The impact of board and ownership on the value of firms listed on FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS Shariah index / Adnan Ameen Abdullah Bakather

The flourishing of the Islamic financial industry has been widely recognized worldwide. However, the corporate governance of such an industry is still questionable, in particular, the Islamic equity markets. The review of literature showed the corporate governance of Shariah approved firms has only been empirically tested in few studies. These studies have failed to produce consistent evidence on the impact of governance mechanisms on these Shariah approved firms. In addition, these studies ignored the Islamic perspective of corporate governance. The study mainly investigates the relationship between the corporate governance mechanisms and value of firms listed on FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS Shariah Index over the period of 2007 to 2009. In addition, the current study examines the moderating effects of corporate social performance and corporate financial performance on the relationship between these mechanisms and firm valuation. Several statistical techniques have been adopted in order to test the study hypotheses. These include the descriptive statistics, univariate tests and the regression analysis. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis within the framework of the Moderated Multiple Regression (MMR) framework has been used to test the hypotheses

Robust Wilks' Statistic based on RMCD for One-Way Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA)

The classical Wilks' statistic is the most using for testing the hypotheses of equal mean vectors of several multivariate normal populations for one-way MANOVA. It is extremely sensitive to the influence of outliers. Therefore, the robust Wilks' statistic based on reweighted minimum covariance determinant (RMCD) estimator with Hampel weighted function has been proposed. The distribution of the proposed statistic differs from the classical one. Mont Carlo simulations are used to evaluate the performance of the test statistic under the normal and contaminated distribution for the data set. Moreover, the type I error rate and power of test have been considered as statistical measures to comparison between the classical and the robust statistics. The results show that, the robust Wilks' statistic based on RMCD is closely to the classical Wilks' statistic in case of normal distribution for the data set while in case of contaminated distribution the method in question is the best. Keywords: One-Way Multivariate Analysis of Variance, Wilks' Statistic, Outliers, Robustness, Minimum Covariance Determinant Estimator.

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ADOPTION OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY IN IRAQI HIGHER EDUCATION: EVIDENCE FROM SALAHADDIN UNIVERSITY (10)

This paper investigates the use of e-learning systems in universities in Iraq as part of the UNESCO Avicenna Virtual Campus Project. In addition, it identifies the factors that can affect Iraqi students’ acceptance and use of e-learning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the management of Salahaddin Avicenna E- Learning Centre. In addition, a questionnaire was developed based on extending the Technology Acceptance Model. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed to students. Partial Least Squares (PLS) was used to analyse the data. The findings indicated that e-learning has a potential in being used successfully in Iraqi universities. However, the training on the use of the system needs to be improved. In addition, the findings indicated that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms and self efficacy have significant effects on behaviour intention and behaviour intention, experience, information quality and technical support have significant direct effects on actual use of the e-learning system

The American foreign policy towards the Kurds in Iraq

The Middle East term is an English term, it is occupying a significant place in the U.S. strategy. The importance of the region lies in the first: the flow of oil from the region to the world Second: the preservation of Israel's security and finally the fight against terrorism. However, The Kurdish relationship with the U.S. as one of the original people that inhabited the Middle East historically labeled as an ambivalent relationship, because this relationship ranged between engagement and estrangement through its history, and based on U.S. interests. Therefore, we often see that America frequently abandoned the Kurds in critical moments, because U.S. interest requires so. Such behavior happened to the Kurds several times during their close history. This study attempts to investigate the relationships between the U.S. and Iraqi-Kurds after the emergence of ISIS. It focuses on the transformations and fluctuations that occurred in U.S.-Kurdish relations spanning more than four decades (1975-2018) and reveals the factors and reasons that have had an impact on how the U.S. has approached its ties with Iraqi-Kurds. Neoclassical Realism used as a theoretical framework for this research in terms of national interests and balance of power. In addition, the methods for the analysis of this study are a blend of descriptive and historical analytical approaches. The study finds out the importance of the Middle East to the U.S. strategy It does not lie just in oil. However, there are geopolitical considerations for the region in U.S. foreign policy and Israel's security and, Islamic terrorism, still threat to security in the region. In addition, only national interests drive the U.S. policymakers, and that U.S. interests with these Kurdish-populated countries far outweigh America's interests with Kurds

