511 research outputs found
Enhancing Query Processing on Stock Market Cloud-based Database
Cloud computing is rapidly expanding because it allows users to save the development and implementation time on their work. It also reduces the maintenance and operational costs of the used systems. Furthermore, it enables the elastic use of any resource rather than estimating workload, which may be inaccurate, as database systems can benefit from such a trend. In this paper, we propose an algorithm that allocates the materialized view over cloud-based replica sets to enhance the database system\u27s performance in stock market using a Peer-to-Peer architecture. The results show that the proposed model improves the query processing time and network transfer cost by distributing the materialized views over cloud-based replica sets. Also, it has a significant effect on decision-making and achieving economic returns
The effects of ownership change on bank performance and risk exposure: Evidence from Indonesia
The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.This study investigates the effects of ownership change on the performance and exposure to risk of 60 Indonesian commercial banks over the period 2005–2012. We find that state-owned banks tend to be less profitable and more exposed to risk than private and foreign banks. Domestic investors tend to select the best performers for acquisition. Domestic acquisition is generally associated with a decrease in the efficiency of the acquired banks. Non-regional foreign acquisition is associated with a reduction in risk exposure. Acquisition by regional foreign investors is associated with performance gains
Left-Right Symmetry and Supersymmetric Unification
The existence of an SU(3) X SU(2)_L X SU(2)_R X U(1) gauge symmetry with g_L
= g_R at the TeV energy scale is shown to be consistent with supersymmetric
SO(10) grand unification at around 1O^{16} GeV if certain new particles are
assumed. The additional imposition of a discrete Z_2 symmetry leads to a
generalized definition of R parity as well as highly suppressed Majorana
neutrino masses. Another model based on SO(10) X SO(10) is also discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures not included, UCRHEP-T124, Apr 199
Left-right symmetry at LHC and precise 1-loop low energy data
Despite many tests, even the Minimal Manifest Left-Right Symmetric Model
(MLRSM) has never been ultimately confirmed or falsified. LHC gives a new
possibility to test directly the most conservative version of left-right
symmetric models at so far not reachable energy scales. If we take into account
precise limits on the model which come from low energy processes, like the muon
decay, possible LHC signals are strongly limited through the correlations of
parameters among heavy neutrinos, heavy gauge bosons and heavy Higgs particles.
To illustrate the situation in the context of LHC, we consider the "golden"
process . For instance, in a case of degenerate heavy neutrinos
and heavy Higgs masses at 15 TeV (in agreement with FCNC bounds) we get
fb at TeV which is consistent with muon
decay data for a very limited masses in the range (3008 GeV, 3040 GeV).
Without restrictions coming from the muon data, masses would be in the
range (1.0 TeV, 3.5 TeV). Influence of heavy Higgs particles themselves on the
considered LHC process is negligible (the same is true for the light, SM
neutral Higgs scalar analog). In the paper decay modes of the right-handed
heavy gauge bosons and heavy neutrinos are also discussed. Both scenarios with
typical see-saw light-heavy neutrino mixings and the mixings which are
independent of heavy neutrino masses are considered. In the second case heavy
neutrino decays to the heavy charged gauge bosons not necessarily dominate over
decay modes which include only light, SM-like particles.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figs, KL-KS and new ATLAS limits taken into accoun
Patient-Reported Side Effects of Intradetrusor Botulinum Toxin Type A for Idiopathic Overactive Bladder Syndrome
Objective: The aim of the study was a prospective assessment of patient-reported side effects in an open-label study after intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections for idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). Patients and Methods: Botulinum toxin A injection was performed in 56 patients with idiopathic OAB. Patients were followed up for 6 months concerning side effects and patients' satisfaction. Results: Different types of side effects were assessed such as dry mouth (19.6%), arm weakness (8.9%), eyelid weakness (8.9%), leg weakness (7.1%), torso weakness (5.4%), impaired vision (5.4%) and dysphagia (5.4%). In all cases, symptoms were mild and transient. Urological complications such as gross hematuria (17.9%), acute urinary retention (8.9%) and acute urinary tract infection (7.1%) were noticed. In all cases, acute urinary retention was transient and treated with temporary intermittent self-catheterization. There was no statistically significant correlation between dosage and observed side effects. Patients' satisfaction rate was high (71.4%). Conclusion: Intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin was associated with a high rate of neurourological side effects. In general, side effects were transient, mild and did not require special treatment. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base
Highly conductive carbon nanotube-graphene hybrid yarn
