Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Key Determinants of Forest-dependent Guyanese’ Willingness to Contribute to Forest Protection: an application of the Contingent Valuation Method

Determining the willingness of forest-dependent Guyanese to contribute to forest protection is of strategic importance to forest management policy, particularly for Guyana – a high forest cover, low deforestation (HFLD) Amazonian tropical country whose government has articulated through several national development strategy documents, including the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the Framework Green State Development Strategy – a commitment to green development. Our research centred on the willingness of Forest-dependent Guyanese – persons who dwell and ply their trade in hinterland and riparian forest areas of the country – to contribute to forest preservation and restoration as demonstrated through their willingness to accept (WTA) and willingness to pay (WTP). WTA and WTP were elicited by the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) – a method used to elicit value people attribute to goods and services not traded in the market, such as the improvement of environmental states. Using the CVM, the research sought to ascertain the key determinants of WTA and WTP for Guyana’s forest preservation and restoration. Our research found primary commercial activities of the study sites and income to be the key determinants of WTA and WTP. Our paper asserts that forest-dependent Guyanese should feature centrally in forest management policy and practice; the primary economic activities of forest communities should be taken into account when forest protection programmes are formulated; and income of forest dwellers should serve as a gauge of forest dwellers’ ability to contribute financially to forest protection programmes.
PENGARUH PEMBIAYAAN JUAL BELI, PEMBIAYAAN BAGI HASIL DAN RASIO NON PERFORMING FINANCING TERHADAP PROFITABILITAS BANK UMUM SYARIAH DI INDONESIA

Permasalahan dalam penelitian ini adalah apakah ada pengaruh pembiayaan jual beli, pembiayaan bagi hasil dan rasio non performing financing terhadap profitabilitas bank umum syariah di Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk apakah pembiayaan jual beli, pembiayaan bagi hasil, dan rasio non performing financing berpengaruh secara parsial dan simultan terhadap profitabilitas bank umum syariah di Indonesia. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh bank umum syariah di Indonesia. Dari 10 bank umum syariah yang ada di Indonesia terpilih 3 bank umum syariah dengan menggunakan purposive sampling. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah laporan keuangan bulanan yang telah dipublikasi di www.bi. go.id . tekhnik analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi berganda dengan bantuan SPSS 19. Dalam pemenuhan asumsi klasiknya pada penelitian ini menggunakan transformasi data agar dapat terdistribusi normal. Hasil pengujian ini menunjukkan bahwa variabel pembiayaan jual beli, pembiayaan bagi hasil dan rasio non performing financing secara simultan berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas bank umum syariah di Indonesia. Namun, secara parsial hanya variabel pembiayaan jual beli dan non performing financing yang berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas bank umum syariah di Indonesia, sedang pembiayaan bagi hasil secara parsial tidak berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas bank umum syariah. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah pembiayaan jual beli, pembiayaan bagi hasil dan rasio non performing financing berpengaruh secara simultan terhadap profitabilitas bank umum syariah di Indonesia.
A Study of Implication Based Pseudo Functional Testing

This paper presents a study of the implication based functional constraint extraction techniques to generate pseudo functional scan tests. Novel algorithms to extract pair-wise and multi-node constraints as Boolean expressions on arbitrary gates in the design are presented. Its impact on reducing the overkill in testing was analyzed, and report the trade-offs in coverage and scan-loads for a number of fault models. In the case of path-delay fault model, it was shown that the longest paths contribute most to the over-testing problem, raising the question about scan testing of the longest paths. Finally, the evaluation of the functional constraints on large industrial circuits show that the proposed constraint generation algorithm generate a powerful set of constraints most of which are not captured in the constraints extracted by designers for design-verification purposes
Exploring the Supply Side of Food and Beverage Festivals in Saudi Arabia

