17 research outputs found
Engaging gen Y through social network sites / Vincent Wee Eng Kim and Vivien Wee Mui Eik @ Bee Jade
No full textSocial networking sites are able to build on the interactive power of the Internet. This study attempts to discover the influence of social media on the present generation Y as consumers, their buying behaviour and to
determine the roles that the social media plays as a popular medium to communicate a message. The findings of this research will provide clear and useful information to facilitate further research in similar fields of study. A set of questionnaire was administered to 200 students from ten selected institutions of higher learning in the Klang Valley. The respondents were asked about their current perceptions regarding their interaction with the social media websites and how these websites have influenced their
purchasing behaviour which would enable further understanding about the social media. The respondents, responses show that, generally social media was used to seek useful information. They prefer to purchase in groups and the social media acts as a community platform to post and share their views. The respondents agreed that social media was more effective in finding information as compared to the use of the traditional mass media. Viral advertising in the form ofvideos are very appealing to them. Furthermore, social media also improves customers service and business networking
Engaging Gen Y through social network sites / Vincent Wee Eng Kim and Vivien Wee Mui Eik @Bee Jade
Get PDFSocial networking sites are able to build on the interactive power of the Internet. This study attempts to discover the influence of social media on the present generation Y as consumers, their buying behaviour and to determine the roles that the social media plays as a popular
medium to communicate a message
Testing the effectiveness of health risk messages : threat and efficacy processing / Thinavan Periyayya and Vincent Wee Eng Kim
No full textThis is a micro study of an on-going macro study of the different categories of fear appeals used in the on-going national anti-smoking campaign. A quasi-experimental design was used to study the respondents’ responses to the anti-smoking print advertisement campaign. Two types of advertisements were selected, one which depicted a social threat and the other a damaging health threat. Each type of advertisement was evaluated by two separate groups of
participants. The evaluation was based on the extended parallel process model’s (EPPM) risk diagnosis scale. The social threat advertisement had a low fear and efficacy message while the health threat advertisement had a high fear and efficacy message. Findings showed that the social threat (low fear/efficacy) was able to make the respondents of the study take a preventive behavioural or danger control position to avoid the negative consequences. In
comparison the damaging health threat (high fear/ efficacy) was found to move the participants to a fear control position or maladaptive behavioural position. The study
supported the main predictions of the EPPM, and showed that the efficacy construct determined how the fear appeal was processed (danger control or fear control)
Principals’ communication style and parents’ involvement in school
No full textCommunication skills have been recognised as critical to school leadership. The evolution of social culture, the complexity of human relations and the change in today?s schooling systems require school leaders to be highly competent in their communication skills. The aim of the study was to explore the links between principals? communication styles and parents? involvement in Malaysian secondary schools. A comparative qualitative case study was employed. The conversations of three principals and six parents from three different schools were observed and video-recorded. The participants were also interviewed and field notes were taken throughout the fieldwork. Data were analysed using multimodal discourse analysis based on the conceptual definitions and empirical indicators of communicative style adapted from Brandt (1979) and Norton (1978; 1983). Analysis of verbal, non-verbal and para-verbal observations and interview data indicates that all three principals present very similar styles, namely friendly, open, relaxed, attentive and animated. The principals? communication styles are task-oriented and generally shaped by their roles and responsibilities as school leaders. However, the styles present by parents are more varied. They presented at least seven styles, namely friendly, open, relaxed, attentive, animated, dominant and contentious in 35?45 minute conversations with the principal. The parents adopted daily communication styles that are generally shaped by the complex processes of socialisation and tend to show more complex styles of speaking in order to achieve their personal communication goals. The findings show that informal communication is the most effective way to encourage parents to become involved in school. Examination of interview data with the principals and parents also concludes that being friendly, committed, respectful, transparent, appreciative and honest is the most influential way of building a meaningful school?home partnershi
The beauty of "Green Branding": Way to the future
No full textThis paper aims to explore how green branding towards beauty products can influence brand effect from the perspective Malaysian customers. The paper also aims to examine the components impact of green brand awareness, brand image, brand credibility, brand community and brand engagement and their positive relationship between them. The object of this research study was environmentally friendly beauty products available in Malaysia.The study is quantitative and qualitative in nature, using 30 respondents in the focus group and 200 respondents in the questionnaire.This research also employed an empirical study by use of the questionnaire survey method.The questionnaires were distributed to consumers who had the experience of purchasing environmentally friendly products. The results of the study demonstrate how green brand awareness, brand image, brand credibility, brand community and brand engagement positively related to branding of a business entity for beauty related product.Therefore, investing on resources to increase green brand awareness, brand image, brand credibility, brand community and brand engagement are helpful to enhance companies. While the results are clear and have strong salience towards environmental beauty products industry in Malaysia, applications of the findings beyond Malaysia should take into account other factors such as the nature of industry, the perception, behavior and demographics of these customers.The study provides a set of findings relating to green branding initiatives that could be readily incorporated into a business corporation plan.The study will be significant towards managers, researchers, and governments agencies, and provide useful contribution to
