Financial Stability and Monetary Policy - The case of Brazil

This paper investigates the effects of monetary policy over banks' loans growth and non-performing loans for the recent period in Brazil. We contribute to the literature on bank lending and risk taking channel by showing that during periods of loosening/tightening monetary policy, banks increase/decrease their loans. Moreover, our results illustrate that large, well-capitalized and liquid banks absorb better the effects of monetary policy shocks. We also find that low interest rates lead to an increase in credit risk exposure, supporting the existence of a risk-taking channel. Finally, we show that the impact of monetary policy differs across state-owned, foreign and private domestic banks. These results are important for developing and conducting monetary policy.

Intake Rate and Nutritive Value of Elephant Grass cv. Napier Subjected to Strategies of Rotational Stocking Management

Several research papers on forage tropical grass species have demonstrated that grazing management interferes with sward structure that, in turn, alters patterns of ingestive and foraging behaviour of the grazing animals. For that reason it has been used as explicative variable for adjustments in intake characteristics like bite mass, bite rate, intake rate and nutritive value of the consumed herbage (Fonseca et al. 2012). Tall tufted growing plants like elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) cv. Napier show a continuous pattern of growth characterised by stem elongation during their vegetative state (Da Silva and Carvalho 2005), causing swards to become too tall and out of reach for grazing animals, generating serious difficulties in executing efficient grazing management, particularly when long regrowth periods are used. In that context, the increase in defoliation frequency has positive effects on herbage intake and nutritive value (Palhano et al. 2007), since it favours leaf elongation relative to stem elongation and senescent material accumulation throughout successive grazing cycles. Against that background, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the components of the short term herbage intake (intake rate, bite mass and bite rate) and the nutritive value of the consumed herbage from elephant grass cv. Napier subjected to strategies of rotational stocking management defined in terms of pre- and post-grazing management targets

