bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pollution Havens and Foreign Direct Investment: Dirty Secret or Popular Myth?
Authors: Javorcik Beata Smarzynska , Wei Shang-Jin 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The pollution haven hypothesis refers to the possibility that multinational firms, particularly those engaged in highly polluting activities, relocate to countries with weaker environmental standards. Despite the plausibility and popularity of this hypothesis, the existing literature has found only limited evidence to support it. To enhance our ability to detect the possible dirty secret, this study makes improvements in four areas. First, we focus on investment flows from multiple countries to 25 economies in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Transition countries are a suitable region for studying this question, as they offer a large variation in terms of environmental standards. Second, we take into explicit account the effect of host country corruption. Third, we include information on both the polluting-intensity of the potential investor and the environmental stringency in the potential host country, which allows us to test whether dirty industries are relatively more attracted to locations with weak standards. And fourth, we rely on firm-level rather than industry-level data. Despite these improvements, we find no support for the pollution haven hypothesis. If anything, firms in less polluting industries are more likely to invest in the region. We find no systematic evidence that FDI from dirtier industries is more likely to go to countries with weak environmental regulations.
Pollution Havens and the Regulation of Multinationals with Asymmetric Information
Authors: Wu Xiaodong 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
This paper develops a common agency model to analyze the strategic interaction between governments in regulating polluting multinationals. We show that when a firm has private information about its production technology relating output to pollution that is difficult to monitor, the information rent extraction behavior of non-cooperative governments will work against the "pollution haven" hypothesis in a Nash equilibrium with or without pooling. The "pollution haven" result is more likely to be reversed in a separating equilibrium than in a pooling equilibrium as a firm's output is further away from the most efficient outcome. This result provides an explanation for why many empirical studies do not support the "pollution haven" hypothesis even after controlling for private non-environmental cost differentials.
Environmental Regulation and International Trade: Empirical Results for Germany, the Netherlands and the US, 1977-1992
Authors: Mulatu Abay , Florax Raymond J.G.M. , Withagen Cees 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
We empirically investigate the responsiveness of international trade to the stringency of environmental regulation. Stringent environmental regulation may impair the export competitiveness of dirty domestic industries, and as a result, pollution havens emerge in countries where environmental regulation is relatively less stringent. We examine the impact of pollution abatement and control costs on net exports in order to grasp this phenomenon. Theoretically, our analysis is related to a general equilibrium model of trade and pollution nesting the pollution haven motive for trade with the factor endowment motive. We analyze data on two-digit ISIC manufacturing industries during the period 19771992 in Germany, the Netherlands and the US, and show that trade patterns in dirty commodities are jointly determined by relative factor endowments and environmental stringency differentials.
Environmental Policy, Population Dynamics and Agglomeration
Authors: Elbers Chris , Withagen Cees 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
We present and discuss a simple model of international trade in agricultural and manufactured commodities. Production of the latter takes places under monopolistic competition, and causes pollution. We incorporate mobility of skilled labor, the input in the manufacturing sector. One of the main findings is that pollution and environmental policy tend to countervail clustering that would occur in their absence.
Using the Survivor Technique to Estimate Returns to Scale and Optimum Firm Size
Authors: Giordano James N 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The survivor technique for estimating returns to scale and optimum firm size has generated a slow but steady literature since its 1958 pilot presentation by George Stigler. This article (1) integrates advances in its application into a complete demonstration of how the technique works, (2) distinguishes a survivor analysis from the related but different analyses of individual firm growth and size distribution as addressed, for example, by Gibrat's Law of Proportionate Effect, (3) surveys a few exemplary survivor analyses, highlighting their alternative measures of scale and survival, and (4) unifies the scattered discussion of criticisms and qualifications that surround the technique. Accordingly, this essay seeks to reposition the survivor technique as a viable statistical option for research on those industries which meet its criteria.
