1,118 research outputs found
Convergence of random zeros on complex manifolds
We show that the zeros of random sequences of Gaussian systems of polynomials
of increasing degree almost surely converge to the expected limit distribution
under very general hypotheses. In particular, the normalized distribution of
zeros of systems of m polynomials of degree N, orthonormalized on a regular
compact subset K of C^m, almost surely converge to the equilibrium measure on K
as the degree N goes to infinity.Comment: 16 page
Smoking patterns and stimulus control in intermittent and daily smokers
Intermittent smokers (ITS) - who smoke less than daily - comprise an increasing proportion of adult smokers. Their smoking patterns challenge theoretical models of smoking motivation, which emphasize regular and frequent smoking to maintain nicotine levels and avoid withdrawal, but yet have gone largely unexamined. We characterized smoking patterns among 212 ITS (smoking 4-27 days per month) compared to 194 daily smokers (DS; smoking 5-30 cigarettes daily) who monitored situational antecedents of smoking using ecological momentary assessment. Subjects recorded each cigarette on an electronic diary, and situational variables were assessed in a random subset (n = 21,539 smoking episodes); parallel assessments were obtained by beeping subjects at random when they were not smoking (n = 26,930 non-smoking occasions). Compared to DS, ITS' smoking was more strongly associated with being away from home, being in a bar, drinking alcohol, socializing, being with friends and acquaintances, and when others were smoking. Mood had only modest effects in either group. DS' and ITS' smoking were substantially and equally suppressed by smoking restrictions, although ITS more often cited self-imposed restrictions. ITS' smoking was consistently more associated with environmental cues and contexts, especially those associated with positive or "indulgent" smoking situations. Stimulus control may be an important influence in maintaining smoking and making quitting difficult among ITS. © 2014 Shiffman et al
Semiclassical almost isometry
Let M be a complex projective manifold, and L an Hermitian ample line bundle
on it. A fundamental theorem of Gang Tian, reproved and strengthened by
Zelditch, implies that the Khaeler form of L can be recovered from the
asymptotics of the projective embeddings associated to large tensor powers of
L. More precisely, with the natural choice of metrics the projective embeddings
associated to the full linear series |kL| are asymptotically symplectic, in the
appropriate rescaled sense. In this article, we ask whether and how this result
extends to the semiclassical setting. Specifically, we relate the Weinstein
symplectic structure on a given isodrastic leaf of half-weighted
Bohr-Sommerfeld Lagrangian submanifolds of M to the asymptotics of the the
pull-back of the Fubini-Study form under the semiclassical projective maps
constructed by Borthwick, Paul and Uribe.Comment: exposition improve
Analysis of 17,576 Potentially Functional SNPs in Three Case–Control Studies of Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common complex disease with a genetic component. While several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to be associated with risk of MI, they do not fully explain the observed genetic component of MI. We have been investigating the association between MI and SNPs that are located in genes and have the potential to affect gene function or expression. We have previously published studies that tested about 12,000 SNPs for association with risk of MI, early-onset MI, or coronary stenosis. In the current study we tested 17,576 SNPs that could affect gene function or expression. In order to use genotyping resources efficiently, we staged the testing of these SNPs in three case–control studies of MI. In the first study (762 cases, 857 controls) we tested 17,576 SNPs and found 1,949 SNPs that were associated with MI (P<0.05). We tested these 1,949 SNPs in a second study (579 cases and 1159 controls) and found that 24 SNPs were associated with MI (1-sided P<0.05) and had the same risk alleles in the first and second study. Finally, we tested these 24 SNPs in a third study (475 cases and 619 controls) and found that 5 SNPs in 4 genes (ENO1, FXN (2 SNPs), HLA-DPB2, and LPA) were associated with MI in the third study (1-sided P<0.05), and had the same risk alleles in all three studies. The false discovery rate for this group of 5 SNPs was 0.23. Thus, we have identified 5 SNPs that merit further examination for their potential association with MI. One of these SNPs (in LPA), has been previously shown to be associated with risk of cardiovascular disease in other studies
Liver and Intestine Transplantation in the United States, 1995–2004
