Category Archives: Human Behavior

Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior – messenger-inquirer

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Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior - messenger-inquirer

Astrocytes Play Critical Role in Regulating Behavior – Neuroscience News

Summary: Researchers made a groundbreaking discovery in identifying a unique group of astrocytes, located in the brains central striatum, that play a crucial role in regulating behaviors linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. This distinct subset of astrocytes expresses the gene Crym, coding for -crystallin, a protein associated with various human diseases.

By experimentally reducing Crym expression in these astrocytes, the study observed increased repetitive behaviors in mice, akin to human perseveration seen in conditions like autism and OCD. This novel finding not only challenges the neuron-centric view of brain function but also opens up new avenues for potential treatments targeting specific astrocyte populations.

Key Facts:

Source: UCLA

UCLA Health researchers have discovered a group of specialized support cells in the brain that can regulate behaviors associated with human neuropsychiatric disorders.

Thestudy, published in the journalNature, focused on a group of cells known as astrocytes star-shaped cells that tile the central nervous system and provide a support structure for the neural communication networks.

While neurons have long been understood to have primary control of behavior, the study found that a distinct group of astrocytes located deep in the central region of the brain, known as the central striatum, may also regulate communications between neurons.

Unlike other astrocytes, this group of astrocytes express the geneCrym, which encodes for the protein known as -crystallin. This protein has been associated with several human diseases including neuropsychiatric disorders, but its influence on brain function has remained largely unknown.

Several years ago the lab identified that astrocytes in the striatum expressCrym. It was my job to find out what it did. By reducing expression of this gene in astrocytes of the central striatum, I uncovered mechanisms related to a specific behavior called perseveration, saidMatthias Ollivier, the studys first author and postdoctoral scholar at theDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

In the study, researchers genetically reduced the expression of the gene in this group of astrocytes in mice. Studying the behavior of mice, the researchers found they had significant increases in repetitive behavioral patterns or activities that serve little purpose or made it difficult for the mice to transition to other activities.

This behavior, known as perseveration, is associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders including autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Huntingtons disease and Tourette syndrome.

The study found thatCrym-positive astrocytes in the central striatum regulated neurotransmitter communication at synapses from the cortex to the center of the brain within the striatum.

At a basic biology level, the study provides evidence that distinct types of astrocytes have important neurobiological functions, saidBaljit Khakh, the senior author of the study and professor of physiology and neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Researchers say the findings could be starting points in the development of potential therapies to alleviate perseveration in different disorders. Further research is underway to understand the interactions and signaling cascades regulated by -crystallin.

Author: Will Houston Source: UCLA Contact: Will Houston UCLA Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access. Crym-positive striatal astrocytes gate perseverative behaviour by Matthias Ollivier et al. Nature

Abstract

Crym-positive striatal astrocytes gate perseverative behaviour

Astrocytes are heterogeneous glial cells of the central nervous system. However, the physiological relevance of astrocyte diversity for neural circuits and behaviour remains unclear.

Here we show that a specific population of astrocytes in the central striatum expresses -crystallin (encoded byCrymin mice andCRYMin humans)that is associated with several human diseases, including neuropsychiatric disorders.

In adult mice, reducing the levels of -crystallin in striatal astrocytes through CRISPRCas9-mediated knockout ofCrymresulted in perseverative behaviours, increased fast synaptic excitation in medium spiny neurons and dysfunctional excitatoryinhibitory synaptic balance.

Increasedperseveration stemmed from the loss ofastrocyte-gated control of neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals of orbitofrontal cortexstriatum projections. We found that perseveration could be remedied using presynaptic inhibitory chemogenetics, and that this treatment also corrected the synaptic deficits.

Together, our findings reveal converging molecular, synaptic, circuit and behavioural mechanisms by which a molecularly defined and allocated population of striatal astrocytes gates perseveration phenotypes that accompany neuropsychiatric disorders.

Our data show thatCrym-positive striatal astrocytes have key biological functions within the central nervous system, and uncover astrocyteneuron interaction mechanisms that could be targeted in treatments for perseveration.

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Astrocytes Play Critical Role in Regulating Behavior - Neuroscience News

Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior – Sunnyside Sun

(Photo by Pixabay via Pexels)

By Isobel Williams via SWNS

Earths freshwater cycle has been knocked out of its stable state by man, warns a new study.

The research shows that human pressures - such as dam construction, large-scale irrigation and global warming- have altered freshwater resources to such an extent that their capacity to regulate vital ecological and climatic processes is at risk.

The study, published in the journal Nature Water, explains that for the past century, humans have been pushing the Earths freshwater system far beyond the stable conditions that prevailed before industrialization.

The international research team, led by Aalto University in Finland, notes that this is the first time that global water cycle change has been assessed over such a long timescale with an appropriate reference baseline.

To get their results the researchers calculated monthly streamflow and soil moisture at a spatial resolution of roughly 50x50 kilometers using data from hydrological models that combine all major human impacts on the freshwater cycle.

As a baseline, they determined the conditions during the pre-industrial period (1661-1860) and compared the industrial period (1861-2005) against this baseline.

Their analysis revealed an increase in the frequency of exceptionally dry or wet conditions deviations in streamflow and soil moisture.

Overall, they saw that the global land area experiencing deviations has nearly doubled compared with pre-industrial conditions.

Vili Virkki, a doctoral researcher at Aalto University, said: We found that exceptional conditions are now much more frequent and widespread than before, clearly demonstrating how human actions have changed the state of the global freshwater cycle.

(Photo by Artem Podrez via Pexels)

In their study, the researchers were able to explore geographical differences in these deviations.

They found that exceptionally dry streamflow and soil moisture conditions became more frequent in many tropical and subtropical regions, while many boreal and temperate regions saw an increase in exceptionally wet conditions, especially in terms of soil moisture.

They also found that there were more complex patterns in many regions with a long history of human land use and agriculture.

For example, the Nile, Indus and Mississippi River basins have experienced exceptionally dry streamflow and wet soil moisture conditions, indicating changes driven by irrigation.

Dr. Miina Porkka said: Using a method thats consistent and comparable across hydrological variables and geographical scales is crucial for understanding the biophysical processes and human actions that drive the changes were seeing in freshwater.

The team hopes that their findings will better inform future research on changes in the freshwater cycle.

Associate Professor Matti Kummu added: Understanding these dynamics in greater detail could help guide policies to mitigate the resulting harm but our immediate priority should be to decrease human-driven pressures on freshwater systems, which are vital to life on Earth.

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Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior - Sunnyside Sun

Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior – Blue Mountain Eagle

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Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior - Blue Mountain Eagle

Euphemisms increasingly used to soften behavior that would be questionable in direct language – Norfolk Daily News

During questioning of Fulton County, Georgia, prosecutor Nathan Wade about his relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis there was a moment that cut through all the euphemisms we have become accustomed to when it comes to human behavior.

Scott Sadow, an attorney for Donald Trump, who is trying to get an indictment against Trump dismissed for Trumps alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election, received an answer to a question that appeared to surprise him. Asked about his relationship with Willis, Wade said, Do you mean intercourse? Sadow said he wasnt going to use that word, but since Wade brought it up, then yes, thats what he meant.

It was a classic example of how euphemisms are increasingly used to soften the meaning of questionable behavior.

A forceful Willis tried to obfuscate her relationship with Wade, even calling him at one point a Southern gentleman. But in an earlier court filing, she admitted to an affair (meaning sex) with Wade, who she put on the payroll as part of her Trump prosecution team.

So many descriptions of human behavior have been modified or changed to gloss over their real meaning. In part, I think, it is to avoid judgment which can lead to a change in behavior that benefits individuals and the wider culture. Failing to identify certain behavior for what it is can have the effect of legitimizing that behavior in the eyes of people who are engaging in it and in the wider culture that refuses to accept a standard defining right and wrong.

How many speak of cheating on ones spouse, as Wade is alleged to have done, as adultery? Todays preferred description is a romantic relationship.

Could we also stop saying boyfriend and girlfriend when speaking of adults? These are not dating teenagers. They are mature people who have presumably been exposed to what used to be called the right way to live, but who have chosen another way.

Lying doesnt always bring the consequences it once did, even when witnesses take an oath to tell the truth. It is more than fishy that Wade and Willis exchanged cash and have no receipts or other records to back up their claims of legal behavior and propriety. Wade refused to say where he keeps his cash, but suggested some of it might be under his pillow. Willis said she once paid Wade $2,500 in cash that came from her pocketbook. Who carries around that kind of money? Wade even obfuscated on whether he used a credit card and how he was reimbursed for part of his expenditures when he and Willis traveled together. Who doesnt keep receipts, especially for tax purposes? Will the IRS investigate?

Two of the Ten Commandments prohibit adultery and bearing false witness. Those two forms of behavior are increasingly allowed in our non-judgmental culture. We see daily the corrosion violating these commands have caused.

Using words that accurately describe behavior, instead of euphemisms, can have the effect of limiting that behavior. It once seemed to. Approving, or at least failing to reject such behavior, contributes to more of it. As one translation of Proverbs 29:18 puts it, If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control.

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Euphemisms increasingly used to soften behavior that would be questionable in direct language - Norfolk Daily News

Emerson’s Insight: Navigating the Three Fundamental Desires of Human Nature – The Good Men Project

Earlier today, I had a brief conversation with a superintendent at my worksite; he had a long career in construction spanning 45 years, so he is a wealth of knowledge. I asked him what he does to keep himself motivated in our industry. He paused momentarily and mentioned some words that his favorite writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, had said.

If you dont know Ralph Waldo Emerson, he is a towering figure in American literature and philosophy and is often remembered for his insightful observations on human nature and society.

The superintendent told me that Emerson once said that 3 wants are fundamental desires that drive human behavior:

1 The want for more (greed),

2 The want for health,

and

3 The want of Anywhere but here.

While seemingly straightforward, these desires offered a deep glimpse into the complexities of human motivation and our quest for fulfillment. So, I decided to dig deeper for a better understanding.

The first desire Emerson identifies is the want for greed, encapsulated in the phrase its never enough. This desire stems from an insatiable longing for more more wealth, more success, more possessions. It reflects a deeper discontentment, a belief that happiness and satisfaction can be attained through the accumulation of material wealth.

However, this endless pursuit often leads to a cycle of dissatisfaction, where each achievement or acquisition only fuels the desire for more, leaving people trapped in a perpetual state of wanting.

This want for greed speaks to a broader societal issue, where success is often measured by material wealth and social status.

It challenges us to reconsider our values and question whether true contentment can ever be achieved through external means.

Emersons observation invites us to explore alternative sources of fulfillment that are not contingent on accumulating wealth but are rooted in the richness of our internal lives and relationships.

The second desire Emerson discusses is the want for health.

This desire is universal, transcending cultural, economic, and social boundaries.

To want to be healthy is not merely to be free from illness but to experience a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It reflects an understanding that health is the foundation upon which we build our lives, enabling us to pursue our goals, enjoy our relationships, and engage fully with the world around us.

However, the want for health also highlights the challenges and inequalities within our societies. Access to healthcare, nutritious food, clean air and water, and safe living conditions are not uniformly available, making pursuing health a privilege for some and a distant dream for others.

Emersons identification of health as a fundamental desire serves as a call to action, urging us to address these disparities and work towards a world where the want for health can be a reality for all.

The third desire, characterized by the sentiment anywhere but here, is a longing for change, something different from our current circumstances. It reflects a belief that happiness and fulfillment lie elsewhere, that if we could only change our location, situation, or surroundings, we would find what we are looking for.

This desire is often rooted in dissatisfaction with the present and romanticizing the unknown.

However, Emerson suggests that this want overlooks a crucial truth: that our external circumstances are not the sole determinants of our happiness. The energy we bring to our experiences, the attitudes we adopt, and the meaning we find in our daily lives shape our fulfillment. By focusing on changing our perspective rather than our location, we can discover that contentment is not a distant reality but a possibility within our current existence.

The energy we bring to our experiences, the attitudes we adopt, and the meaning we find in our daily lives shape our fulfillment.

Emersons identification of these three wants greed, health, and the desire for change serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of human desire and the search for fulfillment. It challenges us to look beyond the superficial markers of success and happiness and to delve deeper into the values and attitudes that truly shape our well-being.

In doing so, we can address the underlying discontent that drives these wants and work towards a more fulfilled, contented existence.

I was fortunate to come across this wisdom passed on to me from my worksite superintendent from Ralph Waldo Emersons insights.

Examining these desires invites us to contemplate the true sources of happiness and fulfillment. Emersons observations encourage us to reconsider our priorities, to value our health and well-being above material wealth, and to find contentment in our current circumstances through a shift in perspective.

In embracing these lessons, we can navigate the complexities of life with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the journey toward fulfillment.

What are your thoughts? I would love to know.

This post was previously published on medium.com.

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Emerson's Insight: Navigating the Three Fundamental Desires of Human Nature - The Good Men Project

Dogs can recognize a bad person and there’s science to prove it. – GOOD

Dogs can smell fear, but can they sniff out the truth? Your dog might actually be smarter than you're giving it credit for.

It turns out, dogs are pretty good at picking up on human behavior. Science says so. A team led by Akiko Takaoka of Kyoto University in Japan conducted a study which found out that dogs actually know if you're to be believed or not.

The study involved tricking dogs in the name of science. Humans have known for a long time that if you point at an object, a dog will run to it. Researchers utilized this information in their study. During the experiment, they pointed at a container that was filled with hidden food. Sure enough, the dog ran towards the container. Then, they pointed at a container that was empty. The dogs ran towards it, but found that it had no food.

The third time the researchers pointed at a container with food, the dogs refused to go to the container. They knew the person pointing wasn't reliable based off their previous experience. 34 dogs were used in the experiment, and every single dog wouldn't go towards the container the third time. This experiment either proves that dogs can spot a liar or that dogs have major trust issues.

In other words, if you lie to your dog, your dog forms the opinion that your word isn't good and will behave accordingly. "Dogs have more sophisticated social intelligence than we thought. This social intelligence evolved selectively in their long life history with humans," said Takaoka, who was also surprised that dogs were quick when they devalued the reliability of a human."

