Sources of language anxiety

Anxiety plays an important role in language learning because it ranks high among factors that can influence language learning (Oxford, 1999). It affects not only the way in which learners perform but also the way in which they perceive their performance (MacIntyre, 1999). In order to understand language anxiety, the sources of language anxiety need to be explored. This study was conducted to explore the sources of language anxiety from the students’ (UUM) perspectives. A qualitative case study was selected for this study. The sampling of participants (students) was done through purposive sampling in order to select information-rich cases. The main data collection was done mainly through interviewing language students. Interviewing lecturers and analyzing documents were done to triangulate the students’ perspective. his study found that the most cited sources of language anxiety were associated with speaking and writing skills. Another skill mentioned was related to listening comprehension. In this study, the sources of language anxiety stemmed from the learner, peers, instructional practice, personality, past experiences and language testing condition. Six themes emerged from the study. The themes were derived by associating language anxiety with three language skills, i.e. speaking, writing and listening, mentioned by the participants. The six themes which emerged from this study were belief and self-deprecating thought, afraid of being put on the limelight, afraid of being laughed at by peers, the type of lecturer or teacher, bad past experiences, and anxiety during language test

Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ph and Zn) concentrations in telescopium telescopium from Dumai Coastal Waters, Indonesia

Concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in the marine gastropod, Telescopium telescopium, were determined to provide background information on heavy metal levels in the Straits of Malacca in the Indonesian side. Samples ofT. telescopium were collected from intertidal Dumai coastal waters at four stations inJuly 2004. The results of the present study showed that metal concentrations in the soft tissue ofT. telescopium varied at different sampling stations: 0.33 - 0.69 )1g/g; 9.38 - 52.29 )1g/g; 1.73 - 10. 78 )1g/g; 14.69 - 69.87 )1g/g dry weight far cadmium, copper, lead and zinc, respectively. Samples from Sungai Dumai station accumulated mare heavy metals when compared to other stations. Smaller T. telescopium accumulate mare metals than larger ones. Negative carrelations between metal concentrations and size (length and weight) were obseroed (except Cd and Cu in samples from Sungai Mesjid) with some variation in the carrelation coefficients which indicated metal regulation lJy the T. telescopiurn. Sungai Dumai showed the highest Metal Pollution Index (MPl) of 12.57 and Tomlinson Pollution Load Index (PLI) of 34.35 with Lubuk Gaung showing the lowest with 3.26 and 8.89, respectively. In general, the MPI and PU values indicate that metal pollution in Dumai coastal waters is not a serious threat yet and no drastic rectification measures are needed. However, as one of the most developing regions in Sumatera, further studies are necessary to assess temparal variation in metal accumulation and concentration for this species and other possible indicator organisms as well as in sediment from the surrounding areas in order to gain a better understanding of pollution status in Dumai coastal waters

Population Growth and Production of Apocyclops dengizicus (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) Fed on Different Diets

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of various diets: 4 monoalgal diets: Nannochloropsis oculata (N), Isochrysis galbana (I), Chaetoceros calcitrans (C), and Tetraselmis tetrathele (T); 4 mixed algal diets: N+I+C+T(NICT), N+I+C(NIC), C+T(CT), and I+T(IT); and 2 nonalgal diets: baker’s yeast (BY) and prepared shrimp feed (SF) on population growth and density of Apocyclops dengizicus. The type and density of diet had significant effects on the growth and density of A. dengizicus (P , 0.01). Of tested diets, T and CT were optimum diets due to higher density and growth rate of A. dengizicus compared to other diets. Their high dietary value was related to the higher contents of polyunsaturated fatty acid, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) compared to A. dengizicus cultured on other diets. The results of the present study illustrated that T. tetrathele was the most suitable food for the culture of A. dengizicus

Effects of delayed metamorphosis on larval survival, metamorphosis, and juvenile performance of four closely related species of tropical sea urchins (genus Echinometra)

