Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does religious obligation of Muslims inwestern China influence their intention to adopt Islamic banking

With a total number of 23 million Chinese Muslims, the Islamic banking service in China is still at its early stage of development. This study seeks to examine the factors that influence the Chinese Muslims' intentions to adopt Islamic banking. Employing the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the present study investigates the effects of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and religious obligation on the intention to adopt Islamic banking services amongst the Chinese Muslims. The survey data used in the process of research was collected from 669 Muslim respondents across four major cities in the western regions of China. The hypothesized relationships are examined by using the Structural Equation Modeling(SEM). The results show that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behaviour control,and religious obligation significantly influence the intention to adopt Islamic banking among the Chinese Muslims.
Interactions and Squares : Don ’ t Transform , Just Impute !

Multiple imputation [Rubin, 1987] is difficult to conduct if the analysis model includes interactions, squares, or other transformations of variables with missing values for two reasons: First, the imputer must be aware of the analysis model to address the congeniality issue [Meng, 1994]. Second, the imputer must choose to produce either biased parameter estimates, even in the case of missing completely at random, by the passive-imputation algorithm (van Buuren and Groothuis-Oudshoorn [1999], a.k.a. impute, then transform) or inconsistent data relations by the just-another-variable algorithm (von Hippel [2009], a.k.a. transform, then impute). Although some research on imputing squares has been conducted [Vink and van Buuren, 2013], the conflict persists for all other nontrivial transformations. We propose a flexible local imputation model that builds upon the ideas of Cleveland [1979]. Implicitly, local imputation captures a broad range of transformations such as interactions, squares, cubes, roots, and logs. Hence, there is no need for the imputer to consider variable transformations. All they need to consider is the inclusion of all relevant variables as they are. In a simulation study, we compare our proposed local-imputation algorithm with, among others, random forest imputation [Doove et al., 2014], which also addresses nonlinearities.
Replacing RQD and Discontinuity Spacing with the Modified Blockiness Index in the Rock Mass Rating System

The evaluation accuracies of rock mass structures based on the ratings of the Rock Quality Designation (RQD) and discontinuity spacing (S) in the Rock Mass Rating (RMR) system are very limited due to the inherent restrictions of RQD and S. This study presents an improvement that replaces these two parameters with the modified blockiness index (B z ) in the RMR system. Before proceeding with this replacement, it is necessary for theoretical model building to make an assumption that the discontinuity network contains three sets of mutually orthogonal disc-shaped discontinuities with the same diameter and spacing of discontinuities. Then, a total of 35 types of theoretical DFN (Discrete Fracture Network) models possessing the different structures were built based on the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM) discontinuity classification (ISRM, 1978). In addition, the RQD values of each model were measured by setting the scanlines in the models, and the B z values were computed following the modified blockiness evaluation method. Correlations between the three indices (i.e., B z , RQD and S) were explored, and the reliability of the substitution was subsequently verified. Finally, RMR systems based on the proposed method and the standard approach were applied to real cases, and comparisons between the two methods were performed. This study reveals that RQD is well correlated with S but is difficult to relate to the discontinuity diameter (D), and B z has a good correlation with RQD/S. Additionally, the ratings of RQD and S are always far from the actual rock mass structure, and the B z ratings are found to give better characterizations of rock mass structures. This substitution in the RMR system was found to be acceptable and practical.
Fecundity and Wife Age and Educational Hypogamy : A Biological Basis for the Gender Wage Gap

This paper models how a longer fecundity horizon for males than females leads to age and educational differences between husbands and wives. Empirical support is given first based on cross-national data from over 60 countries, second based on US data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, third based on historical Swedish data from the 18 and 19 centuries, and fourth based on data from a natural experiment commencing before and ending after China’s 1980 one-child law. Each implies slightly over a 1⁄2 year bigger husband age advantage and about a 1/3 year larger husband schooling advantage for each extra child. These husband-wife age and educational differences are important to explain the division of labor in the home often given as a cause for differential male and female human capital investments which result in the gender wage gap. * We thank David Hacker, Subal Kumbhakar, Shelly Lundberg, Haim Ofek, Susan Wolcott, as well as seminar participants at Rutgers and Cornell Universities for valuable comments.
Decomposition methods for the fusion of multimodal neuroimaging data

