IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP AND SCHOOL CULTURE ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

The major objective of this study was to ascertain the relationship between school culture, leadership and students’ academic performance in Mathematics for secondary-level classes. This study was conducted in two districts in the plantation areas of Sri Lanka. A total of 158 teachers who were selected randomly responded to a questionnaire. Two hypotheses, which were tested using correlation analyses, revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between leadership, school culture and academic performance of students. The finding leads to important implications to promote education of children in the plantation sector.  Article visualizations

IMPACT OF PARENTS’ EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE PLANTATION-SECTOR SCHOOLS

The major objective of the study was to find out the relationship between parents’ educational qualifications and students’ academic performance in mathematics at secondary-level classes. This study was conducted in two districts in the plantation areas of Sri Lanka. A total of 701 students who were selected randomly responded to a questionnaire. Hypotheses were formulated and tested using One-Way ANOVA test. The results revealed that there was statistically significant relationship between parents’ educational qualifications and the academic performance of students. These findings lead to important practical suggestions to promote education of children in the plantation sector.  Article visualizations

Consumers’ purchasing orientation : an alternative method in segmenting the Malaysian fine dining restaurant market / Salim Abdul Talib...[et al.]

The hospitality businesses have increasingly adopted a marketing focus in order to thrive in a very competitive business environment. A key element of the marketing concept is that of market segmentation, primarily based on an understanding of the social, economic and psychological location of the consumer. Market segmentation can be considered as one of the cornerstones of marketing management. In the present day scenario of intense competition, organizations can prosper through the development of offers for specific market segments as a result of good market segmentation strategy. This paper presents the result and implications of segmenting the fine dining restaurant market using the consumer’s purchasing orientation

IMPACT OF FAMILY-RELATED FACTORS ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A STUDY CONDUCTED IN THE PLANTATION SECTOR SCHOOLS IN SRI LANKA

The major objective of this study was to ascertain the relationship between family-related factors and students’ academic performance in Mathematics for secondary-level classes. This study was conducted in two districts in the plantation areas of Sri Lanka. A total of 702 students who were selected randomly responded to a questionnaire. Three hypotheses which were tested using correlational analyses revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between family-related factors and academic performance of students. The finding leads to important implications to promote education of children in the plantation sector.  Article visualizations

The temerloh hospital cataract complications study: factors associated with, types and outcomes of cataract surgery complications

AIM: To study the prevalence of complications of cataract surgery and any association between the occurrence of complications and experience of surgeon, type of surgery, type of anaesthesia and visual outcome.<p>METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent cataract surgery over a period of two years in a district hospital in Malaysia. The demographic details of patients, type of surgery done, as well as type of anaesthesia used and experience of the surgeon were noted. The types of intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. The final best corrected visual outcome was recorded.<p>RESULTS: Complications occurred in 11.1% of the total 1007 patients operated. Posterior capsule rupture(3.6%)was the most common complication. The experience of the surgeon and the type of anaesthesia used did not affect complications during surgery. Intracapsular cataract extraction(ICCE)and phacoemulsification converted to extracapsular cataract extraction(ECCE)were significantly associated with more complications(<i>P</i><0.001). The visual outcome was significantly poor in patients with complications(<i>P</i><0.001). <p>CONCLUSION: The occurrence of complications during cataract surgery significantly affected the visual outcome. The type of surgery done was associated by the occurrence of complications. However, the experience of the surgeon and the type of anaesthesia used did not affect the occurrence of complications. We recommend that particular attention be given to ICCE and phacoemulsification converted to ECCE to minimise the complications and thereby reducing the chances of poor vision postoperatively

MAJOR DETERMINANTS ON THE PROFITABILITY OF SRI LANKAN LOCAL COMMERCIAL BANKS

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between bank-specific factors and the profitability of local commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Thus, finding the main internal characteristics for achieving higher profitability. In this research, OLS regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between bank-specific characteristics and bank’s profitability for a sample of 11 major Sri Lankan local banks during 12 years period from 2006 to 2017. The findings reveal that assets base and size of branch network are the main determinants of bank’s profitability, by showing a significant relationship with all measures of profitability. Net profits of banks show a significant relationship with size of branch networks and total assets, but insignificant with deposit interest ratio. However, loan interest ratio and deposit interest ratio together have a significant effect on net interest margin thus leading an impact on banks’ profitability. This study is an extension and a country application to the research carried-out by Kassem N.M. &amp; Sakr A (2018) on Commercial Banks in Egypt. JEL: G20; G21  Article visualizations

Prevalence of obesity and factors associated with it in a worksite setting in Malaysia

