8,836 research outputs found
Bayesian nonparametric estimation and consistency of mixed multinomial logit choice models
This paper develops nonparametric estimation for discrete choice models based
on the mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) model. It has been shown that MMNL models
encompass all discrete choice models derived under the assumption of random
utility maximization, subject to the identification of an unknown distribution
. Noting the mixture model description of the MMNL, we employ a Bayesian
nonparametric approach, using nonparametric priors on the unknown mixing
distribution , to estimate choice probabilities. We provide an important
theoretical support for the use of the proposed methodology by investigating
consistency of the posterior distribution for a general nonparametric prior on
the mixing distribution. Consistency is defined according to an -type
distance on the space of choice probabilities and is achieved by extending to a
regression model framework a recent approach to strong consistency based on the
summability of square roots of prior probabilities. Moving to estimation,
slightly different techniques for non-panel and panel data models are
discussed. For practical implementation, we describe efficient and relatively
easy-to-use blocked Gibbs sampling procedures. These procedures are based on
approximations of the random probability measure by classes of finite
stick-breaking processes. A simulation study is also performed to investigate
the performance of the proposed methods.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.3150/09-BEJ233 the Bernoulli
(http://isi.cbs.nl/bernoulli/) by the International Statistical
Institute/Bernoulli Society (http://isi.cbs.nl/BS/bshome.htm
Bayesian Nonparametric Estimation and Consistency of Mixed Multinomial Logit Choice Models
This paper develops nonparametric estimation for discrete choice models based on the Mixed Multinomial Logit (MMNL) model. It has been shown that MMNL models encompass all discrete choice models derived under the assumption of random utility maximization, subject to the identification of an unknown distribution G. Noting the mixture model description of the MMNL, we employ a Bayesian nonparametric approach, using nonparametric priors on the unknown mixing distribution G, to estimate the unknown choice probabilities. Theoretical support for the use of the proposed methodology is provided by establishing strong consistency of a general nonparametric prior on G under simple sufficient conditions. Consistency is defined according to a L1-type distance on the space of choice probabilities and is achieved by extending to a regression model framework a recent approach to strong consistency based on the summability of square roots of prior probabilities. Moving to estimation, slightly different techniques for non-panel and panel data models are discussed. For practical implementation, we describe efficient and relatively easy to use blocked Gibbs sampling procedures. A simulation study is also performed to illustrate the proposed methods and the
exibility they achieve with respect to parametric Gaussian MMNL models.Bayesian consistency, Bayesian nonparametrics, Blocked Gibbs sampler, Discrete choice models, Mixed Multinomial Logit, Random probability measures, Stick-breaking priors
Ефективність симбіотичної азотфіксації в агроценозах України
Проведено порівняльну оцінку ефективності виробничих і перспективних штамів бульбочкових бактерій колекції Південної дослідної станції ІСГМ УААН у симбіозі з сучасними сортами бобових культур. Визначені високоефективні комбінації “сорти – штами”. Показано доцільність передпосівної інокуляції насіння бобових культур на фоні ґрунтової популяції ризобій.Проведена сравнительная оценка эффективности производственных и перспективных штаммов клубеньковых бактерий коллекции Южной опытной станции ИСХМ УААН в симбиозе с современными сортами бобовых культур. Определены высокоэффективные комбинации “сорта – штаммы”. Показана целесообразность предпосевной инокуляции семян бобовых культур на фоне почвенной популяции ризобий.The comparative estimation of rhisobia strains (from the collection of the Southern Experimental Station of Institute of Agricultural Microbiology UAAS) efficiency in symbiosis with modern legume cultivars was done. Highly effective complemented „cultivars – strains” combinations have been determined. It was shown the expediency of legume seeds pre-sowing treatment on background of soil rhisobia population
The Baryon Content of Cosmic Structures
We make an inventory of the baryonic and gravitating mass in structures
ranging from the smallest galaxies to rich clusters of galaxies. We find that
the fraction of baryons converted to stars reaches a maximum between M500 =
1E12 and 1E13 Msun, suggesting that star formation is most efficient in bright
galaxies in groups. The fraction of baryons detected in all forms deviates
monotonically from the cosmic baryon fraction as a function of mass. On the
largest scales of clusters, most of the expected baryons are detected, while in
the smallest dwarf galaxies, fewer than 1% are detected. Where these missing
baryons reside is unclear.Comment: ApJ Letters, in pres
Surface Phase Transitions Induced by Electron Mediated Adatom-Adatom Interaction
We propose that the indirect adatom-adatom interaction mediated by the
conduction electrons of a metallic surface is responsible for the
structural phase transitions
observed in Sn/Ge (111) and Pb/Ge (111). When the indirect interaction
overwhelms the local stress field imposed by the substrate registry, the system
suffers a phonon instability, resulting in a structural phase transition in the
adlayer. Our theory is capable of explaining all the salient features of the
transitions observed in
Sn/Ge (111) and Pb/Ge (111), and is in principle applicable to a wide class of
systems whose surfaces are metallic before the transition.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Angular momentum and an invariant quasilocal energy in general relativity
Owing to its transformation property under local boosts, the Brown-York
quasilocal energy surface density is the analogue of E in the special
relativity formula: E^2-p^2=m^2. In this paper I will motivate the general
relativistic version of this formula, and thereby arrive at a geometrically
natural definition of an `invariant quasilocal energy', or IQE. In analogy with
the invariant mass m, the IQE is invariant under local boosts of the set of
observers on a given two-surface S in spacetime. A reference energy subtraction
procedure is required, but in contrast to the Brown-York procedure, S is
isometrically embedded into a four-dimensional reference spacetime. This
virtually eliminates the embeddability problem inherent in the use of a
three-dimensional reference space, but introduces a new one: such embeddings
are not unique, leading to an ambiguity in the reference IQE. However, in this
codimension-two setting there are two curvatures associated with S: the
curvatures of its tangent and normal bundles. Taking advantage of this fact, I
will suggest a possible way to resolve the embedding ambiguity, which at the
same time will be seen to incorporate angular momentum into the energy at the
quasilocal level. I will analyze the IQE in the following cases: both the
spatial and future null infinity limits of a large sphere in asymptotically
flat spacetimes; a small sphere shrinking toward a point along either spatial
or null directions; and finally, in asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes.
