Bank capital buffers around the world: Cyclical patterns and the effect of market power

We examine the effect of competition and business cycles on bank capital buffers around the world. We use a dataset of 3,461 banks from 25 developed and 54 developing countries over the 2001-2013 period. Banks tend on average to exhibit pro-cyclical behavior. But capital buffers seem to be more pro-cyclical in developing countries. Our results show that more competition leads to higher buffers in developed countries but to lower buffers in developing ones. This evidence suggests that the “competition-stability” thesis adheres in developed economies, whereas “competition-fragility” makes more sense in developing countries. This asymmetric result may have important policy implications, particularly with regard to new, globally-negotiated capital adequacy standards

Indirect Impact Assessment of the road segment San Juan Nepomuceno-Ruta 6 in Paraguay

This study analyzes the past, current and potential future deforestation resulting from the improvement of the road segment between San Juan Nepomuceno and the 6th route (PR-L1080) in Southeastern Paraguay. For the purpose of the analysis, the study used satellite images to detect deviations from the usual pattern of vegetation and thus identify anthropogenic change. The deforestation baseline in the study area was defined using Landsat imagery from 1987 to 2014. Using this baseline and additional datasets such as distance to roads, distance to rivers, ecosystems and elevation, a map of deforestation risk was developed at national scale and then applied in the area of influence of the studied road. For the period 2000-2014, Paraguay recorded a very high deforestation rate of 0.77% per year, while the average deforestation rate in South America as a whole is around 0.41% per year. The main causes of deforestation in Paraguay are cattle ranching, agriculture activities and infrastructure development. Currently, most of the deforestation occurs in the Dry Chaco region of Paraguay located in the north of the country. A map of potential deforestation for the year 2023 was created based on the current rates of deforestation detected using Landsat imagery and the different levels of deforestation risk in a given area. Finally, potential future deforestation rates were calculated for the studied area. The results show that the implementation of this infrastructure project will potentially increase deforestation by 1.41% in the study area, especially, if appropriate measures for the management of natural resources are not undertaken. As a path of dirt road already exists and given the geographical conditions within the studied area, the risk of deforestation is currently very high even if the road is not paved yet. Therefore, the project of paving the current dirt road has a relatively low impact on the deforestation risk in the study area and the deforestation rates are predicted to be high with or without the road project implementation. Forests in this area are therefore already under a significant amount of pressure. Indeed, if the road is built the model predicts an estimated forest loss of 15,603 hectares during the next 10 years in the direct area of influence of the road, a substantial loss in the context of deforestation restrictions in the Paraguayan regulatory framework. These findings clearly indicate the indirect impacts that road infrastructure projects (improvement, pavement and construction) could have on land use change (via habitat loss and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions). They also reconfirm the importance of not only ex-ante and detailed environmental impact assessments that should accompany any infrastructure project, but also of national and local policies aimed at discouraging deforestation and promoting compensation and habitat protection schemes, especially in areas known as important carbon sinks and essential for biodiversity conservation

State estimation and trajectory tracking control for a nonlinear and multivariable bioethanol production system

In this paper a controller is proposed based on linear algebra for a fed-batch bioethanol production process. It involves fnding feed rate profles (control actions obtained as a solution of a linear equations system) in order to make the system follow predefned concentration profles. A neural network states estimation is designed in order to know those variables that cannot be measured. The controller is tuned using a Monte Carlo experiment for which a cost function that penalizes tracking errors is defned. Moreover, several tests (adding parametric uncertainty and perturbations in the control action) are carried out so as to evaluate the controller performance. A comparison with another controller is made. The demonstration of the error convergence, as well as the stability analysis of the neural network, are included.Fil: Fernández, Maria Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Pantano, Maria Nadia. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rossomando, Francisco Guido. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Automática. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Automática; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, Oscar Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Scaglia, Gustavo Juan Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Comportamiento mecánico y dinámico de una mezcla asfáltica con adición de fibras

