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Identification in a regression discontinuity (RD) design hinges on the discontinuity in the probability of treatment when a covariate (assignment variable) exceeds a known threshold. If the assignment variable is measured with error, however, the discontinuity in the relationship between the probability of treatment and the observed mismeasured assignment variable may disappear. Therefore, the presence of measurement error in the assignment variable poses a challenge to treatment effect identification. This chapter provides sufficient conditions to identify the RD treatment effect using the mismeasured assignment variable, the treatment status and the outcome variable. We prove identification separately for discrete and continuous assignment variables and study the properties of various estimation procedures. We illustrate the proposed methods in an empirical application, where we estimate Medicaid takeup and its crowdout effect on private health insurance coverage.

The purpose of this study is the investigation of the friction performance of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) at different infill densities.

PLA samples were printed with fused filament fabrication (FFF). Friction performance test of PLA samples were performed under 18 N load at 20 min, 40 min and 60 min using a pin-on-disc tester. Diameter deviation, hardness of 3D-printed PLA, weight variation, coefficient of friction, temperature and wear images were chosen as performance criteria.

The hardness values of the samples with 30%, 50% and 70% infill density were determined as 93.9, 99.93 and 102.67 Shore D, respectively. The friction of coefficient values obtained in these samples at 20 min, 40 min and 60 min were measured as 0.5737, 0.4454 and 0.3824, respectively. The least deformation occurred in the sample with 50% occupancy rate and during the test period of 20 min.

The aim of this study was to determine the best friction performance of 3D-printed biodegradable and biocompatible PLA with different infill densities.

In the literature, several studies can be found on the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed parts produced with PLA. However, investigations on the wear characterisation of these parts are very limited. In this regard, the friction coefficient results obtained from different infill density of 3D-printed PLA used in this study will significantly contribute to the literature.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the properties of several thiol-acrylate photosensitive systems and compare with corresponding acrylate free-radical systems. The potential stereolithography applications of thiol–ene photosensitive systems are also discussed.

In the both thiol–ene and acrylate free-radical photosensitive systems, various key performances were characterized. The function group conversions were characterized by real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The tension strength was determined according to the standard ASTM D638-2003, the flexible strength was determined according to ASTM D790-07 and the hardness was measured according to ASTM D2240-05. The volume shrinkage was measured by dilatometer method. The glass transition temperature was analyzed by differential scanning calorimeter.

As adding mercapto propionates into acrylate system, the inhibition of polymerization by oxygen was controlled and the flexible performance was improved. In addition, the photosensitive resin showed better tension strength, higher elongation at break and lower volume shrinkage. Among the four mercapto propionates, rigid TEMPIC showed most obvious affect, followed hexa-functional DPMP, tetra-functional PETMP and tri-functional TMMP.

Although the thiol–ene photosensitive resin has unmatched advantages in performance, there are no reports on the thiol–ene photosensitive resin in the stereolithography application. In this study, thiol–ene photopolymerization material was first tentatively implemented in stereolithography area. Several critical performance parameters were compared between thiol–ene and acrylate free-radical photosensitive systems.

This paper aims to optimize the process parameters of the fused deposition modelling (FDM) process using the Grey-based Taguchi method and the results to be verified based on a technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) calculation.

The optimization of process parameters is gaining a potential role to develop robust products. In this context, this paper presents the parametric optimization of the FDM process using Grey-based Taguchi, TOPSIS and AHP method. The effect of slice height (SH), part fill style (PFS) and build orientation (BO) are investigated with the response parameters machining time, surface roughness and hardness (HD). Multiple objective optimizations were performed with weights of w1 = 60%, w2 = 20% and w3 = 20%. The significance of the process parameters over response parameters is identified through analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparisons are made in terms of rank order with respect to grey relation grade (GRG), relative closeness and AHP index values. Response table, percentage contributions of process parameters for both GRG and TOPSIS evaluation are done.

The optimum factor levels are identified using GRG via the Grey Taguchi method and TOPSIS via relative closeness values. The optimized factor levels are SH (0.013 in), PFS (solid) and BO (45°) using GRG and SH (0.013 in), PFS (sparse-low density) and BO (45°) using TOPSIS relative closeness value. SH has higher significance in both Grey relational analysis and TOPSIS which were analysed using ANOVA.

In this research, the multiple objective optimizations were done on an automotive component using GRG, TOPSIS and AHP which showed a 27% similarity in their ranking order among the experiments. In the future, other advanced optimization techniques will be applied to further improve the similarity in ranking order.

The study presents the case of an automotive component, which illustrates practical relevance.

In several research studies, optimization was done on the standard test specimens but not on a real-time component. Here, the multiple objective optimizations were applied to a case automotive component using Grey-based Taguchi and verified with TOPSIS. Hence, an effort has been taken to find optimum process parameters on FDM, for achieving smooth, hardened automotive components with enhanced printing time. The component can be explored as a replacement for the existing product.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has been one of the most highlighted processes of the last few years. AM prints complex parts and items from 3D files regarding different materials, such as polymers. Moreover, there are different AM techniques available for polymers, such as selective laser sintering. In the SLS technology, polyamides 11 and 12 lead 88% of the market. These materials are high-cost and use an average of 50% of virgin material at each printing. It is possible to use lower rates of virgin material, but at least 30% is recommended. Low rates of virgin material decrease mechanical properties.

This study aims to evaluate the influence on the mechanical properties of the percentage of reused PA12 in parts manufactured by the SLS process. The specimens of PA12 were manufactured with a percentage of virgin/reused polymer of 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80 and 10/90. We considered three distinct printing directions to compare the mechanical properties of the specimens: horizontal, perpendicular and vertical.

The results showed that when the percentage of reused material increases, the tensile strength limit (TSL), flexural strength limit and Shore D hardness decrease. Another aspect visualized was the fragile behavior presented in the vertical specimens. In addition, DSC analysis indicated a 2% reduction of crystallinity. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed spherical voids and unfused particles of PA12 at the fracture of tensile test specimens. The material thermal history and unfused particles could decrease the material properties.

We observed that the mechanical properties, such as the TSL, flexural strength limit and hardness, decrease as the percentage of reused material increases. In addition, the process presented a printing-direction dependence, where the vertical direction presented as the more brittle between the ones used.

This study aims to investigate the mechanical, thermal, melt-flow and morphological behavior of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)-based composites after bentonite inclusions. Melt mixing is the most preferred production method in industrial scale and basically it has very near processing parameters compared to 3D printing applications. Rheological parameters of ABS and its composites are important for 3D applications. Melt flow behavior of ABS effects the fabrication of 3D printed product at desired levels. Shear thinning and non-Newtonian viscosity characteristics of ABS make viscosity control easier and more flexible for several processing techniques including injection molding, compression molding and 3D printing.

ABS copolymer was reinforced with bentonite mineral (BNT) at four different loading ratios of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. ABS/BNT composites were fabricated by lab-scale micro-compounder followed by injection molding process. Mechanical, thermo-mechanical, thermal, melt-flow and morphological properties of composites were investigated by tensile, hardness and impact tests, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), melt flow index (MFI) test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively.

Mechanical tests revealed that tensile strength, elongation and hardness of ABS were enhanced as BNT content increased. Glass transition temperature and storage modulus of ABS exhibited increasing trend with the additions of BNT. However, impact strength values dropped down with BNT inclusion. According to MFI test measurements, BNT incorporation displayed no significant change for MFI value of ABS. Homogeneous dispersion of BNT particles into ABS phase was deduced from SEM micrographs of composites. Loading ratio of 15% BNT was remarked as the most suitable candidate among fabricated ABS-based composites according to findings.

The advanced mechanical properties and easy processing characteristics are the reasons for usage of ABS as an engineering plastic. Owing to the increase in its usage for 3D printing technology, the ABS became popular in recent years. The utilization of ABS in this technology is in filament form with various colors and dimensions. This is because of its proper rheological features.

Melt-mixing technique was used as preparation of composites, as this processing method is widely applied in industry. This method is also providing similar processing methodology with 3D printing technology.

According to the literature survey, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first research work regarding the melt-flow performance of ABS-based composites to evaluate their 3D printing applications and processability. ABS and BNT containing composites were characterized by tensile, impact and shore hardness tests, DMA, TGA), MFI test and SEM techniques.

A nut bolt joint is a primary device that connects mechanical components. The vibrations cause bolted joints to self-loosen. Created by motors and engines, leading to machine failure, and there may be severe safety issues. All the safety issues and self-loosen are directly and indirectly the functions of the accuracy and precision of the fabricated nut and bolt. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies now allow for the production of intricate components. These may be used technologies such as 3D printed bolts to create fasteners. This paper aims to investigate dimensional precision, surface properties, mechanical properties and scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the component fabricated using a multi-jet 3D printer.

Multi-jet-based 3D printed nut-bolt is evaluated in this paper. More specifically, liquid polymer-based nut-bolt is fabricated in sections 1, 2 and 3 of the base plate. Five nuts and bolts are fabricated in these three sections.

Dimensional inquiry (bolt dimension, general dimensions’ density and surface roughness) and mechanical testing (shear strength of nut and bolt) were carried out throughout the study. According to the ISO 2768 requirements for the General Tolerances Grade, the nut and bolt’s dimensional examination (variation in bolt dimension, general dimensions) is within the tolerance grades. As a result, the multi-jet 3D printing (MJP)-based 3D printer described above may be used for commercial production. In terms of mechanical qualities, when the component placement moves from Sections 1 to 3, the density of the manufactured part decreases by 0.292% (percent) and the shear strength of the nut and bolt decreases by 30%. According to the SEM examination, the density of the River markings, sharp edges, holes and sharp edges increased from Sections 1 to 3, which supports the findings mentioned above.

Hence, this work enlightens the aspects causing time lag during the 3D printing in MJP. It causes variation in the dimensional deviation, surface properties and mechanical properties of the fabricated part, which needs to be explored.

Conventional tests of the regression discontinuity design’s identifying restrictions can perform poorly when the running variable is discrete. This paper proposes a test for manipulation of the running variable that is consistent when the running variable is discrete. The test exploits the fact that if the discrete running variable’s probability mass function satisfies a certain smoothness condition, then the observed frequency at the threshold has a known conditional distribution. The proposed test is applied to vote tally distributions in union representation elections and reveals evidence of manipulation in close elections that is in favor of employers when Republicans control the NLRB and in favor of unions otherwise.

This study contributes to the understanding of the health effects of pesticides exposure and of how pesticides have been and should be regulated.

This study presents literature reviews for the period 2000–2013 on (i) the health effects of pesticides and on (ii) preference valuation of health risks related to pesticides, as well as a discussion of the role of benefit-cost analysis applied to pesticide regulatory measures.

This study indicates that the health literature has focused on individuals with direct exposure to pesticides, i.e. farmers, while the literature on preference valuation has focused on those with indirect exposure, i.e. consumers. The discussion highlights the need to clarify the rationale for regulating pesticides, the role of risk perceptions in benefit-cost analysis, and the importance of inter-disciplinary research in this area.

This study relates findings of different disciplines (health, economics, public policy) regarding pesticides, and identifies gaps for future research.