Inadequate Method Research Articles

Microglia Activation as a Biomarker for Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become the signature wound of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Injury may result from a mechanical force, a rapid acceleration-deceleration movement, or a blast wave. A cascade of secondary cell death events ensues after the initial injury. In particular, multiple inflammatory responses accompany TBI. A series of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines spreads to normal brain areas juxtaposed to the core impacted tissue. Among the repertoire of immune cells involved, microglia is a key player in propagating inflammation to tissues neighboring the core site of injury. Neuroprotective drug trials in TBI have failed, likely due to their sole focus on abrogating neuronal cell death and ignoring the microglia response despite these inflammatory cells’ detrimental effects on the brain. Another relevant point to consider is the veracity of results of animal experiments due to deficiencies in experimental design, such as incomplete or inadequate method description, data misinterpretation, and reporting may introduce bias and give false-positive results. Thus, scientific publications should follow strict guidelines that include randomization, blinding, sample-size estimation, and accurate handling of all data (Landis et al., 2012). A prolonged state of inflammation after brain injury may linger for years and predispose patients to develop other neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. TBI patients display progressive and long-lasting impairments in their physical, cognitive, behavioral, and social performance. Here, we discuss inflammatory mechanisms that accompany TBI in an effort to increase our understanding of the dynamic pathological condition as the disease evolves over time and begin to translate these findings for defining new and existing inflammation-based biomarkers and treatments for TBI.

Research-based design of a medical vocabulary videogame

This article discusses the research-based design choices and general rationale underpinning the creation of a video game called Medicina. This game is designed to broadly foster better language skills among international nursing students with English as a second language (ESL) and more specifically to teach confusable medication names while also improving reaction time to verbal orders. Research shows that the learning of vocabulary is important to language learning. Without adequate vocabulary knowledge, it is difficult for an international student to interact in professional and university settings. This situation is compounded by the expectation that students will learn key vocabulary incidentally through academic pre-readings, despite the research demonstrating this to be an inefficient and inadequate method of learning. Moreover, medication names are low-frequency vocabulary. Thus, the international student who seeks to enter the health profession encounters the task of learning a large subset of language but without the amount of exposure theorised as being necessary to it. The article will outline how the language-learning video game is designed to encourage rapid discrimination of word form and give multiple exposures to both written and spoken medication names. It concludes with a summary of the preliminary testing of the game and a brief summary of the findings.

A perspective on online partial discharge monitoring for assessment of the condition of rotating machine stator winding insulation

Partial discharges (PD) are small electrical sparks that can occur in liquid or solid insulation systems in high-voltage equipment, and can eventually cause failure of the equipment [1]–[3]. Partial discharge testing has been used for more than 80 years as a factory quality control tool to find manufacturing defects that could eventually lead to equipment failure. We believe that Johnson was the first to measure PD on operating high-voltage equipment, in the 1940s [4]. His aim was to find an online method to determine whether stator winding coils or bars were vibrating excessively in the stator magnetic core. These vibrating coils lead to abrasion of the high-voltage electrical insulation and to eventual failure. A symptom of the insulation abrasion process was that PD (or what he referred to as slot discharge) occurred between the surface of the coil and the stator core. By measuring the PD online, he could indirectly detect the movement of coils, which indicated that failure was likely. The measurement had to be made online because, if the generator were not operating, no magnetic forces would be acting on the coils; thus, the air gaps that are a necessary precursor of PD would not be as large. Johnson was successful in identifying those generators that were suffering the most from this problem, which was caused by the introduction of the first thermoset insulation systems and by workmanship variations that were magnified by an inadequate method of securing the coils in the stator slots for the novel insulation system. The success of the Johnson online PD measuring system inspired other machine manufacturers and even a few utilities to develop their own methods [5], [6]. The main reason Johnson needed online PD measurement was that loose windings do not produce as much PD when the motor or generator is not operating. Thus one of the important reasons for performing online PD tests is to monitor the condition of the equipment under normal operating electrical, thermal, and mechanical stresses. However, with the current emphasis on extending times between maintenance outages, and the push to reduce testing costs in general, the main reason now given for online PD measurement is to avoid shutdown of the equipment, which would be necessary for an off-line PD test or other diagnostic test. Although we believe online PD monitoring was first applied to rotating machines, the same reasons are valid for other electrical equipment, such as oil paper cable joints or terminations, distribution class switchgear, gas-insulated switchgear, and power transformers [2], [3].

