Effect of different subsectional basis and testing function in the method of moments for the scattering from two dimensional dielectric scatterers

Different integral equations are reduced to a system of linear equations via method of moments (MoM) where the different basis and testing function utilised are sinusoid/pulse, sinusoid/sinusoid, sinusoid/triangle, triangle/pulse, triangle/sinusoid and triangle/triangle method. A hollow/layered dielectric cylinder has been taken as a representative case study. Comparison is made on the convergence and accuracy due to different testing function where the mean relative error is investigated numerically to show the essential differences of different basis and testing function in the MoM using different implementation techniques and different boundary conditions. The Gauss quadrature and staircase approximation technique is used in calculating the impedance matrix elements. The different boundary conditions utilised is the exact and impedance boundary condition. Numerical results points out to the need to investigate the performance of other basis and testing functions for dielectric scatterers

Environmental management system and financial performance

The paper aims to explore the relationship between ISO 14001 certification and a company's financial performance to investigate whether the certification to ISO 14001 environmental management standard has benefited the company's financial performance or not. Using Malaysia as the research context, the results of a linear regression analysis show that firms with above-average performance have a greater tendency to pursue ISO 14001 certification. The findings also indicate that there is a significant relationship between ISO14001 certification and a company's financial performance in an emerging economy context. The reason is the adoption of ISO 14001 standard does offers many benefits to companies, such as greater reputation and brand awareness on one hand, and higher sales and investors' confidence on the other. The ISO 14001 certification helps to develop a better system which leads to costs reduction and revenue increase in the long run

Stock return, currency and general elections

The association between political elections and stock market performance for Malaysia market is discussed in this paper. This study aims to investigate the impact of General Elections in Malaysia on stock market indices. To provide additional support of the impact of general elections on stock returns through other channels, currency changes were also included in this study so as to discover the mediation effect of the exchange rate on the relationship between general elections and stock returns. Since the exchange rate does, to some extent, influence stock return, the relationship between exchange rates and stock returns during different stages of a general election cannot be overlooked. The results showed that currency change is negatively related with stock returns in pre-election and post election stages, but it is not significant during the election period. The impact of currency on stock return exists as a mediation effect during election period. In a nutshell, the currency change directly impacts stock return with a negative influence. However, the direct relationship between currency and stock return disappears during the election week. Thus, stock return is affected by currency change indirectly

Consumer intention to use QR code

This study examines how the users' perception of QR code affects their attitude towards QR code, particularly in the context of Malaysian local university students. Next, the study examines the relationship between their attitude towards QR code and their intention to use the QR code. Empirical analysis via multiple regression analysis affirmed that PIQ influences PU and PSQ influences PEoU. Additionally, both PU and PEoU influences the attitude of users, which leads to the influence of attitude towards the user's intention to use to QR code. The functionality of QR codes can be utilized by business entities to serve for their company and create revenue. However, the companies must modify the content of the QR code application according to the minimum requirements and perception of the users. The results of this research offer essential guidelines for companies to tailor the information of their campaigns to the users' preferences. Next, future researches can utilize the proposed theoretical framework to exploit the potentials of QR code in the marketing field

The relationship between board characteristics and firm financial performance in Malaysia

Corporate governance has drawn attention of investors and government after the incidence of financial crisis world- wide since the late 90’s. Despite that reforms of corporate governance have been in place in Malaysia, voluntary disclosure of corporate governance has yet to proof its impact on the financial performance of the companies. This study examines the relationship between corporate governance attributes and firm financial performance in Malaysia. The relationship between board characteristics (board tenure, board size and CEO duality) were analyzed to investigate their correlation with firm financial performances. A total of 100 public listed companies were randomly selected from Bursa Malaysia for the year 2009 to 2013. Random effect panel data regression was obtained by using Stata. This study finds that board size, board tenure were significant to Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Assets (ROA). However, firm size has no significant relationship with firm financial performance. It is recommended that apart from including more variables as controlling effects on firm financial performance and examining few industries as sample, it is also good to examine the correlation between board characteristics and corporate governance variables (foreign listings, equity analysis, external auditors, leverage ratios, dividend policy, etc.) on one hand, and ownership structures on the other hand, that have significant impact on firm financial performance

