Violation of food and drug safety and other hazard crimes have the features of long latency and multiple factors. Traditional criminal law causality theory is no controversy to determine causality of criminal responsi...Violation of food and drug safety and other hazard crimes have the features of long latency and multiple factors. Traditional criminal law causality theory is no controversy to determine causality of criminal responsibility, thus it is necessary to introduce the epidemiology causality theory-it is a kind of causality theory based on epidemic diseases, and it is the high degree of probability in the determination of causality in criminal laws so as to solve the traditional attribution problem, but the theory also exists applicable restriction conditions in judicial practice.展开更多
The evidential reasoning(ER)rule framework has been widely applied in multi-attribute decision analysis and system assessment to manage uncertainty.However,traditional ER implementations rely on two critical limitatio...The evidential reasoning(ER)rule framework has been widely applied in multi-attribute decision analysis and system assessment to manage uncertainty.However,traditional ER implementations rely on two critical limitations:1)unrealistic assumptions of complete evidence independence,and 2)a lack of mechanisms to differentiate causal relationships from spurious correlations.Existing similarity-based approaches often misinterpret interdependent evidence,leading to unreliable decision outcomes.To address these gaps,this study proposes a causality-enhanced ER rule(CER-e)framework with three key methodological innovations:1)a multidimensional causal representation of evidence to capture dependency structures;2)probabilistic quantification of causal strength using transfer entropy,a model-free information-theoretic measure;3)systematic integration of causal parameters into the ER inference process while maintaining evidential objectivity.The PC algorithm is employed during causal discovery to eliminate spurious correlations,ensuring robust causal inference.Case studies in two types of domains—telecommunications network security assessment and structural risk evaluation—validate CER-e’s effectiveness in real-world scenarios.Under simulated incomplete information conditions,the framework demonstrates superior algorithmic robustness compared to traditional ER.Comparative analyses show that CER-e significantly improves both the interpretability of causal relationships and the reliability of assessment results,establishing a novel paradigm for integrating causal inference with evidential reasoning in complex system evaluation.展开更多
This study examines the dynamic interplay between the US Dollar Index(USDI)and gold prices(GP)to assess the sustainability of gold price trends.Employing a rolling window bootstrapping causality test methodology acros...This study examines the dynamic interplay between the US Dollar Index(USDI)and gold prices(GP)to assess the sustainability of gold price trends.Employing a rolling window bootstrapping causality test methodology across full and sub-samples,the findings of this study challenge the conventional assumption of a stable long-term inverse correlation between USDI and GP,thereby validating the hypothesis that their relationship is nonlinear and time-dependent.During periods of heightened geopolitical and economic volatility,both the US dollar and gold function as safe-haven assets,with USDI fluctuations exerting a positive influence on GP.Conversely,under stable market conditions,the US dollar serves as the currency in which gold is denominated,resulting in a negative impact of USDI on GP.Notably,GP also demonstrates bidirectional causality,exhibiting both positive and negative effects on USDI.The analysis reveals that while a general inverse correlation persists between gold and the US dollar,this relationship transitions to positive during surges in global political and economic instability.In light of contemporary developments—including escalating geopolitical rivalries,tepid post-pandemic economic recovery,and elevated US interest rates driven by inflationary pressures—this study posit that the upward trajectory of gold prices retains a robust empirical foundation.展开更多
Dear Editor,Observational studies in epidemiology have identified a correlation between hypothyroidism and cholelithiasis[1–2].However,the causal relationship between the two diseases remains unclear.To investigate t...Dear Editor,Observational studies in epidemiology have identified a correlation between hypothyroidism and cholelithiasis[1–2].However,the causal relationship between the two diseases remains unclear.To investigate the potential causal relationship,we employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.展开更多
Predicting molecular properties is essential for advancing for advancing drug discovery and design. Recently, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have gained prominence due to their ability to capture the complex structural ...Predicting molecular properties is essential for advancing for advancing drug discovery and design. Recently, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have gained prominence due to their ability to capture the complex structural and relational information inherent in molecular graphs. Despite their effectiveness, the “black-box” nature of GNNs remains a significant obstacle to their widespread adoption in chemistry, as it hinders interpretability and trust. In this context, several explanation methods based on factual reasoning have emerged. These methods aim to interpret the predictions made by GNNs by analyzing the key features contributing to the prediction. However, these approaches fail to answer critical questions: “How to ensure that the structure-property mapping learned by GNNs is consistent with established domain knowledge”. In this paper, we propose MMGCF, a novel counterfactual explanation framework designed specifically for the prediction of GNN-based molecular properties. MMGCF constructs a hierarchical tree structure on molecular motifs, enabling the systematic generation of counterfactuals through motif perturbations. This framework identifies causally significant motifs and elucidates their impact on model predictions, offering insights into the relationship between structural modifications and predicted properties. Our method demonstrates its effectiveness through comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluations of four real-world molecular datasets.展开更多
The relationship between urbanization and economic development has become a hot topic in the scientific community due to its great practical significance,and economic and social value.However,this relationship continu...The relationship between urbanization and economic development has become a hot topic in the scientific community due to its great practical significance,and economic and social value.However,this relationship continues to change dynamically.In the new stage of urbanization,it is urgent to reveal the causal relationship quantitatively and diagnose the future direction systematically.Based on this,this paper calculates the contribution rate of China’s urbanization to economic development from 1978 to 2019 and uses the panel data cointegration test method to explore the causal relationship between urbanization and economic development in China.The study has three principal results.First,the contribution rate of urbanization to economic growth has maintained the overall growth trend from1978 to 2019,but the growth rate of urbanization’s contribution to economic growth has been relatively low since 2012.It is an important reason that the real estate sector has moved into a new stage of transformation.Second,the cointegration test shows that economic development is a significant factor in advancing urbanization and the urbanization is the product of economic development.Urbanization has a positive feedback effect on economic development,but this effect does not pass the 5%significance level test.The impulse response function shows that the impact of urbanization on economic development is relatively small and stable,indicating that it is limited that the boost of economic development by land-centered urbanization.Third,China’s urbanization and economic development have both shown rapid growth for some time,but their relationship is still the low level of coordination,which has also led to a downward trend in the contribution of new-type,people-oriented urbanization to economic growth in recent years.In the future,China’s urbanization and economy need to maintain relatively medium-low speed growth in the medium-long term,and we should boost the coordinated development of urbanization and economy from low level to high level.展开更多
Background:Both eczema and tumor are associated with immune disorders.Although several investigations have observed the rela-tionship between eczema and certain cancers,evidence for causality is lacking.Methods:We con...Background:Both eczema and tumor are associated with immune disorders.Although several investigations have observed the rela-tionship between eczema and certain cancers,evidence for causality is lacking.Methods:We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)study to examine and explore the genetic association between eczema and pan-cancers.Upon satisfying the three core assumptions of MR,we analyzed the causality between eczema and 15 site-specific cancers utilizing an inverse variance weighted method.We verified the results through a series of sensitivity and reverse direction analyses.The exposure and outcome datasets were substituted from the FinnGen and genome-wide association studies catalog data-bases.A meta-analysis on primary and validation analyses was performed to combine the estimates of MR study.Results:Based on the MR analysis results,eczema was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer(odds ratio[OR]=1.0427,95%confidence interval[CI]=1.0082–1.0783,P=0.0148)and brain cancer(OR=1.0285,95%CI=1.0120–1.0452,P=0.0007)and de-creased risk of colorectal cancer(OR=0.9324,95%CI=0.8774–0.9909,P=0.0242)and malignant neoplasm of the kidney(OR=0.9323,95%CI=0.8834–0.9839,P=0.0108).The sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were stable and reliable,and the reverse MR analyses demonstrated no causation between the cancers of interest and eczema.Conclusions:Our results identified eczema as a genetic risk factor for lung and brain cancer and a protective factor for colorectal cancer and malignant neoplasm of the kidney.No connection was observed between eczema and other cancers.Further evidence from epide-miological and mechanistic studies is needed to elucidate these findings in detail.展开更多
BACKGROUND Vitamin deficiencies are linked to various eye diseases,and the influence of vitamin D on cataract formation has been noted in prior research.However,detailed investigations into the causal relationship bet...BACKGROUND Vitamin deficiencies are linked to various eye diseases,and the influence of vitamin D on cataract formation has been noted in prior research.However,detailed investigations into the causal relationship between 25-(OH)D status and cataract development remain scarce.AIM To explore a possible causal link between cataracts and vitamin D.METHODS In this study,we explored the causal link between 25-(OH)D levels and cataract development using Mendelian randomization.Our analytical approach included inverse-variance weighting(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median,simple mode,and weighted mode methods.The primary analyses utilized IVW with random effects,supplemented by sensitivity and heterogeneity tests using both IVW and MR-Egger.MR-Egger was also applied for pleiotropy testing.Additionally,a leave-one-out analysis helped identify potentially impactful single-nucleotide polymorphisms.RESULTS The analysis revealed a positive association between 25-(OH)D levels and the risk of developing cataracts(OR=1.11,95%CI:1.00-1.22;P=0.032).The heterogeneity test revealed that our IVW analysis exhibited minimal heterogeneity(P>0.05),and the pleiotropy test findings confirmed the absence of pleiotropy within our IVW analysis(P>0.05).Furthermore,a search of the human genotype-phenotype association database failed to identify any potentially relevant risk-factor single nucleotide polymorphisms.CONCLUSION There is a potential causal link between 25-(OH)D levels and the development of cataracts,suggesting that greater 25-(OH)D levels may be a contributing risk factor for cataract formation.Further experimental research is required to confirm these findings.展开更多
BACKGROUND Previous research has highlighted correlations between blood cell counts and chronic liver disease.Nonetheless,the causal relationships remain unknown.AIM To evaluate the causal effect of blood cell traits ...BACKGROUND Previous research has highlighted correlations between blood cell counts and chronic liver disease.Nonetheless,the causal relationships remain unknown.AIM To evaluate the causal effect of blood cell traits on liver enzymes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)risk.METHODS Independent genetic variants strongly associated with blood cell traits were extracted from a genome-wide association study(GWAS)conducted by the Blood Cell Consortium.Summary-level data for liver enzymes were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank.NAFLD data were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis(8434 cases and 770180 controls,discovery dataset)and the Fingen GWAS(2275 cases and 372727 controls,replication dataset).This analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted method,followed by various sensitivity analyses.RESULTS One SD increase in the genetically predicted haemoglobin concentration(HGB)was associated with aβof 0.0078(95%CI:0.0059-0.0096),0.0108(95%CI:0.0080-0.0136),0.0361(95%CI:0.0156-0.0567),and 0.0083(95%CI:00046-0.0121)for alkaline phosphatase(ALP),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase,and gammaglutamyl transferase,respectively.Genetically predicted haematocrit was associated with ALP(β=0.0078,95%CI:0.0052-0.0104)and ALT(β=0.0057,95%CI:0.0039-0.0075).Genetically determined HGB and the reticulocyte fraction of red blood cells increased the risk of NAFLD[odds ratio(OR)=1.199,95%CI:1.087-1.322]and(OR=1.157,95%CI:1.071-1.250).The results of the sensitivity analyses remained significant.CONCLUSION Novel causal blood cell traits related to liver enzymes and NAFLD development were revealed through Mendelian randomization analysis,which may facilitate the diagnosis and prevention of NAFLD.展开更多
Objective: Utilizing Mendelian Randomization, this study employs Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables to explore the causal relationships between bibulosity, smoking, and Primary Open Angle...Objective: Utilizing Mendelian Randomization, this study employs Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables to explore the causal relationships between bibulosity, smoking, and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG). Methods: GWAS data for bibulosity, smoking, and POAG were obtained from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium website and the IEU OpenGWAS Project website, respectively. Using a P-value threshold of −8, a linkage disequilibrium coefficient (r2) of 0.001, and a linkage disequilibrium region width of 10,000 kb, the data were aggregated, resulting in 6 SNPs for bibulosity and 253 SNPs for smoking. Three regression models, MR-Egger, Weighted Median Estimator (WME), and Random-Effects Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) were applied to analyze the causal impact of bibulosity and smoking on POAG. Results: The GWAS data for alcohol consumption and smoking were derived from European populations, while the GWAS data for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) were sourced from East Asian populations, with no gender restrictions. Analysis using three different regression models revealed that neither excessive alcohol consumption nor smoking significantly increased the risk of developing POAG. Specifically, the odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the alcohol consumption group were 0.854 (0.597 - 1.221) in MR-Egger regression, 0.922 (0.691 - 1.231) in WME regression, and 0.944 (0.711 - 1.252) in IVW regression. For the smoking group, the odds ratios were 1.146 (0.546 - 2.406) in MR-Egger regression, 0.850 (0.653 - 1.111) in WME regression, and 0.939 (0.780 - 1.131) in IVW regression. Given the significant heterogeneity in the SNPs associated with smoking, the focus was primarily on the results from the IVW regression model. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption and smoking are not significant risk factors for the development of POAG.展开更多