Multimodal neuroimaging, which is the study of brain function by combining (or fusing) several measurement modalities, holds great promise for clinical as well as cognitive neuroscience. Measurements of oscillatory brain activity are of particular interest for this thesis, because changes in this kind of neural activity (also referred to as band-power modulations) have been linked to practically every aspect of cognition and play an important role in clinical settings. However, current state-of-the-art methods for the extraction and multimodal fusion of such oscillatory neural activity fall short in a number of aspects which so far have been largely overlooked by the neuroimaging community. This thesis contributes to multimodal fusion in a number of ways. Firstly, we present a thorough investigation of the effectiveness of popular analysis approaches by means of theoretical considerations as well as numerical simulations. These investigations are conducted with particular focus on the accuracy of the analysis approaches as well as the interpretability of their results. Only methods excelling in both of these aspects can be expected to be maximally useful for advancing our understanding of brain function. Based on these considerations, a novel multivariate analysis approach for the extraction of amplitude modulated oscillatory sources is derived. This approach is called Source Power Co-modulation (SPoC) analysis and it is specifically designed to overcome the shortcomings of existing methods. The utility of SPoC is thoroughly tested using numerical simulations as well as real-world neuroimaging data. Based on the ideas that led to the SPoC analysis, we then derive two inherently multimodal extensions that allow for a principled approach to the fusion of source amplitude dynamics. The first of the two extensions is referred to as multimodal Source Power Co-modulation (mSPoC). mSPoC is shown to outperform existing methods in numerical simulations as well as on real-world data in the task of fusing electroencephalography (EEG) with hemodynamic measurements obtained from functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The second extension of the SPoC approach is called canonical Source Power Co-modulation (cSPoC) and is designed for the fusion of two (or more) sets of oscillatory data. The utility of cSPoC is demonstrated in numerical simulations as well as using real-world data examples involving the fusion of (i) datasets from several subjects, (ii) different oscillatory processes within subjects, and (iii) simultaneously measured EEG and magnetoencephalography (MEG). All of the methods developed in this thesis are based on a widely accepted linear generative model for neuroimaging data. By adhering to this model, the methods are able to uncover physiologically plausible generators of neural activity in a principled manner, thereby providing the neuroimaging community with an attractive alternative to many existing ’ad-hoc’ approaches.
Impact of Kisspeptin on Prematur Puberty in Obese Girls

Kisspeptin is a peptide hormone that appears to play a major role in the regulation of GnRH secretion,the researchaims to study the relationship between obesity and premature puberty touched by influence of kisspeptin concentration. The study was included 150girls and women divided into three groups. first group include fifty girls before menses with age range (9 -12years), twenty five girls were normal weight, the rest were obese girls . Second group with the same division system but these fifty women have normal menstrual cycle with age range (25 -45 years). Third group with age range (50 -60 years) after menopause age also divided into normal weight women and obese women. Hormones investigations included serum kisspeptin,leptin and IGF-1 were determined by ELISA.BMI was determined by anthrometeric mesurments. The mean (± SD) value of serum kisspeptin level of obese girls was highly significantly increased (16·83 ± 12·4 pmol/l ,p=0.001) in comparison to that of normal weight girls with same age range (8·99 ± 4·10 pmol/l) ,same highly significant findings was found with serum leptin and IGF-1 of obese girls ( 25.7 ± 3.8 ng/ml ,10.22± 2.50 pg/ml, 170 ±9.95 ng ml consequently) but serum Estadiol shows no significant difference between these two groups. Serum kisspeptin in obese girls before menses show positive significant correlation with serum leptin, Estradiol and IGF-1(r=0.45, p= o.o1), (0.40, P=0.01), (r= 0.39, p= 0.01) consequently. Despite that the mean of serum leptin of obese female with regular menses (28.7± 3.54 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that of normal weight female with regular menses (19.5± 3.4 ng/ml ),their serum kisspeptin ,estradiol and IGF-1 didn't differ significantly. Serum kisspeptin level of obese women after menopause was highly significantly increased (44.39± 4.3 pmol/l, p=0.001) in comparison to that of normal weight women (30.76 ±3.80 pmol/l), same significant findings was found with serum leptin and Estradiol of obese women (28.9 ± 5.44 ng/ml, 20.33 ± 4.22 pg/ml; consequently) In conclusion, the activity of serum kisspeptin (by other means the activity of kiss-1 neurons) increase with obesity, consequently the reproductive hormone kisspeptin tiger the premature puberty in obese girls in response to the effect of leptin.
Influence of water quality parameters on the prevalence of Livoneca redmanii (Isopoda; Cymothoidae) infestation of Mediterranean Sea fishes, Egypt.