Recently, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced its intention to begin implementing a tourist visa regime to streamline entry of tourists into the country and, therefore, attract more international visitors. Food and Beverage festivals (F&B) are targeted as a crucial part of the events sector in Saudi Arabia as they align well with agricultural traditions and Middle East culture to attract both domestic and foreign tourist. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics, management, and goals of F&B festivals in Saudi Arabia. F&B event organizers were utilized to collect data regarding seven established F&B festivals that have been held for least the last 5 years. The results revealed that the size of the festivals ranged from 10,000 to 250,000 in annual attendance. While the length of the festivals averaged from 4 to as many as 35 days in length. Most of the festivals were held during peak vacation periods in Saudi Arabia when students have off from school, which coincided with the seasonal harvest of many of the festival themes. These festivals generally do not charge an entrance fee and attract all social categories of visitors. Some of the main activities provided to visitors are tasting products, viewing performances, and learning about regional agriculture traditions. The goal for these festivals were centered primarily on promoting regional agricultural products, attracting domestic and international tourists, in addition to providing educational programming for farmers and suppliers. In almost all of the festivals the primary organization and management is structured around governmental bodies that include national and regional organizations. Publication Date 12-18-2018 Document Type Thesis Student Type Graduate Degree Name Hospitality-Tourism Management (MS) Department, Program, or Center Hospitality and Tourism Management (CET) Advisor Richard M. Lagiewski Advisor/Committee Member Muhammet Kesgin Advisor/Committee Member Karthik Namasivayam Recommended Citation Haressy, Mossa Ahmed, "Exploring the Supply Side of Food and Beverage Festivals in Saudi Arabia" (2018). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from https://scholarworks.rit. edu/theses/9975 Campus RIT – Main Campus  Download SHARE THESES Enter search terms: Search
The Interaction Between Vision and Eye Movements †

The existence of a central fovea, the small retinal region with high analytical performance, is arguably the most prominent design feature of the primate visual system. This centralization comes along with the corresponding capability to move the eyes to reposition the fovea continuously. Past research on visual perception was mainly concerned with foveal vision while the observers kept their eyes stationary. Research on the role of eye movements in visual perception emphasized their negative aspects, for example, the active suppression of vision before and during the execution of saccades. But is the only benefit of our precise eye movement system to provide high acuity of the small foveal region, at the cost of retinal blur during their execution? In this review, I will compare human visual perception with and without saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements to emphasize different aspects and functions of eye movements. I will show that the interaction between eye movements and visual perception is optimized for the active sampling of information across the visual field and for the calibration of different parts of the visual field. The movements of our eyes and visual information uptake are intricately intertwined. The two processes interact to enable an optimal perception of the world, one that we cannot fully grasp by doing experiments where observers are fixating a small spot on a display.
The relationship between motives to read electronic word of mouth (eWom) and online buying and communication behavior

The Relationship between Motives to Read Electronic Word of Month (eWOM) and Online Buying and Communication Behavior by Eun Kyoo Kim Dr. Seyhmus Baloglu, Thesis Committee Chair Professor of Tourism and Hotel Administration University of Nevada, Las Vegas Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) communication such as online hotel reviews is getting serious attention from marketing managers in the hotel industry. Consumers are becoming more comfortable with providing and receiving information online and doing so more frequently. In recent years it has become more common to see consumers seeking advice on restaurants, tourist destinations or hotels on the internet, reflecting the importance of eWOM in the hospitality industry. As a result, eWOM is becoming a major marketing tool for many goods and services in the hospitality industry. The factors that affect customers’ involvement in eWOM in the hotel industry were identified and the relevance of these motive factors and their impact on consumer behavior are examined in this study. The results illustrated that consumers read online hotel reviews mainly to obtain benefits by getting buying related information and maximizing product benefits to costs. The findings also indicated that their motives for reading online hotel reviews strongly influence their behavior. By differentiating these individuals based on their motivation for reading eWOM, hotel managers can observe characteristics and behaviors of these different groups and effectively manage the impact of eWOM accordingly.
Sex Differences in Self-Reported Risk-Taking Propensity on the Evaluation of Risks Scale

The Evaluation of Risks scale was recently developed as a self-report inventory for assessing risk-taking propensity, but further validation is necessary because most studies have predominantly included male subjects. Because males commonly exhibit greater risk-taking propensity than females, evidence of such a sex difference on the scale would further support its construct validity. 29 men and 25 women equated for age (range: 18 to 36 years) completed the scale. Internal consistency of the scale was generally modest, particularly among women. Men scored significantly higher than women on four of nine indices of risk-taking propensity, including Danger Seeking, Energy, Invincibility, and Total Risk-Propensity. Factors measuring thrill seeking and danger seeking correlated positively with a concurrent measure of sensation seeking. Although the higher scores exhibited by men are consistent with prior research on other measures of risk-taking, further research on this scale with samples including women is warranted.
Retroviruses and sexual size dimorphism in domestic cats (Felis catus L.)

