MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'hypothesis'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:00:27 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050720&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fthe-importance-of-correlational-studies%2F Correlation does not necessarily imply causation, as you know if you read scientific research.  Two variables may be associated without having a causal relationship. However, just because a correlation has limited value as a causative inference doesn’t mean that correlation studies are not important to science.  The idea that correlation does not necessarily imply causation has led many to de-value correlation studies.  However, used appropriately, correlation studies are important to science. Why are correlation studies important? Stanovich (2007) points out the following: “First, many scientific hypotheses are stated in terms of correlation or lack of correlation, so that such studies are directly relevant to these hypotheses…” “Second, although correlation ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050720 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:48:15 +0100 5050720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997674&cid=t_104231_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fis-gc-as-per-chc-theory-statistical.html Thought provoking article "in press" in journal Intelligence.Click on images to enlarge.- iPost using BlogPress from my Kevin McGrew's iPad (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997674 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:39:00 +0100 4997674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911570&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fwhy-these-6-happiness-boosters-might-actually-make-you-feel-worse%2F Everyone has a few tricks for beating the blues. It turns out, however, that several of the most popular strategies don’t actually work very well in the long term. Beware if you are tempted to try any of the following: 1. Comforting yourself with a “treat.” Often, the things we choose as “treats” aren’t good for us. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt, loss of control, and other negative consequences just deepen the lousiness of the day. So when you find yourself thinking, “I’ll feel better after I have a pint of ice cream… a cigarette… a new pair of jeans,” ask yourself — will it really make you feel better? It might make you feel worse. In particular, beware of… 2. Letting yourself off the hook. I’ve found that I sometimes ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911570 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:45:45 +0100 4911570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883687&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F29%2Fthe-situation-of-donations%2F From BBC: We give more to a drought victim than a war victim because we suspect the latter may be partly to blame for their plight, the authors say. It could explain why the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami sparked a huge response but the Darfur appeal received less. The study was published in the European Journal of Social Psychology. “These conclusions are borne out by our experience,” said Brendan Paddy of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), a UK body that co-ordinates aid appeals. “Appeals for a humanitarian disaster arising from conflict tend to get significantly less response than natural events.” * * * In the study, the psychologists invented a fictitious famine. They then told test groups the famine was caused either by a “drought” or “armed ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883687 Mon, 30 May 2011 01:44:12 +0100 4883687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753759&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F25%2Funderstanding-research-an-interview-with-mark-young%2F Mark Young specializes in helping individuals learn to understand scientific research.  He has a degree in kinesiology with a minor in psychology from McMaster University in Canada, and he has conducted graduate research in biomechanics and exercise physiology under the guidance of Dr. Stuart Phillips.  Today, he’s an Ontario-based exercise and nutrition consultant. Here are some of Young’s thoughts about how we can understand research better. Correlation and causation are often confused.  How do we clear up the confusion when informing the lay public of this misunderstanding? Given the large amount of research presented to the lay public through the media I honestly think that everyone should be required to take at least one statistics and research design course in high sch... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753759 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:46:15 +0100 4753759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693333&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F08%2Fthe-forbidden-fruit-in-relationships%2F A long-term, stable romantic relationship with a committed, caring partner has many psychological benefits, which we know from the oodles of psychological research published about them. So it’s a good thing to try and protect one’s relationship from external influences. One of the most difficult to recover from and damaging influences is cheating. If cheating will harm a relationship (and cheating appears to be one of the primary reasons cited in many, if not most, relationship breakups), what can be done to minimize it? After all, isn’t it human nature — and the nature of temptation — to constantly look for desirable alternatives? One of the ways people look to protect their long-term relationship is to simply remain inattentive to those alternatives. Researc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693333 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:30:13 +0100 4693333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4205980&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F27%2Fwarming-world-or-just-world%2F From UCBerkeley News: Dire or emotionally charged warnings about the consequences of global warming can backfire if presented too negatively, making people less amenable to reducing their carbon footprint, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley. “Our study indicates that the potentially devastating consequences of global warming threaten people’s fundamental tendency to see the world as safe, stable and fair. As a result, people may respond by discounting evidence for global warming,” said Robb Willer, UC Berkeley social psychologist and coauthor of a study to be published in the January issue of the journal Psychological Science. “The scarier the message, the more people who are committed to vi... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4205980 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:48:29 +0100 4205980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350428&cid=t_104231_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2F3693%2F A new independent, international dental journal, Dental Hypotheses, will soon hit the web and the press. Like many dentistry publications, this journal will provide peer-reviewed articles for the professional dental community. However, Editors-In-Chief Edward F. Rossomando (Director of the Biodontics® Program at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine., United States) and Jafar Kolahi (Torabinejad Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences,Isfahan, Iran, Islamic Republic) and their editorial team seek submissions about controversial and out-of-the-ordinary issues. For example, nano-dentistry, biodontics, dental specialties, community dental health, and the economy of dentistry are ideal topics for submission. Dental Hypotheses is not supported by any instituti... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350428 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:17:16 +0100 3350428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3157521&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F10%2Fgretchen-rubin-the-happiness-project%2F I often quote fellow blogger Gretchen Rubin on Beyond Blue because most of her directives for a happier life apply to sanity, as well. I recognize many of my steps to recovery from depression and addiction both on her blog and now in her handsome and insightful book, The Happiness Project. I have to be honest. When I was first introduced to Gretchen, I thought there was no way in hell that we’d be able to relate to each other. She had two degrees from Yale, lived in the upper-east side of Manhattan, and was, well, way too successful and pretty for me to talk to. If it’s not obvious already, let me just say that I was a tad jealous of her. However, as I started to dig into her material–and especially now after reading her book–I was blown away by how much we do have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3157521 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:14:09 +0100 3157521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828413&cid=t_104231_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fsneak-preview-epic-new-book-diabetes-rising.html Curious about what’s happening in the diabetes industry and research community? Or maybe (like me) you think that you already know what’s going on… Well, get ready for a concise and extremely entertaining exposé of the current status of diabetes care and research towards a cure. The title is Diabetes Rising, the new “epic [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828413 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:55:27 +0100 2828413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556228&cid=t_104231_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fmore-supporting-evidence-iq-brain-clock.html Check out post at sister blog (IQ Brain Clock) re: more evidence supporting the concept and importance of an internal brain clock in intelligence behavior.Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, cognition, intelligence, neuropsychology, neuroscience, IQ, intelligence, psychometrics, g, general intelligence, Aruthur Jensen, neural oscillations, neural efficiency, ISIR, brain clock, IQ Brain Clock, temporal processing, temporal g, temporal resolution power hypothesis (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556228 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:56:00 +0100 2556228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441348&cid=t_104231_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F05%2Fde-testimonio%2F I recently discovered the online slideshow (with audio) version of Professor Sir Michael Rawlins’ 2008 Harveian Oration titled “De testimonio: On the evidence for decisions about the use of therapeutic interventions”. Now, I’ve nodded off in more than my share of lectures on medical statistics and clinical trials, so believe me when I claim that this [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441348 Thu, 21 May 2009 21:00:14 +0100 2441348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382540&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F03%2Fjust-me-and-my-friend-sony%2F From the University of Buffalo: Not all technology meets human needs, and some technologies provide only the illusion of having met your needs. But new research by psychologists at the University at Buffalo and Miami University, Ohio, indicates that illusionary relationships with the characters and personalities on favorite TV shows can provide people with feelings of belonging, even in the face of low self esteem or after being rejected by friends or family members. The findings are described in four studies published in the current issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. “The research provides evidence for the ’social surrogacy hypothesis,’ which holds that humans can use technologies, like television, to provide the experience of belonging when no real ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382540 Sun, 03 May 2009 04:01:34 +0100 2382540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259378&cid=t_104231_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fneural-noise-efficiency-hypothesis.html I just skimmed a brief and interesting article that adds to the continually expanding research that suggests that processing efficiency (Gsm-MW or working memory; Gs-processing speed) is highly related to fluid reasoning/intelligence (Gf), possibly in a causal manner. [Click here and here for definitions of the CHC abilities]The research by Martinez and Colom (2009), in an adult sample of 265 (caution - generalization to children and adolescents needs independent study; esp. given the developmental cascade hypothesis), used the unique approach of statistically removing the Gf variance from their respective Gc (crystallized intelligence or comprehension knowledge) and Gv (visual-spatial ability) factor measures, and then finding that processing efficiency (Gs and Gsm-working memory) only pr... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259378 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:53:00 +0100 2259378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2153343&cid=t_104231_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fwhat-is-hygiene-hypothesis.html Today is the second time I ever hear about this "Hygiene Hypothesis" thingy. As usual I had to look it up on wikipedia.So what does this hypothesis state?"In medicine, the hygiene hypothesis states that a lack of early childhood exposure to infectious agents, symbiotic microorganisms (e.g. gut flora), and parasites increases susceptibility to allergic diseases by modulating immune system development."Where did this hypothesis come from?"First proposed by David P. Strachan in an article published in the British Medical Journal, the hygiene hypothesis was developed to explain the observation that hay fever and eczema, both allergic diseases, were less common in children from larger families, which were presumably exposed to more infectious agents through their siblings, tha... My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2153343 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:10:00 +0100 2153343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964452&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F16%2Fwhy-torture-because-it-feels-good-at-least-to-us%2F Kevin Carlsmith is an assistant professor of psychology at Colgate University doing great work of significant interest to our readers.  Today, he published fascinating commentary,  “Torture’s Attraction Is Not Information — It’s Retribution,” in Nieman Watchdog.  Here are some excerpts. * * * How did the United States go from a champion of human rights to a state that condones and practices torture on detainees?  The present administration’s first line of defense is one of semantics: The United States has a policy against torture, ergo, actions taken in its name cannot be “torture.”  Its second line of defense invokes the utilitarian argument of expediency: It was necessary to obtain mission-critical information from combatants w... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964452 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:01:21 +0100 1964452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1948489&cid=t_104231_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F11%2Fwhere-does-theory-fit-with-practise%2F When I was an undergraduate, thinking about what postgraduate study I wanted to do, I wavered between enrolling in a Science Masters, or an Arts Masters. It made absolutely no difference in terms of the papers I could study - they were the same for either degree - but it did make a difference to the end degree. I decided on science. This is despite people saying ‘but therapy is just as much an art as it is a science’! Why? Loads of reasons, but several really spring to mind: Science emphasises the importance of and reliance on empirical observations and theory Science doesn’t rely on ‘intuition’ and ’special insights’ into people and how they tick Scientific method supplies the tools I want to use to understand and investigate treatments that wor... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1948489 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:59:26 +0100 1948489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1827168&cid=t_104231_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F25%2Fan-introduction-to-case-formulation%2F One definition of case formulation is ‘Case formulation aims to describe a person’s presenting problems and use theory to make explanatory inferences about causes and maintaining factors that can inform interventions’. What this means is that it is essentially a story not just to describe, but explain, how a person’s problem has developed, and how it is maintained so that treatments can be based on influencing those factors. There are many different frameworks for case formulation, but several key elements are usually present: a description of the presenting issues; the factors that act to create vulnerability or precipitate the problems developing; factors that may not have been involved in the initial problem developing, but are helping to maintain the problems; and ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1827168 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:34:04 +0100 1827168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798211&cid=t_104231_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E5%2F393858187%2FT.asp [Thank you to HR Moody for compiling and contributing this great collection of news items and stories from a bioethics and gerontological perspective]:*********************************ARE YOU FEELING OLD YET? What are they letting children learn in college these days? One of the great things for gerontologists who teach college students is that we get to feel old ourselves all the time. Consider the latest points about this year's freshmen, the Class of 2012, as reported by Beloit College's well-known "Mind Set" compendium. For our freshmen this year: -GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available -"WWW" has never stood for World Wide Wrestling -The Warsaw Pact is as hazy for them as the League of Nations was for their parents -IBM has never made typewriters -Lenin's name h... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798211 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:01:00 +0100 1798211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677469&cid=t_104231_107_f&fid=36698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fminingdrugs.