The quality of water in the aquatic ecosystem is a very sensitive issue and is controlled by many physical and chemical factors. The deterioration of water quality has variable effect on parasitic population and their rate of infestation and consequently the negative impact can impede fish viability and productivity. The current study aimed to: i) Surveying the parasitic isopod infesting some of the edible fish species inhabit the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea water ii) Assess the seasonal variations in water quality parameters of Mediterranean coastal water of Egypt. iii) Investigating the effect of water quality parameters on the rate of parasitic isopod infestation among the examined fishes. Water samples during each season were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters using standard methods. The selected parameters namely: temperature, pH, salinity, oxidizable organic matter (OOM), ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and some heavy metals (Lead, Copper, Arsenic and Mercury). A total of 400 Mediterranean Sea fish of Tilapia zilli, Solea spp, Mugil capito and Sardinella species were examined for isopod parasites. Parasites were preserved and identified. The results revealed isolation of the isopod species Livoneca redmanii, with an infestation rate of 19% among the examined fish species with the highest rate among Mugil capito (36%) and reached its total maximum value during summer (32%). Correlation analysis revealed that infestation rates were highly correlated (positively) with certain water quality parameters, such as temperature, oxidzable organic matter (OOM) and nitrite. High water temperatures during summer and spring seasons, and high nitrite concentrations were significantly associated with high infestation rates in Tilapia zilli (R=0.91, P=0.046 and R = 0.97, P=0.015). The findings suggested that deterioration of water quality with varying seasons was stressful to fish, and consequently increased the incidences of the parasitic Isopod (Livoneca redmanii) so considered as a predisposing agent to parasitism. The study recommended periodical monitoring of water quality parameters in fish water resources and the need to take all measures by the responsible authorities to prevent pollution of these resources to minimized and control the prevalence of parasite infestations particularly of isopods.
Effect of Contrast and Brightness on Digital Images under Outdoor Conditions

In the present scenario, the digital image processing has enveloped the whole world of advancing technology. The changes on-going in the world are directly or indirectly related to the processing of digital images. In this paper, we studied the impact of changing contrast and brightness on the digital images under outdoor conditions and checked out how the position of Sun effects contrast and intensity of the particular image and at what values of contrast and intensity, the pictures were more refined. A total of 52 images shot in North, South, East and West were taken for the experiment after regular intervals. Genetic algorithm was used by several authors to enhance the quality of images in terms of brightness and contrast. Here we investigated whether the brightness and contrast are direction and time orientated. The analysis shows that for the set of images taken, contrast is slightly affected by the whereas the effect of brightness is more pronounced with respect to time and direction.
Parental Consent and Changing Abortion Attitudes : Examining Trends in California

Since abortion was legalized in the U.S. through the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade court decision, most states have enacted restrictions limiting abortion, including parental notification or consent for a minor’s abortion. In California, voters defeated parental notification ballot initiatives three times between 2005 and 2008. In later surveys however, two in three registered voters expressed support for a theoretical parental notification law. Using data collected as part of the Public Policy Institute of California’s Statewide Survey, this paper seeks to understand the seeming contradiction between opinion and voting and to determine what predicts support for parental notification in theory and at the ballot box. We hypothesize that being Latino is a significant predictor of support for parental notification, which could affect future outcomes as California’s demographics shift.
A Theory of Emotion Suppression as a Mediator of the Hierarchy-Depression Relationship

Position in the social hierarchy is a major determinant of health outcomes. We examined the associations between aspects of social hierarchy and depressive symptoms with a specific focus on one potential psychological mechanism: emotion suppression. Suppressing negative emotion has mental health costs, but individuals with low social power and low social status may use these strategies to avoid conflict. Study 1 assessed perceived social power, tendency to suppress negative emotion, and depressive symptoms in a community sample of women. Low social power was related to greater depressive symptoms, and this relationship was partially mediated by emotion suppression. Study 2 examined education as a proxy for social hierarchy position, anger suppression, and depressive symptoms in a national, longitudinal cohort study (The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study). Similar to Study 1, low education levels were correlated with greater depressive symptoms, and this relationship was partially mediated by anger suppression. Further, suppression mediated the relationship between low education and subsequent depression up to 15 years later. These findings support the theory that social hierarchy affects mental health in part through a process of emotion suppression. Why do individuals with low social status experience poor health outcomes? In addition to a lack of resources, the psychological experience of low status itself appears to affect health (Adler, Epel, Castellazzo, & Ickovics, 2000). Past research suggests that the relationship between low socioeconomic status (SES) and poor health may be mediated by cognitiveemotional factors (Gallo & Matthews, 2003). Researchers have focused on effects of negative affect as well as lack of positive emotion (Cohen & Pressman, 2006; Salovey, Address correspondence to Dr. Carrie Langner Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University, Psychology & Child Development, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0387 USA. clangner@calpoly.edu. HHS Public Access Author manuscript J Psychol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 March 19. Published in final edited form as: J Psychol. 2012 ; 146(4): 417–436. doi:10.1080/00223980.2011. 652234. A uhor M anscript
Impact of supply network relationships on firm innovation 670009-1 THE IMPACT OF SUPPLY NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS ON FIRM INNOVATION IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

In this study, we examine the structural characteristics of supply chains as networks and investigate how supply network structure impacts firm innovation. Specifically, we investigate the relationship between three supply network characteristics (supply network interconnectedness, supply network accessibility, and supply network partner innovativeness) and a firm’s innovation output. Our findings suggest direct benefits arising from supply network accessibility and partner innovativeness towards a firm’s innovation output. The findings also highlight that firms that are part of interconnected supply networks can enhance their innovation output. This study contributes to the stream of research recognizing supply networks as a source of innovation.
SAMPLING INDIVIDUALS WITHIN HOUSEHOLDS IN TELEPHONE SURVEYS

In telephone surveys there is a need for an objective, yet quick and simple method for sampling individuals within households. Several methods have been implemented. The Kish (1949) procedure is based on a full listing of all persons in the household by age and gender. This method has long been regarded sound but time-consuming, and various suggestions have been made to reduce the number of introductory questions. Troldahl and Carter (1964) suggested a procedure that needed only two questions, concerning the number of adults and the number of adult women living in the household. Earlier versions of the Kish and the Troldahl-Carter procedures used a set of selection tables as a randomization instrument which did not generate an equal probability sample in all types of households. In computer assisted telephone interviewing, the randomization is conducted in a strictly correct manner by the computer. A third method, increasingly popular during the last two decades, is the birthday method, i.e., selecting the adult in the household who had the most recent birthday (or who has the next birthday).
The Two-Step Flow of Communication in Twitter-Based Public Forums

This study explores how a piece of information flows in social media–based public forums, whether opinion leaders emerge from this flow of information, and what characteristics opinion leaders have in such forums. Using network analysis and statistical measures to examine two Twitter-based discussion groups centered on political discussions in South Korea, we found that the discussion network was concentrated but relatively inclusive and that the two-step flow of communication model still had explanatory power in online public forums. Opinion leaders were found to be influentials but not content creators. These findings provide implications for the dynamic of a public sphere, two-step flow of communication model, and structural approach to online public forums.
Looking into burnout levels among English language instructors

This study aims to investigate the burnout levels of English language instructors who are currently teaching at School of Foreign Languages, namely Konya Necmettin Erbakan University, Selcuk University and Gazi University, to look for the factors leading to burnout and to see if there is a relationship between their burnout levels and teaching experience. The study has a mixed method design. Maslach Burnout Inventory Educators Survey (MBI/Maslach & Jackson, 1981/Maslach, Jackson & Leiter, 1996) was administered to 70 English language instructors and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 of them. The results showed that burnout existed among instructors at varying levels. Although not supported by ANOVA results, there is an inclination of higher burnout levels at younger ages and in less experienced groups. As a result of the analysis of the qualitative data, gathered with semi-structured interviews, it was found that academic factors such as hours of teaching, proficiency levels of students, and the offices the instructors are working at such as testing, materials and teacher development are important in the emergence of burnout among instructors.
Empowering online teachers through predictive learning analytics

This study presents an advanced predictive learning analytics system, OU Analyse (OUA), and evidence from its evaluation with online teachers at a distance learning university. OUA is a predictive system that uses machine learning methods for the early identification of students at risk of not submitting (or failing) their next assignment. Teachers have access, via interactive dashboards, to weekly predictions of risk of failing for each of their students. In this study, we examined how the degree of OUA usage by 559 teachers, of which 189 were given access to OUA, related to student learning outcomes of more than 14 000 students in 15 undergraduate courses. Teachers who made “average” use of OUA, that is accessed OUA throughout the life cycle of a course presentation, and in particular between 10% and 40% of the weeks a course was running, and intervened with students flagged as at risk were found to benefit their students the most; after controlling for differences in academic performance, these students were found to have significantly better performance than their peers in the previous year's course presentation during which the same teachers made no use of predictive learning analytics. Predictive learning analytics is an innovative student's support approach in online pedagogy that, as shown in this study, can empower online teachers in effectively monitoring and intervening with their students, over and above other approaches, and result in improved learning outcomes.
2 Investigating Blinking in Face to Face Conversation

Initial results from the quantitative and qualitative analysis of blinking in dyadic face-to-face conversation are provided. Blink rate has previously been interpreted as an indirect index of cognitive load. Our results demonstrate that blinking is a highly individualistic behavior, with radically different blinking ‘styles’ evident, even in a small sample. An initial characterization of blinking based on gaze direction before and after closure is suggested. Blinks in which gaze direction is unchanged before and after eye closure are found to depend jointly on the gaze direction of both subjects, and on the speaking behavior of both subjects. Several informal observations that will guide further qualitative study of blinks in communicative situations are made.