The Balance Point - Authentication Issues and Updates

Abstract

A recent segment of the Sharpest Tool in the Shed column in this journal provided an overview of the current options for the authentication of access to electronic resources. This edition of Balance Point follows up on that column, providing updates on both the RA21 initiative and OpenAthens, while also delving more deeply into some of the issues surrounding their adoption and implementation.     

The Balance Point: Keeping Serial Bibliographic Records Viable in a Digital Age

Abstract

Michael Norman, head of serials cataloging at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) library, describes his library's development of an integrated management system for serials, the Online Research Resources (ORR). The ORR was designed to draw together and deliver to the public a wide range of information related to the library's serial holdings that previously could only be obtained by consulting a number of sources. With a single search, UIUC patrons can now consult the ORR for serials information such as variant titles, online availability, subject categories, print summary statements, ISI impact factor, where the title is indexed, and whether it is peer reviewed—an innovation sorely needed and highly welcomed by librarians and patrons alike.     

The Balance Point: Keeping Serial Bibliographic Records Viable in a Digital Age

Michael Norman, head of serials cataloging at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) library, describes his library's development of an integrated management system for serials, the Online Research Resources (ORR). The ORR was designed to draw together and deliver to the public a wide range of information related to the library's serial holdings that previously could only be obtained by consulting a number of sources. With a single search, UIUC patrons can now consult the ORR for serials information such as variant titles, online availability, subject categories, print summary statements, ISI impact factor, where the title is indexed, and whether it is peer reviewed—an innovation sorely needed and highly welcomed by librarians and patrons alike.     

The Balance Point: The Blacksmiths of the Digital Age or the Economics of Serials

This column discusses the effects of real or perceived funding reductions on serials resources. The focus is on bibliographic instruction and cataloging aspects of “fee” versus “free” resources.     

Retrospective Change Point Detection: From Parametric to Distribution Free Policies

The literature displays change point detection problems in the context of one of the key issues that belong to testing statistical hypotheses. The main focus in this article is to review recent retrospective change point policies and propose new relevant procedures. Commonly, applied quality control purposes have declared statements of the change point problems. Various biostatistical and engineering applications cause consideration of an extended form of the change point problem. In this article, we consider parametric and distribution free generalized change point detection policies, attending to different contexts of optimality and robustness of the procedures. We conducted a broad Monte Carlo study to compare various parametric and nonparametric tests, also investigating a sensitivity of the change point detection policies with respect to assumptions required for correct executions of the procedures. An example based on real biomarker measurements is provided to judge our conclusions.     

Open Access Mandates and Policies: The Basics

Abstract

Universities can afford to subscribe to only a small percentage of available scholarly journals. Consequently, researchers do not have access to all articles in journals pertinent to their fields of study. The Open Access (OA) movement began in response to wanting to find a solution to this “serials crisis” and the availability of the Internet to disseminate scholarly research in new and innovative ways to a larger, worldwide audience. OA mandates are policies adopted by research institutions, universities, or funders that require researchers to provide free, unrestricted access to their published research by publishing in OA journals, depositing their articles in an OA repository or both. This edition of “In Lay Terms” provides basic information about OA mandates and policies, gives an overview of university and funder OA mandates, discusses geographic differences in policies and compliance rates, and reviews United States federal funding agencies’ OA policies and Plan S.     

Indexing the Federal Tax System: A Cost-of-Living Approach

In this article, we analyze the indexation of federal taxes, using an approach based on cost-of-living measurement. We use our Tax and Price Index methodology and data base to study an indexed system historically, comparing indexation with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to actual tax policy, a tax system with constant parameters, and an “exact” indexing scheme. We reach three main conclusions: (a) The sequence of tax reductions implemented between 1967 and 1985 have fallen short of mimicking indexation, (b) wealthier households would have benefited relatively more than lower-income households from indexation, and (c) CPI indexation would not have completely eliminated bracket creep.     

