Non-linear Causal Inference using Gaussianity Measures

We provide theoretical and empirical evidence for a type of asymmetry between causes and effects that is present when these are related via linear models contaminated with additive non-Gaussian noise. Assuming that the causes and the effects have the same distribution, we show that the distribution of the residuals of a linear fit in the anti-causal direction is closer to a Gaussian than the distribution of the residuals in the causal direction. This Gaussianization effect is characterized by reduction of the magnitude of the high-order cumulants and by an increment of the differential entropy of the residuals. The problem of non-linear causal inference is addressed by performing an embedding in an expanded feature space, in which the relation between causes and effects can be assumed to be linear. The effectiveness of a method to discriminate between causes and effects based on this type of asymmetry is illustrated in a variety of experiments using different measures of Gaussianity. The proposed method is shown to be competitive with state-of-the-art techniques for causal inference.Comment: 35 pages, 9 figure

On the independence of the individual predictions in parallel randomized ensembles

This is an electronic version of the paper presented at the European Symposium on Artificial Neural Networks, held in Bruges on 2012In randomized parallel ensembles the class label predictions for a particular instance by different ensemble classifiers are independent random variables. Taking advantage of this independence we design a statistical test to identify instances near the decision borders, which are difficult to classify because of their proximity to these borders. For these instances, the performance of the ensemble is poor and approaches random guessing. The validity of this analysis and the usefulness of the proposed statistical test are illustrated in several real-world classification problems

An analysis of ensemble pruning techniques based on ordered aggregation

Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works. G. Martínez-Muñoz, D. Hernández-Lobato and A. Suárez, "An analysis of ensemble pruning techniques based on ordered aggregation", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 245-249, February 2009Several pruning strategies that can be used to reduce the size and increase the accuracy of bagging ensembles are analyzed. These heuristics select subsets of complementary classifiers that, when combined, can perform better than the whole ensemble. The pruning methods investigated are based on modifying the order of aggregation of classifiers in the ensemble. In the original bagging algorithm, the order of aggregation is left unspecified. When this order is random, the generalization error typically decreases as the number of classifiers in the ensemble increases. If an appropriate ordering for the aggregation process is devised, the generalization error reaches a minimum at intermediate numbers of classifiers. This minimum lies below the asymptotic error of bagging. Pruned ensembles are obtained by retaining a fraction of the classifiers in the ordered ensemble. The performance of these pruned ensembles is evaluated in several benchmark classification tasks under different training conditions. The results of this empirical investigation show that ordered aggregation can be used for the efficient generation of pruned ensembles that are competitive, in terms of performance and robustness of classification, with computationally more costly methods that directly select optimal or near-optimal subensembles.The authors acknowledge support form the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia under Project TIN2007-66862-C02-0

Out of bootstrap estimation of generalization error curves in bagging ensembles

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77226-2_6Proceedings of 8th International Conference IDEAL, Birmingham, UK, December 16-19, 2007.The dependence of the classification error on the size of a bagging ensemble can be modeled within the framework of Monte Carlo theory for ensemble learning. These error curves are parametrized in terms of the probability that a given instance is misclassified by one of the predictors in the ensemble. Out of bootstrap estimates of these probabilities can be used to model generalization error curves using only information from the training data. Since these estimates are obtained using a finite number of hypotheses, they exhibit fluctuations. This implies that the modeled curves are biased and tend to overestimate the true generalization error. This bias becomes negligible as the number of hypotheses used in the estimator becomes sufficiently large. Experiments are carried out to analyze the consistency of the proposed estimator

Acceptability Conditions and Relativistic Barotropic Equations of State

We sketch an algorithm to generate exact anisotropic solutions starting from a barotropic EoS and setting an ansatz on the metric functions. To illustrate the method, we use a generalization of the polytropic equation of state consisting of a combination of a polytrope plus a linear term. Based on this generalization, we develop two models which are not deprived of physical meaning as well as fulfilling the stringent criteria of physical acceptability conditions. We also show that some relativistic anisotropic polytropic models may have singular tangential sound velocity for polytropic indexes greater than one. This happens in anisotropic matter configurations when the polytropic equation of state is implemented together with an ansatz on the metric functions. The generalized polytropic equation of state is free from this pathology in the tangential sound velocity.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figure

Osteonecrosis del platillo tibial interno: A propósito de dos casos

Presentamos dos casos de osteonecrosis idiomática del platillo tibial interno que aparecieron en mujeres. En ellas se dieron las características clínicas habituales de la enfermedad (inicio súbito de dolor intenso en rodilla sin traumatismo previo claramente diferenciado y marcada sensibilidad local en la zona interna de la rodilla) junto a radiografías iniciales normales ó con leves cambios degenerativos (gammagrafía ósea y/ó resonancia magnética nuclear.) En las dos pacientes el proceso evolucionó hacia una gonalgia intensa resistente a la medicación y con cambios degenerativos asociados y fue necesaria la implantación de sendas artroplastias totales de rodilla.We report two cases of osteonocrosis of the medial tibial plateau with typical symptoms (sudden onset of pain at the knee, and marked tenderness over the medial tibial plateau). Initial roentgenograms are within normal limits or showed mild degenerative joint changes, being necessary a magnetic resonance imaging to achieve a diagnosis. The two cases we report didn't follow the typical evolution of the process (which is self-limiting in a period of 6 to 12 months), being necessary in both of them, a total knee replacement

