Should you wipe snow off solar panels?

The next time you wake up to find a layer of snow on your solar array, don't sweat the minuscule loss in production. Think of the convenient (and free) cleaning it will be providing your panels, and remember that it will melt away and slide off before you know it!

We do not recommend that you remove the snow from your solar panels. The danger of personal harm or damage to your panels is not worth the minor gain. Your array will most likely be snow-free in a day or two, and any production loss will most likely be offset by production over those long summer days.

What is a biogas?

Biogas is an environmentally-friendly, renewable energy source of renewable fuel produced by the breakdown of organic matter such as food scraps and animal waste. It is produced and used to fuel vehicles, heat our homes and to generate electricity.

Biogas is a type of renewable energy that is produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic materials, such as agricultural waste, food waste, sewage sludge, and animal manure. It is a mixture of primarily methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), along with small amounts of other gases.

The process of biogas production involves the decomposition of organic matter by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment, known as anaerobic digestion. During this process, the bacteria break down the organic material, releasing biogas as a byproduct. The produced biogas can be captured, stored, and utilized as an energy source.

Biogas has several applications. It can be used for heating, cooking, and lighting purposes in households and commercial settings. It can also be used as a fuel for electricity generation in biogas power plants, where the biogas is burned in a generator to produce electricity. In addition, biogas can be upgraded and purified to remove impurities, resulting in biomethane, which has similar properties to natural gas and can be injected into the natural gas grid or used as a transportation fuel.

The production and use of biogas offer various environmental benefits. It helps in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and utilizing methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Biogas production also provides an avenue for waste management, as it allows the conversion of organic waste into a valuable energy resource, reducing the need for landfilling or incineration.

Overall, biogas is a renewable energy source that can contribute to sustainable development, waste management, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Its utilization can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change, and promote a circular economy approach by converting organic waste into a valuable energy asset.

There are 486,713 routes to Rome

All roads lead to Rome

A data visualization unveiling mobility patterns at a very large scale, created with routing algorithms on existing street infrastructure from the city to continent scale.

These are 486,713 routes to Rome.

Ranveer Singh revealed about RaamLeela first actress

In the recent episode of Koffee With Karan, Ranveer Singh revealed that Deepika Padukone made a last minute entry on Ram Leela replacing Kareena Kapoor in the film! 

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What is a power factor?

Power factor (PF) is a ratio that measures how efficiently electrical power is converted into useful work output. It's calculated by dividing the useful power (kW) by the total power (kVA) consumed by an electrical system. The ideal power factor is unity, or one. 

Power factor is measured in kilowatts (kW) and kilovolt amperes (kVA). Apparent power, also known as demand, is the measure of the amount of power used to run machinery and equipment during a certain period. It's found by multiplying (kVA = V x A). 

Power factor has a value between zero and unity. There are good, bad, and poor power factors with specific ranges: 

•Good: 1.0 to 0.95

•Poor: 0.95 to 0.85

•Bad: 0.85 and below

A high power factor indicates that the power supplied to the electrical system is effectively used. A system with low power factor doesn't effectively consume the incoming electric supply and results in losses. 

A low power factor can: 

•Increase electricity costs

•Reduce electrical distribution capacity

•Cause sluggish motor performance

•Require larger wires and other equipment

•Electrical utilities will usually charge a higher cost to industrial or commercial customers where there is a low power factor. 

Force-sensing ‘smart scalpel’ helps hone doctors’ surgical skills

Researchers have developed a scalpel with built-in force-measuring sensors and coupled it with a machine-learning model that could streamline how doctors are trained to perform surgery and pave the way for automated surgical device.

If we have to go under the knife, we want the surgeon performing the surgery to be skilled with a scalpel. It requires striking a balance between using an appropriate amount of force for deliberate and controlled tissue dissection and not applying too much, which can cause damage.

While the level of force applied to the scalpel by its human operator is – obviously – important during surgery, there have been few tools capable of measuring it in real-life settings. Now, researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the UK have developed a ‘smart scalpel’ with built-in sensors to measure force.

“We are excited to develop this new system, which uses a combination of real-life sensing technology and machine learning methods to quantitatively assess surgical skill,” said Ram Ramamoorthy, the study’s corresponding author. “This system will enable the development of new systems for skill assessment and training and could one day lead to the creation of automated surgical devices that can assist surgical teams.”

The smart scalpel prototype

Rhona Crawford/University of Edinburgh

The low-cost, easy-to-replicate device consists of a scalpel connected to a sensor-loaded circuit board fitted inside its handle. The researchers designed a machine-learning model to analyze the force applied by the users. Twelve medical students and two professional surgeons tested their innovative scalpel by performing a series of 12 elliptical incisions on a multilayered skin replica made of gelatin and silicone.

Each procedure, which involved making two curved cuts to the skin, such as those used to remove moles and melanomas, was video-recorded and assessed by four expert surgeons – two neurosurgeons and two plastic surgeons – who rated the participants’ proficiency. The researchers then analyzed the relationships between the subjective expert evaluations and the objective force-based metrics data.

Results broadly matched the surgical experts’ assessment of each medical student’s ability, suggesting that this technology could simplify the process of assessing surgical skills. Some discrepancies arose, which, the researchers say, are partly because neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons use different instrument and tissue handling techniques.

The researchers say their findings open up possibilities for future studies, including using more participants for a more comprehensive analysis. Mapping objective measurements and patient outcomes would also be instructive. They say their method shows promise as a way of analyzing highly procedural tasks such as suturing.

The study was published in the journal Communications Engineering.

Amazon river hits century-low water levels; record drought disrupts lives in Brazilian rainforest

Amazon river is facing a tough situation with century low-levels of water causing a record-drought in the Brazilian rainforest. This led to stranded boats and isolated remote villages.

The Amazon River is the largest river by discharge volume and one of the longest rivers in the world. It is located in South America and flows through several countries, including Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and others.

1. Length and Drainage: The Amazon River has a total length of approximately 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), making it the second longest river in the world after the Nile. It has a massive drainage basin that covers about 7 million square kilometers (2.7 million square miles), which is roughly 40% of South America's land area.

2. Discharge and Tributaries: The river's average discharge is the highest among all rivers worldwide. It discharges approximately 209,000 cubic meters (7,381,000 cubic feet) of water per second into the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon River is fed by numerous tributaries, including the Negro, Madeira, Purus, and Japurá rivers, among others. Some of its tributaries are also quite large rivers in their own right.

3. Biodiversity: The Amazon Rainforest, through which the Amazon River flows, is known for its incredible biodiversity. It is one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, housing an estimated 16,000 species of trees and a vast array of plants, animals, and insects. The river and its surrounding rainforest provide a habitat for numerous species, including the pink river dolphin, anaconda, piranha, and various bird species.

