5,200 research outputs found
Schemata as Building Blocks: Does Size Matter?
We analyze the schema theorem and the building block hypothesis using a
recently derived, exact schemata evolution equation. We derive a new schema
theorem based on the concept of effective fitness showing that schemata of
higher than average effective fitness receive an exponentially increasing
number of trials over time. The building block hypothesis is a natural
consequence in that the equation shows how fit schemata are constructed from
fit sub-schemata. However, we show that generically there is no preference for
short, low-order schemata. In the case where schema reconstruction is favoured
over schema destruction large schemata tend to be favoured. As a corollary of
the evolution equation we prove Geiringer's theorem. We give supporting
numerical evidence for our claims in both non-epsitatic and epistatic
landscapes.Comment: 17 pages, 10 postscript figure
Dynamics and instability of false vacuum bubbles
This paper examines the classical dynamics of false vacuum regions embedded
in surrounding regions of true vacuum, in the thin-wall limit. The dynamics of
all generally relativistically allowed solutions -- most but not all of which
have been previously studied -- are derived, enumerated, and interpreted. We
comment on the relation of these solutions to possible mechanisms whereby
inflating regions may be spawned from non-inflating ones. We then calculate the
dynamics of first order deviations from spherical symmetry, finding that many
solutions are unstable to such aspherical perturbations. The parameter space in
which the perturbations on bound solutions inevitably become nonlinear is
mapped. This instability has consequences for the Farhi-Guth-Guven mechanism
for baby universe production via quantum tunneling.Comment: 16 PRD-style pages including 11 embedded figures; accepted by PRD.
Revised version includes new solution, discussion of 'thermal activation',
added reference, fixed typo
Testing Asteroseismic Radii of Dwarfs and Subgiants with Kepler and Gaia
We test asteroseismic radii of Kepler main-sequence and subgiant stars by
deriving their parallaxes which are compared with those of the first Gaia data
release. We compute radii based on the asteroseismic scaling relations as well
as by fitting observed oscillation frequencies to stellar models for a subset
of the sample, and test the impact of using effective temperatures from either
spectroscopy or the infrared flux method. An offset of 3%, showing no
dependency on any stellar parameters, is found between seismic parallaxes
derived from frequency modelling and those from Gaia. For parallaxes based on
radii from the scaling relations, a smaller offset is found on average;
however, the offset becomes temperature dependent which we interpret as
problems with the scaling relations at high stellar temperatures. Using the
hotter infrared flux method temperature scale, there is no indication that
radii from the scaling relations are inaccurate by more than about 5%. Taking
the radii and masses from the modelling of individual frequencies as reference
values, we seek to correct the scaling relations for the observed temperature
trend. This analysis indicates that the scaling relations systematically
overestimate radii and masses at high temperatures, and that they are accurate
to within 5% in radius and 13% in mass for main-sequence stars with
temperatures below 6400 K. However, further analysis is required to test the
validity of the corrections on a star-by-star basis and for more evolved stars.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Pulsation Period Changes as a Tool to Identify Pre-Zero Age Horizontal Branch Stars
One of the most dramatic events in the life of a low-mass star is the He
flash, which takes place at the tip of the red giant branch (RGB) and is
followed by a series of secondary flashes before the star settles into the
zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB). Yet, no stars have been positively
identified in this key evolutionary phase, mainly for two reasons: first, this
pre-ZAHB phase is very short compared to other major evolutionary phases in the
life of a star; and second, these pre-ZAHB stars are expected to overlap the
loci occupied by asymptotic giant branch (AGB), HB and RGB stars observed in
the color-magnitude diagram (CMD). We investigate the possibility of detecting
these stars through stellar pulsations, since some of them are expected to
rapidly cross the Cepheid/RR Lyrae instability strip in their route from the
RGB tip to the ZAHB, thus becoming pulsating stars along the way. As a
consequence of their very high evolutionary speed, some of these stars may
present anomalously large period change rates. We constructed an extensive grid
of stellar models and produced pre-ZAHB Monte Carlo simulations appropriate for
the case of the Galactic globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272), where a number of RR
Lyrae stars with high period change rates are found. Our results suggest that
some -- but certainly not all -- of the RR Lyrae stars in M3 with large period
change rates are in fact pre-ZAHB pulsators.Comment: Conference Proceedings HELAS Workshop on 'Synergies between solar and
stellar modelling', Rome, June 2009, Astrophys. Space Sci., in the pres
Dynamical complexity of discrete time regulatory networks
Genetic regulatory networks are usually modeled by systems of coupled
differential equations and by finite state models, better known as logical
networks, are also used. In this paper we consider a class of models of
regulatory networks which present both discrete and continuous aspects. Our
models consist of a network of units, whose states are quantified by a
continuous real variable. The state of each unit in the network evolves
according to a contractive transformation chosen from a finite collection of
possible transformations, according to a rule which depends on the state of the
neighboring units. As a first approximation to the complete description of the
dynamics of this networks we focus on a global characteristic, the dynamical
complexity, related to the proliferation of distinguishable temporal behaviors.
