pi As Global Refugee Forum approaches, MPI Europe brief offers a road map for smart investment in refugee sponsorship programmes By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:29:14 -0500 BRUSSELS — Even as the number of refugees in need of protection has reached an all-time high, the resettlement spots offered by countries in 2018 were less than half the level in 2016—and future commitments may shrink further. With refugee needs high and generosity dimming, there is increasing urgency for humanitarian actors to find new ways to bring refugees to safety as well as to rebuild public interest and consensus around the importance of protection. Full Article
pi MPI Analysis of All State ESSA Accountability Plans Finds Fractured Picture of Education Policy for English Learners & Differing Approaches By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:45:31 -0500 WASHINGTON – Four years since the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have developed accountability plans that include blueprints for serving English Learners (ELs), as well as measuring these students’ progress and being accountable for their outcomes. This marked a significant development, as EL performance was previously not well integrated with factors that determined whether a school was performing well or poorly. Full Article
pi Get Top Statistics on Immigrants in the U.S and Changing Immigration Trends; MPI Updates its Interactive Data Tools, Maps & One-Stop Resource for Key Stats By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:36:44 -0500 WASHINGTON — The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) today published the annual update to its data-rich article, Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States, offering readers a wealth of information that can help inform understanding about an issue that is the subject of much conversation. Full Article
pi As European policymakers take stock of seasonal worker programmes, MPI Europe brief outlines principles to improve these schemes for all parties By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:46:56 -0500 Findings will be discussed during 25 February MPI Europe – SVR webinar Full Article
pi MPI Estimates No More than 167,000 Non-Citizens Could Be Ineligible for Green Cards Based on Current Public Benefits Use By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:12:47 -0500 WASHINGTON – While the new Trump administration public charge rule is likely to vastly reshape future legal immigration based on its test to assess if a person might ever use public benefits in the future, the universe of non-citizens who could be denied a green card based on current benefits use is quite small. Full Article
pi Integrating Refugees and Asylum Seekers into the German Economy and Society: Empirical Evidence and Policy Objectives By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:32:57 -0500 As the top destination in Europe for asylum seekers in recent years, Germany has rolled out a number of integration policy changes. Based on an early look at how newcomers’ integration is progressing, the report finds the policies have had ambiguous implications. The report also provides insights into the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the asylum seeker and refugee population. Full Article
pi Global Demand for Medical Professionals Drives Indians Abroad Despite Acute Domestic Health-Care Worker Shortages By www.migrationpolicy.org Published On :: Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:02:55 -0500 India is the world's largest source for immigrant physicians, and for Indian-trained doctors and nurses the allure of working abroad is strong despite an acute domestic shortage of health-care workers. Against this pull, the Indian government has enacted a number of policies to limit and regulate the emigration of health-care professionals, though these have been more ad hoc in nature and not part of a fully realized strategy. Full Article
pi Khachapuri - Georgian cheese pie By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 15:49:00 +1100 This recipe was featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epstein on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3:30 PM, courtesy of Alice in Frames. www.aliceinframes.com Full Article ABC Local melbourne Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Melbourne 3000
pi Pickled Cherries By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:32:00 +1100 Turn new season cherries into an exotic condiment. These make an elegant accompaniment to pates, terrines, baked ham, roast quail, cheese boards, or serve on antipasto platters to accompany charcuterie or any smoked or cured meats. Add them to a salad containing smoked chicken. Full Article ABC Local shepparton goulburnmurray Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Shepparton 3630 Australia:VIC:Wodonga 3690
pi Sticky pineapple and macadamia upside-down cake By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 12:47:00 +1100 This is what I think of as an honest cake - not tizzy, just homely, buttery and ever-so more-ish with its tender, nutty crumb and sweet, caramelised pineapple topping. I particularly love the way the sides, through some kind of magical alchemy of heat and sugar, become ever-so-slightly crunchy. There are a couple of little things I've noticed when I bake it - the first is that it cooks better and looks better when baked in a regular, not a non-stick, cake tin. And the second is that it's really important not to overload the tin with pineapple or it will release too much liquid and the centre of the cake will be soggy. Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Pizza dough By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 12:51:00 +1100 600 ml warm water 1 kg strong pizza flour 8 g instant dry yeast 1tablespoon salt 2 teaspoons sugar 50 ml olive oil Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Okonomiyake - Japanese pizza with soy, honey and ginger sauce By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:15:00 +0800 Referred to as a Japanese 'pizza', okonomiyaki is probably best described as a cabbage fritter. There are many versions that can include seafood, pork belly, kimchi or cheese, and either served with the sauce described or with Japanese mayonnaise. Delicious snack food, which can also be a meal. Full Article ABC Local southwestwa Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:WA:Bunbury 6230
pi Coorong Angus Beef Pie with Red Wine, Fennel and Green Olives By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 01 Mar 2016 13:54:00 +1100 This recipe featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epstein on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3.30PM, courtesy of Maggie Beer. Maggie's new book is "Autumn Harvest". Full Article ABC Local melbourne Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Melbourne 3000
pi Easter ricotta, spinach, egg and dill pie By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:37:00 +0800 This is a simplified version of a traditional Italian spinach and ricotta pie, commonly eaten on Good Friday. Full Article ABC Local southwestwa Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Mostly Vegetarian Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Vegetarian Australia:WA:Pemberton 6260
pi Korean bbq pork belly, chive, mint, chilli, pickled daikon and sesame leaf rolls By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 10:25:00 +1000 Fresh, bright and delicious. Full Article ABC Local brisbane Lifestyle and Leisure:All:All Australia:QLD:Brisbane 4000
pi SPICY CARROT, RED LENTIL AND COCONUT SOUP By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:41:00 +1100 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 large brown onion, thinly sliced 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger 1 small red chilli, finely chopped, optional 1 heaped teaspoons ground cumin 1 heaped teaspoon ground coriander teaspoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons #harissa 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato pesto (or regular tomato paste) 1 kg carrots, peeled and fairly finely sliced 150g red lentils, thoroughly washed 1 x 400g can diced tomatoes 2 teaspoons raw sugar 2-3 teaspoons sea salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Approx.1 litres (6 cups) cool water (double-check next time I make it) Juice - 1 lemon (or lime), to taste 1 x 270ml can coconut cream # My favourite harissa is Chris Manfield's which is available in speciality food shops and on-line Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Chicken and leek pot pie By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:15:00 +0800 Chicken pie with tasty extras Full Article ABC Local wheatbelt Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:WA:Geraldton 6530
pi Galatopita By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 14:02:00 +1000 This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of Kathy Tsaples. Full Article ABC Local melbourne Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Melbourne 3000
pi Buckwheat polenta with roasted vegetables, blue cheese, pine nuts and thyme By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 09 May 2016 13:18:00 +0800 As the cold weather sets in, this nourishing winter dish is perfect to warm hands, feet and heart. The addition of buckwheat flour to polenta gives it a delicious smoky earth flavour and adds to the nutrition level of this dish. Rich in fibre and silica, gluten free buckwheat contain rutin, a bioflavonoid that is know to increase blood circulation and reduce high blood pressure. Perfect for winter! Full Article ABC Local southwestwa Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Mostly Vegetarian Health:Diet and Nutrition:Healthy recipes Australia:WA:Pemberton 6260
