Cannot Live without Facebook? An Expectation Confirmation Model with the Moderating Effects of Narcissism

Facebook provides an ideal channel for people to admire their own performance. People tend to show off themselves to others and confirming their feedback on Facebook. With behavior on Facebook, narcissism is now highlighted by many researchers. Hence, based on the expectation confirmation theory (ECT), our study looks into continuance Facebook usage behaviors. It explores the relationship between perceived feedback, confirmation, satisfaction, and continuance intentions, and most important of all, it examines the moderating effects of narcissistic traits on these relationships. Data are collected from 420 valid respondents through self-administered questionnaires. Results revealed that: (1) Continuance Facebook behavior intention is jointly influenced by perceived feedback and satisfaction, which in turn is determined by confirmation. Then, confirmation is influenced by perceived feedback; (2) Narcissism has the moderating effect on the relationships between feedback and confirmation as well as confirmation and satisfaction. Finally, interpretations and implication of these findings are discussed

VLSI Implementation of Discrete Cosine Transform Based on the Shared-Multiplier Algorithm

In this paper a new algorithm for discrete cosine transform (DCT) is proposed. This algorithm is especially efficient for VLSI implementation because each multiplier in @e 1-D DCT is shared by two constants rather than one. This greatly reduces the chip area, and the high speed characteristics are still retained. Based on this algorithm, we have developed the corresponding bit-parallel, fully-pipelined architecture for the size-8 DCT. The core area of the chip is only 8.6mm x 8.5mm, using 1.2um double-metal single-poly CMOS technology. This chip is simulated for operation at the maximum speed of 100 MHz which far exceeds the speed requirement of the HDTV system (70 MHz)

Overseas Chinese Environmental Engineers and Scientists Association (OCEESA) Report, Regular Issue, February 2020

This OCEESA report, which is regular issue of OCEESA Journal (Overseas Chinese Environmental Engineers and Scientists Association Journal). This report is OCEESA report number: OCEESA/JL-2020/3701, February 2020, ISSN 1072 -7248. This report is also OCEESA Journal, Volume 37, Number 1, February 2020. Yung-Tse Hung, Permanent Executive Director, OCEESA, is editor of this report. This issue includes: (A) 10 OCEESA Best Papers (B) 6 OCEESA Papers; 21.Zhang-Zhi Charlie Huang 黄长志 , Implementing Compensation System for Environmental Damages: Challenges and Solutions, 22. Hanlu Yan, Kaimin Shih施凱閔 , Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction for Characterizing P Recovery Products from Wastewater, 23. Kaimin Shih 施凱閔 , Material Mineralogical Technology for Pollution Prevention and Resource Recovery材料礦物學技術於污染防治與資源回收的應用, 24. Kuo-Kunag Hsu 許國光 , Cleanup of MSW-Gasified Synthesis Gas, 25. Pao-Chiang Yuan 袁保強 , End of Useful Life Computer Recycling Program at Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA, 26. Qin Qian钱琴, Bo Sun, Xianchang Li, Frank Sun, Che-Jen Lin, Water quality modeling with data collected by wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in an experimental pond: A case study; (C) 3 technical papers; 28. Abdulkarim Alorayfij, Yung-Tse Hung, Anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste, 29. Abdullah Alshati, Yung-Tse Hung, Methane Gas Production from Animal Waste, 30. Abdulmajeed Alshatti, Yung-Tse Hung, Treatment of Timber Industry Wastes, 31. OCEESA Constitutions By-Laws (5 November 2000 edition), 32. OCEESA Constitutions By-Laws (14 February 2006 edition), 33. OCEESA Constitutions By-Laws (27 October 2013 edition), 34. Lawrence Kong-Pu Wang letter of support Yung-Tse Hung Permanent Executive Director OCEESA 12-30-20, 35. Wen-Chi Ku letter of support Yung-Tse Hung Permanent Executive Director OCEESA 12-03-20, 36. OCEESA Member Application Form and Information, 37. Mailing Address Pag

Overseas Chinese Environmental Engineers and Scientists Association (OCEESA) Report, Dec 2016.

This Overseas Chinese Environmental Engineers and Scientists Association (OCEESA) report is 2016 Directory of Overseas Chinese Environmental Engineers and Scientists Association (OCEESA), Report number: OCEESA/JL-2016/33D1, December 2016, ISSN 1072 -7248. This report was prepared by Yung-Tse Hung, Permanent Executive Director, OCEESA. This report includes OCEESA contact information, list of OCEESA Directors, list of OCEESA past presidents, OCEESA membership data, constitutions and by laws of OCEESA (5 November 2000 edition), constitutions and by laws of OCEESA (14 February 2006 edition), constitutions and by laws of OCEESA (27 October 2013 edition), membership application form, letter from Wen-Chi Ku to confirm Yung-Tse Hung OCEESA permanent executive director, letter from Lawrence Kong-Pu Wang to confirm Yung-Tse Hung OCEESA permanent executive director

