December 14, 2010
The executive system is a theorized cognitive system in psychology that controls and manages other cognitive processes. It is also referred to as the executive function, supervisory attentional system, or cognitive control. The concept is used by psychologists and neuroscientists to describe a loosely defined collection of brain processes that are responsible for planning, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, rule acquisition, initiating appropriate actions and inhibiting inappropriate actions, and selecting relevant sensory information.
The executive functions are often invoked when it is necessary to override responses that might otherwise be automatically elicited by stimuli in the external environment. For example, on being presented with a potentially rewarding stimulus, such as a tasty piece of chocolate cake, a person might have the automatic response to take a bite. However, where such behavior conflicts with internal plans (such as having decided not to eat chocolate cake while on a diet), the executive functions might be engaged to inhibit that response.
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December 13, 2010
Paris syndrome is a transient psychological disorder encountered by some people visiting or vacationing in Paris. It is characterized by acute delusional states, hallucinations, feelings of persecution (delusions of being a victim of prejudice, aggression, or hostility from others), derealization, depersonalization, anxiety, and also psychosomatic manifestations such as dizziness, tachycardia, sweating, etc. Japanese visitors are observed to be especially susceptible, and around twenty Japanese tourists a year are affected. It was first noted in Nervure, the French journal of psychiatry in 2004.
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December 13, 2010
The Jerusalem syndrome is a group of mental phenomena involving the presence of either religiously themed obsessive ideas, delusions or other psychosis-like experiences that are triggered by a visit to the city of Jerusalem. It is not endemic to one single religion or denomination and has affected Jews, Christians and Muslims of many different backgrounds.
The best known, although not the most prevalent, manifestation of the Jerusalem syndrome is the phenomenon whereby a person who seems previously balanced and devoid of any signs of psychopathology becomes psychotic after arriving in Jerusalem. The psychosis is characterised by an intense religious theme and typically resolves to full recovery after a few weeks or after being removed from the area.
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December 13, 2010
Stendhal [sten-dahl] syndrome (also known as hyperkulturemia and Florence syndrome) is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single place. The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choice in other circumstances, e.g. when confronted with immense beauty in the natural world.
The condition is named after the famous 19th century French author Stendhal (Henri-Marie Beyle), who described his experience with the phenomenon during his 1817 visit to Florence, Italy. Although there are many descriptions of people becoming dizzy and fainting while taking in Florentine art, especially at the Uffizi, dating from the early 19th century on, the syndrome was only named in 1979, when it was described by Italian psychiatrist Graziella Magherini, who observed and described more than 100 similar cases among tourists and visitors in Florence.
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December 13, 2010
Spirulina [spahy-ruh-lahy-nuh] is a microscopic blue-green algae in the shape of a spiral coil, living both in sea and freshwater. It is the common name for human and animal food produced primarily from two species: Arthrospira platensis, and Arthrospira maxima. Though referred to as ‘algae’ because they are aquatic organisms capable of photosynthesis, cyanobacteria are not related to any of the various eukaryotic algae. Spirulina is rich in complete proteins, essential fatty acids, b vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals like beta-carotene. Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight. It is a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids, though with reduced amounts of methionine, cysteine, and lysine when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk.
It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes. Spirulina also contains the amino acid phenylalanine, which should be avoided by people who have the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria. Arthrospira is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement, as well as a whole food, and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form. It is also used as a feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium, and poultry industries. Spirulina was a food source for Mesoamericans; the Aztecs called it ‘stone’s excrement.’ Its cultivation dates back to the 9th century in Chad, where dried cakes of spirulina, called dihéare, are used as bullion cubes.
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December 6, 2010
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) or brown fat is one of two types of fat or adipose tissue (the other being white adipose tissue) found in mammals. It is especially abundant in newborns and in hibernating mammals. Its primary function is to generate body heat without requiring the body to shiver. In contrast to white adipocytes (fat cells), which contain a single lipid droplet, brown adipocytes contain numerous smaller droplets and a much higher number of mitochondria, which contain iron and make it brown. Brown fat also contains more capillaries than white fat, since it has a greater need for oxygen than most tissues.
Typically, mammals generate heat by shivering. Low temperatures signal muscle groups around vital organs begin to shake in small movements in an attempt to create warmth by expending energy. It produces heat because the conversion of the chemical energy (food) into kinetic energy (motion) is not 100% efficient, causing some of the energy to show up as heat. Brown fat cells use their mitochondria to convert chemical energy directly into heat by altering the movement of protons that pass through them. It was discovered recently that some adults retain a portion of their juvenile brown fat deposits.
