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There is good potential for the application of ectomycorrhizas in improving dipterocarp seedling establishment, survival and growth through enhanced mineral nutrition and improved drought tolerance. However, these mycorrhizas must be easily propagated and applied as well as competitive with the native mycoflora, and indigenous ectomycorrhizal fungi are preferred. In this paper we report on the ability of a fungus isolated locally from ectomycorrhizas of Shorea parvifolia (Dipterocarpaceae) to form characteristic ectomycorrhizas with two different dipterocarp hosts, namely, Hopea odorata and Shorea leprosula. The fungus, designated FP160, has been provisionally identified as a member of the Thelephoraceae and efforts are on-going to identify it using molecular methods. FP160-inoculated H. odorata cuttings showed a positive growth response in the nursery but this effect was not significant when such cuttings were outplanted to a sandy tin tailing site. The smaller inoculated cuttings of S. leprosula, however, showed a significant growth response for up to three months in the field after outplanting but this effect disappeared thereafter. The synthesized FP160 ectomycorhizas on the dipterocarps were able to persist and remain dominant on inoculated plants for up to 23 months after outplanting in the sandy tin tailing site. FP160 appears to be a good candidate for enhancing the growth and development of plants in the nursery and in assisting the establishment of more fragile dipterocarps in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the corneal and anterior segment determinants of posterior corneal arc length (PCAL) and posterior corneal curvature (PCC)., Methods: Cross-sectional, population-based study of 1069 subjects (1069 eyes) aged 40-80 years, from three major Asian ethnic groups. All underwent anterior segment optical coherence tomography imaging and analysis with Zhongshan Angle Assessment Program. Our main outcome measures were determinants of PCAL and PCC using adjusted, multivariate linear regression analysis, adjusted for confounders to obtain the estimated marginal means (EMM) with standard error (SE)., Results: The overall mean (± SD) of PCC was: 6.51±0.39 mm; and PCAL was: 12.52±0.59 mm. Malays had a relatively longer PCAL (EMM = 12.74 mm, SE = 0.04 mm) than Chinese (EMM = 12.48 mm, SE = 0.03 mm, P<0.001), and Indians (EMM = 12.42 mm, SE = 0.03 mm, P<0.001). Anterior segment parameters had weak-moderate correlations with PCAL, which included: anterior chamber depth (ACD) (r = 0.55, P<0.001), PCC (r = 0.27, P<0.001), anterior corneal curvature (ACC) (r = 0.14, P<0.001) and central corneal thickness (CCT) (r = -0.07, P = 0.023). In multivariate analysis, anterior segment parameters explained only 37.6% of the variance of PCAL, with ACD being the most important determinant (partial R2  = 0.300; P<0.001). The determinants of PCC included ACC, PCAL and CCT (explaining 72.1% variation of PCC), with ACC being the most important determinant (partial R2  = 0.683; P<0.001)., Conclusion: There was moderate correlation of PCAL with ACD, but anterior segment parameters accounted for only a small proportion of the variation in PCAL. The significant differences in PCAL and PCC amongst different Asian ethnic groups suggests that there is a need to consider this factor when planning for anterior segment surgeries such as endothelial keratoplasty.

This paper reports the result of an investigation on the potential energy saving of the lighting systems at selected buildings of the Universiti Tenaga Nasional. The scope of this project includes evaluation of the lighting system in the Library, Admin Building, College of Engineering, College of Information Technology, Apartments, and COE Food court of the university. The main objectives of this project are to design the proper retrofit scenario and to calculate the potential electricity saving, the payback period, and the potential environmental benefits. In this survey the policy for retrofitting the old lighting system with the new energy saving LEDs starts with 10% for the first year and continues constantly for 10 years until all the lighting systems have been replaced. The result of the life cycle analysis reveals that after four years, the selected buildings will bring profit for the investment.

DRE has been used as a diagnostic and screening tool for prostate cancer for decades. However these are based on Western data and its local applicability has yet to be verified. We held a Prostate Health Awareness Week in August 1998 and a total of 2086 men were screened. All men aged 50 years old and above were included for the study. The subjects were evaluated on DRE findings, PSA levels and if indicated a TRUS-guided biopsy results. We concluded that DRE per se might have limited role in the screening of prostate cancer in Malaysia. Screening using DRE and PSA combined are still recognized as the most cost-effective means. Neither DRE nor PSA alone has high enough specificity for diagnosis of prostate cancer cases. Combining DRE and PSA will definitely increase the specificity significantly.

Objective: To study the prevalence of symptomatic BPE among Malaysian men age 50 and above attending prostate health awareness campaign and to identify differences in prevalence between different ethnic groups residing within metropolitan Kuala Lumpur., Materials and Methods: Demographic data and the completed International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal uroflow rate (Qmax) and prostate size of volunteers, aged 50 and above, who attended the prostate health awareness campaign were analyzed. Subjects with known prostate diseases or prostate surgery, bladder disorders and neurological disorders were excluded., Results: 2086 volunteers attended the campaign. 575 men fulfilled the inclusion criteria and their demographic data, IPSS; peak flow rate and prostate volume were analysed. Overall, 18.9% and 39.6% of the men were severely and moderately symptomatic, respectively. The prevalence of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Malays, Chinese and Indians were 70%, 59% and 50% respectively (p = 0.004). The commonest bothersome symptoms were nocturia (56%), frequency (50.4%) and sense of incomplete voiding (43.5%). The mean peak flow rate of the subjects was 15.4 ml/s. 20.9% and 55.2% of the subjects had peak flow less than 10 ml/sec and 15 ml/sec respectively. The mean prostate size was 25.1 cc. There is no significant difference in term of maximal flow rate and prostate size among Malays, Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. A good correlation was found between the total symptom score and the single disease-specific quality of life question (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). The correlation between IPSS and peak flow rate (r = -0.22, p < 0.001) and prostate volume (r = 0.11, p = 0.009) was weak. There was no correlation between IPSS and age (r = 0.06, p = 0.17). The prevalence of symptomatic benign prostate enlargement (BPE) was 39.3%. The prevalence increased 8% per decade from 41.7% for men aged 50 to 59 to 65.4% for men aged 70 or more. There is no significant difference in prevalence of symptomatic BPE among the three ethnic groups. The Prevalence of BPO was 15.8%., Conclusion: The correlation between symptom score, maximal flow rate and prostate size was poor and one cannot predict the value of one parameter by knowing one or more of the other parameters. There is a high prevalence of LUTS suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction in the apparently healthy Malaysian aged 50 and above attending the prostate health awareness campaign.

Comparative DDT-susceptibility status and glutathion s-transferase (GST) activity of Malaysian Anopheles maculatus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti was investigated to ascertain the role of this enzyme in DDT resistance. The standardised WHO dose-mortality bioassay tests were used to determine DDT susceptibility in these mosquitos, whilst GST microassay (Brogdon and Barber, 1990) was conducted to measure the activity of this enzyme in mosquito homogenate. It appeared that DDT susceptibility status of Malaysian mosquitos was not correlated with GST activity.