bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recalcitrant giant condyloma acuminatum treated successfully with a novel combination of Mycobacterium indicus pranii immunotherapy and acitretin
Authors: Khullar Geeti , Narang Tarun , De Dipankar , Nahar Saikia Uma , Dogra Sunil , Handa Sanjeev
Published: February 2017

Giant condyloma acuminatum occurs infrequently in children and adolescents. It is a challenging condition which is difficult to treat with both surgical and medical modalities. We present a case of a 15-year-old boy with giant condyloma acuminatum of the glans penis refractory to several therapeutic modalities. The lesions were treated successfully with a novel combination of Mycobacterium indicus pranii immunotherapy and acitretin. There was no recurrence of lesions after two years of follow-up.
Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Su-angka N , Khositseth A , Vilaiyuk S , Tangnararatchakit K , Prangwatanagul W
Published: February 2017

Objectives

The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid arterial stiffness index (CASI) act as the surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. We aim to assess CIMT and CASI in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Patients ≤ 20 years old fulfilling diagnostic criteria for SLE were enrolled. Patients with active smoking, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, arterial thrombosis, family history of hypercholesterolemia, chronic liver disease, or other chronic severe diseases were excluded. The patients were categorized into four groups: active SLE, age- and sex-matched control (control A), inactive SLE, and age- and sex-matched control (control I), according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). All subjects underwent ultrasound of carotid arteries to evaluate CIMT and CASI.

Results

One hundred and two SLE patients (26 active and 76 inactive) and one hundred and three healthy controls (26 control A and 77 control I) were enrolled. The median CIMT in all groups were not significantly different (0.43, 0.41–0.44; 0.43, 0.41–0.44; 0.42, 0.41–0.43; and 0.42, 0.41–0.43 mm, respectively).The CASI in active SLE (13.5, 11.4–17.3) was significantly higher than in control A (8.2, 7.2–9.2) ( p < 0.0001), whereas CASI in inactive SLE (12.7, 10.9–15.7) was significantly higher than in control I (8.9, 7.6–9.8). However, the CASI in active and inactive SLE was not significantly different.

Conclusions

The higher CASI in active and inactive pediatric SLE, implying functional change of carotid arteries, may be early evidence of increased atherosclerosis in pediatric SLE. This functional dysfunction has been found both in inactive and active SLE.
Circulating prolactin level in systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with disease activity: a meta-analysis
Authors: Song G G , Lee Y H
Published: February 2017

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between circulating prolactin level and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to establish a correlation between plasma/serum prolactin levels and SLE activity.

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis comparing the plasma/serum prolactin levels in patients with SLE to controls, and examined correlation coefficients between circulating prolactin level and SLE disease activity.

Results

Twenty-five studies with a total of 1056 SLE patients and 426 controls were included. Prolactin levels were significantly higher overall in the SLE group than in the control group (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.987, 95% CI = 0.512–1.463, p = 4.7 × 10−5). Stratification by ethnicity showed significantly elevated prolactin levels in the SLE group in Asian, Latin American, and mixed populations (SMD = 0.813, 95% CI = 0.137–1.490, p = 0.018; SMD = 0.981, 95% CI = 0.307–1.655, p = 0.004; SMD = 1.469, 95% CI = 0.443–2.495, p = 0.005, respectively), but not in the European population. Subgroup analysis by sample size showed significantly higher prolactin levels in the SLE group by small ( n < 30) and large sample numbers ( n > 30). Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients showed a significantly positive correlation between circulating prolactin level and SLE activity (correlation coefficient = 0.379, 95% CI = 0.026–0.487, p = 4.0 × 10−9). Circulating prolactin levels were positively associated with SLE activity in European, Asian, and mixed populations (SMD = 0.532, 95% CI = 0.443–0.609  p < 1.0 × 10−8; SMD = 0.427, 95% CI = 0.240–0.583, p = 2.4 × 10−5; SMD = 0.433, 95% CI = 0.212–0.591, p = 2.7 × 10−5, respectively).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that circulating prolactin levels are higher in patients with SLE, and that a significantly positive correlation exists between prolactin levels and SLE activity.
Farewell Utopia?
Authors: Van den Bergh Roger
Published: February 2017

