The US airline industry was deregulated in 1978 and has undergone significant changes in industry structure, profitability, employment, passenger volume, and patterns of service and fares, among ...other characteristics. This paper sets out to make three contributions to the literature as related to the story of airline deregulation. First, discussion of economic theory will provide the context for an updated overview of the positive, negative, and really negative results of US airline deregulation, summarized in the form of “the good”, “the bad”, and “the ugly”. Second, this paper provides a periodization of the 30-year history of US airline deregulation that is important in understanding the cycles of change as reflected in the industry’s financial performance and other relevant data. Third, this paper contributes to the renewed debate about the efficacy of deregulation and liberalization policies, particularly at a time when the global financial crisis has cast a harsh spotlight on the (un)desirability of these policies. Some of the good results during the 30 years of airline deregulation, from the industry and consumer perspective, include higher passenger volumes, more service to the most popular destinations, and lower fares on average. Bad results include financial and employment instability, diminution in the quality of airline service overall, and fewer flights and higher fares to smaller places. The recent 2000–2005 period has been particularly ugly, as the airline industry has lost over $30 billion, and several high-profile carriers, such as United, Delta, Northwest, and US Airways, were forced into bankruptcy.
Introduction. The increasing abuse of amphetamine-like compounds presents a challenge for clinicians and clinical laboratories. Although these compounds may be identified by mass spectrometry-based ...assays, most clinical laboratories use amphetamine immunoassays that have unknown cross-reactivity with novel amphetamine-like drugs. To date, there has been a little systematic study of amphetamine immunoassay cross-reactivity with structurally diverse amphetamine-like drugs or of computational tools to predict cross-reactivity. Methods. Cross-reactivities of 42 amphetamines and amphetamine-like drugs with three amphetamines screening immunoassays (AxSYM® Amphetamine/Methamphetamine II, CEDIA® amphetamine/Ecstasy, and EMIT® II Plus Amphetamines) were determined. Two- and three-dimensional molecular similarity and modeling approaches were evaluated for the ability to predict cross-reactivity using receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis. Results: Overall, 34%-46% of the drugs tested positive on the immunoassay screens using a concentration of 20,000 ng/mL. The three immunoassays showed differential detection of the various classes of amphetamine-like drugs. Only the CEDIA assay detected piperazines well, while only the EMIT assay cross-reacted with the 2C class. All three immunoassays detected 4-substituted amphetamines. For the AxSYM and EMIT assays, two-dimensional molecular similarity methods that combined similarity to amphetamine/methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine most accurately predicted cross-reactivity. For the CEDIA assay, three-dimensional pharmacophore methods performed best in predicting cross-reactivity. Using the best performing models, cross-reactivities of an additional 261 amphetamine-like compounds were predicted. Conclusions. Existing amphetamines immunoassays unevenly detect amphetamine-like drugs, particularly in the 2C, piperazine, and β-keto classes. Computational similarity methods perform well in predicting cross-reactivity and can help prioritize testing of additional compounds in the future.
Objective
This study examined the validity of a novel metric of circadian health, the Entrainment Signal Regularity Index (ESRI), and its relationship to changes in BMI during the school year and ...summer.
Methods
In a longitudinal observational data set, this study examined the relationship between ESRI score and children's (n = 119, 5‐ to 8‐year‐olds) sleep and physical activity levels during the school year and summer, differences in ESRI score during the school year and summer, and the association of ESRI score during the school year and summer with changes in BMI across those time periods.
Results
The ESRI score was higher during the school year (0.70 ± 0.10) compared with summer (0.63 ± 0.11); t(111) = 5.484, p < 0.001. Whereas the ESRI score at the beginning of the school year did not significantly predict BMI change during the school year (β = 0.05 ± 0.09 SE, p = 0.57), having a higher ESRI score during summer predicted smaller increases in BMI during summer (β = −0.22 ± 0.10 SE, p = 0.03).
Conclusions
Overall, children demonstrated higher entrainment regularity during the school year compared with the summer. During summer, having a higher entrainment signal was associated with smaller changes in summertime BMI. This effect was independent of the effects of children's sleep midpoint, sleep regularity, and physical activity on children's BMI.
Aim
This proof‐of‐concept study examined if early trauma influences features of schizophrenia, consistent with hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis activation.
Methods
Early trauma and current ...perceived stress were assessed in 28 treated schizophrenia cases, along with salivary cortisol, brain volumes, cognition and symptoms.
Results
Early trauma predicted more positive (r = .66, P = .005) and dysthymia symptoms (r –.65, P = .007), but less negative symptoms (r = −.56, P = .023), as well as reduced whole brain volumes (r = .50, P = .040) and increased amygdala to whole brain volume ratios (r = .56, P = .018). Larger volume reductions accompanied cortisol levels: evening values predicted smaller whole brain and hippocampal volumes whereas afternoon levels only significantly predicted smaller brain volumes in women. Sex differences were demonstrated between early trauma and cognition, with better cognition in traumatized women than other women and no male effects. Current perceived stress was related to dysthymia (especially in women) and diminished sense of purpose and social drive (especially in men).
Conclusions
These results suggest that early trauma and current stress impact features of schizophrenia, consistent with stress sensitization and increased dopamine activity for treatment refractory positive symptoms, as well as the cascade of increased morning cortisol, reduced brain volumes, and depressive and deficit symptoms. Conversely, cognitive deficits and negative symptoms may arise from a distinct diathesis. The sex differences accord with the literature on human HPA function and stress responses. Early trauma may be a stressor in the aetiopathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly for cases with treatment refractory positive symptoms, and may guide future treatment development.
Abstract Objective Compare weight loss and maintenance between a face-to-face (FTF) weight management clinic and a clinic delivered via virtual reality (VR). Methods Participants were randomized to 3 ...months of weight loss with a weekly clinic delivered via FTF or VR and then 6 months' weight maintenance delivered with VR. Data were collected at baseline and 3 and 6 months for weight and process variables. Twenty overweight and obese individuals (31.1 ± 3.6 years of age; body mass index, 32.8 ± 5.1; 85% females; 20% minorities) responded to advertisement and met inclusion criteria. Diets (1,200–1,800 kcal/d) used prepackaged meals, fruits and vegetables, and physical activity (300 min/wk). Results Weight loss was significantly greater for FTF at 10.8% compared with 7.6% for VR ( P < .05). However, weight maintenance was significantly greater for VR at 14.0% compared with 9.5% for FTF ( P < .05). Conclusions and Implications Virtual reality compares favorably with FTF for weight loss and may facilitate greater weight maintenance.
In a wide class of high order shock-capturing methods for hyperbolic conservation laws, the solution of the conservation law is represented at each time-step by a piecewise smooth function (say, a ...polynomial reconstructed from cell-averages or an approximation in a finite element space). To maintain a sharp resolution of shock waves, jumps at the cell boundaries are allowed. The resulting initial value problem with piecewise smooth but discontinuous initial data is called the generalized Riemann problem. We present a new solver for the generalized Riemann problem based on a simplified version of a local asymptotic series expansion constructed by LeFloch and Raviart (Ann Inst H Poincare Anal Non Linéaire 5:179–207,
1988
). Contrary to the original approach, in our new solver no higher order flux derivatives and other nonlinear terms need to be computed. Moreover, we introduce a new variant of the local space–time DG method of Dumbser et al. (J Comput Phys 227:3971–4001,
2008
), that allows us to use a direct solution strategy for the generalized Riemann problem without relying on a Cauchy–Kovalevskaya procedure for the flux computation.
Competition and bank stability Goetz, Martin R.
Journal of financial intermediation,
07/2018, Letnik:
35
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Does an increase in competition increase or decrease bank stability? I use a novel way to capture changes in banking competition by exploring how the exogenous state-specific process of banking ...deregulation gradually lowered entry barriers into urban banking markets. I find that the increase in market contestability significantly improves bank stability. This result is robust to the inclusion of additional fixed effects and other influences, such as mergers and acquisitions, or geographic expansion. Moreover, I find that greater competition reduces banks’ failure probability, share of non-performing loans and increases profitability. These findings suggest that competition increases stability, as it improves bank profitability and asset quality.
Short sleep durations are related to risks for obesity in preschool children. However, the underlying mechanism or mechanisms are not clear.
We evaluated the relationships between sleep ...characteristics and body composition, energetics, and weight-regulating behaviors in preschool-aged children, as well as the longitudinal associations between children’s sleep and eating patterns and body composition at a 1-year follow-up.
Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of 118 children aged 3–5 years. Sleep (duration, midpoint, regularity) and physical activity (PA) were measured by accelerometry over 6 consecutive days; total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using the doubly labeled water method; body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass, and percent body fat) was measured by DXA; and dietary intake (energy intake, timing) was measured using two 24-hour recalls. Multivariable regression was used to estimate interindividual associations of sleep parameters with body composition, PA, TEE, and dietary outcomes and to examine the relationships between sleep and dietary behaviors and body composition 1 year later.
Cross-sectionally, later sleep midpoint is associated with having a greater fat mass (0.33; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.60) and a higher percent body fat (0.92; 95% CI: 0.15, 1.70). Later sleep midpoint was associated with delayed morning mealtimes (0.51; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.74) and evening mealtimes (0.41; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.53), higher nighttime energy intakes (45.6; 95% CI: 19.7, 71.4), and lower morning energy intakes (−44.8; 95% CI: −72.0, −17.6). Longitudinally, shorter sleep duration (−0.02; 95% CI: −0.03, 0.00) and later meal timing (0.83; 95% CI: 0.24, 1.42) were associated with higher percent body fat measurements 1 year later.
Shorter sleep duration and later meal timing are associated with adiposity gains in preschoolers.
The rise of the city-region concept has focused attention on the nature of territorial politics underpinning city-regionalism. This paper investigates the relationship between territorial politics, ...city-regionalism and the collective provision of mass transport infrastructure in the USA. It deploys a case study of the Denver region, examining the state and governance structures driving forward FasTracks, a longterm project to expand the Denver Regional Transportation District's light and commuter rail system. FasTracks represents a programme to retrofit the Denver city-region for integrated mass transit but its funding has fostered tensions around new regionalist governance arrangements. The paper uses the findings of the case study to reflect upon the balance of bottom–up versus top–down geopolitical forces shaping the landscape of city-regionalism in the USA. It emphasises the variety of ways in which struggles around infrastructure provision shape the emergence of new city-regionalist structures inside the competition state.
Background
Behavioural weight‐loss interventions utilising portion‐controlled meals (PCMs) produce significant decreases in weight. However, their impact on diet quality during weight maintenance is ...unknown. The present study aimed to assess the influence of a weight management intervention employing PCMs and increased physical activity on diet quality during weight loss and weight maintenance.
Methods
One hundred and ninety‐seven overweight and obese adults 67% women; mean (SD) BMI = 34.0 (4.6) kg m−2; age = 46.1 (8.9) years completed an 18‐month trial. The weight‐loss phase (0–6 months) consisted of energy restriction, which was achieved using PCMs plus fruits and vegetables and increased physical activity. During weight maintenance (6–18 months), participants consumed a diet designed to maintain weight loss. Body weight and dietary intake were assessed at baseline, and at 6, 12 and 18 months. The Healthy Eating Index‐2010 (HEI) was calculated using data obtained from 3‐day food records.
Results
Mean (SD) body weight was 14.3% (6.6%) and 8.7% (8.0%) below baseline at 6 and 18 months, respectively. The mean (SD) HEI‐2010 score after weight loss 66.6 (9.4) was significantly higher than baseline 46.4 (8.9) and remained significantly higher than baseline at 18 months 57.7 (10.6) (both P < 0.001).
Conclusions
A weight management intervention using PCMs resulted in both clinically significant weight loss and increased diet quality scores, demonstrating that the use of PCMs during weight loss allows for meaningful changes in diet quality during weight maintenance.
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