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- February 8, 2013
- 08:23 AM
- 173 views
New strain could be available in a few years.
by Andrew Porterfield in United Academics
Grapefruits, albeit sour, are nutritious and can be delicious. But they’ve also been known to interfere with many medications, and even some dietary supplements. So, many doctors try to steer some patients away from eating grapefruit.... Read more »
Greenblatt, D., Zhao, Y., Hanley, M., Chen, C., Harmatz, J., Cancalon, P., & Gmitter, F. (2012) Mechanism-based inhibition of human Cytochrome P450-3A activity by grapefruit hybrids having low furanocoumarin content. Xenobiotica, 42(12), 1163-1169. DOI: 10.3109/00498254.2012.700428
- February 8, 2013
- 04:20 AM
- 191 views
Are “Friends with Benefits” Relationships Sexually Satisfying?
by Carian Thus in United Academics
What do you do when you’re single and want to have sex? There’s the option to hookup with strangers. But you can also stay in your “comfort zone” and have sex with someone you already hang out with.... Read more »
Lehmiller, J., VanderDrift, L., & Kelly, J. (2012) Sexual Communication, Satisfaction, and Condom Use Behavior in Friends with Benefits and Romantic Partners. Journal of Sex Research, 1-12. DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2012.719167
- February 7, 2013
- 05:00 PM
- 184 views
Dancing to the Beat: Typically Human?
by Katja Keuchenius in United Academics
Researcher Henkjan Honing explains what musical rhythms tell us about our social skills.... Read more »
Kokal, I., Engel, A., Kirschner, S., & Keysers, C. (2011) Synchronized Drumming Enhances Activity in the Caudate and Facilitates Prosocial Commitment - If the Rhythm Comes Easily. PLoS ONE, 6(11). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027272
Schachner, A., Brady, T., Pepperberg, I., & Hauser, M. (2009) Spontaneous Motor Entrainment to Music in Multiple Vocal Mimicking Species. Current Biology, 19(10), 831-836. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.03.061
- February 7, 2013
- 10:23 AM
- 181 views
Do you suffer from the IKEA Effect?
by Mark Fonseca Rendeiro in United Academics
If you are reading things from home or from the office, chances are there is something from Ikea in the room. Over the past decade, the affordable and semi-clever designs from the Swedish furniture juggernaut have become one of those recognizable symbols regardless of where in the world you live. And one aspect that is true about most Ikea stuff, is that you probably built it yourself. And if you built it yourself, there is a certain satisfaction that comes with having used that strange little........ Read more »
Norton, M., Mochon, D., & Ariely, D. (2012) The IKEA effect: When labor leads to love. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 22(3), 453-460. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcps.2011.08.002
- February 7, 2013
- 09:53 AM
- 201 views
The Foods that Play a Factor in Deep Sleep
by Zach Urbina in United Academics
If the quest for the perfect night’s sleep remains one of your goals, you might need to start at the grocery store.
A recently published study out of the University of Pennsylvania isolated a few key nutrients and total caloric intake as contributing factors for length and duration of sleep. They also looked at the role that overall diet, demographics, socioeconomics, physical activity, and obesity, to rule out other potential causes.... Read more »
Grandner M, Jackson N, Gerstner J, & Knutson K. (2013) Dietary nutrients associated with short and long sleep duration. Data from a nationally representative sample. Appetite. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.01.004
- February 6, 2013
- 11:20 AM
- 173 views
Exposure to Pesticides Increases Risk of Diabetes
by Zachery Urbina in United Academics
North Americans and Europeans have ballooned up to noticeably fatter proportions in recent decades, and new research originating from the University of Granada has revealed a direct connection between exposure to pesticides in food, air, and water & incidence of adult-onset type 2 diabetes. The relationship was found to exist without respect to age, gender or body mass index, according to data in the study.... Read more »
Arrebola, J., Pumarega, J., Gasull, M., Fernandez, M., Martin-Olmedo, P., Molina-Molina, J., Fernández-Rodríguez, M., Porta, M., & Olea, N. (2013) Adipose tissue concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adults from Southern Spain. Environmental Research. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.12.001
- February 6, 2013
- 04:59 AM
- 200 views
4 Stress Relief Strategies You’ve Never Heard of
by Carian Thus in United Academics
It’s important to find a balance in life between work and relaxation. In order to put your mind and body at ease, you may like to take a hot bath, roll out a yoga mat or enjoy a massage. But according to science there are more ways that lead to calmness. ... Read more »
Barker, R., Knisely, J., Barker, S., Cobb, R., & Schubert, C. (2012) Preliminary investigation of employee's dog presence on stress and organizational perceptions. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 5(1), 15-30. DOI: 10.1108/17538351211215366
Lee, J., Lee, J., Lim, H., Son, J., Lee, J., Kim, D., & Ko, S. (2012) Cartoon Distraction Alleviates Anxiety in Children During Induction of Anesthesia. Anesthesia , 115(5), 1168-1173. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e31824fb469
