Investigating Finite Sample Properties of Estimators for Approximate Factor Models When N Is Small

This paper examines the finite sample properties of estimators for approximate factor models when N is small via simulation study. Although the "rule-of-thumb" for factor models does not support using approximate factor models when N is small, we find that the principal component analysis estimator and quasi-maximum likelihood estimator proposed by Doz et al. (2008) perform very well even in this case. Our findings provide an opportunity for applying approximate factor models to low-dimensional data, which was thought to have been inappropriate for a long time.Approximate factor model, Principal components, Quasi-maximum likelihood

Reducing the Size Distortion of the KPSS Test

This paper proposes a new stationarity test based on the KPSS test with less size distortion. We extend the boundary rule proposed by Sul, Phillips and Choi (2005) to the autoregressive spectral density estimator and parametrically estimate the long-run variance. We also derive the finite sample bias of the numerator of the test statistic up to the 1/T order and propose a correction to the bias term in the numerator. Finite sample simulations show that the correction term effectively reduces the bias in the numerator and that the finite sample size of our test is close to the nominal one as long as the long-run parameter in the model satisfies the boundary condition.Stationary test, size distortion, boundary rule, bias correction

Gravitational Waves from Phase Transitions in Scale Invariant Models

We investigate the properties of the gravitational waves (GWs) generated during a strongly first order electroweak phase transition (EWPT) in models with the classical scale invariance (CSI). Here, we distinguish two parameter space regions that correspond to the cases of (1) light dilaton and (2) purely radiative Higgs mass (PRHM). In the CSI models, the dilaton mass, or the Higgs mass in the PRHM case, in addition to some triple scalar couplings are fully triggered by the radiative corrections (RCs). In order to probe the RCs effects on the EWPT strength and on the GW spectrum, we extend the standard model by a real singlet to assist the electroweak symmetry breaking and an additional scalar field $Q$ with multiplicity $N_Q$ and mass $m_Q$. After imposing all theoretical and experimental constraints, we show that a strongly first order EWPT with detectable GW spectra can be realized for the two cases of light dilaton and PRHM. We also show the corresponding values of the relative enhancement of the cross section for the di-Higgs production process, which is related to the triple Higgs boson coupling. We obtain the region in which the GW spectrum can be observed by different future experiments such as LISA and DECIGO. We also show that the scenarios (1) and (2) can be discriminated by future GW observations and measurements of the di-Higgs productions at future colliders.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Isolation of a transcriptionally active element of high copy number retrotransposons in sweetpotato genome

Many plant retrotransposons have been characterized, but only three families (Tnt1, Tto1 and Tos17) have been demonstrated to be transpositionally competent. We followed a novel approach that enabled us to identify an active element of the Ty1-copia retrotransposon family with estimated 400 copies in the sweetpotato genome. DNA sequences of Ty1 -copia reverse transcriptase (RTase) from the sweetpotato genome were analyzed, and a group of retrotransposon copies probably formed by recent transposition events was further analyzed. 3’RACE on callus cDNA amplified transcripts containing long terminal repeats (LTR) of this group. The sequence -specific amplification polymorphism (S-SAP) patterns of the LTR sequence in the genomic DNA were compared between a normal plant and callus lines derived from it. A callus -specific S-SAP product was found into which the retrotransposon detected by the 3’RACE had been transposed apparently during cell culture. We conclude that our approach provides an effective way to identify active elements of retrotransposons with high copy numbers.</p

高等学校生物の新課程と授業の方向性 <第2部 教科研究>

高等学校生物は，2012年度から新課程が導入されている。そのため，様々な影響が学校に現れてきている。特に，新課程が導入されたことにより，生徒らに強い影響がある単元とその内容がどのように変容しているかを新編生物基礎と生物基礎の2種の教科書を比較することによって分析し，その分析内容をもって生徒に資するべく授業の方向性を探った。その結果，両教科書には細胞分野，免疫分野に発展的内容の重複があり，一方の教科書のみに記載されていることが多い用語は生態分野が多いことが分かった。また，用語や表現が変更されており，旧課程での指導法では，齟齬がでる恐れがある。当面は様子を見るため複数の教科書を比較しつつ，授業を進めていかなければならない