bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participating or Not? Characteristics of Female Entrepreneurs Participating in and Completing an Entrepreneurial Training Program
Authors: Iacovone Leonardo , Calderón Gabriela , MacGregor Cristina
Published: May 2018

Who are the female entrepreneurs who end up starting and completing entrepreneurial training programs? In this paper, relying on a large set of baseline characteristics collected before the entrepreneurs are selected into an entrepreneurial training program in Mexico, we analyze how the women entrepreneurs who complete the training program differ from those who do not take it up, as well as how those who take it up but drop off before completing differ from those who do not even start. We uncover large differences in performance and non-cognitive skills but no differences in inputs used.
Is Personal Initiative Training a Substitute or Complement to the Existing Human Capital of Women? Results from a Randomized Trial in Togo
Authors: Campos Francisco , Frese Michael , Goldstein Markus , Iacovone Leonardo , Johnson Hillary C. , McKenzie David , Mensmann Mona
Published: May 2018

Personal initiative training—a psychology-based mindset training program— delivers lasting improvements for female business owners in Togo. Which types of women benefit most? Theories of dynamic complementarity would suggest training should work better for those with higher pre-existing human capital, but there are also reasons why existing human capital might inhibit training participation or substitute for its effects. We examine the heterogeneity in treatment impact according to different types of human capital. We find little evidence of either complementarities or substitutability, suggesting this new business training approach can work for a wide range of human capital levels.
China's Rate-Based Approach to Reducing CO2 Emissions: Attractions, Limitations, and Alternatives
Authors: Goulder Lawrence H. , Morgenstern Richard D.
Published: May 2018

A distinguishing feature of China's recently launched emissions trading system (ETS) is its rate-based structure. This structure governs the way emissions allowances are allocated and the conditions for compliance, and it has important implications for system performance. We show that the rate-based structure implies a wedge between the marginal costs of emissions abatement as perceived by firms and society's marginal costs of abatement. Moving to a mass-based system would eliminate this wedge and thereby yield significant gains in terms of cost-effectiveness and efficiency (aggregate net benefits). We indicate that these gains could be realized while addressing concerns about distributional equity.
China’s New National Carbon Market
Authors: Pizer William A. , Zhang Xiliang
Published: May 2018

On December 19, 2017, China announced the official start of its national emissions trading system (ETS) construction program. When fully implemented, this program will more than double the volume of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions covered by either tax or tradable permit policy. Many of program's design features reflect those of China's pilot programs but differ from those of most emissions trading programs in the United States and Europe. This paper explains the context and design of China's new carbon market, discusses implications and possible modifications, and suggests topics for further research.
Estimating Economic Characteristics with Phone Data
Authors: Blumenstock Joshua E.
Published: May 2018

Historically, economists have relied heavily on survey-based data collection to measure social and economic well-being. Here, we investigate the extent to which the “digital footprints” of an individual can be used to infer his or her socioeconomic characteristics. Using two different datasets from Afghanistan and Rwanda, we show that phone data can be used to estimate the wealth of individuals in two very different economic environments. However, we find that such models are relatively brittle, and that a model trained in one country cannot be used to estimate characteristics in another. These results suggest several promising applications and directions for future work.
Measuring Welfare with Massive Online Choice Experiments: A Brief Introduction
Authors: Brynjolfsson Erik , Eggers Felix , Gannamaneni Avinash
Published: May 2018

GDP is a measure of production, and yet it is widely used as a proxy for well-being. It is particularly ill-suited for assessing the contributions of digital goods which are free to consumers and thus excluded from GDP measures. This underscores the need to develop new measures of well-being which can assess not only the contributions of digital goods but also welfare more generally. In Brynjolfsson, Eggers, and Gannamaneni (2017), we propose a new way of measuring consumer welfare using massive online choice experiments. This brief paper motivates the need for such an approach and introduces the method.
Using Online Prices for Measuring Real Consumption across Countries
Authors: Cavallo Alberto , Diewert W. Erwin , Feenstra Robert C. , Inklaar Robert , Timmer Marcel P.
Published: May 2018

We show that online prices can be used to construct quarterly purchasing power parities (PPPs) with a closely matched set of goods and identical methodologies in a variety of developed and developing countries. Our results are close to those reported by the International Comparisons Program (ICP) in 2011 and the OECD in 2014, and can be used to obtain more up-to-date estimates of real consumption across countries without the need for consumer price index extrapolations. We discuss advantages and limitations associated with the use of online prices for PPs, including issues of representativeness and limited coverage of product categories and countries.
Income Volatility and the PSID: Past Research and New Results
Authors: Moffitt Robert , Zhang Sisi
Published: May 2018

The PSID has major advantages for studying income volatility and, because of this, research using it has been responsible for major improvements in the methodology of studying income volatility. Its research on calendar trends finds a reasonably consistent pattern for phased but rising male earnings volatility since 1970. Female earnings volatility has declined and household income volatility has risen. Some other datasets find similar patterns but others do not, suggesting the need for more research. A new earnings volatility model is estimated on PSID men through 2014, showing similar patterns but with a large jump during the Great Recession.
New Evidence on Earnings Volatility in Survey and Administrative Data
Authors: Carr Michael D. , Wiemers Emily E.
Published: May 2018

Despite the rise in cross-sectional inequality since the late 1990s, there is little consensus on trends in earnings volatility during this period. Using consistent samples and methods in administrative earnings data matched to the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP GSF) and survey data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), we examine earnings volatility for men from 1978 through 2011. In contrast to the apparent inconsistency in trends across administrative and survey data in the existing literature, we find recent increases in volatility in the SIPP GSF and the PSID, though increases are larger in the PSID.
Low-Cost Randomized Controlled Trials in Education
Authors: Wozny Nathan , Balser Cary , Ives Drew
Published: May 2018

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are widely accepted as the gold standard in program evaluation but are uncommon in educational research. A likely explanation is that experiments designed with sufficient statistical precision to detect meaningful impacts of educational interventions generally require resources unobtainable for most studies. This paper proposes an alternative RCT design, where treatment status varies by lesson. We show that this design plausibly enables the precise estimation of causal impacts of a broad class of educational interventions with modest resources.
The Effects of Tax Changes at the Zero Lower Bound: Evidence from Japan
Authors: Kato Akihisa , Miyamoto Wataru , Nguyen Thuy Lan , Sergeyev Dmitriy
Published: May 2018

We use the narrative approach to identify tax changes unrelated to current economic conditions and estimate the effects of these changes on macroeconomic variables during and outside of the zero lower bound period in Japan. We find little difference in the output responses across the two periods. However, the responses of aggregate consumption, investment, and imports are significantly different in the two periods within the first few quarters.
What Do We Know about the Effects of Austerity?
Authors: Alesina Alberto , Favero Carlo A. , Giavazzi Francesco
Published: May 2018

The literature on fiscal multipliers is far from having reached an agreed upon conclusion. One result, however, seems very robust: in OECD economies, fiscal consolidations based upon expenditure cuts are much less costly than those performed on the tax side. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we review recent evidence which considers multi-year fiscal plans. Analyzing multi-year plans is a better way of studying the effects of fiscal policy because governments typically adopt multi-year budget laws. Second, we illustrate alternative theoretical explanations for our findings and we discuss which ones seem more appropriate in different cases.
Foreign Safe Asset Demand for US Treasurys and the Dollar
Authors: Jiang Zhengyang , Krishnamurthy Arvind , Lustig Hanno
Published: May 2018

We present theory showing that the spot dollar exchange rate reflects the value of all future convenience yields that foreign investors assign to US Treasuries. The convenience yield also creates wedge, the Treasury-based dollar basis, between the yield on foreign bonds and the currency-hedged yield on US Treasury bonds. We use the Treasury basis to measure the foreign convenience yield and show that an increase in the basis coincides with an appreciation of the dollar, consistent with the theory. The variation in the Treasury basis accounts for 25 percent of the quarterly variation in the dollar between 1988 and 2017.
Trade Invoicing, Bank Funding, and Central Bank Reserve Holdings
Authors: Gopinath Gita , Stein Jeremy C.
Published: May 2018

We develop a model that shows how the currency denomination of a country's imports influences the funding structure of its banking system, and in turn, the currency composition of its central bank's reserve holdings. The link between the dollar's role in bank funding and its role as a central bank reserve currency is stronger when the country's fiscal capacity is limited, and when exchange rates are volatile. In the data, there is a pronounced cross-country relationship between the fraction of imports that are dollar invoiced, and the fraction of central-bank foreign-exchange reserves that are held in dollars.
What Is the Impact of Food Stamps on Prices and Product Variety? The Importance of the Supply Response
Authors: Jaravel Xavier
Published: May 2018

Comparing US states that implemented policies generating state-specific variation in the take-up rate for food stamps, I find that food stamp eligible households experienced lower inflation and a faster increase in product variety in states with a larger increase in take-up (i.e., with increasing demand from the eligible population). Consistent with a causal interpretation, the effects are driven by food products with strong local brands and there is no comparable pattern for ineligible households across the income distribution. Thus, the long-run supply response to changes in demand from food stamp recipients has a first-order impact on the program's cost-benefit analysis.
From Communism to Capitalism: Private versus Public Property and Inequality in China and Russia
Authors: Novokmet Filip , Piketty Thomas , Yang Li , Zucman Gabriel
Published: May 2018

This paper combines national accounts, survey, wealth, and fiscal data (including recently released tax data on high-income taxpayers) in order to provide consistent series on the accumulation and distribution of income and wealth in China and Russia over the 1978-2015 period. We contrast the different privatization strategies implemented in the two countries and observe their impacts on the evolution of inequality.
Applying Generalized Pareto Curves to Inequality Analysis
Authors: Blanchet Thomas , Garbinti Bertrand , Goupille-Lebret Jonathan , Martínez-Toledano Clara
Published: May 2018

A generalized Pareto curve is defined as the curve of inverted Pareto coefficients b(p), where b(p) is the ratio between average income or wealth above rank p and the p-th quantile. We present this concept and show how it can be used to better estimate distributions, especially from tax tabulations. By providing a simple decomposition of top shares, we discuss how studying inverted Pareto coefficients can improve the understanding of inequality dynamics. We also show how it helps to better analyze wealth and income concentrations along the distribution, using data for France, Spain, the United States, and China.
Extreme Inequality: Evidence from Brazil, India, the Middle East, and South Africa
Authors: Assouad Lydia , Chancel Lucas , Morgan Marc
Published: May 2018

This paper presents new findings about inequality dynamics in Brazil, India, the Middle East, and South Africa from the World Inequality Database (WID.world). We combine tax data, household surveys, and national accounts in a systematic manner to produce estimates of the distribution of income, using concepts coherent with macroeconomic national accounts. We document an extreme level of inequality in these regions, with top 10 percent income shares above 50 percent of national income. These societies are characterized by a dual social structure, with an extremely rich group at the top, whose income levels are broadly comparable to their counterparts in high-income countries, and a much poorer mass of the population below top groups. We discuss the diversity of regional contexts and highlight two explanations for the levels observed: the historical legacy of social segregation and modern economic institutions and policies.
Through a Crystal Ball Darkly: The Future of Monetary Policy Communication
Authors: Blinder Alan S.
Published: May 2018

I make six predictions about the future of central bank communication about monetary policy. Some are made with great confidence, like: transparency will increase over time. Others are far riskier, like: attempts to communicate with the general public, though laudable, will fail. I also suggest ways in which the so-called cacophony problem on monetary policy committees (speaking with too many voices) can be mitigated.
The Effect of Parental Education on Children's Drug and Alcohol Use
Authors: Chalfin Aaron , Deza Monica
Published: May 2018

This research is the first to uncover evidence of an intergenerational effect of education on substance use in the United States. Using data from the NLSY79 and variation in education induced by changes in compulsory schooling laws, we study the effect of parental education on children's use of drugs and alcohol. We find that an increase in parental education decreases alcohol consumption – binge drinking, in particular – and has no effect on marijuana consumption among youth. Given the high social costs associated with alcohol abuse, we conclude that previous research on education may appreciably underestimate the benefits of investments in education.
On the Returns to Invention within Firms: Evidence from Finland
Authors: Aghion Philippe , Akcigit Ufuk , Hyytinen Ari , Toivanen Otto
Published: May 2018

In this paper we merge individual income data, firm-level data, patenting data, and IQ data in Finland over the period 1988-2012 to analyze the returns to invention for inventors and their coworkers or stakeholders within the same firm. We find that: (i) inventors collect only 8 percent of the total private return from invention; (ii) entrepreneurs get over 44 percent of the total gains; (iii) bluecollar workers get about 26 percent of the gains and the rest goes to white-collar workers. Moreover, entrepreneurs start with significant negative returns prior to the patent application, but their returns subsequently become highly positive.
Last Place? The Intersection of Ethnicity, Gender, and Race in Biomedical Authorship
Authors: Marschke Gerald , Nunez Allison , Weinberg Bruce A. , Yu Huifeng
Published: May 2018

Applying big data methods to biomedical science articles, we show that women and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are less likely to be last authors, an indicator of career independence. We leverage the massive size of our data to highlight the importance of intersectionality, the idea that ethnicity, gender, and race are not necessarily additive, but interact to determine experiences and outcomes. In particular, gender gaps are smaller among blacks and Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites. Our analysis is timely given serious concerns with under-representation of women and minorities in biomedicine and other STEM fields.
Trends and Disparities in Leave Use under California's Paid Family Leave Program: New Evidence from Administrative Data
Authors: Bana Sarah , Bedard Kelly , Rossin-Slater Maya
Published: May 2018

We use novel administrative data to study trends and disparities in usage of California's first-in-the-nation paid family leave (PFL) program. We show that take-up for both bonding with a new child and caring for an ill family member increased over 2005-2014. Most women combine PFL with maternity leave from the State Disability Insurance system, resulting in leaves longer than 6 weeks. Most men take less than the full 6 weeks of PFL. Individuals in the lowest earnings quartile and in small firms are the least likely to take leave. There are important differences in take-up across industries, especially for men.
Gender Peer Effects in a Predominantly Male Environment: Evidence from West Point
Authors: Huntington-Klein Nick , Rose Elaina
Published: May 2018

There is considerable interest in the success of women in overwhelmingly male environments. One hypothesized determinant of success is the increased presence of other women. However, the theoretical direction of this effect is uncertain. Previous studies of heavily male contexts have had mixed results. We take advantage of random peer group assignment at West Point military academy to identify gender peer effects in the first years in which women were admitted. We find that women do significantly better when placed in companies with more women peers. The addition of one woman peer reduces the gender progression gap by half.
A Dialogue between a Populist and an Economist
Authors: Boeri Tito , Mishra Prachi , Papageorgiou Chris , Spilimbergo Antonio
Published: May 2018

In this imaginary dialogue, a populist and an economist discuss the role of economic shocks to explain populism. A simple correlation between economic shocks and populism is weak. However, economic shocks can explain well the phenomenon of populism in countries with low pre-existent level of trust. This is confirmed both at the macro cross-country level and also by micro evidence obtained from surveys. Finally, this finding is consistent with the “ideational approach” in political science, which emphasizes how the populist narrative opposes the “corrupt elite” to the “virtuous people.”
SeqAcademy: an educational pipeline for RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analysis
Authors: Ather Syed Hussain , Awe Olaitan Igbagbo , Butler Thomas J. , Denka Tamiru , Semick Stephen Andrew , Tang Wanhu , Busby Ben
Published: May 2018

Quantification of gene expression and characterization of gene transcript structures are central problems in molecular biology. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) are important methods, but can be cumbersome and difficult for beginners to learn. To teach interested students and scientists how to analyze RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq data, we present a start-to-finish tutorial for analyzing RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq data: SeqAcademy (source code: https://github.com/NCBI-Hackathons/seqacademy, webpage: http://www.seqacademy.org/). This user-friendly pipeline, fully written in Jupyter Notebook, emphasizes the use of publicly available RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq data and strings together popular tools that bridge that gap between raw sequencing reads and biological insight. We demonstrate practical and conceptual considerations for

various RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analysis steps with a biological use case - a previously published yeast experiment. This work complements existing sophisticated RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq pipelines designed for advanced users by gently introducing the critical components of RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analysis to the novice bioinformatician. In conclusion, this well-documented pipeline will introduce state-of-the-art RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analysis tools to beginning bioinformaticians and help facilitate the analysis of the burgeoning amounts of public RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq data.
Methodical Instrumentation of Scrum Application as the Variety of the Methodology of Flexibility of Agile Manifesto Projects in the Management of Project Activity
Authors: Чуланова Оксана , Chulanova Oksana , Меркулова А. , Merkulova A.
Published: May 2018

Project management includes many approaches and tools. The article presents the main principles of Agile as a methodology for flexible project management Agile manifesto. The main varieties of Agile manifesto are presented and the results of the author’s assessment of the possibilities and expediency of using each of the varieties are presented. More in detail in the article is considered Scrum. This methodology is popular in the development of complex projects. The essence of Scrum is to divide the entire process of the project into a lot of sprints, which require approximately the same amount of time to complete. Each sprint must combine an established number of specific tasks. The article notes that the ideological foundations of SCRUM are more clearly reflected in the Agile manifesto. This technology allows you to get the desired effect with minimal resources. Scrum allows you to correctly form resources and maximize the potential of the team. The article explores in detail the opportunities and risks that entail the use of one of the varieties of a flexible methodology for project management — Scrum. The author’s development of the methodological toolkit for implementing Scrum in project management of the organization is presented.
Book Reviews
Authors: Shen Wenjing
Published: May 2018

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. The editor will be pleased to receive an email from those willing to review a book, with an indication of specific areas of interest. If you are aware of a specific book that you would like to review, or that you think should be reviewed, please contact the editor.

The following books are reviewed in this issue of Interfaces 48(3), May–June: Computer Age Statistical Inference, Bradley Efron and Trevor Hastie; Straight Talk on Trade: Ideas for a Sane World Economy, Dani Rodrik; Reliability and Availability Engineering: Modeling, Analysis and Applications, Kishor S. Trivedi and Andrea Bobbio.
OptimalM-Switch Surveillance Policies for Liver Cancer in a Hepatitis C–Infected Population
Authors: Chen Qiushi , Ayer Turgay , Chhatwal Jagpreet
Published: May 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Most HCC cases are attributed to chronic hepatitis C virus infection, which affects nearly 3 million Americans and 100 million people globally. Although surveillance for HCC in hepatitis C patients can improve survival, the optimal surveillance policies remain unknown. In this study, we develop a mixed-integer programming (MIP)-based framework to systematically analyze a rich set of policies and determine the optimal HCC surveillance policies that maximize societal net benefit. Our MIP-based framework addresses two problem features that make dynamic programming-based formulation computationally intractable. In particular, our proposed framework allows the formulation of (1) M-switch policies that are practical for implementation and (2) tailored surveillance policies with screening intervals stratified by the precursor disease states. We theoretically analyze the HCC surveillance problem, characterize when the surveillance policies should be adapted to populations with different disease progression rates, and quantify the trade-off between decreasing HCC incidence and increasing treatment outcomes. We parameterize our model using clinical trial data, a previously validated simulation model, and published clinical studies. Our numerical analyses lead to three main results with important policy implications. First, we find that, in addition to cirrhotic patients, expanding surveillance to patients in the earlier stages of hepatitis C infection improves the cost-effectiveness of HCC surveillance. Second, compared with the “one size fits all” routine policies, we find that it is cost-effective to stratify surveillance strategies based on the stage of hepatitis C infection with less frequent cancer surveillance in the earlier stages of infection. Finally, we find that a little flexibility in the policy structure as captured by M-switch policies is sufficient to capture almost as much benefit as from complex fully dynamic policies.

