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Hard Evidence (hard + evidence)
Selected AbstractsWild mouse open field behavior is embedded within the multidimensional data space spanned by laboratory inbred strainsGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2006E. Fonio The vast majority of studies on mouse behavior are performed on laboratory mouse strains (Mus laboratorius), while studies of wild-mouse behavior are relatively rare. An interesting question is the relationship between the phenotypes of M. laboratorius and the phenotypes of their wild ancestors. It is commonly believed, often in the absence of hard evidence, that the behavior of wild mice exceeds by far, in terms of repertoire richness, magnitude of variables and variability of behavioral measures, the behavior of the classical inbred strains. Having phenotyped the open field behavior (OF) of eight of the commonly used laboratory inbred strains, two wild-derived strains and a group of first-generation-in-captivity local wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus), we show that contrary to common belief, wild-mouse OF behavior is moderate, both in terms of end-point values and in terms of their variability, being embedded within the multidimensional data space spanned by laboratory inbred strains. The implication could be that whereas natural selection favors moderate locomotor behavior in wild mice, the inbreeding process tends to generate in mice, in some of the features, extreme and more variable behavior. [source] Developing an OD-intervention metric system with the use of applied theory-building methodology: A work/life-intervention exampleHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2009Michael Lane Morris This article presents a new model, generated through applied theory-building research methods, that helps human resource development (HRD) practitioners evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of organization development (OD) interventions. This model, called organization development human-capital accounting system (ODHCAS), identifies return-on-investment measures for each of the elements of the human-capital employment life cycle that are impacted by OD interventions. We illustrate an application of the new model by using work/life (w/l) interventions as a test of the model. The contribution of this new model is fourfold: 1.It fills a gap in the literature by suggesting a holistic ROI framework for typically nonfinancial OD-type interventions. 2.It is generated from an accepted applied theory-building methodology. 3.It offers decision makers methods to develop "hard" evidence on which to evaluate w/l interventions. 4.It has the future potential to be expanded and used to evaluate the ROI for multiple types of OD interventions. [source] Cranioplasty in ancient Peru: a critical review of the evidence, and a unique case from the Cuzco areaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2010J. W. Verano Abstract Cranioplasty is a well-known procedure in modern neurosurgery. Although some authors have claimed it was also performed by prehistoric trepanners in various parts of the world, there is little hard evidence to support this. Here we review various claims of cranioplasty in Peru, where trepanation was widely practised in Prehispanic times. We find little support for assertions that cranioplasty was common. One recently discovered burial from the Cuzco region, however, provides the first documented case of the reinsertion of a bone plug into a trepanation opening. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nursing care counts , the hard evidenceJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2004Anna Maslin BA MSc PhD RGN Professor No abstract is available for this article. [source] Comparison of the specificity and sensitivity of traditional methods for assessment of nephrotoxicity in the rat with metabonomic and proteomic methodologiesJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Andy Gibbs Abstract There is currently a great deal of scientific interest and debate concerning the possible advantages that proteomic and metabonomic technologies might have over traditional biomarkers of toxicity (blood and urine chemistry, histopathology). Numerous papers have been published that make impressive claims concerning potential applications for these novel technologies, however there appears to be little hard evidence in the literature of their advantages over the traditional techniques for assessing toxicity. The aim of this review was to evaluate the relative sensitivity and specificity of proteomic and metabonomic techniques, compared with traditional techniques, for assessing xenobiotic-induced nephrotoxicity. A review of studies was performed where both one of the novel methods as well as traditional techniques were used for assessment of xenobiotic-induced nephrotoxicity. There was no consistent evidence from the literature that the novel methodologies were any more sensitive than the traditional methods for assessing nephrotoxicity. This could be due to the relatively small number of studies available for review (n = 13), the fact that generally these studies were not aimed at determining relative sensitivity or specificity and may not be the case with other target organs, such as the liver. However, it was clear that the novel methodologies were able to discriminate between the effects caused by different toxicants. There was evidence both that this discrimination was on the basis of different mechanisms of toxicity and on the basis of different locations of nephrotoxic lesion. A great deal of validation work is necessary before these techniques could gain full acceptance by regulatory authorities, and it is unclear whether their use in anything other than non-regulatory, mechanistic studies is likely to become widespread. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] ACE Inhibitors and Protection Against Kidney Disease Progression in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: What's the Evidence?JOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 6 2002George L. Bakris MD Although angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are frequently used as antihypertensive agents to lower blood pressure and slow progression of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, evidence of their efficacy has been drawn primarily from small trials with surrogate end points. No adequately powered, long-term trials have tested their effects to reduce the incidence of hard end points, such as progression to end-stage renal disease or even doubling of serum creatinine in the population of patients with nephropathy from type 2 diabetes. While the results of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor trials from nondiabetic causes and even type 1 diabetes may be extrapolated to the patient with nephropathy associated with type 2 diabetes, the hard evidence is not available. This review critically evaluates the limited evidence in support