The Determinants of Dividend Policy: Evidence from Malaysian Firms

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between dividend payout ratio in Malaysian firms with profitability, size, growth opportunities, free cash flow, business risk and market to book value. The paper used a sample of 284 firms listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) from seven sectors viz., Consumer Products, Industrial Products, Construction, Finance, Technology, Properties, and Telecommunication. In order to decipher the relationships as stated above, multivariate regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses. The study found that at the pooled data level for All sectors, free cash flow, return on assets, return on equity, earning per share, market to book value and market capitalization have significant positive correlation with dividend payout ratio. The variable Beta, however, has a strong negative correlation with dividend payout ratio. The findings however differ from sector to sector; results reflect that Market capitalization; Beta, ROA and ROE are the common variables which have influence on DPR across various sectors except in technology sector where as the variable Market capitalization is not significantly associated with DPR. Similarly, ROA, which is significant determinant variable of DPR in four sectors like Construction, Consumer Products, Properties and Telecommunication Sector, it has no influence on the dividend payout ratio of the companies in the Industrial, Technology and Finance sectors. Keywords: dividend payout ratio, profitability, size, growth opportunities, free cash flow, business risk, market to book value, market capitalization, Beta

Mistranslations of the Prophets' Names in the Holy Quran: A Critical Evaluation of Two Translations

This study is devoted to discuss the renditions of the prophets' names in the Holy Quran due to the authority of the religious text where they reappear, the significance of the figures who carry them, the fact that they exist in many languages, and the fact that the Holy Quran addresses all mankind. The data are drawn from two translations of the Holy Quran by Ali (1964), and Al-Hilali and Khan (1993). It examines the renditions of the twenty five prophets' names with reference to translation strategies in this respect, showing that Ali confused the conveyance of six names whereas Al-Hilali and Khan confused the conveyance of four names. Discussion has been raised thereupon to present the correct rendition according to English dictionaries and encyclopedias in addition to versions of the Bible which add a historical perspective to the study. Keywords: Mistranslation, Prophets, Religious, Al-Hilali, Khan

Examining Students’ Perceptions About an Adaptive-Responsive Online Homework System and its Influence on Motivation and Learning

Advances in technological education have made online homework an integral part of science courses in general which is especially true for general chemistry courses. Online homework, if used correctly, has the potential to improve students’ experience, and learning and performance in general chemistry courses. The purpose of this research investigation is to study students’ levels of perceptions about an adaptive-responsive online homework in terms of (1) examining students’ motivation, learning, and understanding of concepts, (2) determining the aspects of adaptive-responsive online homework that are useful to students’ learning, and (3) understanding the features in online homework that causes improvement in students’ motivation. The investigation took place at an urban, commuter, minority serving, and public college. The study subjects were recruited from student enrolled in general chemistry courses consisting of 207 research participants (N = 207). Our data suggest that students display positive levels of perceptions about the adaptive-responsive online homework and its use. Students also hold perceptions that show positive attitudes towards the online homework system and that it positively affected their motivation. Also, students list several useful aspects of the online homework system such as explanations of concepts, knowledge checks, review questions for tests, and tutorials. The adaptive-responsive online homework, according to the participants in our study, helped motivate students by helping them learn the concepts, continuously assessing their learning, checking their knowledge, and updating the topics accordingly

Polarographic Study of Some Nitrosonaphthols at d.m.e. in Aqueous Solutions & Water-Ethanol Mixtures of Varying pH

19-2

Polarographic Study of Some Nitrosonaphthols at d.m.e. in Aqueous Solutions & Water-Ethanol Mixtures of Varying pH

19-2

Isolation of Trichophyton mentogrophytes var mentogrophytes from naturally infected laboratory albino rats: experimental infection and treatment in rabbits

