bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closing the Gap: Results of the Multicenter Canadian Randomized Controlled Trial of Structured Transition in Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Spaic Tamara , Robinson Tracy , Goldbloom Ellen , Gallego Patricia , Hramiak Irene , Lawson Margaret L. , Malcolm Janine , Mahon Jeffrey , Morrison Deric , Parikh Amish , Simone Angelo , Stein Robert , Uvarov Artem , Clarson Cheril ,   JDRF Canadian Clinical Trial CCTN1102 Study Group, Spaic T. , Robinson T. , Goldbloom EB. , Gallego P. , Hramiak I. , Lawson ML. , Malcolm J. , Mahon JL. , Morrison D. , Parikh A. , Simone A. , Stein R. , Uvarov A. , Clarson C. L. , Spaic Tamara , Robinson Tracy , Goldbloom Ellen , Gallego Patricia , Hramiak Irene , Lawson Margaret , Malcolm Janine , Mahon Jeffrey , Morrison Deric , Parikh Amish , Simone Angelo , Stein Robert , Uvarov Artem , Clarson Cheril
Published: April 2019

OBJECTIVE

To determine if a structured transition program for young adults with type 1 diabetes improves clinic attendance, glycemic control, diabetes-related distress, quality of life, and satisfaction with care.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, young adults (17–20 years) with type 1 diabetes were randomly assigned to a transition program with a transition coordinator or to standard care. The intervention lasted 18 months (6 in pediatric and 12 in adult care). The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who failed to attend at least one adult diabetes clinic visit during the 12-month follow-up after completion of the intervention.

RESULTS

We randomized 205 participants, 104 to the transition program and 101 to standard care. Clinic attendance was improved in the transition program (mean [SD] number of visits 4.1 [1.1] vs. 3.6 [1.2], P = 0.002), and there was greater satisfaction with care (mean [SD] score 29.0 [2.7] vs. 27.9 [3.4], P = 0.032) and less diabetes-related distress (mean [SD] score 1.9 [0.8] vs. 2.1 [0.8], P = 0.049) reported than in standard care. There was a trend toward improvement in mean HbA1c (8.33% [68 mmol/mol] vs. 8.80% [73 mmol/mol], P = 0.057). During the 12-month follow-up, there was no difference in those failing to attend at least one clinic visit (P = 0.846), and the mean change in HbA1c did not differ between the groups (P = 0.073). At completion of follow-up, the groups did not differ with respect to satisfaction with care or diabetes-related distress and quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition support during this 18-month intervention was associated with increased clinic attendance, improved satisfaction with care, and decreased diabetes-related distress, but these benefits were not sustained 12 months after completion of the intervention.
Prevalence and Prognosis of Unrecognized Myocardial Infarction in Asymptomatic Patients With Diabetes: A Two-Center Study With Up to 5 Years of Follow-up
Authors: Elliott Michael D. , Heitner John F. , Kim Han , Wu Edwin , Parker Michele A. , Lee Daniel C. , Kaufman Dixon B. , Bonow Robert O. , Judd Robert , Kim Raymond J.
Published: April 2019

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and prognostic significance of unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) by delayed-enhancement MRI (DE-MRI) in asymptomatic patients with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this prospective, two-center study of asymptomatic patients without known cardiac disease (n = 120), two prespecified cohorts underwent a research MRI: 1) a high-risk group with type 1 diabetes and chronic renal insufficiency (n = 50) and 2) an average-risk group with type 2 diabetes (n = 70). The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality and clinical MI.

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalence of unrecognized MI was 19% by DE-MRI (28% high-risk group and 13% average-risk group) and 5% by electrocardiography. During up to 5 years of follow-up with a total of 460 patient-years of follow-up, the rate of death/MI was markedly higher in patients with diabetes with (vs. without) unrecognized MI (all 44% vs. 7%, high-risk group 43% vs. 6%, and average-risk group 44% vs. 8%; all P < 0.01). After adjustment for Framingham risk score, left ventricular ejection fraction, and diabetes type, the presence of unrecognized MI by DE-MRI conferred an eightfold increase in risk of death/MI (95% CI 3.0–21.1, P < 0.0001). Addition of unrecognized MI to clinical indices significantly improved model discrimination for adverse events (integrated discrimination improvement = 0.156, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Unrecognized MI is prevalent in asymptomatic patients with diabetes without a history of cardiac disease and confers a markedly increased risk of death and clinical MI.
Process characterization in laser metal deposition of EN AC-43000
Authors: Guepner Michael , Drawert Tristan , Bliedtner Jens
Published: April 2019