Following the Brexit vote, the European Union (EU) is experiencing a deep institutional crisis. The economic theory of federalism may explain the causes of this crisis and suggest ways to overcome it. The core of the problem is that the EU has taken action in areas where it would have been preferable to leave the initiative to the Member States and that it has neglected to act in fields where the central level enjoys a comparative advantage compared to lower levels of government. The paper presents the economic criteria that may be used to decide the appropriate level of decision-making in a (quasi) federal union. It argues that political distortions have inhibited the use of these arguments and have consequently led to the current institutional crisis. Both market integration and the monetary union have become a goal in itself and are no longer connected to the original ambition of the Treaty to increase social welfare and guarantee a peaceful coexistence between the Member States. This article suggests a deregulation of market integration legislation and a reform of the Euro system, which are in conformity with the basic lessons of the economics of federalism.
Why is the Köbler Principle Not Applied in Practice?
Authors: Varga Zsó;fia
Published: February 2017

Since the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Köbler, there has been speculation that state liability for violation of EU law by national supreme courts might remain mere theory. However, more than a decade after the CJEU judgment, there is no study available to confirm or disprove this assumption. This article seeks to fill this gap by providing an analysis on the practice and the impact of the liability principle. According to the research conducted, only about 35 Köbler actions have been reported over the last 13 years from all of the 28 Member States, of which only four have been successful. This article investigates why this enforcement deficit of the liability principle can be observed. Therefore, the article examines the main limitations to the effective application of the Köbler doctrine in order to understand their actual role in hindering the establishment of liability and the allocation of damages. In this context, it also examines whether, and to what extent, the liability principle has contributed to the protection of individual rights and the effective application of EU law over the last thirteen years.
Vibration isolation for parameter-varying rotor systems using piezoelectric actuators and gain-scheduled control
Authors: Becker Fabian B , Sehr Martin A , Rinderknecht Stephan
Published: February 2017

This paper deals with the active vibration isolation for a rotor subject to gyroscopic oscillations, where gain-scheduled [Formula: see text]-control is used to steer an active, piezoelectric bearing. Rotating machines are often exposed to gyroscopic effects, which occur due to bending deformations of rotors and subsequent tilting of eccentric mass elements. Gyroscopic moments observed at rotors are proportional to the rotational speed and couple radial degrees of freedom. This relationship with the operating conditions renders the system dynamics well-suited for the use of linear parameter-varying models and controllers, relying on the rotational speed as an uncertain parameter. In this paper, we design linear gain-scheduled [Formula: see text]-controllers guaranteeing both robust stability and performance within a given range of operating conditions. The paper is based on a rotor test rig with two unbalance-induced resonance frequencies in its operating range. The rotor has two protruding discs, one of which is centered between one active and one passive bearing support. The active support consists of two piezoelectric stack actuators and two collocated piezoelectric load washers. Closed-loop performance is assessed via isolation of unbalance-induced vibrations using both simulation and supporting experimental data.
Coupling artworks preservation constraints with visitors’ environmental satisfaction: Results from an indoor microclimate assessment procedure in a historical museum building in central Italy
Authors: Pisello Anna L , Castaldo Veronica L , Piselli Cristina , Cotana Franco
Published: February 2017

Historical buildings represent one-third of the Italian stock and are often used as museums. Such buildings typically are not equipped with control systems and indoor microclimate does not guarantee a proper conservation of the building finishing and artworks. Additionally, conditions are far from visitors’ ideal indoor air quality (IAQ). This paper proposes a methodology for microclimate analysis that deals with artworks preservation and occupants' conditions optimization. The methodology consists of monitoring and data analysis using non-invasive equipment for the preservation of the building structure, artworks, and occupanst’ IAQ. To this aim, the monitoring of an Italian building was performed. The microclimate was monitored to characterize the environmental quality of the investigated area. Around 60% of the relative humidity values were higher than the target for occupants’ well-being and artworks preservation. Air temperature was stabilized by the thermal mass of the envelope, to reduce winter overcooling risks though. In winter, indeed, up to 40% of temperatures were below the limits for the artworks preservation. The CO2 level was acceptable as it was always below 1000 ppm. The results showed how a careful control and monitoring protocol is needed when heritage buildings are used for artworks preservation and also with a requirement to meet occupants’ satisfaction targets.
An adaptive guided wave-Gaussian mixture model for damage monitoring under time-varying conditions: Validation in a full-scale aircraft fatigue test
Authors: Qiu Lei , Yuan Shenfang , Boller Christian
Published: February 2017

