Changing Balance Sheet Relationships in the U.S. Manufacturing Sector, 1926-77

This paper documents trends in the sources and uses of funds, market valuations, and rates of return for a sample of U.S. manufacturing firms during the half -century ending in 1977. The major objective of the paper is to construct economic balance sheet relationships based on securities market valuations rather than on the more familiar book values used for accounting purposes. Among the more interesting long-term trends highlighted in the analysis is the finding that the widely recognized increase in debt in manufacturing firms' capitalization has come primarily at the expense of .preferred stock. A second interesting point is the contrast between the sharp fall in common equity values in 1929-32, which was entirely reversed by 1936, and the even sharper post-1968 decline which was not reversed by 1977 nor, for that matter, by 1981. This paper is an introduction to a more comprehensive study which will be part of the second stage of the Debt/Equity Research Project.

Changes in the Balance Sheet of the U.S. Manufacturing Sector, 1926-1977

This is a report on the results of a research project, sponsored by the NBER's Program on Financial Markets and Monetary Economics, which involves the collection and organization of income account and balance sheet data, at the firm level, for the years 1926-77. The primary data source for the study is Moody's Industrial Manual. Working at the firm level, it is possible to obtain accurate information on the market values of traded securities.This paper presents and discusses some of the aggregate characteristics of the dataset and also reports the results of estimating a simple portfolio model which attempts to explain changes in firm balance sheet flows for the periods 1927-35 and 1965-77.The data collected for the study, as well as software necessary to manage them efficiently, are available from the authors. An NBER Technical Paper will shortly be available to describe the dataset and software in detail.

The role of mood in a physical activity task that requires self-control

textKinesiology and Health Educatio

Physical activity counseling in overweight and obese primary care patients: Outcomes of the VA-STRIDE randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this 2-arm randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month, expert system-based, print-delivered physical activity intervention in a primary care Veteran population in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Participants were not excluded for many health conditions that typically are exclusionary criteria in physical activity trials. The primary outcome measures were physical activity reported using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire and an accelerometer-based activity assessment at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Of the 232 Veterans enrolled in the study, 208 (89.7%) were retained at the 6-month follow-up and 203 (87.5%) were retained at 12 months. Compared to the attention control, intervention participants had significantly increased odds of meeting the U.S. recommended guideline of ≥ 150 min/week of at least moderate-intensity physical activity at 12 months for the modified CHAMPS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.03-7.96; p = 0.04) but not at 6 months (OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 0.56-4.23; p = 0.40). Based on accelerometer data, intervention participants had significantly increased odds of meeting ≥ 150 min/week of moderate-equivalent physical activity at 6 months (OR = 6.26; 95% CI: 1.26-31.22; p = 0.03) and borderline significantly increased odds at 12 months (OR = 4.73; 95% CI: 0.98-22.76; p = 0.053). An expert system physical activity counseling intervention can increase or sustain the proportion of Veterans in primary care meeting current recommendations for moderate-intensity physical activity. Trial Registration Clinical trials.gov identifier: NCT00731094 URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00731094

Effects of resistance training on depression and cardiovascular disease risk in black men: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Depression is severely undertreated in Black men. This is primarily because Black men are less likely to seek traditional psychiatric treatment, have less access and more barriers to treatment, and perceive more stigma associated with treatment. Depression contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and Black men have the highest rate of mortality from CVD. Resistance training (RT) can have beneficial effects on both depression and CVD. This study will be the first randomized controlled trial to test the effects of RT on depression and cardiovascular health in a sample of depressed Black men. Method Fifty Black men with clinically significant symptoms of depression will be randomized to either (a) a 12-week RT or (b) an attention control group. Behavioral Activation techniques will be used to support adherence to home-based RT goals. Both groups will meet on-site twice/week during the 12-week program, and follow-up assessments will occur at the end-of-treatment and 3 months post-treatment. Qualitative interviews will be conducted after the 3-month follow-up. The objectives of this study are (1) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of recruitment, retention, and intervention procedures, (2) to obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy, and (3) to explore potential mediators of the effects of RT on depression. Discussion This study will advance the field of minority men\u27s health by producing new data on the effects of RT for depression, the potential mechanisms of action that may support its use, and its effects on markers of CVD risk in Black men

Mortality trend due to Hepatitis B and C in the city of São Paulo, 2002–2016

OBJETIVO: Descrever a mortalidade por hepatites B e C como causa básica no município de São Paulo, verificando a tendência dessas taxas, e avaliar a associação dessas doenças a outras no período de 2002 a 2016. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo de série temporal sobre mortalidade por hepatites B e C segundo sexo, com dados do Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade. A regressão de Prais Winsten foi usada na análise de tendência das taxas. RESULTADOS: Os achados do presente estudo mostraram tendência de declínio da mortalidade por hepatites B e C nos últimos anos, particularmente entre pessoas do sexo masculino. Essas infecções foram causas associadas importantes ao carcinoma de células hepáticas e ao HIV. Destaca-se a proporção de óbitos com menos de 70 anos de idade. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo fornece uma linha de base para pesquisas de tendência de mortalidade e de impacto de intervenções, visto o histórico de ampliação da detecção e oferta de tratamentos, incluindo os mais recentes antivirais no Brasil, desde 2015.OBJECTIVE: To describe mortality due to hepatitis B and C as underlying cause in the municipality of São Paulo, verifying the trend of these rates, and to assess the association of these diseases with others, from 2002 to 2016. METHODS: This is a time series study on mortality due to hepatitis B and C according to sex, with data from the Sistema de Informação de Mortalidade (SIM – Mortality Information Sistem). Prais Winsten regression was used in rate trend analysis. RESULTS: The findings of this study showed a trend of decline of mortality from hepatitis B and C in recent years, particularly among males. These infections were important associated causes of liver cell carcinoma and HIV. The proportion of deaths under 70 years of age stands out. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides a baseline for research on mortality trend and the impact of interventions, given the history of expanded detection and supply of treatments, including the most recent antivirals in Brazil, since 2015