The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1706 .
Operating Policies in Robotic Compact Storage and Retrieval Systems
Authors: Zou Bipan , Koster René De , Xu Xianhao
Published: May 2018

Robotic compact storage and retrieval systems (RCSRS) have seen many implementations over the last few years. In such a system, the inventory items are stored in bins, organized in a grid. In each cell of the grid, a certain number of bins are stored on top of each other. Robots with transport and lifting capabilities move on the grid roof to transport bins between manual workstations and storage stacks. We estimate performance and evaluate storage policies of RCSRS, considering both dedicated and shared storage policies coupled with random and zoned storage stacks. Semi-open queuing networks (SOQNs) are built to estimate the system performance, which can handle both immediate and delayed reshuffling processes. We approximate the models by reduced SOQNs with two load-dependent service nodes and use the matrix-geometric method to solve them. Both simulations and a real case are used to validate the analytical models. Assuming a given number of stored products, our models can be used to optimize not only the length-to-width ratio of the system but also the stack height, depending on the storage strategy used. For a given inventory and optimal system configuration, we demonstrate that the dedicated storage policy outperforms the shared storage policy when the objective is to minimize dual command throughput time. However, from a cost perspective, with a maximum dual command throughput time as a constraint, we show that shared storage substantially outperforms dedicated storage. The annualized costs of dedicated storage are up to twice as large as those of shared storage, as a result of the larger number of storage positions required by dedicated storage and the relatively lower filling degree of storage stacks.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2017.0786 .
Theoretical model of formation and growth of pitting
Authors: Mouhammad Saif A. , Popov Yu. A.
Published: May 2018

The mechanism of origination, interaction, and growth of pits is discussed. The processes of dehydration of solution inside a pit, formation and performance of a resistive layer, and stabilization of pit growth are considered.
Insect secretion on Albazia tree as biobased material alternative for matrix composite
Authors: Jamasri Jamasri , Heru Santoso B. R. , Gentur Sutapa J. P.
Published: May 2018

Investigation and characterization of insect secretion on Albazia tree (hereinafter used the term ISA) showed that the material contained of complex molecules with the main constituent is aleuretic acid and the insect is lac. So ISA is secretion of lac insect on Albazia tree. This paper will report the biobased ISA as a feasible matrix for composite. Some requirements of the ISA matrix to protect the fibers, keeping the fibers in place and can distribute the load to the fibers, the first step was the matrix phase changed from solid to liquid with an ethanol as a solvent so the matrix distributed to cover the fibers perfectly. Secondly, the matrix phase then change into solid by evaporation process to remove ethanol solvent without any scattered to the fibers. This matrix is now called as matrix lac (or matlac). Characterization of chemical structure of the matlac investigated before and after mixed with ethanol using FTIR method. Evaporation process of ethanol was also examined and conducted by heating the sample respectively 40, 50, 70, 90, 110, 150 and 180 oC for 2-210 minutes to determine the weight loss and changes liquid to solid phase. TGA also used to determine performance of the matrix at high temperatures. Evaluation of fiber-matrix bonding strength was done by wettability testing. The results showed that the ISA can be used as a matrix composite by blending ethanol as a main solvent followed by melting and heating process at temperatures above 100oC. Chemical structure of the ISA before and after the mixing of ethanol did not change that ethanol has a function as a “transporter“ to bring ISA reaches the matrix requiretments. Bonding strength between the fiber and the matlac showed contact angle of about 30o and indicated good wettability. Average of the tensile strength of the matlac was 7 MPa which has opportunity and feasibility to be developed further as matrix composite. Method proposes succesed making composite from matlac matrix.
Effects of robotic CO2 arc welding variables on penetration and microstructure of weld in C-80 grade steel
Authors: Reza Ghazvinloo Hamid , Honarbakhsh-Raouf Abbas , Shadfar Nasim
Published: May 2018

Generally, the quality and properties of a weld joint is strongly influenced by welding variables during process. In order to achieve an ideal weld, it is important attention to bead geometry and microstructure evolution of weld metal. The effect of process variables on penetration and microstructure of C-80 steel joints produced by robotic CO2 arc welding was studied in present work. Different samples were produced by employing arc voltages of 23, 25 and 27 V, welding currents of 100, 110 and 120 A and welding speeds of 42, 62 and 82 cm/min. After welding process, geometric measurements were performed on welding specimens and the microstructural evolutions were investigated by optical observations of the weld cross sections. Results were clearly illustrated that increasing in welding current or arc voltage increases the depth of weld penetration. The highest penetration in this research was observed in 62 cm/min welding speed. The metallographic examinations also indicated that the microstructure of weld metal in all of specimens was composed mainly of martensite (M) and residual austenite (A) phases that a portion of martensite phase had been tempered.
Group analysis and variational principle for nonlinear (3+1) schrodinger equation
Authors: A. Alaidarous Eman Salem
Published: May 2018

