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A note on explanation and understanding in psychology.

Hetherington has recently argued that psychology's concern with anecdotal evidence, introspective data and rare or one-off events renders the methodology and explanatory model of the natural sciences inappropriate and inadequate; and as such psychology needs to develop its own methods of inquiry. However, an examination of his arguments reveals that psychological data do not require explanation of a radically different kind from that employed in the natural sciences. Hetherington is correct in emphasizing that what is distinctive about the subject matter of psychology is its concern with intentional content; however, the conclusions he draws about the special nature of psychological explanation are unwarranted.

Behavior↗

Nursing research: on what basis?

In the past 150 years nursing science has developed into a discipline of its own which has integrated features of various stages of theory development. So far most nursing theories, originally borrowed from other disciplines, have been adapted and moulded to suit the nursing context. The theories developed after Nightingale, such as developmental, need-oriented, interaction, system-oriented and simultaneity theories have come about this way. They have depicted the areas of interest in nursing which has thus been defined as the domain of main concepts and their interconnections. The methodological characteristics of research in science are derived on the basis of ontological and epistemological principles. The domain of nursing science is assumed to be an integral whole which is not divided into parts even for the purpose of research. Scientific data are obtained from this undivided world by means of man's human signification. In research, this undivided world is approached from the phenomenological tradition of science: particular topics are thematized as something, while the other aspects of the phenomenon are excluded. The accumulating scientific data are integrated to form a holistic body of knowledge which helps in understanding the phenomena in greater depth and from different perspectives. The historical development of nursing science reveals problems and conflicts which are derived from the tradition of empirical science of the last few decades. Research solutions following the empiricist tradition offer only limited opportunities to focus on the central research objects of nursing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

A survey of statistical methodology used in Ethiopian health science research journals.

Results from many research efforts have been generated from the use of statistical methods. However, most researchers use data analysis as the only component of statistics to arrive at their results. There is a concern that this alone may not yield the appropriate result if it is not done with due understanding of and regard for study design, data acquisition techniques, choice of sample, and methods of statistical analysis. This paper attempts to document how much of these statistical methods are in use in Ethiopian health science research journals. All the original articles, in the two health science research journals--Ethiopian Medical Journal and The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development published between 1995 and 1999 were surveyed. A total of 232 papers were evaluated to see how far their authors have complied to these basic requirements as well as the statistical software used. The results of the survey demonstrate that in about 80% of the papers, the study design has been specified, 50% employed cross-sectional or survey designs, 14% provided detailed information on how sample size was determined and of this group 37% employed probabilistic selection methods. About 84% of the papers did not mention clearly what statistical methods they intended to employ to answer their research questions. Compared to others, attaching variability to a statistic using +/- SD or SE, t-statistics and P values were more frequently misused. Only 57% used computers to manage their data and do statistical analysis. EPI-INFO (a statistical software for Epidemiology) was used in 61% among the users of computer software. Considering the important roles of health science journals in guiding and updating good medical practice, low level and inappropriate use of statistical methodologies in the surveyed journals should give cause for concern. It is, therefore, recommended that a series of continuing education in statistics is done periodically to enhance the knowledge of health science researchers as well as editors and peer reviewers of health science journals to expand their background in statistical methods and acquaint them with new techniques.

Ethiopia↗

The association between prolonged fatigue and cardiovascular disease in World War II veteran twins.

Reports of fatigue preceding cardiac events have recently been confirmed by large prospective studies. To assess for genetic confounding, we investigated prolonged fatigue and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a cohort of World War II veteran twins. We examined data from a questionnaire mailed to members of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (NAS-NRC) World War II Twins Registry in 1998 and 1999 which included questions on demographics, medical conditions and symptoms of fatigue. Data from twins discordant for prolonged fatigue lasting a month or more were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Among 1955 twin pairs, 157 monozygotic and 174 dizygotic pairs (mean age 74 years) were discordant for prolonged fatigue. An association was found between prolonged fatigue and a history of myocardial infarction or coronary artery surgery adjusting for age, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol use and depression (OR [Odds Ratio]: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3-4.0). When analyses were performed separately by zygosity, the association was slightly larger for monozygotic (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.2-9.1) than dizygotic twins (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.9-4.0). These data corroborate the association of fatigue with CVD and suggest that it is not influenced by a common genetic factor. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship and to better understand the biologic mechanisms.

Age Factors↗

Guidelines for use of dietary intake data.

