Shimura curve computations via K3 surfaces of Neron-Severi rank at least 19

It is known that K3 surfaces S whose Picard number rho (= rank of the Neron-Severi group of S) is at least 19 are parametrized by modular curves X, and these modular curves X include various Shimura modular curves associated with congruence subgroups of quaternion algebras over Q. In a family of such K3 surfaces, a surface has rho=20 if and only if it corresponds to a CM point on X. We use this to compute equations for Shimura curves, natural maps between them, and CM coordinates well beyond what could be done by working with the curves directly as we did in ``Shimura Curve Computations'' (1998) = Comment: 16 pages (1 figure drawn with the LaTeX picture environment); To appear in the proceedings of ANTS-VIII, Banff, May 200

Color Transparency Effects in Electron Deuteron Interactions at Intermediate Q^2

High momentum transfer electrodisintegration of polarized and unpolarized deuterium targets, $d(e,e'p)n$ is studied. We show that the importance of final state interactions-FSI, occuring when a knocked out nucleon interacts with the other nucleon, depends strongly on the momentum of the spectator nucleon. In particular, these FSI occur when the essential contributions to the scattering amplitude arise from internucleon distances $\sim 1.5~fm$. But the absorption of the high momentum $\gamma^*$ may produce a point like configuration, which evolves with time. In this case, the final state interactions probe the point like configuration at the early stage of its evolution. The result is that significant color transparency effects, which can either enhance or suppress computed cross sections, are predicted to occur for $\sim 4 GeV^2 \ge Q^2\leq~10~(GeV/c)^2$.Comment: 37 pages LaTex, 12 uuencoded PostScript Figures as separate file, to be published in Z.Phys.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses improve resolution of genes and pathways influencing lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk.

Lung-function impairment underlies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predicts mortality. In the largest multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of lung function to date, comprising 580,869 participants, we identified 1,020 independent association signals implicating 559 genes supported by ≥2 criteria from a systematic variant-to-gene mapping framework. These genes were enriched in 29 pathways. Individual variants showed heterogeneity across ancestries, age and smoking groups, and collectively as a genetic risk score showed strong association with COPD across ancestry groups. We undertook phenome-wide association studies for selected associated variants as well as trait and pathway-specific genetic risk scores to infer possible consequences of intervening in pathways underlying lung function. We highlight new putative causal variants, genes, proteins and pathways, including those targeted by existing drugs. These findings bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying lung function and COPD, and should inform functional genomics experiments and potentially future COPD therapies

Understanding TwitterTM use among Parliament representatives: A genre analysis

This article examines parliament representatives’ Twitter- contributions (tweets). First, the genre of communication approach is introduced to identify common characteristics and communication patterns. Second, the findings are analysed using various eDemocracy models and deliberative standards to identify to what extent these tweets could be characterized as part of a deliberative discussion. The tweets are mainly dominated by five communication purposes; providing links to information sources for other Twitter users, to inform about the representative’s ongoing activities, to express views on topical issues, introducing non-political (private) content and participating in online discussions with other parliament representatives. Other less frequent communication patterns include tweets attracting attention to the representative’s own blogs, requests for input from readers and finally discussions with citizens. The analysed tweets generally did not meet deliberative standards and are dominated by politicians disseminating information and discussing with other parliament representatives. We conclude by arguing that the parliament representatives’ Twitter use is linked to the Liberal Democracy model, where the main purpose is to disseminate information to electors, and provide information on ongoing activities to the audience

Measurements of vector and tensor analysing powers for 191 and 395 MeV deuteron scattering

Abstract Thanks to an experimentation, this research studies the effects of two broadcast sponsorships on implicit attitude toward a new brand. This brand sponsors two quasi-identical broadcasts differentiated only by their emotional content. To be ecologically valid, the experiment records the attitudinal effects one week later when the subjects don't remember the exposition phase any more and cannot explicitly recognize the brand. The attitude is then implicit. The impact of humorous broadcast sponsorship (with two exposures) on implicit attitude toward the brand is manifest and positive. The sad broadcast has no implicit effects: this type of TV sponsorship has been inefficient. The results are explained with the familiarity-misattribution model. At least, practical suggestions are proposed