of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors as renal-protective agents in people with type 2 diabetes. [source] The Screening Effect of the Private Securities Litigation Reform ActJOURNAL OF EMPIRICAL LEGAL STUDIES, Issue 1 2009Stephen J. Choi Prior research shows that the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (PSLRA) increased the significance of merit-related factors in determining the incidence and outcomes of securities fraud class actions (Johnson et al. 2007). We examine two possible explanations for this finding: the PSLRA may have reduced the incidence of nonmeritorious litigation, or it may have changed the definition of merit, effectively precluding claims that would have survived and produced a settlement pre-PSLRA. We find no evidence that pre-PSLRA claims that settled for nuisance value would be less likely to be filed under the PSLRA regime. There is evidence, however, that pre-PSLRA nonnuisance claims would be less likely to be filed under the PSLRA regime. The latter result, which we refer to as the screening effect, is particularly pronounced for claims lacking hard evidence of securities fraud or abnormal insider trading. We find only limited evidence of a similar screening effect for case outcomes. [source] Pathways to false allegations of sexual harassmentJOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OFFENDER PROFILING, Issue 1 2006William O'Donohue Abstract A sexual harassment allegation is either true or false. Whether specific allegations are true or false is important to questions of epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment, administrative and legal proceedings, as well as the welfare of actual victims and innocent alleged perpetrators. It is naïve and harmful to operate with the heuristic: ,All claims are true'. However, the truth of many allegations is very difficult to determine, particularly as is often the case when there are no witnesses, no conclusive hard evidence, and the presence of a situation where both parties have divergent accounts of the alleged occurrence. There has been little theoretical or empirical work on what would cause a person to make a false allegation of sexual harassment. This paper gives an overview of the intricacies associated with sexual harassment investigations and enumerates 14 possible pathways to false allegations: lying; borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, psychosis, gender prejudice, substance abuse, dementia, false memories, false interpretations, biased interviews, sociopathy, personality disorders not otherwise specified, investigative mistakes, and mistakes in determination of the degree of harassment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prenatal diagnosis of Bruck syndromePRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 7 2005C. Berg Abstract Bruck syndrome is an autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder combining features of osteogenesis imperfecta and arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. There are only few reports describing this rare syndrome of multiple fractures and joint contractures that is thought to be a subtype of osteogenesis imperfecta. We report the first case of prenatal diagnosis of this syndrome in a fetus at 23 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound findings included brachycephaly, retrognathia marked shortening and bowing of both femurs, bilateral fixed flexion of the elbows, bilateral fixed extension of the wrists and partially fixed flexion of the knees. The parents opted for termination of pregnancy. Macroscopic and radiologic examination of the aborted fetus confirmed the prenatal diagnosis, whereas morphological studies of the bone tissue found no hard evidence of osteogenesis imperfecta, probably due to the early stage of pregnancy and the heterogeneity of the syndrome itself. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Tides of Reform Revisited: Patterns in Making Government Work, 1945,2002PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, Issue 1 2006Paul C. Light The past six decades have witnessed acceleration in both the number and variety of major administrative reform statutes enacted by Congress. This increase can be explained partly by the increased involvement of Congress, a parallel decrease in activity and resistance by the presidency, and heightened public distrust toward government. At least part of the variation in the tides or philosophies of reform involves a "field of dreams" effect in which the creation of new governmental structure during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s generated increased interest in process reforms. However, part of the acceleration and variety of reform appears to be related to the lack of hard evidence of what actually works in improving government performance. Measured by federal employees' perceptions of organizational performance, what matters most is not whether organizations were reformed in the past, but whether organizations need reform in the future and can provide essential resources for achieving their mission. [source] Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: A Critical ReviewAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Moshe Zeidner Cet article est une revue critique des théories et résultats empiriques favorables à l'intelligence émotionelle (I.E.) et à son prétendu rôle dans l'environnement professionnel. On s'intéresse au statut supposé de l'I.E. dans la performance au travail, la satisfaction et l'évaluation de la carrière et des compétences (surtout dans la domaine de la sélection et de l'orientation). Globalement, cette revue de questions prouve que les recherches récentes ont fait de grands pas dans la comprehénsion de l'utilité de l'I.E. au travail. Les preuves strictement scientifiques sont cependant insuffisantes, la littérature accordant une confiance excessive aux avis d'experts, aux anecdotes, aux études de cas et aux enquêtes privées non publiées. On propose, à la fin de l'article, quelques directives pratiques pour favoriser le développement et l'utilisation de mesures de l'I.E. dans les situations professionnelles. This paper critically reviews conceptualisations and empirical evidence in support of emotional intelligence (EI) and its claimed role in the occupational environment. Consideration is given to the purported status of EI in occupational and career assessment (with particular emphasis on personnel selection and placement), job performance, and satisfaction. Overall, this review demonstrates that recent research has made important strides towards understanding the usefulness of EI in the workplace. However, the ratio of hyperbole to hard evidence is high, with over-reliance in the literature on expert opinion, anecdote, case studies, and unpublished proprietary surveys. The review concludes by providing a number of practical guidelines for the development and implementation of EI measures within occupational settings. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||