Multivariate return periods of sea storms for coastal erosion risk assessment

Abstract. The erosion of a beach depends on various storm characteristics. Ideally, the risk associated with a storm would be described by a single multivariate return period that is also representative of the erosion risk, i.e. a 100 yr multivariate storm return period would cause a 100 yr erosion return period. Unfortunately, a specific probability level may be associated with numerous combinations of storm characteristics. These combinations, despite having the same multivariate probability, may cause very different erosion outcomes. This paper explores this ambiguity problem in the context of copula based multivariate return periods and using a case study at Durban on the east coast of South Africa. Simulations were used to correlate multivariate return periods of historical events to return periods of estimated storm induced erosion volumes. In addition, the relationship of the most-likely design event (Salvadori et al., 2011) to coastal erosion was investigated. It was found that the multivariate return periods for wave height and duration had the highest correlation to erosion return periods. The most-likely design event was found to be an inadequate design method in its current form. We explore the inclusion of conditions based on the physical realizability of wave events and the use of multivariate linear regression to relate storm parameters to erosion computed from a process based model. Establishing a link between storm statistics and erosion consequences can resolve the ambiguity between multivariate storm return periods and associated erosion return periods.

Tensile strength of concrete under static and intermediate strain rates: Correlated results from different testing methods

This paper presents a comparative experiment and analysis of three different methods (direct tension, splitting tension and four-point loading flexural tests) for determination of the tensile strength of concrete under low and intermediate strain rates. In addition, the objective of this investigation is to analyze the suitability of the high stressed volume approach and Weibull effective volume method to the correlation of the results of different tensile tests of concrete. The test results show that the strain rate sensitivity of tensile strength depends on the type of test, splitting tensile strength of concrete is more sensitive to an increase in the strain rate than flexural and direct tensile strength. The high stressed volume method could be used to obtain a tensile strength value of concrete, free from the influence of the characteristics of tests and specimens. However, the Weibull effective volume method is an inadequate method for describing failure of concrete specimens determined by different testing methods.

Challenges of Opportunity Cost Analysis in Planning REDD+: A Honduran Case Study of Social and Cultural Values Associated with Indigenous Forest Uses

The REDD Programme is predicated on the assumption that developed countries will provide sufficient funds to offset opportunity costs associated with avoiding deforestation. The role of non-market values in indigenous land management may challenge the efficacy of compensation schemes targeted at meeting opportunity costs as calculated in traditional opportunity cost analysis (OCA). Furthermore it is unclear how these economic incentives might affect social and cultural values linked to land-use norms, livelihoods, and local governance. This study explores the economic, social and cultural values of forest uses for a Miskito community in the Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras. Data were collected using household surveys, farm visits, and community workshops. OCA indicates potential for successful REDD+ payment schemes; however it is an inadequate method to account for subsistence and cultural opportunity costs associated with avoided deforestation. Compensation to change land-use practices may undermine governance institutions necessary to address deforestation in the region. Our results indicate that small-scale agriculture and other forest-based subsistence activities are important cultural practices for maintaining Miskito identity and forest management institutions. Recommendations are offered for using OCA to develop REDD+ projects that recognize the linkages between social and cultural values and forest management by focusing on approaches that consider a full range of economic, social and cultural opportunity costs.

Group Experiment and Other Writings: The Frankfurt School on Public Opinion in Postwar Germany

During the occupation of West Germany after the Second World War, the American authorities commissioned polls to assess the values and opinions of ordinary Germans. They concluded that the fascist attitudes of the Nazi era had weakened to a large degree. Theodor W. Adorno and his Frankfurt School colleagues, who returned in 1949 from the United States, were skeptical. They held that standardized polling was an inadequate and superficial method for exploring such questions. In their view, public opinion is not simply an aggregate of individually held opinions, but is fundamentally a public concept, formed through interaction in conversations and with prevailing attitudes and ideas 'in the air.' In Group Experiment, edited by Friedrich Pollock, they published their findings on their group discussion experiments that delved deeper into the process of opinion formation. Andrew J. Perrin and Jeffrey K. Olick make a case that these experiments are an important missing link in the ontology and methodology of current social-science survey research.

