Review of Systematic Review Methods: The Science of Research Synthesis

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APPROPRIATE STATISTICAL METHODS FOR COMPARING SOURCES OF NUTRITIONAL METHIONINE

Kratzer and Ash(1996) presented Experimentation Science as a process to accomplish the Scientific Method with a complete protocol including relevant statistical design and analyses The first principal to sound Experimentation Science is the principle of Relevance. This is a case study primarily of Relevance in Experimentation Science. In our consulting work we found a so called “performance” design as not relevant because of the use of null hypothesis testing to promote a concept of equivalence. The best alternative involves equivalence testing, more replication and representative-ness. Secondly we found a dose response design for two products where non-linear asymptotic regression is misused in applying Bioassay techniques to estimate a single relative biological efficacy (RBV) because the basic assumption of sameness of mathematical form does not hold. We offer a relevant model which involves predicted differences in the relevant zone of commercial use (Vazquez- Añón, M et al, 2006b, Gonzales-Esquerra et al, 2007)

A Synthesis of Research on Family Preservation and Family Reunification Programs

How effective are current efforts to preserve and reunify families in child welfare? In this paper we review research on programs aimed at preventing out-of-home placement of children, broader family preservation programs, and programs designed to reunify families with children in foster care.1 We examine what is known about the outcomes of these programs, relationships between service characteristics and outcomes, and the response of subgroups of clients to services. Claims that family preservation programs result in substantial reductions in the placement of children are based largely on non-experimental studies. Such studies do not provide solid evidence of program effects. Evidence from controlled studies of placement prevention effects is much weaker. The results of controlled studies suggest that difficulties in targeting services to families at risk of placement contribute to the lack of effects on likelihood of placement. The small amount of evidence on outcomes other than placement suggests that these programs have little effect on the recurrence of child maltreatment, although they may produce modest, short term improvements in some aspects of child and family functioning. Research on family reunification programs is in its infancy and there are very few controlled studies in this area. Available evidence is mixed. While some studies suggest that intensive, in-home services can speed the process of family reunification, the long-term effects of these programs are largely unknown. In particular, it is not clear whether intensive service programs increase the rates at which children return home, reduce the risk of foster care reentry, or lessen the chance of subsequent child maltreatment. We conclude our review with a discussion of directions for further research in this area

Photoperiod Response in Pensacola Bahiagrass

Photoperiod response has been found to influence the growth and development of \u3ePensacola\u27 derived bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge var. saure Parodi). Four selection cycles [\u3ePensacola= (Cycle 0), Cycle 4, \u3eTifton 9\u27 (Cycle 9) and Cycle 23] resulting from recurrent restricted phenotypic selection (RRPS) of spaced-plants, were field grown in 1999 and 2000, to study photoperiod sensitivity among genotypes. Two day-length treatments were imposed on the field grown plants. One treatment, used only natural light. The second treatment imposed an extended day-length treatment using Quartz-halogen lamps, installed in the field during the fall and winter, to extend day-length to15 hours. The top growth of individual plants was harvested three times during the fall and winter seasons and stolon spread was measured in mid February, 2000. Top growth was increased by the extended day-length treatment for Pensacola and RRPS Cycle 4 in all three harvest dates. Top growth of Tifton 9 was unaffected by the extended light for the September harvest, but increased in the late October and late January harvests. RRPS Cycle 23 plants grown under natural light, out-yielded the plants grown under extended light treatment, for the first two harvests. There were no differences in yields of RRPS Cycle 23 plants from extended or natural light from the January harvest. The later cycles, Tifton 9 and RRPS Cycle 23, were less sensitive to day-length, than RRPS Cycles 0 and 4. Extended daylength, for all cycles, dramatically reduced stolon spread by nearly half that of the plants grown under natural light. Results from this experiment demonstrate a high sensitivity in growth and development of Pensacola-derived bahiagrass to day-length

The potential for arms race and Red Queen coevolution in a protist host-parasite system

11 pages, 6 figures, supporting information http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.1314/suppinfoEcology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The dynamics and consequences of host-parasite coevolution depend on the nature of host genotype-by-parasite genotype interactions (G × G) for host and parasite fitness. G × G with crossing reaction norms can yield cyclic dynamics of allele frequencies ("Red Queen" dynamics) while G × G where the variance among host genotypes differs between parasite genotypes results in selective sweeps ("arms race" dynamics). Here, we investigate the relative potential for arms race and Red Queen coevolution in a protist host-parasite system, the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum and its parasite Parvilucifera sinerae. We challenged nine different clones of A. minutum with 10 clones of P. sinerae in a fully factorial design and measured infection success and host and parasite fitness. Each host genotype was successfully infected by four to ten of the parasite genotypes. There were strong G × Gs for infection success, as well as both host and parasite fitness. About three quarters of the G × G variance components for host and parasite fitness were due to crossing reaction norms. There were no general costs of resistance or infectivity. We conclude that there is high potential for Red Queen dynamics in this host-parasite system. We investigate the relative potential for arms race and Red Queen coevolution in a protist host-parasite system by dissecting the nature of host geontype-by-parasite genotype interactions (G × G). G × Gs were mainly a result of crossing reaction norms, indicating high potential for Red Queen dynamics. © 2014 The AuthorsThis research was funded by the Crafoord Foundation (contract 2011:0882 to RF) and Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project PARAL CTM2009-08399 to EG). L. Råberg was supported by a fellowship from the Swedish Research CouncilPeer Reviewe

Persistence of balsam fir and black spruce populations in the mixedwood and coniferous bioclimatic domain of eastern North America

The boreal ecocline (ca 49°N) between the southern mixedwood (dominated by balsam fir) and the northern coniferous bioclimatic domain (dominated by black spruce) may be explained by a northward decrease of balsam fir regeneration, explaining the gradual shift to black spruce dominance. 7,010 sample plots, with absence of major disturbances, were provided by the Quebec Ministry of Forest, Fauna, and Parks. The regeneration (sapling abundance) of balsam fir and black spruce were compared within and between the two bioclimatic domains, accounting for parental trees, main soil type (clay and till) and climate conditions, reflected by summer growing degree-days above 5°C (GDD_5), total summer precipitation (May–August; PP_MA). Parental trees and soil type determined balsam fir and black spruce regeneration. Balsam fir and black spruce, respectively, showed higher regeneration in the mixedwood and the coniferous bioclimatic domains. Overall, higher regeneration was obtained on till for balsam fir, and on clay soils for black spruce. GDD_5 and PP_MA were beneficial for balsam fir regeneration on clay and till soils, respectively, while they were detrimental for black spruce regeneration. At a population level, balsam fir required at least 28% of parental tree basal area in the mixedwood, and 38% in the coniferous bioclimatic domains to maintain a regeneration at least equal to the mean regeneration of the whole study area. However, black spruce required 82% and 79% of parental trees basal area in the mixedwood and the coniferous domains, respectively. The northern limit of the mixedwood bioclimatic domain was attributed to a gradual decrease toward the north of balsam fir regeneration most likely due to cooler temperatures, shorter growing seasons, and decrease of the parental trees further north of this northern limit. However, balsam fir still persists above this northern limit, owing to a patchy occurrence of small parental trees populations, and good establishment substrates