Microfinancing Influence on Micro-Entrepreneurs Business Growth: Mediating Role of Psychological and Social Capital

This paper is set out to uncover the phenomena of micro-enterprises business growth by hypothesizing microfinancing, social and psychological capital as factors. This research is important due to the fact that the paucity of information on how microfinancing, social and psychological capital relate to micro-enterprises business growth would obscure the ways in which they survive. In Malaysia, microfinance is used as one of the tools to alleviate poverty, as well as to improve the livelihood and standards of living of the poor and those who are financially excluded.  However, almost three decades after the introduction of microfinancing programmes, the performance of microfinancing recipients’ i.e. micro-enterprises in Malaysia is not satisfactory. Besides providing loans to these micro-entrepreneurs, other aspects of facilitation, including the inculcation of the entrepreneur’s intangible resources, need to be addressed. Therefore, this research examines the mediating effect of micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital on the relationship between microfinance provisions and the business growth of micro-enterprises. The samples are identified from two microfinance providers, i.e., Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (TEKUN) micro credit financing scheme recipients’ databases. A total of 250 useable survey questionnaires was collected and analysed to test the hypothesised relationship. The data was analysed using Partial Least Square-SEM and the structural model was examined to test the hypotheses. The findings show that micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital have a significant mediating effects on the relationship between provision of microfinance and the business growth of micro-enterprises in Kelantan. This research offers the practical implication that the effects of micro finance provision on the business growth of micro-enterprises are better exerted through micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital. This theoretically supports the applicability of the Resource-based View (RBV) theory to explain the mediating effect of psychological and social capital on the relationship between microfinance provisions and business growth. Research paper Keywords: Micro-enterprise, Business growth, Psychological capital, Social capital, Mediation, Microfinance institutions Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nordin, N., Siti-Nabiha, A.K., & Kamalia, Z. (2019). Microfinancing Influence on Micro-Entrepreneurs Business Growth: Mediating Role of Psychological and Social Capital, Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 7(2), 130–161

Stress corrosion cracking in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloys in saline environments

Copyright 2013 ASM International. This paper was published in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 44A(3), 1230 - 1253, and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of ASM International. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplications of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of this paper are prohibited.Stress corrosion cracking of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (AA7xxx) aluminum alloys exposed to saline environments at temperatures ranging from 293 K to 353 K (20 °C to 80 °C) has been reviewed with particular attention to the influences of alloy composition and temper, and bulk and local environmental conditions. Stress corrosion crack (SCC) growth rates at room temperature for peak- and over-aged tempers in saline environments are minimized for Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys containing less than ~8 wt pct Zn when Zn/Mg ratios are ranging from 2 to 3, excess magnesium levels are less than 1 wt pct, and copper content is either less than ~0.2 wt pct or ranging from 1.3 to 2 wt pct. A minimum chloride ion concentration of ~0.01 M is required for crack growth rates to exceed those in distilled water, which insures that the local solution pH in crack-tip regions can be maintained at less than 4. Crack growth rates in saline solution without other additions gradually increase with bulk chloride ion concentrations up to around 0.6 M NaCl, whereas in solutions with sufficiently low dichromate (or chromate), inhibitor additions are insensitive to the bulk chloride concentration and are typically at least double those observed without the additions. DCB specimens, fatigue pre-cracked in air before immersion in a saline environment, show an initial period with no detectible crack growth, followed by crack growth at the distilled water rate, and then transition to a higher crack growth rate typical of region 2 crack growth in the saline environment. Time spent in each stage depends on the type of pre-crack (“pop-in” vs fatigue), applied stress intensity factor, alloy chemistry, bulk environment, and, if applied, the external polarization. Apparent activation energies (E a) for SCC growth in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys exposed to 0.6 M NaCl over the temperatures ranging from 293 K to 353 K (20 °C to 80 °C) for under-, peak-, and over-aged low-copper-containing alloys (~0.8 wt pct), they are typically ranging from 20 to 40 kJ/mol for under- and peak-aged alloys, and based on limited data, around 85 kJ/mol for over-aged tempers. This means that crack propagation in saline environments is most likely to occur by a hydrogen-related process for low-copper-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys in under-, peak- and over-aged tempers, and for high-copper alloys in under- and peak-aged tempers. For over-aged high-copper-containing alloys, cracking is most probably under anodic dissolution control. Future stress corrosion studies should focus on understanding the factors that control crack initiation, and insuring that the next generation of higher performance Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys has similar longer crack initiation times and crack propagation rates to those of the incumbent alloys in an over-aged condition where crack rates are less than 1 mm/month at a high stress intensity factor