A simple method to detect human intraosseous vascular structures: using the calcaneus as an example

Intraosseous vessels play an important role in regeneration of bone. However, the anatomy of the intraosseous vessels in humans has not been clearly delineated due to inadequate method of stereoscopically investigating vessels surrounded by bone tissues. This study was to investigate the feasibility of simple CT scanning with barium sulphate perfusion to detect intraosseous vessels in humans. Two freshly obtained feet from a patient who required a double amputation were used in this study. One foot was perfused with barium sulfate and then scanned by CT (CT method). The other foot was processed using vascular corrosion casting (traditional method). Intraosseous vessels in both specimens were compared. The anatomical distributions of the calcaneal intraosseous vessels were similar as assessed by the CT and traditional methods. However, in comparison to traditional method, the CT method allows the preservation of the surrounding bone tissue, which is important for analyzing the relationship between intraosseous vessels and the surrounding bone structures, and the visualization of a special vascular structure called the sinusoid cluster. Simple CT scanning with barium sulfate perfusion may be a practical and adequate method for stereoscopically detecting the morphology and distribution of the intraosseous vessels.

Reply to Smith et al.: No evidence to challenge the current paradigm on starch and cellulose biosynthesis involving sucrose synthase activity

The generally accepted view that sucrose synthase (SUS) activity is involved in the production of cellulose and starch biosynthesis (1 and references contained therein) has been challenged (2). Using a method for assaying SUS activity in the synthetic direction (conversion of UDP-glucose into sucrose), Barratt et al. (2) reported an almost total absence of SUS activity in sus1/sus2/sus3/sus4 Arabidopsis mutant stems and the presence of WT levels of starch and cellulose content in this organ. Bieniawska et al. (3) reported that SUS activities in WT Arabidopsis leaves were too low to account for the starch accumulation rate occurring during illumination. Barratt et al. (2) thus concluded that SUS is not required for starch and cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. However, in our study (1), we used a method for assaying SUS activity in the sucrose cleavage direction (UDP-glucose and ADP-glucose synthesis) and found that SUS activity in WT Arabidopsis leaves was approximately 10-fold higher than that reported by Bieniawska et al. (3), greatly exceeding the minimum needed to support the normal rate of starch accumulation during illumination. Furthermore, we found that SUS activities in the insoluble and soluble fractions of sus1/sus2/sus3/sus4 stems were approximately 10- and 100-fold higher, respectively, than those reported by Barratt et al. (2). Most importantly, we also found that SUS activity in the leaves and stems of the sus1/sus2/sus3/sus4 mutants was approximately 85% of those of WT plants, thus concluding that (i) most of SUS activity in Arabidopsis leaves and stems is not attributable to SUS1–4 and (ii) SUS activity in sus1/sus2/sus3/sus4 mutants is sufficient to support normal cellulose and starch biosynthesis. As discussed in our paper (1), we ascribed such marked differences between our results and those of Barratt et al. (2) and Bieniawska et al. (3) to the inadequate method and conditions for assaying SUS activity used by these investigators rather than to differences in the assay temperature. In their letter, Smith et al. (4) surmise that the method for assaying SUS activity should not distract attention when formulating conclusions about the role of SUS in starch and cellulose metabolism, and asserted that we ignored their immunolocalization studies of SUS1–6. However, we consider that the use of an inadequate method for assaying SUS activity is not a minor issue, because conclusions by Barratt et al. (2) and Bieniawska et al. (3) were strongly based on the use of such methods. Studies of SUS1–6 location conducted by Barratt et al. (2) and Bieniawska et al. (3) were carried out assuming the yet to be demonstrated conceptual idea that SUS1–6 are the sole proteins with SUS activity in Arabidopsis. Therefore, as indicated in our paper (1), further endeavors based on the production of plants totally lacking SUS activity and on the use of adequate SUS activity assay method(s) will be necessary to investigate the involvement of SUS activity in starch and cellulose metabolism. In conclusion, in our opinion, no pressing biological evidence has been presented by Barratt et al. (2) to challenge the current paradigm on cellulose and starch metabolism involving SUS activity. In this context, we must emphasize that Angeles-Nunez and Tiessen (5) have shown that SUS2 and SUS3 are required for channeling carbon toward ADP-glucose and starch in Arabidopsis seeds.

Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Soluble Fractions of Industrial Solid Wastes onDaphnia magnaandVibrio fischeri

Industrial wastes may produce leachates that can contaminate the aquatic ecosystem. Toxicity testing in acute and chronic levels is essential to assess environmental risks from the soluble fractions of these wastes, since only chemical analysis may not be adequate to classify the hazard of an industrial waste. In this study, ten samples of solid wastes from textile, metal-mechanic, and pulp and paper industries were analyzed by acute and chronic toxicity tests with Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri. A metal-mechanic waste (sample MM3) induced the highest toxicity level to Daphnia magna(CE50,48 h = 2.21%). A textile waste induced the highest toxicity level to Vibrio fischeri (sample TX2, CE50,30 min = 12.08%). All samples of pulp and paper wastes, and a textile waste (sample TX2) induced chronic effects on reproduction, length, and longevity of Daphnia magna. These results could serve as an alert about the environmental risks of an inadequate waste classification method.

The calculation of baseline serum creatinine overestimates the diagnosis of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The current definition and classification of acute kidney injury is based on consensus criteria (RIFLE and AKIN systems). Creatinine is the most commonly used of the recommended parameters (creatinine, glomerular filtration rate and diuresis). If the baseline value is not known, it can be calculated based on the simplified MDRD equation, assuming a filtration rate of 75 ml/min/1.73 m2 for the calculation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic impact of using estimated baseline creatinine compared to the actual value measured in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Analysis of patients undergoing major cardiac surgery, who were prospectively included in a database. The maximum RIFLE stage reached was calculated for each patient using the measured and estimated baseline creatinine levels. The impact on the diagnosis was analysed using intraclass correlation coefficients, concordance analysis and Bland-Altman plots. The incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury in 2103 cases between 2002 and 2007 was 29.1%, according to estimated creatinine (14.3% with the measure). This represents an overestimation of 104%, with an intraclass correlation of 0.12. By excluding patients with known chronic kidney disease (glomerular filtration rate [<60 ml/min/1.73 m2), both the overestimation (2.4%) and the correlation (0.57) improved. The calculation of baseline creatinine using the MDRD equation overestimates the incidence of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, and is an inadequate method for detection when the baseline value is unknown.

Accurate placement of a pelvic binder improves reduction of unstable fractures of the pelvic ring

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of placement of pelvic binders and to determine whether circumferential compression at the level of the greater trochanters is the best method of reducing a symphyseal diastasis. Patients were identified by a retrospective review of all pelvic radiographs performed at a military hospital over a period of 30 months. We analysed any pelvic radiograph on which the buckle of the pelvic binder was clearly visible. The patients were divided into groups according to the position of the buckle in relation to the greater trochanters: high, trochanteric or low. Reduction of the symphyseal diastasis was measured in a subgroup of patients with an open-book fracture, which consisted of an injury to the symphysis and disruption of the posterior pelvic arch (AO/OTA 61-B/C). We identified 172 radiographs with a visible pelvic binder. Five cases were excluded due to inadequate radiographs. In 83 (50%) the binder was positioned at the level of the greater trochanters. A high position was the most common site of inaccurate placement, occurring in 65 (39%). Seventeen patients were identified as a subgroup to assess the effect of the position of the binder on reduction of the diastasis. The mean gap was 2.8 times greater (mean difference 22 mm) in the high group compared with the trochanteric group (p < 0.01). Application of a pelvic binder above the level of the greater trochanters is common and is an inadequate method of reducing pelvic fractures and is likely to delay cardiovascular recovery in these seriously injured patients.