Dynamical coupled-channel model of kaon-hyperon interactions

The pi N --> KY and KY --> KY reactions are studied using a dynamical coupled-channel model of meson-baryon interactions at energies where the baryon resonances are strongly excited. The channels included are: pi N, K \Lambda, and K\Sigma. The resonances considered are: N^* [S_{11}(1650), P_{11}(1710), P_{13}(1720),D_{13}(1700)]; \Delta^* [S_{31}(1900), P_{31}(1910), P_{33}(1920)]; \Lambda ^* [S_{01}(1670), P_{01}(1810)] \Sigma^* [P_{11}(1660), D_{13}(1670)]; and K^*(892). The basic non-resonant \pi N --> KY and KY --> KY transition potentials are derived from effective Lagrangians using a unitary transformation method. The dynamical coupled-channel equations are simplified by parametrizing the pi N -->pi N amplitudes in terms of empirical pi N partial-wave amplitudes and a phenomenological off-shell function. Two models have been constructed. Model A is built by fixing all coupling constants and resonance parameters using SU(3) symmetry, the Particle Data Group values, and results from a constituent quark model. Model B is obtained by allowing most of the parameters to vary around the values of model A in fitting the data. Good fits to the available data for pi^- p to K^0 \Lambda, K^0 \Sigma^0 have been achieved. The investigated kinematics region in the center-of-mass frame goes from threshold to 2.5 GeV. The constructed models can be imbedded into associated dynamical coupled-channel studies of kaon photo- and electro-production reactions.Comment: 35 pages, 11 Figure

Predicting EuroQol (EQ-5D) scores from the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) global items and domain item banks in a United States sample

Preference-based health index scores provide a single summary score assessing overall health-related quality of life and are useful as an outcome measure in clinical studies, for estimating quality-adjusted life years for economic evaluations, and for monitoring the health of populations. We predicted EuroQoL (EQ-5D) index scores from patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) global items and domain item banks. This was a secondary analysis of health outcome data collected in an internet survey as part of the PROMIS Wave 1 field testing. For this study, we included the 10 global items and the physical function, fatigue, pain impact, anxiety, and depression item banks. Linear regression analyses were used to predict EQ-5D index scores based on the global items and selected domain banks. The regression models using eight of the PROMIS global items (quality of life, physical activities, mental health, emotional problems, social activities, pain, and fatigue and either general health or physical health items) explained 65% of the variance in the EQ-5D. When the PROMIS domain scores were included in a regression model, 57% of the variance was explained in EQ-5D scores. Comparisons of predicted to actual EQ-5D scores by age and gender groups showed that they were similar. EQ-5D preference scores can be predicted accurately from either the PROMIS global items or selected domain banks. Application of the derived regression model allows the estimation of health preference scores from the PROMIS health measures for use in economic evaluations

A Close Binary Star Resolved from Occultation by 87 Sylvia

The star BD+29 1748 was resolved to be a close binary from its occultation by the asteroid 87 Sylvia on 2006 December 18 UT. Four telescopes were used to observe this event at two sites separated by some 80 km apart. Two flux drops were observed at one site, whereas only one flux drop was detected at the other. From the long-term variation of Sylvia, we inferred the probable shape of the shadow during the occultation, and this in turn constrains the binary parameters: the two components of BD+29 1748 have a projected separation of 0.097" to 0.110" on the sky with a position angle 104 deg to 107 deg. The asteroid was clearly resolved with a size scale ranging from 130 to 290 km, as projected onto the occultation direction. No occultation was detected for either of the two known moonlets of 87 Sylvia.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables; submitted to the PAS

Image Tracking Study on Courtship Behavior of Drosophila

Background: In recent years, there have been extensive studies aimed at decoding the DNA. Identifying the genetic cause of specific changes in a simple organism like Drosophila may help scientists recognize how multiple gene interactions may make some people more susceptible to heart disease or cancer. Investigators have devised experiments to observe changes in the gene networks in mutant Drosophila that responds differently to light, or have lower or higher locomotor activity. However, these studies focused on the behavior of the individual fly or on pair-wise interactions in the study of aggression or courtship. The behavior of these activities has been captured on film and inspected by a well-trained researcher after repeatedly watching the recorded film. Some studies also focused on ways to reduce the inspection time and increase the accuracy of the behavior experiment. Methodology: In this study, the behavior of drosophila during courtship was analyzed automatically by machine vision. We investigated the position and behavior discrimination during courtship using the captured images. Identification of the characteristics of drosophila, including sex, size, heading direction, and wing angles, can be computed using image analysis techniques that employ the Gaussian mixture model. The behavior of multiple drosophilae can also be analyzed simultaneously using the motion-prediction model and the variation constraint of heading direction. Conclusions: The overlapped fruit flies can be identified based on the relationship between body centers. Moreover, th