The generators of the admitted variational Lie symmetry groups are derived and conservation laws for the conserved currents are obtained via Noether's theorem. Moreover, the consistency of a functional integral are derived for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In addition to this analysis functional integral are studied using Lie groups.
Manufacture and study of physico-chemical properties of Karanja bio-diesel
Authors: Lal Arvind , Gupta A. K. , Kumar A. , Yadav Indu N. K.
Published: May 2018

Bio-diesel is one of the pollution free, renewable sources of energy, providing an opportunity of employment to a large number of farmers and laboures through plantation of Bio-diesel plants like Jatropha, Karanja, Mahua, Neem, Polong etc. on a bigger scale in vast vacant land including the rail track and roadsides. The manufacturing of bio-diesel through transesterification of non-edible vegetable oils like Karanja (Pongamia Pinnata) proved to be compatible with HSD oil. The properties of Bio-diesel were found to be comparable to HSD oil by the investigation of certain physic chemical properties as per IS:1460/2000 and conforming the Bio-diesel standard as per ASTM D - 6751.
Corrosion resistance of TiN coated implant alloys in artificial physiological solution
Authors: Jagdeo Kailash R. , Kadam Suresh N. , Nair Methil R.
Published: May 2018

The corrosion behavior of TiN coated NiTi-Shape Memory Alloy, Ti6Al4V and 316L Stainless Steel implant alloys in artificial physiological solutions were investigated by means of electrochemical test. The cathodic arc physical vapor deposition method was used for film deposition. Surface morphology and surface composition were studied using SEM/EDAX and XRD. ICPAES was used to determine ions leached from each specimen when kept immersed in artificial physiological solution for sixteen weeks. The corrosion stability, elemental out-diffusion resistance, microhardness were found to be increased by this treatment.
Effect of silica fume surface treatment on natural fibres in resisting chloride resistance in concrete
Authors: Sudhakaran Pillai M. , Sivaraja M. , Kandasamy S.
Published: May 2018

The natural fibre concrete may undergo a reduction in strength as a result of weakening of fibres by the combination of alkali attack and environmental loads. Silica fume slurry treatment is one of the best way to improve the durability of natural fibres in concrete. In this paper, fibre reinforced concrete with natural fibres such as coir and sugarcane baggase of as received condition and silica fume treated were cast at three volume fractions, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% and tested to study the chloride resistance. This experimental program consists of determination of mass loss and strength deterioration against hydrochloric acid attack, rapid chloride penetration and . From the studies, 10 to 20% reduction due to hydrochloric acid attack and 15 to 25% reduction due to freezing and thawing were observed in concrete with as received natural fibres. Concrete with treated natural fibres showed a better resistance against all the durability effects.
Religion, Sport, and the Return of the Prodigal Son: The Postsecular Rhetoric of LeBron James’s 2014 “I’m Coming Home” Open Letter
Authors: Bostdorff Denise M. , O’Rourke Daniel J.
Published: May 2018

In 2010, LeBron James, “The Chosen One,” humiliated Northeast Ohio by announcing on nationwide television that he was leaving the Cavaliers to play for Miami. James announced his return to Cleveland four years later through an open letter that set off euphoria in the region. This essay offers a postsecular framework to explain: (1) how James’s messianic image established a context in which his departure, in tandem with the way he announced his decision, made James a “sinner” in the eyes of Cleveland fans, and (2) how his open letter adapted the parable of the Prodigal Son to depict him as the son of Northeast Ohio who had made mistakes, rather than sinned and, simultaneously, as the wise father who was forgiving of others. James portrayed his departure as a necessary step in gaining maturity, yet—much like the Prodigal Son—admitted to a revelation about his relationship with Northeast Ohio.
Place of flip book animation technique in communication design education
Authors: Cemelelioğlu Altın Nur , Bingöl Hami Onur
Published: May 2018

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of design education, it has a very broad spectrum ranging from motion picture to informative design methods. Animation techniques are also one of the important parts of this wide variety of work. Today, almost every institution is involved in animation techniques in design education. Animation with various application methods is the field where the most creative examples of motion pictures are revealed.  The purpose of this research is to discuss the place of flip book animation in design education and to investigate its contributions to design education, which is one of the creative animation techniques.It is considerably significant that students experience how the form of motion pictures is created through one of the methods at a beginning level and understand the nature of motion picture in design education process. Flip book animation, is a method by which students will be able to grasp the logic of creating motion pictures using static drawing or photography. Flip book animation is one of the first animation techniques to be achieved by combining successive still images processed with different surfaces. It may be considered as an old and outdated motion pictures technique for that reason, yet there are still flip book festivals and it is used as an effective method in teaching animation process.
Effective temporal dependence discovery in time series data
Authors: Cai Qingchao , Xie Zhongle , Zhang Meihui , Chen Gang , Jagadish H. V. , Ooi Beng Chin
Published: May 2018

