Can social media usage of scientific literature predict journal indices of AJG,SNIP and JCR? An altmetric study of economics

Scientometrics - Altmetrics are often praised as an alternative or complement to classic bibliometric metrics, especially in the social sciences discipline. However, empirical investigations of...     

Pareto-based evolutionary computational approach for wireless sensor placement

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have become increasingly appealing in recent years for the purpose of data acquisition, surveillance, event monitoring, etc. Optimal positioning of wireless sensor nodes is an important issue for small networks of relatively expensive sensing devices. For such networks, the placement problem requires that multiple objectives be met. These objectives are usually conflicting, e.g. achieving maximum coverage and maximum connectivity while minimizing the network energy cost. A flexible algorithm for sensor placement (FLEX) is presented that uses an evolutionary computational approach to solve this multiobjective sensor placement optimization problem when the number of sensor nodes is not fixed and the maximum number of nodes is not known a priori. FLEX starts with an initial population of simple WSNs and complexifies their topologies over generations. It keeps track of new genes through historical markings, which are used in later generations to assess two networks’ compatibility and also to align genes during crossover. It uses Pareto-dominance to approach Pareto-optimal layouts with respect to the objectives. Speciation is employed to aid the survival of gene innovations and facilitate networks to compete with similar networks. Elitism ensures that the best solutions are carried over to the next generation. The flexibility of the algorithm is illustrated by solving the device/node placement problem for different applications like facility surveillance, coverage with and without obstacles, preferential surveillance, and forming a clustering hierarchy.     

A method for numerical modelling of convection–reaction–diffusion using electrical analogues

In this paper, a new method, called the lumped‐component circuit method (LCM), is developed for one‐dimensioal and two‐dimensional convection–reaction–diffusion with low to moderate Peclet numbers, tested for modelling both steady‐state and transient problems, and compared with standard finite volume method (FVM) schemes. The method has been developed principally for solving equations with piecewise‐constant coefficients using nodes that are not positioned to correspond to the coefficient discontinuities. In such situations, the FVM solutions do not converge consistently as the node spacing is decreased, but LCM solutions do. In general, the LCM method is more accurate than the FVM schemes tested, and, while the computational cost of LCM is higher, results suggest that it can be more efficient. Like the transmission line method (TLM), it is an indirect scheme in which the problem to be solved is first represented by an analogous transmission line (TL). Unlike with TLM, however, the TL is then modelled using a lumped‐component circuit, the voltages at nodes within that circuit being calculated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A data science-based framework to categorize academic journals

Scientometrics - Academic journals play a significant role in the dissemination of new research insights and knowledge among scientists. The number of such journals has recently increased...     

Optimized production and advanced assessment of biodiesel: A review

Biodiesel production is profitable only under special conditions. Technical challenges including methods to make the transesterification reaction more energy efficient and faster by using catalysts, controlling reaction conditions more efficiently in narrow range, or selection of appropriate feedstocks should be properly addressed to make biodiesel economical viable fuel. Cradle to grave assessment of biodiesel is provided in the present review article. Transesterification reaction variables that affect the purity and performance of biodiesel including quality of raw materials, molar ratio of alcohol to oil, type and concentration of used catalysts, concentration of free fatty acids, water content, temperature, and time required for the reaction are critically described to provide complete understanding and obtaining economical and optimal biodiesel yields. This article also provides a critical review of biodiesel properties such as density, viscosity, cetane number, cloud point, pour point, and flash point. The importance of analytical methods including gas chromatography, high‐performance liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy is presented and highlighted here in a novel way. Finally, this review will provide complete understanding to readers about biodiesel.     

The dynamics of ICT,foreign direct investment,globalization and economic growth: Panel estimation robust to heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence

In the modern era of globalization, information and communication technology (ICT) are considered key sectors that profoundly contribute to economic growth. Most of the economic activities, trade, and foreign direct investment are mainly dependent on modern sources of ICT. The objective of present research work is to investigate the dynamic relationship between ICT, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth incorporating trade and globalization for BRICS economies over 2000–2014 by employing OLS with fixed effects, the FMOLS, the DOLS and the group-mean estimator techniques robust to heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. Empirical results of the study suggest the long-run elasticities between ICT and economic growth, which suggests that ICT positively contributes to economic growth. Findings from long-run output elasticities show that both FDI and globalization have a long-run effect on economic growth. Furthermore, bi-directional causality exists between GDP and FDI, globalization and economic growth, and trade and economic growth. Also, unidirectional causality is running from globalization to trade. Globalization and ICT also Granger causes each other. Sensitivity analysis is employed to check whether findings of the study are valid and reliable for policy recommendation. The outcome of our study suggests policy recommendations for improving ICT with the focus on economic growth, trade openness and facilitation of foreign investment in BRICS countries.     

Acceptance of social commerce framework in Saudi Arabia

The objective of the current study was to examine the factors of online purchase intentions through social media websites in Saudi Arabia. The extended unified theory of acceptance and usage of technology (UTAUT2) with the addition of social support, social commerce constructs, and cultural moderators was applied. The data was collected from 310 university students in Saudi Arabia. Using PLS 3.0-SEM, the results revealed that performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, habit, price saving orientation, social support, and social commerce constructs have a positive association with behavioral intentions. These results further validate that facilitating conditions, habit, and behavioral intentions have a positive relationship with the use behavior. The moderating results of cultural dimensions (individualism/collectivism and uncertainty avoidance) have also shown the strong impact of behavioral intentions on use behavior. Technology acceptance has gained much attention in different areas but few studies have applied the UTAUT2 model in the social commerce context. The theoretical and managerial implications of this research are explained.     

Supported solid and heteropoly acid catalysts for production of biodiesel

Biodiesel has developed attraction of most researchers recently because of its renewable resources and environmental benefits. Transesterification process in the presence of catalysts is the most common way, which is used for biodiesel production. Heterogeneous acid catalysts are considered more reliable than any other catalysts to carry out most vital reactions related to green chemistry (biodiesel production), because the production of biodiesel from solid acid catalysts is considered economically favorable. Nowadays, biodiesel is preparing from low quality feedstock by using solid acids catalysts in many research laboratory throughout the world. This article discusses how much catalyst shapes affect the efficiency of catalyst during catalysis. Different types of supports (zinc oxide, alumina, zirconia, and silica) are used to increase the efficiency of catalysts. Supported Lewis acid, Brønsted acid, and heteropoly acid catalysts show good efficiency for the catalytic transesterification of oil with alcohol. Heteropoly acid catalysts are tremendous and environment friendly acid catalyst and have ability to tolerate contaminations of oil resources such as water contents and free fatty acids (FFAs) contents. Keggin-type heteropoly acids are easily available and having stable structure while Wells–Dawson-type heteropoly acids are included in super acid class, due to these reasons heteropoly acids are considered as best acidic catalysts for biodiesel production by catalytic transesterification process. Therefore, this review also focused on the deactivation, regeneration and advantages of supported solid acid catalysts used for the catalytic production of biodiesel through transesterification.