Least-squares Fourier phase estimation from the modulo 2Pi bispectrum phase

The recovery of Fourier phases from measurements of the bispectrum occupies a vital role in many astronomical speckle imaging schemes. In arecent paper [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7, 14 (1990)] it was suggested that a least-squares solution to this problem must fail if the bispectrum phase is known only modulo 2π. Here an alternative nonlinear least-squares algorithm is presented that differs from the linear method discussed in the aforementioned paper and that permits the fitting of Fourier phases directly to modulo 2π measurements of the bispectrum phase, thus eliminating any need for phase unwrapping. Numerical simulations of this method confirm that it is reliable and robust in the presence of noise and verify its enhanced performance when compared with a linear least-squares method that includes the unwrapping of the bispectral phase before Fourier phase retrieval

Trends and regional patterns of cross-border mergers and acquisitions: A case of Malaysian and Indonesian acquirers

Progress of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Asian region demonstrates an upstream pattern although the economy in Europe is unhealthy.In fact, many cross-border deals in Europe are dominated by Asian and US acquirers.In 2010, Asia Pacific countries had completed over 8,300 M&A deals that involved an Asian company reported by Dealogic. Countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are among Asian countries that are active in cross-border M&A.However, M&A trends in Malaysia and Indonesia have not received due attention of the researchers.Present study attempts to explore this phenomenon with the specific idea of identifying the background of Malaysian and Indonesian industries that involved in cross-border M&A.Present paper also reveals the integration trends involved when engaging in cross-border M&A. An opinion survey was conducted of the firms involved in M&A deals; the companies were identified from the Thomson One Banker main database which covers cross border M&A cases completed in Malaysian and Indonesia. Results show that engineering, software and telecommunication industries are among the leading industries engaged in cross-border M&A.Results also reflect that in terms of nationality of the acquired firms, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore are among favourites to Malaysian and Indonesian acquirers.The study highlights higher success compared to failures in cross-border M&A in the countries under reference

Propositions and future directions of marketers’ relationship effectiveness in mergers and acquisitions integration

Research on marketing integration related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has paid little attention to the combination of similar resources between two similar departments, particularly in the M&A context. Furthermore, existing research does not clearly demonstrate the role of relationship among marketers within the amalgamation process between acquirer and target firm.Hence, this paper addresses a few propositions that relate to strengthening the relationship effectiveness among the marketers in both firms, which at the same time uphold the M&A performance. Collaboration and interaction are proposed as drivers to increase optimistic relationship among the marketers.A quantitative research design is suggested as this method is not popular compared to qualitative methods such as case study, event-study and longitudinal approach in M&A.Drawing from the extant literature, propositions are developed and future directions are presented elaborating success factors to improve M&A integration performance

Polymer optical waveguide based n wet-chemical fabrication process

The wet-chemical fabrication process of BenzoCyclobutene (BCB 4024-40) polymer waveguides are described. The method of prism coupling is adopted in the characterization process of the polymer film. A cost effective chemical etching technique is used in the waveguide fabrication process to take advantage of the photosensitive nature of the polymer. The waveguide loss is measured using the conventional cut back method which results on an average loss of 3.5 dB/cm

Excessive gestational weight gain, food insecurity and its associated factors among pregnant women in antenatal clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Nutrition during the pregnancy period is important as adequate nutrients are necessary for foetal development and prevention of future adult disease development, thus food insecurity is a public health problem that affect maternal, child and later adult health. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of household food insecurity among pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu and also to determine the association between food insecurity and gestational weight gain. This cross sectional study used the Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument as an assessment tool for food security. A total of 235 pregnant women participated in the study. The prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant women household was 41.3%; consisting of, in categories of severity, 32.3% household food insecure, 0.9% individual food insecure and 8.1% child hunger. The mean gestational weight gain of the participants was 8.8 kg (SD 5.05). This study found that food insecurity was significantly associated (χ2= 10.98, p= 0.004) with gestational weight gain. The Multiple Logistic Regression, with excessive pregnancy weight gain as outcome, showed pregnant women who had food insecurity were 4.8 times (adjOR 4.80, 95% CI: 1.94, 11.86; p=0.001) more likely to have excessive gestational weight gain compared to the food secured pregnant women. Being overweight and obese at pre-pregnancy was at higher odds (adjOR6.17, 95%CI: 2.70, 14.09; p<0.001) of excessive gestational weight gain compared to women with normal body mass index prior to pregnancy. The study found that there were significant association between food insecurity and high pre-pregnancy body mass index with gestational weight gain in the antenatal clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu. Therefore, there is a need to ensure adequacy of food and nutrients among pregnant women

Optical/IR Interferometry: Concepts, Terminology, and the Current Status

The use of optical/infrared interferometric methods by non-interferometric specialists is becoming more commonplace, and offers many opportunities for novel studies at high angular resolution. This paper presents an overview of current optical /IR interferometric methods for non-experts, with particular emphasis on the basic terminology and concepts. It also outlines the capabilities of current and planned interferometers, and reviews some recent science applications. The goal is to provide the background needed for a non-expert to assess the utility of interferometry for potential scientific studies, and to help identify those capabilities of existing arrays that offer the best prospects for future science exploitation.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific via http://www.aspbooks.org/publications/487/003.pdf

Optical Waveguide Modelling Based On Scalar Finite Difference Scheme

A Numerical Method Based On Scalar Finite Difference Scheme Was Adopted And Programmed On MATLAB® Platform For Optical Waveguide Modeling Purpose. Comparisons With Other Established Methods In Terms Of Normalized Propagation Constant Were Included To Verify Its Applicability. The Comparison Results Obtained Were Proven To Have The Same Qualitative Behaviour. Furthermore, The Performances Were Evaluated In Terms Of Computation Complexity, Mesh Size, And Effect Of Acceleration Factor. Computation Complexity Can Be Reduced By Increasing The Mesh Size Which Will Then Produce More Error. The Problem Can Be Rectified By Introducing The Acceleration Factor, Successive Over Relaxation (SOR) Parameter. It Shows That SOR Range Between 1.3 And 1.7 Can Give Shorter Computation Time, While Producing Constant Value Of Simulation Results

Mental fatigue analysis based on electroencephalography spectrum, mental fatigue scale, and reaction time

Fatigue is a condition that affects a wide range of individuals. In this pandemic era, students spend a lot of their time in front of the computer, tablet, or laptop as a medium in their online learning. The objectives of the project are to analyses the subject's mental state by analysing waveforms using electroencephalography (EEG). Next, to evaluate the mental state of subjects from the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) and lastly, to analyses how mental fatigue can impact someone reaction time (RT). The methodology for this project is divided by two parts. Part one is about the mental fatigue from the EEG waveform, and the second part is about the mental fatigue analysis from Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) and the reaction time. All of the analysis were done in IBM SPSS software to show the correlation between each condition. The result of the paired T-test between condition_1 and condition_2 shows that were significant difference between those condition (P0.05). Participants that did not suffer mental fatigue were highly from the male compared to female participants. In the reaction time test, the final reaction time was longer compared to the early reaction for each of the subjects and the paired T-test shows that the final reaction time were statistically significant from the early reaction time (P<0.05). In conclusion, the most prominent finding to emerge from this study is that the increase of reaction time can prove that someone has induced MF while doing the arithmetic test and the rise in the power spectrum of EEG signal

An Examination of the Conditional and Unconditional Relations Between Risk and Return on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange

Previous empirical tests of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) in mature and emerging capital markets focused on the premise that there is a positive linear relationship between portfolio betas and portfolio returns. The CAPM predicts that the expected return for any asset is a positive function of only three variables namely, beta (the covariance of asset return and market return), the risk free rate and the expected market return. Earlier findings by Black, Jensen and Scholes (1972) and Fama and MacBeth (1973) in the US stock markets generally found a weak but positive relationship between portfolio returns and beta over the entire sample periods. However, this assertion was seriously challenged by the findings of Banz (1981) and Fama and French (1992) which evidence indicated the absence of a systematic relationship between beta and portfolio returns. Further evidence indicated that other variables such as size of the finn and the ratio of the book value of a finn's common equity to its market value seemed to do better than beta in explaining the cross-sectional variations in average asset returns. Pettengill, Sundaram and Mathur (1995) offered a new interpretation of systematic relationship and introduced a new methodology to test the CAPM, which assumes a conditional relationship between portfolio returns and beta depending on whether the excess market return is positive or negative. The main objective of the study is to examine this conditional relationship between beta and returns as proposed by Pettengill, Sundaram and Mathur (1995) to Malaysian stock returns. To study this relationship, monthly data for a period of 15 years between January 1985 and December 1999 were used. The study also looked at the impact of non-synchronous trading problem on the KLSE. In addition, the study also examined the impact of portfolio size on the systematic and conditional as well as unconditional relationships between beta and portfolio returns. The results indicated that there was a very weak evidence of a significant risk premium on beta when the unconditional relationship between beta and portfolio returns was considered. When the sample was split into periods whether the excess market return is positive or negative, there was a significant relationship between portfolio returns and beta. The evidence also indicated that the size of portfolio had a positive linear relationship with' the value of the cross-sectional coefficient under conditional relationship. However, the results did not support any positive reward for holding market risk during the sample period

The numerical techniques for thermal distribution analysis in optical waveguides

In this paper, the analysis of thermal distribution in planar optical waveguide cross-section when a single heater electrode applied is presented. Starting from the heat equation, the thermal analysis has been done using two proposed numerical methods which are include finite difference method (FDM) and finite element method (FEM). By considering conduction as the only heat transfer mechanism, the obtained results from the mentioned methods are shown to have a good agreemen