Robust Estimation Research Articles

Determinants of Banks Profitability: Evidence from Nigeria Banking Industry

The study, investigated determinants of banks profitability in Nigeria. Other studies in this area concentrated on other profitability notions, this study incorporated Economic Value Added (EVA). Due to the presence of endogeneity problems inherent in most panel data sets of this nature we employed a two-step system GMM estimator to produce a robust estimation and account for the endogeneity problem in the data. The study revealed that bank size has a positive and significant impact on all measures of bank profitability with the exception of Net Interest Margin (NIM). This result remained consistent after macroeconomic factors were introduced in the model. The outcome also indicated that capital adequacy significantly explains bank profitability in Nigeria, with a sign change in the case of Economic Value Added (EVA) only. It was also evident that financial structure (FS) has a positive and significant impact on Return on Assets (ROA), NIM, and EVA but no evidence of significant relationship was found with ROE. The result indicated that liquidity risk (LR) has a negative and significant impact on ROA and EVA but failed to provide a significant impact on ROE and NIM. The result of the macroeconomic factors included in the model indicated that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has a positive and significant impact on NIM and EVA while no significant relationship was found when related to ROA and ROE. Inflation as a macroeconomic variable showed a significant relationship with ROA and ROE with no evidence of significant relationship with NIM and EVA. It was concluded that the impact of firm specific factors and macroeconomic variables on the profitability of the Nigerian banking sector differ according to the profitability measure employed.

Estimation of Malondialdehyde Content in Medicago truncatula under Salt Stress Based on Multi-Order Spectral Transformation Characteristics

Salt stress is a significant abiotic factor affecting the growth and development of alfalfa. Malondialdehyde (MDA) serves as a critical biomarker for assessing alfalfa’s salt tolerance. Traditional methods for measuring MDA are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. Recent advances in remote sensing technology have made non-destructive estimation of metabolites feasible, positioning the accurate estimation of MDA content in alfalfa as a key focus in intelligent breeding. To address the challenge of detecting subtle changes in MDA content, this study developed a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model specifically for Medicago truncatula. This study utilized leaf reflectance hyperspectral data across the visible near-infrared–shortwave infrared (VIR-NIR-SWIR) spectrum, applying multi-order spectral transformation methods, including continuous wavelet transform (CWT), fractional differential (FD), and multi-granularity spectral segmentation (MGSS). Feature selection techniques, such as sequential forward selection (SFS), Least-Squares Boosting (LSBoost), and feature selection using neighborhood component analysis for regression (FSRNCA), were employed to enhance the efficiency of the MDA estimation. The findings revealed that the optimal PLSR model for MDA estimation was achieved by integrating CWT features across orders 1–30 with the SFS method. This model demonstrated robust estimation capabilities under varying salt stress conditions, significantly outperforming the original spectral data (R2 = 0.654, RMSE = 22.567 vs. R2 = 0.242, RMSE = 33.411). A comparative analysis of feature selection methods confirmed that SFS was the most effective for estimating MDA content in alfalfa. These results provide valuable insights and methodologies for MDA estimation and evaluating salt tolerance in alfalfa.

Oman’s Green Horizon: Steering Towards Sustainability Through Decarbonization and Energy Transition

This paper examines the determinants of CO2 emissions in Oman from 1990 to 2024, focusing on the impacts of energy consumption, economic growth, urbanization, financial development, and foreign direct investment. The analysis utilizes stepwise regression to systematically identify the most significant predictors, ensuring a parsimonious model. Robust least squares (ROLSs) are employed to account for potential outliers and heteroscedasticity in the data, providing more reliable estimates. Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLSs) is applied to address issues of endogeneity and serial correlation, offering robust long-term coefficient estimates. Canonical cointegrating regression (CCR) further refines these estimates by handling non-stationary variables and ensuring consistency in the presence of cointegration. Cointegration tests, including the Johansen and Engle–Granger methods, confirm long-term equilibrium relationships among the variables; this study reveals several key findings. Energy use per capita (ENGY) and real GDP per capita (RGDPC) are consistently significant positive predictors of CO2 emissions. Urbanization (URB) also significantly contributes to higher emissions. Conversely, the Financial Development Index (FDX) and foreign direct investment (FDI) do not show significant effects on CO2 levels. The high R-squared values across models indicate that these variables explain a substantial portion of the variation in emissions. Cointegration tests confirm long-term equilibrium relationships among the variables, with the Johansen test identifying two cointegrating equations and the Engle–Granger test showing significant tau-statistics for FDX, ENGY, and URB. The VEC model further highlights the short-term dynamics and adjustment mechanisms. These findings underscore the importance of energy policy, economic development, and urban planning in Oman’s efforts towards sustainable development and decarbonization.

