Gay Marriage: The Evolving Human Family

This theoretical discussion centers on the evolving nature of marriage and its underlying function over the course of human history. The author pulls from the constructs of Evolutionary Psychology, Sociobiology, genetics and General Systems Theory to formulate some hypotheses about the changing configuration of the American family. The discussion also identifies various factors which have contributed to the rather rapid shift in social attitudes and public policy about gay marriage in the past decade

On the origin of the chemical barrier and tunneling in enzymes

This paper presents both a review of some recent results from our group and experimental groups, and some new theoretical results all of which are helping to form a more physically rigorous picture of the process of enzymatic catalysis. A common classical picture of enzymatic catalysis is the transition state tight binding model. Schwartz and Schramm (Nat. Chem. Biol. 2009, 5, 551-558.) have recently argued from both theoretical and experimental results that this picture is incorrect. We now investigate what the nature of barriers might be in enzymatic reactions, and what this viewpoint might imply for tunneling in a hydrogen transfer enzyme. For lactate dehydrogenase we conclude that the enzymes role in catalysis is at least partially to hunt through configuration space for those configurations that minimize chemical free energy barriers. Those configurations do not seem to be stable basins on the free energy surface, and in fact the overall free energy barrier to reaction may well largely be due to this stochastic hunt-both probabilistically and energetically. We suggest further computations to test this hypothesis

Anton Ginzburg : Blue Flame : Constructions and initiatives

" Anton Ginzburg’s eye has been drawn to the epoch of Constructivism, concluding a fascinating trilogy of books. As an artist and a researcher, Ginzburg takes a critical look at the works of famous Constructivists such as Rodchenko, Tatlin, and the VkhUTEMAS. [...] Ginzburg’s works emerge from his findings. [...] What is the meaning of historical phenomena to the present time, and what form do they take today? Ginzburg’s sculptures, paintings, and videos are the impressive response. " -- Publisher's webpage

Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder (Review)

Background Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a relatively common personality disorder with a major impact on health services as those affected often present in crisis, often self-harming. Objectives To evaluate the effects of psychological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder. Search strategy We conducted a systematic search of 26 specialist and general bibliographic databases (December 2002) and searched relevant reference lists for further trials. Selection criteria All relevant clinical randomised controlled trials involving psychological treatments for peoplewith BPD.The definition of psychological treatments included behavioural, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic and psychoanalytic. Data collection and analysis We independently selected, quality assessed and data extracted studies. For binary outcomes we calculated a standard estimation of the risk ratio (RR), its 95% confidence interval (CI), and where possible the number need to help/harm (NNT/H). For continuous outcomes, endpoint data were preferred to change data. Non-skewed data from valid scales were summated using a weighted mean difference (WMD). Main results We identified seven studies involving 262 people, and five separate comparisons. Comparing dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) with treatment as usual studies found no difference for the outcome of still meeting SCID-II criteria for the diagnosis of BPD by six months (n=28, 1 RCT, RR 0.69 CI 0.35 to 1.38) or admission to hospital in previous three months (n=28, 1 RCT, RR 0.77 CI 0.28 to 2.14)