scholarly journals causalizeR: a text mining algorithm to identify causal relationships in scientific literature

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11850
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Ancin-Murguzur ◽  
Vera H. Hausner
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Text Processing ◽  
Causal Relationships ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Ripple Effects ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Tundra Ecosystem ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Abrupt Shifts

Complex interactions among multiple abiotic and biotic drivers result in rapid changes in ecosystems worldwide. Predicting how specific interactions can cause ripple effects potentially resulting in abrupt shifts in ecosystems is of high relevance to policymakers, but difficult to quantify using data from singular cases. We present causalizeR (https://github.com/fjmurguzur/causalizeR), a text-processing algorithm that extracts causal relations from literature based on simple grammatical rules that can be used to synthesize evidence in unstructured texts in a structured manner. The algorithm extracts causal links using the relative position of nouns relative to the keyword of choice to extract the cause and effects of interest. The resulting database can be combined with network analysis tools to estimate the direct and indirect effects of multiple drivers at the network level, which is useful for synthesizing available knowledge and for hypothesis creation and testing. We illustrate the use of the algorithm by detecting causal relationships in scientific literature relating to the tundra ecosystem.

scholarly journals Configurational Analysis of the Driving Paths of Chinese Digital Economy Based on the Technology–Organization–Environment Framework

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110545
Author(s):  
Shuangying Chen ◽  
Qiyue Li ◽  
Bo Lei ◽  
Na Wang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Configurational Analysis ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Toe Framework ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Using Data

The purpose of this study was to examine the combinations of factors driving the digital economy and their configurational pathways, based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. Using data on 31 Chinese provinces, the study integrated the TOE framework with Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to examine the digital economy. The results indicate that (a) firms’ digital competence is a necessary condition for the development of the digital economy; (b) four pathways drive high levels of digital economic development and three pathways lead to low levels of digital economic development; and (c) these pathways indicate asymmetry between high and low levels of digital economic development. The findings enhance understanding of the complex interactions of multiple factors driving the digital economy. They also yield policy recommendations for the development of the digital economy.

scholarly journals Health benefits induced by adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle components diet and physical activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-30
Author(s):  
Cécil J. W. Meulenberg
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Form Complex ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Diet And Physical Activity ◽  
The Mediterranean

The purpose of this overview is to present the evidence that adherence to Mediterranean lifestyle components is beneficial for functional and cognitive health. Although Mediterranean diet is the principal component of this lifestyle, other components, like physical activity and socializing, form complex interactions and together they complete into the Mediterranean lifestyle. Individual components and their interactions have not been studied thoroughly, however, there is an increasing attention for these matters through scientific literature in original research, reviews and meta-analysis. This paper considers the recent knowledge and trends related to defining the indicators concerning these lifestyle components, as well as summarizes the health benefits induced by adherence to them and explains why Mediterranean lifestyle components are important for health.

scholarly journals Quantifying synergy in the bioassay-guided fractionation of natural product extracts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micah Dettweiler ◽  
Lewis Marquez ◽  
Max Bao ◽  
Cassandra L. Quave
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Fractional Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Drug Mixtures ◽  
Natural Substances ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Bioassay Guided Fractionation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Living Organisms

AbstractMixtures of drugs often have greater therapeutic value than any of their constituent drugs alone, and such combination therapies are widely used to treat diseases such as cancer, malaria, and viral infections. However, developing useful drug mixtures is challenging due to complex interactions between drugs. Natural substances can be fruitful sources of useful drug mixtures because secondary metabolites produced by living organisms do not often act in isolation in vivo. In order to facilitate the study of interactions within natural substances, a new analytical method to quantify interactions using data generated in the process of bioassay-guided fractionation is presented here: the extract fractional inhibitory concentration index (EFICI). The EFICI method uses the framework of Loewe additivity to calculate fractional inhibitory concentration values by which interactions can be determined for any combination of fractions that make up a parent extract. The EFICI method was applied to data on the bioassay-guided fractionation of Lechea mucronata and Schinus terebinthifolia for growth inhibition of the pathogenic bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii. The L. mucronata extract contained synergistic interactions (EFICI = 0.4181) and the S. terebinthifolia extract was non-interactive overall (EFICI = 0.9129). Quantifying interactions in the bioassay-guided fractionation of natural substances does not require additional experiments and can be useful to guide the experimental process and to support the development of standardized extracts as botanical drugs.