Mergers and Deterrence
Authors: Richards Daniel J 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Changes in technology or policy create opportunities for industry restructuring and are frequently accompanied by both numerous mergers and potential entry. In the case of mergers, the combining firms have inside information regarding the strength of the surviving entity. In turn, such strength may be signaled to potential rivals or entrants by means of the acquisition price paid for the target firm. A pooling equilibrium is then possible in which even weak mergers are associated with a high acquisition price meant to deter post-merger rival aggression. The implications of such strategic behavior are consistent with much empirical evidence on mergers.
Commitment and Discretion in Health Care Policy Making
Authors: Rosenman Robert , Friesner Daniel 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
This paper analyzes the welfare effect from government sponsored insurance under two policy regimes for reimbursement levels – the first under which policy makers commit to a specific reimbursement schedule, the second which allows discretion in setting reimbursement schedules. We find that prices and quality will differ depending on which policy regimen is followed. We are able to identify a level for the policy maker’s elasticity of utility with respect to its policy tool under which government insured patients are unambiguously better off with policy commitment. The ordering of welfare is reversed if the elasticity of utility is reversed. In either case, privately insured patients may be better or worse off.
Information Transmission and the Bounds to Growth
Authors: Cozzi Guido , Spinesi Luca 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
This paper studies the long run growth implications of the presence of information acquisition and transmission costs. We assume that vertical innovation requires researchers to be informed on the current version of the product they want to improve upon; and we also assume that quasi-fixed managerial inputs are required for production in the manufacturing sector. Despite the fact the increases in total factor productivity cause R&D and managerial quasi-fixed labor costs to decrease in the same way as variable labor costs, the presence of these costs is sufficient to rule out the strong scale effect at all levels of the intertemporal returns to ideas. More importantly, the upper bound of long run growth rates crucially depends on information transmission costs.
Can Price Discrimination be Bad for Firms and Good for All Consumers? A Theoretical Analysis of Cross-Market Price Constraints with Entry and Product Differentiation
Authors: Azar Ofer H 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The article examines a differentiated-products duopoly model where the firms make entry decisions to two markets and then choose prices. The effects of product differentiation and entry costs are analyzed in two games: with and without price discrimination between the markets. Allowing price discrimination encourages more entry and tends to reduce prices and profits and to increase consumer welfare in both markets. The model suggests that firms might be better off if they agree not to price discriminate between different markets. It also suggests that when the market is not a natural monopoly, regulators should consider the effects of universal service requirements on entry before adopting them, because entry might be discouraged by such requirements, leading to less competitive markets.
Membership Diversity in Club Decisions
Authors: Biglaiser Gary , Friedman James 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
We examine a club model in which the club's policies are controlled by a homogeneous group of insiders. Their policy decision is to determine the number they will admit from two outsider groups. Countries have immigration policies, private clubs have membership policies, and professional practices also have membership criteria in which individuals may be screened. In all these organizations new members bring a material benefit to the organization, but do so at the cost of introducing a socially differentiated population of outsiders that the majority typically dislikes. It is the interplay of the material benefit and the social cost on which we focus. We characterize steady state equilibria and examine comparative statics results.
A Note on Weak Double Dividends
Authors: Metcalf Gilbert E. , Babiker Mustafa H. , Reilly John 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
A weak double-dividend is the proposition that the welfare improvement from a green tax reform, where the revenue from an environmental tax is used to reduce other tax rates, must be greater than the welfare improvement from a reform where the environmental taxes are returned in a lump sum fashion. We show in this note that a weak double-dividend need not hold in a world with multiple distortions. In an economy with multiple distortions one must choose carefully which tax rates to reduce, or one can do worse than a lump sum redistribution of the environmental tax revenues.
Citizens Should Vote on Secession
Authors: Eerola Essi , Määttänen Niku , Poutvaara Panu 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The draft treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union states that each member state may withdraw from the European Union following its own constitutional requirements. We argue that such a rule could lead into an increased use of threat of withdrawal to extract concessions in intergovernmental negotiations. This problem would be exacerbated by national electorates facing an incentive to elect more confrontational politicians. We also suggest a remedy: EU constitution should require that withdrawal from EU membership must be approved by the voters of the withdrawing member state in a referendum.
