Some recent developments in modeling quantile treatment effects

This paper provides a selective review of the recent developments on econometric/statistical modeling in quantile treatment effects under both selection on observables and on unobservables.First,we discuss identification,estimation and inference of quantile treatment effects under the framework of selection on observables.Then,we consider the case where the treatment variable is endogenous or self-selected,for which an instrumental variable method provides a powerful tool to tackle this problem.Finally,some extensions are discussed to the data-rich environments,to the regression discontinuity design,and some other approaches to identify quantile treatment effects are also discussed.In particular,some future research works in this area are addressed.

Investigating Averaging Effect by Using Three Dimension Spectrum

The eddy current displacement sensor＇s averaging effect has been investigated in this paper, and the frequency spectrum property of the averaging effect was also deduced. It indicates that the averaging effect has no influences on measuring a rotor＇s rotating error, but it has visible influences on measuring the rotor＇s profile error. According to the frequency spectrum of the averaging effect, the actual sampling data can be adjusted reasonably, thus measuring precision is improved.

Predicting portal venous anomalies by left-sided gallbladder or rightsided ligamentum teres hepatis: A large scale, propensity scorematched study

BACKGROUND Right-sided ligamentum teres(RSLT)is often associated with portal venous anomalies(PVA)and is regarded as a concerning feature for hepatobiliary intervention.Most studies consider RSLT to be one of the causes of left-sided gallbladder(LGB),leading to the hypothesis that LGB must always be present with RSLT.However,some cases have shown that right-sided gallbladder(RGB)can also be present in livers with RSLT.AIM To highlight the rare variation that RSLT may not come with LGB and to determine whether ligamentum teres(LT)or gallbladder location is reliable to predict PVA.METHODS This study retrospectively assessed 8552 contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography examinations from 2018 to 2021[4483 men,4069 women;mean age,59.5±16.2(SD)years].We defined the surrogate outcome as major PVAs.The cases were divided into 4 subgroups according to gallbladder and LT locations.On one hand,we analyzed PVA prevalence by LT locations using gallbladder location as a controlled variable(n=36).On the other hand,we controlled LT location and computed PVA prevalence by gallbladder locations(n=34).Finally,we investigated LT location as an independent factor of PVA by using propensity score matching(PSM)and inverse probability of treatment weighting(IPTW).RESULTS We found 9 cases of RSLT present with RGB.Among the LGB cases,RSLT is associated with significantly higher PVA prevalence than typical LT[80.0%vs 18.2%,P=0.001;OR=18,95%confidence interval(CI):2.92-110.96].When RSLT is present,we found no statistically significant difference in PVA prevalence for RGB and LGB cases(88.9%vs 80.0%,P>0.99).Both PSM and IPTW yielded balanced cohorts in demographics and gallbladder locations.The RSLT group had a significantly higher PVA prevalence after adjusted by PSM(77.3%vs 4.5%,P<0.001;OR=16.27,95%CI:2.25-117.53)and IPTW(82.5%vs 4.7%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION RSLT doesn't consistently coexist with LGB.RSLT can predict PVA independently while the gallbladder location does not serve as a sufficient predictor.

Impact of taxes on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:Evidence from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD)countries

Multiple ecological and socioeconomic problems have occurred worldwide,raising the awareness of sustainability.This study aims to examine the impact of taxes on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)in the context of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)countries.This research used effective average tax(EAT),tax on personal income(TPI),tax on corporate profits(TCP),and tax on goods and services(TGS)as the variables of taxes,and employed secondary data from 38 OECD countries covering 2000–2021.The study also used Breusch-Pagan Lagrange Multiplier(LM),Pesaran Scaled LM,Bias-Corrected Scaled LM,and Pesaran Cross-sectional dependence(CSD)tests to analyze the existence of crosssectional dependency.Then,we established the stationarity of variables through second-generation panel unit root tests(Cross-sectional Augmented Dickey-Fuller(CADF)and Cross-sectional Im,Pesaran,and Shin(CIPS)),and confirmed the long-run cointegration of the variables by using secondgeneration panel cointegration test(Westerlund cointegration test).The results showed that EAT,TPI,TCP,and TGS are positively associated with SDGs.However,the change in TPI has a smaller effect on SDGs than the change in EAT or TCP or TGS.The result of panel causality indicated that EAT,TPI,and TGS have a unidirectional causal relationship with SDGs.The study also found that TCP has a bi-directional causal relationship with SDGs.Moreover,the finding indicated that the OECD countries need to focus on tax policies to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.This study is based on the theory of optimal taxation(TOT),which suggests that tax systems should be designed to maximize social welfare.Finally,we suggests the importance of taking a comprehensive approach for the managers and policy-makers when analyzing the impact of taxes on SDGs.

