Relationship between incoterms choices, selection factors and export performance: A case of manufacturing companies in Malaysia

The present study has three major objectives: (1) To determine the most frequently used Incoterms 2010 among manufacturers in Malaysia. (2) To identify the factors that influence the Incoterms selection by the manufacturers. (3) To examine the relationship between the selection factors, Incoterms choice and export performance. This study is a quantitative research and was conducted in Malaysia and the sample was selected from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). A total of 335 questionnaires were distributed and 60 questionnaires were returned with complete answer. The valid response is 17.91%. The collected data was analyzed through reliability analysis, which is Cronbach’s Alpha, descriptive analysis and correlation analysis. EXPERF tools developed by Zou in 1998 uses three dimensions to evaluate the export performance, which is through financial performance, strategic performance and export performance which is a perceived performance. The results showed that (1) FOB is the most frequently used Incoterms in Malaysia. (2) There are factors influencing the Incoterms selection including new added factors. (3) There are significant relationships between selection factors with Incoterms selection, and selection factors with export performance. In conclusion, this study focuses on factors influencing the choices of Incoterms and its impact on the export performance. The possible neglected factors such as intangible units, employee behaviours, conducted study overseas and et cetera

Factors influencing the choice in Incoterms among Malaysian manufacturers

The International Commercial Terms (Incoterms), introduced and governed by International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are standard trade terms used in international and domestic sales contract. The latest version, INCOTERMS 2010 states the obligations and responsibilities of importers and exporters regarding transport costs and risks as well as the responsibilities for insurance and customs formalities.This paper seeks to find out the most frequently used Incoterms and examine the factors that influences the choice of Incoterms among Malaysian manufacturers. Data was collected using survey methods and then analysed using univariate (descriptive) analysis. A total of 335 questionnaires were distributed to manufacturers in Malaysia using a sampling framework from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). Of the 335 questionnaires distributed, 60 were returned yielding a response rate of 17.9%. Findings indicate that FOB (Free On Board) were the most frequently used Incoterms and that the factors that influence choice of Incoterms can be divided into two types: external environments and internal factors. Among the external environment, the strongest influence are freight issue, transport issue and tariff classification. For the internal environment, the strongest influence comes from mode of transportation, habits and practices of the organization and experience of the company.The main contribution of this study is towards narrowing the gap in knowledge regarding Incoterms as past research indicated that it is still relatively unknown and should highlight Incoterms selection, among others

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Factors influencing the choice of incoterms among malaysian manufactures

The International Commercial Terms (Incoterms), introduced and governed by International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are standard trade terms used in international and domestic sales contract. The latest version, INCOTERMS 2010 states the obligations and responsibilities of importers and exporters regarding transport costs and risks as well as the responsibilities for insurance and customs formalities. This paper seeks to find out the most frequently used Incoterms and examine the factors that influences the choice of Incoterms among Malaysian manufacturers. Data was collected using survey methods and then analysed using univariate (descriptive) analysis. A total of 335 questionnaires were distributed to manufacturers in Malaysia using a sampling framework from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). Of the 335 questionnaires distributed, 60 were returned yielding a response rate of 17.9%. Findings indicate that FOB (Free On Board) were the most frequently used Incoterms and that the factors that influence choice of Incoterms can be divided into two types: external environments and internal factors. Among the external environment, the strongest influence are freight issue, transport issue and tariff classification. For the internal environment, the strongest influence comes from mode of transportation, habits and practices of the organization and experience of the company.The main contribution of this study is towards narrowing the gap in knowledge regarding Incoterms as past research indicated that it is still relatively unknown and should highlight Incoterms selection, among others

Serum amyloid A1 in combination with integrin αVβ3 increases glioblastoma cells mobility and progression

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant type of brain tumor found in humans. GBM cells reproduce quickly, and the median survival time for patients after therapy is approximately 1 year with a high relapse rate. Current therapies and diagnostic tools for GBM are limited; therefore, we searched for a more favorable therapeutic target or marker protein for both therapy and diagnosis. We used mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to identify GBM‐associated marker proteins from human plasma and GBM cell cultures. Additional plasma and 52 brain tissues obtained from patients with gliomas were used to validate the association rate of serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) in different grades of gliomas and its distribution in tumors. Microarray database analysis further validated the coefficient of SAA1 levels in gliomas. The cellular mechanisms of SAA1 in GBM proliferation and infiltration were investigated in vitro. We analyzed the correlation between SAA1 and patients' medication requirement to demonstrate the clinical effects of SAA1 in GBM. SAA1 was identified from MS analysis, and its level was revealed to be correlated with the disease grade, clinical severity, and survival rate of patients with gliomas. In vitro cultures, including GBM cells and normal astrocytes, revealed that SAA1 promotes cell migration and invasion through integrin αVβ3 to activate the Erk signaling pathway. Magnetic resonance imaging and tumor region‐specific microarray analysis identified a correlation between SAA1 and GBM cell infiltration in patients. In summary, our results demonstrate that SAA1 in combination with integrin αV and β3 can serve as an indicator of high glioblastoma risk. We also identified the cellular mechanisms of SAA1 contributing to GBM progression, which can serve as the basis for future GBM therapy

The ability of LCRMP-1 to promote cancer invasion by enhancing filopodia formation is antagonized by CRMP-1

Metastasis is a predominant cause of death in patients with cancer. It is a complex multistep process that needs to be better understood if we are to develop new approaches to managing tumor metastasis. Tumor cell invasion of the local stroma is suppressed by collapsin response mediator protein-1 (CRMP-1). Recently, we identified a long isoform of CRMP-1 (LCRMP-1), expression of which correlates with cancer cell invasiveness and poor clinical outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we report that LCRMP-1 overexpression in noninvasive human cell lines enhanced filopodia formation, cancer cell migration, and invasion via stabilization of actin. This effect required a highly conserved N-terminal region of LCRMP-1 as well as the WASP family verprolin-homologous protein-1/actin nucleation pathway (WAVE-1/actin nucleation pathway). Furthermore, LCRMP-1 appeared to act downstream of Cdc42, a Rho family protein known to be involved in actin rearrangement. In addition, LCRMP-1 associated with CRMP-1, which downregulated cancer cell metastasis by interrupting the association of LCRMP-1 and WAVE-1. Finally, we found that high-level expression of LCRMP-1 and low-level expression of CRMP-1 were associated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival in patients with NSCLC. In sum, we show that LCRMP-1 and CRMP-1 have opposing functions in regulating cancer cell invasion and metastasis and propose that this pathway may serve as a potential anticancer target