Camus and Sartre: the roots of french cognitive deficit

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_iW74PnBIGo&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_iW74PnBIGo

Hot topic: corruption by institutions

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2298140

Thank you Dr Nissen

i don't agree with all your assertions but some of them are so obvious...
I love the contra Flynn effect of watching TV!

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PracticeManagement/PracticeManagement/43257?

Paying bone marrow donors?

http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Hematology/43270?

My answer is yes. This is a renewable organ and payment could improve the status of patients who die because of organ shortage.

Les paroles qui guérissent les haines sont plus importantes que les accents belliqueux de ceux qui croient à la guerre sainte

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison."

Doctor shortage? Look at productivity, delegation of tasks and IT

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/opinion/no-there-wont-be-a-doctor-shortage.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=2&

The FLynn effect: a must read paper by Richard Lynn

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289613000299

The debate about brain size: racism and/or science?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/science/14skull.html

http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001071

Sex differences in the brain: what we observed in the daily life and brain wiring

Sex differences in the structural connectome of the human brain

1. Madhura Ingalhalikar^a,¹, 
2. Alex Smith^a,¹, 
3. Drew Parker^a, 
4. Theodore D. Satterthwaite^b, 
5. Mark A. Elliott^c,
6. Kosha Ruparel^b, 
7. Hakon Hakonarson^d, 
8. Raquel E. Gur^b, 
9. Ruben C. Gur^b, and 
10. Ragini Verma^a,²

Author Affiliations

1. Edited by Charles Gross, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, and approved November 1, 2013 (received for review September 9, 2013)

Significance

Sex differences are of high scientific and societal interest because of their prominence in behavior of humans and nonhuman species. This work is highly significant because it studies a very large population of 949 youths (8–22 y, 428 males and 521 females) using the diffusion-based structural connectome of the brain, identifying novel sex differences. The results establish that male brains are optimized for intrahemispheric and female brains for interhemispheric communication. The developmental trajectories of males and females separate at a young age, demonstrating wide differences during adolescence and adulthood. The observations suggest that male brains are structured to facilitate connectivity between perception and coordinated action, whereas female brains are designed to facilitate communication between analytical and intuitive processing modes.

Abstract

Sex differences in human behavior show adaptive complementarity: Males have better motor and spatial abilities, whereas females have superior memory and social cognition skills. Studies also show sex differences in human brains but do not explain this complementarity. In this work, we modeled the structural connectome using diffusion tensor imaging in a sample of 949 youths (aged 8–22 y, 428 males and 521 females) and discovered unique sex differences in brain connectivity during the course of development. Connection-wise statistical analysis, as well as analysis of regional and global network measures, presented a comprehensive description of network characteristics. In all supratentorial regions, males had greater within-hemispheric connectivity, as well as enhanced modularity and transitivity, whereas between-hemispheric connectivity and cross-module participation predominated in females. However, this effect was reversed in the cerebellar connections. Analysis of these changes developmentally demonstrated differences in trajectory between males and females mainly in adolescence and in adulthood. Overall, the results suggest that male brains are structured to facilitate connectivity between perception and coordinated action, whereas female brains are designed to facilitate communication between analytical and intuitive processing modes.

• diffusion imaging
 
• gender differences

Footnotes

• ¹M.I. and A.S. contributed equally to this work.
• ²To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ragini.verma@uphs.upenn.edu.

• Author contributions: M.I., T.D.S., H.H., R.E.G., R.C.G., and R.V. designed research; A.S., M.A.E., K.R., and H.H. performed research; A.S. and D.P. analyzed data; and M.I., R.E.G., R.C.G., and R.V. wrote the paper.
• The authors declare no conflict of interest.
• This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
• Data deposition: The data reported in this paper have been deposited in the dbGaP database,www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap (accession no. phs000607.v1.p1).

