Sunday, October 30, 2011

Signs of a Leader Maturity

The term adult derived from the Latin word derived from adultus means it has grown into strength and size are perfect or have become mature (Hurlock, 1992). Thimefore a so-called adults are individuals who have been ready to accept the position in society.  While the maturity is a state of moving forward toward perfection. Maturity is not a static condition, but it is a situation to be .... (A state of Becoming).

Although no one is able to act and react to all situations and all aspects of life, with full maturity. But after all, a leader in the world of work will be required for addressing problems in more mature. Thimefore, he should at least have some traits that show such maturity. Success and failure of a person to lead and direct subordinates will greatly depend on the maturity of attitude and actions to be taken. What is the form of maturity that is required to have these? Below will be disclosed some qualities that should be possessed by a leader so he can be considered an adult. Every quality that one's duty to achieve the quality of the othim, and become part of the duty of the leader as one who is considered full grown.

The characteristics of manhood that should be owned by a lady leaders are as follows:

 Respecting Othims

 A good leader must work togethim with othims. This means that he must work with the strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and shortcomings of the othim person. If he was an adult, he will appreciate the differences that exist and will not try to shape othim people to suit their own desires and not manipulate subordinates for him own benefit. He was able to accept the fact that thime is, that everyone has a stake on the outcome of the work carried out togethim (teamwork).

This does not mean that an adult leader who has a weak heart. He received anothim person, it does not mean spoiling them for good, including if the lack of them (subordinates) will interfere with and affect the overall goals. An adult leader must be able to lay off or fire someone who no longer contribute to the progress or the good of the organization. This is important because it is an injustice to the company and anothim person if the person is no longer able to contribute is still maintained.

Patient

Adult leaders who can learn to accept the fact that for some problems thime is no settlement or easy solutions. He will not easily accept the first problem solving suggested. He will appreciate the fact and will gathim as much information before giving advice solution. Not only was he willing to wait, but he knew full well the need for some alternatives to taking a decision in problem solving.

Full of Endurance
All living things must have experienced pain, difficulties and disappointments. Likewise with a leader will never escape from such problems. Even so, an adult leader who will rise up again and healthy again after the misfortune that struck repeatedly with the hope and endurance they have. He will try to be honest and not going to pretend all is fine condition. He accepted the fact that pain must be endured, the mistakes corrected and he will not waste time regretting and lamenting the mistakes that have been passed. Failure will crush and destroy the weak, whimeas a mature personality will take it as a lesson of experience is invaluable.

Able to Decision-Making

People who are adults, in addition to patience and perseverance to find solutions for problems, should also be able to take a decision, although only use the data or information is very minimal, less complete or still blurry. After weighing the facts, he will soon realize that in a time of a an act should be immediately taken. With resuscitate him against his conviction and against people around him he should be able to take and bear the risks that have been calculated by him.

Peter Drucker once stated that the future is never any certainty, but thime are only possibilities. An adult leader must learn to accept this. He should be able to make decisions based on estimates or best possibilities which can be obtained, because he knows if we wait to obtain a thorough certainty, the decision taken may be too late.

Enjoying Work

Someone who has a healthy emotion or have a mature personality will know how to enjoy him work. Whatever type of job a person who is considered an adult would rarely idle. He knows how to find satisfaction in doing a good job and he feels proud to carry out the task. Adult leaders who will gain satisfaction in dealing with a job and do not stutter a job as live load.

For an adult personality work is necessary to its survival as an individual.  The work is a way for him to express himself (self-actualization). With the work he will feel secure to not dwell with the anxieties and problems himself.

Accepting Responsibility

People who are not adults will complain and regret about failures they experience. They will feel that they experience a failure of othim people's mistakes and good fortune are moving away from them. To avoid failure, they tend not to accept responsibility.  Conversely for those mature personality all success and failure is the responsibility yourself. They realize that each person requires fortitude and strength and a refuge in times of difficulty, and is responsible for handling things is oneself

Believing in someone else / othim forces such as shamans, leadership, good luck, etc., to solve problems is a sign of immaturity. To the power of self-confidence and courage to accept responsibility in life is very important to engender a sense of security and happiness

Believe In Yourself

An adult leader who will welcome the participation of othims, even regarding difficult decisions. This happens because they are very confident and believe in their own abilities so that thime is no fear for competition. They will easily see and know that othims who have ideas and thoughts are valuable. For them the power of othim people would only be a threat to people who do not feel safe, and that thime is no confidence in himself.

An adult leader who will obtain satisfaction based on achievements made by his subordinates. He will feel pride in the confidence and knowledge that his subordinate was his responsibility. In contrast to a leader who is not an adult would feel that it is both bitter and painful when given a similar situation.

Having a Sense of Humor

Laughter is healthy. Adult or mature person who agrees with the greeting. However, the adults will not make people laugh by way of harming or hurting othims' feelings. They also will not be laughing if othim people in difficult circumstances or hurt feelings.

Emotionally healthy people will always remember that humor must be good in nature and spread happiness for those who listen. A mature person will use humor rathim like a club or put othims down, but as a tool to smooth out the atmosphime and relax tension.

Has the Whole Personality

People who are adults, not the ones who are wasting and wasting energy by using all its energy and move in different directions is erratic, often contradictory directions. In general they are people who regularly and has organized and can handle the problem effectively. They are not easy to switch attention, or deviate from the plan because of the desires that arise suddenly, but they can easily switch from one activity to anothim activity without kebingunagan and chaos.

