University of Westminster

About: University of Westminster is a education organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2944 authors who have published 8426 publications receiving 200236 citations. The organization is also known as: Westminster University & Royal Polytechnic Institution.

Forecasting financial time series using neural network and fuzzy system-based techniques

Abstract: Forecasting currency exchange rates are an important financial problem that is receiving increasing attention, especially because of its intrinsic difficulty and practical applications. During the last few years, a number of nonlinear models have been proposed for obtaining accurate prediction results, in an attempt to ameliorate the performance of the traditional linear approaches. Among them, neural network models have been used with encouraging results. This paper presents improved neural network and fuzzy models used for exchange rate prediction. Several approaches, including multi-layer perceptions, radial basis functions, dynamic neural networks and neuro-fuzzy systems, have been proposed and discussed. Their performances for one-step and multiple step ahead predictions have been evaluated through a study, using real exchange daily rate values of the US Dollar vs. British Pound.

Illness perceptions, coping and quality of life in patients with alopecia

Abstract: Background: Alopecia can have substantial psychological consequences, but there has been no research looking at patients' beliefs about their condition nor how they relate to quality of life (QoL). Objectives To investigate the relationships between illness perceptions, coping and QoL in patients with alopecia. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design. In total, 214 individuals with alopecia were recruited from four internet support groups. There were 171 women and 43 men (mean age 35 years). Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the brief COPE. Results: The findings indicate several areas in which alopecia impacted on individuals' QoL, particularly in relation to symptoms and feelings. Women reported poorer QoL compared with men. Impaired QoL was associated with a strong illness identity, beliefs in the serious consequences of alopecia and strong emotional representations. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that illness perceptions accounted for 35% of the variance in QoL after controlling for demographic and disease factors, with coping adding a further 7% to the regression model. Conclusions: Although alopecia is not a life-threatening condition, it can impair QoL by negatively impacting on self-awareness. The strong relationships found between patients' beliefs about their condition and QoL suggests that health professionals should recognize the psychological impact of alopecia and address negative beliefs and emotions surrounding the condition in treatment programmes.

Ethnicity, social disadvantage and psychotic-like experiences in a healthy population based sample

Abstract: We sought to investigate the prevalence and social correlates of psychotic-like experiences in a general population sample of Black and White British subjects. Data were collected from randomly selected community control subjects, recruited as part of the SOP study, a three-centre population based study of first-episode psychosis. The proportion of subjects reporting one or more psychotic-like experience was 19% (n = 72/372). These were more common in Black Caribbean (OR 2.08) and Black African subjects (OR 4.59), compared with White British. In addition, a number of indicators of childhood and adult disadvantage were associated with psychotic-like experiences. When these variables were simultaneously entered into a regression model, Black African ethnicity, concentrated adult disadvantage, and separation from parents retained a significant effect. The higher prevalence of psychotic-like experiences in the Black Caribbean, but not Black African, group was explained by high levels of social disadvantage over the life course.

For-anyone-as-someone structures:

Abstract: This article is concerned with the meaning of the word for. In Heidegger's ontological analysis of everyday things he is concerned to show that their significance as everyday things shows up in what they are for (Heidegger, 1962: 95-107). His well-known example is a hammer. What is a hammer? It is not an object-Thing to be scrutinized in terms of its objective properties. Rather, it is for use. A hammer reveals what it is (what it is for) when it is put to proper use. In being used appropriately its significance or meaning is discovered and made manifest. Heidegger shows that everyday things have, in each case, a particular for-the-sake-of-which that discloses what they are. My starting point for thinking about the meaning of `for' is concerned with radio and television and in particular the question, `What or who are programmes for?' In this article I try to show what it means to say that they are `for me or anyone'.

FAK Is Required for TGFβ-induced JNK Phosphorylation in Fibroblasts: Implications for Acquisition of a Matrix-remodeling Phenotype

Abstract: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) plays a critical role in connective tissue remodeling by fibroblasts during development, tissue repair, and fibrosis. We investigated the molecular pathways in the transmission of TGFbeta signals that lead to features of connective tissue remodeling, namely formation of an alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) cytoskeleton, matrix contraction, and expression of profibrotic genes. TGFbeta causes the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), leading to JNK phosphorylation. TGFbeta induces JNK-dependent actin stress fiber formation, matrix contraction, and expression of profibrotic genes in fak+/+, but not fak-/-, fibroblasts. Overexpression of MEKK1, a kinase acting upstream of JNK, rescues TGFbeta responsiveness of JNK-dependent transcripts and actin stress fiber formation in FAK-deficient fibroblasts. Thus we propose a FAK-MEKK1-JNK pathway in the transmission of TGFbeta signals leading to the control of alpha-SMA cytoskeleton reorganization, matrix contraction, and profibrotic gene expression and hence to the physiological and pathological effects of TGFbeta on connective tissue remodeling by fibroblasts.