Alliances and entry in a simple airline network

This paper constructs an entry and code-sharing alliances game to demonstrate that the alliance between the incumbent carriers may play a significant role of entry deterrence in a given airline network. We show that incumbents can use the alliances as a credible threat to deter the entry of the potential entrants who have no significant cost advantage. This finding suggests that the role of the alliance in entry deterrence should be considered carefully when governments promote and maintain competition in the deregulated airline network markets.

Mechanisms of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Treatment of Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis

The aims of this study were to test the efficacy of immunoglobulin and its Fab and Fc fragment in the treatment of experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) in Lewis rats, to investigate which portion of immunoglobulin is operative in the effect of IVIg, and to clarify the possible mechanisms by which immunoglobulin exerts its action in the treatment of rats EAN. EAN was induced by immunization with whole bovine peripheral nerve myelin. The immunized rats were randomized into groups, assessed clinically, electrophysiologically, and histologically, and intravenously injected with normal saline, albumin, human IVIg preparation, purified Fab or Fc fragments. The treatment efficacy was compared between normal saline and albumin groups, albumin and IVIg groups, albumin and Fab groups, albumin and Fc groups, Fab and Fc groups, Fab and IVIg groups, and Fc and IVIg groups. Methods of myelin isolation, antibody purification, and Western blot techniques were also applied. The results revealed that treatment with Fc fragment and IVIg at the onset of signs of disease effectively prevented further progression of disease, shortened disease duration, and facilitating recovery from illness as shown in clinical, electrophysiological and histological parameters. In the study which the efficacy of albumin and IVIg was compared, 5 out of 17 rats (29%) in the albumin group and 12 out of 17 (71%) in the IVIg group completely recovered from the clinical disease by day 30. The animals receiving IVIg treatment exhibited lower clinical scores, less prolongation of S wave latencies, better maintained S wave amplitudes, less reduction of distal motor NCVs, better maintained distal and proximal CMAP amplitudes, and lower histological grades. In the study which the efficacy of albumin, Fab fragment, Fc fragment, and IVIg was compared, 0 out of 8 (0%) in the albumin group, 1 out of 8 (13%) in the Fab group, 4 out of 8 (50%) in the Fc group, and 6 out of 9 (67%) rats in the IgG group completely recovered from the clinical disease by day 30. The animals receiving Fc fragment and IVIg treatment exhibited lower clinical scores, less prominent weight loss, less prolongation of S wave latencies, better maintained S wave amplitudes, less reduction of distal motor NCVs, better maintained distal and proximal CMAP amplitudes, and lower histological grades

Alliance Partner Choice in Markets with Vertical and Horizontal Externalities

This study investigates the choice between complementary and parallel alliances in a market with vertical and horizontal externalities. One composite goods firm competes with two components producers, each providing a complementary component of a differentiated com- posite good. Although the joint profits from a parallel alliance between the composite goods firm and a components producer are always larger than those from a complementary alliance between components producers, through Nash bargaining, a components producer prefers the complementary (parallel) alliance when the degree of product differentiation is sufficiently large (small). Combined with the result that a complementary alliance is socially preferable, our findings provide meaningful implications for antitrust policy.Complementary alliance; Parallel alliance; Nash bargaining; Antitrust policy

Topological phase transition and two dimensional topological insulators in Ge-based thin films

We discuss possible topological phase transitions in Ge-based thin films of Ge(Bi$_x$Sb$_{1-x}$)$_2$Te$_4$ as a function of layer thickness and Bi concentration $x$ using the first principles density functional theory framework. The bulk material is a topological insulator at $x$ = 1.0 with a single Dirac cone surface state at the surface Brillouin zone center, whereas it is a trivial insulator at $x$ = 0. Through a systematic examination of the band topologies we predict that thin films of Ge(Bi$_x$Sb$_{1-x}$)$_2$Te$_4$ with $x$ = 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 are candidates for two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators, which would undergo a 2D topological phase transition as a function of $x$. A topological phase diagram for Ge(Bi$_x$Sb$_{1-x}$)$_2$Te$_4$ thin films is presented to help guide their experimental exploration.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review B (2012