Mexican Banking Regulation: Evidence of the Appropriateness of Government Intervention

In this paper we investigate the validity of two assumptions frequently used to justify the transformation of the Mexican banking system through federal regulation. These assumptions are: (i) the alleged existence of economies of scale, and (ii) a homogeneous structure of the Mexican banking system. Econometric evidence from banking data over the period 1980 - 1982 suggests that neither of these assumptions are likely valid. The Mexican banking system is subject to constant rather than increasing returns to scale

Department of Animal Sciences research and reviews: dairy, 1999

Development of a novel coliform mastitis vaccine / J. S. Hogan, J. Lin, and K. L. Smith -- Bacterial counts associated with sawdust and recycled manure bedding treated with commercial conditioners / J. S. Hogan and K. L. Smith -- Environmental streptococcal mastitis / J. S. Hogan and K. L. Smith -- Efficacy of an Escherichia coli JS bacterin administered to primigravid heifers / J. S. Hogan, V. L. Bogacz, and K. L. Smith -- Contamination and implications of dioxins and furans in cattle: a review / S. M. Whitaker and L. B. Willett -- Site of nutrient digestion by dairy cows fed corn of different particle size or steam-rolled / S. L. Callison, J. L. Firkins, and B. L. Hull -- Determining the effect of soluble protein levels and urea supplementation on ruminally undegradable protein flow in a continuous culture system / K. Griswold and J. L. Firkins -- Estimation of microbial nitrogen flow to the duodenum of cattle based on dry matter intake and diet composition / B. S. Oldick, J. L. Firkins, and N. R. St-Pierre -- Effect of breed and concentrations of dietary crude protein and fiber on milk urea nitrogen / A. J. Kauffman and N. R. St-Pierre -- Quantification of the effectiveness of whole linted cottonseed as a forage substitute for lactating cows when fed with corn differing in ruminal starch availability / D. I. Harvatine, J. E. Winkler, J. L. Firkins, and M. L. Eastridge -- Effects of corn silage hybrid and level of forage NDF on ruminal fermentation and performance of lactating cows / X. Qiu, M. L. Eastridge, and Z. Wang -- Effect of oil content and kernel processing on the nutritional value of corn silage for dairy cows / W. P. Weiss -- Effects of forage NDF and yeast culture on performance of periparturient cows / Z. Wang, M. L. Eastridge, and X. Qiu -- Ohio Dairy Ration Program: now with environmental information / M. L. Eastridge and W. P. Weiss -- Forecasting herd structure, milk production and their variances for production risk management / N. R. St-Pierre, C. S. Thraen, and L. R. Jones -- Using the interests of a dairy farm family and its community to motivate systems-level research with a partnership between the university and the community / F. R. Allaire, D. Stinner, B. Stinner, J. Hartzler, R. Moore, C. Hoy, J. Dorsey, and F. Hitzhuse

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health-related quality of life in prostate cancer survivors in the health professionals follow-up study

PURPOSE: Many prostate cancer survivors experience compromised health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a result of prostate cancer. We examined relationships between types and intensities of activity and sedentary behavior and prostate cancer-related HRQOL, overall, and by demographic, disease, and treatment characteristics. METHODS: Associations between post-diagnosis activity and sedentary behavior and HRQOL domains (urinary incontinence, urinary irritation/obstruction, bowel, sexual and vitality/hormonal) were prospectively examined in men diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (n=1917) using generalized linear models. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, higher duration of total, non-vigorous, and walking activity was associated with higher vitality/hormonal functioning scores (p-trends,< 0.0001). Effects were small (d= 0.16–0.20), but approached clinical significance for men in the highest versus lowest activity categories. Survivors who walked ≥90 minutes/week at a normal pace, or faster, reported higher hormone/vitality scores (p=0.001) than men walking <90 minutes at an easy pace. Weight lifting was associated with increased urinary incontinence (p-trend,0.02). Total activity was associated with higher hormone/vitality functioning in men who were ≥5 years post-treatment, had more advanced disease (Gleason score ≥7), and had ≥1 comorbid condition. No relationships were observed between vigorous activity or sedentary behavior and HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Increased duration of non-vigorous activity and walking post-diagnosis was positively associated with better hormone/vitality functioning. Specifically, engaging in ≥5 hours of non-vigorous activity or ≥3 hours of walking per week may be beneficial. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Encouraging men to engage in non-vigorous activity and walking may be helpful for managing prostate cancer-related HRQOL

Standardisierung biogener Festbrennstoffe Materialband zum Endbericht. Bericht und Kurzfassung

The state of the art of standardisation in Germany is outlined. Relevant fuel parameters: Relevant parameters were identified in the fields of logistics, plant operation, emissions, and ash utilisation for wood and straw-type fuels and for different combustion plant capacities. - Fuel qualities and fuel grades: The effects of different fuel characteristics (water content, N, Cl content, etc.) on combustion and emissions were investigated, and practically relevant fuel qualities were defined. Possibilities of influencing fuel properties during growing, harvesting and supply were identified and evaluated. In a systemic approach, the possibilities for maintaining defined properties of biogenic fuels at different points of the process (e.g. the furnace inlet) were investigated, and possible quality criteria for future standardisation were evaluated. The results were integrated in proposals for fuel grades for standardisation. -Methods of measurement and analysis: Methods of measurement and analysis suited for biogenic solid fuels were identified by a round robin and further tests. -Glossary: A Europe-wide draft standard glossary was developed in cooperation with other European experts. (orig.)Vor dem Hintergrund des laufenden europaeischen Normungsprozesses befasste sich die vorliegende Untersuchung mit der Ermittlung, Pruefung und Vorbereitung der Grundlagen zur Normung biogener Festbrennstoffe unter den Rahmenbedingungen Deutschlands. Folgende Ergebnisse wurden erzielt: - Relevante Brennstoffkenngroessen. Es wurden die fuer eine Normung relevanten Eigenschaften in den Bereichen Logistik, Anlagenbetrieb, Emissionsbildung und Ascheverwertung identifiziert. Dabei wurde nach holz- und halmgutartigen Brennstoffen sowie nach Feuerungsanlagen unterschiedlicher Leistung unterschieden. -Brennstoffqualitaeten und -klassen. Es wurden die Auswirkungen verschiedener Brennstoffeigenschaften (Wassergehalt, N-, Cl-Gehalt, u.a.) auf die Verbrennung und Emissionsbildung fuer verschiedene Feuerungsanlagen verglichen und praxisrelevante Brennstoffqualitaeten festgelegt. Die Moeglichkeiten zur Einflussnahme auf die Brennstoffeigenschaften bei Anbau, Ernte und Bereitstellung wurden identifiziert und bewertet. Mit einem systemaren Ansatz wurden beispielhaft die Moeglichkeiten zur Einhaltung definierter Eigenschaften von Biobrennstoffen an Schnittstellen (z.B. Eingang 'Feuerungsanlage') untersucht und moegliche Qualitaetskriterien fuer eine kuenftige Normung bewertet. Die Ergebnisse muenden in Vorschlaegen zu Brennstoffklassen fuer eine Normung. - Mess- und Analyseverfahren. Fuer biogene Festbrennstoffe geeignete und vielversprechende Mess- und Analyseverfahren zur Ermittlung chemisch-stofflicher und physikalisch-mechanischer Eigenschaften wurden ueber einen Ringversuch sowie weitere spezifische Versuche identifiziert und bewertet. - Glossar. Zusammen mit weiteren europaeischen Experten wurde ein Entwurf fuer ein EU-einheitliches Glossar erarbeitet. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F04B38; F04B37 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman