Author Archives: dvc5364

Friends: The Culprit Behind Teen’s Lack of Sleep

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Walking into class with your hair disheveled and school supplies in havoc. Another night of little sleep and your body is punishing you for it. However, are you not the one to blame? Studies show that “social ties” may be the culprit behind your lack of sleep. 

Conducted at the University of Cincinnati, researchers wanted to discover the real reason behind teenager’s sleep deprivation. Their hypothesis: social ties affect teenager’s sleeping habits.  Therefore our null hypothesis: social ties have no affect on teenager’s sleeping habits. Scientists sought answers by gathering a group of 1,000 teens ranging from the ages 12-15 of the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. The study measured each individual teen’s cognitive, physical and social development-yet primarily focused on their sleep record as well. 
What they found was appalling. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need a total of 9 1/4 hours of sleep each night (Teens and Sleep,National Sleep Foundation). Scientists measured teens between the ages 12-15 were getting less than 8 hours of sleep each night. 
So where does this apply to the teen’s social ties? In search of the reason behind teenager’s decline in sleep, researchers found that their relationship with parents and peers is the contributing factor to their lack of sleep. Scientists concluded that teen’s with parents who strictly observe how late they stay up, get better hours of sleep. Teens who also get the appropriate hours of sleep were ones who cared about their school work and had friends who did as well. Researchers wrapped up their field of study with one last piece of advise, “Having strong social networks of people who are positive and have good social habits themselves may encourage traits like getting to bed on time” (Sifferlin,TIME). 
However, where was this conclusion derived from? The article in TIME lacked to include any results or tests that led researchers to believe that social ties were the reason behind teen’s tired bodies. The study at Cincinnati was clearly Observational, and found its results from the record log kept by the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. I do understand that it may be hard to make this field of study experimental, however I think a survey created by the researchers themselves and distributed among teens may be more affective.
Researchers accepted their hypothesis that social ties affect teenager’s sleeping habits. However, I don’t know if I can do the same. Results would be more convincing if they were taken from multiple fields of study-not just one. That is the only error I can conclude. 
So all in all, we have reason to think social ties may be the reason behind teen’s lack of sleep. However, I’m going to need further proof to solidify the hypothesis before accepting it myself. Good thing is, us PSU students don’t have our friends to blame for our late nights, but our academics instead. 
So when your not up late cramming for the next exam, follow these tips to make up for your lost hours of sleep.
Sources:
  1. Sifferlin, Alexandra, and Alexandra Sifferlin. “Why Teens Stay up Late: Blame Their Friends.” Time. Time, 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
  2. “Teens and Sleep.” Sleep for Teenagers. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
  3. “How to Sleep Better.” : Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep. Help Guide, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.

A Bolt of Electricity to Shock You Right Out of Bed and Into the Gym

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We are all guilty of it: lounging around our dorms, snoozing in bed and indulging in our favorite snacks instead of using our time productively. Whenever there is homework to be done or a flabby stomach to tend to, we’d rather snuggle up in our PJs with a bowl of ice cream in hand. But recent studies suggest an electrical shock to a specific part in the brain will cease these actions of laziness and launch us right into a spree of willpower. Researchers claim, “the electrical stimulation is too invasive to transform slackers into marathoners” however it does raise questions as to whether electric shock can induce “resilience” or not (Szalavitz,TIME). 

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Before diving deeper into the field of study, let’s clarify exactly what “resilience” is. Defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary it is “the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens”. Although most of us who are tucked into bed are not suffering from any severe trauma, the study still applies because the electrical shock is hypothesized to give one the ability to persevere.  
Recorded in Neuron, the study was originally conducted in order to locate areas that induce seizures in the brains of epileptic patients. By inserting electrodes, doctors were able to locate  specific regions in the brain responsible for patients’ seizures and remove those regions during surgery. Within this process, doctors were able to study functions of the brain as well.
Researchers found areas of the brain with populations of brain cells held accountable for one’s will to persevere. One area in particular, the anterior midcingulate cortex, was being tested when the patient began to feel a sense of determination. He stated, “It was more of a positive thing like.. push harder, push harder to try and get through this” (Szalavitz,TIME). Another patient reported to experience the same feeling when his anterior midcingulate cortex was being tested with electrodes, however he dealt with more negative side effects such as worry and irritability. Both results gave reason for scientists to question if the electrical stimulations had any correlation with the patient’s emotional response.   
Scientists hypothesized electrical stimulation to certain areas of the brain, such as the anterior midcingulate, could induce the feeling of motivation. Because this area is impossible to reach without surgery, researchers have settled to strictly observe the brain patterns instead of manipulating them. Because of this lack of experimentation, the hypothesis is still in the process of being proven. For now, researchers wait to find the source to willpower. 
Although this study has not been officially done, I still find the scientists’ reasoning and plan of action to be efficient. This case study can really prove to be significant if a specific part of the brain is tied to determination and can evoke it upon electric shock. The hypothesis is in the process of being proven, but it is clear that this experiment will study causation between electric stimulation and the anterior midcingulate cortex. Because this part of the brain is difficult to reach, I suggest exploring other options as to how the hypothesis can be tested. The only issue with this study is it could possibly break the code of ethics in science and may harm the patient. But as for now, I still sit lazily in my bed in need of some motivation. 
So scientists, please do get on that experiment. 
Sources:
  1. Szalavitz, Maia, and Maia Szalavitz. “Need Some Will Power? You May Soon Be Able to Zap Your Brain to Get Some.” Time. Time, 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
  2. “Resilience.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013.
  3. Hoffstaedter, F. “Result Filters.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 Sept. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

  
 

Left-Handedness and Schizophrenia?

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Growing up, we become defined by which hand we use and for what. In other words: you are either a “lefty” or a “righty”. But who knew that such a characteristic could lead to deeper, more biological roots. Researchers at Yale Child Study Center found possible correlations between left-handedness and Schizophrenia. How could this connection be made between two characteristics on opposite sides of the spectrum? It all has to do with percentages. Researchers claim, “10% of the population is left-handed” and 40% of those diagnosed with Schizophrenia are left-handed as well (Sifferlin,TIME). Now there is also 11% of “lefties” that are affected by mood disorders in the population. If you look more closely at these percentages, it is evident that both the percentages of lefties affected by mood disorders and the population of lefties are quite similar (10 and 11 percent). This acted as a launchpad for scientists to start their research. 

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First things first, however, what exactly is Schizophrenia? Medical News Today defines the diagnosis as “a mental disorder that generally appears in late adolescence or early adulthood – however, it can emerge at any time in life. It is one of many brain diseases that may include delusions, loss of personality (flat affect), confusion, agitation, social withdrawal, psychosis, and bizarre behavior.” (Schizophrenia,Medical News Today). 
What is occurring inside the brain of schizophrenics is that their neurotransmitters, that normally send messages to and from the brain, are affected and unable to transport messages properly. So how could this share a connection with those that are left-handed?
Recorded in the SAGE Open Journal, the study was conducted using 107 patients currently being treated at an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Neurologists proposed that because the brain is “asymmetrically divided when it comes to major skills and functions such as language and emotions” lefties are known to use the right side of the brain more often (SAGE, TIME). This side of the brain is associated with mood and emotions. However, because lefties are engaging their right side of the brain more so than the left, they are lacking to engage their language and personality traits. Lefties therefore can suffer from “higher rates of misconnections or failures in the neural network that then contribute to developmental issues or disorders.”(Sifferlin,TIME).
The study was strictly observational and lacked to include results or actions of the patients mentioned before. The hypothesis that left-handedness is associated with Schizophrenia is a well-thought out proposal, however should be tested in order to back it up. I wish the author of this article went more in depth with the study and included how it was conducted. For future reference, I suggest more subjects to be tested with a wide range of characteristics: some right-handed, some left-handed, some diagnosed with Schizo, some not. That way researchers would be able to make connections to help support their hypothesis and fully accept it. 
As for now, there is no reason for a rational left-handed individual to worry. There may be a correlation, but no definite causation as of right now. And just so you left-handers don’t stress too much over this article, here’s an article of famous lefties to make you feel cooler for your unique characteristic!
Sources:
  1. Sifferlin, Alexandra, and Alexandra Sifferlin. “How Left-handedness Is Connected to Schizophrenia.” Time. Time, 1 Nov. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013
  2. Nordqvist, Christian. “What Is Schizophrenia?” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 20 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.
  3. “Famous Left-Handers.” Famous Left-Handers. M.K. Holder, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.


A Dose of Oxytocin Will Keep Your Man Faithful?

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TIME Magazine speculates that a chemical released in the brain of a male when in love will lead to him being monogamous. This chemical is known as Oxytocin which is “a relatively short polypeptide hormone composed of nine amino acids. It is produced primarily in the hypothalamus and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Best known for its role in female reproduction, it is actually found in both male and female mammals.”(WiseGeek). Oxytocin is famous for its role in love-whether its hugging, kissing or uhm…you know, Oxytocin is sure to be affected. 

Oxytocin, better known as the “love-hormone” is said to make a man’s significant other appear “more attractive than strangers to men, even if both are objectively equally good looking.” (Szalavitz,TIME). The hormone in men, “improves the ability to identify competitive relationships” thus making them more monogamous/loyal to their lover. 
The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, where scientists tested the hypothesis that Oxytocin in males allows them to be more monogamous. The null hypothesis: Oxytocin in males has no affect on their outlook of relationships. The experiment involved 40 young men, all recorded as being “passionately in love with their partners” of six-months or more (Szalavitz,TIME). Scientists tested the male subjects by putting them through a brain scanner as they inhaled either a placebo or oxytocin nasal spray. Therefore, it is confirmed that the trial was one-sided blind. Scientists then provided the male test subjects pictures of their significant other, women they knew and women that were complete strangers to them while they inhaled either solution. What was being measured was how the men’s brain responded to the images. Scientists looked specifically at areas of the brain in which responded to desire and pleasure. 
The brain scanner showed that the areas of desire and pleasure lit up when men who inhaled the oxytocin viewed images of their loved ones-but not when they viewed pictures of female strangers. However, these areas of the brain did light up when viewing pictures of female acquaintances, just not as strongly in comparison to viewing pictures of their loved ones. 
So how does this relate to a male’s ability of being monogamous? “Once men receive oxytocin, the attractiveness of the partner increases compared to the attractiveness value recorded for other females” (Hurlemann,TIME). Therefore, men feel little desire to veer away from their loved ones and pursue outside relationships-instead they remain monogamous because (as shown in the brain scanner) their desires are fulfilled by one significant other.
The study conducted in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has given every reason to accept the hypothesis that Oxytocin in males allows them to be more monogamous. Therefore, we will reject the null hypothesis that Oxytocin in males has no affect on their outlook of relationships. The only area of critique is the amount of men tested-being a small portion of only 40 subjects. If the experiment were to test a significant number of subjects (ranging from 100 or more), the results would be far more convincing. Another issue is the fact that the experiment was only one-sided blind. This creates opportunity for bias behavior on the scientist’s part. If it were to be double-blind, then the chance of bias is ruled out and the results again, would be more concrete. 

So next time your man’s eyes begin to wander…maybe offer him an extra dose of oxytocin nasal spray? All in all, oxytocin has been proven to affect men and their view towards relationships. Who knew a hormone could do so much!
Sources:
  1. Szalavitz, Maia, and Maia Szalavitz. “How Oxytocin Makes Men (Almost) Monogamous.” Time. Time, 27 Nov. 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
  2. “What Is Oxytocin?” WiseGEEK. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
  3. “‘Love Hormone’ Oxytocin: Difference in Social Perception Between Men and Women.”ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 31 July 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.

ILY<3 The Relationship of Texting

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He enters the room and your eyes cast down. You lip quivers ever so slightly and you immediately bite down to rid any chances of him seeing you nervous. Your hands and feet begin to fidget as you twist and turn in your seat, only stealing a glance for a moment to see if he notices you like you notice him. As butterflies begin to erupt from the pit of your stomach, you shakily retrieve your phone from your pocket and shoot out a quick text, “hey :)”. Whew, you exhale for the first time in minutes and anxiously wait for his answer.
The relationship of texting. What adolescents and even young adults now use as a gateway to forming relationships with their significant others. And as the relationship blossoms, the texting only continues. However, relationships tend to differ from one another-even in the texting realm. TIME Magazine took notice of this in its article, “Textual Relations: Couples Who Text Too Much Aren’t As In Love As They Want You To Think”. TIME evaluates the frequency of texts and how they associate with the stability of a couple’s relationship by looking closely at one study in particular. 
The hypothesis: The higher the frequency of texts, the more successful the relationship. 
The null hypothesis: The lower the frequency of texts, the less successful the relationship. 
The study published in the “Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy”, conducted an experiment involving 276 male and female test subjects. Within the test group, there were 38% serious relationships, 46% engaged and 16% married. Scientists assessed results by recording the frequency of texts along with the individual’s satisfaction with the relationship. What they found was intriguing. Men and women differed from one another when it came to the results. Men who seemed to have a higher frequency of texts, reported a lower satisfaction with their relationship. However, women with higher frequency of texts reported a higher satisfaction with their relationship. In conclusion, the results were ambiguous. 
Scientists pondered as to why there was a difference between genders. Experimenters hypothesized that men resort to more texting because “as men disconnect from a relationship, or consider a break-up, they replace face-to-face interactions with less intimate communication in the form of increased texting.” (Sifferlin,TIME). In apposition, women resort to more texting in order to “apologize, work out their differences and make decisions — in other words, when their relationship was in trouble. As their connection with their loved one deteriorated, women attempted to make up or resolve their differences via text, which the scientists believe is the online version of the need to “talk things out.”” (Sifferlin,TIME). In conclusion, both genders seem to have different motives when it comes to texting. 
TIME’s article lacked to provide information as to what was concluded in the study. But after further research, results show that it depends mainly on the content of the message. “For both men and women, sending loving text messages was linked to relationship satisfaction” (Bean,BYU). So in this case, we are going to accept the hypothesis that the higher the frequency of texts results in a more successful relationship considering a third variable is involved- the content of the message. The study could have been conducted more properly if they studied a higher, more even number of subjects in order to create an even ratio between male and female. That way, results could have found one conclusion that was not gender based.
LOL, ROFL, JK, ILY…texting is not something to give up, nor depend upon. But when sending texts to your significant other, it may be more helpful if the message includes more hearts than usual. 
Sources:
  1. Sifferlin, Alexandra, and Alexandra Sifferlin. “Textual Relations: Couples Who Text Too Much Aren’t as in Love as They Want You to Think.” Time. Time, 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
  2. Szathmary, Zoey. “Texting in Relationships Increases Intimacy…but Makes You More Likely to Misread Partner’s Emotions in Person.” Mail Online. N.p., 10 Nov. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
  3. Bean, Roy, Dean Busby, Sarah Coyne, Schade, and Sandberg. “News.” Too Much Texting Can Disconnect Couples, Research Finds. Brigham Young University, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Pregnancy Weight Gain May Cause Autism?

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Pregnant belly and flower cropped again.jpgThere are quite a few speculations as to what can cause autism, but never have I heard of this one before: Researchers from Utah claim they may have found some correlation between mothers’ weight gain in pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

What is Autism Spectrum Disorders, otherwise known as ASD? It is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as Autism is a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment, or disability, that children with ASD can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, but others are severely disabled (Autism Spectrum Disorder). We have spoken before in Andrew’s class about vaccinations possibly causing Autism, but never have I heard of the correlation with pregnancy weight gain. 

Researchers from the University of Utah have formed the hypothesis that pregnancy weight gain may serve as an important marker for autism’s underlying gestational etiology (Bilder,New Study Examines Link Between Pregnancy Weight Gain, Autism Spectrum Disorders). Their null hypothesis would then be that pregnancy weight gain is not an indication to possible birth of a child with autism. In order to accept either one of these hypotheses we must dig deeper into the study conducted. 
Researchers concluded these findings after two study groups were conducted. One group consisted of 128 diagnosed children with autism spectrum disorders (variable group) whereas the other group had just under 11,000 non diagnosed children of the same age and gender (control group). Scientists observed each child’s birth certificate and measured the amount of weight gain their mothers experienced during pregnancy. They also measured a separate group of participants consisting of 288 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, but compared their data with that of the children’s non-autistic siblings. All studies concluded no direct causation between weight gain and ASD, but did show signs of correlation. Therefore, scientists were able to conclude that there may be an existing third variable: one that causes both weight gain and ASD. 
There is always chance, but what other issues can be found within the experiment that may have skewed the results? First off, there is no equivalency in the amount of children used in the separate studies. Clearly there is about 11,000 in one and only 128 in the other. Mothers of the autistic children could have also been biased when giving their information in regards to their pregnancy. If the trial were to have been one-sided blind (mothers told to fill out the survey for separate reasoning) maybe the results could have been more solidified.
But as for now, what we can conclude from the trail is not causation, but most definitely a possibility of correlation- a third variable in particular. So for the hypotheses proposed, we are going to accept the researchers’ hypothesis that weight gain during pregnancy may be a sign of birthing a potentially autistic child. So not only will mothers fear vaccinations, but excessive weight gain as well.
Sources:
  1. “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” NIMH RSS. National Institute of Health, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.
  2. “New Study Examines Link Between Pregnancy Weight Gain, Autism Spectrum Disorders.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

The Fear Factor

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04jack-o-lanterns-snow.jpgGhosts, Zombies and Monsters oh my! It’s that time of the year again! People draped in white cloths run around screaming “boo!”, while hairy spiders and bats hang from the front porches of neighbors. The month of October is a festivity of scares. People flock to haunted hayrides, houses and even amusement parks to indulge in this month’s horrors. Highly anticipated scary movies are even released in order to rev up that “Halloween” vibe to audience members. But what is it about Halloween that society loves so much? Last I checked, zombies and creatures are highly unappealing- but they are scary. So what is it about fear that attracts such attention? As much as people scream and run away, they still return each year to these haunted attractions. What is it about fear that keeps us coming back for more?

“Fear is a chain reaction in the brain that starts with a stressful stimulus and ends with the release of chemicals that cause a racing heart, fast breathing and energized muscles, among other things, also known as the fight-or-flight response.” (Layton,HowFearWorks). So the moment a man with a chainsaw pops out of the woods, your body reacts with the “fight-or-flight” response. In Psychology, I learned that this behavioral action is normally the side effect when one is scared or feels that their life is in peril. In result, they react by either defending themselves or fleeing from the situation altogether. If you’ve watched any “funny” videos that include someone being scared then punching the scarer in the face-that is their body’s fight-or-flight response. 
The sensation of fear invokes a racing heart, tensed muscles and rapid breathing. We all have experienced these reactions when scared and even some of us go out of our way to feel these reactions (i.e: visit haunted attractions, watch scary movies, etc). Why is that? What is it about the feeling of fear that attracts people towards it? Margaret Burr proclaims that it has much to do with the feeling of triumph and victory. “Leaving the theater, or turning off the VCR after we have been thoroughly terrified by a film director’s imagery, we connect – just a bit- with our ancestors who had to overcome nature’s savagery. We – like they- get to feel victorious, triumphant, and, perhaps, most importantly, sorely tested.” (Burr,Queendom). Burr parallels this attraction to fear with people’s attraction to endurance tests, risky finances, and even unstable relationships. People love the feeling of overcoming these challenges, therefore seek them in multiple aptitudes. 
So next time you are perplexed by your friend’s desire to go see a horror film, remember what it is they are seeking. People love an adrenaline rush, and that is what they experience when terrified in a movie theater. I, myself, am a horror film junky and LOVE the feeling of being scared! Now I know that it is because I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of fear just how people enjoy roller coasters.
Fear, in some cases, can be a contradiction because instead of running away from it, some people run towards it. It all depends on your personality- but as for myself, you’ll see me running around on Halloween thriving in the scares it provides. 
Citations:
  1. Layton, Julia. “How Fear Works.” HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
  2. Burr, Margaret. “Why Do People like Being Scared?” Why Do People like Being Scared?N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
  3. Cherry, Kendra. “What Is the Fight-or-Flight Response?” About.com Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Me, My Deviated Septum and I

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Ever since I was young I have spoken with a nasally voice. If that isn’t annoying enough, I’ve also had snoring problems so severe that my tonsils and adenoids had to be removed (no worries, nothing a little ice cream can’t nurture back to health). Since then my nasal issues have refused to stop and instead have only increased. I now can say I haven’t breathed through my nose for at least 2 years and have had more than several sinus infections. I also have experienced more awkward moments involving my mucus than a teenager going through puberty. I cough in class to relieve congestion and before I know it, there is a wad of mucus sitting in my mouth. I then struggle to either swallow it or spit it into a tissue which I then stuff quickly into my backpack- of course with an audience of onlookers who are probably wondering, “Did she really just put that back into her book bag?”. Yes my friends, I did. Because if having this nasal issue isn’t embarrassing enough, the last thing I want to do is stand up in front of an audience of peers to discard my good friend the mucus blob.  
This prolonged issue is caused by the simple curve of cartilage in my nose, otherwise known as: a deviated septum. A deviated septum is defined by WebMD as, “a condition in which the nasal septum — the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half — is significantly off center, or crooked, making breathing difficult.” (Deviated Septum,WebMD). What I’d like to research is exactly why this slight curve of cartilage causes so many problems.  
A deviated septum has many side effects. One case I have already vouched for is the sinus infection. Sinus Infections are “inflammation of the paranasal sinuses”(Web_definitions) and are brought on by the crookedness of the cartilage in the nose. Because of the deviated septum, “…Sinus openings can be blocked, triggering a sinus infection (sinusitis) that lasts a long time or keeps returning.”(Deviated Septum,drugs.com). Hence why I have been having a vicsous cycle of sinus infections. Another effect is oozing of the eyes, which very recently I have experienced for the first time. Because my mucus is unable to exit through my nose, it instead forces its way out through my eyes-I know gross, right? 
There is also facial pain. My cheeks, my jaw, my temples, my forehead-everything involving my face hurts. Why? Because, “When the sinuses become congested, this leads to a feeling of pressure in the forehead and in the cheekbones.” (ZocDoc). So because the mucus is unable to exit through my nose due to my blocked nasal passage, it instead becomes congested and causes facial pain. There is also a “‘swishing’ sensation in the head when you bend forward” (ZocDoc). This coincides with the symptoms of headaches people normally have when dealing with a deviated septum. Headaches and migraines are side effects brought on by nasal congestion as well. 
So if you haven’t heard enough, here are more negative effects the deviated septum has to offer:
    • nosebleeds 
    • postnasal drip
    • heavy breathing/snoring
    • possible sleep apnea 
    • blockage of one/both nostrils 
A deviated septum is not an issue to be overlooked. Clearly, it has many negative side effects. It can be dealt with either though surgery or medication-it depends on the severity of the cartilage’s crookedness. If you are affected by the nasal issue visit this website here, which can provide you with further details as to how to deal with the medical problem. In conclusion, the deviated septum has multiple side effects and causes much discomfort. I hope this article has given you that information, if not at least it has set a record for the number of times mucus was used in an article. 
Citations
  1. “Deviated Septum: Symptoms, Causes, and Surgical Repair.” WebMD. WebMD, 07 Sept. 0000. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
  2. “Deviated Septum.” Guide: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options. Harvard Health Publications, n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
  3. Cunha, John P. “Deviated Septum Symptoms, Causes, Surgery Option – MedicineNet.” MedicineNet. N.p., 30 July 2013. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
  4. “Does a Sinus Infection Make Your Face Hurt?” Find a Doctor – Doctor Reviews & Ratings. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.
  5. Alan, Rick. “What Can You Do About a Deviated Septum?” – Health. N.p., May 2008. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

An Apple a Day Keeps the…Dentist Away?

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1369381208_89403.jpgI have a friend who has been blessed with the habit of brushing her teeth. Before she goes to bed, when she wakes up and even in between meals: she’s brushing. But it is always humorous to see her struggle whenever she has forgotten her toothbrush or is without toothpaste. After hours of searching, she finally makes her way to the kitchen where she gets…an apple? My friend then would claim that eating an apple is almost as good as brushing your teeth. I was baffled when I heard this suggestion and felt the need to do some research. Does an apple a day really keep the dentist away?

