bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnesium Modeling Using SolidWorks
Authors: McCullough Matthew B. A. 
Published: February 2016

Increased cost and complexity associated with orthopaedic surgeries has led to advancements in degradable materials.Ã‚Â Degradable metals like magnesium have shown great promise as magnesium based alloys provide the strength of metals but the degradability of polymers.Ã‚Â As the development of degradable magnesium alloys expands there is a significant need for simplified computational models that can account for the numerous mechanical changes associated with degradation.Ã‚Â The current study examined initial in silico models of Magnesium samples to gain insight on how degradation impacts mechanical performance over time.Ã‚Â Models of magnesium rods were created and analyzed using the finite element analysis functionality in a commercially available software package. Ã‚Â SolidWorks is widely known for its design capabilities and generation of 3D solid models; however its analyses capabilities would be useful for such a smart material, like magnesium.Ã‚Â Ã‚Â Therefore, this work explores the analysis capabilities of SolidWorks, for degradable magnesium in a skeletal environment.
Métodos de superação de dormência de sementes de Schinopsis brasiliensis
Authors: Coelho M. F. B. , Azevedo R. A. B. , Souza J. W. N. , Barros L. P. , Souza A. S. 
Published: February 2016

<p><em>Schinopsis brasiliensis </em>é uma das espécies ameaçadas de extinção na Caatinga do nordeste brasileiro. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar diferentes tratamentos pré-germinativos afim de superar a dormência em sementes de <em>Schinopsis brasiliensis</em>. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado no esquema fatorial 5x2 com cinco repetições de 50 sementes. Os tratamentos consistiram em: a) escarificação com lixa metálica junto da micrópila; b) escarificação com lixa metálica do lado oposto da micrópila; c) escarificação com lixa metálica de um lado da semente; d) escarificação com lixa metálica dos dois lados da semente e e) sem escarificação. Estes cinco níveis foram combinados com as sementes com ou sem lavagem em água. A porcentagem de emergência variou de 11,25 a 36,25%. A escarificação junto à micrópila combinada com a lavagem em agua proporcionou maior comprimento da parte aérea. A retirada do epicarpo e mesocarpo de <em>Schinopsis brasiliensis</em> seguida da lavagem em agua corrente por 12 horas e escarificação com lixa junto a micrópila proporcionam maior porcentagem de emergência.</p><p align="center"><strong><em>Methods to overcome seed dormancy in Schinopsis brasiliensis</em></strong></p><p><strong>Abstract</strong><strong>: </strong><em>Schinopsis brasiliensis</em> is a species threatened with extinction in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. The objective of this study was to apply different pre-treatments to improve germination of <em>Schinopsis brasiliensis</em>. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 5x2 with five repetitions of 50 seeds. It was used five forms of scarification: a) scarification with metal sandpaper along the micropyle; b) scarification with sandpaper metal opposite the micropyle; c) scarification with metal sanding a seed side; d) scraping with a metallic grip both sides of the seed and e) without scarification. These five levels were combined with a) without washing seeds in water and b) seeds washed in running water for ten minutes. The emergency percentage ranged from 11.25 to 36.25%. Scarification with the micropyle combined with the washing in water provided greater length of the shoot. The elimination of the epicarp and mesocarp <em>Schinopsis brasiliensis </em>followed by washing in running water for 12 hours and scarification with sandpaper along the micropyle provide greater percentage of emergency.</p>
Re-Evaluating The Underlying Premises Of Free Market Privatization In Current Dispensation
Authors: Richards Darlington C. , Nwanna Gladson I. 
Published: February 2016

The contextual framework or policy orthodoxy persuading the implementation of privatization was the prevalent thinking that economic systems functioned best in a “free market”, with little or no government intervention. In the same vein was the belief that a more productive allocation and rationalization of factors of production will dictate a wholesale transfer from public to private sector of the ownership and control of productive assets, their allocation and pricing, including the residual profits flowing from them. The most effective vehicle for such implementation of free market privatization was adjudged to be unfettered deregulation. To the extent that it enabled the untangling of bureaucratic impediments to the inflow and retention of capital to the countries by way of foreign direct investment (FDI) and portfolio investment (PI), including the repatriation of resultant profits, it was a welcome outcome. Unfettered deregulation, as clearly manifested in recent years, particularly in well-known developed economies, appears to have produced an outcome substantially inconsistent with the traditional suppositions, begging the obvious question in the minds of academicians and policymakers alike. Where to, from here? The answer to the apparent conflict and/or contradiction is more urgent in the developing and emerging economies where privatization, and in a broader sense, the ideas and practices based on free market principles and on free market prescriptions have been promoted and sold as sacrosanct, if not necessary for their economic growth and survival. Given the current state of the global financial market which, at best, can be said to be in a state of flux, and the myriads of supposedly economic development initiatives invoking the likes of privatization and deregulation, we are tempted to ask the following questions: Are there any fixes? Could there be better, more accommodating alternative assumption(s), doctrine(s) or paradigm(s)?
Financial Development And Growth In Middle Eastern Countries
Authors: Barakat Mounther , Waller Edward 
Published: February 2016