This article reports experimental observations on the effect of polypropylene fibers on the mechanical and dynamic properties of an asphalt mixture. Initially, a characterization of the granular and asphalt materials is performed. The design of the asphalt mixture follows the methodology proposed by Marshall. The effects of the fibers on the mechanical and dynamic properties were evaluated by the evaluation of the stability and fluency, and by experimental determination of the permanent deformation value and the dynamic module, respectively. The results show a positive effect of the fibers in the modification of the asphalt mixture. The dynamic module increases in 45 % on average with an addition of 0.60 %. The permanent deformation decreases in 27.6 % for the addition of fibers of 0.60 % and 48.8 % for the addition of fibers of 0.75 %, respectively. This behavior reflects another effective alternative to improve the asphalt mixture, increasing the resistance to disintegration abrasive effect of the traffic and retardation of cracking caused by rutting.El artículo refiere el análisis experimental en el laboratorio, del efecto de la adición de fibras de polipropileno por vía seca (reemplazo de material granular por fibra) sobre las propiedades mecánicas y dinámicas de una mezcla. Inicialmente se caracteriza el material granular y asfalto CA60/70, se realiza el diseño de la mezcla asfáltica de granulometría 0/10 (IDU RSV 2002) y asfalto de acuerdo con la metodología Marshall; se evalúa el efecto de fibras sobre las propiedades mecánicas mediante la evaluación de la estabilidad y fluencia, y dinámicamente por su valor de deformación permanente y modulo dinámico. Los resultados muestran un efecto positivo de las fibras en la modificación de la mezcla asfáltica. El modulo dinámico aumenta en un 45% promedio en un porcentaje de adición de 0.60%; la deformación permanente disminuye en 27.6% para una adición de fibras de 0.60% y 48.8% para la adición de fibras de 0.75%, respectivamente. Este comportamiento refleja otra alternativa eficaz para mejorar la mezcla asfáltica, aumentando la resistencia a la disgregación por efecto abrasivo del tráfico y retardando el inicio y propagación del agrietamiento por ahuellamiento

Enhanced Agronomic Efficiency Using a New Controlled-Released, Polymeric-Coated Nitrogen Fertilizer in Rice

[EN] Fertilizer-use efficiency is one of the most critical concerns in rice cultivation to reduce N losses, increase yields, and improve crop management. The e ects of a new polymeric-coated controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) were compared to those of other slow-release and traditional fertilizers in a microscale experiment, which was carried out in cuvettes under partly controlled ambient conditions, and a large-scale field experiment. To evaluate the fertilizer¿s efficiency, nitrogen and water-use efficiency were calculated using the measurement of different photosynthetic and crop yield parameters. Improved responses regarding some of the analyzed physiological and growth parameters were observed for those plants fertilized with the new CRF. In the microscale experiment, significantly increased yields (ca. 35%) were produced in the plants treated with CRF as compared to traditional fertilizer. These results were in accordance with ca. 24% significant increased levels of N in leaves of CRF-treated plants, besides increased P, Fe, Mn, and cytokinin contents. At the field scale, similar yields were obtained with the slow-release or traditional fertilizers and CRF at a 20% reduced N dose. The new controlled-release fertilizer is a urea-based fertilizer coated with lignosulfonates, which is cheaply produced from the waste of pulp and wood industries, containing humic acids as biostimulants. In conclusion, CRF is recommended to facilitate rice crop management and to reduce contamination, as it can be formulated with lower N doses and because it is ecological manufacturing.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, grant number RTC-2014-1457-5, with the project entitled "Los CRFs como alternativa a los fertilizantes tradicionales: buscando una mayor proteccion del medio ambiente" ("CRFs as alternative to traditional fertilizers: looking for a better protection of the environment").Gil-Ortiz, R.; Naranjo, MÁ.; Ruiz-Navarro, A.; Atares, S.; García, C.; Zotarelli, L.; San Bautista Primo, A.... (2020). Enhanced Agronomic Efficiency Using a New Controlled-Released, Polymeric-Coated Nitrogen Fertilizer in Rice. Plants. 9(9):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091183S1179

Características que presentan los estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Anestesiología e Inhaloterapia, Facultad Multidisciplinaria Oriental, San Miguel, año 2019

RESUMEN: A nivel internacional se han realizado diversos estudios relacionados con la caracterización de los estudiantes universitarios, sin embargo, a nivel nacional según la búsqueda de información se observa poco interés por indagar este tipo de tema, por lo cual esta investigación propone caracterizar a los estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Anestesiología e Inhaloterapia en la Facultad Multidisciplinaria Oriental, dando a conocer cuáles son las cualidades personales y sociales que presentan, las cuales no han sido descritas en dicha carrera. De acuerdo con la metodología el tipo de estudio fue descriptivo y prospectivo de datos, tomando como población 168 estudiantes de los módulos I, III, V, VII y IX en el periodo de Enero a Junio del año 2019 de la Licenciatura en Anestesiología e Inhaloterapia, donde se utilizó la encuesta como técnica de recolección de datos mediante tres escalas como instrumento, las cuales son: escala de motivación académica (EMA), escala de Kolb para identificar los estilos de aprendizaje, y escala NSE-VL modificada para analizar las características sociales y familiares de los estudiantes. Mediante los resultados obtenidos, se puede afirmar que el estilo de aprendizaje más predominante en los estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Anestesiología e Inhaloterapia es el asimilador, a su vez, el indicador con niveles altos es la motivación extrínseca. Dentro del perfil socio demográfico se encontró que la mayoría de los estudiantes reside en la zona de San Miguel, con una prevalencia del género femenino por sobre el masculino y una edad de los estudiantes que oscila entre los 18 y 24 años de edad. En cuanto al nivel de educación de los padres, presentaron en su mayoría una educación media completa, perteneciendo a un nivel socio económico medio. ABSTRACT: At the international level, various studies related to the characterization of university students have been carried out, however, at the national level, according to the search for information, little interest is observed in investigating this type of topic, for which this research proposes to characterize the students of the Degree in Anesthesiology and Inhalotherapy at the Oriental Multidisciplinary Faculty, revealing the personal and social qualities they present, which have not been described in said career. According to the methodology, the type of study was descriptive and prospective data, taking as a population 168 students from modules I, III, V, VII and IX in the period from January to June of the year 2019 of the Degree in Anesthesiology and Inhalotherapy. , where the survey was used as a data collection technique using three scales as an instrument, which are: academic motivation scale (EMA), Kolb scale to identify learning styles, and modified NSE-VL scale to analyze characteristics. social and family of students. Through the results obtained, it can be affirmed that the most predominant learning style in the students of the Degree in Anesthesiology and Inhalotherapy is the assimilator, in turn, the indicator with high levels is extrinsic motivation. Within the sociodemographic profile, it was found that the majority of the students reside in the San Miguel area, with a prevalence of the female gender over the male and an age of the students that ranges between 18 and 24 years of age. Regarding the level of education of the parents, most of them presented a complete secondary education, belonging to a medium socioeconomic leve