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

Internationalisation Factors - Competency, Commitment and Coordination: A Study on Women-Owned SMEs

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of competency on internationalisation orientation through the mediation of commitment to learning and coordination. This study also examines the moderation effect of length of business in international new ventures (INVs) on the model. This research focused on INVs belongs to women SMEs in Malaysia. Length of business since inception is hypothesised to interact with commitment and coordination, and thus leads to stronger effect on internationalisation orientation. Quantitative research employing a cross-sectional survey is the method chosen for the research design. These hypothesised relationships are tested using mediation effect test whereas, moderation effect test performed using product indicator approach employing Partial Least Squares-SEM technique. Survey data collected from 154 owned by women entrepreneurs. The samples selected based on directories of exporters in Malaysia employing purposive sampling. The research found commitment to learning and coordination are significant mediators transmitting the effect of competency towards internationalization orientation. The moderation effect of length of a business, also found to be significantly strengthens the effect from coordination towards internationalisation orientation, and strengthen the effect of commitment towards internationalization orientation. Research paper Keywords: Women, Internationalisation, Competency, Commitment, Coordination, Small medium-sized enterprise, Women Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nordin, N., Siti-Nabiha, A. K., & Mohd Noordin, N. F. (2022). Internationalisation Factors - Competency, Commitment and Coordination: A Study on Women-Owned SMEs. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S1), 216–255.    &nbsp

Internationalisation Factors - Competency, Commitment and Coordination: A Study on Women-Owned SMEs

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of competency on internationalisation orientation through the mediation of commitment to learning and coordination. This study also examines the moderation effect of length of business in international new ventures (INVs) on the model. This research focused on INVs belongs to women SMEs in Malaysia. Length of business since inception is hypothesised to interact with commitment and coordination, and thus leads to stronger effect on internationalisation orientation. Quantitative research employing a cross-sectional survey is the method chosen for the research design. These hypothesised relationships are tested using mediation effect test whereas, moderation effect test performed using product indicator approach employing Partial Least Squares-SEM technique. Survey data collected from 154 owned by women entrepreneurs. The samples selected based on directories of exporters in Malaysia employing purposive sampling. The research found commitment to learning and coordination are significant mediators transmitting the effect of competency towards internationalization orientation. The moderation effect of length of a business, also found to be significantly strengthens the effect from coordination towards internationalisation orientation, and strengthen the effect of commitment towards internationalization orientation. Research paper Keywords: Women, Internationalisation, Competency, Commitment, Coordination, Small medium-sized enterprise, Women Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nordin, N., Siti-Nabiha, A. K., & Mohd Noordin, N. F. (2022). Internationalisation Factors - Competency, Commitment and Coordination: A Study on Women-Owned SMEs. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 10(2S1), 216–255.    &nbsp

Radiation dose to radiosensitive organs in PET/CT myocardial perfusion examination using versatile optical fibre

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) provides a precise method in order to diagnose obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), compared to single photon emission tomography (SPECT). PET is suitable for obese and patients who underwent pharmacologic stress procedures. It has the ability to evaluate multivessel coronary artery disease by recording changes in left ventricular function from rest to peak stress and quantifying myocardial perfusion (in mL/min/g of tissue). However, the radiation dose to the radiosensitive organs has become crucial issues in the Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography(PET/CT) scanning procedure. The objective of this study was to estimate radiation dose to radiosensitive organs of patients who underwent PET/CT myocardial perfusion examination at Centre for Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging, Universiti Putra Malaysia in one month period using versatile optical fibres (Ge-B-doped Flat Fibre) and LiF (TLD-100 chips). All stress and rest paired myocardial perfusion PET/CT scans will be performed with the use of Rubidium-82 (82Rb). The optic fibres were loaded into plastic capsules and attached to patient’s eyes, thyroid and breasts prior to the infusion of 82Rb, to accommodate the ten cases for the rest and stress PET scans. The results were compared with established thermoluminescence material, TLD-100 chips. The result shows that radiation dose given by TLD-100 and Germanium-Boron-doped Flat Fiber (Ge-B-doped Flat Fiber) for these five organs were comparable to each other where the p>0.05. For CT scans,thyroid received the highest dose compared to other organs. Meanwhile, for PET scans, breasts received the highest dose. © (2013) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only