Effect of size and book-to-market on stock returns: evidence in Malaysia

This study examines the information content of two firm-specific characteristics', firm size and book-to-market effect on the Malaysian Stock market returns for the year 2004 and 2005. A sample of seventy companies stocks listed in Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index was used for this study. The regression results show a negative relationship between book-to-market and stock returns. However, the results from the various sectors did not show any significant effect of book-to-market on stock returns. The finding is contrary to Fama and French (1992) in which positive relationship between book-to-market and stock returns was observed. Empirical results prove that book-to-market ratio cannot explain cross sectional variation in stock returns and has weak support in Malaysia context, while the size effect is not significant. Thus the overall results show that both book-to-market ratio and firm size do not have impact on stock returns. The evidence appears to support the efficient market hypothesis. (Author's abstract

Defense Mechanisms of the Corn Earworm, Heliothis Zea (Boddie), Against Invading Micro-organisms

This study is concerned with the possible defense mechanisms of the corn earworm, Heliothis zea, against bacteria injected directly into the haemolymph. Both cellular and humoral responses were under investigation. The primary objective was to determine their possible existence and relationship to each other.Microbiolog

Study of Some Parameters Relating to Mycocidal Activity of Beauveria Bassiana for the Corn Earworm Heliothis Zea

Microbiolog

IMPRINTING POLYMERFILM ON PATTERNED SUBSTRATE

A method of applying a pattern on a topography includes first applying a polymer film to an elastormer member, such as PDMS, to form a pad. The pad is then applied to a substrate having a varying topography under pressure. The polymer film is transferred to the substrate due to the plastic deformation of the polymer film under pressure compared to the elastic deformation of the PDMS member pulls away from the polymer layer, thereby depositing the polymer layer, thereby depositing the polymer layer upon the substrate

Nutritional composition and biological activities of the edible shoots of Bambusa vulgaris and Gigantochloa ligulate

The nutritional composition of the raw and boiled shoots of two bamboo species, Bambusa vulgaris and Gigantochloa ligulata were investigated. Boiling the shoots at 100 °C for 20 min significantly increased the crude fat and crude fiber contents while it decreased the crude protein content for both species. In general, the boiled shoots of both species were high in moisture (≥92 g/100 g fw), crude protein (≥29 g/100 g dw), and crude fiber (≥7.7 g/100 g dw) but low in crude fat (≤3.7 g/100 g dw). Boiling had varying effects on the mineral contents of both shoots, depending on the mineral. Potassium was the most abundant mineral for the raw and boiled shoots of B. vulgaris (310 and 240 μg/100 g dw, respectively) and G. ligulata (240 and 120 μg/100 g dw, respectively). The extracts (sequentially: hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, water) obtained from the boiled shoots of both species showed stronger antifungal activity (MIC: 0.01–2.50 mg/mL) than antibacterial activity (MIC: 0.31–2.50 mg/mL). All extracts from B. vulgaris showed stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power but similar cellular antioxidant activity with HeLa cells, and higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents than G. ligulata. However, the lowest half-maximum inhibitory concentration values for α-amylase and α-glucosidase were shown by the ethanol (300 μg/mL) and hexane (71 μg/mL) extracts of G. ligulata shoots, respectively. The results suggested that the shoots of B. vulgaris and G. ligulata are a potential health food and a source of bioactive compounds

2,3-Dibromo-3-phenyl­propionic acid

In the crystal of the title compound, C9H8Br2O2, inversion dimers linked by two O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds occur. All of the carbon and oxygen atoms are disordered over two sets of sites in a 2:1 ratio

Tricyclo­hexyl(2,3-dibromo-3-phenyl­propionato-κO)tin(IV)

Tricyclo­hexyl­tin cinnamate reacts with 4,4-dimethyl­amino­pyridine hydro­bromide perbromide to form the title compound, [Sn(C6H11)3(C9H7Br2O2)], which exists as a monomeric mol­ecule with the Sn atom in a distorted tetra­hedral C3O coordination geometry

Establishment of Axenic Explants and Callus Induction of Vernonia amygdalina Del.

Vernonia amygdalina is a plant with great medicinal potentials due to the phytochemicals it possesses. The establishment of axenic culture and callus induction are important as the primary steps to acquire callus and cell suspension cultures which are prospective to be used as alternatives in the production of phytochemicals. The effect of different regimes of sterilization unveiled that explants treated with mercuric chloride showed significant difference in the mean number of axenic explants, but observations of serious necrosis in all explants that later lead to death were recorded. Whilst, the explants treated with Clorox® were not significantly difference in the mean number of axenic explants but the explants obtained were healthy and the growth was sustained. For callus induction, there was no significant difference in the callus induction frequency (CIF) among different concentrations of 2,4-D or picloram. In conclusions, the explants were recommended to be surface sterilized with 15% of Clorox® for 15 minutes as it was more economical and less time consuming. Whereas, MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D or 0.5 mg/L picloram would be a better choice for callus induction due to observation of root formation at lower concentrations of 2,4-D

Total phenolic and antioxidant activities of Pouteria campechiana fruit parts

This study aimed to evaluate the total phenolics and antioxidant capacities of the seeds, pulp and peel of Pouteria campechiana fruit using three extraction solvents (water, 70% methanol and 70% ethanol). Among them, 70% ethanol exhibited the best solvent for yielding highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activities. The results showed that 70% ethanol extract from the peel contained the highest TPC(2304.7 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g dw) while the pulp has the highest TFC(6414.03 mg rutin equivalent/100 g dw). The antioxidant activities of the pulp and peel ethanolic extracts were high as determined using 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation assay (49.60 and 49.56 mmoL TE/100 g dw) and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (43.88 and 42.94 Fe2+/100 g dw) but not for seeds. However, their diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were ~88%. Thus, the pulp and peel of P. campechiana fruit can be utilized as natural source for antioxidant components

A simple protocol to isolate DNA from Malaysian stork blood collected on FTA cards

The blood of the Painted Storks (Mycteria leucocephala) and the Milky Storks (M. cinerea) from Malaysia were collected invasively from the breeding site. The blood was dropped on to FTA® cards and stored at room temperature. DNA was isolated from the FTA® cards through a modification of the Wizard DNA Purification kit (Promega) procedure and PCR was performed with 11 pairs of microsatellite primers of the American Wood Stork (M. americana). The collection of a drop of blood onto the card is superior to the usual practice of collecting about five ml of blood into a vacuum tube as it causes fewer traumas to these sensitive birds. Moreover, this collection procedure can be adopted for use in various wild animal species which are usually found in the remote areas of Malaysia as the sample collection cards can be transported back to the laboratory at room temperature. Our procedure allows the typing of several molecular genetic markers from just a drop of blood collected in the field and stored at room temperature alleviating the need for storage in expensive deep freezers or liquid nitrogen tanks. Collection of avian samples is no easy task as the birds are free flying