Understanding the Transfer of Training and the Barriers to Transfer: A Case Study in a Private Institution

The purpose of this study is to examine the transfer of training and its relationship with Trainees' Characteristic, Programme Design and Organization Support in skills transfer, using two evaluation methods: self-rating and end result measurement. The barriers of training transfer faced by programme participants were also studied. In addition, a comparison of mean differences was carried out on selfrating and end result evaluation method. A total of 52 middle managerial staffs both academic and non-academic from INTI COLLEGE, Nilai were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. These respondents participated in computer skill-training programmes, namely MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and Internet conducted by the college in year 2000. Data was collected using self-administered survey questionnaire. Responses were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Measures of Central Tendency, Standard Deviation and frequency were used for descriptive analysis while Person Product-moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to determine the relationship of the variables. Analysis of Paired-samples T-Test was used to determine the differences between the level of transfer of training using selfrating skill method and the end result measurement

Pretreatment Of Binder With Ionic Liquid For The Fabrication Of Eco-Friendly Composite

Synthetic composites have many applications and its rapid gloom started since 1960s. However, synthetic composites are produced from the non-renewable resource which is the petroleum. Besides, the manufacturing process of synthetic composites has caused a lot of environmental pollution and the non-biodegradable of synthetic composites has lead to disposal problem. Thus, research starts to produce bio-degradable, renewable, and clean manufacturing process biocomposites. The result from the previous studies showed that generally, the biocomposite films possess good mechanical properties and thermal stability. In this study, a biocomposite boards will be prepared by utilizing the oil palm frond (OPF) and palm kernel shell (PKS) mixed with the thermo-plasticized starch (TPS) which is prepared by treating with different types of ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate, 1-butyl-3 ethylimidazolium chloride, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethane sulfonate). The effect of the processing parameters on the properties of the biocomposite boards are investigated. The parameters to be investigated include the temperature, pressure and the time of thermal compression to produce the biocomposite boards. Besides, the influence of different types of ionic liquid on the TPS performance as an external binder will also be investigated. The properties to be included in the study focused on the internal bonding and the thermal stability of the biocomposite boards. The internal bonding of the biocomposite boards were examined using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) whereas the thermal stability was examined using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermo Gravimetry Analysis (TGA). The FT-IR result revealed that there the presence of IL (except BmimTFMS) help to induce the inter-hydrogen bond formation. The TGA result showed that the biocomposite boards are thermally stable until very high temperature (>250oC). The successful preparation of OPF-PKS biocomposite boards with TPS will become the insight of green chemistry which eliminates the use or the generation of non-environmental friendly substances

Parenting behaviour of mothers, adolescents’ social emotional adjustments and their correlates in intact and non-intact Malay families in Kuala Lumpur

The main objective of the study was to determine the relationship between parenting behaviour of mothers and social emotional adjustments of adolescents in intact and non-intact Malay families. Sample comprised 213 mothers (n = 166 from intact families; 47 from non-intact families), with at least one adolescent child between the ages of 13 and 17 years, and are residing in Kuala Lumpur. The respondents were identified via a name list of the adolescents’ and e-survey. Using a self-administered questionnaire, the respondents provided information on their background characteristics, self-esteem, family functioning, parenting behaviour, and adolescents’ social emotional adjustments. Results revealed that mothers parenting quality and adolescents’ social emotional adjustments in the overall sample were generally moderate. Better parenting behaviour was shown to be positively related to adolescents’ strengths in non-intact family, and negatively related to adolescent’s difficulties in both family types. Additional analysis, however, indicated that family functioning rather than parenting behaviour is a better predictor of adolescents’ social emotional adjustments. Findings imply that parents and families in any structure are important contributors of adolescents’ social emotional adjustments

Development and Validation of Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for Estimation of the Dietary Polyphenol Intake Among Elderly Individuals in Klang Valley

Polyphenol is a non-nutrient phytochemical compound existed abundantly in plant-based diet which has the properties to prevent age related oxidative damage induced diseases. However, there are diffi culties in quantifying its intake and local food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for the assessment is not available. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate FFQ for estimation of dietary polyphenol intake among 93 individuals aged 60 years and above recruited from several senior citizen clubs in Klang Valley. Phase I of the study involved the development of FFQ consisted of 117 items under 9 categories and formation of the database extracted from PHENOL-EXPLORER. In Phase II, the intake of polyphenol estimated using FFQ was compared with reference method consisted of 2-day diet records and diet history questionnaire (DHQ). The mean dietary polyphenol intake estimated from FFQ and the reference method was 2770.7 ± 1552.4 mg/d and 2171.4 ± 898.8 mg/d, respectively. Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s tau-b analysis indicated that there was a signifi cant positive correlation between polyphenol intake estimated from FFQ and reference method (r = 0.41, p < 0.001; r = 0.28, p < 0.001). For Bland-Altman plot, 95.7% of scattered plot fell within ± 1.96 SD limits of agreement revealed that there was good agreement between the two methods used. Cross-classifi cation analysis showed that 36.6% was categorized in the same quartile, 78.5% in identical and contiguous quartiles, with only 3.2% in the opposite quartiles. Regression analysis showed that all categories in FFQ signifi cantly account for the inter-variance for dietary polyphenol intake after controlling for the other variables (R2 = 1.000, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the newly developed FFQ is considered valid and has the potential to be used as a tool to estimate polyphenol intake among elderly individuals in Malaysia

