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The Effects Of Intellectual Capital And Innovation On Smes Export Performance In Pakistan The Mediating Role Of Competitive Advantages
Get PDFThe export performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has emerged as a focal point of research and policymaking, given its substantial contribution to the economies of developing nations. Among these, Pakistan stands out as a developing country grappling with a decline in export performance, a trend with potential repercussions for both individual firm profitability and the broader economic growth of the nation. This necessitates a thorough investigation into the factors that can bolster the export performance of SMEs in Pakistan. This study presents a comprehensive examination of the factors influencing the export growth of SMEs in Pakistan, with a specific focus on intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational capital), organizational innovation, and competitive advantage. The study's methodology involved the distribution of questionnaires to SME entrepreneurs to gather quantitative data. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and Partial Least Squares (PLS). Results indicate that organizational innovation and IC positively impact the export performance of SMEs, both directly and indirectly, through the mediating effect of competitive advantage. Furthermore, competitive advantage is crucial in mediating the relationship between organizational innovation, SME export performance, human capital, structural capital, and relational capital. Despite certain limitations, this study successfully achieved its objectives
Evaluation Of Mycological Quality Of Spices And Potential Application Of Plant Essential Oils (Cinnamomum Cassia, Syzgium Aromaticum, And Illicium Verum) In Inhibiting Growth Of Mycotoxigenic Fungi
Get PDFSpices are widely used in various cuisines in Malaysia to enhance the flavour and aroma. However, the susceptibility of spices to fungal infection raises concerns about potential mycotoxin contamination if the storage conditions are favourable. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of mycotoxigenic fungi in spices marketed in Penang, Malaysia, to identify and characterize the mycotoxigenic fungi based on the morphological characteristics, molecular approaches and mycotoxin production, and to study the efficacy of selected plant essential oils (EOs) in controlling the growth of mycotoxigenic fungi. A total of 110 spice samples consisting of cumin, fennel, coriander, peppers (black pepper and white pepper), chillies (dried chilli, chilli paste and chilli powder), cinnamon, star anise, cloves, curry powder and korma powder were randomly purchased from Penang’s retail markets. The samples were analyzed for the total fungal count (ground spices), and incidence of fungal infection (whole spices). The fungal species isolated from spices were identified based on morphological and molecular approaches, and the mycotoxigenic potential was determined using the Coconut Cream Agar and HPLC method. The antifungal activity of cinnamon, clove and star anise EOs were screened using a disk diffusion assay
Road Traffic Congestion Analysis At Oloko-Irese-Agbogbo Junctions On Ilesa-Benin Highway Akure Ondo State Nigeria
Get PDFThe study addressed road traffic congestion issues of junctions and socioeconomic
characteristics along the road along Oloko-Irese-Agbogbo junctions in the
Benin-Owo highway Akure Ondo State, Nigeria. Field samples were collected by
ground survey methods observing surface samples aided by a Global Positioning
System (GPS) and 250 questionnaires were distributed to elicit information about
respondents' profiles, background socio-economic activities, government agencies'
management approach for reducing traffic congestions, perception of road traffic
congestion, and junctions' distance apart on the road. It explores the traffic congestion
experienced at the Oloko-Irese-Agbogbo junctions on the Ilesa-Benin highway in
Akure Ondo State, Nigeria. It provides insights into the factors contributing to road
traffic congestion and its effects on commuters. In addition, it presents the proposed
solutions for reducing traffic congestion in the area. The Geometric data captured using
GPS and attribute data obtained aided database creation using ArcGIS 10.3 software
for buffering. The results of this survey indicated that inadequate road infrastructure,
overpopulation, poor transportation system, and lack of appropriate enforcement of
traffic rules are some of the major causes of traffic congestion in this area. Also, results
showed that many of the respondents attributed the constant traffic congestion in the
study area to the poor level of efficiency of the government agencies. Furthermore, it
was discovered that traffic congestion has negative impacts, such as increased travel
time and cost for commuters
Elucidating The In Vitro Antiproliferative Properties And Associated Mechanisms Of Momordica Cochinchinensis Spreng (Gac Fruit) Aqueous Extract Using Colorectal Cancer Origin Cell Lines
Get PDFMomordica cochinchinensis S., also known as gac fruit, is a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia. However, it has not yet been fully explored in Malaysia. The extracts obtained were aril water extract (AW), pulp water extract (PW) and seed extracts (SW), and its ethanolic counterpart, namely aril extract (AE), pulp extract (PE) and seed extract (SE). The focus of this study in terms of their phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and wound healing properties. Both water and ethanolic extracts of the aril, pulp and seed contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, volatile oil and reducing sugars. However, glycosides were only present in water extracts (AW, PW, SW), meanwhile tannins were detected only in SW. The PW exhibited an increased level of total phenolic content (TPC); 0.0215 ± 0.00060 mg GAE/g whereas, total flavonoid content (TFC) was quantitated at 0.083 ± 0.022 mg QE/g FW (TFC), respectively. Apart from that, the PW extract also exhibited potent antibacterial activity, with MIC values between 5 and 20 mg/ml and MBC values between 10 and 20 mg/ml against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. flexneri, and B. cereus. The concentrations ranged between 1μg/ml and 10 μg/ml of PE and SW extracts showed positive effects in the wound healing experiment. The aril of the fruit is known for its high concentration of carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lycopene. These compounds are powerful antioxidants and have been shown to have an anti-proliferative effect on various types of cancer-causing cells
