Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Small Axonless Neurons”: Postnatally Generated Neocortical Interneurons with Delayed Functional Maturation

GABAergic interneurons of the mouse cortex are generated embryonically in the ventral telencephalon. Recent evidence, however, indicated that a subset of cortical cells expressing interneuronal markers originate in the neonatal subventricular zone. This has raised interest in the functional development and incorporation of these postnatally generated cells into cortical circuits. Here we demonstrate that these cells integrate in the cortex, and that they constitute two distinct GABAergic interneuronal classes. Whereas one class reflects the tail end of embryonic interneuron genesis, the other class comprises interneurons that are exclusively generated perinatally and postnatally. The latter constitute a novel subclass of interneurons. They are preferentially located in the deeper layers of the olfactory and orbital cortices, exhibit a unique firing pattern and slow functional maturation. Based on their distinct morphology we termed them “small axonless neurons” and indeed, unlike other cortical neurons, they communicate with their neuronal partners via dendrodendritic synapses. Finally, we provide evidence that the number of small axonless neurons is enhanced by odor enrichment, a further indication that they integrate into neural circuits and participate to olfactory processing.
Success Factors for Integrating Suppliers into New Product Development

Abstract Faster, better, cheaper—these marching orders summarize the challenge facing new product development (NPD). In other words, NPD teams must find the means for speeding time to market while also improving product quality and reducting product costs. Cross-functional teams have proved effective for meeting these challenges, and such teams may extend beyond company boundaries to include key materials suppliers. Effective integration of suppliers into NPD can yield such benefits as reduced cost and improved quality of purchased materials, reduced product development time, and improved access to and application of technology. As Gary Ragatz, Robert Handfield, and Thomas Scannell point out, however, those benefits do not automatically accrue to any NPD team that includes representatives from a supplier's company. In a study of 60 member companies from the Michigan State University Global Procurement and Supply Chain Electronic Benchmarking Network, they explore the management practices and the environmental factors that relate most closely to successful integration of suppliers into the NPD process. The study identifies supplier membership on the NPD project team as the greatest differentiator between most and least successful integration efforts. Although the respondents reported only moderate use of shared education and training, the study cites this management factor as another significant differentiator between most and least successful efforts. Respondents listed direct, cross-functional, intercompany communication as the most widely used technique for integrating suppliers into NPD. To integrate suppliers into NPD, a company must overcome such barriers as resistance to sharing proprietary information, and the not-invented-here syndrome. The results of this study suggest that overcoming such barriers depends on relationship structuring—that is, shared education and training, formal trust development processes, formalized risk/reward sharing agreements, joint agreement on performance measurements, top management commitment from both companies, and confidence in the supplier's capabilities. Overcoming these barriers also depends on assett sharing, including intellectual assets such as customer requirements, technology information, and cross-functional communication; physical assets such as linked information systems, technology, and shared plant and equipment; and human assets such as supplier participation on the project team and co-location of personnel.
Tumorigenicity of bay-region epoxides and other derivatives of chrysene and phenanthrene in newborn mice.

Abstract The tumorigenic activities of several derivatives of chrysene and phenanthrene were tested in newborn Swiss-Webster mice. The compounds were administered i.p. in doses of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 µmol on the first, eighth, and 15th days of life. Experiments were terminated when the animals were 38 to 42 weeks old. The only tumors found in control mice were lung adenomas; 15% of the control animals developed these pulmonary tumors with an average of 0.17 tumor/mouse. (±)-1β,2α-Dihydroxy-3α,4α-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (diol epoxide-2) with the benzylic 1-hydroxyl group trans to the bay-region epoxide oxygen was the most potent chrysene derivative tested. It induced pulmonary tumors in 98% of the mice, with an average of 15.9 tumors/mouse. (±)-1β,2α-Dihydroxy-3β,4β-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (diol epoxide-1), in which the bay-region epoxide oxygen is cis to the benzylic 1-hydroxyl group, had little if any tumorigenic activity at the dose tested. trans -1,2-Dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrochrysene and 1,2-dihydrochrysene, the immediate metabolic precursors of a bay-region diol-epoxide and a bay-region tetrahydroepoxide, respectively, were the next most active chrysene derivatives tested; they produced pulmonary tumors in 73 to 75% of the mice, with an average of 2.1 to 2.2 tumors/mouse. 3,4-Epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (bay-region epoxide) induced pulmonary tumors in 71% of the mice, with an average of 1.26 tumors/mouse. trans -3,4-Dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrochrysene, 3,4-dihydrochrysene, and trans -5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrochrysene had little or no tumorigenic activity. Chrysene itself had little or no tumorigenic activity in the lung but produced a 25% incidence of hepatic tumors in male mice, with an average of 0.42 tumor/mouse. Chrysene derivatives which induced a large number of pulmonary tumors also induced some hepatic tumors and lymphomas. Phenanthrene and its derivatives were less tumorigenic than chrysene and its derivatives. Phenanthrene, 1,2-dihydrophenanthrene, and the two diastereomeric bay-region diol-epoxides of phenanthrene had little or no tumorigenic activity, but the bay-region tetrahydroepoxide, 3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene, had some activity. This compound induced pulmonary tumors in 45% of the mice, with an average of 0.74 tumor/mouse. It also induced a few hepatic tumors and lymphomas.
Governance and Culture in the Banking Sector

