Negative Answers Research Articles

‘Lost in translation’

After stabilising a five-year-old Hispanic female from Mexico diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus, insulin therapy was switched to subcutaneous injections and diabetes education was started. A certified interpreter was called into the hospital since the mother did not speak English. The mother was observed to communicate with Spanish language using brief sentences and simple positive or negative answers. The mother did not seem to understand the details of calculating insulin doses or giving injections. She could not demonstrate back any diabetes management skills that she had been taught by the diabetes educator. The process was repeated at a slower pace, but both the diabetes educator nurse and the certified interpreter noticed the lack of the mother's understanding. We assumed that being from Mexico and being able to reply in Spanish, she spoke that language and was intellectually limited. Social work was asked to evaluate the situation and the father was called for help. He started communicating with the mother using a different dialect. He said that the mother does not speak ‘regular Spanish language’, but she speaks Nahuatl which is a language of ancient Aztec cultures that is still being used in central Mexico. The diabetes education was restarted from English to Spanish (to the father), and from Spanish to Nahuatl (to the mother) with the help of the father. The parents were able to master diabetes management skills very well and the family was discharged home. Language barriers can be a major obstacle in chronic medical care. It is always important to ask about the types and subtypes of languages spoken at home by the adults who will be providing the medical care to the child, and to do this gently as many people who best understand a language or dialect considered inferior in their home culture will be reluctant to admit their performance. It is also helpful to probe in a non-invasive way about the literacy of the parents and their ability to use mathematics to calculate insulin doses. It is not surprising that overcoming language barriers between the medical health care professional and patients (and their families) can be an effective way to improve the metabolic control of type 1 diabetes in children.1 European studies that have examined ethnic differences in children with type 1 diabetes found out that non-Western children were more likely to be sicker due to late diagnosis when compared to Western children.2 Immigrant children tend to have significantly poorer metabolic control compared with Western patients.3 Other European studies considered immigrant status as a risk factor for developing microalbuminuria as one of diabetic complications.4 Ethnic, linguistic, socio-economic, educational, cultural and legal aspects may each become a barrier that can interfere with access and utilisation of diabetes care. Therefore, children with type 1 diabetes from ethnic minorities need a tailored medical support team that can deal with such potential barriers.5 Type 1 diabetes is a life-long diagnosis; therefore, communication problems should be recognised and addressed as early as possible by trying to develop adapted educational materials and guidelines.6 Culturally competent diabetes care interventions can definitely improve diabetes-related outcomes in ethnic minority groups.7

Interpretation of FTIR spectra of polymers and Raman spectra of car paints by means of likelihood ratio approach supported by wavelet transform for reducing data dimensionality.

The problem of interpretation of common provenance of the samples within the infrared spectra database of polypropylene samples from car body parts and plastic containers as well as Raman spectra databases of blue solid and metallic automotive paints was under investigation. The research involved statistical tools such as likelihood ratio (LR) approach for expressing the evidential value of observed similarities and differences in the recorded spectra. Since the LR models can be easily proposed for databases described by a few variables, research focused on the problem of spectra dimensionality reduction characterised by more than a thousand variables. The objective of the studies was to combine the chemometric tools easily dealing with multidimensionality with an LR approach. The final variables used for LR models' construction were derived from the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) as a data dimensionality reduction technique supported by methods for variance analysis and corresponded with chemical information, i.e. typical absorption bands for polypropylene and peaks associated with pigments present in the car paints. Univariate and multivariate LR models were proposed, aiming at obtaining more information about the chemical structure of the samples. Their performance was controlled by estimating the levels of false positive and false negative answers and using the empirical cross entropy approach. The results for most of the LR models were satisfactory and enabled solving the stated comparison problems. The results prove that the variables generated from DWT preserve signal characteristic, being a sparse representation of the original signal by keeping its shape and relevant chemical information.

Patients' perception of dignity in an Italian general hospital: a cross-sectional analysis.