Dussel, E. (2015). 16 Tesis de economía política. Interpretación filosófica. México: Editorial Siglo XXI

La obra de Enrique Dussel, 16 tesis de economía política está basada principalmente en la fundamentación de la filosofía de la liberación, movimiento del cual es fundador. En esta obra, el autor plasma el trabajo de análisis que durante tres décadas ha venido desarrollando sobre filosofía económica.  Dentro de esta basta experiencia, Dussel analiza la obra El capital, de Karl Marx, proponiendo 16 tesis de economía política en las cuales su crítica al sistema capitalista se ve reflejado al plantear un análisis teórico-reflexivo respecto a las categorías que la teoría económica actual ha dejado de lado, lo anterior, partiendo de una visón filosófica-económica

Influencia de la vía de abordaje y de posición de la cúpula acetabular en la luxación de la artroplastia total de cadera: estudio caso-control

Tanto la vía de acceso quirúrgica como la posición de los componentes se han relacionado con la presencia de una luxación en las artroplastias primarias de cadera. Hemos estudiado la presencia de esta complicación en una serie de 758 artroplastias no cementadas modelo Bihapro. Encontramos 21 luxaciones. Por otro lado se seleccionó de forma aleatoria un grupo de control de 42 pacientes que no habían presentado luxación. Se diseñó un estudio de casos y controles que englobaba por tanto a 63 pacientes que tenían implantada una artroplastia de este modelo. En el grupo de casos observamos que el porcentaje de luxación fue sensiblemente mayor en el sexo masculino con un 66,7%, en comparación con el sexo femenino que fue de un 42,8% aunque esta diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. No se observaron diferencias en la frecuencia de luxaciones en relación con la vía anterior o lateral, pero sin embargo en la vía posterior la luxación se produjo en un solo caso (4,8% de todas las luxaciones) con una incidencia claramente menor que en los abordajes anterior y lateral, siendo esta diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,005). También observamos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a un mayor porcentaje de luxaciones cuando la inclinación del componente acetabular era mayor de 50º (76,2%), o cuando la anteversión del cotilo era mayor o igual a 20º (54,4%). La vía de abordaje posterior con reconstrucción capsular y muscular presenta un menor porcentaje de luxación después de una artroplastia primaria en comparación con la anterior o lateral. Una inclinación mayor de 50º o una anteversión mayor de 20º favorecen la presencia de una luxación.The surgical approach and the cup position have been related with the dislocations of total hip arthroplasty. We have studied the presence of this complication in 758 Bihapro™ cementless arthroplasties. We got a case group of 21 dislocations; then we selected a control group of 42 patients without luxation to design a case-control study. The case group had a higher rate of dislocation in males (66.7 % versus 42.8 % in females) although this difference was not statistically significant. We didn’t observe any difference in the frequency of luxations relating to the anterior or lateral surgical approach, however in the posterior approach the dislocation appeared only in one case (4.8 % of the all dislocations) with statistically differences (p=0.005). We also observed statistically significant differences of luxations when the acetabular cup inclination was higher than 50º (76.2 %), or when the cup anteversion was equal or higher than 20º (52.4 %). The posterior surgical approach with capsular and muscular suture presented a lower rate of dislocation after a primary arthroplasty compared with the anterior or lateral approachs. An inclination bigger than 50º or an anteversion bigger than 20º seems to be a risk factor of luxation

Cierre quirúrgico en flexión versus extensión en artroplastias totales de rodilla

Se ha realizado un estudio prospectivo de 44 pacientes con gonartrosis primaria que fueron intervenidos con artroplastia total de rodilla con el objeto de determinar las diferencies en cuanto a la movilidad final de la rodilla dependiendo del cierre quirúrgico en flexión o en extensión. Se formaron dos grupos con similares características de homogeneidad respecto al sexo, edad, peso corporal y arco de movilidad previa, no existiendo diferencies significativas entre los grupos en la valoración preoperatoria. En el primer grupo se incluyeron 22 pacientes donde se había realizado la sutura de la cápsula articular y del plano muscular y cutáneo en flexión de 70º a 90º; el segundo grupo estaba formado por otros 22 pacientes en los que se realizó la sutura con la rodilla en extensión completa. En todos los pacientes se implantó el mismo modelo artroplástico y todos siguieron el mismo protocolo de rehabilitación postoperatoria. La evaluación clínica se realizó en el momento del alta hospitalaria, al mes, tres y seis meses, siguiendo la escala del Hospital for Special Surgery. Se apreció un arco de movilidad y puntuación clínica mayor en el grupo de rodillas suturadas en extensión, con una diferencia estadísticamente significativa, en los controles realizados en el alta hospitalaria y al mes de la intervención. A los seis meses no se apreciaron diferencias entre ambos grupos. La posición de la rodilla en el cierre quirúrgico de una artroplastia no afecta a su funcionalidad.In a prospective study, 44 patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee undergoing total knee arthroplasty were compared to determine whether surgical closure of the entire wound in flexion had any effect on the postoperative range of motion over a period of six months. In twenty-two patients the knee was surgically closed in 70º to 90º flexion. In the second group of 22 patients, knees were closed in extension. There was no significant difference between groups respect to age, gender, weight and preoperative range of motion. All of the patients were operated on by the same team of surgeons and with the same type of prosthesis. Both groups of patients received a standardized exercise program during their hospitalization. All patients were evaluated following the parameters of the Hospital for Special Surgery score at discharge from the hospital, at first month, third and sixth month after operation. At all the intervals, both the flexion measurements and function scores were better in the flexion closure group, although we only found statically significant difference at discharge and at the first month postoperatively. The position of the knee in the surgical closing of an arthroplasty doesn't affected o functionality

Influencia de la inclinación acetabular en la luxación de la artroplastia parcial de cadera

La luxación de la prótesis parcial de cadera, representa en la actualidad un grave problema de incapacidad para el paciente, debido no solo, a la complicación de la marcha en sí, sino a todas aquellas derivadas de la estancia hospitalaria de estos pacientes en nuestros centros. Respecto a la vía de abordaje, se ha sentado una mayor incidencia de luxaciones en la vía posterolateral, frente a las anteriores o laterales transtrocantéreas en decúbito supino. Objetivo: evaluar la influencia del ángulo de inclinación anatómico del acetábulo, techo y cobertura en la luxación de la artroplastia parcial de cadera. Material y método: el estudio incluyó un total de 718 pacientes intervenidos por fractura cervical de fémur, durante los años de 1992 a 2005. Las prótesis parciales implantadas fueron del modelo Thompson; los tipos de vías de abordaje quirúrgico utilizados fueron; la anterior de Smith Petersen, y la posterior de Gibson Moore. Se realizaron las mediciones radiográficas del ángulo formado entre las línea trazada en el borde externo del acetábulo y la línea biisquiática. Resultados: Del total de pacientes incluidos en el estudio el número de luxaciones fue de 24 prótesis, lo que representa el 3,3 %. La edad media fue de 84 años, y un intervalo de 76 a 92 años. El sexo predominante fue el femenino con un 83%. La vía más utilizada fue la anterior con un 67 %. El mayor porcentaje de luxación fue para aquellas pacientes con un ángulo de inclinación anatómico del acetábulo de > 55º. El tiempo medio seguimiento hasta producirse la luxación fue de 35 días y un intervalo entre 1 a 89 días. El tratamiento más frecuente fue el conservador 88%. Conclusión: El presente estudio demuestra que la luxación temprana de una prótesis parcial de cadera está directamente relacionado con un ángulo de inclinación anatómico del acetábulo mayor de 55º.The dislocation of partial hip replacements represents an important postoperative complication. Apart from the most important problem which is patient mobility, another aspect is the prolonged hospital stay detrimental to patient health and the evonawy of hospital. With respect to the incidence of pos- toperative dislocations and the type of surgical approach, it seated that there is a greater incidence using the lateroposterior hip sur- gical approach, in comparision to the anterior or lateral access. Objective: To evidence the influence of acetabular inclination in postoperative dislocations of partial hip arthroplasty. Methods: A study involuing 718 cases of intervened femoral neck fractures using Thompson endoprosthesis during the period including 1992 to 2005.With respect to type of surgical approaches, these included the Smith-Petersen anterior and the Gibson-Moore posterior access. The acetabular inclination was measurements radiologi- cally, obtaining the angle between the bi-ischial line and the exter- nal border of the acetabulum. Results: A total of twentyfour (24) prosthesis suffered dislocation, with respect to the total of seven hundred and eighteen (718) patients intervened for partial hip arth- roplasty, representing 3,3% of the total. The average age for dislocated arthroplasties was 84 years, with a range between 76-92 years, and the predominant sex was female. Concerning surgical access, the anterior was the most frecuently used (67%). There was found to be a greater percentage of dislo- cated arthroplasties when the angle of acetabular inclination exce- eded fifty five (55º) degrees. The average time elapsed before dis- location was diagnosed included a 35 days time period, with a range between to 89 days. The most frequent management of pos- toperative dislocations was conservative treatment. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that when the acetabular inclination is greater than 55º, there is a greater incidence of early dislocation of partial hip replacements