pi Spinach and Sweet Potato Frittata By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 10 May 2016 14:38:00 +1000 The frittata has almost overtaken the classic quiche. It is a healthier option as it doesn't have the extra kilojoules of a pastry case. It's Italian in origin and a versatile dish as you can serve it hot or at room temperature for lunch or dinner, alone or with a salad or vegetables, as part of an Antipasto selection or cut in bite-size pieces to serve as a nibble with drinks. Full Article ABC Local shepparton goulburnmurray Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Shepparton 3630 Australia:VIC:Wodonga 3690
pi Stir-fried water spinach with preserved bean curd - fu yu ong choy By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:51:00 +1000 This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of Tony Tan Full Article ABC Local melbourne Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Melbourne 3000
pi Malaysian chicken satay with roasted macadamia dipping sauce By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Fri, 08 Jul 2016 12:48:00 +1000 I seriously love cooking on the Weber more in winter cooler temperature make us feel more cosy and accentuate the taste buds and smell . Replaced the traditional peanuts with our wonderful local macadamias Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Citrus cured salmon, pickled clams, herb emulsion By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 19 Jul 2016 14:28:00 +1000 This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of David Hall of Pure South Dining. Full Article ABC Local melbourne Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:VIC:Melbourne 3000
pi Toasted Steak, onion and cheese sandwich, BBQ pickles By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 25 Jul 2016 11:21:00 +1000 Delicious gourmet steak, onion and cheese sandwich Full Article ABC Local brisbane Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:QLD:All Australia:QLD:Brisbane 4000
pi French spiced beetroot and apple jam By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Fri, 05 Aug 2016 11:49:00 +1000 2 granny smith apples, coarsely grated 2 beetroots 1/4 tsp. ground clove 2 star anise 1/2 nutmeg finely grated 200ml balsamic vinegar 150g caster sugar Full Article ABC Local widebay Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:QLD:Bundaberg 4670
pi Beetroot and pinot risotto with king prawns By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 10:37:00 +1000 Four of my favourite ingredients combined into one dish! Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Eucalyptus smoked Marburg emu fillet, beets, macadamia plus Lilly Pilly and finger lime spritzer By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:34:00 +1000 Delicious Australian dish with fresh Lilly Pilly and finger lime spritzer. Full Article ABC Local brisbane Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:QLD:Brisbane 4000
pi Spicy Pork Skewers, Rice Noodle salad By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 31 Oct 2016 14:37:00 +1000 Fresh and easy for summer! Full Article ABC Local brisbane Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:QLD:Brisbane 4000
pi Piri Piri Chicken By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:09:00 +1100 It's one that came from the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. Don't let the chili put you off, I've got a two year old daughter who loves this. I used to wonder how the Portuguese got this level of flavour and the trick is, in the marinade, use lemon juice or vinegar. The acid cuts right through and gives a level of authenticity. Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Lemon Meringue Pie By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Wed, 23 Nov 2016 14:54:00 +1100 For the pastry casing: 200g plain flour 100g butter 50g sugar zest of half a lemon 1g vanilla seed 1/2 egg (beat egg, then halve it - should be about 25g) For the curd: 450ml water 180g sugar 75g cornflour 3ea lemons 45g butter 4 eggs For the Italian meringue: 4 x egg whites 270g caster sugar 1 x drop lemon juice 100ml water Full Article ABC Local shepparton goulburnmurray Lifestyle and Leisure:All:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Shepparton 3630 Australia:VIC:Wodonga 3690
pi Picante de pescado sauce By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 07 Feb 2017 12:25:00 +1100 Alejandro Saravia from Pastuso, shared this recipe on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program at 3.30pm. Full Article ABC Local melbourne Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:VIC:Melbourne 3000
pi Indian 5 spiced potatoes By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:30:00 +1000 3 tbsps. coconut oil oil 2 tbsps. panch phoran spice mix 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 long green chillies, sliced lengthways 6 curry leaves 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsps. grated ginger 1 tsp. ground turmeric 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced Panch phoran spice mix: 3 tbsp. brown mustard seeds 3 tbsp. fennel seeds 3 tbsp. Nigella seeds 3 tbsp. cumin seeds salt, to taste chopped coriander leaves, to serve Full Article ABC Local widebay Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Australia:QLD:Bundaberg 4670
