Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Joined-Up Pensions Policy in the UK: An Asset-Liability Model for Simultaneously Determining the Asset Allocation and Contribution Rate

The trustees of funded defined benefit pension schemes must make two vital and interrelated decisions - setting the asset allocation and the contribution rate. While these decisions are usually taken separately, it is argued that they are intimately related and should be taken jointly. The objective of funded pension schemes is taken to be the minimization of both the mean and the variance of the contribution rate, where the asset allocation decision is designed to achieve this objective. This is done by splitting the problem into two main steps. First, the Markowitz mean-variance model is generalised to include three types of pension scheme liabilities (actives, deferreds and pensioners), and this model is used to generate the efficient set of asset allocations. Second, for each point on the risk-return efficient set of the asset-liability portfolio model, the mathematical model of Haberman (1992) is used to compute the corresponding mean and variance of the contribution rate and funding ratio. Since the Haberman model assumes that the discount rate for computing the present value of liabilities equals the investment return, it is generalised to avoid this restriction. This generalisation removes the trade-off between contribution rate risk and funding ratio risk for a fixed spread period. Pension schemes need to choose a spread period, and it is shown how this can be set to minimise the variance of the contribution rate. Finally, using the result that the funding ratio follows an inverted gamma distribution, shortfall risk and expected tail loss are computed for funding below the minimum funding requirement, and funding above the taxation limit. This model is then applied to one of the largest UK pension schemes - the Universities Superannuation Scheme.
SURFACE CONSTRUCTION FROM PLANAR CONTOURS byb

Many scientific and technical endeavors require the reconstruction of a three-dimensional solid from a collection of two-dimensional contours. One method for this reconstruction involves a procedure whereby individual pairs of contours are mapped together to form r. ar ul a " surface patches. In this paper, we present an algorithm ,inich not only handles mapping situations of simple, closed contours :_u also mappings of multiple contours per plane and partial contour mappings. Also included is a discussion of algorithm limitations and heurist ics. Accesion For NTIS CRA&I DTIC TAB . Unannour.ced Justificatiol1 By Y a? Distr-ibutiony. 'Availability Codes Dist Avail and Ior Special
Solution and Solid-State Study of the Spin-Crossover [ FeII ( R-bik ) 3 ] ( BF 4 ) 2 Complexes

The magnetic properties of three spin-crossover complexes, [Fe(R-bik)3](BF4)2·nH2O (1–3), based on bis(imidazolyl)ketone ligands, were investigated in solution and the solid state. Their properties were compared with those of the ketone-free analogue, [Fe(bim)3](OTf )2 (4). The alkyl and vinyl R groups have weak influence on the transition temperature, T1/2, in solution, while stronger differences are observed in the solid state, because different intermolecular interactions occur in 1–3. The spin-state equilibria in solution were followed by SQUID magnetometry and the Evans NMR spectroscopy method. Interestingly, the equilibria can also be simply and effi-
Bose condensation of squeezed light

Light with a chemical potential and no mass is shown to possess a general phase-transition curve to Bose-Einstein condensation. This limiting density and temperature range is found by the diverging in-medium potential range of effective interaction. The inverse expansion series of the effective interaction from Bethe-Salpeter equation is employed exceeding the ladder approximation. While usually the absorption and emission with Dye molecules is considered, here it is proposed that squeezing can create also such a mean interaction leading to a chemical potential. The equivalence of squeezed light with a complex Bogoliubov transformation of interacting Bose system with finite lifetime is established with the help of which an effective gap is deduced where the squeezing parameter is related to an equivalent gap by $|\Delta(\omega)|={\hbar \omega/( \coth {2|z(\omega)|}-1)}$. This gap phase creates a finite condensate in agreement with the general limiting density and temperature range. In this sense it is shown that squeezing induces the same effect on light as an interaction leading to possible condensation. The phase diagram for condensation is presented due to squeezing and the appearance of two gaps is discussed.
α-, β-, γ-, δ- and ε-diversity of deep-sea nematodes in canyons and open slopes of Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean margins.

