Lecture 3701-lecture 30
19 November 2010
This lecture will focus on nutrition though the general principles will apply to all fields of research
The finding or confirmation of a truth. It can also be the negation of a “truth”. The success is even more important when it has an impact on human health or the health of organisms that support our well being (eg the human food supply)
Success can be realized in terms of maintaining health, preventing the onset of disease, reducing the extent and severity of disease once disease sets in, and finally partially or completely curing disease once disease sets in
Skilled investigators
- this refers to individuals who have the combination of high intelligence and experience to conduct the work. Experience is an excellent teacher and one of the most important features of experience is interacting with other scientists in the laboratory and at conferences to exchange and formulate new ideas in one’s field. Experience is particularly beneficial when it includes interdisciplinary studies, bearing in mind that all scientists are looking at the same truth but from different angles-this is one of the most important points in the philosophy of science and a point that leads to the best possible science
-skilled investigators also need access to excellent libraries- fortunately these days various publications are available for order (eg Novanet) or for printing directly online
Financial support
-without sufficient money it is impossible for scientists to do their work (scientists cannot feed themselves, pay for laboratory help and buy state of the art chemicals and supplies (story of Dr. Barre’s grants))
-scientists must know to whom to apply to get financial help- they must know what the granting agencies what to see :
-granting agencies want to see a track record of publications in good journals where the applicant has made significant contributions to knowledge
-granting agencies want to see ideas that will significantly advance knowledge and that the work has a chance of being completed within the time frame suggested in the application- the time frame must be appealing to the granting agencies
Sophistication of the equipment and techniques being used-
-this can depend on both the knowledge of the investigators and the degree of financial support- stories of gas liquid chromatography/plate reader
-computerisation of the laboratory is particularly important
Dissemination of information-
-publication in excellent journals-to get published in a good journal one must have made a significant discovery or discoveries using state of the art methodologies and be able to draw statements and conclusions that are consistent with the methodologies being used and the data arising from those methodologies-one must be able to write well to effectively disseminate this information
-presentation of information orally to students and colleagues- one must have made a significant discovery or discoveries using state of the art methodologies and be able to draw statements and conclusions that are consistent with the methodologies being used and the data arising from those methodologies-one must be able to speak well to effectively disseminate this information
Lipids-Fish oil
Proteins-urinary output of calcium
Carbohydrates-pre-biotics and probiotics
Vitamins- antioxidant vitamins in atherosclerotic heart disease
Minerals-anti-oxidant minerals in atherosclerotic heart disease
The false finding or confirmation of a truth. It can also be the false negation of a “truth”. The failure is even more important when it has a negative impact on human health or the health of organisms that support our well being (ie the human food supply). Such falsehoods can arise from individuals who either make up data entirely or who conduct an experiment and then fix their data to make the results looking convincing
Failure can be realized in terms of not maintaining health (allowing the onset of disease), increasing the extent and severity of disease once disease sets in, and falsely leading people to believe that there is the possibility of partially or entirely curing disease once disease sets in
Poorly Skilled investigators
-this refers to individuals who do not have the combination of high intelligence and experience to conduct the work. Failure to gain adequate experience occurs via failure to interact with other scientists in the laboratory and at conferences to exchange and formulate new ideas in one’s field. Failure can also result from failing to become involved in interdisciplinary studies
-poor investigators either do not understand the importance of excellent libraries or cannot have access to excellent libraries-
Financial support
-without sufficient money it is impossible for scientists to do their work as illustrated above
-scientists do not know to whom to apply to get financial help or they do not know what the granting agencies what to see –failure to obtain grants can arise from:
-scientists with a poor publication track record
-ideas that will not significantly advance knowledge and that the work has little or no chance of being completed within the time frame suggested in the application- the time frame is not appealing to the granting agencies
Sophistication of the equipment and techniques being used is lacking-
One sample at time when 100s can be done at the same time
Using old unreliable equipment that is not a sensitive as state of the art equipment
Failure to use computers
Dissemination of information-
-publication in poor journals- insignificant discovery using outdated methodologies and not able to draw statements and conclusions that are consistent with the methodologies being used and/or the data arising from such methodologies- this occurs in journals where there is no peer review
-one writes poorly-this occurs in journals where there is no peer review
-failure to make presentation of information orally to students and colleagues- one who speaks poorly tends to lose the interest of listeners
Lipids-evening primrose oil
Proteins-protein supplements for athletes
Carbohydrates-low carbohydrate diet
Vitamins- antioxidant vitamins in atherosclerotic heart disease
Minerals-anti-oxidant minerals in atherosclerotic heart disease