EN AC-43000 is a well-established cast material for the production of parts, which are used in the automotive and optical industries. Typical components like cylinder heads, control blocks for automatic transmissions, or housing are manufactured via die or sand casting. The casting process depends on a lot of influencing parameters and is difficult to control. Reject rates up to 10% are the consequence. Those parts are mostly characterized by defects like pores, blowholes, or surface deviations. Such defects restrict the functionality of the component, especially if they are located next to sealing surfaces or at mechanically or thermally high strained areas. In general, defect components are recycled by putting them back to the melt feeding of the casting process. An alternate approach in the presented paper is the repair of the defect components via powder-based laser metal deposition (LMD). EN AC-43000 represents a group of aluminum alloys that are characterized by a restricted weldability. Difficult material properties like the affinity to oxygen and the high thermal diffusivity cause porosity and high dilution. Welding experiments are performed using a disc laser with a maximum output power of 4 kW. The typical seam parameters, such as width, height, depth, and cross-sectional area, are measured in order to characterize the LMD process and to define process limits. Furthermore, the ways to optimize dilution and porosity are presented.
Laser based method for surface tension and density measurements for liquid refractory metals (Nb, Ta, and W)
Authors: Dal Morgan , Coste Frédéric , Schneider Matthieu , Bolis Riccardo , Fabbro Rémy
Published: April 2019

The increase of process simulations in industry leads to the need of accurate knowledge of material thermal properties. As the determination of liquid metal properties is quite difficult, this article presents an experimental setup and a technique to estimate the surface tension and the density of several refractory metals (Nb, Ta, and W) and their variation with the temperature. This work is based on the well known sessile droplet method applied in a controlled atmosphere (Ar) and coupled to thermal measurements. The particularity of this work is the acquisition of measurements up to high temperatures (over 3500 K).
Polar Research and the Secrets of the Arctic
Authors: Pedersen Torbjørn
Published: April 2019

The advantages that some military establishments have enjoyed in the remote Arctic region are diminishing. The military secrets of the Arctic Ocean are being progressively uncloaked, as civilian polar research expands into areas previously known only to a few. This study examines the security ramifications of broadened international research into what has been the most inhospitable and exclusive operational area on Earth. Firstly, the study argues that successful military operations in the Arctic depend on extended knowledge about area-specific issues related to e.g. the upper atmosphere and magnetosphere, weather, sea ice, ocean structure and dynamics, seafloor bathymetry and sediments, as well as reliable target detection systems. Secondly, it finds that a number of nations, both Arctic and non-Arctic, have stepped up their polar research in recent years. Secrets once held by a few are now accessible to many through international cooperation, data-sharing and open-access publishing. Finally, the study concludes that knowledge proliferation is likely to level the Arctic battlefield. Lending terms from Mica Endsley’s three-level Situation Awareness model, polar research will result in increasingly shared perceptions about the Arctic operational environment, contribute to a more uniform comprehension of the elements, and even enable new actors to project a future state of the Arctic environment.
Incorporation of Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Management
Authors: Schatz Valentin
Published: April 2019

On October 3, 2018, the so-called “Arctic Five plus Five” concluded the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAOFA, CAOF Agreement or Ilulissat Agreement). The CAOFA establishes a precautionary framework for the regulation of fisheries in the high seas of the central Arctic Ocean (CAO), including a temporary moratorium on unregulated commercial fishing. The purpose of this debate article is not to discuss the CAOFA’s provisions on fisheries as such, but to take a look at a number of interesting and novel provisions concerning the interests of indigenous and local communities, particularly with respect to incorporation of indigenous and local knowledge into science-based fisheries management in the CAO.
Synthèse des données probantes - Évaluation de la communication des risques en présence de changements climatiques et de phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes : examen de la portée
Authors: MacIntyre Elaina , Khanna Sanjay , Darychuk Anthea , Copes Ray , Schwartz Brian
Published: April 2019

Introduction

La communication des risques au public demeure un défi pour les professionnels de la santé publique oeuvrant dans le secteur des changements climatiques. Nous avons effectué un examen de la portée de la littérature sur l’évaluation de la communication des risques en présence de phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes et de changements climatiques dans le but de créer des messages en matière de santé publique à l’échelle locale conformes aux exigences des Normes de santé publique de l’Ontario (NSPO). Ces normes ont été mises à jour en 2018 pour inclure la communication efficace de messages sur les changements climatiques et les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes.

Méthodologie

Des spécialistes en bibliothéconomie ont établi des stratégies de recherche pour recenser les publications universitaires revues par des pairs et la littérature grise dans plusieurs bases de données bibliographiques (Medline, Embase, Scopus et CINAHL) et dans les moteurs de recherche Google nationaux. Cette stratégie de recherche a été validée lors d’un atelier avec des experts et des intervenants communautaires spécialisés en environnement, en santé, en gestion des urgences et en communication des risques.

Résultats

Au total, 43 articles ont été retenus. Ces articles traitaient principalement des changements climatiques (n = 22), des inondations (n = 12), des ouragans (n = 5), de la chaleur extrême (n = 2) et des incendies de forêt (n = 2). Les études provenaient principalement des États-Unis (n = 14), de l’Europe (n = 6) et du Canada (n = 5).