Background:Immune cells have been detected in intracranial aneurysms(IAs).However,the causal effect of immune cell phenotypes on IAs remains unclear and difficult to comprehensively analyze.Methods:Instrumental variab...Background:Immune cells have been detected in intracranial aneurysms(IAs).However,the causal effect of immune cell phenotypes on IAs remains unclear and difficult to comprehensively analyze.Methods:Instrumental variables for 731 immunophenotypes were extracted from publicly available genetic databases.The influence of these immune cell traits on IAs was evaluated using the Mendelian randomization(MR)method.Five MR analysis methods,with inverse-variance-weighted as the main method,along with a comprehensive sensitivity analysis,were used to determine reliability of the results.Multivariable MR analysis was performed to correct for interactions between different immune cell phenotypes.Results:Overall,27 immune cell traits exhibited significant causal effects on IAs.Among them,13 immunophenotypes increased the risk of IA progression.Conversely,14 immune cell characteristics might protect against IAs.Following false discovery rate correction,two hazardous and three protective immunophenotypes remained significant.Moreover,multivariate MR analysis showed that only naive CD4-CD8-T cells%T cells remained causally associated with a risk of IA,while CD19 on IgDt CD38-naive B cells inhibited development of IAs.Conclusions:Our study shows that immune cell traits and IAs are causally correlated,providing a new theoretical framework for understanding immune-IA crosstalk.展开更多
Objective: Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiome has an increasingly important role in human disease and health. Fusobacterium nucleatum has been identified in several studies as the leading gut bact...Objective: Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiome has an increasingly important role in human disease and health. Fusobacterium nucleatum has been identified in several studies as the leading gut bacterium which is present in colorectal cancer (CRC). Still it is not clear if Fusobacterium plays a causal role. Methods: To explore the cause-effect relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer, a systematic review and re-analysis of studies published were performed. The method of the conditio sine qua non relationship was used to proof the hypothesis without Fusobacterium nucleatum infection, no colorectal cancer. The mathematical formula of the causal relationship k was used to proof the hypothesis, whether there is a cause-effect relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer. Significance was indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. Result: The data analyzed support the Null-hypothesis that without Fusobacterium nucleatum infection, no colorectal cancer. In the same respect, the studies analyzed provide highly significant cause-effect relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Fusobacterium (nucleatum) is the cause of colorectal cancer.展开更多
This paper, based on Deming's quality management (QM) theory embodied in ISO 9001, uses structural equation modelling (SEM) in a construction management research. Based on 100 usable responses collected from a na...This paper, based on Deming's quality management (QM) theory embodied in ISO 9001, uses structural equation modelling (SEM) in a construction management research. Based on 100 usable responses collected from a nationwide survey carried out from 14th February to 30th May 2008 on all key players in the Malaysian construction value chain, this paper aims to: (a) validate the dimensions of registration efforts to obtain and maintain ISO 9001 certifications; (b) validate the eight QM principles in ISO 9001 for quality management system (QMS) practices; (c) determine the components of organisational improvements experienced as a result of ISO 9001 certifications in terms of company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and business performance; and (d) investigate the causal relationships among registration efforts, QMS practices, company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, business performance of ISO 9001-certified companies. The knowledge gained from the application of SEM is an important contribution to the body of theoretical literature in QM.展开更多
Background: Many studies documented an association between a Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of human gastric cancer. None of these studies were able to identify Helicobacter pylori as a cause or as ...Background: Many studies documented an association between a Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of human gastric cancer. None of these studies were able to identify Helicobacter pylori as a cause or as the cause of human gastric cancer. The basic relation between gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori still remains uncertain. Objectives: This systematic review and re-analysis of Naomi Uemura et al. available long-term, prospective study of 1526 Japanese patients are performed so that some new and meaningful inference can be drawn. Materials and Methods: Data obtained by Naomi Uemura et al. who conducted a long-term, prospective study of 1526 Japanese patients with a mean follow up about 7.8 years and endoscopy at enrolment and in the following between one and three years after enrolment were reanalysed. Statistical Analysis Used: The method of the conditio sine qua non relationship was used to proof the hypothesis without a Helicobacter pylori infection no development of human gastric cancer. The mathematical formula of the causal relationship was used to proof the hypothesis, whether there is a cause effect relationship between a Helicobacter pylori infection and human gastric cancer. Significance was indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: Based on the data published by Uemura et al. we were able to make evidence that without a Helicobacter pylori infection no development of human gastric cancer. In other words, a Helicobacter pylori infection is a conditio sine qua non of human gastric cancer. In the same respect, the data of Uemura et al. provide significant evidence that a Helicobacter pylori infection is the cause of human gastric cancer. Conclusions: Without a Helicobacter pylori infection of human stomach no development of human gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori is the cause of human gastric cancer (k = +0.07368483, p-value = 0.00399664).展开更多
Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpes virus which persists in memory B cells in the peripheral blood for the lifetime of a person, is accused to be associated with several malignancies. Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL...Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpes virus which persists in memory B cells in the peripheral blood for the lifetime of a person, is accused to be associated with several malignancies. Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) has long been suspected to have an Epstein-Barr virus infection as a causal agent. Some recent studies identified an EBV latent infection to a high degree in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, despite intensive study, the role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Hodgkin lymphoma remains enigmatic. Methods: To explore the cause-effect relationship between EBV and HL and so to understand the role of EBV in HL etiology more clearly, a systematic review and re-analysis of studies published is performed. The method of the conditio per quam relationship was used to proof the hypothesis if Epstein-Barr virus infection (DNA) in human lymph nodes is present then Hodgkin lymphoma is present too. The mathematical formula of the causal relationship k was used to proof the hypothesis, whether there is a cause effect relationship between an Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV DNA) and Hodgkin lymphoma. Significance was indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. Result: The data analyzed support the Null-hypotheses that if Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV DNA) is present in human lymph nodes then Hodgkin lymphoma is present too. In the same respect, the studies analyzed provide highly significant evidence that Epstein-Barr virus the cause of Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Epstein-Barr virus is the cause of Hodgkin’s lymphoma besides of the complexity of Hodgkin’s disease.展开更多
