Understanding linear interaction analysis with causal graphs.

Interaction analysis using linear regression is widely employed in psychology and related fields, yet it often induces confusion among applied researchers and students. This paper aims to address this confusion by developing intuitive visual explanations based on causal graphs. By leveraging causal graphs with distinct interaction nodes, we provide clear insights into interpreting main effects in the presence of interaction, the rationale behind centering to reduce multicollinearity, and other pertinent topics.

Two new species and one newly recorded species of the genus Chilo Zincken, 1817 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from China, with a list of Chinese species.

Three species of the genus Chilo are studied in China. Chilo argenteus sp. nov.

Taxonomy of the genus Calamotropha Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Crambinae) from China.

Thirty species of the genus Calamotropha Zeller, 1863 from China are reviewed. Five species are described as new: C. bleszynskii Kim & Li, sp.

Fabrication of Large-Area Mullite-Cordierite Composite Substrates for Semiconductor Probe Cards and Enhancement of Their Reliability.

This work aims to fabricate a large-area ceramic substrate for the application of probe cards. Mullite (M) and cordierite (C), which both have a low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent resistance to thermal shock, and high durability, were selected as starting powders. The mullite-cordierite composites were produced through different composition ratios of starting powders (M:C = 100:0, M:C = 90:10, M:C = 70:30, M:C = 50:50, M:C = 30:70, and M:C = 0:100).

Adsorption characteristics of citric acid on Fe3O4 (001), (011), and (111) surfaces.

Magnetite (001), (011), and (111) surfaces were the focus of our study. Magnetite (001) surface has two different terminations, that is, Fe and 2Fe4O. Magnetite (011) surface has two different terminations, that is, 2Fe4O and 2Fe2Fe4O.

Causal graphical views of fixed effects and random effects models.

Despite the long-standing discussion on fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) models, how and under what conditions both methods can eliminate unmeasured confounding bias has not yet been widely understood in practice. Using a simple pretest-posttest design in a linear setting, this paper translates the conventional algebraic formalization of FE and RE models into causal graphs and provides intuitively accessible graphical explanations about their data-generating and bias-removing processes. The proposed causal graphs highlight that FE and RE models consider different data-generating models.

Analysis of the serial circulating tumor cell count during neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

We evaluated the prognostic implications of the circulating tumor cell (CTC) count in non-metastatic, HER2-negative breast cancer patients who failed to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). A total of 173, non-metastatic breast cancer patients treated with NCT were prospectively enrolled. CTCs were obtained from blood drawn pre-NCT and post-NCT using a SMART BIOPSY SYSTEM isolation kit (Cytogen Inc.

High-Sensitivity Pixels with a Quad-WRGB Color Filter and Spatial Deep-Trench Isolation.

The demand for a high-resolution metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor has increased in recent years, and pixel size has shrunk below 1.0 μm to allow accumulation of numerous pixels in a limited area. However, shrinking the pixel size lowers the sensitivity and increases crosstalk because the aspect ratio is worsened by maintaining the height of the pixel.

The effects of pain scrambler therapy on the pain and quality of life of degenerative gonarthritis patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of pain scrambler therapy on the pain and quality of life of degenerative gonarthritis patients. [Subject and Methods] This study is a single case study. Pain scrambler therapy was applied for 40 minutes per session once a day for 15 days to a 62-year-old female patient diagnosed with degenerative gonarthritis.

The effect of actively induced vibration using shoulder joint on pain and dysfunction in patients with low back pain.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effect of a Flexi-Bar exercise program with vibration stimulation on pain and dysfunction in patients with low back pain. [Subjects and Methods] This study included 30 patients with low back pain. The participants were divided into a control (n=15) group and an experimental group (n=15).

Effect of pain scrambler therapy on antineuralgic pain and quality of life after shingles.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pain scrambler therapy on antineuralgic pain and quality of life after shingles. [Subjects and Methods] Daily pain scrambler therapy was administered to antineuralgic patients for 10 days, with each session lasting approximately 40 minutes. Pain was measured using the visual analog scale, and quality of life was assessed with the short form 36-item (SF-36).

Graphical Models for Quasi-experimental Designs.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs like regression discontinuity (RD) designs, instrumental variable (IV) designs, and matching and propensity score (PS) designs are frequently used for inferring causal effects. It is well known that the features of these designs facilitate the identification of a causal estimand and, thus, warrant a causal interpretation of the estimated effect. In this article, we discuss and compare the identifying assumptions of quasi-experiments using causal graphs.

The effects of visual control whole body vibration exercise on balance and gait function of stroke patients.

[Purpose] This study aims to verify the effects of visual control whole body vibration exercise on balance and gait function of stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 22 stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups; 11 to the experimental group and 11 to the control group. Both groups received 30 minutes of Neuro-developmental treatment 5 times per week for 4 weeks.

