Local Adaptive Grouped Regularization and its Oracle Properties for Varying Coefficient Regression

Varying coefficient regression is a flexible technique for modeling data where the coefficients are functions of some effect-modifying parameter, often time or location in a certain domain. While there are a number of methods for variable selection in a varying coefficient regression model, the existing methods are mostly for global selection, which includes or excludes each covariate over the entire domain. Presented here is a new local adaptive grouped regularization (LAGR) method for local variable selection in spatially varying coefficient linear and generalized linear regression. LAGR selects the covariates that are associated with the response at any point in space, and simultaneously estimates the coefficients of those covariates by tailoring the adaptive group Lasso toward a local regression model with locally linear coefficient estimates. Oracle properties of the proposed method are established under local linear regression and local generalized linear regression. The finite sample properties of LAGR are assessed in a simulation study and for illustration, the Boston housing price data set is analyzed.Comment: 30 pages, one technical appendix, two figure

Notes on the Jacobi equation

We discuss some properties of Jacobi fields that do not involve assumptions on the curvature endomorphism. We compare indices of different spaces of Jacobi fields and give some applications to Riemannian geometry.Comment: 10 Pages, typos corrected, references adde

<i>C-elegans</i> model identifies genetic modifiers of alpha-synuclein inclusion formation during aging

Inclusions in the brain containing alpha-synuclein are the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease, but how these inclusions are formed and how this links to disease is poorly understood. We have developed a &lt;i&gt;C-elegans&lt;/i&gt; model that makes it possible to monitor, in living animals, the formation of alpha-synuclein inclusions. In worms of old age, inclusions contain aggregated alpha-synuclein, resembling a critical pathological feature. We used genome-wide RNA interference to identify processes involved in inclusion formation, and identified 80 genes that, when knocked down, resulted in a premature increase in the number of inclusions. Quality control and vesicle-trafficking genes expressed in the ER/Golgi complex and vesicular compartments were overrepresented, indicating a specific role for these processes in alpha-synuclein inclusion formation. Suppressors include aging-associated genes, such as sir-2.1/SIRT1 and lagr-1/LASS2. Altogether, our data suggest a link between alpha-synuclein inclusion formation and cellular aging, likely through an endomembrane-related mechanism. The processes and genes identified here present a framework for further study of the disease mechanism and provide candidate susceptibility genes and drug targets for Parkinson's disease and other alpha-synuclein related disorders

TURB-Lagr. A database of 3d Lagrangian trajectories in homogeneous and isotropic turbulence

We present TURB-Lagr, a new open database of 3d turbulent Lagrangian trajectories, obtained by Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of the original Navier-Stokes equations in the presence of a homogeneous and isotropic forcing. The aim is to provide the community interested in data-assimilation and/or Lagrangian-properties of turbulence a new testing-ground made of roughly 300K different Lagrangian trajectories. TURB-Lagr data are influenced by the strong non-Gaussian fluctuations characteristic of turbulence and by the rough and non differentiable fields. In addition, coming from fully resolved numerical simulations of the original partial differential equations, they offer the possibility to apply a wide range of approaches, from equation-free to physics-based models. TURB-Lagr data are reachable at http://smart-turb.roma2.infn.i

Effects of a Low Allergenic Soybean Variety on Gut Permeability, Digestibility and Growth Performance in Pigs

Soybeans are the ‘gold standard’ protein source in pig diets, with lower inclusion levels in weaned pig diets due to transient inflammatory and hypersensitivity responses. This study evaluated a low allergenic (LA) soybean seed containing low Trypsin inhibitors, lectins, and P34 protein. The objective was to determine the impact of weaned pig diets containing LA soybean in both meal (LASBM) and full fat ground (LAGR) forms on the intestinal permeability and gut microbial composition, digestibility of protein and amino acids, and growth performance, in comparison to conventional (CON) soybeans and animal proteins (ANIM). In study 1, 60 weaned barrows (20.9 ± 1.0 d of age, 6.65 ± 0.3 kg, n=12/diet) were randomly assigned to one of five experimental diets containing one of 5 test proteins (CONSBM, CONGR, LASBM, LAGR and ANIM). Gut permeability measurements (Ussing Chambers and lactulose:mannitol ratio) were collected over 4d (1 pig/diet/d), beginning at d 11. No differences were detected in ileal or jejunal permeability among dietary treatments. Pigs fed ANIM had highest (P \u3c 0.05) urine lactulose:mannitol ratio. Daily gain and feed disappearance were greatest (P \u3c 0.05) for pigs fed ANIM-based diets. There were no differences in taxonomy or relative abundance of operational taxonomic unit’s (OTU’s) in digesta microbial content. In Exp. 1 of study 2, 10 ileal-cannulated barrows (17.63 ± 1.18 kg BW) were used in a cross-over design and randomly assigned to one of five experimental diets (FM, CONSBM1, LASBM, LAGR and nitrogen-free), where the test ingredients were included as the sole protein source, to determine standardized ileal digestibility. Each pig received 3 of the 5 diets (1 diet/collection period; n = 6 per diet). In Exp. 2, the methods used in Exp. 1 were replicated, except 5 barrows and 5 gilts were used (19.40 ± 1.65 kg). In Exp. 1, SID of CP and AA was greater (P \u3c 0.05) in FM than soy products. There were minor differences in digestibility between soy products where SID of LYS, MET, and HIS were greater (P \u3c 0.05) in LASBM than CONSBM1. In Exp. 2, SID of CP and AA was similar between FM and CONSBM2 and lower (P \u3c 0.05) in LASBM and LAGR than FM and CONSBM2. Overall SID tended (P \u3c 0.10) to be lower in gilts than barrows. Growth performance was determined in 112 weaned pigs (7.30 ± 0.43 kg BW; 2 barrows and 2 gilts per pen; study 3) assigned to one of four dietary treatments in 2 phases (Ph1 = 5d, Ph2 = 13d). The control diet contained FM (7.25%, Ph1; 6%, Ph2); LASBM, LAGR and VOLGA-SBM replaced FM to supply equivalent dietary crude protein. Pigs received a common Ph3 diet (18d). Overall daily gain was greater (P \u3c 0.01) in LAGR-fed pigs compared to LASBM, but not different from FM- or SBM-fed pigs; daily gain tended to be greater (P \u3c 0.10) in SBM- than FM-fed pigs. Overall daily intake tended to be greater (P \u3c 0.10) in SBM-fed pigs compared to FM and LASBM but was not different from LAGR. There was a tendency for greater (P \u3c 0.10) overall G:F in LAGR- versus LASBM-fed pigs. Low allergenic soybean products may be considered a replacement for CON soybean products in weaned pig diets due to their similarity in gut permeability, digesta microbial content and similar growth performance. LAGR does not impact pig performance and could serve as a suitable replacement to FM in weaned pig diets

The decline of Spain (1500–1850): conjectural estimates

This article attempts to quantify the decline of Spain over the period 1500–1850. In contrast to earlier estimates that focus almost exclusively on Castilian agriculture, we look at trends in urbanisation and construct new measures of agricultural and aggregate output at both regional and national levels. A distinctive long-run behaviour is found across Spanish regions that rejects the identification between Castile and Spain. Per capita income grew in the sixteenth and early nineteenth centuries, while contraction and stagnation occurred in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the long run, output per head did not improve until the early nineteenth century. At the time of its imperial expansion Spain was a relatively affluent nation and, by 1590, was only behind the Low Countries and Italy in terms of per capita income. Spain's decline has its roots in the seventeenth century while its backwardness deepened in the first half of the nineteenth century.Publicad