Determinants Of Corporate Sustainability Performance: The Effects Of Corporate Strategy And Institutional Quality In Asean Region
Get PDFIn addition to ASEAN’s national development plans, ASEAN countries have developed and evaluated plans for sustainability development goals (SDGs). Nonetheless, with only eight years remaining until the SDGs vision of 2030, implementing sustainable development activities in ASEAN countries is far behind what the United Nations had originally envisioned. Compared to other developed nations, the corporate sustainability performance (CSP) in ASEAN countries is currently poor. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence corporate sustainability performance in ASEAN countries. This study examined three important variables: corporate governance, environmental degradation and financial development that influenced CSP. Furthermore, the study investigates how corporate strategy and institutional quality have a threshold effect on CSP. Using the Static Panel and Panel Threshold effect estimator, this study utilised 118 firms listed on the ASEAN stock exchange between 2011 and 2020. The study validates the female directors and of independent directors on ASEAN boards positively impacts corporate sustainability. Intriguingly, the intervention of corporate strategy will mitigate the low corporate sustainability performance while strengthening the link between corporate governance and CSP. During the sample period, ASEAN firms are positively influenced by external factors that affect CSP (financial development and environmental degradation)
Cost-effectiveness Analysis Of Idursulfase For The Treatment Of Hunter Syndrome In A Tertiary Referral Centre For Rare Diseases In Malaysia: A Partitioned Survival Model Approach
Get PDFHunter syndrome (MPS-II) is among the costliest life-long genetic conditions associated with a substantial burden of illness and its significant impact on Malaysia's health systems, families, and society. There needs to be more studies demonstrating its value for money incorporating long-term effectiveness data, local costs situation, and population-specific utility values. The objective is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of long-term enzyme replacement therapy of idursulfase (ERTI) versus standard-of-care (SOC) from a societal using a streamlined modelling strategy in R. A de novo four states partitioned survival model approach was utilised to project and compare lifetime costs, QALYs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of two care models. The disease progression was based on independent survival modelling of relevant published Kaplan-Meier (KM) data. The healthcare and out-of-pocket costs were drawn from the local setting. The quality-of-life was measured using the EQ5D5L and the TTO valuation of health state vignettes that matches the states in the model. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the uncertainty around the model results. The life expectancy was significantly longer in the ERTI than in the SOC, with SOC patients not surviving beyond the second decade of life on average. In contrast, life expectancy in the ERTI group exceeded 20 years (95% CI, 19.02-20.70). The lifetime incremental QALYs were 4.1 years (2.37-5.68)
Macroeconomic Uncertainty, Ceos’ Corporate Distress Experience And Corporate Cash Holdings
Get PDFThe recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war have spurred a growing concern about the impact of macroeconomic uncertainty on corporate activities, particularly corporate cash holdings as cash represents the most valuable asset of a firm given its functions and liquidity. Using a sample of listed firms in the United States from 1992 to 2021, the finding of this study supports the tradeoff theory, the real-option effect, and the risk-averse effects, which suggest that firms hoard more cash in response to macroeconomic uncertainty. Besides, drawing from the upper echelons literature, which reveals that decisions made by CEOs are largely influenced by their past experiences, this study also investigates whether corporate distress experiences of CEOs matter to cash holdings decisions of firms when dealing with macroeconomic uncertainty. It is found that CEOs with corporate distress experience has a significant interaction effect on the macroeconomic uncertainty-corporate cash holdings relationship. Furthermore, this study further discovers that the impact of macroeconomic uncertainty on corporate cash holdings is greater in firms which managed by CEOs with recent or multiple corporate distress experience. This findings in line with the recency law, the reinforcement hypothesis, and the saliency hypothesis which claim that recent or multiple experience has a more robust impact than distant or single experience on an individual’s decision making. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the underlying effect of macroeconomic uncertainty on corporate cash holdings, the channel that reinforce this effect through the lens of CEOs’ personal trait, and whether the variation in the CEOs’ personal trait matters
MAT264 / MSG264 – Nonparametric Statistics
Get PDFFirst Semester Examination 2023/2024 Academic Sessio