2A3X2 - F-16, F-117, RQ-1, and CV-22 Avionic Systems

2A3X2 - F-16, F-117, RQ-1, and CV-22 Avionic Systems2A3X2 - F-16, F-117, RQ-1, and CV-22 Avionic SystemsMaintains F-16, F-117, RQ-1, and CV-22 aircraft avionics ordnungsprinzips at the organizational level. Performs and supervises general aircraft servicing and handling procedures. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup 119800. Duties and Responsibilities Operates avionic systems by using aircraft controls and displays to determine operational condition. Interprets equipment operating characteristics to isolate malfunctions in systems such as attack control, radar, infrared, laser, instruments, displays, flight control, communication, navigation, satellite communications, identification, defensive and offensive, and defensive or offensive electronic warfare systems. Uses technical data to trace wiring diagrams and signal data flow. Uses built-in test functions, support equipment, electronic measuring equipment, aerospace ground equipment (AGE), and hand tools. Removes and installs sys tem components. Performs and supervises alignment, calibration, and boresight of avionic systems. Performs and supervises modifications. Uploads operational software into system components. Removes, installs, performs, and supervises operational checks of externally mounted electronic countermeasures equipment. Enters maintenance data into automated systems.Inspects, analyzes and evaluates avionic systems to determine operational status. Interprets inspection findings and determines the adequacy of corrective action. Reviews maintenance management publications and procedures. Recommends methods to improve equipment performance and maintenance procedures. Specialty Qualifications Knowledge. Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of electronics, microprocessors, and mechanics gyro, synchro, and servo principles theory of flight electromechanical and electro-optical devices working principles subsystem tie-in between avionic systems digital computer logic aircraft electrical and hydrau lic systems use, care, and interpretation of test and measurement devices principles of motion and power transmission by mechanical and electrical means and concepts and application of maintenance directives. Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in physics, mathematics, and computers is desirable. Training.For an award of AFSC 2A332, completion of the basic avionic systems course is mandatory.For an award of AFSC 2A372, completion of the advanced avionic systems course is mandatory.Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated2A352. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A332, also, experience in installing line replaceable units, practical use of system theory, and using AGE necessary to maintain avionic systems.2A372. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2A352, also, experience in isolating malfunctions, and performing or supervising functions such as malfunction analysis or installation of avioni c systems. Other. The following are mandatory as indicatedFor entry into this specialty, normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examination, and Standards.For award and retention of AFSCs 2A332/52/72, eligibility for a Secret security clearance, according to AFI 31-501, Personnel Security Management Program.? Strength Req K Physical Profile 333132 Citizenship Yes Required Appitude Score E-67 (Changed to E-70, effective 1 Jul 04). Technical Training Course J3AQR2A333A 002 Length (Days) 96 Location S Course J3ABP2A333A 002 Length (Days) 18 Location S

How Do You Deal with Remote Work Challenges What to Say in an Interview

How Do You Deal with Remote Work Challenges What to Say in an InterviewHow Do You Deal with Remote Work Challenges What to Say in an InterviewNot every person is cut out to work from home. Smart hiring managers, therefore, treat the ability to be a successful telecommuter as a distinct skill and seek evidence of competency.One way they judge potential is by talking with candidates about remote work challenges. Show prospective employers that you take telecommuting seriously by preparing thoughtful answers to behauptung common interview questions hiring managers may askHow do you handle distractions at home?Employers often want to feel confident that their remote employees are capable of staying focused on work-related activities without direct supervision. Thus, your response should demonstrate that youre proactive about creating an environment conducive to achievement. Try something likeMy family knows that when my office door is closed, Im not to be interrupted. I like to skipiste a sign outside stating when I will be on break or done for the day so that they know what time Ill be available to them.I close all tabs on my computer except what Im working on at the moment. No sense letting the temptation of Facebook stare me in the face.Im very good at creating to-do lists for both professional and personal tasks. I give each sphere my all- just not at the same time. When Im working, I put all my effort into what needs to get done. Nagging thoughts are few because I know I can give my full attention to completing household chores or helping my children with homework at an appointed time.What do you feel is the biggest challenge about working remotely?Candidates claiming that telecommuting doesnt pose any challenges are either lying or havent thought deeply enough about the situation- neither of which will impress a hiring manager. Instead, an answer should reflect awareness of potential telecommuting pitfalls and how to deal with them. Consider a response such a sWhile I tend to be highly productive working alone in my home office, telecommuting can be lonely at times. Ive found that occasionally changing venues works wonders. My local library has terrific workstations, and Ive even taken my laptop to the park.When colleagues work out of different places, feeling like a team can be difficult. I make a point of checking in regularly with others, both to stay on top of projects and to simply connect. Do you have any internal social channels or chat rooms that help coworkers stay in touch?How would you handle a difficult conversation with a colleague when both of you are off site?Hiring managers are always on the lookout for effective communicators. But when parties work remotely, this favorable qualification becomes a necessary one. Exhibit your commitment to clear, results-oriented communication with answers such asVideo chats can be helpful in these situations. While they arent exactly the same as face-to-face, being able to see facial expr essions and body language assists in getting a good read on the other persons feelings.I try to handle potential problems immediately so that minor disagreements or misunderstandings dont build into major issues. Shooting a quick text to clarify instructions or picking up the phone to ask for someones interpretation of a situation can save a great deal of time and tension down the line.I always assume my colleagues have the best intentions. Working from that place of respect, I ask them for their thoughts on the matter and then politely present mine. I find that professionals dedicated to the companys interests can usually work things out.Have an interview coming up? Check out these job interviewing tips.