It may not be as good as brushing your teeth, but studies suggest that an apple is beneficial to one’s dental health. Administrators of Cumming’s Family Dentist suggest that “Eating apples can actually aid in cleansing and brightening the teeth, due to their mildly acidic nature, they act as a mild astringent to your teeth.” (Admin., Cummings). Apples are sometimes even referred to as “Nature’s Toothbrush”. The skin and flesh of the apple work together to give almost the same benefits a toothbrush does. Because of the “fiber-rich flesh and skin”, apples aid in removing plague and stains from the consumer’s teeth. The texture also works as a “scrub on your tongue, teeth and gums.”(Friendly Neighborhood Dentist). So make sure to keep the skin on! Because it plays a very important role in the toothbrush-like affect of the apple. 
Apples are mildly acidic, therefore they are able to help kill any pathogenic microbes that may be lurking in your mouth. Apples are also known to help get rid of bad breath! Because of their richness in fiber and crunchy texture, apples help scrub away remnants in your mouth that may lead to bad breath. 
Apples are normally suggested by doctors, but who would’ve thought dentists? Either way, apples do have some benefit to one’s dental hygiene- but shouldn’t take the place of brushing teeth. Although they are good for you, it will always be floss, toothbrush and toothpaste that get the work done most successfully. Other consumptions that can help with one’s dental health can be found here. So don’t hesitate when picking up an apple to eat, because it not only improves your health, but makes your teeth sparkle as well!
Citations
  1. Administrators. “Cummings Family Dentistry // Dr. Ann Ullah, DDS // General Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry, Cumming and Atlanta, Georgia GA.” Dentist Cummings Family Dentist Cumming GA 30040. Cumming’s Family Dentist, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
  2. Dentist, Friendly Neighbourhood. “Your Friendly Neighbourhood Dentist: Are Apples Good For Teeth?” Your Friendly Neighbourhood Dentist: Are Apples Good For Teeth? Google, 17 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
  3. “Foods and Drinks Best for Your Teeth.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

Ziggy? Can you see me?

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ziggers.pngMy dog Ziggy is one of my truest friends. Go ahead, laugh! But I know all of you dog lovers out there can agree. They don’t get mad at you if you come home late nor do they hold a grudge if you break a promise. They don’t give a double take if your in sweats (with no makeup on) nor do they ever interrupt; they just snuggle up next to you and listen. But now that I am away in State College, Ziggy is hours away at home in NJ. So, when making the occasional FaceTime call to my parents I can’t help but ask for Ziggy to be put on camera. This is where the problem occurs: No matter how much I call his name or wave my arms around, he can’t seem to see me! This confuses me because he takes notice of the TV all the time. So what is it about TV screens that allows dogs to see it? And how come it doesn’t parallel with computer screens? I was one pet owner who was determined to find out.

Turns out, dogs are able to see what is happening on television because of today’s modern technology. Ernst Otto Ropstad, a specialist in animal vision, conqurs that “Fusing a rapid set of images into what our eyes register as a moving picture is called flicker fusion frequency. New TVs are much smoother than old TVs, which could only produce up to 50 new frames a second.” This is what enables dogs to see what is occurring on TV just as we humans do (of course without the same range of color). 
However, “We humans need about 16 to 20 images a second to perceive what we see as continuous film, whereas dogs need about 70 images per second.”(Korneliussen,ScienceNordic). Therefore it is concluded that canines need a certain number of frames per second in order to view television as we humans do. With today’s technological advancements (HDTV/clearer pictures) this is now able to happen. This article here explains how a TV channel in Israel was even made for dogs!
So where does the difference occur between dogs being able to see television screens, but not computer monitors? After some researching, I think I may have found my answer. Because dogs only have 2 cone cells, they are limited to the amount of details they can percieve. Since TVs are normally larger than computers, dogs can see more details and recognize images on TVs rather than computers. Also, in regards to the information listed above, computer screens are less likely to have as clear a picture as TVs do. If any of you have ever FaceTime’ed or Oovoo’ed, you’re probably familiar with the images of loved ones appearing in distorted pixels. The frames per second are also much lower than that of a TVs. With these details being said, I think it is possible to conclude that dogs are able to “watch” TV because of their large and clear picture. Canines struggle with being able to interpret what is seen on computers because of their smaller size and lack of clearer picture. 
So I guess we’ll just have to wait till Thanksgiving break Ziggy…
Sources:
  • Korneliussen, Ida. “Do Dogs See What’s Happening on TV?” Sciencenordic.com. N.p., 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.
  • Leichman, Abigail Klein. “The US Is Going to the Dogs – Israeli DogTV, That Is.” ISRAEL21c. N.p., 16 July 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.