bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Neutrality of Interchange Fees in Payment Systems
Authors: Gans Joshua S , King Stephen P 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
There has been considerable public debate over the effect of interchange fees on credit card transactions. Regulators in Australia and Europe have argued that these fees can be set by banks to have an anticompetitive effect. In the US, it has been argued that these fees, together with a rule that prevents a surcharge for credit purchases, might create a cross subsidy between cash and credit customers. Academics have noted that, in particular circumstances, interchange fees have no real effects in the absence of such a no-surcharge rule. This paper demonstrates that the potential neutrality of interchange fees is a general result. We show that in the absence of a no surcharge rule or, alternatively, if there is perfect competition at the merchant level, interchange fees can be changed without leading to any real effects. This result does not depend on the degree or nature of competition at either the bank or the merchant level. We conclude that the elimination of no surcharge rules may provide practical policy solutions for authorities concerned about the level of interchange fees.
Do Long Work Hours Contribute to Divorce?
Authors: Johnson John H. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Despite frequent claims in the popular press that Americans are working longer hours to the detriment of their families, little academic research has directly tested this proposition. I provide new descriptive evidence on the link between work hours of married couples and the likelihood that a couple will get divorced. Using samples of working couples from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, I uncover several key facts: First, the incidence of divorce is much greater when both spouses are working than when only one spouse is employed. Second, the work hours of women are more highly correlated with divorce than are the work hours of men. Finally, despite these robust correlations, it is difficult to attribute a causal effect of work hours to divorce propensity.
WTO Negotiations on Market Access in Agriculture: a Comparison of Alternative Tariff Cut Proposals for the EU and the US
Authors: Bureau Jean-Christophe , Salvatici Luca 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
This paper provides a summary measure of the possible new commitments in the area of agricultural market access undertaken by the European Union and the United States, using the Trade Restrictiveness Index (TRI) as the tariff aggregator. We take the 2001 bound tariffs as the starting point and attempt to assess how much liberalization in agriculture could be achieved in the European Union and the United States as a result of the present negotiations. We compute the index for 20 agricultural commodity aggregates under the actual commitments assuming a specific functional form for import demand. We compare the present levels of the TRI with three hypothetical cases: a repetition of the same set of tariff cuts commitments of the Uruguay Round according to a EU proposal prior to the 2003 WTO ministerial meeting, a uniform 36% reduction of each tariff, an harmonization ( "Swiss" ) formula based on the initial US proposal.
National Treatment and the Choice Between Exports and FDI
Authors: Hoekman Bernard , Saggi Kamal 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
International trade agreements increasingly constrain the ability of governments to use trade policies. Fewer international constraints apply to the use of investment policies, although there is discussion about negotiating such disciplines both regionally and multilaterally. Since firms compete in foreign markets via both exports and foreign direct investment(FDI), the following question arises: can constraints on the use of only one type of policy (trade or FDI) induce firms to adopt inefficient modes of supply when serving foreign markets? We address this question in a model in which a local and a foreign firm compete in the domestic market. In the model, the domestic government's trade and/or FDI policies as well as the foreign firm's choice between exports and FDI are endogenous. We show that even if the domestic government is constrained only in its ability to use trade (FDI) policy, and is free to set its FDI (trade) policy, the foreign firm chooses the efficient mode of supply. The key point is that it is never in the interest of the domestic government to set policies in a manner that leads the foreign firm to adopt an inefficient mode of supply.
Real Options, Conflicting Valuations, and Favoritism
Authors: Arya Anil , Glover Jonathan 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
In this paper, limited managerial capacity gives rise to a timing option: agents can implement projects now-or-later. Because each agent cares only about the project he implements, while the principal cares about the projects undertaken in aggregate, the timing option may be valued differently by the principal and the agents. Under a fair assignment rule (one that treats the agents symmetrically), these conflicting valuations result in agents sometimes not implementing the principal's desired projects. We identify conditions under which the optimal assignment rule necessarily exhibits favoritism. Favoritism is beneficial because it provides appropriate incentives to the unfavored agent by reducing his option value of waiting.
The Selection Effects (and Lack Thereof) in Patent Litigation: Evidence from Trials
Authors: Marco Alan C. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Using a selection corrected probit, I estimate the probability that patents will be found valid and infringed at trial. I combine for the first time detailed adjudication data with detailed patent data. I find that the selection effects for validity adjudications and infringement adjudications differ systematically. Additionally, infringement estimates do not appear to suffer from a substantial selection bias. The results highlight the importance of correctly specifying the selection mechanism in policy analysis. In contrast with previous studies, I find that the win rate for patents that go to trial is biased towards 50%. The bias is much more substantial for validity decisions, where I find unconditional win rates of 75% for adjudicated patents and 85% for matched patents. Win rates conditional on adjudication are below 60%.