Veterinary Technician Anesthetist Career

Veterinary Technician Anesthetist CareerVeterinary Technician Anesthetist CareerVeterinary technician anesthetists are specially trained and certified to assist veterinary anesthesiologists and surgeons with procedures. Duties Veterinary technician anesthetists assist veterinarians with surgical procedures performed on a variety of animals. Routine tasks may include pre-anesthetic preparation, evaluating patients, giving fluids, administering anesthesia, managing ventilation, maintaining sedation, monitoring emergence from anesthesia, post-anesthesia care, and performing equipment maintenance. Vet techs, including anesthetists, may be required to some work nights or weekends depending on the schedule of their clinic or the attending veterinarian. They must also take precautions to minimize the potential for injury from animals that are in the process of being sedated. Career Options Veterinary technician anesthetists most frequently find employment with veterinary clinics, ho spitals, and emergency clinics. They may also find positions in some zoos, animal parks, marine parks, and research labs. Techs may specialize by working with a specific category of patients such as small animals, large animals, equines, or exotics. Some veterinary technicians choose to move into other positions in the animal health industry, such as veterinary equipment sales or veterinary pharmaceutical sales. Anesthesia technicians are particularly well suited to market surgical equipment and devices, particularly anesthesia devices. Education Licensing There are over 160 accredited veterinary technician programs in the United States that can grant two-year Associate degrees to their successful graduates. After graduation from an accredited program vet techs must also pass a licensing examination in their state of residence. State certification is granted through the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), though some states may have some varying additional requirements. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) is the certification authority that recognizes 11 veterinary technician specialist (VTS) certification areas. The currently recognized specialties for veterinary technicians include anesthesia, surgical, dental, internal medicine, emergency critical care, behavior, zoo, equine, clinical pathology, clinical practice, and nutrition. The Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists (AVTA) offers VTS specialty certification to licensed vet techs that have completed at least 6,000 hours (3 years) of vet tech experience, with at least 75 percent of that time (4500 hours) spent administering anesthesia and related care. Additional requirements to sit for the exam include completion of at least 50 cases during the year of application, four detailed case reports, 40 hours of documented continuing education within the past five years, completion of an advanced anesthesia skills checklist, and two letters of recommendatio n. Veterinary technicians meeting unterstellung rigorous requirements are eligible to take the AVTA certification exam that is administered once each year. Veterinary hospitals may prefer to hire candidates who hold specialty certification in the field of anesthesia, as these individuals will have advanced skill and significant training in the field. Salary According to the employment site Indeed.com, vet tech anesthetists earned an average salary of $45,000 in 2012. This is quite a bit higher than the $30,290 ($14.56 per hour) mean annual wage for all veterinary technicians reported by the BLS in 2012. The BLS also reported that the lowest 10 percent of all techs earned less than $21,030 per year, while the highest 10 percent of all techs earned more than $44,030 per year. Benefits for vet tech anesthetists may include salary, medical insurance, dental insurance, paid vacation days, a uniform allowance, or discounted care for the techs animals at their home clinic. As with any position, salary is commensurate with the level of experience and level of education. Specialists usually can command the top end salaries due to their advanced levels of expertise. Career Outlook According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 84,800 vet techs employed during the most recent salary survey of 2010. The BLS projected a steady annual increase of veterinary technicians, with approximately 4,000 new licensees expected to enter the field each year. The BLS also projects that the rate of expansion for the profession will expand much more quickly than the average for all professions at a rate of 30% (from 2012 to 2022). The limited supply of new techs entering the field, combined with the even smaller number of techs that will achieve specialty certification in anesthesia, should result in very strong job prospects for certified vet tech anesthetists.