Balanced

An adult leader who will live in a balanced life. He felt proud to be part of the company and know exactly the position and role within the company.  He was smart to put yourself so as not to complicate itself and the company. He was able to work hard and always ready to handle the pressure it receives and can enjoy their leisure time well.

Accepting Yourself

Effective leaders have vision and a good assessment of the strengths and weaknesses they have. In reality this is very critical to the success of a leader. But the only leader who has the maturity to choose and collect the servants and the people close to each othim shortfalls and weaknesses. Because he can see and judge themselves by both an objective and realistic, then he would be able to use the strengths and talents effectively. He will also be free of the frustration that may arise due to failure to achieve something beyond him abilities.

Having a Strong Principle

Many leaders who truly see the company as a living organism that must be preserved and maintained. They view themselves as a bodyguard for the safety and good of the company. They consider themselves a role as caretakers and protectors of the company who then forwards and hand guard and nurture it to the successor function.

It also explains why leaders would not hesitate to be harsh and decisive in dealing with othim people when it comes to safety and survival. They uphold the principles that have been invested in the company and will not know the word surrender if faced paa about life and death of the company.
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Friday, October 28, 2011

Mental Disorders Making Poor


Psychological problem greatly affect a person's life. Not only the impact on the mental, psychological disorders also make a person insolvent. How so?

New Scientist magazine has published a list of the most popular mental disorders are a major source person becomes insolvent. The first condition is anxiety, followed by insomnia and depression.

Approximately 165 million people or 38 percent of all EU citizens, visiting the doctor to complain of mental and neurological problems. At the same time, the treatment of such diseases in Europe is much more expensive than treating other diseases.

Experts estimate the Europeans who have spent a lot of money to treat more than 100 diseases, such as sleep disorders in a systematic, psychosis, migraine, and dementia.

According to these results, treatment of one of Europe cost more than 1,500 euros per year. This condition is two times higher than in 2005. Thus quoted from Genius Beauty, Tuesday (10/25/2011).

Experts predict that the Europeans will spend more money for the treatment of depression, increased anxiety, or dementia.

Experts have urged EU governments to fund programs related to studying diseases of the nervous system and a more active life.
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Thursday, October 27, 2011

10 Stress-Free Ways to Reduce Anxiety

By Glenn Mueller
eDiets Contributor

There is no question about it: We are living in very intense times. Though a certain amount of anxiety can help keep us on our toes, how can we manage and reduce our stress so that it doesn’t become overwhelming? Here are 10 stress-busters to help you cope with anxiety:

1. Eat a healthy diet. Feeding your body the right foods is essential for managing stress. Be sure to follow a healthy eating plan. During stressful situations, people have a tendency to skip meals. Try to avoid this if possible.

When you are already feeling nervous energy coursing through those veins, you want to keep an eye on your caffeine intake. If you keep drinking coffee all day long, it is bound to put you on edge. Green tea has less caffeine than coffee, so it might be a better alternative. Also, instead of resorting to sugary sodas, have a glass of water. Your nerves will thank you.

Another way to keep calm is to pack plenty of healthy snacks. Processed foods and sugary candy bars will make you feel strung out. Fresh fruits and vegetables will make you feel much better.

2. Get plenty of exercise. Try to fit exercise into your schedule at least three to four times a week for at least 30 to 45 minutes each session. Not only will it keep you in shape, but working out is a great way to blow off steam.

3. Get plenty of rest. Listen to your mother and “get a good night’s sleep.” A proper amount of rest will make it easier to cope with whatever challenges life throws your way tomorrow. Most people need at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night to function at their best.

Unfortunately, anxiety is one of the leading causes of insomnia. If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, try using relaxing music to reclaim your precious sleep. Get yourself into a regular sleep pattern by going to bed at the same time every night. Schedule your bedtime as you would an important appointment, and try to stick to it.

4. Organize your time. Are you always trying to get “organized?” Do you frequently find yourself staying up all night on April 14 to finish your tax return? Well, that situation is very stressful, but it is also avoidable. Planning, scheduling and organizing your time may seem more stressful at first, but it will make your life much easier to manage in the long run.

5. Take a deep breath. Breath in, breathe out. As simple as it sounds, using deep breathing can be one of your greatest weapons against stress. Step away from the stressful situation. Close your eyes and breathe deeply and quietly for a few minutes. Just a few minutes of deep breathing is a great way to decompress. As little as three to five minutes of this exercise can make a tremendous difference.

6. Meditate. Though it is foreign to many of us in the West, meditation has been scientifically proven as an effective way to reduce anxiety. If you are new to meditation, you may want to work with a group. Many gyms, churches and civic centers offer meditation classes. If you can’t find a meditation course in your area, there are plenty of guided meditations on DVD and CD.

7. Develop a support network. As the popular song says, “We all need somebody to lean on.” Don’t try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Ask for help from your friends and relatives — that’s what they are there for. And, if you are looking to build your support network, why not join a support group? It is a great way to make new friends and meet people facing the same difficulties.

8. Take time for yourself. Be sure to schedule time for fun. It is always easier to cope with stress when you have something to look forward to.

9. Keep your sense of humor. As Oscar Wilde once said, “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” Keeping a sense of humor about things and not taking yourself too seriously is one of the most effective coping strategies available. Remember that wherever there is laughter, there is hope.

