The virtues of ignorance

Although ignorance and uncertainty are usually unwelcome feelings, they have unintuitive advantages for both human and non-human animals, which we review here. We begin with the perils of too much information: expertise and knowledge can come with illusions (and delusions) of knowing. We then describe how withholding information can counteract these perils: providing people with less information enables them to judge more precisely what they know and do not know, which in turn enhances long-term memory. Data are presented from a new experiment that illustrates how knowing what we do not know can result in helpful choices and enhanced learning. We conclude by showing that ignorance can be a virtue, as long as it is recognized and rectified.     

Sensitivity analysis of longitudinal binary data with non-monotone missing values

This paper highlights the consequences of incomplete observations in the analysis of longitudinal binary data, in particular non-monotone missing data patterns. Sensitivity analysis is advocated and a method is proposed based on a log-linear model. A sensitivity parameter that represents the relationship between the response mechanism and the missing data mechanism is introduced. It is shown that although this parameter is identifiable, its estimation is highly questionable. A far better approach is to consider a range of plausible values and to estimate the parameters of interest conditionally upon each value of the sensitivity parameter. This allows us to assess the sensitivity of study's conclusion to assumptions regarding the missing data mechanism. The method is applied to a randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of two treatment regimens in patients with persistent asthma.     

Physical anthropology,peace and justice: Some observations

Human biological well being is a concern of physical anthropology. Genetic determinants and also sociocultural factors, which operate through biological bases, affect human biological quality. Several populations from different parts of the globe have been identified where varieties of detrimental genes occur in considerable numbers influencing health and some other related biological aspects of human life. Injustice will be done to those populations if necessary measures are not undertaken to improve their biological qualities. Peace cannot prevail in an atmosphere where people are deprived of the basic amenities for survival and maintenance of good health.