Review
Ecology
Suchinta Arif, M. Aaron MacNeil
Summary: Ecologists often lack training in inferring causation from observational data. Structural causal modeling (SCM), which utilizes directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), offers a framework to determine cause-and-effect relationships. This framework can assist ecologists in quantifying causal relationships and investigating ecological questions using observational data.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammad Forouhar Vajargah, Masoud Sattari, Javid Imanpour Namin, Mehdi Bibak
Summary: This study collected 150 specimens of Rutilus kutum from the southern shores of the Caspian Sea to investigate the accumulation of heavy metals in fish organs. The study suggests using variables such as fish tissue, sampling region, and season to predict metal concentrations. By selecting the best regression model using Akaike information criterion (AIC), the study proposes models for predicting metal concentrations in fish organs which can aid in easier and cheaper environmental monitoring.
BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ladan Shams, Ulrik Beierholm
Summary: The theory of Bayesian causal inference is a powerful and versatile theory that can explain human behavior and brain function, making it highly significant in neuroscience research.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Statistics & Probability
Elizabeth L. Ogburn, Oleg Sofrygin, Ivan Diaz, Mark J. van der Laan
Summary: This study focuses on semiparametric estimation and inference for causal effects using observational data from a single social network. The authors propose new methods that allow for dependence among observations, considering both information transmission across network ties and latent similarities among nodes. The study also reanalyzes a controversial study on obesity causal peer effects using social network data from the Framingham Heart Study, finding no evidence for such effects after accounting for network structure.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Xiaoming Lu, Thierry Chekouo, Hua Shen, Alexander R. de Leon
Summary: In this article, a two-level copula joint model is proposed to analyze clinical data with multiple disparate continuous longitudinal outcomes and multiple event-times in the presence of competing risks. The model constructs submodels for the observed event-time and longitudinal outcomes using a copula and Gaussian copula respectively, and combines them in a joint model that incorporates conditional dependence. Linear quantile mixed models are proposed to accommodate skewed data and examine covariate effects. Bayesian framework and Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling are used for model estimation and inference. Simulation study and analysis of clinical data on renal transplantation demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method compared to conventional approaches.
STATISTICS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Manuel Soler-Ortiz, Manuel Fernandez Ros, Nuria Novas Castellano, Jose A. Gazquez Parra
Summary: Research interest in Schumann resonances has grown over the past seventy years, with a method developed to perform statistical analysis on the signals in the time domain. The method showed reliable results and highlighted the correlation between Schumann resonances and lightning activity.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Miroslaw Szwed, Witold Zukowski, Rafal Kozlowski
Summary: This study presents results of microscopic observations of pine needles collected in the Biale Zaglebie region, revealing the presence of cement-lime dust particles on the surface. Chemical analysis identified lead, iron, aluminum, calcium, and silicon in the particles, impacting gas exchange and vitality of Scots pine in the area.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jing Niu, Tong-Jie Zhang
Summary: This study compares the significance of the traditional combined method and Linder's joint method in constraining the density parameter QM. The results show that Linder's joint method is more significant than the traditional combined method.
PHYSICS OF THE DARK UNIVERSE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Suchinta Arif, Aaron MacNeil
Summary: Ecologists often rely on observational data to understand causal relationships, but predictive techniques are not suitable for drawing causal conclusions. Instead, valid causal inference methods such as the backdoor criterion can be used to determine causal relationships in observational studies.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Masoud Fazlalipour Miyandoab, Parviz Nasiri, Ali M. Mosammam
Summary: Recognizing and presenting the appropriate statistical model for time series data is crucial. The Auto Regressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA) model is widely used in analyzing economic, meteorological, geographical, and financial data. Parameters of this model, as well as other time series models, are estimated by assuming a constant average. This article introduces Bayesian estimation for the fractional difference parameter (d) in the ARFIMA model, considering an appropriate prior distribution. Simulation and Akaike information criterion (AIC) demonstrate the superior performance of Bayesian estimation compared to other methods. The goodness of fit of the ARFIMA model is evaluated using Bayesian estimation of parameters with a real data set.
INFORMATION SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Mathematics
Nitzan Cohen, Yakir Berchenko
Summary: This article proposes a new approach that enables the use of classic information criteria for model selection with missing data by normalizing the information criteria theory, which is found to be exponentially better in computational complexity than traditional imputation methods, leading to increased statistical efficiency.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Reza Najafi-Silab, Aboozar Soleymanzadeh, Parvin Kolah-Kaj, Shahin Kord
Summary: Many studies have focused on estimating fluid saturation, an important petrophysical property, in hydrocarbon reservoirs. The cementation factor (m) plays a crucial role in accurately determining water saturation based on Archie's law. This study presents a fast automated version of the electrical quality index (EQI) methodology, using a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to cluster rock samples into distinct electrical rock types (ERTs) based on EQI values.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Aishwarya Bhave, Soham Kulkarni, Shantanu Desai, P. K. Srijith
Summary: This article investigates the classification problem of Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) using a two-dimensional approach combining GRB hardness and duration. The analysis reveals the existence of two or three distinct classes, depending on the dataset and the information theory criteria.
