Measures and models for causal inference in cross-sectional studies: arguments for the appropriateness of the prevalence odds ratio and related logistic regression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several papers have discussed which effect measures are appropriate to capture the contrast between exposure groups in cross-sectional studies, and which related multivariate models are suitable. Although some have favored the Prevalence Ratio over the Prevalence Odds Ratio -- thus suggesting the use of log-binomial or robust Poisson instead of the logistic regression models -- this debate is still far from settled and requires close scrutiny.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In order to evaluate how accurately true causal parameters such as Incidence Density Ratio (IDR) or the Cumulative Incidence Ratio (CIR) are effectively estimated, this paper presents a series of scenarios in which a researcher happens to find a preset ratio of prevalences in a given cross-sectional study. Results show that, provided essential and non-waivable conditions for causal inference are met, the CIR is most often inestimable whether through the Prevalence Ratio or the Prevalence Odds Ratio, and that the latter is the measure that consistently yields an appropriate measure of the Incidence Density Ratio.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Multivariate regression models should be avoided when assumptions for causal inference from cross-sectional data do not hold. Nevertheless, if these assumptions are met, it is the logistic regression model that is best suited for this task as it provides a suitable estimate of the Incidence Density Ratio.</p

Derivation of 30 human embryonic stem cell lines—improving the quality

We have derived 30 human embryonic stem cell lines from supernumerary blastocysts in our laboratory. During the derivation process, we have studied new and safe method to establish good quality lines. All our human embryonic stem cell lines have been derived using human foreskin fibroblasts as feeder cells. The 26 more recent lines were derived in a medium containing serum replacement instead of fetal calf serum. Mechanical isolation of the inner cell mass using flexible metal needles was used in deriving the 10 latest lines. The lines are karyotypically normal, but culture adaptation in two lines has been observed. Our human embryonic stem cell lines are banked, and they are available for researchers

Is time-variant information stickiness state-dependent?

This paper estimates information stickiness with regard to inflation expectations in the United States and the Eurozone for the 1981/06–2015/12 and 1998/Q4–2015/Q2 periods, respectively, and further investigates whether such information stickiness is state- dependent. Based on a bootstrap sub-sample rolling-window estimation, we find that information stickiness varies over time, which contradicts the strict time dependency implied under sticky-information theory. We provide evidence that information stickiness depends on inflation volatility, which indicates that information stickiness is state-dependent and that it has a time trend. Using a threshold model, we estimate structural changes in the state- dependence and time-trend of information stickiness. The results show that information stickiness has been more dependent on inflation volatility and has had a higher time-trend in both regions following the 2008 financial crisis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geographical patterns in blood lead in relation to industrial emissions and traffic in Swedish children, 1978–2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood lead concentrations (B-Pb) were measured in 3 879 Swedish school children during the period 1978–2007. The objective was to study the effect of the proximity to lead sources based on the children's home and school location.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The children's home address and school location were geocoded and their proximity to a lead smelter and major roads was calculated using geographical information system (GIS) software. All the statistical analyses were carried out using means of generalized log-linear modelling, with natural-logarithm-transformed B-Pb, adjusted for sex, school year, lead-exposing hobby, country of birth and, in the periods 1988–1994 and 1995–2007, parents' smoking habits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The GIS analysis revealed that although the emission from the smelter and children's B-Pb levels had decreased considerably since 1978, proximity to the lead smelter continued to affect levels of B-Pb, even in recent years (geometric mean: near smelter: 22.90 μg/l; far from smelter 19.75 μg/l; p = 0.001). The analysis also revealed that proximity to major roads noticeably affected the children's B-Pb levels during the period 1978–1987 (geometric mean near major roads: 44.26 μg/l; far from roads: 38.32 μg/l; p = 0.056), due to the considerable amount of lead in petrol. This effect was, however, not visible after 1987 due to prohibition of lead in petrol.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that proximity to the lead smelter still has an impact on the children's B-Pb levels. This is alarming since it could imply that living or working in the vicinity of a former lead source could pose a threat years after reduction of the emission. The analysis also revealed that urban children exposed to lead from traffic were only affected during the early period, when there were considerable amounts of lead in petrol, and that the prohibition of lead in petrol in later years led to reduced levels of lead in the blood of urban children.</p