Non-specific methods for detecting residues of cleaning agents during cleaning validation

Cleaning validation procedures are carried out in order to assure that residues of cleaning agents are within acceptable limits after the cleaning process. Cleaning agents often consist of a mixture of various surfactants which are in a highly diluted state after the water rinsing procedure has been completed. This makes it difficult to find appropriate analytical methods that are sensitive enough to detect the cleaning agents. In addition, it is advantageous for the analytical methods to be simple to perform and to give results quickly. In this study, three different non-specific analytical methods are compared: visual detection of foam, pH and conductivity measurements. The analyses were performed on different dilutions of the cleaning agents Bactericidal Hydroclean and Tickopur R33. The results demonstrated that the most appropriate method for these detergents is conductivity measurements, by which it is possible to detect concentrations of cleaning agents down to 10 ?g/ml. In these case, pH is inadequate method (non-linear) and visual detection of foam is a semi-quantitative method. All these methods are easy to perform, gives a quick results, and requires no expensive instrumentation.

Angiographic estimation of atherosclerotic disease burden in a coronary artery fed by collaterals: a potential pitfall in decision for revascularization

Despite the remarkable advances in revascularization strategies made during the last decade, a significant proportion of patients are excluded from either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting because of unsuitable coronary anatomy. Diffuse severe coronary artery disease, small vessel caliber, chronic total occlusions, or extremely calcified vessels are frequent reasons for deferring revascularization with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. We present a case concerning a middle-aged asymptomatic patient who was treated successfully with percutaneous coronary intervention due to a chronic total occlusion lesion of the left anterior descending artery. Coronary angiography is an inadequate method for the estimation of the burden of atherosclerotic disease in an artery fed by collaterals. Assessment of any residual antegrade flow, and ipsilateral and contralateral collateral filling of the segments distal to the occlusion with invasive or noninvasive techniques, could affect the appropriate decision-making by physicians.

Mid-latitude ozone monitoring with the GOMOS-ENVISAT experiment version 5: the noise issue

Abstract. The GOMOS ozone profiles have been analysed to evaluate the GOMOS ability to capture the long-term ozone evolution at mid-latitudes during the expected recovery phase of the ozone layer. Version 5 of the operational GOMOS ozone data has been compared with data from two of the longest ground-based instruments based on different techniques and already involved with many other previous space instrument validations. Comparisons between ground-based and GOMOS data confirm the occurrence of spurious retrievals mainly occurring since 2006. Using a selected set of data it is shown that some bad retrievals are induced by the increasing dark charge of the detectors combined with an inadequate method for its correction. This effect does not only induce a continuous bias, but is rather exhibiting a bimodal distribution including the correct profiles and the bad retrievals. For long-term analyses it is recommended filtering the data according to background light conditions and star temperature (spectrum shape). The new method of the dark charge estimate proposed to be implemented in the version 6 of the ESA algorithm seems to significantly reduce the occurrence of such effects and should allow to monitor stratospheric ozone using GOMOS data with greater confidence.

High Conductivity in Hydrothermally Grown AgCuO2 Single Crystals Verified Using Focused-Ion-Beam-Deposited Nanocontacts

The silver-copper mixed oxide AgCuO(2) (also formulated as Ag(2)Cu(2)O(4)) possesses a peculiar electronic structure in which both Ag and Cu are partially oxidized, with the charge being delocalized among the three elements in the oxide. Accordingly, a quasi-metallic behavior should be expected for this oxide, and indeed bulk transport measurements show conductivity values that are orders of magnitude higher than for other members of this novel oxide family. The presence of silver makes thermal sintering an inadequate method to evaluate true conductivity, and thus such measurements were performed on low density pellets, giving an underestimated value for the conductivity. In the present work we present a new synthetic route for AgCuO(2) based on mild hydrothermal reactions that has yielded unprecedented large AgCuO(2) single-crystals well over 1 μm in size using temperatures as low as 88 °C. We have used a dual beam instrument to apply nanocontacts to those crystals, allowing the in situ measurement of transport properties of AgCuO(2) single crystals. The results show a linear relationship between applied current and measured voltage. The conductivity values obtained are 50 to 300 times higher than those obtained for bulk low density AgCuO(2) pellets, thus confirming the high conductivity of this oxide and therefore supporting the delocalized charge observed by spectroscopic techniques.