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74804/1/j.1600-6143.2006.01273.x.pd
Is a combination of varenicline and nicotine patch more effective in helping smokers quit than varenicline alone? A randomised controlled trial
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Rapid reduction versus abrupt quitting for smokers who want to stop soon: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial
Background: The standard way to stop smoking is to stop abruptly on a quit day with no prior reduction in consumption of cigarettes. Many smokers feel that reduction is natural and if reduction programmes were offered, many more might take up treatment. Few trials of reduction versus abrupt cessation have been completed. Most are small, do not use pharmacotherapy, and do not meet the standards necessary to obtain a marketing authorisation for a pharmacotherapy.\ud
Design/Methods: We will conduct a non-inferiority andomised trial of rapid reduction versus standard abrupt cessation among smokers who want to stop smoking. In the reduction arm,participants will be advised to reduce smoking consumption by half in the first week and to 25% of baseline in the second, leading up to a quit day at which participants will stop smoking completely.This will be assisted by nicotine patches and an acute form of nicotine replacement therapy. In the abrupt arm participants will use nicotine patches only, whilst smoking as normal, for two weeks prior to a quit day, at which they will also stop smoking completely. Smokers in either arm will have standard withdrawal orientated behavioural support programme with a combination of nicotine patches and acute nicotine replacement therapy post-cessation.\ud
Outcomes/Follow-up: The primary outcome of interest will be prolonged abstinence from smoking, with secondary trial outcomes of point prevalence, urges to smoke and withdrawal\ud
symptoms. Follow up will take place at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 6 months post-quit day
Simple matrix models for random Bergman metrics
Recently, the authors have proposed a new approach to the theory of random
metrics, making an explicit link between probability measures on the space of
metrics on a Kahler manifold and random matrix models. We consider simple
examples of such models and compute the one and two-point functions of the
metric. These geometric correlation functions correspond to new interesting
types of matrix model correlators. We study a large class of examples and
provide in particular a detailed study of the Wishart model.Comment: 23 pages, IOP Latex style, diastatic function Eq. (22) and contact
terms in Eqs. (76, 95) corrected, typos fixed. Accepted to JSTA
Addiction to the nicotine gum in never smokers
Abstract Background Addiction to nicotine gum has never been described in never smokers or in never users of tobacco. Methods Internet questionnaire in 2004–2006 in a self-selected sample of 434 daily users of nicotine gum. To assess dependence on nicotine gum, we used modified versions of the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS), the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and the Cigarette Dependence Scale. Results Five never smokers used the nicotine gum daily. They had been using the nicotine gum for longer than the 429 ever smokers (median = 6 years vs 0.8 years, p = 0.004), and they had higher NDSS-gum Tolerance scores (median = 0.73 vs = -1.0, p = 0.03), a difference of 1.5 standard deviation units. Two never smokers had never used smokeless tobacco, both answered "extremely true" to: "I use nicotine gums because I am addicted to them", both "fully agreed" with: "after a few hours without chewing a nicotine gum, I feel an irresistible urge to chew one" and: "I am a prisoner of nicotine gum". Conclusion This is to our knowledge the first report of addiction to nicotine gum in never users of tobacco. However, this phenomenon is rare, and although the long-term effect of nicotine gum is unknown, this product is significantly less harmful than tobacco.</p
No evidence for cardiac dysfunction in Kif6 mutant mice.
A KIF6 variant in man has been reported to be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction.
No clear biological or physiological data exist for Kif6. We sought to investigate the impact of a deleterious KIF6 mutation on
cardiac function in mice. Kif6 mutant mice were generated and verified. Cardiac function was assessed by serial
echocardiography at baseline, after ageing and after exercise. Lipid levels were also measured. No discernable adverse lipid
or cardiac phenotype was detected in Kif6 mutant mice. These data suggest that dysfunction of Kif6 is linked to other more
complex biological/biochemical parameters or is unlikely to be of material consequence in cardiac function
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