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Bank lending, liquidity regulation and unconventional monetary policies in the Eurozone
Full text linkWe evaluate the joint impact of structural liquidity regulation and unconventional monetary policy on Eurozone banks’ lending. Using an extensive bank-level quarterly dataset from 2008 to 2020, we study the introduction of the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) under Basel III and the European Central Bank’s Longer-Term Refinancing Operations (LTROs) and Targeted LTROs (TLTROs). We find that while the NSFR had no effect on aggregate lending, it led to an increase in short-term lending and a reduction in long-term lending, consistent with lower maturity transformation. LTRO participation is associated with higher medium- and long-term lending, and our results indicate that this effect is conditional on banks’ structural liquidity positions: banks with rising NSFRs were able to use LTRO and TLTRO funding to sustain long-term credit supply. These findings suggest that central bank liquidity interventions can mitigate the adjustment costs of tighter liquidity regulation during the transition period, enabling banks close to regulatory compliance to maintain longer-maturity lending
The challenge of adopting the health assessment when implementing antenatal and postnatal Group Care: identifying and understanding cross-country modifications and corresponding strategies to enable its adoption
Full text linkBackground: Antenatal and postnatal Group Care, based on the Centering Healthcare model, relies on three core components: health assessment, interactive learning and community building. The health assessment consists of self-assessments conducted by the participants and one-to-one medical check-ups conducted by the healthcare provider. Research shows that this component can be challenging within existing health care systems. This study aimed to investigate the modifications and corresponding strategies applied to adopt the health assessment during Group Care implementation.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study explored modifications to the health assessment and the corresponding strategies in 24 Group Care implementation sites in seven countries. A structured qualitative survey was conducted based on the Expanded Framework for Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-Based Interventions including views of different stakeholders (site-level and project-level implementers). This provided data on the ‘who’, ‘what’, and ‘where’ of modifications and corresponding strategies. Reflexive thematic analysis provided both structured and in-depth insights into the adaptation process.
Results: Three cross-country strategies were identified: (1) creative solutions to find appropriate spaces for Group Care to accommodate the health assessment, (2) providing assistance with self-assessment, (3) and extending the duration of one-to-one medical check-ups. These strategies were primarily the result of joint decisions made by the implementation team, influenced by multiple context-related factors. Different perspectives emerged regarding for whom these strategies were applied, with some stating it as being for the benefit of the participants, while others aimed to align with facilitators’ preferences and familiarity with providing routine care.
Conclusions: The role of differing perspectives in the adaptation process when implementing Group Care and the challenge for facilitators to align their attitudes, beliefs and skills toward the Group Care model within an individually focused healthcare system, emerged as underlying factors to fully adopt the health assessment. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that, despite the locally context-driven nature of modifications in implementation, it remains valuable to examine them within a cross-country design to identify transferable insights that inform future implementation efforts and implementation science
Financing green transition: The role of bank-nonbank partnerships
Full text linkWe document a significant role for nonbanks in financing the green transition following the Paris Agreement, primarily through lending partnerships with banks. Using textual analysis to identify green loans, we show that nonbanks participate in a greater number of green syndicated loans and commit larger amounts in response to corporate demand for green financing. Such nonbank investment in green loans is associated with more favorable loan terms and is consistent with a nonbank-led expansion in credit supply rather than bank-driven risk offloading. Nonbank investment is highly sensitive to policy signals, suggesting that regulatory transition risk is a key driver. Overall, our findings show the potential for nonbanks to support the transition but only under credible political commitment to climate goals
Maternal and neonatal waterbirth outcomes in a Brazilian freestanding birth centre: a cross-sectional study
No full textProblem and Background: While international studies support the safety and benefits of waterbirth, this practice is still restricted in many Brazilian services, with few opportunities for birthing people to choose this option for labour and birth. Aim: To analyse maternal and neonatal outcomes in assisted waterbirths versus land births in a Brazilian freestanding birth centre. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using retrospective data from 2012 to 2024. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of 919 waterbirths were compared to 2,805 land births, including perineal tear and repair, postpartum haemorrhage, retained placenta, maternal and neonatal transfers, neonatal resuscitation, and Apgar scores. Odds ratios (OR), rate ratios (RR) and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated, and multivariate analysis considered previous vaginal birth as a confounder variable. The significance level was 5 %. Findings: Waterbirth was associated with a lower likelihood of perineal tear (aOR, 0.75; 95 % CI, 0.65-0.87; P <. 001), perineal repair (OR, 0.73; 95 % CI, 0.62-0.86; P <. 001) and postpartum haemorrhage (aOR, 0.76; 95 % CI, 0.64-0.90; P <. 002). Discussion: The findings align with international evidence that associates waterbirth with reduced perineal trauma and postpartum haemorrhage. Unlike some studies that suggest increased neonatal risks, no adverse outcomes were observed in this study. Conclusion: Waterbirth was not associated with any additional risk to people with straightforward pregnancies. The results support the option of waterbirth as an informed choice for this population birthing in freestanding birth centres
Leading-edge vortex monitoring in dynamically stalled flows via persistent homology
Full text linkA novel vortex core identification pipeline is developed based on template matching. Using persistent homology, a template similarity field is constructed from a sliding window template-target feature space distance. This scalar field is then used to accentuate localised regions of spanwise vorticity via nonlinear weighting. This method is successfully applied to track the leading-edge vortex trajectory in a stall flutter starting cycle for a pitching NACA 63(3)418 aerofoil. Trajectory results are compared with several user-based vortex core identifiers like local vorticity minimum, local Q-criterion maximum, local swirling strength maximum, and manual tracking. The results of this comparison are quite satisfactory as the developed method is capable of automatically monitoring the leading-edge vortex core through several critical stages of its lifecycle. The effects of template size and down sampling are also investigated with respect to the vortex core identification. It is found that a template radius of r=0.04c and down sampling factor M=10 are sufficient for accurate vortex core monitoring in dynamically stalled flows. In general, this method acts primarily as a field-based filter that can be useful for isolating highly vortical regions like the leading-edge vortex core in stall flutter or dynamic stall scenarios
Engaging chefs in sustainable practice using Theory U to address greenhouse gas emissions and food waste
Full text linkIntroduction
This pilot study explored the use of Theory U as a framework for participatory workshops with chefs, aiming to support menu changes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste. The primary objective was to assess the feasibility of collecting and analysing data on chefs’ perceived barriers and opportunities for sustainable menu transformation. A secondary objective was to examine whether the workshop facilitated transformational learning loops among participants.
