An Empirical Study of IT Innovation Adoption Among Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Purpose—The purpose of this research is to use and validate the Entrepreneurial Event model as a base model to investigate SME owners’ perception toward IT innovation adoption and use. This paper also attempts to investigate the key determinants of the adoption of IT innovation among small and medium sized enterprises in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This study revised and validated the Entrepreneurial Event Model in a new context and tried to examine the effect of perceived desirability, propensity to act and performance expectancy on behavior intention to adopt and use IT innovation in SMEs companies.Design/ methodology/ approach—Based on the research model the questionnaire was developed using previous work in the areas of entrepreneurship (Entrepreneurial Event Model) and technology acceptance (UTAUT). The data used to test the hypothesis is collectedfrom various spectrums of Malaysian industries in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 1,000 businesses were identified and 412 completed questionnaires were available in this study. The research model was applied using the structural equation modelling technique.Finding—The results of this study indicated that perceived desirability, propensity to act and performance expectancy have a significant positive influence on behavioral intention, and explained a significant amount of the variance in predicting a SMEs owners intention to adopt IT innovation. Propensity to act is the strongest determinant of intention to use IT innovations among Malaysian SME owners follow by perceived desirability and performance expectancy. The results suggest that attractiveness of IT innovation is an important determinant towards the intention to adopt IT innovation. The result revealed that SME owners are more willing to use IT innovation, which is more attractive. Perceived usefulness (performance expectancy) of IT innovation is the third most important factor that SME owners consider when they want to adopt and use new technology in their jobs. The results also revealed that experience moderated the relationship between determinants and behavior intention.Research Limitations/implications—The number of male and female SMEsowners is not equal and our respondents were mostly men compared to women. This study measure intention to use IT innovation, and did not measure use behavior.Practical implications—This study extends to knowledge on IS adoption behavior research by using entrepreneurial event models in the context of technology acceptance.Furthermore, from the SME owners’ points of view, this study has shed some light on the adoption and use behavior and clarified the situation for SME owners when they want to adopt and use IT innovation to be successful in their job and market.Originality/value—This study is one of the first to utilize the Entrepreneurial Event Model (EPM) to the technology acceptance domain. It also provides a broader view of the IT innovation adoption decision and sheds some additional light on individual technology usage behavior

Analogy potential Effects of Planting Methods and Tank Mixed Herbicides on Wheat yield and weed populations

by planting wheat, to investigate the response of planting methods and tank mixed herbicides. The experiment was laid out using a split plot arrangement, in randomized complete block design with three replications. Methods of planting were assigned to the main plots; while tank mixed herbicides were kept in the sub-plots. The sub-plot size measured 4.5 X 4.5 m 2 . Row to row distance was kept at 30 cm. Data were recorded on weed density m -2 , plant height (cm), spike length (cm), Number of spikes m -2 , Number of grains spike -1 , 1000 grain weight (g), biological yield (kg ha The data for individual traits were subjected to ANOVA technique and significant means were separated by the LSD test. The analysis of the data showed that methods of sowing were statistically significant for plant height, No. of grains spike -1 , 1000-grain weight and biological yield. The herbicides were statistically significant for all the parameters investigated except No. of grains spike -1 , while the interaction of methods of planting with herbicides could not reach the level of significance in any of the traits examined. Among the methods of planting, line sowing was the best followed by line + broadcast sowing. The herbicide mixtures controlled mixed stands of broadleaf and grassy weeds to the tune of 65 to 74% with a consequent increase in grain yield from 58-107%. Buctril-M + Topik 15 WP, 2,4-D + Puma Super 75 EW and Topik 15 WP were segregated as the top scoring applications by increasing yield to the extent of 107, 104 and 101 %, respectively over the weedy check

Static SU(3) potentials for sources in various representations

The potentials and string tensions between static sources in a variety of representations (fundamental, 8, 6, 15-antisymmetric, 10, 27 and 15-symmetric) have been computed by measuring Wilson loops in pure gauge SU(3). The simulations have been done primarily on anisotropic lattices, using a tadpole improved action improved to O(a_{s}^4). A range of lattice spacings (0.43 fm, 0.25 fm and 0.11 fm) and volumes ($8^3\times 24$, $10^3 \times 24$, $16^3 \times 24$ and $18^3 \times 24$) has been used in an attempt to control discretization and finite volume effects. At intermediate distances, the results show approximate Casimir scaling. Finite lattice spacing effects dominate systematic error, and are particularly large for the representations with the largest string tensions.Comment: Version to appear in PR