Questionnaire surveys to investigate marine mammal fisheries bycatch: systematic review and best practice

Bycatch is the most significant threat to marine mammals globally. There are increasing requirements for national governments to fulfil their obligations to international agreements and treaties to assess fisheries catch and bycatch of non-target species. Questionnaire surveys represent one low-cost method to collect data to estimate fisheries catch and bycatch of vulnerable species including marine mammals. Questionnaire surveys can be particularly advantageous when bycatch is being investigated on large spatial and temporal scales, or in data-poor areas. This review aims to provide the necessary guidance required to design and conduct questionnaire studies investigating marine mammal bycatch. To do so, a systematic review was conducted of the methods used in 91 peer-reviewed or grey literature questionnaire studies from 1990 to 2023 investigating marine mammal bycatch. Literature was searched, screened, and analysed following the RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) protocols. A narrative synthesis and critical evaluation of the methods used were conducted and best practice recommendations are proposed. The recommendations include suggestions for how to generate representative samples, the steps that should be followed when designing a questionnaire instrument, how to collect reliable data, how to reduce under-reporting and interviewer bias, and how weighting or model-based bycatch estimation techniques can be used to reduce sampling bias. The review’s guidance and best practice recommendations provide much-needed resources to develop and employ questionnaire studies that produce robust bycatch estimates for marine mammal populations where they are currently missing. Recommendations can be used by scientists and decision-makers across the globe. Whilst the focus of this review is on using questionnaires to investigate marine mammal bycatch, the information and recommendations will also be useful for those investigating bycatch of any other non-target species.

Association between SMOFlipid and impaired brain development on term-equivalent age brain magnetic resonance imaging in very preterm infants

Soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOFlipid) is used without evidence of benefits. We investigated the relationship between lipid emulsions and brain injury in term-equivalent age magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 148 very preterm infants with a birth weight of < 1500 g at ≤ 32 gestational weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit. Infants who received soybean-based lipid emulsions between January 2015 and December 2018 were compared with those who received SMOFlipids between January 2019 and December 2022. A negative binomial generalized linear model was applied for bivariate analysis. Modified log-Poisson regression with generalized linear models and a robust variance estimator (Huber–White) were applied to adjust for potential confounders. The Kidokoro score was used to determine if lipid emulsion type would affect brain morphology and growth at term-equivalent age. Eighty-six (58.9%) received SMOFlipid. SMOFlipid was associated with lower focal signal abnormality, myelination delay, increased extracerebral space, and cerebellar volume reduction (P = 0.02, P = 0.007, P = 0.01, P = 0.02, respectively). SMOFlipidis are associated with brain insult, especially in white matter, cortical gray matter, and the cerebellum. Well-designed studies are needed to investigate the effect of lipid emulsions on the central nervous system.

A Meta-Analytic Review of Personality and Teacher-Student Relationships.

This meta-analysis provides the first comprehensive synthesis of associations between student and teacher personality traits and the quality of teacher-student relationships. Fifty-five studies met the eligibility criteria, contributing a total of 238 effect sizes. We used multivariate meta-analysis with robust variance estimation (RVE) to model the dependency of effect sizes. Student prosocial behavior (ρ = 0.59) and proactive personality (ρ = 0.48) were the strongest predictors of positive teacher-student relationship quality. All Big Five traits of students, except neuroticism, showed significant positive associations, with all correlations exceeding 0.4 when holding constant with all other moderators. Teacher agreeableness (ρ = 0.31) and conscientiousness (ρ = 0.29) yielded modest associations. Students with less emotional stability or aggressive behaviors were more likely to experience negative teacher-student relationships, such as conflict and dependency. Our findings highlight the critical role of student personality in explaining the quality of teacher-student interactions. Multiple traits appear equally important, as indicated by comparable effect sizes. The literature is relatively limited when it comes to teacher personality. We were unable to examine teacher traits in relation to teacher-student conflict and dependency, but, overall, agreeable and conscientious teacher behaviors appeared to be important for favorable interactions, whereas teacher neuroticism may undermine the quality of such interactions.