Perspectives on Method Validation: Importance of Adequate Method Validation

Perspectives on Method Validation: Importance of Adequate Method Validation

Decontamination of laryngoscope blades

The laryngoscope has been identified as a potential source of cross-infection, because of blood and bacterial contamination. In India, there are no guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of anesthesia-related equipment. Practices for decontamination of laryngoscopes vary widely and in most healthcare institutes, laryngoscope blades are re-used after cleaning with tap-water. We prospectively compared two techniques for decontamination of laryngoscope blades - a) washing with tap-water and b) washing with tap-water followed by disinfection by immersing in 5% v/v (volume/volume, 1:20 dilution) aldehyde-free biguanide agent for 10 min. We calculated the cost-effectiveness of using 5% v/v aldehyde-free biguanide agent for disinfection of laryngoscopes. We also conducted a survey to assess the decontamination practices in other Indian hospitals. Overall bacterial growth was 58% (29 out of 50 blades) after tap-water cleaning (of which 60% were pathogenic organisms) versus 3.4% (one out of 29 blades) after tap-water cleaning followed by immersion in disinfectant (all of which were commensals). The cost of disinfection with biguanide was Indian Rupees 1.13 (20 US cents) per laryngoscope. Most hospitals in India do not have guidelines regarding laryngoscope decontamination between uses, and cleaning with tap water is a commonly used method. Cleaning of laryngoscope blades with tap-water is a commonly used but inadequate method for decontamination. Washing with tap-water followed by disinfection with 5% v/v aldehyde-free biguanide for at least 10 min is an effective and inexpensive alternative. National guidelines for the decontamination of anesthesia equipment are necessary.

Results of a Self-Absorption Study on the Versapor 3000 47-mm Filters for Radioactive Particulate Air Stack Sampling

Since the mid-1980's the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has used a value of 0.85 as a correction factor for the self absorption of activity for particulate radioactive air samples collected from building exhaust for environmental monitoring. More recently, an effort was made to evaluate the current particulate radioactive air sample filters (Versapor 3000, 47-mm diameter) used at PNNL for self absorption effects. There were two methods used to characterize the samples. Sixty samples were selected from the archive for acid digestion to compare the radioactivity measured by direct gas-flow proportional counting of filters to the results obtained after acid digestion of the filter and counting again by gas-flow proportional detection. Thirty different sample filters were selected for visible light microscopy to evaluate filter loading and particulate characteristics. Mass-loading effects were also considered. Large error is associated with the sample filter analysis comparison and subsequently with the estimation of the absorption factor resulting in an inadequate method to estimate losses from self-absorption in the sample filter. The mass loading on the sample filter as determined after digestion and drying was approximately 0.08 mg cm; however, this value may not represent the total filter mass loading given that there may be undetermined losses associated with the digestion process. While it is difficult to determine how much material is imbedded in the filter, observations from the microscopy analysis indicate that the vast majority of the particles remain on the top of the filter. In comparing the results obtained, the continued use of 0.85 as a conservative correction factor is recommended.

The prognostic value of panoramic radiography of inferior alveolar nerve damage after mandibular third molar removal: retrospective study of 400 cases

The aim of the study was to estimate the accuracy of panoramic radiographic signs predicting inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) paresthesia after lower third molar removal. In a case-control study the sample was composed of 41 cases with postoperative IAN paresthesia and 359 control cases without it. The collected data included "classic" specific signs indicating a close spatial relationship between third molar root and inferior alveolar canal (IAC), root curvatures, and the extent of IAC-root tip overlap. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were completed to estimate the association between radiographic findings and IAN paresthesia. The multivariate logistic analysis identified 3 signs significantly associated with IAN paresthesia (P < .001): interruption of the superior cortex of the canal wall, diversion of the canal, and darkening of the root. The sensitivities and specificities ranged from 14.6% to 68.3% and from 85.5% to 96.9%, respectively. The positive predictive values, calculated to factor a 1.1% prevalence of paresthesia, ranged from 3.6% to 10.9%, whereas the negative predictive values >99%. Panoramic radiography is an inadequate screening method for predicting IAN paresthesia after mandibular third molar removal.