Conclusion

Pour satisfaire aux NSPO de 2018, les professionnels de la santé publique doivent communiquer efficacement les risques afin d’encourager la prise de mesures efficaces à l’échelle locale aptes à atténuer les effets des phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes et des changements climatiques. D’après notre examen de la portée, les efforts de communication des risques durant les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes de courte durée semblent plus efficaces que les efforts de communication des risques liés aux changements climatiques. Cela pourrait constituer une occasion unique pour les intervenants en santé publique d’appliquer les stratégies couramment utilisées pour les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes aux changements climatiques.
A narrative model for exploring climate change engagement among young community leaders
Authors: Malena-Chan Rachel
Published: April 2019

Introduction

Decades of widespread knowledge about climate change have not translated into adequate action to address impacts on population health and health equity in Canada. Research has shown that context-based perceptions and interpretations mediate engagement. Exploring climate change engagement involves inquiry into contextual experience.

Methods

This qualitative study has employed narrative methodology to interpret the meaning of climate change among community leaders in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, age 20-40 (n = 10). Climate change narratives were explored both structurally and thematically.

Results

A model was developed to organize results and to describe concepts of fidelity and dissonance within participant narratives. Findings suggested that knowledge of climate change and personal motivation to act did not preclude narrative dissonance, which served as a barrier to a meaningful personal response. Dissonance can result where internal and external barriers mediate mobilization at moments in the plot: (1) moving from knowledge of the challenge to a sense of agency about it; (2) from agency to a sense of responsibility to choose to address it; (3) from responsibility to a sense of capacity to produce desirable outcomes despite contextual challenges; and (4) from capacity to a moral sense of activation in context. Without narrative fidelity, meaningful mobilization can be hindered.

Conclusions

A narrative model is useful for exploring climate change engagement and highlights opportunities for a population health approach to address the conditions that hinder meaningful mobilization. By framing climate change narratives with emotional and moral logic, population health framing could help young leaders overcome internal and external barriers to engagement.
Knowledge management in electronic government : an exploratory study of local authorities in Malaysia
Authors: Salleh Kalsom , Syed Ahmad Syed Noh
Published: April 2019

Public sector organizations in developing countries have not received much attention in the research literature of Knowledge Management (KM). The potential impact of KM in the public sector organizations affecting the stakeholders is greater compared to private sector organizations. This paper explores the role of KM in Local Authorities in the broader perspective towards achieving the Electronic Government (E-Government) orientation in Malaysia. This research used a survey questionnaire distributed to all senior and middle management government officers in a multiple case study of three types of Local Authorities located in the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory and the state of Selangor. These officers are responsible for strategic policies and operational management in various departments of the Local Authorities. The responses from the questionnaires will provide answers to two critical areas: awareness and readiness of KM adoption in terms of physical assets (KM technology) and intellectual assets (ICT skills and ICT trainings provided to management staff) and also the perceived opportunities and challenges in using KM as a strategic tool in developing knowledge - based civil service and the implementation of E-Government.
The money market sensitivity on the stock market
Authors: Wan Mahmood Wan Mansor , Mohd Yusoff Zetty Zahureen
Published: April 2019

This paper employs the cointegration tests and error correction model to investigate the impact ofeasing money market on stock returns in Malaysia following the Asian financial crisis during 1997 to 2000. The monthly data on Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offer Rates (KLIBOR), the monthly closing of Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) andthe sector indexes - construction, consumer product, finance, industrial product, plantation, properties, mining, andtrading andservices, from January I, 1997 to December 31,2000 are used. The results suggest that there is long-term relationship between KLlBOR andsub sample 2, KLlBOR and constructions, KLlBOR and properties, and KLlBOR and mining.
A study on the national council of welfare and social development Malaysia : the state of financial reporting of charity organizations
Authors: Othman Radiah , Said Jamaliah , Mohd Nasir Noraini
Published: April 2019

In most countries, companies are required to submit their annual financial reports to the relevant authorities. Similarly, some countrIes require charitable organizations to submit their annual reports to the relevant authorities. In Malaysia, all charity organizations, as part of non-profit organizations, have I to be registered with the Registrar ofSocieties (ROS). As part ofthe legal requirement, these organizations must submit their annual reports, including I their financial reports, to the ROS within the stipulated time period. However, less than 50% of the charity organizations do not do so. Thus this study attempts to determine the current state of financial reporting of the charity organizations in the country and highlight major issues and problems faced by them in preparing the financial reports. It is hoped that the findings of this research would assist the relevant authorities andthe organizations themselves to overcome problems related to the non-submission of annual reports as required by the ROS. Annual reports of 32 charity organizations were reviewed for this study and it was found that there were varying degree ofreporting practices among them. All had submitted their balance sheets, but only 60% presented cash flow statement and only 59% had their financial statement auditedby external auditors. Among the problems faced by these organizations in preparing the financial statements were the lack of skilled accounting staff and high staff turnover. These problems may have contributed to the low number ofcharity organizations submitting the annual reports to the ROS.
Exploring entrepreneurial knowledge and usage of Islamic micro financing : a case study on Islamic guarantee Schemes of Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC)
Authors: Ahmad Ismail , Ali Husniyati , Pyeman Jaafar , Osman Muhamad Rahimi
Published: April 2019

