Ethics in the Operation of Banks in the Perspective of the Financial Crisis of 2007–2009

Ethics in bank operations is and should be relevant. Because of their special status – institutions of public trust and the special role they play in the market economy – creating the bloodstream of economic life while being its participants as entrepreneurs – all their actions should have ethical foundations. They staggered tremendously during the financial crisis of 2007–2009 (called the crisis of trust) when as a result of careless actions of banks a problem of so-called toxic assets appeared which have shaken the foundations of banking activity. This resulted in the collapse of the capital markets, partial paralysis of the global financial system and a massive recession. The greed and recklessness of financiers began to be identified with the institution of the bank. Th aim of this study is to draw attention to the fact that banks – despite the turmoil (or rather especially because of) the crisis of 2007–2009 – as institutions of public trust should be guided by the values, standards and principles of ethics in every aspect of its business despite the fact that they are entrepreneurs focused on maximizing profit.

Integrated Wheelchair-Compatible Support System for Sit-To-Stand Movements Support

This study proposes a novel integrated wheelchair-compatible support system for wheelchair users with partial or complete paralysis. This system not only provides sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit (STS) learning support for stroke and spinal cord injury patients but also enhances the independence of wheelchair users. It integrates a lower limb movement support unit with a wheelchair and supports STS movement by moving the seat up and down linearly. It also measures the ground reaction force (GRF) on both sides of the body and supports proper STS movement to allow users to improve their movements and postures. Individual experiments were conducted to evaluate the system-provided STS movement support for two patients with partial paralysis and one patient with complete paralysis. Patients with partial paralysis, both hemiplegic and quadriplegic, were able to operate the system and perform the STS movement learning with visual biofeedback. Moreover, using our system, a wheelchair user with complete paraplegia was able to perform tasks at an elevated position independently. Therefore, this system will help wheelchair users achieve the self-motor-learning of STS movement and enhance their quality of life independently.

The Marathon Journey of My Body-Self and Performing Identity

In this autoethnography, I provide voice to the wounded storyteller (Frank, 1995) in my journey to address issues of embodiment, ‘the body’, and illness in relation to my performing identity, with a particular focus on how I was able to overcame a spinal injury, partial paralysis, and lower back surgeries to cross the finish line as a ‘runner’. I explore how my embodied identity was initially centered on my athletic identity early on in my life to how my sense of body-self has been translated due to an unexpected ‘illness’ and deteriorated physical conditions I have encountered over the past decade, causing me to question, challenge, and critique my perceptions of my performing identity in my altered and new ‘body.’

Partial Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis or Paresis? In Search for the Accurate Diagnosis

“Partial paralysis” of the larynx is a term often used to describe a hypomobile vocal fold as is the term “paresis.” We present a case of a dysphonic patient with a mobility disorder of the vocal fold, for whom idiopathic “partial paralysis” was the diagnosis made after laryngeal electromyography, and discuss a proposition for a different implementation of the term.

Extending the Useable Range of Active Orthotic Exoskeletons by Recapture of Walking Energy

Most people don’t think twice about the energy required for walking, except when interested in burning calories during exercise. However, someone needing to depend on active orthotics, or prosthetics, due to partial paralysis or other weakness of the lower extremities, would find energy efficiency of great interest if it meant the range of use was limited by the energy required to power the assistive devices.