Based on personality trait theory and experiential learning theory,lots of studies have revealed a reverse causal relationship between volunteering and the non-cognitive abilities of college students.Using data from a...Based on personality trait theory and experiential learning theory,lots of studies have revealed a reverse causal relationship between volunteering and the non-cognitive abilities of college students.Using data from a longitudinal survey of college students in Hunan Province,China,this study employed the difference-in-differences method to examine the causal relationship between volunteering and non-cognitive abilities,aiming to determine whether volunteering screens or cultivates the non-cognitive abilities of college students.The findings confirmed the screening effect of volunteering on extraversion and conscientiousness and the cultivating effect on agreeableness.However,there was neither a screening effect nor a cultivating effect on emotional stability and openness.It is indicated that volunteering during college primarily screens the non-cognitive abilities of students through personality trait mechanisms,with a limited cultivating effect on non-cognitive abilities.This highlights the necessity to prompt a re-evaluation of how volunteering fulfills its educational function.展开更多
Universities are highly responsible for knowledge creation and technology development.However,university technology transfer(UTT)is considered a challenge in bringing innovative technologies for commercialization and ...Universities are highly responsible for knowledge creation and technology development.However,university technology transfer(UTT)is considered a challenge in bringing innovative technologies for commercialization and community services.Thus,identifying the barriers and their complex interrelationships that hinder the successful implementation of UTT provides a better understanding of the process,which may be considered as inputs to crucial decision-making initiatives.While this approach is highly relevant in the domain field,it remains a point of departure in the current literature.This paper addresses this gap by holistically determining the UTT barriers and their intertwined relationships.Using the Delphi method and the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory(DEMATEL)to carry out this objective,a case study in a state university in the Philippines is presented in this work.Results show that lack of resources has the strongest causal relationship among the 24 UTT barriers.Whereas,poor marketing/technical/negotiation skills of technology transfer office obtained the highest impacts received and is categorized as the main net effect.These findings are intended to guide various stakeholders in understanding the influence of barriers in the formulation of strategies and initiatives to carry out effectively the UTT process.展开更多
In this paper, we are interested in exploring the dynamic causal relationships among two sets of three variables in different quarters. One set is futures sugar closing price in Zhengzhou futures exchange market (ZC...In this paper, we are interested in exploring the dynamic causal relationships among two sets of three variables in different quarters. One set is futures sugar closing price in Zhengzhou futures exchange market (ZC), spot sugar price in Zhengzhou (ZS) and futures sugar closing price in New York futures exchange market(NC) and the other includes futures sugar opening price in Zhengzhou (ZO), ZS and NC. For each quarter, we first use Bayesian model selection to obtain the optimal causal graph with the highest BD scores and then use Bayesian model averaging approach to explore the causal relationship between every two variables. From the real data analysis, the two conclusions almost coincide, which shows that the two methods are practical.展开更多
Background:The causal relationship between visceral adipose tissue(VAT)and gout is still unclear.We aimed to examine the potential association between them using observational and Mendelian randomization(MR)analyses.M...Background:The causal relationship between visceral adipose tissue(VAT)and gout is still unclear.We aimed to examine the potential association between them using observational and Mendelian randomization(MR)analyses.Methods:In the observational analyses,a total of 11,967 participants(aged 39.5±11.5 years)were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between VAT mass and the risk of gout.In two-sample MR analyses,211 VAT mass-related independent genetic variants(derived from genome-wide association studies in 325,153 UK biobank participants)were used as instrumental variables.The random-effects inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the primary analysis.Additional sensitivity analyses were also performed to validate our results.Results:Observational analyses found that an increase in VAT mass(per standard deviation)was associated with a higher risk of gout after controlling for confounding factors(odds ratio[OR]=1.27,95%confidence intervals[CI]=1.11-1.45).The two-sample MR analyses demonstrated a causal relationship between increased VAT mass and the risk of gout in primary analyses(OR=1.78,95%CI=1.57-2.03).Sensitivity analyses also showed similar findings,including MR-Egger,weighted median,simple mode,weighted mode,and leave-one-out analyses.Conclusions:Observational analyses showed a robust association of VAT mass with the risk of gout.Meanwhile,MR analyses also provided evidence of a causal relationship between them.In summary,our findings suggested that targeted interventions for VAT mass may be beneficial to prevent gout.展开更多
Purpose-As intelligent technology advances,practical applications often involve data with multiple labels.Therefore,multi-label feature selection methods have attracted much attention to extract valuable information.H...Purpose-As intelligent technology advances,practical applications often involve data with multiple labels.Therefore,multi-label feature selection methods have attracted much attention to extract valuable information.However,current methods tend to lack interpretability when evaluating the relationship between different types of variables without considering the potential causal relationship.Design/methodology/approach-To address the above problems,we propose an ensemble causal feature selection method based on mutual information and group fusion strategy(CMIFS)for multi-label data.First,the causal relationship between labels and features is analyzed by local causal structure learning,respectively,to obtain a causal feature set.Second,we eliminate false positive features from the obtained feature set using mutual information to improve the feature subset reliability.Eventually,we employ a group fusion strategy to fuse the obtained feature subsets from multiple data sub-space to enhance the stability of the results.Findings-Experimental comparisons are performed on six datasets to validate that our proposal can enhance the interpretation and robustness of the model compared with other methods in different metrics.Furthermore,the statistical analyses further validate the effectiveness of our approach.Originality/value-The present study makes a noteworthy contribution to proposing a causal feature selection approach based on mutual information to obtain an approximate optimal feature subset for multilabel data.Additionally,our proposal adopts the group fusion strategy to guarantee the robustness of the obtained feature subset.展开更多
文摘Violation of food and drug safety and other hazard crimes have the features of long latency and multiple factors. Traditional criminal law causality theory is no controversy to determine causality of criminal responsibility, thus it is necessary to introduce the epidemiology causality theory-it is a kind of causality theory based on epidemic diseases, and it is the high degree of probability in the determination of causality in criminal laws so as to solve the traditional attribution problem, but the theory also exists applicable restriction conditions in judicial practice.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U22A2099,62273113,62203461,62203365)the Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education under Grant YCBZ2023130by the Guangxi Higher Education Undergraduate Teaching Reform Project Key Project,grant number 2022JGZ130.