地区差异指数的基本要求及编制方法

 地区价格指数又称空间价格指数（Spatial price index),相对于时间价格指数（Temporal price index)来说，它是指一个国家各个地区之间价格的比较，反映各个地区价格水平的差异。地区差价指数有双边和多边之分，计算两个地区之间的差价指数，为双边差价指数；计算两个以上地区之间的差价指数即为多边差价指数。地区差价指数与时间价格指数一样，是重要的宏观经济指标，是国家制定地区经济发展政策、确定地区工资类别的重要决策依据，也可以借此衡量和比较地区之间经济发展水平和居民实际消费水平。目前我国正着手编制不同地区的空间价格指数，以充实我国的物价指数体系。本文试图将国际比较中常用的购买力平价指数编制方法，引用到地区差价指数中，分析地区差价指数的基本要求、编制方法，并评论其优劣。     

国民资产负债核算民会计资产负债核算的比较与转换

国民资产负债核算是国民经济核算体系的重要组成部分在整个核算体系中属于经济存量核算的范畴。通过国民资产负债核算 ,可以正确反映一个国家或地区的资产负债总规模及结构状况、经济实力和发展水平。目前 ,国民资产负债核算的数据资料很大部分取自非金融企业部门、政府部门、金融机构部门的会计资产负债报表 ,这些机构部门的会计核算资料已成为国民资产负债核算的重要基础数据来源。但是 ,由于国民资产负债核算和会计资产负债核算的目的、主体、范围、方法及具体指标都有所不同 ,存在一定的区别和差异 ,因此在编制国民资产负债表时必须根据…     

The Perils of Balance Testing in Experimental Design: Messy Analyses of Clean Data

Widespread concern over the credibility of published results has led to scrutiny of statistical practices. We address one aspect of this problem that stems from the use of balance tests in conjunction with experimental data. When random assignment is botched, due either to mistakes in implementation or differential attrition, balance tests can be an important tool in determining whether to treat the data as observational versus experimental. Unfortunately, the use of balance tests has become commonplace in analyses of “clean” data, that is, data for which random assignment can be stipulated. Here, we show that balance tests can destroy the basis on which scientific conclusions are formed, and can lead to erroneous and even fraudulent conclusions. We conclude by advocating that scientists and journal editors resist the use of balance tests in all analyses of clean data. Supplementary materials for this article are available online     

可竞争产品与贸易收支:基于我国出口品市场结构的研究

 我国出口产品属于可竞争产品的范畴,虽然不同厂商生产的产品存在差异,但由于进入门槛低,其定价模式等同于完全竞争产品。对我国主要出口产品的价格和出口规模之间的关系进行实证检验,结果发现尽管我国主要出口产品的规模很大,但实证检验难以拒绝价格不受出口规模影响的假定,也就难以否定我国的出口产品是可竞争产品。由此,本文建立了一个可竞争条件下贸易收支决定的简约模型和实证检验的方程。然后,在协整检验的基础上建立向量误差修正模型（VECM）,对各变量的冲击进行脉冲响应函数分析。实证分析的结果显示,我国出口产品的市场结构的确与贸易收支之间存在内在的联系。     

市场型环境规制政策有效性检验——来自碳排放权交易政策视角的经验证据

本文基于我国2005—2017年30个省(区、市)面板数据,以碳排放权交易试点政策为准自然试验,采用双重差分模型和空间计量方法,检验碳排放权交易政策的有效性、影响机制和“两难问题”。结果发现:市场型环境政策有效且存在跨界减排效应,即碳排放权交易政策可以降低本地碳排放,其碳减排效应逐年增强,而且同期本地碳交易政策实施可以形成邻地示范效应,推动相邻地区碳减排。碳排放权交易政策主要通过调整能源结构,提高地区技术水平,推动地区绿色技术发展,实现地区碳减排,且当前阶段能源结构调整的碳减排效应最强,约占总体减排效应的36.9%,而绿色技术进步的贡献仅为11.6%。碳排放权交易政策可以有效克服环境与经济的“两难问题”,同步实现碳减排和提高经济效率的双重目标,实现经济与环境相容发展。     

Abstracting and Indexing Adapts to the Internet Era

Abstract

With the role of libraries evolving from warehousing data sources to controlling the dissemination of information sources, A&I (abstracting and indexing) information services must also evolve and play an equally important and challenging role. With over forty years of A&I publishing experience, CSA (formerly Cambridge Scientific Abstracts) has adapted A&I publishing methods to new technologies and Web-based publishing. The editorial basics of producing A&I journals and databases are unchanged; however, new production technologies, such as electronic feeds between primary and secondary publishers, electronic directory services, and machine-aided indexing, can provide efficiencies. Once just roadmaps pointing to information, A&I services are now conduits delivering information directly to the user. Serials Review 2003; 29:221–223.