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum V type H+ pyrophosphatase gene (pfvp2) and their associations with pfcrt and pfmdr1 polymorphisms

"Uncorrected proof"BACKGROUND: Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has been associated with pfcrt 76T (chloroquine resistance transporter gene) and pfmdr1 86Y (multidrug resistance gene 1) alleles. Pfcrt 76T enables transport of protonated chloroquine out of the parasites digestive vacuole resulting in a loss of hydrogen ions (H(+)). V type H(+) pyrophosphatase (PfVP2) is thought to pump H(+) into the digestive vacuole. This study aimed to describe the geographic distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms in pfvp2 and their possible associations with pfcrt and pfmdr1 polymorphisms. METHODS: Blood samples from 384 patients collected (1981-2009) in Honduras (n=35), Colombia (n=50), Liberia (n=50), Guinea Bissau (n=50), Tanzania (n=50), Iran (n=50), Thailand (n=49) and Vanuatu (n=50) were analysed. The pfcrt 72-76 haplotype, pfmdr1 copy numbers, pfmdr1 N86Y and pfvp2 V405I, K582R and P711S alleles were identified using PCR based methods. RESULTS: Pfvp2 was amplified in 344 samples. The pfvp2 allele proportions were V405 (97%), 405I (3%), K582 (99%), 582R (1%), P711 (97%) and 711S (3%). The number of patients with any of pfvp2 405I, 582R and/or 711S were as follows: Honduras (2/30), Colombia (0/46), Liberia (7/48), Guinea-Bissau (4/50), Tanzania (3/48), Iran (3/50), Thailand (1/49) and Vanuatu (0/31). The alleles were most common in Liberia (P=0.01) and Liberia+Guinea-Bissau (P=0.01). The VKP haplotype was found in 189/194 (97%) and 131/145 (90%) samples harbouring pfcrt 76T and pfcrt K76 respectively (P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The VKP haplotype was dominant. Most pfvp2 405I, 582R and 711S SNPs were seen where CQ resistance was not highly prevalent at the time of blood sampling possibly due to greater genetic variation prior to the bottle neck event of spreading CQ resistance. The association between the pfvp2 VKP haplotype and pfcrt 76T, which may indicate that pfvp2 is involved in CQ resistance, should therefore be interpreted with caution.This work was supported by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Department for research Cooperation (Sida-SAREC Contribution no 75007082/03) and Sigurd och Elsa Goljes Minne Fund (project No. LA2010-0537). MIV is recipient of Post Doctoral fellowship from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministerio da Ciencia e Ensino Superior, Portugal - MCES (ref. SFRH/BPD/76614/2011). JU has a postdoctoral position funded by Stockholms lans landsting

Thermal Aging Effect on Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane

This study concerns the effect of thermal aging on mechanical properties of polyurethane. Polyurethane samples were exposed at 85° and 120°C under inert atmosphere. Mechanical tests were carried out on these samples the aging period. Tensile tests were performed to see the effect of aging on elastic modulus (E), stress (σr), and strain (ϵr) at break. It was shown that there are two distinct periods. Due to aging, E and σr increase in the first period, then they decrease in the second period. ϵr decreases first and then increases. Fatigue tests were performed on unaged and aged samples. It was shown that the fatigue behavior of polyurethane (PU) is improved the same way during the first stage of aging. In the second step, the number of cycles to failure increases due to aging. The results show that aging has an important effect on mechanical properties of PU. The strain at break decreases during the first step of aging due to post-cross-linking and then increases due to chain scission in the network. Based on these results, the effect of cross-linking and chain scission on the mechanical properties of PU was discussed

Low back pain education and short term quality of life: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Different interventions can reduce the burden of the chronic low back pain. One example is the use of a 'Back School Programme'. This is a brief therapy that uses a health education method to empower participants through a procedure of assessment, education and skill development. This study aimed to evaluate to what extent the programme could improve quality of life in those who suffer from the condition. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial. One-hundred and two female patients with low back pain (n = 102) were randomly allocated into two groups, matched in terms of age, weight, education, socioeconomic status, occupation and some aspects of risk behavior. Group 1 (back school group, n = 50) but not group 2 (clinic group, n = 52) received the 'Back School Programme'. Then quality of life using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was assessed at two time points: at baseline and at three months follow-up. The findings were compared both within and between two groups. RESULTS: The 'Back School Programme' was effective in improving patients' quality of life; significant differences were found on all eight subscales of the SF-36 for group 1. In the clinic group (group 2), improvement was observed on three scales (bodily pain, vitality and mental health) but these improvements were less than in group 1. The mean improvement over all eight subscales of the SF-36 was significantly better for the 'Back School Programme' group. CONCLUSION: The 'Back School Programme' is an effective intervention and might improve the quality of life over a period of 3 months in patients who experience chronic low back pain

Modelling of sintering during rotational moulding of the thermoplastic polymers

This paper concerns the study of sintering phenomenon during rotational molding of polypropylene(PP),Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). First, the coalescence (first step of sintering) of two grains has been followed. Bellehumeur’s model has been tested as a model to explain this phenomenon. In order to study the effect of neighboring grains on coalescence of two grains, a third grain has been put in contact with these two grains. For modeling the phenomenon in this case, Bellehumeur’s model has been modified by a geometric parameter called Farz Factor (FF), being this model validated by experimental test. Concerning densification, two different stages have been observed. In the first stage, before welding of the grains and formation of interphases between them, the grains are not stuck yet. The air trapped between the grains escapes through free ways between grains. This first step of densification is directly related to the coalescence where the density of the polymer varies very quickly. A new tridimensional model, based on a Body Centered Tetragonal (BCT) configuration, has been proposed to explain the densification during this first stage. In the second stage, the migration of air is controlled by diffusion

Correlates of low birth weight in term pregnancies: a retrospective study from Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Low birth weight (LBW) is considered as a major multifaceted public health concern. Seventy-two percent of LBW infants are born in Asia. An estimation of 8% LBW infants has been reported for Eastern Mediterranean region including Iran. This study investigated contributory factors of LBW in singleton term births in Tehran, Iran. Tehran is a multicultural metropolitan area and a sample from the general population in Tehran could be regarded as a representative sample of urban population in Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a retrospective study using data from 15 university maternity hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Data on all singleton term births in these hospitals were extracted from case records during a one calendar year. Study variables included: maternal age, maternal educational level, history of LBW deliveries, history of preterm labor, cigarette smoking during pregnancy, number of parities, chronic diseases and residential area (Tehran versus suburbs of Tehran). In order to examine the relationship between LBW and demographic and reproductive variables the adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all, data for 3734 term pregnancies were extracted. The mean age of women was 25.7 (SD = 5.3) years and 5.2% of term births were LBW. In addition to association between LBW and maternal age, significant risk factors for LBW were: history of LBW deliveries [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–6.03], smoking during pregnancy (OR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.97–10.95) and chronic diseases (OR for hypertension = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.25–6.06, OR for others = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.09–3.83).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings indicate that in addition to maternal age, history of LBW deliveries; smoking during pregnancy and chronic diseases are significant determinants of LBW in this population. This is consistent with national and international findings indicating that maternal variables and risk behaviors during pregnancy play important roles on LBW.</p

Merozoite surface protein-3α is a reliable marker for population genetic analysis of Plasmodium vivax

BACKGROUND: The knowledge on population structure of the parasite isolates has contributed greatly to understanding the dynamics of the disease transmission for designing and evaluating malaria vaccines as well as for drug applications. msp-1 and msp-3α genes have been used as a genetic marker in population studies of Plasmodium vivax isolates. In this study, msp-3α was compared and assessed with msp-1 marker in order to find whether msp-3α is a reliable genetic marker for P. vivax population studies. METHODS: This comparative study was designed and carried out as the first assessment of diversity in Pvmsp-3α gene by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in the 50 northern and 94 southern P. vivax isolates from Iran, which had been analysed before for msp-1 gene. RESULTS: Three allele size as, Type A (1.8 kb), Type B (1.5 kb) and Type C (1.2 kb) have been detected among both northern and southern isolates based on PCR results. Type C (70%) and Type A (68.7%) were the predominant fragments among northern and southern parasites, respectively. 99 distinct Pvmsp-3α fragments defined by the size were detected in the 94 southern samples by PCR analysis. However, no mixed genotype infections have been detected among northern isolates. Based on restriction pattern from digestion with Hha I and Alu I 12 and 49 distinct allelic variants have been detected among 50 northern and 94 southern isolates. However, based on msp-1 gene, 30 distinct variants identified in all 146-sequenced Iranian P. vivax isolate. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that PCR-RFLP on msp-3α gene is an adequate, applicable and easily used technique for molecular epidemiology studies of P. vivax isolates without the need for further sequencing analysis