Major adverse cardiovascular events of enzalutamide versus abiraterone in prostate cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Background While the cardiovascular risks of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors have been studied, they were seldom compared directly. This study compares the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) between enzalutamide and abiraterone among prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Methods Adult PCa patients receiving either enzalutamide or abiraterone in addition to androgen deprivation therapy in Hong Kong between 1 December 1999 and 31 March 2021 were identified in this retrospective cohort study. Patients who switched between enzalutamide and abiraterone, initiated abiraterone used without steroids, or experienced prior cardiac events were excluded. Patients were followed-up until 30 September 2021. The primary outcomes were MACE, a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), Heart failure (HF), or all-cause mortality and a composite of adverse cardiovascular events (CACE) not including all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were individual components of MACE. Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to balance covariates between treatment groups. Results In total, 1015 patients were analyzed (456 enzalutamide users and 559 abiraterone users; mean age 70.6 ± 8.8 years old) over a median follow-up duration of 11.3 (IQR: 5.3–21.3) months. Enzalutamide users had significantly lower risks of 4P-MACE (weighted hazard ratio (wHR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59–0.86], p < 0.001) and CACE (wHR 0.63 [95% CI: 0.42–0.96], p = 0.031), which remained consistent in multivariable analysis. Such an association may be stronger in patients aged ≥65 years or without diabetes mellitus and was independent of bilateral orchidectomy. Enzalutamide users also had significantly lower risks of MI (wHR 0.57 [95% CI: 0.33–0.97], p = 0.040) and all-cause mortality (wHR 0.71 [95% CI: 0.59–0.85], p < 0.001). Conclusion Enzalutamide was associated with lower cardiovascular risks than abiraterone in PCa patients

Safety and potential efficacy of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in coronavirus disease 2019

Objectives While the safety of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs in COVID‐19 has been questioned, they may be beneficial given the hyper‐inflammatory immune response associated with severe disease. We aimed to assess the safety and potential efficacy of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) selective inhibitors in high‐risk patients. Methods Retrospective study of patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia and aged ≥ 50 years who were admitted to hospital. Adverse outcomes analysed included supplemental oxygen use, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation and mortality, with the primary endpoint a composite of any of these. Plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were measured in a subset. Results Twenty‐two of 168 (13.1%) in the cohort received COX‐2 inhibitors [median duration 3 days, interquartile range (IQR) 3–4.25]. Median age was 61 (IQR 55–67.75), 44.6% were female, and 72.6% had at least one comorbidity. A lower proportion of patients receiving COX‐2 inhibitors met the primary endpoint: 4 (18.2%) versus 57 (39.0%), P = 0.062. This difference was less pronounced after adjusting for baseline difference in age, gender and comorbidities in a multivariate logistic regression model [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.45, 95% CI 0.14–1.46]. The level of interleukin‐6 declined after treatment in five of six (83.3%) treatment group patients [compared to 15 of 28 (53.6%) in the control group] with a greater reduction in absolute IL‐6 levels (P‐value = 0.025). Conclusion Treatment with COX‐2 inhibitors was not associated with an increase in adverse outcomes. Its potential for therapeutic use as an immune modulator warrants further evaluation in a large randomised controlled trial

Major adverse cardiovascular events of enzalutamide versus abiraterone in prostate cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

While the cardiovascular risks of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors have been studied, they were seldom compared directly. This study compares the risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) between enzalutamide and abiraterone among prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Adult PCa patients receiving either enzalutamide or abiraterone in addition to androgen deprivation therapy in Hong Kong between 1 December 1999 and 31 March 2021 were identified in this retrospective cohort study. Patients who switched between enzalutamide and abiraterone, initiated abiraterone used without steroids, or experienced prior cardiac events were excluded. Patients were followed-up until 30 September 2021. The primary outcomes were MACE, a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), Heart failure (HF), or all-cause mortality and a composite of adverse cardiovascular events (CACE) not including all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes were individual components of MACE. Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to balance covariates between treatment groups. In total, 1015 patients were analyzed (456 enzalutamide users and 559 abiraterone users; mean age 70.6 ± 8.8 years old) over a median follow-up duration of 11.3 (IQR: 5.3-21.3) months. Enzalutamide users had significantly lower risks of 4P-MACE (weighted hazard ratio (wHR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-0.86], p < 0.001) and CACE (wHR 0.63 [95% CI: 0.42-0.96], p = 0.031), which remained consistent in multivariable analysis. Such an association may be stronger in patients aged ≥65 years or without diabetes mellitus and was independent of bilateral orchidectomy. Enzalutamide users also had significantly lower risks of MI (wHR 0.57 [95% CI: 0.33-0.97], p = 0.040) and all-cause mortality (wHR 0.71 [95% CI: 0.59-0.85], p < 0.001). Enzalutamide was associated with lower cardiovascular risks than abiraterone in PCa patients. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Curcumin-rich curry diet and pulmonary function in Asian older adults

10.1371/journal.pone.0051753PLoS ONE71

A brain-computer interface based cognitive training system for healthy elderly: A randomized control pilot study for usability and preliminary efficacy

10.1371/journal.pone.0079419PLoS ONE811-POLN