Valoració geriàtrica integral en atenció primària

INTRODUCCIÓ: L'envelliment de la població és un fet conegut que es mantindrà en els propers anys. S'associa a processos degeneratius i a més patologia, que sovint comporta pèrdua de autonomia i dependència. És el grup més freqüentador i el que consumeix major nombre de recursos sanitaris. El millor indicador de salut en ancians és l'estat funcional i la millor manera d'avaluar-la és a través de la valoració geriàtrica integral. OBJECTIUS: Esbrinar els principals problemes de salut dels ancians. Conèixer l'estat de salut i la qualitat de vida. Valorar els ancians en funció del seu estat funcional. Conèixer l'accessibilitat, utilització i freqüentació dels serveis. Esbrinar quins factors tenen més rellevància com a predictors d'incapacitat. METODOLOGIA: Estudi descriptiu, transversal. Població d'estudi: tots els subjectes majors de 65 anys del municipi de Valls, segons el padró municipal del 2001. Mostra: 322 subjectes obtinguts per mostreig aleatori estratificat per edat i sexe. Període d'estudi: 1 de Gener de 2002 al 30 d'abril del 2003. Es realitza valoració geriàtrica integral utilitzant: qüestionari general, instruments específics de valoració i examen físic a tots els subjectes de la mostra. Estudi estadístic descriptiu i d'associació de les diferents variables i anàlisi multivariant per comprovar l'efecte de diferents factors sobre les variables independents estudiades.RESULTATS: 270 individus, 83,8% de participació. Fracció de mostreig: 8,5%. Un 59,2% són dones. Mitjana d'edat: 75,7 anys. El 64,2% dels homes viuen en parella. Les dones viuen soles més sovint que els homes. El 3,3% són "avi oreneta". Un 79,3% tenen estudis primaris i un 9,9% de les dones són analfabetes. El 45,2% declaren ingressos entre 300-600 /mes, 45,9% més de 600 /mes i 8,9% menys de 300 /mes. Els homes declaren ingressos superior als de les dones. Les pensions de jubilació o viduïtat són la font d'ingressos més freqüent, 92,2% dels subjectes. El 81,1%, són autònoms per accedir als serveis sanitaris. Un 8,2% estan registrats en el programa ATDOM. Les variables associades a freqüentació són: nivell d'estudis, caigudes recurrents, hospitalització recent, exercici habitual i tenir HTA i dislipemia.Les malalties més freqüents són les osteoarticulars (46%) en dones i les cardiovasculars (33%), en homes. Globalment els fàrmacs més consumits són els antihipertensius, en dones les benzodiacepines i els antiagregants/anticoagulants en homes.Les síndromes geriàtriques més prevalents són: incontinència urinària (45,6%), caigudes (40%), hipoacusia (32,8%), restrenyiment (31,9%) i polifarmàcia (26,2%). El consum d'analgèsics té una OR=4, per la incontinència urinària. Ser dona (OR=3), polifarmàcia (OR= 2) i dependència per les ABVD (OR=3,6) són factors de risc de caigudes recurrents. La patologia articular (OR=2,4) i el consum de benzodiacepines (OR=2,4), s'associen a restrenyiment. Factors de risc per polifarmàcia: caigudes (OR=2,2), recolzament social insuficient (OR=2,2) i ingrés hospitalari recent (OR=3,7). Un 10% dels ancians, tenen deteriorament cognitiu. L'edat (OR=1,1) i la dependència funcional ( OR=3,7) són els principals factors associats La depressió és freqüent en dones de 65-74 anys. Factors de risc són: consum benzodiacepines (OR=6,4), dependència funcional (OR=4,1) i baix recolzament social (OR=5). L'estat funcional, comença a declinar als 75 anys. El factor amb major efecte, és l'edat (OR=1,2). La qualitat de vida (QV) dels ancians és globalment bona. La depressió és la variable amb més efecte sobre la pèrdua de QV en homes (OR=23,4). En dones, la depressió (OR=22,7), i variables relacionades amb pèrdua funcional.CONCLUSIONS: La valoració geriàtrica en majors de 75 anys, hauria de ser eina habitual en atenció primària. Diagnosticaríem més i millor, milloraríem el registre de patologies i factors de risc i adaptaria l'actitud terapèutica a les necessitats reals. Això comportaria major pressió assistencial, que caldria contemplar per organitzar les diferents activitats realitzades en l'atenció primària.INTRODUCTION: The aging of the population is a known fact that will be maintained according to the WHO in the coming decades. Aging is associated with degenerative and pathological processes that frequently cause dependency on other persons. The aged are the population group that most frequently consults and that uses the greatest number of the health services. The best indicator of the health of this group is the functional state and the best way of evaluating it is through Integral Geriatric Assessment.OBJECTIVES: To determine the health problems of older people. To evaluate their quality of life and functional state. To know the accessibility, use, and frequentation of the health services. To analyze the factors with a greater predictive power of incapacitation. METODOLOGY: Transversal descriptive study. Population: all subjects older than 65 years of age in the city of Valls (Catalonia, Spain), according to the 2001 city census. Sample: 322 subjects, based on an randomized sample stratified by age and sex. Period of study:1 January 2002 to 30 April 2003. Integral Geriatric Assessment via the author's own questionnaire, specific evaluation instruments, and physical examination of all the subjects of the sample. Descriptive statistical and associational study of the different variables and multivariate analysis to verify the effect of different factors on the independent variables studied. RESULTS: 270 individuals. Participation: 83.8%. Sample fraction: 8.5%. 59.2% are women. 75.7 average age. 64.2% of the men live with a partner. The women more frequently live alone. 3.3% alternate "residences." 79.3% have finished primary school and 9.9% of the women are illiterate. 45.2% declare earnings of 300-600 /month, 45.9% more than 600 /month and 8.9% less than 300 /month. The men declare higher earnings than the women. Retirement or widows' pensions are the most frequent source of income (92.2%). 81.1% have autonomous access to the health services. 8.2% are included in a program of domiciliary health care. Variables associated with hyperfrequentation are: Level of education, recurrent falls, frequent hospitalization, habitual exercise and having AHT and dyslipemia.The most frequent pathologies are osteoarticular (46%) in women and cardiovascular in men (33%). Globally, the medicines with highest consumption are antihypertensives, benzodiazepines in women and antiaggregants in men. The most frequent geriatric syndromes are: urinary incontinence (45.6%), falls (40%), hearing loss (32.8%), constipation (31.9%) and polypharmacological treatment (26.2%). Consumption of analgesics has an OR=4, for urinary incontinence. Being a woman (OR=3), polypharmacological treatment (OR= 2) and functional dependence (OR=3.6), are risk factors for recurrent falls. Articular pathology (OR=2.4) and consumption of benzodiazepines (OR=2.4), are associated with constipation. Risk factors for polypharmacological treatment: falls (OR=2.2), lack of social support and hospitalization (OR=3.7). 10% of seniors suffer cognitive deterioration. Factors with predictive value are: age (OR=1.1) and functional dependence (OR=3.7). Depression is more frequent in women. Risk factors: benzodiazepine consumption (OR=6.4), functional dependence (OR=4.1) little social support (OR=5). Functional capacity declines from the age of 75 years, age is the factor with greatest influence (OR=1.2). Quality of life is globally good. Depression is the variable with the greatest predictive valule on its loss in men (OR=23.4). In women, these are depression (OR=22.7), and variables related to functional capacity, which are the main factors of risk of loss of CV.CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric assessment in people older than 75 should be a habitual activity in primary treatment. We would diagnose more and better if we improved the recording of pathologies and risk factors and adapted treatment to real needs. This would lead to greater attention pressure which would need to take into account the organization of the different activities carried out in primary treatment