This paper studies the relationship between financial intermediation and economic growth in a sample of Middle Eastern countries. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that a well-functioning banking system promotes economic growth. Moreover, the results suggest that market-specific factors may hinder financial markets’ ability to play hypothesized roles, while enhancing the role of intermediaries. The paper’s general conclusion is that financial development does affect economic growth. However, market specific factors affect the magnitude and significance of this effect. The implication is that studies should control for market-specific factors to assess the relationship between financial development and growth.
Organizational Climate And Its Influence On Organizational Commitment
Authors: Noordin Fauziah , Omar Safiah , Sehan Syakirarohan , Idrus Shukriah 
Published: February 2016

The findings of the study indicate that the employees perceived the organizational climate of their organization to be at a moderate level. The mean values for the components of the organizational climate ranged from the lowest of 3.38 to the highest of 3.77 of the 5-point Likert scale. Continuance commitment appears to be the lowest of the three components of the organizational commitment construct with a mean of 3.22. In terms of the correlations between the variables, the results indicate that continuance commitment has no correlations with organizational design, teamwork, and decision-making. All other variables show significant positive correlations. Overall, the findings of the present study indicate that there is a need to improve the current situation at ABC Company with respect to all the components of the organizational climate and organizational commitment.
Accounts Receivable Factoring As A Response To Weak Governance: Panel Data Evidence
Authors: Borgia Daniel J. , Swaleheen Mushfiq , Jones Travis L. , Weeks H. Shelton Weeks 
Published: February 2016

Accounts receivable factoring is a financing arrangement that occurs when a business sells its accounts receivables. Factoring has emerged as the most important source of working capital for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in many economies because weak laws, poor enforcement, and the associated informational opacity put the SMEs at a disadvantage when borrowing. This paper presents an empirical analysis of cross-country differences in factoring activity to determine whether the quality of governance is a significant determinant of the level of factoring activity. Our analysis is based on a reduced form model that relates a country’s factoring activity (turnover) to the quality of governance, while controlling for other determinants of factoring discussed in the literature. We use data for a panel of 59 countries, over the period 1995 – 2005. Our findings support the hypothesis that factoring is more prevalent in economies with weak governance. Additionally, we present evidence that factor turnover is decreasing in the incidence of corruption.
The Theoretical Impact Of The Listing Of Syariah-Approved Stocks On Stock Price And Trading Volume
Authors: McGowan, Jr. Carl B. , Muhammad Junaina 
Published: February 2016

The stock price and trading volume reactions of companies to single events, such as public announcements on mergers, dividend payments, or security issue announcements have been studied extensively. The impact of news about a continuing event such as the news on the inclusion in and exclusion of stocks from the KLSE Syariah Index that occurs twice yearly affects security prices and trading volume. This paper examines reasons that price and trading volume of Syariah-approved stocks might react to the inclusion-exclusion exercise. The selection criteria set by the Syariah Advisory Council of Securities Commission of Malaysia in updating the list of the Syariah-approved stocks is not based on the financial soundness alone. Views from Syariah perspective and from financial theories are discussed to support the behavior of the included and excluded stocks from the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Index.
EBay: Towards A Perfectly Competitive Market
Authors: Chang Joshua 
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this paper is to explain how factors in eBay create an increasingly efficient marketplace that drives it towards the conditions of a perfectly competitive market. Search and evaluation features that increase the efficiency of consumer decision making are examined and discussed in the context of information economics and market efficiency. The increased problem solving capability of consumers enabled by features in eBay show that it is moving towards a perfectly competitive marketplace. The continuous advancement of technology will further improve such market efficiencies and drive toward a perfect Internet marketplace. EBay’s ‘near perfect’ market conditions creates challenging conditions such as lowly dispersed and market driven prices, wide consumer choice, and consequently diminished advertising efforts. This implies challenges mainly in the areas of differentiation and positioning strategies by businesses to mitigate the effects of eBay’s continuing shift towards perfectly competitive market conditions. It is important for businesses that are used to operating in the conditions of monopolistic competition associated with traditional market efficiencies to strategize for the upcoming challenges of near perfect market conditions facilitated by efficient market platforms such as eBay.
Impact Of Retirement Benefit Act (RBA) On Investment Returns To Pension Funds In Kenya
Authors: Rono Lucy Jepchoge , Bitok Julius Kibet , Asamoah Gordon N 
Published: February 2016