Martin, F., Rezzi, S., Peré-Trepat, E., Kamlage, B., Collino, S., Leibold, E., Kastler, J., Rein, D., Fay, L., & Kochhar, S. (2009) Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects. Journal of Proteome Research, 8(12), 5568-5579. DOI: 10.1021/pr900607v
- February 5, 2013
- 09:37 AM
- 170 views
Hospitalizations from Energy Drinks Continue to Rise
by Zachery Urbina in United Academics
Historical accounts tell us that the stimulating power of caffeine was first noticed in the 9th century by an Ethiopian goatherd who found his flock wildly excited after consuming coffee berries. Whoever he was, a substantial portion from the efforts of human progress since remains indebted to that discovery.... Read more »
Nawrot, P., Jordan, S., Eastwood, J., Rotstein, J., Hugenholtz, A., & Feeley, M. (2003) Effects of caffeine on human health. Food Additives and Contaminants, 20(1), 1-30. DOI: 10.1080/0265203021000007840
- February 5, 2013
- 03:59 AM
- 180 views
Who’s Smarter, the Dog Or the Cat?
by Katja Keuchenius in United Academics
Cats may seem more intelligent than dogs because they behave quite autonomous compared to dogs that are always waiting for commands. But the opposite might actually be true: social behavior seems to require bigger brains.
It’s always hard to compare the intelligence of cats and dogs. Some studies point out that dogs can learn hundreds of words, other than cats. And they understand human gestures, like pointing, which even chimpanzees don’t seem to comprehend.... Read more »
Shultz S, Dunbar R. (2010) Encephalisation is not a universal macroevolutionary phenomenon in mammals but is associated with sociality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. info:/PMID: 21098277
Kirchhofer, K., Zimmermann, F., Kaminski, J., & Tomasello, M. (2012) Dogs (Canis familiaris), but Not Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Understand Imperative Pointing. PLoS ONE, 7(2). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030913
- February 4, 2013
- 05:25 AM
- 113 views
VIDEO: Stunning Footage of a Thought Being Formed
by Zach Urbina in United Academics
Shown at three times natural speed, this video the first ever thought being documented while it was being formed. The zebrafish is an ideal candidate for this advanced area of study as its skin remains transparent during early development. The brilliant flash in this particular moment coincided with the passing of a nearby paramecium, and correlated with hunting behavior in the zebrafish. To put it bluntly, the fish was thinking; dinner. Truly a remarkable leap forward in field of neuroscience... Read more »
Muto, A., Ohkura, M., Abe, G., Nakai, J., & Kawakami, K. (2013) Real-Time Visualization of Neuronal Activity during Perception. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.12.040
- February 1, 2013
- 07:17 AM
- 148 views
Scientists Amazed by Mass Grave in Field
by Katja Keuchenius in United Academics
The skulls have very different forms, they lay in a seemingly insignificant location, and some of them have fingers in their eyes. What happened here?... Read more »
Morehart, C., Peñaloza, A., Sánchez, C., de Tapia, E., & Morales, E. (2012) Human Sacrifice During the Epiclassic Period in the Northern Basin of Mexico. Latin American Antiquity, 23(4), 426-448. DOI: 10.7183/1045-6635.23.4.426
- February 1, 2013
- 05:25 AM
- 150 views
The Science of Yoga (and Its Dirty Little Secrets)
by Carian Thus in United Academics
In the book ‘The Science of Yoga,’ William J. Broad discusses more than a century of research on the risks and rewards of yoga, confirming what we may already know about the ancient practice, but also revealing its dirty little secrets.... Read more »
Balasubramaniam M, Telles S, & Doraiswamy PM. (2012) Yoga on our minds: a systematic review of yoga for neuropsychiatric disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry / Frontiers Research Foundation, 117. PMID: 23355825
- February 1, 2013
- 05:23 AM
- 108 views
Swarming without brains
by Katja Keuchenius in United Academics
How do birds, fish and insects form flocks? The question puzzles scientists as well as random spectators of animal swarms. But it isn’t as difficult as it looks. Turns out you don’t even need brains to swarm.... Read more »
Giomi, L., Hawley-Weld, N., & Mahadevan, L. (2013) Swarming, swirling and stasis in sequestered bristle-bots. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 469(2151), 20120637-20120637. DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2012.0637
- February 1, 2013
- 05:05 AM
- 96 views
Swarming without brains
by Katja Keuchenius in United Academics
Toothbrushes on batteries show social behavior. When they meet in a small area, they automatically form flocks.... Read more »
Giomi, L., Hawley-Weld, N., & Mahadevan, L. (2013) Swarming, swirling and stasis in sequestered bristle-bots. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 469(2151), 20120637-20120637. DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2012.0637
- January 30, 2013
- 12:02 PM
- 144 views
Don’t Panic If You Didn’t Get 8 Hours of Sleep
by Zach Urbina in United Academics
Feeling like you’re falling behind on sleep lately? Don’t worry too much. Recently published research from the University of Sydney demonstrated that sleep duration shifts periodically over the course of the month. These shifts occur independent of lifestyle, social, and/or environmental influences.
