Country branding emerging from citizens’ emotions and the perceptions of competitive advantage: the case of Malaysia

This article aims to examine the elements of country branding from the perspectives of a country’s citizens. In this exploration, the study constructs their views toward the country using both emotion (affect) and perceptions of competitive advantage and subsequently conceptualizes and tests a framework of internal country-branding elements. Using a survey approach, the study generated a total sample of 445 respondents across Malaysia. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data and to test the hypotheses. Findings indicate that Malaysia can be portrayed favorably through export, human capital, culture and heritage, and political efforts. While some elements (human capital, culture and heritage, and politics) are important to foster positive emotions among its citizens, others (export, human capital, and politics) are considered as key tools to build competitive advantage. Implications exist for tourism marketers and policy makers, as the study highlights the importance of branding toward a country’s citizens and revealing the specific preferences affecting the citizens’ emotions and perceptions toward competitive advantage

Optical Interferometry of early-type stars with PAVO@CHARA. I. Fundamental stellar properties

We present interferometric observations of 7 main-sequence and 3 giant stars with spectral types from B2 to F6 using the PAVO beam combiner at the CHARA array. We have directly determined the angular diameters for these objects with an average precision of 2.3%. We have also computed bolometric fluxes using available photometry in the visible and infrared wavelengths, as well as space-based ultraviolet spectroscopy. Combined with precise \textit{Hipparcos} parallaxes, we have derived a set of fundamental stellar properties including linear radius, luminosity and effective temperature. Fitting the latter to computed isochrone models, we have inferred masses and ages of the stars. The effective temperatures obtained are in good agreement (at a 3% level) with nearly-independent temperature estimations from spectroscopy. They validate recent sixth-order polynomial (B-V)-$T_\mathrm{eff}$ empirical relations \citep{Boyajian2012a}, but suggest that a more conservative third-order solution \citep{vanBelle2009} could adequately describe the (V-K)-$T_\mathrm{eff}$ relation for main-sequence stars of spectral type A0 and later. Finally, we have compared mass values obtained combining surface gravity with inferred stellar radius (\textit{gravity mass}) and as a result of the comparison of computed luminosity and temperature values with stellar evolutionary models (\textit{isochrone mass}). The strong discrepancy between isochrone and gravity mass obtained for one of the observed stars, $\gamma$\,Lyr, suggests that determination of the stellar atmosphere parameters should be revised.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Bio-implant as a novel restoration for tooth loss

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A multi-functional PEGylated gold(iii) compound: potent anti-cancer properties and self-assembly into nanostructures for drug co-delivery

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The mechanical relaxation study of polycrystalline MgCNi3

The mechanical relaxation spectra of a superconducting and a non-superconducting MgCNi3 samples were measured from liquid nitrogen temperature to room temperature at frequency of kilohertz. There are two internal friction peaks (at 300 K labeled as P1 and 125 K as P2) for the superconducting sample. For the non-superconducting one, the position of P1 shifts to 250 K, while P2 is almost completely depressed. It is found that the peak position of P2 shifts towards higher temperature under higher measuring frequency. The calculated activation energy is 0.13eV. We propose an explanation relating P2 to the carbon atom jumping among the off-center positions. And further we expect that the behaviors of carbon atoms maybe correspond to the normal state crossovers around 150 K and 50 K observed by many other experiments.Comment: 4 figure

Parks may not be effective enough to improve the thermal environment in Shanghai (China) as our modified H3SFCA method suggests

Anthropogenic warming and rapid urbanization have exacerbated the deterioration of urban thermal environments, increasing interest in the ability of parks to regulate local climates. However, their potential to mitigate local thermal discomfort and spatial mismatch in supply and demand is poorly understood. We 1) examined the cooling effects of Shanghai's parks via a thermal comfort index, 2) identified the role of parks in improving local thermal environments by comparing thermal discomfort and park cooling capacity, and 3) explored the spatial mismatch between the demand for thermal discomfort mitigation and the supply of park cooling based on multiple park accessibility. The extent of park cooling is inversely related to the level of urbanization, while cooling intensity is positively associated with urbanization. Only 20.65% of the parks effectively mitigate local thermal discomfort, highlighting the need for improvements. Cooling accessibility increases from the city center to the periphery, with 22.70% of areas lacking access to park cooling services within a 15-min radius. Further improvements can enhance the thermal comfort of accessible parks by 49.55%. Priority adaptation is required in old urban areas and key development zones in peripheral urban areas to meet the needs of their large populations. Our study contributes to the study of urban thermal discomfort mitigation via parks in the context of climate adaptation planning

Determination of sodium fatty acid in soap Formulation Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and multivariate calibrations.

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy using an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessory has been investigated as a method for the determination of sodium-fatty acid (sodium-FA) in soap formulations. Multivariate calibrations namely partial least squares regression (PLS) and principle component regression (PCR) were developed for the prediction of sodium-FA using spectral ranges on the basis of relevant IR absorption bands related to sodium-FA. The sodium-FA content in soap formulations was predicted accurately at wavenumbers of 1,570–1,550 cm−1, which is specific for RCOO− Na+ vibration. The PLS method was found to be a consistently better predictor when both PLS and principal component regression (PCR) analyses were used for quantification of sodium-FA. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy can be an alternative technique to American oil Chemist Society methods which use a titrimetric technique because FTIR offers rapid, easy sample preparation and is friendly to the environment