Some Current Issues in the Statistical Analysis of Spillovers

Spillover phenomena are usually statistically estimated on the basis of regional and temporal panel data. In this paper we review and investigate exploratory and confirmatory statistical panel data techniques. We illustrate the methods by calculations in the stetting of the well known Research and Development Spillover study by Coe and Helpman (1995). It will be demonstrated that alternative estimation techniques that are well compatible with the data can lead to opposite conclusions.Panel data; fixed effects; random coefficients; DOLS; R&D spillover

College towns in the United States: Table

This table lists cities that in 2000 met 20 percent enrollment-to-population threshold and other criteria explained in The American College Town. See page 5 of the printed book

Model-based Geostatistics

Abstracts not available for BookReview

Cardiovascular safety of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors

Incretin-based agents, called gliptins or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4), are currently considered a promising therapeutic option. It has been known for a long time that these drugs effectively improve glycaemic control, which is reflected by significant HbA1c reduction, without increasing the rate of hypoglycaemia or body weight gain, and that they do not have significant adverse effects. Is it, however, enough to consider them as ‘safe’? No, certainly not. Currently, when assessing the safety of glucose-lowering drugs, the effect on cardiovascular system must be also (and first of all) taking into account. Except for glucose-lowering activity, gliptins have multiple pleiotropic effects and, additionally, are safe in terms of cardiovascular risk, which was proved based on the results from large clinical trials such as SAVOR-TIMI, EXAMINE and, the most recent, TECOS. The future will show whether long-term follow-up of patients treated with gliptins and the results of further trials will confirm current knowledge about DPP-4 inhibitors and expectations associated with this class of drugs

Intestinal microbiota and its relationship with diabetes and obesity

The number of people who are obese and who suffer from type 2 diabetes is one of the most prominent health problems of our time. Among commonly known reasons we may distinguish excess of food in relation to how much food energy our organism really needs (change in life style and diet), genetic predisposition, endocrine disorders, and use of medicines. However, according to latest reports, intestinal flora plays a significant part in aetiology of these medical conditions. The fact that intestinal microflora may affect body weight, sensitivity to insulin, metabolism of sugars and lipids leads to a conclusion that any change within intestinal microflora may be the reason for pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. Moreover, any attempt to modify it may cause decrease or limitation of the intensity of the medical conditions mentioned above. Intestinal microbiota is now one of the most developing subjects for research. Many of the world’s medical projects including MetaHIT (UE and China), MicrOBES (France), Human Microbiome Project — HMP (USA) focus on research on the role of intestinal bacteria for people’s health. Scientists are particularity interested in the possibility of modification of the intestinal microorganisms in order to treat or prevent many conditions including obesity and other diseases of affluence