John Bradshaw of the University of Bristol in the UK, who wasn't involved in this study, says that the results indicate that dogs prefer predictability. When gestures are inconsistent, dogs tend to become nervous and stressed.

The researchers have plans to repeat the experiment swapping out the dogs with wolves because wolves are closely related to dogs. The point of this isn't to get bitten by wolves, but rather, to see the "profound effects of domestication" on dogs.

This article originally appeared on 06.06.19

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Dogs can recognize a bad person and there's science to prove it. - GOOD

What Is Organizational Behavior? Everything You Need To Know – MarketWatch

The role of a companys human resources department is to cultivate a healthy and productive workplace. HR can use the insights from an OB study to do this by making improvements in the following areas.

The Big Five is a widely recognized framework that categorizes personality traits into five dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (OCEAN). The idea is that every person has a little or a lot of each trait. Once you know where your employees personalities fall along the OCEAN spectrum, you can determine how they work and how they interact with coworkers.

Leadership requires specific skills that managers learn and hone throughout their careers. For instance, they need emotional intelligence, teamwork, adaptability, communication, collaboration and other soft skills. After conducting an OB study, you can see how managers interact with their employees, which tells you what skills they still need to work on.

Effective teams go through four stages of development: forming, storming, norming and performing. During forming, the focus is on building relationships. Storming involves dealing with conflicts and power struggles that arise. Norming is about establishing norms and best practices within the team. Performing is when the team reaches its peak performance level. OB can tell you if youre spending too much time or not enough time on forming, storming and norming, preventing you from reaching performing.

OB can help you determine if you have a tall or flat organizational structure and if that structure is right for how your company operates.

A tall structure has multiple hierarchical levels with narrow spans of control, meaning there are several managers that each oversee only a few employees. This type of structure has a clear line of authority, but it can lead to slower decision-making because the decision has to get passed up the chain through several levels.

By contrast, flat structures have fewer levels of hierarchy and wider spans of control, allowing for quicker decision-making and more direct communication. However, flat structures may need help maintaining clear lines of authority and control.

There are several human motivation theories out there, but one popular one is Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. It begins with basic physiological needs, such as food, shelter and water. Once those needs are met, a person can concentrate on their psychological needs, such as self-esteem and self-actualization.

In practice, employees at the top and bottom of the pyramid both want to be successful at work. However, the why behind this want for success differs. An employee whose motivation is survival wants to perform well so that they have steady income coming in to pay for food and shelter. In contrast, an employee whose basic needs are met wants to find meaning in their life, so they may search for a career that they love and invest in growing in that field.

At the end of the day, both types of employees are hard workers and worth having on your team. However, you want to do whatever you can, such as adjusting pay based on cost of living, to help more of your employees reach the latter stage. That way, they get a better quality of life because they dont have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck, and you get a workforce that is invested in growing with you.

There are several dimensions to communication. Here are some definitions to keep in mind as you study how your employees communication with one another:

Once you know what communication methods your employees use, you can decide if that aligns with how you want your company to operate. For example, maybe you picked up on a lot of crossed arms and frowns during your research, which would indicate unhappiness. You would want to reinforce a work culture of open communication so that employees feel comfortable telling their managers about challenges that are making them unhappy.

There are two approaches to decision-making: rational and intuitive. Rational decision-making is when you thoroughly analyze the situation, including all of the potential solutions, before choosing a path forward. With intuitive decision-making, you make a spontaneous decision based on what your gut tells you.

Employees within your team likely use different decision-making methods. You want to use OB to determine what works best for each person so that the team can meet in the middle to avoid conflict.

Change is unavoidable as a business. It can happen for internal or external reasons. External pressures are beyond the companys control (e.g., economic downturn or market competition). By contrast, internal factors, such as releasing a new product or losing key clients, can necessitate change from within.

Kurt Lewins Model of Change Theory provides a framework for handling both types of change. Its a three-step process that starts with unfreeze. Unfreeze is when you prepare your employees for change by communicating what necessitated the change and what the change will be. Change is the actual implementation of the changes, and refreeze is about solidifying the changes and making them a permanent part of the organization.

By studying your workplace, you can determine if your employees are comfortable with change. If you see them struggling, you can put them at ease and prepare them for the next change by educating them on Lewins theory.

There are two types of conflict: constructive and destructive. Constructive conflict, characterized by using open communication and diverse perspectives to find a solution, can stimulate creativity, foster innovation and improve decision-making. On the other hand, destructive conflict is marked by hostile exchanges and personal attacks, which can disrupt teamwork, damage morale and impede progress.

If you notice characteristics of deconstructive conflict appearing within your team, you may want to implement a mediation system. You act as the mediator as each party explains their side. You can then come to a compromise that addresses both parties concerns.

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What Is Organizational Behavior? Everything You Need To Know - MarketWatch