The effect of combined exercise with slings and a flexi-bar on muscle activity and pain in rotator cuff repair patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of combined exercise with slings and a Flexi-Bar on muscle activity and pain in rotator cuff repair patients. [Subjects and Methods] This research evaluated 20 rotator cuff repair patients divided randomly into groups of 10 as the control group and the experimental group. The experimental group performed combined exercise with slings and a Flexi-Bar.

The Mechanics of Omitted Variable Bias: Bias Amplification and Cancellation of Offsetting Biases.

Causal inference with observational data frequently requires researchers to estimate treatment effects conditional on a set of observed covariates, hoping that they remove or at least reduce the confounding bias. Using a simple linear (regression) setting with two confounders - one observed (), the other unobserved () - we demonstrate that conditioning on the observed confounder does not necessarily imply that the confounding bias decreases, even if is highly correlated with . That is, adjusting for may increase instead of reduce the omitted variable bias (OVB).

Identifying Causal Estimands for Time-Varying Treatments Measured with Time-Varying (Age or Grade-Based) Instruments.

This commentary discusses causal estimands of same-age and same-grade comparisons for assessing grade-retention effects on student ability and performance. Using potential outcomes notation, we show that same-age and same-grade comparisons refer to different retention-promotion contrasts and therefore assess different causal questions. We also comment on deleting versus censoring records of students who dropped out of the study or do not belong to the treatment regimes under investigation.

The effect of flexi-bar exercise with vibration on trunk muscle thickness and balance in university students in their twenties.

[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of Flexi-Bar exercise with vibration on trunk muscle thickness and balance in university students in their twenties. [Subjects and Methods] This research evaluated 26 university students in their twenties, equally and randomly divided into two groups. Both the experimental and control groups used an ordinary pole for exercise.

Characteristics and Mechanism of Cu Films Fabricated at Room Temperature by Aerosol Deposition.

We were successful in growing a dense Cu film on Al2O3 substrates at room temperature using an aerosol deposition (AD) method. The characteristics of Cu films were investigated through electrical resistivity and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The resistivity of Cu films was low (9.

Quasi-Experimental Designs for Causal Inference.

When randomized experiments are infeasible, quasi-experimental designs can be exploited to evaluate causal treatment effects. The strongest quasi-experimental designs for causal inference are regression discontinuity designs, instrumental variable designs, matching and propensity score designs, and comparative interrupted time series designs. This article introduces for each design the basic rationale, discusses the assumptions required for identifying a causal effect, outlines methods for estimating the effect, and highlights potential validity threats and strategies for dealing with them.

Effect of a virtual reality exercise program accompanied by cognitive tasks on the balance and gait of stroke patients.

[Purpose] This study aimed to assess the effect of a virtual reality exercise program accompanied by cognitive tasks on the balance and gait of stroke patients. [Subjects] Twenty stroke patients were randomly assigned to two groups 10 to an experimental group that performed a virtual reality exercise program accompanied by cognitive tasks and 10 to a control group. The control group performed a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation exercise program.

Effects of horse-riding exercise on balance, gait, and activities of daily living in stroke patients.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effects of horse-riding exercise on balance, gait, and activities of daily living (ADLs) in stroke patients. [Subjects] Among 20 participants with stroke, 10 were randomly assigned to the experimental group, and 10 were randomly assigned to the control group. The experimental group participated in horse-riding exercise for 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

Effects of Low-intensity Pulsed Ultrasound and Cryotherapy on Recovery of Joint Function and C-reactive Protein Levels in Patients after Total Knee Replacement Surgery.

[Purpose] We investigated the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and cryotherapy on joint function recovery and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of patients with total knee replacement. [Subjects] Forty-six patients with total knee replacement were recruited and allocated to either low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy (n=15), cryotherapy (n=15), or a combination of both (n=16). Therapy was administered once a day, 5 times a week for 3 weeks.

Genome-scale analysis of ABC transporter genes and characterization of the ABCC type transporter genes in Magnaporthe oryzae.

Rapid adaptation to various environmental stresses is a prerequisite for successful infection in fungal pathogens. ABC transporters are responsible for regulating intracellular levels of cytotoxic or xenobiotic compounds, suggesting a crucial role in pathogenesis. Here, we report genome-scale identification of putative ABC transporter genes in Magnaporthe oryzae.

Pamapimod, a novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor: preclinical analysis of efficacy and selectivity.

P38alpha is a protein kinase that regulates the expression of inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus. Here, we describe the preclinical pharmacology of pamapimod, a novel p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor. Pamapimod inhibited p38alpha and p38beta enzymatic activity, with IC(50) values of 0.