文摘The evidential reasoning(ER)rule framework has been widely applied in multi-attribute decision analysis and system assessment to manage uncertainty.However,traditional ER implementations rely on two critical limitations:1)unrealistic assumptions of complete evidence independence,and 2)a lack of mechanisms to differentiate causal relationships from spurious correlations.Existing similarity-based approaches often misinterpret interdependent evidence,leading to unreliable decision outcomes.To address these gaps,this study proposes a causality-enhanced ER rule(CER-e)framework with three key methodological innovations:1)a multidimensional causal representation of evidence to capture dependency structures;2)probabilistic quantification of causal strength using transfer entropy,a model-free information-theoretic measure;3)systematic integration of causal parameters into the ER inference process while maintaining evidential objectivity.The PC algorithm is employed during causal discovery to eliminate spurious correlations,ensuring robust causal inference.Case studies in two types of domains—telecommunications network security assessment and structural risk evaluation—validate CER-e’s effectiveness in real-world scenarios.Under simulated incomplete information conditions,the framework demonstrates superior algorithmic robustness compared to traditional ER.Comparative analyses show that CER-e significantly improves both the interpretability of causal relationships and the reliability of assessment results,establishing a novel paradigm for integrating causal inference with evidential reasoning in complex system evaluation.
基金Project of National Social Science Fund of China(Project No.:23BGJ010)。
文摘This study examines the dynamic interplay between the US Dollar Index(USDI)and gold prices(GP)to assess the sustainability of gold price trends.Employing a rolling window bootstrapping causality test methodology across full and sub-samples,the findings of this study challenge the conventional assumption of a stable long-term inverse correlation between USDI and GP,thereby validating the hypothesis that their relationship is nonlinear and time-dependent.During periods of heightened geopolitical and economic volatility,both the US dollar and gold function as safe-haven assets,with USDI fluctuations exerting a positive influence on GP.Conversely,under stable market conditions,the US dollar serves as the currency in which gold is denominated,resulting in a negative impact of USDI on GP.Notably,GP also demonstrates bidirectional causality,exhibiting both positive and negative effects on USDI.The analysis reveals that while a general inverse correlation persists between gold and the US dollar,this relationship transitions to positive during surges in global political and economic instability.In light of contemporary developments—including escalating geopolitical rivalries,tepid post-pandemic economic recovery,and elevated US interest rates driven by inflationary pressures—this study posit that the upward trajectory of gold prices retains a robust empirical foundation.
基金by grants from the Jiangsu Province 333 High-level Talent Training Project(Grant No.LGY2016010)the Nanjing Science and Technology Development Plan(Grant No.201715003)the Jiangsu Province Six Talent Peaks(Grant No.WSN-030).
文摘Dear Editor,Observational studies in epidemiology have identified a correlation between hypothyroidism and cholelithiasis[1–2].However,the causal relationship between the two diseases remains unclear.To investigate the potential causal relationship,we employed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.
文摘Predicting molecular properties is essential for advancing for advancing drug discovery and design. Recently, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have gained prominence due to their ability to capture the complex structural and relational information inherent in molecular graphs. Despite their effectiveness, the “black-box” nature of GNNs remains a significant obstacle to their widespread adoption in chemistry, as it hinders interpretability and trust. In this context, several explanation methods based on factual reasoning have emerged. These methods aim to interpret the predictions made by GNNs by analyzing the key features contributing to the prediction. However, these approaches fail to answer critical questions: “How to ensure that the structure-property mapping learned by GNNs is consistent with established domain knowledge”. In this paper, we propose MMGCF, a novel counterfactual explanation framework designed specifically for the prediction of GNN-based molecular properties. MMGCF constructs a hierarchical tree structure on molecular motifs, enabling the systematic generation of counterfactuals through motif perturbations. This framework identifies causally significant motifs and elucidates their impact on model predictions, offering insights into the relationship between structural modifications and predicted properties. Our method demonstrates its effectiveness through comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluations of four real-world molecular datasets.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41530634,41822104,42171204)。
文摘The relationship between urbanization and economic development has become a hot topic in the scientific community due to its great practical significance,and economic and social value.However,this relationship continues to change dynamically.In the new stage of urbanization,it is urgent to reveal the causal relationship quantitatively and diagnose the future direction systematically.Based on this,this paper calculates the contribution rate of China’s urbanization to economic development from 1978 to 2019 and uses the panel data cointegration test method to explore the causal relationship between urbanization and economic development in China.The study has three principal results.First,the contribution rate of urbanization to economic growth has maintained the overall growth trend from1978 to 2019,but the growth rate of urbanization’s contribution to economic growth has been relatively low since 2012.It is an important reason that the real estate sector has moved into a new stage of transformation.Second,the cointegration test shows that economic development is a significant factor in advancing urbanization and the urbanization is the product of economic development.Urbanization has a positive feedback effect on economic development,but this effect does not pass the 5%significance level test.The impulse response function shows that the impact of urbanization on economic development is relatively small and stable,indicating that it is limited that the boost of economic development by land-centered urbanization.Third,China’s urbanization and economic development have both shown rapid growth for some time,but their relationship is still the low level of coordination,which has also led to a downward trend in the contribution of new-type,people-oriented urbanization to economic growth in recent years.In the future,China’s urbanization and economy need to maintain relatively medium-low speed growth in the medium-long term,and we should boost the coordinated development of urbanization and economy from low level to high level.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.82374229 and 82172839).
文摘Background:Both eczema and tumor are associated with immune disorders.Although several investigations have observed the rela-tionship between eczema and certain cancers,evidence for causality is lacking.Methods:We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)study to examine and explore the genetic association between eczema and pan-cancers.Upon satisfying the three core assumptions of MR,we analyzed the causality between eczema and 15 site-specific cancers utilizing an inverse variance weighted method.We verified the results through a series of sensitivity and reverse direction analyses.The exposure and outcome datasets were substituted from the FinnGen and genome-wide association studies catalog data-bases.A meta-analysis on primary and validation analyses was performed to combine the estimates of MR study.Results:Based on the MR analysis results,eczema was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer(odds ratio[OR]=1.0427,95%confidence interval[CI]=1.0082–1.0783,P=0.0148)and brain cancer(OR=1.0285,95%CI=1.0120–1.0452,P=0.0007)and de-creased risk of colorectal cancer(OR=0.9324,95%CI=0.8774–0.9909,P=0.0242)and malignant neoplasm of the kidney(OR=0.9323,95%CI=0.8834–0.9839,P=0.0108).The sensitivity analysis indicated that the results were stable and reliable,and the reverse MR analyses demonstrated no causation between the cancers of interest and eczema.Conclusions:Our results identified eczema as a genetic risk factor for lung and brain cancer and a protective factor for colorectal cancer and malignant neoplasm of the kidney.No connection was observed between eczema and other cancers.Further evidence from epide-miological and mechanistic studies is needed to elucidate these findings in detail.
文摘BACKGROUND Vitamin deficiencies are linked to various eye diseases,and the influence of vitamin D on cataract formation has been noted in prior research.However,detailed investigations into the causal relationship between 25-(OH)D status and cataract development remain scarce.AIM To explore a possible causal link between cataracts and vitamin D.METHODS In this study,we explored the causal link between 25-(OH)D levels and cataract development using Mendelian randomization.Our analytical approach included inverse-variance weighting(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median,simple mode,and weighted mode methods.The primary analyses utilized IVW with random effects,supplemented by sensitivity and heterogeneity tests using both IVW and MR-Egger.MR-Egger was also applied for pleiotropy testing.Additionally,a leave-one-out analysis helped identify potentially impactful single-nucleotide polymorphisms.RESULTS The analysis revealed a positive association between 25-(OH)D levels and the risk of developing cataracts(OR=1.11,95%CI:1.00-1.22;P=0.032).The heterogeneity test revealed that our IVW analysis exhibited minimal heterogeneity(P>0.05),and the pleiotropy test findings confirmed the absence of pleiotropy within our IVW analysis(P>0.05).Furthermore,a search of the human genotype-phenotype association database failed to identify any potentially relevant risk-factor single nucleotide polymorphisms.CONCLUSION There is a potential causal link between 25-(OH)D levels and the development of cataracts,suggesting that greater 25-(OH)D levels may be a contributing risk factor for cataract formation.Further experimental research is required to confirm these findings.
基金the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation of China,No.23ZR1447800and the Fengxian District Science and Technology Commission Project,China,No.20211838.
文摘BACKGROUND Previous research has highlighted correlations between blood cell counts and chronic liver disease.Nonetheless,the causal relationships remain unknown.AIM To evaluate the causal effect of blood cell traits on liver enzymes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)risk.METHODS Independent genetic variants strongly associated with blood cell traits were extracted from a genome-wide association study(GWAS)conducted by the Blood Cell Consortium.Summary-level data for liver enzymes were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank.NAFLD data were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis(8434 cases and 770180 controls,discovery dataset)and the Fingen GWAS(2275 cases and 372727 controls,replication dataset).This analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted method,followed by various sensitivity analyses.RESULTS One SD increase in the genetically predicted haemoglobin concentration(HGB)was associated with aβof 0.0078(95%CI:0.0059-0.0096),0.0108(95%CI:0.0080-0.0136),0.0361(95%CI:0.0156-0.0567),and 0.0083(95%CI:00046-0.0121)for alkaline phosphatase(ALP),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase,and gammaglutamyl transferase,respectively.Genetically predicted haematocrit was associated with ALP(β=0.0078,95%CI:0.0052-0.0104)and ALT(β=0.0057,95%CI:0.0039-0.0075).Genetically determined HGB and the reticulocyte fraction of red blood cells increased the risk of NAFLD[odds ratio(OR)=1.199,95%CI:1.087-1.322]and(OR=1.157,95%CI:1.071-1.250).The results of the sensitivity analyses remained significant.CONCLUSION Novel causal blood cell traits related to liver enzymes and NAFLD development were revealed through Mendelian randomization analysis,which may facilitate the diagnosis and prevention of NAFLD.
