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Climate change and the rise of shadow banking:A global analysis
No full textClimate change is a growing challenge for global economic stability, with significant implications for financial sector development. This study examines the relationship between climate vulnerability and the growth and structure of financial systems across a global sample of 29 countries. Using panel data, we find a positive relationship between climate risks and the overall size of financial systems, but the effects of climate change vary across financial subsectors. While climate vulnerability is associated with a decline in traditional banking assets, it is positively linked to the expansion of shadow banking activities. This shift suggests a compensatory dynamic, where financial activities migrate from heavily regulated traditional banks to less-regulated shadow banks in response to heightened climate risks. This finding is robust even when we focus only on the bank-like shadow banking sector, modify the estimation strategy, or include a vast array of control variables. Our analysis also shows that these effects are most pronounced in developed countries, where institutional environments play a key role in mediating these relationships. Strong governance indicators, including rule of law and government effectiveness, mitigate the adverse impacts of climate risks on traditional banks, while greater public accountability and transparency discourage excessive shadow banking growth. These findings underscore the urgent need for more regulatory scrutiny beyond the confines of traditional banking to enhance financial stability
NRF2 upregulation by CDDO-Me protects AC16 human cardiomyocytes against doxorubicin-induced toxicity
No full textDoxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anticancer therapeutic but exhibits dose-dependent, potentially life-threatening cardiotoxicity. The specific mechanisms driving this cardiotoxicity are not fully understood but can include the induction of oxidative stress and subsequent cell death mechanism activation. This has prompted the exploration of NRF2, a master co-ordinator of antioxidant and largely cytoprotective pathways, as a potential approach for the alleviation of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Here, NRF2 was pharmacologically activated via CDDO-Me (hitherto referred to as CDDO) to reduce the negative consequences on AC16 human cardiomyocyte cell health and functions. NRF2 intracellular dynamics were quantitatively measured using live-cell imaging, demonstrating rapid (∼10 min) yet sustained (≥24 h) induction of NRF2 expression and functional downstream activity. Genetic perturbations of the NRF2-KEAP1 system highlight that CDDO acts specifically through NRF2 to exert AC16 cytoprotection from DOX whilst not promoting human lung and pancreatic cancer cell line viability. RNA-seq analysis was also utilised to highlight the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects DOX in AC16 cells and the CDDO-mediated mitigation of cardiotoxicity. This study provides novel insight into NRF2 dynamics in the widely utilised AC16 cells whilst further elucidating the molecular mechanisms contributing to DOX cardiotoxicity and potential NRF2-orchestrated defence.</p
A comprehensive review of condition monitoring systems for hydropower stations:Technologies, applications, and future trends
Get PDFEnergy production using renewable energies is increasing every year. Amongst them, hydropower is a well-known and established technology. Compared with other renewable energy sources, it is not as dependent on weather and allows for energy storage. These systems require constant monitoring for early fault detection to prevent undesired downtime. Previous reviews focused on single issues such as cavitation or fatigue, or concrete monitoring system. This study expands current knowledge by presenting a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art in condition monitoring systems applied for hydropower systems, classifying them based on the component monitored (dam, turbine, generator, etc.), the sensing technology applied (vibration, acoustic, etc.), and the issue considered for assessment (cavitation, sedimentation, water hammer, etc.). Furthermore, an analysis of findings is presented, comprehensively discussing the current trends, research gaps, and challenges in this field, followed by a discussion on practical applications and future challenges.</p
Unveiling the Dynamics of Eye Movement Patterns in Second Language Reading:The Roles of L2 Proficiency and Exposure
No full textThis study investigates how second-language (L2) proficiency and exposure shape online reading behaviour in Chinese learners of English, using eye-tracking to capture moment-to-moment processing. Seventy-nine participants (39 Chinese L2 readers; 40 native English readers) read short English passages while their eye movements were recorded. We examined first fixation duration (FFD), gaze duration (GD), and total reading time (TRT), focusing on word length and frequency at the currently fixated word (N), the previous word (N−1), and the next word (N+1). Chinese participants were grouped through principal component analysis and k-means clustering on IELTS reading scores, vocabulary size, and months in the UK, representing proficiency and exposure, with reading order (Chinese-first vs English-first) controlled for familiarisation. Results showed that advanced learners and those with greater exposure displayed more native-like processing, with shorter fixations and reduced spill-over, while familiarisation through Chinese-first reading further enhanced efficiency. Findings highlight the complementary roles of proficiency, vocabulary, and exposure in shaping L2 reading fluency, with implications for TESOL pedagogy and assessment
MIMO Array Calibration in Non-stationary Channels with Residual Surfaces and Slepian Spherical Harmonics
Get PDFThe fundamental mechanism driving MIMO beamforming is the relative phases of signals departing the transmit array and arriving at the receive array. If a propagation channel affects all transmitted signals equally, the relative phases are a function of the directions of departure and arrival, as well as the transmit and receive hardware. In a non-stationary channel, the amplitudes and phases of arriving signals may vary significantly over time, making it infeasible to directly measure the influence of hardware. In this paper, we present a calibration method for achieving indirect measurement and compensation of hardware influences in non-stationary channels. Our method characterizes the patterns of array elements relative to a reference element and estimates these relative patterns, termed residual surfaces, using a Slepian spherical harmonic basis. Using simulations, we demonstrate that our calibration method achieves beamforming gains that closely match theoretical optimums. Our results also show a reduction in the error in estimating the target direction, lower side lobes, and improve null-steering capabilities
Does the radical left stand up for liberal democracy in the European parliament? Evidence from 53 debates on the rule of law crisis
Get PDFWhile the radical left has strong connections to the tradition of liberal democracy, it also has associations with authoritarian forms of rule and a tolerance of illiberal transgressions when perpetrated by sister parties. Through an exploration of 53 European Parliamentary debates from 2011 to 2022, this paper illuminates a hitherto neglected part of the Rule of Law Crisis, namely the extent to which radical left parties defend liberal democracy in the EU. We find that these parties, through the GUE/NGL group in the Parliament, tread a fine line between defending EU intervention in cases of democratic backsliding internal to member states, while retaining a critical outlook on the EU’s own democratic deficits. Our paper shows that the radical left develops a set of arguments that are sharply distinct not only from those of social-democratic parties, but also from radical right MEPs, suggesting that on this issue area at least, the latter two party families do not converge, contrary to what the “horseshoe” model of political ideology would suggest
Semenya v. Switzerland. Application No. 10934/21.