The present study demonstrated for the first time the occurrence of dermatophytosis in naturally infected rats and from asymptomatic and from breeding boxes of white rats kept in animal housing of college of Veterinary Medicine, University of Dohuk, Iraq. The prevalence rate of infection was (28%), clinically infected rats characterized by appearance of scaly ovoid type lesions with crusty edge and patch of hair loss mostly seen on the back, neck and face of the infected rats, itching was reported in some rats. Only one species of the trichophyton, T. mentogrophytes var mentogrophytes was isolated with growth rate (85.71%) of samples collected from clinically infected rats, and (28.57%) from asymptomatic and from breeding cages, the growth was observed within the 21 days at 25ºC on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar. Lacto phenol cotton blue staining slides of T. mentogrophytes var mentogrophytes revealed both microconidia and macroconidia. Microconidia found in numerous numbers often in dense cluster which were hyaline, smooth walled and predominantly spherical to sub spherical in shape, varying numbers of chlamydoconidia. Spiral hyphae and smooth, thin walled clavate shaped multicelled macroconidia were also present. The study also dealt with experimental infection in rabbits with T. mentogrophytes var mentogrophytes and treated by two drugs, natural herbal preparation of acidic pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit and synthetic nystatine ointment. The complete recovery of lesions was recorded after 14 days and 21 days of topical application of a pomegranate and nystatine ointment for 5 successive days respectively

Impact of decitabine on immunohistochemistry expression of the putative tumor suppressor genes FHIT, WWOX, FUS1 and PTEN in clinical tumor samples.

BackgroundSince tumor suppressor gene function may be lost through hypermethylation, we assessed whether the demethylating agent decitabine could increase tumor suppressor gene expression clinically. For fragile histidine triad (FHIT), WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), fused in sarcoma-1 (FUS1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), immunohistochemistry scores from pre- and post-decitabine tumor biopsies (25 patients) were correlated with methylation of the long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) repetitive DNA element (as a surrogate for global DNA methylation) and with tumor regression.ResultsWith negative staining pre-decitabine (score = 0), the number of patients converting to positive staining post-decitabine was 1 of 1 for FHIT, 3 of 6 for WWOX, 2 of 3 for FUS1 and 1 of 10 for PTEN. In tumors with low pre-decitabine tumor suppressor gene scores (≤150), expression was higher post-treatment in 8 of 8 cases for FHIT (P = 0.014), 7 of 17 for WWOX (P = 0.0547), 7 of 12 for FUS1 (P = 0.0726), and 1 of 16 for PTEN (P = 0.2034). If FHIT, WWOX and FUS1 were considered together, median pre- versus post-decitabine scores were 60 versus 100 (P = 0.0002). Overall, tumor suppressor gene expression change did not correlate with LINE-1 demethylation, although tumors converting from negative to positive had a median decrease in LINE-1 methylation of 24%, compared to 6% in those not converting (P = 0.069). Five of 15 fully evaluable patients had reductions in tumor diameter (range 0.2% to 33.4%). Of these, three had simultaneous increases in three tumor suppressor genes (including the two patients with the greatest tumor regression) compared to 2 of 10 with tumor growth (P = 0.25).ConclusionsIn tumors with low tumor suppressor gene expression, decitabine may be associated with increased expression of the tumor suppressor genes FHIT, FUS1, and WWOX, but not PTEN

Restaurant Hope: Engineering a Choice-Based Service Initiative to Address Hunger

The objective of this service-learning project was to humanize the face of hunger for volunteers by empowering patrons attending a soup kitchen with the choice of selecting their meal for dinner. This experience helped foster an emotional connection between patrons and volunteers. A traditional soup kitchen utilizes a single-option, inexpensive meal approach that is cooked and delivered by volunteers. However, this service project, entitled Restaurant Hope, addressed these issues by providing patrons with a diverse menu. In addition, patrons were given the opportunity to request more food (to try other options on the menu) and take home leftover food depending on availability. Choices patrons made in terms of menu preferences were tracked. Volunteers, soup kitchen administrators, and patrons were interviewed to obtain feedback on this service initiative and how it impacted their perceptions on the issue of hunger in their local community