model for the rest of the stations, which occupies almost more than 90%. The maximum values of expected rainfall were calculated using the best fit probability distributions and could be used by a design engineer in the future