In romantic relationships, people do indeed have a ‘type’

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

If you’ve ever come out of a bad relationship and decided you need to date someone different from your usual “type,” you’re not alone.

However, new research by social psychologists at the University of Toronto (U of T) suggests that might be easier said than done. A study published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows people often look for love with the same type of person over and over again.

“It’s common that when a relationship ends, people attribute the breakup to their ex-partner’s personality and decide they need to date a different type of person,” says lead author Yoobin Park, a PhD student in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts & Science at U of T. “Our research suggests there’s a strong tendency to nevertheless continue to date a similar personality.”

Using data from an ongoing multi-year study on couples and families across several age groups, Park and co-author Geoff MacDonald, a professor in the Department of Psychology at U of T, compared the personalities of current and past partners of 332 people. Their primary finding was the existence of a significant consistency in the personalities of an individual’s romantic partners.

“The effect is more than just a tendency to date someone similar to yourself,” says Park.

Participants in the study along with a sample of current and past partners, assessed their own personality traits related to agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience. They were polled on how much they identified with a series of statements such as, “I am usually modest and reserved,” “I am interested in many different kinds of things” and “I make plans and carry them out.” Respondents were asked to rate their disagreement or agreement with each statement on a five-point scale.

Park and MacDonald’s analysis of the responses showed that overall, the current partners of individuals described themselves in ways that were similar to past partners.

“The degree of consistency from one relationship to the next suggests that people may indeed have a ‘type’,” says MacDonald. “And though our data do not make clear why people’s partners exhibit similar personalities, it is noteworthy that we found partner similarity above and beyond similarity to oneself.”

By examining first-person testimonials of someone’s partners rather than relying on someone’s own description of them, the work accounts for biases found in other studies.

“Our study was particularly rigorous because we didn’t just rely on one person recalling their various partners’ personalities,” said Park. “We had reports from the partners themselves in real time.”

The researchers say the findings offer ways to keep relationships healthy and couples happy.

“In every relationship, people learn strategies for working with their partner’s personality,” says Park. “If your new partner’s personality resembles your ex-partner’s personality, transferring the skills you learned might be an effective way to start a new relationship on a good footing.”

On the other hand, Park says the strategies people learn to manage their partner’s personality can also be negative, and that more research is needed to determine how much meeting someone similar to an ex-partner is a plus, and how much it’s a minus when moving to a new relationship.

“So, if you find you’re having the same issues in relationship after relationship,” says Park, “you may want to think about how gravitating toward the same personality traits in a partner is contributing to the consistency in your problems.”

The data for the research comes from the German Family Panel study launched in 2008, an ongoing longitudinal study on couple and family dynamics with a nationally representative sample of adolescents, young adults, and midlife individuals in Germany.

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Toronto. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Switchgrass hybrid yields insights into plant evolution

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

Switchgrass is attractive as a potential bioenergy crop because it can grow for years without having to be replanted. Requiring less fertilizer than typical annual crops like corn, switchgrass can keep more nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in the soil and out of our air and waterways. But, unlike corn, breeding of switchgrass for optimal traits is still in its early stages.

Now, in a collaboration with the U.S Department of Energy, or DOE, the Joint Genome Institute, a DOE Office of Science User Facility, and the University of Texas at Austin, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center researchers at Michigan State University have identified specific parts of genetic code within the plant that could contribute to larger switchgrass harvests while reducing potential crop weaknesses.

David Lowry, assistant professor of plant biology at MSU, and Thomas Juenger, professor of integrative biology at UT Austin, led a team that identified genes that boost switchgrass growth across a wide range of climates — and that these plants can be bred to include these genetic markers.

Additionally, the researchers found that some adaptive traits in switchgrass can often be improved without hurting plant health in other ways. The results of this study were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Like many domesticated plants, switchgrass has multiple cultivars adapted to different geographic regions. Northern upland switchgrass typically lives on ridgelines and in prairie areas in states such as South Dakota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. This breed does not mind the cold and can survive harsh winters, as is the case with many things from the north.

However, northern switchgrass does not grow as large or as quickly as the southern lowland ecotype that thrives in wet, marshy areas from Missouri and Kansas down to Texas. The southern cultivar also tends to be more pest-resistant and can better withstand extreme conditions such as drought and flooding. The southern ecotype, on the other hand, does not tolerate cold winters, often dying off when the weather turns too chilly.

To try and get the best of both worlds, Lowry, Juenger and their partners devised an experiment across the central United States — from Texas to South Dakota — to determine what loci cause differences between the varieties adapted to cold northern areas versus hot southern areas.

“We’re interested in how often loci that improve performance in some sites (say in the south) come at a cost or tradeoff for performance at other locations (say in the north),” Juenger said. “The 10 sites were mainly chosen to involve people we’d met or had interacted with in the switchgrass community over the past few years — and cover the latitudinal distribution of the species. We’ve really tried to build the field plantings as a community resource.”

First, they created a crossbreed of the two varieties, then planted hundreds of the same switchgrass hybrid in 10 locations covering the entire geographical region. Then, comparing growth of the hybrids to the parent cultivars at each site, the researchers isolated the genetic cause of beneficial outcomes using an approach called quantitative trait locus, or QTL, mapping.

The southern variety is generally a larger grass, so researchers have often thought its loci would be solely responsible for increasing the size of hybrids. Surprisingly, the experiment revealed that northern switchgrass gene play a role in increased biomass as well.

“This means if we can combine those genomes together through hybridization, we can actually get a much higher-yielding plant,” said Lowry.

Genetic adaptation often comes with tradeoffs. For example, traits that confer winter hardiness in the north might divert resources from growth. Similarly, the prevalence of growth genes in southern-adapted plants might reduce their cold tolerance.

In this study, advantageous characteristics for growth were expressed in one region of the country without others being diminished. “That tells us a little bit about how adaptation works and how it could provide a benefit for agriculture,” said Lowry. “If we can select on these loci, we can get a benefit without much of cost.”

Because they designed the study to cover such a broad geographical area, the group could isolate these win/win genetic scenarios.

“Usually there’s only two field sites involved in these types of experiments, but we had 10,” Lowry said. “So we had a much better idea that there were these loci that have much lower costs associated with them.”

“We’re getting new insights into how plants adjust in different environments,” Lowry said. “Understanding how switchgrass adapts to the northern U.S. versus the southern U.S. will allow us to use that knowledge to improve it as a bioenergy crop.”

Health24.com | This explains why you’re so intensely horny on your period

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

Every month, your period arrives with the usual suspects in tow: cramps, bloating, fatigue—just to name a few. But it can also bring another (much, much more fun) guest to the party: a wild and crazy libido. So, yeah…it’s no coincidence you feel all kinds of horny on your period.

And that’s despite the fact that you likely don’t feel your absolute sexiest during this time. ICYDK, that particular surge in sex appeal happens during ovulation—about halfway through your cycle, or two weeks after your period—thanks to a slight increase in testosterone, says Dr Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Yale University Medical School.

Okay, so why do I get insanely horny on my period?

While the science isn’t entirely definitive, here’s what docs do know: “The menstrual cycle involves the cyclical rise and fall of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA,” says Dr Adeeti Gupta, an ob-gyn and founder of Walk In GYN Care. (Hence the name “cycle.”) All of those hormones play key roles in your sex drive.

In a 2013 study published in Hormones and Behavior, researchers explored the connection in a group of undergraduate women. They measured hormone levels over two full menstrual cycles and compared the results to daily journals, where the participants recorded sexual activity and feelings of friskiness.

The researchers found that changing levels of estrogen and progesterone had serious effects on libido. Likely because estrogen, which drops at the beginning of your period but then starts to climb steadily by day two or three, promotes libido and desire, explains Dr. Gupta.

Meanwhile, progesterone, a stabilising hormone that is “not sexy-feeling friendly” is at a low point, says Dr. Minkin, so it’s possible that you feel even more sexual in its absence, too.

On the flip side, can arousal affect menstruation?

In short: no. Your hormones are already fluctuating on their own, so sexual arousal has “no major effect” on your menstrual cycle, says Dr Minkin.

Still, “some women report that if they masturbate or have sex, they feel a relief of pelvic congestion or menstrual cramps,” adds Dr Nan Wise, a cognitive neuroscientist and certified sex therapist. (Plus, it feels a heck of a lot better than popping ibuprofen.)

And, of course, your friskier-than-normal feelings can certainly impact your mood during menstruation. Sex and/or orgasm are both known for relieving stress—something you might be subconsciously craving during that time of the month.

“In some cases, women may simply want to have an orgasm to relax and unwind,” says Janet Brito, a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist in Honolulu. “While in other cases, they may be yearning for an intimate connection. What’s important is to listen to your body and give it what it needs.”

To do that, she recommends keeping a journal on how your menstruation impacts your arousal and vice versa. This, Brito says, can help you get comfortable discussing your needs, promote body awareness, and ultimately enhance your personal and partnered relationships.

Can birth control impact how horny I feel on my period?

You may have heard the long-standing rumour that birth control all but kills your sex drive.

Because hormonal birth control works by stopping your uterus from ovulating, they also stop that little boost in testosterone, so it would make sense, says Dr Minkin.

The Pill, in particular, can affect your libido throughout your menstrual cycle, because it also increases something called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

“If you have some free testosterone running around in your body, SHBG is sort of like Pac-Man,” she explains. “Basically, it just eats the testosterone up, so many people think that’s why birth control can decrease your libido.”

That said, the research is actually pretty divided. In one 2013 study, the majority of contraceptive users reported no significant difference in their horniness, despite their bodies showing a decrease in free testosterone and increase in SHBG.

And in another study, from 2016, women on hormonal contraception reported greater drives for sex with a partner than those who were on non-hormonal types. Meanwhile, women on non-hormonal BC reported higher solitary desire (read: an interest in masturbation).

So it’s possible specific types of birth control affect specific types of sex drives, but science is still confirming. Fascinating.

So is my period horniness **totally** dependent on my hormones?

Nope, not at all! Feeling frisky during your period may also just come down to individual differences, says Wise.

“Women might like sex more or a whole lot less during that time, depending on their physical comfort,” she says. “For some women, when they’re bleeding and crampy, the last thing they want is sex. Others, on the other hand, want sexual activity for relief.”

Your increased desire to have sex on your period could also be tied to a subconscious relief in knowing you’re not pregnant (if you’re not trying to be, at least). You’re also less likely to conceive when you’re menstruating—and there’s “definitely a psychological freedom” in that knowledge, says Brito.

So while your shifting hormones definitely rule the show, your head can get in there too. But if you don’t feel particularly horny during that time of the month, don’t worry: There is nothing—I repeat, nothing—wrong with you.

^{This article was originally published on www.womenshealthsa.co.za}

^{Image credit: iStock}

Scientists discover unlikely culprit for fertilizing North Pacific Ocean: Asian dust

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

The vast subtropical “gyres” — large systems of rotating currents in the middle of the oceans — cover 40 percent of the Earth’s surface and have long been considered biological deserts with stratified waters that contain very little nutrients to sustain life.

These regions also are thought to be remarkably stable, yet scientists have documented one anomaly in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre ecosystem that has puzzled oceanographers for years: The region’s chemistry changes periodically, especially levels of phosphorus and iron, affecting the overall nutrient composition and ultimately its biological productivity.

In a new study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers document what induces these variations: changes in the amount of iron that is deposited into the ocean via dust from Asia.

“We now know that these areas that were thought to be barren and stable are actually quite dynamic,” said Ricardo Letelier, an Oregon State University biogeochemist and ecologist, who in collaboration with David Karl at the University of Hawaii led this study. “Since these areas cover so much of the Earth’s surface, we need to know more about how they work in order to better predict how the system will respond to climate variations in the future.”

The study focused on the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and used three decades of observation data from Station ALOHA by the Hawaii Ocean Time-series program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation.

The surface layer of the North Pacific gyre is characterized by very clear waters with hardly any nutrients. The extraordinary optical clarity of these waters allows sunlight to penetrate deep into the water column and support photosynthetic activity below 100 meters (or 328 feet).

Typically, the ocean’s upper water column is fertilized by nutrient-rich water mixing from the deep, but these waters are very stratified and little mixing takes place. Deeper water (hundreds to thousands of meters below the surface) is enriched in nutrients through the decomposition of the remains of small organisms that grew and harvested the scarce nutrients in the surface layers before sinking toward the seafloor.

Both phosphorus and iron are key components for life and the researchers noticed that the levels of those nutrients in North Pacific gyre surface waters changed significantly during the three decades of the study.

Letelier said the team was able to relate these changes to the iron input from Asian dust — a combination of the desertification of that continent, with combustion, especially wildfires and factory output and the wind patterns across the North Pacific ocean — that accounted for the variance and provided varying amounts of nutrients to sustain life.

And a key to that variance is the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, an ocean-atmosphere relationship that varies between weak and strong phases of atmospheric pressure in the northeast Pacific. In years when the low pressure weakens, winds from Asia become stronger, move more southward, and bring more dust, fertilizing the ocean surrounding Station ALOHA. When the pressure strengthens, the opposite takes place.

Strong winds can bring significant amounts of iron, allowing organisms to grow and utilize all the phosphorus in the upper layers of the ocean. However, because most of the iron is not soluble, deep waters are enriched in phosphorus relative to iron. Hence, when winds are weaker, there is little iron input to fertilize and remove any excess phosphorus in the upper layers that may be introduced through deep water mixing.

“Sometimes there are periods of 5-6 years of phosphorus enrichment, and then there are periods when it switches over,” Letelier said. “From 2000 to 2007, there was almost no phosphorus. We have seen some changes in the function of the ecosystem, but we haven’t yet seen significant changes in the biological composition. They may be coming; it’s too early to tell.”

As the Artic warms, the scientists say they expect to see long-term changes in wind patterns across the North Pacific. In addition, the evolution of land use and pollution driven by anthropogenic activity in Asia will affect the sources and magnitude of iron and other nutrients carried by wind across the ocean.

How these changes will affect the transport of iron-rich dust into the eastern Pacific and affect the productivity in this vast oceanic region remains an open question.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Oregon State University. Original written by Mark Floyd. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Health24.com | The other side of anaemia – when you have too much iron in your blood

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

We know by now that iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia and that it’s quite easy to become iron-deficient, especially if you don’t eat a balanced diet, if you are pregnant, or if your immune system is impaired.

But did you know that there are people who experience quite the opposite?

What causes too much iron in the blood?

Haemochromatosis is a condition where the body absorbs an excessive amount of iron from a normal diet. This leads to abnormally high iron levels in the blood, which can be deadly.

This condition is usually inherited and caused by your genetic makeup. Up to 80% of those who suffer from iron overload have three genetic mutations that predispose them to the disease.

Haemochromatosis can be primary or secondary. Primary haemochromatosis is caused by a genetic predisposition, while secondary haemochromatosis is caused by other conditions, such as thalassemia (a type of anaemia) and liver disease.

Secondary haemochromatosis can also occur when people take too many iron supplements, usually when they suspect they might have an iron deficiency.

What happens when we overload on iron?

When there is iron overload, it gets stored in the organs such as the pancreas, liver and heart. If left untreated, it can lead to organ damage and failure.

A mild iron overdose will usually not present any symptoms, but someone with high levels of iron may experience the following:

Chronic fatigue
Arthritis, which may affect all joints, but especially the knuckles of the 1st and 2nd fingers (so-called iron fist)
Cirrhosis and enlarged liver
Porphyria
Diabetes, caused by damage to the pancreas due to the iron deposits
Impotence due to loss of libido and atrophy of the testicles
Irregular menstruation or lack of periods (amenorrhoea)
Abdominal pain, especially in the upper-right side of the abdomen
Frequent diarrhoea
Mood swings and depression
Irregular heartbeat or arrhythmias

Treatment

When iron levels are severely high, a procedure called phlebotomy is done, where iron-rich blood is removed from the body. The procedure is repeated, depending on how quickly the iron levels build up again. This is determined by regular blood tests.

Another treatment is oral iron chelation drugs.

In terms of lifestyle, a patient will be advised to eat less iron-rich food.

How to prevent secondary iron overdose

It’s important to know that you shouldn’t take an iron supplement if there is no specific reason. If you suspect anaemia or low levels of iron, it’s advisable to consult a doctor. Blood tests can determine the exact levels of iron in your body and if you need a supplement.