文摘Objective: Utilizing Mendelian Randomization, this study employs Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables to explore the causal relationships between bibulosity, smoking, and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG). Methods: GWAS data for bibulosity, smoking, and POAG were obtained from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium website and the IEU OpenGWAS Project website, respectively. Using a P-value threshold of −8, a linkage disequilibrium coefficient (r2) of 0.001, and a linkage disequilibrium region width of 10,000 kb, the data were aggregated, resulting in 6 SNPs for bibulosity and 253 SNPs for smoking. Three regression models, MR-Egger, Weighted Median Estimator (WME), and Random-Effects Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) were applied to analyze the causal impact of bibulosity and smoking on POAG. Results: The GWAS data for alcohol consumption and smoking were derived from European populations, while the GWAS data for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) were sourced from East Asian populations, with no gender restrictions. Analysis using three different regression models revealed that neither excessive alcohol consumption nor smoking significantly increased the risk of developing POAG. Specifically, the odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the alcohol consumption group were 0.854 (0.597 - 1.221) in MR-Egger regression, 0.922 (0.691 - 1.231) in WME regression, and 0.944 (0.711 - 1.252) in IVW regression. For the smoking group, the odds ratios were 1.146 (0.546 - 2.406) in MR-Egger regression, 0.850 (0.653 - 1.111) in WME regression, and 0.939 (0.780 - 1.131) in IVW regression. Given the significant heterogeneity in the SNPs associated with smoking, the focus was primarily on the results from the IVW regression model. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption and smoking are not significant risk factors for the development of POAG.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82027802,82102220)Research Funding on Translational Medicine from Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission(Z221100007422023)+5 种基金Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support(YGLX202325)Non-profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical(2023-JKCS-09)Beijing Association for Science and Technology Youth Talent Support Program(BYESS2022081)Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation(7244510)Science and Technology Innovation Service Capacity Building Project of Beijing Municipal Education Commission(11000023T000002157177)Outstanding Young Talents Program of Capital Medical University(B2305).
文摘Background:Immune cells have been detected in intracranial aneurysms(IAs).However,the causal effect of immune cell phenotypes on IAs remains unclear and difficult to comprehensively analyze.Methods:Instrumental variables for 731 immunophenotypes were extracted from publicly available genetic databases.The influence of these immune cell traits on IAs was evaluated using the Mendelian randomization(MR)method.Five MR analysis methods,with inverse-variance-weighted as the main method,along with a comprehensive sensitivity analysis,were used to determine reliability of the results.Multivariable MR analysis was performed to correct for interactions between different immune cell phenotypes.Results:Overall,27 immune cell traits exhibited significant causal effects on IAs.Among them,13 immunophenotypes increased the risk of IA progression.Conversely,14 immune cell characteristics might protect against IAs.Following false discovery rate correction,two hazardous and three protective immunophenotypes remained significant.Moreover,multivariate MR analysis showed that only naive CD4-CD8-T cells%T cells remained causally associated with a risk of IA,while CD19 on IgDt CD38-naive B cells inhibited development of IAs.Conclusions:Our study shows that immune cell traits and IAs are causally correlated,providing a new theoretical framework for understanding immune-IA crosstalk.
文摘Objective: Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiome has an increasingly important role in human disease and health. Fusobacterium nucleatum has been identified in several studies as the leading gut bacterium which is present in colorectal cancer (CRC). Still it is not clear if Fusobacterium plays a causal role. Methods: To explore the cause-effect relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer, a systematic review and re-analysis of studies published were performed. The method of the conditio sine qua non relationship was used to proof the hypothesis without Fusobacterium nucleatum infection, no colorectal cancer. The mathematical formula of the causal relationship k was used to proof the hypothesis, whether there is a cause-effect relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer. Significance was indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. Result: The data analyzed support the Null-hypothesis that without Fusobacterium nucleatum infection, no colorectal cancer. In the same respect, the studies analyzed provide highly significant cause-effect relationship between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Fusobacterium (nucleatum) is the cause of colorectal cancer.
文摘This paper, based on Deming's quality management (QM) theory embodied in ISO 9001, uses structural equation modelling (SEM) in a construction management research. Based on 100 usable responses collected from a nationwide survey carried out from 14th February to 30th May 2008 on all key players in the Malaysian construction value chain, this paper aims to: (a) validate the dimensions of registration efforts to obtain and maintain ISO 9001 certifications; (b) validate the eight QM principles in ISO 9001 for quality management system (QMS) practices; (c) determine the components of organisational improvements experienced as a result of ISO 9001 certifications in terms of company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and business performance; and (d) investigate the causal relationships among registration efforts, QMS practices, company competitiveness, customer satisfaction, business performance of ISO 9001-certified companies. The knowledge gained from the application of SEM is an important contribution to the body of theoretical literature in QM.
文摘Background: Many studies documented an association between a Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of human gastric cancer. None of these studies were able to identify Helicobacter pylori as a cause or as the cause of human gastric cancer. The basic relation between gastric cancer and Helicobacter pylori still remains uncertain. Objectives: This systematic review and re-analysis of Naomi Uemura et al. available long-term, prospective study of 1526 Japanese patients are performed so that some new and meaningful inference can be drawn. Materials and Methods: Data obtained by Naomi Uemura et al. who conducted a long-term, prospective study of 1526 Japanese patients with a mean follow up about 7.8 years and endoscopy at enrolment and in the following between one and three years after enrolment were reanalysed. Statistical Analysis Used: The method of the conditio sine qua non relationship was used to proof the hypothesis without a Helicobacter pylori infection no development of human gastric cancer. The mathematical formula of the causal relationship was used to proof the hypothesis, whether there is a cause effect relationship between a Helicobacter pylori infection and human gastric cancer. Significance was indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: Based on the data published by Uemura et al. we were able to make evidence that without a Helicobacter pylori infection no development of human gastric cancer. In other words, a Helicobacter pylori infection is a conditio sine qua non of human gastric cancer. In the same respect, the data of Uemura et al. provide significant evidence that a Helicobacter pylori infection is the cause of human gastric cancer. Conclusions: Without a Helicobacter pylori infection of human stomach no development of human gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori is the cause of human gastric cancer (k = +0.07368483, p-value = 0.00399664).
文摘Objective: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a herpes virus which persists in memory B cells in the peripheral blood for the lifetime of a person, is accused to be associated with several malignancies. Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) has long been suspected to have an Epstein-Barr virus infection as a causal agent. Some recent studies identified an EBV latent infection to a high degree in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, despite intensive study, the role of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Hodgkin lymphoma remains enigmatic. Methods: To explore the cause-effect relationship between EBV and HL and so to understand the role of EBV in HL etiology more clearly, a systematic review and re-analysis of studies published is performed. The method of the conditio per quam relationship was used to proof the hypothesis if Epstein-Barr virus infection (DNA) in human lymph nodes is present then Hodgkin lymphoma is present too. The mathematical formula of the causal relationship k was used to proof the hypothesis, whether there is a cause effect relationship between an Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV DNA) and Hodgkin lymphoma. Significance was indicated by a p-value of less than 0.05. Result: The data analyzed support the Null-hypotheses that if Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV DNA) is present in human lymph nodes then Hodgkin lymphoma is present too. In the same respect, the studies analyzed provide highly significant evidence that Epstein-Barr virus the cause of Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Epstein-Barr virus is the cause of Hodgkin’s lymphoma besides of the complexity of Hodgkin’s disease.
