Causal Patterns: Extraction of multiple causal relationships by Mixture of Probabilistic Partial Canonical Correlation Analysis

In this paper, we propose a mixture of probabilistic partial canonical correlation analysis (MPPCCA) that extracts the Causal Patterns from two multivariate time series. Causal patterns refer to the signal patterns within interactions of two elements having multiple types of mutually causal relationships, rather than a mixture of simultaneous correlations or the absence of presence of a causal relationship between the elements. In multivariate statistics, partial canonical correlation analysis (PCCA) evaluates the correlation between two multivariates after subtracting the effect of the third multivariate. PCCA can calculate the Granger Causal- ity Index (which tests whether a time-series can be predicted from an- other time-series), but is not applicable to data containing multiple partial canonical correlations. After introducing the MPPCCA, we propose an expectation-maxmization (EM) algorithm that estimates the parameters and latent variables of the MPPCCA. The MPPCCA is expected to ex- tract multiple partial canonical correlations from data series without any supervised signals to split the data as clusters. The method was then eval- uated in synthetic data experiments. In the synthetic dataset, our method estimated the multiple partial canonical correlations more accurately than the existing method. To determine the types of patterns detectable by the method, experiments were also conducted on real datasets. The method estimated the communication patterns In motion-capture data. The MP- PCCA is applicable to various type of signals such as brain signals, human communication and nonlinear complex multibody systems.Comment: DSAA2017 - The 4th IEEE International Conference on Data Science and Advanced Analytic

Shape evolution of electrodeposited copper bumps with high peclet numbers

We report the shape evolution of initial copper bumps at Peclet numbers higher than a hundred. The role of vortices and of penetration flow within the cavity was discussed with numerical fluid dynamics computation to obtain a bump with a single hump at the center. The current distributions, or flux profiles, were calculated at the diffusion controlled overpotential and were compared with the electrodeposited bump shapes. For the 100 mu m cavity width, the vortices increase at the upstream corners with Peclet numbers 1410 and 7311. The vortices are the local resistance of mass transfer to the cathode. These vortices cause the hollows in flux profiles at the upstream corner with these Peclet numbers. The penetration flow collides with the photoresist sidewall and the vortices decrease at downstream corners. These decreased vortices cause the increase in flux profile at downstream corners. For a 30 pm cavity width a single large vortex forms for the higher Peclet number 44,500 and a single hump in flux is achieved.</p

Characterization of an epimastigote-stage-specific hemoglobin receptor of Trypanosoma congolense

Background: Since Trypanosorna spp. lack a complete heme synthesis pathway, the parasites are totally dependent on their host for heme throughout all of the stages of their life -cycle. We herein report the identification and characterization of a T. congolense epimastigote form (EMF)-specific hemoglobin (Hb) receptor. The gene was initially reported to encode a T. congolense haptoglobin (Hp)-Hb complex receptor (TcHpHbR) based on its similarity to a gene encoding a T brucei Hp-Hb complex receptor (TbHpHbR). Methods: Trypanosorna congolense IL3000 was used in this study. A TcHpHbR gene was PCR amplified from the parasite genome. The recombinant protein was used as an immunogen to raise antibodies for immunofluorescence assay and immunoblotting. Hemoglobin uptake by the parasite was examined by using Alexa 488 labelled Hb and visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The qualitative and quantitative interaction between TcHpHbR and its ligand were measured using a surface plasmon resonance assay. Results: We found that, unlike TbHpHbR, TcHpHbR was exclusively expressed in the EMF stage at RNA and protein levels. The recombinant TcHpHbR (rTcHpHbR) was co-precipitated with free-Hb in a GST-pull down assay. Surface plasmon resonance revealed that rTcHpHbR binds free-Hb with high affinity (dissociation constant (K,A) =2.1x10(-8) M) but free-Hp with low affinity (Kd = 2.2x10(-7) M). Furthermore, Alexa 488-labelled-Hb was only taken up by the EMF and co-localized with tomato lectin, which is a marker of endocytic compartments (flagellar pocket and lysosome). Conclusion: We conclude that the T. congolense EMF takes up free-Hb via TcHpHbR, a receptor which is specific to this developmental stage. We therefore propose renaming TcHpHbR as T congolense EMF-specific Hb receptor (TcEpHbR)

