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This book sets forth the economic rationale for international financial regulation and what role, if any, international regulation can play in effectively managing systemic risk while providing accountability to all affected nations. The book suggests that a particular type of global governance structure is necessary to have more efficient regulation of the international financial systems. The book defines global governance of financial systems to involve three main principles: effectiveness in devising efficient regulatory standards and rules; accountability in decision-making structure and chain of command; and legitimacy, meaning that those subject to international regulatory standards have participated in some meaningful way in their development.

Rare-earth permanent magnets are coated in order to avoid corrosion. When considering the rated geometrical properties of a sample, the coating thickness has to be known precisely as it wrongly enlarges the magnetically active volume which in turn affects the accuracy of the measured magnetic properties. In this work, the sensitivity of hard magnetic material property measurements regarding the consideration of different coating thicknesses is evaluated. Moreover, the impact of eddy current effects on the magnetic properties is studied when measuring in an open circuit. Additionally, an outlook for a measurement-based determination of the electric conductivity of permanent magnet samples is given.

In this study, we present a tomography-based control system for a rehabilitation robot using a novel approach to assess advancement and a dynamic model of the system. In this model, the torque generated by the robot and the impedance of the patient’s hand are used to determine each step of the rehabilitation. In the proposed control architecture, a regression model is developed and implemented based on the extraction of tomography signals to estimate the muscles state. During the rehabilitation session, the torque applied by the patient is adjusted according to this estimation. The first step of this protocol is to calculate the subject-specific parameters. These include the axis offset, inertia parameters, passive damping and stiffness. The second step involves identifying the other elements of the model, such as the torque resulting from interaction. In this case, the robot will calculate the torque generated by the patient. The developed robot-based solution and the suggested protocol were tested on different participants and showed promising results. First, the prediction of the impedance–position relationship was evaluated, and the prediction was below 2% error. Then, different participants with different impedances were tested, and the results showed that the control system controlled the force and position for each participant individually.

Background Natural selection can act on multiple genes in the same pathway, leading to polygenic adaptation. For example, adaptive changes were found to down-regulate six genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis—an essential pathway targeted by many antifungal drugs—in some strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . However, the impact of this polygenic adaptation on metabolite levels was unknown. Here, we performed targeted mass spectrometry to measure the levels of eight metabolites in this pathway in 74 yeast strains from a genetic cross. Results Through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping we identified 19 loci affecting ergosterol pathway metabolite levels, many of which overlap loci that also impact gene expression within the pathway. We then used the recently developed v-test, which identified selection acting upon three metabolite levels within the pathway, none of which were predictable from the gene expression adaptation. Conclusions These data showed that effects of selection on metabolite levels were complex and not predictable from gene expression data. This suggests that a deeper understanding of metabolism is necessary before we can understand the impacts of even relatively straightforward gene expression adaptations on metabolic pathways.

Hand paralysis, caused by conditions such as spinal cord injuries, strokes, and arthritis, significantly hinders daily activities. Wearable exo-gloves and telerehabilitation offer effective hand training solutions to aid the recovery process. This study presents the development of lightweight wearable exo-gloves designed for finger telerehabilitation. The prototype uses NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators to control five fingers. Specialized end effectors target the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, mimicking human finger tendon actions. A variable structure controller, managed through a web-based Human–Machine Interface (HMI), allows remote adjustments. Thermal behavior, dynamics, and overall performance were modeled in MATLAB Simulink, with experimental validation confirming the model’s efficacy. The phase transformation characteristics of NiTi shape memory wire were studied using the Souza–Auricchio model within COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2 software. Comparing the simulation to trial data showed an average error of 2.76°. The range of motion for the MCP, PIP, and DIP joints was 21°, 65°, and 60.3°, respectively. Additionally, a minimum torque of 0.2 Nm at each finger joint was observed, which is sufficient to overcome resistance and meet the torque requirements. Results demonstrate that integrating SMA actuators with telerehabilitation addresses the need for compact and efficient wearable devices, potentially improving patient outcomes through remote therapy.

They examine the purpose of the university, its evolution and change, its degree of autonomy, evaluations of performance and accountability, its role in guaranteeing human rights, financing, and efficiency and the influence of technology on instruction and structure - all issues that are highly relevant to university leaders and legislators who seek to form and fashion responsive and workable institutions and systems of higher education.The authors suggest measures needed to overcome organizational inertia and recognize the necessity of responsiveness to social and economic changes. Different aspects of worldwide human rights struggles that bear on the university are discussed - for instance the situation in South Africa, where higher education institutions are seeking to redress the misdeeds of the past. The authors also address the issue of public versus private institutional competition and the emergence of the private for-profit institution. Finally, the realities of how and to what extent technology can be relied upon to improve college and university instruction is examined. Contributors include Don Aitkin (University of Canberra, Australia), F. King Alexander (University of Illinois), Kern Alexander (University of North Florida), Michael J. Beloff (Trinity College, Oxford), Ian Clark (Council of Ontario Universities), Stephen R. Greenwald (Audrey Cohen College, New York), James J. Mingle (Cornell University), John H. Moore (Grove City College, Pennsylvania), David W. Olien (University of Wisconsin System, Madison), and David R. Woods (Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa).

The article analyses the institutional and legal framework governing the ECB’s monetary policy competence to promote price stability alongside its banking supervisory objectives as set forth under the Single Supervisory Mechanism Regulation. The article argues that the ECB’s primary mandate to promote price stability in the EU Treaty creates an imbalance in its institutional competence to pursue other secondary objectives referred to in the Treaty and in EU legislation. It is further argued that this so-called lop-sided mandate in favour of the price stability objective may undermine its effectiveness in pursuing other objectives, such as banking sector stability, climate change mitigation and in addressing other emerging financial risks. The article proposes some modifications to the current separation of competences within the ECB in order to achieve more institutional balance so that its objectives can be more effectively carried out. Banking Union, Single Supervisory Mechanism, European Central Bank, banking supervision, price stability, secondary objectives, monetary policy, economic policy, sustainability, regulation

For identifying new improvement potentials for electric traction motors, accurate models are needed. In this paper, a geometry-based 2D lumped parameter thermal network model for different electric traction motor and cooling concepts is studied and validated. In the second section, the design and functionality of the thermal model is explained. In the third section, the best fit of the literature correlations for describing the different heat transfer mechanisms was identified and a parameter study of the heat transfer coefficients was carried out and discussed. In the last section, the model is validated with measurement results from six different electric traction motors and drives units. For validation measurement results of stationary operating points, peak operating points and drive cycles are used. Based on the validation results, a model error of less than 10% is achieved for the most motor components in the different cooling concepts and traction motor designs. Inaccuracies and deviations are discussed and suggestions for improvement are made.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse some of the important issues concerning the corporate governance of banks and financial institutions and the related issues of financial regulation. The paper argues that corporate governance of banks is largely concerned with reducing the social costs of bank risk-taking and that the regulator is uniquely positioned to balance the relevant stakeholder interests in devising governance standards for financial institutions that achieve economic development objectives, while minimising the externalities of systemic risk. The paper also analyses recent international initiatives in the area of corporate governance and banking, including some of the proposals of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The paper then reviews the legal and regulatory framework of corporate governance in the United Kingdom for banks to illustrate some of the strengths and weaknesses of the UK approach, and to suggest possible regulatory techniques for other jurisdictions. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Meprin-α is a metalloprotease overexpressed in cancer cells, leading to the accumulation of this protease in a subset of colorectal tumors. The impact of increased meprin-α levels on tumor progression is not known. We investigated the effect of this protease on cell migration and angiogenesis in vitro and studied the expression of meprin-α mRNA, protein and proteolytic activity in primary tumors at progressive stages and in liver metastases of patients with colorectal cancer, as well as inhibitory activity towards meprin-α in sera of cancer patient as compared to healthy controls. We found that the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced migratory response of meprin-transfected epithelial cells was increased compared to wild-type cells in the presence of plasminogen, and that the angiogenic response in organ-cultured rat aortic explants was enhanced in the presence of exogenous human meprin-α. In patients, meprin-α mRNA was expressed in colonic adenomas, primary tumors UICC (International Union Against Cancer) stage I, II, III and IV, as well as in liver metastases. In contrast, the corresponding protein accumulated only in primary tumors and liver metastases, but not in adenomas. However, liver metastases lacked meprin-α activity despite increased expression of the corresponding protein, which correlated with inefficient zymogen activation. Sera from cancer patients exhibited reduced meprin-α inhibition compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, meprin-α activity is regulated differently in primary tumors and metastases, leading to high proteolytic activity in primary tumors and low activity in liver metastases. By virtue of its pro-migratory and pro-angiogenic activity, meprin-α may promote tumor progression in colorectal cancer.