Preventing identity theft:identifying major barriers to knowledge-sharing in online retail organisations

Purpose: Knowledge-sharing (KS) for preventing identity theft has become a major challenge for organisations. The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature by investigating barriers to effective KS in preventing identity theft in online retail organisations. Design/methodology/approach: A framework was proposed based on a reconceptualisation and extension of the KS enablers framework (Chong et al., 2011). A qualitative case study research method was used for the data collection. In total, 34 semi-structured interviews were conducted in three online retail organisations in the UK. Findings: The findings suggest that the major barriers to effective KS for preventing identify theft in online retail organisations are: lack of leadership support; lack of employee willingness to share knowledge; lack of employee awareness of KS; inadequate learning opportunities; lack of trust in colleagues; insufficient information-sourcing opportunities and information and communications technology infrastructure; a weak KS culture; lack of feedback on performance; and lack of job rotation. Practical implications: The research provides solutions for removing existing barriers to KS in preventing identity theft. This is important to reduce the number of cases of identity theft in the UK. Originality/value: This research extends knowledge of KS in a new context: preventing identity theft in online retail organisations. The proposed framework extends the KS enablers framework by identifying major barriers to KS in the context of preventing identity theft

Taxonomy of subfamilies Melolonthinae and Rutelinae in Malaysia

Most of the species in Scarabaeidae are economically important all over the world and especially in Southeast Asia. Hence, it is important to identify, construct keys and also develop a checklist of Malaysian Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. This study establishes the current taxonomical status of 15 species of these two subfamilies in Malaysia. A total of 320 specimens were collected from 10 states (Selangor, N. Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, P. Pinang, Kedah, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak), 22 area and 72 sampling points. Four species recorded for the first time in Malaysia: Anomala shainica, Mimela malaise, Schoenherria vervex, Lepidiota leai. All genera and species have been described and illustrated. Taxonomic keys were constructed based on morphological characters particularly the mouth part, pronotum, elytra, front tibia and male genitalia. The latest checklist was developed for Malaysian Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. The total number of Melolonthinae species is 166 belonging to 22 genera and the total number of Rutelinae species is 165 belonging to 14 genera. Therefore this study successfully provides a taxonomical information on both subfamilies in Malaysia which will be a basic knowledge for further applied field studies

The impacts of leaders' emotional intelligence on organizational commitment among academicans in University Technology Malaysia

More recently, many researchers revealed that emotional intelligence (EI) is a very important skill that required for success in nowadays organizations. It has been linked to improve workplace behaviour, such as, organizational commitment (OC). The main purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of the EI of leaders on the OC of their subordinates. The study was conducted at University Technology Malaysia, and used stratified sampling consisting of 191 academicians from 14 faculties as the research respondents. The leaders' EI was evaluated with the Bar-On Emotional Quotient-360 (EQ-360) which is multi-rater instrument. On the other hand, the organizational commitment survey (OCS) which is developed by Meyer and Allen, was used to evaluate the OC of the academicians. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistic, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses. UTM academicians' leaders were found as high emotionally intelligent leaders. Besides, academicians' OC was at a moderate level. This study also found that there are significant relationships between leaders’ EI that operationalized by intrapersonal, interpersonal, stress management, adaptability, and general mood, and subordinate (academicians) organizational commitment. Furthermore, the impact of leaders' EI on academicians OC was significant. Recommendations for futrure research and organization were presented

