Knowledge Transfer (KT) is concerned with the exploitation of knowledge, to speed up the translation of scientific advances into benefits for patients.
The World Report on Knowledge for Better Health (WHO 2004) has identified a large gap between what is known and what is actually being done in health systems. The so-called know-do gap. Increased communication and interaction between health systems and health research systems was called for. How do researchers achieve this? Continue Reading »
I recently installed the Ubuntu (Linux) operating system on my home PC. My aim is to see how well I can get by with free software for all my home-use activities, which include website development, internet browsing, word processing, finance management, music, email and more. (Ubuntu automatically detected all my hardware, including wireless, bluetooth, printers, and “Fn” keys, and sucessfully repartitioned my hard drive to dual-boot with Windows Vista—very nifty. But I digress.) In the course of my dabbling in Linux, I have found myself more well prepared for performing research-related activities on one manufacturer’s MR scanner, which also runs on Linux. Continue Reading »
There’s something very peaceful about opening a beehive. Well, OK, not at first.
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In Europe, the Physical Agents Directive (PAD) 2004/40/EC is supposed to become national law by April 2008 (but see Comment below on a five-year reprieve). It will restrict the EMF exposure of workers. This will cause problems in MRI. The gradient magnetic fields used in MRI (dB/dt) are such that MRI studies may no longer be possible where staff are required to be close to the magnet during scanning. This includes Continue Reading »
Researchers working in MRI often compare one MRI technique against another, or an MRI technique against another method of measuring the same quantity. Comparing methods of measurement for agreement requires careful statistical analysis. It is easy to choose the wrong statistical test for this problem. Let’s briefly consider correlation, regression, and the t test for comparing methods, and learn why these techniques are not the most appropriate way of comparing methods for agreement. Then we’ll see why the bias plot does the job properly. Continue Reading »