BackgroundDignity is related to a patient’s respect, privacy, information and autonomy. Maintaining dignity is defined as ethical goal of care. Although the importance of dignity has been widely recognized, there is limited research that investigates if dignity is really maintained in clinical practice and few studies have been conducted in acute hospital settings with adults across the age range. The aim of the study was to explore inpatients’ perception of dignity in an hospital setting.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 10 medical and surgical wards of a General Hospital in Modena (Italy). We collected a purposive sample of 100 patients by selecting 10 participants from each ward who met following criteria: hospitalized for more than three days, at least 18 years old, not mentally ill, willing to participate and able to speak Italian. We developed a 15-item anonymous questionnaire divided into three sections: “physical privacy”, “information and autonomy”, “nurse-patients respectful interaction”.ResultsThe percentages of positive (preserved dignity perception) were more frequent than negative (not preserved dignity perception) and no answers with a statistically significantly difference among the three sections (Pearson chi2 = 150.41, p < 0.0001). The frequency of positive or negative answers was statistically significantly related to the preservation of dignity according to the following questions (p < 0.005, multivariate logistic regression): “privacy to use the bathroom” and “respectful interaction”, as protective factors and “maintaining of body privacy”, “involvement in the care process”, “correct communication” as risk factors.ConclusionsDignity was quite but not completely maintained according to the standards expected by patients. According to patients’ views, privacy of the body during medical procedures and respectful nurse-patient interactions were preserved more than information and verbal communication. Listening to patients’ views on the specific factors they consider useful to maintaining their dignity can help in this process. Recognizing and focusing on these factors will help professionals to establish practical measures for preserving and promoting patients' dignity and providing more dignified care. Dignity should be extensively and systematically pursued as other important clinical goals.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0704-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Free Abelian paratopological groups over metric spaces

Let X be a metrizable space. Let FP(Y) and AP(X) be the free paratopological group over X and the free Abelian paratopological group over X, respectively. Firstly, we use asymmetric locally convex spaces to prove that if Y is a subspace of X then AP(Y) is topological subgroup of AP(X). Then, we mainly prove that:(a)if the tightness of AP(X) is countable then the set of all non-isolated points in X is separable;(b)if X is a z-space, then AP(X) is a k-space if and only if X is locally compact, locally countable and the set of all non-isolated points in X is countable;(c)AP2(X) is first-countable if and only if the set of all non-isolated points in X is finite.Moreover, we show that, for a Tychonoff space X, AP(X) has a countable k-network if and only if X is a countable space with a countable k-network. Finally, we give negative answers to three questions which were posed by Arhangel'skiı̌ and Tkachenko in [3]. Some questions concerned with free paratopological groups are posed.

On the Brittleness of Bayesian Inference

With the advent of high-performance computing, Bayesian methods are becoming increasingly popular tools for the quantification of uncertainty throughout science and industry. Since these methods can impact the making of sometimes critical decisions in increasingly complicated contexts, the sensitivity of their posterior conclusions with respect to the underlying models and prior beliefs is a pressing question to which there currently exist positive and negative answers. We report new results suggesting that, although Bayesian methods are robust when the number of possible outcomes is finite or when only a finite number of marginals of the data-generating distribution are unknown, they could be generically brittle when applied to continuous systems (and their discretizations) with finite information on the data-generating distribution. If closeness is defined in terms of the total variation (TV) metric or the matching of a finite system of generalized moments, then (1) two practitioners who use arbitrarily close models and observe the same (possibly arbitrarily large amount of) data may reach opposite conclusions; and (2) any given prior and model can be slightly perturbed to achieve any desired posterior conclusion. The mechanism causing brittleness/robustness suggests that learning and robustness are antagonistic requirements, which raises the possibility of a missing stability condition when using Bayesian inference in a continuous world under finite information.

The Analysis of the Brain State Measuring by NIRS-based BMI in Answering yes-no Questions

Abstract In recent years, Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) has been improved with the rapid development of the cerebral function measurement technologies. BMI is used for measuring the brain activity of the subjects and inferring his/her intention. These measuring results can control the devices such as the electric wheelchair or the electric arm directly. Previous studies have such problems that BMI device is not portable, and it takes much time to attach a lot of sensor nodes on the head of the subject. Therefore, we use portable NIRS, because it is easy for the subjects to mount it and their burden is low. This paper describes the analytical method for cerebral blood flow during imagining affirmative or negative answers to the questions. It was verified whether it is possible to use the NIRS as BMI to discriminate the yes answer or no without voice and gesture. In our study, a subject keeps watching the display which shows a yes-no question, he/she imagines affirmative or negative answer to the questions. In the experiment, one test trial is in 30 seconds and it includes 10 seconds task between 10 seconds rests. Each test set consists of 10 trials. One subject has five test set. In our study, we used Wearable Optical Topography WOT-100 as measurement device of NIRS which has 10 channels (ch7-16) of prefrontal cortex. The NIRS data analysis procedure is as follows; in the first step, we used a band-pass filter to select the data of frequencies from 0.02 Hz up to 0.1 Hz. In the second step, measured NIRS data of each task set is divided into 10 blocks which are included 5 seconds data before the task and 10 seconds data after the task. In the third step, we calculated baseline of measured data from 5 seconds of the beginning and the end of the task blocks, and this baseline fitting is applied to the original data. In the last step, the neural network learned the important elements of the training data and classified the test data. Our method can discriminate between imagining affirmative or negative answers with 70% accuracy. At result, NIRS is useful to discriminate the yes-no answer of the questions.

