On regional integration in bank commercial lending

This paper tests the hypothesis that average interest rates for ten categories of commercial loans (short-term and long-term loans in five size classes) in the regions of the United States behave as if they were generated in an integrated national market. The tests, derived from two models of commercial lending in an integrated market , indicate that all regions are highly integrated in short-term lending in all size classes. In long-term lending, five of the six regions appear to be highly integrated in four of the five size classes. The exceptional region is the Southeast, which seems not only to be poorly integrated with the other regions but also to be far less homogeneous. The exceptional loan-size class is 0 to $10,000.

A criticism of the traditional analysis of banking competition

Revised by 78-05

The main fault with traditional research on banking competition

Revises 78-01

DISCIPLESHIP METHODS AND PRACTICES WITHIN THE YOUTH MINISTRIES OF THE CONVENTION OF ATLANTIC BAPTIST CHURCHES (1945-2010)

This research project answers the question ‘What does a historical analysis and evaluation of the youth ministries within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (1945-2010) reveal about the presence or absence of the key markers of a discipling youth ministry as identified through the lens of the theological turn?’ I critically examine Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC) youth ministries from 1945-2010. Primary sources include archival material from yearbooks, annual reports, publications of the CBAC, and surveys and interviews with key CBAC youth leaders from this period. This material was examined through the critical lens of the theological turn in youth ministry as identified and described by Andrew Root and Kenda Creasy Dean. They identified the theological turn as a grassroots movement beginning around the turn of the 21st century and characterized by theological reflection that led to correctional adjustments within North American youth ministry. I examine Root and Dean’s work, extracting and developing three markers of the theological turn in youth ministry: ecclesial integration, place-sharing, and communities of spiritual practice. I use these markers as a critical lens throughout the remainder of the project. I then present the historical background of youth ministry professionalization and the youth mission tour movement as I integrated these topics throughout the project. As well, I give significant attention to a critical examination of youth ministry resources that the CBAC endorsed, as well as to my survey and interview responses. Youth ministry structures and even youth workers themselves often did not encourage young people's ecclesial integration. Youth ministry within the CBAC consistently placed a high value on relationships, but not usually to the point of place-sharing as identified by Root and Dean. Youth leaders regularly used spiritual practices, but young people were often encouraged to practice these individually or within the youth ministry community, rarely with the church congregation. Through this research project, I demonstrate that the presence of the key markers of the theological turn increased within the CBAC, especially in the late 1900s and early 21st century. After summarizing my conclusions in the final chapter, I highlight the academic contributions of my research, interact with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and suggest a pathway toward a new understanding of youth discipleship within the CBAC

Anthropometric characteristics, upper-body strength, and sprint paddling performance in competitive surfers

The present study examined the potential differences in anthropometric characteristics, upper-body strength, and sprint paddling performance between youth and senior competitive surfers. Twenty competitive male surfers (19.1±6.8 years, 168.2±11.3 cm, 61.7±13.6 kg) were assessed for stature, mass, arm-span, ∑ 7 site skinfold thickness, Lean-Mass Ratio (LMR, ∑ 7 site skinfold/kg body-mass), pronated pull-up 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) and sprint paddling performance from a stationary start to 15 m. Independent t-tests were used to compare potential differences between youth (n:10) and senior group (n:10) of competitive surfers, with Cohen’s Effect Size (d) applied to reflect the magnitude of any differences observed. Senior surfers were not different from youth surfers for ∑ 7 site skinfold thickness, yet had greater stature (p\u3c0.001, d=2.7) and mass (p\u3c0.001, d=2.8). Consequently, the composite lean mass ratio (body-mass/∑ 7 site skinfold thickness, LMR) was greater (p=0.001, d=1.7) in senior competitive surfers. The senior surfers were faster in the 0-15 m sprint paddle test (p\u3c0.001, d=2.9), possessed higher peak paddling velocity (p\u3c0.001, d=2.3) and had greater absolute 1 RM pull-up strength (p\u3c0.001, d=2.8) and 1 RM pull-up strength relative to body-mass (1 RM pull-up mass/subjects body-mass) (p\u3c0.001, d=2.2). The results of this study suggest that practitioners working with competitive surfers should consider the importance of sprint paddle performance in surfers, and the need to optimize lean mass and relative strength, as these factors appear to distinguish between surfers of higher and lower athletic development and competitive level in the surfing population

Development of a national monitoring protocol (developmental guide) for children with visual impairment 0-36 months

Objective: The aim of this project is to provide a national developmental monitoring protocol for infants and young children (0–36 months) with severe visual impairment (VI) that is underpinned by a scientific developmental framework. The profile will be used to inform and assist parents to help their baby progress and to recognise and, where possible, overcome areas of vulnerability in conjunction with their specialist teacher for the visually impaired and other professionals. Design: The work of our group and others has shown that infants with severe visual impairment are a particularly vulnerable group within the population of children with disability. They require a developmental profile that is specific to their developmental patterns and needs. The protocol is designed to provide practical guidance for parents and their keyworker on activities to promote the development of all skills. The development of the protocol draws on our specialist team's clinical experience, recent research and other developmental scales for young children with visual impairment (e.g. Oregon) and is informed by focus groups and piloting with parents and qualified teachers of children with visual impairment. Results: We describe the justification of the developmental framework, the outcome of focus groups with parents and specialist teachers and plans for implementation including the strategy for a local and regional health and education service framework for early intervention. Conclusions: This paper describes the first stage of development of this national monitoring protocol and guidance for parents of young children with visual impairment which will have important implications for services both nationally and internationally