Malaysian Malay Research Articles

Population data for 12 X-STRs loci in Malaysian Malay and Chinese populations

The utilization of X-chromosome short tandem repeats (X-STRs) for human identification particularly in resolving complex kinship cases has been advocated. Since, forensic statistical parameters vary among different populations, and because the X-STRs population data representing the diverse population of Peninsular Malaysia remain unavailable, the specific attempt reported here for the Malays (n = 224) and Chinese (n = 201) populations appears forensically relevant to support the evidential value of the 12 X-STRs markers for human identification in Malaysia. Results derived from the Qiagen Investigator® Argus X-12 kit revealed that DXS10135 as the most polymorphic locus with high genetic diversity, polymorphic information content, heterozygosity as well as power of exclusion. Based on allele frequencies, the combined power of discrimination as well as the mean exclusion chance (MECKrüger, MECKishida, MECDesmarais and MECDesmaraisDuo) values for the Malays and Chinese were individually ≥0.999995532964908. As for the combined power of discrimination as well as the mean exclusion chance (MECKrüger, MECKishida, MECDesmarais and MECDesmaraisDuo) calculated based on haplotype frequencies, the values were ≥0.9999986410567 for the Malays and Chinese populations. In addition, results from the genetic distance, neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree and principal component analysis revealed close biogeographical distributions of the studied populations with other South East Asian populations. Hence, the utilization of the X-STRs data for identifying individuals among the Malays and Chinese populations in Peninsular Malaysia for forensic application appears as highly supported.

Factors Influencing the Intention of Malaysian Malay Language Teachers to Employ Technology in The Post-Covid-19 Era

Factors Influencing the Intention of Malaysian Malay Language Teachers to Employ Technology in The Post-Covid-19 Era

Establishing H Angle Hard Tissue and H Angle Soft Tissue Norms in Skeletal Class I Malay Adult Females and the Correlation between the H Angles and Visual Perception of Laypersons.

This study aimed to establish the cephalometric norms of H angle soft tissue and H angle hard tissue of Malaysian Malay adult females, and to evaluate the correlation between H angles and visual perception in skeletal Class I Malay adult females. Eighty-five lateral cephalograms of skeletal Class I (mean ANB value = 3.15 ± 0.77) Malaysian Malay female patients aged 20 to 40 years (mean age = 28.6 ± 5.86 degrees) taken from October 2017 to December 2021 were measured for H angle soft tissue and H angle hard tissue. Twenty silhouettes were then converted from cephalometric films and were rated according to facial convexity/concavity by 20 laypersons, with re-evaluation after 2 weeks for intra- and interexaminer reliabilities. The means of the H angle soft tissue and H angle hard tissue were 15.75 ± 4.16 degrees and 11.64 ± 4.71 degrees, respectively. The intraexaminer reliability test for visual perception ranged from -0.89 to 0.99 indicating poor to excellent reliability, whereas the interexaminer reliability test was 0.82 indicating good reliability. A highly statistically significant association between the H angle soft tissue and H angle hard tissue (r = 0.938; p < 0.01) was found. There was no correlation between H angles and visual perception. The cephalometric norms of H angle hard tissue and H angle soft tissue in the Malaysian Malay female population were established: 11.64 degrees (±4.71 degrees) and 15.75 degrees (±4.16 degrees), respectively. There was a strong correlation between H angle soft tissue and H angle hard tissue among skeletal Class I Malay adult females. There was no correlation between H angles and the visual perception of laypersons.

Presence of ‘ARABIC’ in Kuala Lumpur’s multilingual linguistic landscape: heritage, religion, identity, business and mobility

ABSTRACT Due to its strategic location and previous colonial history and as a result of globalisation, Malaysia has been a diverse multilingual and multicultural nation, where such languages as Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil are spoken. While LL has been widely explored in a European and North American context, LL is relatively less investigated in the Global South, that is, developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America, etc. To bridge this gap, this empirical study explores the superdiverse Kuala Lumpur’s ARABIC-scape or the capital city’s linguistic landscape pertaining to ‘ARABIC’, drawing on a corpus of authentic photographed texts (n = 246) extracted from a range of real-life settings. Despite Malaysia’s long-standing religious, linguistic, and cultural contacts with the Islamic world, ARABIC (understood in a scriptal and broad civilisational sense that includes not only various forms of Arabic but also other languages using the Arabic script) has remained significantly under-explored from a sociolinguistic and linguistic landscape perspective. This article starts with an introduction to the country’s ethnolinguistic profile and languages evidenced in Kuala Lumpur’s LL in general, before focusing more specifically on ‘ARABIC’ in this multilingual city. This study shows that ‘ARABIC’ (still) manifests itself saliently in various forms, settings, contexts and calligraphic styles for various religious, symbolic, cultural, signposting, marketing and communication reasons, despite a lack of native speakers and official status for Arabic and the trend to replace the Arabic-based Jawi script with the Latin script for writing Malay in Malaysia.