Meiofaunal biodiversity, with a special focus on nematodes, was investigated in 6 sub- marine canyons and 5 adjacent open slopes along bathymetric gradients (from ca. 200 to 5000 m depth) from 3 deep-sea regions (northeastern Atlantic, western and central Mediterranean) spanning >2500 km and across a wide gradient of trophic and physicochemical conditions. The analysis of local (α) diversity at equal depths showed the presence of similar values in the NE Atlantic and Mediter- ranean deep-sea sediments. The comparison of the α diversity between different deep-sea habitats (canyons versus adjacent open slopes) revealed the lack of significant differences in species richness in most of the investigated systems. However, the analysis of nematode species composition showed the presence of major differences among different sampling depths (i.e. 500 versus 1000 versus 2000 m depth) and habitats. Turnover (β) diversity was high in all of the investigated deep-sea systems, but was higher in the NE Atlantic (87%) than in the Mediterranean margins (range 51 to 60%), resulting in higher values of regional (γ) diversity in the Atlantic margin. Turnover diversity among regions (δ diversity) was highest (~91%) between the NE Atlantic and western Mediter- ranean, but still extremely high between the western and central Mediterranean margins (~80%), thus leading to similar values of biogeographical diversity (e) in the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean deep biogeographical provinces. The results suggest that biogeographic differences in deep-sea spe- cies composition are related to differences in β and δ diversity and not to differences in α diversity, and that the analysis of the factors driving β diversity are crucial to understand the spatial patterns of biodiversity in the deep sea.
Educating Normal Breast Mucosa to Prevent Breast Cancer

Abstract : Breast cancer develops from breast mucosa and breast mucosa has intact immune system to maintain epithelial integrity. In this study our goal was to study the immune subsets associated with breast mucosa and develop the strategies to populate mucosa with immune effectors in order to prevent breast cancer. Data obtained from our studies suggest that T cells constitute the majority of immune cells in breast mucosa and this includes conventional CD4 T cells, CD8+ 9: T cells and significant fraction of unconventional double positive (DP) CD4+CD8+ 9: T cells. We also observed that intramammary immunization induces antigen-specific immune responses in breast mucosa. Currently, studies are being done to characterize these double positive T cells to determine whether these are regulatory or cytotoxic in nature and their role in prevention of breast cancer. In addition to this, we are also investigating the ability of intramammary immunization in prevention of breast cancer and the feasibility of translating this approach into preventive breast cancer vaccine setting.
Osteoporosis: A preventable silent killer but not well addressed

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone density, micro-architectural deterioration of the bone tissue, enhanced bone fragility and increasing susceptibility to fracture. Osteoporosis is an important public health problem leading to an increased risk of developing spontaneous and traumatic fractures. It is a silent disease until it is complicated by fractures that can occur following minimal trauma. These fractures are common and place an enormous medical and personal burden on individuals during aging and a major economic toll on the nation. To reduce the burden high-risk patients must be identified, evaluated for factors contributing to skeletal fragility, and should be treated to reduce fracture risk. Osteoporosis is a preventable disease and can be diagnosed and treated before any fracture occurs. Importantly, even after the first fracture has occurred, there are effective treatments to decrease the risk of further fractures. Both Pharmacologic and non- pharmacological interventions can reduce the risk for fracture in appropriately selected patients, with a generally favorable safety profile. Bangladesh Med J. 2016 May; 45 (2): 101-109
Revised temperature-dependent ozone absorption cross-section spectra (Bogumil et al.) measured with the SCIAMACHY satellite spectrometer

Abstract. Absorption cross-section spectra for ozone and other trace gases had been measured using the Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) satellite instrument at relevant atmospheric conditions. The measured cross sections were relative cross sections and were converted to absolute values using published data. Using SCIAMACHY's FM cross sections as published by Bogumil et al. (2003) in the SCIAMACHY retrievals of total ozone leads to an overestimation in the total ozone by 5% compared to collocated GOME data. This work presents the procedures followed to correct the ozone cross-section data starting from original raw data (optical density spectra). The quality of the revised temperature-dependent ozone absorption cross sections is investigated over SCIAMACHY's entire spectral range. The revised data agree well within 3% with other published ozone cross sections and preserve the correct temperature dependence in the Hartley, Huggins, Chappuis and Wulf bands as displayed by the literature data. SCIAMACHY's total ozone columns retrieved using the revised cross-section data are shown to be within 1% compared to the ozone amounts retrieved routinely from SCIAMACHY, which uses Bogumil et al. (2003) data but adjusted with a scaling factor of 5.3% and a wavelength shift of 0.08 nm.
Nanophotonics of optical fibers

Abstract This review is concerned with nanoscale effects in highly transparent dielectric photonic structures fabricated from optical fibers. In contrast to those in plasmonics, these structures do not contain metal particles, wires, or films with nanoscale dimensions. Nevertheless, a nanoscale perturbation of the fiber radius can significantly alter their performance. This paper consists of three parts. The first part considers propagation of light in thin optical fibers (microfibers) having the radius of the order of 100 nanometers to 1 micron. The fundamental mode propagating along a microfiber has an evanescent field which may be strongly expanded into the external area. Then, the cross-sectional dimensions of the mode and transmission losses are very sensitive to small variations of the microfiber radius. Under certain conditions, a change of just a few nanometers in the microfiber radius can significantly affect its transmission characteristics and, in particular, lead to the transition from the waveguiding to non-waveguiding regime. The second part of the review considers slow propagation of whispering gallery modes in fibers having the radius of the order of 10–100 microns. The propagation of these modes along the fiber axis is so slow that they can be governed by extremely small nanoscale changes of the optical fiber radius. This phenomenon is exploited in SNAP (surface nanoscale axial photonics), a new platform for fabrication of miniature super-low-loss photonic integrated circuits with unprecedented sub-angstrom precision. The SNAP theory and applications are overviewed. The third part of this review describes methods of characterization of the radius variation of microfibers and regular optical fibers with sub-nanometer precision.
A PHOTOMETRIC SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF WATER AND METHANE ICES ON KUIPER BELT OBJECTS

We present a new near-infrared photometric system for detection of water ice and methane ice in the solar system. The system consists of two medium-band filters in the K-band region of the near-infrared, which are sensitive to water ice and methane ice, plus continuum observations in the J band and Y band. The primary purpose of this system is to distinguish between three basic types of Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs)—those rich in water ice, those rich in methane ice, and those with little absorbance. In this work, we present proof-of-concept observations of 51 KBOs using our filter system, 21 of which have never been observed in the near-infrared spectroscopically. We show that our custom photometric system is consistent with previous spectroscopic observations while reducing telescope observing time by a factor of ∼3. We use our filters to identify Haumea collisional family members, which are thought to be collisional remnants of a much larger body and are characterized by large fractions of water ice on their surfaces. We add 2009 YE7 to the Haumea collisional family based on our water ice band observations (J − H2O = −1.03 ± 0.27) which indicate a high amount of water ice absorption, our calculated proper orbital elements, and the neutral optical colors we measured, V − R = 0.38 ± 0.04, which are all consistent with the rest of the Haumea family. We identify several objects dynamically similar to Haumea as being distinct from the Haumea family as they do not have water ice on their surfaces. In addition, we find that only the largest KBOs have methane ice, and Haumea itself has significantly less water ice absorption than the smaller Haumea family members. We find no evidence for other families in the Kuiper Belt.
Supply Chain Finance: some conceptual insights

While the integration of material and information flows within the supply chain has long been discussed in the science community and tested in practice, it is therefore now that the flow of financial resources is increasingly drawing the centre of attention. Following this new way of understanding logistics and supply chain processes, the task of supply chain managers begins with the financing and capital budgeting decisions of supply chain investments and ends only after the payment from the customer is received. The challenges arising with this development bring along a new understanding and role of the supply chain actors as well as their mutual relationships. New inter-functional and inter-organizational tasks at the intersection of finance and logistics open new areas of business for banks as well as financial and logistics service providers. This paper can be understood as a first step enabling executives to gain all impacts lying in the Supply Chain Finance (SCF) approach.
On the choice of importance of Resampling schemes in Particle Filter

Particle filter is a powerful tool for tracking of targets in any system . The systems which are non- linear and non Gaussian are commonly occur in practice. This paper investigates various resampling algorithms which are available on particle filter . Many tracking methods have been developed but still there are difficulties in continuous tracking of the target. This work aims on the preference of resampling algorithms in tracking . The performance of resampling is evaluated in terms of their MSE value of SIR filter with that of resampling schemes.
COMPARISON OF Hα AND UV STAR FORMATION RATES IN THE LOCAL VOLUME: SYSTEMATIC DISCREPANCIES FOR DWARF GALAXIES

Using a complete sample of ∼300 star-forming galaxies within 11 Mpc of the Milky Way, we evaluate the consistency between star formation rates (SFRs) inferred from the far ultraviolet (FUV) non-ionizing continuum and Hα nebular emission, assuming standard conversion recipes in which the SFR scales linearly with luminosity at a given wavelength. Our analysis probes SFRs over 5 orders of magnitude, down to ultra-low activities on the order of ∼10−4 M☉ yr−1. The data are drawn from the 11 Mpc Hα and Ultraviolet Galaxy Survey (11HUGS), which has obtained Hα fluxes from ground-based narrowband imaging, and UV fluxes from imaging with GALEX. For normal spiral galaxies (SFR ∼ 1 M☉ yr−1), our results are consistent with previous work which has shown that FUV SFRs tend to be lower than Hα SFRs before accounting for internal dust attenuation, but that there is relative consistency between the two tracers after proper corrections are applied. However, a puzzle is encountered at the faint end of the luminosity function. As lower luminosity dwarf galaxies, roughly less active than the Small Magellanic Cloud, are examined, Hα tends to increasingly underpredict the total SFR relative to the FUV. The trend is evident prior to corrections for dust attenuation, which affects the FUV more than the nebular Hα emission, so this general conclusion is robust to the effects of dust. Although past studies have suggested similar trends, this is the first time this effect is probed with a statistical sample for galaxies with SFR ≲ 0.1 M☉ yr−1. By SFR ∼ 0.003 M☉ yr−1, the average Hα-to-FUV flux ratio is lower than expected by a factor of two, and at the lowest SFRs probed, the ratio exhibits an order of magnitude discrepancy for the handful of galaxies that remain in the sample. A range of standard explanations does not appear to be able to fully account for the magnitude of the systematic. Some recent work has argued for a stellar initial mass function which is deficient in high-mass stars in dwarf and low surface brightness galaxies, and we also consider this scenario. Under the assumption that the FUV traces the SFR in dwarf galaxies more robustly, the prescription relating Hα luminosity to SFR is re-calibrated for use in the low SFR regime when FUV data are not available.
Batch-assembled multi-level micromachined mechanisms from bulk silicon

The authors report on the development of a new technology intended for the wafer level fabrication and assembly of fully integrated micromechanisms. The technology is based on a boron-doped bulk silicon dissolved wafer process that has been used to fabricate a variety of micromechanical devices. The overall process utilizes three wafers: two silicon and one glass. All the major mechanical elements, including gears and micromotors, are fabricated from one silicon wafer, whereas the mechanical links between these elements are fabricated from a second silicon wafer. These wafers are successively aligned and bonded to a glass wafer which forms the substrate and are then dissolved in EDP to free the mechanisms. This procedure permits wafer-level batch assembly of micromechanical systems. A number of bulk silicon electrostatic micromotors 5-10 mu m thick and gear trains have been fabricated and linked to each other on the same chip.
Survey of Root and Foliar Fungal Diseases of Grown Tomato at Different Locations in Egypt

