Copyright (c) 2009 Berkeley Electronic Press All rights reserved. http://www.bepress.com Recent documents in The Berkeley Electronic Press en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:15:01 PST 3600 http://www.bepress.com/ijnes/vol6/iss1/art37 http://www.bepress.com/ijnes/vol6/iss1/art37 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:47:06 PST Because much of a nurse's work is accomplished through working in groups, nursing students need an understanding of group process as well as opportunities to problem-solve in groups. Despite an emphasis on group activities as critical for classroom learning, there is a lack of evidence in the nursing literature that describes collaborative essay testing as a teaching strategy. In this class, nursing students worked together in small groups to answer examination questions before submitting a common set of answers. In a follow-up survey, students reported that collaborative testing was a positive experience (e.g., promoting critical thinking, confidence in knowledge, and teamwork). Faculty were excited by the lively dialog heard during the testing in what appeared to be an atmosphere of teamwork. Future efforts could include providing nursing students with direct instruction on group process and more opportunities to work and test collaboratively. Peggy A. Gallagher Evaluation Group Work http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss12/art3 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss12/art3 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:26:09 PST Paul Courant agrees with Pamela Samuelson that the Google settlement is less than perfect, but he argues that it is far better than nothing, which he sees as the likely alternative. Paul N. Courant H41 K11 L4 http://www.bepress.com/bejeap/vol9/iss1/art50 http://www.bepress.com/bejeap/vol9/iss1/art50 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:43:37 PST Using a unique sample of Russian immigrants and native Israelis, we examine the return to English knowledge. Panel and cross-section estimates of the return to English are substantial for highly educated immigrants and natives. Hebrew and English language acquisition contribute to immigrant/native earnings convergence, but most convergence is explained by other factors. While immigrants with low levels of education do not benefit from knowing English, native Israelis may. Conditional on occupation, English and Hebrew acquisition are largely orthogonal. Therefore earlier work on the importance of knowledge of the host-country language (Hebrew) is not significantly biased by unmeasured English knowledge. Kevin Lang J31 J24 http://www.bepress.com/wpsr/vol5/iss1/art14 http://www.bepress.com/wpsr/vol5/iss1/art14 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:32:28 PST Through their actions to eliminate extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa, Irish musicians Robert (Bob) Geldof and Bono (Paul David Hewson) today form a visible and celebrated centre in the world of humanitarianism as 'political activists,' 'celebrity diplomats,' 'global Samaritans,' men who, to quote former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, 'rock the establishment' (TIME 13.11.2006). Their contemporary calls to 'make poverty history' in Africa are so widely repeated and commonsensical that questions about the exceptionality of this humanitarian action itself rarely arise. In fact, despite the increasing visibility of celebrity humanitarianism, no research on their representations and truth-claims has been done among political scientists. By broadening the concept of the political to include the 'low' politics of celebrities, specifically their discourses, practices, ideals and world constructions, the aim of this article is to critically examine how Bob Geldof and Bono - the two most visible and celebrated Western spokespersons acting on behalf of Africa - constitute 'Africa' in their representations not only as a place, but also as serving purpose in the world system.The article argues that, while Geldof and Bono do push for economic changes for Africa, the spatio-temporality of their imaginaries and interpretations on Africa elaborate a colonial imaginary by (re)producing Africa as a specifically Western project and calling. By repeating and circulating the vocabulary of humanitarianism as a moral duty in combination with the engagement in power politics, these discourses not only serve a purpose in the maintenance of hegemonic Western activity in Africa, but are also instrumental in constructing consensus for the existing world order, where the global South is, and remains, in a subordinate position to the West. Riina Yrjölä http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss12/art2 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss12/art2 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:17:14 PST Don Fullerton and Daniel Karney of the University of Illinois take a hard look at the allocation of CO2 emissions permits under the Waxman-Markey bill and give it minimally passing marks. Don Fullerton Q52 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss12/art1 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss12/art1 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:04:33 PST Brad Delong mischaracterizes economic options, according to Sven Wilson of Brigham Young University. Sven E. Wilson E32 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/6 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/6 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:40 PST These comments are a reaction to a panel discussion on Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance. They point out that some measures intended