A growing consensus holds that cultural standards are at least as important as formal rules for the effectiveness and soundness of the banking sector. Nevertheless, the banking literature is mostly silent on cultural effects. We present an analysis of banking culture that draws upon prior sociological and economic work on organizational culture. We argue that the most important cultural practices in the financial services sector arose in response to pressing economic and social problems. But, once embedded into market activity, those practices became part of a toolkit that bankers could use in many contexts. In particular, after changes to the technological and legal environment within which bankers operate decoupled cultural practices from their original context, bankers started to deploy cultural devices in new fora where their social utility was less apparent. We examine this argument in the context of the LIBOR and Forex fixings, and we examine a number of policy prescriptions. The recent emphasis upon “tone from the top” is appropriate but, by itself, will be insufficient: culture can only be supervised and influenced by actors who are sufficiently immersed in it to decode the private languages upon which it is built.
Recognising Facial Expression from Spatially and Temporally Modified Movements

We examined how the recognition of facial emotion was influenced by manipulation of both spatial and temporal properties of 3-D point-light displays of facial motion. We started with the measurement of 3-D position of multiple locations on the face during posed expressions of anger, happiness, sadness, and surprise, and then manipulated the spatial and temporal properties of the measurements to obtain new versions of the movements. In two experiments, we examined recognition of these original and modified facial expressions: in experiment 1, we manipulated the spatial properties of the facial movement, and in experiment 2 we manipulated the temporal properties. The results of experiment 1 showed that exaggeration of facial expressions relative to a fixed neutral expression resulted in enhanced ratings of the intensity of that emotion. The results of experiment 2 showed that changing the duration of an expression had a small effect on ratings of emotional intensity, with a trend for expressions with shorter durations to have lower ratings of intensity. The results are discussed within the context of theories of encoding as related to caricature and emotion.
The noise and crosstalk environment for ADSL and VDSL systems

This article provides an overview of the noise and, in particular, the crosstalk environment in which DSL technology needs to operate. Transmission on the copper access network is subject to impairments which limit the achievable information capacity, and there is an urgent need to ensure that all DSL systems are spectrally compatible if the capacity of the network is to be fully realized. This article discusses the principles of frequency planning in copper access networks that help to ensure compatibility of deployed systems.
The Value of Industrial Shareholdings in a Universal Bank: The Case of Deutsche Bank in the 1990s

This clinical paper analyzes which fraction of Deutsche Bank’s market value of equity during the decade of 1990 to 1999 can be attributed to its portfolio of industrial shareholdings. The residuum then serves as a proxy for the valuation of its universal banking business. A new method for this kind of segmentation is presented and applied. Although Deutsche Bank traded during Brazil’s currency and debt crisis in January 1999 close to the asset value of its portfolio of industrial shareholdings, I show that the hypothesis that Deutsche Bank was first and foremost a closed-end fund and that the banking business was only of secondary importance is not true for the 1990s. Due to the fact that, for the first time, this study uses internal data on the book value of Deutsche Bank’s industrial shareholdings, the tax effect which is a possible explanation for the closed-end fund puzzle can be quantified. On an after tax base, Deutsche Bank derives on average a maximum of one third of its market value of equity from its large and manifold portfolio of industrial shareholding and hence at least two thirds can be attributed to its universal banking business.
Non‐functional motives for online shoppers: why we click

