Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REFORMS IN MALAYSIA

How to cite this paper: Al-Hiyari, A. (2017). A Critical Review of Corporate Governance Reforms in Malaysia. Journal of Governance and Regulation, 6(1), 38-44. http://dx.doi. org/10.22495/jgr_v6_i1_p4 Copyright © 2017 The Author This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b y-nc/4.0/ ISSN Online: 2306-6784 ISSN Print: 2220-9352 Received: 21.11. 2016 Accepted: 08.03. 2017 JEL Classification: G3, O16, G18 DOI: 10.22495/jgr_v6_i1_p4 Following the East-Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the corporate accounting scandals, the shareholder’s confidence in the audited financial statements was adversely affected and regulators started to think seriously reforming the existing corporate governance practices. As a result, numerous initiatives were implemented to accelerate improvement of corporate governance practices. One of these initiatives was the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG). The code was derived from the approach applied by the British Hampel Committee, which attempt to mitigate the agency problem between corporate managers and outside owners. This study suggests that the British approach is unsuitable to Malaysian business environment. Particularly, the MCCG that had been lunched since 2011 ignore the uniqueness of Malaysia’s capital market, regulation environment and ownership structure. Therefore, the study recommends that policy makers and other regulators should consider the local business environment when establishing future code on corporate governance.
Raman Microscopy: A Suitable Tool for Characterizing Surfaces in Interaction with Plasmas in the Field of Nuclear Fusion

Raman microscopy, which is sensitive to chemical bonds, defects, structure, is a suitable tool that can give information on how a material can be modified by interacting with ions. We will first give concrete examples on how it can be used to characterize with a micro ‐ metric resolution samples extracted from tokamaks. We will then give concrete examples on what information can be obtained by doing a study on laboratory synthesized materi ‐ als, benchmarking Raman microscopy with quantitative techniques. The first part of the chapter is focused on carbon‐based material analysis. We will show how Raman spectra are sensitive to the presence of hydrogen, a major safety issue in the field. The second part of the chapter will be focused on beryllium‐ and tungsten‐based material analysis. We will show that hydrogen can be stored as an hydride after ion implantation and that it can be released easily in tungsten oxide.
SUGGESTIVE PLACEMENT OF Quassia borneensis Noot. (Simaroubaceae) AS INDICATED BY ISOLATION OF ITS QUASSINOIDS

Quassinoids have been reported to possess numerous biological activities such as anticancer, antimalarial and phytotoxicity. They are degraded triterpenoids which give bitterness characteristic of Simaroubaceae and classified according to their basic skeletons; C 18 , C 19 , C 20 , C 22 , C 25 which correspond to their particular genus Quassia , Brucea , Soulamea , Eurycoma , Picrolemnia and others. Quassia borneensis Noot. (Simaroubaceae) (Qb) have not been properly placed in Quassia s.l. thus created confusion. Therefore, a study on Qb for its chemical compounds and biological activity are appropriate for data gathering. There is positive possibility for new quassinoids with potent biological activity to be discovered, in addition to confirmation of placement in Simaroubaceae. The study was accomplished by extracting the secondary metabolites from Qb by soxhlet in methanol. The methanol extract was partitioned to acquire n -hexane, chloroform and aqueous extracts. These extracts underwent isolation and purification through chromatographic techniques before subjected to spectroscopic instruments for structural elucidation. Preliminary findings identified five quassinoids and one canthin-6-one as glaucarubolone ( 1 ), chaparrinone ( 2 ), holacanthone ( 3 ), glaucarubinone ( 4 ), ailanthinone ( 5 ) and canthin-6-one ( 6 ) in reference to past reports. The isolation confirms Qb placement in Simaroubaceae, however, not in Quassia section as indicated by isolated quassinoids. Hence, further study would confirm its proper section in Quassia .
Prevalence of Induced Abortion and Associated Factors among Wachamo University Regular Female Students, Southern Ethiopia, 2015.