We report here, the effects of extended competency on larval survival, metamorphosis, and postlarval juvenile growth of four closely related species of tropical sea urchins, Echinometra sp. A (Ea), E. mathaei (Em), Echinometra sp. C (Ec), and E. oblonga (Eo). Planktotrophic larvae of all four species fed on cultured phytoplankton (Chaetoceros gracilis) attained metamorphic competence within 22–24 days after fertilization. Competent larvae were forced to delay metamorphosis for up to 5 months by preventing them from settling in culture bottles with continuous stirring on a set of 10 rpm rotating rollers and larval survival per monthly intervals was recorded. Larval survival was highest at 24 days, when competence was attained (0 delayed period), and there were no significant differences among the four species. Larvae that had experienced a prolonged delay had reduced survival rate, metamorphosis success, and juvenile survival, but among older larvae, Em had the highest success followed by Ea, Eo, and Ec. Juveniles from larvae of all four species that metamorphosed soon after becoming competent tended to have higher growth rates (test diameter and length of spines) than juveniles from larvae that metamorphosed after a prolonged period of competence with progressively slower growth the longer the prolonged period. Despite the adverse effects of delaying metamorphosis on growth parameters, competent larvae of all four species were able to survive up to 5 months and after metamorphosis grew into 1-month-old juveniles in lab condition. Overall, delayed larvae of Em showed significantly higher larval survival, metamorphosis, and juvenile survival than Ea and Eo, while Ec showed the lowest values in these performances. Em has the most widespread distribution of these species ranging from Africa to Hawaii, while Ec probably has the most restricted distribution. Consequently, differences in distribution may be related to differences in the ability to delay metamorphosis

Molecular phylogeny of some Malaysian groupers (subfamily: Epinephelinae, family: serranidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences

Groupers are known as one of the important marine and estuarine fishes they are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical open water. Nevertheless, the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships among wild groupers in Malaysian waters are still poorly studied and need to be further clarified. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationship of wild grouper using samples collected from eight coastal areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples were identified manually based on their morphological characteristics. Molecular phylogeny was inferred for subfamily Epinephelinae using a combined analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and nuclear Recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) genes from 12 species representing three genera of subfamily Epinephelinae. Results from all methods of analyses (Neighbour-joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML), minimum evolution (ME), and Bayesian analyses (BI)) produced similar tree topologies and strong supported the monophyletic status of the three genera within the subfamily Epinephelinae with genus Plectropomus was basal to the other genera. Phylogenetic analyses also divided genus Epinephelus into two different clades similar to other previous findings. Nevertheless, several relationships remain unresolved particularly among morphologically similar species (e.g between E. fario and E. longispinis) and species with limited number of individuals (E. coioides). Overall, the findings of this study have managed to provide new insights on the taxonomy, phylogeny and genetic diversity of grouper fishes in Peninsular Malaysia, which are important for their appropriate sustainable management, either for conservation or aquaculture purposes

Description of a new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and comparisons with species from Marphysa group A from the Indo-West Pacific and Indian Ocean

A new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) is described from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and compared with species from Marphysa Group A from the Indo-West Pacific and Indian Ocean. The number of species known within Marphysa Group A has been increased, and the concept that M. mossambica is a widely distributed species in the Indo-Pacific is refuted. The new species is commercially important and occurs in the mangrove forest along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Notes on the biology, ecology and commercial aspects of M. moribidii sp. nov. are presented

Growth and survival of the tropical sea urchin, Salmacis sphaeroides fed with different macroalgae in captive rearing condition

