Analysis of covariance under inverse Gaussian model

This paper considers the problem of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) under the assumption of inverse Gaussian distribution for response variable. We develop the essential methodology for estimating the model parameters via maximum likelihood method. The general form of the maximum likelihood estimator is obtained in color closed form. Adjusted treatment effects and adjusted covariate effects are given, too. We also provide the asymptotic distribution of the proposed estimators. A simulation study and a real world application are also performed to illustrate and evaluate the proposed methodology.     

The Bayesian elastic net regression

A Bayesian elastic net approach is presented for variable selection and coefficient estimation in linear regression models. A simple Gibbs sampling algorithm was developed for posterior inference using a location-scale mixture representation of the Bayesian elastic net prior for the regression coefficients. The penalty parameters are chosen through an empirical method that maximizes the data marginal likelihood. Both simulated and real data examples show that the proposed method performs well in comparison to the other approaches.     

Testing the equality of two independent regression models

In some situations, for example in agriculture, biology, hydrology, and psychology, researchers wish to determine whether the relationship between response variable and predictor variables differs in two populations. In other words, we are interested in comparing two regression models for two independent datasets. In this work, we will use the parametric and nonparametric methods to establish hypothesis testing for the equality of two independent regression models. Then the simulation study is provided to investigate the performance of the proposed method.     

ABU GHRAIB AS A MICROCOSM: THE STRANGE FACE OF EMPIRE AS A LIVED PRISON

Drawing on Derrida, Foucault, Dorothy Smith, Anzaldúa, Wallerstein, Said, and Gurdjieff, among others, this article argues that the strangeness of Abu Ghraib—“father of the strange (or of the stranger)”—has less to do with what went on inside the prison and more with the global prison yard. Strange is how we, global spectators of the prison abuses, continue to stand on shaky cardboard boxes of rising and falling empires with hoods of amnesia and evasion put on our minds, and sophisticated media wires of true or false fears manipulating our emotions. To escape from prison, a mystic once said, one must first realize one is in prison. The inquiry is used as grounds for advancing a discourse on Newtonian and quantal sociological imaginations in favor of a Sociology of Self-knowledge.     

A Sociological Review of the Reflections and Dimensions of Quality of Life of the Widows in Tehran

The article explores some of the theoretical perspectives on widows, followed by empirical findings on the issue in Tehran. Widowhood transition being pursued by drop in relations, is observed and examined from various dimensions, with the hope of improving the quality of life of the widows. Some of the socio-economic effects of widowhood as appraised by various thinkers and scientists, are reflected in the context. The phenomenon being in existence as long as socially regulated marriage continues under the cause-and-effect laws, needs probing with special reference to the modern time. That is, being subject to emotional crises, they need to be multi-dimensionally studied. Through a multi-method strategy, and with the use of questionnaire tool, data were collected. Widowhood as a common problem in old age is followed by the isolation, a period of change and new challenges, i.e., reflection of a major stressful life event. However, widows as a vulnerable social group are seen worldwide with commonalities. In other words, about half of the women householders in the world are widowed. The author reflects a clear and tangible picture of the widows’ quality of life, and their satisfaction with life through the tabulated data. Nevertheless, government and relevant agencies in Iran, need to work and plan hard to provide the widows with necessary security and support.     

论全球化背景下的民族身份认同和爱国主义——对爱国主义情感的民族学解读

在全球化过程中,现代民族国家尤其是后发展国家面临着“去中心化”的威胁,国家认同出现严重危机.国家认同与国家安全是一个问题的两个方面:对公民而言是认同危机,对国家而言则是安全危机.为了维护国家的生存与发展,后发展国家不得不同时完成构建民族国家和融入全球社会这两大任务.在全球化时代,国家认同变得困难重重.领土分割在后现代的...     

Outcomes of parental mental illness on children: a qualitative study from Iran

Children of parents with mental illness are a substantial, yet marginalized group. This study, as part of a more extensive research project, used grounded theory to explore the outcomes of parental mental illness on their children. Seventeen informants were interviewed at a mental hospital in the city of Qazvin, Iran. The participants were selected using purposeful and theoretical sampling. Interviews were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's method. It was revealed that parental mental illness leads to five major outcomes that involve communication, mental, educational, economic, and extra roles factors. As such, it is suggested that these children should be considered within health care plans and that policy makers, nurses, and other health care providers use these findings for preventive and educational purposes.     

An EOQ model with partial delayed payment and partial backordering

In many transactions concerning selling and buying, a specified delay of payment is offered or accepted by the seller. This can be regarded as a kind of discount and has potential consequences for the order size. These kinds of effects are not explicitly incorporated in the classical formulas for economic order quantities (EOQ). In this research we consider an EOQ problem under partial delayed payment. A fraction of the purchasing cost must be paid at the beginning of the period and the remaining amount can be paid later. Shortages are permitted and occur as a combination of backorders and lost sales. The aim of this paper is to determine the order and shortage quantities.     

A novel approach to subgraph selection with multiple weights on arcs

In this paper, an extension of the minimum cost flow problem is considered in which multiple incommensurate weights are associated with each arc. In the minimum cost flow problem, flow is sent over the arcs of a graph from source nodes to sink nodes. The goal is to select a subgraph with minimum associated costs for routing the flow. The problem is tractable when a single weight is given on each arc. However, in many real-world applications, several weights are needed to describe the features of arcs, including transit cost, arrival time, delay, profit, security, reliability, deterioration, and safety. In this case, finding an optimal solution becomes difficult. We propose a heuristic algorithm for this purpose. First, we compute the relative efficiency of the arcs by using data envelopment analysis techniques. We then determine a subgraph with efficient arcs using a linear programming model, where the objective function is based on the relative efficiency of the arcs. The flow obtained satisfies the arc capacity constraints and the integrality property. Our proposed algorithm has polynomial runtime and is evaluated in rigorous experiments.

     

Understanding the Role of Outsiders in Community-Based Development Interventions: A Framework with Findings from Iran

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations - This article analyzes various roles of development practitioners (called outsiders) in five different cases of...