 | #4 Clinical Research Confirms Benefits from Homeopathy part 4 of 5 |
 | Meta-Analysis - Dr. A.G. Picciano This video is an introduction to meta-analysis, a statistical procedure popular in social science and education research. |
 | Ongoing Safety Review of Maxipime FDA has notified healthcare professionals about a recent study that raises the possibility of an increased risk of death among patients taking cefepime, which is marketed as Maxipime. The study, reported in the journal, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, is a meta-analysis that shows a significant difference in mortality from all causes when Maxipime is compared with other beta-lactam antibiotics. This notification is part of FDA's commitment to inform people about safety evaluations of drugs in their early stages, in some cases before new findings are fully confirmed and before their clinical significance is established. In this case, FDA is working with the manufacturer of Maxipime to further evaluate the study's findings, and has requested additional data on the mortality risk associated with this drug. As soon as this evaluation is finished, FDA will make the findings known. In the meantime, prescribers who are considering using Maxipime should be aware of the risks and benefits described in the prescribing information, and the new information from this meta-analysis. FDA Patient Safety News: January 2008 For more information, please see our website: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/psn/transcript.cfm?show=71#7 |
 | Ongoing Safety Review of Maxipime (Jan. 2008) FDA has notified healthcare professionals about a recent study that raises the possibility of an increased risk of death among patients taking cefepime, which is marketed as Maxipime. The study, reported in the journal, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, is a meta-analysis that shows a significant difference in mortality from all causes when Maxipime is compared with other beta-lactam antibiotics. This notification is part of FDA's commitment to inform people about safety evaluations of drugs in their early stages, in some cases before new findings are fully confirmed and before their clinical significance is established. In this case, FDA is working with the manufacturer of Maxipime to further evaluate the study's findings, and has requested additional data on the mortality risk associated with this drug. As soon as this evaluation is finished, FDA will make the findings known. In the meantime, prescribers who are considering using Maxipime should be aware of the risks and benefits described in the prescribing information, and the new information from this meta-analysis. |
 | Patent on "Long Tail" for automated content authorship. Patent on "Long Tail" for automated content authorship. FAQ As the video shows, I am working on reference books, reports and educational titles (not fiction or literature). The "algorithms" depend on the genre. The most advanced use parametric, non-parametric as well as Bayesian econometrics, graph theory, and meta analysis (mostly coupled with some specialized computational linguistics and editorial rules that are required within certain genres) -- each piece is rather straight forward; the combination allows complexity. In terms of IT or programming languages, there is no rigidity to this - again it depends on the genre. If animation is the goal, then code is written to write MEL scripts, etc., which can automate Maya, which can in turn automate rendering, lights, etc., via macros. This works well, but for only certain aspects of that genre. For more detailed discussions, here is the patent link: http://www.google.com/patents?id=bHeBAAAAEBAJ&dq=philip+m+parker Some titles are 98 to 100 percent computer automated (e.g. business titles, crosswords, etc.). For health titles, only the format editing and production side is automated. The text in the health books was written by medical professionals and edited by a professional editor; the computer expedited formatting using about 50 odd routines (the preface, chapter intros, glossaries, indexes, headings, margins, etc.); highlights are made to sources generally not known to internet-averse readers or medical practitioners (designed for medical libraries with internet training services). Currently, some 2 percent of the titles rely on government sources for text. None perform a google search, spider the net, etc. Some 98 percent of the titles are wholly generated via automation programs; the applications create original information or content that cannot be found elsewhere (e.g. maximum likelihood trade estimates, latent demand forecasts via a decision calculus approach, Chinese and English crosswords, etc.) - offline applications with no interaction to the internet. In total, there are about 17 genres created this way (about 200,000 titles or so since 2000). It can take several years to set up an application (including all human inputs, licensed sound effects, textures, models, mocap, data, or decision rules that go into any genre-specific application). Platforms (e.g. Maya) pre-exist. The incremental, or marginal creation time per title is mentioned in the video. The genres are blind or peer reviewed and/or vetted by users (e.g. librarians or end-users) before they are put into print. The games are played by kids to see what they like. For 3D games, a pre-existing rendering engine is like a blank word document. The rendering engine is not created from scratch, but licensed (like MS Word). I am mostly now working on education titles for Asian, African, and Native American languages that do not have educational materials (games, supplements, texts, videos, mobile phone books, etc.) written in or augmented by their languages. See my dictionary at: http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/credits/editor.html to see a very small percent of the linguistic material used. Watch for a major update and linguistic augmentation to the dictionary this summer when I will also be introducing EVE. She is an "economically viable entity". A step beyond a chat bot, using some of the algorithms mentioned above (with a bit of utility theory and optimal control theory thrown in). There is no "commercial" or "public" or "open source" software that can be used by the general public. Some applications are terabytes large. I am working on a relatively small poetry application for public use -- to be released when completed (probably in a year), which will do several forms of poetry, on any topic the user desires; and allow the user to request "another" if they do not like the first one written, or "change that line", etc. I am not actively working on fiction novels as a priority, though the process is in place for romance novels or similar formulaic types of literature. Fun to do, but not very useful. There are many other areas I am working on, as there are multiple avenues to explore, especially in the areas of new media (mobile and fixed), but more so in high-end analytics and knowledge discovery (i.e. generating knowledge that could not be created otherwise) as applied to business, language and public services (e.g. criminology) - where unmanageable, sparse, disintegrated or larger data sets (off-line) result in new knowledge structures usable by decision makers (e.g. connecting the dots where humans have difficulty doing so, for lack of time or expertise). Thanks for watching the video. Phil |
