Novice Investigator Research Articles

Myotonometry and extended field-of-view ultrasound imaging allow reliable quantification of patellar tendon stiffness and length at rest and during maximal load, whereas several restrictions exist for the Achilles tendon.

Stiffness and length are well-established tendon parameters in sports and medicine. Myotonometry and ultrasound imaging are the commonly used methods to quantify these parameters. However, further studies are needed to clarify the reliability of these methods, especially when assessing maximally loaded tendons and when conducted by different experienced investigators. This study aimed to determine the intra- and interrater reliabilities of measuring the stiffness and length of the patellar tendon (PT) and Achilles tendon (AT) using the myotonometry method and the extended field-of-view ultrasound (EFOV-US) technique at rest and maximal load performed by different experienced investigators. Twenty-seven participants were examined on three different days by one experienced investigator and one novice investigator. Primary outcomes were the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and associated 95% confidence interval (95% CI), coefficient of variation (CV), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) across the measurement days and investigators. For PT measurements at rest and maximal load, the estimated ICCs for stiffness and length were ≥.867 and ≥.970, respectively, with 95% CIs ranging from poor (.306) to excellent (.973) and good (.897) to excellent (.999). The CV, SEM, and MDC for PT stiffness and length were ≤5.2% and ≤2.0%, ≤39.3 N/m and ≤0.9 mm, and ≤108.9 N/m and ≤2.6 mm, respectively. For AT measurements, some restrictions were evident for stiffness at rest and both parameters at maximal load. However, regarding AT length at rest, the estimated ICC was ≥.996, with an excellent 95% CI (.987-.999). The CV, SEM, and MDC for AT length at rest were 2.8%, ≤1.1 mm, and ≤2.9 mm, respectively. The estimated ICCs show good to excellent reliability for the myotonometry method and the EFOV-US technique for measuring PT stiffness and length at rest and maximal load for experienced and novice investigators. However, some restrictions are evident for the AT, especially for measurements at maximal load.

Iniciación a la investigación en educación médica: guía práctica metodológica

Most health science professors have a solid scientific background and additionally many of them develop an interest in medical educational research. Research in this field must be a rigorous and systematic process, which should guarantee the accuracy of the study. Thus, the purpose of this article is to provide an initial guide about how to conduct a study in the field of medical education research. The importance of the research question and the theoretical framework, ethical considerations and quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies in medical education research have been discussed. An exhaustive literature review has been carried out, where sources such as articles, guides, journals or books the novice investigator could use as a reference have been identified and some discussed in detail. To start in this type of research, analysis of the study and its objectives is essential to determine which methodology will be the most appropriate to answer the research question. May this article serve as a document to follow to facilitate the research work to those professionals interested in this field.

Application of Psychodynamic to Literature: P D James Devices and Desires

This paper is an investigation of Phyllis Dorothy James mental illness of her characters in Devices and Desires. She is regarded crime and mystery writer who is credited with growing the extent of the puzzle type. Even though she utilizes components of conventional criminologist fiction, James is especially worried about building up the mental inspirations of her characters. James is additionally noted for her complex exposition style, featured by abstract implications and citations, and her clear, sensible characters and settings. James had broad contact with doctors, attendants, government employees, police authorities, and justices. She utilizes this experience to create settings in the dynamic existence where people hectically seek after their jobs. She shuns the nation end of the week murders of her antecedents, with their relaxation class speculates who have least more to do than visit with the novice investigator and look blameworthy. James keeps a great chart of her characters so that each detail fits logically and psychologically right. Here I have discussed the mindset of killer character at various stages and suggested a few points to get rid of the problem.

Genetic Engineering of Cyanobacteria: Design, Implementation, and Characterization of Recombinant Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a model cyanobacterium which has been investigated to produce a variety of fuels and chemicals. Genetic mutations are of interest for studying photosynthesis and engineering chemical production. Here, methods for culturing, preserving, and genetically transforming Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 are detailed including methods to test promoter strength using the green fluorescent protein reporter. Furthermore, a method for markerless transformation of chromosomal DNA is presented. Sufficient details are provided to enable application by the novice investigator.

Accuracy of the SpineNav3DTM Technology to Measure the Depth of Epidural Space: A Comparison with the Standard Ultrasound Technique in Pregnant Volunteers

Background: The SpineNav3DTM technology was recently incorporated in the Accuro device for the automatic detection of spinal bone landmarks. The goal of our study was to validate the ability of the Accuro ultrasound scanner to detect the distance from skin to epidural space by comparing it to the golden standard (the standard ultrasound). The secondary end-point was the inter-rater agreement between an expert anesthesiologist and a novice trainee in determining the epidural space depth with the Accuro device. Methods: 96 consecutive healthy volunteer parturients at term had their lumbar area scanned for the measurements of the depth of the epidural space (recorded in cm) by two anesthesiologists. The expert investigator made the measurements with both the standard ultrasound and the Accuro devices, and the trainee made the measurements with the Accuro device only. Results: There were no differences in the mean depth of the epidural space as measured by the expert or the novice investigator with both the devices (standard ultrasound and Accuro) in both positions (sitting and lateral) at any intervertebral level with a difference less than 0.25 cm. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that this handheld ultrasound system with 3D spine navigation technology can automatically identify the key neuraxial landmarks within ultrasound images of the lumbar spine acquired in the transverse plane and measure the epidural depth with the same accuracy as the standard ultrasounds. We have also demonstrated that the measurements may be rapidly and adequately obtained by a novice who had never previously used ultrasounds.

How to survive in research: advice for the novice investigator.

This paper, written by the RANZCP Committee for Research, provides an outline for how to survive in research, considering the ingredients likely to contribute to success, the role of supportive structures and the expected challenges. Learning how to survive in research is relevant for both trainees and for Fellows undertaking research at any stage of their career. Intellectual curiosity, perseverance, frustration tolerance, patience and humility are key for success as a researcher. Selection of the right supervisor is important, as is development and maintenance of a good working supervisor/supervisee relationship. The personal benefits of undertaking research include flexibility in work hours, and improved skills in writing, oral presentations, objectivity, critical thinking, problem solving and project management.

Practice Evoking the Flexor Carpi Radialis H-Reflex: A Guideline for Proficiency

The purpose of this research was to identify the number of sessions required for a new investigator to become proficient at evoking an H-reflex in the flexor carpi radialis (FCR), in comparison to an experienced investigator. 31 students from Brock University in the greater Niagara region (16 women M age = 32.2, SD = 8.9 yr.; 15 men M age = 27.8, SD = 7.8 yr.) with no known neurological disorders volunteered and completed two test sessions performed by either an experienced or a novice investigator. In randomized order, both investigators stimulated each subject's median nerve 10 times, once every 15 sec. Each session included the measurement of the subject's flexor carpi radialis maximal M-wave amplitude and H-reflex amplitude and latency with surface electromyographic electrodes. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) indicated an adequate correlation between investigators for both M-wave maximal amplitude and H-reflex at 5% of the M-wave maximal amplitude (.84 and .70, respectively). However, there was a low correlation (.38) between the latency values obtained by the two investigators. The peak-to-peak amplitudes of the H-reflex and M-wave do not appear to be influenced by experience of the tester. The latency of the response, however, appears to have an associated learning curve, improving in consistency with increasing practice of tester.

A serious game for traffic accident investigators

In Dubai, traffic accidents kill one person every 37 hours and injure one person every 3 hours. Novice traffic accident investigators in the Dubai police force are expected to ‘learn by doing’ in this intense environment. Currently, they use no alternative to the real world in order to practice. This paper argues for the use of an alternative learning environment, where the novice investigator can feel safe in exploring different investigative routes without fear for the consequences. The paper describes a game‐based learning environment that has been built using a game engine. The effectiveness of this environment in improving the performance of traffic accident investigators is also presented. Fifty‐six policemen took part in an experiment involving a virtual traffic accident scenario. They were divided into two groups: novices (0 to 2 years experience) and experienced personnel (with more than 2 years experience). The experiment revealed significant performance improvements in both groups, with the improvement reported in novices significantly higher than the one reported in experienced personnel. Both groups showed significant differences in navigational patterns (e.g. distances travelled and time utilization) between the two training sessions.

Drugs and human memory (part 1): Clinical, theoretical, and methodologic issues.

Drugs and human memory (part 1): Clinical, theoretical, and methodologic issues.

Isolation and culture of sensory neurons from the dorsal-root ganglia of embryonic or adult rats.

There is increasing use of isolated sensory neuronal preparations to examine the cellular mechanisms involved in pain signaling. Indeed, these in viro preparations have several advantages that make them beneficial for examining physiological and/or pathological processes affecting neuronal function. With isolated cells it can be determined whether various inflammatory mediators and algogenic agents have direct actions on sensory neurons. Additionally, the intracellular signaling pathways for agents that modulate the excitability and sensitization of sensory neurons can be examined. Finally, the concentrations of mediators and drugs that are used to alter cell function can be well controlled. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader with detailed methods for the harvest and growth of embryonic and adult rat sensory neurons (dorsal root ganglia neurons) in culture. Because numerous methods for growing sensory neurons exist, the rationale for certain aspects of the protocols described in the chapter are included, as are discussions of potential pitfalls.

The Experimental Determination of Solubilities

The most useful experimental methods for all types of solubility measurements The importance of solubility phenomena has been long recognized throughout science. For example, in medicine, the solubility of gases in liquids forms the basis of life itself; in the environment, solubility phenomena influence the weathering of rocks, the creation of soils, the composition of natural water bodies and the behaviour and fate of many chemicals. However, until now, no systematic critical presentation of the methods for obtaining solubilities has been given. Divided into five sections the author has concentrated on the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic background necessary for a full understanding of solubility phenomena. The major types of solubility determinations according to the physical state of the solute: gases, liquids and solids; whilst the final section deals with those technologically important areas whose traditions are sufficiently different to justify their separate presentation. Each chapter aims to be comprehensive but not encyclopaedic, with coverage of the reliable methods in the particular area; Illustrations have been included to enable the novice investigator quickly develop apparatus of their own Where appropriate, contributors have included sets of data to enable workers to properly assess the quality of their apparatus, technique and data.

Idea to Application

The grant writing process can be daunting to a novice investigator. This article focuses on three inter-related activities that lead to a completed grant application. The first activity involves developing the research team. Selection of colleagues who will strengthen and support the research ideas is an early first step to developing a competitive grant application. It is important to communicate clearly the roles and responsibilities of each team member. The second activity is development of the scientific plan-the research proposal-from specific aims to plans for data analysis. Strategies used to review the literature, synthesize existing knowledge, develop the argument for the research proposal, and select the most appropriate method are discussed. The third activity involves developing a business plan-the budget-that demonstrates clearly the investigator's ability to complete the proposed research. These three activities are set within a timeline to guide investigators in successful completion of a grant application.

Using cluster analysis for medical resource decision making.

Escalating costs of health care delivery have in the recent past often made the health care industry investigate, adapt, and apply those management techniques relating to budgeting, resource control, and forecasting that have long been used in the manufacturing sector. A strategy that has contributed much in this direction is the definition and classification of a hospital's output into "products" or groups of patients that impose similar resource or cost demands on the hospital. Existing classification schemes have frequently employed cluster analysis in generating these groupings. Unfortunately, the myriad articles and books on clustering and classification contain few formalized selection methodologies for choosing a technique for solving a particular problem, hence they often leave the novice investigator at a loss. This paper reviews the literature on clustering, particularly as it has been applied in the medical resource-utilization domain, addresses the critical choices facing an investigator in the medical field using cluster analysis, and offers suggestions (using the example of clustering low-vision patients) for how such choices can be made.

A Review of Forensic Engineering Reconstruction of Accidents

Abstract On first reading this book the reviewers were somewhat disappointed. After reflecting on the material presented, we realized that we had been expecting a technical expose on engineering principles, and the book fell short of that expectation. Although some basic formulas are presented, the book seems to be intended as a discourse on the fundamentals of technical investigations rather than the typical formula derivation, example, and solution philosophy. As such, this narrative overview of forensic engineering investigations is very well written and presents the reader with a refreshing and interesting approach to technical literature. Although this book cannot be fully appreciated by the novice investigator, the experienced forensic engineer will find many areas worth rereading.

Operationism, metaphysics, and the philosophy of ordinary language.

It is argued that: (a) operationism shares with metaphysics four important features; (b) operationism reflects an underlying attitude toward language which may have undesirable consequences on the novice investigator; (c) the distinction between the context of discovery and the context of justification does not represent a sharp dichotomy, either logically or psychologically, and therefore cannot be used to secure operationism against criticism; (d) the triviality of many psychological findings stems in part from an oversimplified view of the role of language in psychology; (e) there is considerable knowledge concerning behavioral constancies embedded in the vernacular. Finally, a brief overview of the philosophy of ordinary language is presented and its relevance for psychology is discussed.