Background : All over the world, women experience unwanted pregnancy and some of them seek to terminate the pregnancy and undergo induced abortion. In Ethiopia, abortion is still common and it is one of the contributing factors for maternal death. In 2008 it was estimated that, there were 382,000 induced abortions in Ethiopia and 52,600 women were treated for complications of abortion. Most of these women who tend to experience induced abortion are adolescents and youth with age below 25 years. The aim of this study was, to assess the magnitude of induced abortion and associated factors among Wachamo University regular female students. Methods : A cross sectional study design was used. Data were collected from 461 randomly selected female students of Wachamo University by using pre-tested structured questionnaire from January to March, 2015. The collected data were entered using EPI info Version 3.5. 1 and analyzed by SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics was computed and odds ratio along with the 95% confidence interval was estimated to identify factors associated with induced abortion using multivariate logistic regression. Level of statistical significance was declared at P- value less or equal to 0.05. Results: In this study the prevalence of induced abortion was 5.9% (95% CI 3.8-8.0%), from which 9(33.3%) were conducted in an unsafe conditions. A total of 180(39 %) female students had sex and 58 (12.58%) of them get pregnant. Out of the total pregnancies, 53(91.4%) were unwanted. Based on the results from multivariate logistic regression, living out of campus [AOR= 6.78, 95% CI: (1.44, 31.97)], Substance use [AOR= 4.75, 95% CI: (1.12, 20.16)], and earning enough pocket money [AOR= 6.91, 95% CI: (1.62, 29.50)] were significantly associated factors with induced abortion. Conclusion and Recommendation : A significant proportion of pregnancies among students in higher educational institution are terminated with induced abortion. Living out of campus, substance use and pocket money have significant association with induced abortion. The university and local health bodies should work together to address for prevention of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion. Key words : Induced abortion, Abortion, Adolescent and youth
Antimicrobial activity of essential oil from Oliveria decumbens and its synergy with vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus

Oliveria decumbens Vent (Umbelliferae) is a shrub commonly found in the south-east of iran. its aerial section is extensively used in herbal medicine. the disk diffusion test and Microbroth dilution Assay were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Oliveria decumbens Vent against Staphylococcus aureus. to detect synergy, vancomycin was added to Mueller-hinton agar at sub-inhibitory concentrations and the inhibitory zones were recorded in millimeters. the main components of oil were thymol (22%), carvacrol (22%) and p-cymene (19%). the O. decumbens oil exhibited strong antistaphylococcal activity (18.0±0.86). Carvacrol was considerably more effective (29.8±1.5) than thymol (17.2±1.13) and p-cymene (0.0±0.0) against Staphylococcus aureus. the oil presented strong synergism with vancomycin (24.9±0.75 vs. 19.3±0.54, p<0.001). however, further studies are required to evaluate its in vivo efficacy.
The impact of reported corporate governance disclosure on the financial performance of companies listed on the JSE

However, interest in corporate governance has grown tremendously in the past decade. Corporate scandals, environmental concerns and globalisation have all played their part in raising shareholder and public awareness of how companies should be governed. The recent international disasters in financial reporting including Enron and Worldcom in the US, Parmalat in Italy, the Maxwell saga in the UK, Daewoo in Korea, Leisurenet and Regal Bank in South Africa demonstrated the growing need for transparency in governing companies.
Game Mechanics for Cooperative Games

In this paper, we approach the subject of Cooperative Video Games and their Design. We start out by examining Cooperative Game Mechanics - these include common Design Patterns used currently in Cooperative Video Games and how the challenge archetypes are currently used in Cooperative Video Games. We then proceed to examine our experience in designing a cooperative two player video game using the previously mentioned patterns and challenges, and we present some preliminary evaluation data of the game.
Transformations in agriculture and their implications for rural development

The paper reviews the implications for rural development of current transformations in agriculture. It first identifies some of the driving forces - in addition to the impact of rising incomes in some but not all developing countries - behind the transformation process: changing market chains, shifts in public policy, OECD agricultural policies and HIV/AIDS. It then discusses some strategic issues for assisting the rural sector and small farms in developing countries: increasing the productivity of food staples, diversification into higher value products, organizing small farmer for marketing, agricultural services, non-farm opportunities and migration and targeting the vulnerable. It emphasizes the need for integrated interventions if small farm development is to offer a viable pro-poor option for agricultural development.
Innovative measures adopted by petty traders in dealing with challenges of accessing financial credit in Ghana

This study sought to explore the challenges that petty traders face in accessing financial credit from banks and financial institutions and the innovative measures they initiate to deal with these challenges. Using the convenient sampling technique, 200 petty traders from New Abirem in the Birim North District of the Eastern region were selected and interviewed. Results from descriptive analysis shows that the major reason why petty traders do not seek financial credit is lack of collateral. Lack of collateral was again mentioned by respondents as the major reason why they were denied credit. Majority of the respondents resort to joining susu groups/rotating savings and credit associations in dealing with the challenges they face in accessing financial credit from banks and financial institutions. This study provides an evidence of the significant importance of susu groups/rotating savings and credit associations in the business activities of petty traders in Ghana.
The full-scale avalanche test site, Lautaret, France.