Media Competition on the Internet
Authors: Barros Pedro P , Kind Hans Jarle , Nilssen Tore , Sørgard Lars 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
We present a model of competition between two advertising-financed media firms when consumers dislike advertising. We apply the model to analyze competition between Internet portals and find that equilibrium prices of advertising are higher the less differentiated the portals are perceived to be. Moreover, we find that the portals' aggregate profit increases if they integrate vertically with advertisers. This is true even if there is perfect competition between advertisers for advertising space. But if the portals are close substitutes, then it is profitable for one of the portals not to combine with an advertiser, and we end up with an asymmetric equilibrium with only one vertical merger - despite aggregate profits being higher with two.
Evaluation of Multiple Models to Distinguish Closely Related Forms of Disease Using DNA Microarray Data: an Application to Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Hardin Johanna , Waddell Michael , Page C. David , Zhan Fenghuang , Barlogie Bart , Shaughnessy John , Crowley John J 
Published: December 2005

Motivation: Standard laboratory classification of the plasma cell dyscrasia monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and the overt plasma cell neoplasm multiple myeloma (MM) is quite accurate, yet, for the most part, biologically uninformative. Most, if not all, cancers are caused by inherited or acquired genetic mutations that manifest themselves in altered gene expression patterns in the clonally related cancer cells. Microarray technology allows for qualitative and quantitative measurements of the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously, and it has now been used both to classify cancers that are morphologically indistinguishable and to predict response to therapy. It is anticipated that this information can also be used to develop molecular diagnostic models and to provide insight into mechanisms of disease progression, e.g., transition from healthy to benign hyperplasia or conversion of a benign hyperplasia to overt malignancy. However, standard data analysis techniques are not trivial to employ on these large data sets. Methodology designed to handle large data sets (or modified to do so) is needed to access the vital information contained in the genetic samples, which in turn can be used to develop more robust and accurate methods of clinical diagnostics and prognostics.Results: Here we report on the application of a panel of statistical and data mining methodologies to classify groups of samples based on expression of 12,000 genes derived from a high density oligonucleotide microarray analysis of highly purified plasma cells from newly diagnosed MM, MGUS, and normal healthy donors. The three groups of samples are each tested against each other. The methods are found to be similar in their ability to predict group membership; all do quite well at predicting MM vs. normal and MGUS vs. normal. However, no method appears to be able to distinguish explicitly the genetic mechanisms between MM and MGUS. We believe this might be due to the lack of genetic differences between these two conditions, and may not be due to the failure of the models. We report the prediction errors for each of the models and each of the methods. Additionally, we report ROC curves for the results on group prediction.Availability: Logistic regression: standard software, available, for example in SAS. Decision trees and boosted trees: C5.0 from www.rulequest.com. SVM: SVM-light is publicly available from svmlight.joachims.org. Naïve Bayes and ensemble of voters are publicly available from www.biostat.wisc.edu/~mwaddell/eov.html. Nearest Shrunken Centroids is publicly available from http://www-stat.stanford.edu/~tibs/PAM.
Increasing Power for Tests of Genetic Association in the Presence of Phenotype and/or Genotype Error by Use of Double-Sampling
Authors: Gordon Derek , Yang Yaning , Haynes Chad , Finch Stephen J , Mendell Nancy R , Brown Abraham M , Haroutunian Vahram 
Published: December 2005

Phenotype and/or genotype misclassification can: significantly increase type II error probabilities for genetic case/control association, causing decrease in statistical power; and produce inaccurate estimates of population frequency parameters. We present a method, the likelihood ratio test allowing for errors (LRTae) that incorporates double-sample information for phenotypes and/or genotypes on a sub-sample of cases/controls. Population frequency parameters and misclassification probabilities are determined using a double-sample procedure as implemented in the Expectation-Maximization (EM) method. We perform null simulations assuming a SNP marker or a 4-allele (multi-allele) marker locus. To compare our method with the standard method that makes no adjustment for errors (LRTstd), we perform power simulations using a 2^k factorial design with high and low settings of: case/control samples, phenotype/genotype costs, double-sampled phenotypes/genotypes costs, phenotype/genotype error, and proportions of double-sampled individuals. All power simulations are performed fixing equal costs for the LRTstd and LRTae methods. We also consider case/control ApoE genotype data for an actual Alzheimer's study.The LRTae method maintains correct type I error proportions for all null simulations and all significance level thresholds (10%, 5%, 1%). LRTae average estimates of population frequencies and misclassification probabilities are equal to the true values, with variances of 10e-7 to 10e-8. For power simulations, the median power difference LRTae-LRTstd at the 5% significance level is 0.06 for multi-allele data and 0.01 for SNP data. For the ApoE data example, the LRTae and LRTstd p-values are 5.8 x 10e-5 and 1.6 x 10e-3, respectively. The increase in significance is due to adjustment in the LRTae for misclassification of the most commonly reported risk allele. We have developed freely available software that performs our LRTae statistic.
Role of Fuzzy Sets in Power System State Estimation
Authors: Shahidehpour Mohammad , marwali muhammad 
Published: December 2005

This paper presents an enhancement to the least median of squares (LMS) estimation in the power system state estimation. A weighted least square estimation may be used in conjunction with LMS, yet LMS could face difficulties for eliminating bad data in specific cases. The proposed method, denoted as fuzzy LMS+LAV estimation, employs the applications of fuzzy sets to improve the accuracy of LMS. The proposed method applies the LMS method to determine the bounds of residuals and then applies fuzzy sets to the least absolute value (LAV) estimator to eliminate bad data. The paper shows that the proposed method produces more accurate estimate of power system states than that of LMS. The complementary advantages of fuzzy LAV and LMS estimators without lengthy computational efforts, which are targeted by this paper include: *	less computational effort than the fuzzy LAV. *	better accuracy than LMS. *	same if not better robustness than both estimators. A qualitative comparison illustrates the superior robustness of the proposed method in the presence of leverage bad data.
Working Time and Employment Under Uncertainty
Authors: Chen Yu-Fu , Funke Michael 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
The standard literature on working time has modelled the decisions of firms in a deterministic framework in which firms can choose between employment and overtime (given mandated standard hours). Contrary to this approach, we consider the impact of uncertainty and real options on the decision of working time and examine the determinants of employment and hours in a stochastic framework. A number of simulation exercises to illustrate the workings of the model are also undertaken.
Household Income Dynamics in Two Transition Economies
Authors: Lokshin Michael , Ravallion Martin 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
We test for the existence of poverty traps and distribution-dependent growth using a nonlinear dynamic panel data model of household incomes allowing for endogenous attrition. Our estimates for Hungary and Russia in the 1990s reveal significant nonlinearity in the dynamics, consistent with the claim that income inequality attenuates growth in mean income. However, we do not find evidence of a threshold effect at low incomes, as postulated by models of dynamic poverty traps. Our results indicate that households generally bounce back from transient shocks, though we find that the adjustment process is slower for households who are poorer in steady state.
Serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins in dogs with leishmaniosis during short-term treatment
Authors: Martínez-Subiela Silvia , Bernal Luis J. , Cerón José J. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To evaluate changes in serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins in dogs with leishmaniosis during short-term therapy in accordance with 2 treatment protocols and determine whether concentrations of acute-phase proteins could be used to monitor the initial response of dogs to treatment.Animals—12 dogs naturally infected withLeishmania infantum.Procedure—Dogs were allocated into 2 groups. Dogs of group 1 were treated by use of meglumine antimonate (100 mg/kg, SC, q 24 h) administered concurrently with allopurinol (15 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) for 20 days and then with allopurinol alone at the same dosage for the subsequent 30 days. Dogs of group 2 were treated by administration of allopurinol alone (15 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) for 60 days). Blood samples were obtained before and during treatment for measurement of serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins and determination of CBC counts, serum biochemical analyses, and electropherograms.Results—All dogs evaluated in the study had increased concentrations of C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, and ceruloplasmin at the time of diagnosis of leishmaniosis. Mean concentration of serum amyloid A before treatment was also increased, but some of the dogs had concentrations of serum amyloid A that were within the reference range. Concentrations of C-reactive protein and ceruloplasmin decreased significantly in all dogs at the end of the study period.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Measurement of concentrations of selected acute-phase proteins, such as C-reactive protein or ceruloplasmin, could be used to evaluate the initial response of dogs with leishmaniosis to treatment. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:102–1026)
Geometric symmetry of the solar surface of hooves of Thoroughbred racehorses