pi Breakfast Pizza By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 09:51:00 +1000 I know, I had you at pizza, and you'll never leave once you've tasted this healthy take on an ol' school favourite. My love for pizza started early, in 1971 to be precise. 'What was this round flying salty saucer like bread thing?' my five year old self wondered as I spat out an anchovy. While my taste for whole anchovies never evolved, my love for the original flatlay has never died. On Lygon street in Melbourne around 1977 pizza burst into my childhood and that shredded ham was the shag pile of my youth. This continued to thrive late into my teens at Pinocchio's Pizza on Toorak Road until the ham shag endured cut backs and resizing. Next thing we knew rectangular gourmet pizza had landed - think walnuts, blue cheese and sun-dried tomatoes - and the market was cornered. Here in Byron Bay pizza just ain't the same, however the locals just love the wood fired goodness and there's a bounty of local produce just waiting for an idea. So here's one with no dough that I prepared earlier - let's call it Sammy's breakfast pizza. Full Article ABC Local northcoast Lifestyle and Leisure:Food and Cooking:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:All Lifestyle and Leisure:Recipes:Main Australia:NSW:Lismore 2480
pi Pakistan shines on pitch with series win By www.abc.net.au Published On :: Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:50:00 +1100 Pakistan highlighted its talent on the pitch to draw the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah and win the series 1-0, just days after three former team-mates were jailed for spot-fixing. Full Article
pi Performance of the ESC 0/1-h and 0/3-h Algorithm for the Rapid Identification of Myocardial Infarction Without ST-Elevation in Patients With Diabetes By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have elevated levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn). We investigated the diagnostic performance of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) algorithms to rule out or rule in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without ST-elevation in patients with DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We prospectively enrolled 3,681 patients with suspected AMI and stratified those by the presence of DM. The ESC 0/1-h and 0/3-h algorithms were used to calculate negative and positive predictive values (NPV, PPV). In addition, alternative cutoffs were calculated and externally validated in 2,895 patients. RESULTS In total, 563 patients (15.3%) had DM, and 137 (24.3%) of these had AMI. When the ESC 0/1-h algorithm was used, the NPV was comparable in patients with and without DM (absolute difference [AD] –1.50 [95% CI –5.95, 2.96]). In contrast, the ESC 0/3-h algorithm resulted in a significantly lower NPV in patients with DM (AD –2.27 [95% CI –4.47, –0.07]). The diagnostic performance for rule-in of AMI (PPV) was comparable in both groups: 0/1-h (AD 6.59 [95% CI –19.53, 6.35]) and 0/3-h (AD 1.03 [95% CI –7.63, 9.7]). Alternative cutoffs increased the PPV in both algorithms significantly, while improvements in NPV were only subtle. CONCLUSIONS Application of the ESC 0/1-h algorithm revealed comparable safety to rule out AMI comparing patients with and without DM, while this was not observed with the ESC 0/3-h algorithm. Although alternative cutoffs might be helpful, patients with DM remain a high-risk population in whom identification of AMI is challenging and who require careful clinical evaluation. Full Article
pi Plasma N-Glycans as Emerging Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Risk: A Prospective Investigation in the EPIC-Potsdam Cohort Study By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-02-20T11:55:30-08:00 OBJECTIVE Plasma protein N-glycan profiling integrates information on enzymatic protein glycosylation, which is a highly controlled ubiquitous posttranslational modification. Here we investigate the ability of the plasma N-glycome to predict incidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs; i.e., myocardial infarction and stroke). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Based on the prospective European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)-Potsdam cohort (n = 27,548), we constructed case-cohorts including a random subsample of 2,500 participants and all physician-verified incident cases of type 2 diabetes (n = 820; median follow-up time 6.5 years) and CVD (n = 508; median follow-up time 8.2 years). Information on the relative abundance of 39 N-glycan groups in baseline plasma samples was generated by chromatographic profiling. We selected predictive N-glycans for type 2 diabetes and CVD separately, based on cross-validated machine learning, nonlinear model building, and construction of weighted prediction scores. This workflow for CVD was applied separately in men and women. RESULTS The N-glycan–based type 2 