to provide quick relief and remediation after catastrophic events may have the long term effect of increasing aggregate exposure to such events. In some cases, these adverse long-term effects can be mitigated. Emilio Venezian http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/5 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/5 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:38 PST Using an actuarial model, we examine the cost of delay in mortgage/credit loan payments. It is assumed that the default arrival process follows the Poisson process and the loss sizes are assumed to be independent and an identical truncated exponential. We also assume that the delay between default occurrence and partially (or fully) recovered payment is an independent identical truncated exponential random variable. For the recovery rate random variable, we simply use its expectation. Using the relationship between the shot noise process and accumulated/discounted aggregate losses process and applying the piecewise deterministic Markov processes theory, we obtain the explicit expressions for the expected value of losses and the expected value of part (or whole) of the loan recovered with the delay. Based on these moments, we define and predict the cost of delay in a mortgage/credit loan portfolio and their numerical examples are provided. Jiwook Jang http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/4 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/4 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:37 PST In the U.S., a majority of the non-elderly population obtains health insurance coverage through an employer. State governments enacted regulations that prohibit the use of a variety of underwriting criteria, ostensibly to make insurance more affordable to those who would have otherwise been denied coverage or charged higher rates. This study tests whether regulations that restrict the use of disability status as an underwriting criterion for small businesses have unintended consequences in the labor market. The findings suggest that in states where disability is prohibited as an underwriting criterion, both disabled and able-bodied workers of small firms earn more than their counterparts not subject to such restrictions, albeit due to different causes. Ping Wang http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/3 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/3 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:35 PST Using a sample of Malaysian non-life insurers over the period 2000-2007, I develop and test a model that explains the expense ratio as a function of output level, line-of-business diversification and other variables. Using various proxies for scale and line-of-business diversification, the empirical results show the existence of an interactive and non-linear relationship with cost. The findings suggest that there is no single minimum efficient scale level for all insurers; rather, it is contingent on the insurer's degree of line-of-business diversification and vice versa. I also find that costs for newly consolidated insurers and motor insurance are relatively higher and fail to find evidence that foreign-owned insurers or foreign joint venture insurers are more cost efficient. Choo Yap Yin http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/2 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/2 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:33 PST This study examines empirically how risk management, financial management, and capital management are related to each other in the property/liability insurance industry, thereby reflecting interactions in managerial decisions such as the choice of derivatives and reinsurance use, the allocation of asset risks, the determination of underwriting activities and liability risks, and the adequacy of capital levels. This research contributes to the literature by adopting structural equation modeling to capture not only the dynamic interactions among capital management, financial management, and risk management, but also the effects of internal integrated factors or external regulatory factors on these managerial decisions. Among the empirical findings of this study, it is shown that risk management, capital management and financial management should be assessed under an integrated framework as emphasized in the concept of enterprise risk management. In addition, regulatory requirements embedded in the insurance industry might play an essential role in the integration of managerial decisions. Patricia Born http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/1 http://www.bepress.com/apjri/vol4/iss1/1 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:47:31 PST We compare two prominent approaches to capital allocation in insurance firms. The financial theory approach includes Merton and Perold (1993) and Myers and Read (2001). The cooperative game theory approach utilizes concepts such as the Shapley value and the Aumann-Shapley value. We argue that, when an entire division is added or when the effect of a decision is discrete, the Shapley value approach provides an improvement over the Merton and Perold approach in that it properly accounts for the order in which divisions are added, and resoles the unallocated capital problem. When the effect of a decision is continuous, we show that the Auman-Shapley value approach not only provides game theoretic support for, but also conceptually extends, the Myers and Read approach. S. Hun Seog G310 G200 C710 http://www.bepress.com/jhubiostat/paper201 http://www.bepress.com/jhubiostat/paper201 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:13:48 PST In medical follow-up studies, ordered bivariate survival data are frequently encountered when bivariate failure events are used as the outcomes to identify the progression of a disease. In cancer studies interest could be focused on bivariate failure times, for example, time from birth to cancer onset and time from cancer onset to death. This paper considers a sampling scheme where the first failure event (cancer onset) is identified within a calendar time interval, the time of the initiating event (birth) can be retrospectively confirmed, and the occurrence of the second event (death) is observed sub ject to right censoring. To analyze this type of bivariate failure time data, it is important to recognize the presence of bias arising due to interval sampling. In this paper, nonparametric and semiparametric methods are developed to analyze the bivariate survival data with interval sampling under stationary and semi-stationary conditions. Numerical studies demonstrate the proposed estimating approaches perform well with practical sample sizes in different simulated models. We apply the proposed methods to SEER ovarian cancer registry data for illustration of the methods and theory. Hong Zhu Survival Analysis http://www.bepress.com/harvardbiostat/paper109 http://www.bepress.com/harvardbiostat/paper109 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:37:13 PST Nirian Martin Categorical Data Analysis Statistical Theory and Methods http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A64 http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A64 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:48:27 PST This paper is concerned with the experimental investigation of stability and emission in a LPG-air premixed coaxial jet burner. By varying the fuel-air ratio in the core flow stream, the flame stability of this coaxial jet flame burner is carried out experimentally, extensively over a wide range of core velocity at 4-16 m/sec. The overall equivalence ratios for all cases are enhanced with the increase in core velocity. An improvement in stability limits are observed with the increase in coflow velocity. However, the NO level for two coflow velocities increases with the increase in core flow velocity which is attributed to the fact that the flame gets stabilized at a higher core equivalence ratio. The flue gas CO2 level is enhanced with the increase in core velocity for three different coflow velocities. The increase in CO2 is mainly due to the combustion of fuel and the subsequent conversion of CO to CO2 in the higher combustion gas temperature. In order to reduce the emission level, the coflow stream is premixed by injecting fuel into the coflow stream with an equivalence ratio even below flammability limits. The stability limit is found to be improved marginally, when the premixed mixture is used in the coflow stream. Interestingly, by using premixed fuel-air mixture in the coflow stream, there is a decrease in NO emission levels. Of course, the use of fuel-air mixtures in the coflow stream enhances the CO2 level. D. P. Mishra combustion http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A63 http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A63 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:48:23 PST The activity of a V-MCM-41 catalyst with a V/Si molar ratio of 0.04 was compared with the activity of a pure MCM-41 catalyst and some DRIFTS studies were performed in order to understand the mechanism of selective oxidation of ethanol. V-MCM-41 was found to be much more active than pure MCM-41, favouring the formation of high amounts of ethylene over 300°C. MCM-41, on the other hand, was found to favour the formation of acetaldehyde over ethylene at all studied temperatures. It was shown by reaction findings that over V-MCM-41, ethylene was produced mainly in the presence of gas phase oxygen whereas acetaldehyde was produced using the lattice oxygen even in the absence of gas phase oxygen. DRIFTS studies indicated the formation of acetaldehyde molecules from acetate-like surface species which were formed by the removal of a hydrogen atom from the α-carbon of chemisorbed ethoxy species by the help of the lattice oxygen. On the other hand, removal of a hydrogen atom from the β-carbon of the ethoxy species, in the presence of gas phase oxygen, resulted in the formation of vinyl-like surface species which then yielded ethylene molecules. Yesim Gucbilmez Reaction Kinetics Catalytic Applications http://www.bepress.com/rle/vol5/iss1/art29 http://www.bepress.com/rle/vol5/iss1/art29 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:43:53 PST This paper examines the decision faced by a plaintiff who has successfully established liability, but the judge has reduced the jury's award under a procedure known as a remittitur. The plaintiff has the choice of accepting the remittitur or having a new trial. An analysis of the rules surrounding remittiturs in US federal court shows that there is almost no advantage to choosing a new trial rather than to accept the remittitur, no matter how small the resulting award may be. Joseph B. Kadane http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss11/art8 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss11/art8 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:16:43 PST Robert Litan points out that much has been done already to prevent future financial crises, and tells us what remains. Robert E. Litan G21 G22 G28 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss10/art6 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss10/art6 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:16:38 PST Paul Krugman has made the case that economics, at least in Chicago, is grossly off track, but Casey Mulligan does not see this in his area of research. Casey B. Mulligan E13 J21 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss10/art5 http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol6/iss10/art5 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:16:36 PST A new academic consensus is emerging that innovation is the key to consumer welfare, and rules governing Internet policy need to be updated to reflect this reality, according to Robert Hahn. Robert Hahn O31 O38 http://www.bepress.com/mdandersonbiostat/paper54 http://www.bepress.com/mdandersonbiostat/paper54 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:51:36 PST This note surveys results for computing the inequality probability P(X > Y )in closed form where X and Y are independent continuous random variables. Distribution families discussed include normal, Cauchy, gamma, inverse gamma, Levy, folded normal, and beta. Mixture distributions are also discussed. John D. Cook Statistical Theory and Methods http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A62 http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol7/A62 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:51:07 PST In this work, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was applied to obtain novel hydroxyapatite (HAP)/lignin (Lig) biocomposite coatings on titanium substrate. Nanosized hydroxyapatite powder, prepared by using the modified chemical precipitation method, was used for the fabrication of HAP/Lig composite coatings. EPD was performed at different values of constant voltage and constant deposition time. It was confirmed that control over deposited mass can be achieved by applied voltage and time. The uniform and compact coatings were successfully deposited at applied voltage of 60 V in various deposition times lower than 1 minute. The effect of lignin as natural non-toxic polymer on microstructure, morphology and thermal behavior of biocomposite HAP/Lig coatings was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrophoretically deposited HAP/Lig coating has been successfully sintered at lower sintering temperature of 900°C, producing non-fractured coating and indicating that lignin may exhibit adhesive role, strengthening the bonding between HAP particles and substrate surface. Sanja Erakovic Biocomposite materials http://www.bepress.com/rle/vol5/iss1/art28 http://www.bepress.com/rle/vol5/iss1/art28 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:46:01 PST Journalists sued for defamation may refuse to reveal their anonymous sources. To escape liability under the traditional English rule, they then need to show proof that the news is correct. By contrast, many US states have switched the burden of proof such that plaintiffs must first present evidence that the news is false. Focusing on the incentives of sources to leak, we find that the American rule reduces the frequency of type I errors (true stories are not learned by the society) at the expense of a higher frequency of type II errors (the society believes wrong stories). The American rule is superior when courts are likely to find the truth without knowing the identity of sources, and when firms can severely punish even honest sources. Furthermore, when courts rule that sources must be revealed, they should ensure a higher compliance rate of journalists under the American rule. Ido Baum K10 K41 http://www.bepress.com/ijeeps/vol10/iss5/art3 http://www.bepress.com/ijeeps/vol10/iss5/art3 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:32:41 PST Ever growing demand for the electric power requires timely expansion of generations and networks. It is observed that these expansions may not often be done optimally and the load concentration locations and generation expansion locations may not always match up. To address this problem of meeting the growing loads optimally, a concept of relative electrical distance (RED) is applied to identify the optimum generation reschedule values and also system expansion locations. The approach of RED computes the relative electrical distances between the generation and load buses using the transmission network parameters. Using this approach, the amount of generation increase or evacuation required can be identified. This paper presents the approach using a sample 16-bus system and a practical 72-bus system, an equivalent of Indian southern grid. Studies are carried out considering short term and long term load growths and the results obtained are validated using power flows. The different scenarios studied are assessed based on their minimum voltage, MW loss values, Minimum Singular Value etc. Few aspects like cost estimation for network expansion, loss shared by different generations etc, are also computed, and it is finally concluded that the best tradeoff between the two expansions is to be honored. Thukaram Dhadbanjan Power system planning Deregulated power systems Static Voltage stability http://www.bepress.com/ijeeps/vol10/iss5/art2 http://www.bepress.com/ijeeps/vol10/iss5/art2 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:40:56 PST This paper presents an approach to model current transformers (CTs) by visual inspection of hysterisis loops. Three parameters on CT hysterisis loops reveal enough information about the core-loss and non-linear magnetizing inductance that power measurements and flux-current data-pairs can be avoided. To validate the proposed model, an experimental CT is saturated with energizations and compared to simulation results. Overlays of the experimental energizations, the proposed modeling approach, and the traditional piecewise-linear approach are compared. Fabian M. Uriarte power systems distribution systems modeling simulation