This article presents the guidelines from the report of the ad hoc Expert Panel on Guidelines for Use of Dietary Intake Data. The report was prepared under terms of a contract with the Life Sciences Research Office of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology to provide the Food and Drug Administration with a working reference for evaluating dietary intake data. The guidelines represent the Expert Panel's conclusions on appropriate ways to interpret dietary data relating to (a) prevalence of consumption of particular levels of foods or food components, (b) comparisons of intake of different groups within the U.S. population, (c) time trends in consumption of foods or food components, and (d) relationships of intake of a food or food component to a given health outcome. The guidelines address general issues concerning dietary data collection and statistical concerns as well as specific issues important in interpretation of dietary data.

Data Collection↗

Pattern detection in forensic case data using graph theory: application to heroin cutting agents.

Pattern recognition techniques can be very useful in forensic sciences to point out to relevant sets of events and potentially encourage an intelligence-led style of policing. In this study, these techniques have been applied to categorical data corresponding to cutting agents found in heroin seizures. An application of graph theoretic methods has been performed, in order to highlight the possible relationships between the location of seizures and co-occurrences of particular heroin cutting agents. An analysis of the co-occurrences to establish several main combinations has been done. Results illustrate the practical potential of mathematical models in forensic data analysis.

Journal Article↗

Information visualisation in clinical Odontology: multidimensional analysis and interactive data exploration.

In 1995, the MedView project, based on a co-operation between computing science and clinical medicine was initiated. The overall goal of the project was to develop models, methods and tools to support clinicians in their daily diagnostic work. As part of MedView, two information visualisation tools were developed and tested as solutions to the problem of visualising clinical experience derived from large amounts of clinical data. The first tool (The Cube) was based on the idea of dynamic three-dimensional (3D) parallel diagrams, an idea similar to the notion of 3D parallel co-ordinates. The Cube was developed to enhance the clinician's ability to intelligibly analyse existing patient material and to allow for pattern recognition and statistical analysis. The second tool (SimVis) was based on a similarity assessment-based interaction model for exploring data, and was designed to help clinicians to classify and cluster clinical examination data. User interaction was supported by 3D visualisation of clusters and similarity measures. Both tools were tested on a knowledge base containing about 1500 examinations obtained from different clinics. Clinical practice indicated that the basic ideas are conceptually appealing to the involved clinicians as the tools can be used for generating and testing of hypotheses.

Humans↗

Protein crystallography with spallation neutrons.

Spallation neutrons are ideal for diffraction studies of proteins and oriented molecular complexes. With spallation neutrons and their time-dependent wavelength structure, one can select data with an optimal wavelength band and cover the whole Laue spectrum as time (wavelength) resolved diffraction data. This optimises data quality with best peak to background ratios and provides spatial and energy resolution to eliminate peak overlaps. Such a Protein Crystallography Station (PCS) has been built and tested at Los Alamos Neutron Science Centre. A partially coupled moderator is used to increase flux and data are collected by a cylindrical He3 detector covering 120 degrees with 200 mm height. The PCS is described along with some examples of data collected from proteins.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

[The adaptation of the morphometric parameters of fat cell size for the purposes of animal science research. 2. Cellularity of subcutaneous adipose tissue of different swine breeds influenced by graduated feed levels and in relation to metabolic data and parameters of body fat degeneration].

Measurements of morphological and biochemical parameters in subcutaneous adipose tissue as well as investigations of energy metabolism and fat deposition of 89 male castrated pigs were performed. Breeding lines of swine (German Landrace) had been selected through 8 generations for high ("E(+)-Line") and low ("E(-)-Line") levels of NADPH-generating dehydrogenases. A control group ("K.") without selection was closely paralleled. For 21 days the animals were kept under feeding experiments within 2 sectors of growing period (67 kg, 85 kg body mass), and biopsies of backfat were examined subsequently. The inner layer of subcutaneous adipose tissue showed constantly bigger fat cells than the outer layer. The fat cell size increased generally with fattening and body mass respectively. The cellularity of adipose tissue was dependent significantly on the percentage of the very small fat cells measured up to 30 microns diameter (= "PKF30"). The breeding lines differed slightly with respect to their cellularity: The inner layer showed the gradation E+ greater than K. greater than E- concerning fat cell volumes and fat cell surfaces respectively. The PKF30 correlated significantly with food energy level as well as with the respirationally examined protein retention, particularly in inner layers of younger animals. Relations to the fat deposition (examined respirationally or with the D2O-Method and after slaughter respectively) were recognized, not showing validity for all cases. The parameters of lipogenic activity tested by tissue slice preparations and homogenates respectively correlated negatively with average fat cell size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗

A database for evaluating the toxicological risk of pesticides.