An efficient procedure for the fabrication of highly conductive carbon nanotube/graphene hybrid yarns has been developed. To start, arrays of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) are converted into indefinitely long MWNT sheets by drawing. Graphene flakes are then deposited onto the MWNT sheets by electrospinning to form a composite structure that is transformed into yarn filaments by twisting. The process is scalable for yarn fabrication on an industrial scale. Prepared materials are characterized by electron microscopy, electrical, mechanical, and electrochemical measurements. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the composite MWNT-graphene yarns is over 900 S/cm. This value is 400% and 1250% higher than electrical conductivity of pristine MWNT yarns or graphene paper, respectively. The increase in conductivity is asssociated with the increase of the density of states near the Fermi level by a factor of 100 and a decrease in the hopping distance by an order of magnitude induced by grapene flakes. It is found also that the MWNT-graphene yarn has a strong electrochemical response with specific capacitance in excess of 111 Fg-1. This value is 425% higher than the capacitance of pristine MWNT yarn. Such substantial improvements of key properties of the hybrid material can be associated with the synergy of MWNT and graphene layers in the yarn structure. Prepared hybrid yarns can benefit such applications as high-performance supercapacitors, batteries, high current capable cables, and artificial muscles
Improved Biomedical and Psychological Outcomes 1 Year After Structured Education in Flexible Insulin Therapy for People With Type 1 Diabetes: The U.K. DAFNE experience
OBJECTIVEdDAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating), a structured education program
in flexible insulin therapy, has been widely adopted in the U.K. after validation in a randomized
trial. To determine benefits in routine practice, we collected biomedical and
psychological data from all participants attending during a 12-month period.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSdHbA1c, weight, self-reported hypoglycemia
awareness, severe hypoglycemia frequency, PAID (Problem Areas In Diabetes), HADS (Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale), and EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire
scores were recorded prior to DAFNE and after 1 year.
RESULTSdComplete baseline and follow-up HbA1c data were available for 639 (54.9%) of
1,163 attendees. HbA1c fell from 8.51 6 1.41 (mean 6 SD) to 8.24 6 1.29% (difference 0.27
[95% CI 0.16–0.38]; P , 0.001), with a greater mean fall of 0.44% from baseline HbA1c .8.5%.
Severe hypoglycemia rate fell from 1.7 6 8.5 to 0.6 6 3.7 episodes per person per year (1.1 [0.7–
1.4]) and hypoglycemia recognition improved in 43% of those reporting unawareness. Baseline
psychological distress was evident, with a PAID score of 25.2 and HADS scores of 5.3 (anxiety)
and 4.8 (depression), falling to 16.7 (8.5 [6.6–10.4]), 4.6 (0.7 [0.4–1.0]), and 4.2 (0.6 [0.3–0.8]),
respectively (all P , 0.001 at 1 year). Clinically relevant anxiety and depression (HADS $8) fell
from 24.4 to 18.0% and 20.9 to 15.5%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONSdA structured education program delivered in routine clinical practice not
only improves HbA1c while reducing severe hypoglycemia rate and restoring hypoglycemia
awareness but also reduces psychological distress and improves perceived well-being
Obesity Indicators and C - reactive Protein in African and Haitian Americans with and without Type 2 Diabetes
Purpose: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease based on finding in primarily non-Hispanic White populations. Obesity, another risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is higher in Blacks as compared to non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation, and obesity indicators by ethnicity, diabetes status and gender for two Black ethnicities.
Methods: Anthropometrics and venous blood were collected for African and Haitian Americans with and without type 2 diabetes in a cross-sectional study. A total of 434 participants; 190 African Americans, 244 Haitian Americans, met the inclusion criteria of CRP ≤10 mg/L. Main effects and interactions of ethnicity, diabetes status, gender, and each obesity indicator (waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and body mass index) were performed using General Linear Models.
Results: African Americans were more likely to be obese, have higher CRP, and smoke as compared to Haitian Americans. Haitian Americans has a lower rate of health care coverage than African American. Having a higher education level than Haitian Americans was a protective health factor for African Americans; whereas, Haitian Americans were protected by a higher percent married as compared to African Americans. All obesity indicators were associated with CRP. All differences in CRP by ethnicity and diabetes status were negated by obesity indicators. Being female was associated with higher CRP for waist circumference and BMI models. Adjusting for health insurance, smoking, marital status and education negated the relationship of gender and CRP for waist-to- height ratio.
Conclusion: Being African American as opposed to Haitian American was a greater risk factor for obesity and inflammation. Obesity was associated with elevated CRP levels in African and Haitian Americans regardless of diabetes status. Inflammation constitutes a serious health problem for minorities with high rates of obesity
Non SUSY Unification in Left-Right Models
We explore in a model independent way the possibility of achieving the non
supersymmetric gauge coupling unification within left-right symmetric models,
with the minimal particle content at the left-right mass scale which could be
as low as 1 TeV in a variety of models, and with a unification scale M in the
range GeV GeV.Comment: 18 pages, Latex file, uses epsf style, four figures. Submitted for
publication to Phys. Rev. D on Oct. 13, 199
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