In this work we give explicit conditions under which explicit relations between
the topological structure of the regulatory network, and the growth rate of the
dynamical complexity can be established. We illustrate our results by means of
some biologically motivated examples.Comment: 28 pages, 4 figure
Uso de Análisis Factorial Dinámico para Proyecciones Macroeconómicas
In this paper we use the dynamic factor analysis methodology developed by Stock and Watson (1998) in order to forecast inflation and an index of economic activity for the Chilean economy. Our results indicate that using factors in the process of forecasting of these macroeconomic variables improve significantly out of sample forecasts. Additionally, we find that factor augmented Phillips curve forecasts perform better than conventional Phillips curve forecasts based only on output gap measures.
Use of Dynamic Factor Analysis in Macroeconomic Forecasts
This paper uses the dynamic factor analysis methodology developed by Stock and Watson (1998) in order to forecast inflation and the Imacec, an index of economic activity of common use for the Chilean economy. Our results indicate that using factors in the process of forecasting these macroeconomic variables improves significantly out of sample projections. Additionally, we find that factor augmented Phillips curve forecasts perform better than conventional Phillips curve forecasts based only on output gap measures.
LIN-42, the Caenorhabditis elegans PERIOD homolog, Negatively Regulates MicroRNA Transcription
During C. elegans development, microRNAs (miRNAs) function as molecular switches that define temporal gene expression and cell lineage patterns in a dosage-dependent manner. It is critical, therefore, that the expression of miRNAs be tightly regulated so that target mRNA expression is properly controlled. The molecular mechanisms that function to optimize or control miRNA levels during development are unknown. Here we find that mutations in lin-42, the C. elegans homolog of the circadian-related period gene, suppress multiple dosage-dependent miRNA phenotypes including those involved in developmental timing and neuronal cell fate determination. Analysis of mature miRNA levels in lin-42 mutants indicates that lin-42 functions to attenuate miRNA expression. Through the analysis of transcriptional reporters, we show that the upstream cis-acting regulatory regions of several miRNA genes are sufficient to promote highly dynamic transcription that is coupled to the molting cycles of post-embryonic development. Immunoprecipitation of LIN-42 complexes indicates that LIN-42 binds the putative cis-regulatory regions of both non-coding and protein-coding genes and likely plays a role in regulating their transcription. Consistent with this hypothesis, analysis of miRNA transcriptional reporters in lin-42 mutants indicates that lin-42 regulates miRNA transcription. Surprisingly, strong loss-of-function mutations in lin-42 do not abolish the oscillatory expression patterns of lin-4 and let-7 transcription but lead to increased expression of these genes. We propose that lin-42 functions to negatively regulate the transcriptional output of multiple miRNAs and mRNAs and therefore coordinates the expression levels of genes that dictate temporal cell fate with other regulatory programs that promote rhythmic gene expression
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