724 research outputs found
DELIS dataset
No full textThe DELIS (Dynamically Evolving Large-scale Information Systems) European FP6 project dealt with methods, techniques, tools, and prototypical implementations coping with challenges imposed by the size and dynamics of today's and especially future information systems. The "DELIS dataset" is a collection of web graphs collected within such project by taking snapshots at a monthly rate focussing on the .uk domain: the choice of the domain was the most obvious, given the European nature of the project and in consideration of the linguistic and social centrality of the UK within Europe; the frequency chosen is the largest possible that does not raise issues of unpoliteness. The first snapshot was collected in May 2006. All snapshots were collected at the DSI, using hardware partly funded by the DELIS project
Acute hypoglycemia impairs executive cognitive function in adults with and without type 1 diabetes
No full textOBJECTIVE Acute hypoglycemia impairs cognitive function in several domains. Executive cognitive function governs organization of thoughts, prioritization of tasks, and time management. This study examined the effect of acute hypoglycemia on executive function in adults with and without diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-two adults with and without type 1 diabetes with no vascular complications or impaired awareness of hypoglycemia were studied. Two hyperinsulinemic glucose clamps were performed at least 2 weeks apart in a single-blind, counterbalanced order, maintaining blood glucose at 4.5 mmol/L (euglycemia) or 2.5 mmol/L (hypoglycemia). Executive functions were assessed with a validated test suite (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function). A general linear model (repeated-measures ANOVA) was used. Glycemic condition (euglycemia or hypoglycemia) was the within-participant factor. Between-participant factors were order of session (euglycemia-hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia-euglycemia), test battery used, and diabetes status (with or without diabetes).RESULTSCompared with euglycemia, executive functions (with one exception) were significantly impaired during hypoglycemia; lower test scores were recorded with more time required for completion. Large Cohen d values (>0.8) suggest that hypoglycemia induces decrements in aspects of executive function with large effect sizes. In some tests, the performance of participants with diabetes was more impaired than those without diabetes.CONCLUSIONS Executive cognitive function, which is necessary to carry out many everyday activities, is impaired during hypoglycemia in adults with and without type 1 diabetes. This important aspect of cognition has not received previous systematic study with respect to hypoglycemia. The effect size is large in terms of both accuracy and speed.</p
An Analysis of Speaking Errors of English Club Participants at SMKS Sempena Rokan Hilir
No full textABSTRACT
DELIS RAHAYU (2022): An Analysis of Speaking Errors of English Club Participants at SMKS Sempena Rokan Hilir
The author wrote this research to describe the type of dominant speaking errors by English club participants at SMKS Sempena Rokan Hilir, to describe the frequency and the dominant type, and to explain the errors. This research was descriptive qualitative research. The researcher collected the video of speaking activities conducted by English club participants and the English teacher. The researcher used transcript from the video as the data source. The researcher employed documentation method to collect the data. There were 39 errors found. The researhcer categorized the speaking errors type and the sources based on the theory of Clark and Clark. The research results were 14 silent pauses (35.89%), 3 filled pauses (7.69%), 16 repetition (41.02%), 2 false start (retraced) (5.12%), 2 interjection (5.12%), 1 stutters (2.56%), and 1 slip of tongue (2.56%)
Rapid assessment of S-wave profiles from the inversion of multichannel
No full textThe importance of detailed knowledge of the shear-wave velocity structure of the upper geological layers was recently stressed in strong motion studies. In this work we describe an algorithm which we have developed to infer the 1D shear wave velocity structure from the inversion of multichannel surface wave dispersion data (ground-roll). Phase velocities are derived from wavenumber-frequency stacks while the inversion process is speeded up by the use of Householder transformations. Using synthetic and experimental data, we examined the applicability of the technique in deducing S-wave profiles. The comparison of the obtained results with those derived from cross-hole measurements and synthesized wave fields proved the reliability of the technique for the rapid assessment of shear wave profiles during microzonation investigations.JCR Journalope
Examining the link between information processing speed and executive functioning in multiple sclerosis
No full textSlowed information processing speed (IPS) is frequently reported in those with multiple sclerosis (MS), and at least 20% are compromised on some aspect of executive functioning also. However, any relationship between these two processes has not been examined. The Sternberg Memory Scanning Test, Processing Speed Index (WAIS-III), Delis Kaplan Executive Function System (D.KEFS), and Working Memory Index (WMS-III) were administered to 90 participants with MS. Their performance on the PSI was significantly below the normative scores but no deficits in memory scanning speed were evident. The initial response speed of the Sternberg and the PSI were more closely related to D.KEFS performance, particularly in timed tasks with a high cognitive demand (switching tasks). In contrast, memory scanning speed was related to working memory. This study reinforces the link between IPS and working memory in MS, and supports the suggestion that IPS is not a unitary construct
Prevalence and distribution of incompetent perforating veins in chronic venous insufficiency
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study was the investigation of the prevalence and distribution of incompetent perforating veins (IPVs) in patients with different classes of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) as defined by the updated clinical, etiologic, anatomic, and pathologic classification (CEAP) in relation to the pattern and the extent of venous reflux. Material and methods: The study included 468 limbs of 330 subjects who ranged in age from 18 to 101 years (median, 49 years). The investigation entailed a medical history, a clinical examination, and color flow duplex imaging of the lower limb veins, which were performed by the same vascular surgeon operator. The patients were classified into 7 clinical classes according to CEAP. The superficial and deep venous systems were scanned, with an emphasis on the detection of IPVs. Venous reflux was considered abnormal when its duration exceeded 0.5 seconds. IPVs were classified as medial, posterior, and anterolateral in the upper, middle, or lower third of the thigh or calf (9 thigh and 9 calf