Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balancing on the Life Cycle: Target-Date Funds Need Better Diversification

Traditional life–cycle strategies have some serious shortcomings. In this article, the authors focus on five of those weaknesses: home bias, inflation sensitivity, concentrated risk, sensitivity to episodes of equity market turbulence, and a lack of highly diversifying alternative strategies. Some of these shortcomings, such as home bias, are easier to fix than others, which may require getting comfortable with financial tools like leverage. Using over 100 years of data, the authors show that embracing financial innovation and addressing these shortcomings could have meaningfully improved historical performance. As life-cycle funds become a bigger part of the investment landscape, the authors argue that it’s becoming increasingly important to utilize more modern investment techniques—many of which have long been part of the institutional investing arsenal.
The relationship of leukocyte anisocytosis to holotranscobalamin, a marker of cobalamin deficiency

Introduction: After measurement of the mean volumes of leukocyte subpopulations as well as the distribution widths (DW) of these volumes has become available, we investigated whether such morphometric leukocyte parameters are associated with a commonly used marker of cobalamin deficiency, i.e., holotranscobalamin (HoloTC). Further, we determined reference intervals for these parameters in an elderly population.
Thermodilution-Derived Coronary Blood Flow Pattern Immediately After Coronary Intervention as a Predictor of Microcirculatory Damage and Midterm Clinical Outcomes in Patients With ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background—Despite a sufficient coronary blood flow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction; some patients have a poor outcome because of microcirculatory damage. This study evaluates whether the thermodilution-derived coronary blood flow parameters immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention predict early microvascular damage and midterm outcomes in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Methods and Results—Using a pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire, we measured the index of microcirculatory resistance at maximum hyperemia, and coronary blood flow pattern was assessed from the thermodilution curves after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention in 88 patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary blood flow pattern was classified into 3 groups according to the shape of thermodilution curve: a narrow unimodal (n=41), a wide unimodal (n=32), or bimodal (n=15). All patients had contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance scans within 2 weeks. The index of microcirculatory resistance values were significantly higher both in a wide unimodal and in a bimodal groups than in a narrow unimodal group (65±41 and 76±38 versus 20±9U; P<0.001). Bimodal group had higher prevalence of microvascular obstruction on contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance when compared with the other groups (100%, 78%, and 30%; P<0.001). Patients in bimodal group had a higher risk of death and heart failure rehospitalization at 6 months (73%, 6.3%, 7.3%; P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that bimodal shape of the thermodilution curve was the only independent predictor of cardiac death at 6 months after ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (P<0.01). Conclusions—A bimodal shape of the thermodilution curve, which may indicate myocardial edema and consequent extrinsic compression of the capillary network, is associated with microcirculatory damage and poor midterm clinical outcomes rather than index of microcirculatory resistance value itself.
Therapeutic effect of bromocriptine together with the established treatment for hypertension in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

122 Therapeutic Effect of Bromocriptine Together with the Established Treatment for Hypertension in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis Oliva Mejia-Rodriguez, Cleto Alvarez-Aguilar, Manuel Ledesma-Ramirez and Ramon PaniaguaSierra Coordinacion de Educacion e Investigacion en Salud UMF N° 80, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Morelia, Mich. Mexico, Escuela Superior de Medicina del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico, D.F: Mexico, Unidad de Investigacion en Epidemiologia Clinica HGR N°1, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Morelia, Mich. Mexico, Facultad de Medicina Dr. “Ignacio Chavez”, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mich. Mexico, Unidad de Investigacion en Enfermedades Nefrologicas, Centro Medico Nacional siglo XXI, Mexico, D.F. Mexico *email: olivamejia@yahoo.com
Elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric characterization of modified BiScO/sub 3/-PbTiO/sub 3/ ceramics