4. Navigation and Economic Importance: The Amazon River serves as a crucial transportation route for the region. It enables the movement of goods, people, and resources across vast distances, particularly in areas with limited road infrastructure. The river is also significant for the local economy, supporting fishing, agriculture, and tourism activities.

5. Environmental Challenges: The Amazon River and its rainforest face several environmental challenges, including deforestation, illegal logging, and habitat destruction. These factors contribute to biodiversity loss and have broader implications for climate change and global carbon dioxide levels. Conservation efforts and sustainable practices are being pursued to address these challenges and protect the river's ecosystem.

The Amazon River and its surrounding rainforest are not only remarkable natural features but also play a vital role in the global ecosystem and have significant cultural and economic importance for the countries and communities that rely on them.

What is and Auto - Recloser?

Auto Recloser:

The auto recloser is a protective device that would automatically trip and reclose for a preset number of times. 

Reclosers are used for quick, temporary fault clearance, while circuit breakers permanently isolate the faulted area.

An auto-recloser is an electrical device used in power distribution systems to automatically detect and isolate faults on overhead lines. It is designed to quickly restore power after a temporary fault, such as a momentary short circuit or transient fault.

When a fault occurs on a power line, such as a tree branch coming into contact with the line, the auto-recloser detects the fault and automatically interrupts the flow of electricity. It then attempts to restore power by automatically closing the circuit again after a predetermined time delay, typically a few seconds.

If the fault is persistent or continues to occur, the auto-recloser will attempt to re-close the circuit a set number of times (usually three) before it locks out, signaling a more severe fault that requires manual intervention by utility personnel.

Auto-reclosers provide several benefits in power distribution systems. By automatically isolating and restoring power to temporary faults, they help minimize the duration of power outages and improve the reliability of electrical supply. They can also help reduce the need for manual inspections and repairs, as they can often clear transient faults without human intervention.

Overall, auto-reclosers play a crucial role in maintaining the continuity of electrical power and ensuring efficient and reliable distribution in overhead line systems.

Mild sleep restriction increases endothelial oxidative stress in female persons

Sleep restriction is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, which is more pronounced in female than male persons. We reported recently first causal evidence that mild, prolonged sleep restriction mimicking “real-life” conditions impairs endothelial function, a key step in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, in healthy female persons. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In model organisms, sleep restriction increases oxidative stress and upregulates antioxidant response via induction of the antioxidant regulator nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). Here, we assessed directly endothelial cell oxidative stress and antioxidant responses in healthy female persons (n = 35) after 6 weeks of mild sleep restriction (1.5 h less than habitual sleep) using randomized crossover design. Sleep restriction markedly increased endothelial oxidative stress without upregulating antioxidant response. Using RNA-seq and a predicted protein–protein interaction database, we identified reduced expression of endothelial Defective in Cullin Neddylation-1 Domain Containing 3 (DCUN1D3), a protein that licenses Nrf2 antioxidant responses, as a mediator of impaired endothelial antioxidant response in sleep restriction. Thus, sleep restriction impairs clearance of endothelial oxidative stress that over time increases cardiovascular risk.

More than a third of US adults sleep less than recommended 7–8 h per night1,2. Insufficient sleep is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, leading the American Heart Association to include sleep duration as the 8th metric of cardiovascular health in Life’s Essential 82,3,4. Female persons report sleep disturbances more frequently and have a more pronounced inflammatory response and cardiovascular risk associated with insufficient sleep than males2,4,5,6,7,8. We recently reported that randomly allocated mild, prolonged sleep restriction causes endothelial inflammation and dysfunction, early steps in the development of cardiovascular disease, in healthy female persons7. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

One suggested major function of healthy sleep is prevention of oxidative stress, an important contributor to endothelial inflammation and dysfunction9,10,11. Insufficient sleep, much like other cardiovascular risk factors, including cigarette smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, generates intracellular oxidative stress11. Studies in Drosophila and rodent models have shown that sleep restriction increases oxidative stress (defined as increased generation of reactive oxygen species) and upregulates antioxidant response via induction of the antioxidant regulator nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), a redox sensitive transcription factor that is kept in a latent state through its interaction with its repressor cullin-3 (Cul3)-containing ubiquitin ligase complex12,13,14. In response to increased oxidative stress, an adaptor protein Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) that binds to Nrf2 and Cul3 is modified and ubiquitin ligase complex is inactivated, allowing for Nrf2 accumulation and translocation into the nucleus where it binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) and initiates the transcription of antioxidant genes15.

Organ-specific overexpression of antioxidant genes rescues the survival of severely sleep-deprived Drosophila11 and activation of the Nrf2-ARE pathway confers protection from cardiovascular diseases16, suggesting that intact antioxidant responses are essential to counteract detrimental effects of sleep restriction. Studies of the effects of insufficient sleep on oxidative stress in model organisms employed severe, acute sleep restriction or genetic manipulations that limit models’ lifespan11,17. Such extreme, short-term sleep curtailment has limited relevance to predominant populational sleep patterns of chronic, mild sleep curtailment owing to maintaining work/life balance in modern societies2,4,11,17,18. Whether chronic, mild sleep curtailment that mimics “real-life” sleep patterns affect endothelial oxidative stress and antioxidant responses is unknown. Using a randomized crossover design, we assessed oxidative stress and antioxidant responses directly in endothelial cells (ECs) freshly harvested from healthy female participants before and after objectively monitored 6 weeks of mild sleep restriction or adequate sleep.

How do I keep my engine healthy?

𝑯𝑶𝑾 𝑫𝑶 𝑰 𝑲𝑬𝑬𝑷 𝑴𝒀 𝑬𝑵𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑬 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑳𝑻𝑯𝒀?

𝐷𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒. 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠, 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒.

 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗶𝗹

𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑢𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑟. 𝐼𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑠 𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡, 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑙𝑦. 𝑂𝑖𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑗𝑢𝑛𝑘 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑖𝑙, 𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹

𝑃𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑙 𝑠𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘'𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚, 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝. 𝑇𝑜𝑝 𝑢𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑢𝑝, 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐴 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑛𝑘 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙, 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑-𝑢𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡.

𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝗴𝘀

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑔, 𝑎 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑛. 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.

The power available in the wind

The power available in the wind spectra refers to the amount of energy that can be extracted from the wind at different wind speeds and frequencies. The power available in the wind spectra is determined by several factors, including the wind speed, air density, blade length, and rotor diameter of the wind turbine.

The power available in the wind spectra can be described by a power curve, which shows the relationship between the wind speed and the power output of the wind turbine. The power curve is typically obtained by testing the wind turbine under different wind speeds and measuring the power output.

The power available in the wind spectra can be estimated using the following equation:

P = 0.5 x A x rho x v^3 x Cp

where P is the power available in the wind spectra, A is the swept area of the rotor, rho is the air density, v is the wind speed, and Cp is the power coefficient of the wind turbine. The power coefficient represents the efficiency of the wind turbine in converting the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical power.

The power coefficient of a wind turbine depends on several factors, including the blade design, the tip speed ratio, and the pitch angle of the blades. The power coefficient is typically highest at a specific wind speed, known as the rated wind speed, and decreases at higher and lower wind speeds.

In general, the power available in the wind spectra increases with the cube of the wind speed, which means that a small increase in wind speed can result in a significant increase in power output. Therefore, wind turbines are designed to operate at the highest possible wind speeds while avoiding damage from excessive wind loads.

 

World 1920 vs World 2023

Over the course of 103 years, from 1923 to 2023, everything in the world has undergone profound transformations, encompassing advancements in technology, shifts in societal norms, and remarkable progress in various fields of knowledge.

World 1920 vs. World 2023: 

🌍 Members:

1920: 78 Independent Nations

2023: 195 Countries

🗺️ Area:

1920: 148,940,431 in km²

2023: 148,940,298 in km²

👥 Population:

1920: 1.9 billion

2023: 8.1 billion

🏞️ Population density:

1920: 12.7 per km²

2023: 53.4 per km²

📈 Population growth rate:

1920: 1.8

2023: 1.05

👶 Fertility rate:

1920: 5.1

2023: 2.4

👫 Gender ratio (female/male):

1920: 1000/1051

2023: 990/1010

🌡️ Average temperature:

1920: 56.89 °F

2023: 57.00 °F

🌎 Largest country:

1920: British Empire (35,000,000+ km²)

2023: Russia (17,098,240 km²)

🌍 Most populated country:

1920: British Empire (458 million)

2023: India (1.43 billion)

🗣️ Most spoken language:

1920: Mandarin Chinese (474 million)

2023: English (1.2 billion)

🕍 Most followed religion:

1920: Christianity (690 million)

2023: Christianity (2.38 billion)

🌲 Forest area:

1920: 5,500,000,000 hectares

2023: 4,060,000,000 hectares

💰 GDP (nominal):

1920: $612 billion

2023: $212.6 trillion

💰 GDP per capita:

1920: $322

2023: $12,641

🏛️ Highest GDP country:

1920: US ($115 billion)

2023: US ($26.5 trillion)

💰 Richest country:

1920: Australia ($5,482)

2023: Liechtenstein ($180,000)

🏙️ Most density country:

1920: Netherlands (168/km²)

2023: Monaco (26,337/km²)

👶 Highest fertility rate country:

1920: Armenia (7.84 births per woman)

2023: Niger (6.91 births per woman)

👶 Lowest fertility rate country:

1920: Switzerland (2.37 births per woman)

2023: South Korea (0.9 births per woman)

💪 Most powerful country:

1920: British Empire

2023: United States

🏙️ Richest city by GDP:

1920: New York ($8 billion)

2023: Tokyo ($2.05 trillion)

🌆 Most populated city:

1920: New York (7.77 million)

2023: Tokyo (37.3 million)

🏟️ Largest stadium:

1920: Ohio Stadium (102,730)

2023: Narendra Modi Stadium (132,000)

🏢 Tallest building:

1920: Woolworth Building (241 meters)

2023: Burj Khalifa (828 meters)

🏭 Steel production (in metric tons):

1920: 58,908,006

2023: 158,500,000

💰 Richest person:

1920: Henry Ford ($1.2 billion)

2023: Elon Musk ($228 billion)

💵 Most valuable currency:

1920: Swiss Franc

2023: Kuwait Dinar

Dependent on your phone? It could be the gateway to addiction

From: Swinburne University of Technology

•Swinburne researcher calls for smartphone addiction to recognised as a clinical condition to help address the mental health crisis 

•New Swinburne research highlights smartphone dependence can easily become a severe addiction

•Researcher Saqib Nawaz is calling for smartphone addiction to be recognised as a legitimate clinical addiction so that it can be treated effectively

•Logging excessive screen time, neglecting offline activities and feeling uneasy when not able to check notifications are all signs of phone dependency

Missing out on life  

When Saqib Nawaz tried to have a meaningful conversation with his friends who were too busy being mesmerised by their phones, he shrugged it off as the new normal. It wasn’t until he started missing his train stop due to being glued to his phone, he realised just the extent of the problem.

“Being unable to enjoy a meal without watching a video, using my phone in situations like in the toilet or shower and prioritising phone use over other activities like sports made me realise that I am highly dependent on my smartphone.”

Mr Nawaz began started researching phone use and says people’s unwillingness to openly discuss their usage problems only highlights the issue.

Addiction not yet recognised 

New Swinburne research by Mr Nawaz reveals problematic phone use and dependence can easily form an addiction, a severe and clinical condition, if not urgently intervened.

The research stresses the need for educational programs in schools and workplaces, stronger regulations that protect user data, mental health support program investments and research into what is an increasingly new and alarming issue.

If you’re logging excessive screen time, neglecting offline activities and feeling uneasy when not able to check notifications regularly, you could be suffering from phone dependency.

“While smartphone addiction is not yet clinically recognised, many experienced researchers have identified striking similarities with substance-related conditions and addictions,” says Mr Nawaz. “Addressing this issue proactively is important to manage this growing concern effectively.”

A need for change 

Mr Nawaz says it is essential for individuals to use phones mindfully and strike a balance between the benefits and potential drawbacks.

“Improving smartphone reliance, both at the individual and societal levels requires a balanced and thoughtful approach to ensure that phones enhance our lives without causing negative consequences.”

Mr Nawaz suggests tactics such as:

Setting screen time limits

Creating opportunities to spend time with loved one’s face-to-face

Going on a digital detox, or scheduling tech-free mornings/evenings

“Individuals with problematic smartphone dependence often find it difficult to control their phone use, despite their best intentions to reduce or stop,” says Mr Nawaz.

“We need to encourage institutions and organisations to establish policies that prevent users from using phones in certain situations and promote work-life balance, including measures to avoid after-hours work-related phone use,” he says.

“Being more present reduces stress, boosts productivity and creates better social connections in real life. Mental illness is already through the roof - that’s why tackling phone dependency is so important.”

Swinburne researcher Saqib Nawaz is available for an interview.

How the grounding conductor protects against electric shock and equipment damage?

The grounding conductor plays a vital role in protecting against electric shock and equipment damage by providing a safe path for electrical fault currents. Here are a few key points to understand:

1. Electric Shock Protection: If a fault occurs in an electrical system, such as a short circuit or a ground fault, the grounding conductor provides a low-resistance path for the fault current to flow directly to the ground. This helps to quickly divert the fault current away from people and equipment, reducing the risk of electric shock.

2. Equipment Protection: The grounding conductor also helps protect electrical equipment and appliances. In the event of a fault, the grounding conductor provides a path for the fault current to flow, which helps to quickly clear the fault and prevent excessive voltage from damaging the equipment. It helps to ensure that if a fault occurs, the circuit breaker or other protective devices can quickly interrupt the current flow.

3. Surge Protection: Grounding also plays a crucial role in protecting against voltage surges or transient events. When a voltage surge occurs, such as from lightning strikes or switching operations, a proper grounding system provides a path for the surge to dissipate safely into the ground, protecting sensitive equipment from damage.

It's important to note that the effectiveness of the grounding system relies on proper installation and maintenance. The grounding conductor should be appropriately sized, securely connected, and bonded to the grounding system, which typically includes grounding electrodes, such as grounding rods or a grounding grid.

To ensure proper grounding practices and compliance with electrical codes and regulations, it is advisable to consult with a licensed electrician or electrical professional. They can assess your specific electrical system, recommend appropriate grounding measures, and ensure the safety and protection of people and equipment.

Life Course Patterns of Prescription Drug Use in the United States

Prescription drug use has reached historic highs in the United States—a trend linked to increases in medicalization, institutional factors relating to the health care and pharmaceutical industries, and population aging and growing burdens of chronic disease. 

Despite the high and rising prevalence of use, no estimates exist of the total number of years Americans can expect to spend taking prescription drugs over their lifetimes. 

This study provides the first estimates of life course patterns of prescription drug use using data from the 1996–2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys, the Human Mortality Database, and the National Center for Health Statistics. Newborns in 2019 could be expected to take prescription drugs for roughly half their lives: 47.54 years for women and 36.84 years for men.

The number of years individuals can expect to take five or more drugs increased substantially. Americans also experienced particularly dramatic increases in years spent taking statins, antihypertensives, and antidepressants. 

There are also important differences in prescription drug use by race and ethnicity: non-Hispanic Whites take the most, Hispanics take the least, and non-Hispanic Blacks fall in between these extremes. Americans are taking drugs over a wide and expanding swathe of the life course, a testament to the centrality of prescription drugs in Americans' lives today.

Will holding back sneeze kill you?

Holding back a sneeze can potentially have negative consequences, although it is extremely rare for it to be life-threatening. When you sneeze, your body releases a powerful burst of air to clear irritants from your nasal passages. Attempting to stifle or suppress a sneeze can create pressure within your head and potentially cause various issues such as:

1. Ruptured blood vessels: Holding back a sneeze can generate excessive pressure in the blood vessels and potentially lead to their rupture. While this is rare, it can potentially occur in delicate blood vessels, such as those in the head or neck.

2. Middle ear damage: The pressure generated when holding back a sneeze can impact the middle ear. This can result in damage to the eardrum, hearing loss, or other ear-related problems.

3. Sinus issues: Suppressing a sneeze can disrupt the normal flow of air and mucus within the sinuses, potentially leading to sinus problems or discomfort.

While these risks exist, it's important to note that they are highly uncommon. Most people can safely hold back a sneeze without experiencing any adverse effects. However, it is generally recommended to allow sneezes to occur naturally and avoid forcibly suppressing them whenever possible.

How to find the square root of such math problems within seconds?

How to find the square root of this in seconds: 

You might be panicking after asked to find the square root of this math problem. 

But don't worry it's just a matter of seconds, I will tell you how: 

if you are asked a math problem of such as consecutive numbers and reverse added under square root, so the answer is the middle number which is four in the above problem. 

Let's do another one: 

the answer is simple it's 15. 

Now math is even more easy: 

The answer to this would be 55. 

Now can you say what's the answer to the first problem? 

Yes, you are right it's 200,000.

⚠️What is the Purpose of Hazard Lights and How to Use Them Properly?

⚠️What is the Purpose of Hazard Lights and How to Use Them Properly?

The purpose of hazard lights is to alert other drivers that you are not driving normally and that they should exercise caution when approaching or passing you. Generally, this means that you are stopped or traveling significantly lower than the posted speed limit. For example, you should use your hazard lights when:

• Your car breaks down and you need to pull over to the side of the road.

• You have a flat tire and you need to change it on the shoulder.

• You are driving in a funeral procession and you need to follow the lead car at a slow pace.

• You are getting pulled over by a police officer and you need to signal your compliance.

Hazard lights are an important safety feature that can help you communicate with other drivers in case of trouble or emergency. However, they should be used wisely and appropriately, following the law and etiquette for your state and situation. By doing so, you can avoid creating more hazards and ensure a safer driving experience for yourself and others.

Types of electric vehicles

Which one do you prefer?

Number coding exempted.

HEV, PHEV, and EV are types of electric vehicles with different levels of reliance on electric power:

1. HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle): HEVs combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor. They use regenerative braking to charge the battery, provide limited electric-only driving, and rely heavily on the combustion engine. They don't need to be plugged in and offer better fuel efficiency than conventional vehicles.

2. PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle): PHEVs have both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. They can operate on electricity alone for a limited range before switching to hybrid mode. PHEVs can be charged from an external power source and provide flexibility with longer electric range.

3. EV (Electric Vehicle): EVs rely solely on electric power and use rechargeable batteries. They need to be regularly charged from an external power source and have no combustion engine. EVs offer zero tailpipe emissions and are more dependent on charging infrastructure, providing longer electric ranges compared to hybrids.

Each type provides varying degrees of electric power and offers different advantages based on driving needs and charging accessibility.

Breast implants have a positive impact on female sexuality, according to new research

Women tend to report improved sexual functioning after undergoing breast augmentation surgery, according to new research published in Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira. The findings suggest that this popular cosmetic procedure not only enhances physical appearance but also positively impacts women’s self-confidence.

Breasts hold a central role in how society perceives femininity, sexuality, and maternity. Changes in breast size, shape, or distortions can have a profound effect on a woman’s self-image and quality of life. Dissatisfaction with one’s body, including breast size and contour, can lead to sexual dysfunction and reduced quality of life.

“Breast augmentation is on of the most performed procedures in plastic surgery and it is due to the impact that it causes on women’s life quality and self-esteem,” said study author Mateus Leme De Marchi, a plastic surgery resident in São Paulo, Brazil.

The study involved 87 women with hypomastia (small breasts) who desired breast augmentation. The criteria for inclusion encompassed women between 18 and 55 years old, a minimum education level of the 5th grade, and small breast size according to the Sacchini index. Exclusion criteria included factors such as pregnancy, systemic diseases, smoking, and previous breast surgeries.

Two groups of patients were assessed using separate questionnaires. The Female Sexual Quotient (QS-F) questionnaire was used in one group, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire in the other. The surgical procedure involved placing subglandular silicone implants, adhering to strict protocols and safety measures.

Patients completed their respective questionnaires before the surgery and at follow-up visits, two and four months after the procedure. The questionnaires evaluated various aspects of sexual function, including desire, arousal, lubrication, pain, orgasm, and satisfaction.

In the QS-F group, patients showed an initial slight decrease in scores at two months postoperatively, likely due to discomfort and pain following surgery. However, at the four-month mark, there was a significant increase in scores, indicating an improvement in their sexuality.

Similarly, the FSFI group also demonstrated improvements in sexual function, with scores increasing from preoperative levels to two and four months postoperatively.

“I was surprised with the improvement in sexuality only a couple months after surgery, when people still haven’t completed all the healing process,” De Marchi said.

One notable finding was the significant improvement in the domain of arousal and harmony with a partner in both groups. This suggests that breast augmentation positively influenced women’s self-confidence, self-esteem, and overall satisfaction with their body image, subsequently enhancing their sexual desire and arousal.

The results of this study underscore the close connection between a woman’s breasts and her self-image, body satisfaction, and ultimately, her sexuality. Changes in breast size and shape, brought about by augmentation, can lead to significant improvements in various aspects of a woman’s quality of life, including her sexual well-being.

“Breast augmentation has a positive impact on life quality, which encompasses sexuality,” De Marchi told PsyPost. “Some women maybe don’t feel very comfortable with their bodies and specifically their breasts, either because of the standards of beauty and size proposed by social media or because of bullying. This may cause many prejudices in their life and self-esteem. For these women, the breast augmentation brings high satisfaction and can improve the relationship of the woman and her own body, which can bring a big benefit in her sexuality.”

While this study provides valuable insights into the impact of breast augmentation on female sexuality, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. The study was conducted at a single center and had a relatively small sample size. Additionally, the follow-up period was relatively short at 4 months post-surgery.

Future research should aim to include larger and more diverse study populations, as well as longer-term follow-up assessments, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the long-term effects of breast augmentation on female sexuality.

“We studied the sexuality, which is part of life quality, but we could see an improvement in other aspects of life quality as well, which must be studied,” De Marchi added.

The study, “Impact of breast augmentation on female sexuality“, was authored by Paulo Afonso Monteiro Pacheco Guimarães, Elisa Mayumi Kokuba Aihara, Miguel Sabino Neto, Mateus Leme De Marchi, and Lydia Masako Ferreira.

Asian Games 2023, Medal Table

The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years, bringing together athletes from across Asia. The event is recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and is considered the second-largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.

The 23rd edition of the Asian Games is set to take place in Hangzhou, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant atmosphere. Hangzhou is located in the Zhejiang province of China.

The Asian Games feature a wide range of sports, including traditional and popular disciplines. The exact list of sports and events for the 23rd Asian Games will be determined by the OCA closer to the event date. In previous editions, sports such as athletics, swimming, football, basketball, badminton, table tennis, and martial arts have been part of the program.

The Asian Games promote unity, friendship, and sportsmanship among participating nations. It is an opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills, compete at an international level, and foster cultural exchange.

The 23rd Asian Games in Hangzhou is expected to attract thousands of athletes, officials, and spectators from across Asia. It will be a celebration of sport, culture, and the spirit of competition.

Asian Games 2023, medal table:

🇨🇳 China: 🥇178, 🥈99, 🥉55

🇯🇵 Japan: 44, 54, 60

🇰🇷 South Korea: 33, 47, 77

🇮🇳 India: 21, 32, 33

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan: 19, 16, 25

🇹🇼 Taipei: 15, 15, 23

🇰🇵 North Korea: 10, 16, 8

🇹🇭 Thailand: 10, 14, 27

🇧🇭 Bahrain: 10, 2, 5

🇮🇷 Iran: 8, 17, 17

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: 8, 15, 38

🇭🇰 Hong Kong: 7, 16, 29

🇮🇩 Indonesia: 6, 10, 17

🇲🇾 Malaysia: 5, 6, 17

🇶🇦 Qatar: 5, 6, 3

🇸🇬 Singapore: 3, 6, 6

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: 3, 2, 2

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan: 3, 0, 5

🇦🇪 UAE: 2, 4, 5

🇻🇳 Vietnam: 2, 3, 16

🇰🇼 Kuwait: 2, 3, 2

🇵🇭 Philippines: 2, 2, 10

🇹🇯 Tajikistan: 2, 1, 4

🇲🇳 Mongolia: 1, 4, 9

🇲🇴 Macau: 1, 2, 2

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: 1, 2, 2

🇲🇲 Myanmar: 1, 0, 1

🇯🇴 Jordan: 0, 3, 1

🇹🇲 Turkmenistan: 0, 1, 4

🇴🇲 Oman: 0, 1, 1

🇵🇰 Pakistan: 0, 1, 1

🇧🇳 Brunei: 0, 1, 0

🇦🇫 Afghanistan: 0, 0, 4

🇱🇦 Laos: 0, 0, 3

🇮🇶 Iraq: 0, 0, 2

🇧🇩 Bangladesh: 0, 0, 1

🇱🇧 Lebanon: 0, 0, 1

🇵🇸 Palestine: 0, 0, 1

🇸🇾 Syria: 0, 0, 1

* October 6, 2023

New engineered bacteria could destroy plastics in seawater

Over 14 million tons of plastic litter ends up in the ocean every year, killing thousands of animals and birds that ingest it. Much of it ends up amassing in giant garbage patches and over time breaking down into smaller microscopic pieces that are harmful to marine life.

A new study offers a glimmer of hope in addressing this marine plastic pollution problem. Researchers at North Carolina State University report in the AIChE Journal that they have genetically engineered a marine microorganism to break down a commonly used plastic in salt water.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a type of plastic used to make bottles, food packaging and clothes. Much PET plastic waste does not get recycled, and ends up in landfills and aquatic environments. It eventually breaks down into microplastics—particles with a size of less than 5 mm—which are challenging to collect and have been shown to move quickly between aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments, the researchers point out in the paper.

Some microbes have been found to have the ability to break down plastic. Researchers have genetically engineered bacteria, or even just the enzymes they produce, to convert plastic waste into valuable chemicals. A key limitation with these previously modified organisms is that “their growth is inhibited by high concentrations of salt,” the NCSU team writes. That means microplastics would have to be collected and washed off using large quantities of water before they can be broken down.

So the researchers took a different approach, harnessing two different species of bacteria. The first, Vibrio natriegens, lives in saltwater and reproduces very quickly, doubling in number in under 10 minutes in ideal conditions. The second bacteria, Ideonella sakaiensis, produces enzymes that can deconstruct PET.

The team isolated the DNA sequence from I. sakaiensis that is responsible for producing the enzyme, and inserted it into V. natriegens. The modified V. natriegens could produce the PET-degrading enzymes on the surface of their cells. They found that V. natriegens was able to break down PET into its building blocks in a saltwater environment at room temperature.

“From a practical standpoint, this is the first genetically engineered organism that we know of that is capable of breaking down PET microplastics in saltwater,” said Tianyu Li, a PhD student and the paper’s first author, in a press release. “That’s important, because it is not economically feasible to remove plastics from the ocean and rinse high concentration salts off before beginning any processes related to breaking the plastic down.”

There is still significant work to be done, the researchers say. They now plan to modify V. natriegens so that it can feed on the byproducts it creates when it breaks apart PET, and so it can produce useful chemical molecules in the end.

Source: Tianyu Li, Stefano Menegatti, Nathan Crook. Breakdown of polyethylene therepthalate microplastics under saltwater conditions using engineered Vibrio natriegens. AIChE Journal, 2023.

Child drug poisonings and firearm deaths have skyrocketed in America: Study

Firearm deaths and drug poisoning deaths in children have spiked in the last decade, according to a new study in the United States. The study found an increase in firearm deaths by 87% and drug poisoning deaths by 133%.

Researchers looked at data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s injury reporting system. They analyzed injuries leading to death from 2011-2021 and nonfatal injuries from 2011-2020.

Overall, they found that fatal injury rates increased from about 14 deaths per 100,000 children in 2011 to over 17 deaths per 100,000 children in 2021. Firearm injuries made up the biggest portion of those fatal injuries.

Both the increase in firearm and drug overdoses may be because children can get ahold of these dangerous items easily, says Dr. Rebecca Mannix, an author on the study and a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Boston Children’s Hospital.

"The access issues of firearms and prescription and illicit drugs have also been a huge problem in the pediatric population," she says. "There's a reservoir of both prescribed and illicit drugs that kids have access to that can become quite deadly."

The study found that pediatric injury fatalities sharply increased in the pandemic years of 2020 to 2021.

"The increase in pediatric injury-related deaths preceded the COVID-19 pandemic, though the pandemic exacerbated numerous factors underlying this disturbing trend, including access to lethal means, such as firearms and opioids, the mental health crisis and structural racism," said Mannix in an email to ABC News. "In this way, the increase in deaths in 2020 to 2021 is an amplified trend that has been creeping up on us for the last decade."

It remains unclear whether these trends will continue. The study also looked at the trends of injuries that did not lead to death in children.

Nonfatal injuries decreased by more than half between 2011 and 2020. Motor vehicle injuries saw a decrease by 47%.

While it is hard to determine why there was a decrease, Mannix and her team point to public health initiatives, such as booster seats for children, as a possible cause.

"This is largely due to public health interventions I think, in the last few decades, improving motor vehicle safety, improving helmet technology, [and] childproofing," says Mannix. Technological advancements and legislative requirements may also have contributed, experts say.

Public safety initiatives are key to keeping children safe, says Dr. Wee Chua, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University. That includes "car seats, bike helmets, and the safe storage of firearms," Chua says.

Despite overall decreases in nonfatal injuries, the rates of self-harm increased by 57%. Self-harm is the act of purposefully hurting oneself, and it’s associated with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

"I spend my clinical time in the ER," says Mannix, "And I can tell you, there's a behavioral health [and] mental health crisis in kids."

Parents can prevent firearm injuries and drug poisonings by removing guns from homes, locking prescription drugs, monitoring for illicit and prescription drug use and seeing a doctor if your child is exhibiting self-harm behavior.

AI translates 5,000-year-old cuneiform tablets into English | A new technology meets old languages.

Abstract

Cuneiform is one of the earliest writing systems in recorded human history (ca. 3,400 BCE–75 CE). Hundreds of thousands of such texts were found over the last two centuries, most of which are written in Sumerian and Akkadian. We show the high potential in assisting scholars and interested laypeople alike, by using natural language processing (NLP) methods such as convolutional neural networks (CNN), to automatically translate Akkadian from cuneiform Unicode glyphs directly to English (C2E) and from transliteration to English (T2E). We show that high-quality translations can be obtained when translating directly from cuneiform to English, as we get 36.52 and 37.47 Best Bilingual Evaluation Understudy 4 (BLEU4) scores for C2E and T2E, respectively. For C2E, our model is better than the translation memory baseline in 9.43, and for T2E, the difference is even higher and stands at 13.96. The model achieves best results in short- and medium-length sentences (c. 118 or less characters). As the number of digitized texts grows, the model can be improved by further training as part of a human-in-the-loop system which corrects the results.

Significance Statement

Hundreds of thousands of clay tablets inscribed in the cuneiform script document the political, social, economic, and scientific history of ancient Mesopotamia. Yet, most of these documents remain untranslated and inaccessible due to their sheer number and limited quantity of experts able to read them. This paper presents a state of the art neural machine translation model for the automatic translation of Akkadian texts into English, from Unicode cuneiform glyphs and from transliterations of the cuneiform signs, achieving 36.52 and 37.47 Best Bilingual Evaluation Understudy 4 (BLEU4) scores, respectively. It is particularly effective in maintaining the style of the text genre in the translation. This is another major step toward the preservation and dissemination of the cultural heritage of ancient Mesopotamia.

What are possible specialities in power system engineering?

As a newly graduate with Power Engineering degree, what speciality in power systems should you focus on?

I will give you some insights, these inputs will help you decide in the type of learning course and projects you will pursue in power system speciality.

You have a couple of paths to take:

1. System Protection (relays and settings)

2. System Control (generator control, remedial action schemes, etc.)

3. System Design (create prints, bill of materials, etc.)

4. System Testing (in service testing and commissioning or equipment testing)

5. System Studies (powerflow, voltage and transient stability studies, planning, etc)

6. Project Engineer (a smarter PM)

What you do depends on what type of career you want. Every power system company has system protection, plenty of positions, and is an extremely deep topic so it is always a good choice.

Controls is very specific to a particular company so the skills aren’t always marketable to other companies but if you want to stay long term in one place this is a great path because they always need you.

Design is pretty much only contract work these days. You can work for a firm but you will get overworked and underpaid.

System testing is some of the most fun but you will have to travel 90% of the time which is a hard lifestyle but some people love it. Very nomadic. 

System studies is a good choice if you are computer inclined. You essentially need a good understanding of the power system and some computer science to be really successful. This path gets you into a lot more theoretical stuff and lots of companies are doing hybrid or full remote positions if that attracts you. 

Project engineers are in meetings all day. You lose a lot of the technical side but you get your face in front of management if you do a good job so it can help you move into management if that is your goal.

Calls for verbal abuse of children by adults to be formally recognised as form of child maltreatment

A new systematic review by researchers at UCL and Wingate University has highlighted the importance of identifying childhood verbal abuse by adults as a standalone subtype of child maltreatment, to ensure targeted prevention and address the lasting harm it can inflict.

Child maltreatment is currently classified into four subtypes: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. These classifications guide the creation of interventions and the monitoring of affected populations.

The study, published in Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal and commissioned by charity, Words Matter, examines a total of 149 quantitative and 17 qualitative studies to assess how child verbal abuse is currently defined and measured.

Researchers found that there needs to be a more consistent way of defining childhood verbal abuse, as it currently varies between parents and other authorities, with it being normalised in some cultures as a form of discipline.

The nature of childhood verbal abuse involves behaviours that can be detrimental to a child’s wellbeing, such as belittling, shouting, and threatening language.

It was found that these actions could have a lasting impact throughout the child’s life, creating underlying emotional and psychological repercussions, including increased risks of anger, depression, substance abuse, self-harm and obesity.

However, the team noted that there was a noticeable void in acknowledging childhood verbal abuse by adults as a distinct maltreatment subtype and that doing so would be a starting point for its identification and prevention.

Co-author, Professor Peter Fonagy (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences), said: “This systematic review is timely and of significant clinical value. Preventing the maltreatment of children is the most effective way we can reduce the prevalence of child mental health problems. A sharp focus on childhood verbal abuse by adults around them by the new charity Words Matter, and this review will help make significant change, and support and direct our efforts to identify and respond to this risk in an effective and timely manner.” 

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that emotional abuse is now the most prevalent form of child maltreatment, ahead of physical or sexual abuse.*

However, researchers found that the term “emotional abuse” was ambiguous and focused on the victim.

Whereas the term “childhood verbal abuse” zeroes in on the adult’s actions and this onus could be a starting point for prevention, were it to be made a subtype in its own right.

There was also a range of varying terminology associated with “verbal abuse” across the studies, with terms such as “verbal aggression”, “verbal hostility” and “verbal abuse” being used - highlighting the need for standardised terminology in this area.

The review found that the main perpetrators of childhood verbal abuse by adults were parents (76.5%), other adult caregivers in the home (2.4%), and teachers (12.71%). Other adults noted were coaches (0.6%) and police (0.6%).

Shouting and screaming were the most documented characteristics of verbal abuse. However, the research emphasises that definitions of childhood verbal abuse should not only consider the words used but also the intent, delivery, and the immediate impact on children.

More research would need to be carried out on specific age groups to further understand the effects of this behaviour.

Lead author, Professor Shanta Dube (Wingate University, US), said: “Childhood verbal abuse desperately needs to be acknowledged as an abuse subtype, because of the lifelong negative consequences.

“We’ve seen tremendous strides in increased awareness and interventions targeting physical and sexual abuse perpetrators leading to the reduction in these forms of maltreatment. If we focus on ‘verbal abuse’ by perpetrators rather than just ‘emotional abuse’ among victims, we may develop similar actions to prevent childhood verbal abuse and its consequences.

“Breaking the intergenerational cycles starts with the adults.”

Jessica Bondy, Founder of Words Matter, a newly established charity with the mission of enhancing children’s overall health and wellbeing by curtailing verbal abuse by adults in their lives, said: “It’s paramount to grasp the true scale and impact of childhood verbal abuse. All adults get overloaded sometimes and say things unintentionally. We have to work collectively to devise ways to recognise these actions and end childhood verbal abuse by adults so children can flourish.

“Words have weight, they can uplift or destroy. Let’s build children up, not knock them down.”

Romantic relationships linked to disturbed sleep patterns in adolescents, study finds

A new study published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine has found that beginning a romantic relationship or going through a breakup can impact poorly upon the sleep of adolescents, particularly in younger adolescent females.

Adolescence is a turbulent, dynamic period characterized by new experiences, one of which may be commencing a romantic relationship. While engaging in a relationship is ideally a positive experience that can boost mental health, relationships are major life events that can potentially act as a source of stress. Adolescents can be impacted emotionally and behaviorally, with research suggesting issues such as lowered self-esteem, more mood swings, and more alcohol and substance abuse.  

This in turn could have detrimental impacts upon sleep, where adolescents can experience insomnia symptoms, such as struggling to fall asleep, sleeping for shorter time periods, or frequently waking up during the night.

However, previous research investigating the exact relationship between adolescent romantic experiences and sleep has provided mixed results, with some studies suggesting shorter sleep duration, other studies not finding any association between the two factors, and the remaining studies suggesting an improvement to subjective sleep quality. 

Additionally, little is known regarding how adolescent age and sex influences this association.

The study team, led by Xianchen Liu from the University of Pennsylvania, aimed to clarify this ambiguity with a focus on Chinese adolescents.

Over the course of one year, 7,072 middle school and high school students were followed. The students began the study in grade 7, 8 or 10, and completed baseline questionnaires about their romantic experiences within the last year, their insomnia symptoms, and their sleep duration at night. 

Information was also collected on various factors that could affect romantic relationships and/or sleep, including age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, family socioeconomic status, parents’ marital status, and depressive symptoms.

The same data points were again collected one year later in follow-up surveys.

After adjusting for the variables that impact romantic relationships and/or sleep, Liu and authors discovered that at baseline, there was an increased chance of insomnia symptoms that were associated with starting a relationship (41% increase), ending a relationship (35% increase), or a combination of both (45% increase). 

Experiencing both the start and end of a relationship at baseline was associated with a 30% increased chance of short sleep i.e. under seven hours a night.

When re-examining the adolescents one year later, those who had entered into a relationship were found to have a 61% higher chance of new insomnia symptoms, and those who experienced a break-up had a 43% increased chance of developing new insomnia symptoms.

The researchers concluded that “romantic relationships not only have short-term impacts on sleep quality and quantity but also are significant predictors of insomnia symptoms one year later” and that various factors could contribute to this, such as life stress, hormonal changes and psychosocial development.

Additionally, the relationships between romantic involvement and sleep difficulties were discovered to be greater in younger adolescents (under 15 years old), compared to older adolescents (at least 15 years old), and was particularly evident in females.

Psychological, social, and biological development may explain poorer sleep in early adolescence, with the authors suggesting “fast physical growth and sexual development, marked sleep changes, need for more independence and privacy, and immature decision-making and stress management skills” as potential mechanisms. However, more studies are required to unpack the influence of sex in the relationship between romantic experience and sleep, as the current analyses did not provide conclusive support towards the notion that females and males are impacted differently.

Notably, the results must be viewed through the lens of traditional Chinese culture. Involvement in relationships as an adolescent deviates from social norms and thus the stresses of entering or ending a relationship could be exacerbated, and consequently sleep problems could be amplified. The authors noted that further research is required to ascertain how this may differ in Western culture.

There are some caveats to be considered. As the data was reported by the adolescents themselves, results may have been biased. Additionally, the questions may have been interpreted with some liberty, with the authors suggesting that some adolescents may have interpreted experiences of having a crush or unrequited love as meeting the criteria of having ‘entered’ into a romantic relationship. Finally, data was not collected on other important factors that should be considered in romantic relationships, such as the number, duration and quality of relationships, or the rationale behind break-ups.

The study, “Starting a Romantic Relationship, Breakups, and Sleep: A Longitudinal Study of Chinese Adolescents”, was authored by Xianchen Liu, Zhen-Zhen Liu, Yanyun Yang and Cun-Xian Jia.

New study shines a light on men's unconscious attraction to fertility cues in women's faces

Heterosexual men tend to be more attracted to the faces of women when they are near ovulation compared to when they are at other phases of their menstrual cycles, according to new research published in the scientific journal Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology. However, men’s preference for fertility cues appears to be driven by unconscious mechanisms rather than conscious detection.

Attraction between the sexes has long fascinated scientists and researchers, prompting numerous studies exploring the dynamics at play. One critical aspect of this attraction centers around a woman’s fertility, which has been suggested to play a role in shaping men’s preferences in potential partners.

Previous research has indicated that men often exhibit a preference for women who display cues of high fertility. These cues, believed to be unconsciously detected by men, may include subtle changes in scent, facial features, voice, and even body movements. These cues have led scientists to ponder the evolutionary origins of such preferences.

The recent study aimed to delve deeper into the intricacies of human attraction, specifically focusing on men’s responses to cues associated with women’s fertility. The researchers were motivated to investigate why some men appear more sensitive to these cues than others.

“Considerable research over the last couple decades has investigated changes in mating-related behaviors and preferences in women across their menstrual cycles,” explained study author Lisa Welling, a professor of psychology at Oakland University and author of “The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology and Behavioral Endocrinology” and “Evolutionary Perspectives on Social Psychology.”

“Some of that research has found evidence that men consider women more attractive near ovulation when they are most fertile, which suggests that men are picking up on subtle cues to ovulatory status in women. However, no research has investigated variance in men’s ability to perceive these cues. We were interested in which men are particularly good, or particularly bad, at perceiving these subtle cues to women’s conception probability.”

The researchers devised a study involving 182 male participants who ranged in age from 18 to 52 years. These participants, a mix of single and partnered heterosexual men, were presented with photographs of female faces. The participants first rated the physical attractiveness of the women. Then, they were asked to assess each woman’s perceived fertility.

The researchers used pairs of facial photographs collected previously to assess participants’ preferences and their ability to detect cues to high fertility in female faces. Each pair contained a luteal phase (low fertility) and a late-follicular phase (high fertility) version of the same female face. Fertility status was confirmed using diary data and hormone samples. The images were taken under standard lighting conditions, and participants were instructed to adopt a neutral expression and remove jewelry and makeup.

The findings confirmed that men, on average, showed a preference for faces with cues associated with high fertility. Despite their preference for high-fertility faces, the researchers observed that men could not consciously identify which images depicted women more likely to get pregnant.

“We replicated previous research finding that men prefer the faces of women when they are near ovulation compared to when they are at other phases of their menstrual cycles, which again suggests that men are picking up on cues to fertility on some level and are showing a preference for women exhibiting those cues,” Welling told PsyPost.

“This is not a conscious perception, however, because when asked which woman had a greater chance of conceiving, the men were no better than chance at choosing the correct face. In other words, men seem to be rating women as more attractive when they are fertile, but do not consciously link that preference to increased conception probability.”

Interestingly, the study highlighted that single men with lower sociosexuality (indicating a preference for long-term relationships) displayed a stronger preference for high-fertility faces. This finding suggests that men seeking long-term partnerships may prioritize mate quality and fertility cues more than their short-term counterparts.

“We also found that single men who reported being less open to unrestricted, casual sex had a higher preference for cues to fertility than did other men,” Welling explained. “This suggests that men who are less open to casual sex and are using more of a long-term mating strategy may benefit from being more discerning about a potential partner than men who are more open to casual sex and short-term mating strategies.”

However, the study did not find any evidence to support the Paternal Investment Hypothesis — the idea that men who are more attracted to fertility cues in women are more likely to engage in mate retention tactics, especially those that involve costs to their partner. In other words, there was no link between a man’s preference for women displaying signs of high fertility and his willingness to use tactics like jealousy or possessiveness to keep his partner from being interested in other potential mates.

Men’s relationship status, whether single or partnered, also did not significantly influence their preference for high-fertility faces. Both groups exhibited a similar level of preference for these cues.

“We investigated the influence of a few other variables, including mate quality, partner quality, and cost-inflicting mate-retention tactics, which refers to jealous behaviors that inflict a cost of some kind on a mate, such as violence,” Welling told PsyPost. “None of these other variables related to preference for cues to fertility.”

While this study has unearthed intriguing findings about men’s preferences for women’s fertility cues, there are some limitations to note. For instance, the research focused exclusively on facial cues, overlooking other sensory cues like scent and voice, which have been shown to play a role in mate selection.

“This study is the first to look into these sources of variation in the strength of men’s preferences for cues to fertility in women,” Welling said. “It is, however, somewhat preliminary and a great deal remains to be investigated, including other aspects of male mating psychology.”

“Also, we used facial photographs of the same women at different points in their menstrual cycles, but future research could look at other cues, such as changes in scent, gait, or behavior. This work also doesn’t consider variation in the expression of ovulatory cues by women. Just like men appear to vary in how much they prefer cues to fertility, women may vary in how well they signal fertility, and the sources of that variation should also be investigated.”

“Demonstrating that some men can better detect cues to ovulation and show a greater preference for these cues relative to other men opens up a fruitful area for future study in understanding the evolution of human mate preferences,” Welling concluded. “There’s a lot we still don’t understand about our own mating psychology.”

The study, “A Preliminary Investigation Into Individual Differences that Predict Men’s Preferences for Cues to Fertility in Women’s Faces“, was authored by Lisa L. M. Welling and Alex Orille.