This study of Overtox-DB, a computerized database for managing chemical toxicity data, is a product of the application of typical methodologies regarding information science and computer technology. The methodology applied can be reduced to three-basic elements: the collection of requirements, design, and achievement. Overtox-DB was developed by defining technological elements for managing data and its structure and by identifing the procedures and methodologies for data storage, retrieval, distribution, and standardization of many kinds of test data stored in the same format. The program stores data about chemical identification, physical and chemical properties, toxicological tests, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, and a bibliography of chemical compounds. Overtox-DB consists of five modules: experimental and bibliographic, data collection, molecular data collection, data search, and data report. The Overtox-DB user responds to a simplified set of query commands and boolean operators that interact with the system to retrieve different toxicological data (the majority of fields are defined as search fields and identify the test system, results of the assays, administration route, dose, etc.). The collected information provides an analytical characterization of biological activities for many compounds and identifies evidence possibly lacking in experimental approaches. Indeed, this database could permit a comparative evaluation with other substances and can be used for structure-activity relationship studies.

Database Management Systems↗

[Treatment of patients with B-small cell lymphoma using R-CHOP protocol].

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most challenging problems in modern oncology. Creation of drugs inhibiting specifically intracellular signal tracks which being activated in its turn lead to oncogenes hyperexpression and inactivating other genes responsible for suppression of oncogenes, leading eventually to a cell's constant proliferation. This method is a new approach for cancer treatment. Nowadays homogeneous antibodies are widely used against superficial lymphocyte antigens. Rituximab is an anti-CD20 antibody fixed on the surface of malignant cells of most B-small cell lymphomas. In the department of systematic tumors at the institute of oncology of Medical Academy of Sciences a patient with large diffuse B-cell lymphomas had received Rituximab treatment. After the treatment, laboratory data and clinical investigation of the patient showed no signs of the disease. The patient was under observation at the institute of oncology of Medical Academy of Sciences over one year and found clinically, and according to its laboratory data, in a stable remission state.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Finding drug targets in microbial genomes.

In this era of genomic science, knowledge about biological function is integrated increasingly with DNA sequence data. One area that has been significantly impacted by this accumulation of information is the discovery of drugs to treat microbial infections. Genome sequencing and bioinformatics is driving the discovery and development of novel classes of broad-spectrum antimicrobial compounds, and could enable medical science to keep pace with the increasing resistance of bacteria, fungi and parasites to current antimicrobials. This review discusses the use of genomic information in the rapid identification of target genes for antimicrobial drug discovery.

Journal Article↗

A differential-delay model of pasture accumulation and loss in controlled grazing systems.

A grazing population dynamics model is proposed where organisms in a grazed population have a fixed life span. The motivating context is that of ruminants grazing grass-dominant pasture. The model takes the form of a differential-delay equation in which the rate of loss of pasture due to senescence at some time depends on the rate at which leaves are reaching maturity at that time. Comparisons are made with data from a continuous grazing experiment due to Bircham and Hodgson (Grass and Forage Science, 38:323-331, 1985), leading to a prediction of 21.9 days for herbage life span. Predictions of herbage utilization are consistent with measured data. The model predicts lower senescence in swards in regrowth than in grazed swards at the same herbage mass. Solutions and equilibria are obtained for the linear form of the model with continuous grazing pressure. Solutions and bounds are obtained for the linear model with intermittent grazing pressure, and its usefulness in modeling grazed pastures is discussed. A delay model is a simple but powerful means of including the concept of fixed herbage life span in grazing modeling. Questions of herbage life span and percentage utilization are naturally contained in the mechanism of a differential-delay model. There are not so well handled by models that treat senescence of herbage empirically.

Agriculture↗

Randomized consent designs in randomized controlled trials: systematic literature search.

