Red Giants in the Small Magellanic Cloud. II. Metallicity Gradient and Age-Metallicity Relation

We present results from the largest CaII triplet line metallicity study of Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) field red giant stars to date, involving 3037 objects spread across approximately 37.5 sq. deg., centred on this galaxy. We find a median metallicity of [Fe/H]=-0.99+/-0.01, with clear evidence for an abundance gradient of -0.075+/-0.011 dex / deg. over the inner 5 deg. We interpret the abundance gradient to be the result of an increasing fraction of young stars with decreasing galacto-centric radius, coupled with a uniform global age-metallicity relation. We also demonstrate that the age-metallicity relation for an intermediate age population located 10kpc in front of the NE of the Cloud is indistinguishable from that of the main body of the galaxy, supporting a prior conjecture that this is a stellar analogue of the Magellanic Bridge. The metal poor and metal rich quartiles of our RGB star sample (with complementary optical photometry from the Magellanic Clouds Photometric Survey) are predominantly older and younger than approximately 6Gyr, respectively. Consequently, we draw a link between a kinematical signature, tentatively associated by us with a disk-like structure, and the upsurges in stellar genesis imprinted on the star formation history of the central regions of the SMC. We conclude that the increase in the star formation rate around 5-6Gyr ago was most likely triggered by an interaction between the SMC and LMC.Comment: To appear in MNRA

Red Giants in the Small Magellanic Cloud. I. Disk and Tidal Stream Kinematics

We present results from an extensive spectroscopic survey of field stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). 3037 sources, predominantly first-ascent red giants, spread across roughly 37.5 sq. deg, are analysed. The line of sight velocity field is dominated by the projection of the orbital motion of the SMC around the LMC/Milky Way. The residuals are inconsistent with both a non-rotating spheroid and a nearly face on disk system. The current sample and previous stellar and HI kinematics can be reconciled by rotating disk models with line of nodes position angle, theta, ~ 120-130 deg., moderate inclination (i ~ 25-70 deg.), and rotation curves rising at 20-40 km/s/kpc. The metal-poor stars exhibit a lower velocity gradient and higher velocity dispersion than the metal-rich stars. If our interpretation of the velocity patterns as bulk rotation is appropriate, then some revision to simulations of the SMC orbit is required since these are generally tuned to the SMC disk line-of-nodes lying in a NE-SW direction. Residuals show strong spatial structure indicative of non-circular motions that increase in importance with increasing distance from the SMC centre. Kinematic substructure in the north-west part of our survey area is associated with the tidal tail or Counter-Bridge predicted by simulations. Lower line-of-sight velocities towards the Wing and the larger velocities just beyond the SW end of the SMC Bar are probably associated with stellar components of the Magellanic Bridge and Counter-Bridge, respectively. Our results reinforce the notion that the intermediate-age stellar population of the SMC is subject to substantial stripping by external forces.Comment: To appear in MNRA

Nurses' knowledge, attitude, practice and barriers towards the use of evidence based nursing practice (EBNP) at government Hospital in Malaysia

In the nursing profession, EBNP makes a positive contribution to healthcare outcomes, care delivery, clinical teaching and research. The research objective was to determine the nurses’ knowledge, attitude, practice of EBNP and barriers to adopt EBNP in four hospitals in Malaysia, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (Hospital USM), Hospital Pulau Pinang (HPP), Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim (HSAH) and Hospital Seberang Jaya (HSJ). A cross-sectional study was conducted from January until December 2012 among nurses working in all disciplines, on shift or day time duties in four selected hospitals. The questionnaire was adapted from a Singapore study. The data were analysed with SPSS version 21.0, using descriptive statistics, Independent T-Test, One- Way ANOVA and Multi-Factorial ANOVA. Results showed that among the nurses working in four different Malaysian hospitals, nearly 50% knew what the evidence based practice meant. The items assessing the attitude showed a large number nurses responding that they did neither agree nor disagree with statements provided. The majority of the remaining nurses tended to show a rather positive attitude except when asked about how the workload interfered with their EBP practice. Most nurses recognized there were many barriers to EBP in their working place. The significant mean differences of practice on EBNP between senior and junior nurses were observed for the statements 1, 2, and 3 (p=<0.001), (p=0.005) and (p=0.028) respectively. Multifactorial ANOVA analysis used to determine the effect of academic qualification, working place, working experience and training on nurses’ knowledge towards EBNP. In conclusion, this study may have helped to increase understanding of knowledge, attitudes, practice and barriers to adopt EBNP to the utilization of research by nurses through an exploration of perceived barriers and facilitators on the part of nurses

Star Clusters in the Magellanic Clouds-1: Parameterisation and Classification of 1072 Clusters in the LMC

We have introduced a semi-automated quantitative method to estimate the age and reddening of 1072 star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) using the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) III survey data. This study brings out 308 newly parameterised clusters. In a first of its kind, the LMC clusters are classified into groups based on richness/mass as very poor, poor, moderate and rich clusters, similar to the classification scheme of open clusters in the Galaxy. A major cluster formation episode is found to happen at 125 +- 25 Myr in the inner LMC. The bar region of the LMC appears prominently in the age range 60 - 250 Myr and is found to have a relatively higher concentration of poor and moderate clusters. The eastern and the western ends of the bar are found to form clusters initially, which later propagates to the central part. We demonstrate that there is a significant difference in the distribution of clusters as a function of mass, using a movie based on the propagation (in space and time) of cluster formation in various groups. The importance of including the low mass clusters in the cluster formation history is demonstrated. The catalog with parameters, classification, and cleaned and isochrone fitted CMDs of 1072 clusters, which are available as online material, can be further used to understand the hierarchical formation of clusters in selected regions of the LMC.Comment: 19 pages, 19figures, published in MNRAS on August 16, 2016 Supplementary material is available in the MNRAS websit

