What's the difference between explanation and rationale?

Explanation


Definition:

  • (n.) The act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty.
  • (n.) That which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory explanation.
  • (n.) The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it; definition; interpretation; sense.
  • (n.) A mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation; agreement; as, to come to an explanation.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Mannose receptor mediated uptake by the reticuloendothelial system has been suggested as an explanation for the rapid removal of ricin A chain antibody conjugates from the circulation after their administration.
  • (2) Thus the failure to raise anti-Id with internal image characteristics may provide an explanation for the lack of anti-gp120 activity reported in anti-Id antisera raised to multiple anti-CD4 antibodies.
  • (3) "Gut closure" is an unlikely explanation for these findings.
  • (4) The following possible explanations were discussed: a) the tested psychotropic drugs block prostaglandin receptors in the stomach; b) the test substances react with prostaglandin in the nutritive solution; c) the substances stimulate metabolic processes in the stomach wall that break down prostaglandin.
  • (5) It is possible that the formation of a mycetoma grain may limit a patient's exposure to antigens which confer specificity, an explanation which may also account for the variability in antibody responses seen.
  • (6) This paper provides an overview of the theory, indicating its contributions--such as a basis for individual psychotherapy of severe disorders and a more effective understanding of countertransference--and its shortcomings--such as lack of an explanation for the effects of physical and cognitive factors on object relatedness.
  • (7) Possible explanations of the clinical gains include 1) psychological encouragement, 2) improvements of mechanical efficiency, 3) restoration of cardiovascular fitness, thus breaking a vicous circle of dyspnoea, inactivity and worsening dyspnoea, 4) strengthening of the body musculature, thus reducing the proportion of anaerobic work, 5) biochemical adaptations reducing glycolysis in the active tissues, and 6) indirect responses to such factors as group support, with advice on smoking habits, breathing patterns and bronchial hygiene.
  • (8) Injections of l-amphetamine were not effective, ruling out non-specific effects of pH, osmolarity and the like and also ruling out noradrenergic actions as explanations of the behavioral effects.
  • (9) The interactions of nitrous oxide with cytochrome c oxidase isolated from bovine heart muscle have been investigated in search of an explanation for the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by the inhalation anesthetic.
  • (10) Its potential association with midline facial defects as well as an alternative embryological explanation is discussed.
  • (11) A model for the binuclear iron center of ribonucleotide reductase is presented in which the hydroxide ligand sites provide an explanation for the half-of-sites reactivity of the enzyme.
  • (12) It was not certain whether the association was real or what the explanation might be.
  • (13) Such an explanation not only remains vague and speculative but deserves criticism also for being incomplete.
  • (14) The only explanation he can come up with is that Cameron is worried about his legacy.
  • (15) Transfer of nonprofessional tasks out of nursing and reduction of tension arising from reduced responsibility of nurses for coordinating activities with ancillary departments are possible explanations for the positive relation between the presence of SUM and professional nurses' satisfaction.
  • (16) The explanation in other cases may be behavioral: women who use birth control may be less risk taking in their sexual behavior.
  • (17) Possible explanations for the increased ability to better tolerate exercise and activities of daily living (ADL) after training include: 1) psychological encouragement, 2) improvements in mechanical efficiency, 3) improved cardiovascular conditioning, 4) improved muscle function, 5) biochemical adaptations responsible for reducing glucose utilization, 6) desensitization to dyspnea, and 7) contributions from better self-care.
  • (18) Patients with a high titre p24 antibody response progress to AIDS more slowly, and these data provide an explanation why p24 antigenaemia is not universally detected in patients with AIDS.
  • (19) An explanation of this in terms of terrestrial snail (intermediate host) populations and a suggestion for the possible use of these data in developing a predictive model for forecasting lungworm levels for use in in bighorn sheep management are given.
  • (20) We propose a structural explanation of these facts based on the known crystal structure of concanavalin A.

Rationale


Definition:

  • (a.) An explanation or exposition of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, or the like; also, the principles themselves.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Topical and systemic antibiotic therapy is common in dermatology, yet it is hard to find a rationale for a particular route in some diseases.
  • (2) The nature of the putative autoantigen in Graves' ophthalmopathy (Go) remains an enigma but the sequence similarity between thyroglobulin (Tg) and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) provides a rationale for epitopes which are common to the thyroid gland and the eye orbit.
  • (3) The rationale for using the high-risk-group research design in the search for the aetiology of schizophrenia is described.
  • (4) Pathophysiologic mechanisms and rationale for treatment are discussed.
  • (5) The rationale for this assumption seems logical because using all of the available accommodation is not sustainable without discomfort.
  • (6) The rationale for the use of exercise as part of the treatment program in type II diabetes is much clearer and regular exercise may be prescribed as an adjunct to caloric restriction for weight reduction and as a means of improving insulin sensitivity in the obese, insulin-resistant individual.
  • (7) The rationale for diagnosis and therapy is discussed.
  • (8) The rationale for the inclusion of Mg in cardioplegic solutions therefore lies not in its cardioplegic properties, but in its ability to influence other cellular events such as the loss of Mg and K and perhaps to counter the detrimental effects of ischemia by antagonizing calcium (Ca) overload.
  • (9) The rationale for using videofluoroscopy for rehabilitation, the implementation of videofluoroscopy for rehabilitation, and indications for using specific rehabilitation techniques during videofluoroscopy will be discussed.
  • (10) The rationale for pursuing the development and use of germ-line selection and modification techniques is examined in this essay.
  • (11) An experimental murine malarial model was devised using the highly synchronous species Plasmodium vinckei petteri to test this rationale.
  • (12) The wide variety of neurobehavioral effects produced by chemicals found in the environment argues for a rationale of tailoring test selection in many situations, particularly those where the range of expected effects has been fairly well established for the chemical under study.
  • (13) The homology thus revealed not only lends strong support to mechanisms of autoimmunity that invoke the theory of molecular mimicry of viral proteins, but also suggests a rationale for the skeletal muscle target of polymyositis.
  • (14) The relationship of these findings to the rationale of such procedures as segmental resection in the surgical treatment of breast cancer is discussed.
  • (15) The rationale of the method is outlined with emphasis on the management of traumatic oedema.
  • (16) Concluding the two-page survey were open-ended questions addressing the respondent's indications, contraindications, and rationale for using or not using fluoroscopy.
  • (17) This advantage may provide a rationale for further evaluation of this agent in patients with more widespread ventricular dysfunction.
  • (18) The evolution of and rationale for the combined surgical approach to coexistent carotid and coronary artery disease is discussed and the literature reviewed.
  • (19) Whether there is an additional cost-benefit rationale for handwashing with an antimicrobial agent remains to be studied.
  • (20) The first reviews the problems of heat stress evaluation: it describes the comprehensive approach adopted by ISO standards and in particular the rationale of the Required Sweat Rate index, and presents the work done during the ECSC interlaboratory study, which extends the application of this index to intermittent or fluctuating conditions of exposure.