Combined Assessment of Function and Survival to Demonstrate the Effect of Treatment on Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder for which there are currently no disease-modifying treatments. Recent trials of potential therapies had durations of 12 months, which may be insufficient because of nonrandom missingness due to death. Longer durations, incorporating PSP Rating Scale and survival, can reduce the potential for type II error. Selecting efficacy measures more sensitive to disease modification may facilitate identification of treatment effect. The objective of this study was to evaluate the simulated phase 3 PSP trial assessing the effect of disease-modifying intervention on a novel combined primary endpoint comprising function (PSP Rating Scale) and survival, the Combined Assessment of Function and Survival (CAFS), and to determine operating characteristics of the CAFS. To simulate PSP progression in the trial population, we developed models of PSP Rating Scale and survival using data from published clinical studies. These models were used to define operating characteristics of the CAFS for use in a phase 3 trial. The sample size determined (N = 384; 1:1 randomization) would provide >80% power to detect significant treatment effects on the CAFS compared with placebo. The CAFS provides good operating characteristics and increased power to detect moderate treatment effects on the PSP Rating Scale. We propose a trial design allowing potential detection of treatment effects at a preplanned interim analysis after participants complete 12 months of treatment, with assessment of effects of treatment (≤24 months) on survival. Use of the CAFS could provide a comprehensive and robust estimate of the clinical benefit of future therapies. © 2024 UCB. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Regional frequency analysis of extreme wind in Pakistan using robust estimation methods

The quantile estimates of extreme wind speed are needed for various areas of interest using regional frequency analysis (RFA) and extreme value theory. These calculations are crucial for the coding of wind speed. The data was taken from the NASA official website at a 10-meter distance and measured in meters per second (m/s). RFA of annual maximum wind speed (AMWS) using L-moments is performed utilizing annual maximum wind speed data from sixteen sites (16) in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. There are no sites that are found to be discordant. The wards method is used to construct a homogenous region and make two homogenous regions from 16 sites. The heterogeneity test justifies that both clusters are homogeneous. The most appropriate probability distribution from the Generalized Normal (GNO), Generalized Logistic (GLO), Pearson Type-3 (P3), Generalized Pareto (GPA), and Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distributions is chosen to calculate regional quantiles. According to the L-moments diagram and Z statistics, the GEV for Cluster- Ι and GLO for Cluster- ΙΙ are the best suggestions from the others. Both clusters’ robustness is measured utilizing relative bias (RB) and relative root mean square error (RRMSE). Overall, GEV distribution is fit for cluster-Ι, and the GLO distribution is fit for cluster-ΙΙ. Utilizing the site mean and median as index parameters, we can also find at-site quantiles from regional quantiles. The study’s quantile estimates can be employed in codified structural designs with policy consequences.

IPTW and DR Estimators: Advancing towards the Adoption of Methodologies for Estimating Causal Treatment Effects in Observational Studies

The propensity score refers to the likelihood of a subject being selected for intervention, given their observed baseline covariates. By assigning different weights to academic disciplines based on the reciprocal probability of receiving treatment, there will be a synthetic sample where the assignment of treatment is not influenced by baseline factors that were measured. Utilizing inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) through the propensity score enables people to assemble unbiased or objective estimates regarding average treatment effects. In order to estimate the causal relationship between an exposure and an outcome, the second notion of doubly robust estimation combines an outcome regression with a propensity score model. Only when the statistical model is appropriately stated can unbiased estimates be obtained using the propensity score approach and outcome regression separately. However, even if only one of the two models is correctly specified, an unbiased estimator for the effect can be obtained by employing the doubly robust estimator. This introduction to inverse probability of treatment weighting and doubly robust estimators includes conceptual overviews, an application to students’ performance in high school, as well as discussions based on the project.