To analyze user behavior over time, it is useful to group users into cohorts, giving rise to
cohort analysis.
We identify several crucial limitations of current cohort analysis, motivated by the unmet need for temporal dependence discovery. To address these limitations, we propose a generalization that we call
recurrent cohort analysis.
We introduce a set of operators for recurrent cohort analysis and design access methods specific to these operators in both single-node and distributed environments. Through extensive experiments, we show that recurrent cohort analysis when implemented using the proposed access methods is up to six orders faster than one implemented as a layer on top of a database in a single-node setting, and two orders faster than one implemented using Spark SQL in a distributed setting.
An unusual cause of neonatal shock: a case report
Authors: Kalagiri Ram R. , Vora Niraj , Govande Vinayak , Shetty Ashita , Raju Venkata N. , Beeram Madhava R.
Published: May 2018

The authors present a premature male neonate who developed subcapsular hematoma of the liver (SHL) secondary to birth trauma during the delivery process. During cesarean section, it was discovered that the infant had suffered birth trauma to the abdomen that caused intra-abdominal hemorrhage, resulting in hypovolemic shock. It was diagnosed as SHL upon abdominal ultrasound. This premature newborn infant presented with hypotension and metabolic acidosis secondary to internal hemorrhage. He was managed with volume replacement including packed red blood cells (pRBC), fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate transfusions. The infant’s clinical condition improved gradually, and he went home without any problems at 36 weeks of corrected gestational age. On follow-up visits, he was found to be growing and developing appropriately. High index of suspicion, appropriate work-up and prompt treatment of shock were the key steps in the management of this infant.
Prediction of User Future Request Utilizing the Combination of Both ANN and FCM in Web Page Recommendation
Authors: Raju V. , Srinivasan N.
Published: May 2018

This paper explains about the web page recommendation system. This procedure encompasses consumers’ upcoming demand and web page recommendations. In the proposed web page recommendation system, potential and non-potential data can be categorized by use of the Levenberg–Marquardt firefly neural network algorithm, and forecast can be made by using the K-means clustering algorithm. Consequently, the projected representation demonstrates the infrequent contact format with the help of the representation that integrates the comparable consumer access model data that belong to the further consumer. Thereafter, the impending user data are specified to the clustering progression. The third phase of the projected process is collecting potential data with the aid of the improved fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm. The last step of our projected process is envisaging the upcoming demand for the subsequent consumer. The presentation of the projected procedure will be compared to the obtainable procedure.
Crystal structure of (E)-1-(4-(((E)-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzylidene)amino)phenyl)ethan-1-oneO-methyl oxime, C17H18N2O2
Authors: Li Peng-Peng , Ma Jin-Xia , Li Qing-Lin , Zhao Ji-Xing , Zhao Li
Published: May 2018

C17H18N2O2, monoclinic,P21/c(no. 14),a= 33.536(6) Å,b= 7.0566(10) Å,c= 6.1491(10) Å,β= 91.048(5)°,Z= 4,V= 1455.0(4) Å3,Rgt(F) = 0.0672,wRref(F2) = 0.1823,T= 296(2) K.
Crystal structure of poly[tetraaqua-(μ4-oxalato-κ4
O,O′:O′′,O′′′)-(μ8-benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylato-κ8
O
1:O
2:O
3:O
4:O
5:O
6:O
7:O
8)yttrium(III)], C6H5O8Y
Authors: Wen Zhi-Hui , Zhao Xiao-Xi , Zhao Dan
Published: May 2018

C6H5O8Y, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 6.2090(17) Å, b = 8.573(4) Å, c = 8.863(2) Å, α = 111.018(6)°, β = 109.850(4)°, γ = 91.866(6)°, V = 407.8(2) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0435, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1332, T = 296(2) K.
Crystal structure of methyl (R)-4-(o-chlorobenzoyl)-1-thia-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane-3-carboxylate, C17H20ClNO3S
Authors: Zhao Li-Xia , Wang Qing-Rui , Zou Yue-Li , Wu Hao , Ye Fei
Published: May 2018

C17H20ClNO3S, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 6.1984(2) Å, b = 14.3940(5) Å, c = 18.9651(6) Å, V = 1692.06(10) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0263, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0683, T = 293(2) K.
Synthesis, structural characterization, and properties of Ag(I) complexes with N-donor ligands
Authors: Zhu Xiao-Hong , Cheng Xiao-Chun , Li Deng-Hao , Qian Yun-Hua
Published: May 2018

New silver complex [Ag(pz)(CF3SO3)] (1) was formed by the coordination reaction of AgCF3SO3 with pyrazine (pz) in the presence of 2-[(S)-4-isopropyl-2-oxazolyl] quinoline (L). When AgBF4 was used instead of AgCF3SO3 as the starting material, complex 2 [Ag(L)(CH3CN)](BF4) was obtained. Complexes 1 and 2 are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and elemental, and thermogravimetric analysis. Complex 1 shows a 3D framework structure with uni-nodal eight-connected (424.64) topology while complex 2 displays a discrete mononuclear structure. The nonlinear optical properties of 2 were investigated.
Roman Ingarden’s “The Logical Attempt at a New Formulation of Philosophy: A Critical Remark”
Authors: Linsky Bernard
Published: May 2018

