Corporate Governance – A comparative analysis of the approach to corporate governance regulation and enforcement in the UK and the US

Corporations play a crucial role in the functioning of global economies. As a result, the importance of regulating corporate behaviour continues to be a topic of great debate. Despite the introduction of corporate governance regulations over two decades ago, instances of corporate misconduct continue to emerge, which calls into question the effectiveness of corporate governance regulations to prevent and detect corporate misconduct. It is well accepted that regulations alone cannot prevent misconduct. To be effective, regulations must be adequately enforced. The UK and U.S. have adopted two different approaches to regulating corporate behaviour. While the UK has adopted a voluntary comply-or-explain approach, the U.S. has adopted a rules-based approach with mandatory compliance and sanctions for non-compliance. The main aim of this study is to investigate the differences in the approach to corporate governance regulation and enforcement in the UK and the United States. In so doing, the research ventures beyond the law in the books and considers how the law operates and how it is enforced. The study combines doctrinal, socio-legal and comparative law methodologies to achieve the research objectives and uses Becker’s theory on measuring enforcement to analyse the effectiveness of enforcement in the UK and the United States. The study concludes that the approach to corporate governance (the rules-based or principles-based) does not materially impact corporate misconduct. Instead, the study contends that the effectiveness of the UK’s approach to corporate governance enforcement is hindered by a cluttered enforcement framework with multiple civil and criminal regulators. As a result of the centralised approach adopted in the U.S., this study finds that there is a higher likelihood that U.S. directors will face sanctions for corporate misconduct, when compared to their UK counterparts. Given that the effectiveness of regulations is measured in relation to its enforcement, the effectiveness of the UK system of corporate governance enforcement to deter corporate misconduct is questionable. Ultimately, there is little incentive for directors to engage effectively in preventing and detecting corporate misconduct

Common clonal origin of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient with a germline CHEK2 variant

Hematological malignancies are broadly divided into myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms, reflecting the two major cellular lineages of the hematopoietic system. It is generally rare for hematological malignancies to spontaneously progress with a switch from myeloid to lymphoid lineage. We describe the exceptional case of a patient who sequentially developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), as well as our investigation into the underlying pathogenesis. Using whole-exome sequencing (WES) performed on sorted CMML and B-ALL cell fractions, we identified both common and unique potential driver mutations, suggesting a branching clonal evolution giving rise to both diseases. Interestingly, we also identified a germline variant in the cancer susceptibility gene CHEK2 We validated that this variant (c.475T > C; p.Y159H), located in the forkhead-associated (FHA) domain, impairs its capacity to bind BRCA1 in cellulo. This unique case provides novel insight into the genetics of complex hematological diseases and highlights the possibility that such patients may carry inherited predispositions

Elite squash players nutrition knowledge and influencing factors

Background There is a reported mismatch between macronutrient consumption and contemporary macronutrient guidelines in elite standard squash players. Suboptimal dietary practices could be due to a lack of nutrition knowledge among players. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to assess the sports nutrition knowledge of elite squash players through the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ) and provide an indication of whether players require nutrition support to increase their nutrition knowledge. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the nutrition knowledge of 77 elite squash players via the NSKQ over the period of June 2020 to August 2020. Results Players conveyed average nutrition knowledge with a mean NSKQ score of 48.78 ± 10.06 (56.07% ± 11.56%). There were no significant differences in NSKQ score between male and female players (p = .532). There was found to be a weak positive association between world ranking and NSKQ score (r = .208) and age and NSKQ score (r = .281). Players who had a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. BSc Sport & Exercise Science) had significantly greater NSKQ score than players with no relevant qualifications (p = .022). Players who consulted a sports nutritionist to obtain their main source of nutrition information were shown to have significantly greater knowledge than those who acquired knowledge from a sports scientist (p = .01) or the internet / social media (p = .007). Conclusions Players should consult with a sports nutritionist to increase their sport nutrition knowledge. Future research should quantify the effectiveness of a nutritional education intervention at increasing nutrition knowledge in players

Nuclear Data for Explosive Hydrogen Burning on A=30-50 Nuclei

We have provided an exhaustive compilation and documentation of parameters relevant to the sup 3 sup 1 P(p,?) and sup 3 sup 1 P(p,a) reactions, including where possible resonance energies, spins and parities, resonance strengths and proton, gamma, alpha and total widths. We have also compiled the uncertainties wherever possible, one of the primary goals of our compilation, for not only the resonance energies but also for the resonance strengths and widths. In calculating the final uncertainties for cross sections and reaction rates, a method for propagating those errors through the reaction rate calculations was developed, using both deterministic matrix techniques and Monte Carlo simulation methods. (Hix 1999, M. Smith 2002) Our conclusion was that the Monte Carlo simulations were the preferred method. (D. Smith 2002) It was also determined that using a lognormal probability function rather than the usual Gaussian distribution is appropriate in situations where the uncertainties in the resonance strengths are large. (Smith 1991) If not addressed in this manner, one could end up with the completely unphysical situation where some of the forward reaction rates are negative when using a sampling method such as the Monte Carlo simulations do. The large uncertainties, usually in resonance strength, occur quite frequently especially in the low excitation energy levels which are often the most important for astrophysical calculations, but are also the most difficult to measure. We have also laid the groundwork for a method which might be followed in further compilations, and have carefully addressed the assumptions that underlie such compilations and calculations as we have undertaken. The complete results will be published in Argonne Report ANL/NDM-155

Immunohistochemical analysis of pdgfr-alpha, pdgfr-beta and c-abl in retinoblastoma: potential therapeutic targets

Background: Our laboratory previously reported that imatinib mesylate (IM) has an inhibitory effect on two retinoblastoma (Rb) cell lines in vitro. Aims: The purpose of this project was to determine the immunoexpression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-alpha, PDGFR-beta and c-Abl in 61 human samples of Rb to determine if IM-sensitive receptors are present. Additionally, this paper seeks to establish a correlation between the expression of PDGFR, c-Abl and the histopathological prognosis. Methods: Sixty-one paraffin-embedded Rbs were collected from the Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Registry. PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta and c-Abl immunostaining was performed according to the protocol provided by Ventana Medical System Inc. Immunoreactivity was correlated with the presence or absence of invasion into the choroid and optic nerve. Results: Overall, c-Abl expression was identified in 50 out of 61 specimens (81.97%), PDGFR-alpha was identified in 20 out of 60 specimens (33.33%) and PDGFR-beta expression was identified in 57 out of 61 specimens (93.44%). Histopathological prognosis was not correlated with immunoreactivity except in the case of PDGFR-beta. Conclusions: Rb is a cancer that expresses PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta and c-Abl, which are known targets of IM. These markers may be responsible for the documented therapeutic effect of IM on Rb cell lines. (C) 2016 S. Karger AG, BaselDepartment of Ophthalmology and Pathology, The McGill University Health Center and Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, Montreal, Que., CanadaInstituto Brasileiro de Oftalmologia, Rio de JaneiroDepartment of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc