Optimal portfolios with end-of-period target

We study the estimation of optimal portfolios for a Reserve Fund with an end-of-period target and when the returns of the assets that constitute the Reserve Fund portfolio follow two specifications. In the first one, assets are split into short memory (bonds) and long memory (equity), and the optimality of the portfolio is based on maximizing the Sharpe ratio. In the second, returns follow a conditional heteroskedasticity autoregressive nonlinear model, and we study when the distribution of the innovation vector is heavy-tailed stable. For this specification, we consider appropriate estimation methods, which include bootstrap and empirical likelihood

Attractive and permissive activities of semaphorin 5A toward dorsal root ganglion axons in higher vertebrate embryos

Elongation of the efferent fibers of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons toward their peripheral targets occurs during development. Attractive or permissive systems may be involved in this elongation. However, the molecular mechanisms that control it are largely unknown. Here we show that class 5 semaphorin Sema5A had attractive/permissive effects on DRG axons. In mouse embryos, Sema5A was expressed in and around the path of DRG efferent fibers, and cell aggregates secreting Sema5A attracted DRG axons in vitro. We also found that ectopic Sema5A expression in the spinal cord attracted DRG axons. Together, these findings suggest that Sema5A functions as an attractant to elongate DRG fibers and contributes to the formation of the early sensory network

肝細胞癌においてmiR125b-5pはAtaxin1による上皮間葉転換を介してソラフェニブ耐性を示す

The mechanism of resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We analyzed miRNA expression profiles in sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines (PLC/PRF5-R1/R2) and parental cell lines (PLC/PRF5) to identify the miRNAs responsible for resistance. Drug sensitivity, migration/invasion capabilities, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties were analyzed by biochemical methods. The clinical relevance of the target genes to survival in HCC patients were assessed using a public database. Four miRNAs were significantly upregulated in PLC/PRF5-R1/-R2 compared with PLC/PRF5. Among them, miR-125b-5p mimic-transfected PLC/PRF5 cells (PLC/PRF5-miR125b) and showed a significantly higher IC50 for sorafenib compared with controls, while the other miRNA mimics did not. PLC/PRF5-miR125b showed lower E-cadherin and higher Snail and vimentin expression—findings similar to those for PLC/PRF5-R2—which suggests the induction of EMT in those cells. PLC/PRF5-miR125b exhibited significantly higher migration and invasion capabilities and induced sorafenib resistance in an in vivo mouse model. Bioinformatic analysis revealed ataxin-1 as a target gene of miR-125b-5p. PLC/PRF5 cells transfected with ataxin-1 siRNA showed a significantly higher IC50, higher migration/invasion capability, higher cancer stem cell population, and an EMT phenotype. Median overall survival in the low-ataxin-1 patient group was significantly shorter than in the high-ataxin-1 group. In conclusion, miR-125b-5p suppressed ataxin-1 and consequently induced Snail-mediated EMT and stemness, leading to a poor prognosis in HCC patients.The mechanism of resistance to multikinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. We analyzed miRNA expression profiles in sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines (PLC/PRF5-R1/R2) and parental cell lines (PLC/PRF5) to identify the responsible miRNAs and target genes involved in the mechanism of resistance. Four miRNAs were significantly upregulated. Among them, we found that miR-125-5p induced sorafenib resistance in HCC cells and in a mouse model. We also revealed that miR-125-5p suppressed ataxin-1 as a target gene and consequently induced Snail-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness. Moreover, we demonstrated that ataxin-1 expression has an impact on the prognosis of patients with HCCs. In the future, by comparing the expression status of miR-125b-5p/ataxin-1 and the effect of sorafenib in the clinical setting, it is expected that miR-125b-5p will be established as an effective drug selection marker for treatment selection in patients with HCC

Comparison of the role of alcohol consumption and qualitative abdominal fat on NAFLD and MAFLD in males and females

The clinical difference between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) between the two sexes is unclear. This study aimed to determine the influences of alcohol consumption and qualitative abdominal fat between male and female patients with NAFLD and MAFLD. This cross-sectional study examined 11,766 participants who underwent health check-ups comparing lifestyle habits, biochemical features, and noninvasive liver fibrosis scores, between non-MAFLD and MAFLD groups. Furthermore, differences in alcohol consumption and qualitative abdominal fat were examined between male and female patients with NAFLD and MAFLD. The prevalence of metabolic dysregulation, ratio of visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area, and noninvasive liver fibrosis scores were significantly higher in male patients with MAFLD than in those with NAFLD (p  70 g/week, several noninvasive liver fibrosis scores were significantly higher in the MAFLD group than in the NAFLD group (all p < 0.05). The influences of alcohol consumption and qualitative abdominal fat on NAFLD and MAFLD were different between sexes. The development of liver fibrosis should be considered in male patients with MAFLD who exceed mild drinking