relevant studies and future researches as reference
Evaluating the effectiveness of website branding for institutions of higher learning in the Klang Valley
No full textThe intention of this study is to determine the perception of students in evaluating the effectiveness of website branding for institutions of higher learning (IHLs). In addition, it is also to measure the effectiveness of website branding and the important role it plays as a medium in branding for institutions of higher learning. Besides, it is also to determine how brand recall may influence students’ decision to enrol into a particular school. The findings of this research are, hopefully, intended to provide accurate and useful information so as to facilitate further research in similar fields of study. Permission was granted by the Directors of the IHLs to deliver and collect the questionnaires. Questionnaires were given to 600 students of 10 selected IHLs in the Klang Valley. The respondents involved were students enrolled in the social science, technology and arts and design courses as well as all the school administrators ranging from the Principals to the key personnel of the departments. The respondents were asked about their perception with regard to evaluating the effectiveness of website branding for institutions of higher learning so as to gain their true interpretation and understanding of website branding. Responses from the respondents have shown that, generally, branding through a website was more important as compared to the use of other traditional mass media. The website was another medium that could be important for branding of IHLs. Many student respondents agreed that the website was more effective in their search for information compared to the use of the traditional mass media. From the traditional mass media, one might find it difficult to obtain the required information since many IHLs seldom employ any publicity using the traditional mass media. Educational institutions that posted good websites that could provide clear and sufficient information to their potential students would then have a competitive advantage over those that did not. The findings have shown that strong brand recall could provide customers with an assurance of quality and a reduction of search time in the purchasing process. Besides that, the findings have also indicated that branding through a website was definitely more effective in influencing the students in making decisions to enrol in their courses compared to the use of traditional mass media strategies
BRANDING THROUGH FACEBOOK FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
Get PDFThe intention of this study is to determine the perception of students towards the effectiveness of Facebook branding for institutions of higher learning through the use of social networking sites (SNS). It is also to explore the important role they play as a media in branding for institutions of higher learning. The findings of this research are intended to provide accurate and useful information so as to facilitate further research in similar fields of study. Permission was granted by the Directors of the IHLs to deliver and collect the questionnaires. Questionnaires were given to 200 students of ten selected institutions of higher learning in the Klang Valley. The respondents involved were students enrolled in the social science, technology and art and design courses as well as all the school administrators ranging from the Principals right down to the key personnel of these departments. The respondents were asked about their perception with regards to its current Facebook website and how does it play a role in branding the institutions of higher learning so as to gain their true interpretation and understanding of Internet branding. Responses from the respondents showed that, generally branding through Facebook was more important when compared to the use of other traditional mass media. Website was another medium that could be important for branding institutions of higher learning. Many student respondents agreed that branding through Facebook was more effective in finding information as compared to the use of the traditional mass media. From the traditional mass media, one might find it difficult to obtain the required information since many institutions of higher learning seldom employ any publicity using any traditional mass media. Educational institutions that posted good websites that could provide clearer and sufficient information to their potential students, would then have a more competitive advantage compare to those who did not. Besides that, the findings have also indicated that branding through a website was definitely more effective in influencing the students in making decisions to enroll in their courses when compared to the use of traditional mass media strategy. Keywords: Facebook, Branding, Institution of Higher learning, social networking, Internet branding
Risk assessment to demonstrate freedom of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Timor Leste
Get PDFThe highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus was the cause of a pandemic of avian influenza which affected poultry from most parts of the world. In contrast to most Southeast Asian countries where HPAI is endemic, Timor Leste is currently free from HPAI. The current study was designed to collect data to confirm that Timor Leste is actually free from HPAI and to identify potential risk factors that might be involved in the introduction of HPAI into the country. Data to confirm freedom were collected from various sources, and included biological samples for HPAI testing from regions with a high risk of infection.
The analysis of existing animal health data (2004 to 2006) found that, with the exception of a survey in June 2004, there was no evidence of HPAI being present in Timor Leste. In the survey of June 2004 low titres were found indicating previous exposure to HPAI virus (H5 and H7). As only two serological positive samples were found and there were no reports of outbreaks of clinical disease typical of HPAI, it is likely that the results were false positives.