Using Importance Sampling to Improve Simulation in Linkage Analysis
Authors: Ängquist Lars , Hössjer Ola 
Published: December 2005

In this article we describe and discuss implementation of a weighted simulation procedure, importance sampling, in the context of nonparametric linkage analysis. The objective is to estimate genome-wide p-values, i.e. the probability that the maximal linkage score exceeds given thresholds under the null hypothesis of no linkage. In order to reduce variance of the estimate for large thresholds, we simulate linkage scores under a distribution different from the null with an artificial disease locus positioned somewhere along the genome. To compensate for the fact that we simulate under the wrong distribution, the simulated scores are reweighted using a certain likelihood ratio. If the sampling distribution are properly chosen the variance of the corresponding estimate is reduced. This results in accurate genome-wide p-value estimates for a wide range of large thresholds with a substantially smaller cost adjusted relative efficiency with respect to standard unweighted simulation.We illustrate the performance of the method for several pedigree examples, discuss implementation including the amount of variance reduction and describe some possible generalizations.
Evaluation of a bladder tumor antigen test as a screening test for transitional cell carcinoma of the lower urinary tract in dogs
Authors: Henry Carolyn J. , Tyler Jeff W. , McEntee Margaret C. , Stokol Tracy , Rogers Kenita S. , Chun Ruthanne , Garrett Laura D. , McCaw Dudley L. , Higginbotham Mary Lynn , Flessland Karen A. , Stokes Pam Koffend 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the veterinary version of the
bladder tumor antigen (V-BTA) test as a screening test
for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the lower urinary
tract of dogs.

Animals—229 client-owned dogs.

Procedure—Urine samples from dogs were shipped
overnight to a single laboratory to facilitate testing
within 48 hours of collection by use of the V-BTA rapid
latex agglutination urine dipstick test. Groups of dogs
included the following: 1) dogs with TCC of the lower
urinary tract, 2) healthy control dogs, 3) unhealthy
control dogs with non-TCC urinary tract disease, and
4) unhealthy control dogs without urinary tract disease.
Test sensitivity and specificity were calculated
by use of standard methods. Logistic models were
developed to assess the effect of disease status, test
conditions, urine composition, and signalment on the
performance of the V-BTA test.

Results—A total of 229 urine samples were analyzed,
including 48 from dogs with suspected (n = 3) or confirmed
(45) TCC. Test sensitivities were 88, 87, and
85% for all dogs with (suspected and confirmed) TCC,
dogs with confirmed TCC at any site, and dogs with
confirmed TCC of the urinary bladder, respectively.
Test specificities were 84, 41, and 86% for healthy
control dogs, unhealthy control dogs with non-TCC
urinary tract disease, and unhealthy control dogs
without urinary tract disease, respectively. The test
performed slightly better on centrifuged urine samples
than on uncentrifuged urine samples.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Our results
indicate that the V-BTA test is useful in screening for
urinary tract TCC in dogs. (Am J Vet Res
2003;64:1017–1020)
Calculation of the total plasma concentration of nonvolatile weak acids and the effective dissociation constant of nonvolatile buffers in plasma for use in the strong ion approach to acid-base balance in cats
Authors: McCullough Sheila M. , Constable Peter D. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective—To determine values for the total concentration
of nonvolatile weak acids (Atot) and effective
dissociation constant of nonvolatile weak acids (K
a) in
plasma of cats.

Sample Population—Convenience plasma samples
of 5 male and 5 female healthy adult cats.

Procedure—Cats were sedated, and 20 mL of blood
was obtained from the jugular vein. Plasma was
tonometered at 37oC to systematically vary PCO2
from 8 to 156 mm Hg, thereby altering plasma pH
from 6.90 to 7.97. Plasma pH, PCO2, and concentrations
of quantitatively important strong cations (Na+,
K+, and Ca2+), strong anions (Cl–, lactate), and buffer
ions (total protein, albumin, and phosphate) were
determined. Strong ion difference was estimated
from the measured strong ion concentrations and
nonlinear regression used to calculate Atot and Ka
from the measured pH and PCO2 and estimated
strong ion difference.

