Timing Measurements of the Relativistic Binary Pulsar PSR B1913+16

We present results of more than three decades of timing measurements of the first known binary pulsar, PSR B1913+16. Like most other pulsars, its rotational behavior over such long time scales is significantly affected by small-scale irregularities not explicitly accounted for in a deterministic model. Nevertheless, the physically important astrometric, spin, and orbital parameters are well determined and well decoupled from the timing noise. We have determined a significant result for proper motion, $\mu_{\alpha} = -1.43\pm0.13$, $\mu_{\delta}=-0.70\pm0.13$ mas yr$^{-1}$. The pulsar exhibited a small timing glitch in May 2003, with ${\Delta f}/f=3.7\times10^{-11}$, and a smaller timing peculiarity in mid-1992. A relativistic solution for orbital parameters yields improved mass estimates for the pulsar and its companion, m_1=1.4398\pm0.0002 \ M_{\sun} and m_2=1.3886\pm0.0002 \ M_{\sun}. The system's orbital period has been decreasing at a rate $0.997\pm0.002$ times that predicted as a result of gravitational radiation damping in general relativity. As we have shown before, this result provides conclusive evidence for the existence of gravitational radiation as predicted by Einstein's theory.Comment: Published in APJ, 722, 1030 (2010

Patient preferences for adjuvant radiotherapy in early breast cancer are strongly influenced by treatment received through random assignment

Objective: TARGIT‐A randomised women with early breast cancer to receive external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT‐IORT). This study aimed to identify what extra risk of recurrence patients would accept for per‐ ceived benefits and risks of different radiotherapy treatments. Methods: Patient preferences were determined by self‐rated trade‐off question‐ naires in two studies: Stage (1) 209 TARGIT‐A participants (TARGIT‐IORT n = 108, EBRT n = 101); Stage (2) 123 non‐trial patients yet to receive radiotherapy (pre‐treat‐ ment group), with 85 also surveyed post‐radiotherapy. Patients traded‐off risks of local recurrence in preference selection between TARGIT‐IORT and EBRT. Results: TARGIT‐IORT patients were more accepting of IORT than EBRT patients with 60% accepting the highest increased risk presented (4%–6%) compared to 12% of EBRT patients, and 2% not accepting IORT at all compared to 43% of EBRT pa‐ tients. Pre‐treatment patients were more accepting of IORT than post‐treatment pa‐ tients with 23% accepting the highest increased risk presented compared to 15% of post‐treatment patients, and 15% not accepting IORT at all compared to 41% of pre‐ treatment patients. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients yet to receive radiotherapy accept a higher recurrence risk than the actual risk found in TARGIT‐A. Measured patient preferences are highly influenced by experience of treatment received. This finding challenges the validity of post‐treatment preference studies

Chronicity and Mental Health Service Utilization for Anxiety, Mood, and Substance Use Disorders among Black Men in the United States; Ethnicity and Nativity Differences.

This study investigated ethnic and nativity differences in the chronicity and treatment of psychiatric disorders of African American and Caribbean Black men in the U.S. Data were analyzed from the National Survey of American Life, a population-based study which included 1859 self-identified Black men (1222 African American, 176 Caribbean Black men born within the U.S., and 461 Caribbean Black men born outside the U.S.). Lifetime and twelve-month prevalence of DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders (including Bipolar I and Dysthmia), disorder chronicity, and rate of mental health services use among those meeting criteria for a lifetime psychiatric disorder were examined. Logistic regression models were employed to determine ethnic differences in chronicity, and treatment utilization for disorders. While rates of DSM-IV disorders were generally low in this community sample of Black men, their disorders were chronic and remained untreated. Caribbean Black men born in the U.S. had higher prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Alcohol Abuse Disorder compared with African American men. Foreign born Caribbean Black men experienced greater chronicity in Social Phobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder compared to other Black Men. Utilization of mental health service was low for all groups of Black Men, but lowest for the foreign born Caribbean Black men. Results underscore the large unmet needs of both African American and Caribbean Black men in the United States. Results also highlight the role of ethnicity and nativity in mental disorder chronicity and mental health service utilization patterns of Black men

The relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder and religious faith: Clinical characteristics and implications for treatment

This paper explores the relationship between religion and obsessive–compulsive dis- order (OCD), with particular interest in religion’s possible influence in the development of OCD and its impact on treatment outcome. The paper begins with a review of theoretical and research literatures concerning religious involvement, research evidence linking religious involvement and physical and mental health, and theoretical linkages supporting both positive and negative religious effects on health. Following this, we provide a general overview and description of OCD and information concerning the prevalence and incidence of religiously based OCD. Next, extant research linking religion and OCD is presented. Information relevant to the clinical treatment of OCD with religious content is discussed. Finally, practice implications for clinicians and clergy are provided.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107413/1/2011-11166-001.pdfDescription of 2011-11166-001.pdf : Main articl

America is not losing its religion – population trends mean thatit is simply becoming more religiously diverse.

A recent Pew study found that there has been an increase in the number of Americans who claim to have ‘no-religion’. Does this mean that religion in the U.S. is on the way out? In new research which examines data from three national surveys, R. Khari Brown, Robert Joseph Taylor, and Linda M. Chatters find that African Americans and African Caribbean Americans are less likely than Non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans to identify as non-religious, with the latter group the most likely to identify as non-religious. They write that the recent shifts in religious affiliation may have less to do with Americans abandoning religion to America shifting towards increasing religious diversity

African American Extended Family and Church‐Based Social Network Typologies

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136022/1/fare12218.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136022/2/fare12218_am.pd

The Gender Wage Gap in the New Millennium: An Analysis of the United States 2000-2020

This study examines the earnings differential in each year from 2000-2020 to determine if the gender pay gap has changed in recent years. We estimate average weekly wages for full-time, year-round workers for men and women to determine women’s wages relative to men’s wages for each year. Our results show that although average earnings for women relative to men have increased since 2000 when adjusting for individual worker characteristics, we find little progress in shrinking the gender wage gap. This result is even more discouraging since women’s education rates have increased at a significantly higher rate during this time