Translated by Bernard Linsky

This is the first English translation of Roman Ingarden’s paper presented at the 8th World Congress of Philosophy held in Prague in 1934: “Der Logistische Versuch einer Neugestaltung der Philosophie: Eine Kritische Bemerkung”, translated here as “The Logical Attempt at a New Formulation of Philosophy: A Critical Remark”. Also translated here are brief discussions by Rudolf Carnap and Otto Neurath. These essays were published in the original German in the Proceedings of the Congress in 1936. This statement of Ingarden’s criticisms of the doctrines of the Vienna Circle has been mentioned in print, but his views have not been discussed, or indeed accurately reported to date.
Dynamic Performance of Concrete Turnout Bearers and Sleepers in Railway Switches and Crossings
Authors: Kaewunruen Sakdirat , Ishida Tetsuya , Remennikov Alex M
Published: May 2018

With constant changes of their geometry and alignment, wheel–rail forces, and track and operational parameters, railway infrastructures are exposed to nonlinear actions by nature. A detrimental type of loading condition that causes cracking in the railway concrete bearers in switches and crossings is the dynamic transient wheel force. The transient wheel forces are often due to the wheel–rail transfer over the dipped trajectory at a crossing nose. It is often found that most track deterioration incurs at the crossing panel. The turnout bearers crack and break. The ballast degradation then causes differential settlement and later aggravates the impact forces acting on partial and unsupported sleepers and bearers. In addition, localized ballast breakages underneath any rail seat increase the likelihood of center-bound cracks in railway sleepers and bearers because of the unbalanced support. This article investigates the dynamic performance of standard-gauge concrete bearers at crossing panel, taking into account the realistic, nonlinear tensionless nature of ballast support. A finite element model was established and calibrated with static and dynamic responses using past experimental results. In this article, nonlinear phenomena caused by topologic asymmetry on both sagging and hogging behaviors of crossing bearers are firstly highlighted. In addition, it is the first to demonstrate the effects of dynamic load impulses on the design consideration of turnout bearers in crossing panel. The outcome of this study will benefit the railway turnout design and maintenance criteria in order to improve train–turnout interaction and reduce unplanned maintenance costs.
Experimental and Simple Semiempirical Methods for Interpreting the Axial Load Versus Settlement Behaviors of Single Model Piles in Unsaturated Sands
Authors: Vanapalli Sai K. , Sheikhtaheri Mohamadjavad , Oh Won Taek
Published: May 2018

Experimental studies were undertaken to investigate the vertical load versus displacement behavior of single model piles in sand (i.e., Unimin 7030 sand) under both saturated and unsaturated conditions. Stainless steel model piles with three different diameters (i.e., 19.25, 31.75, and 38.3 mm) with a length of 350 mm were used to conduct the pile load tests. Semiempirical methods were proposed to successfully predict the variation of end- and shaft-bearing capacities of single piles with respect to matric suction by modifying three conventional end-bearing capacity equations (Terzaghi 1943; Hansen 1970; Janbu 1976) and the β-method (Burland 1973), respectively. In addition, finite element analyses were also carried out to simulate vertical load versus settlement behaviors of model pile tests using a commercial finite element software, SIGMA/W (GeoStudio 2007).
A Novel Device for Quasi In Situ Studies of Materials Microstructure during Friction
Authors: Bataev A. A. , Burov V. G. , Nikulina A. A. , Bataev I. A. , Lazurenko D. V. , Popelukh A. I. , Ivanov D. A.
Published: May 2018

The friction of metallic materials leads to the evolution of the microstructure of surface layers. The structural evolution is a way of the surface adaptation to mechanical stresses that occur as the conditions of the local temperature increase and physical and chemical interact with the material of the counterbody and the environment. Only a few methods have been developed to dynamically observe the structural changes in the friction process. Microbeam synchrotron X-ray diffraction is one of them. It allows monitoring of the peak profile changes with a high time resolution, depending on pressure, velocity, material of indenter, type of lubrication, and other parameters. This article describes the friction testers that are designed to study the structure of the surface layers, the temperature in the friction zone, and the friction coefficient using synchrotron radiation in situ (directly at the friction zone) or quasi in situ (i.e., at some distance from the friction zone). The in situ measurements obtain the most complete information about the structural evolution directly in the process of friction. However, this type of research may be difficult when metals and alloys are used as the indenters as they strongly scatter the X-rays. The quasi in situ scheme developed by our group has no restrictions regarding the material of the indenter. However, the structural changes are recorded with a delay of 100–300 ms. The results of preliminary experiments using the newly developed apparatus are described herein. The peak broadening and decrease in intensity of the peaks due to refinement and straining of the lattice was observed in steel, titanium alloy, and copper specimens.