8 OGS, Udine (Italy) ABSTRACT: The Lautaret full-scale avalanche test site in the southern French Alps has been used by IRSTEA (Cemagref) Research Institute since 1973. Over the recent years two avalanche paths are used to release small to medium avalanches 3 or 4 times each winter. Avalanche flows are generally dense, whether wet or dry, sometimes with a powder part. Main path n°2 (track length 800 m) is dedi- cated to avalanche dynamics. Within the flow of the avalanche, flow height and vertical profiles of pressure and velocity are measured along a 3.5 m tripod. The snow volume released in the starting zone is quantified by a differential analysis of laser scanning measurements set before and after trig- gering. A high rate positioning of the avalanche along the track is determined from terrestrial oblique photogrammetry. Above the dense layer, the saltation layer and the powder part are characterized by particles and air fluxes measurements. In path n°1 smaller in size, medium-size avalanches (track length 500 m) make this track of particular interest for experiments on structures. A macroscopic sen- sor-structure is set nearly 150 m downhill from the starting zone, that is, in the area where avalanches generally reach their maximum velocity. It consists is a one square-meter plate supported by a 3.5 m high steel cantilever fixed in the ground, facing the avalanche. Impact pressures are reconstructed from the cantilever deformations, while avalanche velocity is measured from optical sensors. Seismic signals generated by avalanches of those 2 paths are recorded by a 3-axial broadband seismometer. Around those experimental devices dedicated to the understanding of avalanche physics, a national and international partnership has been developed from years to years, including INSA de Lyon, CNRS and Universite Joseph Fourier (France), Aalto University (Finland), Nagoya University (Japan), Boku University (Austria), IGEMA (Bolivia), OGS (Italy)
Labour Market Reform and the Effectiveness of Monetary Policy in EMU

This paper analyses the interaction between a common monetary policy and differentiated labour market institutions. We develop a model of a two country monetary union. In each country, labour markets are distinguished by the degree of centralisation in wage bargaining. In each country the government can also use an instrument (general taxation or payroll taxes) to influence their overall labour costs. Finally a common monetary policy is followed in a "conservative" manner, as defined by Rogoff (1985). The results show structural and preference asymmetries matter, both in the determination of economic policy and in performance. In particular, centralised labour market institutions confer a certain comparative advantage in policy making which provides a natural incentive for the less flexible (or less reformed) to want to join a currency union; and also for the more flexible to stay outside. This lowers the incentives for reform inside the union, as Calmfors and others have conjectured.
A Circularly Polarized Antenna Array with a Convenient Bandwidth/Size Ratio Based on Non-Identical Disc Elements

This paper presents the design and development of a circularly polarized microstrip antenna array for C-band application. The proposed antenna has a convenient trade-off between bandwidth and dimension. The array design is based on the sequential phase arrangement (SPA) of 2× 2 non-identical disc-based patch elements, operating in modal degeneration. Exploiting the properties of the SPA, capable of forcing CP even when operating on linear polarized elements, each disc is independently detuned to operate on non-perfectly overlapping bands. When properly fed by a sequential phase network (SPN), the set of four discs seamlessly covers the wide cumulative bandwidth which is the combination of the four sub-channels. To verify the design, a single-layer via-less array was fabricated in a compact printed square board of side 40 mm, meaning a surface of 0. 64λ 2 at the center frequency of 6.0 GHz, assembling the elements with a compact space-filling SPN. Measurements show a wide 10 dB return loss bandwidth of 28.5%, a 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth exceeding 1 GHz, and a realized gain ranging from 4.1 dB to 7.25 dB inside the AR bandwidth. The global bandwidth of the proposed array, almost coincident with the AR bandwidth, is 17.0%.
THE RELEVANCE OF ACCOUNTING INFORMATION IN BOND MARKET

Previous empirical research on accounting information has focused on stock market, and has not examined for bond market. The accounting information should differ for stockholders and bondholders. This paper investigates the role of accounting quality in improving bond liquidity. High accounting quality not only reduces information asymmetry, but also decreases overall uncertainty in the market, thereby improving liquidity. The objective of this study is to examine the role of accounting quality in the bond market, and the results highlight the importance of information quality in improving liquidity. I use earnings quality as accounting quality’s measurement. The result showed that accounting information had influence in bond market
The archaeology of western Arnhem Land’s rock art

Western Arnhem Land, in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory, holds a special place in the history of Australian archaeology. Over 65 years of research since the late 1940s has led to numerous rockshelters being excavated and the documentation of an astonishing array of imagery on shelter walls and ceilings (Figure 1.1). Arnhem Land’s spectacular rocky landscapes, home to rare flora and fauna, hold one of the richest and longest archaeological records in Australia. To the broader world remote and rugged in its physical state, Arnhem Land was transformed over tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal settlement into sequential networks of cultural landscapes, clan estates, sacred sites and places imbued with complex history. Its rock art is amongst the richest, most diverse and visually most impressive regional assemblage anywhere in the world. Themes in recent rock art research include detailed analysis of changing subject matter, radiocarbon dating of beeswax figures, Harris Matrix sequences and excavating in deposits under painted surfaces – all further developed in this monograph.
Barriers to the Hiring of English Teachers in English Training Schools in Hefei City, China

