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Relations among mock jurors' attitudes, trial evidence, and their selections of an insanity defense verdict: a path analytic approach.

This study examined an important question relevant to the domain of the insanity defense: What are the interrelationships among important evidential and attitudinal factors which influence how jurors decide their final verdicts? To answer this question, a mock trial in which the insanity defense was argued was presented to 224 college undergraduates by means of an audiotape and slide show. Following the presentation, participants were asked to answer a series of questions regarding the trial. A path model was specified with four evidential factors as endogenous variables, i.e., evaluation of the defendant's mental status, belief that the defendant could be rehabilitated, beliefs regarding the accuracy of the expert witnesses, and mock-jurors' predeliberation verdicts. In addition, three attitudinal factors were specified as exogenous variables, i.e., attitudes toward the insanity defense, attitudes towards due process vs crime control, and attitudes towards the death penalty. The path model was consistent with previous literature, suggesting that jurors' attitudes toward the death penalty and the insanity defense had a direct effect on how they evaluated the accuracy of the expert testimony and their evaluation of the defendant's over-all mental status. In turn, mock jurors' evaluations of the defendant's mental status had a direct effect on their selections of verdict. Importantly, mock jurors' evaluations of the evidential factors, particularly the mental status of the defendant, were a stronger predictor of their selections of verdict than were their initial attitudes.

Attitude↗

Analytic approaches to differential gene expression in AIDS versus control brains.

We previously showed that specific strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infect the brain and contribute to Neuropathology, Cognitive Distress, and Neuropsychiatric Disease. To study further brain disease that results from HIV-1 infection, we commenced analysis of changes in gene expression in brain. We analyzed RNA purified from Frontal Cortex of 5 HIV-1 infected and 4 HIV-1 negative control subjects RNA was amplified and Affymetrix technology was used to analyze gene expression using the 12,585 gene Affymetrix Human Genome U95A chip. The expressed genes showed highly significant Pearsons correlations with each other within the two groups. Expression intensities were transferred to Microsoft Excel and Spotfire was used to analyze the results. Twenty-group K-means cluster analysis was done for HIV+ and HIV- subjects. Genes that were expressed in the same cluster numbers in the two groups were removed from further analysis. Analysis of Gene expression in the top 13 HIV+ clusters showed expression in the 40 gene categories designated in our prior studies. Genes from several categories occurred in more than one K-means cluster. Genes identified in these lists included several genes that have been previously studied: MBP, Myelin-PLP, NMDA receptor, MAG, astrocytic protein, Notch 3, APP, Senescence, proteasome, Ferritin, signaling, cell cycle, iNOS, Chemokine, splicing, synapse, protein tags, and ribosomal proteins. The first (primary significant) axis of both Principal Component Analyses ordered the genes in the same patient groups as the K-means cluster analysis for the respective patient groups. PCA was thus not more informative than K-Means cluster analysis. Ratios of HIV+ to HIV- intensities were calculated for all the averaged gene expression intensities. The ratio range was 0.14 to 9.26. The genes at the extremes (ad extrema) did not correspond to the gene order by K-means clustering (or PCA). The genes in the top 13 K-means clusters showed low-level changes by expression ratio. Genes ad extrema by ratio were in clusters with very large memberships. Mann-Whitney analysis confirmed expression ratio results. Several inferences result from our preliminary study. First, study design will be different in future studies involving additional replicates. Second, ratios inform us of the extent of changes in gene expression quantitatively. Third, Cluster methodology provides us with more subtle information, how bunches (clusters) of genes behave in terms of their centroids (attractors). Fourth, genes that change extensively by ratio tend to be in the larger k-Means clusters. We conclude that ranking gene expression with the use of expression ratio or by K-means clustering, yield different representations of the data.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Coping strategies and adjustment after closed-head injury: a cluster analytical approach.