Diet, lifestyle and gut microbiota composition among Malaysian women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study

The study addressed a significant gap in the profiling and understanding of the gut microbiota’s influence on Malaysian Malay women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This prospective cohort study aimed to explore the intricate relationship between gut microbiota, dietary choices, and lifestyle factors among Malay women, both with and without GDM. The research specifically focused on participants during the second (T0) and third (T1) trimesters of pregnancy in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. In Part 1 of the study, a diverse pool of pregnant women at T0 was categorized into two groups: those diagnosed with GDM and those without GDM, with a total sample size of 105 individuals. The assessments encompassed demographic, clinical, lifestyle, and dietary factors at the T0 and T1 trimesters. Part 2 of the study delved into microbiome analysis, targeting a better understanding of the gut microbiota among the participants. Stool samples were randomly collected from 50% of the individuals in each group (GDM and non-GDM) at T0 and T1. The collected samples underwent processing, and 16s rRNA metagenomic analysis was employed to study the microbial composition. The results suggested an association between elevated body weight and glucose levels, poor sleep quality, lack of physical activity, greater intake of iron and meat, and reduced fruit consumption among women with GDM compared to non-GDM groups. The microbiome analysis revealed changes in microbial composition over time, with reduced diversity observed in the GDM group during the third trimester. The genera Lactiplantibacillus, Parvibacter, Prevotellaceae UCG001, and Vagococcus positively correlated with physical activity levels in GDM women in the second trimester. Similarly, the genus Victivallis exhibited a strong positive correlation with gravida and parity. On the contrary, the genus Bacteroides and Roseburia showed a negative correlation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in women without GDM in the third trimester. The study highlighted the multifaceted nature of GDM, involving a combination of lifestyle factors, dietary choices, and changes in gut microbiota composition. The findings emphasized the importance of considering these interconnected elements in understanding and managing gestational diabetes among Malaysian Malay women. Further exploration is essential to comprehend the mechanisms underlying this relationship and develop targeted interventions for effective GDM management.

Photogrammetric and Cephalometric Analyses of Ricketts' Esthetic Line in Malaysian Malay Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: To compare and correlate the Ricketts Esthetic Line measurement between photographs and lateral cephalogram. The norm for evaluating Ricketts' E-Line in the Malaysian Malay population is to be established. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 126 pre-existing photographs and lateral cephalometric radiographs of skeletal Class I Malaysian Malay aged 19 to 40 recruited from the Orthodontic Clinic of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Photogrammetric and cephalometric analyses of the upper and lower lips to Ricketts' E-line were performed. A paired t-test was performed to determine any statistically significant difference between the photographic and cephalometric variables. In addition, Pearson correlation was conducted to estimate the correlations between the photographic and cephalometric variables. Results: There was no significant difference between photographs and lateral cephalogram methods in the upper and lower lip to E-line measurement (p&gt;0.05). For the photogrammetric analysis, the distance from the upper lip to the E-line was -0.30mm ±2.46, whereas the cephalometric analysis was -0.43mm ±2.63. The lower lip distance to the E-line for the photogrammetric analysis was 1.44mm ±2.8, whereas the cephalometric analysis was 1.24mm ±3.08. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) for photographs and lateral cephalometric variables was close to 1 (0.914 and 0.898, respectively), indicating a robust positive correlation between the two variables. Conclusions: Photographic and cephalometric analysis can be used synonymously in measuring the Ricketts E line. Malaysian Malay has a more protrusive upper and lower lip to the E-line, compared to Caucasians, and the norm for the investigated population was established.