Hochberg and co–workers have predicted that an increase in host adult mortality due to parasites is balanced by an earlier age at first reproduction. In polygynous species we hypothesize that such a pattern would lead to diverging selection pressure on body size between sexes and increased sexual size dimorphism. In polygynous mammals, male body size is considered to be an important factor for repro– ductive success. Thus, under the pressure of a virulent infection, males should be selected for rapid growth and/or higher body size to be able to compete successfully as soon as possible with opponents. In contrast, under the same selection pressure, females should be selected for lighter adult body size or rapid growth to reach sexual maturity earlier.We investigated this hypothesis in the domestic cat Felis catus. Orange cats have greater body size dimorphism than non–orange cats. Orange females are lighter than non–orange females, and orange males are heavier than non–orange males. Here, we report the extent to which orange and non–orange individuals differ in infection prevalence for two retroviruses, feline immunode– ciency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). FIV is thought to be transmitted almost exclusively through aggressive contacts between individuals, whereas FeLV transmission occurs mainly through social contacts. The pattern of infection of both diseases is consistent with the higher aggressiveness of orange cats. In both sexes, orange cats are significantly more infected by FIV, and tend to be less infected by FeLV than other cats. The pattern of infection is also consistent with an earlier age at first reproduction in orange than in non–orange cats, at least for females. These results suggest that microparasitism may have played an important role in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism of domestic cats.
MARKETING AS A DETERMINANT OF GROWTH AMONG MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN MAVOKO MUNICIPALITY, MACHAKOS, COUNTY, KENYA

This study sought to establish the determinants of growth among the micro, small and medium sector enterprises in Mavoko municipality, Machakos county, Kenya. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used with a semi structured questionnaire being the main data collection instrument. A convenient sample of 100 MSMes was used, in which 79 firms responded, giving a response rate of 79 %. Descriptive analysis, regression and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The study found that marketing practices do influence the growth of the enterprises. It was found that a number of marketing practices hand significant influence on growth of the enterprises. Personal characteristics of the entrepreneur, such as age and educational level of the entrepreneur were found to significantly influence the growth of an enterprise. Organizational characteristics such as financial ability and, Quality of employees were also found to have positive influence on growth of enterprise.
Vertical position, rotation, and tipping of molars without antagonists.

PURPOSE There has been a general belief that permanent teeth without antagonists overerupt, creating, after some time, considerable clinical problems. However, very few studies in the literature support this statement. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the position of molars that had been unopposed for a long period and to test the hypothesis that overeruption does affect every tooth without an antagonist. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-three individuals were examined clinically, and dental casts were taken to evaluate the position of unopposed molars. There were 84 molars (61 in the maxilla and 23 in the mandible) with a documented period of at least 10 years without antagonists. Among these teeth, 25 molars had neither an antagonist nor a mesially adjacent tooth. A qualitative method was used to evaluate the position of the molars in the vertical direction: (1) teeth with no sign of overeruption, (2) teeth with slight overeruption (< 2 mm), and (3) teeth with moderate to severe overeruption (> or = 2 mm). RESULTS Of the 84 molars examined, 15 teeth (18%) revealed no signs of overeruption, 49 teeth (58%) displayed overeruption of less than 2 mm, and 20 teeth (24%) showed moderate to severe overeruption. Individuals with molars that had lost their antagonists in adult age had a lower risk for overeruption than the other subjects examined. The existence of adjacent teeth was important for the position of the unopposed molar in a mesiodistal or buccolingual direction. Molar rotation was more frequent in the maxilla, whereas tipping was more common in the mandible. CONCLUSION It is concluded that not all molars without antagonists overerupt, not even in a long-term perspective.
Convergence of an Inverse Problem for a 1-D Discrete Wave Equation

It is by now well-known that one can recover a potential in the wave equation from the knowledge of the initial waves, the boundary data and the flux on a part of the boundary satisfying the Gamma-conditions of J.-L. Lions. We are interested in proving that trying to fit the discrete fluxes, given by discrete approximations of the wave equation, with the continuous one, one recovers, at the limit, the potential of the continuous model. In order to do that, we shall develop a Lax-type argument, usually used for convergence results of numerical schemes, which states that consistency and uniform stability imply convergence. In our case, the most difficult part of the analysis is the one corresponding to the uniform stability, that we shall prove using new uniform discrete Carleman estimates, where uniform means with respect to the discretization parameter. We shall then deduce a convergence result for the discrete inverse problems. Our analysis will be restricted to the 1-d case for space semi-discrete wave equations discretized on a uniform mesh using a finite differences approach.
STRATEGIC PLANNING, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN NIGERIA; A MEDIATING PERSPECTIVE