Results—Mean (± SD) values were as follows: Atot =
24.3 ± 4.6 mmol/L (equivalent to 0.35 mmol/g of protein
or 0.76 mmol/g of albumin); Ka = 0.67 ± 0.40 ×
10–7; and the negative logarithm (base 10) of Ka (pKa) =
7.17. At 37oC, pH of 7.35, and a partial pressure of CO2
(PCO2) of 30 mm Hg, the calculated venous strong ion
difference was 30 mEq/L.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—These results
indicate that at a plasma pH of 7.35, a 1 mEq/L
decrease in strong ion difference will decrease pH by
0.020, a 1 mm Hg decrease in PCO2 will increase
plasma pH by 0.011, and a 1 g/dL decrease in albumin
concentration will increase plasma pH by 0.093.
(Am J Vet Res 2003;64:1047–1051)
Effect of hypothyroidism on kinetics of metabolism of very-low-density lipoprotein in mares
Authors: Frank Nicholas , Sojka Janice E. , Patterson Bruce W. , Wood Karl V. , Bonham Connie C. , Latour Mickey A. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To compare kinetics of the metabolism of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) apolipoprotein B (apoB) before and after thyroidectomy in mares.Animals—5 healthy adult mares.Procedure—Thyroidectomy was performed in euthyroid mares. Kinetics of VLDL apoB metabolism were measured before and after thyroidectomy by use of a bolus IV injection of 5,5,5-2H3(98%) leucine (5 mg/kg) and subsequent isolation of labeled amino acid from plasma and VLDL. Labeled leucine was quantified by use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Production rate (PR), delay time, and fractional catabolic rate (FCR) were calculated for the 2 forms of equine VLDL, apoB-48 VLDL, and apoB-100 VLDL. Plasma lipid concentrations were measured, and VLDL composition was determined.Results—Physical appearance of horses was not altered by thyroidectomy. Significantly lower mean blood concentrations of thyroid hormones and nonesterified fatty acids were detected following thyroidectomy. Mean percentage of free cholesterol in VLDL was significantly higher after thyroidectomy. Mean plasma VLDL concentration or kinetics of apoB-48 or apoB-100 were not significantly altered by thyroidectomy. Mean ± SEM PR was significantly lower (8.70 ± 1.61 mg/kg/d) and mean delay time significantly longer (1.58 ± 0.12 hours) for apoB-48 VLDL in euthyroid mares, compared with values for thyroidectomized mares (16.15 ± 2.24 mg/kg/d and 0.93 ± 0.10 hours, respectively).Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Hypothyroidism did not significantly alter plasma VLDL concentrations or kinetics of VLDL apoB metabolism. Metabolism of apoB-48 VLDL differed significantly from that of apoB-100 VLDL in euthyroid mares. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:1052–1058)
Determination of extrarenal plasma clearance and hepatic uptake of technetium- 99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine in cats
Authors: Drost William Tod , McLoughlin Mary A. , Mattoon John S. , Lerche Phillip , Samii Valerie F. , DiBartola Stephen P. , Chew Dennis J. , Barthez Paul Y. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To determine maximum extrarenal plasma clearance of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc–MAG3) and maximum extrarenal hepatic uptake of99mTc–MAG3in cats.Animals—6 clinically normal adult cats.Procedure—Simultaneously, baseline plasma clearance and camera-based uptake of99mTc–MAG3were determined in anesthetized cats. Double exponential curves were fitted to plasma clearance data. Injected dose was divided by area under the curve and body weight to determine99mTc–MAG3clearance. Regions of interest were drawn around kidneys and liver, and percentage dose uptake was determined 1 to 3 minutes after injection. After bilateral nephrectomy, simultaneous extrarenal plasma clearance and camera- based hepatic uptake of99mTc–MAG3were evaluated in each cat.Results—Mean ± SD baseline plasma clearance and extrarenal clearance were 5.29 ± 0.77 and 0.84 ± 0.47 mL/min/kg, respectively. Mean extrarenal clearance (as a percentage of baseline plasma clearance) was 16.06 ± 7.64%. For right, left, and both kidneys, mean percentage dose uptake was 9.42 ± 2.58, 9.37 ± 0.86, and 18.79 ± 2.47%, respectively. Mean hepatic percentage dose uptake before and after nephrectomy was 12.95 ± 0.93 and 21.47 ± 2.00%, respectively. Mean percentage change of hepatic uptake after nephrectomy was 166.89 ± 23.19%.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In cats, extrarenal clearance of99mTc–MAG3is higher than that of other species; therefore,99mTc–MAG3is not useful for estimation of renal function in felids. Evaluation of renal function in cats may be more accurate via camera- based versus plasma clearance-based methods because camera-based studies can discriminate specific organs. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:1076–1080)
