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Fixed-income corporate bond markets were the last bastion of non-electronic trading activity. For most of the twentieth century these markets were also dominated by the largest Wall Street dealer-banks. These banks had long argued that corporate bonds were too complex and illiquid to be electronified. In reality though, opaque Over-The-Counter trading in these bonds allowed Wall Street to monopolise highly uncompetitive markets; this market environment had changed very little over the decades, despite the financial services revolutions that had gripped other markets. By the 2010s however, Wall Street banks had finally begun to lose their stranglehold. This paper tracks the two explanatory factors, the emergence of new financial technology and the decisive intervention of state managers and post-crisis regulation – in the form of the Volcker Rule and Basel III. Recent accounts have become increasingly sceptical of the disruptive, pro-competitive impact of fintech. We argue that – at least in markets for US corporate bonds – there is evidence of a more competitive, democratic market environment emerging as a direct result of new financial technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working memory (WM) is the ability to maintain and manipulate internal representations. WM recruits varying brain regions based on task demands. Although the hippocampus has historically been associated with long-term memory (LTM), several studies provide evidence for its involvement during WM tasks. Slotnick (this issue) posits that this involvement is due to LTM processes. This argument rests on the assumption that processes are not shared among WM and LTM, and that WM processes are necessarily sustained. We argue that there are processes utilized by both WM and LTM, and that such processes need not be sustained to support WM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to develop an evidence-based pathway for isolated adult orbital blowout fractures. Evaluation of assessment methods, outcome measures, imaging modalities, and crucially, the optimal timing of surgical intervention was critically examined to develop a clinically applicable care pathway. A literature search was carried out using Scopus, PubMed and Web of Knowledge. The literature favors the use of HAR% ratio, Field of Binocular Single Vision (FOBSV) and Exophthalmometer as the core tests that should form part of the standardized assessment for blow-out fractures (BOFs). CT imaging remains gold standard, particularly to identify 'red-flags' warranting early intervention. There was some disagreement in relation to timing of intervention in adult fractures who continue to be symptomatic without initial extraocular muscle (EOM) entrapment and enophthalmos >3 mm, where early intervention within two weeks is not indicated. The limited literature available agreed that successful functional and radiological outcomes can be achieved with conservative or late surgical management following an extended observational period of four weeks, opposed to the conventional two weeks. An evidence-based care pathway has been created, confidently including the initial assessment methods, imaging modality, and the criteria for observation. A four-week observational period has been advocated due to evidence suggesting that there is no significant difference in outcomes from two-week observation, plus with careful functional evaluation, surgery may be avoided in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests the relationship between pleasure and condom use during penile–vaginal intercourse (PVI) is associated with relationship status. This online study examined pleasure ratings and condom use at last PVI, stratifying by partner type, among a national sample of Canadian university students. Participants were 715 undergraduates (60.7% women, 39.3% men) who reported on their most recent sexual experience. Condom use decreased with level of relationship commitment, whereas ratings of pleasure increased. Overall, participants were more likely to rate their most recent PVI asVery pleasurablewhen condoms were not used compared to when condoms were used. However, when stratified by partner type, these differences largely disappeared. For women, with one exception, there were no differences in pleasure between PVI with and without condoms across most partner-type categories. Women in committed dating relationships were more likely to report their last PVI as very pleasurable if condoms were not used than women in these same relationships who had used condoms. Across relationship categories, men who did and did not use condoms did not differ in terms of their pleasure ratings. The results of this study suggest relationship context should be taken into account when assessing condom use experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research indicates that women with sexual problems may have different reasons for engaging in sex than women who are not experiencing sexual problems. The current study investigated whether reasons for sex differed by women reporting high versus low overall sexual functioning, as assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) (Rosen et al., 2000). As low desire and inability to achieve orgasm are the two most commonly reported sexual problems for women, the study also investigated whether women with and without problems specifically related to sexual desire or orgasm cited different reasons for sex. The sample consisted of 446 heterosexual women between the ages of 18 and 61 who completed an online questionnaire assessing reasons for sex and sexual functioning. Women with low sexual functioning overall were more likely to endorse insecurity reasons for sex, while women with high sexual functioning overall were more likely to endorse physical reasons for sex. Women experiencing low desire specifically were less likely to endorse emotional and physical reasons for sex than women without desire difficulties. Women experiencing orgasm difficulties specifically were more likely to endorse insecurity reasons for sex than women without orgasm difficulties. The variance accounted for was low in all cases. This research offers insights into the important but limited role sexual functioning may play in the broader context of women's sexual motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]