This study applies Tauber’s personal and social motives, as representative of Sheth’s non‐functional motives for shopping, to Internet shoppers. Two studies are conducted; in the first a sample of current online shoppers is surveyed on how well Tauber’s motives describe their motivation for Internet shopping. Projective technique is used in the second study, in which a group of consumers are asked to discuss how the motives may impact on online shoppers, as a means of explaining how the motives apply in the Internet setting. Results suggest that Tauber’s non‐functional motives can be adapted to the twenty‐first century mode of shopping. This leads to some strong implications for researchers and practitioners who so far have concentrated on the functional aspects of Internet shopping with respect to gaining shopping market share.
Strategic trade policy and the threat of regionalism

We examine the formation of trade agreements when markets are characterized by imperfect competition and governments can alter the strategic interaction between oligopolistic firms through the use of import tariffs and export subsidies. Using a simple three-country model of intra-industry trade, we show that whether preferential trade agreements are stepping stones or stumbling blocs towards the attainment of multilateral cooperation depends on the degree of product di¤erentiation and industry concentration. However, when import tariffs are the only available policy instrument, global free trade is always sustainable. Our analysis provides a rationale for the recent attempts to strengthen international rules against the use of export subsidies. It also suggests that focusing on one dimension of strategic interaction only might result in drawing incorrect conclusions about the outcome of the trade negotiations.
Who cooks from scratch and how do they prepare food

Purpose – There is increasing interest in the domestic preparation of food and with the postulated health benefits of “cooking from scratch”. The purpose of this paper is to examine the demographic and food preparation associations of this term in order to examine its operational value. Design/methodology/approach – A national online survey was conducted during 2012 in Australia among 1,023 domestic food providers, half of whom were men. Questions were asked about cooking from scratch, demographic characteristics, food preparation practices and interest in learning about cooking. Findings – Three quarters of the sample reported they often or always “cooked from scratch” (CFS). More women than men always CFS; fewer 18-29 year olds did so often or always but more of the over 50s always did so; fewer single people CFS than cohabiting people. No statistically significant ethnic, educational background or household income differences were found. High levels of cooking from scratch were associated with interest.
Macroprudential Indicators of Financial System Soundness

Following the severe financial crises of the 1990s, identifying and assessing financial sector vulnerabilities has become a key priority of the international community. The costly disruptions in global markets underscored the need to establish a set of monitorable variables for evaluating strengths and weaknesses in financial institutions and to alert authorities of impending problems. These variables, indicators, of financial system health and stability known collectively as macroprudential indicators, are the subject of this Occasional Paper by the Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department and the Statistics Department. Macroprudential indicators take measures at both the level of aggregated financial institutions and at the macroeconomic level; financial crises often occur when weaknesses are identified in both. The authors provide a breakdown and explanations of these indicators and a review of the theoretical and empirical work done thus far. Work at other international and multilateral institutions is included as well as the experiences of several national central banks and supervisory agencies. This paper provides a valuable reference source of current knowledge about macroprudential indicators and issues related to their analysis, identification, measurement, and possible dissemination.
Predatory Lending : A Model of Behavioral Pricing

This paper studies the equilibrium predatory practices that may arise when the borrowers have behavioral weaknesses. Rational lenders offer short term contracts that can be renewed at the cost of paying a penalty fee. We show how the optimal contracts depend on the degree of na¨ ivete of the time inconsistent customers. Penalty fees have a dual role : they increase market share by providing a useful commitment device to time-inconsistent but otherwise rational borrowers ; they are also a source of revenue from the semi-na¨ ive borrowers who understand the need for commitment but fail to forecast their future time discount factor. We also show that perfect com- petition does not eliminate predatory practices, since the equilibrium contract entails a subsidized (below marginal cost) short-term loan that can only be profitable if a fraction of the borrowers end up paying the penalty fee. The last section gives an account of the pricing strategies of the U.S. credit card companies.
Effect of dwell time on carbonyl stress using icodextrin and amino acid peritoneal dialysis fluids.