Tightly coupled stereo vision-inertial odometry based on point and line feature

Abstract To improve the accuracy and robustness of visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in low-texture environments, this paper proposes a robust and fast stereo vision inertial SLAM pose estimation method that combines point and line features with an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The method tightly couples visual point and line features with IMU constraints, forming a least-squares problem through the error of each constraint term for nonlinear optimization. To address the issues of over-segmentation and time consumption in traditional line segment detection (LSD) algorithms, an improved LSD algorithm is adopted to accelerate line feature extraction. This approach merges nearby line segments based on spatial geometric relationships and filters out invalid segments, improving the time efficiency of the algorithm. Finally, experiments conducted in low-texture environments demonstrate that our algorithm achieves high localization accuracy and robustness.

Population trends and demographic disparities in sexual identity in Stockholm County, 2010 to 2021

Abstract Background Sexual identity, linked to experiences of disadvantage and discrimination, is crucial in equality monitoring. Sweden’s gender-neutral marriage laws, introduced in 2009, provide a unique context. This study examines the population trends and demographic disparities in sexual identity over time. Methods We analyzed three population surveys (2010, 2014, 2021) from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, including around 50,000 individuals per survey. Sexual identity was assessed via self-administered questionnaires. Demographic data were sourced from Swedish national registers. Weighted multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance estimators was used to identify demographic disparities in sexual identity. Results were presented as proportion ratio (PR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Overall, 29,607 (2010), 20,249 (2014), and 22,558 (2021) individuals reported sexual identity. Heterosexual identity decreased from 95.7% (95% CI 95.4-96.0%) in 2010 to 89.0% (88.5-89.4%) in 2021, while bisexual identity increased from 1.4% (1.2-1.6%) in 2010 to 2.0% (1.8-2.3%) in 2014, and further up to 2.7% (2.4-2.9%) in 2021. Homosexual identity increased slightly from 1.5% (1.4-1.7%) in 2010 to 1.8% (1.6-2.0%) in 2021. Multivariate analyses showed that female, older age, and lower education were inversely associated, while never-married status and living alone were positively associated, with homosexual identity. In contrast, female, younger age, lower income (100 SEK/year) ( &amp;lt; =2,500 vs &amp;gt; 4,500: 2010: PR 3.32 [95% CI 1.92-5.75]; 2014: 1.83 [1.28-2.60]; 2021: 1.51 [1.14-2.01]), and never-married status (never vs currently married: 2010: 2.03 [1.47-2.80]; 2014: 1.92 [1.39-2.65]; 2021: 1.50 [1.15-1.95]) were positively associated with bisexual identity. Conclusions Heterosexual identity decreased while homosexual/bisexual identities increased in Stockholm County during 2010-2021. Socioeconomic disparities persist in sexual minorities and vary by sexual identity. Key messages • Marked socioeconomic disparities persist in sexual minorities and vary by sexual identity in Stockholm County, although income and marital status disparities in bisexual group seem narrowing. • Future studies are warranted to investigate the social dynamics that continue to produce sexual minority disadvantages.

Long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in women with severe coronary artery disease

Abstract Background The optimal revascularization strategy for severe coronary artery disease (CAD) in women remains controversial. Despite differences between women and men in the development of CAD, there remains a paucity of comparative real-world observational evidence comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in women. Purpose We evaluated short and long-term outcomes of PCI and CABG in women with severe CAD. Methods We conducted a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study using linked clinical and administrative databases in Ontario, Canada to obtain records of women with left main, 3-vessel disease, or 2-vessel disease with proximal left anterior descending artery involvement undergoing PCI or CABG from April 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2021. Patients who were &amp;gt;80 years of age and patients who underwent urgent or emergent procedures were excluded for the primary analysis. The primary outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, repeat revascularization, and death (MACCE). Secondary outcomes included the individual components of MACCE and a composite of readmission for MI, heart failure, and stroke. Following multiple imputation and propensity score-matching, the Cox proportional hazards model and Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard model with robust variance estimators accounting for death as a competing risk were used to evaluate long-term outcomes. Results In the primary cohort, 2469 patients underwent PCI and 3,721 patients underwent CABG. After propensity score matching, including by coronary disease territory, 2,033 well-balanced pairs were identified, with standardized mean differences &amp;lt;0.10 for all covariates. In-hospital death and stroke were significantly lower with PCI than with CABG (0.7% vs 1.5%, p=0.036) and (&amp;lt;0.2% vs 1.4%, p&amp;lt;0.001), respectively, and there was no difference in perioperative MI between PCI and CABG (1.1% vs 0.6%, p=0.121). At a median (IQR) of 5.1 (2.9-7.5) years, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was higher with PCI compared with CABG (37.7% vs 23.3%, HR 1.79, [95% CI: 1.66-1.91], p&amp;lt;0.001) (Figure 1). All-cause mortality was higher with PCI compared with CABG (17.8% vs 13.4%, HR 1.33, [95% CI: 1.21-1.45], p&amp;lt;0.001) (Figure 2). The composite readmission outcome (MI, heart failure, stroke) was higher with PCI compared with CABG (16.2% vs 11.2%, HR 1.42, [95% CI: 1.37-1.48], p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion In women with severe CAD, CABG appears to be associated with a long-term reduction in MACCE and mortality compared with PCI. Our findings provide evidence to suggest women with severe CAD may derive greater long-term benefit from CABG compared to PCI and suggest that the treatment recommendation should shift towards CABG in appropriately selected women.Figure 1.MACCE free survivalFigure 2.Overall survival

