McMaster University

About: McMaster University is a education organization based out in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 41361 authors who have published 101269 publications receiving 4251422 citations.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Clinical Working Case Definition, Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols

Abstract: Recent years have brought growing recognition of the need for clinical criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which is also called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). An Expert Subcommittee of Health Canada established the Terms of Reference, and selected an Ex- pert Medical Consensus Panel representing treating physicians, teaching faculty and researchers. A Consensus Workshop was held on March 30 to April 1, 2001 to culminate the review process and establish consensus for a clinical working case definition, diagnostic protocols and treatment protocols. We present a systematic clinical working case definition that

Research in clinical reasoning: past history and current trends.

Abstract: Background Research in clinical reasoning has been conducted for over 30 years. Throughout this time there have been a number of identifiable trends in methodology and theory. Purpose This paper identifies three broad research traditions, ordered chronologically, are: (a) attempts to understand reasoning as a general skill − the ‘clinical reasoning' process; (b) research based on probes of memory − reasoning related to the amount of knowledge and memory; and (c) research related to different kinds of mental representations − semantic qualifiers, scripts, schemas and exemplars. Results and Conclusions Several broad themes emerge from this review. First, there is little evidence that reasoning can be characterised in terms of general process variables. Secondly, it is evident that expertise is associated, not with a single basic representation but with multiple coordinated representations in memory, from causal mechanisms to prior examples. Different representations may be utilised in different circumstances, but little is known about the characteristics of a particular situation that led to a change in strategy. Implications It becomes evident that expertise lies in the availability of multiple representations of knowledge. Perhaps the most critical aspect of learning is not the acquisition of a particular strategy or skill, nor is it the availability of a particular kind of knowledge. Rather, the critical element may be deliberate practice with multiple examples which, on the hand, facilitates the availability of concepts and conceptual knowledge (i.e. transfer) and, on the other hand, adds to a storehouse of already solved problems.

Discrete Multivariate Distributions

Abstract: In this article, we present a concise review of developments on discrete multivariate distributions. We first present some basic definitions and notations. Then, we present several important discrete multivariate distributions and list their significant properties and characteristics. Keywords: generating function; moments; stirling numbers; regression; inflated distributions; truncated forms; compound distributions; multinomial; negative multinomial; multivariate poisson; multivariate hypergeometric; multivariate Polya–Eggenberger; multivariate discrete exponential; multivariate power series; multivariate hermite; multivariate occupancy; multivariate weighted; dirichlet; multivariate run-related distributions