An enhanced recruitment of blue whiting in the Porcupine bank (NE Atlantic) during 2020 in response to favourable environmental conditions

A Spanish bottom trawl research survey was conducted between 2001 and 2020 in the Porcupine Bank to retrieve recruitment data. The survey was routinely carried out in September with the objective of assessing the fisheries in the area. The 2020 data showed the largest abundance of age-0 blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), with almost twice as much than in the highest previous record (2004). Thus, this study focused on determining the environmental drivers that could explain that anomalously high abundance through their impact on the blue whiting eggs and larvae survival. For this purpose, satellite SST and chlorophyll were analyzed during the spawning season (March-April), along with reanalysis wind, salinity, and ocean currents data. Our results showed particularly low wind conditions during March and April 2020, which triggered the onset of a stable Taylor Column circulation above the Porcupine Bank, helping not only the accumulation of phytoplankton biomass, which promoted secondary productivity, but also larval retention. This was corroborated by a quantile regression fit applied on the blue whiting recruitment data (September), which showed significant positive (negative) correlations with the chlorophyll concentration (wind mixing index) during the spawning season

Looking for environmental drivers of blue whiting recruitment in the Porcupine Bank (NE Atlantic)

Although temporal and spatial match and mismatch of sh larvae with their potential prey organisms is considered the main factor regulating the year-class strength in marine sh populations, di erent environmental forcings also in uence the survival rate of larvae and therefore recruitment. In 2020, the highest abundance of year-class recruits (total lenght < 20 cm) of Micromesistius poutassou was observed in the record of the Spanish Bottom Trawl Survey on the Porcupine Bank (September) from 2001-2020. Various environmental parameters, namely chlorophyll concentration, surface salinity, temperature, ocean currents, and wind data were used to study their potential impact on the blue whiting eggs and larvae survival. Our results showed that in 2020, during the blue whiting-spawning season (March-April), the calm wind situation along with weaker ocean currents above the Porcupine Bank helped to accumulate phytoplankton biomass, thus promoting secondary productivity. The optimal salinity concentration, as well as surface temperature during this time, helped the buoyancy of eggs and larvae to the food-rich surface, thus improving the larval condition and enhanced the survival rate, which in turn resulted in the largest recruitment since 200

Environmental forcing on blue whiting year-class strength in the Porcupine bank (NE Atlantic)

