The Efficiency and Performance Evaluation of Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) in Malaysia using Data Envelopment Analysis

Efficiency is a vital criterion in global competitive business and sustainable growth. Efficiency has always been reflected in company’s performance based on the existing input or resources available against the optimum output generated. A highly strong organizations capability will attract higher revenue and more investors to the company. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, compare and rank the overall efficiency based on annual report of companies in Malaysia stock market by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The analysis is carried out on 15 government-linked companies (GLCs) where cross-sectional data between periods of 2013 to 2017 were evaluated. Three efficiency input were considered including return on assets, return on equity and tobin’s q where the outcome or outputs were profitability. The results indicate the significance to the investors as the overall efficiency of the companies is ranked according to several years of reports using the DEA model. The implication of this research would benefit the organizations to perform better

Controlled Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate Mediated by a Bis(imino)pyridine Vanadium Complex

Source type: Prin

[Metallic and organic pollutants associated with urban wastewater in the waters and sediments of a Maroccan river]

The impact of wastewater on the Sebou river, one of the most important water resources in Morocco, is analyzed. A significant amount of wastewater is discharged every day in this aquatic system by the city of Fez. Heavy metals and toxic elements (Cr, Zn, Fe, Co, As, La, Sr, Ag, Hg, Sb and Rb) were identified by neutron activation in the urban wastewater and in the waters and sediments of the river both upstream and downstream from their point of origin. Results show high contamination levels. The highest levels were for Cr and Zn, while Hg, Ag and As were found only at the downstream sites where there was also a large increase in organic loadings (COD, BOD, volatile organic matter), salinity and ammonium, orthophosphates, sulfate, sodium and calcium, as well as a sharp drop in dissolved oxygen. Aside from the decline in water quality, there was a large decrease in the biotic index, from 8 upstream to 2 downstream. As a result of the water regime of this river and the climatic conditions in the region, heavy metals accumulating in the sediments could be remobilized and create the risk of large-scale contamination

Repeatability and Agreement of a New Scheimpflug Device and a Hartmann-Shack Aberrometer With a Ray-Tracing Aberrometer in Normal, Keratoconus, and CXL Groups

PURPOSE: To assess repeatability and agreement of a Scheimpflug topographer and a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer with a ray-tracing aberrometer in normal, keratoconus, and corneal cross-linking (CXL) groups. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, observational study, normal, keratoconus, and CXL groups with 125 eyes in each of the three groups were included. All eyes underwent three sets of measurements, at a single visit, using the Pentacam AXL Wave (Oculus Optikgerate GmbH) and iTrace (Tracey Technologies). Keratometry, pachymetry, objective refraction, and total ocular aberrations including root mean square (RMS) lower order aberrations (LOAs), RMS higher order aberrations (HOAs), RMS coma, and spherical aberrations (SA) were analyzed. Objective assessment of haze after CXL was done using the Pentacam AXL Wave. Repeatability was assessed using within-subject standard deviation (Sw), test-retest variability, within-subject coefficient of variation (COV), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Bland-Altman analysis assessed 95% limits of agreement and correlation coefficient (r) determined the strength of the relationship between measurements. RESULTS: The Pentacam AXL Wave had Sw for keratometry of 0.12 in the normal group and 0.15 in the keratoconus group and lower (poorer) Sw of 0.17 in the CXL group. For pachymetry, Sw was 9.18, 9.53, and 10.11 in the normal, keratoconus, and CXL groups, respectively. Total aberrations had ICCs ranging from 0.88 for RMS HOAs to 0.95 for SA in the normal group, 0.86 for RMS HOAs to 0.92 for SA in the keratoconus group, and 0.72 for RMS HOAs to 0.82 for SA (poorer) in the CXL group. In the normal group, mean differences between the two devices were nonsignificant for all parameters except SA (0.011 +/- 0.038 mu m, P < .01; limits of agreement =-0.09 to 0.07; r = 0.87). In the keratoconus group, mean differences were significant in all aberrations except RMS LOAs (-0.27 +/- 0.85 mu m, P = .10; limits of agreement =-3.3 to 3.8; r = 0.92). In the CXL group, all parameters varied significantly (P < .006). CONCLUSIONS: The Pentacam AXL Wave showed comparable repeatability in the normal and keratoconus groups, but was poorer in the CXL group, more so with increasing corneal haze. Both devices can be used interchangeably in normal eyes, except for SA, but not in eyes with keratoconus or CXL for aberration measurements. [J Refract Surg. 2022;38(3):201-208.