Measurement of the ttˉt\bar{t} spin correlations and top quark polarization in dileptonic channel with the CMS detector

The degree of top polarization and strength of $t\bar{t}$ correlation are dependent on production dynamics, decay mechanism, and choice of the observables. At the LHC, measurement of the top polarization and spin correlations in $t\bar{t}$ production is possible through various observables related to the angular distribution of decay leptons. A measurement of differential distribution provides a precision test of the standard model of particle physics and probes for deviations, which could be a sign of new physics. In particular, the phase space for the super-symmetric partner of the top quark can be constrained. Results from the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) collaboration for top quark polarization and spin correlation in the dileptonic channel are reviewed briefly in this proceeding. The measurements are obtained using 19.5 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected in pp collisions at the center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV.Comment: Talk presented at the APS Division of Particles and Fields Meeting (DPF 2017), July 31-August 4, 2017, Fermilab. C17073

Did the financial sector profit at the expense of the rest of the economy? Evidence from the United States

The crisis which originated in the US financial sector in 2007 and subsequently spread to the real economy caused severe economic and social damage around the world. Governments have responded by providing fiscal support to the economy, undertaking exceptional monetary policy measures and introducing programmes targeted to vulnerable groups. In addition, considerable efforts have been made to recapitalise banks. Important as they are, these measures do not tackle the deeper influence of financial markets and institutions in the operation of the real economy. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for reforms in this neglected area. The paper confirms the finding of the World of Work Report 2009 that the financial sector has grown beyond reasonable boundaries and its practices have spread to the nonfinancial economy. For example, in the last 20 years, financial sector’s share of total corporate profits doubled, reaching as high as 44 per cent in 2002. The study also demonstrates that in the United States, the growing influence of the financial sector has led to a reduction in the share of business investment as a percent of value added by as much as 2 percentage points in the last three decades. More research is needed to shed further light on the causal linkages and to identify the reforms that could help ensure that the financial sector encourages investment --thereby growth and employment-- rather than hurting it. However, the finding of this paper is suggestive and important for today’s debate on sustainable crisis responses

Do financial education programs work?

In this paper we provide a comprehensive critical analysis of research that has investigated the impact of financial education programs on consumer financial behavior. In light of the evidence, we recommend that future programs be highly targeted towards a specific audience and area of financial activity (e.g. homeownership or credit card counseling, etc.), and that this training occurs just before the corresponding financial event (e.g. purchase of a home or use of a credit card, etc.).Financial literacy

A Frayed Connection: Joblessness Among Teens in Chicago

The report examines the post-2000 decline in teen employment, which is part of a broader pattern of decline in employment rates among large parts (but not all) of the working-age population in the U.S. and Illinois. In Illinois the chance that a teen will be employed has fallen nearly in half since 2000. While about half of all teens in Illinois were employed at the end of the 1990s, by 2011-2013 just over one in four teens were working. Young adults aged 20-24 in the state also experienced very large reductions in their employment rate, which fell from 73 to 60 percent over the decade-plus period. A look at the findings reveal that while employment rates declined for all residents of the state under the age of 55, older workers (55 and over) increased their rate of employment during this time period; especially workers aged 65 and older. These data reveal an odd reversal in the composition of who gets work. As baby boomers reach pre-retirement and retirement years they are more likely to work. Moreover, there is considerable evidence that these older workers became employed in entry-level occupations where teen employment was most heavily concentrated

Gender gaps: the gaps in college degree attainment between New England men and women are rising

Boys have been falling behind girls in school for more than two decades. Recognizing the problem is the first step toward a solution.College graduates - New England ; Career development - Sex differences

The Consequences of Dropping Out of High School: Joblessness and Jailing for High School Dropouts and the High Cost for Taxpayers

Dropping out of high school is correlated with lower employment prospects, teen and young adult pregnancy, and incarceration, according to this research paper's data analysis. Breaking down these outcomes by variables such as race, age, gender, and family income, it becomes clear that the problems are most severe among men and African-Americans. Lastly, the researchers present the economic costs to society of this phenomenon

The Lifetime Employment and Earnings Consequences of Dropping Out of High School in Philadelphia

What's the difference between a Philadelphia graduate and a high school dropout? About $580,000, according to this study which shows the difference in net fiscal contribution over a working lifetime (tax revenue generated vs. tax revenue received) between a Philadelphia student who earns a diploma and one who does not. This research report also offers information on the percentage of students in Philadelphia who do not graduate from high school, the difference in lifetime earnings between high school graduates and high school dropouts, and the likelihood of employment for high school graduates compared to high school dropouts

The Tax and Transfer Fiscal Impacts of Dropping Out of High School in Philadelphia City and Suburbs

This research article provides detailed information on the effects of the escalating high school drop out rate in Philadelphia. High school dropouts impose very high costs on the broader community. This report details these costs, including: These costs include: lower tax payments to the government, intensive reliance on cash and non-cash government income transfers, and the cost of incarceration. In addition, this article demonstrates how the fiscal consequences of dropping out of high school have been exacerbated by changes in the economy

Regional convergence in outputs and incomes in Italy and the U.S.

One of the key topics of international and inter-regional research in the past decade has been that of convergence or divergence in real outputs and incomes across countries and regions within individual countries. Most empirical studies, however, tend to focus on only one measure of economic performance (per capita GDP or value added per capita or per capita incomes) rather than multiple measures of performance and fail to conduct comparative studies of multiple measures across countries. Do nations differ in the comparative degree of inequality across alternative measures of economic performance? This research paper attempts to address these past shortcomings by focusing on identifying, analyzing and comparing the degree of inequality and the degree of convergence or divergence overtime in three important economic performance measures - per capita real outputs, family and household incomes, and per capita incomes with families - in regions of Italy and the U.S. over the past two decades. In this study, we analyze three measures of regional economic performance in each country and three statistical measures of regional inequality: the coefficient of variation (Sigma convergence), the relative size of the differences between the highest and the lowest regions in per capita outputs and family incomes, and simple regression tests for the unconditional convergence of per capita outputs or family/median household incomes across regions of Italy and the U.S. from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. Findings in this paper will illustrate the comparative degree of inequality in regional economic performance measures within Italy and the U.S., estimate differences in the degree of inequality across these three measures within both countries, and analyze convergence trends over time in regional economic performance for each of these measures within both countries. Factors contributing to the remaining differences in regional inequality within these two countries will be identified, and future research issues will be reviewed.

Role of interfaces in polymer matrix composites and methodologies to improve and characterize interfaces in composites

Interfaces in composite materials play disproportionate roles in the ultimate physical properties in systems where polymers are used. Generally, the adsorption of polymers on solid substrates changes the behavior of the polymers at the interface. These changes can be dramatic and have major effects on the mechanical and chemical properties of the composite materials. The distance scales over which these changes occur are small, even as small as 10 nm or less (often less than the unperturbed radius of the molecule) and it is difficult to use many standard techniques to study them. The focus of the work presented here relates to the behavior of graphene oxide (GO) as a potential reinforcing nanomaterial for interlaminar toughening and improved barrier properties of carbon-fiber composites through modeling and experimentation. GO is an oxidized form of graphene where the carbon is modified through the addition of the oxygen-containing polar groups, mainly carboxyls and carbonyls. The increase in interlaminar fracture toughness was observed at least one order of magnitude lower amount of nanoparticle additions compared to what has been reported in literature. This result will be discussed in terms of XRD and DSC, where it was observed that there was significant increase in glass transition temperature as well as a broadening of the glass transition peak