‘Sleep requirements vary in a cyclical fashion and between individuals. If you incur a sleep debt, your body will signal a need to catch up on extra sleep,’ said Dr. Chi........ Read more »
Wong, S., Halaki, ., & Chow, . (2013) The periodicity of sleep duration – an infradian rhythm in spontaneous living. Nature and Science of Sleep, 1. DOI: 10.2147/NSS.S38116
- January 30, 2013
- 04:23 AM
- 136 views
Flirting Most Effective on a Sunny Day
by Carian Thus in United Academics
Studies have shown that sunshine activates positive emotions and good mood, which in turn can facilitate social relationships. For example, we are more likely to help others on sunny days. Now, a French researcher explored whether positive weather conditions also benefit courtship behavior.
So how do you test this? Simple: ask attractive, 20-year-old men to approach young women (about 500) walking alone in a shopping mall on either cloudy or sunny days (controlling for temperature). Their goa........ Read more »
Guéguen, N. (2013) Weather and courtship behavior: A quasi-experiment with the flirty sunshine. Social Influence, 1-8. DOI: 10.1080/15534510.2012.752401
- January 30, 2013
- 04:18 AM
- 95 views
Happier Children Earn Higher Wages in Adulthood
by Jalees Rehman in United Academics
There is quite a bit of debate about the scientific validity of the proverb “money can’t buy happiness”, because studies on this topic have resulted in discordant results. Some studies support the idea that richer people are happier on average than poor people, but there are also reports that while the median income in the US has grown in recent decades, average happiness among Americans has hardly changed.... Read more »
De Neve, J., & Oswald, A. (2012) Estimating the influence of life satisfaction and positive affect on later income using sibling fixed effects. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(49), 19953-19958. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1211437109
- January 29, 2013
- 10:25 AM
- 132 views
Penicillin, Not The Pill, Started The Sexual Revolution
by Zach Urbina in United Academics
A new study that analyzes the costs of risky sex has found that the sexual revolution actually began during the 1950s, a decade earlier than popular culture concedes.
Emory University economics researcher Andrew Francis analyzed data from US health agencies from the 1930s to the 1970s and found that between 1947 and 1957, the syphilis death rate dropped by 75 percent, while the syphilis rate of incidence dropped a staggering 95 percent.... Read more »
Francis, A. (2012) The Wages of Sin: How the Discovery of Penicillin Reshaped Modern Sexuality. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 42(1), 5-13. DOI: 10.1007/s10508-012-0018-4
- January 29, 2013
- 09:11 AM
- 126 views
Is Sex Necessary?
by Andrew Porterfield in United Academics
Sex, it turns out, is a risky affair. Besides infidelity, sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy, it can also perpetuate harmful genes. Also, compared to asexual reproduction, it’s very inefficient—bacteria, strawberries and even some amphibians don’t have to look for a mate. So, why have sex—sexual reproduction, that is?... Read more »
Otto, S. (2008) Sexual reproduction and the evolution of sex. Nature Education, 1(1). info:/
- January 29, 2013
- 06:52 AM
- 121 views
Is Working from Home Satisfying?
by Mark Fonseca Rendeiro in United Academics
As you read this very post, you may be sitting at home, one of the small but growing percentage of individuals around the world who work from home. Or perhaps you some work from home and other days you go to the office. Whatever the arrangement, is it a well known trend with a mix of benefits and long term questions, as more businesses and workers invest in the concept of what is sometimes called telework. Frequently updated research looks into aspects such as cost/benefit and productivity. ........ Read more »
Wheatley, D. (2012) Good to be home? Time-use and satisfaction levels among home-based teleworkers. New Technology, Work and Employment, 27(3), 224-241. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-005X.2012.00289.x
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