Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Domain-specific Named Entity Disambiguation in Historical Memoirs

English. This paper presents the results of the extraction of named entities from a collection of historical memoirs about the italian Resistance during the World War II. The methodology followed for the extraction and disambiguation task will be discussed, as well as its evaluation. For the semantic annotations of the dataset, we have developed a pipeline based on established practices for extracting and disambiguating Named Entities. This has been necessary, considering the poor performances of out-of-the-box Named Entity Recognition and Disambiguation (NERD) tools tested in the initial phase of this work. Italiano. Questo articolo presenta l’attività di estrazione di entità nominate realizzata su una collezione di memorie relative al periodo della Resistenza italiana nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Verrà discussa la metodologia sviluppata per il processo di estrazione e disambiguazione delle entità nominate, nonché la sua valutazione. L’implementazione di una metodologia di estrazione e disambiguazione basata su lookup si è resa necessaria in considerazione delle scarse prestazioni dei sistemi di Named Entity Recognition and Disambiguation (NERD), come si evince dalla discussione nella prima parte di questo lavoro.
Slide‐based cytometry and predictive medicine: The 8th Leipziger workshop and the 1st international workshop on slide‐based cytometry

Slide‐based cytometry (SBC) and related techniques offer unique tools to perform complex diagnostic procedures at very early disease stages. Multicolor or polychromatic analysis of cells by SBC is of special importance, not only as a cytomics technology platform, but for patients with low blood volume such as neonates. The exact knowledge of the location of each cell on the slide allows the specimen to be restained and subsequently reanalyzed. These separate measurements can be fused to one data file (merging), increasing the information obtained per cell. Relocalization and optical evaluation of the cells, a typical feature of SBC, can be of integral importance for cytometric analysis. Predictive medicine is aimed at the detection of changes in the patient's state prior to the manifestation of deterioration or improvement. Such instances are concerned with multiorgan failure in sepsis or noninfectious posttraumatic shock in intensive care patients, or the pretherapeutic identification of high risk patients in cancer cytostatic therapy. Early anti‐infectious or anti‐shock therapy, as well as curative chemotherapy in combination with stem cell transplantation, may provide better survival chances for the patient as well as concomitant cost containment. Predictive medicine–guided, individualized, early reduction or cessation of therapy may lower or abrogate potential therapeutic side effects (individualized medicine). With the 8th Leipziger Workshop and the 1st International Workshop on Slide‐Based Cytometry, cytomics technologies moved to more practical applications in the clinics and the clinical laboratory. This development will be continued in 2004, at the upcoming Leipziger Workshop and the International Workshop on Slide‐Based Cytometry. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[PSI+] prion variant establishment in yeast

Differences in the clinical pathology of mammalian prion diseases reflect distinct heritable conformations of aggregated PrP proteins, called prion strains. Here, using the yeast [PSI+] prion, we examine the de novo establishment of prion strains (called variants in yeast). The [PSI+] prion protein, Sup35, is efficiently induced to take on numerous prion variant conformations following transient overexpression of Sup35 in the presence of another prion, e.g. [PIN+]. One hypothesis is that the first [PSI+] prion seed to arise in a cell causes propagation of only that seed's variant, but that different variants could be initiated in different cells. However, we now show that even within a single cell, Sup35 retains the potential to fold into more than one variant type. When individual cells segregating different [PSI+] variants were followed in pedigrees, establishment of a single variant phenotype generally occurred in daughters, granddaughters or great‐granddaughters – but in 5% of the pedigrees cells continued to segregate multiple variants indefinitely. The data are consistent with the idea that many newly formed prions go through a maturation phase before they reach a single specific variant conformation. These findings may be relevant to mammalian PrP prion strain establishment and adaptation.
Estimation of Probability of Default Using Merton's Option Pricing Approach: An Empirical Analysis

The Basel II accord emphasizes risk sensitiveness for the capital of commercial banks. It recommends two methods, standardized approach and internal rating based (IRB) approach, for the estimation of risk capital requirements. Whereas, the former approach is based on external credit ratings, the latter uses estimates of probability of default (PD). This study employs the Merton' Option Pricing Model to estimate the PDs for firms in India, in order to assess the appropriateness of these approaches for risk capital estimation. We estimate the PDs on a sample of sixty seven Indian firms during the period 1998-2004. It finds that the credit ratings accorded by Indian agencies have poor discriminating power in terms of its PDs. This finding suggests that the credit ratings may not accurately lead to a correct assessment of risk capital requirement as prescribed under the standardized approach. Further, as the yearly PDs for firms do not show any significant pattern and exhibits high volatility, the estimates of capital requirement, would also be highly volatile under the IRB approach. Either it will be underestimated or overestimated. However, the results of the study are only tentative as the PDs estimated using the Merton's model are highly influenced by the volatility in the equity prices which is not necessarily connected to the probability of default.
A study on the information transfer effect among the China stock markets