Resección guiada por fluorescencia en pacientes con cáncer de lengua

ResumenIntroducciónLa fluorescencia ha sido utilizada exitosamente como pesquisa del cáncer oral, adicional al examen oral convencional, identifica áreas con cambios histológicos que son desapercibidas con luz blanca.ObjetivoSaber si la resección guiada por fluorescencia se asocia a márgenes quirúrgicos negativos en pacientes con cáncer de lengua.Material y métodosSe incluyó a pacientes con carcinoma invasivo de lengua candidatos a resección. Se evaluaron con examen oral convencional y con fluorescencia determinándose si el límite de la lesión coincidía en ambos exámenes, se marcaron los límites quirúrgicos analizándose histológicamente.ResultadosFueron 30 pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide invasivo; 10 T1, 15 T2 y 5 T3; 18 mujeres y 12 hombres. El borde de la lesión neoplásica evaluado con el examen oral convencional coincidió con la evaluación con fluorescencia en 17 (56%) y en 13 (44%) la lesión fue mayor. Los márgenes de quirúrgicos fueron negativos en 27 (90%) y positivos en 3 (10%), los positivos lo fueron en el espesor lingual, todos fueron cT3.ConclusionesLa fluorescencia identifica lesiones mayores a las diagnosticadas con el examen oral convencional en el 44% de los pacientes, favorece resección quirúrgica con márgenes negativos en el 90%, la infiltración submucosa y muscular no puede ser detectada por este método.AbstractBackgroundFluorescence has been successfully used as screening method of oral cavity cancer. In addition to the conventional oral examination, it identifies areas with histological changes that are not identified with conventional white light.ObjectiveTo determine whether fluorescence facilitates resection with negative margins in patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.Material and methodsPatients diagnosed with invasive tongue squamous cell carcinoma were evaluated with a conventional oral examination and fluorescence. To determine whether the threshold of injury coincided in both tests, the limits of section were identified and histologically evaluated.ResultsThe study included 30 patients, 18 women and 12 men; 10 T1, 15 T2, and 5 patients with T3. The neoplastic margin evaluated with conventional light coincided with fluorescence in 17 patients (56%), and in 13 (44%) fluorescence identified a larger tumour. Surgical margins were negative in 27 (90%), and 3 (10%) positives that were all in the tongue thickness and with bulky tumours (T3).ConclusionsFluorescence identifies larger tumours than those identified with conventional oral examination in 44% of patients, and ensures a longer surgical resection with free surgical margins in 90% of cases. Submucosal and muscular invasion is not detected by this method

Determinación de la Cinética de crecimiento de Rhizopus oryzae NCIM 1299 usando escobajo de uva en experimentos de membrana

En San Juan se obtienen alrededor de 30.000 toneladas/año de escobajo de uva (EU), un residuo sólido generado en el despalillado del proceso de vinificación, atrayendo roedores/insectos, emanando mal olor y peligro de incendio. Su destino es la dispersión sobre viñedos o la incineración. Una alternativa para revalorizarlo sería usarlo como sustrato en fermentaciones en donde los desechos se inoculan con microorganismos, obteniendo metabolitos de interés. El ácido láctico (AL) se usa en las industrias alimentaria, cosmética/farmacéutica y química, con una demanda mundial de 1.220 kiloton. (2016). El AL se obtiene por síntesis biotecnológica, usando materias primas sin valor, aplicando baja temperatura de proceso, consumiendo poca energía y obteniendo AL de alta pureza, siendo la fermentación bacteriana la más usada a escala industrial

Utilização de compostagem de cama sobreposta en suínos como adubo orgânico em um sistema produtivo de alface (Lactuca sativa L.) no campo

La producción porcina bajo el sistema de cama profunda genera elevados volúmenes de desechos. La gestión de estos residuos a través del compostaje permite su reciclado tras un tratamiento ambientalmente adecuado. Una alternativa de uso posterior es la aplicación de compost de cama profunda porcina (CCP) a suelos dedicados a la producción hortícola, los que generalmente presentan estados degradados. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la incorporación de diferentes dosis de CCP en parámetros productivos y de calidad en lechuga (Lactuca sativa L.) producida a campo. El estudio se llevó a cabo en la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, UNR, utilizando CCP producido en la misma Institución. Se evaluó la aplicación de cuatro dosis: 0 (T0), 6 (T1), 9 (T2) y 12 kg.m-2 (T3) en tres ciclos de cultivo: C1 (trasplante el 31/05/2017), C2 (trasplante el 23/10/2017) y C3 (trasplante el 19/03/2018). Las variables analizadas fueron: rendimiento expresado en peso fresco (RPF) y seco (RPS), número de hojas por planta (NH), área foliar (AF), índice de color (IC*) y materia seca (MS) aérea y radical. Los datos se analizaron mediante ANAVA. En general, la aplicación de CCP al suelo permitió aumentar el RPF, AF y RPS del cultivo de lechuga, disminuyendo el IC* y el porcentaje de MS en los dos primeros ciclos. La utilización del CCP en sistemas hortícolas es una alternativa viable, que permite aprovechar y optimizar los residuos generados por el este sistema de producción, disminuyendo riesgos ambientales.Swine production under the deep-litter system generates high volumes of waste. The management of this waste through composting allows recycling it after an environmentally appropriate treatment. An alternative for subsequent use is the application of swine deep-litter compost (SDC) to soils used for horticultural production, which are generally degraded. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different doses of SDC on productive and quality parameters of field-grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The study was carried out at the College of Agricultural Sciences, UNR, using SDC produced in the Swine Production Module of the College experimental field. The SDC doses evaluated were: 0 (T0), 6 (T1), 9 (T2) and 12 kg.m-2 (T3) in three cultivation cycles: C1 (transplant on 31st May 2017), C2 (transplant on 23rd Oct 2017), and C3 (transplant on 19th March 2018). The variables were: yield expressed as fresh weight (YFW) and dry weight (YDW), number of leaves per plant (NL), leaf area (LA), color index (CI*) and above- and belowground dry matter (DM). Data were analyzed by ANAVA. In general, the application of SDC to the soil increased YFW, NL, LA and YDW of the lettuce crop, decreasing the CI* and the DM percentage in the first two cycles. The use of SDC in horticultural systems is a viable alternative, which allows taking advantage of the waste generated by swine deep-litter production system, thus reducing environmental risks.A produção de suínos sob o sistema de cama sobreposta gera grandes volumes de resíduos. O gerenciamento desses resíduos por meio da compostagem permite a sua reciclagem após um tratamento ambiental adequado. Uma alternativa para uso posterior é a aplicação de compostagem de cama sobreposta em suínos (CCS) em solos destinados à produção hortícola, os quais geralmente apresentam estados degradados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da incorporação de diferentes doses de CCS nos parâmetros produtivos e de qualidade em alface (Lactuca sativa L.) produzida no campo. O estudo foi realizado na Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, UNR, utilizando CCS produzida na própria Instituição. Foi avaliada a aplicação de quatro doses: 0 (T0), 6 (T1), 9 (T2) e 12 kg.m-2 (T3) em três ciclos de cultivo: C1 (transplante em 31/05/2017), C2 (transplante em 23/10/2017) e C3 (transplante em 19/03/2018). As variáveis analisadas foram: rendimento expresso em peso fresco (RPF) e peso seco (RPS), número de folhas por planta (NF), área foliar (AF), índice de cor (IC*) e matéria seca (MS) aérea e radical. Os dados foram analisados mediante ANAVA. De maneira geral, a aplicação de CCS no solo permitiu aumentar o RPF, AF e RPS da cultura da alface, diminuindo o IC* e a porcentagem de MS nos dois primeiros ciclos. A utilização da CCS em sistemas de horticultura é uma alternativa viável, que permite aproveitar e otimizar os resíduos gerados pelo sistema de produção, reduzindo os riscos ambientais.Fil: Ortiz Mackinson, Mauricio Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Bonel, Beatriz Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Rotondo, Rosana. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Grasso, Rodolfo Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Balaban, David Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Agrarias de Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Vita Larrieu, Eduardo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentin