Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural basis of disgust perception in racial prejudice

Worldwide racial prejudice is originated from in‐group/out‐group discrimination. This prejudice can bias face perception at the very beginning of social interaction. However, little is known about the neurocognitive mechanism underlying the influence of racial prejudice on facial emotion perception. Here, we examined the neural basis of disgust perception in racial prejudice using a passive viewing task and functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that compared with the disgusted faces of in‐groups, the disgusted faces of out‐groups result in increased amygdala and insular engagement, positive coupling of the insula with amygdala‐based emotional system, and negative coupling of the insula with anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)‐based regulatory system. Furthermore, machine‐learning algorithms revealed that the level of implicit racial prejudice could be predicted by functional couplings of the insula with both the amygdala and the ACC, which suggests that the insula is largely involved in racially biased disgust perception through two distinct neural circuits. In addition, individual difference in disgust sensitivity was found to be predictive of implicit racial prejudice. Taken together, our results suggest a crucial role of insula‐centered circuits for disgust perception in racial prejudice. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5275–5286, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Follow-Up of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patency: Diagnostic Efficiency of High-Pitch Dual-Source 256-Slice MDCT Findings

Objectives Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 256-slice, high-pitch mode multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patency. Methods Eighty-eight patients underwent 256-slice MDCT angiography to evaluate their graft patency after CABG surgery using a prospectively synchronized electrocardiogram in the high-pitch spiral acquisition mode. Effective radiation doses were calculated. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of high-pitch, low-dose, prospective, electrocardiogram-triggering, dual-source MDCT for CABG patency compared with catheter coronary angiography imaging findings. Results A total of 215 grafts and 645 vessel segments were analyzed. All graft segments had diagnostic image quality. The proximal and middle graft segments had significantly (P < 0.05) better mean image quality scores (1.18 ± 0.4) than the distal segments (1.31 ± 0.5). Using catheter coronary angiography as the reference standard, high-pitch MDCT had the following sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of per-segment analysis for detecting graft patency: 97.1%, 99.6%, 94.4%, and 99.8%, respectively. Conclusions In conclusion, MDCT can be used noninvasively with a lower radiation dose for the assessment of restenosis in CABG patients.
DISEASE MECHANISMS IN ORAL LICHEN PLANUS. A POSSIBLE ROLE FOR AUTOIMMUNITY

Current evidence for the involvement of cell‐mediated immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus is reviewed. Both a spatial and temporal relationship between cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and epithelial damage have been reported. Although keratinocytes appear to be the target for destruction in oral lichen planus, their role in antigen presentation is unclear. We propose that in oral lichen planus patients, diverse exogenous agents such as drugs, trauma and infection, stimulate the expression of a common self molecule by oral mucosal keratinocytes. An autoimmune reaction by cytotoxic T lymphocytes to these activated keratinocytes may result in the tissue destruction which is characteristic of oral lichen planus.
Uncertainty, Information Practices and Accounting in Small Firms

The question addressed is how small firms compensate for deficiencies in their accounting information systems and what other means they apply to handle uncertainty in their environments. Empirical data was gathered from six small firms representing two different branches of the service industry: craft and culture. A qualitative method was employed and data comes from in depth interviews with the managers and has been structured according to the framework of Simons (1995). Data indicates that most of the studied firms lack significant portions of a formal managing accounting information system. Instead, they rely upon external information, through strategic networks of competitors, customers, employees and branch organizations, to make pricing and development decisions. A practical as well as a theoretical implication is that management control frameworks need to explicitly take into account trust and trustworthiness both in relation to environment and to employees.
Concentrated Corporate Ownership

Standard economic models assume that many small investors own firms. This is so in most large U.S. firms, but wealthy individuals or families generally hold controlling blocks in smaller U.S. firms and in all firms in most other countries. Given this, the lack of theoretical and empirical work on tightly held firms is surprising. What corporate governance problems arise in tightly held firms? How do these differ from corporate governance problems in widely held firms? How do control blocks arise and how are they maintained? How does concentrated ownership affect economic growth? How should we regulate tightly held firms? Drawing together leading scholars from law, economics, and finance, this volume examines the economic and legal issues of concentrated ownership and their impact on a shifting global economy.
There’s a cream for that: A textual analysis of beauty and body-related advertisements aimed at middle-aged women

ABSTRACT This article explores the magazine advertising strategies and tactics used by health and beauty products to target middle-aged women. Advertisements found in the April 2013 issues of Shape, Fitness, and Women’s Health were analyzed using intersectionality to determine how these advertisements are presenting messages pertaining to age, gender, and sexuality and how these messages can “other” and marginalize certain identities. The findings suggest that advertisement strategies implement pseudoscience, heteronormativity, hegemonic beauty, and body ideals to establish an idealized version of middle-aged womanhood.
[The perceptive color space in the carp (Carpio cyprinus L.)].