Structural health monitoring technology has gradually developed from the research in laboratory to engineering validations and applications. However, the problem of reliable damage evaluation under time-varying conditions is a main obstacle for applying structural health monitoring to real aircraft structures. Among the existing structural health monitoring methods, the guided wave–based structural health monitoring method is popular but the time-varying problem needs to be addressed. Several methods have been proposed to deal with this problem but limitations remain. In this article, an adaptive guided wave-Gaussian mixture model–based damage monitoring method is proposed. It can be used online without any structural mechanical model and a priori knowledge of damage under time-varying conditions. With this method, a baseline guided wave-Gaussian mixture model is constructed first based on the guided wave features obtained under time-varying conditions when the structure is in healthy state. When a new guided wave feature is obtained during an online damage monitoring process, the guided wave-Gaussian mixture model is updated by an adaptive updating mechanism including dynamic learning and Gaussian components split-merge. The mixture probability structure of the guided wave-Gaussian mixture model and the number of Gaussian components can be optimized adaptively. Finally, a probability damage index is proposed to measure the degree of variation between the baseline guided wave-Gaussian mixture model and the online guided wave-Gaussian mixture model to reveal the damage-induced weak cumulative variation trend of the guided wave-Gaussian mixture model so as to increase the damage evaluation reliability. The method is validated in a full-scale aircraft fatigue test, and the results indicate that the reliable crack growth monitoring of the right landing gear spar and the left wing panel under the fatigue load condition is achieved.
Consequences of Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies
Authors: Yunus Raudah Mohd , Hairi Noran Naqiah , Choo Wan Yuen
Published: February 2017

This article presents the results of a systematic review of the consequences of elder abuse and neglect (EAN). A systematic search was conducted in seven electronic databases and three sources of gray literature up to January 8, 2016, supplemented by scanning of citation lists in relevant articles and contact with field experts. All observational studies investigating elder abuse as a risk factor for adverse health outcomes, mortality, and health-care utilization were included. Of 517 articles initially captured, 19 articles met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Two reviewers independently performed abstract screening, full-texts appraisal, and quality assessment using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Across 19 studies, methodological heterogeneity was a prominent feature; seven definitions of EAN and nine measurement tools for abuse were employed. Summary of results reveals a wide range of EAN outcomes, from premature mortality to increased health-care consumption and various forms of physical and psychological symptoms. Higher risks of mortality emerged as the most credible outcome, while the majority of morbidity outcomes originated from cross-sectional studies. Our findings suggest that there is an underrepresentation of older adults from non-Western populations and developing countries, and there is a need for more population-based prospective studies in middle- and low-income regions. Evidence gathered from this review is crucial in upgrading current practices, formulating policies, and shaping the future direction of research.
Fibrin Glue Increases the Tensile Strength of Conduit-Assisted Primary Digital Nerve Repair
Authors: Childe Jessica R. , Regal Steven , Schimoler Patrick , Kharlamov Alexander , Miller Mark C. , Tang Peter
Published: February 2017

Background: An ideal peripheral nerve repair construct does not currently exist. Our primary goal was to determine whether fibrin glue adds to the tensile strength of conduit-assisted primary digital nerve repairs. Our secondary goal was to evaluate the impact of varying suture number and location on the tensile strength. Methods: Ninety cadaveric digital nerves were harvested and divided equally into the following repair groups: A (4/4), B (2/2), C (0/2), D (0/1), and E (0/0) with the first number referring to the number of sutures at the coaptation and the second number referring to the number of sutures at each proximal and distal end of the nerve-conduit junction. When fibrin glue was added, the group was labeled prime. The nerve specimens were transected and then repaired with 8-0 nylon suture and conduit. The tensile strength of the repairs was tested, and maximum failure load was determined. The results were analyzed with a 2-way analysis of variance. The Tukey post hoc test compared repair groups if the 2-way analysis of variance showed significance. Results: Both suture group and glue presence significantly affected the maximum failure load. Increasing the number of sutures increased the maximum failure load, and the presence of fibrin glue also increased the failure load. Conclusions: Fibrin glue was found to increase the strength of conduit-assisted primary digital nerve repairs. Furthermore, the number of sutures correlated to the strength of the repair. Fibrin glue may be added to a conduit-assisted primary digital nerve repair to maintain strength and allow fewer sutures at the primary coaptation site.
Etiology and pathogenesis of Moyamoya Disease: An update on disease prevalence
Authors: Huang Shuo , Guo Zhen-Ni , Shi Mingchao , Yang Yi , Rao Mingli
Published: February 2017

Moyamoya disease is a chronic cerebrovascular occlusive disease that is characterized by progressive stenosis of the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery and its main branches. The occurrence of Moyamoya disease is related to immune, genetic, and other factors. Though the research of Moyamoya disease has made great strides in the past 60 years, the etiology and pathogenesis are largely unknown. This review will focus on the genetic pathogenic and inflammation factors of Moyamoya disease.
Belimumab in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): evidence-to-date and clinical usefulness
Authors: Guerreiro Castro Sara , Isenberg David A.
Published: February 2017

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune rheumatic disease with multiple presentations, whose management presents many challenges. Many disease modifying or immunosuppressive drugs have been used with limited success, especially in patients with more severe disease activity. Belimumab is the first drug to be approved specifically for the treatment of SLE in more than 50 years. By blocking the B-cell activating factor, it interferes in B-cell differentiation and survival. Here we consider the results of the clinical trials that led to its approval, as well as the post-hoc analyses, follow-up studies and the current trials.
If I Had a Hammer… Structural Remedies and Abuse of Dominant Position
Authors: Tajana Alessandro
Published: February 2017

Regulation 1/2003 empowers the European Commission to adopt remedies of a structural nature in order to bring an infringement of the rules of competition to an end. This paper first describes the legal conditions that have to be fulfilled for a structural remedy to be imposed under Art. 82. These conditions are strict: necessity and proportionality function as a straitjacket and will rarely allow the adoption of structural remedies. The second issue addressed is whether economic analysis and reasoning should be taken into consideration in the decision to adopt a structural remedy. Indeed, a potential conflict may arise between the outcome of a “legal test”, based on the effectiveness of the remedy, and the “economic test”, mainly focused on its efficiency. In analysing the efficiency of a remedy a three-stage test is suggested. This analysis leads to the suggestion that the Commission, when faced with the option of which remedy to choose, should take into account economic reasoning as much as possible. The attempt to reconcile the two tests, the legal and the economic one, inevitably brings to the conclusion that structural remedies have a residual nature and will be adopted only in particular circumstances.
Costs and Benefits of Vertical Separation of the Energy Distribution Industry: The Dutch Case
Authors: Mulder Machiel , Shestalova Victoria
Published: February 2017

This paper applies insights from the economic literature to evaluate costs and benefits of the policy decision recently taken by the Dutch government to introduce ownership separation between energy distribution on the one hand, and production and retail on the other. The major benefit of this measure is that it enables the privatisation of commercial activities if the infrastructure has to remain in public hands. This benefit can, however, also be realised by more efficient ways, such as improving the corporate governance structure. The other benefits arise from improved network performance, efficiency of regulatory activity and increased competition. The realisation of these results is, of course, not a free lunch. Ownership unbundling reduces economies of scope, creates one-off transaction costs, and may also affect investments in generation by the currently vertically integrated Dutch utility holdings. We conclude that mainly because of the uncertainty about the future role of small-scale generation and the uncertainty about the magnitude of the one-off transaction costs related to the cross-border leases, the net effect on welfare of ownership unbundling is ambiguous.
Vertical Integration of Airlines and Airports: Impacts on Competition
Authors: Kuchinke Björn A. , Sickmann Jörn
Published: February 2017

In spite of the many economic benefits, the international effort to privatize commercial airports might lead to discrimination regarding the access to airport infrastructure. This occurs when airlines have a full or partial share in the airports or, alternatively, when airports become shareholders in airlines. As a consequence, competition at the level of flight services can be endangered. The following paper shows that this sort of vertical integration is not problematic in all areas of an airport, but rather only in aeronautical sites. Furthermore, it is shown that vertical integration of airlines and non-hub airports can be considered as much more problematic than vertical integration of airlines and hub-airports.
Soft-Wars: The Role of the Essential Facilities Doctrine as Jus in Bello
Authors: Bouchagiar Antonios
Published: February 2017

The question addressed is whether the Essential Facilities Doctrine can be applied in cases of software interoperability. The Microsoft case is used as a platform for the exploration of an evolved version of the Doctrine, tailored especially for cases of compatibility in the high-technology industry. The focus is on four issues:

First, the notion of indispensability is approached with respect to particularities of the software industry. As in cases of physical infrastructure, the criteria which have to be fulfilled for interoperability information to be indispensable are: necessity as input for competing, non-interchangeability, non-duplicability, and sustainability. Second, when the competitors are already in the market, “softening” the requirement for “elimination of all competition” to “risk of elimination of competition” is the only means to provide an effective remedy. Therefore, an ex ante assessment becomes necessary.

Third, the requirement for a new product to be introduced to the reserved market is an additional condition that renders the Essential Facilities Doctrine more protective for cases where intellectual property rights constitute essential facilities. The aim is to avoid duplication. However, in industries where the rate of innovation is enormous, such as the software industry, it is neither possible nor appropriate to focus on a specific product. An “aggregate approach” is needed to assess in general whether new products will emerge, so that derivative innovation, and not duplication, will be fostered. Otherwise, a separate procedure would be required for each update and the remedy would become ineffective.

Fourth, the “new product requirement” is incomplete without the addition of the “balance of incentives to innovate” test. The latter protects the incentives of the IPR holder to invest. Besides, without the innovation of the IPR holder the competitors might not have been able to develop new derivative products. It is admitted that the cases where it will be possible to apply with certainty such a test are extremely few. However, with the burden of proof on the Commission or the plaintiff, the IPR holder is never harmed by uncertainty. Indeed, the IPR grants a rebuttable presumption of dynamic efficiency.
Embedding Economic Drivers in Participative Water Management
Authors: van Ast Jacko , Bouma Jan Jaap
Published: February 2017

Country location influences the institutional surroundings of the infrastructures related to water systems. In the Netherlands, water management has its own particularities. Temporarily inflow of affluent water from the rivers or the sea resulted in a highly developed institutional setting based on flood risk prevention. From an economic perspective, managing water is about allocating and using water in an effective and efficient way. This article deals with the coordination problem related to multi functionality of water systems. ‘Allocation efficiency’ is the issue. The diversity of water systems such as rivers, lakes, ditches or groundwater is multifunctional and within the systems, demand is competing. Decision makers should be aware of the different aspects of infrastructures that interfere with water systems. Further on in the decision-making, these aspects need to be valued. This may be done explicitly (for example in a formal cost-benefit analysis) or implicitly. Implicit valuation takes place when the outcome of a choice is expressed without an explicit weight and value of the effects a project has. The focus of this article is on economic drivers that express values to decision makers and thereby may stimulate the implementation of planned water projects. The problem addressed here is how these economic drivers may be institutionalized and what institutional (re-)designs are necessary to organize the coordination problem related to the multi functionality of water systems. It is part of participative water management that, under the name of Joint Planning Approach (JPA), is developed during the ‘Freude am Fluss’ international project that aims at formulating and realizing adaptation strategies in water management, specifically the realization of more space for rivers.
Deep-ISOs and Network Investment
Authors: Balmert David , Brunekreeft Gert
Published: February 2017

Further unbundling measures are currently implemented in the European energy markets. One option is the “deep independent system operator” (deep-ISO). An ISO splits the system operator from transmission ownership, which can remain integrated with generation assets, if so desired. This construction avoids violation of constitutional law, but does not address the “strategic-investment-withholding” argument. Therefore, a deep-ISO receives the competence for transmission investment decision making and can if necessary order a transmission owner to make the investment. This construction creates an uneasy governance split between decision-maker and risk-bearer. In this paper, we discuss the scope of the deep-ISO and the role of third parties in decentralised transmission investment, in particular “tendered transmission investment”, to address the above mentioned governance problem.
Rejuvenating a Veteran Benchmarking Scheme: Benchmarking in the Dutch Drinking Water Sector
Authors: Blokland Maarten , Schouten Marco , Schwartz Klaas
Published: February 2017

The voluntary benchmarking system of the Dutch drinking water sector has matured over time. Nowadays it is Europe's most veteran benchmarking scheme of drinking water companies. The system has been praised by many; although also critical notes are heard on whether the system is still as appropriate and effective as it once was. The recent legislative change from a voluntary to a mandatory system provides an opportunity for reflection and change. This paper assesses the lessons learnt from the existing system through an analysis of stakeholder views, in order to identify ways for enhancement.
New Market Designs and Their Effect on Economic Performance in European Union's Natural Gas Markets
Authors: Haase Nadine , Bressers Hans
Published: February 2017

The European gas market reform triggered new market designs which aimed to achieve competitive natural gas prices, efficiency gains, and security of gas supply. The paper analyses to what extent the effects of regulation-for-competition in the field of gas transport and related commodity measures on economic performance in the form of natural gas prices, network tariffs, efficiency gains, and investments in gas infrastructure can be empirically studied in a European wide comparative analysis. We demonstrate that conceptual and data constraints hinder the verification of the impact of regulation-for-competition (regulatory instruments to increase competition in the gas market) on those performance indicators. Natural gas prices remain oil-indexed and new investment projects are in practice exempted from competition measures. Assuming that a positive impact is a matter of fact is thus premature. A hold-up problem (where industry is reluctant to invest due to regulatory uncertainty and a lack of incentives) is difficult to quantify empirically. However, the industry's strong opposition to ownership unbundling coupled with the popularity of exemptions from third party access while still allowing long-term contracts does indicate that the general argument in favour of a hold-up problem has empirical relevance.
Liberalisation versus National Protectionism
Authors: Versteegh Lia
Published: February 2017