Local Hardy Spaces of Musielak-Orlicz Type and Their Applications

Let \phi: \mathbb{R}^n\times[0,\fz)\rightarrow[0,\fz) be a function such that $\phi(x,\cdot)$ is an Orlicz function and $\phi(\cdot,t)\in A^{\mathop\mathrm{loc}}_{\infty}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ (the class of local weights introduced by V. S. Rychkov). In this paper, the authors introduce a local Hardy space $h_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ of Musielak-Orlicz type by the local grand maximal function, and a local $\mathop\mathrm{BMO}$-type space $\mathop\mathrm{bmo}_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ which is further proved to be the dual space of $h_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$. As an application, the authors prove that the class of pointwise multipliers for the local $\mathop\mathrm{BMO}$-type space $\mathop\mathrm{bmo}^{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$, characterized by E. Nakai and K. Yabuta, is just the dual of L^1(\rn)+h_{\Phi_0}(\mathbb{R}^n), where $\phi$ is an increasing function on $(0,\infty)$ satisfying some additional growth conditions and $\Phi_0$ a Musielak-Orlicz function induced by $\phi$. Characterizations of $h_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$, including the atoms, the local vertical and the local nontangential maximal functions, are presented. Using the atomic characterization, the authors prove the existence of finite atomic decompositions achieving the norm in some dense subspaces of $h_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$, from which, the authors further deduce some criterions for the boundedness on $h_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ of some sublinear operators. Finally, the authors show that the local Riesz transforms and some pseudo-differential operators are bounded on $h_{\phi}(\mathbb{R}^n)$.Comment: Sci. China Math. (to appear

Anisotropic Singular Integrals in Product Spaces

Let $A_i$ for $i=1, 2$ be an expansive dilation, respectively, on ${\mathbb R}^n$ and ${\mathbb R}^m$ and $\vec A\equiv(A_1, A_2)$. Denote by {\mathcal A}_\infty(\rnm; \vec A) the class of Muckenhoupt weights associated with $\vec A$. The authors introduce a class of anisotropic singular integrals on $\mathbb R^n\times\mathbb R^m$, whose kernels are adapted to $\vec A$ in the sense of Bownik and have vanishing moments defined via bump functions in the sense of Stein. Then the authors establish the boundedness of these anisotropic singular integrals on $L^q_w(\mathbb R^n\times\mathbb R^m)$ with $q\in(1, \infty)$ and $w\in\mathcal A_q(\mathbb R^n\times\mathbb R^m; \vec A)$ or on $H^p_w(\mathbb R^n\times\mathbb R^m; \vec A)$ with $p\in(0, 1]$ and $w\in\mathcal A_\infty(\mathbb R^n \times\mathbb R^m; \vec A)$. These results are also new even when $w=1$.Comment: Sci. China Math., to appea

C4 photosynthesis promoted species diversification during the Miocene grassland expansion.

Identifying how organismal attributes and environmental change affect lineage diversification is essential to our understanding of biodiversity. With the largest phylogeny yet compiled for grasses, we present an example of a key physiological innovation that promoted high diversification rates. C4 photosynthesis, a complex suite of traits that improves photosynthetic efficiency under conditions of drought, high temperatures, and low atmospheric CO2, has evolved repeatedly in one lineage of grasses and was consistently associated with elevated diversification rates. In most cases there was a significant lag time between the origin of the pathway and subsequent radiations, suggesting that the 'C4 effect' is complex and derives from the interplay of the C4 syndrome with other factors. We also identified comparable radiations occurring during the same time period in C3 Pooid grasses, a diverse, cold-adapted grassland lineage that has never evolved C4 photosynthesis. The mid to late Miocene was an especially important period of both C3 and C4 grass diversification, coincident with the global development of extensive, open biomes in both warm and cool climates. As is likely true for most "key innovations", the C4 effect is context dependent and only relevant within a particular organismal background and when particular ecological opportunities became available