In 2006, the Malaysian government implemented a sustainable and comprehensive microfinance institutional framework. Since then, many of the jinancial institutions have laun ched microjinance products. The Islamic finance as such can flourish in the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the microfinance sector since financing in Islam involves the real economy. The Islamic financing which is based on Shari'ah differs in its spirit and motivation as compared to the conventional one. This paper, attempts to explore the Islamic Guarantee Schemes services as provided by the Credit Guarant ee Corporation (CGC). What are the factors that could lead the SMEs to go for Islamic Guarantee Schemes and what are their perceptions and knowledge of Islamic financing? The data set utilized in this study has been obtained via a selfadministered questionnaire, based on samples of 125 CGC's clients. Results of the survey postulated that many of the entrepreneurs were not aware of the existence of Islamic Guarantee Schemes, and their knowledge pertaining to the Shari 'ah principles of Islamic microfinancing is rather shallow. The results have important implications to the policy makers in strengthening the use of Islamic microfinancing among SMEs. The CGC also must work with a concerted effort with participating financial institutions to market these schemes to other entrepreneurs, who may be looking f or alternative modes of financing, which are Shari'ah compliant.
The tacit knowledge dimension for knowledge management in higher education organizations
Authors: Hitam Mizan , Mahat Sabariah , K Rajasegaran
Published: April 2019

Knowledge is the icon of the new economy. It is now touted as the most likely source of competitive advantage. Therefore, knowledge management (KM) is seen as an innovation with the potential to affect the whole of an organizations business. Being in the knowledge business, higher education organizations (HEOs) are not an exception to this imperative more so when there is a long history of HEOs successfully adopting management philosophies from the business world. However, KM in HEOs has not caught the attention of mainstream KM researchers and this qualitative study was an attempt to fulfill this research niche. The purpose ofthis paper is to explore the nature of knowledge to be incorporated in the knowledge base of HEOs, A major mode of data collection in this study was through face-to face interviews. Twenty lecturers were interviewed. The results demonstrate that the nature of explicit knowledge in HEOs relates to the organization, the people in authority, the various offices, bursary, library, faculties, staff portal, student portal, and other relevant information. Tacit knowledge is concerned with issues and mailers relating to students, lecturers' beliefs towards teaching, interacting with members in the organization and managing organizational constraints.
OLELT (Online English Language Training) as a means of harnessing human capital and propagating learning organization
Authors: Wan Mustapha Wan Zumusni , Abd Razak Norizan , Hussin Supyan
Published: April 2019

With rapid development in e-learning in Malaysia Higher learning institutions, UiTM also plays a proactive role in knowledge dissemination and acculturation by embarking on online training. With the increasing use of Internet and computer at the workplace, e-training should be recognized as a way to meet the current challenges and workplace demands to propagate life long learning and learning organization. This paper studies the self-directed learning experience on an on-line English Language training program known as Online English Language Training (OLELT). The training program was first implemented on UiTM Kelantan lecturers to help them improve their English Language proficiency. Using a case study, data were collected and analyzed qualitatively using in-depth interviews and observations on ten lecturers from various disciplines. The emerging themes show that online training is efficient, cost effective and motivating if it is properly planned and designed. It also promotes self-paced and continuous learning experience. However, there are barriers and constraints faced by the participants that need to be addressed.
Grocery shopping assistant for visually impaired
Authors: Dak Ahmad Yusri , Yahya Saadiah , Nik Abdull Malik Nik Mariza
Published: April 2019

Providing a great shopping experience to shoppers is the most competitive strategy taken by every grocery owners. They are striving to satisfy the growing demands of todays savvy shoppers. Unfortunately, most ofthe grocery owner is not actively pursuing a solution to create an independent shopping environment to their customers who are blind and visually impaired people. The information printed at the grocery items make shopping independently impossible for the blind and very difficult for visually impaired people. This sensory capability limits their shopping activities in identifying items at the grocery store. There are many kinds of grocery items that can be identified by the means of touch or smell such as vegetables and fruits, but it is a challenging effort to differentiate packaged items. Therefore, blind shoppers must rely on assistance from sighted individual or grocery store employee to help them in getting the exact items which may be burdening and a waste oftheir time. This situation will restrict the independence movement ofthe blind shoppers. The Grocery Shopping Assistant was created to assist the blind in identifying grocery items during shopping using Radio-frequency Identification (RFlD) and text to speech technology. The blind only need to touch the RFID tag attached at the grocery item to the RFID scanner. The necessary product information regarding the item will be extracted from the database based on the primary key. This text-based information will be converted into a voice based and push to the user s hand phone via Bluetooth technology. The implementation of this system allows blind people to shop as efficiently and safely as anyone else without having to rely on anyone. This study also investigates user satisfaction of the system. The result exhibits that the users are very impressive with the shopping independence that this system can offer them.
Critical success factors of expatriation by Malaysian international corporations
Authors: Awang Shuib Awang Rozaimie , Malie Senian , Mohd Esa Lsma Izza
Published: April 2019

Globalization is fuelling competition f or international expansion. As firms move from creating new products and services to marketing, this effort requires increased expatriation to achieve global business goals. This study identifies critical success factors (CSF) relating to expatriation by Malaysian corporations operating internationally and identifies a number of strategies that can be adopted by these corporations to enhance their viability overseas. In addition, this study reviews current issues related to expatriation and identifies and ranks factors that contribute to the success or failure of expatriation by Malays ian corporations. Self-a dministered questionnaires were developed to collect the primary data, yielding a response rate of 35. 2 percent. The results indicate that most Malaysian manufactur ers are involved in expatriation activities. The ability to work in international teams was identified and ranked as the most important factor in determining the effectiveness of expatriation. Language proficiency ranked next in importance. In addition, adaptability to the international assignment and expatriate sensitivity to cultural elements were considered important to the success or failure of an international assignment. Results support previous research with regard to the importance ofan effective expatriation selection process in order for a companys international expansion strategy to succeed.
Attaining competitive advantage through effective Supply Chain Management of SMEs
Authors: Ismail Noraini , Mohd Roslin Rosmimah
Published: April 2019

The inter organizational approach where relational elements are incorporated in the analysis of Supply Chain Management (SCM) of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is adopted in this study. This is in line with the study's main intention of assessing the determinants or drivers for effective SCM of small businesses and their impact on the attainment of competitive advantage. The findings suggest an interesting perspective on SCM and distribution channel functions among SMEs where elements of information sharing cooperation and integration are linked to competitive advantage. The correlation amongst the three independent variables of cooperation, information sharing and integration with competitive advantage are all significant, depicting the relevancy for SMEs to focus on these relational elements. The highest correlation is noted between information sharing and integration and this definitely makes sense as SMEs strive to integrate their functions that are moving towards the attainment of common goals. Thus, the more integrated the functions amongst supply chain and distribution partners, the more likely that information would be shared amongst them. However, it is interesting to note that the predictive ability of the relational elements of cooperation, information sharing and integration on competitive advantage is not supported through the regression analysis. In other words, the existence of cooperation, information sharing and integration amongst supply chain and distribution channel members do not necessarily predict that competitive advantage will be attained. There are perhaps other factors that should be considered besides relational elements that influence competitive advantage.
Business students at university : are they trained to cheat?
Authors: Mohd Khalid Faizah , Hasan Siti Jeslyn
Published: April 2019

Over decades, we have been bombarded with an increased of corporate scandals involving allegations of unethical behaviours mostly against accounting fraud. The debacles left us to ponder whether the education system implemented at university levels and education modules have taught students to be corrupted rather than acted responsibly and ethically. This study centres on business students at one of the private higher learning institutions in Malaysia. Surprisingly, the finding indicates that majority of students has cheated throughout their period of study. The research discovers that students’ cheating behaviour is influenced by their beliefs; on what constitutes cheating and the perception that cheating has become a common behaviour among other students. In addition, gender, academic performance (i.e. grade point average) and area of specialization have also significantly influenced on academic dishonesty. The results of the study illustrate that strict monitoring and fear of being prosecuted may reduce the tendency of cheating. Seeing that this situation has reached at an alarming stage, thus, the study has recommended some guidelines to the universities for its implementation. It is believed that by enhancing academic code of conducts, incorporating ethics components in subjects taught and establishing ethical community-building among students are advantageous to inculcate a sense of responsibility towards ethical behaviour and organise rigorous campaigns to promote integrity as way of life.
Assessing multicollinearity via identification of high leverage points in financial accounting data
Authors: Mohamed Ramli Norazan , Mahmud Zamalia , Zakaria Husein , Idris Mohammad Radzi , Abdul Aziz Alizan
Published: April 2019

Inaccurate and invalid statistical inferences in regression analysis may be caused by multicollinearity due to the presence of high leverage points (HLP) in a data set. Therefore, it is important that high leverage point which is a form ofoutlier be detected because its existence can lead to misfitting of a regression model, thus resulting in inaccuracy of regression results. In this paper, several methods have been proposed to identify HLP in a financial accounting data set prior to conducting further analysis of regression and other multivariate analysis. The Pearson scorrelation coefficient and variance inflation factors (VIF) were used to measure the success of a detection method. Numerical analysis showed that common diagnostics like the twice-mean and thrice-mean rules failed to detect HLP in the given data set whilst robust approaches such as the potentials and diagnostic-robust generalized potentials (DRGP) methods were found to be successful in identifying high leverage point as indicated by lower values of the Pearson s correlation coefficient and variance inflation factors.
Can behavioural theories explain the initial return of Malaysian IPOs?
Authors: Fen Nee Chong
Published: April 2019

This paper investigated the impact of behavioural biases on the initial returns ofMalaysian IPOs from the perspectives of divergence of opinion and representative heuristics theories. The initial returns were calculated using 142 IPO samples listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia (formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange). In addition to the behavioural proxies, ex-ante variables were included as control variables in the models for analysis. The findings showed support for initial underpricing of66.51%. Behavioural biases, divergence ofopinion and representative heuristics, were found to have significant explanatory powers over initial returns. The findings fit well with the profile of the Malaysian market whereby the majority of the investors are individuals who are not well-informed and have an emerging market status.
The corporate governance structures of GLCs and NGLCs and firm performance in Malaysia
Authors: Abd. Hamid Azmi
Published: April 2019

This study examines the relationship between corporate governance structures and the performance of matched-pairs of Government Linked Companies (GLCs ) and Non-Government Linked Companies INGLCs). The empirical results indicate that there are eight statisticallv significant differences between the corporate governance structures of GLCs and NGLCs, thus providing a rationale for examining the association between corporate governance structure and firm performance of these two distinct groups. Accordingly, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on two sample sets: GLCs and NGLCs. In the univariate analysis, only Board size (BSZ) exhibited a significant relationship with respect to firm performance, in contrast the multivariate analysis found no empirical evidence of a consistent relationship between corporate governance structure and performance, which was measured in relation to return On Assets (ROA) and Return On Equity (ROE) in GLCs and NGLCs over the same period. Statistically significant relationships were found across groupings and for different performance measures, but were not sustained across all the years considered. The results indicate that despite the identification of eight differences in the governance structures of GLCs and NGLCs, the observed differences in firm performance cannot be explained by governance structure. This finding supports the view that governance structures purely provide appropriate means to monitor company management rather than improve performance.
Brand personality : a research on Malaysian consumers' perception of Starbucks Coffee outlet
Authors: Balakrishnan Bamini KPD , Lee Samuel , Md.Shuaib Azlinda Shazneem , Marmaya Najihah Hanisah
Published: April 2019

This study pertains to the use of the brand personality measurement framework as a means to investigate the pervasiveness of Starbucks, a foreign branded coffee outlet, in Malaysia. A survey was performed to obtain 261 consumer perceptions and opinions regarding the corporate branding of a foreign coffee outlet brand in Malaysia. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires from respondents in various cities throughout Malaysia using purposive and convenience sampling methods. Statistical analysis, including factor and reliability analysis, has been applied in order to statistically validate the findings ofthis research. The results of the analysis indicate that consumers identify Starbuck's to be distinctive and a confident brand.
Towards developing a service delivery improvement model for the Malaysian Hotel sector
Authors: Lahap Johanudin , G Barry O'Mahony , Sillitoe Jim
Published: April 2019

The Malaysian hotel industry has experienced significant growth in the last 10 years and many hotels in Malaysia are now opulent, new hotels achieving the highest standards of presentation. However, service delivery often lags behind the physical environment, struggles to meet international standards and ergo the expectations ofinternational guests. There are diverse views among service quality researchers as to how to improve service delivery standards. Consequently, this study seeks to develop an appropriate service delivery improvement model that provides a framework that can be used to attract, train, motivate and retain hotel employees. Within the literature many strategies have been presented that are designed to enhance both products and services in a variety of contexts. Among the better known ofthese are Total Quality Management (TQM), Six Sigma (SS), SERVQUAL (SQ), the Relationship Marketing paradigm (RM), Internal Marketing (1M) and Internal Market Orientation (IMO). The general view among scholars, however, is that there is a link between employee satisfaction and job performance. This article examines and analyses the most significant elements of various product and service improvement models, and presents a revised service delivery improvement model as afirst step in customising a modelfor the Malaysian hotel sector. The research concludes that a number of these elements are critical to service improvement, the authors note that the implementation of such a model will need to be further developed with assistance from industry stakeholders in Malaysia.
Cross community study of mathematics anxiety between the high school students in Illinois USA and Jordan
Authors: Mohammad Miqdadi Ruba
Published: April 2019

The purpose ofthe study is to examine whether there are any significant differences in the mathematics anxiety levels between high school students in Jordan and their counterparts in the United States. Another purpose is to examine whether there are gender differences related to mathematics anxiety among high school students ofboth communities. A total of 1,386 high school students in the United States and Jordan participated in main study. This study showed that Jordanian high school students exhibited a significantly higher mathematics anxiety than United States high school students. Furthermore, the study revealed that female high schooLstudents in the United States acquired a significantly higher mathematics anxiety level than males. Another finding of this study was that males in Jordan had a significantly higher leveL of mathematics anxiety than males in the United States. The findings and educational implications ofthe study are discussed in light ofthe cultural difference between the two communities.
Application of fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution in the selection of candidates
Authors: Ahmad Taharim Mohd Ariff , Kor Liew Kee
Published: April 2019