Authors: Roland Elizabeth , Stover Susan M. , Hull Maury L. , Dorsch Katie 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To define a 3-dimensional (3-D) coordinate system with clear definitions of origins and axes relative to hoof anatomic features and determine whether solar surfaces of Thoroughbred racehorse hooves have geometric asymmetry in the mediolateral and dorsopalmar directions.Sample Population—Left forelimb hooves from 20 Thoroughbred racehorse cadavers.Procedure—A right-handed 3-D coordinate axes system centered on the collateral sulci was defined for the left front hoof. Orthogonal distances of anatomic features from the dorsopalmar axis and the plane coincident with the ground were measured and compared between medial and lateral sides and between dorsal and palmar regions of the hoof.Results—The hoof was wider and had a greater radius laterally than medially. The most distal part of the lateral bar of the frog was further from the dorsopalmar axis than that of the medial bar. Overall, mediolateral asymmetries in depth were not observed. The sole at the perimeter was deeper medially in the dorsal part of the hoof and laterally in the palmar part, with depth overall being greater palmarly than dorsally. Most features had dorsopalmar asymmetry.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—When the angle bisected by the collateral sulci is used to determine the dorsopalmar axis of the hoof, most central structures (bars and collateral sulci) have mediolateral symmetry. However, the hoof wall and sole have some mediolateral asymmetries and most structures have dorsopalmar asymmetry. These findings may assist the development of devices for attachment to hooves and studies of the interaction of hooves with bearing surfaces. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:1030–1039)
Comparison of plasma and interstitial fluid concentrations of doxycycline and meropenem following constant rate intravenous infusion in dogs
Authors: Bidgood Tara L. , Papich Mark G. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective—To compare plasma (total and unbound) and interstitial fluid (ISF) concentrations of doxycycline and meropenem in dogs following constant rate IV infusion of each drug.Animals—6 adult Beagles.Procedure—Dogs were given a loading dose of doxycycline and meropenem followed by a constant rate IV infusion of each drug to maintain an 8-hour steady state concentration. Interstitial fluid was collected with an ultrafiltration device. Plasma and ISF were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Protein binding and lipophilicity were determined. Plasma data were analyzed by use of compartmental methods.Results—Compared with meropenem, doxycycline had higher protein binding (11.87% [previously published value] vs 91.75 ± 0.63%) and lipophilicity (partition coefficients, 0.02 ± 0.01 vs 0.68 ± 0.05). A significant difference was found between ISF and plasma total doxycycline concentrations. No significant difference was found between ISF and plasma unbound doxycycline concentrations. Concentrations of meropenem in ISF and plasma (total and unbound) were similar. Plasma half-life, volume of distribution, and clearance were 4.56 ± 0.57 hours, 0.65 ± 0.82 L/kg, and 1.66 ± 2.21 mL/min/kg, respectively, for doxycycline and 0.73 ± 0.07 hours, 0.34 ± 0.06 L/kg, and 5.65 ± 2.76 mL/min/kg, respectively, for meropenem. The ISF half-life of doxycycline and meropenem was 4.94 ± 0.67 and 2.31 ± 0.36 hours, respectively.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The extent of protein binding determines distribution of doxycycline and meropenem into ISF. As a result of high protein binding, ISF doxycycline concentrations are lower than plasma total doxycycline concentrations. Concentrations of meropenem in ISF can be predicted from plasma total meropenem concentrations. (Am J Vet Res2003;64:1040–1046)
Antibacterial activity of short hydrophobic and basic-rich peptides
Authors: Chen Po-Wen , Shyu Ching-Ling , Mao Frank C. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective—To design short and potent analogs of
bovine lactoferricin by use of the concepts of
lipophilic bulk and cationic charge.

Sample Population—5 synthetic peptides of bovine
lactoferricin.

Procedure—Antibacterial peptides were constructed
by synthesizing several decapeptides rich in arginine
and tryptophan. Basic residues of bovine lactoferricin
(bLf 20-29; residues 20 to 29) were modified by substitution
with arginine or lysine and nonbasic residues
were modified by substitution with tryptophan,
phenylalanine, or isoleucine. Synthetic peptides of
bovine lactoferrin (LFB) were designated as LFB-RW
(RRWWWRWRRW), LFB-KW (KKWWWKWKKW),
LFB-RWa (RRWWRRWRRW), LFB-RF (RRFFFRFRRF),
and LFB-RI (RRIIIRWRRI), where R, K, W, F, and
I stand for arginine, lysine, tryptophan, phenylalanine,
and isoleucine, respectively. Peptides were evaluated
by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration
(MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration
(MBC) against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus
aureus,and Enterococcus faecalis.

Results—LFB-RW, LFB-KW, and LFB-RWa possessed
equivalent potency as bLf 20-29 against E coli.
LFB-RW and LFB-RWa had a 2-fold increase in
growth-inhibitory and bactericidal activity against
S aureus, compared with bLf 20-29. LFB-RI had the
lowest MIC value against E coli among the peptides
but lost bactericidal activity. LFB-RW and LFB-KW had
stronger bactericidal activities against S aureus or
E faecalis, respectively, as well as E coli than the
other synthetic peptides. LFB-RF also had antibacterial
activity, but this was 2-fold less than that of LFBRW,
as determined by MIC and MBC values.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In construction
of potent antibacterial peptides, inclusion of arginine,
lysine, tryptophan, or isoleucine residues
enhances effectiveness against certain bacteria, as
measured by MIC or MBC values. (Am J Vet Res 2003;64:1088–1092)