BACKGROUND: Three types of randomized consent designs are distinguished and ranked according to the extent to which participants are informed about treatment options: single-consent (those in the experimental group learn about their assigned treatment), incomplete-double-consent (all participants learn about their assigned treatment), and complete-double-consent (all participants learn about all treatments studied). All are methodologically, ethically, and judicially controversial. Even so, their use is justified if blinding is deemed necessary, but impossible to achieve by sham procedures (placebo), and experimental treatment seems attractive to potential participants. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to give a comprehensive overview of the use of randomized consent designs. Data sources are MEDLINE (1/1977-2/2003), EMBASE (1/1984-2/2003), PsycINFO (1/1996-2/2003), the Cochrane Library, and the Science Citation Index database. REVIEW METHODS: Eligible were studies using a randomized consent design. Cluster randomized trials were excluded. One reviewer selected and data-extracted eligible papers. A second reviewer independently data-extracted 10% of the papers. Data on country of study conduct, year of commencement, area of medicine, type of design, reason(s) for use, details on approval by a research ethics committee, the index and reference intervention, nature of endpoints, and details on collection of data were extracted. Furthermore, for each trial, the rates of non-compliance and loss to follow-up were registered by treatment arm. The three types of randomized consent designs were compared as to differences between the rates of non-compliance and loss to follow-up in the separate trial arms. RESULTS: Randomized consent designs are seldom used (n=50). When used, they have often been used in the wrong circumstances (misuse). In 65% of the studies the non-compliance in the index group is larger than in the reference group. Contrary to expectation, trials using the incomplete-double design were associated with significantly higher rates of non-compliance and loss to follow-up in the reference groups than trials employing the other two versions. CONCLUSION: Trialists and physicians should be aware of the proper indication for the use of randomized consent designs.

Consent Forms↗

The seven habits of highly effective data users.

Effective data interpretation is a habit, not a random event. By applying the seven habits outlined in this article, any otolaryngologist--regardless of the level of statistical knowledge or lack thereof--will be able to use data effectively. The seven habits are (1) check quality before quantity, (2) describe before you analyze, (3) accept the uncertainty of all data, (4) measure error with the right statistical test, (5) put clinical importance before statistical significance, (6) seek the sample source, and (7) view science as a cumulative process. The same habits apply whether interpreting one's own data, interpreting someone else's data, reviewing an unpublished manuscript for a journal, or reviewing a grant application for a funding agency. The basic principles that underlie these habits provide a systematic process for moving from observations to generalizations with predictable degrees of certainty--and uncertainty.

Humans↗

A primer in epidemiologic methodology.

Epidemiology is defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of disease within populations. In addition to the requirements for disease surveillance, epidemiologic methods have numerous applications in laboratory animal science and can reveal important insights into the multifactoral mechanisms of disease, thereby aiding in the design of optimized intervention strategies. Observational approaches to data collection can be used to quantify the role of causal factors under natural circumstances, complementing the value of experimental studies in this field. The meaning and appropriate use of standard measures of disease frequency and exposure-disease relationships are reviewed, along with explanations of bias and confounding. Recommendations for reporting the methods and findings from this type of work in comparative medicine literature are presented. Aspects of model-based approaches to data analysis are introduced, offering further opportunities for gaining needed information from epidemiologic study of problems in laboratory animal medicine and management.

Animal Diseases↗

Cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: the scientific basis for practice.

OBJECTIVE: To review and organize the science related to cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort for the fifth research-based practice project of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. DATA SOURCES: Computerized searches in CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library, as well as hand searches of cited references. Keywords included cyclic pelvic pain, comfort, pain guidelines, and dysmenorrhea. DATA EXTRACTION: All relevant articles prior to 1999 were considered. Thirty-three research-based articles (1992-1999) were reviewed for relevance by the science team as part of the fifth research-based practice project of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. DATA SYNTHESIS: The literature review and synthesis resulted in a cogent description of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort and the development of three nursing diagnoses: perimenstrual cyclic pelvic pain, perimenstrual discomfort, and perimenstrual negative affect. Cyclic pelvic pain is a new concept, developed by the science team during the project. Perimenstrual cyclic pelvic pain is an acute, subjective experience defined by pelvic pain that presents in a repeating time frame associated with the menstrual cycle. It is usually clustered with other discomforts and appreciably affects a woman's quality of life. Because the science about interventions is complex and extensive, data synthesis led to organization of the interventions within seven categories. CONCLUSIONS: Translation of research into practice is essential. Cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort is an important clinical issue, yet the science had not previously been comprehensively reviewed with the mission to translate it for nursing practice. Translation of this complex literature was accomplished though an innovative clinical practice guideline and subsequently evaluated in nursing practice through the research-based practice project.

Dysmenorrhea↗