Histopathological Analysis and Study of Expression of Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) in Thyroid Follicular Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is one of common endocrine cancers. Thyroid follicular neoplasms includes Follicular Adenoma, Follicular carcinoma and Follicular variant of Papillary Carcinoma. Diagnosis of a solitary encapsulated nodule with histomorphologic pattern is problematic for pathologists. PSMA is tumour associated neovasculature marker in prostrate cancers and in some solid malignant tumours. This study was conducted to evaluate the expression of PSMA in neovasculature of thyroid follicular neoplasms by immunohistochemistry to determine its usefulness for distinguishing between adenoma and carcinoma. METHODS: The study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Madurai Medical College, Madurai, during the period from May 2016 to August 2018 on 113 specimens of thyroid follicular neoplasms received in the department. After adequate fixation, representative bits were taken, processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The cases were classified based on WHO classification, 2017. Selected cases of thyroid follicular neoplasms were subjected to immunohistochemical evaluation with PSMA. RESULTS: Thyroid follicular neoplasm showed an incidence of 7.4%. Thyroid follicular neoplasm showed a Female male ratio of 7:1. The instensity and extent of staininig was signnificantly higher in follicular carcinoma and follicular variant of papillaey carcinoma than follicular adenoma. Fischer exact test was used to calculate and the P values obtained for intensity and extent of PSMA staining was less than 0.05. CONCLUSION: Expression of PSMA in neovasculature can be used to distinguish benign and malignant follicular neoplasm by assessing the intensity and extent of staining of endothelial cells

Optimal power flow solutions for power system operations using moth-flame optimization algorithm

Optimal power flow (OPF) has gained a growing attention from electrical power researchers since it is a significant tool that assists utilities of power system to determine the optimal economic and secure operation of the electric grid. The key OPF objective is to optimize a certain objective function such as: minimization of total fuel cost, emission, real power transmission loss, voltage deviation, etc. while fulfilling certain operation constraints like bus voltage, line capacity, generator capability and power flow balance. Optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) is a sub-problem of optimal power flow. ORPD has a considerable impact on the economic and the security of the electric power system operation and control. ORPD is considered a mixed nonlinear problem because it contains continuous and discrete control variables. Another sub-problem of OPF is Economic dispatch (ED) which one of the complex problems in the power system which its purposes is to determine the optimal allocation output of generator unit to satisfy the load demand at the minimum economic cost of generation while meeting the equality and inequality constraints. In this thesis, a recent metaheuristic nature-inspired optimization algorithm namely: Moth-Flame Optimizer (MFO) is applied to solve the two subproblems of Optimal power flow (OPF) namely: Economic dispatch (ED) and Optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) simultaneously. Three objective functions will be considered: generation cost minimization, transmission power loss minimization, and voltage deviation minimization using a weighted factor. The IEEE 30-bus test system and IEEE 57-bus test system will be employed, to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed MFO in solving the above-mentioned problems. Then the obtained MFO methods results is compared with other reported well-known methods. The comparison proves that MFO offers a better result compared to the other selected methods. In IEEE 30-bus test system, MFO outperform the other optimization methods with 967.589961$/h compared to 971.411400$/h, 983.738069$/h, 975.346233$/h, 985.198050$/h, 1035.537820$/h for Improved Grey Wolf Optimizer (IGWO), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Ant Loin Optimizer (ALO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), and Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA) respectively. In IEEE 57-bus test system, MFO offers a minimization of 19.16% compared to 19.03% and 18.98% for Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) respectively. Moreover, the MFO have speedy convergence rate and smooth curves more than the other algorithms

Some new results Of The integrals in the groups Mod – n

Let G= Zn be a belian group Mod n. we shall define a new integral of the  all elements of the G=Zn ( n is a finite number , n  N , n ≥2 ). We shall study a new – results of the integrals properties in the group Zn. We gave the definitions of integrals in the Zn, and we shall gave the anew- definitions of the neat ( semi ) integrals , and the some a new results of this integrals