English teaching and learning has become an integral part of the Chinese educational system. Due to the opening up policy of the Chinese government to the rest of the world, the need to reform in line with the changing demands of the time became necessary. This therefore led to the influx of potential foreign English teachers in to the country due to the demand for foreign English teachers. The study therefore explores the factors influencing the hiring decisions of potential foreign English teachers in Hefei. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents with the help of SPSS as the analysing tool. Using logistic regression model it made it possible to better understand the impact of the factors that influence hiring decisions. Results indicated that gender and experience were statistically significant. Colour and educational level were not statistically significant but important in the hiring decisions. Nationality of a potential foreign English teacher was not significant and also not important in the hiring decisions. The study concludes that professional recruiters should be put in place during the hiring process. It therefore suggests that competence should be a key factor in the hiring decisions of potential foreign English teachers in order to better learner’s outcomes and to meet the objective of the state.
FORECASTING THE BEHAVIOR OF FRACTAL TIME SERIES: HURST EXPONENT AS A MEASURE OF PREDICTABILITY

The Hurst exponent (H) is a statistical measure used to classify time series. H = 0.5 indicates a random series while H > 0.5 indicates a trend reinforcing series. The larger the H value is the stronger trend. In this paper we investigate the use of the Hurst exponent to classify series of financial data representing different periods of time. In this paper we show that series with large values of the Hurst exponent can be predicted more accurately than those series with H value close to 0.5. Thus the Hurst exponent provides a measure for predictability.
Approaches toward the development of DNA vaccine for influenza virus

The main goals of this investigation were to prepare a viral DNA vaccine to help stimulate the immune system of poultry and to increase the efficiency of this vaccine. To accomplish this work, a strain of H5N1 circulating in Egypt was confirmed using rapid diagnostic methods and also, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes. The virus was propagated in MDCK cell line and the viral genes were extracted and reverse transcribed individually. Individual genes were cloned in gene expression vector (PHW2000) and were used as DNA vaccine. The level of maternal antibodies was determined by ELISA to appoint the right time to give the vaccine. The chicks were divided into eight groups and each group was vaccinated by the couple of DNA NP with one of the other genes. The efficiency of coupled DNA vaccine was determined by neutralization assay and compared with the inactivated vaccine. The results showed that the vaccine that had NP with NS had adequate protection for poultry. Key words: H5N1, virus, vaccine, poultry, DNA.
OPTIMALLY STAGGERED FINNED CIRCULAR AND ELLIPTIC TUBES IN FORCED CONVECTION

This work presents a three-dimensional (3-D) numerical and experimental geometric optimization study to maximize the total heat transfer rate between a bundle of finned tubes in a given volume and a given external flow both for circular and elliptic arrangements, for general staggered configurations. The optimization procedure started by recognizing the design limited space availability as a fixed volume constraint. The experimental results were obtained for circular and elliptic configurations with a fixed number of tubes (12), starting with an equilateral triangle configuration, which fitted uniformly into the fixed volume with a resulting maximum dimensionless tube-to-tube spacing S/2b = 1.5, where S is the actual spacing and b is the smaller ellipse semi-axis. Several experimental configurations were built by reducing the tube-to-tube spacings, identifying the optimal spacing for maximum heat transfer. Similarly, it was possible to investigate the existence of optima with respect to other two geometric degrees of freedom, i.e., tube eccentricity and fin-to-fin spacing. The results are reported for air as
24 Gene-Silencing for Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

In the last decade, great advances in RNA biology have been achieved. Microand shortinterfering RNAs were once thought to be degradation products of larger RNA molecules. With the knowledge of today we know that they represent independent classes of small noncoding (~ 20-30 nt) RNAs regulating various cellular processes across the eukaryotes. The first miRNA lin4 was discovered in the Nematode C. elegans in the year 1993, when Lee et al. [1] demonstrated that this transcript works as an endogenous regulator of genes that control developmental timing. Five years later Fire et al. [2] showed the ability of exogenous double stranded RNA to targeted posttranscriptional gene silencing, which recognizes each target by Watson-Crick base pairing. This scientific breakthrough was awarded with the novel price 2007. The RNA interference (RNAi) is a naturally happening catalytic process, offering the possibility to silence every pathological interesting gene which is defective expressed in a given disease. Thus it will give new approaches in the development and applications of siRNA-based therapeutics. Since cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western world this chapter will discuss possible applications of siand miRNA-based therapeutics and delivery systems with special regard to atherosclerosis, ischemic heartdisease and hypertension.