This study focused on the analysis of the impact of RBA guidelines on the return on investments of both pension funds under management and those for pension schemes. A random sample of 175 fund trustees and a census of 13 fund managers from registered fund management companies participated in the survey. The questionnaire was administered through the drop-and-pick method. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and summarized in descriptive statistics, such as mean, standard deviation, frequencies, percentages, and t-tests for mean differences were used. The study determined that annual investment return for retirement benefits schemes in the past three years ranged between 10 and 27.52%, sometimes falling below the annual inflation. The Kenya pension funds are in compliance with the prescribed broad guidelines with regard to maximum percentages of total asset value of fund by the RBA Act. They are, however, moderately in compliance with the regulations requiring that that they maintain an actuarial solvency of 80% and above. The overall weighted returns before the implementation of RBA Guidelines was low (average scale of 1.9) while the weighted returns after the implementation of RBA Guidelines was high, at an average scale of 3.7. An analysis of the trend, however, showed that long-run performance has slowed down. The highest growth was realized for mortgage and cash returns as opposed to rights issues and bonus shares. There is need to fashion out the appropriate mix of reforms suitable for Kenya that will ensure the long-run sustainability of its pension systems. The challenge is for the country to adopt a unified, harmonized, and transparent regulatory framework that will integrate the pension system in order to ensure sustainability in its financing and mobilizing of adequate funds to cater for the ever-increasing population of beneficiaries in this regard, comprehensive pension reform policy with wider target radar and one that will consolidate and harmonize the various legislations touching on retirement benefits industry in line with Retirement Benefits Act. The Regulator needs to implement measures to ensure pension funds are insulated from inflationary and other risks. An effective way is to institute a pension risk insurance fund that will underwrite and compensate such losses as will be prescribed. Further, there is need for a systematic indexation of benefits to inflation. RBA should strengthen its compliance and enforcement function in order to ensure that it appropriately deals with emerging present and future regulatory challenges.
Comprehensive Income Options: A Detriment To Transparency
Authors: Fitzpatrick Brian D. , Raju Sudhakar S. , Tocco Anthony L. 
Published: February 2016

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in 1997 compromised its belief that comprehensive income (CI) should be listed either in a combined statement of net income and CI or in a separate statement of CI and allowed corporations to choose using the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity (SCSE). Of course, the latter option implies just as Jordan and Clark (2002) suggest, that CI is not a measure of financial performance. Studies incorporating professional analysts by Hirst and Hopkins (1998) and a study of nonprofessional investors by Maines and McDaniel (2000) both conclude that format presentation matters and behaviors can be affected. We believe that FASB should revisit the format structure of CI and eliminate the SCSE option, which was their initial intent before they compromised with corporate managers in 1997. In addition, we believe that all items of other comprehensive income (OCI) – foreign currency translation adjustment, pension value adjustments and adjustment to securities-for-sale should be presented on an after-tax basis only in order to prevent investors from being forced to comb through the footnotes.
Development of a Trilinear-Flow Model for Carbon Sequestration in Depleted Shale
Authors: Chen Zhiming , Liao Xinwei , Zhao Xiaoliang , Dou Xiangji , Zhu Langtao 
Published: February 2016

Summary
Many researchers are currently seeking conventional geological sequestrations for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, including saline aquifers, depleted conventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, and unminable coal seams. Only a few researchers have looked into depleted-shale formations for possible CO2 sequestration because of safety and economic reasons. To improve this situation, many measures should be taken. First and foremost, it is of great significance to find a method to estimate the CO2-storage capacity in depleted shale.
In this paper, a new analytical method to estimate CO2-storage capacity in shale was developed. First, a trilinear-flow model proposed for the depleted-shale reservoir had a horizontal injection well—namely, a multiple-fractured horizontal well (MFHW)—at a constant injection rate. The model incorporated multiple mechanisms such as Knudson diffusion, gas adsorption, and effect of stress sensitivity. Then, the transient-pressure solution of the injection well was solved by applying mathematical methods of the Pedrosa (1986) substitution and Laplace transform. Subsequently, CO2-storage capacity was evaluated according to the transient-pressure performance of the injection well. After that, model verification and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Finally, we applied the proposed method in a case derived from the New Albany Shale, which had been proved to be a promising candidate for CO2 storage.
The results show that good agreements exist between our analytical results and these numerical solutions. The average difference is approximately 3.03%, which shows our methodology is reasonable. Further, it only takes approximately 10 seconds of central-processing-unit (CPU) time with 100 timesteps by use of the proposed approach to estimate the CO2-storage capacity of the study area in the New Albany Shale, which indicates the new approach is rapid. In addition, results of sensitive analysis show that as stress-sensitivity coefficient, adsorption index, and Knudsen diffusion coefficient increase, CO2-storage capacity increases. As storage ratio increases, CO2-storage capacity decreases.
This work provides a new approach to the estimation of CO2-storage capacity, which is beneficial to exploit the residual depleted-shale reservoirs as well as decrease CO2 emissions.
A MULTI-WAVELENGTH STUDY OF STAR FORMATION ACTIVITY IN THE S235 COMPLEX
Authors: Dewangan L. K. , Ojha D. K. , Luna A. , Anandarao B. G. , Ninan J. P. , Mallick K. K. , Mayya Y. D. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT
We have carried out an extensive multi-wavelength study to investigate the star formation process in the S235 complex. The S235 complex has a spherelike shell appearance at wavelengths longer than 2 μm and harbors an O9.5V type star approximately at its center. A near-infrared extinction map of the complex traces eight subregions (having A