The variation of the monodromy group in families of stratified bundles in positive characteristic

In this article we study smooth families of stratified bundles in positive characteristic and the variation of their monodromy group. Our aim is, in particular, to strengthen the weak form of the positive equicharacteristic p -curvature conjecture stated and proved by Esnault and Langer in citeEL:pcur. The main result is that if the ground field is uncountable then the strong form holds. In the case where the ground field is countable we provide positive and negative answers to possible generalizations.

On the gluing of hyperconvex metrics and diversities

Abstract In this work we consider two hyperconvex diversities (or hyperconvex metric spaces) (X, δX) and (Y, δY ) with nonempty intersection and we wonder whether there is a natural way to glue them so that the new glued diversity (or metric space) remains being hyperconvex. We provide positive and negative answers in both situations.

Convex combinations of fuzzy logical operations

One may ask when (non-trivial) convex combinations of fuzzy logical operations result in operations of the same type. This question has been intensively studied for triangular norms and it still remains open for continuous ones. An equivalent problem is obtained for triangular conorms. We show equivalence with the analogous problem for S-implications. Negative answers are obtained for strong fuzzy negations and for R-implications corresponding to continuous triangular norms. The situation for Q-implications and related problems are discussed.

Continuing professional training program in skin cancer screening in elderly

Introduction: INCA (French National Institute of Cancer) recommends skin cancer screening for any adult exposed to potential risk factors, without age-limit. Health professionals identified for screening are not only doctors, but also nurses, and physiotherapists. There is no national registry for skin cancer incidence. Hospital activity reports 70,000 new diagnoses of skin cancer each year (the most frequent cancer in fact). Half of patients hospitalized with principal diagnosis “skin cancer” are 75 years and older. Skin cancer with early diagnosis can often be cured, 70% are basal cell carcinomas, 20% squamous cell carcinoma, and 10% are melanomas (incidence has tripled between 1980 and 2005, due to sun exposure practices). Factors of delayed diagnostic have been identified by the INCA: elderly widows, inequality in access to dermatologist consultation in France. In addition, general practitioners, that follow high-risk populations such as older people, who cannot practice self-examination, recognize that there is a lack of training and not enough time to make a complete skin examination during themedical consultation (including scalp, external genital organs and feet). Objectives: Develop a continuing professional training (in French Developpement Professionnel Continu) for nurses, general practitioners and geriatricians, following elderly patients, living in community dwelling and nursing home. Methods: In Normandy, the program was suggested by mail in 2014 February, via private general practitioners' regional union, nurse coordinators and geriatricians in nursing homes. The first self-assessment was performed between March and May, one day, by a retrospective and randomized study of 20 patients medical journal among 75 years and older nursing home's residents, followed since at least one year. Patients receiving palliative care and dementia with severe behavioral troubles were excluded. There were 2 different questionnaires for nurses or doctors with filling guide for each. Use of data by sorting flat. Classroom training about skin cancer in elderly was organized with dermatologists in May 23. Feedback experience on skin cancer screening was organized in June 19, with elaboration of corrective action plan. The second self-assessment is planned at the end of 2014. Results: 8 geriatricians and only 1 nurse from different institutions performed the first self-assessment. For the nurse, there were negative answers for the 5 criteria in all patients. Concerning geriatricians, a complete skin examination has already been recorded for 27,5% of patients (but since more than one year for 80%). Skin cancer risk factors are never collected. None liberal general practitioners participated. Conclusion: We had expected more participants for this innovating continuing training program, involving both institution health professionals and private practitioners concerned by cancer screening in their patients. 2014 is the beginning of binding « Developpement Professionnel Continu » for private practitioners, and self-assessment method is still not well known. Further training program is planned in the next years, for health professionals, with better communication strategies. This first self-assessment revealed a lack of skin cancer examination in older patients, and of skin cancer risk factor collection, and also in dermatological monitoring. We hope our classroom training will improve the second selfassessment results. Reference: http://www.e-cancer.fr/depistage/cancers-de-la-peau/ espace-professionnels-de-sante. Disclosure of interest: None declared.

Countably compact spaces with n-in-countable weak bases are metrizable

We prove that a Hausdorff compact space with an n-in-countable weak base is metrizable for each n∈N. This result gives a positive answer to a question of Bennett and Martin asking if a compact Hausdorff space with a 2-in-finite weak base is metrizable. We also discuss the properties of spaces with n-in-countable bases, monotonically monolithic spaces and spaces with property (G). Finally, we show that an example of Davis, Reed and Wage provides consistent negative answers to two problems raised by Tkachuk on monotonically monolithic spaces.

Student’s Satisfaction – An Indicator of Quality in Physical Education

A quality social service is one which fulfils a set of demands and rules according to a standard and especially according to the internal and external client’s expectations. Reaching these goals implies a new relationship between the service provider and the beneficiary as well. As a consequence, in educational system is expected also a change regarding the improvement of the educational offer, the educational context, the quality of the human resources and the relationship between teacher and students. The difference between the positive and negative answers is consistent and statistically proved by the t test results (t=19,05; p

Are Olympians Real Idols of Young People for their Motivation and Participation in Sport?

Are Olympians Real Idols of Young People for their Motivation and Participation in Sport? The aim of this study was to determine: “if Olympic champions are real models and idols for today’s young people” and whether they would wish or not to become Olympic champions, and which reasons they associate with their positive or negative answers. 440, 12 and 15 year old respondents participated in surveys carried out in the year 1998 (12 and 15 year old respondents only) and consequently in the period 2010–2011 in which 1274 boys and 1090 girls, 12–19 years, old were respondents in this project. The quota samples were used in the selection of respondents in Prague’ and the Central region in the Czech Republic. The parts of the “Olympic Questionnaire”, created and verified in the 1998 survey were focused on the analysis of the respondents’ answers. The open answers of the respondents were subsequently divided into several general and common categories. The desire to become an Olympic Champion was felt more intensely in respondents of the surveys carried out in the year 1998 than in the project carried out in period 2010–2011. Young people more involved in sports express their wishes to become Olympic winners significantly clearer than those who practice sports seldom or not at all. Over 16 year old respondents are more aware of the difficulties associated with the process of becoming Olympic champions than 12–14 year old pubescent. The evaluation of the differences and identical opinions between the respondents’ answers in the observed groups were made by the MANOVA and t-tests for independent samples. The hypothesis about the importance of sports models and idols in current youth was confirmed. The role of Olympic champions is very important; namely in the internalization of the Olympic values in the process of the Olympic education of youth; both at schools and out of schools. Olympians should be aware of the fact that even their behavior which is not related to sport events is noticed by young people. The Olympians should be informed about their influence on young generations. Mass-media play a very important role in their mediation. For these reasons, the collaboration between the Club of Czech Olympians and the Olympic Academy should be innovated. Jsou olympionici skutecnými idoly mladeže v jeji motivaci a ucasti ve sportu? Cilem teto studie bylo zjistit: „zda olympijsti vitězove jsou realnými vzory a idoly pro dnesni mlade lidi“ a zdali by se chtěli, nebo nechtěli stat olympijskými vitězi, a s jakými důvody jsou asociovany jejich pozitivni ci negativni odpovědi. Respondenty a etapy výzkumů. V průzkumu, provedenem v letech 1998 bylo testovano 440 osob ve věku 12 a 15 let. Druheho setřeni, v letech 2010–2011, se ucastnilo 2364 jedinců, 1274 chlapců a 1090 divek, ve věku 12 až 19 let dle principů kvotniho výběru v Praze a Středoceskem kraji, Ceske republiky. Použit byl „Olympijský dotaznik“ vytvořený a standardizovaný v prvnim setřeni z roku 1998. Otevřene, volne odpovědi respondentů byly nasledně rozděleny do několika obecných a spolecných kategorii. Bylo předpokladano, že touhu ci přani stat se olympijským sampionem pociťuji intenzivněji respondenti z průzkumu provedeneho v roce 1998 než v setřeni realizovanem v obdobi let 2010–2011. Mladi lide, kteři se intenzivněji zapojuji do sportu, vyjadřuji sve přani stat se olympijskými vitězi výrazněji, než osoby meně ci vůbec nesportujici. Testovane osoby starsi než 16 let si vice uvědomuji obtiže spojene s procesem stat se olympijskými vitězi než dospivajici ve věku 12–14 let. K statistickemu vyhodnoceni rozdilů a shodných nazorů mezi odpověďmi respondentů ve sledovaných skupinach dle věku a pohlavi respondentů byly použity metody ANOVA, MANOVA a T-testy pro nezavisle vzorky. Výsledky a zavěry: hypoteza o významu sportovnich vzorů a idolů soucasne mladeže byla potvrzena. Role olympijských sampionů jsou velmi důležite, zejmena v internalizaci olympijských hodnot v procesu olympijske výchovy mladeže. Jak na skolach, tak mimo skoly. Olympionici by si měli být vědomi skutecnosti, že i jejich chovani, ktere se přimo netýka sportovnich udalosti, je objektem pozornosti mladých lidi. Olympionici by proto měli být informovani o jejich vlivu na mladou generaci. Masmedia maji velmi důležitou roli v jejich zprostředkovani. Z těchto důvodů by měla být spoluprace mezi Klubem ceských olympioniků a Olympijskou akademii inovovana.