The last case reveals a striking similarity between the reference IQE and a
certain counterterm energy recently proposed in the context of the conjectured
AdS/CFT correspondence.Comment: 54 pages LaTeX, no figures, includes brief summary of results,
submitted to Physical Review
Velocity-selective sublevel resonance of atoms with an array of current-carrying wires
Resonance transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of optically-polarized Rb
atoms traveling through a spatially periodic magnetic field are investigated in
a radio-frequency (rf) range of sub-MHz. The atomic motion induces the
resonance when the Zeeman splitting is equal to the frequency at which the
moving atoms feel the magnetic field oscillating. Additional temporal
oscillation of the spatially periodic field splits a motion-induced resonance
peak into two by an amount of this oscillation frequency. At higher oscillation
frequencies, it is more suitable to consider that the resonance is mainly
driven by the temporal field oscillation, with its velocity-dependence or
Doppler shift caused by the atomic motion through the periodic field. A
theoretical description of motion-induced resonance is also given, with
emphasis on the translational energy change associated with the internal
transition.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, final versio
V605 Aquilae: a born again star, a nova or both?
V605 Aquilae is today widely assumed to have been the result of a final
helium shell flash occurring on a single post-asymptotic giant branch star. The
fact that the outbursting star is in the middle of an old planetary nebula and
that the ejecta associated with the outburst is hydrogen deficient supports
this diagnosis. However, the material ejected during that outburst is also
extremely neon rich, suggesting that it derives from an oxygen-neon-magnesium
star, as is the case in the so-called neon novae. We have therefore attempted
to construct a scenario that explains all the observations of the nebula and
its central star, including the ejecta abundances. We find two scenarios that
have the potential to explain the observations, although neither is a perfect
match. The first scenario invokes the merger of a main sequence star and a
massive oxygen-neon-magnesium white dwarf. The second invokes an
oxygen-neon-magnesium classical nova that takes place shortly after a final
helium shell flash. The main drawback of the first scenario is the inability to
determine whether the ejecta would have the observed composition and whether a
merger could result in the observed hydrogen-deficient stellar abundances
observed in the star today. The second scenario is based on better understood
physics, but, through a population synthesis technique, we determine that its
frequency of occurrence should be very low and possibly lower than what is
implied by the number of observed systems. While we could not envisage a
scenario that naturally explains this object, this is the second final flash
star which, upon closer scrutiny, is found to have hydrogen-deficient ejecta
with abnormally high neon abundances. These findings are in stark contrast with
the predictions of the final helium shell flash and beg for an alternative
explanation.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figures, 2 tables, accepted for MNRAS. Better title and
minor corrections compared to previous versio
Recommended from our members
Self-assembly of ultra-small micelles from amphiphilic lipopeptoids
Poly(N-substituted glycine) “peptoids” constitute a promising class of peptide-mimetic materials. We introduce the self-assembly of lipopeptoids into spherical micelles ca. 5 nm in diameter as well as larger assemblies by varying the peptoid sequence design. Our results point to design rules for the self-assembly of peptoid nanostructures, enabling the creation of stable, ultra-small peptidomimetic nanospheres
A Mission to Explore the Pioneer Anomaly
The Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft yielded the most precise navigation in deep
space to date. These spacecraft had exceptional acceleration sensitivity.
However, analysis of their radio-metric tracking data has consistently
indicated that at heliocentric distances of astronomical units,
the orbit determinations indicated the presence of a small, anomalous, Doppler
frequency drift. The drift is a blue-shift, uniformly changing with a rate of
Hz/s, which can be interpreted as a
constant sunward acceleration of each particular spacecraft of . This signal has become known as the Pioneer
anomaly. The inability to explain the anomalous behavior of the Pioneers with
conventional physics has contributed to growing discussion about its origin.
There is now an increasing number of proposals that attempt to explain the
anomaly outside conventional physics. This progress emphasizes the need for a
new experiment to explore the detected signal. Furthermore, the recent
extensive efforts led to the conclusion that only a dedicated experiment could
ultimately determine the nature of the found signal. We discuss the Pioneer
anomaly and present the next steps towards an understanding of its origin. We
specifically focus on the development of a mission to explore the Pioneer
Anomaly in a dedicated experiment conducted in deep space.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures; invited talk given at the 2005 ESLAB Symposium
"Trends in Space Science and Cosmic Vision 2020", 19-21 April 2005, ESTEC,
Noordwijk, The Netherland
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