Antony Unwin

Dynamic Graphics for Exploring Spatial Data with Application to Locating Global and Local Anomalies

Abstract We explore the application of dynamic graphics to the exploratory analysis of spatial data. We introduce a number of new tools and illustrate their use with prototype software, developed at Trinity College, Dublin. These tools are used to examine local variability—anomalies—through plots of the data that display its marginal and multivariate distributions, through interactive smoothers, and through plots motivated by the spatial auto-covariance ideas implicit in the variogram. We regard these as alternative and linked views of the data. We conclude that the most important single view of the data is the Map View: All other views must be cross-referred to this, and the software must encourage this. The view can be enriched by overlaying on other pertinent spatial information. We draw attention to the possibilities of one-many linking, and to the use of line-objects to link pairs of data points. We draw attention to the parallels with work on Geographical Information Systems.

A Comparative Study of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Tens), Entonox, Pethidine + Promazine and Lumbar Epidural for Pain Relief in Labor

Analgesic effect, labor outcome, safety and consumer satisfaction were compared in 170 primigravid women; 50 using TENS initially for pain relief, 20 using entonox, 50 pethidine + promazine and 50 lumbar epidural. 88% choosing epidural related it fully effective. 90% using entonox, 96% using TENS and 54% given pethidine + promazine found partial relief. 82% of patients given TENS and 80% given pethidine + promazine required additional analgesia. This was also needed by one of the 20 patients choosing entonox. Women using entonox alone had the shortest labors and women using lumbar epidural, the longest. Operative delivery was significantly more common in women receiving lumbar epidural. No significant intergroup differences were noted in cord pH or Apgar scores. Parturients and midwives both gave high consumer satisfaction ratings to all methods — except for pethidine + promazine, whose use must therefore be questioned. The analgesic efficacy of lumbar epidural outweighs any possible side effects. Entonox appears suited to those able to cope with the earlier part of labor, drug‐free. Realization of the potential of TENS requires the design of machines specifically to cope with the quality of the pain of labor.

Pain relief in labour using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A TENS/TENS placebo controlled study in two parity groups

Summary. The analgesic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in labour and effects on outcome were investigated in a double‐blind TENS/TENS placebo controlled trial in 100 primigravidae and 50 women in their third labour. There were no differences between the TENS and the TENS placebo users in terms of pain concept or relief, and only 12 and 13% of primigravidae and 48 and 39% of the para 2 women completed labour without requiring other analgesia in their respective groups. The primigravidae who used either TENS or TENS placebo alone had shorter labours than those who required further analgesia. Although the outcome of labour for mother and infant were similar in the two groups, there was a higher operative delivery rate in women who also had epidural analgesia. There were highly significant differences between the TENS and the TENS placebo users in terms of favourable and unfavourable comments by the mothers and the midwives at 1 and 24 h after delivery. The evident consumer satisfaction for TENS suggests TENS has a part to play in analgesia in labour but the equivocal findings in terms of factors associated with pain relief points to the need for apparatus more specifically designed to cope with the special characteristics of the pain of labour.

Atopy in couples with unexplained infertility

Summary. In an initial exploratory study, proneness to atopy was measured by specific allergen history, allergen skin testing and plasma IgE in couples with unexplained infertility and in a comparison group of couples who had recently had a child. At least one of the assessments was positive in 29 out of 47 infertile couples and in 52 out of 103 controls, but only five of the infertile group and two of the fertile group had all three assessments positive. Raised IgE levels occurred significantly more often in the infertile couples than in the comparison group.

Common random numbers in multivariate simulations

Abstract It is shown how common random numbers can be used in computer simulations where the aim is to compare two systems on several parameters. Conditions are derived under which the use of common random numbers leads to a reduction in the size of the confidence region for the difference between the parameter vectors. Theoretical and experimental results suggest that this reduction is greatest when the covariance structure is the same for both systems.