No full textSEMENYA V. SWITZERLAND. Application No. 10934/21. Judgment. At https://hudoc.echr. coe.int/#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-244348%22]}. European Court Of Human Rights Grand Chamber, July 10, 2025
Developing critical thinking through the lens of interdisciplinarity:a case study of a Criminological Theory module
Get PDFCriminological theory is a uniquely challenging module to teach – not only because of the number of disciplines associated with criminology, but also because of the fragmented state of criminological theory itself. In this paper, we present a case study of teaching a criminological theory module to first-year undergraduate social science students. Through this case study, we argue that including thoughtful discussions of interdisciplinarity, theoretical integration, and philosophy of science is essential in delivering a module that is honest to its discipline, teaches students the skills of reflective practice and critical thinking, and, ultimately, leads students to enjoy the module. We designed and delivered an interdisciplinary module that incorporated lectures, seminars, a self-guided online activity (SGOA) and a summative assessment, all carefully structured to highlight and promote an interdisciplinary approach to criminological theory. To assess the module’s impact, we conducted semi-structured focus group interviews with students, using thematic analysis. This paper examines how embedding critical interdisciplinarity into a criminological theory module promotes the development of students’ critical thinking, with particular attention to analytical depth, synthesis across disciplinary perspectives, and reflective engagement with peer and feedback processes
Calcium signaling regulates apoptosis-induced proliferation in <i>Drosophila</i>
Get PDFCaspases, traditionally viewed as mediators of apoptosis and tumor suppressors, have also been shown to promote cell proliferation and to contribute to tumor growth. For example, the initiator caspase Dronc (the Drosophila orthologue of Caspase-9) can trigger apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP), a process where apoptotic cells generate mitogenic signals for compensatory proliferation independently of their apoptotic function. AiP is crucial for homeostatic cell turnover, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. Previously, we established that Dronc activates the NADPH oxidase DUOX at the plasma membrane, resulting in the production of extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are required for AiP. However, the mechanism by which Dronc activates DUOX has remained elusive. Here, we identified Dronc-dependent Ca2+ entry into the cytosol as a significant factor for DUOX activation and AiP. Three cell surface Ca2+ channels of the TRP family mediate Ca2+ influx in a non-redundant fashion. Additionally, calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) from the ER was identified as another source of cytosolic Ca2+ during AiP. Notably, DUOX itself acts as a Ca2+ effector in AiP, requiring Ca2+ binding for its activation. These findings highlight the importance of Ca2+ signaling in AiP and provide insights into how similar signaling mechanisms might operate in vertebrates
Procedures of data merging in precision cancer medicine:the PRIME-ROSE project
Get PDFBackground and purpose: As more interventional clinical trials in Precision Cancer Medicine (PCM) are introduced, molecular descriptions of tumours have led to multiple subtypes, even within common tumour types. Therefore, the main limitation of these trials is the small number of eligible patients to assess the clinical benefit. The PRIME-ROSE project addresses this limitation by pooling data from multiple European Drug Rediscovery Protocol (DRUP)-like clinical trials, such that slowly accruing cohorts are accelerated. To achieve this task, a well-documented commonly approved procedure for data merging needs to be established.Patient/material and methods: Data sharing is achievable when there is an organisation that includes people from different disciplines who can navigate institutional and country-specific information and governance requirements. Furthermore, alignment of all the study procedures are needed before data are shared. Next, the process of merging data requires harmonisation and standardisation. Implementation of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM) facilitates future data aggregation.Results: By aggregating data from European DRUP-like clinical trials, cohorts are completed that were unable to do so in stand-alone studies. Since initiation, the PRIME-ROSE project monitors over 300 cohorts across more than 20 treatments encompassing over 1,000 patients. At least 20 cohorts have progressed after interim analysis.Interpretation: Data sharing across European trials is feasible and enhances the advancements of PCM studies. The methodologies developed in the PRIME-ROSE project provide a foundation for future data integration efforts in PCM clinical trials, underscoring the viability of conducting robust trials in a global context
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