diabetes score was strongly predictive for diabetes risk in an internal validation cohort (weighted C-index 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.88), and this finding was externally validated in the Finland Cardiovascular Risk Study (FINRISK) cohort. N-glycans were moderately predictive for CVD incidence (weighted C-indices 0.66, 95% CI 0.60–0.72, for men; 0.64, 95% CI 0.55–0.73, for women). Information on the selected N-glycans improved the accuracy of established and clinically applied risk prediction scores for type 2 diabetes and CVD. CONCLUSIONS Selected N-glycans improve type 2 diabetes and CVD prediction beyond established risk markers. Plasma protein N-glycan profiling may thus be useful for risk stratification in the context of precisely targeted primary prevention of cardiometabolic diseases. Full Article
pi Epigenetic Link Between Statin Therapy and Type 2 Diabetes By care.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:34-07:00 OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of epigenetics in statins’ diabetogenic effect comparing DNA methylation (DNAm) between statin users and nonusers in an epigenome-wide association study in blood. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Five cohort studies’ participants (n = 8,270) were classified as statin users when they were on statin therapy at the time of DNAm assessment with Illumina 450K or EPIC array or noncurrent users otherwise. Associations of DNAm with various outcomes like incident type 2 diabetes, plasma glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance (HOMA of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) as well as with gene expression were investigated. RESULTS Discovery (n = 6,820) and replication (n = 1,450) phases associated five DNAm sites with statin use: cg17901584 (1.12 x 10–25 [DHCR24]), cg10177197 (3.94 x 10–08 [DHCR24]), cg06500161 (2.67 x 10–23 [ABCG1]), cg27243685 (6.01 x 10–09 [ABCG1]), and cg05119988 (7.26 x 10–12 [SC4MOL]). Two sites were associated with at least one glycemic trait or type 2 diabetes. Higher cg06500161 methylation was associated with higher fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 1.34 [95% CI 1.22, 1.47]). Mediation analyses suggested that ABCG1 methylation partially mediates the effect of statins on high insulin and HOMA-IR. Gene expression analyses showed that statin exposure and ABCG1 methylation were associated with ABCG1 downregulation, suggesting epigenetic regulation of ABCG1 expression. Further, outcomes insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly associated with ABCG1 expression. CONCLUSIONS This study sheds light on potential mechanisms linking statins with type 2 diabetes risk, providing evidence on DNAm partially mediating statins’ effects on insulin traits. Further efforts shall disentangle the molecular mechanisms through which statins may induce DNAm changes, potentially leading to ABCG1 epigenetic regulation. Full Article
pi How we made our Free COVID-19 Alerting System and how you can build your own for any topic By blog.inoreader.com Published On :: Mon, 23 Mar 2020 12:32:04 +0000 Ever since we launched our Free COVID-19 Alerting System, we’ve been continuously asked how we made it. In this blog… Full Article Uncategorized
pi Case Study: Potential Pitfalls of Using Hemoglobin A1c as the Sole Measure of Glycemic Control By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2004-07-01 Huy A. TranJul 1, 2004; 22:141-143Case Studies Full Article
pi Helping Patients Make and Sustain Healthy Changes: A Brief Introduction to Motivational Interviewing in Clinical Diabetes Care By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2008-10-01 Michele HeislerOct 1, 2008; 26:161-165Practical Pointers Full Article
pi Hospital Management of Hyperglycemia By clinical.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2004-04-01 Kristen B. CampbellApr 1, 2004; 22:81-88Practical Pointers Full Article
pi Picking a Theory is Like Building a Boat at Sea By decisions-and-info-gaps.blogspot.com Published On :: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:14:00 +0000 "We are like sailors who on the open sea must reconstruct their ship but are never able to start afresh from the bottom." Otto Neurath's analogy in the words of Willard V. QuineEngineers, economists, social planners, security strategists, and others base their plans and decisions on theories. They often argue long and hard over which theory to use. Is it ever right to use a theory that we know is empirically wrong, especially if a true (or truer) theory is available? Why is it so difficult to pick a theory?Let's consider two introductory examples.You are an engineer designing a robot. You must calculate the forces needed to achieve specified motions of the robotic arms. You can base these calculations on either of two theories. One theory assumes that an object comes to rest unless a force acts upon it. Let's call this axiom A. The other theory assumes that an object moves at constant speed unless a force acts upon it. Let's call this axiom G. Axiom A agrees with observation: Nothing moves continuously without the exertion of force; an object will come to rest unless you keep pushing it. Axiom G contradicts all observation; no experiment illustrates the perpetual motion postulated by the axiom. If all else is the same, which theory should you choose?Axiom A is Aristotle's law of inertia, which contributed little to the development of mechanical dynamics. Axiom G is Galileo's law of inertia: one of the most fruitful scientific ideas of all time. Why is an undemonstrable assertion - axiom G - a good starting point for a theory?Consider another example.You are an economist designing a market-based policy to induce firms to reduce pollution. You will use an economic theory to choose between policies. One theory assumes that firms face pure competition, meaning that no single firm can influence market prices. Another theory provides agent-based game-theoretic characterization of how firms interact (without colluding) by observing and responding to price behavior of other firms and of consumers.Pure competition is a stylized idealization (like axiom G). Game theory is much more realistic (like axiom A), but may obscure essential patterns in its massive detail. Which theory should you use?We will not address the question of how to choose a theory upon which to base a decision. We will focus on the question: why is theory selection so difficult? We will discuss four trade offs."Thanks to the negation sign, there are as many truths as falsehoods;we just can't always be sure which are which." Willard V. QuineThe tension between right and right. The number of possible theories is infinite, and sometimes it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, as suggested by the quote from Quine. As an example, I have a book called A Modern Guide to Macroeconomics: An Introduction to Competing Schools of Thought by Snowdon, Vane and Wynarczyk. It's a wonderful overview of about a dozen theories developed by leading economic scholars, many of them Nobel Prize Laureates. The theories are all fundamentally different. They use different axioms and concepts and they compete for adoption by economists. These theories have been studied and tested upside down and backwards. However, economic processes are very complex and variable, and the various theories succeed in different ways or in different situations, so the jury is still out. The choice of a theory is no simple matter because many different theories can all seem right in one way or another."The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." ArchilochusThe fox-hedgehog tension. This aphorism by Archilochus metaphorically describes two types of theories (and two types of people). Fox-like theories are comprehensive and include all relevant aspects of the problem. Hedgehog-like theories, in contrast, skip the details and focus on essentials. Axiom A is fox-like because the complications of friction are acknowledged from the start. Axiom G is hedgehog-like because inertial resistance to change is acknowledged but the complications of friction are left for later. It is difficult to choose between these types of theories because it is difficult to balance comprehensiveness against essentialism. On the one hand, all relevant aspects of the problem should be considered. On the other hand, don't get bogged down in endless details. This fox-hedgehog tension can be managed by weighing the context, goals and implications of the decision. We won't expand on this idea since we're not considering how to choose a theory; we're only examining why it's a difficult choice. However, the idea of resolving this tension by goal-directed choice motivates the third tension."Beyond this island of meanings which in their own nature are true or falselies the ocean of meanings to which truth and falsity are irrelevant." John DeweyThe truth-meaning tension. Theories are collections of statements like axioms A and G in our first example. Statements carry meaning, and statements can be either true or false. Truth and meaning are different. For instance, "Archilochus was a Japanese belly dancer" has meaning, but is not true. The quote from Dewey expresses the idea that "meaning" is a broader description of statements than "truth". All true statements mean something, but not all meaningful statements are true. That does not imply, however, that all untrue meaningful statements are false, as we will see.We know the meanings of words and sentences from experience with language and life. A child learns the meanings of words - chair, mom, love, good, bad - by experience. Meanings are learned by pointing - this is a chair - and also by experiencing what it means to love or to be good or bad.Truth is a different concept. John Dewey wrote that"truths are but one class of meanings, namely, those in which a claim to verifiability by their consequences is an intrinsic part of their meaning. Beyond this island of meanings which in their own