BOUNDS ON AVERAGE CONTROLLED DIRECT EFFECTS WITH AN UNOBSERVED RESPONSE VARIABLE

This paper considers the problem of estimating the bounds on the average controlled direct effects （ACDEs） of a treatment variable on an unobserved response variable in the presence of unobserved confounders between an intermediate variable and the response variable. When the response variable is observed, Cai, et al.（2008） derived the formulas for the sharp bounds on the ACDEs. When the response variable is unobserved, the authors propose a graphical criterion for selecting variables affected by the response variable to derive the formulas for the bounds on the ACDEs, which is an extension of the result of Kuroki（2005） to ACDEs. The results enable us not only to judge from the graph structure whether the bounds on the ACDEs can be expressed through observed variables when the response variable is unobserved, but also to provide their formulas when the answer is affirmative.

Quasi-likelihood estimation of average treatment effects based on model information

In this paper, the estimation of average treatment effects is considered when we have the model information of the conditional mean and conditional variance for the responses given the covariates. The quasi-likelihood method adapted to treatment effects data is developed to estimate the parameters in the conditional mean and conditional variance models. Based on the model information, we define three estimators by imputation, regression and inverse probability weighted methods. All the estimators are shown asymptotically normal. Our simulation results show that by using the model information, the substantial efficiency gains are obtained which are comparable with the existing estimators.

The Curing Process and Elastic Modulus of HTPB-Containing Polyurethanes

By means of the functionality distribution deduced and weight averaged functionality a and molecular size vb2, the sol-gel distribution equations of HTPB(Hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene) + TDI (Toluene-2, 4-diisocyanate) expressed by the model of Aai-B2 type polycondensation were solved and the elastic modulus were calculated. The experimental results of HTPB+TDI curing process indicate that a, vb2 and functionality distribution function are available basically.

Numerical prediction of effective wake field for a submarine based on a hybrid approach and an RBF interpolation

A hybrid approach coupled with a surface panel method for the propeller and a Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes（RANS） model for the hull with the propeller body forces are presented for predicting the self-propulsion performance and the effective wake field of underwater vehicles. To achieve a high accuracy and simplicity, a radial basis function（RBF） based approach is proposed for mapping the force field from the blade surface panels to the RANS model. The effective wake field is evaluated in two ways, i.e., by extrapolation from the flat planes upstream of the propeller disk, and by direct computation in a curved surface upstream of and parallel to the blade leading edges. The hull-propeller system of a real propeller geometry is further simulated with the sliding mesh model to numerically verify the hybrid approach. Numerical simulations are conducted for the fully appended SUBOFF submarine model. The high accuracy of the RBF-based interpolation scheme is confirmed, and the effective wake fraction predicted by the hybrid approach is found consistent with that obtained by the sliding mesh model. The effective wake fractions predicted by the two methods are, respectively, 4.6% and 3% larger than the nominal one.

Comparison of Covariate Balance Weighting Methods in Estimating Treatment Effects

Different covariate balance weighting methods have been proposed by researchers from different perspectives to estimate the treatment effects.This paper gives a brief review of the covariate balancing propensity score method by Imai and Ratkovic(2014),the stable balance weighting procedure by Zubizarreta(2015),the calibration balance weighting approach by Chan,et al.(2016),and the integrated propensity score technique by Sant’Anna,et al.(2020).Simulations are conducted to illustrate the finite sample performance of both the average treatment effect and quantile treatment effect estimators based on different weighting methods.Simulation results show that in general,the covariate balance weighting methods can outperform the conventional maximum likelihood estimation method while the performance of the four covariate balance weighting methods varies with the data generating processes.Finally,the four covariate balance weighting methods are applied to estimate the treatment effects of the college graduate on personal annual income.