122 research outputs found
Data communications and networking / Behrouz A. Forouzan with Sophia Chung Fegan.
No full textIncludes bibliographical references (p. 1107-1110) and index.xxxiv, 1134 pages.
KSX Issue 1
No full textOne story, by Alexis Fegan Black, has been removed due to author opt-outThis publication may contain explicit sexual literary descriptions and/or artistic depictions
FeTGAN: Federated Time-Series Generative Adversarial Network
No full textThe key to producing high-fidelity time-series data is to preserve temporal dynamics. This means that generated sequences respect the relationship between variables across time as in the original data. While new types of GANs have been used to generate time-series data, they, like previous GANimplementations, are time consuming to train. A novel federated framework is proposed, which generates realistic time-series data, by combining supervised and unsupervised training. The framework is based on the work in TimeGAN and Federated GAN (FeGAN). Using an embedded learning space, TimeGANencourages the network to mimic the structure of the training data. FeGAN allows the results of TimeGAN to be combined at a central server, which has benefits for both throughput, and potential to improve data privacy. This also introduces the possibility of using cross domain data. The challenge with creating applying federated learning to TimeGAN, and timeseries data in general is whether the learned temporal dynamics can be combined. This is accomplished by the combination of the weighting and sampling scheme used. This paper demonstrates, by qualitative and quantitative analysis, the ability novel framework proposed, to produce equivalent quality synthetic timeseries data compared to the original TimeGAN, without sharing local data between nodes in the network. This is based on the predictive and discriminative scores described, as well as PCA and t-SNE analysis. Additionally, there is an approximate eleven percent increase in Floating Point Operations per second when using one machine, and up to a thirty percent increase when using multiple.CSE3000 Research ProjectComputer Science and Engineerin
William Carleton, Folklore, the Famine, and the Irish Supernatural
No full textThis article examines the significance of the supernatural in the works of the nineteenth-century Irish author William Carleton, and in particular the ways in which his grounding in folklore and his reflection of the Great Famine are important in his work
Abstracts from CNS Annual Conference 2017
No full textN/AThe presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
Factors that affect short-term commercial bank lending to developing countries
No full textDeveloping countries rely on short-term trade credits for imports of several essential consumer goods, including medicines and basic food supplies. The credits also facilitate export-related transactions. The mechanisms commercial banks use to provide trade credits to developing countries are complex and costly. Even a temporary break in the flow of short-term credit can seriously hurt a country's business. But since short-term trade credits can be structured so that they involve a few risks to a bank and at the same time are very costly to the debtor, they are generally the last forms of credit to be cut and the first to be reestablished in debt-distressed developing countries. To gauge the likelihood of continued short-term trade related financial flows to developing countries, the authors examined the factors that affect short-term commercial bank loans. They studied relevant data over time for seven countries for which data were available: Argentina, Brazil, Egypt,India, Kenya, Mexico, and Turkey. They found that : a) countries with greater growth prospects get more short-term credit; b) short-term credits are usually meant to finance countries with significant trade deficits; c) higher levels of external indebtedness are generally coupled with higher levels of short-term indebtedness to commercial banks; and d) country-specific factors affect the volume of short-term lending to a country.Financial Intermediation,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Theory&Research,Strategic Debt Management,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring
Variation in stress levels in the nursing profession : a comparison between dementia and geriatric nurses
No full textBackground: Previous research has suggested a strong correlation between nurses’
occupational stress, and staff turnover (Hinshaw & Atwood, 1993) and suggested that Staff stress levels are affected by Occupational and resident characteristics.
