Spatial updating of locations specified by 3-D sound and spatial language.

Blind and blindfolded sighted observers were presented with auditory stimuli specifying target locations. The stimulus was either sound from a loudspeaker or spatial language (e.g., "2 o'clock, 16 ft"). On each trial, an observer attempted to walk to the target location along a direct or indirect path. The ability to mentally keep track of the target location without concurrent perceptual information about it (spatial updating) was assessed in terms of the separation between the stopping points for the 2 paths. Updating performance was very nearly the same for the 2 modalities, indicating that once an internal representation of a location has been determined, subsequent updating performance is nearly independent of the modality used to specify the representation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender-related individual differences and psychological adjustment in terms of the Big Five and circumplex models.

In 2 studies, college men and women were assessed on the Big Five, masculinity (M), femininity (F), gender diagnosticity (GD), and a broad array of adjustment measures, including a circumplex measure of interpersonal problems. Study 1 showed that M and F but not GD have strong Big Five and circumplex representations. Also, M and F but not GD correlates with Negative Affectivity and various interpersonal problems, and M correlates with aggressiveness in men. Study 2 replicated the main findings of Study 1 with a larger sample of participants and showed additionally that GD, but not M or F, correlates with authoritarianism and social dominance in men. Results show that the Big Five and circumplex models can be used to conceptualize gender-related individual differences, psychological adjustment, and their interrelationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender-related individual differences and the structure of vocational interests: The importance of the people–things dimension.

In 3 studies (respective Ns?=?289, 394, and 1,678), males and females were assessed on Big Five traits, masculine instrumentality (M), feminine expressiveness (F), gender diagnosticity (GD), and RIASEC (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional) vocational interest scales. Factor analyses of RIASEC scores consistently showed evidence for D. J. Prediger's (1982) People–Things and Ideas–Data dimensions, and participants' factor scores on these dimensions were computed. In all studies Big Five Openness was related to Ideas–Data but not to People–Things. Gender was strongly related to People–Things but not to Ideas–Data. Within each sex, GD correlated strongly with People–Things but not with Ideas–Data. M, F, and Big Five measures other than Openness tended not to correlate strongly with RIASEC scales or dimensions. The results suggest that gender and gender-related individual differences within the sexes are strongly linked to the People–Things dimension of vocational interests. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The gender reality hypothesis.

Comments on the article by J. S. Hyde (see record 2005-11115-001), in which Hyde reviewed meta-analytic evidence on gender differences and concluded that most psychological gender differences are in the close-to-zero or small range. The current author notes some omissions from Hyde's review, including the findings through other research large gender differences are reflected in some kinds of interests and occupational preferences, in males' and females placement on the people-things dimension of interests, and in many kinds of mental illness and behavior problems. The current author's position is that that many psychological gender differences are small-to-nonexistent, some are moderate, and some are large. The task that confronts gender researchers is to explain the complex profile of psychological gender differences and to untangle the myriad social and biological factors that generate both gender differences and gender similarities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Molecular dynamics simulations of alkylsilane stationary-phase order and disorder. 2. Effects of temperature and chain length

In an effort to elucidate the molecular-level structural features that control shape-selective separations, we have investigated the molecular dynamics of chromatographic models that represent both monomeric and polymeric stationary phases with alkylsilane length and temperature conditions analogous to actual materials of low to high shape selectivity. The structural characterization of these models is consistent with previous experimental observations of alkyl chain order and disorder: alkyl chain order increases both with alkyl chain length and with reduced temperature. Models that represent shape-selective reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) phases possess a significant region of distal end chain order with primarily trans dihedral angle conformations; the extension of these ordered regions into the phase increases with an increase in chain length. Models with extended chain length (C30) possess a higher degree of conformational order and are relatively insensitive to changes in surface coverage, bonding chemistry, and temperature. Chromatography models of various chain lengths and over a temperature range that represents highly shape-selective RPLC stationary phases all contain a series of well-defined and rigid cavities; the size and depth of these "slots" increase for the C30 models, which may promote the enhanced separations of larger size shape-constrained solutes, such as carotenoids.     

Causes for transfer of obstetric patients to an intensive care unit (1990-19960

BACKGROUND: In order to have an updated review of the causes for transferring patients from our Institute to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a study has been conducted on patients admitted from 1990 to 1996. METHODS: Of the 28 women transferred, one underwent dilatation & curettage of uterine cavity after abortion, 3 had a normal delivery and 24 underwent a cesarean section. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The complications were as follows: respiratory failure (5 cases); suspected or confirmed lung embolism (1); cerebral ischemia (1); septic complications (1); cardiocirculatory complications (19 cases; 7 of them were due to DIC; 6 due to cardiocirculatory failure; 6 due to haemorrhagic shock). These patients were divided into 3 groups, those with pre-existing pathologies which worsened (2 cases); those due to deterioration of pathology arose during pregnancy (17) and, finally, complications during delivery (9). In total the cases of mortality were 7, all of them following cardiocirculatory complications.     

Are 2D:4D finger-length ratios related to sexual orientation? Yes for men, no for women.

The ratio of index and ring finger lengths (2D:4D) is thought to be a marker of prenatal androgen exposure. In a sample of over 2,000 participants, men had significantly lower 2D:4D ratios than women (d = .36 and .23 for right and left hands, respectively), and these results were consistent across ethnic groups. Heterosexual men had significantly lower (more male typical) 2D:4D ratios than gay men (d = .32 and .31 for right and left hands, respectively), and these results tended to be consistent across ethnic groups. Heterosexual and lesbian women showed no significant differences in 2D:4D ratios, after ethnicity was taken into account. The current findings add to evidence that prenatal hormonal factors may be linked to men's sexual orientation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A case of difficult diagnosis of primary tubal carcinoma

Primary Fallopian tube cancer is a very un common cancer that appears between 40 and 65 years old, highly aggressive associate to a poor survival. In this work the authors explain a clinic case of primary Fallopian tube cancer in a woman of 57 years old operated for endometrial cancer. The authors display that the definitive diagnosis was possible only after the histological examination of the operating piece.     

Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. Case-control study

BACKGROUND: To analyze risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in an Italian population. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study has been carried out on 213 cases of ectopic pregnancy and 213 controls. The control subjects were women who delivered spontaneously at the same time and in the same hospital of the cases considered. RESULTS: Smoking more than 10 cigarettes/die doubles the risk of ectopic pregnancy. IUD causes an increased risk in women using this contraceptive method for less than two years. A history of abdominal surgery was associated with about a double risk of ectopic pregnancy. The risk was higher in cases of cesarean section and pelvic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal surgery (particularly pelvic surgery and cesarean sections), use of IUD for less than two years and cigarette smoking are the risk factors found to be a cause for ectopic pregnancy in the population studied. It was not possible to evaluate the history of pelvic inflammatory disease because there were not enough data. For this reason it is suggested it will be possible in the future to compile a register data, collecting all the cases of ectopic pregnancy as a part of a prevention campaign.