Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic theta‐frequency membrane potential oscillations in layer III/V perirhinal cortex neurons of the rat

The firing of a proportion of neurons in the in vivo perirhinal cortex, a brain region involved in object recognition memory, has recently been shown to be synchronized with hippocampal theta activity. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether neurons located in perirhinal cortex have intrinsic properties that might encourage their participation in theta activity. To these ends, current clamp recordings were made from 98 neurons located in layer III/V of the in vitro rat perirhinal cortex. The intrinsic properties of these neurons were investigated, and a subset of 61 neurons were tested for the presence of membrane potential oscillations at threshold levels of depolarization. Thirty‐nine percent of these neurons displayed a theta‐frequency membrane potential oscillation (MPO; mean frequency = 8.6 Hz). When depolarized past spike threshold, these neurons tended to fire in clusters, with a within‐cluster interspike interval close to the peak to peak interval of the MPOs. Neurons that did not generate MPOs generated nonaccomodating action potential trains with a frequency that spanned the theta range. Biocytin staining indicated that MPOs could be generated in cells with both pyramidal and nonpyramidal morphology. These findings demonstrate that a large proportion of perirhinal neurons exhibit intrinsic properties that could assist in the entrainment and synchronization of theta‐frequency oscillations. These properties may enhance the communication of information between the perirhinal cortex, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus. Hippocampus 1999;9:510–518. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Utility price regulation and time inconsistency: comparisons with monetary policy

We examine the hold-up problem of price regulation and compare it with the monetary policy credibility problem. For both, reputational solutions are possible provided that the policymaker is sufficiently far-sighted, but the hold-up problem in regulation turns out to be more serious than the inflation bias problem in monetary policy. Even with far-sighted regulators, a reputational equilibrium with optimal investment is undermined if capital depreciates slowly and consumer demand increases slowly. These results make the Rogoff-delegation solution to the regulatory commitment problem especially attractive. The paper concludes with a short discussion linking these results to the empirical literature on utility regulatory regimes. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
Mitochondrial D-loop "signatures" produced by low-stringency single specific primer PCR constitute a simple comparative human identity test.

We have developed a technique called "LSSP-PCR" (low-stringency single specific primer PCR) that detects single or multiple mutations in DNA. A purified DNA fragment is submitted to PCR by using a single primer specific for one of the extremities of the fragment, under conditions of very low stringency. The primer hybridizes specifically to its complementary extremity and nonspecifically to multiple sites within the fragment, in a sequence-dependent manner. A complex set of reaction products is thus created that, when separated by electrophoresis, constitutes a unique "gene signature. " We here report the application of LSSP-PCR to the detection of sequence variation in the control (D-loop) region of human mtDNA, which is known to differ significantly between unrelated individuals. We prepared human DNA samples from blood and amplified a 1024-bp portion of the mtDNA control region, using primers L15996 and H408. The amplified mtDNA fragments were then reamplified under LSSP-PCR conditions by using L15996 or H408 as drivers to produce complex signatures that always differed between unrelated individuals and yet were highly reproducible. In contrast, all mother-child pairs tested were identical, as expected from the matrilineal inheritance of mtDNA. Thus, the use of LSSP-PCR to produce D-loop signatures constitutes a powerful new technique for mtDNA-based comparative identity testing.
Dry ‘Intrauterine Swimming Pool’ for the Sperm” – A Potential New Mechanism of Action of Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS, Mirena) as a Contraceptive

Findings: In the literature, the mechanisms of action of LNG-IUS as a contraceptive include impairment of sperm transport through the cervix due to thick cervical mucus and through the uterus due to inflammatory changes in the endometrium affecting sperm transport and function, and possibly fertilisation and implantation are impaired. The evidence from the literature shows that following long-term use of LNG-IUS the changes in the endometrium is predominantly atrophy and decidualisation not inflammation, the latter being a feature during the initial phase after its insertion. As endometrial atrophy is the predominant feature of long-term LNG-IUS use, impairment of the sperm transport through the uterus due to inadequate volume of endometrial fluid might play a major role in the mechanism of action for its contraceptive effect.
Demonstration of 2′,3′‐Cyclic Nucleotide 3′‐Phosphohydrolase in Cultured Human Schwann Cells

Abstract: Schwann cell cultures were established from adult human sural nerve biopsies. 2′3′‐Cyclic nucleotide 3′‐phosphohydrolase (CNPase) activity was estimated in the homogenates of those cells by a sensitive isotope assay using [3H]2′,3′‐cyclic AMP as substrate. A high level of CNPase activity was observed in cultured Schwann cells, whereas cultured human muscle and skin fibroblasts contained negligible levels of CNPase activity. CNPase of human Schwann cells followed typical enzyme‐substrate kinetics, with an apparent Km of 1.6 mM for 2′,3′‐cyclic AMP, and the enzyme was stimulated by detergents such as Triton X‐100 and deoxycholate. It was inhibited by p‐chloromercuricbenzoate and 2′‐AMP. These properties are typical of CNPase isolated from adult brain and spinal cord. CNPase can serve as a new biochemical marker of normal cultured human Schwann cells and can be useful in analyzing the properties of cultured Schwann cells from patients with dysschwannian neuropathies.
Social and environmental sustainability in the clothing industry: a case study of a fair trade retailer

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the issues currently involved in social and environmental sustainability in the clothing industry. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a case study approach to investigate a business that operates successfully in this challenging market. Findings – As a consequence of increasing demand for ethical clothing, it has become standard practice for UK clothing retailers to develop CSR policies which impact upon their methods of garment sourcing and partnerships with suppliers. There is also a significant trend for retailers to offer ethical clothing ranges made from organic cotton or produced by Fair Trade manufacturers. The paper includes a case study on People Tree, which sells Fair Trade clothing sourced from developing countries. People Tree is rare amongst clothing companies in that it provides customers with a transparent view of its production sources via the internet. The company provides an example of how socially responsible and environmentally sustainable global sourcing can be applied in practice. Research limitations/implications – The study focuses on aspects of sustainability in an individual retailer. This could be extended to other ethical retailers in different countries, and a longitudinal study of such companies could be conducted. Originality/value – Literature on ethical fashion companies and their use of socially responsible strategies is sparse, and there is a lack of research that covers both social and environmental sustainability in this market. This paper fills some of the gaps.
A Comparative Study on the Impact of Revised SORP 2 on British and Irish Charities

Charities constitute an important sector in the economies of Britain and Ireland. However, despite their economic importance, charity external financial reporting has been characterised by a diversity of accounting practice and a lack of standardisation. Over the last 20 years an attempt has been made to improve this situation by the publication of a Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for charities in 1988 and its revision in 1995. It is argued that inconsistencies in the financial statements of charities and the adoption of dubious accounting practices make it difficult for users of charity accounts to understand (and therefore use) the information provided. Previous studies have mainly looked at the impact of the original SORP (1988) on large charities in Britain. Little is known with respect to the impact on Irish charities. This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of over 200 financial statements of Irish and British charities with respect to the recommendations contained in the revised SORP (1995). The results provide evidence that the accounts of Irish charities are considerably less compliant with the recommendations made in the revised SORP than their British counterparts. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
Explaining the Cross-Section of Returns via a Multi-Factor APT Model

Abstract This paper uses an autoregressive approach to test a multi-factor model with time-varying risk premiums. A quasi-differencing approach is used to eliminate the unobservable factors in the model. It is found that the model is capable of capturing the “size effect” and the “dividend yield effect,” but is incapable of explaining the “book-to-market effect” and the “earnings-price ratio effect. ” Thus, it is concluded that a constant-beta multi-factor model will not be able to explain the cross-sectional variation in expected returns.
An optimal Strategy for Hedging with Short‐Term Futures Contracts

The search for an optimal strategy to reduce the running risk in hedging a long‐term supply commitment with short‐dated futures contracts leads to a class of intrinsic optimization problems. We give an explicit analytic solution for this optimization problem if the market price of the commodity is based on a simple Gaussian model, thereby replacing previously used incomplete approximations to the optimal strategy.
Home-Use Object Transfer/Storage Robot System with Compliant Strategy and Mechanism (Commodities Management and its Extended Application of Daily Life Support for the Elderly)

This research describes the strategy and mechanism design methodology to realize a robot system that transfers and stores daily use objects in our living space. Unlike industrial applications, there are three specific problems in the home application: (1) variation of living environment, (2) diversity of daily use objects, (3) dispersion of human activity. First, we presented a concept of strategic compliance as a basic solution for these problems and extracted three fundamental functions (regulation, assist/enforce, and navigation) for the strategy. Second, we aimed to realize a robust robot motion by introducing adequate mechanisms which are suitable for the strategy. The mechanisms are; (1) passive mechanical compliance and (2) object constraint methodology with “caging. ” As an actual prototype system, a home-use logistical support robot system implemented with those strategies and mechanisms is constructed. By experiments, validity of the presented methodology was confirmed. In addition to the domestic logistical application, we considered applying the proposed system to the elderly people support, and developed prototypes of supporting instruments; lavatory and refrigerator containers. The basic design of the instruments is also introduced.
Aligning practice with policy in vocational-technical education

Abstract Technology has become a household word in all nations and its vital application in accelerating developments makes everyone adjust to the realities of technological explosions. The Nigerian Vocational-Technical Education teachers play key roles in executing government policies in Nigerian schools. However, the study provides evidence that teachers are not conversant enough with the policy. There is need to align practice with policy for proper technological developments.
Time zone normalization of FX seasonality

Abstract This paper provides empirical evidence that the particular intra-day seasonality observed in the Foreign Exchange market is indeed due to the different geographical locations of its traders. Analysing more than 2 years of real transactions from a microscopic perspective, we design a procedure that accounts for the time zones from which traders operate. The resulting normalized intra-day seasonality shows a pattern akin to those observed in regulated exchanges where traders are more active at the beginning and at the end of their session.
The Knowledge Brokering Role of the Hybrid Middle Level Manager: The Case of Healthcare

In the literature it is argued that middle level managers (MLMs) enact a strategic role in public sector organizations, at the same time as there exist calls for their delayering so that frontline services can be protected. Such calls do not recognize the strategic importance of the hybrid MLM, who crosses professional frontline and managerial domains. Drawing upon the example of their managerial role in healthcare, we highlight that the hybrid MLM enacts a strategic knowledge brokering role and outline contingent factors framing this more strategic role.
Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs in the Veterans Health Administration

The role of diabetes educators is likely to evolve and expand due to the development of chronic disease management programs that are based on a multidisciplinary approach of healthcare providers. In addition to providing self-management education and training to more patients with diabetes, educators will most likely need to expand their services to include case management and quality management of process and health outcomes.
Going concern prediction using data mining techniques

Going concern is a fundamental concept in accounting and auditing and the assessment of a firm's going concern status is not an easy task. Several going concern prediction models based on statistical methods to assist auditors have been suggested in the literature. This study explores and compares the usefulness of neural networks, decision trees and logistic regression in predicting a firm's going concern status. The sample data comprise financial ratios for 165 going concerns and 165 matched non‐going concerns. The classification results indicate the potential usefulness of data mining techniques in a going concern prediction context. Further, the decision tree going concern prediction model outperforms the logistic regression and neural network models. Data mining techniques such as neural networks and decision trees are powerful for analysing complex non‐linear and interaction relationships, and hence can supplement and complement traditional statistical methods in constructing going concern prediction models.
Tractors, tubewells and cropping intensity in the Indian Punjab

This paper quantifies the cropping intensity effects of tractors and tubewells in the Indian Punjab. In addition to the conventional measure of cropping intensity, a new index, which takes account of the time duration of crops grown, is specified. The advantage of tractor ownership vs. hiring the machine is also assessed as are the effects of farm size and agro‐climatic zones. Relative to bullocks and canal irrigation, tractors and tubewells are respectively found to be associated with higher cropping intensities, as measured by both indices. Owned tractors have an advantage over hired ones and the effect of tubewells is substantially greater than of tractors.
Pourquoi les ménages pauvres paient-ils des loyers de plus en plus élevés ?

Depuis la fin des annees 1970, les aides directes a la personne sont devenues l'instrument majeur de la politique du logement au detriment des aides a la pierre, dont l'efficacite avait ete remise en cause lors de la reforme de 1977. Les aides a la personne permettent, en theorie, de mieux cibler les populations pour qui le logement, qui demeure le premier poste de consommation des menages, represente une charge jugee trop importante. Or le developpement de ces aides s'est accompagne d'une augmentation du cout du logement pour les menages locataires les plus defavorises et l'on cherche a en evaluer l'impact sur l'augmentation des loyers des menages a bas revenus. La reforme de l'extension des aides du debut des annees 1990 constitue une experience naturelle qui permet d'isoler les effets des allocations logement, car elle s'est appliquee seulement a certains types de menages et non a d'autres. On peut ainsi comparer l'evolution des loyers des menages a bas revenus beneficiaires de la reforme a celle des menages qui n'ont pas ete touches et identifier les effets de la reforme pour les menages concernes. A partir de donnees des enquetes Logement de l'Insee, on montre que les aides pourraient bien etre, pour une bonne partie, responsables de la hausse du loyer au metre carre des menages a bas revenus. D'apres les estimations obtenues, entre 50 % et 80 % des allocations logement percues par ces menages auraient ete absorbees par les augmentations de leurs loyers.
The Legalization of International Monetary Affairs

For the first time in history, international monetary relations were institutionalized after World War II as a set of legal obligations. The Articles of Agreement that formed the International Monetary Fund contain international legal obligations of the rules of good conduct for IMF members. Members were required to maintain a par value for their currency (until 1977), to use a single unified exchange-rate system, and to keep their current account free from restrictions. In this article I explore why governments committed themselves to these rules and the conditions under which they complied with their commitments. The evidence suggests that governments tended to make and keep commitments if other countries in their region did so as well. Governments also complied with their international legal commitments if the regime placed a high value on the rule of law domestically. One inference is that reputational concerns have a lot to do with international legal commitments and compliance. Countries that have invested in a strong reputation for protecting property rights are more reluctant to see it jeopardized by international law violations. Violation is more likely, however, in the face of widespread noncompliance, suggesting that compliance behavior should be understood in its regional context.
Ninth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies ( EVER ) A Design Approach to Reduce the End Effect in Linear Tubular PM Machines

The paper is aimed at a design approach dedicated to the reduction of the longitudinal end effect in a linear tubular permanent magnet machine. The proposed approach consists in a two-step procedure, such that: (i) achieving a 2π/3-shift between the armature winding flux linkages by arranging the ratio of the stator pole pitch to the mover one, and (ii) balancing the amplitudes of these flux linkages by extending the stator magnetic circuit with teeth of appropriate dimensions. A magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) of the linear PM machine is established taking into account the proposed approach. A FEA-based investigation of the flux linkage validates the MEC results.
Inquiry-Based Instruction: How Is It Utilized, Accepted, and Assessed in Schools with National Agriscience Teacher Ambassadors?.

The agricultural education profession has established that agriculture can be taught as an integrated science and teachers are receptive to highlighting the science in agriculture. However, there is a lack of consensus and possibly even confusion on the understanding of the term “inquiry” in agricultural education. This study used focus groups to determine the behavior of National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy (NATAA) participants when implementing inquiry-based instruction in their local program. Participants were aware of the term inquiry but did not have a full understanding of the concept before attending the academy. Teachers also indicated they had to become more prepared ahead of time and that inquiry-based instruction is more rewarding during instruction. Assessment varied greatly based on the local school’s expectations of the agriculture department’s role and the teacher’s connections within their school. Based on these findings, recommendations for the NATAA as well as for future research are included.
Correlates of turnover propensity of software professionals in small high tech companies

The intent of this study is to shed some empirical light on the turnover propensity of software professionals in small software companies. Different sized firms were included to examine whether organizational size affected the relationships between the time the employees expected to stay in their present company, and a range of personal and organizational characteristics. A sample of 339 employees completed a questionnaire on their experience of and reactions to working in their current firm. None of the usual demographic indicators, e.g. age or tenure, was related to turnover propensity. The more time spent on programming, debugging or implementation, the shorter the time expected to stay. Satisfaction with both job and senior management was strongly related to expecting to stay longer, although satisfaction with project team or immediate boss showed virtually no relationship at all. The effect of organizational size occurred primarily with different company atmosphere qualities and certain work conditions. A warm atmosphere, fun and enjoyment, and friends in the company were important correlates only for the companies with below 50 people. Autonomy was a critical theme in the companies with 150–250 people, and recognition and advancement were important in the large company with approximately 2,000 employees. This suggests that the critical issues managers are confronted with would be different in organizations of different sizes.
Asymptotically Optimum Energy Profile for Successive Interference Cancellation in DS-CDMA under a Power Unbalance Constraint

A new Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) governing the SNIR evolution of a Successive Interference Canceller (SIC) for DS-CDMA is derived when the number of users tends to infinity and all users share the same channel encoder. Using Variational Calculus, this ODE is applied to obtaining the energy profile that maximizes the average spectral efficiency when a constraint on the power unbalance (maximum power to minimum power ratio) of received users is enforced. The conditions for extremality of the optimum energy profile are established in terms of the common encoder's Packet Error Rate (PER) function.