Measuring tooth size discrepancies using Bolton analysis: a comparative cross-sectional study among major ethnicity in Malaysia

BackgroundThe Bolton analysis is one of the commonly used tooth size analysis or diagnostic tools in deriving a treatment plan for orthodontic patients. Many studies have indicated and concluded that normal measurements for one group should not be considered normal for other ethnic groups. The aims and objectives of this study were to investigate the applicability of Bolton’s ratios in the orthodontic population of Malaysian main ethnics, Malay, Chinese, and Indians. Comparisons were made in terms of size and distribution of tooth size discrepancy in the Malaysian orthodontic population and the findings were converted in terms of millimeters.MethodsHundred fifty pre-orthodontic study casts comprised of 52 Malay, 54 Chinese, and 44 Indian patients were selected. Digital calipers (Fowler Pro-Max) linked to Hamilton Tooth Arch Software were used to measure the tooth width and ratios. Statistical analysis was carried out to test for gender differences (independent t-test), to identify the effects of malocclusion and ethnic groups (Two-way ANOVA), and to compare the means of the current study with Bolton’s standards (one sample t-test).ResultsThis study showed that there was no significant difference between the genders of the sample of each ethnicity. There was no correlation found between ethnic groups and malocclusion classes. There was a significant difference when comparing Bolton values with the Malay sample for both ratios. It was found that more Malay subjects presented with maxillary excess contrary to Chinese and Indians who presented more maxillary deficiency for the anterior and overall ratio.ConclusionThere was a significant difference found between the TSD of the three major ethnicities in Malaysia. The Bolton standards can be applied to Malaysian Chinese and Indians but not to Malays orthodontic populations for both anterior and overall ratios. Subsequently, a specific standard should be used for the Malays orthodontic population. It was found that more Malay subjects presented with maxillary excess contrary to Chinese and Indians who presented more maxillary deficiency for the anterior and overall ratio.

A Critical Analysis of the Malay Translation of Medicinal Plants in Kitab al-Tibb of Sahih Al-Bukhari

Lately, prophetic medicine has gained noticeable attention as many researches have shed light on its benefits. However, the attention received is limited to widely known plants. This study believes that translation is supposed to be a powerful medium to achieve the acquaintance with medicinal plants in hadith. Therefore, it decides to delve into the Malaysian Malay translation of Kitāb al-Ṭibb of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhāriy, named “Terjemahan Sahih Al-Bukhari”, specifically in the Kitab Perubatan. This study employs a qualitative methodology through document analysis on the meant translation, specifically on names of medicinal plants and nomenclatures. Then, to fill any gap of comprehensibility in the translation, this study employs contextual analysis to provide their correct identification. This study assesses the comprehensibility of the translation for the names. Therefore, it manages to achieve its main objective in filling the gap of comprehensibility traced through the translation. Ultimately, this study finds in the Kitāb al-Ṭibb 3 names of medicinal plants and 4 nomenclatures encapsulate a number of medicinal plants. As for the translation for 3 names of the plants; 1 of them is correct, 1 is acceptable and 1 is incorrect. Meanwhile, the translation for nomenclatures; 1 of them is written in transliteration form, 2 are inexact, and 1 is incorrect. Predictably, there is gap in the translation. However, this study manages to identify a total of 8 medicinal plants mentioned in the Kitāb al-Ṭibb. This study recommends a deeper exploration of the medicinal plants in texts of hadith, including those bound in archaic words.

Construction of Sexual and Gender Minority Identity among Malay-Muslim Natal Females: A Meta-Synthesis

Malay-Muslim identity is the regular norm among Malays in Malaysia; however, this identity has been challenged with the emergence of sexual-and-gender minority (SGM). Even though Malay cultural values and Islamic teachings prohibit same-sex orientation and cross-gender, a SGM group has evolved among Malay-Muslim natal females. This meta-synthesis was conducted to explore the psychosocial factors involved in the construction of SGM and its consequences among Malay natal females in Malaysia using the Sandelowski-Barroso approach. A systematic search of articles was done in the selected databases by using identified keywords between October to December 2020. Twelve full articles were included after proper screening and in-depth reviews. The quality of these articles was assessed independently by two researchers. The articles were then analysed using ATLAS.ti 8 software to group the data into subthemes and themes. Lastly, the effect sizes of each subtheme were calculated. Three main themes were identified: affection seeking, hurtful experience and nurturing influences. Malay natal females also shared consequences following construction of SGM identity which include acceptance from community, continuous conflicts in life and mental health consequences. This meta-synthesis revealed the influences that shape the construction of Malay SGM women. Thus, interventions shall be planned to aid them according to cultural and psychosocial factors.

Hypercholesterolemia in the Malaysian Cohort Participants: Genetic and Non-Genetic Risk Factors.

Hypercholesterolemia was prevalent in 44.9% of The Malaysian Cohort participants, of which 51% were Malay. This study aimed to identify the variants involved in hypercholesterolemia among Malays and to determine the association between genetic and non-genetic risk factors. This nested case-control study included 25 Malay participants with the highest low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, >4.9 mmol/L) and total cholesterol (TC, >7.5 mmol/L) and 25 participants with the lowest LDL-C/TC. Genomic DNA was extracted, and whole-exome sequencing was performed using the Ion ProtonTM system. All variants were annotated, filtered, and cross-referenced against publicly available databases. Forty-five selected variants were genotyped in 677 TMC Malay participants using the MassARRAY® System. The association between genetic and non-genetic risk factors was determined using logistic regression analysis. Age, fasting blood glucose, tobacco use, and family history of hyperlipidemia were significantly associated with hypercholesterolemia. Participants with the novel OSBPL7 (oxysterol-binding protein-like 7) c.651_652del variant had 17 times higher odds for hypercholesterolemia. Type 2 diabetes patients on medication and those with PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) rs151193009 had low odds for hypercholesterolemia. Genetic predisposition can interact with non-genetic factors to increase hypercholesterolemia risk in Malaysian Malays.

A Representation of Malaysian Malay Women Identity from a Systemic Functional Perspective

Employing a systemic functional analysis of two selected stories written by two different Malay women writers, namely Dina Zaman and Karina Bahrin, this paper investigates the perception of Malay women from two contrasting settings, the metropolitan Kuala Lumpur and a kampong in Terengganu. The study explores the social cultural identity of Malay women within a linguistic context based on an analysis of thematic choice derived from the Hallidayan notion of grammar. In And She Became an Angel (Dina Zaman) , suggesting a subordinated female identity in a Malay kampong context, findings derived from the clausal analysis concluded that the main protagonist, Mandak successfully transcended herself from a victimized role into a heroin at the end of the story. She eventually had become an angel in a fire to embrace the only one thing of her life. However, in A Subtle Degree of Restraint (Karina Bahrin), Elena and Badariah, the two representations of new Malay women living in the cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, encountered subtle feelings of deprivation in their contrasting life conditions through either marriage or barrenness. Applying a Hallidayan framework that looks at thematic choice in the system of Theme and Rheme and the System of Transitivity, this paper justifies its findings from the distribution and the experiential elements of thematic choices in the two short stories from a linguistic spectrum. It also signifies a refreshing approach on literary studies in the MLE.

Sex Determination Using Direct Photography Technique: a Mobile-phone Camera: A Digital Approach for Lip Prints Analysis in Malaysian Malay Population (Klang Valley)

Cheiloscopy may not be as well-known as other techniques of identification, such as fingerprint or DNA analysis, but it has its own impact in the appropriate circumstances. Cheiloscopy has been recognized as an important tool for human identification. A manual approach of studying lip prints was utilised by many researchers (magnifying glasses). Nonetheless, the current study relied solely on a mobile phone camera to visually capture lip prints for sex determination. 377 samples of lip prints were analysed with Adobe Photoshop software and classified into six different types of lip print patterns, according to Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classifications. Lip prints were divided into six sections including upper left, upper middle, upper right, lower left, lower middle and lower right. Pearson's Chi-square test revealed significant differences between male and female lip prints (p &lt; 0.05) among the Malaysian Malay population of the Klang Valley, with Type V (irregular pattern) lip prints being the most prevalent. In comparison to magnifying glasses, our studies proved the ability to record and examine lip prints utilising a digital approach. Keywords Cheiloscopy, Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification, sex determination, lip print, direct photograph technique, digital

The User-Friendliness and Effectiveness of the Interactive E-Book "Learn Malay With Rene" for Adult Foreign Speakers

The rise of e-books has been adopted in the education system around the world due to its positive impact on the learning environment, including language learning. However, previous research has shown that the use of interactive e-books in learning Malay in Malaysia is still not encouraging. The purpose of this study is to investigate the user-friendliness and effectiveness of self-learning Malay among adult foreign speakers. This study used mixed mode research and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a quantitative framework. The research material chosen is an interactive e-book titled "Learn Malay With Rene," which was written and developed by the researcher with the participation of 18 adult foreign speakers and expatriates from Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru. The study's findings show that adult foreign speakers positively perceived e-book designs with interactive elements and multimedia features that are user-friendly and simple to use. Meanwhile, respondents were optimistic about interactive e-books as a self-learning Malay language tool. The study can be used as a reference for designers when creating materials for interactive e-books for learning Malay. Adult foreign speakers clearly enjoyed the audio-visual learning material and appreciated the interactive links in the e-book that included graphics, music, videos, games, and quizzes. As a result, it is possible to conclude that interactive e-books should be expanded in all fields, particularly in teaching and learning Malay.&#x0D;

Social Well-Being Elements Through the Lens of Low-Income Group among Malays in Malaysia After 14th General Election: A Systematic Literature Review

Social well-being is a condition where a community feels safe and comfortable living their lives without any constraints from anyone. Hence, it is vital to discover the main elements contributing to a community's social well-being in a multi-ethnic country. It will become the main guideline of how they want to be treated and helped. This systematic review aims to discover the social well-being elements through the lens of the Malay low-income group in Malaysia after 14th general election. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method, thirteen related studies were identified from the Web of Science, Scopus databases and snowballing technique of related sources. Further review of the articles through qualitative analysis resulted in eight core themes on social well-being elements of Malay low-income group after GE-14, namelyhousing, religion, ethnic composure, health, management, environment, income, and education. These findings contribute to the enhancement of the field of social well-being, especially in a multi-ethnic democratic nation.

The prevalence of TPH1 and TPH2 genetic polymorphisms susceptible to irritable bowel syndrome among unrelated, healthy Malays in Malaysia

The prevalence of TPH1 and TPH2 genetic polymorphisms susceptible to irritable bowel syndrome among unrelated, healthy Malays in Malaysia

Multidrug-Resistant Helicobacter pylori Strains: A Five-Year Surveillance Study and Its Genome Characteristics.

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant Helicobacter pylori has undermined eradication strategies to prevent the development of gastric cancer. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of secondary antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in urban multicultural areas in Malaysia. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2021, gastric biopsies from 218 patients with a history of H. pylori eradication failure were sent to our laboratory for antibiotic susceptibility testing. A minimal inhibitory concentration was determined for six antibiotics, namely metronidazole, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and rifampicin using the E-test method. Two multidrug-resistant H. pylori strains identified in this study were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Results: Eradication failure was observed to be significantly higher in the Malaysian Chinese patients than in the Malaysian Indian and Malay patients. H. pylori were successfully isolated from 51 patients (23.4%). Overall, the antibiotic resistance rates of H. pylori to metronidazole, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin were 82.4% (42/51), 72.5% (37/51), 52.9% (27/51), and 3.9% (2/51), respectively. Resistance to tetracycline and rifampicin were not observed during the study period. Resistance to more than one antibiotic was observed in 82.4% (42/51) of the isolates, of which 42.2% (19/42) were resistant to three antibiotic classes. Resistance to both clarithromycin and metronidazole were most frequently observed in isolates with dual resistance (56.5%; 13/23). Codon substitutions in penicillin-binding protein 1A (V346L, V374L, G595_V596InsG, Y604H, and N608S) were detected in amoxicillin-resistance H. pylori strains. Herein, we report amoxicillin resistance in H. pylori isolated from Malaysian patients, and its resistance mechanism, for the first time. Conclusion: Our results show the increase trend in secondary multidrug resistance in H. pylori isolates, which warrants continuous surveillance.

Craniofacial measurements of Malaysian Malays, Chinese and Indians based on the analyses of post-mortem computed tomographic images

ABSTRACT Considering that the Asian group is huge and consists of many sub-populations in terms of genetics and geographic locations, it is imperative to develop population-specific standards for forensic practice. However, baseline data for a Malaysian population are not readily available. We wish to apply the methodology of Gill et al. (1988) on linear measurements of the mid-facial skeleton observed in physical skulls of North Americans to post-mortem computed tomographic images of Malaysian individuals, together with cephalic and nasal indices. A total of 300 skull scans of equal distribution according to sex and ethnic groups were examined by an experienced observer. Mean values (±SD) in mm for maxillofacial breadth, mid-orbital breadth, alpha cord, naso-maxillofrontal subtense, naso-zygoorbital subtense, naso-alpha subtense, maximum cranial length, maximum cranial breadth, nasal height and nasal breadth in males are 24.98 ± 0.54; 54.84 ± 1.72; 25.20 ± 1.26; 12.52 ± 0.44; 19.70 ± 1.23; 21.33 ± 1.09; 180.36 ± 4.78; 143.02 ± 3.47; 51.76 ± 1.18; 24.99 ± 0.35; respectively. Findings for their female counterparts are 23.58 ± 0.69; 52.74 ± 2.36; 23.38 ± 1.21; 11.19 ± 0.5; 17.71 ± 1.36; 17.55 ± 1.19; 170.45 ± 24.18; 137.75 ± 16.95; 49.19 ± 0.99; 23.87 ± 0.39; respectively. Even though these craniofacial measurements are not able to confidently separate the three different ethnic groups, our study presented the preliminary measurements of Malaysian individuals comparatively to other global populations specifically in the Asian region.

Social determinants of self-reported psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Total lockdown caused deleterious mental health to many, resulting from a sudden change in daily routine, working and self-isolation at home, and job and income losses. Therefore, the current study aims to assess the social determinants of self-reported psychological distress in Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Snowball and purposive sampling approaches were adopted to enroll potential respondents. Respondents were required to self-report gender, age, ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, number of dependents, and the presence of clinically diagnosed psychological disorders. Psychological distress during the pandemic was assessed using 21-item of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). The findings revealed that respondents with primary/secondary educational attainment were 1.962 times (95% CI: 1.018–3.781, p= 0.044) more likely to suffer from depression than those with tertiary educational attainment. Conversely, the Malaysian Indians had significantly lower odds for depression compared to Malaysian Malays (AOR = 0.538, 95% CI: 0.302–0.957, p= 0.035). Likewise, females were found to have significantly greater odds for anxiety (AOR = 2.369, 95% CI: 1.317–4.260, p= 0.004) and stress (AOR = 1.976, 95% CI: 1.007–3.879, p = 0.048) than males. Being single was at significantly higher odds for anxiety (AOR = 2.032, 95% CI: 1.133–3.646, p= 0.017) during the pandemic. This study highlights the urgency to address the escalated psychological distress in Malaysian adults during the pandemic.

COVID-19 and its effects on social connectedness among Malaysian Malay living abroad

Ever since the global pandemic COVID-19 emerged, governments all around the world have attempted to slow the spread of this disease by promoting social isolation and social distancing. Although physical separation does curtail the spread of the virus, the practice of social distancing has limited people’s in-person social interactions and has narrowed their sense of social connectedness. To Malaysian Malay expatriates, social connectedness is more than just a means of social relationship or social networking. Social connectedness is a motivating factor for survival and a way to reduce feelings of social anxiety and frustrations when living in a foreign host country. To highlight the significance of social connectedness while working abroad, this study was conducted with 11 single Malaysian Malays residing in the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. A qualitative approach was employed in this study by using in-depth interviews to examine the socio-cultural challenges they experienced while working and living in a country different from their own. This paper discusses how COVID-19 affects Malaysian Malay expatriates’ social connectedness while living abroad in host countries and the need for more research exploration in the subject area. As a result, although social media can be a platform for everyone to be connected, face-to-face interactions are more desirable. Furthermore, the researchers also found that practising a level of intimacy with close friends can help Malaysian Malay expatriates to gain social connectedness with others which also leads to the feeling of belongingness in their community.

The location of the mental foramen in relation to the biometrics of the lower dentition and mandibular arch: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: To evaluate the position of the mental foramen among Malaysian Malays and Chinese based on the biometrics of the lower dentition and mandibular arch dimensions. &#x0D; Materials and methods: The horizontal and vertical position of mental foramen in relation to the midline, roots of teeth, mesiodistal dimension of the anterior and posterior teeth, and the mandibular arch length and width were measured and evaluated in 65 Cone-Beam Computed Tomography scans. &#x0D; Results: The location of mental foramen was predominantly located either between 1st and 2nd premolar or below 2nd premolar. There were no significant differences for all measurements of the mandible in relation to gender and ethnicities. There was a positive correlation of the mesiodistal diameter of the teeth with the mandibular arch length and width. However, mandibular arch length and width did not affect the location of the mental foramen. &#x0D; Conclusions: As the size of the teeth increases, the mandibular arch length and the width increase concurrently. However, regardless of the changes in the biometrics of the mandibular dentition and the arch dimensions, the anatomical position of the mental foramen remains the same. The mental foramen was located at the ratio of 0.5 vertically and 0.27 horizontally in the mandible. The inter-foramina distance of 51.36 mm suggests that Malaysian Mongoloids had sufficient space to receive five implants rigidly joined with a bar.