The new European Postal Directive of 2008 provides the postal market with new opportunities as it allows for the gradual development of competition of services of general interests in Europe. However, the directive leaves room for uncertainties and the full opening of the postal market is hampered by a number of existing and emerging barriers. Thus the European Commission is handling complaints about state aid which is granted to national postal services in order to facilitate their role as service of national interest. Much harder to challenge are a number of “de facto barriers” which fall outside competition law. Currently, the infringement procedure is the aggressive weapon against Member States contravening the Treaty. However, this procedure does not offer an overall solution to remove all trade barriers especially the “de facto barriers”. In contrast, the Open Method of Coordination could be used to set policy and norms for the postal market. These could serve as best practices to manage the postal market by objectives rather than through enforceable laws.
Network Information and Prices in Public-Private Partnerships Agreements: Evidence from the French Water Industry
Authors: Huet Freddy
Published: February 2017

The literature focusing on public-private partnerships agreements points out the existence of information asymmetries that may affect the performance of these contracts. Indeed the private firm operating the service generally detain better information about the costs of the service than the public authority and may exploit this advantage to increase its profits unduly. However, empirical works trying to underline the impact of informational asymmetries on the performance of public-private partnerships schemes are still scarce. Focusing on a sample of 5000 French municipalities observed in 2004, we show that the water price increases as information on the network improves when the service is managed directly by the municipality. However such a link is not observed when the service is delegated to privates firms. This result may indicate that the costs incurred by municipalities to discover information on their network are counterbalanced by the gain they obtain from the decrease in the informational advantage of the private firm, leaving the water price unchanged in delegated services.
Holes in the Water
Authors: Arnaudo Luca
Published: February 2017

This paper analyzes the state of water services for civil use in Italy, following the path of a rather ambitious reform launched in 1994 and aimed at establishing an integrated water service within a given number of optimal territorial basins. Taking into account some recent literature related to vulnerabilities typical of water services and their liberalization process, the paper checks what the author considers to be the biggest difficulties and failures experienced by the Italian reform, such as regulatory inefficiency, investment sustainability, conflicts of interests spreading amongst public local administrations and companies providing the services. A specific insight into competition drivers of the water industry in Italy is also given by means of a series of recent decisions taken from the archives of the national antitrust authority. On the basis of this general survey, serious doubts are conclusively cast on the quality of the regulatory and institutional framework adopted in Italy for the liberalization of water services.
Regulators as Reflexive Governance Platforms
Authors: Brousseau Eric , Glachant Jean-Michel
Published: February 2017

Network industries are now characterized by a regime of permanent innovation, while they continue to be fixed and sunk cost industries, due to the high level of investments in R&D and infrastructures. Players in these industries need to coordinate their investments; hence a threat of collusion. In the same time competition is fierce due to the opportunities brought by innovations; hence the permanent risk of catastrophic evolutions due to systemic interdependencies. To balance this dilemma between coordination and competition, independent third parties granted with capabilities to influence the “rules of the game” are needed. They need however to access critical information and knowledge. Coordination of investments requires figuring out the possible futures of the technology and of the industry. Avoiding oligopoly capture relies on an understanding of costs and business models. Since the relevant information and knowledge are dispersed and permanently evolving, regulators have to organize fora in which the stakeholders have incentives to reveal information, both because they need to learn from others, and because they seek to influence the industry regulation. Properly organized fora establish an open information competition among stakeholders, which can be penalized if they hide or distort information too much.
The Universal Service Obligation for Telephone Directories: Regulating the Redundant
Authors: De Smet Dries , Van Cayseele Patrick
Published: February 2017

In this article, we examine the universal service obligation for telephone directories. In most countries, this obligation consists of two parts. First, publishers must offer a comprehensive directory, including all telephone subscribers. Second, this directory should be available to all users. Building a simple theoretical model, inspired by the literature on two-sided markets, we find that one of these two obligations is redundant. Imposing availability to all users is sufficient to induce publishers to offer a comprehensive directory. The reverse however does not hold.
Liberalization Models in the Electricity Sector: The Impact of the Market for Corporate Control in Britain and Spain (1996–2010)
Authors: del Real Rocío Valdivielso , Goyer Michel
Published: February 2017

Liberalization and re-regulation have brought along major changes in the regulated environment of utility industries, and particularly in the electricity sector. Nonetheless, the impact of these developments exhibits substantial differences. This article analyses the diverging impact of the market for corporate control (i.e. takeovers) on the evolution of the electricity sector in Britain and Spain. Takeovers have been prominent in the restructuring of the electricity sector in Britain. Every single privatised company has been acquired by foreign rivals in a short span of time. The Spanish electricity sector, in contrast, has been unequally exposed to takeovers: changes in ownership at Iberdrola and Union Fenosa were characterised by a friendly transition while Endesa has been acquired by Enel despite the preferences of Spanish policy-makers for the building of national champions. The argument presented in this article stresses the continuing importance of three key national institutions of corporate governance –ownership structures of listed companies; the system of corporate law and its associated voting rights procedures; and the degree of independence of regulatory authorities.
Need for Coherence between Institutions and Technologies: The Example of Uncertain Train Paths in France
Authors: Perennes Patricia
Published: February 2017

This article examines the organizational structure of the French freight railway industry – more precisely the capacity allocation process – through the lens of the theory of “coherence between institutions and technology” developed by Finger, Groenewegen Künneke and Ménard.

The French capacity allocation process currently faces a major shortcoming: more than 40% of the capacity attributed to freight train operating companies (TOCs) is “uncertain”, i.e. TOCs cannot be sure they can run their trains up to a few days before planned operations. This uncertainty has strong consequences for the performance of the entire industry. Rail freight is viewed by freight customers as unreliable and uncompetitive compared to truck freight.

This bad performance is explained by the poorly designed institutional framework of the French rail industry. Institutions of this sector were reformed to introduce competition in the late 1990s. The liberalization process did not take into account the technical functioning of rail capacity allocation and split responsibilities for this task between several actors with diverging preferences.

To solve this issue, the French government should recast rail industry institutions and give more power to the rail regulator. The preferences of the various stakeholders should be realigned accordingly.
Achieving Alignment between Institutions and Technology, the Case of Radio Spectrum
Authors: Anker Peter , Lemstra Wolter
Published: February 2017

This paper deals with the alignment between institutions and technology in the case of the radio spectrum. The current theories on co-evolution and coherence address the need for alignment, but they don't resolve how this alignment could be achieved. This paper emphasizes the role of the actors to achieve alignment. This perspective is illustrated through a review of historical cases of changes in radio spectrum management and the introduction of new (radio) technology. It is followed by a proposal how to deal with alignment in the case of the introduction of cognitive radio, a promising new radio technology that could be used to improve spectrum utilization.
Understanding Institutional Change: The Development of Institutions for the Regulation of the Natural Gas Supply Systems in the United States and the European Union
Authors: Correljé Aad , Groenleer Martijn , Veldman Jasper
Published: February 2017

This article compares the development of the institutions that regulate the natural gas supply systems in the United States and the European Union. Given the technical and functional similarities of these systems, the question arises as to why regulatory institutions in the US and the EU gas markets have developed in such different ways. In this study we have adopted a historical and dynamic approach, in which institutional outcomes are explored not only by focusing on ‘historic breaks’ in structural technological and economic conditions in the US and Europe, but also by looking at the ‘politics of regulation’. We illustrate the analytical value of applying a framework of incremental change over time within regulatory institutions, identifying different modes including displacement and layering, and introducing a new mode: ‘compartmentalization.’ We show that both pre-existing and newly created actors play important strategic roles in the process of institutional change and the creation of regulation, influencing the coordination between public and private parties as well as the interaction of federal and state levels in the US and supranational and national ‘orders’ in the EU. Our exploration is based on a systematic analysis of the literature on US and EU regulation of the natural gas supply systems since their early beginnings.
Connection Pricing and Universal Service Obligations in Distribution Networks
Authors: Crampes Claude , Laffont Mathias
Published: February 2017

This article provides an economic view on how the connection to a distribution network should be priced when the operator considers the spatial distribution of consumers. It highlights the impact of public service constraints on the investment in service quality, the size of the network and the connection fee. The main ingredient is the geographical dispersion of potential consumers in the distribution area and the costs linked to this dispersion as opposed to those common to all connected customers. We first determine the optimal size of the network. Its characteristics lead to a price structure undesirable from two points of view: i) the net profit of the operator is negative, ii) the price paid proportionally to distance can be viewed as discriminatory by politicians who favor “postage stamp”. We then successively determine the second-best pricing policy under a budget constraint and an intra-zone price adjustment. Finally, we analyze the redistributive effects of two-part pricing if the operator has the obligation to serve a certain number of consumers and to recoup its cost.
Divergence in Convergence. Governance Patterns of Italian Former Public Enterprises through Social Network Analysis
Authors: Manzo Cecilia , Di Giulio Marco , Galanti Maria Tullia , Moro Francesco N.
Published: February 2017

The article analyses the boards of Italian listed companies and applies Social Network Analysis (SNA) to the members of board of directors of the former public enterprises in the Italian stock market. The description of these networks is a useful tool to envisage what relational resources public enterprises hold through their members, compare them within-country and cross-sector, assess individual resources, and describe the differences between companies owned by local and national governments. The overall aim is to provide a more complete picture of the patterns of state intervention in the economy and to develop measures and hypothesis for future studies.
The Effects of Liberalization Policies on Price and Quality of Services in the European Union Postal Market
Authors: Cetin Volkan Recai , Irmak Isil
Published: February 2017

