Fair subject selection

Social value Scientific validity Fair subject selection Informed consent Favorable risk-benefit ratio Independent review Respect for human subjects... 

Randomization refers to the process of assigning subjects by chance to treatments. This eliminates known and unknown sources of bias that could interfere with accurate interpretation of the study results. The main problem that randomization is intended to prevent is bias in subject selection. Without randomization, investigators might consciously or subconsciously select subjects to receive the active treatment, which, they believe, are most likely to respond. History shows that uncontrolled studies are much more likely to provide exaggerated support in favor of the effectiveness of a treatment than properly controlled trials (Pocock, 1983). Therefore, whenever possible, randomization should be used in order to help insure a fair and unbiased evaluation of the intervention under study. 

Subject selection will, for us, be something of a short subject. Often a business presentation arises out of a particular organizational need, making subject selection something of a moot point however, there is some room even within the confines of a predetermined subject to choose among various aspects to be included in your presentation. There will also be times when you are in greater control and can choose your subject fairly freely—for example, when you choose to make a presentation at a technical conference or before a civic or church group. In any event, the prime directive of subject selection may be stated quite simply ... 

In this report we shall focus on some few, subjectively selected examples of nanostructures that are finite in either two dimensions (i.e., chains) or in three dimensions (i.e., clusters or colloids) and not discuss those that are finite in one dimension (surfaces). The choice is made of two reasons. At first it matches the scientific interests of the author and, secondly, it makes it possible to keep the presentation at an acceptable size. But even with this restriction, it is absolutely impossible to discuss just a fair part of all the recent theoretical studies of such systems. Therefore, we have ehosen to present some few studies in some further details thereby, hopefully, providing a description of the current state of theoretical research in the properties of such nanostructures. We emphasize that the studies that we are going to discuss not are supposed to be better in any sense than those we are not discussing, but rather are considered as being typical. 

Catalysis opens reaction pathways that are not accessible to uncatalysed reactions. It should be self-evident that thermodynamics predict whether a reaction can occur. So, catalysis influences reaction rates (and as a consequence selectivities), but the thermodynamic equilibrium still is the boundary. Catalysis plays a key role in chemical conversions, although it is fair to state that it is not applied to the same degree in all sectors of the chemical industry. While in bulk chemicals production catalytic processes constitute over 80 % of the industrially applied processes, in fine chemicals and specialty chemicals production catalysis plays a relatively modest role. In the pharmaceutical industry its role is even smaller. It is the opinion of the authors that catalysis has a large potential in these areas and that its role will increase drastically in the coming years. However, catalysis is a multidisciplinary subject that has a lot of aspects unfamiliar to synthetic chemists. Therefore, it was decided to treat catalysis in a separate chapter. 

The most recent fairly comprehensive review Of the vibrational spectra of transition metal carbonyls is contained in the book by Braterman1. This provides a literature coverage up to the end of 1971 and so the subject of the present article is the literature from 1972 through to the end of 1975. Inevitably, some considerable selectivity has been necessary. For instance, a considerable number of largely preparative papers are not included in the present article. Tables A-E provide a general view of the work reported in the period. Table A covers spectral reports and papers for which topics related purely to vibrational analysis are not the main objective. Papers with the latter more in view are covered in Table C. Evidently, the division between the two is somewhat arbitrary. Other tables are devoted to papers primarily concerned with the spectra of crystalline samples — Table B — to reports of infrared and Raman band intensities — Table D and sundry experimental techniques or observations - Table E. Papers on matrix isolated species, which are covered elsewhere in this volume, are excluded. 

This short review is necessarily rather selective and presents an individual point of view. The author hopes nonetheless that he has presented a fair picture and, even more important, that he has shown up the current uncertainties which are the growing points of the subject. 

EXTENSIONS AND COMMENTARY Here is an example of a most remarkable material that has allowed people to have some rather complex and dramatic experiences. Any effort to present a fair overview of its action, through a selection of individual responses in the "extension and commentary" format would fail, as it would ignore the impact of the set and setting on the subject. Here I will mention a few of these different sets, and a leading author to search out more detail. 

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