The highest abundance of age-0 blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou in the Porcupine Bank since 2001 was observed in 2020. Various environmental parameters, namely chlorophyll concentration, surface salinity, temperature, ocean currents, and wind data were used to study their potential impact on the blue whiting eggs and larvae survival. Our results showed that in 2020, during the blue whiting-spawning season (March-April), the calm wind situation along with weaker ocean currents above the Porcupine Bank helped to accumulate phytoplankton biomass, thus promoting secondary productivity. The optimal salinity concentration, as well as surface temperature during this time, helped the buoyancy of eggs and larvae to the food-rich surface, thus improving the larval condition and enhanced the survival rate, which in turn resulted in the highest year-class recruitment since 2001

Multidisciplinary management of cardiovascular disease in women: Delphi consensus

BackgroundCurrent clinical guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) do not specifically address the female population. The aim of this consensus is to know the opinion of a group of experts on the management of CVD in women.MethodsThrough a Delphi consensus, 31 experts in cardiology, 9 in gynecology and obstetrics, and 14 primary care physicians, showed their degree of agreement on 44 items on CVD in women divided into the following groups: (1) risk factors and prevention strategies; (2) diagnosis and clinical manifestations; and (3) treatment and follow-up.ResultsAfter two rounds, consensus in agreement was reached on 27 items (61.4%). Most of the non-consensus items (31.8%) belonged to group 3. The lack of consensus in this group was mainly among gynecologists and primary care physicians. The panelists agreed on periodic blood pressure control during pregnancy and delivery to detect hypertensive disorders, especially in women with a history of preeclampsia and/or gestational hypertension, and diabetes mellitus control in those with gestational diabetes. Also, the panelists agreed that women receive statins at a lower intensity than men, although there was no consensus as to whether the efficacy of drug treatments differs between women and men.ConclusionsThe high degree of consensus shows that the panelists are aware of the differences that exist between men and women in the management of CVD and the need to propose interventions to reduce this inequality. The low level of consensus reveals the lack of knowledge, and the need for information and training on this topic

Phyllobacterium catacumbae sp. nov., a member of the order 'Rhizobiales' isolated from Roman catacombs

Two strains were isolated from tuff, a volcanic rock that forms the walls of the Roman Catacombs of Saint Callixtus in Rome, Italy. A polyphasic approach using nutritional and physiological tests, reactions to antibiotics, fatty acid profiles, DNA base ratios, DNA-DNA reassociation and 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that the two isolates belong to a novel species within the genus Phyllobacterium. The species Phyllobacterium catacumbae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CSC19T (=CECT 5680T=LMG 22520T).V. J. and L. L. received fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC), I3P programme and J. M. G. is supported by an MEC contract from the ‘Ramón y Cajal’ program. This study was supported by EC project EVK4-CT2000-00028 and MEC project BTE2002-04492-C02-01.Peer Reviewe

Biophysical Processes Determining the Connectivity of the Alboran Sea Fish Populations

This chapter revises biogeophysical issues of connectivity processes for fish populations in the Alboran Sea—Strait of Gibraltar—Gulf of Cadiz area. Connectivity of early life history stages between distant spawning grounds is crucial to incorporate vital developmental rates that condition survival probabilities at critical ontogenic stages. Hydrodynamics is pivotal to the process and most particular for pelagic species originating from adult fish adapted to recurrent patterns. Therefore, special focus has been placed on the hydrodynamics of the region, particularly on the Alboran Sea where the swift and energetic eastward-flowing Atlantic Jet entering the basin from the Strait of Gibraltar determines the surface circulation patterns. The Jet establishes an obvious zonal west-to-east connectivity, prevents the one in the opposite east-to-west direction and works as a hydrodynamic barrier that hampers the north-to-south connectivity. The chapter addresses these processes, discusses possible mechanisms to achieve connectivity between north and south shores, which have to overcome the hydrodynamic barrier, and assesses the feasibility of east-to-west connectivity by means of intermediate-depth currents. Implications on the populations and ecosystems of the Alboran Sea and on the three main harvested species potentially affected by hydrodynamic connectivity in the basin (European hake, the sardine, and the blackspot seabream) are also commented.Preprin