This study examines stock market co-movement among three China stock markets: Shanghai stock market, Shenzhen stock market, Hongkong stock market. US stock market leads three China stock markets and Honkong stock market leads Shanghai and Shenzhen stock market. But there are no lead-lag effects among China stock markets after controlling US stock market effect. These results could be important for the investors and firms that are interested in China stock markets.
Can Working Memory Training Improve Preschoolers' Numerical Abilities?

A large number of studies have pointed out the role of working memory throughout numerical development. Working memory capacities seem to be improved after training and some studies have observed an impact of working memory training on academic performance. In our study, we examined whether training visuo-spatial working memory (with Cogmed) enhances working memory abilities and numerical development in the short and middle term in 5-6 year-old children. Fourty six children were randomly assigned to the experimental condition (adaptive working memory training) or the control condition (non-adaptive, demo version). The program was implemented daily for a period of five weeks in both groups. We observed an immediate impact of the adaptive version on visuo-spatial sketchpad and visuo-spatial central executive abilities and a small impact on Arabic number comparison. No training effect was observed in verbal working memory, in counting, collection comparison and addition. Furthermore, the observed effects were not sustained ten weeks later. These results are discussed in the context of specific and general cognitive factors that support numerical development and we argue against the idea of developing general cognitive factors to efficiently boost numerical development.
The Effects of Semi-Automated Systems Information Quality nhy6 on the Manufacturing Sector: The Zimbabwean Case (1997 - 2013)

The study looked at the effects of information quality generated by from the semi-automated manufacturing processes in Zimbabwe. The country had faced major economic problems between 1997 and 2013. The multilateral agencies stopped the balance of payment support as the government failed to meet targeted goals (Ndlela 2011)3. Technologically the country had fallen behind and this affected the information quality. To measure, the information quality impact, DeLone and McLean information systems (IS) success model (2003) was used as a framework. This impact had not been measured in the Zimbabwe manufacturing sector. A qualitative approach was employed and 12 manufacturing companies were interested to participate in the study. Interviews, observations, documentary analysis and open-ended questionnaires were used to generate data. The results showed that the systems provided data, that is, unprocessed information. The impact of the processed information was found to be low as delays were experienced in data processing. A low impact of information quality on the usage and users was experienced. The quality had also low impact on system usage and company benefits. The usage of information had little influence on user satisfaction. The researcher concluded that there was a wide technology gap between Zimbabwe and developed countries.
THE CHANGING ROLE OF ACCOUNTANTS IN A TRANSITION ECONOMY â€“ EVIDENCE FROM ROMANIA

Recently a number of interventions have impacted the Romanianaccounting system, such as the harmonization with the European Directives,International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and an increased move towardsmodern information technologies such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)software. In this study we directly explore these influences by applying job offeranalysis as a reflection of current and future organizational practices (Bollecker,2000). We determine the competencies expected from accountants in Romanianbusinesses and ask whether financial accounting and management accounting areseparate specialized positions in Romania, or are they developing into hybrid monistpositions? We conclude that the state of the Romanian accounting profession is one oftransition with some alignment with recent global trends. However, our inter-temporal analysis also suggests a degree of intransience with management andfinancial accountants, whilst sharing some common competencies, still maintaining anumber of attributes associated with the two-cycle accounting system. Finally, weshow that ERP competencies are the more important drivers of the hybridization ofaccountants in Romania.
A holonic architecture for reconfigurable manufacturing systems

A holonic architecture is proposed for reconfigurable manufacturing systems based on the reference architecture PROSA. Considering the feature of reconfigurable manufacturing systems, configuration holon is introduced as a basic type of holons besides resource holon, product holon and order holon held by PROSA. The basic structure of this holonic architecture, the basic holons and interactions between holons are described in detail. Finally the conclusions and the future work are given.
Hormone replacement therapy and ovarian cancer.

number of live births stated at conception to have been unplanned was 27%, but it dropped to 15% after delivery, which reflects the natural adaptation and amnesia that occurs in these circumstances. If those pregnancies that end in a miscarriage or termination are included, the original unplanned 40% contrasts with the 15% figure recorded after delivery. Although Alton may not compare with the 20 areas of England and Wales chosen by Ms Fleissig, they suggest that our overall figure for unplanned pregnancies was about twice what would have been recorded by restricting any such inquiry to those women who had had a baby some months earlier. Ms Fleissig has exposed the deteriorating effectiveness of our current policies on young users of the pill and that there is an urgent need for improved care. These unwanted pregnancies create most of the abortions carried out every year; many produce unwanted children. As the problems seem to follow failure of the contraceptive pill, do we now need to increase the strength of oral contraceptives used by young women?
Intranet usage, managerial satisfaction and performance impact: an empirical analysis

This article investigates the relationships between intranet usage, satisfaction as well as their impacts on performance from the managerial perspective which have received little research attention. Data was collected from 150 middle managers in the Malaysian port industry. The structural equation modelling results indicate that both usage and satisfaction significantly predict performance impact. Intranet usage significantly predicts managerial satisfaction and vice-versa; with intranet usage having more impact on satisfaction and that both are positively related. The results provide insights on how the Malaysian port industry and other organisations of a similar structure could improve their intranet adoption.
The Impact of Financial Restatements on Audit Fees: Consideration of Restatement Severity

This study extends prior research on audit fees and financial restatements by examining whether audit fees are higher for firms with more severe types of restatements. We hypothesize that auditors charge higher audit fees following a firm's restatement to compensate for the risk of audit increased from the restatement as restatements are considered as financial reporting failures. We further hypothesize that more severe restatements lead to higher audit fees due to the increased audit risk from the severity of the restatements. We first separate restatements into three subgroups based on their perceived severity (from most to least severe): restatements that affect net income, restatements that do not affect net income, and technical restatements. We then test for the effect that each type of restatement has on audit fees relative to firms that have no restatements. We find evidence that audit fees are higher for more severe types of restatements: net income restatements have the highest audit fees out of the three subgroups; non-net income restatements have lower audit fees than net income restatements, but higher audit fees than technical restatements; and technical restatements have the lowest audit fees. Furthermore, we find evidence that restatements related to fraud result in higher audit fees than restatements in general. Overall, the evidence suggest that audit fees increase in response to restatements and that the extent audit fees increase depends on the severity of the
Vasopressors and tight control of maternal blood pressure during cesarean delivery: A rocky alliance

DOI: 10.4103/0970-9185.105777 Maternal hemodynamics during cesarean delivery, under spinal anesthesia and following administration of vasopressors like alpha and beta adrenergic receptor agonists and pure alpha adrenergic agonists, has generated a lot of controversy. Both vasopressors (phenylephrine and ephedrine) have been found to correct the fall in maternal blood pressure with return of systolic pressures to basal values. However, there is evidence that as compared to phenylephrine, ephedrine crosses the placenta to a greater extent and undergoes early metabolism and redistribution, causing direct fetal metabolic acidosis, which makes ephedrine less desirable as the first-line treatment. Use of phenylephrine as a first choice vasopressor for arterial blood pressure management during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia has consequently increased. [1]
The changing structure of distribution channels in Pakistan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the impact of the entry of international wholesalers upon existing fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) channel structures and the relationships between channel members in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on primary and secondary data. Industrial and published sources are used to describe the retail industry and traditional channel structures in Pakistan. Semi‐structured interviews with industry experts and channel participants (manufacturers, distributors, local and organised wholesalers and retailers) over the period illustrate the perspectives of different channel members.Findings – Although currently holding small market share, the entry and growth of international, consolidated wholesale has opened alternative channel structures. This poses a threat to some channel members and creates relationships that alter the distribution of power in the channel. In this fluid situation, there is the possibility of substantial change in Pakista.
The parasitic fauna of the Seminole killifish, Fundulus seminolis, from Lake George, Florida

A total of 140 Fundulus seminolis were collected from Lake George (29° 17' 12” N 81° 35' 53” W) in Volusia County Florida, USA on three separate occasions from March through May 2007. Fish were transported back to a laboratory for biopsies of intestine, skin, fin, and gills. Biopsies were analyzed and parasites were identified and enumerated. Thirteen distinct taxa were identified as parasites of F. seminolis. The most common parasitic group encountered in this survey were members of the subclass Digenea. Responsible for the highest prevalence recorded in this study, 95% in the intestine, digeneans were found in all four of the tissues examined. Skin and gill biopsies yielded the greatest diversity of parasites with 8 taxa represented in each. Gyrodactylus sp. exhibited the greatest prevalence (14%) within skin biopsies. Dactylogyrus sp. (46% prevalence) was the most prevalent of parasites among gill biopsies. Hirudinea were the most common of all parasites found on the fin, with a prevalence of 39%. The maximum mean intensity recorded
Internet retailing: current hype or future reality?

This paper investigates the current use of the Internet as a retail option for locationbased retailers. It provides a synopsis of a wide range of conflicting opinion regarding the use of the net as a viable shopping alternative. Based on an analysis of the home pages of 160 retailers with a web presence, the current use of the Internet by storebased retailers is provided. This is followed by the analysis of the opinions of a sample of thirty-nine cyber-retailers who provided information regarding their general commitment and current experience with Internet shopping and their perceptions of the value of web technology as a future shopping alternative. The research concludes that, until the consumer feels comfortable with the technology, adoption rates for Internet shopping in most retail categories will be low and discusses the challenges that this burgeoning technology raises for the store-based retail organization.
Post-hoc Analysis on the R&D Capabilities of Chemical and Metallurgical Manufacturing Companies

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how internal R&D, external R&D, and patenting affects the behavior of foreign, local, and joint-venture companies operating in manufacturing companies in Malaysia.Different types of manufacturing companies may have different approach in applying their R&D capabilities and patenting activity.The construct of this paper is based on the post-hoc analysis in evaluating how internal R&D, external R&D, and patenting affects the behavior of foreign, local, and joint-venture companies operating in manufacturing companies.This research was conducted using survey questionnaires, 124 companies in chemical and metallurgical manufacturing companies participated in this survey.It was indicated that these three companies behave differently when dealing with internal R&D, external R&D, and patenting.It can be inferred that these three types of companies have a different perspective on applying internal R&D, external R&D, and patenting which is based on their different business strategic direction. It is suggested that in the near future, researchers should concentrate and other types of manufacturing companies or they can involve more sample size in getting better generalization on the behavior of these companies.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Developing in the Course of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia

Both chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) are rare illnesses. Their co-existence has been previously reported, typically with CML following CLL. We report to our knowledge the first case of CLL developing some years after initial diagnosis of Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome positive CML.We provide molecular evidence that CLL arose in a Ph negative clone. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Family Firms and the Enhanced Corporate Control: The Bright Side of Business Groups

We analyze the effect of the enhanced corporate control on the Chilean family firms performance by considering the impact of both ownership pyramid structures and business groups. Our results suggest that lower levels of separation between control rights and ownership rights increase the firm performance but too much separation can result in perverse incentives for family members to extract private benefits. We also find that group affiliation is positive for family controlled firms. Furthermore, family business groups alleviate the negative effect of the disproportionate control, which corroborates the bright side of internal capital markets for family firms
Aftermarket Performance of Closed-End Funds Invested in International Versus Domestic Securities

Do funds holding less liquid assets benefit more than others by a closed-end structure? If so, closed-end funds invested in typically less liquid international securities are expected to outperform funds invested in domestic securities. Tests that control for fund characteristics and fund type indicate that only smaller or lower priced funds earn significantly higher first-day returns than domestic funds. There is no statistically significant difference in long-term performance, both unadjusted and index-adjusted, between funds invested in international versus domestic securities, except for larger funds. Larger international funds earn significantly lower 36-month index-adjusted returns than domestic funds.
Stem Cells: An Overview

Stem cells are specialized cells that possess a capacity to undergo self‐renewal while at the same time having the ability to give rise to at least one or more differentiated or mature cell type. They therefore represent a fundamental cornerstone during the life of all vertebrates, playing central roles in the production of new and replacement cells for tissues during development and homeostasis, including repair following disease or injury. This unit is a review of stem cells, their roles in development, and their potentials as therapeutic agents.
Sheep 7SK promoter for short hairpin RNA expression

Background: Gene silencing mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) has become a powerful biological tool for the regulation of gene expression. For the synthesis of siRNA by vector-based expression systems, several mammalian small nuclear RNA (snRNA) promoters have been cloned and shown different transcriptional efficiencies. Results: In this study, we identified a sheep 7SK snRNA (s7SK) promoter based on the highly conserved polymerase III promoter elements. Promoter activity was measured by promoter-driven shRNA expression to suppress expression of an exogenous reporter gene and endogenous sheep gene. Conclusions: The knock down assay demonstrated that the s7SK induced more stronger inhibition effect than human U6 and H1 promoters. The use of this native sheep 7SK promoter for shRNA expressionis an important component for development of RNAi-based gene therapy and production of transgenic animals in sheep species.