Financial Satisfaction of Older Person in Bukit Cerakah Selangor, Malaysia

The aging of human society is rapidly becoming a worldwide phenomenon, and now the world as a whole is ageing. The number of the world’s older persons has increased dramatically from only 205 million persons aged 60 years and older in 1950 to 2 billion by 2050. Research on financial satisfaction of older people outside Malaysia has been well documented, but our understanding of this issue in Malaysia remains limited. The present paper present the result of a cross-sectional survey conducted in rural Selangor, Malaysia, to analyze the financial satisfaction of older people. More specifically, the present paper analyzes: (1), demographic and socioeconomic profiles of older persons in rural Selangor Malaysia; (2), income status of older people in rural Selangor Malaysia; (3), level of financial satisfaction of older person, and (4), the importance of financial support from children among older people in rural Selangor Malaysia. This study was conducted in the village of Bukit Cerakah, one of the rural areas in the state of Selangor. This paper is basically employed a descriptive research design. It is used when a researcher seeks a better understanding and measure how variables are naturally distributed. There were 70 older persons aged 50 years and older were chosen through convenience sampling. Data were collected through structured and unstructured interviews with research participants, coupled with observations on their daily lives. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic approach. Results of the study revealed that: (1), older persons in this survey are 41 female, and 29 male, young old, aged between 69 or below. 60 of them reported as having primary or secondary school certificate and above, not working and still married; (2), there is substantial variation in their monthly income; from RM200 up to RM3000 per month. Only 44 of them have a monthly income of more than RM870, above poverty line income; (3), the number of older persons who satisfied and not satisfied with their financial situation are almost the same; and (4), there are 55 of older persons perceived financial support from children are important, or very important. To conclude, adult children are very important to older persons. The responsibility of adult children in the study area to support their elderly parents financially is still observed in the study area. Keywords: population ageing; older persons; rural areas; financial satisfaction; well-bein

Entanglement entropy and multifractality at localization transitions

The von Neumann entanglement entropy is a useful measure to characterize a quantum phase transition. We investigate the non-analyticity of this entropy at disorder-dominated quantum phase transitions in non-interacting electronic systems. At these critical points, the von Neumann entropy is determined by the single particle wave function intensity which exhibits complex scale invariant fluctuations. We find that the concept of multifractality is naturally suited for studying von Neumann entropy of the critical wave functions. Our numerical simulations of the three dimensional Anderson localization transition and the integer quantum Hall plateau transition show that the entanglement at these transitions is well described using multifractal analysis.Comment: v3, 5 pages, published versio

Star Clusters in the Magellanic Clouds - II. Age-Dating, Classification and Spatio-Temporal Distribution of the SMC Clusters

Aim: We aim to estimate the age and reddening parameters of already identified star clusters within the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) in a consistent way using available photometric data, classify them based on their mass and strength, and study their spatio- temporal distribution. Methods: We have used a semi-automated quantitative method, developed in the first paper of this series (Paper I), to estimate the cluster parameters using the V and I band photometric data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) III survey. Results: We estimated parameters of 179 star clusters (17 newly parameterised) and classified them into 4 groups. We present an online catalog of parameters, and cleaned and isochrone-fitted Color Magnitude Diagrams of 179 clusters. We compiled age information of 468 clusters by combining previous studies with our catalog, to study their spatio-temporal distribution. Most of the clusters located in the southern part of the SMC are in the age range 600 Myr-1.25 Gyr, whereas, the clusters younger than 100 Myr are mostly found in the northern SMC, with the central SMC showing continuous cluster formation. The peak of the cluster age distribution is identified at 130 Myr, very similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) in Paper I. Conclusion: We suggest that the burst of cluster formation at 130 Myr is due to the most recent LMC-SMC interaction. 90% of the studied sample is found to have mass <1700 M_sun, suggesting that the SMC is dominated by low mass clusters. There is a tentative evidence for compact clusters in the LMC when compared to those in the Galaxy and the SMC. A progressive shifting of cluster location from the South to North of the SMC is identified in last 600 Myr. The details of spatio-temporal distribution of clusters presented in two videos in this study can be used as a tool to constrain details of the recent LMC-SMC interactions.Comment: The paper is accepted for publication in A&A journa

Instrument development for organisational health

This study establishes the factors influencing Organisational Health (OH), leading to the development of an empirical measurement instrument.Despite the fact that a few firms have understood the significance of measuring health, they mostly do not know precisely what to measure, because of an absence of understanding of what constitutes a set of organisational health dimensions.This study used a mixed method through literature review, expert opinion and a quantitative pilot survey with 123 supervisory staff from a telecommunication company in India. The instrument was further tested for standardisation in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia.The study identified an OH measurement model consisting three constructs such as Change Capacity, Goal Alignment and Competitive Advantage.There are 29 items which collectively influence the degree of OH in an Organisation. By proposing, creating, and validating a multi-dimensional, operational measure of the organisational health, and by showing its viability in enhancing organisational performance, the present study gives practitioners a handy instrument for assessing the extensiveness of their current OH initiatives.The experts while interacting for the study expressed a uniform opinion regarding the OH constructs and its factors.We believe that developing an objective measurement instrument for organisational health is a significant contribution to the body of knowledge