The most reported areas for high production of tomato under open field and protected cultivation system in ARE were subjected to survey of either root or shoot systems fungal diseases at two growth stages of plant growth. Surveyed Tomato showing damping-off, root rot, wilt, early and late blights symptoms were subjected to isolation trails for the purpose of isolation the causal organisms. Rhizospheric samples of different healthy and diseased plants were collected at flowering growth stage from the same surveyed locations distributed for determining the frequency occurrence of different fungi associated with the root region of healthy and infected roots of tomato plants. The recorded diseases in surveyed locations were damping-off, root-rot, white rot, and wilt, early and late blights. The root fungal pathogens isolated from rhizospheric soil were Pythium spp. , Fusarium spp. Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina sp. Sclerotium rolfsii which recorded in high frequency comparing with other microorganisms, T. harzianum, T. viride, T. hamatam, Aspergillus spp. , Penicillium spp. as well as B. subtilis and P. fluorescens which isolated from Healthy plants. The genus Fusarium represented in highest records followed by the genus Rhizoctonia and Sclerotium respectively at all assayed samples. Meanwhile, the pathogens referred to genus Pythium, Macrophomina and Sclerotinia were represented in a lesser frequency.
Decreasing Phosphorus Solubility in Poultry Litter with Aluminum, Calcium, and Iron Amendments

Arkansas produces approximately one billion broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus) each year. Phosphorous runoff from fields receiving poultry litter is believed to be one of the primary factor affecting water quality in northwest Arkansas. Poultry litter contains ≃20 g P kg -1 , of which ≃2 g P kg -1 is water soluble. The objective of this study was to determine if soluble P levels could be reduced in poultry litter with Al, Ca and/or Fe amendements. Poultry litter was amended with alum, sodium aluminate, quick lime, slake lime, calcitic limestone, dolomitic limestone, gypsum, ferrous chloride, ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, and ferric sulfate, and incubated in the dark at 25 o C for 1 wk
Effects of different nitrogen fertilizer levels on growth and active compounds of rhubarb from Qinghai plateau.

BACKGROUND Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf is one of the plants generically known as rhubarb, a culinary vegetable that has long been used as a herbal remedy both in China and Europe. Increasing demand for rhubarb has triggered the overexploitation of Rh. tanguticum. Cultivation is therefore necessary for quality control and protection of wild resources. Nitrogen fertilizer plays an important role in cultivation. This study aimed to explore how nitrogen fertilizer affects the growth and quality of rhubarb on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. RESULTS Nitrogen fertilizer promoted growth but had no significant influence on the active compounds of Rh. tanguticum. Generally, the N2 (150 kg ha-1 ) and N3 (225 kg ha-1 ) levels showed the most improved growth indexes, with no significant differences between them. The growth index and the amounts of eight of the nine studied active compounds in Rh. tanguticum increased from each year to the next and differed among growth stages. The contents of the active compounds were higher at the green stage and lower at the growth stage, which was opposite to the seasonal trends in root dry matter ratio. Gallic acid levels decreased with the growth of the plant. CONCLUSION The N2 level (150 kg ha-1 ) was the recommended nitrogen fertilizer level in this study. It was revealed that seasonal changes rather than nitrogen fertilizer influenced active compounds in the root of Rh. tanguticum. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Systematic review of fertility‐related psychological distress in cancer patients: Informing on an improved model of care

Cancer patients experience reproductive concerns from diagnosis through to survivorship. However, research has yet to investigate the degree of fertility‐related psychological distress at different treatment time points: diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Currently, cancer patients are offered fertility counselling at the time of diagnosis, to assist fertility preservation decision making. A systematic review of the short‐term and long‐term psychological impact of infertility in cancer patients would inform on an improved, longitudinal model of psychological care.