6,495 research outputs found
Accurate Liability Estimation Improves Power in Ascertained Case Control Studies
Linear mixed models (LMMs) have emerged as the method of choice for
confounded genome-wide association studies. However, the performance of LMMs in
non-randomly ascertained case-control studies deteriorates with increasing
sample size. We propose a framework called LEAP (Liability Estimator As a
Phenotype, https://github.com/omerwe/LEAP) that tests for association with
estimated latent values corresponding to severity of phenotype, and demonstrate
that this can lead to a substantial power increase
Nonperturbative aspects of ABJM theory
Using the matrix model which calculates the exact free energy of ABJM theory
on S^3 we study non-perturbative effects in the large N expansion of this
model, i.e., in the genus expansion of type IIA string theory on AdS4xCP^3. We
propose a general prescription to extract spacetime instanton actions from
general matrix models, in terms of period integrals of the spectral curve, and
we use it to determine them explicitly in the ABJM matrix model, as exact
functions of the 't Hooft coupling. We confirm numerically that these
instantons control the asymptotic growth of the genus expansion. Furthermore,
we find that the dominant instanton action at strong coupling determined in
this way exactly matches the action of an Euclidean D2-brane instanton wrapping
RP^3.Comment: 26 pages, 14 figures. v2: small corrections, final version published
in JHE
Isotropic Conductivity of Two-Dimensional Three-Component Symmetric Composites
The effective dc-conductivity problem of isotropic, two-dimensional (2D),
three-component, symmetric, regular composites is considered. A simple cubic
equation with one free parameter for
is suggested whose solutions automatically have all the exactly known
properties of that function. Numerical calculations on four different
symmetric, isotropic, 2D, three-component, regular structures show a
non-universal behavior of with an
essential dependence on micro-structural details, in contrast with the
analogous two-component problem. The applicability of the cubic equation to
these structures is discussed. An extension of that equation to the description
of other types of 2D three-component structures is suggested, including the
case of random structures.
Pacs: 72.15.Eb, 72.80.Tm, 61.50.AhComment: 8 pages (two columns), 8 figures. J. Phys. A - submitte
Stressor- and Corticotropin releasing Factor-induced Reinstatement and Active Stress-related Behavioral Responses are Augmented Following Long-access Cocaine Self-administration by Rats
Rationale Stressful events during periods of drug abstinence likely contribute to relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals. Excessive cocaine use may increase susceptibility to stressor-induced relapse through alterations in brain corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) responsiveness.
Objectives This study examined stressor- and CRF-induced cocaine seeking and other stress-related behaviors in rats with different histories of cocaine self-administration (SA).
Materials and methods Rats self-administered cocaine under short-access (ShA; 2 h daily) or long-access (LgA; 6 h daily) conditions for 14 days or were provided access to saline and were tested for reinstatement by a stressor (electric footshock), cocaine or an icv injection of CRF and for behavioral responsiveness on the elevated plus maze, in a novel environment and in the light–dark box after a 14- to 17-day extinction/withdrawal period.
Results LgA rats showed escalating patterns of cocaine SA and were more susceptible to reinstatement by cocaine, EFS, or icv CRF than ShA rats. Overall, cocaine SA increased activity in the center field of a novel environment, on the open arms of the elevated plus maze, and in the light compartment of a light–dark box. In most cases, the effects of cocaine SA were dependent on the pattern/amount of cocaine intake with statistically significant differences from saline self-administering controls only observed in LgA rats.
Conclusions When examined after several weeks of extinction/ withdrawal, cocaine SA promotes a more active pattern of behavior during times of stress that is associated with a heightened susceptibility to stressor-induced cocaine-seeking behavior and may be the consequence of augmented CRF regulation of addiction-related neurocircuitry
A ‘quiet revolution’? The impact of Training Schools on initial teacher training partnerships
This paper discusses the impact on initial teacher training of a new policy initiative in England: the introduction of Training Schools. First, the Training School project is set in context by exploring the evolution of a partnership approach to initial teacher training in England. Ways in which Training Schools represent a break with established practice are considered together with their implications for the dominant mode of partnership led by higher education institutions (HEIs). The capacity of Training Schools to achieve their own policy objectives is examined, especially their efficacy as a strategy for managing innovation and the dissemination of innovation. The paper
ends by focusing on a particular Training School project which has adopted an unusual approach to its work and enquires whether this alternative approach could offer a more profitable way forward. During the course of the paper, five different models of partnership are considered:
collaborative, complementary, HEI-led, school-led and partnership within a partnership
The astrometric Gaia-FUN-SSO observation campaign of 99 942 Apophis
Astrometric observations performed by the Gaia Follow-Up Network for Solar
System Objects (Gaia-FUN-SSO) play a key role in ensuring that moving objects
first detected by ESA's Gaia mission remain recoverable after their discovery.
An observation campaign on the potentially hazardous asteroid (99 942) Apophis
was conducted during the asteroid's latest period of visibility, from
12/21/2012 to 5/2/2013, to test the coordination and evaluate the overall
performance of the Gaia-FUN-SSO . The 2732 high quality astrometric
observations acquired during the Gaia-FUN-SSO campaign were reduced with the
Platform for Reduction of Astronomical Images Automatically (PRAIA), using the
USNO CCD Astrograph Catalogue 4 (UCAC4) as a reference. The astrometric
reduction process and the precision of the newly obtained measurements are
discussed. We compare the residuals of astrometric observations that we
obtained using this reduction process to data sets that were individually
reduced by observers and accepted by the Minor Planet Center. We obtained 2103
previously unpublished astrometric positions and provide these to the
scientific community. Using these data we show that our reduction of this
astrometric campaign with a reliable stellar catalog substantially improves the
quality of the astrometric results. We present evidence that the new data will
help to reduce the orbit uncertainty of Apophis during its close approach in
2029. We show that uncertainties due to geolocations of observing stations, as
well as rounding of astrometric data can introduce an unnecessary degradation
in the quality of the resulting astrometric positions. Finally, we discuss the
impact of our campaign reduction on the recovery process of newly discovered
asteroids.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Direct Integration and Non-Perturbative Effects in Matrix Models
We show how direct integration can be used to solve the closed amplitudes of
multi-cut matrix models with polynomial potentials. In the case of the cubic
matrix model, we give explicit expressions for the ring of non-holomorphic
modular objects that are needed to express all closed matrix model amplitudes.
This allows us to integrate the holomorphic anomaly equation up to holomorphic
modular terms that we fix by the gap condition up to genus four. There is an
one-dimensional submanifold of the moduli space in which the spectral curve
becomes the Seiberg--Witten curve and the ring reduces to the non-holomorphic
modular ring of the group . On that submanifold, the gap conditions
completely fix the holomorphic ambiguity and the model can be solved explicitly
to very high genus. We use these results to make precision tests of the
connection between the large order behavior of the 1/N expansion and
non-perturbative effects due to instantons. Finally, we argue that a full
understanding of the large genus asymptotics in the multi-cut case requires a
new class of non-perturbative sectors in the matrix model.Comment: 51 pages, 8 figure
Seed systems smallholder farmers use
Seed can be an important entry point for promoting productivity, nutrition and resilience among smallholder farmers. While investments have primarily focused on strengthening the formal sector, this article documents the degree to which the informal sector remains the core for seed acquisition, especially in Africa. Conclusions drawn from a uniquely comprehensive data set, 9660 observations across six countries and covering 40 crops, show that farmers access 90.2 % of their seed from informal systems with 50.9 % of that deriving from local markets. Further, 55 % of seed is paid for by cash, indicating that smallholders are already making important investments in this arena. Targeted interventions are proposed for rendering formal and informal seed sector more smallholder-responsive and for scaling up positive impacts
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