Search no Further | The Intersection

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When the search engine Bing celebrated Father's Day 2010 with this heartwarming kiss involving another primate species, so many of you sent over the link that I had to feature it in The Science of Kissing Gallery at first opportunity: Submit your original photo or artwork for consideration. The more creative, the better.


Why educated women are having children | Gene Expression

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Matt Yglesias has posted some charts showing that

1) Childlessness among women is becoming more common

2) The variation of this state by education is disappearing

Here’s the chart which illustrates the second phenomenon:

758-2

I think the reason this may be occurring is a dilution of the sample bias of women who have higher education in relation to the general ppoulation. In other words, as more women attain advanced degrees the pool of those women become less atypical vis-a-vis the general population

To gauge the shift in education and peculiarity I only needed a few variables in the General Social Survey. I limited SEX to women, YEAR to 1992-1994 and 2006-2008, DEGREE allowed me to break down educational attainment, and finally GOD was a variable which probed them on a culturally indicative variable.

First you can see women as a whole have become more well educated. This is a well known dynamic. The absolute change in the proportion of women who have advanced degrees is small, only a few percent, but in the GSS the proportion increase is around 50%. This includes masters and doctorates into one category.

womeedu

The sample sizes for GOD across the periods of interest are small, but look at the enormous increase in the proportion who have no doubts in the existence of God. There was no change in this result in the general population across this time period.

womegod

UPDATE: For the second chart I forgot to note that that’s only women with advanced degrees.

More Space Policy Goodness From the White House

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New National Space Policy Conciliatory, not Confrontational, Spacepolicyonline.com

"Whenever it is formally released, President Obama's new national space policy will have a very different tone than his predecessor's. Rumors remain rampant that the new policy will be released on Monday, but some of those in the know say that it more likely will be later in the week. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley intimated on Wednesday that it might even be longer than that. Nevertheless, a one page summary of the policy's "Top Level Messages," dated June 25, is making the rounds. It says that the two major principles of the policy are "responsible use of space" and "nurturing the U.S. space industry."

New Space Policy Calls for Global Cooperation, Wall Street Journal

"The Obama administration as early as Monday is expected to call for significantly greater international cooperation than ever before in outer space, covering a wide range of civilian and national-security programs. The new policy, according to industry and government officials familiar with the details, also endorses the pursuit of verifiable arms-control proposals for space. And it envisions stepped-up U.S. government efforts to bolster domestic rocket and satellite manufacturers, making them more economically viable and competitive overseas."

Keith's note: OK, so the White House makes all sorts of budgetary and contractual changes to NASA programs with little or no advanced warning, questionable pre-coordination, bad rollout - all with no cogent space policy in evidence. Chaos ensues. And then they fiddle with it. Now they are going to actually release a space policy - but only after all of their earlier efforts at NASA have run into brick walls (Congress). Is this going to clarify things - or just make things even more confusing? Stay tuned.

Trench Warfare In Space Policy

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Malice, Mischief and Misconceptions, Paul Spudis, Air & Space

"The space community has fractured since the disastrous roll out of NASA's "new direction." Preceding the administration's budget announcement, endless delays and rampant speculation about administrators, rockets, and program design and direction kept people guessing. The current trench warfare is not a pretty sight, but it is not unexpected given the lack of a clear direction. Word has it that more detail will come out early next week, adding yet another layer to this growing space onion. The undirected, unfocused, unproductive spin cycle NASA (and the entire space community) has twirled around in for the last 18 months is instructive. It is real time, 20/20 insight on how the new direction will play out during the proposed five-year study hall being scheduled for NASA to find their "right stuff."

Roy Estess

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Roy Estess, Clarion-Ledger

"Roy Simmons Estess of Carriere, Mississippi passed away Friday evening at his residence in Tylertown, Mississippi. He was 71 years of age. Visitation will be held at Tylertown Baptist Church on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 from 12 Noon until 2 P.M. Funeral services will immediately follow with the Reverend Dr. Raymond Leake and Reverend Wayne Ward officiating. Interment will be at Tylertown Cemetery."

Former Stennis director Estess dies at 71, Sun Herald

"From the cafeteria worker to the test-stand operator, workers loved him, she said. "I don't know anyone who didn't consider it a privilege and a pleasure to work for him," she said. "I never heard a negative word about him. He had a special gift for making others feel appreciated."

Tribute to Roy Estess (Senate - July 29, 2002)

Bioidentical Hormones

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The Medical Letter recently evaluated “bioidentical” hormones and concluded

There is no acceptable evidence that “bioidentical” hormones are safe or effective. Patients should be discouraged from taking them.

“Bioidenticals” include progesterone, estrogens (estriol, estradiol, and estrone), and testosterone. They have mainly been promoted as a safer, more natural alternative to menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but they are also claimed to increase energy, well-being, and quality of life, and to have an anti-aging effect. Suzanne Somers recommends them for all age groups and both sexes. There is no evidence to support any of those claims.

The whole “bioidentical” thing is a pseudoscientific concept: it is a marketing term rather than a scientifically meaningful one. Bioidenticals are promoted by celebrities like Suzanne Somers, a few maverick medical doctors like Kent Holtorf, proponents of “natural” medicine, patients who were frightened by the Women’s Health Initiative study of hormone replacement therapy, and critics of Big Pharma. The mainstream scientific community is in consensus: a number of medical organizations, from the American Cancer Society to the Mayo Clinic, have issued statements similar to that of The Medical Letter.

The terminology is confusing. Bioidenticals are plant extracts modified to have the same molecular structure as endogenous hormones. But there are FDA-approved Big Pharma hormones that are just as “bioidentical”: they are also plant extracts modified to have the same molecular structure as hormones produced by the ovary. Only one bioidentical hormone, estriol, has no corresponding FDA-approved version. It is only present in large amounts during pregnancy: its safety and efficacy as a supplement have not been tested. Proponents of “bioidenticals” make much of the difference between “artificial” Big Pharma progestins and “natural” progesterone, but that same progesterone molecule is also sold as a prescription drug. (Progestins were originally developed because progesterone is poorly absorbed, but now Big Pharma has developed a micronized version of progesterone that is absorbed adequately.)

One of the biggest concerns is that “bioidenticals” are prepared in compounding pharmacies that are not regulated. The FDA has long been concerned about these pharmacies. In a 2006 survey, the potency ranged from 67.5% to 268.4% of the amount specified on the label, and there were variations within the same samples. Contaminants have also been found, including bacteria. Package inserts describing risks are required for FDA approved products but not for compounding pharmacy products.

From 1990 to 2005, FDA learned of at least 240 serious illnesses and deaths associated with improperly compounded products. Because pharmacists are not required to report adverse events to FDA, there may be additional deaths and injuries of which the agency is unaware.

Another big concern is that dosage is usually guided by salivary hormone levels, which are unreliable. Suzanne Somers even advocates that the patient adjust her own dosage from day to day just depending on how she feels.

Advocates claim that bioidenticals are safer than pharmaceuticals, but since they are essentially the same compounds, there is every reason to think they would have the same side effects. At least 3 cases of endometrial cancer have been reported in women taking bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Critics complain that Big Pharma is profit-motivated. Interestingly, bioidenticals are more expensive than the Big Pharma versions of the same hormones and they are not covered by insurance.

Proponents speak of individualizing dosage to “balance” the hormones, but I can’t understand how they could ever hope to do that. The body produces several different hormones and the amount of each varies according to the stage of the menstrual cycle. With each constantly going up or down, how could you define balance or hope to mimic the natural state?

“Bioidentical” hormones may satisfy some of the psychological needs of people like Suzanne Somers, but they don’t satisfy the requirements of science-based medicine or even of common sense.


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Picture Perfect Pym

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pym-islandIslands vary from the rustic to the luxurious, one of British Columbia Canada’s most beautiful islands is the turn key Pym Island. The stunning five acre island features an exceptional custom home that offers many unique & quality finishes.

The home offers entertainment size living room, formal dining, library, games room, his & hers masters with study and ensuites, a cook’s kitchen, breakfast room off, self-contained guest wing (or nanny suite?), indoor pool, atrium feature, marble floors, and soaring ceiling treatments.

There are 4 separate guest cottages, tennis court, caretaker’s residence, a “lake”, lowbank foreshore with lovely swimming cove. Dock is in place — arrive by floatplane or by private boat.

The Island is connected to power, via cable from Canoe Cove, near Sidney, and also has a back up generator system. Be self-sufficient, here!

Close to Sidney and to Victoria, go gallery hopping, enjoy the nearby restaurants and amenities, mere minutes from the Victoria airport. Room for a helipad on Pym Island, too.

For more information on this pristine island visit Private Islands Online.

Pierce-Arrow II: A Dream That Went Nowhere

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"The pages of automotive history are filled with accounts of strange and wondrous machines, each intended to revolutionize, or at least alter significantly the path of motor car progress.

Some fanciful ideas were promoted by quacks and charlatans only interested in

Accelerating Equine Lameness Diagnosis

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Some racing fans hold their breath when a pack of horses round the far turn to battle it out down the stretch of a racetrack. Will one stumble and collapse with a broken leg? Tragedies over the years have made us wary, and there is a lack of data to prove whether synthetic surfaces are safer

Introduction to Yoga – Standing Poses

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Standing poses also double as balancing poses, which tend to work the whole body rather than one specific muscle area – making them extra valuable. In addition to improving balance, standing poses also tend to improve your posture.

Balancing Acts

Eagle Pose

In add

S.C. Medical Board considers anatomic pathology services arrangements

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An issue was recently brought to the attention of the SC Board of Medical Examiners on behalf of the South Carolina Society of Pathologists dealing with certain anatomic pathology business practices that have ethical and legal considerations that practicing pathologists should be aware of.  The matter was presented to the Board by Jane Pine Wood, Esq. and Steven M. Harris, Esq. and recently responded to by the Board.  Documents of the request and response are available on the SC Board of Medical Examiners website (links below correct - wrong on source page).


The documents are worth reading for background and the types of business models that may be occurring and what it means for our specialty.  Welcome your comments.


"At its May 2010 meeting, the SC Board of Medical Examiners considered the legal and ethical issues related to certain anatomic pathology services arrangements. The board concluded that the arrangements in question may constitute misconduct under the medical practice act. While it has not received a complaint and has not investigated any specific arrangement, based on the facts outlined in the presentation made at the May meeting these relationships raise serious legal and ethical concerns. Accordingly, the board cannot advise that they are permissible under the medical practice act at this time.


May 13, 2010 letter to the SC Board of Medical Examiners requesting advice from the Board about certain anatomic pathology services click here.


June 9, 2010 letter of response from the Board click here."

http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/medical/PDF/pathology%20final.pdf

http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/medical/PDF/PathologyWoodRequest.pdf

http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/medical/PDF/PathologyWoodResponse.pdf

Pressing On With Exploration Despite Budget Chaos

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NASA and International Space Agencies Meet to Discuss Human and Robotic Space Exploration

"NASA senior managers met with their counterparts representing other space agencies at the National Harbor, Md., on June 23, to discuss globally-coordinated human and robotic space exploration. The meeting participants agreed that significant progress has been made since the joint release of The Global Exploration Strategy (GES) in May 2007. They agreed steps should be taken to coordinate a long-term space exploration vision that is sustainable and affordable."