An experiment was undertaken to develop appropriate culture techniques for high-valued tropical sea urchin, Salmacis sphaeroides under captive aqua-rearing conditions. Three-month-old juveniles produced through induced breeding, larval rearing and metamorphic induction were stocked with 20 juveniles in each of nine well-aerated glass aquaria (46 x 30 x 30 cm).? Juveniles fed with red alga (Amphiroa fragilissima) were designated as Treatment-1 (T1), brown alga (Sargassum polysystum) as Treatment-2 (T(2)) and sea grass (Enhalus acoroides) as Treatment-3 (T(3)). At the time of stocking, juveniles were under the same age group and batch-reared with a mean length and weight of 9.98 ? 0.56 mm and 0.49 ? 0.11 g, respectively. The juveniles were fed ad libitum, and the seawater in each rearing aquarium was changed at bi-monthly intervals. The culture was carried out for one year during which time the juveniles attained sexual maturity. Growth performances (viz., final weight, weight gain, final length, length gain, specific growth rate and daily growth rate) and survival of adults were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T(1) than those in T(2) and T(3), respectively. Gonad production, in terms of wet gonad weight and gonad index, also followed the same trend as that for growth. Hence, of the three algal feed evaluated, red alga appeared to be the most suitable food for rearing of S. sphaeroides under captive conditions. The present study is the first demonstration of successful culturing of S. sphaeroides in a static aquarium system, the findings of which could be helpful towards the commercial sea urchin aquaculture

Effects of dietary peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oil on survival, growth, cannibalism and hepatopancreatic histopathology of Portunus pelagicus juveniles

A two-part experiment was performed to determine whether dietary peppermint oil could improve the growth and/or decrease aggression among blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus early juveniles. A total of five isonitrogenous diets were made that contained increasing peppermint oil levels of 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50 or 1.00%. These diets were fed to 45 replicate crabs in each treatment (total of 225 crabs) for 12 days, the final sizes and weights were measured, and then placed in 3 replicate containers (30 in total/treatment) to allow the opportunity for cannibalism over 10 days. After 10 days, the remaining crabs were examined for any histopathological changes in gills or hepatopancreas. Results showed dietary peppermint oil, at the tested levels, had no effect on the growth or cannibalism, in either experiments (p > 0.05). However, there were substantial changes in the hepatopancreatic histopathology that included thinner tubules and significantly less B- and R-cells from 0.10% dietary peppermint oil and above. The unaffected growth or cannibalism indicate that the levels of dietary peppermint oil used were insufficient and further investigations are required, particularly on the implications to the hepatopancreatic changes

Sexual maturity and sex determination in Strombus canarium Linnaeus, 1758 (Gastropoda: Strombidae).

The study was conducted at the Merambong Shoal, Johor Straits, Malaysia. Strombus canarium was the most abundant herbivorous mollusc within the study site, highly prized as seafood and contributes to the economics of the locals. Ontogenetic development of sex characters and sexual maturity were determined via logistic curve analysis, using shell-length and/or lip thickness as predictors. The minimum shell-length at which sex characters appeared was at 30 mm in males and 32 mm in females and both sexes can definitely be determined at more than 41 mm shell-length. The SX50 (probability of individuals can be sexed is 0.5) was at 38.33+0.41 mm for male and at 37.15+0.31 mm for female. The SL„ (length at which the probability of individuals are matured is 0.5) was at 54.14+0.86 mm shell-lengths for males and at 58.51+1.02 nun shell-lengths for females. The LIP„ (lip thickness at which the probability of individuals are matured is 0.5) values on the other hand was about 0.69+0.0003 and 0.80+0.014 mm for males and females respectively. The findings indicate that sexual dimorphisms occurred at very early stage in S. canarium life histor

Market share analysis of Malaysia's palm oil exports: implications on its competitiveness

The objective of this article is to analyse the market share of Malaysia's palm oil exports using the constant market share (CMS) approach in order to assess its competitiveness in the world market. Palm oil exports in period 1981·85 were analysed in comparison to the base period 1976·80 quantities. Next, palm oil exports in period 1986-90 were analysed in comparison to period 1981-85, and finally a comparison between period 1981-85 and 1986-90. The results of the CMS analysis show that size of market is the dominant factor in contributing to the country's palm oil export expansion. The competitiveness [actor plays relatively minor role and it is declining over time