As no surveys had been undertaken in Timor Leste since March 2006, as part of the current study, targeted surveillance was conducted in July 2009. As all samples were negative the findings support the belief that Timor Leste was free from HPAI at the time of sample collection.
Although the country may currently be free from HPAI, the country is at risk of having an incursion of HPAI through certain high risk practices. These include the smuggling of live chickens, the lack of awareness of HPAI by farmers, a lack of adoption of biosecurity measures by households owning poultry and the extensive poultry management system adopted.
A risk assessment that was conducted as part of this study demonstrated that the probability of entry of infection through a smuggled chicken was high. The most important factors that would contribute to the entry of HPAI included: an increased number of chickens smuggled; increased number of smugglers; and the prevalence of AI in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). On the other hand the risk decreased by: strengthening the detection, confiscation, and submission of smuggled birds by the Border Police Units (BPU) and by increasing the destruction of smuggled poultry by quarantine staff.
Although there were many putative risk factors identified for HPAI, it was confirmed that Timor Leste was free from HPAI, however the control measures to prevent the introduction of HPAI into the country should be reinforced and target the most influential factors identified in this project
Automated packing systems - a systems engineering approach
Get PDFThe ability to manipulate previously unseen objects under visual control is one of the key tasks in the successful implementation of robotic, automated assembly and adaptive material handling systems. The automation of such complex industrial environments will require the development of machine vision systems that are highly adaptable and capable of dealing with a wide range of variable products. An important group of applications of this type is found in the automated packing and nesting of arbitrary shapes. The aim of this work has been to produce an efficient packing strategy that is flexible enough for a wide variety of industrial uses and which can be implemented using fast moderately priced hardware. A systems approach, as distinct from a purely algorithmic one, has been deliberately adopted since the work is concerned with industrial vision applications in which significant problem constraints exist. This paper also outlines the background to this research, and reviews a selection of industrial packing applications. The packing procedure that has been devised, consists of two major components. The first is a geometric packing technique that is based on morphological image processing operations. This is used in conjunction with a prolog based heuristic packing procedure. Some of the factors considered at the heuristic level include shape ordering and shape orientation, both of which must be carried out prior to the implementation of the geometric packer. The heuristic procedures deal with problem constraints that are specific to a given applicatio
The effect of glucose on cardiac AMP-activated protein kinase
No full textAMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) serves as an energy-sensing protein that is activated by a variety of metabolic stresses. Recent studies suggest that AMPK is also regulated by hormones and by nutrients such as glucose and fatty acids. In skeletal muscle it was previously shown that AMPK activity was decreased with increasing glucose concentration. In the present study both the activity and the Threonine-172 phosphorylation of AMPK in incubated rat ventricular cardiac myocytes were found to be decreased by increasing glucose in the presence and absence of palmitate. Glucose also caused a decrease in the AMPK-driven phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Measurements of the myocyte contents of ATP, ADP, AMP and glycogen showed that the effect of glucose on AMPK activity could not be secondary to changes in the levels of these metabolites. The decrease in AMPK activity with glucose was additive to and distinct from the effect of insulin which is mediated through protein kinase B (PKB). Increasing glucose concentration had no effect on the phosphorylation of Threonine-308 and Serine-473 in PKB. AICAR, a pharmacological activator of AMPK, had no effect on the ability of glucose to inactivate AMPK. The myocyte content of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) metabolite xylulose 5-phosphate (Xu5P), a known allosteric activator of PP2A, was increased with increasing glucose concentration such that AMPK activity was inversely related to Xu5P content. The glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor diehydroepiandeosterone (DHA) and thiamine, the precursor of the coenzyme for transketolase, both increased AMPK activity whereas the NADPH oxidant phenazine methosulphate (PMS) decreased AMPK activity. DHA and PMS respectively decreased and increased flux through the PPP. The findings suggest that inactivation of AMPK by glucose may be mediated by the activity of the PPP which sets the level of Xu5P. Two other findings were also made during the course of this project. First, the activity of phosphofructokinase-2 (PFK-2) in the perfused heart was previously shown to be activated through phosphorylation by AMPK. It was therefore expected that increasing glucose concentration would decrease myocyte PFK-2 activity. However PFK-2 activity was found to be increased by glucose. Second, the phosphorylation of Threonine-308 in PKB in response to insulin was appreciably increased in the presence of AICAR suggesting that there may be crosstalk between AMPK and the insulin signalling pathway at the level of PKB
