Determination of the absolute configuration of new piperidin-4-one derivative from pellacalyx saccardianus by NOESY spectroscopy

A new alkaloid, pellacalyxin was isolated from the leaves of Pellacalyx saccardianus of Rhizophoraceae family. Pellacalyxin was analyzed using nuclear Overhauser spectroscopy (NOESY) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique to determine the absolute configuration. The analysis of absolute configuration of pellacalyxin was supported by X-ray crystallography.1H-1H NOESY NMR spectroscopy exhibited that pellacalyxin possesses two chiral centers (3S) and (6R)

Directors’ independence, internal audit function, ownership concentration and earnings quality in Malaysia

Concentration of ownership in Malaysian public listed companies contributes to agency conflict between majority and minority shareholders. An effective monitoring mechanism is critical to mitigate this conflict.The study aims to examine the influence of board and audit committee independence, internal audit function and ownership concentration on earnings quality proxied by discretionary accruals.The sample of the study 508 companies listed on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market from 2009 to 2012.Two measures of discretionary accruals are used: Modified Jones model (Dechow et al., 1995); and extended Modified Jones Model (Yoon et al., 2006). Using OLS regression, results of the study suggest that audit committee independence and more investment in internal audit function are related to higher earnings quality. However, board of directors’ independence and ownership concentration are associated with lower earnings quality. The finding indicates the importance of audit committee independence in producing quality financial reporting. Consistent findings are found for most variables in both models.The findings of the study have implication on the use of measurement of discretionary accruals in earnings quality studies and corporate governance practices in Malaysia

Internal and external audit attributes, audit committee characteristics, ownership concentration and earnings quality: Evidence from Malaysia

The objective of the study is to examine the association between internal and external audit attributes, audit committee characteristics, ownership concentration and discretionary accruals (as a proxy of earnings quality) based on the agency and resource dependence theories.The final sample of the study is 508 firms listed on the Malaysia Main Market from 2009 to 2012.Two measures of discretionary accruals are used, Modified Jones model by Dechow et al. (1995); and extended Modified Jones Model by Yoon et al. (2006).Results of the study suggest that outsourcing internal audit function, investment in internal audit function and external audit fees are related to higher earnings quality. However, large audit committee size, more frequent audit committee meetings, having a senior or former audit partner as audit committee chairman and ownership concentration are associated with lower earnings quality.This study extends the prior related literature by apply extended modified Jones model by Yoon, et al.’s (2006) of discretionary accruals to measure earnings quality in Malaysia Main Market listed companies and introduce new variables, namely audit committee chairman who is a senior or former audit partner in the audit firm

Total phenolic, antioxidant, antimicrobial activities and toxicity study of Gynotroches axillaris Blume (Rhizophoraceae)

The antioxidant activity and the total phenolic content, as well as the influence of petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts from the leaves of Gynotroches axillaris, on microorganisms were studied. The total phenolic contents were evaluated by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and the obtained values ranged from 70.0 to 620 mg GAE/g. The efficiency of antioxidation, which was identified through the scavenging of free radical DPPH, exhibited that the highest IC50 was in the methanolic extract (44.7 μg/mL) as compared to the standard ascorbic acid (25.83 μg/mL) and to standard BHT (17.2 μg/mL). In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts was tested against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Methanol extract showed activity in the range (225-900 μg/mL) with both types, while petroleum ether and chloroform extracts were only active with Bacillus subtilis. The three extracts strongly inhibited all fungi with activity 225-450 μg/mL. The toxicity test against brine shrimps indicated that all extracts were non-toxic with LC50 value more than 1000 μg/mL. The finding of this study supports the safety of these extracts to be used in medical treatments

Earnings quality and audit attributes in high concentrated ownership market

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the audit committee (AC) independence, financial expertise, internal audit function, audit quality and ownership concentration on earnings quality (EQ) and, consequently, ascertain whether the AC’s independence and financial expertise has a moderating effect on the relationship between internal audit function and EQ. Design/methodology/approach – The study sample is 508 firms listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia (formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) for the years 2009 to 2012. EQ was measured using two modified Jones models of discretionary accruals. Findings – The findings reveal that the independence of AC and investment in internal audit function, as well as the Big4 audit firm, are related to greater EQ. Ownership concentration is found to be associated with lower EQ. The study provides evidence that AC’s independence moderates the relationship between internal audit function (investment in and sourcing arrangements of internal audit function) and EQ. It also shows that AC’s financial expertise moderates the relationship between sourcing arrangements of internal audit function and EQ. Practical implications – This study extends the prior related literature by examining the AC’s independence and financial expertise as moderating variables on the relationship between internal audit function and EQ.Social implications – Policymakers might use the findings regarding EQ in relation to governance practices, to recognize the important roles played by the AC’s independence and financial expertise on the effectiveness of internal audit function with EQ. Originality/value – This study uses the agency theory and resource dependence theory to provide empirical evidence on the impact of internal audit function and AC on EQ in the ownership concentration environment

Tyrosinase inhibition, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and antimicrobial activities of the phytochemicals from Gynotroches axillaris Blum

The leaves of Gynotroches axillaris were chemically and biologically studied. Sequential extraction of the leaves using petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol afforded three extracts. Purification of pet. ether extract yielded, squalene and β-amyrin palmitate as the major compounds, together with palmitic acid and myristic acid as the minor components. The methanol extract yielded two flavonoids, quercitrin and epicatechin. The isolated compounds were characterized by MS, IR and NMR (1D and 2D). Anti-acetyl cholinesterase screening using TLC bio-autography assay showed that palmitic acid and myristic acid were the strongest inhibition with detection limit 1.14 and 1.28 µg/ 5 µL respectively. Antibacterial against Gram-positive and negative and antifungal activities exhibited that β-amyrin palmitate was the strongest (450-225 μg/mL) against all the tested microbes. The tyrosinase inhibition assay of extracts and the pure compounds were screened against tyrosinase enzyme. The inhibition percentage (I%) of methanol extract against tyrosinase enzyme was stronger than the other extracts with value 68.4%. Quercitrin (59%) was found to be the highest in the tyrosinase inhibition activity amongst the pure compounds. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report on the phytochemicals, tyrosinase inhibition, anti-acetycholinesterase and antimicrobial activities of the leaves of G. axillaris

Effect of audit committee expertise and meeting on earnings quality in Indonesian listed companies: a conceptual approach

Purpose: The purpose of this paper will focus on monitoring and improving corporate governance through earnings quality. In particular, audit committee effectiveness is seen as a significant factor in ensuring effective corporate governance and in view of this, the aim of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework that will examine the impact expertise, meeting and meeting attendance on the earnings quality of companies. Methodology: Future empirical studies could be conducted quantitatively with secondary data. The report from annual reports of companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) starting from the period of implementation of the new code on implementation guideline in 2013.Implication: In fact, the main issue was centered on financial reporting manipulations and there is need to examine and develop a mechanism that in addition, agency theory is expected to explain the above three factors in providing explanation to accounting information that relates to the earnings quality under study.Finally, it is expected that future empirical studies with this conceptual framework can enhance earnings quality for users of financial statements such as: investors, creditors, shareholders and other stakeholders in Indonesia and beyond

3β-Acet­oxy-5α-cholestan-6-one 2-cyano­acetyl­hydrazone

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C32H51N3O3, consists of two crystallographically independent mol­ecules, A and B; the 2-methyl­pentane group of mol­ecule A and the propane group of mol­ecule B are each disordered over two sets of sites, with refined site-occupancies of 0.825 (5):0.175 (5) and 0.630 (18):0.370 (18), respectively. In both mol­ecules, the three cyclo­hexane rings in the steroid fused ring systems adopt chair conformations while the cyclo­pentane rings adopt envelope and twist conformations in mol­ecules A and B, respectively. In the crystal, N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the two independent mol­ecules together, generating R 2 1(7) and R 2 2(8) ring motifs

Development of Augmented Reality Mobile Apps for STEM Education

This paper presents the design and development of mobile apps with the integration of augmented reality technology to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning in the experiential learning context. A preliminary study on user experience testing was conducted towards 16 respondents of age between 6 - 9 years old. Based on a quantitative methodology and interpretative approach, it is found that the learning is more interesting and efficient in capturing student’s attention and promotes STEM learning with the use of the Augmented Reality (AR) technology. Prototyping methodology was used to develop the Fun with STEM mobile apps. This AR-TESG (AR Technology for Eco-Science Garden) project is a community-based project which aims to bridge the digital divide as well as to provide exposure in the usage and building AR-based content to SK Kundasang students in particular. They will be imparted with ICT skills which will improve their ICT literacy and STEM knowledge through AR applications