Long-range nature of Feshbach molecules in Bose-Einstein condensates

We discuss the long-range nature of the molecules produced in recent experiments on molecular Bose-Einstein condensation. The properties of these molecules depend on the full two-body Hamiltonian and not just on the states of the system in the absence of interchannel couplings. The very long-range nature of the state is crucial to the efficiency of production in the experiments. Our many-body treatment of the gas accounts for the full binary physics and describes properly how these molecular condensates can be directly probed

Readdressing the trade effect of the Euro: Allowing for currency misalignment

We know that euro-area member countries have absorbed asymmetric shocks in ways that are inconsistent with a common nominal anchor. Based on a reformulation of the gravity model that allows for such bilateral misalignment, we disentangle the conventional trade cost channel and trade effects deriving from 'implicit currency misalignment'. Econometric estimation reveals that the currency misalignment channel exerts a significant trade effect on bilateral exports. We retrieve country specific estimates of the euro effect on trade based on misalignment. This reveals asymmetric trade effects and heterogeneous outlooks across countries for the costs and benefits from adopting the euro. --Euro,gravity model,exchange rates,purchasing power parity,trade imbalances

Offshoring: why do stories differ?

This paper identifies critical modeling choices, as well as differences in the driving forces behind offshoring, that may explain differences in results. Offshoring of industry-specific tasks has wage and employment effects that are vastly different from those identified in Grossman & Rossi-Hansberg (2006), depending on how the industries differ in their average and marginal skill-intensities, respectively. Structural adjustment may occur at the intensive margin and the extensive margin (offshoring), and it may occur in opposite directions or the same direction at both margins, again depending on how industries differ in terms of their average and marginal skill-intensity

Eastern Enlargement of the EU: A Comprehensive Welfare Assessment

This paper takes a welfare-view on eastern enlargement of the EU, focusing on incumbent countries. Enlargement is decomposed into three elements: Single-market integration on commodity markets, budgetary costs from EU-expenditure policies, and singlemarket- induced migration from new to present member countries. I first use an analytical model to derive a welfare equation that identifies the principle channels for incumbent country welfare gains and losses from enlargement, including product differentiation, capital accumulation, and unemployment due to search-costs. I then propose a method that allows to extend welfare results obtained from a detailed calibrated version of this model for Germany to other incumbent countries. The approach relies on model elasticities extracted from the German model which are then applied to other countries´ idiosyncratic "enlargement-shocks". Constructing detailed indices for such country specific "enlargement-shocks", I arrive at characteristic inter-country pattern of enlargement- induced welfare effects for all EU15 countries. Aggregating these across countries reveals enlargement to be beneficial for the union as a whole, although several countries stand to suffer welfare losses

How Robust are Sign and Rank Order Tests of the Heckscher-Ohlin-Vanek Theorem?

The present paper will concentrate on four different rank order and two different sign propositions of the HOV model, which have, at various times, all been the subject of empirical analysis in the literature, and it will establish conditions, under which a given data set will support one (rank order or sign) hypothesis while at the same time rejecting another. This will shed some light on the circumstances influencing the likelihood of such non-robust test results. The paper will also examine the empirical relevance of this phenomenon of non-robustness using the multi-country data set published in Bowen et al.Research Seminar in International Economics, Department of Economics, University of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/100819/1/ECON278.pd

Modeling Heckscher-Ohlin Comparative Advantage in Regression Equations: A Critical Survey

This paper explores the possible links that one can find between rigorous formulations of the factor proporations theory and its empirical examination in a regression framework. The paper tries to bring together in a systematic way, and to evaluate the various ways that can be pursued to narrow the above mentioned gap in the theoretical justification of regression tests of the factor proportions theory.Research Seminar in International Economics, Department of Economics, University of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/100822/1/ECON280.pd

Income Distribution and Labor Market Effects of Austrian pre- and post-Tokyo Round Tariff Protection

This paper argues that focusing on short-run income distribution effects of tariffs within a specific factors model provides a much better rationale for the calculation of effective rates of protexction than does the traditional focus on long-run resource reallocation. It shows how factor price and labor market effects can be calculated from effective rates of protection, if factor specificity is introduced. Along these lines, the paper also presents some empirical results for Austrian pre- and post-Tokyo-round tariff protection.Research Seminar in International Economics, Department of Economics, University of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/100821/1/ECON279.pd

Importance of Atomic Charge Concepts in Empirical Force Fields: The SCALCHA Approach to Obtaining Atomic Charges

A general, exactly defined and simple method to obtain the parameters for empirical force fields, as applied in molecular dynamics simulations, is of great interest today. Electrostatic interactions play a very important role in molecular structures. Therefore, there is a need for a method to determine atomic charges for all molecules of biological relevance that can be used in the current monopole approach. We introduce a general, determined and simple method to project atomic charges, for example from quantum mechanical calculations, onto the existing empirical force fields

Perioperative infection prophylaxis and risk factor impact in colon surgery

Background: A prospective observational study was undertaken in 2,481 patients undergoing elective colon resection in 114 German centers to identify optimal drug and dosing modalities and risk factors for postoperative infection. Methods: Patients were pair matched using six risk factors and divided into 672 pairs (ceftriaxone vs, other cephalosporins, group A) and 400 pairs (ceftriaxone vs. penicillins, group B). End points were local and systemic postoperative infection and cost effectiveness. Results: Local infection rates were 6.0 versus 6.5% (group A) and 4.0 versus 10.5% (group B); systemic infection rates in groups A and B were 4.9 versus 6.3% and 3.3 versus 10.5%, respectively. Ceftriaxone was more effective than penicillins overall (6.8 vs. 17.8%, p < 0.001). Length of postoperative hospital stay was 16.2 versus 16.9 days (group A) and 15.8 versus 17.6 days (group B). Of the six risk factors, age and concomitant disease were significant for systemic infection, and blood loss, rectum resection and immunosuppressive therapy were significant for local infection. Penicillin was a risk factor compared to ceftriaxone (p < 0.0001). Ceftriaxone saved Q160.7 versus other cephalosporins and O416.2 versus penicillins. Conclusion: Clinical and microbiological efficacy are responsible for the cost effectiveness of ceftriaxone for perioperative prophylaxis in colorectal surgery. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel