Panel's Conclusions Research Articles

The WTO Shrimp/Turtle Report: Marine Conservation v GATT Conservatism?

A WTO Panel held that unilateral US measures to protect sea turtles outside its territory, by regulating trade in shrimp and shrimp products, are incompatible with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The Panel's conclusions are based on the alleged overall negative impact of the widespread use of such measures on international trade. No due consideration would seem to have been given to the facts of the case, and the Panel's application of the Headnote Ad GATT Article XX would not seem to be generally satisfactory. The Panel does not address the issue of like products under Article HI of the GATT and the difficult relationship of this article with environmental measures based on production processes and methods (PPMs). The Panel expresses a firm belief in international environmental co-operation without giving carte blanche for such co-operation. It hints at a need for the better design of unilateral environmental measures in order to guarantee a more favourable GATT approach.

Attitude Accessibility and Motivation as Determinants of Biased Processing: A Test of the MODE Model

The roles of attitude accessibility and motivation in the biased processing of information were examined as a test of the MODE model. Subjects evaluated two studies with conflicting conclusions regarding capital punishment's crime deterrence efficacy. Attitude accessibility was manipulated by having subjects express their death penalty attitudes either once (low accessibility) or repeatedly (high accessibility) during an initial phase of the experiment. Motivation was manipulated viafear of invalidity; half the subjects were told their evaluations of the capital punishment studies would be publicly compared to an expert panel's conclusions. The relation between attitude and judgment was found to depend on both attitude accessibility and motivation. Judgments were more attitudinally congruent in the low-fear-of-invalidity/repeated-expression condition than in the other conditions.

Target Levels for Low-Density Lipoprotein in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

To the Editor. —I am writing in reference to the recently published Summary of the Second Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel II). 1 The initial guidelines issued by this panel 5 years ago were enormously influential in shaping practice and focusing the debate in this area. Undoubtedly, this update will be widely read and extensively discussed as well. It is therefore unfortunate that the article presents the panel's conclusions without providing its rationale. The article is unreferenced and there is no mention of the methods used to gather and analyze the relevant supporting evidence. The decision to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients to 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) is one example of a controversial recommendation 2 for which a discussion of the supporting data

Psychological factors in abortion. A review.

Psychological research is increasingly involved in debates regarding abortion. While recognizing the diversity of ethical and moral issues intertwined with abortion, the American Psychological Association (APA) has focused its involvement on psychological factors, most recently by appointing an expert panel to review the literature on psychological effects. This article notes the history of APA involvement and reports on the panel's conclusions. It presents evidence that abortion is not likely to be followed by severe psychological responses and that psychological aspects can best be understood within a framework of normal stress and coping rather than a model of psychopathology. Correlates of more negative responses following abortion are also discussed.

The consequences of a fraudulent scientist on his innocent coinvestigators

To Editor. — In their recent citation analysis of articles authored or coauthored by Dr Stephen E. Breuning, Garfield and Welljams-Dorof 1 have misled readers by implying that all of these studies are fraudulent. This misrepresentation is evident in several sections of their article. Their quotations from National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Investigative Panel Report 2 that none of described studies of psychopharmacologic treatment had been carried out, only a few of experimental subjects... were ever studied, and the complex designs and rigorous methods reported were not employed erroneously intimate that these statements apply to all of 20 studies under consideration in their article. In fact, these quotes were drawn from a secondary source 3 that extracted these statements from sections of NIMH report dealing with three psychopharmacologic treatment studies and with panel's specific conclusions about Breuning's individual culpability. Other studies that

Utah cold fusion institute research deemed sound

A panel of four outside scientists has concluded that the research performed at Utah's National Cold Fusion Institute (NCFI) is scientifically sound. However, the panel's report, set for release no earlier than Jan. 8, does not try to answer the crucial question: Have nuclear fusion reactions actually been observed in the institute's electrolytic cells? The panel's conclusions are now in the hands of Utah's Fusion/Energy Advisory Council. This ninemember body is scheduled to meet on Jan. 8 to decide whether to advise the state legislature to continue supporting the state-funded institute. That meeting originally was to have taken place last week but had to be postponed to allow the council enough time to mull over the panel's report. The Utah legislature granted $4.5 million for the institute's research in the spring of 1989. Only about a million dollars of this remains for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1991. The review panel was not asked ...

A Commentary on Three Consensus Development Conferences on Transfusion Medicine

Summary The panel's conclusions were specific, stating that the available evidence does not support the use of a single criterion such as 10 g/30% and that there is no evidence that mild to moderate anemia contributes to perioperative morbidity. Due to the risk of disease transmission and immune changes, homologous transfusion should be minimized. A variety of promising alternatives to homologous transfusion are being developed and will decrease the use of homologous blood products. “However, in the foreseeable future homologous blood transfusion will continue to be the therapeutic mainstay… Future research is necessary to define the best indications for red cell transfusion and the safest methods of blood conservation and delivery.”

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. J Am Diet Assoc 88:1258, 1988.

Corrections

Abstract vol 32 p 102: In both Table 1 and Table 2, the mean values (and SDs) for concentrations of Cu and Zn in serum are all 10-fold too high. Move the decimal one place to the left. The ratios are correct. p 417: In line 6 of column two: T. W. Wilkins points out that "the panel's conclusions" should more accurately read "the conclusions of Ekins and colleagues," since the arguments were not directed to the panel. p 871: The accompanying corrected figure should have been printed instead of the Figure 1 that appeared. p 1227: The following exhibitor was omitted from the program for the 1986 AACC national meeting (June issue). Sterling Biochemical Inc., 24732 Van Born Road, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125. Booth S6. Manufacturers of in vitro chemistry, serology and hematology reagents for manual and automated applications. Fast-Kem chemistry offers a complete line of diagnostic reagents including cholinesterase, sickle cell, glycosylated hemoglobin. Serofast serology includes ASO, CRP, IM, RA, LE, RPR, pregnancy kits, immunoglobulins. Hemafast hematology includes hemoglobin reagents, controls, stains and buffers. See image in the PDF file

Erratum: Heart Panel's Conclusions Questioned

Two statements in the article "Heart panel's conclusions questioned" by Gina Kolata (Research News, 4 Jan., p. 40) were not accurate. The first, in the third paragraph on page 40, should have read, "But these trials failed to show that cholesterol-lowering saves lives," instead of, "But these trials failed to show that cholesterol-lowering prevents deaths from heart disease." A second statement, in the ninth paragraph on page 41, should have read, "The incidences of angina, bypass surgery, and abnormal exercise electrocardiograms all came down in the cholestyramine group. All but bypass surgery were statistically significant."

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Erratum: Heart Panel's Conclusions Questioned

Due to a printer's error, a recent meeting of the Planetary Society in Washington, D.C., was incorrectly identified as a "Planetary Soviet" meeting in the News and Comment article by R. Jeffrey Smith, "A fresh start for arms control" (25 Jan., p. 389).

Erratum

Two statements in the article "Heart panel's conclusions questioned" by Gina Kolata (Research News, 4 Jan., p. 40) were not accurate. The first, in the third paragraph on page 40, should have read, "But these trials failed to show that cholesterol-lowering saves lives," instead of, "But these trials failed to show that cholesterol-lowering prevents deaths from heart disease." A second statement, in the ninth paragraph on page 41, should have read, "The incidences of angina, bypass surgery, and abnormal exercise electrocardiograms all came down in the cholestyramine group. All but bypass surgery were statistically significant."

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

Heart Panel's Conclusions

THe Beaufort Sea Environmental Assessment And Review Process: Mutual Responsibilities

Abstract On July 30, 1984, the final report of the Beaufort Sea Environmental Assessment Panel was released, culminating a four year public review of Beaufort hydrocarbon production and transportation options. This article summarizes the reaction of one of the industry participants to the report's findings and implications for future activities. The Federal Environmental Assessment and Review Process (EARP) is the key component of the regulatory process designed to review environmental and social issues. Once initiated, no federal development approval except that of the National Ener2.Y Board can be given until the review has been completed and the panel has made its recommendation to the Minister of the Environment. These are not binding, but may be implemented as deemed necessary by the appropriate government agencies and project proponent. The Beaufort EARP was unique because it examined a wide range of conceptual development alternatives rather than a specific project proposal. The options were developed by Dome Petroleum Ltd., Esso Resources Canada Ltd. and Gulf Canada Resources Inc., the proponents, on behalf of all land holders in the Beaufort Sea-Mackenzie Delta region. As a result, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted by the proponents examined the potential environmental and social impacts associated with offshore and onshore production, tanker transportation through the Northwest Passage, pipeline transportation up the Mackenzie Valley, and support activities. The panel also requested and reviewed information on regulatory roles and responsibilities and the current status of government preparedness. The Panel's Findings The panel's recommendations and conclusions were based on two key objectives:that northerners must be able to manage the effects of changes and derive long-term benefits from developments; andthat the degree of risk to renewable resources from oil and gas production would be acceptable to them. The panel determined that a uphased approach" to hydrocarbon development utilizing sequence of small-scale projects would satisfy these objectives. The panel recommended phased development involving initial production of about 15,000 m3/day of oil. The report concludes that this production could be transported in a small diameter (e.g. 400 mm) buried pipeline up the Mackenzie Valley and that such a pipeline could be built without further public hearings. Oil tanker transport was recommended to commence only after a research and preparation stage follow- ed by a two-tanker demonstration project. This initial production phase could be followed by increases in throughput, and addition of pipelines or tankers in a sequential fashion, if impacts observed in the initial phase were determined to be acceptable. In addition to the discussion of oil production, the panel concluded that a gas pipeline may be built if potential socioeconomic impacts do not exceed those of small-scale oil production. They also recommended that no port or supply base should be permitted on the Yukon Coast west of Kay Point, and that industry should share facilities wherever possible. Approximately three-quarters of the panel's formal recommendations address government roles and responsibilities.

ASSESSMENT IN CONTEXT: APPRAISING STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN RELATION TO INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY

ABSTRACTAs part of an American Educational Research Association Symposium reporting the findings of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel on placing children in special education, this paper discusses the implications of the panel's conclusions for exemplary assessment practices in special education and, indeed, for the very role of assessment in special education. When confronted with the central problem of over‐representation of minority children and males in programs for educable mentally retarded students, the NAS panel responded not with solutions focussing on the direct reduction of disproportion per se – which tend to be simplistic in merely transferring the problem to other parts of the educational system – but rather with solutions focussing on deeper educational issues underlying disproportionate placement, such as the validity of assessment of student functional needs and the quality of services that should be provided.After first analyzing the three primary issues underlying the policy conflict between equal protection from the harm of separate placement and entitlement to needed services – namely, the quality of the regular instruction to which referred students were exposed, the validity of assessment of student functional needs, and the quality of the special education provided – the panel recommended two major components for special education assessment: (1) for entrance or placement in special education, a two‐phase comprehensive assessment of student performance in relation to the quality of regular instruction received; (2) for exit from or retention in special education, the assessment of special education students' progress toward relevant academic goals, or the lack thereof, in relation to the quality of special instruction received. Thus, student educational progress emerges as the touchstone for equity in special education.