nature are true or false lies the ocean of meanings to which truth and falsity are irrelevant. We do not inquire whether Greek civilization was true or false, but we are immensely concerned to penetrate its meaning."A true statement, in Dewey's sense, is one that can be confirmed by experience. Many statements are meaningful, even important and useful, but neither true nor false in this experimental sense. Axiom G is an example.Our quest is to understand why the selection of a theory is difficult. Part of the challenge derives from the tension between meaning and truth. We select a theory for use in formulating and evaluating a plan or decision. The decision has implications: what would it mean to do this rather than that? Hence it is important that the meaning of the theory fit the context of the decision. Indeed, hedgehogs would say that getting the meaning and implication right is the essence of good decision making.But what if a relevantly meaningful theory is unprovable or even false? Should we use a theory that is meaningful but not verifiable by experience? Should we use a meaningful theory that is even wrong? This quandary is related to the fox-hedgehog tension because the fox's theory is so full of true statements that its meaning may be obscured, while the hedgehog's bare-bones theory has clear relevance to the decision to be made, but may be either false or too idealized to be tested.Galileo's axiom of inertia is an idealization that is unsupported by experience because friction can never be avoided. Axiom G assumes conditions that cannot be realized so the axiom can never be tested. Likewise, pure competition is an idealization that is rarely if ever encountered in practice. But these theories capture the essence of many situations. In practical terms, what it means to get the robotic arm from here to there is to apply net forces that overcome Galilean inertia. But actually designing a robot requires considering details of dissipative forces like friction. What it means to be a small business is that the market price of your product is beyond your control. But actually running a business requires following and reacting to prices in the store next door.It is difficult to choose between a relevantly meaningful but unverifiable theory, and a true theory that is perhaps not quite what we mean.The knowledge-ignorance tension. Recall that we are discussing theories in the service of decision-making by engineers, social scientists and others. A theory should facilitate the use of our knowledge and understanding. However, in some situations our ignorance is vast and our knowledge will grow. Hence a theory should also account for ignorance and be able to accommodate new knowledge.Let's take an example from theories of decision. The independence axiom is fundamental in various decision theories, for instance in von Neumann-Morgenstern expected utility theory. It says that one's choices should be independent of irrelevant alternatives. Suppose you are offered the dinner choice between chicken and fish, and you choose chicken. The server returns a few minutes later saying that beef is also available. If you switch your choice from chicken to fish you are violating the independence axiom. You prefer beef less than both chicken and fish, so the beef option shouldn't alter the fish-chicken preference.But let's suppose that when the server returned and mentioned beef, your physician advised you to reduce your cholesterol intake (so your preference for beef is lowest) which prompted your wife to say that you should eat fish at least twice a week because of vitamins in the oil. So you switch from chicken to fish. Beef is not chosen, but new information that resulted from introducing the irrelevant alternative has altered the chicken-fish preference.One could argue for the independence axiom by saying that it applies only when all relevant information (like considerations of cholesterol and fish oil) are taken into account. On the other hand, one can argue against the independence axiom by saying that new relevant information quite often surfaces unexpectedly. The difficulty is to judge the extent to which ignorance and the emergence of new knowledge should be central in a decision theory.Wrapping up. Theories express our knowledge and understanding about the unknown and confusing world. Knowledge begets knowledge. We use knowledge and understanding - that is, theory - in choosing a theory. The process is difficult because it's like building a boat on the open sea as Otto Neurath once said. Full Article
pi When Lead Generation Trumps Helping Customers | #FrictionHunter By feeds.feedblitz.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Dec 2019 17:54:40 +0000 Turning a chat request into a lead generation process adds friction and annoys customers. The post When Lead Generation Trumps Helping Customers | #FrictionHunter appeared first on Neuromarketing. Full Article Friction chat help chatbots conversion cro customer experience cx friction lead generation leadgen user experience ux