Evaluation of various compounds to inhibit activity of matrix metalloproteinases in the tear film of horses with ulcerative keratitis
Authors: Ollivier Franck J. , Brooks Dennis E. , Kallberg Maria E. , Komaromy Andras M. , Lassaline Mary E. , Andrew Stacy E. , Gelatt Kirk N. , Stevens Gary R. , Blalock Timothy D. , Setten Gysbert-Botho van , Schultz Gregory S. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To examine in vitro effects of various antiproteolytic compounds on activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 in the tear film of horses with active corneal ulcers.Sample Population—Samples of tear film obtained from the eyes of 34 horses with active ulcerative keratitis.Procedure—Horses were sedated, and tear samples were collected from the lower fornix of 34 ulcerated eyes by use of capillary tubes. The protease inhibitors 0.2% EDTA, 0.1% doxycycline, 10% N-acetylcysteine (NAC), 0.1% solution of a modified dipeptide that contains hydroxamic acid (ie, ilomostat), 0.1% α1-proteinase inhibitor (PI), 0.5% α1-PI, and 100% fresh equine serum (ES) were used to treat pooled samples. Amount of latent and active MMP-2 and -9 was measured by optical density scanning of gelatin zymograms of treated and untreated tear samples.Results—Pooled tear samples obtained from ulcerated eyes contained the latent and active forms of MMP-2 and -9. Compared with MMP activity in untreated samples, total MMP activity (sum of all bands detected) observed on the gelatin zymogram gels was reduced by 99.4% by EDTA, 96.3% by doxycycline, 98.8% by NAC, 98.9% by ilomostat, 52.4% by 0.1% α1-PI, 93.6% by 0.5% α1-PI, and 90.0% by ES.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—We documented that EDTA, doxycycline, NAC, ilomostat, α1- PI, and ES inhibited MMP activity in vitro. Because these compounds use different mechanisms to inhibit various families of proteases in the tear film of horses, a combination of these protease inhibitors may be beneficial for treatment of corneal ulcers in horses. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:1081–1087)
Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and cross-sectional views of the anatomy of normal nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses in mesaticephalic dogs
Authors: Rycke Lieve M. De , Saunders Jimmy H. , Gielen Ingrid M. , Bree Henri J. van , Simoens Paul J. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To use computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide a detailed description of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses in clinically normal mesaticephalic dogs.Animals—2 clinically normal Belgian Shepherd Dogs that weighed 25 and 35 kg, respectively.Procedure—The first dog was anesthetized and positioned in ventral recumbency for CT and MRI examinations, and transverse slices were obtained from the caudal part of the frontal sinuses to the nares. For MRI, T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and proton-density sequences were obtained. The second dog was anesthetized and positioned in dorsal recumbency with the head perpendicular to the table, and CT and MRI examinations were again conducted. At the completion of the MRI examination, each dog received an IV injection of heparin and then was euthanatized. A 4% solution of formaldehyde was perfused IV immediately after each dog was euthanatized. The skull was prepared, decalcified, embedded with gelatin, and sectioned into 5-mmthick sections by use of a stainless-steel knife. Each anatomic section was photographed and compared with the corresponding CT and MRI views.Results—Structures on the CT and MRI views matched structures on the corresponding anatomic sections. The CT scans provided good anatomic detail of the bony tissues, and MRI scans were superior to CT scans for determining soft-tissue structures.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—CT and MRI provide a means for consistent evaluation of all structures of the nasal cavities and frontal sinuses. Both techniques could be useful for evaluation of diseases that affect the nasal region. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:1093–1098)