► This paper concludes that competition affects risk-taking in a non-linear way. ► Bank size and capitalization are essential to explain this relationship. ► Larger banks benefit more from ...competition. ► Greater capital ratio is advantageous for banks that operate in collusive markets. ► These results are of uttermost importance for bank regulation.
This paper addresses the effects of bank competition on the risk-taking behaviors of banks in 10 Latin American countries between 2003 and 2008. We conduct our empirical approach in two steps. First, we estimate the Boone indicator, which is a measure of competition. We then regress this measure and other explanatory variables on the banking “stability inefficiency” derived simultaneously from the estimation of a stability stochastic frontier. Unlike previous findings, this paper concludes that competition affects risk-taking behavior in a non-linear way as both high and low competition levels enhance financial stability, while we find the opposite effect for average competition. In addition, bank size and capitalization are essential factors in explaining this relationship. On the one hand, the larger a bank is, the more it benefits from competition. On the other hand, a greater capital ratio is advantageous for banks that operate in collusive markets, while capitalization only enhances the stability of larger banks under high and average competition. These results are of extreme importance when considering bank regulations, especially in light of the recent turmoil in the global financial markets.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Graphene oxide (GO) foils, synthesized with the Hummers’ method, were IR laser treated in air and under vacuum at some laser fluences (300 and 600 mJ/cm
2
in air and 200 mJ/cm
2
under vacuum). ...Depending on the laser fluence and the used environment, it was possible to control the oxidation or reduction degree of GO foils. The evolution of the structural and compositional characteristics of the as-prepared GO films was examined through different physical characterization techniques. In particular, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface profilometry, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used. A preliminary Raman analysis was also carried out on some GO foils. The results suggest the gradual restoration of
sp
2
clusters within the
sp
3
matrix under vacuum or in air at high laser fluences. In these conditions, the partial reestablishment of planarity and an increase in the
D/G
intensity ratio are also observed. In air, at low laser fluences, the IR laser irradiation causes GO films oxidation, increase in roughness and greater exfoliation availability. The useful deduced information about morphology and composition make the IR laser treatment a simple method for controlling the physical properties of GO film by tailoring the oxygen functional groups, and consequently, for the production of tailor-made highly conductive and defect-free graphene-like materials or GO composites with metals and organic molecules or GO doped with heteroatoms.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Graphene oxide (GO) is prepared as a self-supporting thin film by a liquid solution of GO. The so-obtained GO films have been characterized in terms of thickness and density. The GO film composition ...and trace elements have been measured with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and Elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA), using MeV helium ion beams. The presence of crystalline and amorphous phases has been also investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Information about the GO film structure, oxidation degree and thickness has been deduced by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman and optical spectroscopy (ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis-nIR). In particular, the GO film thickness varies from sub-micrometric values up to micrometric ones. Furthermore, the GO film heating in air up to 60 °C produces oxidation effects as deduced from the interpretation of our data.
•Graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide have special properties and can be used in different fields with micro- and sub-micrometric thickness.•Graphene oxide is prepared by chemical and physical method as a self-supporting film with different thickness.•The preparation in air at room temperature produces graphene oxide with less oxygen and hydrogen content compared to that prepared at 60°C.•The ion or laser irradiation of graphene oxide produce reduced graphene oxide.•Detailed physical analyses permit to evince the chemical changes of graphene due to the temperature of the film preparation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This article proposes several conceptual perspectives designed to advance our understanding of the material and experiential conditions contributing to persistent disparities in rates of morbidity ...and mortality among groups unequal in their social and economic statuses. An underlying assumption is that these disparities, which are in clear evidence at mid- and late life, may be anchored to earlier circumstances of the life course. Of particular interest are those circumstances resulting in people with the least privileged statuses having the greatest chances of exposure to health-related stressors. Among the stressors closely linked to status and status attainment are those that continue or are repeated across the life course, such as enduring economic strain and discriminatory experiences. Also taking a long-range toll on health are circumstances of stress proliferation, a process that places people exposed to a serious adversity at risk for later exposure to additional adversities. We suggest that this process can be observed in instances of trauma, in early out-of-sequence transitions, and in the case of undesired changes that disrupt behaviors and relationships in established roles. Effective effort to close the systemic health gaps must recognize their structural underpinnings.
