Marr and Reductionism

David Marr's three-level method for completely understanding a cognitive system and the importance he attaches to the computational level are so familiar as to scarcely need repeating. Fewer seem to recognize that Marr defends his famous method by criticizing the “reductionistic approach.” This sets up a more interesting relationship between Marr and reductionism than is usually acknowledged. I argue that Marr was correct in his criticism of the reductionists of his time—they were only describing (cellular activity), not explaining (cognitive functions). But a careful metascientific account of reductionistic neuroscience over the past two decades reveals that Marr's criticisms no longer have force. Contemporary neuroscience now explains cognition directly, although in a fashion—causal-mechanistically—quite different than Marr recommended. So while Marr was correct to reject the reductionism of his day and offer an alternative method for genuinely explaining cognition, contemporary cognitive scientists now owe us a new defense of Marr's famous method and the advantages of its explanations over the type now pursued successfully in current reductionist neuroscience. There are familiar reasons for thinking that this debt will not be paid easily.     

Anatomically contoured large femoral heads can reduce iliopsoas impingement: A cadaver verification study

While use of large heads in total hip arthroplasty (THA) continues to grow, concerns have been raised regarding anterior hip pain resulting from impingement of the prosthetic head against soft-tissues like the iliopsoas. To address these concerns, a new anatomically contoured head (ACH) was developed. In this study cadaver tests were utilized to show that iliopsoas impingement/tenting caused by conventional heads is significantly relieved with the more rounded and reduced distal profile of the ACH. Thus, the ACH implant may be able to decrease the risk of soft-tissue impingement with conventional heads, particularly in the smaller hip.     

For better or worse? Investigating the validity of best–worst discrete choice experiments in health

Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are frequently used in health economics to measure preferences for nonmarket goods. Best–worst discrete choice experiment (BWDCE) has been proposed as a variant of the traditional “pick the best” approach. BWDCE, where participants choose the best and worst options, is argued to generate more precise preference estimates because of the additional information collected. However, the validity of the approach relies on two necessary conditions: (a) best and worst decisions provide similar information about preferences and (b) asking individuals to answer more than one choice question per task does not reduce data quality. Whether these conditions hold in empirical applications remains under researched. This is the first study to compare participants' choices across three experimental conditions: (a) BEST choices only, (b) WORST choices only, and (c) BEST and WORST choices (BWDCE). We find responses to worst choices are noisier. Implied preferences from the best only and worst only choices are qualitatively different, leading to different WTP values. Responses to BWDCE tasks have lower consistency, and respondents are more likely to use simplifying decision heuristics. We urge caution in using BWDCE as an alternative to the traditional “pick the best” DCE.     

妊娠对大鼠吸入性全麻药血/气分配系数和组织/气分配系数的影响

目的 观察妊娠对大鼠吸人性全麻药血，气分配系数及组织，气分配系数的影响。方法 健康成年（3月龄）雌性妊娠（妊娠18—22d）和非妊娠SD大鼠各10只，分别为妊娠组和非妊娠组。腹腔注射戊巴比妥钠40mg／kg麻醉，经腹主动脉抽血用于测血，气分配系数，放血处死后，分别取心、肝、肾及脑组织并制成匀浆，采用注射器顶空二次平衡法经气相色谱仪测定七氟醚、异氟醚和氟烷的血，气分配系数及组织，气分配系数。结果与非妊娠组相比，妊娠组氟烷的血，气分配系数和脑，气分配系数降低（P〈0．05），七氟醚、异氟醚的血，气分配系数、肝，气分配系数、肾，气分配系数、心，气分配系数差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论 妊娠降低大鼠氟烷的血，气配系数和脑，气分配系数，但不影响七氟醚和异氟醚的血，气分配系数和组织，气分配系数。     

肾上腺素对氯普鲁卡因硬膜外阻滞患者药效学和药代动力学的影响

目的观察1:20万肾上腺素对3％盐酸氯普鲁卡因硬膜外阻滞患者药效学和药代动力学的影响。方法择期行下腹部手术患者20例,ASAⅠ或Ⅱ级,随机分为2组(n=10):盐酸氯普鲁卡因组(C组)和盐酸氯普鲁卡因加肾上腺素组(CE组)。分别用3％氯普鲁卡因6 mg·kg-1(C组)和含 1:20万肾上腺素3％氯普鲁卡因6 mg·kg-1(CE组)硬膜外阻滞,记录局麻药的起效时间、运动阻滞起效时间和给药后20min时运动阻滞程度;分别在给药前及给药后3、6、9、11、13、15、17、20、30、45、60、 90min采取桡动脉血1．5ml,高效液相色谱法检测血浆氯普鲁卡因浓度,经计算机软件拟合血药浓度 -时间曲线,并计算各项药代动力学参数。结果两组局麻药的起效时间、运动阻滞起效时间和运动阻滞程度差异无统计学意义。C、CE组血药浓度峰值(Cmax)分别为0．49±0．47、(0．32±0．22)mg· L-1,达峰值时间(Tmax)分别为8±3、(9±4)min;血药浓度曲线下面积(AUC)分别为10±6、(7±4)μg· min·ml-1;清除速率常数(K)分别为0．32±0．21、(0．36±0．32)min-1;两组间Cmax、Tmax、AUC及K比较差异无统计学意义(P>0．05)。结论 1:20万肾上腺素对3％盐酸氯普鲁卡因硬膜外阻滞的药代动力学和药效学没有影响。     

高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中阿莫西林浓度及药代动力学

高效液相色谱法测定人血浆中阿莫西林浓度及药代动力学谭力周继红罗楠袁倚盛（南京军区南京总医院中心仪器分析科，南京２１０００１）阿莫西林（ａｍｏｘｉｃｉｌｉｎ）为β内酰胺类抗生素，其抗菌谱广，口服受食物影响小，对大多数病人耐受性良好，因而在临床上得以广泛...     

老年充血性心衰患者地高辛药代动力学研究

目的 :探讨老年心衰患者地高辛维持量的合理应用。　 方法 :用荧光偏振免疫分析法测定了 14例老年心衰患者血清地高辛浓度 ,并计算出药代动力学参数。　 结果 :14例老年心衰患者地高辛 t1/ 2 β,β和 Vd分别为 72 .769± 2 9.768h、0 .0 11± 0 .0 0 6h-1和 3.190± 3.30 0 L/ kg,与非老年心衰患者 ( t1/ 2 β 36.1± 2 .0 h,56.3± 12 h,β 0 .0 19± 0 .0 0 1h-1,Vd 7.37± 1.65L / kg)相比差异显著。　 结论 :老年心衰患者地高辛维持量以小量分次给药为宜 ,且更应注意个体化