Discrimination of colours was studied using choice conditioning paradigm (one of a pair of colour stimuli) in carps. Matrix of probabilities of instrumental reactions (catching a bead) was constructed by the results of eight experimental sessions with successive reinforcement of one of the eight colours. It was processed by factor analysis. The spherical structure of carp's perceptual colour space revealed by factor analysis was similar to that of monkeys and humans. Four eigenvectors which constituted four-dimensional Euclidean hypersphere corresponded to excitation of four colour-encoding neuronal channels, i.e., red-green, blue-yellow, bright and dark.
The Effectiveness of R&D and Innovation Policy in Promoting Innovation in European SMEs: an Empirical Investigation of Additionality Effects: A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement of Staffordshire University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Innovation is crucial for firms’ growth and competitiveness. Yet, because knowledge is a public good, firms may underinvest in innovation activities to avoid freeriding and opportunistic behaviour. Besides market failures, another cause of underinvestment in innovation is associated with the concept of systems failures, advanced in the literature on systems of innovation. Potential adverse effects of market and systems failures provide scope for government intervention designed to foster investment in innovation and bring about innovation activities at the socially optimal level. This thesis investigates the effectiveness of innovation policy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by exploring whether public support has an "additionality" effect on their innovation activities. First, we investigate the impact of public support on innovation output (output additionality) in traditional manufacturing industries. Second, we focus on the effect of innovation support programmes on innovative behaviour, particularly on networking and cooperation for innovation among Spanish SMEs (behavioural additionality). Finally, we assess both output and behavioural additionality among European SMEs.
Distinct anatomical correlates of discriminability and criterion setting in verbal recognition memory revealed by lesion‐symptom mapping

Recognition memory, that is, the ability to judge whether an item has been previously encountered in a particular context, depends on two factors: discriminability and criterion setting. Discriminability draws on memory processes while criterion setting (i.e., the application of a threshold resulting in a yes/no response) is regarded as a process of cognitive control. Discriminability and criterion setting are assumed to draw on distinct anatomical structures, but definite evidence for this assumption is lacking. We applied voxel‐based and region of interest‐based lesion‐symptom mapping to 83 patients in the acute phase of ischemic stroke to determine the anatomical correlates of discriminability and criterion setting in verbal recognition memory. Recognition memory was measured with the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Signal‐detection theory was used to calculate measures for discriminability and criterion setting. Lesion‐symptom mapping revealed that discriminability draws on left medial temporal and temporo‐occipital structures, both thalami and the right hippocampus, while criterion setting draws on the right inferior frontal gyrus. Lesions in the right inferior frontal gyrus were associated with liberal response bias. These findings indicate that discriminability and criterion setting indeed depend on distinct anatomical structures and provide new insights in the anatomical correlates of these cognitive processes that underlie verbal recognition memory. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1292–1303, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of the optical constants of a semiconductor thin film employing the matrix method

In the present work a formalism is developed based on the matrix method for the purpose of obtaining the values of the optical constants (n refractive index and k extinction coefficient) of thin film materials from the experimental reflectance (R) and transmittance (T) spectra. This formalism has been applied to the determination of the dependence on the wavelength (/spl lambda/) of n and k values in the visible range corresponding to a semiconductor (SnO/sub 2/) thin film deposited onto glass. The dependence on /spl lambda/ of the absorption coefficient (/spl alpha/) as well as the value of the energy gap has also been calculated. The nature of the optical transitions has also been ascertained. This technique has been found suitable for use as a student experiment.
Endometrial Histology and Biochemistry in Climacteric Women during Oestrogen and Oestrogen/Progestogen Therapy 1

177 patients were recruited between 1973 and 1977 to participate in a study to determine the endometrial response to exogenous estrogens and the modifying effect of progestogens on this response; hence, the endometrial proliferation during cyclical estrogen therapy and sequential estrogen/progestogen therapy was studied longitudinally. The patients were peri-or postmenopausal. Cyclical thereapy ranged from 2-47 months (mean, 15.1 months). With high-dose estrogen, cystic glandular hyperplasia was diagnosed in 16 (23%) patients, and atypical hyperplasia in 6 (9%); with low-dose regimens, cystic glandular hyperplasia was diagnosed in 4 (12%) and atypical hyperplasia in 2 (6%) patients. Sequentia therapy ranged from 2-50 months (mean, 16.2 months). With high dose regimens, 1 (2%) was found to have cystic glandular hyperplasia and 1 atient (2%) atypical hyperplasia; with low doses atypical hyperplasi was diagnosed in 1 patient (3%). these data therefore suggested that progestogens protected the endometrium against estrogen-induced stimulation, although complete protection was not afforded. Progestogens also depressed cytoplasmic progesterone receptor levels and induced the formation of estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase, as shown by the following findings: in all samples from Weeks 2 and 3, no activity of the enzyme was detectable. During norethisterone administration (Week 4), however, the activity rose to the premenopausal secretory range and was significantly higher than that in Weeks 2 and 3 (P .001 and P .001, respectively). Measurement of cytoplasmic progesterone receptor confirmed that the estrogenic stimulus being applied to the endometrium was potent.
Recognizing the pitfalls of total quality management

Should utilities be interested in total quality management (TQM) After all, the argument that better quality products should increase the sales and result in higher profits does not readily apply to a public utility operating in a monopolistic environment. Yet, utilities in the US are moving toward a more competitive environment; FPL's success with its TQM programs is forcing most utilities to look at TQM so as not to risk future competitive disadvantage. A few regulatory commissions have already started to inquire as to what steps utilities under their jurisdiction are taking to pursue the benefits of TQM. This article will address two facets of this issue. First, it will define what TQM is and identify the pitfalls that might keep a utility from attaining the full benefits of a well-executed TQM program. Second, it will lay out a simple, straightforward approach that a utility can use to determine whether and how to utilize this new management tool.
Liquidity Shocks, Local Banks, and Economic Activity: Evidence from the 2007-2009 Crisis

This paper studies the relationship between shocks to local banks and economic activity, by exploiting differences in the liability structure of small U.S. commercial banks during the 2007-09 crisis. Banks that relied more heavily on wholesale liabilities reduced lending relatively more during the crisis than banks funding themselves with retail deposits, suggesting that the use of short-term wholesale funding exposed banks to a sudden dry-up in market liquidity. Moreover, metropolitan areas where banks relied more on wholesale liabilities experienced larger reductions in employment and establishments during the crisis, suggesting that adverse shocks to banks hurt the economy. This effect was stronger in areas with more bank-dependent firms, such as small businesses and firms with higher external financing needs.
Regulatory Challenges for the EU Asset Management Industry

The European asset management industry is feeling squeezed from all sides, as a result of growing prudential, product and conduct regulation. A new Directive, UCITS IV, has only just been enacted, and already new challenges are emerging in the regulation of hedge and venture capital funds, the review of the regulatory regime for depositaries (or financial custodians) and amendments to the MiFID Directive. In addition, a new European supervisory framework is in the making, which implies much stricter controls on enforcement. These changes are taking place in the context of one of the largest declines suffered by the industry in the last two decades, from which many fund managers have not yet recovered. This paper first briefly reviews recent developments in the EU asset management industry, followed by a discussion of the regulatory framework for asset management and the challenges ahead. Its focuses primarily on the UCITS and emerging non-UCITS investment fund regime, and its interaction with the MiFID regime covering investment services.
Applications of news analytics in finance: A review

A review of news analytics and its applications in finance is given in this chapter. In particular we review the multiple facets of current research and some of the major applications. It is widely recognised news plays a key role in financial markets. The sources and volumes of news continue to grow. New technologies that enable automatic or semi-automatic news collection, extraction, aggregation and categorisation are emerging. Further machine learning techniques can be used to process the textual input of news stories to determine quantitative sentiment scores. We consider the various types of news available and how these can be processed to form inputs to financial models. We report applications of news, for prediction of abnormal returns, for trading strategies, for diagnostic applications as well as the use of news for risk control.
The impact of Credit Rating Announcements on Credit Default Swap Spreads - An empirical study of the North American Credit Default Swap Market before, during and after the global financial crisis of 2008-2009