BACKGROUND Deterioration of the peritoneal membrane limits the technical survival of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Advanced glycation of the membrane has been incriminated in this evolution. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) develop under the influence of glucose and of its degradation products, mainly reactive carbonyl compounds (RCOs) such as glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of recently developed glucose-free PD fluids on AGE generation. METHODS Recently developed glucose-free PD fluids containing either icodextrin or amino acids were investigated. GO, MGO, and 3-DG [high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)] and total RCOs (spectrophotometry) were measured in fresh solutions and in effluents after various dwell duration. The AGE formation potential of PD fluids and effluents was assessed by incubation at 37 degrees C, for one week, with bovine serum albumin and by the eventual measurement of pentosidine (HPLC) and Nepsilon-carboxymethyllysine (CML; gas chromatography/mass spectrometry). RESULTS GO, MGO, and 3-DG (P < 0. 001) as well as total RCOs levels (P < 0.01) were significantly lower in icodextrin and amino acid PD fluid than in commercial, heat-sterilized, 1.36% glucose PD fluid. Pentosidine and CML generation were also significantly lower (P < 0.001) in icodextrin and amino acid PD fluid than in conventional 1.36% glucose PD fluid. The levels of total RCOs, however, increased in icodextrin and amino acid PD fluid effluents with dwell time. AGE formation potential rose accordingly, as demonstrated by a parallel increase in the generation of pentosidine and CML during incubation of PD effluents. CONCLUSION The present data demonstrate lower RCO contents and AGE formation potential in fresh icodextrin and amino acid PD fluids than in fresh heat-sterilized glucose PD fluids. However, this difference decreases progressively during dwell time, mainly as a result of the influx of total RCOs.
Are Going Concern Opinions Associated with the Reversal of Financial Distress for Bankrupt Firms?

We examine a set of bankrupt firms and test the relation between going concern opinions [GCs] and the emergence from bankruptcy. If the role of GCs is to alert stakeholders to the potential of financial failure, as prescribed by the auditing standards, then those investors and creditors who receive such a signal should be able to take actions to reduce their potential losses. Our results indicate that GCs are positively associated with bankruptcy emergence under both SAS No. 59 and the predecessor standard SAS No. 34, indicative of GCs being an effective warning of financial distress. The prior literature suggests, however, that managers may take steps that delay or avoid GCs, and thus reducing the likelihood of a favorable resolution, such as manipulating earnings or switching auditors. In the first case, managers may manipulate their accruals over many years in an ongoing attempt to cover up the deteriorating financial condition of the firm, such that by the time these signs are observable (i.e., low liquidity ratios or high debt-to-equity ratios), stressed firms would have fully exhausted the leeway in their accruals, leaving these firms to report using income-increasing accounting methods. In the second case, managers may switch auditors when their current auditor can no longer ignore negative information about the firm’s future prospects. We find that the use of income-increasing accounting methods at the time of the bankruptcy filing, and/or switching auditors shortly before the filing are negatively associated with bankruptcy emergence, but only during the SAS No. 59 period. This suggests that under SAS No. 59, managers may have more flexibility to take actions that would delay or avoid GCs than they had under the predecessor standard. We expect this finding to be of great interest to the PCAOB as the board revisits the existing set of auditing guidelines.
Collaboration and you : the performance implications and the antecedents of diversity in inter-organizational relations portfolios

This study considers the impact of diversification in types of technological alliances, resulting in alliance portfolio diversity, on various dimensions of a firm’s performance, as they relate to exploration and exploitation. Using a large panel of innovative firms in the Netherlands, this study shows that partner type diversity in a firm’s alliance portfolio has an inverted U-shaped relationship with productivity and radical innovative performance and a positive relationship with incremental innovative performance. Moreover, the results suggest that a lower level of diversity is needed to achieve an optimal level of productivity compared to radical innovative performance, whereas for incremental innovative performance a higher level of portfolio diversity appears to give the best performance.
Effects of Road Fencing on Population Persistence

Abstract: Roads affect animal populations in three adverse ways. They act as barriers to movement, enhance mortality due to collisions with vehicles, and reduce the amount and quality of habitat. Putting fences along roads removes the problem of road mortality but increases the barrier effect. We studied this trade‐off through a stochastic, spatially explicit, individual‐based model of population dynamics. We investigated the conditions under which fences reduce the impact of roads on population persistence. Our results showed that a fence may or may not reduce the effect of the road on population persistence, depending on the degree of road avoidance by the animal and the probability that an animal that enters the road is killed by a vehicle. Our model predicted a lower value of traffic mortality below which a fence was always harmful and an upper value of traffic mortality above which a fence was always beneficial. Between these two values the suitability of fences depended on the degree of road avoidance. Fences were more likely to be beneficial the lower the degree of road avoidance and the higher the probability of an animal being killed on the road. We recommend the use of fences when traffic is so high that animals almost never succeed in their attempts to cross the road or the population of the species of concern is declining and high traffic mortality is known to contribute to the decline. We discourage the use of fences when population size is stable or increasing or if the animals need access to resources on both sides of the road, unless fences are used in combination with wildlife crossing structures. In many cases, the use of fences may be beneficial as an interim measure until more permanent measures are implemented.