The perovskite solid solution system (1-x)BiScO/sub 3/-(x)PbTiO/sub 3/ represents an interesting new family of high-temperature piezoelectric materials. Compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (x /spl sim/ 0.64) have been reported to have high Curie temperatures (T/sub c/ > 450/spl deg/C) and good piezoelectric coefficients (d/sub 33/ /spl sim/ 460 pC/N). In this work, manganese additions were used to improve the high-temperature electrical resistivity and RC time constant of compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary. The addition of manganese was found to shift T/sub C/ to slightly lower temperatures (442/spl deg/C and 456/spl deg/C for x = 0.64 and x = 0.66, respectively). The piezoelectric activities of the modified materials were found to be reduced slightly due to the hardening effect of manganese; however, the temperature stability and resistivity of the modified materials were significantly enhanced. In this paper we present, for the first time, a complete set of materials constants, including the elastic (s/sub ij/, c/sub ij/), piezoelectric (d/sub ij/, e/sub ij/, g/sub ij/, h/sub ij/), dielectric (/spl epsi//sub ij/, /spl beta//sub ij/), and electromechanical (k/sub ij/) coefficients and compare them to both unmodified 0.36BiScO/sub 3/-0.64PbTiO/sub 3/ and PZT5A ceramics.
What Predicts a Successful Life? A Life�?Course Model of Well�?Being

Policy-makers who care about well-being need a recursive model of how adult life-satisfaction is predicted by childhood influences, acting both directly and (indirectly) through adult circumstances. We estimate such a model using the British Cohort Study (1970). We show that the most powerful childhood predictor of adult life-satisfaction is the child's emotional health, followed by the child's conduct. The least powerful predictor is the child's intellectual development. This may have implications for educational policy. Among adult circumstances, family income accounts for only 0.5% of the variance of life-satisfaction. Mental and physical health are much more important.
Predictors of thrombus burden and no-reflow of infarct-related artery in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: importance of platelet indices

Preprocedural high-thrombus burden (HTB) of infarct-related artery (IRA) is a harbinger of procedural complications following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The HTB of IRA can lead to poor outcomes by various mechanisms, including no-reflow phenomenon, increased myocardial necrosis and with subsequent reduced survival benefit at follow-up. In this study, we investigated the relationship between all platelet indices on admission and thrombus burden and the no-reflow phenomenon after primary PCI of IRA in patients with STEMI. We retrospectively enrolled 475 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Study population was divided into two groups according to the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction thrombus grade of IRA as low-thrombus burden or HTB. There were no statistically significant differences in platelet indices, including platelet count, platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution with (PDW) among the groups. However, in the subgroup analysis, P-LCR, MPV and PDW were significantly higher in the no-reflow patients than reflow patients despite similar platelet count (P for all < 0.001). The cutoff value of P-LCR for predicting no-reflow was 26.5% with a sensitivity of 67.0% and a specificity of 62% (area under the curve, 0.689; 95% confidence interval, 0.614–0.765; P < 0.001). Furthermore, P-LCR, MPV and PDW had similar AUC (0.689, P < 0.001; 0.688, P < 0.001; and 0.677, P < 0.001; respectively) for predicting no-reflow phenomenon after primary PCI. As a result, all of the platelet indices have no effect on thrombus load of IRA, however, these parameters seem to impair epicardial perfusion after primary PCI.
An experimental generator using high temperature superconducting quasi-permanent magnets

An experimental axial gap generator, with a 6 inch diameter rotor and quasi-permanent HTS magnets, was tested. A variable speed motor was used to rotate the rotor above a stator composed of copper wire wound in an 8 pole 3 phase configuration. The rotor and stator were both run in liquid nitrogen. A 3 phase variable resistor bank was the generator load. The HTS magnets were YBCO, each 2 cm in diameter and 1 cm thick, melt textured using a SmBCO seed, containing 60% excess Y, and about 1%Pt. They were not irradiated, and could trap maximum fields of 3500-4000 G. First, the HTS magnets were field cooled in a field of approximately 2200 G, provided by the stator while carrying 25 Amperes. The HTS magnets trapped about 1800 G. In this configuration, the generator was run for about one hour at speeds up to 2000 RPM, and developed a maximum power output of 33 Watts. Next the HTS magnets were warmed, and then zero field cooled. In this case, activation was accomplished by a /spl sim/15 ms pulse on the stator, providing 5000 G of pulsed field. The HTS magnets trapped about 2600 G. The generator was then run for about 1 hour at speeds up to 2265 RPM, and developed a maximum power output of just under 100 Watts. <<ETX>>
Sprint training restores normal contractility in postinfarction rat myocytes.

The significance of 6-8 wk of high-intensity sprint training (HIST) on contractile abnormalities of myocytes isolated from rat hearts with prior myocardial infarction (MI) was investigated. Compared with the sedentary (Sed) condition, HIST attenuated myocyte hypertrophy observed post-MI primarily by reducing cell lengths but not cell widths. At high extracellular Ca(2+) concentration (5 mM) and low pacing frequency (0.1 Hz), conditions that preferentially favored Ca(2+) influx over efflux, MI-Sed myocytes shortened less than Sham-Sed myocytes did. HIST significantly improved contraction amplitudes in MI myocytes. Under conditions that favored Ca(2+) efflux, i.e., low extracellular Ca(2+) concentration (0.6 mM) and high pacing frequency (2 Hz), MI-Sed myocytes contracted more than Sham-Sed myocytes. HIST did not appreciably affect contraction amplitudes of MI myocytes under these conditions. Compared with MI-Sed myocytes, HIST myocytes showed significant improvement in time required to reach one-half maximal contraction amplitude shortening, maximal myocyte shortening and relengthening velocities, and half time of relaxation. Our results indicate that HIST instituted shortly after MI improved cellular contraction in surviving myocytes. Because our previous studies demonstrated that, in post-MI myocytes, HIST improved intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics, enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) uptake and Ca(2+) content, and restored Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange current toward normal, we hypothesized that improvement in MI myocyte contractile function by HIST was likely mediated by normalization of cellular Ca(2+) homeostatic mechanisms.
Yield components and nutrient accumulation in maize (Zea mays) under variable growing environments and chlorophyll meter-guided nitrogen fertilization

A field experiment was conducted during 201415 on sandy loam soil at ICARIndian Agricultural Research In- stitute, New Delhi, to study the effect of different growing environments and chlorophyll meter-based nitrogen (N)- management practices on yield components, yield and nutrient uptake in maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars. Maize hy- brid PEEHM 5 exhibited significantly larger yield attributes and higher grain yield than Pusa Composite 3 (PC 3), and earlier planting dates, 9 July and 24 July, depicted significant edge over later planting on 7 August. Chlo- rophyll meter-based N application up to silking (CMB), i.e. 30 kg/ha N basal + 30 kg/ha N top-dressed when soil- plant analysis development meter (SPAD) value falls to ? 37.5, increased the magnitude of all yield attributes and yield compared to soil-test-crop response based (STCRB)-N application. Grain N, P and K uptakes were 13.3, 30.7 and 11.8%, respectively, higher in PEEHM 5 than in PC 3. Similarly, CMB N application resulted in 17.2, 18.7 and 11.2% higher N, P and K uptake in grain and 9.3% greater grain yield compared to STCRB N. Overall, variety PEEHM 5 planted on 9 July and fertilized with N based on chlorophyll meter readings was a better option than the others with respect to yield attributes, yield and nutrient uptake in the north Indian plains.
The Role of Surgery in the Clinical Management of Primary Gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PGINHL) is a heterogeneous family of tumors, with treatment modalities including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Because the role of surgery in PGINHL remains disputed, this study aims to assess the impact of operative resection on survival. We used a pathology database to identify all cases of PGINHL diagnosed at a single academic-affiliated medical center from 1988 to 2013. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from the medical record. We summarized the clinical courses of patients with PGINHL and then performed a survival analysis to compare overall and disease-free survival, stratified by demographic and clinical variables. We identified 33 patients diagnosed with PGINHL during the study period. Of 29 who subsequently received treatment at the institution, 15 initially underwent chemotherapy, 10 underwent surgical resection, and 4 underwent surgery for other reasons such as diagnosis without resection or management of disease complications. Three patients suffered surgical complications and two of these patients died. We found no difference in overall survival between patients receiving surgical resection and patients managed initially with chemotherapy. This case series supports a continued role for surgical resection in the management of patients with PGINHL, though anticipated benefits should be weighed against the risk of complications.
Factor-Based Investing: The Long-Term Evidence