This study examines the influence of organizational structure on the relationship between strategic planning and performance of non-governmental organizations in Nigeria. Nigeria is featured amongst the 10 countries with the highest number of INGOs (Murdie & Kakietek, 2012). The primary motivation for this study therefore is predicated by the face validity and the notable absence of similar research in Nigeria, regarding the relationships between strategic planning, organizational structure and performance of the numerous NGOs in an otherwise dynamic or volatile environment. This study is premised upon the resource-based view (RBV) theory, the dynamic capabilities theory, the design school and Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture. The specific research objectives were to determine the relationship between strategic planning and performance of the NGOs in Nigeria and the effect of the organizational structure on this relationship. The research philosophy in this study was based upon the fundamental positivism approach. A proportionate stratified random sampling technique based on the Zikmund formula was used and yielded a final sample size of 70 (to cater for the anticipated non-response level) from a population frame of 667 NGOs (Dillman, 2000). A web-based survey questionnaire approach (qualtrics) was administered and duly completed by the respondents with a 68.57% response rate. Descriptive statistics, correlation and parametric statistical (simple linear and multiple regression) techniques were used to systematically analyze the data. The influence of strategic planning on organization performance was statistically significant (R2=0.264, F=16.504, β= 0.504, t= 4.126, p<0.05). The findings of this study have a number of implications for theory, practice and policy. Further data analysis statistically identifies organizational structure as a mediating variable. This study addresses a previously existing gap by examining the NGO sector in Nigeria and contributes immensely to the NGO realm regarding strategic planning and performance. Research has in the area of strategic planning largely concentrated in developed countries, and this is an epic examination with no previous study traced, that makes a distinct focus on the NGOs in Nigeria. Despite the study limitations encountered, the quality of the study was not compromised. This study considered only NGOs and it is recommended that future researchers should consider carrying out similar studies using different performance measures under different economic sectors to assess any response variations or engage an expanded sample size or study a specific core-sector of the NGOs in Nigeria. Key
Differential rates of release of newly synthesized and of stored insulin from pancreatic islets.

Rat pancreatic islets were maintained in tissue culture (8.3 mM glucose) for 3 days in the presence of [3H]leucine in order to label insulin stores. Alternatively, islets were labeled for 1 h at the end of a 3-day maintenance period in order to label only newly synthesized insulin. During a 24-h chase incubation, 13% of the prelabeled insulin stores (3-day label) had been released. By contrast, 30% of newly synthesized (1-h label) insulin was released during a similar chase period. Since islets were handled identically aside from the respective time of exposure to [3H]leucine, the total immunoreactive islet insulin content and that released into the medium was similar for both groups of islets. The specific radioactivity of the labeled insulin in the medium at the end of the chase period was thus lower than that remaining in the islets for islets prelabeled for 3 days but was higher after the labeling of newly synthesized insulin for 1 h. When the rate of newly synthesized insulin was followed during a 4-.
How Does Knowledge Sharing Affect Employee Engagement

Employee engagement has emerged as a hot topic among academics and scholars over the last decade since organisations worldwide have adopted that lingo. However, little is known about how knowledge sharing, one of the main resources for organisations to maintain their competitive advantages, would affect employee engagement. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the impact of knowledge sharing on employee engagement based on the social capital theory. Data was obtained via questionnaires distributed to 180 randomly selected academics of public and private universities in Malaysia. This study applies multiple regression models to examine how three dimensions of knowledge sharing, namely structural, relational and cognitive, affect employee engagement. The results show all three aspects of knowledge sharing significantly and positively affect employee engagement. Specifically, work environment, leadership, organisational policies, communication, training and career development, compensation and team and co-workers in the knowledge sharing context improve employee engagement. This study is among the first to examine how organisations can better utilise knowledge sharing to engage their employees at work, which in turn help the organisation attain and sustain competitive advantages. Therefore, the addresses of knowledge sharing and employee engagement in this study are important and deserve further enrichments by including other knowledge management practices in the models.
The Thermal Dose Index

Objective. A new index is proposed to help sonographers easily assess the risk of an adverse thermal effect arising from a clinical examination. It is called the thermal dose index (TDI). Methods. The TDI uses the familiar thermal index (TI) and the examination duration to compute a dimensionless index. Results. The greater the TDI value, the greater the risk of a thermally induced adverse effect. If the TDI is 1 or less, there is no expectation of a thermally induced adverse effect. Conclusions. Like the TI, the TDI would be a convenient index that is continually updated and displayed during an ultrasound examination. The TDI is a new estimate of thermal risk that takes into account the duration of an ultrasound examination.