文摘Based on personality trait theory and experiential learning theory,lots of studies have revealed a reverse causal relationship between volunteering and the non-cognitive abilities of college students.Using data from a longitudinal survey of college students in Hunan Province,China,this study employed the difference-in-differences method to examine the causal relationship between volunteering and non-cognitive abilities,aiming to determine whether volunteering screens or cultivates the non-cognitive abilities of college students.The findings confirmed the screening effect of volunteering on extraversion and conscientiousness and the cultivating effect on agreeableness.However,there was neither a screening effect nor a cultivating effect on emotional stability and openness.It is indicated that volunteering during college primarily screens the non-cognitive abilities of students through personality trait mechanisms,with a limited cultivating effect on non-cognitive abilities.This highlights the necessity to prompt a re-evaluation of how volunteering fulfills its educational function.
基金supported by the 2019 GAA Research Grant of the Cebu Technological University
文摘Universities are highly responsible for knowledge creation and technology development.However,university technology transfer(UTT)is considered a challenge in bringing innovative technologies for commercialization and community services.Thus,identifying the barriers and their complex interrelationships that hinder the successful implementation of UTT provides a better understanding of the process,which may be considered as inputs to crucial decision-making initiatives.While this approach is highly relevant in the domain field,it remains a point of departure in the current literature.This paper addresses this gap by holistically determining the UTT barriers and their intertwined relationships.Using the Delphi method and the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory(DEMATEL)to carry out this objective,a case study in a state university in the Philippines is presented in this work.Results show that lack of resources has the strongest causal relationship among the 24 UTT barriers.Whereas,poor marketing/technical/negotiation skills of technology transfer office obtained the highest impacts received and is categorized as the main net effect.These findings are intended to guide various stakeholders in understanding the influence of barriers in the formulation of strategies and initiatives to carry out effectively the UTT process.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant(No.11371062,11671338)Beijing Center for Mathematics and Information Interdisciplinary Science and UIBE NetworkingCollaboration Center for China’s Multinational Business(No.201504YY006A)
文摘In this paper, we are interested in exploring the dynamic causal relationships among two sets of three variables in different quarters. One set is futures sugar closing price in Zhengzhou futures exchange market (ZC), spot sugar price in Zhengzhou (ZS) and futures sugar closing price in New York futures exchange market(NC) and the other includes futures sugar opening price in Zhengzhou (ZO), ZS and NC. For each quarter, we first use Bayesian model selection to obtain the optimal causal graph with the highest BD scores and then use Bayesian model averaging approach to explore the causal relationship between every two variables. From the real data analysis, the two conclusions almost coincide, which shows that the two methods are practical.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82102199 and 82301768)the Pudong New Area Clinical Plateau Discipline Project(No.PWYgy2021-03)the general program of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning(No.202040479).
文摘Background:The causal relationship between visceral adipose tissue(VAT)and gout is still unclear.We aimed to examine the potential association between them using observational and Mendelian randomization(MR)analyses.Methods:In the observational analyses,a total of 11,967 participants(aged 39.5±11.5 years)were included from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between VAT mass and the risk of gout.In two-sample MR analyses,211 VAT mass-related independent genetic variants(derived from genome-wide association studies in 325,153 UK biobank participants)were used as instrumental variables.The random-effects inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the primary analysis.Additional sensitivity analyses were also performed to validate our results.Results:Observational analyses found that an increase in VAT mass(per standard deviation)was associated with a higher risk of gout after controlling for confounding factors(odds ratio[OR]=1.27,95%confidence intervals[CI]=1.11-1.45).The two-sample MR analyses demonstrated a causal relationship between increased VAT mass and the risk of gout in primary analyses(OR=1.78,95%CI=1.57-2.03).Sensitivity analyses also showed similar findings,including MR-Egger,weighted median,simple mode,weighted mode,and leave-one-out analyses.Conclusions:Observational analyses showed a robust association of VAT mass with the risk of gout.Meanwhile,MR analyses also provided evidence of a causal relationship between them.In summary,our findings suggested that targeted interventions for VAT mass may be beneficial to prevent gout.
基金supported by the Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant No.62376114)the Nature Science Foundation of Fujian Province(Grant No.2021J011004,No.2021J011002)+1 种基金the Ministry of Education Industry-University-Research Innovation Program(Grant No.2021LDA09003)the Department of Education Foundation of Fujian Province(No.JAT210266)。
文摘Purpose-As intelligent technology advances,practical applications often involve data with multiple labels.Therefore,multi-label feature selection methods have attracted much attention to extract valuable information.However,current methods tend to lack interpretability when evaluating the relationship between different types of variables without considering the potential causal relationship.Design/methodology/approach-To address the above problems,we propose an ensemble causal feature selection method based on mutual information and group fusion strategy(CMIFS)for multi-label data.First,the causal relationship between labels and features is analyzed by local causal structure learning,respectively,to obtain a causal feature set.Second,we eliminate false positive features from the obtained feature set using mutual information to improve the feature subset reliability.Eventually,we employ a group fusion strategy to fuse the obtained feature subsets from multiple data sub-space to enhance the stability of the results.Findings-Experimental comparisons are performed on six datasets to validate that our proposal can enhance the interpretation and robustness of the model compared with other methods in different metrics.Furthermore,the statistical analyses further validate the effectiveness of our approach.Originality/value-The present study makes a noteworthy contribution to proposing a causal feature selection approach based on mutual information to obtain an approximate optimal feature subset for multilabel data.Additionally,our proposal adopts the group fusion strategy to guarantee the robustness of the obtained feature subset.