 | Message to Jack Thompson I made this for the G4 TV show "Attack of the Show" since they had Jack Thompson on Thursday Aug 10th, 2006. Jack is a lawyer from Florida and, in my opinion, is using video game violence as a platform for personal attention and fame. http://www.penny-arcade.com/2006/08/11 has some good information about the guy and his history. (Man... you can tell how nervous I am by how red my neck gets.) Edit: Some new information: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070118/hl_nm/video_game_dc And don't forget to check my other message to Mr. JT. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071118-meta-analysis-uncovers-no-real-link-between-violence-and-gaming.html |
 | IQ will put you in your place IQ to job performance: http://www.psychology.org.nz/industrial/Schmidt%20and%20Hunter%20(2004).pdf Table on pg. 4, estimates for operational validities, not construct-level validities Table on pg. 5, Studies used in meta-analysis Table on pg. 7, IQ amplification with experience Table on pg. 8, Experience fade-out IQ to income: http://www.aei.org/docLib/20040302_book443.pdf http://www.lrainc.com/swtaboo/taboos/apa_01.html Heritability by type: http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v14/n6/fig_tab/5201588t2.html#figure-title Race and Brain Size: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W4M-461XRCK-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=0443e508a2e83b6cec1f01c35fd35b76 IQ and crime: http://www.amren.com/colorofcrime/color.pdf http://law.jrank.org/pages/1363/Intelligence-Crime-Measuring-size-IQ-crime-correlation.html http://ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dtdata.htm#persons |
 | Information Synthesis and Data Mining Part 1 Professor Cathy Blake presents principles and techniques for information synthesis and data mining. The ABC model of synthesis is described and the METIS system serves as a workbench to extract facts that scientists verify while applying the ABC model. Information summarization techniques that augment information synthesis are also discussed. |
 | Secrets of Homeopathy III Tests to prove homeopathy revealed and meta analysis discussed by John Benneth. |
 | Insidermedicine in 60 - November 20, 2007 From Stanford - Using pedometers results in walking more and lowering blood pressure. According to a meta-analysis of 26 studies, those who used pedometers walked an extra 2000 or more steps per day - the equivalent of a mile. They also lowered their BMI and lowered their systolic blood pressure by 4 mmHg. It is estimated that if 10% of Americans began a daily walking program over $5 billion could be shaved off the healthcare budget. From Duke - Obese men may have artificially low levels of prostate-specific antigen, a marker that is frequently monitored to detect and follow prostate cancer. In fact, a patient whose BMI was 35 had an 11-21% lower PSA level than those of regular weight. This does not mean that obese males are protected from prostate cancer, but rather that the test may not be accurate in detecting cancer or inflammation of the prostate in those who are overweight. And finally from Boston - Researchers from Harvard's Mass General have concluded that those with migraine may be wired differently. Comparing the brains of those with migraines to those without, researchers noted that the somatosensory cortex was 21% thicker in those with migraine, especially in the areas that supply sensation to the head and face. Researchers are unsure whether the changes cause migraine or if they result from the condition. For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma. |
 | Insidermedicine in 60 - October 18, 2007 From Dundee - Steroids are helpful for those with Bell's Palsy, but anti-viral agents may not be. In a randomized clinical trial of over 500 patients with Bell's Palsy - a condition in which facial paralysis occurs, 83% of those treated with steroids recovered facial function, whereas only 63% of those who received placebo developed facial recovery. From Sydney - While many recommend stretching before rigorous exercise, a meta-analysis of 10 studies failed to show a significant reduction in pain following exercise, when those who stretched were compared to those who did not. In addition, stretching after a workout did not seem to help either. From London - With over 45% of dentists in the UK no longer accepting NHS patients, many in the UK are practicing "do-it-yourself" dentistry. As many dentists have left the public system altogether, wait times for routine dental care can be over 1-2 years. Many patients are pulling out their own teeth and using easy-to-access materials to fill in their cavities. And finally, back to Sydney - Herbal medicines may help women who suffer from painful period cramps. In a systematic review of 39 clinical trials, a concoction of herbal medicines outperformed NSAIDs for both pain relief and getting rid of other symptoms. For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma. |
 | Avandia: Pros and Cons http://www.medpagetoday.com CHICAGO -- In the month since the New England Journal of Medicine published a meta-analysis that linked use of rosiglitazone (Avandia) to an increased risk of myocardial infarction, controversy surrounding the use of this popular diabetes drug has continued unabated. Earlier this month a Congressional hearing investigated the FDA's handling of rosiglitazone and several medical journals have weighed in with editorials on the controversy. The American Diabetes Association addressed the issue at a special symposium. MedPage Today examines both sides of the controversy in this exclusive report from Multimedia Producer Greg Laub, with Crystal Phend, MedPage Today staff writer and Neil Osterweil, MedPage Today Senior Associate Editor. |
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