A Neural Network Approach to Synthetic Control Chart for the Process Mean

In this project, a multivariate synthetic control chart for monitoring the process mean vector of skewed populations using weighted standard deviations has been proposed. The proposed chart incorporates the weighted standard deviation (WSD) method of Chang and Bai (2004) into the standard multivariate synthetic chart of Ghute and Shirke (2008)

A study on the performance of Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts from 2005-2010 by using Net Asset Value approach

This paper is to understand the definition and the development of REIT in Malaysia and further examine performance of Malaysia REIT based on the Net Asset Value approach (NAV). This study also assesses the noise theory and explains why Malaysia REIT trade at NAV premium and NAV discount. Annual data series for annual closing price of the thirteen listed real estate investment trusts (ARREIT, AXREIT, TWREIT, AMFIRST, BSDREIT, AHP, AHP2, ALAQAR, HEKTAR, UOAREIT, QCAPITAL, ATRIUM and STAREIT) are obtained from the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, also called Bursa Malaysia for the study period from 2005 to 2010. Information about total asset, total liabilities and number of shares outstanding are getting from the 13 MREIT’s respective annual financial report. The result showed that AHP2 has the lowest NAV value among the thirteen listed REIT in Malaysia and traded at NAV discount. This was compatible with the NAV discount in NAV approach. NAV discounts below the current stock prices are reflection of poor current and future prospects for firm earnings, mistakes in financing and operations decision. AXREIT is traded at NAV discount due to the irrational behaviour of investors in noise trader theory and not because it’s poor performance. Investors are overly optimistic about AXREIT according to noise theory. Overall, MREIT are traded at NAV premium. In conclusion, MREIT are generally much better companies in terms of disclosure, transparency, share liquidity, corporate democracy and depth of management

Retaining knowledge worker through motivation

This study examines how knowledge workers could be retained to meet the demand of the local industry. A survey was carried in Iskandar Malaysia to gauge the knowledge workforce’s views on what motivated them to continue working in Malaysia. A seven Likert-scale questionnaire was distributed to workers that had at least a first degree or higher diploma education from a local or foreign institution of higher education.Out of the 200 questionnaires distributed to employees of randomly selected companies identified in the ICT Blueprint for 2020 Iskandar Malaysia, 145 was complete and usable for analysis.Data collected were analysed using reliability test, factor analysis and multiple regression

A framework of a sustainable performance measurements (SPMs) model for the Malaysian electronic and electrical industry

This conceptual paper is initiated by the growing awareness of environmental and social responsibility issues. Companies’ excellent performance is no longer championed solely on financial matters but has expanded to environment and social perspectives, calling for the need for a sustainable performance measurements (SPMs) model. Frequent and in-depth sustainable reporting are expected to be more demanding and comprehensive in the future with an intense pressure on and expectation of various stakeholders. The adoption of sustainable performance reporting is already in place in developed countries such as Europe, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom(UK), but reporting is relatively low among developing nations especially countries from Asia; Malaysia is no exception. This is due to the fact that sustainability performance reporting in Malaysia is still in its infancy phase and is subject to plenty of uncertain issues particularly on SPMs models that need to be managed, measured and reported on. The SPMs model is developed to be applied in the Malaysian electronic and electrical industry as this industry is subjected to intense scrutiny from Western Nations in term of environmental and social compliance. This paper, therefore, aims to mitigate the problem by constructing a framework of SPMs models in order to promote genuine sustainable reporting among the industry

Cryopreservation of Neurospheres Derived from Human Glioblastoma Multiforme

Cancer stem cells have been shown to initiate and sustain tumor growth. In many instances, clinical material is limited, compounded by a lack of methods to preserve such cells at convenient time points. Although brain tumor-initiating cells grown in a spheroid manner have been shown to maintain their integrity through serial transplantation in immune-compromised animals, practically, it is not always possible to have access to animals of suitable ages to continuously maintain these cells. We therefore explored vitrification as a cryopreservation technique for brain tumor-initiating cells. Tumor neurospheres were derived from five patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cryopreservation in 90% serum and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide yielded greatest viability and could be explored in future studies. Vitrification yielded cells that maintained self-renewal and multipotentiality properties. Karyotypic analyses confirmed the presence of GBM hallmarks. Upon implantation into NOD/SCID mice, our vitrified cells reformed glioma masses that could be serially transplanted. Transcriptome analysis showed that the vitrified and nonvitrified samples in either the stem-like or differentiated states clustered together, providing evidence that vitrification does not change the genotype of frozen cells. Upon induction of differentiation, the transcriptomes of vitrified cells associated with the original primary tumors, indicating that tumor stem-like cells are a genetically distinct population from the differentiated mass, underscoring the importance of working with the relevant tumor-initiating population. Our results demonstrate that vitrification of brain tumor-initiating cells preserves the biological phenotype and genetic profiles of the cells. This should facilitate the establishment of a repository of tumor-initiating cells for subsequent experimental designs

Psychosocial impact of undergoing prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

OBJECTIVES: To report the baseline results of a longitudinal psychosocial study that forms part of the IMPACT study, a multi-national investigation of targeted prostate cancer (PCa) screening among men with a known pathogenic germline mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. PARTICPANTS AND METHODS: Men enrolled in the IMPACT study were invited to complete a questionnaire at collaborating sites prior to each annual screening visit. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and the following measures: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer, Cancer Worry Scale-Revised, risk perception and knowledge. The results of the baseline questionnaire are presented. RESULTS: A total of 432 men completed questionnaires: 98 and 160 had mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, respectively, and 174 were controls (familial mutation negative). Participants' perception of PCa risk was influenced by genetic status. Knowledge levels were high and unrelated to genetic status. Mean scores for the HADS and SF-36 were within reported general population norms and mean IES scores were within normal range. IES mean intrusion and avoidance scores were significantly higher in BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers than in controls and were higher in men with increased PCa risk perception. At the multivariate level, risk perception contributed more significantly to variance in IES scores than genetic status. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to report the psychosocial profile of men with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations undergoing PCa screening. No clinically concerning levels of general or cancer-specific distress or poor quality of life were detected in the cohort as a whole. A small subset of participants reported higher levels of distress, suggesting the need for healthcare professionals offering PCa screening to identify these risk factors and offer additional information and support to men seeking PCa screening