This study examined the effects of coping strategies as moderators of long-term psychosocial and emotional adjustment following closed-head injury. Cluster analysis was used to separate 69 CHI patients into three clinically relevant groups on the basis of responses to the revised Ways of Coping questionnaire. The groups were then compared on a series of validation measures. There were no differences apparent between the three clusters in age, Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission to hospital, or in relatives' ratings of psychiatric symptomatology among the patients. However, the cluster characterized by a generally high use of a wide range of coping strategies had higher ratings of depression, as well as more psychosocial, cognitive and physical difficulties than the other groups. As with other chronic illnesses, it appears that the use of cognitive mechanisms that act as reality 'buffers' may be an important component of improved adjustment to closed-head injury.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Pattern-analytic approach to analysis of accidents due to human error: an application of the ortho-oblique-type binary data decomposition.

An ortho-oblique-type binary data decomposition based on data matrices providing relevant conditions of accidents is proposed as a means of classifying patterns of human error, and the computing procedures are described. The usefulness of the technique is shown by a numerical example of accidents in freight-car classification yard work. Forty-two severely injured victims were interviewed by psychologists and the contents of case reports were rearranged into a reliable binary data matrix which indicated the presence or absence of an interrelationship between each sample and each of 42 items of operational, environmental, and psychological conditions. Three patterns of error leading to an accident were identified by interpreting the orthogonally rotated results. They were 1) failure of strenuous performance in relation to fatigue and poor communication, 2) veterans' mistakes in teamwork, possibly due to hasty operation or distractions, and 3) errors caused by certain defects of machines or inappropriate work space. Recommendations were thus made on training plans for beginners. The importance of using non-scaled accidental data in binary form and allowing rotation for data decomposition is discussed.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Radiotracers and analytical approaches in positron and single-photon emission tomography.

Important advances in PET and SPECT imaging of neurochemistry have permitted direct investigation of neurologic diseases and syndromes, including many associated with seizures and epilepsy. Insights into issues of development and evolution of epileptogenic changes, mechanisms of seizure propagation, and mechanisms underlying therapeutic interventions will be increasingly gained from direct clinical study, rather than from experimental animal models, with the increasing application of this imaging technology.

Brain↗

Cost-effectiveness of a modified care protocol substituting bladder tumor markers for cystoscopy for the followup of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a decision analytical approach.

PURPOSE: Decision analysis models were established to determine the cost-effectiveness of a plan alternating a bladder tumor marker with cystoscopy and cytology at 3-months intervals or modified care versus followup cystoscopy and cytology every 3 months or standard care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature review for bladder tumor markers using 1966 to current MEDLINE data and other search engines. Statistical performance data on tumor markers were calculated by hierarchical Bayes meta-analysis with 95% confidence intervals used for the model. Other basic assumptions included cost data on tumor markers, cytology, cystoscopy, transurethral bladder resection and cystectomy as well as recurrence and progression rates from the literature. Decision trees were built with computer software using a 12 and a 24-month model with linear recurrence and progression rate assumptions. RESULTS: Overall specificity for common tumor markers was 73% to 90% and sensitivity was 49% to 77%. As expected, sensitivity increased for higher disease grades and stages. The modified care protocol was more cost-effective than standard care for the 1 and 2-year followups. On 1-year 1-way sensitivity analysis for cost only tumor marker cost, recurrence and progression rates achieved a threshold at which the modified care protocol was as or more expensive as standard care. Modified care was more cost-effective at a tumor marker cost of less than $264. On 2-way sensitivity analysis there was no significant impact of parameters at a wide range of tumor marker costs, recurrence and progression rates. CONCLUSIONS: Using a modified followup protocol in transitional cell carcinoma cases with an initial tumor occurrence using a urine based tumor marker alternating with cystoscopy and/or cytology is cost-effective for a wide range of marker sensitivities, specificities and costs, cystoscopy and/or cytology cost, a 20% to 80% yearly recurrence and a 2% to 40% yearly progression rate. This protocol should be evaluated in a prospective randomized trial to determine whether the financial and emotional benefits outweigh any potential drawbacks.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Meta-Analytical Approach to Reconciling Discrepancies in Efficacy between Bilateral and Unilateral Electroconvulsive Therapy.