Effectivity of the Outside-In Pie-Crusting Technique and an All-Inside Meniscal Repair Device in the Repair of Ramp Lesions

Ramp lesions are characteristic medial meniscus injuries seen in anterior cruciate ligament-injured knees. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries combined with ramp lesions increase the amount of anterior tibial translation and tibial external rotation. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of ramp lesions have received increasing attention. However, ramp lesions can be difficult to diagnose on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, ramp lesions are difficult to observe and treat intraoperatively in the posteromedial compartment. Although good results have been reported with the use of a suture hook through the posteromedial portal in the treatment of ramp lesions, the complexity and difficulty of the technique are further problems. The outside-in pie-crusting technique is a simple procedure that can enlarge the medial compartment and facilitate the observation and repair of ramp lesions. After this technique, ramp lesions can be properly sutured, using an all-inside meniscal repair device, without damaging the surrounding cartilage. A combination of the outside-in pie-crusting technique and an all-inside meniscal repair device (with only anterior portals) is effective in the repair of ramp lesions. This Technical Note aims to report in detail the flow of a series of techniques, including our diagnostic and therapeutic methods

Time-Dependent Increase in Medial Meniscus Extrusion Predicts the Need for Meniscal Repair in Patients with Partial Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tears: A Case–Control Study

Purpose　This study aimed to compare medial meniscus extrusion (MME) in patients with partial medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted at two-time points and to determine whether patient characteristics or MME measurements differ in patients who respond to nonoperative treatment compared with those who require surgical treatment. Methods　Thirty-seven patients with partial MMPRTs underwent two MRI scans during nonoperative management or before pull-out repair. Among these, 17 patients received nonoperative management, and 20 underwent pull-out repair. Partial MMPRTs were diagnosed based on the MRI findings. MME measurements were performed on both MRI scans. Statistical and receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses were performed. Results　The duration between the two MRI scans was significantly shorter in the pull-out repair group than in the nonoperative management group. The increase in MME (ΔMME) on MRI scans was significantly greater in the pull-out repair group than in the nonoperative management group. Linear regression analysis revealed a weak correlation between the MRI interval and ΔMME in the nonoperative management group and a moderate correlation in the pull-out repair group. In the ROC construction, the cut-off value for ΔMME that requires surgical intervention was 0.41 mm, with a sensitivity and specificity of 85.0% and 52.9%, respectively. Conclusion　Patients with partial MMPRTs requiring surgical treatment had greater MME progression in a shorter time and a time-dependent increase in MME. Therefore, a ΔMME of ≥ 0.41 mm may be useful in deciding surgical intervention based on MRI retests. Level of evidence　III

Relation between psychosocial variables and the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional and prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This cross-sectional and prospective study used a variety of psychological inventories to evaluate the relationship between psychosocial factors and the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participants were 304 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated as outpatients at diabetes clinics. All participants were assessed for HbA_1cand completed the following self-report psychological inventories: 1) Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ), 2) Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey (PAID), 3) Well-being Questionnaire 12 (W-BQ12), 4) Self-Esteem Scale (SES), 5) Social Support Scale, and 6) Self-Efficacy Scale. HbA_1cwas again measured one year later. The relationships between the psychosocial variables obtained by analysis of the psychological inventories and baseline or one-year follow-up HbA_1cwere determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Baseline HbA_1cwas significantly correlated with age, diet treatment regimen, number of microvascular complication of diabetes, and the total scores of DTSQ, W-BQ12, PAID, SES and the Self-Efficacy Scale. Hierarchical stepwise multiple regression revealed that significant predictors of baseline HbA_1cwere total DTSQ and PAID scores, along with age, diet treatment regimen, and number of microvascular complication of diabetes after adjustment for demographic, clinical and other psychosocial variables. Two hundred and ninety patients (95.4% of 304) were followed and assessed one year after baseline. Hierarchical stepwise multiple regression analysis showed the significant predictors of follow-up HbA_1cto be total DTSQ and PAID scores, along with age and diet treatment regimen. However, the correlation between baseline and follow-up HbA_1cwas so high that the only other variable to retain significance was diet treatment regimen once baseline HbA_1cwas included in the regression of follow-up HbA_1c.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The DTSQ and the PAID predicted both current and future HbA_1cto a similar and significant degree in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p