Environmental burden of disease related to pyrethroid-insecticide exposure and neurodevelopmental toxicity in Europe based on human biomonitoring

Abstract As indicated by human biomonitoring (HBM) studies, exposure to pyrethroids is widespread in Europe with significantly higher exposure observed in children compared to adults. Epidemiological, toxicological, and mechanistic studies raise concerns about potential health effects in humans and, particularly, behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children at low levels of exposure. Based on an exposure-response function from a single European study and on available quality-assured and harmonized HBM data collected in France, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, and Israel, an initial estimate of the environmental burden of disease for ADHD associated with pyrethroid exposure (measured by the metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid) was made for individuals aged 0-19 years. The estimated yearly number of prevalence-based disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per million inhabitants due to ADHD were 34 DALYs for Israel, 26 DALYs for France, 14 DALYs for both Switzerland and Iceland, and 4 DALYs for Germany. Additionally, a substantial number of ADHD cases, averaging 18%, were associated with pyrethroid exposure. Yet, these figures should be interpreted with caution given the uncertainty of some input parameter. In addition to burden of disease estimates due to ADHD, the associated burden of autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) due to pyrethroid exposure and the health economic costs attributable to ADHD and ASD will also be investigated further. To ensure adequate follow-up of policy measures and more robust disease burden estimates, more HBM studies are recommended, along with increased efforts to harmonize the design of epidemiological studies to ensure more meaningful meta-analyses of exposure-response functions. This is particularly important for pyrethroids as more evidence on potential adverse health effects is continuously emerging.

Individual fluidity of sexual identity in Stockholm County, 2010 to 2021

Abstract Background Sexual fluidity is key to understanding the size of sexual minority populations and analyzing the socioeconomic disparities these populations face. This study explores the stability and changes in sexual identity over time, and identifies key demographic factors that predict shifts in sexual identity. Methods We analyzed longitudinal data from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, following 36,398 participants from 2010 to 2021. Sexual identity was measured using a self-administered questionnaire in 2010, 2014, and 2021. Demographic data from 2010 were collected from the Swedish national registers. Multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance estimators was used to identify demographic factors that predicted identity changes. Results were presented as proportion or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Overall, 12.1% (95% CI 11.8%-12.5%) changed sexual identity at least once in 2010-2021, including 10.4% (10.0%-10.7%) among those initially identifying as heterosexual in 2010, 41.3% (37.1%-45.6%) as homosexual, 59.6% (55.0%-64.0%) as bisexual, and 65.0% (59.4%-70.3%) as uncertain. Multivariate analyses showed that sexual minorities (homosexual: RR 5.00, 95% CI 4.45-5.61; bisexual: 6.68, 6.04-7.38; uncertain: 3.88, 3.30-4.55), females (1.28, 1.21-1.35), younger (18-29 years: 1.49, 1.30-1.70) and older ( &amp;gt; =60 years: 2.07, 1.92-2.22) ages, born outside Sweden (Europe: 1.21, 1.11-1.32; Outside Europe: 2.90, 2.62-3.21), and lower education ( &amp;lt; =9 years: 2.14, 1.98-2.31; 10-12 years: 1.43, 1.34-1.53) and income (100 SEK/year) ( &amp;lt; =2,500: 1.83, 1.66-2.02; (2,500, 3,500]: 1.32, 1.19-1.46) independently predicted a higher probability of identity changes. Conclusions This study provides the first insights into sexual identity fluidity in a large general population sample in Sweden, highlighting its fluid nature. Future research is needed to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying the demographic disparities in sexual identity fluidity. Key messages • This study provides the first insights into sexual identity fluidity in Sweden, highlighting its fluid nature. • Future research is needed to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying the demographic disparities in sexual identity fluidity.

