Problemas no tan matemâticos

Webeando por ahî me topé con la historia de un paper de 1994 titulado

A mathematical model for the determination of total area under glucose tolerance and other metabolic curves

de un mêdico, el Dr Tai, cuyo abstract reza:

OBJECTIVE--To develop a mathematical model for the determination of total areas under curves from various metabolic studies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--In Tai's Model, the total area under a curve is computed by dividing the area under the curve between two designated values on the X-axis (abscissas) into small segments (rectangles and triangles) whose areas can be accurately calculated from their respective geometrical formulas. The total sum of these individual areas thus represents the total area under the curve. Validity of the model is established by comparing total areas obtained from this model to these same areas obtained from graphic method (less than +/- 0.4%). Other formulas widely applied by researchers under- or overestimated total area under a metabolic curve by a great margin. RESULTS--Tai's model proves to be able to 1) determine total area under a curve with precision; 2) calculate area with varied shapes that may or may not intercept on one or both X/Y axes; 3) estimate total area under a curve plotted against varied time intervals (abscissas), whereas other formulas only allow the same time interval; and 4) compare total areas of metabolic curves produced by different studies. CONCLUSIONS--The Tai model allows flexibility in experimental conditions, which means, in the case of the glucose-response curve, samples can be taken with differing time intervals and total area under the curve can still be determined with precision.

En cristiano, el Dr Tai propone un método para calcular la superficie debajo de una curva (en éste caso preciso: curvas de metabolismo). Todo bien Dr. Tai pero hay un problema temporal: el método por propuesto existe hace un par de siglos...



Que éste paper haya sido publicado por una revista "cientîfica" (Diabetes Care) despierta naturales sospechas sobre la seriedad de dicha revista, de su sistema de evaluaciôn y aceptaciôn de articulos, sobre la seriedad de don Tai...

Dejando de lado la "legitimidad" del paper en sî mismo (publicaciones truchas como éstas he visto y hay toneladas), una cosa que me preocupô fue que al dîa de hoy el susodicho paper es citado por mâs de 75 papers (de médicos en su gran mayorîa)!

"Un curso de matemâtica ahî por favor..."

Un abrazo.