When you are treated for iron-deficiency anaemia, it’s important to take your iron supplement for at least six more months after your iron levels have normalised. Don’t stop taking your iron supplement without consulting your doctor.

Read more on what you should know before taking an iron supplement.

Suspect you might be anaemic? Take our quiz.

^{Image credit: iStock}

Marelize Wilke

Health24.com | 4 reasons why you should never ignore your back pain

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

According to the South African Society of Physiotherapy, a low 25–40% of people with backache seek help. This is concerning since 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

Ignoring red flag symptoms is never a good idea, and if back pain is left unaddressed, it could lead to the following:

Extensive damage to nerves

Your nervous system is protected by your spine. When back pain occurs, the peripheral and spinal nerves send out pain waves. When these nerves are compressed for six weeks or longer, it can lead to permanent damage, explains spinal surgeon, Dr Louis J Nel from Spine Africa.

Generally, nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system can be resolved via anti-inflammatory control, such as medications, but it’s crucial that early diagnosis is made so that appropriate treatment can be provided, and permanent damage – which could potentially require surgery – avoided.

Damage to organs

Pain experienced in the mid-back and that is accompanied by fever or nausea could mean it’s a kidney infection, notes Reader’s Digest. If not dealt with, the infection could cause further permanent damage to the kidneys, and even a total kidney shutdown. Other serious medical conditions where backache could also be a symptom include certain types of cancers, a spinal infection and osteoarthritis, as stated in a previous Health24 article.

Decreased quality of life

According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), it is estimated that one in every 10 adults is newly diagnosed with chronic pain each year around the world. Not only has chronic back pain been linked to a decreased quality of life, but major depression has been found to be four times greater in people suffering from chronic back pain than in the general population, and that the rate of depression increases in linearity with greater pain.

This is due to factors such as lack of sleep because of the pain, which ultimately leads to irritability during the day; difficulty of enjoyable activities; and an inability to work, causing financial stress, among others.

Permanent change in posture

If you suffer from everyday, dull back pain, you might find yourself slouching. This has the effect of providing temporary relief. However, when slouching too often, your spine – a very fragile part of your body – and muscles will become accustomed to this position. Apart from your back pain, it can also impact your organs by compressing them and lead to several other issues such as developing an increased risk of arthritis and respiratory complications.

It is important to see a doctor if your back pain persists for longer than a week and doesn’t subside with rest. Knowing the cause helps put your mind at ease, and if you find yourself scaling down on physical activity because of the pain, Dr Nel adds that the most common reasons for back pain do not need to limit one’s activities, and actually advises against it.

“Not treating the pain ultimately leads to an adjustment in lifestyle, which makes us age faster, and giving in to the urge to quit physical activity can also lead to the progression of bad posture and core strength over time.”

Fortunately, most back pain cases do not require the intervention of surgery, but do require medical assistance or a recovery plan.

^{Image: iStock}

Zakiyah Ebrahim

Chester hospital baby deaths probe: Nurse Lucy Letby rearrested

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

Lucy Letby is rearrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of three additional babies.

Prostate cancer screening scan hope

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

Researchers are investigating if men could benefit from a one-off scan to check their risk of prostate cancer.

Advice on safety of gay sex after prostate cancer

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

The guidance warns of the possible risks to gay and bisexual men after some treatments.

Night owls: Simple sleep tweaks boost wellbeing

Posted on 10/06/2019 by Boris Clair

Simple steps can shift the body clock and improve people’s mental health, say researchers.

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Category Archives: Mind Building

In romantic relationships, people do indeed have a ‘type’

Switchgrass hybrid yields insights into plant evolution

Health24.com | This explains why you’re so intensely horny on your period

Scientists discover unlikely culprit for fertilizing North Pacific Ocean: Asian dust

Health24.com | The other side of anaemia – when you have too much iron in your blood

Health24.com | 4 reasons why you should never ignore your back pain

Chester hospital baby deaths probe: Nurse Lucy Letby rearrested

Prostate cancer screening scan hope

Advice on safety of gay sex after prostate cancer

Night owls: Simple sleep tweaks boost wellbeing