Analysis of changing statistical significance from .05 to .005 in foot and ankle randomized controlled trials

Background: Misinterpretation of p-values in RCTs is extremely problematic since they are the core basis for high levels of recommendation in clinical practice guidelines, especially Orthopaedics. Benjamin et al. proposed a universal protocol change, moving statistical significance from a p-value of .05 to .005 to combat the misinterpretation that is happening in medical literature. In this study, we are looking to evaluate the effect of the protocol suggested by Benjamin et al. on foot and ankle-related RCTs in the top 3 Foot and Ankle-related journals.Methods: We conducted a Pubmed search looking at studies published from January 1st, 2016 to November 10, 2021, in the following three journals; Foot and Ankle International, Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, and Foot & Ankle International. The inclusion criteria for the study were RCTs published in the above journals with specifically stated primary endpoints. If a study has multiple primary endpoints, all were included. Exclusion criteria were any study that was not prospective and randomized by design, also any study that did not state primary endpoints was excluded. Two authors extracted the data using a pilot-tested Google form, any disagreements or questions were resolved by published methodologic orthopaedic authors.Results: Of the 222 endpoints, 101 endpoints (45.5%; 101/222) were at or below the .05 threshold while 121 endpoints (54.5%; 121/222) were above the .05 threshold. We also found that 59 endpoints (26.6%; 59/222) were below .005.Conclusion: Our results suggest that changing the threshold for statistical significance from .05 to .005 in foot and ankle RCTs would heavily alter literature published in the field. By implementing this methodology, it is a promising measure to be able to increase RCT quality until a more substantial solution can be found. With that being said, caution must be taken when interpreting our results, also requiring further evaluation

Utopia Across Time and Space: Could There Ever Be a Perfect World ?

This independent study is divided into seven sections. The introduction of the project is made in the first two sections, titled “Philosophy and Literature” and “Utopia: A Fickle Existence”. The first section discusses a method used by D.D Raphael to describe the different ways that literature and philosophy can influence one another, and how these are explored within the project itself. The second section, “Utopia: A Fickle Existence” offers insight into the focus of the paper, which is utopian and critical utopian fiction of 20th century America. The next three sections of this project (The Dispossessed: Admirable Foundation, Failure in Stagnancy, What Lies Underneath: Green Sky and Omelas, and The Dream of Walden Two) offer summary of the utopian and critical utopian literature that I have read and analyzed, with philosophical analysis embedded throughout. The sixth section of this study, “Redefining Happiness: My Own Time and Space” delves into my own attempt to have my philosophy feed into literature, culminating into a short story. A short introduction and description of the process of the story is offered, before going into the work itself. The seventh and final section of this paper, “Utopia: Where it Begins and Ends” will evaluate all of the pieces of literature that I have studied in brief conversation with each other, and in conversation with my own piece of philosophy-fed literature. This section also includes closing remarks

Synthesis of a Ruthenuim Bis-Terpyridine Derivative

Objective: To coordinate Ruthenium metal with an anionic Terpyridine derivative ligand. Furthermore, in order to photocatalyze synthetically useful reactions like reductive eliminations we aim to modify the Terpyridine ligand to make it a strong oxidant which can be irreversibly reduce