Using rare event algorithms to understand the statistics and dynamics of extreme heatwave seasons in South Asia

Abstract Computing the return times of extreme events and assessing the impact of climate change on such return times is fundamental to extreme event attribution studies. However, the rarity of such events in the observational record makes this task a challenging one, even more so for ‘record-shattering’ events that have not been previously observed at all. While climate models could be used to simulate such extremely rare events, such an approach entails a huge computational cost: gathering robust statistics for events with return time of centuries would require a few thousand years of simulation. In this study, we use an innovative tool, rare event algorithm, that allows us to sample numerous extremely rare events at a much lower cost than direct simulations. We employ the algorithm to sample extreme heatwave seasons, corresponding to large anomalies of the seasonal average temperature, in a heatwave hotspot of South Asia using the global climate model Plasim. We show that the algorithm estimates the return levels of extremely rare events with much greater precision than traditional statistical fits. It also enables the computation of various composite statistics, whose accuracy is demonstrated through comparison with a very long control run. In particular, our results reveal that extreme heatwave seasons are associated with an anticyclonic anomaly embedded within a large-scale hemispheric quasi-stationary wave-pattern. Additionally, the algorithm accurately represents the intensity-duration-frequency statistics of sub-seasonal heatwaves, offering insights into both seasonal and sub-seasonal aspects of extreme heatwave seasons. This innovative approach could be used in extreme event attribution studies to better constrain the changes in an event’s probability and intensity with global warming, particularly for events with return times spanning centuries or millennia.

Robust Estimation of Multivariate Time Series Data Based on Reduced Rank Model

ABSTRACTMultivariate time series analysis uncovers the intricate relationships among multiple variables, which plays a vital role in areas such as policy‐making and business decision‐making. This paper employs a reduced rank regression model to investigate a robust estimation method for multivariate time series data using an penalty. The goal is to achieve rapid parameter estimation while ensuring robustness in the analysis of time series data. This study provides a detailed description of the solution process and examines the theoretical properties of the proposed method. To evaluate its effectiveness, the proposed model is compared with full‐rank regression and the multivariate regression with covariance estimation (MRCE) method through simulations, as well as an analysis of the Sceaux household electric power consumption data. The results indicate that the proposed model performs well.

Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma based on risk stratification in steatotic liver disease for precision medicine: A real-world longitudinal nationwide study.

Detailed subgroup incidence rates for steatotic liver disease (SLD)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are critical to inform practice and public health interventions but remain sparse. We aimed to fill in this gap. In a retrospective cohort study of adults with SLD from the United States (US) Merative Marketscan Research Databases (1/2007 to 12/2021), we estimated HCC incidence stratified by sex, age, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus (DM), and a combination of all these 4 factors. We excluded patients with significant alcohol use and chronic viral hepatitis. We analyzed data from 741,816 patients with SLD (mean age 51.5 ± 12.8 years, 46% male, 14.7% cirrhosis). During a 2,410,166 person-years (PY) follow-up, 1,740 patients developed HCC. The overall HCC incidence yielded 0.72 per 1,000 PY (95% confidence interval [CI, 0.68, 0.75]). The incidence was higher in males (0.95, 95% CI [0.89, 1.01]) compared to females (0.52, 95% CI [0.48, 0.56]) (p < 0.001). For those with cirrhosis, the incidence was significantly higher at 4.29 (95% CI [4.06, 4.51]) compared to those without cirrhosis (0.14, 95% CI [0.13, 0.16]) (p < 0.001). Additionally, the incidence was higher in patients with DM (1.19, 95% CI [1.12, 1.26]) compared to those without DM (0.41, 95% CI [0.38, 0.44]) (p < 0.001). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was also associated with a higher HCC incidence of 2.20 (95% CI [2.00, 2.41]) compared to those without CKD (0.58, 95% CI [0.55, 0.62]) (p < 0.001). Similarly, individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) had a higher HCC incidence of 1.89 (95% CI [1.75, 2.03]) compared to those without CVD (0.51, 95% CI [0.48, 0.54]) (p < 0.001). Finally, the incidence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with non-liver cancer (3.90, 95% CI [3.67, 4.12]) compared to those without other cancers (0.29, 95% CI [0.26, 0.31]) (p < 0.001). On further stratification, HCC incidence incrementally rose by 10-year age intervals, male sex, cirrhosis, and DM, reaching 19.06 (95% CI [16.10, 22.01]) and 8.44 (95% CI [6.78, 10.10]) in males and females, respectively, but only 0.04 for non-diabetic, noncirrhotic aged <40 years patients in both sexes. The main limitation of this methodology is the potential misclassification of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes inherent in claims database studies. This nationwide study provided robust granular estimates for SLD-related HCC incidence stratified by several key risk factors. In addition to cirrhosis, future surveillance strategies, prevention, public health initiatives, and future research models should also take into account the impact of sex, age, and DM.

