Experimental constraints on the parameter space of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model at LEP 2

We search for the neutral Higgs sector of the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model at LEP 2. At the tree level any experimental constraints on $\tan \beta$ cannot be set by the Higgs search at LEP 2 with $\sqrt{s}$ = 175 GeV, whereas at LEP 2 with $\sqrt{s}$ = 192 GeV $\tan \beta$ can be set by an experimental constraint. Furthermore the tree level parameter space of the model can be completely explored by the Higgs search at LEP 2 with $\sqrt{s}$ = 205 GeV. Radiative corrections both to the neutral Higgs boson masses and to the relevant couplings for the scalar Higgs productions give large contributions to the production cross sections of the scalar Higgs bosons at the tree level. The tree level situation at LEP 2 with $\sqrt{s}$ = 192 GeV as well as with $\sqrt{s}$ = 205 GeV can be drastically changed by these effects. We expect that a small region of the 1-loop level parameter space of the model via the scalar Higgs production can be explored by the Higgs search at LEP 2.Comment: 14 pages (3 figures are included

Mass Bounds for the Neutral Higgs Bosons in the Next-To-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

In the Next--To--Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM), the Higgs and neutralino/chargino sectors are strongly correlated by four common parameters at tree level. Therefore we analyze the experimental data from both the search for Higgs bosons as well as for neutralinos and charginos at LEP 100 in order to constrain the parameter space and the masses of the neutral Higgs particles in the NMSSM. We find that small singlet vacuum expectation values are ruled out, but a massless neutral Higgs scalar and pseudoscalar is not excluded for most of the parameter space of the NMSSM. Improved limits from the neutralino/chargino search at LEP 200, however, may lead to nonvanishing lower Higgs mass bounds.Comment: 9 pages, LATEX, 6 figures (not included). The complete paper (including figures) can be obtained via anonymous ftp at ftp://ftp.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de/pub/preprint/WUE-ITP-95-003.ps.g

A Test of the Adaptive Market Hypothesis using a Time-Varying AR Model in Japan

This study examines the adaptive market hypothesis (AMH) in Japanese stock markets (TOPIX and TSE2). In particular, we measure the degree of market efficiency by using a time-varying model approach. The empirical results show that (1) the degree of market efficiency changes over time in the two markets, (2) the level of market efficiency of the TSE2 is lower than that of the TOPIX in most periods, and (3) the market efficiency of the TOPIX has evolved, but that of the TSE2 has not. We conclude that the results support the AMH for the more qualified stock market in Japan.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure, 2 table

Changes in systolic blood pressure over time in healthy cats and cats with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a common problem in older cats, most often associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cross‐sectional studies have suggested that blood pressure in cats increases with age. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether blood pressure in cats increases with age and whether this occurs independently of the presence of CKD. To investigate risk factors for developing hypertension. ANIMALS/SUBJECTS: Two hundred and sixty‐five cats with CKD and 133 healthy cats ≥9 years were retrospectively identified. METHODS: Four groups were created according to status at initial evaluation (CKD or healthy) and blood pressure at the last included visit (normotensive [NT] or developed hypertension [DH]): Healthy‐NT, Healthy‐DH, CKD‐NT and CKD‐DH. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) over time slopes were compared with 0 and between groups. Risk factors for the development of hypertension were investigated, and associations of biochemical and clinical variables with SBP were examined. RESULTS: Cats that were hypertensive at CKD diagnosis (n = 105) were not included in further analyses. Twenty‐seven cats with CKD and 9 healthy cats developed hypertension ≥3 months after diagnosis of CKD or their first visit. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased with age in all cats (P < .001). Healthy cats were at less risk than cats with CKD to become hypertensive (hazard ratio 0.2, P < .001), with creatinine being an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The high prevalence of hypertension in azotemic cats in this study shows the importance of monitoring of SBP in elderly cats, and in particular in cats with CKD

Predicting early risk of chronic kidney disease in cats using routine clinical laboratory tests and machine learning.

BackgroundAdvanced machine learning methods combined with large sets of health screening data provide opportunities for diagnostic value in human and veterinary medicine.Hypothesis/objectivesTo derive a model to predict the risk of cats developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) using data from electronic health records (EHRs) collected during routine veterinary practice.AnimalsA total of 106 251 cats that attended Banfield Pet Hospitals between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2017.MethodsLongitudinal EHRs from Banfield Pet Hospitals were extracted and randomly split into 2 parts. The first 67% of the data were used to build a prediction model, which included feature selection and identification of the optimal neural network type and architecture. The remaining unseen EHRs were used to evaluate the model performance.ResultsThe final model was a recurrent neural network (RNN) with 4 features (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urine specific gravity, and age). When predicting CKD near the point of diagnosis, the model displayed a sensitivity of 90.7% and a specificity of 98.9%. Model sensitivity decreased when predicting the risk of CKD with a longer horizon, having 63.0% sensitivity 1 year before diagnosis and 44.2% 2 years before diagnosis, but with specificity remaining around 99%.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe use of models based on machine learning can support veterinary decision making by improving early identification of CKD

The Human Capital Agenda: Asset Holding and Educational Attainment Among African-American Youth

This study extends previous analyses in several ways. First, in addition to parental wealth, the relationship between children’s wealth and math and reading scores are examined. Second, we examine different mediating pathways that wealth may affect children’s math and reading scores in a single path analysis model. The advantage of path analysis over traditional regression analyses, which are typically used in this area, is that researchers can get a glimpse of relationships among variables. While the focus of regression analysis is on the associations of predictors with outcome variables, path analysis provides a larger picture of the overall structure of relationships among variables in predicting the outcome variable. Furthermore, mediation can be tested more easily and extensively in path analysis compared to regression. Third, we examine whether different forms of wealth (net worth, homeownership, and children’s savings for school) have different effects. Forth, we examine whether wealth (parental and/or children’s) effects vary across racial groups

Mirror duality and noncommutative tori

In this paper, we study a mirror duality on a generalized complex torus and a noncommutative complex torus. First, we derive a symplectic version of Riemann condition using mirror duality on ordinary complex tori. Based on this we will find a mirror correspondence on generalized complex tori and generalize the mirror duality on complex tori to the case of noncommutative complex tori.Comment: 22pages, no figure

The Age Old Question, Which Comes First? a Simultaneous Test of Children\u27s Savings and Children\u27s College-Bound Identity

The Age Old Question, Which Comes First? a Simultaneous Test of Children\u27s Savings and Children\u27s College-Bound Identit

Shortchanging America's Health: A State-by-State Look at How Federal Public Health Dollars Are Spent

Examines the allocation of federal health funds to emphasize that the U.S. is falling short on achieving federally established goals for reducing disease and improving health. Calls for a proactive approach, focusing on prevention of illness and injury