fields). Results: The IPVs were found mainly in the medial aspect, more frequently in the middle third of calf, followed by the lower calf and the middle thigh. IPVs were rare in the lateral aspect of the thigh, the medial upper and posterior lower thigh and the posterior upper and lower calf. The prevalence of the IPVs and of deep vein incompetence increased significantly with the clinical severity of CVI (r = .95, P < .01, and r = .9, P < .01, respectively). In the limbs with a documented perforating vein (PV) incompetence, the ratios of calf-to-thigh IPVs and of superficial-and-deep (S + D) over superficial-alone (S; IS + D]/S] venous incompetence increase significantly (r = .87, P < .01 and r = .9, P < .01, respectively) with CEAP grade. The prevalence of reflux involving all systems (S + D + PV) increases significantly (r = .9, P < .01) with clinical severity. In legs with CVI of CEAP 2 to 6, reflux was invariably proximal (thigh) and distal (below knee). Conclusion: In CVI, IPVs are located predominately in the media] aspect of the lower extremity, more often in the middle third of the calf, followed by the lower calf and middle thigh. The prevalence of IPVs and their calf-to-thigh ratio increase linearly with the clinical severity of CVI. Both the prevalence of deep vein incompetence and the ratio of superficial and deep to superficial ([S + D]/s) increase linearly with CEAP classification. These findings support the significant relationship between deep venous reflux and PV incompetence, although the latter may exist in the absence of the former. In CEAP classes 2 to 6, reflux is invariably proximal and distal. Incompetence involving all systems (S + D + PV) increases in prevalence with the severity of CVI
Quantifying and explaining parameter heterogeneity in the capital regulation-bank risk nexus
No full textBy examining the impact of capital regulation on bank risk-taking using a local estimation technique, we are able to quantify the heterogeneous response of banks towards this type of regulation in banking sectors of western-type economies. Subsequently, using this information on the bank-level responses to capital regulation, we examine the sources of heterogeneity. The findings suggest that the impact of capital regulation on bank risk is very heterogeneous across banks and the sources of this heterogeneity can be traced into both bank and industry characteristics, as well as into the macroeconomic conditions. Therefore, the present analysis has important implications on the way bank regulation is conducted, as it suggests that common capital regulatory umbrellas may not be sufficient to promote financial stability. On the basis of our findings, we contend that Basel guidelines may have to be reoriented towards more flexible, country-specific policy proposals that focus on the restraint of excess risk-taking by banks.Capital regulation; risk-taking of banks; local generalized method of moments
Bank Heterogeneity and Monetary Policy Transmission
No full textThe heterogeneity in the response of banks to a change in monetary policy is an important element in the transmission of this policy through banks. This paper examines the role of bank liquidity, capitalization and market power as internal factors influencing banks’ reaction in terms of lending and risk-taking to monetary policy impulses. The ultimate impact of a monetary policy change on bank performance is also considered. The empirical analysis, using large panel datasets for the United States and the euro area, elucidates the sources of differences in the response of banks to changes in policy interest rates by disaggregating down to the individual bank level. This is achieved by the use of a Local GMM technique that also enables us to quantify the degree of heterogeneity in the transmission mechanism. It is argued that the extensive heterogeneity in banks’ response identifies overlooked consequences of bank behavior and highlights potential monetary sources of the current financial distress.Monetary policy; Bank heterogeneity; Risk-taking; Bank performance
Interest rates and bank risk-taking
No full textIn a recent line of research the low interest-rate environment of the early to mid 2000s is viewed as an element that triggered increased risk-taking appetite of banks in search for yield. This paper uses approximately 18,000 annual observations on euro area banks over the period 2001-2008 and presents strong empirical evidence that low interest rates indeed increase bank risk-taking substantially. This result is robust across a number of different specifications that account, inter alia, for the potential endogeneity of interest rates and/or the dynamics of bank risk. Notably, among the banks of the large euro area countries this effect is less pronounced for French institutions, which held on average a relatively low level of risk assets. Finally, the distributional effects of interest rates on bank risk-taking due to individual bank characteristics reveal that the impact of interest rates on risk assets is diminished for banks with higher equity capital and is amplified for banks with higher off-balance sheet items.Interest rates; bank risk-taking; panel data; euro area banks
Interaction between Testosterone and Apolipoprotein E ε4 Status on Cognition in Healthy Older Men
No full textReduced testosterone levels have been implicated as a potential causative factor in cognitive decline with older age. Men who possess the apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 allele have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease; however, no studies have examined whether the influence of testosterone on cognition in healthy older men may be modulated by this geneticpredisposition. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between serum testosterone concentrations and cognitive performance in healthy older men, taking into account APOE 4 status. This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 2003 to 2004. The study population consisted of community-dwelling males residing in Perth, Western Australia. Healthy men over 55 yr, free of cognitive impairment and dementia (n = 45), were included in the study. Participants had fasting early morning blood samples for testosterone and SHBG and were assessed for mood as well as indices of general cognition, verbal and visual memory, executive functioning, working memory, and attention. There was a significant interaction between calculated free testosterone (FT) and APOE 4 on general cognition (P = 0.01) and executive functioning, working memory, and attention (P < 0.01). Higher levels of FT were associated with better general cognition in non- 4 carriers (P = 0.01). By contrast, in 4 carriers higher FT levels were associated with lower scores on tests of executive functioning, working memory, and attention (P = 0.02). In men at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, higher testosterone levels were not associated with better cognitive function. Cross-sectional and prospective studies of testosterone and cognition in older men should take into account APOE 4 status
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