Composite equity issuance and the cross-section of country and industry returns

Behavioural finance literature argues that stock issuance contains information on equity valuation. If so, does it predict the cross-section of both country and industry stock returns? To answer this question, we investigate data from 68 markets from 1976 to 2022. We find that composite equity issuance negatively correlates with future aggregate stock returns. An equal-weighted quintile of countries (industries) with the highest issuance underperforms those with the lowest by 0.34% (0.58%) per month. Established risk factors and other anomalies cannot subsume this cross-sectional pattern. Furthermore, the effect remains robust to many considerations. This documented issuance anomaly paves the way for an exploitable international investment strategy

Trade competitiveness and the aggregate returns in global stock markets

Using the change in the real effective exchange rate (REER) to reflect trade competitiveness, we examine its role in the cross-section of global equity returns. The changes in REER negatively affect stock market returns. The REER effect is robust after controlling for known risk factors and market characteristics. Furthermore, it remains pervasive across different periods and subsamples. Our findings support the conventional wisdom that appreciating currency harms trade values, consequently dampening a firm\u27s stock market performance

Thyroid metastasis in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma: case report and review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the apparent low incidence of cancer metastatic to the thyroid, autopsy and clinical series suggest it is more common than generally. Although lung, renal, and breast cancer are probably the most common primary sites, a number of cancers have been reported to metastasize to the thyroid synchronously with diagnosis of primary tumor or years after apparently curative treatment.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a rare case of a hepatocellular carcinoma metasatic to the thyroid. The patient presented seven months after original diagnosis and treatment with hepatic lobectomy with multiple neck lesions producing a mass effect on the trachea and bilateral lymphadenopathy. Fine-needle aspiration revealed highly anaplastic carcinoma, and immunohistochemistry confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient received total thyroidectomy as palliative therapy because of the presence of multiple recurrent lesions in the liver.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Clinicians should consider the possibility of metastatic cancer in each patient who presents with a new thyroid mass, especially those with a history of cancer, however remote. In cases where cytology or histology is not diagnostic, immunohistochemistry may be definitive in making the diagnosis.</p

ECG STUDY IN PATIENTS ON HIGH DOSE ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Objectives: There are many antipsychotic medications that have been shown to be associated with the prolongation of the rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval on the electrocardiogram (ECG). Studies have shown that QTc prolongation is associated with increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. This study aims to identify and study the risk profile of patients on high-dose antipsychotic and to examine the prevalence of rate and rhythm abnormalities, in particular, QTc prolongation. We hope that this study could throw a light on current practice patterns and also could potentially guide us towards safe practice in the future. Methods: We recruited 37 adult outpatients who are on high-dose antipsychotic from the 3 outpatient clinics of the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore. Baseline characteristics risk profiling was performed to identify their pre-existing risk, including checks on Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium levels to rule out confounders. 12 lead ECG was done and reviewed manually by our resident physician. Results: It showed that rate abnormality was detected in 8 patients (22%) and QTc interval prolongation was detected in nearly 12 patients (32.4%) but of those only 3 patients had significantly prolonged QT interval needing the primary treating team to review their psychopharmacology regime. Conclusion: QTc Prolongation was positively linked with a number of cardiovascular risk factors