pi CfP: Shaping the ‘Socialist Self’? The Role of Psy-Sciences in Communist States of the Eastern Bloc (1948–1989) By ahp.apps01.yorku.ca Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 01:10:00 +0000 CALL FOR PAPERSINTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP Shaping the ‘Socialist Self’? The Role of Psy-Sciences in Communist States of the Eastern Bloc (1948–1989) Date: 6 November 2020 Venue: Prague, Czech Republic Deadline for applications: 30 June 2020 Organizing institutions: CEFRES (French Research Center in Humanities and Social Sciences in Prague) Institute of Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences Collegium Carolinum … Continue reading CfP: Shaping the ‘Socialist Self’? The Role of Psy-Sciences in Communist States of the Eastern Bloc (1948–1989) → Full Article General
pi 4 Ways Therapists Assist People with Mental Health Issues By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 01 Feb 2020 02:19:15 +0000 One of the primary reasons people seek therapy is to get help with mental health issues. Some of the more common mental disorders affecting individuals today include depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress (PTSD), phobias, addiction, and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD). Depending on the type and intensity of your issue, your therapist may adjust his treatment […] Full Article Abnormal Psychology benefits of therapy depression help help with anxiety newsnow therapy benefits
pi What are the Most Effective Pick-Up Lines? Here’s What the Science Says By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +0000 For decades, researchers have been studying the effectiveness of different kinds of pick-up lines in order to better understand the psychology of attraction. What they’ve found is that certain types of lines definitely seem to work better than others—and the results have been surprisingly consistent over the years. Full Article Relationships Research
pi How Do You Help a Partner Who is Depressed? Advice From a Sex Therapist By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +0000 Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 1 in 14 Americans experienced an episode of major depression in the last year alone. Given the circumstances surrounding the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, many in the mental health community predict that the number will be even higher this year because these circumstances are creating a “perfect storm” of depression risks. The widespread prevalence of depression has a lot of implications for our lives, even if we don’t personally have depression ourselves. Many of us will have loved ones, such as a romantic partner, who develops depression at some point. In these situations, it’s common for people to wonder how they can help their partner most effectively. So what should they do? Full Article Videos
pi 5 Secrets to Increase Your Sexual Satisfaction: Tips From a Sex Therapist By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 14:00:00 +0000 As a practicing sex therapist, I often see two partners legitimately trying to bridge a satisfaction gap between each other, but they can’t seem to get the moves just right. If left unchecked, this can lead to resentment and conflict; however, couples who figure out how to speak to each other sexually (both verbally and nonverbally) have the highest success in terms of finding something that works for both of them. Making an environment conducive to this sort of positive growth requires a little bit of effort and the ability to listen. Drawing on my clinical experience, here are my top tips for increasing sexual satisfaction: Full Article Sexual Problems and Solutions
pi Sex and Psychology Podcast: SexTech, Sexting, and Dick Pics in the Time of COVID-19 By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:00:00 +0000 Lockdowns and “social distancing” guidelines are changing our intimate lives in major ways. For example, think about people living alone in heavily restricted areas right now. What we’re seeing in our research is that many of these folks are turning to sextech to fill the void in their sexual lives, such as by increasing their participation in activities like sexting and cybersex—and many are trying these things for the very first time. In order to explore the various ways that people are leveraging sextech right now, I spoke to two sextech experts: Dr. Erin Watson and Tasha Falconer. Full Article Sexologist Interviews
pi The gender-fluid history of the Philippines | France Villarta By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:01:16 +0000 In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex. But that's not the case everywhere, says France Villarta. In a talk that's part cultural love letter, part history lesson, he details the legacy of gender fluidity and inclusivity in his native Philippines -- and emphasizes the universal beauty of all people, regardless of society's labels. Full Article Higher Education