Real-time localization with probabilistic maps and unscented kalman filtering: a dynamic sensor fusion approach

This paper presents a robust position estimation technique for autonomous vehicles navigating urban and highway environments. It employs a probabilistic framework, integrating Monte Carlo simulation and Bayesian filtering via particle filters to represent position estimates beyond Gaussian distributions. To improve accuracy, Unscented Kalman Filtering (UKF) is used to fuse radar and lidar data, facilitating the detection of static, pole-like objects. These objects are matched with landmarks from a detailed reference map generated through 3D lidar scans. The proposed method addresses both lateral and longitudinal localisation challenges, ensuring precise vehicle positioning. Comprehensive simulation tests validate the system's effectiveness, demonstrating reliable performance across various driving conditions.

Improved Variance Estimation From Trimmed Samples

ABSTRACTSeveral methods for the robust estimation of the variance of a normal random variable are based on trimming. For example, the popular estimator is based on trimming the pairs of samples with the largest absolute distance. Another example is least trimmed squares regression, where all unusually large residuals are removed before the estimation of the variance. Here, in this work, we propose two new classes of estimators that use an optimal linear combination of the trimmed samples to achieve a lower mean squared error (MSE). The first class guarantees the smallest variance among all unbiased estimators that are based on linear combinations, while the second class of estimators guarantees the smallest MSE at the cost of some small bias. Through simulations, we demonstrate that our proposed estimators can have considerably smaller MSE than other robust estimators both in the presence and absence of outliers.

A preliminary estimate of the environmental burden of disease associated with exposure to pyrethroid insecticides and ADHD in Europe based on human biomonitoring

Human biomonitoring (HBM) data indicate that exposure to pyrethroids is widespread in Europe, with significantly higher exposure observed in children compared to adults. Epidemiological, toxicological, and mechanistic studies raise concerns for potential human health effects, particularly, behavioral effects such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children at low levels of exposure. Based on an exposure-response function from a single European study and on available quality-assured and harmonized HBM data collected in France, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, and Israel, a preliminary estimate of the environmental burden of disease for ADHD associated with pyrethroid exposure was made for individuals aged 0–19 years. The estimated annual number of prevalence-based disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per million inhabitants were 27 DALYs for Israel, 21 DALYs for France, 12 DALYs for both Switzerland and Iceland, and 3 DALYs for Germany; while the annual ADHD cases per million inhabitants attributable to pyrethroids were 2189 for Israel, 1710 for France, 969 for Iceland, 944 for Switzerland, and 209 for Germany. Direct health costs related to ADHD ranged between 0.3 and 2.5 million EUR yearly per million inhabitants for the five countries. Additionally, a substantial number of ADHD cases, on average 18%, were associated with pyrethroid exposure. Yet, these figures should be interpreted with caution given the uncertainty of the estimation. A sensitivity analysis showed that by applying a different exposure-response function from outside the EU, the population attributable fraction decreased from an average of 18 to 7%. To ensure more robust disease burden estimates and adequate follow-up of policy measures, more HBM studies are needed, along with increased efforts to harmonize the design of epidemiological studies upfront to guarantee meta-analysis of exposure-response functions. This is particularly important for pyrethroids as evidence of potential adverse health effects is continuously emerging.