V
> 8 mag), and five of them appear to be distributed in an almost regularly spaced manner along the spherelike shell surrounding the ionized emission. This picture is also supported by the integrated 12CO and 13CO intensity maps and by Bolocam 1.1 mm continuum emission. The position–velocity analysis of CO reveals an almost semi-ringlike structure, suggesting an expanding H ii region. We find that the Bolocam clump masses increase as we move away from the location of the ionizing star. This correlation is seen only for those clumps that are distributed near the edges of the shell. Photometric analysis reveals 435 young stellar objects (YSOs), 59% of which are found in clusters. Six subregions (including five located near the edges of the shell) are very well correlated with the dust clumps, CO gas, and YSOs. The average values of Mach numbers derived using NH3 data for three (East 1, East 2, and Central E) out of these six subregions are 2.9, 2.3, and 2.9, indicating these subregions are supersonic. The molecular outflows are detected in these three subregions, further confirming the ongoing star formation activity. Together, all these results are interpreted as observational evidence of positive feedback of a massive star.
ON THE GRAIN-MODIFIED MAGNETIC DIFFUSIVITIES IN PROTOPLANETARY DISKS
Authors: Xu Rui , Bai Xue-Ning 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT
Weakly ionized protoplanetary disks (PPDs) are subject to nonideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects, including ohmic resistivity, the Hall effect, and ambipolar diffusion (AD), and the resulting magnetic diffusivities (

, and

) largely control the disk gas dynamics. The presence of grains not only strongly reduces the disk ionization fraction, but also modifies the scalings of

and

with magnetic field strength. We analytically derive asymptotic expressions of

and

in both the strong and weak field limits and show that toward a strong field,

can change sign (at a threshold field strength

), mimicking a flip of field polarity, and AD is substantially reduced. Applied to PPDs, we find that when small ∼0.1 (0.01)μm grains are sufficiently abundant (mass ratio ∼0.01 (10−4)),

can change sign up to ∼2–3 scale heights above the midplane at a modest field strength (plasma

) over a wide range of disk radii. The reduction of AD is also substantial toward the AD-dominated outer disk and may activate the magnetorotational instability. We further perform local nonideal MHD simulations of the inner disk (within 10 au) and show that, with sufficiently abundant small grains, the magnetic field amplification due to the Hall-shear instability saturates at a very low level near the threshold field strength

. Together with previous studies, we conclude by discussing the grain-abundance-dependent phenomenology of PPD gas dynamics.
AN EMPIRICAL METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF RXTE HEXTE SPECTRA
Authors: García Javier A. , Grinberg Victoria , Steiner James F. , McClintock Jeffrey E. , Pottschmidt Katja , Rothschild Richard E. 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT
We have developed a correction tool to improve the quality of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE) spectra by employing the same method we used earlier to improve the quality of RXTE Proportional Counter Array (PCA) spectra. We fit all of the hundreds of HEXTE spectra of the Crab individually to a simple power-law model, some 37 million counts in total for Cluster A and 39 million counts for Cluster B, and we create for each cluster a combined spectrum of residuals. We find that the residual spectrum of Cluster A is free of instrumental artifacts while that of Cluster B contains significant features with amplitudes ∼1%; the most prominent is in the energy range 30–50 keV, which coincides with the iodine K edge. Starting with the residual spectrum for Cluster B, via an iterative procedure we created the calibration tool hexBcorr for correcting any Cluster B spectrum of interest. We demonstrate the efficacy of the tool by applying it to Cluster B spectra of two bright black holes, which contain several million counts apiece. For these spectra, application of the tool significantly improves the goodness of fit, while affecting only slightly the broadband fit parameters. The tool may be important for the study of spectral features, such as cyclotron lines, a topic that is beyond the scope of this paper.