Perspective on Information Requirement Determination Practices in Kuwait: Familiarity, Usage and Perceived Value

Few studies have examined how Information Requirement Determination (IRD) is practiced in the Arab world. To lessen the gap, this empirical study reports on the perception of 19 IRD methods in Kuwait, an Arab country. Based on a sample of 87 software stakeholders, this study reports on the most known, widely used and highly valued IRD methods. Results show that Arab culture influences perception of IRD techniques in that: (i) the most used is the traditional technique (interview), followed by the formal analysis technique (DFD), and group elicitation technique (brainstorming); (ii) the most valued techniques from past projecst are external representation techniques (Decision trees), followed by unstructured elicitation techniques (goal oriented elicitation), and observation technique (prototyping); and (iii) the least known, used and valued techniques are UML, Ishikawa and cognitive technique (KJ- methods). In addition, the study reveals some additional factors that affect IRD practices such as the existence of a correlation between past IS project problems and the usage of three techniques (QFD, DFD and role playing), the existence of a correlation between two techniques (prototyping and decision trees) and the statement obtaining the right requirements is essential to successful system development . Other correlations were also found between some IRD techniques and specific used information system development methodologies. This paper discusses findings which are relevant to theory and practice

Assessing the Relationship of Muslim-American Identity with Practices in Mate Selection: Familial Involvement and the Intention to Marry

Muslim Americans may experience conflict between societal norms and the values of their religion with respect to mate selection. Whereas American norms prioritize autonomy and love, Muslim societies prioritize family and chastity. This study assessed the extent to which Muslim and American identities impact (1) desire to involve family in mate selection and (2) willingness to enter romantic relationships without considering marriage. Researchers partnered with a Muslim matrimonial and dating mobile app to survey U.S. users, resulting in 962 responses. Muslim identity and American identity were both found to be significantly correlated to mate selection practices. Results suggest most Muslim Americans are caught between models: they are transitioning away from traditional mate selection practices which rely on parents to find partners, a major shift in the last 30 years. However, they are also not willing to adopt American practices which do not consider marriage, such as casual dating

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Sandstones from the Tanjero Formation, Bekhme Gorge Northeastern Iraq: Implications for Paleoweathering and Provenance

The Tanjero Formation is exposed on the Northern flank of the Perat anticline near the Northern entrance to the Bakhme gorge through which the waters of the Upper Zab flow. As for tectonics, it is located within the High Folded Zone of the Unstable Shelf. The Tanjero Formation is about 80 m. thick, it is bounded from the bottom by the Shiranish Formation. The formation consists of gray sandstone that contains gravel at the bottom followed by beds of marl, hard sandstone, and black claystone containing cushioning structures and small-scale cross-bedding are present. According to the Williams classification, theTanjero sandstones drop at the lithic wacke field. The provenance of these sandstones was investigated based on their minerals and geochemical composition. The geochemical analyses showed low silica, a negative correlation of silica with the most major oxides due to recycling sedimentary sources or weathering of silicates. The index of compositional variability indicates that the sandstones of the Tanjero Formation are immature clastic sediments and the high index of compositional variability values confirm that the clastic sediments occurred in the tectonically-active-settings area. Moderate chemical weathering has dominated in the studied area, which was inferred from the chemical index of alteration, the chemical index of weathering and the plagioclase index of alteration. Based on the tectonic discrimination diagrams, the Tanjero sandstones are quartzose sedimentary provenance, felsic igneous rocks source, transitional arc–lithic recycled setting, and located in the collision zone between the passive Arab margin and the effective Iranian-Turkish margin that formed the orogeny belt along the collision zone

Adult-Onset Idiopathic Cervical Dystonia

Adult-onset idiopathic focal dystonia is the most common type of primary dystonia, and adult-onset idiopathic cervical dystonia (AOICD) is its most prevalent phenotype. AOICD is an autosomal-dominant disorder with markedly reduced penetrance; clinical expression is dependent on age, sex, and environmental exposure. Motor symptoms at presentation are poorly recognised by non-specialists, leading to long delays in diagnosis. Certain features of history and examination can help diagnose cervical dystonia. There is a relatively high prevalence of anxiety and/or depression, which adversely affects health-related quality of life. Recent studies indicate that patients with AOICD also have disordered social cognition, particularly affecting emotional sensory processing. AOICD can be treated reasonably effectively with botulinum toxin injections, given at 3-month intervals. Oral antidystonic medications are often trialled initially, but are largely ineffective. Comprehensive modern management of patients with AOICD requires recognition of presence of mood disorders, and actively treating the endogenous mood disorder with antidepressant therapy. Botulinum toxin injections alone, no matter how expertly given, will not provide optimal therapy and improved health-related quality of life without an holistic approach to patient management. Increasing evidence indicates that AOICD is a neurophysiological network disorder of GABAergic inhibition, causing a syndrome of dystonia, mood disturbance, and social cognitive dysfunction, with the superior colliculus playing a central role

Measuring Unethical Consumer Behavior Across Four Countries

The huge amounts spent on store security and crime prevention worldwide, not only costs international businesses, but also amounts to a hidden tax on those law-binding consumers who bear higher prices. Most previous research has focused on shoplifting and ignored many other ways in which consumers cheat businesses. Using a hybrid of both qualitative research and survey approaches in four countries, an index of 37 activities was developed to examine consumers’ unethical activities across UK, US, France, and Austria. The findings indicate that around three quarters of consumers in all four countries can be classified as heavy offenders for these minor cheats. The paper argues that government agencies, marketers, and retailers should adopt more pro-active preventative approaches, rather than reactive loss limitation measures to combat unethical behavior

The Political Factors that affect Contemporary Art in the Arab world, Descriptive Analytical Study

This paper examining the determine the political factors that affect contemporary art in the Arab world. through what the Arabic artworks (study sample) contained ideas, there were internal and external political factors that affect contemporary Arabic art. the researcher will extract these factors by evaluating the findings made in respect to the political factors (internal and external) that influence the selected artworks (sample study). This step also includes the drawn conclusions with respect to the political factors (internal and external) that cause these political situations in the Arab world. The study sample contained seven Arabic contemporary installation artworks from 2010-2015 to determine the political factors that affect contemporary art in the Arab world. The findings were list combines the external and internal political factors that influence contemporary Arabic art in general because these factors include all the political factors and its comprehensive and appeared in contemporary Arabic artworks

Why do people file share unlawfully? A systematic review, meta-analysis and panel study

Unlawful digital media sharing is common and believed to be extremely damaging to business. Understanding unlawful file sharers’ motivations offers the opportunity to develop business models and behavioral interventions to maximize consumers’ and businesses’ benefit. This paper uses a systematic review of unlawful file sharing research, and the Theory of Planned Behavior, to motivate a large-scale panel study in which initial determinants were used to predict subsequent behavior. A meta-analysis found Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control were all associated with unlawful file sharing. Media type and demographic differences in the importance of Perceived Behavioral Control were found and attributed to more accurate evaluation of familiar activities, i.e., greater experience increases the influence of Perceived Behavioral Control but age does not. The panel study confirmed that greater past experience was associated with Perceived Behavioral Control and Intention. We conclude that past experience increases the efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behavior and specifically Perceived Behavioral control in predicting behavior, contrary to some widely held beliefs about the role of experience. The role of experience is therefore crucial to understanding people’s choices. Practically, improving social approval, positive evaluation and access to lawful media should reduce unlawful behavior

Socioeconomics determinants of household carbon footprint in Iskandar Malaysia

Understanding the complex links between socioeconomic variables and carbon emissions can reveal household spending and lifestyle patterns. This study oversees those issues and examines consumption patterns and their related variables such as climate change understanding, attitudes, and knowledge, in order to better comprehend the complicated linkages. This study revealed that eight socioeconomic elements influence a household’s carbon footprint: (i) household income (β = 0.476, p < 0.05), (ii) green attitudes (β = − 0.196, p < 0.05), (iii) residential space (β = 0.157, p < 0.05), (iv), education levels (β = 0.131, p < 0.05), (v) household’s tenure status by ownership (β = 0.130, p < 0.05), (vi) household’s age (β = 0.112, p < 0.05), (vii) size of household (β = 0.101, p < 0.05), and, (viii) female-headed household (β = − 0.077, p < 0.05). Approximately 83.6% of respondents are mindful of climate change, but only 2.6% correctly define it as a long-term shift in weather patterns. The study found that 82% of households are willing to change their consumption habits and lifestyle to reduce their household’s carbon footprint. In order to achieve a low carbon society, our research advocate a multipronged approach and policy action is crucial based on the results. Further, robust climate change educational and awareness programmes is decisive at the multilevel and scale in Malaysia to achieve its carbon emissions reduction target by 2050

From Ethical Consumerism to Political Consumption

This article reviews some of the recent literature in geography and related disciplines on ethical consumerism and political consumption. Many geographers began their engagement with questions of ethics, politics, consumption and consumerism inspired by critical theory, commodity chain analysis and a sense that geographical knowledge might have a central role to play in progressive social change. Since these early engagements, it has been established that consumption practices are rarely the practices of rational, autonomous, self-identified consumers, and so-called ethical consumption practices are rarely detached from organisations and their political activity. Over time, therefore, some researchers have gradually shifted their focus from consumer identities and knowledge to consumption practices, social networks, material infrastructures and organisations of various kinds. This shift in focus has implications – both for the field of political consumption and for how the discipline of geography relates to this field

Determinants of Unlawful File Sharing: A Scoping Review

We employ a scoping review methodology to consider and assess the existing evidence on the determinants of unlawful file sharing (UFS) transparently and systematically. Based on the evidence, we build a simple conceptual framework to model the psychological decision to engage in UFS, purchase legally or do nothing. We identify social, moral, experiential, technical, legal and financial utility sources of the decision to purchase or to file share. They interact in complex ways. We consider the strength of evidence within these areas and note patterns of results. There is good evidence for influences on UFS within each of the identified determinants, particularly for self-reported measures, with more behavioral research needed. There are also indications that the reasons for UFS differ across media; more studies exploring media other than music are required