Hair regeneration

Microenvironmental reprogramming by three-dimensional culture enables dermal papilla cells to induce de novo human hair-follicle growth

1. Claire A. Higgins^a, 
2. James C. Chen^b,^c, 
3. Jane E. Cerise^a, 
4. Colin A. B. Jahoda^d,¹, and 
5. Angela M. Christiano^a,^b,¹

Author Affiliations

1. Edited by Zena Werb, University of California, San Francisco, CA, and approved September 5, 2013 (received for review May 28, 2013)

Significance

Growth of de novo hair follicles in adult skin occurs by a process known as hair neogenesis. One way of initiating neogenesis is to place dermal papillae isolated from the hair follicle in contact with an overlying epidermis where they reprogram the epidermis to adopt a follicular fate. This approach, however, has not been successful using cultured human dermal papilla cells in human skin because the cells lose their ability to induce hair growth after expansion in vitro. In this paper, we demonstrate that by manipulating cell culture conditions to establish three-dimensional papilla spheroids, we restore dermal papilla inductivity. We also use several systems biology approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie this regenerative process.

Abstract

De novo organ regeneration has been observed in several lower organisms, as well as rodents; however, demonstrating these regenerative properties in human cells and tissues has been challenging. In the hair follicle, rodent hair follicle-derived dermal cells can interact with local epithelia and induce de novo hair follicles in a variety of hairless recipient skin sites. However, multiple attempts to recapitulate this process in humans using human dermal papilla cells in human skin have failed, suggesting that human dermal papilla cells lose key inductive properties upon culture. Here, we performed global gene expression analysis of human dermal papilla cells in culture and discovered very rapid and profound molecular signature changes linking their transition from a 3D to a 2D environment with early loss of their hair-inducing capacity. We demonstrate that the intact dermal papilla transcriptional signature can be partially restored by growth of papilla cells in 3D spheroid cultures. This signature change translates to a partial restoration of inductive capability, and we show that human dermal papilla cells, when grown as spheroids, are capable of inducing de novo hair follicles in human skin.

Footnotes

• ¹To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: amc65@columbia.edu or colin.jahoda@durham.ac.uk.

• This Feature Article is part of a series identified by the Editorial Board as reporting findings of exceptional significance.
• Author contributions: C.A.H., C.A.B.J., and A.M.C. designed research; C.A.H., J.C.C., and J.E.C. performed research; C.A.H., C.A.B.J., and A.M.C. analyzed data; and C.A.H., C.A.B.J., and A.M.C. wrote the paper.
• The authors declare no conflict of interest.
• This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
• Data deposition: The data reported in this paper have been deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo (accession no. GSE44765).
• See Commentary on page 19658.
• This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1309970110/-/DCSupplemental.

They save lives: helicopter approaching a hospital in France at night

Cette affaire est-elle enfin éclaircie?

http://www.biosophos.net/files/Aldurants%20contre%20alduristes%20au%2023%20Avril%202013.pdf

GDP and GDP per capita

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita
That's the number which is important for citizens!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)
That's the number which is important for economic perspectives and consequences of recession.
The brits have the potential to overtake us!

The bitter truth about PISA (big buzz now) and GDP...

According to this author the link is far more potent than previously thought by Lynn. it's a link with log(GDP)!

can you believe it?

An easily remembered relationship is obtained by considering the effect of a 10 point increase in IQ:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289605001078#

IQ is measured as follows

 PISA scores are in keeping with IQ distribution over the world

Transparence pour les autres, F Hollande décidément pas très clair.

«On a tout fait pour garder le secret à l'époque», a confié à Europe 1 l'un des proches du président pour qui «rendre publique une opération, et de la prostate qui plus est, aurait été suicidaire». «On aurait eu des articles sur sa fatigue, sa faiblesse, sa maladie. C'était fini», tranche ce fidèle du président. D'autant plus que François Hollande, en plein régime, avait déjà perdu dix kilos à ce moment-là et présentait un visage émacié.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2013/12/04/01002-20131204ARTFIG00261-hollande-opere-de-la-prostate-avant-d-etre-candidat-a-la-primaire-ps.php?m_i=9u_9FioYwjfHibQdRHaYtYQLUxVnb_BMLPp5wVU8PMr6MPODD


http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/04/france-president-prostate-idUSL5N0JJ20920131204

La plus fausse bonne solution: étatiser la sécu!

Ils veulent plus d'état id est un Service Public de Soins, SPS qu'ils baptiseront Service Public de Santé car cela fait mieux la maladie étant tabou dans la novlangue postmoderne. Cette agence ferait soi disant des économies...
On peut très légitimement en douter car les énarques n'ont fait montre jusqu'à présent que d eleur capacité à dépenser, faire fonctionner France Trésor avec des offres d'OAT et laisser filer les déficits.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2013/12/03/20002-20131203ARTFIG00558-le-rapport-qui-veut-supprimer-l-assurance-maladie.php?m_i=jGkjTEffVTKbXurOWuX1CJFGVuLO3nLUKYuhYC3gZWh9E1vPK

Deflation

EURO ZONE: October producer prices were down 0.5% on the month and down 1.4% on the year against expectations of -0.2% and -1.0%, respectively.

Producer prices declined more than forecast in October, highlighting the deflationary risks facing the euro-zone economy. With consumer price inflation already barely positive, the absence of pipeline pricing pressure contained in this indicator gives the European Central Bank plenty of justification to add more liquidity. Whether its board members feel politically and technically able to ease policy when they meet on Thursday is another matter. (AM)

http://europe.wsj.com/home-page

Dommage que le rapport PISA ne sonde pas la satisfaction des profs!

Il parait que nous avons perdu des places au classement mondial...
C'est secondaire car les décisions des gouvernants depuis longtemps ne concernent que la satisfaction des profs.
Donc ça coute plus cher et les résultats des élèves régressent.
Rien de surprenant.
Le mammouth continue à grossir et à rugir car il ne mange pas assez.
Circulez les élèves vous troublez le repos de la bête.

Big Bang

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3022465/innovation-by-design/an-amazing-360-degree-simulation-of-the-big-bang?partner=newsletter

Pill and female sexual function

Original Research

Hormonal Contraception and Female Pain, Orgasm and Sexual Pleasure

1. Nicole K. Smith PhD, MPH^1,*, 
2. Kristen N. Jozkowski PhD², 
3. Stephanie A. Sanders PhD^3,4

Article first published online: 29 NOV 2013

DOI: 10.1111/jsm.12409

© 2013 International Society for Sexual Medicine

Issue

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Additional Information(Show All)

How to CiteAuthor InformationPublication History

Author Information

1. ¹
   Office of Population Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
2. ²
   Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation, College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
3. ³
   The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
4. ⁴
   Department of Gender Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

^*Corresponding Author: Nicole K. Smith, PhD, MPH, 259 Wallace Hall, Office of Population Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08554, USA. Tel: 1-609-258-5402; Fax: 1-609-258-1039; E-mail: nksmith@princeton.edu

Keywords:

• Contraception;
• Female Sexual Pleasure;
• Orgasm;
• Vaginal Lubrication;
• Vaginal Pain;
• Sexual Function;
• Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Introduction

Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintentional, unplanned, or mistimed. Most unplanned pregnancies result from inconsistent, incorrect, or nonuse of a contraceptive method. Diminished sexual function and pleasure may be a barrier to using hormonal contraception.

Aim

This study explores sexual function and behaviors of women in relation to the use of hormonal vs. nonhormonal methods of contraception.

Methods

Data were collected as part of an online health and sexuality study of women.

Main Outcome Measures

Main outcomes variables assess frequencies in two domains: (i) sexual function (proportion of sexual events with experiences of pain or discomfort, arousal, contentment and satisfaction, pleasure and enjoyment, lubrication difficulty, and orgasm) and (ii) sexual behavior (number of times engaged in sexual activity, proportion of sexual events initiated by the woman, and proportion of sexual events for which a lubricant was used). Sociodemographic variables and contraceptive use were used as sample descriptors and correlates. The recall period was the past 4 weeks.

Results

The sample included 1,101 women with approximately half (n = 535) using a hormonal contraceptive method exclusively or a combination of a hormonal and nonhormonal method, and about half (n = 566) using a nonhormonal method of contraception exclusively. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the relation of hormonal contraceptive use to each of the dependent variables. Women using a hormonal contraceptive method experienced less frequent sexual activity, arousal, pleasure, and orgasm and more difficulty with lubrication even when controlling for sociodemographic variables.

Conclusions

This study adds to the literature on the potential negative sexual side effects experienced by many women using hormonal contraception. Prospective research with diverse women is needed to enhance the understanding of potential negative sexual side effects of hormonal contraceptives, their prevalence, and possible mechanisms. Clinical and counseling implications are discussed. Smith NK, Jozkowski KN, and Sanders SA. Hormonal contraception and female pain, orgasm and sexual pleasure. J Sex Med **;**:**–**.