+parser <- add_argument(parser, "--y_explained_variance", help='what proportion of the variance of y can be explained?', default=0.05)
+# parser <- add_argument(parser, "--zx_explained_variance", help='what proportion of the variance of x can be explained by z?', default=0.3)
+parser <- add_argument(parser, "--prediction_accuracy", help='how accurate is the predictive model?', default=0.73)
+parser <- add_argument(parser, "--outcome_formula", help='formula for the outcome variable', default="y~x+z")
+parser <- add_argument(parser, "--proxy_formula", help='formula for the proxy variable', default="w_pred~x")