10. Seek professional help. Sometimes all of these strategies may not be enough. If you have been suffering from panic attacks or experiencing high levels of anxiety that just won’t go away, seeking professional help may be the best option. Remember, there is nothing to be ashamed about. It takes a strong person to admit that they need help. A professional will help you explore your options for making your life manageable again.

Source: healthnews.ediets.com
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The Teen Happiness Gene?

 Whether you were happy with life as a teenager could be down to a certain gene, says a new study.

In a large study of American adolescents, the AddHealth project, teens who carried the long form of the 5HTTLPR locus were more likely to say they were satisfied or very satisified with their lives (at age 18 to 26). People with two long variants were the most cheerful, with short/long carriers in the middle and short/short being the least so.

The effect was significant controlling for ethnicity (p=0.013), however looking at the data shows that this effect was largely driven by the unhappy teens who reported being "Dissatisfied" or "Neither" on the 5 point scale of life satisfaction - but there were only a small number of these, because the great majority said they were "Satisfied" or "Very Satisfied". Still, there you go.

Incidentally, Neuroskeptic readers may remember AddHealth because of its role in the "black women are ugly" race row from earlier this year.

This study is the latest in a long, long line of attempts to correlate 5HTTLPR with happiness, depression, stress and so on. A few months ago I discussed the history of this busy little gene and covered a meta-analysis of no fewer than 54 papers which claimed that there was indeed a link, with the short allele increasing the risk of depression in response to stressful events.

However many studies failed to find one, and worryingly the three largest studies were all negative which is a classic tell-tale sign of publication bias - maybe people were only bothering to publish smaller studies if they did find a link and hence were "exciting findings". This is quite possible because so many researchers collect DNA as part of psychology studies these days. When the 5HTTLPR story got big (about 5 years ago) I know a lot of people decided to jump on the bandwagon by looking at it in the context of their old data.

Personally I have no idea whether 5HTTLPR is associated with anything. I used to think it probably did, but now I'm just confusion. There have been so many studies and so much inconsistency that it's very hard to know. What worries me is that I'm not sure whether we'll ever get a consensus. We've already had a gigantic study (over 80,000 people) showing no link and many meta-analyses coming to different conclusions.

What will it take to settle the issue? An even bigger study? Would 200,000 people do it? A million? I don't know.

Source: neuroskeptic
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Temporal Artery Flow Response during the Last Minute of a Head Up Tilt Test, in Relation with Orthostatic Intolerance after a 60 Day Head-Down Bedrest

by Philippe Arbeille, Ming Yuan, Yanqiang Bai, Shizhong Jiang, Gullemette Gauquelin, Patrick Aubry, Yuming Wan, Marc Antoine Custaud, Yinghui Li

Objective

Check if the Temporal flow response to Tilt could provide early hemodynamic pattern in the minutes preceding a syncope during the Tilt test performed after a 60-d head down bedrest (HDBR).

Method

Twenty-one men divided into 3 groups [Control (Con), Resistive Vibration (RVE) and Chinese Herb (Herb)] underwent a 60 day HDBR. Pre and Post HDBR a 20 min Tilt identified Finishers (F) and Non Finishers (NF). Cerebral (MCA), Temporal (TEMP), Femoral (FEM) flow velocity, were measured by Doppler during the Tilt. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by arm cuff and cardiopress.

Results and Discussion

Four of the 21 subjects were NF at the post HDBR Tilt test (Con gr:2, RVE gr: 1, Herb gr: 1). At 1 min and 10 s before end of Tilt in NF gr, FEM flow decreased less and MCA decreased more at post HDBR Tilt compared to pre (p<0.05), while in the F gr they changed similarly as pre. In NF gr: TEMP flow decreased more at post HDBR Tilt compared to pre, but only at 10 s before the end of Tilt (P<0.05). During the last 10 s a negative TEMP diastolic component appeared which induced a drop in mean velocity until Tilt arrest.

Conclusion

The sudden drop in TEMP flow with onset of a negative diastolic flow preceding the decrease in MCA flow confirm that the TEMP vascular resistance respond more directly than the cerebral one to the cardiac output redistribution and that this response occur several seconds before syncope.

Source: www.plosone.org
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How Cannabis Causes 'Cognitive Chaos' In The Brain

Cannabis use is associated with disturbances in concentration and memory. New research by neuroscientists at the University of Bristol, published in the Journal of Neuroscience [Oct. 25], has found that brain activity becomes uncoordinated and inaccurate during these altered states of mind, leading to neurophysiological and behavioural impairments reminiscent of those seen in schizophrenia.

The collaborative study, led by Dr Matt Jones from the University's School of Physiology and Pharmacology, tested whether the detrimental effects of cannabis on memory and cognition could be the result of 'disorchestrated' brain networks.

Brain activity can be compared to performance of a philharmonic orchestra in which string, brass, woodwind and percussion sections are coupled together in rhythms dictated by the conductor. Similarly, specific structures in the brain tune in to one another at defined frequencies: their rhythmic activity gives rise to brain waves, and the tuning of these brain waves normally allows processing of information used to guide our behaviour.

Using state-of-the-art technology, the researchers measured electrical activity from hundreds of neurons in rats that were given a drug that mimics the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. While the effects of the drug on individual brain regions were subtle, the drug completely disrupted co-ordinated brain waves across the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, as though two sections of the orchestra were playing out of synch.

Both these brain structures are essential for memory and decision-making and heavily implicated in the pathology of schizophrenia.

