On the Ground State Wave Function of Matrix Theory

We propose an explicit construction of the leading terms in the asymptotic expansion of the ground state wave function of BFSS SU(N) matrix quantum mechanics. Our proposal is consistent with the expected factorization property in various limits of the Coulomb branch, and involves a different scaling behavior from previous suggestions. We comment on some possible physical implications.Comment: 21 page

Convexity of ruin probability and optimal dividend strategies for a general Levy process

In this paper, we consider the optimal dividends problem for a company whose cash reserves follow a general Levy process with certain positive jumps and arbitrary negative jumps. The objective is to find a policy which maximizes the expected discounted dividends until the time of ruin. Under appropriate conditions, we appeal to very recent results in the theory of potential analysis of subordinators to obtain the convexity properties of probability of ruin. We present conditions under which the optimal dividend strategy, among all admissible ones, takes the form of a barrier strategy.Comment: 19 pages, corrected some typo

Review: environmental governance in Sweden

This paper provides a review of environmental governance in both theoretical and empirical fields as a means of promoting our knowledge and capacity for achieving environmental sustainability. The author begins with an academic presentation from six perspectives that are considered as the critical principles in implement process of environmental governance, and identifies six principles by searching the definitions, criterions, evaluations and critics from textbooks and academic journal coverage from 1990s to now. These principles include Accountability, Participation, Rule of law, Transparency, Effectiveness and efficiency, Decentralized Management. This section is followed by an empirical analysis of the selective review of plans, policy documents and research projects of environmental policy-making and implementing in Sweden's context during the last 20 years, corresponding to the essential elements presented in former academic review. Basing on both two reviews, the paper concludes the inter-corresponds and isolations between theoretical and practical area, targeting on promoting existing theories by learning lessons from the empirical experience in Sweden' environmental governance, and advancing the implemental effectiveness by absorbing from theories. Ultimately, with a goal of narrowing the gaps and negligence it has now, the author would like to propose some suggesting directions with potential values in stimulating to develop, implement and inspect environmental strategies and policies in both academic research and empirical activities

Dual-topology insertion of a dual-topology membrane protein.

Some membrane transporters are dual-topology dimers in which the subunits have inverted transmembrane topology. How a cell manages to generate equal populations of two opposite topologies from the same polypeptide chain remains unclear. For the dual-topology transporter EmrE, the evidence to date remains consistent with two extreme models. A post-translational model posits that topology remains malleable after synthesis and becomes fixed once the dimer forms. A second, co-translational model, posits that the protein inserts in both topologies in equal proportions. Here we show that while there is at least some limited topological malleability, the co-translational model likely dominates under normal circumstances

Estimation of summary protective efficacy using a frailty mixture model for recurrent event time data.

Recurrent event time data are common in experimental and observational studies. The analytic strategy needs to consider three issues: within-subject event dependence, between-subject heterogeneity in event rates, and the possibility of a nonsusceptible fraction. Motivated by the need to estimate the summary protective efficacy from recurrent event time data as seen in many infectious disease clinical trials, we propose a two-part frailty mixture model that simultaneously accommodates all the three issues. In terms of vaccine action models, the proposed model is a combination of the 'all-or-none' and the 'leaky' models, and the summary protective efficacy is a unified measure of the vaccine's twofold effects in completely or partially protecting the vaccinated individuals against the study event. The model parameters of interest are estimated using the expectation-maximization algorithm with their respective variances estimated using Louis's formula for the expectation-maximization algorithm. The summary protective efficacy is estimated by a composite estimand with its variance estimated using the delta method. The performance of the proposed estimation approach is investigated by a simulation study. Data from a trial of malaria prophylaxis conducted in Ghana are reanalyzed

Deterministic modelling of energy supply and demand for foaling mares managed at pasture on commercial thoroughbred stud farms : a thesis presented in fulfilment of requirement for the degree, Master of Science (Animal Science), Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

There is an economic incentive to breed and foal mares early in the season within the New Zealand commercial Thoroughbred production industry. This has caused disparity between the natural and commercially imposed breeding season, and possibly, the period of peak pasture energy availability and the mare energy requirements. A deterministic model was developed to model the energy balance, energy intake and energy requirement of Thoroughbred mares managed at pasture under commercial conditions to assess their energy status. The response of energy intake and energy balance to changes in five variables were tested. The variables tested were dry matter intake, bodyweight, foaling date, pasture metabolisable energy, and energy requirement. For all foaling dates modelled, the mare was in energy surplus during pregnancy. Onset of lactation created a rapid and significant decrease in mare energy balance. Delay in foaling increased the magnitude of the post-partum energy deficit, and later foaling mares experienced a prolonged decrease in post-partum energy balance. The size of the deficit would, theoretically, decrease 1 body condition score, decrease circulating leptin concentration and initiate lean body mass mobilization which was previously found to negatively impact reproductive performance in the mares. The duration and size of the post-partum energy deficit could be reduced by shifting foaling date closer to the beginning of breeding season (1st September), thus synchronizing period of peak pasture energy with the mare’s theoretical requirements. Energy balance and energy intake were more sensitive to pasture energy, dry matter intake and energy requirement changes with less influence from bodyweight to energy balance, suggesting pasture quality and quantity is an important influencer on nutritional status of the mare kept on pasture. Initiatives should be taken to monitor pasture quality and growth pattern, and optimize energy and dry matter intake in mares at pasture. These efforts could assist in maximizing pasture utilization, minimize energy deficit and achieve cost effective pastoral and nutritional management. When more pasture quality and growth data becomes available for equine stud farms, the model has the potential to achieve farm specific application on a wide range of equine body weights

On Higher Derivative Couplings in Theories with Sixteen Supersymmetries

We give simple arguments for new non-renormalization theorems on higher derivative couplings of gauge theories to supergravity, with sixteen supersymmetries, by considerations of brane-bulk superamplitudes. This leads to some exact results on the effective coupling of D3-branes in type IIB string theory. We also derive exact results on higher dimensional operators in the torus compactification of the six dimensional (0, 2) superconformal theory.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, section 2 reconstructured, new result in section 3.2, additional clarifications adde