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December 3, 2010
Carl Gustav Jung [yoong] (1875 – 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker, and the founder of analytical psychology. Jung is often considered the first modern psychologist to state that the human psyche is ‘by nature religious’ and to explore it in depth. Though not the first to analyze dreams, he has become perhaps one of the most well known pioneers in the field of dream analysis. Although he was a theoretical psychologist and practicing clinician, much of his life’s work was spent exploring other areas, including Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, sociology, as well as literature and the arts.
He considered the process of individuation necessary for a person to become whole. This is a psychological process of integrating the conscious with the unconscious while still maintaining conscious autonomy. Individuation was the central concept of analytical psychology. Many pioneering psychological concepts were originally proposed by Jung, including the Archetype, the Collective Unconscious, the Complex, and synchronicity. A popular psychometric instrument, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), has been principally developed from Jung’s theories.
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November 15, 2010
A bug-out bag is a portable kit that contains the items one would require to survive for seventy two hours when evacuating from a disaster. It is also known as a 72-hour kit, a grab bag, or a battle box. The focus is on evacuation, rather than long-term survival, distinguishing it from a survival kit, boating or aviation emergency kit, or a fixed-site disaster supplies kit. Bug-out bags are popular in the survivalist community. The term is related to, and possibly derived from, the ‘bail-out bag’ emergency kit many military aviators carry.
Typical contents include: 1 Gallon H2O per person, per day; Non-perishable food, Water purification supplies, Cooking supplies (camp stove, sterno, utensils), First aid kit, Fire starting tool (matches, ferrocerium rod, lighter), Disaster plan (location of emergency centers, rallying points, possible evacuation routes), Emergency reference literature,Maps, Clothing (rain poncho, hat, gloves), Bedding (bedroll, blankets), Medicine, Medical records, Radio, Lighting (flashlight, glow sticks), Firearm, Cash, Identification cards, Knife, Duct Tape, Rope, Plastic tarps, and Wire.
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November 10, 2010
Xerostomia [zeer-uh-stoh-mee-uh] is the medical term for the subjective complaint of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva; sometimes colloquially called pasties, cottonmouth, drooth, doughmouth or des (like a desert). Xerostomia can cause difficulty in speech and eating. It also leads to halitosis and a dramatic rise in the number of cavities, as the protective effect of saliva’s remineralizing the enamel is no longer present, and can make the mucosa and periodontal tissue of the mouth more vulnerable to infection.
Notably, a symptom of heavy methamphetamine use usually called ‘meth mouth’ is largely caused by xerostomia which is worsened by the fact that methamphetamine at recreational doses can cause tight clenching of the jaw, bruxism (compulsive grinding of the teeth), or a repetitive ‘chewing’ movement like the user is chewing without food in the mouth.
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November 4, 2010
Cindy Jackson (b. 1959) is listed in the Guinness World record book for having had more cosmetic surgery procedures than anyone else in the world. She set the record in 2000 and is still the official record holder to date.
Since 1988 she has had 52 cosmetic procedures, including several facelifts, two nose operations, two eye lifts, knee, waist, abdomen and thigh liposuction, jaw surgery, lip and cheek implants, chemical peels, chin bone reduction. Others were non-surgical, including Radiesse injections, hand rejuvenation, Voluma treatments and permanent make-up.
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November 4, 2010
The Vacanti mouse was a laboratory mouse that had what looked like a human ear grown on its back. The ‘ear’ was actually an ear-shaped cartilage structure grown by seeding cow cartilage cells into a biodegradable ear-shaped mold. The earmouse, as it became known as, was created by Dr. Charles Vacanti, an anesthesiologist at the University of Massachusetts and Dr. Linda Griffith-Cima, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at M.I.T. in 1995.
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November 3, 2010
Barefoot running was widespread for the majority of human history and is still relatively common in undeveloped populations. In competitive running virtually all modern athletes use running shoes, but a small minority of runners have achieved success running barefoot, including Olympic champions and world record holders Abebe Bikila and Tegla Loroupe, as well as Zola Budd. The biomechanics of running are changed quite significantly when shoes are used – in barefoot running, the balls of the feet strike the ground with the most force. With padded shoes more emphasis is placed on the heel and the back of the foot. Running in thin-soled, flexible shoes such as moccasins, VivoBarefoot and Vibram FiveFingers is biomechanically similar to barefoot running.
Barefoot running is experiencing a small resurgence of popularity. Its proponents believe it is healthier for feet and reduces the risk of chronic injuries, notably repetitive stress injuries due to the impact of heel striking in padded running shoes. These health claims are supported by some research and advocated by some authorities, but the research is not conclusive or widely accepted in the medical community. Barefoot running is not generally advocated by medical or sports organizations, who recommend that padded running shoes be worn, with particular consideration to foot type (type of pronation in heel strike gait).
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