Topographic variability of the left atrium and pulmonary veins assessed by 3D-CT predicts the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation

AbstractBackgroundCatheter ablation (CA) is an established therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the assessment of anatomical information and predictors of AF recurrence remain unclear. We investigated the relationship between anatomical information on the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) from three-dimensional computed tomography images and the recurrence of AF after CA.MethodsSixty-seven consecutive AF patients (mean age: 62±10 years, median AF history: 42 (12; 60) months, mean LA size: 41±7mm, paroxysmal: 56%) underwent CA and were followed for 19±10 months. The segmented surface areas (antral, posterior, septal, and lateral) and dimensions (between the anterior and posterior walls, the right inferior PV and mitral annulus [MA], the right superior PV and MA, the left superior PV and MA, and the mitral isthmus) of the LA were evaluated three dimensionally using the NavX system. The cross-sectional areas of the PVs were also evaluated.ResultsAfter the follow-up period, 49 patients (73%) remained free from AF. A multivariate analysis showed that the diameter of the mitral isthmus and cross-sectional area of the right upper PV were associated with AF recurrence (odds ratio: 1.070, CI: 1.02–1.12, p=0.001; odds ratio: 0.41, CI: 0.21–0.77, p=0.006).ConclusionEnlargement of the mitral isthmus and a smaller right superior PV cross-sectional area were associated with AF recurrence

心理学に対する期待及び大学の専攻動機の変化過程に関する調査研究

関西圏私立四年制大学在籍の学生187名を対象とした『大学において「心理学」を学ぶことの期待』に関する質問紙調査,及び同20名を対象とした『大学の専攻動機と,その変化過程』に関する半構造化面接調査を実施した.心理学系学生は非心理学系学生に比べて,資格取得を心理学に期待する傾向や,他者の問題解決のための能力獲得を期待する傾向が示されたことから,心理学を学ぶことで臨床心理士をはじめとする対人援助職を志している可能性が推測された.一方面接調査において,「内的なもののため」という動機が心理学系学生にのみみられたことに加えて,「仕事のため」,「適性のため」という動機も,他者理解や他者援助が主軸として置かれていたわけではないことから,動機の側面からみた心理学への期待は他者理解・他者援助よりもむしろ,自己理解・自己援助のためといえた.考察では,これらの質問紙調査と面接調査の結果の矛盾について検討した

心理学に対する専攻動機と期待に関する調査研究

本研究の目的は,「1:専攻志望動機と専攻への期待について量的な検証が可能な尺度を作成すること」,「2:非心理学専攻学生との比較検討を行い,心理学専攻学生の専攻志望動機と専攻への期待について明らかにすること」の2つであった.検討の結果,まず専攻志望動機と専攻への期待について,一定の信頼性と妥当性が確認された尺度が作成された. また専攻志望動機については,「自他経験・問題解決」得点と「専門性獲得」因子が心理学専攻学生に有意に高いという結果が得られた.さらに心理学への期待についても,「自他理解・問題解決」得点と「専門性獲得」得点が心理学専攻学生に有意に高いという結果であった.これらのことから,心理学専攻学生は自他の否定的経験が契機となり,心理学を学ぶことで自己の問題解決を試みようとすること,そして他者の問題解決のための専門的スキルを獲得しようとするという筆者らの仮説がより支持されたと考えられた

Initial Surgical Versus Conservative Strategies in Patients With Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis

AbstractBackgroundCurrent guidelines generally recommend watchful waiting until symptoms emerge for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).ObjectivesThe study sought to compare the long-term outcomes of initial AVR versus conservative strategies following the diagnosis of asymptomatic severe AS.MethodsWe used data from a large multicenter registry enrolling 3,815 consecutive patients with severe AS (peak aortic jet velocity >4.0 m/s, or mean aortic pressure gradient >40 mm Hg, or aortic valve area <1.0 cm2) between January 2003 and December 2011. Among 1,808 asymptomatic patients, the initial AVR and conservative strategies were chosen in 291 patients, and 1,517 patients, respectively. Median follow-up was 1,361 days with 90% follow-up rate at 2 years. The propensity score–matched cohort of 582 patients (n = 291 in each group) was developed as the main analysis set for the current report.ResultsBaseline characteristics of the propensity score–matched cohort were largely comparable, except for the slightly younger age and the greater AS severity in the initial AVR group. In the conservative group, AVR was performed in 41% of patients during follow-up. The cumulative 5-year incidences of all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization were significantly lower in the initial AVR group than in the conservative group (15.4% vs. 26.4%, p = 0.009; 3.8% vs. 19.9%, p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsThe long-term outcome of asymptomatic patients with severe AS was dismal when managed conservatively in this real-world analysis and might be substantially improved by an initial AVR strategy. (Contemporary Outcomes After Surgery and Medical Treatment in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Registry; UMIN000012140