Factor investing is popular, and its adoption is accelerating. One reason it is increasingly being embraced is that portfolio return expectations seem to be evidence based. However, much of the so-called evidence consists of repeated analysis of the very datasets used to derive an investment model in the first place. To mitigate this trap, the authors estimate the risk premiums earned from factor investing over very long periods (up to 117 years) and across many markets (up to 23). They report on the long-term profitability of following strategies based on market capitalization, value versus growth, dividend yield, stock-return momentum, and low-volatility investing.
Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Adrenocortical and Gonadal Functions in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as most autoimmune disorders results from a combination of several predisposing factors including the relations between epitopes of the trigger agent (i.e., virus, self‐antigens) and histocompatibility epitopes (i.e., HLA), the status of the stress response system including the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical axis (HPA) and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), as well as the gonadal hormones (hypothal‐amic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis, HPG), with estrogens implicated as enhancers of the immune response and androgens and progesterone as natural suppressors. The regular observation of reduced cortisol and adrenal androgen secretion during testing in RA patients not treated with glucocoticoids should clearly be regarded as “relative adrenal insufficiency” in the setting of a sustained inflammatory process, as shown by high interleukin (IL)‐6 levels. In polymyalgia rheumatica, several pathogenetic and clinical aspects of the disease might well overlap RA, at least with elderly onset RA (EORA). Therefore, reduced production of adrenal hormones (i.e., cortisol, DHEAS) at baseline in active and untreated patients with polymyalgia rheumatica was detected. The defect was mainly related to altered adrenal responsiveness to ACTH stimulation (i.e., increased 17‐OHP), at least in untreated patients with polymyalgia rheumatica. Finally, normal serum estrogen and low androgen levels, but high synovial fluid estrogen and much lower androgen levels, have been found in RA patients, supporting the fundamental role of the peripheral sex hormone metabolism in the manifestations of the disease.
Environmental Noise and Asthma in Children: Sex-Specific Differences

Objective. There is evidence that stress increases the risk of asthma. Chronic noise exposure is known to act as an unspecific stressor, but little is known about its effect on the risk of asthma in children. The aim of this study was to compare subjectively reported noise annoyance in 12-year-old asthmatic and non-asthmatic children with special regard to sex-specific differences. Subjects and methods. In a German multi-center birth cohort study we assessed the annoyance by different sources of environmental noise, doctor-diagnosed asthma, and potential confounders by questionnaire. The comparisons between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children were stratified by sex. Results. A total of 336 boys and 316 girls were included in the analysis. Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was 13% in boys and 5% in girls; 73% of the boys and 74% of the girls reported at least some degree of noise annoyance during the day and night time. In girls, asthma was associated with a significantly increased total noise annoyance at night (adjusted odds ratio aOR 1.5, 95%CI 1.1;2.1), for noise within the home/apartment (aOR 3.5, 95%CI 1.5;8.0), and in or around the house (aOR 3.3, 95%CI 1.7;6.3). No statistical significant effects were seen in boys. Conclusions. Noise annoyance, particularly at night or caused by domestic sources, is associated with increased asthma prevalence in girls but not boys. Further research is needed to identify underlying mechanisms of these sex-specific differences.
Quality of well-being in older people with osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the sensitivity of the Quality of Well-Being Scale (QWB) as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS The QWB was administered, along with the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS) and other health measures. Health care utilization data were also obtained. RESULTS People with OA had a mean QWB score of 0.643. The QWB scores were significantly correlated with total AIMS scores, self-rated health status, health care costs, depression scores, and most AIMS subscales. In addition, changes in QWB scores after 1 year were significantly correlated with changes in total AIMS scores and some AIMS subscales. CONCLUSION The QWB appears to be a useful and sensitive generic, utility-based measure of HRQOL in people with OA.
A Review of Microwave-Assist Polymer Chemistry (MAPC)

As a relatively new source ofprocessing energy, microwave energy offers many compelling advantages in materials processing over conventional heat sources. These advantages include greater flexibility greater speed and energy savings, improved product quality and properties, and synthesis of new materials that cannot be produced by other heating methods. Studies of microwave processing of polymeric materials in the early 1960s led to a successful industrial application in the rubber industry Since the mid-1980’s, there has been a great deal of interest in microwave processing of polymeric materials worldwide. The discipline can be categorized in two major fields: microwave-assisted polymer physics (MAPP) and microwave assisted polymer chemistry (MARC). This paper offers an overview of lie fate-of-the-art research on the field of 1, 1:1PC, including polymer processing (curing ot thermosets, processing of thermoplastics, and joining), polymer synthesis, plasma modification of polymer surfaces, plasma polymerization, polymer degradation, and production of nanomaterials. Most of these studies have focused on laboratory-scale, exploratory efforts. Challenges and possible future directions for the commercialization ofmicrowave processing technologies are discussed.
Producing a sulfamethazine quality control material under the framework of ISO/CD Guide 80

The increasing use of antimicrobial agents such as sulfonamides by the pig industry is of concern, since residues in both pork and its by-products, when derived from animals treated improperly, can endanger human health. The aim of this study was to establish the production conditions and to evaluate the homogeneity and the stability of sulfamethazine in porcine liver quality control material, produced ‘in-house’ for use in ring tests of the laboratory network of residues and contaminants of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Brazil. In the process of preparing the material, a FOSS blender was used, where the samples were ground to obtain a homogeneous mass, which was packed in polypropylene bottles. The material resulting from this process of homogenisation was sampled and analysed by LC/MS/MS. The analytical results were statistically evaluated by one-way ANOVA. According to statistical evaluation, the material produced was considered homogeneous, with 95% confidence. Stability tests were performed with the bottles stored under the specified storage conditions. They were randomly selected and analysed in duplicate by the same analytical method as the homogeneity study. The analytical results were statistically evaluated by the procedures for a stability check described in ISO 13528:2005, indicating that the material was unstable under the conditions of storage.
Phase I trial of low dose decitabine targeting DNA hypermethylation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma: dose‐limiting myelosuppression without evidence of DNA hypomethylation

Targeting aberrant DNA hypermethylation in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with decitabine may reverse epigenetic silencing in B‐cell malignancies. Twenty patients were enrolled in two phase I trials to determine the minimum effective pharmacological dose of decitabine in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL (n = 16) and NHL (n = 4). Patients received 1–3 cycles of decitabine. Dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed in 2 of 4 CLL and 2 of 2 NHL patients receiving decitabine at 15 mg/m2 per d days 1–10, consisting of grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia and hyperbilirubinaemia. Six patients with CLL received decitabine at 10 mg/m2 per d days 1–10 without DLT; however, re‐expression of methylated genes or changes in global DNA methylation were not observed. Therefore, a 5‐day decitabine schedule was examined. With 15 mg/m2 per d decitabine days 1–5, DLT occurred in 2 of 6 CLL and 2 of 2 NHL patients, consisting of grade 3–4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and febrile neutropenia. Eight patients had stable disease. In 17 patients, there were no significant changes in genome‐wide methylation or in target gene re‐expression. In conclusion, dose‐limiting myelosuppression and infectious complications prevented dose escalation of decitabine to levels associated with changes in global methylation or gene re‐expression in CLL and NHL.