The results from the study show that as a consequence of this decoupling of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, the rats became unable to make accurate decisions when navigating around a maze.

Dr Jones, lead author and MRC Senior Non-clinical Fellow at the University, said: "Marijuana abuse is common among sufferers of schizophrenia and recent studies have shown that the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana can induce some symptoms of schizophrenia in healthy volunteers. These findings are therefore important for our understanding of psychiatric diseases, which may arise as a consequence of 'disorchestrated brains' and could be treated by re-tuning brain activity."

Michal Kucewicz, first author on the study, added: "These results are an important step forward in our understanding of how rhythmic activity in the brain underlies thought processes in health and disease."

The research is part of a Medical Research Council (MRC)-supported collaboration between the University and the Eli Lilly & Co. Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience that aims to develop new tools and targets for treatment of brain diseases like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
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Person Perception 25 Years After Bruce and Young (1986): An Introduction

Faces are special stimuli to humans because they convey an enormous range of socially relevant information about a person's identity, gender, age, ethnicity, mood, attractiveness, and about a person's current focus of attention or intentions. For more than two decades, a sentence similar to this one has introduced numerous scientific articles on face perception. Faces are so rich in social information that it may be easy to overlook that other visual or auditory cues (plus, of course, those from other senses) play an important role in our perception of other people as well. In fact, person perception research in 1986 was, to a very large extent, equivalent to face perception research.

The idea for this special issue emerged gradually while the two of us discussed creating an international research unit on person perception, a couple of years back. While research activities in face perception have remained strong, the past years have also seen enormous progress in understanding the perception of other ‘socially potent’ stimuli including the human voice or biological motion signals. Thus, general person perception, representing a natural extension of research on face perception, is currently seeing an immense degree of scientific activity from psychologists, biologists, neuroscientists, and computational scientists. At the same time, a great many of today's empirical and theoretical developments in person perception continue to be strongly inspired by one seminal paper, ‘Understanding face recognition’, published by Vicki Bruce and Andy Young (1986) in the British Journal of Psychology.

Full Read Stories: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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Diet Success with the Power of Intention

There are several things that make someone successful or not in a diet. Among these factors the most important is the implementation intention.

A study conducted by Floor Kroese, Marieke Adriaanse, Catharine Evers, and Denise DeRidder as released in the bulletin of Personality and Social Psychology October 2011 edition says that implementation intentions increase the strength of the relationship between temptations and goals.

When we're on a diet all of a sudden there is a temptation that comes, for example, there is a friend who offered us a piece of chocolate cake then we must do two things, namely:
1. Decided to stick to the goal that we're on a diet.
2. Try to make special plans to keep us on the initial goal. For example, by thinking how to get a cup of coffee or a glass of water instead.
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Repeat Bouts Of Depression Linked To Low Mastery And Smoking

by Grace Rattue

According to a report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), the risk factors for individuals experiencing repeat episodes of depression include daily smoking, lack of control over life situations (low mastery) and previous depression.

Depression is a common disorder in which feelings of sadness, anger, loss, or frustration negatively affect the individual's quality of life. Approximately 65% of individuals with the condition have repeat episodes. In addition the condition can be linked with weight and dietary control as well as pain and inattention to other health issues.

585 adults from Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey who had experienced depression in 2000-2001, were examined by the researchers in order to identify risk factors connected with long-term prognosis of depression. 82% were in the middle - to high- income bracket, 65% of participants were women, and the average age was 38.5 years. In the following six years over half of all participants had experienced one or more episodes of depression. It appeared that being an immigrant had a protective status against relapse in individuals who suffer from severe depression.

The investigators discovered that future depressive episodes were not connected with sex, age and income but that long-term depression was linked with low mastery and daily smoking. They found that participants who had high levels of mastery seemed to be protected against depression in the future.

Dr. Ian Colman, Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, with coauthors, explained:

    "History of depression is a well-known clinical indicator of future depressive episodes; however smoking and mastery are more novel prognostic factors that are not well accounted for in current clinical practice. Future research should evaluate the benefits of including smoking cessation and mastery in existing clinical guidelines for treatment of depression."
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
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Potential New Drug Target Could Stop Debilitating Effects of Multiple Sclerosis

Medical researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a potential new drug target for multiple sclerosis that could prevent the physical disability associated with the disease.

In the first phase of MS, those with the condition have inflammation of their brain cells, resulting in continuous cycles of inflammation attacks and recovery periods. In the second phase of the disease, the inflammation isn't as severe, but this is the stage where physical disability sets in due to the effects of substantial brain cells being killed in the first phase of the disease.

When immune cells become active due to inflammation, they can pass the blood brain barrier and enter the central nervous system. Some of these activated immune cells secrete a molecule, known as granzyme B, which can get inside neurons and wreak havoc, ultimately causing brain cell death. Granzyme B is found in MS brain lesions, especially in the early stages of inflammation. This molecule can get into brain cells through a "gatekeeper," known as receptor M6PR.

Researchers with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry discovered in lab experiments that if they prevent this granzyme B from entering neurons, "we can also prevent the killing of neurons," says principal investigator Fabrizio Giuliani, whose work was recently published in the peer-reviewed publication The Journal of Immunology.

"It is this loss of brain cells in the long term which induces disability in those with MS," he says. "This is a new drug target for MS that is specific for the neurodegenerative processes following inflammation. A new drug treatment should address this long-term loss of brain cells."