This study examines the effects of postal services liberalization and postal market characteristics such as productivity and population density on sector performance indicators of price and quality of service for the EU-27 countries. The EU-27 countries are classified into two groups according to the existence of legal monopoly: high degree and low degree of market opening countries. The results, based on a cross-section country level data belonging to the EU-27 countries for the year 2010, indicate that there is not a statistically significant relationship between the degree of legal openness in the market and performance indicators of price and quality of service. Our analyses show that labour productivity is a key factor which has a statistically significant negative impact on prices and positive impact on quality of services.
In Search of Efficiency in Telecoms
Authors: de Paz José Carlos Laguna
Published: February 2017

Agreements between telecom operators are allowed, as long as they do not distort competition (Article 101(1) TFEU). In this paper we explore the possibilities for undertakings to cooperate while competing for business. Telecoms are a regulated industry. Therefore operators are not only subject to competition rules, but also to ex ante regulation. However, both kinds of rule tend to play complementary roles. We cannot ignore that there are factors in the industry which may be likely to favour anti-competitive agreements. Notwithstanding this, many agreements are expected to improve efficiency or even enhance competition in the industry. In particular, co-investment agreements may facilitate the deployment of new networks. On the other hand, agreements which restrict competition can be allowed whenever their pro-competitive effects compensate for the restriction of competition (Article 101(3) TFEU). In this sense, most of the joint ventures have been cleared by the Commission due to their positive effects on competition. However, strengthening cooperation is not a way to avoid merger scrutiny.
Issues and Options in the Economic Regulation of European Network Security
Authors: Jamasb Tooraj , Nepal Rabindra
Published: February 2017

Incentive regulation needs to adapt to the emerging changes in the operating environment of the electricity networks and take into account the security of these. This paper assesses the current issues and options in economic regulation of network security across the European electricity systems. An output-oriented incentive regulatory approach combines the efficiency promoting mechanisms in a revenue cap framework with output-based incentives such as better provision of network security. Thus, incentive regulation is destined to move from pursuing the optimal to being more practical. The RIIO regulatory framework in the UK and the service quality regulation in Italy provide good examples of application of output-based regulation. We also propose an output-based approach for regulation of network security, which accounts for the risks from natural, accidental and malicious threats. We conclude that regulation for network security may also require looking beyond economic network regulation and focus on the wider security policy and regulation interface considering the risks facing the electricity networks.
Using Supervised Environmental Composites in Production and Efficiency Analyses
Authors: Orea Luis , Growitsch Christian , Jamasb Tooraj
Published: February 2017

Although supervised dimension reduction methods have been extensively applied in different scientific fields, they have hardly ever been used in production economics. Nonetheless, these methods can also be useful in regulation of natural monopolies, where firms' cost and performance are affected by a large number of environmental factors. As economic theory suggests, at the presence of other relevant production or cost drivers, the traditional all-inclusive assumption is not satisfied. This paper shows that purging the data allows us to address this issue when analyzing the effect of weather and geography on efficiency in the context of the Norwegian electricity distribution networks.
Broadband Network Evolution and Path Dependency
Authors: Knieps Günter , Zenhäusern Patrick
Published: February 2017

If market power regulation is necessary from a network economic point of view due to the absence of active or potential competition, the principle of minimal regulation should be applied. Thus, parameters of investment decisions should be left to market participants. Unfortunately, so far no lessons for the regulation of the telecommunications sector were drawn from the disincentive effects of the “ladder of investment approach”. On the contrary, regulators now not only intend to create investment incentives for new entrants; at the same time they also attempt to create incentives for incumbents to make specific investments in broadband networks. The purpose of this paper is to show how regulatory failures in the context of broadband network evolution can be overcome. Path dependency is revealed to be a creative process driven by entrepreneurial decision making. Market power regulation designed to foster technology policy issues (e.g. increasing investment incentives) would disturb this process and, from a network economic point of view, reflect a misinterpretation of the regulatory mandate.
Reviewing Regulatory Policy for Broadband in Turkey
Authors: Köksal Emin , Ardiyok Çahin
Published: February 2017

More than ten years after the liberalization of the telecommunications industry, Turkey still has the least penetrated and most concentrated broadband market in Europe. This paper investigates the poor performance of the Turkish broadband market, emphasizing institutional limitations of promoting service-based competition through the ladder of investment approach. In particular, the paper argues that the aforementioned type of broadband policy has failed and delayed facility-based competition. The paper first illustrates failures in serviced-based competition. Then it examines the potential and limits of the newly emerging facility-based competition through next generation access networks.