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Structural Nuclear Materials: Influencing Factors and Materials Selection

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24
Author(s):  
Renato Altobelli Antunes ◽  
Mara Cristina Lopes de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Alloy Composition ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Nuclear Materials ◽  
Metallic Materials ◽  
Materials Selection ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Successful Design

Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) plays a central role in the development of improved structural nuclear materials. Complex interactions between microstructure, alloy composition, manufacturing and environmental factors make the understanding of this phenomenon difficult. This work aimed at reviewing the scientific literature on the SCC behavior of structural nuclear materials in order to identify the main factors that govern this phenomenon. Additionally, the interaction between these factors and materials selection is discussed in order to provide a comprehensive basis for the successful design of metallic materials with improved resistance to SCC.

Flexible Interaction Model for Complex Interactions of Multiple Anesthetics

2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Fidler ◽  
Steven E. Kern
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Interaction Model ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Additive Interaction ◽  
New Model ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Anesthetic Drugs ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Quantitative Manner ◽  
Using Data

Background Minto et al. (Anesthesiology 2000) described a mathematical approach based on response surface methods for characterizing drug-drug interactions between several intravenous anesthetic drugs. To extend this effort, the authors developed a flexible interaction model based on the general Hill dose-response relation that includes a set of parameters that can be statistically assessed for interaction significance. Methods This new model was developed to identify pharmacologically meaningful interaction-related parameters and address mathematical limitations in previous models. The flexible interaction model and the model of Minto et al. were compared in their assessment of additivity using simulated sample data sets. The flexible interaction model was also compared with the Minto model in describing drug interactions using data from several other clinical studies of propofol, opioids, and benzodiazepines from Short et al. (Anesthesiology 2002) and Kern et al. (Anesthesiology 2004). Results The flexible interaction model was able to accurately classify an additive interaction based on the classic definition proposed by Loewe, with at most an 8% difference between the two surfaces. Also, the proposed model fit the clinical interaction data as well or slightly better than that of Minto et al. Conclusions The new model can accurately classify additive and synergistic drug interactions. It also can classify antagonistic interactions with biologically rational surfaces. This has been a problem for other interaction models in the past. The statistically assessable interaction parameters provide a quantitative manner to assess the interaction significance.

Union Characteristics and Bargaining Outcomes

ILR Review ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Fiorito ◽  
Wallace E. Hendricks
Keyword(s):  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Bargaining Unit ◽  
Organizational Characteristics ◽  
Exact Nature ◽  
Reverse Causality ◽  
Organizational Complexity ◽  
Unit Level ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

This paper investigates the impact of union militancy, size, centralization, and democracy on wages, fringe benefits, and other bargaining outcomes. Using data on bargaining outcomes at the bargaining unit level in conjunction with data on comparative union characteristics, the authors find strong evidence that union characteristics affect bargaining outcomes. Determining the exact nature of those effects is complicated by several problems—notably, the difficulty of distinguishing effects on outcomes from effects on goals, the possibility of reverse causality, and complex interactions between such organizational characteristics as democracy and centralization. The findings do suggest, however, that organizational complexity reduces union bargaining effectiveness, whereas democracy and centralization tend to change the shape of outcomes as opposed to their size.

scholarly journals Young Kidney Professionals’ Perspectives and Attitudes about Consuming Scientific Information

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1587-1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Tong ◽  
Deidra C. Crews ◽  
Jane O. Schell ◽  
Ian H. de Boer ◽  
Michel Chonchol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Scholarly Work ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Biomedical Journals ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Processing Information ◽  
American Society ◽  
New Evidence