Methods
A single participatory workshop was conducted with trainee chefs, applying Theory U principles to guide discussions and activities. Data were collected on chefs’ perceptions of sustainability, decision-making priorities, and influencing stakeholders. Qualitative analysis focused on identifying evidence of transformational learning.
Results
The workshop generated rich qualitative data that can be linked to broader research on food systems and chef-led change. Findings revealed multiple factors influencing menu transformation, including stakeholder roles and current prioritisation practices. Evidence of transformational learning loops was observed; however, no clear indicators of transformational change emerged.
Discussion
The study demonstrates that Theory U-based workshops are a practical entry point for engaging chefs in food system awareness and co-creating strategies for sustainable menu transformation. While promising, follow-up workshops are needed to validate these findings and refine data collection and analysis methods
“Lead like a woman”: strengthening healthcare, medical imaging, and oncology through female leadership
Full text linkWomen are overall underrepresented in high-level leadership positions across organizations, particularly in the fields of healthcare, medical imaging, and oncology, despite the majority of the workforce in these industries being female. Women leaders often remain in these roles for shorter times, despite evidence documenting their value in increasing team wellbeing, productivity and collaboration and supporting organizational integrity, sustainability, diversity and inclusion. The reasons are complex, but often due to a lack of ongoing support or poor local culture. There is an urgent need to harness the potential of female leadership, not only to leverage equity and diversity, but mainly to solve the complex healthcare challenges of our diverse society now and in the future. Customized training and mentoring, clearer career pathways, flexible work, workplace adaptations and male allyship are key to raising, nurturing and supporting female leaders in the long term
The Governance of Global Supply Chains: Empirical Insights from the Ready-made Garment Industry in Bangladesh a Decade after Rana Plaza
No full textThe regulation of activities in global supply chains presents significant challenges, particularly in establishing corporate accountability for human rights violations and addressing extraterritorial oversight. Due to unwillingness or limited capacity of governments to regulate the social externalities of global business activities, the last decade has seen an increase in schemes that use non-state authority to govern corporate conduct beyond borders. Drawing on a qualitative study on the ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh, this paper examines the effectiveness of industry-led private governance regimes and CSR practices of multinational corporations in global supply chains, as well as the extent to which private governance can serve as an effective alternative to obligatory regulatory frameworks. The findings confirm that, while both voluntary and mandatory regulatory mechanisms are beneficial, various factors hinder their execution and limit their ability to adequately address corporate abuses of human rights
Effect of gas nuclei on the primary stage of shock–droplet interaction
Full text linkThe presence of entrapped gas in liquids is well-documented, arising from gas solubility, surface irregularities, or prior phase-change events. In this study, simulations are carried out replicating an experiment involving a Mach 2.4 Planar shock interacting with a cylindrical water column, and the results are benchmarked against experimental pressure measurements in which the presence of entrapped air is reported. The liquid droplet is modelled as a homogeneous mixture of liquid and gas using a multiphase flow framework, and a novel relaxation approach is introduced to capture non-equilibrium effects within the mixture region. The effects of Gaseous Volume Fraction (GVF) and relaxation rate on shock attenuation, wave propagation speed, and cavitation are explored. The results reveal that increasing GVF enhances shock attenuation and slows down the wave propagation speed due to the mixture’s higher compressibility. A non-monotonic relationship between relaxation rate and pressure peak intensity is observed, governed by the effect of the relaxation rate on shock diffusivity, with maximum attenuation occurring at intermediate rates. At high GVF, the low wave propagation speed leads to an interaction between the shocks formed internally and around the droplet, which suppresses the rarefaction wave formation. Regarding cavitation, results indicate that lower GVF promotes stronger gas growth due to less shock attenuation. Finally, this study provides a physical explanation for the temporal pressure variations reported in prior numerical works and highlights the critical role of entrapped gas in shock–droplet interaction dynamics
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