Socio-economic status, lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial factors have been implicated in the development of overweight and obesity. This study aims to observe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in an academic worksite and to examine the possible association between variables such as socio-economic characteristics, work factors, psychosocial factors, and weight control behaviors and obesity. In this study, the target population were full-time academic and non-academic staff. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were computed to determine obesity. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic factors, work related factors, psychosocial factors, and weight control behaviors. Data were obtained on 367 adults of whom 39.2% were males and 60.8% females. Overweight was seen in 31.9% of males and 26.5% of females while 16.1% of them were obese, irrespective of gender. Central obesity was noted in about 37% of males and 39% of females. The results showed that socio-demographic factors (age, gender, and education) and psychosocial factors (perceived health status, body weight perception, and weight-control goals) were significantly associated with BMI. Working hours were also significantly associated with BMI. However, weight control practices (diet-control practices and physical activity practices) were not significantly associated with BMI. In conclusion, this study found a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among employees of a selected public university in comparison to the general population. Socio-demographic, psychosocial factors, and working hours were found to contribute to obesity in this sample of adults

AN EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS ON VARIABLES AFFECTING THE PROFITABILITY OF SRI LANKAN LOCAL COMMERCIAL BANKS

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between bank-specific factors and the profitability of local commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Thus, finding the main internal and external characteristics for achieving higher profitability. In this research, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) is used as an alternative approach to examine the relationships between bank-specific characteristics of bank’s profitability for a sample of 11 major Sri Lankan local banks during the 12 years period from 2006 to 2017. The findings reveal that assets base and size of branch network are the main determinants of banks’ profitability, by showing a significant relationship with all measures of profitability. Net profits of banks show a significant relationship with size of branch networks and total assets, but insignificant with deposit interest ratio. However, loan interest ratio and deposit interest ratio together have a significant effect on net interest margin thus leading an impact on banks’ profitability.  Article visualizations

Bile salt deconjugation and cholesterol removal from media by Lactobacillus strains used as probiotics in chickens

BACKGROUND: Bile salt deconjugation by Lactobacillus strains is often closely linked to bile tolerance and survival of the strains in the gut and lowering of cholesterol in the host. The present study investigated the deconjugation of bile salts and removal of cholesterol by 12 Lactobacillus strains in vitro. The 12 strains were previously isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. RESULTS: The 12 Lactobacillus strains could deconjugate sodium glycocholate (GCA, 16.87-100%) and sodium taurocholate (TCA, 1.69-57.43%) bile salts to varying degrees, with all strains except L. salivarius I 24 having a higher affinity for GCA. The 12 Lactobacillus strains also showed significant (P < 0.05) differences in their ability to remove cholesterol from the growth medium (26.74-85.41%). Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were observed between cholesterol removal and deconjugation of TCA (r = 0.83) among the L. reuteri strains (C1, C10 and C16) and between cholesterol removal and deconjugation of TCA (r = 0.38) and GCA (r = 0.70) among the L. brevis strains (I 12, I 23, I 25, I 211 and I 218). In contrast, although L. gallinarum I 16 and I 26 and L. panis C 17 showed high deconjugating activity, there was no correlation between cholesterol removal and deconjugation of bile salts in these strains. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the 12 Lactobacillus strains were able to deconjugate bile salts and remove cholesterol in vitro, but not all strains with high deconjugating activity removed cholesterol effectively

Low glycaemic index diets improve glucose tolerance and body weight in women with previous history of gestational diabetes : a six months randomized trial

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) increases risks for type 2 diabetes and weight management is recommended to reduce the risk. Conventional dietary recommendations (energy-restricted, low fat) have limited success in women with previous GDM. The effect of lowering Glycaemic Index (GI) in managing glycaemic variables and body weight in women post-GDM is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the effects of conventional dietary recommendations administered with and without additional low-GI education, in the management of glucose tolerance and body weight in Asian women with previous GDM. Method. Seventy seven Asian, non-diabetic women with previous GDM, between 20- 40y were randomised into Conventional healthy dietary recommendation (CHDR) and low GI (LGI) groups. CHDR received conventional dietary recommendations only (energy restricted, low in fat and refined sugars, high-fibre). LGI group received advice on lowering GI in addition. Fasting and 2-h post-load blood glucose after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (2HPP) were measured at baseline and 6 months after intervention. Anthropometry and dietary intake were assessed at baseline, three and six months after intervention. The study is registered at the Malaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR) with Research ID: 5183. Results: After 6 months, significant reductions in body weight, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were observed only in LGI group (P<0.05). Mean BMI changes were significantly different between groups (LGI vs. CHDR: -0.6 vs. 0 kg/ m§ssup§2§esup§, P= 0.03). More subjects achieved weight loss ≥5% in LGI compared to CHDR group (33% vs. 8%, P=0.01). Changes in 2HPP were significantly different between groups (LGI vs. CHDR: median (IQR): -0.2(2.8) vs. +0.8 (2.0) mmol/L, P=0.025). Subjects with baseline fasting insulin≥2 μIU/ml had greater 2HPP reductions in LGI group compared to those in the CHDR group (-1.9±0.42 vs. +1.31±1.4 mmol/L, P<0.001). After 6 months, LGI group diets showed significantly lower GI (57±5 vs. 64±6, P<0.001), GL (122±33 vs. 142±35, P=0.04) and higher fibre content (17±4 vs.13±4 g, P<0.001). Caloric intakes were comparable between groups. Conclusion: In women post-GDM, lowering GI of healthy diets resulted in significant improvements in glucose tolerance and body weight reduction as compared to conventional low-fat diets with similar energy prescription