The digital era has seen rapid changes in how information is consumed. Traditional dissemination of scholarly work through biomedical journals may not be optimally tailored to the preferences of younger clinicians and researchers. We aimed to describe the perspectives of young clinicians and researchers in kidney disease on consuming scientific information. Three focus groups were conducted during the 2017 American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week with a total of 29 nephrologists and researchers (ages 40 years old and younger) purposively sampled through our networks and the American Society of Nephrology registration database. Data were analyzed thematically. Of the 72 participants invited, 29 participated from 28 centers across 13 countries. Five themes were identified: capturing and retaining attention (with subthemes of triggering interest, optimizing readability, and navigation to sustain motivation); having discernible relevance (resonating with clinical and research interests, supporting professional development, action-oriented and readily applicable, able to disseminate, contextualizing the study, and filtering out informational noise); immediacy and efficiency in processing information (requiring instantaneous and easy access, enabling rapid understanding, and facilitating comprehension of complex concepts); trusting legitimate and credible sources (authoritative indicator of importance and quality, reputable experts broadening perspective, certainty and confidence with collegial input, accurate framing and translation of the message, ascertaining methodologic detail and nuances, and integrating the patient perspective); and social dialoguing and debate. Immediate and digitally optimized access motivated young kidney professionals to consume scientific information. Mechanisms that enable them to distil relevant and new evidence, appraise and apply information to clinical practice and research, disseminate studies to colleagues, and engage in discussion and debate may enhance their comprehension, confidence, interpretation, and use of scientific literature.

Intragroup Subgroup Attitude Clustering, External Intervention, and Intergroup Interaction Patterns: Toward a Dynamical Model of Protracted Intergroup Conflict

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Coleman ◽  
Adam Schneider ◽  
Douglass Adams ◽  
Catherine Everett ◽  
Timothy Gameros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Dynamical Model ◽  
Intergroup Conflict ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
International Intervention ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Traditional Research ◽  
Multiple Variables ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Over Time

Scholars and practitioners working with protracted conflicts in polarized communities have long recognized the complex dynamics between intragroup disputes and intergroup relations in these settings. In fact, the multitude of factors interacting within and between groups in these conflicts, and their tendency to change over time, largely contributes to their intractable natures. Unfortunately, the ability of scholars to conduct research on such dynamic phenomena has been largely constrained by the atomistic, linear approach of traditional research models and methods. However, recent advances in dynamical systems theory have provided a new set of tools for developing computer simulations that allow us to model the dynamic patterns emerging from complex interactions of multiple variables over time. This paper presents one such model: a dynamical model of protracted intergroup conflict. Using data collected from Israeli and Palestinian communities during the current Intifada, we modeled the dynamic relations between conflict escalation and international intervention on intragroup subgroup attitude clustering and patterns of intergroup interactions. Next steps and refinements for the model are discussed.

scholarly journals Facets extraction-based approach for query recommendation using data mining approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 121
Author(s):  
A. V. Zadgaonkar ◽  
A. J. Agrawal ◽  
S. Aote
Keyword(s):  
Search Engines ◽  
Text Processing ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Search Results ◽  
Data Mining Approach ◽  
Lexical Resource ◽  
Query Recommendation ◽  
Using Data

Search engines are popularly utilized for extracting desired information from World Wide Web by users.  Efficiency of these search engines are dependent on how fast search results can be retrieved and whether these results reflects the desired info or not. For a particular query, vast amount of relevant information is scattered across the multiple web pages. Search engines generate multiple web links as a output. It has been a jigsaw puzzle for users to identify and select relevant links to extract further desired information. To address this issue, we are proposing an approach for Query Recommendation for getting relevant search results from web using facet mining techniques. Facets are the semantically related words for a query which defines its multiple aspects. We are extracting these aspects of a query from Wikipedia pages which is considered to be a trustworthy resource on the web. Our proposed system uses various text processing techniques to refine the results using lexical resource like WorldNet. In this paper we are discussing our approach and its implementation and results obtained. In the paper , Discussion on future research direction is included to conclude.

Parental Background and Earnings: German Evidence on Direct and Indirect Relationships

2008 ◽  
Vol 228 (5-6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Cornelissen ◽  
Uwe Jirjahn ◽  
Georgi Tsertsvadze
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Parental Characteristics ◽  
Intergenerational Correlation ◽  
Parental Background ◽  
Wage Regressions ◽  
German Socioeconomic Panel ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Maternal Labor Force Participation

SummaryUsing data from the German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP), the study analyzes the direct and indirect effects of parental background on employees' earnings. To examine indirect effects we estimate the determinants of the employees' years of schooling. In a second step, we run wage regressions to examine direct effects. Our results suggest that the direct and indirect effects of parental background driving the intergenerational correlation of socioeconomic status are complex. It is not only important to differentiate between mother's and father's education. It is also important to take into account other parental characteristics such as maternal labor force participation and the parents' occupational status and fertility. Moreover, we find that interaction effects play an important role. The returns to schooling depend on the employees' parental background.

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