Sex: Hooking up or dating? According to research done at a university campus, where ‘hooking up’ is a mainstream means of interaction, both genders showed a preference for traditional dating over hooking up, but when it came to assessing the benefits and risks of these two different ways of relating, there were marked distinctions. Women seemed to want a relationship more than men, and they feared that they will become more emotionally attached to a partner who is not interested in them, while more men seemed to value independence and feared that even in hooking up type of relationships that are supposed to be free of commitment, a woman might seek to establish a relationship. The study was published in the journal Sex Roles.
Nutrition: Individuals whose diet includes more salad dressing, nuts, fish, poultry and certain fruits and cruciferous and dark green leafy vegetables as well as fewer high-fat dairy products, red meats, organ meats and butter appear less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, says a new study. The report, to be published in the June issue of the Archives of Neurology, focused on food combinations rather than single nutrients to identify a dietary link to the degenerative disease. The combination of nutrients in the low-risk dietary pattern impact the development of the disease in multiple ways, some, like fatty acids (found in nuts, and fish, for example), for example, may help improve cognitive function and offset dementia. Lack of omega fatty acids has been implicated in Alzheimer’s development before but not as an overall part of a meal combination.
Technology: As if there was nothing your iPhone couldn’t do already, there is now a new initiative to get your cell phone to protect you against deadly chemicals. The Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has established Cell-All, which aims to equip cell phones with a sensor capable of detecting deadly chemicals in the area. The technology involves a chip programmed to either alert the cell phone carrier to the presence of toxic chemical in the air, and/or a central station that can monitor how many alerts in an area are being received. S&T is pursuing development agreements with Qualcomm, LG, Apple and Samsung to help accelerate the process and have a prototype in a year, with the first one having the ability to sniff out carbon monoxide and fire. Yep, our smartphones may very well replace even our own noses.
Ecology: The number of sea turtles inadvertently snared by commercial fishing gear over the past 20 years may reach into the millions, according to a worldwide study. Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles are currently listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Fisheries bycatch is the most acute threat to worldwide sea turtle populations today,” said Bryan Wallace, lead author of the research published in the journal Conservation Letters. “Many animals die or are injured as a result of these interactions. But our message is not a lost cause. Managers and fishers have tools they can use to reduce bycatch, and preserve marine biodiversity,” he said.
Parenting: Taking vitamin C and E supplements in early pregnancy does not reduce the risk for the hypertensive disorders and their complications during pregnancy, says a study. Previous small studies suggested that the vitamins could reduce the risk of preeclampsia, a potentially fatal form of hypertension in pregnant women, but this research, conducted by the National Institutes of health, is the largest to date and it showed no reduction in these types of conditions. The findings appear in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Terrific work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher!