894 research outputs found
Subjective memory complaints, mood and MCI:a follow-up study
Objectives: Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are common in older people and previous research has shown an association with mood problems, such as depression and anxiety. SMC form part of the criteria for many definitions of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but there is controversy over whether they should be included as they may be related more strongly to mood than to objective cognitive impairment. This study aims to clarify the relationship between mood and SMC in people with MCI. Method: This paper reports an analysis of data from the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing study. Structured interviews were conducted with community-dwelling older people to assess a range of aspects of cognitive functioning and mood. Data from two time points approximately 24 months apart were used in this analysis. At baseline, participants without dementia or severe cognitive impairment were categorised into three groups according to cognitive status. Mood was investigated by assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression which were defined using a diagnostic algorithm. Associations were tested using logistic regression and chi square analyses. Results: A clear association was shown between SMC and mood, both cross-sectionally and over time. The relationship between our two competing definitions of MCI suggested that mood problems were more strongly related to the presence of SMC than objective cognitive impairment. Conclusion: SMC may be a function of anxiety and depression rather than being related to objective cognitive function. This questions whether SMC should be included in definitions of MCI
Subjective Memory Complaints are Involved in the Relationship between Mood and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Leaving the nest: the rise of regional financial arrangements and the future of global governance
This article examines the impact of regional financial arrangements (RFAs) on the global liquidity regime. It argues that the design of RFAs could potentially alter the global regime, whether by strengthening it and making it more coherent or by decentring the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and destabilizing it. To determine possible outcomes, this analysis deploys a âmiddleâupâ approach that focuses on the institutional design of these RFAs. It first draws on the rational design of institutions framework to identify the internal characteristics of RFAs that are most relevant to their capabilities and capacities. It then applies these insights to the interactions of RFAs with the IMF, building on Aggarwal's (1998) concept of ânestedâ versus âparallelâ institutions, to create an analytical lens through which to assess the nature and sustainability of nested linkages. Through an analysis of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) and the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR), the article demonstrates the usefulness of this lens. It concludes by considering three circumstances in which fault lines created by these RFAsâ institutional design could be activated, permitting an institution to âleave the nestâ, including changing intentions of principals, creation of parallel capabilities and facilities, and failure of the global regime to address regional needs in a crisis.The authors would like to thank Veronica Artola, Masatsugu Asakawa, Ana Maria Carrasquilla, Junhong Chang, Paolo Hernando, Hoe Ee Khor, Kazunori Koike, Jae Young Lee, Ser-Jin Lee, Guillermo Perry, Yoichi Nemoto, Freddy Trujillo, Masaaki Watanabe, Yasuto Watanabe, Akihiko Yoshida, and others who wished to remain anonymous, for their generosity in providing in-person interviews. Further, the authors would like to thank various central bank and ministry of finance officials of both FLAR and CMIM member countries. We also thank Jose Antonio Ocampo, Diana Barrowclough, and participants in the 'Beyond Bretton Woods' Workshop at Boston University (where an earlier version of this article was presented in September 2017) for their feedback on our broader research projects on RFAs. Last but not least, the authors wish to thank the anonymous referees for their constructive comments. This work builds upon previous work funded by UNCTAD and the Global Economic Governance Initiative at the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University. (UNCTAD; Global Economic Governance Initiative at the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University)Accepted manuscrip
Expansions of algebras and superalgebras and some applications
After reviewing the three well-known methods to obtain Lie algebras and
superalgebras from given ones, namely, contractions, deformations and
extensions, we describe a fourth method recently introduced, the expansion of
Lie (super)algebras. Expanded (super)algebras have, in general, larger
dimensions than the original algebra, but also include the Inonu-Wigner and
generalized IW contractions as a particular case. As an example of a physical
application of expansions, we discuss the relation between the possible
underlying gauge symmetry of eleven-dimensional supergravity and the
superalgebra osp(1|32).Comment: Invited lecture delivered at the 'Deformations and Contractions in
Mathematics and Physics Workshop', 15-21 January 2006, Mathematisches
Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach, German
Precise interplanetary network localization of a new soft gamma repeater, SGR 1627-41
We present Ulysses, KONUS-WIND, and BATSE observations of bursts from a new
soft gamma repeater which was active in 1998 June and July. Triangulation of
the bursts results in a ~ 1.8 degree by 16 '' error box whose area is ~ 7.6
arcminutes^2, which contains the Galactic supernova remnant G337.0-0.1. This
error box intersects the position of a BeppoSAX X-ray source which is also
consistent with the position of G337.0-0.1 (Woods et al. 1999), and is thought
to be the quiescent counterpart to the repeater. If so, the resulting error box
is ~ 2 ' by 16 '' and has an area of ~ 0.6 arcminutes^2. The error box location
within the supernova remnant suggests that the neutron star has a transverse
velocity of ~ 200 - 2000 km/s.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, submitted to ApJ Letter
Quasi-classical Lie algebras and their contractions
After classifying indecomposable quasi-classical Lie algebras in low
dimension, and showing the existence of non-reductive stable quasi-classical
Lie algebras, we focus on the problem of obtaining sufficient conditions for a
quasi-classical Lie algebras to be the contraction of another quasi-classical
algebra. It is illustrated how this allows to recover the Yang-Mills equations
of a contraction by a limiting process, and how the contractions of an algebra
may generate a parameterized families of Lagrangians for pairwise
non-isomorphic Lie algebras.Comment: 17 pages, 2 Table
Exciton spin relaxation in single semiconductor quantum dots
We study the relaxation of the exciton spin (longitudinal relaxation time
) in single asymmetrical quantum dots due to an interplay of the
short--range exchange interaction and acoustic phonon deformation. The
calculated relaxation rates are found to depend strongly on the dot size,
magnetic field and temperature. For typical quantum dots and temperatures below
100 K, the zero--magnetic field relaxation times are long compared to the
exciton lifetime, yet they are strongly reduced in high magnetic fields. We
discuss explicitly quantum dots based on (In,Ga)As and (Cd,Zn)Se semiconductor
compounds.Comment: accepted for Phys. Rev.
Properties of the second outburst of the bursting pulsar (GRO J1744-28) as observed with BATSE
Delivering green streets: an exploration of changing perceptions and behaviours over time around bioswales in Portland, Oregon
Green Infrastructure (GI) is an increasingly popular means of dealing with flooding and water quality issues worldwide. This study examines public perceptions of, and behaviour around, bioswales, which are a popular GI facility in the United States. Bioswales are highly visible interventions requiring support from residents and policyâmakers to be implemented and maintained appropriately. To understand how the residents' perceptions and attitudes might develop over time, we interviewed residents of Portland, Oregon, living near bioswales installed 1â2, 4â5 and 8â9 years ago, to determine awareness, understanding, and opinions about the devices. We found no consistent patterns across time periods, but did find common issues affecting residents' appreciation and acceptance: environmental attitudes, awareness and understanding of purpose and function, plant choice and maintenance, and mess and littering. It was apparent that increased public engagement, localised maintenance strategies, and possibly even customising facilities to meet residents' needs where feasible, might improve acceptance
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