A survey aimed at general citizens of the US and Japan about their attitudes toward electronic medical data handling.

Objectives: To clarify the views of the general population of two countries (US and Japan), concerning the handling of their medical records electronically. Methods: We contacted people nationwide in the United States at random via Random Digit Dialing (RDD) to obtain 200 eligible responders. The questionnaire was for obtaining the information on their attitudes towards handling of their medical records, disclosure of the name of disease, secondary usage of information, compiling their records into a lifelong medical record, and access to their medical records on the Internet. We had also surveyed people of Shizuoka prefecture in Japan using same questionnaires sent by mail, for which we obtained 457 valid answers. Results: Even in an unidentifiable manner, US people feel profit-oriented usage of medical data without specific consent is not acceptable. There is a significant difference between usage of unidentifiable medical data for profit (about 50% feel negatively) and for official/research purposes (about 30% feel negatively). About 60% of the US responders have a negative view on the proposal that unidentifiable medical information be utilized for profit by private companies to attain healthcare cost savings. As regards compiling a lifelong medical record, positive answers and negative answers are almost equally divided in the US (46% vs. 38%) while more positive attitudes are seen in Japan (74% vs. 12%). However, any incentive measures aimed at changing attitudes to such a compiling including the discount of healthcare costs or insurance fees are unwelcomed by people regardless of their age or health condition in both surveys. Regarding the access to their own medical record via the Internet, 38% of the US responders feel this is unacceptable while 50.5% were willing to accept it. Conclusions: Participants from the US think that the extent of the sharing their identifiable medical records should be limited to the doctors-in-charge and specified doctors referred to by their own doctors. On the other hand, Japanese people find it acceptable for doctors of the same hospital to share their medical records. Even in unidentifiable manner, people in both countries think the profits resulting from the secondary use of medical records should be returned to the public or patients. With regard to compiling a lifelong medical record, participants from the US provided both positive answers and negative answers, while more positive attitudes were observed in Japan. However, any incentives or measures aimed at changing attitudes towards such a compilation, including provision of a discount on healthcare costs or insurance fees, were not welcomed by participants from US as well as those from Japan, regardless of their age or health condition.

The Civic Duty to Report Crime and Corruption

Is the civic duty to report crime and corruption a genuine moral duty? After clarifying the nature of the duty, I consider a couple of negative answers to the question, and turn to an attractive and commonly held view, according to which this civic duty is a genuine moral duty. On this view, crime and corruption threaten political stability, and citizens have a moral duty to report crime and corruption to the government in order to help the government’s law enforcement efforts. The resulting duty is triply general in that it applies to everyone, everywhere, and covers all criminal and corrupt activity. In this paper, I challenge the general scope of this argument. I argue that that the civic duty to report crime and corruption to the authorities is much narrower than the government claims and people might think, for it only arises when the state (i) condemns genuine wrongdoing and serious ethical offenses as “crime” and “corruption,” and (ii) constitutes a dependable “disclosure recipient,” showing the will and power to hold wrongdoers accountable. I further defend a robust duty to directly report to the public—one that is weightier and wider than people usually assume. When condition (ii) fails to obtain, I submit, citizens are released of the duty to report crime and corruption to the authorities, but are bound to report to the public, even when the denunciation targets the government and is risky or illegal.

