Taken from this site.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
What about inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive and deductive reasonings (see also abductive reasoning) are two ways to come up with an idea/conclusion. The process is called inference.
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In inductive reasoning, we start off with a set of specific answers to specific questions and try to generalise these data to an idea/conclusion. It infers b (probable relation) from a (specific observations) often by persuasion.
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In deductive reasoning, we already have a set of general data. We try to glean meaning/conclusion from these data. It infers b (logical consequence) from a (assumptions of truth).
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References
1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abductive_reasoning
Relationship between variables: correlation/association and causation
Hypothetical questions involve variables (or assigned variables). Hypotheses test the relation of these variables. There are two main types of relation: correlation/association and causation.
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Causation is more difficult to test as compared to correlation/association. In clinical trials, controlled experiments are designed to test causation whereby sampling of a population produces treated and untreated groups and the hypothetical question is whether a treatment will cause specified response. The variables are therefore (1) treatment and (2) response, whereby the sample is assumed to be similar.
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Several good reviews on the subject are the following:
1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/all-about-addiction/201003/correlation-causation-and-association-what-does-it-all-mean
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Micromanipulation pipettes
For the type of pipettes, refer to this document available at cookmedical (micromanipulation pipette).
This is the first time I am going to handle the above assembly to manipulate embryos and I am researching the type of micromanipulation pipettes available.
In addition to getting pipettes from manufacturers, these pipettes can be made in the lab using a micropipette puller. Refer to Sutter pipette cookbook to determine the settings required for pulling different types of pipette. These pipettes need to be fire-polished (or flame-polished) to smoothen the surface.
In addition, holding pipette can be generated by briefly exposing micropipette to flame (or via microforge for more precision under microscope observation).
Fig shows fire-polished glass micropipette or pipette. Taken from Nature Publishing.
Fig shows microforge used for processing micropipettes. Taken from Tritechresearch.
A video showing how to process micropipette using microforge and grinder.
Equipment available in the following links
- Narishige needle processing catalog by Tritechresearch
- Sutter Instrument micropipettes fabrication tools.
- Leica DMi8 microscope for micromanipulation.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Solved: How to disable highlighting new programs in Windows 7, Vista & XP
Thanks to HowToGeek instruction, I was able to disable the annoying persistent highlight of new programs installed in Windows 7. Refer to the post here with pictorials.
First, move mouse cursor to taskbar, right click to bring out a menu option, then go to properties. Click on the Start Menu tab. Click on Customize… (to customize how links, icons, and menus look and behave in the Start Menu). Scroll down a list and search for “Highlight newly installed programs”. Deselect that. Done.
Scientific misconduct and recent cases
I followed the first one about a Japanese researcher Haruko Obokata who was suspected of spiking her work with stem cells from other sources to suggest that she could induce inducible pluripotent stem cells iPSCs by stressing normal cells (or somatic cells).
Recently, another case in the US about a researcher Dong Pyou Han who spiked his rabbit blood samples with human antibodies to suggest that vaccine injected to the rabbits was able to induce immune response against the vaccine against HIV.
For the latest case, the perpetrator got a prison sentence.