Giuliani, a researcher in the Division of Neurology and a practising neurologist, noted this latest research builds on previous findings by his colleagues within the faculty. Medical researcher and co-author Chris Bleackley made an earlier discovery about how granzyme B enters target cells through the receptor M6PR, while another faculty researcher discovered that the M6PR receptor is found mostly in neurons.

"We were just connecting the dots and said, 'OK, if this receptor is expressed in neurons specifically and not expressed in other cells, is it possible that this is the mechanism that allows this granzyme B to get into human neurons and start killing brain cells?' What we found is yes, this 'death' receptor allows this specific molecule to get in and that if you block the receptor, you also block the neurotoxic effect in neurons. This is an excellent example about collaboration with other researchers and translational research."

Many existing MS treatments primarily target brain inflammation, which is very effective in the first phase of the disease but not as helpful once patients reach the second phase. Giuliani says what is needed are new medications that can either repair inflamed brain cells or prevent brain degeneration in the first place. He says this new drug target could do just that, by preventing brain cell death in the early stages of the disease.

With this new drug target, Giuliani adds that only a specific function of a cell would be blocked, not multiple functions of a cell. Many medications on the market block multiple functions of a specific type of cell. "We are blocking a specific function, not multiple pathways and eventually this strategy could reduce the side effects of new drugs."

Giuliani and his fellow researchers are continuing their research in this area.

This research was supported through funding by the MS Society of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions and the University of Alberta Hospital Foundation.

Julia Daniluck, an Edmontonian who has MS, said the research findings were encouraging. Daniluk was diagnosed with MS nine years ago when she was just 19-years-old. She was having mobility issues after returning home from her job as a dancer on a cruise ship. When she went to the doctor and underwent various tests, she was diagnosed with MS. She is now studying marketing through the University of Lethbridge and is engaged to be married. Just this last weekend, a fundraising team she organized raised $100,000 for the MS Society.

"To me, I know that there's still so many unknowns about MS and this is just one more piece of the puzzle for us to truly gain an understanding about the cause of MS and the progression and why things happen the way they do…

"For the future, you have to start somewhere to make these discoveries. The amount of work these researchers put into making these discoveries is just amazing."

Darrel Gregory, a spokesperson for the MS Society of Canada -- Alberta & NWT Division -- said the organization was excited about Giuliani's discovery. In Alberta, more than 11,000 people have MS. Across the country, between 55,000 -- 75,000 people live with the disease.

"It means a great deal to us because I think it offers hope to everybody who lives with MS; hope for a potential treatment and possibly a cure at one point. I think that if we can lessen the physical disability that people live with, it will go a long way to helping improve quality of life for people who live with MS."

Source: www.sciencedaily.com
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Harsh Discipline Fosters Dishonesty In Young Children

Classical composition by Orff makes beautiful music on the racetrack

Young children exposed to a harshly punitive school environment are more inclined to lie to conceal their misbehaviour than are children from non-punitive schools, a study of three- and four-year-old West African children suggests.

The study, published in the journal Child Development, also indicates that children in a punitive environment are able to tell more convincing lies than those in a non-punitive environment.

The research, by Professor Victoria Talwar of McGill University and Professor Kang Lee of the University of Toronto, examined deceptive behaviours in two groups of children living in the same neighbourhood. One group was enrolled in a private school that used a traditional authoritarian discipline model, in which beating with a stick, slapping of the head, and pinching were administered publicly and routinely for offenses ranging from forgetting a pencil to being disruptive in class. In the other school, also private, children were disciplined with time-outs or scolding and, for more serious offenses, were taken to the principal's office for further reprimand.

The study involved an experiment comparing the behaviour of children in the two schools. Children were seen individually and asked to play a guessing game by an experimenter who was born and raised locally. The children were told not to peek at a toy when left alone in a room. Most children in both schools couldn't resist the temptation, and peeked at the toy. When the experimenter asked if they had peeked, nearly all the peekers from the punitive school lied - compared with just over half of those from the non-punitive school. What's more, after the initial lie, lie-tellers from the punitive school were better able to maintain their deception when answering follow-up questions about the identity of the toy - by deliberately giving an incorrect answer, for example, or by feigning ignorance, rather than blurting out the name of the toy.

The findings suggest that "a punitive environment not only fosters increased dishonesty but also children's abilities to lie to conceal their transgressions," Talwar and Lee conclude.

In fact, the three- and four-year-old lie-tellers in the punitive school were as advanced in their ability to tell convincing lies as six- to seven-year-old lie-tellers in existing studies. "This finding is surprising," the authors note, as "existing studies have consistently found that children from punitive environments tend to suffer general delays in cognitive development."

"One possibility is that the harsh punitive environment heightens children's motivation to come up with any strategies that will help them survive in that environment," Prof. Lee says. "Lying seems particularly adaptive for the situation.

"Our study, I think, may serve as a cautionary tale for parents who sometimes would use the harshest means of punishment when they catch their children lying. It is clear that corporal punishment not only does not reduce children's tendency to lie, but actually improves their lying skills."

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
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Study: More Outdoor Time for Kids Wards off Nearsightedness

University of Cambridge researchers presented evidence drawn from their analysis of carefully selected recent eye health studies suggesting more outdoor time for children and adolescents could reduce their chances of developing nearsightedness, or myopia.

Myopia has grown more common worldwide since the 1970s, Anthony Khawaja of the University of Cambridge noted at the 115th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology -- over 80 percent are nearsighted in some Asian countries -- but Khawaja's and lead researcher Justin Sherwin's analysis of eight studies on outdoor time and myopia, representing a total of 10,400 children and adolescents participating, provided evidence that the amounts of time spent in natural light and gazing towards distant objects, could be keys to reducing nearsightedness in kids, ScienceDaily reported.
The research team found that each extra outdoor hour spent per week reduced the chances of developing myopia about two percent, and they also found that nearsighted children spent less time outdoors, almost four hours fewer on the average, than those with farsightedness or normal vision.
Simply being outdoors appeared to protect eyesight, regardless of specific activities, according to the team, whose study was not designed to identify underlying causes for this relationship.
Two of the analyzed studies also focused on the amount of time spent on "near work" -- studying or playing computer games, for examples -- and found no relationship between such tasks and nearsightedness.
Khawaja concluded,

 "Increasing children's outdoor time could be a simple and cost-effective measure with important benefits for their vision and general health. If we want to make clear recommendations, however, we'll need more precise data. Future, prospective studies will help us understand which factors, such as increased use of distance vision, reduced use of near vision, natural ultra violet light exposure or physical activity, are most important."
Khawaja has also begun researching whether increased outdoor time might stop the progression of nearsightedness, citing in his presentation a separate Chinese study of 80 nearsighted children, half assigned to less near work and more outdoor time; after two years those researchers found children in the outdoor group were less nearsighted than the 40 in the control group children who had followed no particular schedule.
In August 2008 the Sidney Myopia Study of 4,000 children found high levels of near work and low levels of outdoor activity were strongly associated with myopia, ScienceDaily reported

Full Read: www.digitaljournal.com
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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Brain Development of Autistic Slows Down

Autistic child's brain develops more slowly than other groups. That fact newly discovered by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Slow development causes a child with autism have trouble communicating and socializing with friends and family. During adolescence, the brain grows more rapidly.

The researchers say that autism is usually diagnosed before the child was three years old, but in some cases can be diagnosed more slowly.

Hua Xue of UCLA said, "Because the autistic child's brain develops more slowly during this critical period of life, children may have a very difficult time struggling to establish a personal identity, develop social interaction and improve the emotional skills".

This research is very helpful to a better understanding of autism and how to overcome them. To detect the problem of autism can be used T1-weighted MRI to understand the functioning of brain growth.

In addition, through the T1-weighted MRI can also help in studying the putamen and anterior cingulated, the second part of the brain. There are a number of children suffering from autism.

This study certainly is very useful for parents and can help detect the symptoms of autism and how the appropriate treatment. 

Source: newstonight.net
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Friday, October 21, 2011

Bandit is a Robot to Helps Autistic Kids

A small robot named Bandit is the latest technology to help children with autism in order to better understand the social and emotional behavior.



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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Psychology Internship Program Reaccredited

Psychology internship program, which offers three advanced placement to graduates each year University Health Services Center, Counseling and mental health is reaccredited through the American Psychological Association in 2018, according to a press release.

Accreditation ensures that every program meets the standards of the APA, and trains apprentices and trainees in the field. During the program, students are required to provide short-term treatment for individuals, couples, groups and families, as well as providing crisis intervention, according to the press.

For accreditation, the program has been self-assessment and peer reviews on the site.

The seven-year accreditation is given to the University of Massachusetts is the longest period offered by the APA, the statement said. The program has been accredited since 1979.

Source: dailycollegian.com
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Treatments of ADHD

Although there is no known cure for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there are several options that can help them effectively manage the symptoms of space. Treatments range from behavioral interventions of prescription drugs. Although research has found that medication alone is an effective way to treat ADHD, a large study by the National Institutes of Mental Health has found that a combined approach to drug therapy and behavior therapy in collaboration with the most useful for patients to manage well.

ADHD drugs

The survey of major national health of children adopted in 2003, some 2.5 million young people aged four to 17 years (56 percent of those diagnosed) had received medication for ADHD. Drug use is higher among children with ADHD who are 9 and 12. Medications are often an important and difficult reality for parents of children with ADHD. To find out which medications are safe and suitable for you or your child, be sure to investigate and discuss the information with your doctor and / or health care professional.

Central nervous system stimulants

Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs against ADHD. Although researchers do not know exactly how these medicines, it is believed that the balance of the central nervous system stimulant in the levels of certain neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) such as dopamine, which can be unstable in patients ADHD. CNS stimulants come in a variety of forms, including pill, capsule, liquid, and plaster, and they can also come in varieties of short-acting, long acting or extended release. Long-acting or sustained release forms are often the cause of a child taking the medication once a day before school, they saw no need to travel daily to the nurse school for a dose of the afternoon. Parents and doctors should decide together what medicine is best for the child and the child needs medication during school hours or evenings and weekends only way.

CNS stimulants are common:

* Stimulants based amphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat)

* Dextromethamphetamine (Desoxyn)

* Dextromethylphenidate (Focalin)

* Methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Date Meta, Ritalin)

Nonstimulant drugs

Stimulant medication is often not taken into account when stimulants do not work or caused unacceptable side effects. Non-stimulant medication used to treat ADHD include:

* Atomoxetine (Strattera)

Medications for blood pressure (such as guanfacine, trademark Intuniv)

* Antidepressants

* Atypical antipsychotics

Learn more about these medications for ADHD, including side effects.

The therapeutic treatment of ADHD

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be helpful, especially in children slightly larger, to get a child to open his feelings to cope with ADHD. ADHD can cause problems with authority figures and colleagues, psychotherapy can help your child with these relationships correctly. Psychotherapy, the child may also examine your behavior and learn how to make the right choices in advance. Family therapy can be an excellent place to understand how best to work through destructive behavior.

Behavioral therapy

Behavioral therapy (BT) attempts to teach children better control their behavior and change these behaviors appropriately. Often, the child and the child's parents and / or teacher (s) will work together to develop strategies to deal with certain situations and behaviors that result. This often involves a type of information directly to the children learn appropriate behavior, for example, a system of rewards reason might be designed to reinforce positive behaviors.

Social Skills Training

Social skills training can sometimes be useful if your child has significant problems operating in social settings. Like BT, social skills training is most appropriate to teach new behaviors, particularly those that can help a child with ADHD play and work better with others. For example, a therapist may try to teach behaviors such as taking turns, sharing toys, asking for help, or face ridicule.

Support Groups

Support groups are great for helping parents connect with others who may share similar experiences, concerns and successes with children with ADHD. Ideally, support groups meet regularly to relationships and support networks can be built. Know that we are not alone in the treatment of ADHD can be a strength of mind, great. Support groups can also be an excellent resource for expert advice and practical strategies, especially if you are a parent of a child newly diagnosed with ADHD.

Parenting

This course provides the tools and techniques for parents to understand and manage the behavior of your child. Some techniques may include:

* A system of points or other means to make a rewarding job or just

* How to use a timeout when the child becomes too unruly or out of control. For some children, out of a stressful situation or stimulants can also help you learn to respond appropriately the next time you get up.

* To find time each week to share an enjoyable activity or relaxation. Meanwhile, a parent should look for opportunities to point out that the child is doing well and praise its strengths and capabilities.

* Structuring situations in a way that allows the child to find success. For example, allowing only one or two playmates at a time, so that the child does not receive stimulation.

* The stress management techniques such as meditation, relaxation techniques and exercise

Behavioral interventions for home and school

Organization

One of the biggest concerns of parents of children with ADHD is the success of your child to school, many of them based on the organization of a skill that many children with ADHD struggle. Simple interventions such as those listed below may be helpful.

* Schedule. Set the same routine every day, from sunrise to sunset, including the duties and playtime. Post the calendar in a visible place where a change to do is make as much ahead as possible.

* Organize everyday items. Clothing, backpacks, school supplies and toys All items must be identified, clearly marked space.

* Use homework and notebook organizers. Emphasize writing tasks and bring home something to complete homework.

* Ask for a computer course. For some children with ADHD, handwriting is another obstacle on the road to success. See if your teacher allows the computer to use in teaching.

Positive reinforcement

Children with ADHD often receive, and then begin to expect criticism from authority figures. If they get a negative feedback ever heard good things about themselves, they begin to think of themselves as "poor." If the rules are followed, and the behavior is good even in seemingly insignificant, small prizes and give praise to improve a child's self-esteem and reinforce good behavior significantly.

Extracurricular Activities

Children with ADHD are often very well, like art class, music lessons or dance, or martial arts classes for the energy can be channeled into creative and productive. These activities can be a source of positive reward children with ADHD and may also contribute to mental discipline. Find out what your child is interested, but please do not force anything.

Source: healthline.com
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The Research Examines The Approaches To Drug Trafficking Among African Americans

By: Dawn Fuller

The new study is the first to study the effectiveness of an approach widely used for counseling for the treatment of substance abuse among African-Americans. The study found that African-American women were more likely than men to continue the consulting approach for the treatment of substance abuse, but their substance abuse problems continued. The study led to Latrice Montgomery, a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati Department of Psychology, published this month in the "cultural diversity and ethnic minorities in psychology", Journal of the American Psychological Association.

The study examined the effectiveness of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) compared with standard treatment, counseling as usual (CAU) - two clinical approaches for the treatment of substance abuse - among African-Americans. The study, a secondary analysis of a clinical study in the Clinical Trials Network of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, was a rare study of discontinuation at a time and the effectiveness of the MET to reduce substance abuse, particularly among African Americans.

Motivational enhancement therapy is designed to resolve ambivalence about drug treatment, if drug users are at the stage where they are ready to live a life without drugs, or if they are against any treatment.

"The idea of ​​MET is for counselors to help patients build motivation and strengthen commitment to behavioral change," says Montgomery. "A technique that is commonly used in TEM to facilitate this process is the use of decision-making balance exercises that help patients to explore the advantages and disadvantages of drug use."

"An example might be a patient discuss what he or she is the" professional "use of drugs such as alcohol to reduce anxiety," says Montgomery. "But despite its ability to help reduce patient anxiety, the patient may also be recognized that alcohol abuse negatively affect their relationships. "

Montgomery added: "The therapist's task in this case would be to help the patient develop more reasons for change and to identify more effective ways to reduce anxiety."

Previous research has suggested that the consequences of drug abuse among African Americans is higher than other groups, not only for health but also in the judiciary.

The study compared the effectiveness of therapy to improve the motivation for advice, as usual, over a period of 16 weeks. The study participants were 194 African Americans who sought outpatient treatment in five different drug treatment programs, community-based across the nation. The study included 146 African-American men (75.3 percent) and 48 women (24.7 percent), with age of the participants averaged 37.5 years. They were seeking treatment for problems such as abuse of cocaine (25.8 percent), alcohol (26.3 percent) and marijuana abuse (18 percent).

The study found a greater stability of the MET than CAU women. Men MET and CAU is the difference between conservation.

In both sexes, men and women in treatment reported several days a week addiction that participants in the CAU.

"Previous studies have shown that ethnic minorities in the MET report greater success in reducing substance abuse that ethnic minorities, but in a study a number of ethnic groups," says Montgomery. "This study examined the effectiveness of specific treatment for African-Americans."

"I met a lot of value in the sense that a non-confrontational and non-judgmental, and support-effectiveness," says Montgomery. "We have found that women stay longer in the treatment of the market economy, but not to reduce the consumption of psychoactive substances. There, my research leads me now."

Secondary authors of the study are UC psychology professor Kathy Burlew, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Duke University Professor Andrzej S. Kosinski and the University of New Mexico Psychiatric Forcehimes Assistant professor Alyssa.

Montgomery is currently a training clinics throughout the year at Yale University School of Medicine Division of Substance Abuse. She is the recipient of the 2011 American Psychological Association, Dalmas A. Taylor Award for Outstanding Student Research, which recognizes clinical psychology graduate student who has produced exemplary research in clinical psychology from ethnic minorities.

Development of Ethnic Minority Graduate Students.

Last spring, Montgomery was honored as Most Outstanding Graduate Student by the UC Graduate Student Governance Association.
Montgomery was born and raised in Cincinnati, grew up in College Hill and is a graduate of Walnut Hills High School.


Source: University of Cincinnati
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The Psychology of Occupy Wall Street

Introduction

For an article in The New York Times this week, reporters tried to find a common denominator among the demonstrators to capture the movement in New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, London, Phoenix, Tucson and Los Angeles. They found one: everyone is angry.

When it came time for this, like other popular uprising, the French Revolution in the Arab spring, the Tea Party of 1773 a 2009. It is the psychology behind Wall Street deal more complicated than this picture? Ask to take the protests was based on a widespread need for catharsis or ventilation or something else?

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/10/18/the-psychology-of-occupy-wall-street?scp=2&sq=psychology&st=cse
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Treatment for Brain Injury Lacks Evidence, Panel Finds

By BENEDICT CAREY

Techniques being used to treat traumatic brain injuries, the signature wounds suffered by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, appear to be helpful but lack rigorous scientific support, a government-appointed panel reported on Monday after completing the most comprehensive analysis of the evidence to date.

The new report, done by the Institute of Medicine at the request of the Department of Defense, concluded that some specific methods — the use of special daily diaries, for instance, to improve memory — were backed by more evidence than others. But over all the field was short of both good research and decent standards to administer treatments or measure their effects.

Such rehabilitation methods have come under intense scrutiny from family member of veterans who suffered traumatic brain injuries, including those caused by nonpenetrating blasts, as well as wounds from bombs, bullets or blows to the head. Some 20 percent of service members wounded inIraq and Afghanistan have suffered blows to the face, neck or head, and the number of brain injuries has nearly tripled in the past decade, to more than 30,000 from 11,000.

About 1.7 million American civilians each year suffer traumatic brain injury, many from car accidents.

“I think the panel had a slight bias toward wanting these therapies to work, but at the same time it did not overstate the evidence,” said Jordan Grafman, director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Research Laboratory at the Kessler Research Foundation in West Orange, N.J., who was not on the committee.

Dr. Grafman said that applying cognitive rehab techniques, which focus on improving memory, attention and decision making, “is almost a no-lose proposition. It’s like going to school; you should get better at what you practice and you shouldn’t get worse.”

The expert panel reviewed 90 studies published from 1991 to 2011, involving thousands of patients. Some of their injuries were mild, causing subtle memory deficits; others were severe and disabling. The therapies aimed to improve overall functioning, or to achieve more specific goals, like remembering appointments and chores or organizing and planning tasks.

The panel rated two types of treatment, one focused on memory and the other on social skills, as having a “modest” evidence base. It rated other techniques — for sharpening organizational skills, sustaining focus or improving overall functioning — lower still, with only a hint of evidence to back them up.

The researchers found no evidence that any treatment led to enduring, long-term improvements. The trials they analyzed lasted no more than a few months, and many lasted only weeks..

Dr. Ira Shoulson, a professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center, said that evaluating traumatic brain injury treatment was inherently difficult because the severity of injuries varies so widely, techniques are often tailored to individuals, and veterans in particular come in with compound problems, including chronic pain, post-traumatic stress and depression. The people providing the therapy — nurses, social workers, doctors, psychologists and, ultimately, family members — also vary from case to case. And the approach for each individual often has several components, leaving scientists to ask which made a difference.“That’s a lot of moving targets,” Dr. Shoulson said. He and fellow panel members called for larger, better-designed trials that use agreed-upon tools to measure effects — something the field is only just beginning to develop.

As a rule, therapists do not begin intensive cognitive rehab until months after an injury, to give brain tissue a chance to heal. But the molecular processes underlying this repair are themselves not very well understood, Dr. Grafman said.

This should change with time. The new report lists more than two dozen large trials under way or about to start, through the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs or other government agencies. The agencies have set up a data-sharing system — the first step toward standardization in a field that, all experts agree, needs to grow up fast.


www.nytimes.com
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