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Direct and indirect aerosol effects are still one of the largest uncertainties related to the Earth energy budget, especially in a wild and remote region like South-East Asia, where ground-based measurements are still difficult and scarce, while endemic cloudy skies make difficult active and passive satellite observations. In this preliminary study, we analyzed and quantitatively assessed the differences between monsoon and inter-monsoon seasons, in terms of radiative effects at surface and columnar heating rate, of clear-sky biomass burning aerosols (no clouds) using ground-based lidar observations obtained with a 355 nm elastic lidar instrument, deployed since 2012 at the Physics Department of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The model-based back-trajectory analysis put in evidence that, during the monsoon seasons (November–March and June–September), the air masses advected towards the observational site transit over active fire hotspot regions, in contrast with the inter-monsoon season. In between the monsoon seasons (April–May, October), the atmosphere over Penang is constituted by local background urban aerosols that originate from road traffic emissions, domestic cooking, and industrial plants emissions. The analysis was carried out using the vertically-resolved profiles of the seasonal averaged aerosol optical properties (monsoon vs. inter-monsoon seasons), e.g., the atmospheric extinction coefficient, to evaluate the seasonal surface aerosol radiative effect and column heating rate differences through the Fu–Liou–Gu (FLG) radiative transfer model. The results put in evidence that the biomass burning advection during the monsoon season (especially during the South West monsoon from June to September) lowers the noon daytime incoming solar shortwave solar radiation reaching the Earth surface with respect to the local background conditions by 91.5 W/m2 (114–69 W/m2). The aerosols also lead to an averaged heating in the first kilometer of the atmosphere of about 4.9 K/day (6.4–3.4 W/m2). The two combined effects, i.e., less absorbed energy by Earth surface and warming of the first kilometer of the boundary layer, increase the low-level stability during monsoon seasons, with a possible reduction in cloud formation and precipitation. The net effect is to exacerbate the haze episodes, as the pollutants rest trapped into the boundary layer. Besides these considerations, the lidar measurements are of great interest in this particular world region and might be used for cal/val of the future space missions, e. g., Earthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cyberloafing (employees' non-work-related online activities at work) has become a common workplace problem for many organizations. Research investigating the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions under which abusive supervision influences cyberloafing remains largely underdeveloped. Drawing from social exchange theory and conservation of resources theory, we developed a moderated-mediation model in which emotional exhaustion was theorized as a unique mechanism underlining why employees are more likely to engage in cyberloafing under the supervision of abusive leaders. In addition, we proposed that organizational commitment to be a relevant boundary condition to influence such a relationship. Design/methodology/approach: We collected 255 data from employees working in public listed companies in Malaysia and used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data. Findings: The results showed that the influence of abusive supervision on cyberloafing through emotional exhaustion is only significant when organizational commitment is low. Originality/value: This study constructed a moderated-mediation model by introducing the potential mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of organizational commitment to reveal the mechanism through which abusive supervision related to cyberloafing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Oral antidiabetic drugs, including Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors (DPP4i), are the mainstay for therapeutic management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to describe the prescribing pattern of DPP4i agents and to assess the achievement of the target HbA1c levels among current DPP4i users at a Malaysian University teaching hospital. Material and Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient diabetes clinic of a university teaching hospital in Pahang, Malaysia. The data included adults with T2DM who received DPP4i prescriptions at least three months before December 2019 and reported data of HbA1c after at least three months from the index date. Evaluation of the DPP4i prescribing patterns referred to the national clinical practice guidelines. Results: 140 cases were included. Sitagliptin 50 mg is the most commonly prescribed DPP4i regimen (72.1%), and its combination therapy with metformin contributed to 67.1% of the total DPP4i prescriptions. About 35% of patients achieved their target HbA1c levels after at least three months on DPP-4 inhibitors therapy. There was no significant association between the type of DPP4i and the target HbA1c achievement (p=0.205). Conclusions: DPP4i medications were more prescribed as combination therapy with metformin, compared to monotherapy except for vildagliptin. Gliclazide was the most common co-prescribed OAD with vildagliptin. Barriers to achieving optimal glycemic control for patients on OAD, particularly DPP4i, need further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]