473 research outputs found
Eigensystem and Full Character Formula of the W_{1+infinity} Algebra with c=1
By using the free field realizations, we analyze the representation theory of
the W_{1+infinity} algebra with c=1. The eigenvectors for the Cartan subalgebra
of W_{1+infinity} are parametrized by the Young diagrams, and explicitly
written down by W_{1+infinity} generators. Moreover, their eigenvalues and full
character formula are also obtained.Comment: 12 pages, YITP/K-1049, SULDP-1993-1, RIMS-959, Plain TEX, ( New
references
Toda Lattice Hierarchy and Generalized String Equations
String equations of the -th generalized Kontsevich model and the
compactified string theory are re-examined in the language of the Toda
lattice hierarchy. As opposed to a hypothesis postulated in the literature, the
generalized Kontsevich model at does not coincide with the
string theory at self-dual radius. A broader family of solutions of the Toda
lattice hierarchy including these models are constructed, and shown to satisfy
generalized string equations. The status of a variety of string
models is discussed in this new framework.Comment: 35pages, LaTeX Errors are corrected in Eqs. (2.21), (2.36), (2.33),
(3.3), (5.10), (6.1), sentences after (3.19) and theorem 5. A few references
are update
Pair Interaction Potentials of Colloids by Extrapolation of Confocal Microscopy Measurements of Collective Structure
A method for measuring the pair interaction potential between colloidal
particles by extrapolation measurement of collective structure to infinite
dilution is presented and explored using simulation and experiment. The method
is particularly well suited to systems in which the colloid is fluorescent and
refractive index matched with the solvent. The method involves characterizing
the potential of mean force between colloidal particles in suspension by
measurement of the radial distribution function using 3D direct visualization.
The potentials of mean force are extrapolated to infinite dilution to yield an
estimate of the pair interaction potential, . We use Monte Carlo (MC)
simulation to test and establish our methodology as well as to explore the
effects of polydispersity on the accuracy. We use poly-12-hydroxystearic
acid-stabilized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PHSA-PMMA) particles dispersed in
the solvent dioctyl phthalate (DOP) to test the method and assess its accuracy
for three different repulsive systems for which the range has been manipulated
by addition of electrolyte.Comment: 35 pages, 14 figure
Benevolent characteristics promote cooperative behaviour among humans
Cooperation is fundamental to the evolution of human society. We regularly
observe cooperative behaviour in everyday life and in controlled experiments
with anonymous people, even though standard economic models predict that they
should deviate from the collective interest and act so as to maximise their own
individual payoff. However, there is typically heterogeneity across subjects:
some may cooperate, while others may not. Since individual factors promoting
cooperation could be used by institutions to indirectly prime cooperation, this
heterogeneity raises the important question of who these cooperators are. We
have conducted a series of experiments to study whether benevolence, defined as
a unilateral act of paying a cost to increase the welfare of someone else
beyond one's own, is related to cooperation in a subsequent one-shot anonymous
Prisoner's dilemma. Contrary to the predictions of the widely used inequity
aversion models, we find that benevolence does exist and a large majority of
people behave this way. We also find benevolence to be correlated with
cooperative behaviour. Finally, we show a causal link between benevolence and
cooperation: priming people to think positively about benevolent behaviour
makes them significantly more cooperative than priming them to think
malevolently. Thus benevolent people exist and cooperate more
Bayesian Hierarchical Models Combining Different Study Types and Adjusting for Covariate Imbalances: A Simulation Study to Assess Model Performance
BACKGROUND: Bayesian hierarchical models have been proposed to combine evidence from different types of study designs. However, when combining evidence from randomised and non-randomised controlled studies, imbalances in patient characteristics between study arms may bias the results. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of a proposed Bayesian approach to adjust for imbalances in patient level covariates when combining evidence from both types of study designs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Simulation techniques, in which the truth is known, were used to generate sets of data for randomised and non-randomised studies. Covariate imbalances between study arms were introduced in the non-randomised studies. The performance of the Bayesian hierarchical model adjusted for imbalances was assessed in terms of bias. The data were also modelled using three other Bayesian approaches for synthesising evidence from randomised and non-randomised studies. The simulations considered six scenarios aimed at assessing the sensitivity of the results to changes in the impact of the imbalances and the relative number and size of studies of each type. For all six scenarios considered, the Bayesian hierarchical model adjusted for differences within studies gave results that were unbiased and closest to the true value compared to the other models. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Where informed health care decision making requires the synthesis of evidence from randomised and non-randomised study designs, the proposed hierarchical Bayesian method adjusted for differences in patient characteristics between study arms may facilitate the optimal use of all available evidence leading to unbiased results compared to unadjusted analyses
The importance of adjusting for potential confounders in Bayesian hierarchical models synthesising evidence from randomised and non-randomised studies: an application comparing treatments for abdominal aortic aneurysms
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Informing health care decision making may necessitate the synthesis of evidence from different study designs (e.g., randomised controlled trials, non-randomised/observational studies). Methods for synthesising different types of studies have been proposed, but their routine use requires development of approaches to adjust for potential biases, especially among non-randomised studies. The objective of this study was to extend a published Bayesian hierarchical model to adjust for bias due to confounding in synthesising evidence from studies with different designs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this new methodological approach, study estimates were adjusted for potential confounders using differences in patient characteristics (e.g., age) between study arms. The new model was applied to synthesise evidence from randomised and non-randomised studies from a published review comparing treatments for abdominal aortic aneurysms. We compared the results of the Bayesian hierarchical model adjusted for differences in study arms with: 1) unadjusted results, 2) results adjusted using aggregate study values and 3) two methods for downweighting the potentially biased non-randomised studies. Sensitivity of the results to alternative prior distributions and the inclusion of additional covariates were also assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the base case analysis, the estimated odds ratio was 0.32 (0.13,0.76) for the randomised studies alone and 0.57 (0.41,0.82) for the non-randomised studies alone. The unadjusted result for the two types combined was 0.49 (0.21,0.98). Adjusted for differences between study arms, the estimated odds ratio was 0.37 (0.17,0.77), representing a shift towards the estimate for the randomised studies alone. Adjustment for aggregate values resulted in an estimate of 0.60 (0.28,1.20). The two methods used for downweighting gave odd ratios of 0.43 (0.18,0.89) and 0.35 (0.16,0.76), respectively. Point estimates were robust but credible intervals were wider when using vaguer priors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Covariate adjustment using aggregate study values does not account for covariate imbalances between treatment arms and downweighting may not eliminate bias. Adjustment using differences in patient characteristics between arms provides a systematic way of adjusting for bias due to confounding. Within the context of a Bayesian hierarchical model, such an approach could facilitate the use of all available evidence to inform health policy decisions.</p
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