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BFBNIB, INZLJ, NMLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
The ex situ population of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) has become increasingly important for the conservation of this species. Unfortunately, captivity-induced stress is a concern and ...potential factor for lack of breeding success in this small felid, resulting in an unsustainable population. The objectives of this study were to: 1) validate an enzyme immunoassay for monitoring of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations in the fishing cat; 2) identify potential exogenous stressors in the captive environment; 3) pinpoint management techniques that may lower FGM concentrations; and 4) determine if FGM concentrations are related to breeding success. Through a successful adrenocorticotrophic hormone challenge and additional laboratory methods, a cortisol enzyme immunoassay was validated as an effective tool for detecting FGM in this species. Between 2010 and 2013, longitudinal FGM monitoring was conducted in 26 fishing cats in the North American Species Survival Plan®. Exogenous stressors that elevated FGM concentrations included: chemical immobilizations; permanent transfers between facilities; construction; facility events; and fights/aggression among breeding pairs. Management factors that lowered FGM concentrations included: increased animal-keeper interaction through formal training; and providing indoor, off-exhibit, holding areas. In addition, social housing of individuals (either established breeding pairs or same sex pairs) decreased FGM concentrations. Individuals with breeding success (defined as observed copulations during the study period) also had lower FGM concentrations than unsuccessful individuals. Findings indicate that management factors play a role in lowering glucocorticoid (stress) levels in fishing cats, which may ultimately affect breeding success in the ex situ population.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This paper tests whether diversification of the credit portfolio at the bank level leads to better performance and lower risk. We employ a new high frequency (monthly) panel data for the Brazilian ...banking system with information at the bank level for loans by economic sector. We find that loan portfolio concentration increases returns and also reduces default risk; the impact of concentration on bank’s return is decreasing on bank’s risk; there are significant size effects; foreign and state-owned banks seem to be less affected by the degree of diversification. An important additional finding is that there is an increasing concentration trend after the breakout of the recent international financial crisis, specially after the failure of Lehman Brothers.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and in recent years the pharmacological approach has been strongly implemented; in Italy, the prescription of the non-vitamin ...K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) was also extended to General Practitioners (GPs) since 2020. The aim of the present study was to investigate the GPs prescribing behaviour of NOACs. An observational study was performed by using the computerized medical record of 14 GPs in Sicily: patients affected by AF were selected and stratified according to the prescribed antithrombotic drugs. Patients were considered inadequately managed if antithrombotic treatment was not adherent to recent ESC guidelines. A total of 467 (2.7 %) patients were affected by AF, 276 (59.1 %) were treated with an oral anticoagulant (OAC) regardless the high stroke risk (OR 1.64; 95 %CI 0.74–3.62; p = 0.226). The NOAC users were 236 patients as follow: Rivaroxaban 33.5 %, Apixaban 33,1 %, Dabigatran 17,4 %, Edoxaban 16.1 %. In 7 patients an inappropriate NOAC treatment was observed. Among Vitamin-K antagonist users, 25.0 % were considered inappropriate. Patients not treated with OAC were 191, of them 81.7 % were at high stroke risk and did not receive any OAC despite the indication to treat. In addition, the probability to be not properly managed significantly increased in older and in patients with atherosclerosis. Conversely, patients with at least one reported cardiology counselling significantly reduced the likelihood to be not properly managed (OR 0.38, 95 %CI 0.25–0.58; p 0.01). Our results suggest the need to optimize the management of real-life AF patients by improving prescribing adherence to ESC guidelines.
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•Among 467 AF patients 191 were not treated with OAC and 81.7 % of them required OAC.•High stroke risk did not influence the probability of oral anticoagulant treatment.•Patients treated with NOACs were 236, of them 7 had inappropriate prescriptions.•Patients not managed in accordance with the EHRA/ESC guidelines were 173 (37.0 %).•Cardiological counselling improved the management of AF patients
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
Since their introduction in orthodontics, clear aligners have been appreciated by patients, including adults, for their comfort and low aesthetic impact. Despite the enormous mobilization ...of financial resources all over the world aimed at producing new product lines, few clinical studies or high-quality evidence have been produced regarding the real effectiveness of such treatment. Given the few limited kinds of research on the subject, this study aims to produce and critically evaluate other data, to establish the concrete reliability of clear aligners in orthodontic therapy.
Results
Significant sample sizes were obtained for intrusion, vestibulo/lingual (V/L) crown tipping, and rotation. The overall accuracy for rotation resulted in 86%, ranging from 96% for maxillary central incisors to 70.4% for mandibular first premolars. The intrusion was registered only for anterior teeth; mean predictability was 92%, with the worst result being 86.7% for mandibular canines and the best being 98% for mandibular central incisors. V/L tipping was the most accurate movement: 93.1% of the prescribed movement was completed. Maxillary central incisors showed the lowest accuracy (80.7%), while mandibular central incisors were the highest (97.5%).
Conclusions
The present study provided reassuring data in support of the accuracy of the Invisalign
®
system. Vestibulo/lingual tipping was the most predictable movement, while rotation of canines, premolars, and lateral incisors were the least predictable. Intrusion resulted highly predictable up to 2 mm. When careful treatment planning follows a correct diagnosis, together with the use of auxiliary features and refinements, the planned results can be achieved in a clinically successful way. Authors believe that there is a major need for greater samples to overcome bias related to variables if we want to answer the unsolved questions, such as the predictability of severe malocclusions treatment.
•A material with an adjustable bandgap appropriate for photovoltaics is investigated.•Three novel deposition techniques of LaVO3 are developed.•The potential of LaVO3 is investigated in solar cell ...architectures.
Bulk LaVO3 (LVO) is known to provide an optical bandgap of 1.1 eV which is interesting for photovoltaic applications. Here, we compare the properties of LVO thin films using different techniques, namely pulsed laser deposition, spin coating by solgel and sputtering. ZnO/LVO p-n junctions were fabricated in order to obtain solar cell architectures. The grown films were analyzed with Surface photovoltage and Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy. The analysis of the junctions showed that the photogenerated electron-hole pairs are poorly separated and therefore not efficiently collected. LVO has shown the particularity to provide very high work function (4.6 eV) and a great dependence of the electrical and optical properties on the growth conditions, including the oxygen stoichiometry and the La/V ratio of the films.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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