PS-039 DokuPIK – Pharmaceutical interventions: Do ward pharmacists know how to document?

BackgroundThe internet-based categorical, hierarchical documentation system for routine pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) DokuPIK is widely used especially among German ward-based pharmacists.PurposeTo conduct a survey-based study on its clinical usability.Materials and methodsOut...

Two counterexamples in abstract factorization

We give examples that provide negative answers to three questions about abstract factorization posed by Anderson and Frazier. We show that (1)~an atomic domain need not be $\tau$-atomic for $\tau$ divisive, (2)~an atomic domain need not be a comaximal factorization domain (CFD) and (3)~for $\tau$ divisive, a nonzero nonunit of a $\tau$-UFD need not be a $\tau$-product of $\tau$-primes. Along the way, we generalize the theorem of Anderson and Frazier that a UFD is a $\tau$-UFD for $\tau$ divisive (with a simplified proof), and we demonstrate a method for constructing domains with no pseudo-irreducible elements.

Quantifying Preferences for the Natural World Using Monetary and Nonmonetary Assessments of Value

Given that funds for biodiversity conservation are limited, there is a need to understand people’s preferences for its different components. To date, such preferences have largely been measured in monetary terms. However, how people value biodiversity may differ from economic theory, and there is little consensus over whether monetary metrics are always appropriate or the degree to which other methods offer alternative and complementary perspectives on value. We used a choice experiment to compare monetary amounts recreational visitors to urban green spaces were willing to pay for biodiversity enhancement (increases in species richness for birds, plants, and aquatic macroinvertebrates) with self-reported psychological gains in well-being derived from visiting the same sites. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) estimates were significant and positive, and respondents reported high gains in well-being across 3 axes derived from environmental psychology theories (reflection, attachment, continuity with past). The 2 metrics were broadly congruent. Participants with above-median self-reported well-being scores were willing to pay significantly higher amounts for enhancing species richness than those with below-median scores, regardless of taxon. The socio-economic and demographic background of participants played little role in determining either their well-being or the probability of choosing a paying option within the choice experiment. Site-level environmental characteristics were only somewhat related to WTP, but showed strong associations with self-reported well-being. Both approaches are likely to reflect a combination of the environmental properties of a site and unobserved individual preference heterogeneity for the natural world. Our results suggest that either metric will deliver mutually consistent results in an assessment of environmental preferences, although which approach is preferable depends on why one wishes to measure values for the natural world.

Two Questions in the Kourovka Notebook

Glauberman’s Z *-theorem [1] and the theorem of Bender are two most important tools for local analysis in the theory of finite groups. The Z *-theorem generalizes the known Burnside and Brauer–Suzuki theorems on finite groups with cyclic and quaternion Sylow 2-subgroups. Whether these theorems are valid in a class of periodic groups is unknown. We prove that the Z *-theorem is invalid in the class of all periodic groups. In particular, this gives negative answers to questions of A. V. Borovik [3, Question 11.13] and V. D. Mazurov [3, Question 17.71a].

Constitutive relevance and the personal/subpersonal distinction

Can facts about subpersonal states and events be constitutively relevant to personal-level phenomena? And can knowledge of these facts inform explanations of personal-level phenomena? Some philosophers, like Jennifer Hornsby and John McDowell, argue for two negative answers whereby questions about persons and their behavior cannot be answered by using information from subpersonal psychology. Knowledge of subpersonal states and events cannot inform personal-level explanation such that they cast light on what constitutes persons’ behaviors. In this paper I argue against this position. After having distinguished between enabling and constitutive relevance, I defend the claim that at least some facts about subpersonal states and events are constitutively relevant to some personal-level phenomenon, and therefore can, and sometimes should, inform personal-level explanations. I draw some of the possible consequences of my claim for our understanding of personal-level behavior by focusing on the phenomenon of addiction.