A decentralized approach to model national and global food and land use systems

The achievement of several sustainable development goals and the Paris Climate Agreement depends on rapid progress towards sustainable food and land systems in all countries. We have built a flexible, collaborative modeling framework to foster the development of national pathways by local research teams and their integration up to global scale. Local researchers independently customize national models to explore mid-century pathways of the food and land use system transformation in collaboration with stakeholders. An online platform connects the national models, iteratively balances global exports and imports, and aggregates results to the global level. Our results show that actions toward greater sustainability in countries could sum up to 1 Mha net forest gain per year, 950 Mha net gain in the land where natural processes predominate, and an increased CO2 sink of 3.7 GtCO2e yr−1 over the period 2020-2050 compared to current trends, while average food consumption per capita remains above the adequate food requirements in all countries. We show examples of how the global linkage impacts national results and how different assumptions in national pathways impact global results. This modeling setup acknowledges the broad heterogeneity of socio-ecological contexts and the fact that people who live in these different contexts should be empowered to design the future they want. But it also demonstrates to local decision-makers the interconnectedness of our food and land use system and the urgent need for more collaboration to converge local and global priorities.Fil: Mosnier, Aline. Sustainable Development Solutions Network; FranciaFil: Javalera Rincon, Valeria. International Institute For Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg; AustriaFil: Jones, Sarah K. Alliance of Bioversity International; FranciaFil: Andrew, Robbie. Center for International Climate Research; NoruegaFil: Bai, Zhaohai. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de ChinaFil: Baker, Justin. North Carolina State University; Estados UnidosFil: Basnet, Shyam. Stockholm Resilience Centre; SueciaFil: Boer, Rizaldi. Bogor Agricultural University; IndonesiaFil: Chavarro, John. Geo-agro-environmental Sciences And Resources Research Center; ColombiaFil: Costa, Wanderson. Centro de Previsao de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais; BrasilFil: Daloz, Anne Sophie. Center for International Climate Research; NoruegaFil: DeClerck, Fabrice A.. Alliance of Bioversity International; Francia. Stockholm Resilience Centre; SueciaFil: Diaz, Maria. Sustainable Development Solutions Network; FranciaFil: Douzal, Clara. Sustainable Development Solutions Network; FranciaFil: Howe Fan, Andrew Chiah. Sunway University; MalasiaFil: Fetzer, Ingo. Stockholm Resilience Centre; SueciaFil: Frank, Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez Abraham, Charlotte E.. University of California at San Diego; Estados UnidosFil: Habiburrachman, A. H. F.. Universitas Indonesia; IndonesiaFil: Immanuel, Gito. Stockholm Resilience Centre; SueciaFil: Harrison, Paula A.. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology; Reino UnidoFil: Imanirareba, Dative. Uganda Martyrs University; UgandaFil: Jha, Chandan. Indian Institute Of Management Ahmedabad; IndiaFil: Monjeau, Jorge Adrian. Fundación Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vittis, Yiorgos. International Institute For Applied Systems Analysis; AustriaFil: Wade, Chris. North Carolina State University; Estados UnidosFil: Winarni, Nurul L.. Universitas Indonesia; IndonesiaFil: Woldeyes, Firew Bekele. Ethiopian Development Research Institute; EtiopíaFil: Wu, Grace C.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Zerriffi, Hisham. University of British Columbia; Canad

The dissemination of modernist Mahua literature, 1959-1989 / Chiah Seng

This is a qualitative study and the subject is Mahua Modern Literature. Specifically, the study aims to analyse the strategies and methods employed by literary media in disseminating the Modernist Mahua Literature. The researcher has identified evidence which shows that the literary magazine Chao Foon Monthly, the Sirius Poetical Society and literati such as Bai Yao, Chen Ruixian and Wen Renping are the three main media vital in the dissemination of Modernist Mahua Literature. Research findings indicate that Mahua Literature has become a major component in the World Chinese Literature, and the emergence of Mahua Modernist Literature was the result of the influence by Modern Literature from Mainland China and Taiwan. The literary magazine Chao Foon Monthly is considered as one of the important media in promoting the emergence and development of Mahua Modernist Literature. It has employed various strategies to introduce and bring in the modernist resources from the West and Taiwan. It has finally changed the literary taste of local writers and readers, and also nurtured a big number of modernist writers. In the 1970s, the Sirius Poetical Society played an important part in promoting and strengthening Mahua Modernist Literature by publishing three representative anthologies of modernist poems and many other personal collections of different genres. It has thus enriched the publication of Mahua Modernist Literature. As for literati, Bai Yao was the pioneer in promoting and disseminating the modernist literature. He had written several articles to promote literary revolution and published the first modernist poem in Mahua literary arena. His footsteps were followed by Chen Ruixian, a modernist writer from Singapore, who joined the editorial board of Chao Foon Monthly and published various special issues to introduce Western modernist literature, modernist writers and the translations of modernist articles. During his term as the editor of Chao Foon Monthly from August 1969 to December 1974, he had supplied abundant resources to local writers and readers, thus improving the writing techniques of writers and consequently nurturing many Mahua modernist writers. The third literati Wen Renping on the other hand started disseminating the concept of modernism, the theories of modernist poetry and prose by publishing modernist poems, modernist prose and literary criticism in the 1970s. His poems and prose have proven that the use of modernist techniques is appropriate. It is very pertinent to recall here that Mahua Modernist Literature would have faced many difficulties without Chao Foon Monthly and its achievement would not have been as outstanding as what we have today. Similarly, without the Sirius Poetical Society, the three representative anthologies of Mahua modernist poems would not be published. Last but not least, the three literati Bai Yao, Chen Ruixian and Wen Renping have played active roles in disseminating Modernist Mahua Literature. In conclusion, the strategies employed by the three different media in disseminating Modernist Mahua Literature from 1950s to 1980s were successful