Arthropod mechanoreceptive hairs: modeling the directionality of the joint.

Stimulus transformation in arthropod mechanoreceptive hairs is dominated by the mechanical properties of both the hair shaft and the hair's articulation. Here a mathematical model of the hair's articulation is developed based on simple relationships relevant for every anisotropic articulation. The mechanical behavior regarding deflection under load of a variety of hairs can be described quantitatively by using only two (in the case of double symmetric characteristics) or four parameters (in the case of only one symmetry): (1) joint stiffness S p in the preferred direction of deflection, (2) joint stiffness St in a plane transversal to the preferred direction, and (3, 4) the values of stiffness S for opposite directions of deflection.

Arthropod touch reception: stimulus transformation and finite element model of spider tactile hairs.

Striving towards an in depth understanding of stimulus transformation in arthropod tactile hairs, we studied the mechanical events associated with tactile stimulation. A finite element model was developed taking a tarsal tactile hair of the spider Cupiennius salei as an example. Considering hair diameter, wall thickness, and curvature, the hair is subdivided into six regions each with its specific mechanical properties.

Arthropod touch reception: spider hair sensilla as rapid touch detectors.

Wandering spiders like Cupiennius salei are densely covered by tactile hairs. In darkness Cupiennius uses its front legs as tactile feelers. We selected easily identifiable hairs on the tarsus and metatarsus which are stimulated during this behavior to study tactile hair properties.

Resource utilization control processes as indicators of quality in managed care organizations: a proposal.

Central to the development of a competitive market for managed care products is the ability to measure the quality of care provided by individual managed care organizations (MCOs). Several types of quality measures could be considered for this purpose: patient and provider satisfaction, a listing of specific services provided to patients, or clinical outcomes of such services. Although assessing quality with measures of the process of care is commonplace, we propose developing measures of the production processes that control utilization of health care resources within an organization.

Clinical characteristics of women with a history of childhood abuse: unhealed wounds.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of childhood physical or sexual abuse in women seen in primary care practices; to identify physical and psychologic problems associated with that abuse; and to compare the effects of childhood physical vs sexual abuse and childhood vs adult abuse.

Design: Cross-sectional, self-administered, anonymous survey.

Setting: Four community-based, primary care internal medicine practices.