ASTROPHYSICS AND SPACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meryem Bekar Adiguzel, Mehmet Ali Cengiz
Summary: Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) is a non-parametric regression analysis method that is useful for model selection in high-dimensional data. It has the advantage of identifying and modeling complex, non-linear relationships between variables without requiring assumptions, as well as automatically selecting variables to simplify the model building process and prevent overfitting.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jonas Steenholdt Sorensen, Sofie Rugh van Reeuwijk, Roy S. Bartle, Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen
Summary: The processing of seaweed often involves low-temperature drying to stabilize the product by inactivating and inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. However, Salmonella can survive dry conditions and persist in low-moisture food, which has been linked to foodborne outbreaks from seaweed. This study presents drying and desorption models for Alaria esculenta and a model for the inactivation kinetics of S. Typhimurium during low heat convection drying.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kazutaka M. Takeshita, Takehiko Hayashi, Hiroyuki Yokomizo
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Makoto Nishimoto, Tadashi Miyashita, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Hiroyuki Matsuda, Takeshi Imazu, Hiroo Takahashi, Masami Hasegawa, Keita Fukasawa
Summary: Spatial optimization of capture effort allocation based on past capture records and state-space population models improves control of invasive species, with effectiveness varying depending on total effort level. Spatially heterogeneous density dependence and capture pressure limit snapping turtle abundance, requiring increased effort allocation for successful management.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Kazutaka M. Takeshita, Mugino O. Kubo, Mayumi Ueno, Mari Ishizaki, Hiroshi Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Yoshida, Hiromasa Igota, Takashi Ikeda, Koichi Kaji
Summary: The study analyzed the mortality patterns of different age classes of sika deer in the initial irruption and post-population-crash phases, finding no significant difference between the two phases, possibly due to the limitation of classifying ages into broad categories. Further comparative studies are needed to determine if these results are consistent with other irruptive deer populations.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kosuke Nakanishi, Dai Koide, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Taku Kadoya, Takehiko I. Hayashi
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kosuke Nakanishi, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Takehiko Hayashi
Summary: In recent years, many dragonfly species, including the common Sympetrum frequens in rice paddy fields in Japan, have faced extinction threats. The decline in dragonfly populations was found to be a result of the combined effects of insecticide use and farmland consolidation, highlighting the importance of conservation planning to address habitat degradation and insecticide utilization.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Kosuke Nakanishi, Nisikawa Usio, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Tadao Takashima, Takehiko Hayashi
Summary: The study found that the novel insecticide chlorantraniliprole can reduce the emergence rate of dragonfly nymphs into adults, especially for S. infuscatum, but not significantly for S. frequens. This difference could be attributed to differing sensitivity to chlorantraniliprole, varying nymphal stage lengths, or the impact of bottom-up controls on prey organisms sensitive to the insecticide.
PADDY AND WATER ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Correction
Agricultural Engineering
Kosuke Nakanishi, Nisikawa Usio, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Tadao Takashima, Takehiko I. Hayashi
PADDY AND WATER ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kazutaka M. Takeshita, Yuichi Iwasaki, Thomas M. Sinclair, Takehiko Hayashi, Wataru Naito
Summary: Environmental contamination with nano- and microplastic particles is a global concern. This study used Bayesian hierarchical modeling techniques to estimate species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for nano- and microplastic particles, considering the influence of particle size, polymer type, and test media. The results showed that the SSD mean was negatively associated with particle size and was lower in marine media than in freshwater media. The estimated hazardous concentration for 5% of the species (HC5) varied depending on these factors. Hierarchical SSD modeling allows for a better understanding of the effects of important factors on the toxicity of nano- and microplastic particles.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Takehiko Hayashi, Ayako Furuhama, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Hiroshi Yamamoto
Summary: This study quantitatively assessed the efficacy of a derivation procedure for calculating no-effect concentrations for screening assessment of environmental hazards. The results showed that the derivation procedure resulted in high rates of misclassification when only specific data sets were available. The use of additional uncertainty factors improved the consistency of the misclassification rates within the procedure.
Article
Ecology
Minoru Kasada, Yoshihiro Nakashima, Keita Fukasawa, Gota Yajima, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Tadashi Miyashita
Summary: Understanding the population dynamics of wildlife is crucial for effective management, but accurate estimation of population size is challenging due to limited data availability. By combining camera trap data and administration data, we successfully estimated the population dynamics of wild boar and identified areas where trapping reinforcement is needed for population control.
POPULATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kosuke Nakanishi, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Keiichi Fukaya, Taku Kadoya, Shin-ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Jun Nishihiro, Ayato Kohzu, Takehiko I. Hayashi
Summary: This study used causal impact analysis to evaluate the effects of extreme water-level drawdowns on water quality in Lake Biwa, Japan. The results showed that the timing and magnitude of the extreme drawdowns had different impacts on transparency in different basins of the lake.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Kazutaka M. Takeshita, Yuichi Iwasaki
Summary: Understanding the temporal variations in river water pH is crucial for the conservation of aquatic organisms. Statistical methods that distinguish the long-term trends, periodic fluctuations, and nonperiodic variations in pH data analysis have not been used. Through a Bayesian structural time series model, we identified the trend and periodic components, as well as the influence of water temperature, in the pH variations of five Tama River headwaters. The observed changes in pH were mainly due to observation errors and random walk caused by accumulated noise.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tetsuro Yoshikawa, Dai Koide, Hiroyuki Yokomizo, Ji Yoon Kim, Taku Kadoya
Summary: Assessing the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of species, communities, and ecosystems is essential for successful conservation. However, climate change introduces extreme uncertainty in assessment pathways, hindering robust decision-making for conservation. In this study, we developed a framework to quantify acceptable uncertainty as a metric of ecosystem robustness, incorporating climate change uncertainty.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)