A review of the literature assessing the efficacy of bilateral compared to nondominant unilateral ECT was conducted using a quantitative review procedure-meta-analysis. The results supported conventional reviews that concluded that there is no difference in outcome between bilateral and unilateral ECT. Meta-analysis also allowed an evaluation of the effects of 11 variables that span: (a) research methodology, (b) technique, (c) patient demographics, and (d) operational dimensions that have been proposed to mediate results of studies that found an advantage for bilateral over unilateral ECT. Of these variables, shorter interelectrode distance and the assessment of outcome after a fixed number of treatments (e.g., five or six ECT) rather than after completion of the full ECT course were significantly related to studies reporting a clinical advantage for bilateral ECT, and together, both accounted for 45% of the variance across studies. Although weaker effects of unilateral ECT due to shorter interelectrode distances may be related to seizure threshold, assessment after a fixed number of treatments may be related to failure to monitor seizure length.

Journal Article↗

Comforting the (exile) afflicted in Croatia--around and beyond the analytical approaches of critical medical anthropology.

Recently, there has been a growing recognition that any research conducted with those that suffer should definitely be critical of the continuing policy of group equalizing, either in relation to ones ethnicity or any other salient parameter. However, it is seldom that this critical knowledge is applied from "outsiders" when a negation and re-evaluation of history, especially concerning the medical systems and their historical development within nations and populations, is used. The propositions within this paper are given on the basis of knowledge gained in the course of a long-term study dedicated to the exiled in Croatia, and are tightly linked to theoretical perspectives of critical medical anthropology, yet exceed its limits. Critical medical anthropologists deeply engage in ongoing debates that stress how there needs to be more understanding of the necessity to study the wider social context of any population we approach and analyze. However, the knowledge about wider social contexts is unachievable without the new grounds of dialogue being created between professionals and researchers of all disciplines and equally--regardless whether they are "insiders" or "outsiders" to the problem in focus. The knowledge about developments in developing countries, and especially of countries in post-war transition cannot be solely built on strategies of globality and theoretical explorations disconnected from people and their experiences on ground, especially when they concern the delicate issues of social and health care. Hopingly, the given examples in this paper will add to dialogues of corrective kind that should be raised more often.

Croatia↗

Health care systems in Western Europe: an analytical approach.

Health care in the countries of Western Europe can be defined as a complex process of continuous innovation, i.e. of constantly implementing new combinations of science, technology, organisation, economics, politics, philosophy, opinions and fashion. Any element of this definition can influence the course of the health care process, whether or not combined with one or more of the other elements. This definition implies that health care systems as well as health care policy of the countries of Western Europe differ considerably. If we define a health care system as the legal and organisational framework, directed at producing, distributing, managing, regulating, supervising, co-ordinating and controlling health care activities in order to realise defined social health care values, no country can narrowly be compared to any other country. Such a comparison produces a huge basket of facts from which one can draw one conclusion only: each country acts to its own liking. The same applies for the concept of health care policy, i.e. a chosen course to achieve pre-set strategic objectives. Here too, every country acts to its own liking, where nobody is right and nobody is wrong. Consequently, the universal health care system does not exist. Consequently also, the analyst who takes a closer look at the health care systems of the countries of Western Europe, trying to map the differences, will discover a rather messy picture. All this being said, how do we deal with two burning questions? The first is: how can it be that, relatively speaking, the people of Western Europe are so healthy? Secondly: how do we clean up the mess or, in other words, how do we reform health care?

Delivery of Health Care↗

Chemical analytic approaches to the definition of uremic toxins.

In this preliminary research we have started a systematic study of substances present in uremic but non in normal serum. Methylguanidine has been examined by the new single method of ion pair extraction and has been found in higher concentration in uremic plasma than in normal, but in lower concentration than previously described with less selective method and used in experimental animal intoxication. We did not find a correlation of Methylguanidine concentration and uremic symptoms and complications as pericarditis, neuropathy and uremic coma. Using the high spead gel filtration method comparative analyses of uremic and normal fluids and many substances have been registered a 9 peak serie. Peak 7 seem to be the most interesting. It is less prominent in normal plasma, increases in uremic patients and decreases after dietary treatment, peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. Furthermore it is formed by middle molecular weight substances (approximately 1300).

Chromatography, Gel↗