A Credit Default Swap spread is a reliable measure of credit risk as it is the compensation demanded by a party to bear this risk. Officially, credit risk is denoted as credit ratings announced by credit rating agencies. Since rating announcements contain information regarding credit risk, the market should incorporate this new information into the CDS spread. The aim of this study is to investigate if the CDS spread reacts differently to credit rating announcements during periods of global financial distress than under relative financial stability. The study covers a period between November 26, 2004 to November 13, 2014. By conducting an event study, 300 679 daily credit default swap spreads and 370 Moody´s credit rating events from 120 entities in the North American credit default swap market are analyzed over three time periods: (1) prior to the global Sub-prime crisis of 2008-2009, (2) during the crisis and (3) after the crisis. Specifically, the announcement types, upgrade, possible upgrade, downgrade and possible downgrade are examined. On the aggregated level, all announcement types show a significant impact on the spread at the actual event day, while only negative announcements show anticipation. Combining the before and after crisis period, all event types except for downgrades show significance at the event day and no announcements display significant anticipation. During the crisis negative announcements show significant magnified anticipation and total reaction, while positive events lose its impact and significance. Lastly, after the crisis, Moody’s ratings announcements, both aggregated positive and negative announcements lose some of its impact magnitude compared to before the crisis. In sum, our findings propose that the impact of rating announcements depend on the underlying market conditions.
Living corporate citizenship : strategic routes to socially responsible business

Introduction 1: Living Corporate Citizenship 2: From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Citizenship 3: The Boundaries of Corporate Citizenship 4: Corporate Citizenship & NGO's 5: Voluntary Corporate Citizenship Initiatives: The Global Eight 6: The UN Global Compact 7: Company Engagement: Lessons in Learning 8: The Future Appendix 1: Examples of Learning From Nine Selected Company submissions to the UN Global Compact Appendix 2: Recommended reading Appendix 3: Contacts.
Low striatal D2 receptor binding as assessed by [123I]IBZM SPECT in patients with writer's cramp.

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Cardiorespiratory and endocrine effects of endogenous opioid antagonism by naloxone in ponies anaesthetised with halothane.

Halothane depresses cardiorespiratory function and activates the pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing beta endorphin. In horses, beta endorphin may enhance the anaesthetic-associated cardiorespiratory depression and mortality risk. The authors studied endogenous opioid effects on cardiorespiratory function and pituitary-adrenal activity in halothane-anaesthetised ponies by investigating opioid antagonism by naloxone. Six ponies were anaesthetised three times (crossover design). Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with 1.2 per cent halothane for 2 hours. Immediately after induction, naloxone was administered either intravenously (0.5 mg kg(-1)bolus then 0.25 mg kg(-1)hour(-1)for 2 hours) or intrathecally (0.5 mg) or was replaced by saline as control. Pulse and respiratory rates, arterial blood gases, cardiac output and plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) concentrations were measured. All groups developed cardiorespiratory depression (40 per cent decrease in cardiac output) and plasma cortisol increased. Plasma ACTH concentration was higher in ponies treated with intrathecal naloxone. Endogenous opioids may inhibit ACTH secretion, attenuating the stress response to halothane anaesthesia in equidae.
Consumer Perceptions and Knowledge of Common Furniture Woods

ABSRTACT. —We report findings from two studies that describe the perceptions consumers have of several common furniture wood species. A comparison is made between a 2001 survey of undergraduate students at a large midwestern university, and adult consumers intercepted at furniture stores and trade shows in the same and a nearby city in 2003. In both samples, participants were split into two groups and asked to rate six species on several semantic differential items, based either on word association or the appearance of wood specimens. Use in bedroom furniture was given as the frame of reference. The two methods of evaluation often produced different results, suggesting that the reputation a species has is not always based on its physical appearance. A high correspondence was found between the two groups concerning the species ratings. However, the adult consumers were better at identifying the specimens than were the college students. The results obtained from both studies should alert secondary wood manufacturers to the need for better understanding of the role perceptions play in consumer choice. This understanding can be used to enhance product design and communications decisions.
The Bacteria Content of Bagged, Pre-Washed Greens as Related to the Best if Used by Date

The sale of ready-to-eat salads has increased over the past years, yet little is known about consumer usage and the related safety of these products. This study evaluated the changes of microbiological quality of pre-washed spinach and mixed leafy vegetables during refrigeration storage. Microbial loads were determined by aerobic plate count (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae count (EC). The microbiological quality of pre-washed greens varied widely and deteriorated rapidly in a refrigerator. At “best if used by” date, twenty percent of samples had APC of more than 7.0 Log CFU/g and all samples had EC of more than 5.0 Log CFU/g. It is recommended that consumers purchase and eat pre-washed greens in their entirety as far in advance of the “best if used by” date as possible.