Selecting the right candidate for the right cause is similar to identifying the most compromising solution of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. In real life the selection criteriamay involve vague and incomplete data which cannot be expressed in precise mathematical form or numerical values. Apparently fuzzy-based technique can be applied to describe and represent these data in fuzzy numbers. This paper presents a MCDM fuzzy TOPSIS based model designed to solve the selection problemfor allocation of government staff quarters. Result shows that the proposed model is suitable and appropriate. It was also found that the MCDM model which uses single decision maker rating process can also be applied to multiple decision makers. It is recommended that the application of fuzzy TOPSIS can be extended to other selection processes such as vendor selection, training evaluation or group marking of project works.
Ilíada VI (407-439): la auto-configuración femenina de Andrómaca
Authors: Zamperetti Martín Deidamia Sofía
Published: April 2019

En el canto VI de Ilíada, Héctor y Andrómaca representan el lado íntimo de la guerra. Abordaremos aquí la auto-configuración del personaje de Andrómaca como mujer atendiendo a los distintos sentidos que asumen sus propias palabras. Nos proponemos estudiar, a partir de un análisis filológico-literario, el discurso del personaje de Andrómaca en el canto VI de Ilíada (407-439) teniendo en cuenta diversos recursos de análisis sintáctico, semántico y pragmático. El objetivo de esta investigación es detectar e indagar las estructuras predicativas y sus constituyentes –obligatorios o no– para dilucidar la funcionalidad de las mismas en relación con las distintas partes del discurso.
Breve reflexão sobre a mídia televisiva
Authors: Alves Fábio Carlos Rodrigues , Andreatta Dulce Whitaker Consuello
Published: April 2019

O presente artigo trata-se de uma análise sucinta sobre a mídia televisiva e sua cota de responsabilidade na perseguição política seletiva. Este artigo fora elaborado com base em pesquisa anterior denominada “Jornal Nacional um Caso de Amor com o Poder: Estudo de Adesão e Resistência à Ideologia do Grupo Globo em uma Cidade do Interior do Estado de São Paulo”, dos mesmos autores. Nesta pesquisa mais ampla, foram analisadas algumas reportagens do Jornal Nacional, como por exemplo as reportagens do Jornal Nacional sobre a substância fosfoetanolamina, e as matérias jornalísticas deste telejornal em relação aos ex-presidentes Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva e Dilma Vana Rousseff, sendo que concluímos por uma certa parcialidade do Jornal Nacional, seja para defender interesses de grandes anunciantes (corporações farmacêuticas, no caso das reportagens sobre a fosfoetanolamina), seja na perseguição política seletiva contra políticos do Partido dos Trabalhadores. Ademais, conforme os dados e entrevistas citados no bojo deste artigo (oriundos da análise de 300 questionários aplicados em 06 bairros da cidade de Araraquara/SP), chegamos a conclusões não terminativas, pois notamos que há um processo dialético: emissão hegemônica versus submissão/resistência da população.

Palavras chave: Mídia. Televisão. Política.
Diseño inteligente, evolución al azar, o evolución providencial
Authors: Alfonseca Manuel
Published: April 2019

Como todas las teorías científicas, la teoría de la evolución evoluciona. Sin embargo, eso no quiere decir que esté en crisis, como defienden diversos movimientos creacionistas. En particular, la teoría del diseño inteligente sostiene, apoyándose en argumentos supuestamente científicos, que la evolución no puede tener lugar sin intervención divina. En la postura opuesta, el ateísmo evolucionista sostiene que la evolución es mero resultado del azar, sin participación alguna del diseño. Ambas posturas son extra-científicas, porque no se puede demostrar que sean falsas. A lo sumo, pueden considerarse como hipótesis metafísicas. La evolución providencial, propuesta por el autor apoyándose en sus investigaciones en el campo de la vida artificial, que proporciona un ejemplo de la combinación de azar y diseño, podría considerarse como una versión puramente metafísica del diseño inteligente.
Otra autonomía de la ciencia. Reflexiones a la luz del pensamiento de Serguei Kará-murzá
Authors: Pelacho López María Teresa
Published: April 2019

El objetivo del artículo es reivindicar la restauración de la unidad entre Ciencia y Ética, a la luz de las ideas difundidas por Serguei Kara-murzá desde los años noventa del siglo XX. Según este autor, para frenar el grave deterioro en las relaciones económicas, sociales, políticas y ambientales, la civilización occidental debe romper definitivamente con ciertos postulados de la Modernidad y, en particular, debe recuperar la unidad entre la Ciencia y la Ética, alejándose del cuestionado pero aún imperante modelo antropológico que concibe al hombre como desarraigado de la naturaleza, y recuperando a la vez la unidad entre los conceptos de libertad y responsabilidad.
La ciencia romántica. Intento de respuesta a una réplica de J. Arana
Authors: Hernández Pacheco Javier
Published: April 2019

Se trata de un breve comentario a la réplica de J. Arana a mi artículo: "Filosofía y ciencia. Propuesta de una solución hermenéutica al problema de su discontinuidad", publicados ambos en Naturaleza y libertad, 5 (2015).
Presentación
Authors: Fernández Fernando
Published: April 2019

Organizado por AEDOS —con la colaboración de la Cátedra de Ética Económica y Empresarial ICAI-ICADE, de la Asociación de Filosofía y Ciencia Contemporánea y del Seminario Permanente Naturaleza y Libertad— tuvo lugar, el sábado 11 de junio de 2016, la XVII sesión del Seminario Permanente Bibliográfico en la Universidad Pontificia Comillas.
Investigation of Gas Foil Bearings With an Adaptive and Non-Linear Structure
Authors: Żywica Grzegorz , Bagiński Paweł
Published: April 2019

The article discusses the results of simulation-based and experimental research carried out on gas foil bearings. Owing to the use of a set of flexible thin foils in such bearings, they exhibit certain beneficial features that cannot be found in other types of bearings. They have nonlinear operational characteristics and allow the dissipation of excess energy, thus reducing the vibration level. Moreover, gas foil bearings can self-adapt themselves to the current operating conditions by changing the shape of the lubrication gap. Therefore, they can be used to improve the dynamic performance of rotors, in particular, those operating at very high rotational speeds. This article explains the mechanisms for changes of stiffness and vibration damping in compliant components of a foil bearing. The results of the analysis of the bearing’s subassemblies using advanced numerical models are presented. They are followed by conclusions that were drawn not only from these results but also from the results of the experimental research. It has been proven that the rotor supported on carefully designed foil bearings is capable of maintaining a low vibration level, even if it operates at a high rotational speed.
Experimental Investigations of Elimination The Stick-Slip Phenomenon in The Presence of Longitudinal Tangential Vibration
Authors: Leus Mariusz , Abrahamowicz Marta
Published: April 2019

The article presents a scheme and description of the test stand as well as selected experimental results of the influence of longitudinal tangential vibrations on the stick-slip phenomenon. The tests were carried out at a constant forced vibration frequency f = 2000 Hz, as a function of the amplitude of the vibration velocity va
. The position of the sliding body and the drive force necessary to make the body slip and maintain this motion were measured. The measurements were made in two successive stages. In the first stage, when the substrate on which the sliding occurred was stationary. In the second one, the substrate is in a vibrating motion in the direction parallel to the slip. The conducted experimental analyses have shown that longitudinal tangential vibrations can contribute to the reduction or even complete elimination of the stick-slip phenomenon.
Periodic Trends in Two-Phase Flow Through a Vertical Minichannel: Wavelet and Multiscale Entropy Analyses Based on Digital Camera Data
Authors: Górski Grzegorz , Litak Grzegorz , Mosdorf Romuald , Rysak Andrzej
Published: April 2019

By changing the air and water flow relative rates in the two-phase (air-water) flow through a minichannel, we observe aggregation and partitioning of air bubbles and slugs of different sizes. An air bubble arrangement, which show non-periodic and periodic patterns. The spatiotemporal behaviour was recorded by a digital camera. Multiscale entropy analysis is a method of measuring the time series complexity. The main aim of the paper was testing the possibility of implementation of multiscale entropy for two-phase flow patterns classification. For better understanding, the dynamics of the two-phase flow patterns inside the minichannel histograms and wavelet methods were also used. In particular, we found a clear distinction between bubbles and slugs formations in terms of multiscale entropy. On the other hand, the intermediate region was effected by appearance of both forms in non-periodic and periodic sequences. The preliminary results were confirmed by using histograms and wavelets.
Research on the Properties of Co-Tic and Ni-Tic Hip-Sintered Alloys
Authors: Cherepova Tetiana , Dmitrieva Galyna , Tisov Oleksandr , Dukhota Oleksandr , Kindrachuk Myroslav
Published: April 2019

Three types of sintered alloys were fabricated based on cobalt, nickel and high-temperature alloy ZhS32-VI matrix with titanium carbide strengthening phase. TiC content was in a range of 30–50 vol. %. The melting temperatures of alloys are higher than 1320°C, and they may undergo undamaged through all technological procedures together with turbine blades, including soldering and outgassing. DSC analyses indicates no additional thermal effects until melting, which confirms their structural stability. The examinations of microstructure revealed three types of constituents – TiC particles, matrix solid solution and blow outs – structural defects having negative effects on all the studied properties. It was found that heat resistance of nickel based sintered alloys at the temperature of 1100°C is superior as compared with the alloys based on cobalt and alloy ZhS32-VI. It has been established that wear resistance in conditions of fretting wear at temperatures of 20, 850, 950 and 1050°C of sintered alloy with ZhS32-VI matrix is mostly superior as compared with the other alloys. The properties of produced alloys allow to use them for manufacturing of components of friction couples operating in conditions of high temperature fretting wear, including protective pads of turbine blades top shrouds contact faces.