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fdata-models-or-both.html Correlation supersedes causation, and science can advance even without coherent models, unified theories, or really any mechanistic explanation at all. [C. Anderson, Wired, 2008-07-16]First, I disagree with this statement. Second, thanks to bioinfoman3@delicious for sharing this information.Honestly, I do not get it, why are people claiming that the scientific community, e.g. drug design, is similar to the chip industry or google concepts. Here, Chris Anderson claimed that data alone will replace theoretic concepts. As said by others, in the comments to his article, is data alone not information. Amund Tveit confirms this by showing that data correlations alone might be misleading, because you can find correlations in everything, even if it makes no sense. Data means any data, so if you lo... Mining Drug Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677469 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:01:00 +0100 1677469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526948&cid=t_104231_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F17%2Fjonathan-haidt-on-the-situation-of-moral-reasoning%2F We recently published a post called the “Moral Psychology Primer,” which briefly highlighted the emerging work of several prominent moral psychologists, including Professor Jonathan Haidt from UVA. Haidt’s important work is relevant to law, morality, and positive psychology – all topics of interest to The Situationist. We thought it made sense, therefore, to follow up the primer with some choice excerpts from Jon Haidt’s terrific book, The Happiness Hypothesis. (We are grateful to Professor Haidt for his assistance in selecting some of these excerpts.) * * * I first rode a horse in 1991, in Great Smoky National Park, North Carolina. I’d been on rides as a child where some teenager led the horse by a short rope, but this was the first time it was just me and a ho... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526948 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:08:28 +0100 1526948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1517046&cid=t_104231_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E5%2F311226376%2F39-brainscience-Arbib.mp3 Discussion Forum Subscribe via iTunes™ Subscribe in a reader or podcatcher Subscribe to Brain Science Podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell by Email Donations and Subscriptions are appreciated (Source: the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell) the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1517046 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:35:30 +0100 1517046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1018796&cid=t_104231_132_f&fid=35013&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fpedrobeltrao%2F%7E3%2F182884781%2Fpredicting-functional-association-using.html About a month ago Lécuyer and colleagues published a paper in Cell describing an extensive study of mRNA localization in Drosophila embryos during development. The main conclusion of this study was that a very large fraction (71%) of the genes they analyzed (2314) had localization patterns during some stage of the embryonic development. This includes both embryonic localization or sub-cellular localizations.There is a lot of information that was gathered in this analysis and it should serve as resource for further studies. There is information for different developmental stages so it should also be possible to look for the dynamics of localization of the mRNAs. Another application of this data would be to use it as information source to predict functional association between genes.Protein... Public Rambling blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1018796 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:04:00 +0100 1018796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=611253&cid=t_104231_132_f&fid=35013&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpbeltrao.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fprotein-evolution-what-constrains-and.html Protein evolutionWhat constrains and determines the rate of protein evolution ? This topic has received a great deal of attention in bioinformatics. Many reports have found significant correlations between protein evolutionary rate and expression levels, codon adaptation index (CAI), protein interactions (see below), protein length, protein dispensability and centrality in protein interactions networks. To complicate matters still, there are known cross correlations between some of the factors. For example it has been observed that the number of protein interactions correlates with protein length (weakly) and the probability that a protein is essential to the cell.This highlights the importance of thinking about the amount of variance explained by the correlation and controlling for possib... Public Rambling blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=611253 Tue, 15 May 2007 16:02:00 +0100 611253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=485261&cid=t_104231_132_f&fid=35013&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpbeltrao.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fnot-so-silent-mutations-dna-mutations.html Not so silent mutationsDNA mutations that do not change the coding amino-acid are many times referred to as "silent mutations", or synonymous mutations, because it is less likely that they will result in a change in function. Synonymous mutations are often considered to be evolutionary neutral and the ratio of non-synonymous substitutions (Ka) to synonymous substitutions (Ks) is used to study sequence evolution. It can be used for example to search for DNA regions targeted by selection (see review and a practical application).In the last issue of Science Kimchi-Sarfaty and colleagues found a synonymous mutation in a transport protein that has an effect on the protein function. They have shown, at least in cell-lines, that the mutation does not affect mRNA levels nor the produced protein se... Public Rambling blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=485261 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:07:00 +0100 485261