Objective meaning

In Chapters 63-66 [1-4], we discussed shortcomings of current methods used to assess the presence of nonlinearity in data, and presented a new method that addresses those shortcomings. This new method is statistically sound, provides an objective means to determine if nonlinearity is present in the relationship between two sets of data, and is inherently suitable for implementation as a computer program. 

Lack of Objective Means of Linking the Drug to the ADR. Tests and... 

As shown above, these include a laboratory to be third-party assessed to international accreditation standards, to demonstrate that it is in statistical control by using appropriate internal quality control procedures, to participate in proficiency testing schemes which provide an objective means of assessing and documenting the reliability of the data it is producing and to use methods of analysis that are fit-for-purpose . These requirements are summarised below and then described in greater detail later in this chapter. 

External Quality Control and Accreditation Participation in PT schemes is an objective means of evaluating the reliability of the data produced by a laboratory. Another form of external assessment of the laboratory performance is the physical inspection of the laboratory to ensure that it complies with externally imposed standards. Accreditation of the laboratory indicates that it is applying the required... 

Specific conductivity continues to attract interest as a convenient, objective means of detecting mastitis at the subclinical level. Although somatic cell counts do correlate with specific conductivity, the cell counts appear to be more sensitive for mastitis detection (Kozanecki et al. 1982). Fernando et al. (1982) found that the ratio of specific conductivities of fore-and postmilking strippings was an effective index of mastitis due to the sharp rise in the conductivity of the postmilk from infected quarters. Introduction of a foreign body, sterile polyethylene, into the udder caused changes in somatic cell counts and conductivity similar to those of mastitis (Jaster et al. 1982). 

Evaluating Synthetic Sweeteners. Evaluation of new sweeteners, unlike that of most functional food ingredients, is not possible using totally objective means, There arc no general rules leading to structurc/function relationships for all classes of sweeteners. The principal judgments must rely on human sensory panel tests. The training and administration of sensory panels for sweeteners are beyond the scope of this volume. 

The primary products from autoxidation are hydroperoxides, which are often simply referred to as peroxides. Peroxides are odorless and colorless, but are labile species that can undergo both enzymatic and nonenzymatic degradation to produce a complex array of secondary products such as aliphatic aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons. Many of these secondary oxidation products are odiferous and impart detrimental sensory attributes to the food product in question. Being able to monitor and semi-quantitate the development of peroxides by objective means (e.g., PV determination) over time is important for food scientists who want to characterize the quality of an oil or a lipid-containing food product, even though the peroxides themselves are not directly related to the actual sensory quality of the product tested. 

Another troublesome borderline area is that between ionic solids and three-dimensional polymers. The distinction cannot be made from the structure alone. Electrical conductivity in the molten state does not, as already mentioned, necessarily demonstrate the presence of ions in the solid state and such a test is inapplicable where, as often happens, the substance sublimes or decomposes before melting. There can rarely be any objective means of assigning a compound to one category or the other. We are often persuaded towards one description on aesthetic grounds. For example, the structure of sodium chloride cannot easily be rendered in terms of localised, electron-pair bonds (but this is true also of many unequivocally covalent compounds). Its structure is eminently plausible for an array of cations and anions, however. 

Selection of the responses is one of the most important problems of a preliminary study of the research subject, since a correct definition of research objective means correct selection of the responses. An incorrect selection of the responses annuls all further research activities. Depending on the subject and research objective, optimization parameters or responses may be quite different. To formalize the procedure of selection of the responses, with no intention of being detailed and complete, Fig. 2.3 gives the block diagram of the most frequently used optimization parameters. 

Using the concept of chirality as defined above, we follow the program stated in our introduction and now aim to provide a quantitative, objective means for expressing the chirality of an ensemble of molecules. The fundamental notion is that of a chemically achiral ensemble of molecules ... 

Accurate assessment of a causal relationship of a drug to an adverse reaction is beset with many difficulties. Most prominent among these are (a) incomplete, time-related, drug-related information (b) multiplicity of drugs administered in most cases (c) lack of an objective means of demonstrating a direct relationship between a drug and an adverse reaction and (d) the limited number... 

The concept of complex ions is therefore more subtle in ionic liquids than in aqueous solutions. There is not only the question of an objective means for identifying... 

Insomnia may or may not be accompanied by daytime fatigue but is not usually accompanied by subjective sleepiness during the day. When sleep propensity in the daytime is measured by objective means (time to EEG sleep) these patients are in fact less sleepy than normal subjects. 

The stream of new tests in laboratory medicine requires frequent decisions about whether or not to implement them. Economic evaluations can help in making these decisions. The finite resources for healthcare require use of an objective means of determining how resources are allocated and how the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery can be improved. 

Inhalation of hypertonic saline is a noninvasive diagnostic test using nonradioactive aerosols and results in expectoration of sputum. The cellular content of the sputum, related to the degree of inflammation present in the lung in asthma, is then measured using specific laboratory techniques and provides an objective means of monitoring the disease and the effectiveness of antiinflammatory therapy. Scheduling of these tests, either pre- or postinhalation of the tracer aerosol, would be determined by the clinical question or the research objective. 

Section 3 discusses quality control techniques, together with criteria for selecting satisfactory standards for the evaluation of a method and the subsequent use of standard materials as part of a control program. The tendency to use the word standard in several different contexts is potentially confusing, and has given rise to the misconception that control sera can be used at one and the same time both as standard materials and as an objective means of checking the quality of results. Because of the dangers inseparable from such potential confusion, it has been considered advisable to discuss some of the differences between standards and controls in this section on definitions. 

Berger, Arthur Asa. 2009. What Objects Mean. An Introduction to Material Culture. San Francisco Left Coast Press. 

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