Objectives: The aim of this current study is to a) investigate whether there is a correlation
between levels of stress and job satisfaction in nursing home staff providing care for patients with dementia and in nursing staff who care for the general ageing geriatric population in the nursing home, and b) to investigate associations between these variables, occupational and individual characteristics of staff. Method: A quantitative cross sectional research design was adopted, using a self-completion questionnaire survey of 42 nursing home staff members from Sancta Maria nursing home situated in Naas, Co. Kildare. Staff stress levels were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale and Job satisfaction was measured using the Job Satisfaction Survey. Results: The results show that nurses working with patients with dementia experienced significantly higher levels of stress than nurses working with a general ageing geriatric population but there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of job satisfaction. Those working part time experienced higher levels of stress. Being more
extraverted in personality and having the support of a significant other were protective
factors. Conclusion: The results add support to the existing research findings that nurses working with patients with dementia experience more stress than those who work with a general ageing geriatric population in the nursing home setting. Staff were generally satisfied with work. Author keywords: Stress, job satisfaction, geriatric population, dementia care, nursing, staff turnove
Study of inflammatory signalling in epithelial ovarian cancer and the normal human mesothelium
No full textEpithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) kills more women annually in the United Kingdom than any other gynaecological cancer. Survival rates for women diagnosed with EOC have not improved over the past 30 years, due to the often advanced stage at presentation, where widespread intra-peritoneal dissemination has occurred. The natural history of the disease remains uncertain but the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) is a strong candidate for the tissue of origin. The OSE undergoes cyclical damage and repair in women of reproductive age following ovulation, which can be considered an acute inflammatory event. Factors that prevent ovulation (pregnancy, breastfeeding and contraceptive pill use) also protect against the development of EOC. Previously published data show that the OSE is able to upregulate the enzyme 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) in response to inflammation, the enzyme responsible for converting inactive cortisone to anti-inflammatory cortisol. This thesis hypothesises that 11βHSD isozymes are deregulated in ovarian cancer; that the peritoneal surface epithelium (PSE) is indistinguishable from the OSE in its response to inflammation and should be considered a potential source of some “ovarian cancers”; and finally that the expression of the tumour suppressor gene OPCML (OPioid binding Cell adhesion Molecule-Like) is altered by inflammation. These hypotheses were examined at three levels. Firstly, primary cultures of EOC were established, and glucocorticoid metabolism and the response to inflammation was compared to normal OSE. Results from these investigations reveal that the11βHSD1 response to IL-1α stimulation is impaired in EOC compared to normal OSE at the mRNA level but there is no significant difference when 11βHSD1 enzyme activity is measured in these tissues. When basal levels of 11βHSD1, 11βHSD2 and COX2 are compared amongst untreated samples of EOC and OSE, there was a significant correlation between 11βHSD1 and COX2 mRNA expression (P<0.001). 11βHSD2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the EOC specimens compared to OSE (P<0.05). Secondly the response to inflammation was compared in primary cultures of human peritoneal surface epithelial (PSE) cells and OSE. The data suggest that the mRNA response to inflammation was similar in OSE and PSE, but that the 11βHSD1 enzyme activity was reduced in PSE (P<0.05), which may result in differences in tissue healing. Finally, the effect of inflammation on the expression of the ovarian cancer associated tumour suppressor gene (TSG), OPCML (OPioid binding Cell adhesion Molecule-Like) and the other members of the IgLON family, was examined in OSE. These results suggest that OPCML mRNA expression can be induced by IL-1α, an effect that is inhibited by cortisol.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Reforming finance in transitional socialist economies : avoiding the path from shell money to shell games
No full textIn the late 1980s, transitional socialist economies (TSEs) in Central and Eastern Europe were only somewhat more sophisticated than shell money systems: savings books or currency had to be used for most transactions and there was no risk assessment, information monitoring and acquisition, or portfolio management. The TSEs have moved toward a two-tiered banking system but they lag in the development of competitive, market-based financial systems. In several TSEs the financial system seems to be part of a shell game to hide the losses of the real economy. The authors argue that rapid, successful economic reform requires putting the shell game to an end. They review several contentious issues of financial reform in the TSEs, especially issues involving macrofinance, corporate finance, the internal debt problems, and the need to build efficient banks. The authors contend that the banks should be"cleaned up"when they are privatized, to prevent the quick reemergence of debt problems. They believe that either of the proposed alternatives for shaping financial systems in the TSEs - very highly capitalized banking or narrow banking - would minimize the need for future support. Either alternative would reduce leverage in the TSEs and provide more financial stability. But taking concerns about moral hazard to an extreme - prohibiting debt finance - could starve new firms for credit and limit economic growth.Economic Theory&Research,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Financial Intermediation
Phylogenetic relationships among members of the Comamonadaceae, and description of Delftia acidovorans (den Dooren de Jong 1926 and Tamaoka et al. 1987) gen. nov., comb. nov
No full textThe phylogenetic relationships among members of the family Comamonadaceae and several unclassified strains were studied by direct sequencing of their PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, members of the family formed a coherent group. The closest relatives are species of the Rubrivivax sub-group: Leptothrix discophora, Ideonella dechloratans and Rubrivivax gelatinosus. The genus Hydrogenophaga formed two subclusters, as did the species of Acidovorax, whereas the five species of the genus [Aquaspirillum] were polyphyletic. Comamonas acidovorans was phylogenetically distant from the type species of Comamonas, Comamonas terrigena. On the basis of this work and previous studies, Comamonas acidovorans is removed from the genus Comamonas and renamed as Delftia acidovorans gen. nov., comb, nov. Descriptions of the new genus Delftia and of the type species Delftia acidovorans, for which the type strain is ATCC 15668(T), are presented
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