How to Assess an Applicants Motivation From Interviews

How to Assess an Applicants Motivation From InterviewsHow to Assess an Applicants Motivation From InterviewsMotivation ranks high as a desirable characteristic or attribute in the employees you hire. But, how do you spot true motivation during a job bewerbungsgesprch? In particular, what is an employer listening for as candidates answer their job interview questions about motivation? The job interview questions you ask, and the interview question answers your candidate supplies, are crucial to your assessment of the candidates knowledge, experience, and potential cultural fit within your organization. Especially in an area such as motivation- the candidates own motivation- and how they create an environment in which other employees will choose to be motivated is a critical assessment for an employer. Here is what you are trying to learn when you listen to your candidates interview question answers about motivation. Answers to Interview Questions About Motivation When you consider the answers your candidates supply to questions about motivation, you are assessing several factors. You want to understand what motivates your candidate. You want to understand the work environment that he or she finds motivating. You want to determine whether your work environment and the coworkers you provide are consistent with your candidates needs for motivation. You are attempting to identify what motivates the individual you are interviewing. A candidates innate motivation needs to match the job for which he is selected. For example, you dont want to hire a candidate who most enjoys working alone for your customer service position. Your software developers need to find intrinsic motivation in solving problems, making things work, and frequently working alone. Yet, if they work in a shared code environment, they need to also communicate and work as team members. Your PR professional has to find working with hundreds of people motivating for a good job fit. The recruitment pl anning meeting is a significant opportunity to identify the characteristics and attributes of the prospective employee who will succeed in your available job. This allows you to gear your interview questions toward identifying the appropriate candidate. You are also obtaining a sense about the work that motivates your candidate. You want to select employees who are willing to bring to daily work that hard-to-define quality called discretionary energy, the willingness of an employee to invest his or her utmost in work. Identify What the Candidate Believes Motivates Coworkers You are also discovering, with unterstellung motivation job interview questions, what your candidate believes motivates others. This outlook tells you about what is important to the candidate and how he or she views the world. It will also tell you what type of coworkers your candidate will appreciate and value. Are the candidates values congruent with your workplace environment? You are learning what must be present in the work environment for the candidate to experience motivation. If the candidates preferred environment bears little resemblance to your workplace culture and environment, the candidate will not culturally fit your workplace. Cultural dissonance will impede the candidates potential for success in your workplace. Listen carefully to your candidates answers about their motivations. How to motivate employees is one of the most frequent questions received on this website. The reality is that you can only create an environment in which employees will choose to be motivated by something at work. You cannot make a person choose motivation and motivated behavior- you can only trust that it is intrinsically important to your candidate. Nonverbal Communication in Assessing Motivation While the content of the candidates answers is critical to assess his or her motivation, nonverbal communication is equally important, especially as you assess motivation. Look for enthusiasm in the candidates voice and a sense of engagement in her body language. How much space does she take up at the table? Confident people use space to their advantage. Does she purple drank forward, look you confidently in the eye, and reminisce with humor and obvious involvement? These are signals that a candidate sends out about motivation. Sleepy, slow answers, with no tonal emphasis, no enthusiasm, and little body language send a red flag about a potential employees motivation. Sure, your candidate might be discouraged, ill, or having a bad day, but why risk hiring her when candidates who radiate enthusiasm and motivation exist? Your best results will come from using nonverbal communication in hiring. So, the key to your job interview is to identify what motivates your candidate. Then, decide whether those qualities, characteristics, behaviors, values, and approaches exist in your workplace. If they do, youve found a dynamite employee from your job interview match dance.

Robert scored a point against autism and found a job thanks to Enhancv

Robert scored a point against autism and found a job thanks to EnhancvRobert scored a point against autism and found a job thanks to Enhanced Lives is a series which aims to put our customers in the spotlight. In a short interview, we ask about their background, the experience they had with and how it helped to improve their career.Our seventh star is Robert, a motivated young professional, and fighter. He is part of 14% of the Autistic community who make it into a professional employment.How did help him with that? Read on to find outHi Robert, can you tell us a bit about yourself?Hey, Im from Manchester and have been working with software for some eight years. Im passionate about AGILE, Tableau, traveling and photography. I have lived with a high functioning badestrand of Autism (PDD) my entire life.What welches the reason you created your resume?I had become bored in the position I was working in for the Financial Conduct Authority. As a Technical Business Analyst, I wanted to g et involved in driving a product vision as opposed to being part of the development team.All around me, I witnessed staff who had been doing the same job for 10+ years. They seemed tentative, trapped and bored. I was afraid I would end up like that. Also, I wanted to move to Product Ownership.Thats why I wanted to create a visually stimulating CV to sell myself better, get my foot through the door.What do you like about ? Did you learn anything from it?As an Autistic, creating a mora visual resume with in such a simple structure helped me to communicate my abilities clearer. Those who have my condition struggle to describe their talent, skills, and experience. We often prefer very visual methods of communication as this is often the way we are taught to communicate from childhood.For example, when I was young, I used emotion cards to show others how I feel as I would struggle to explain it. s icons (for example the Superman), types of sections, tips examples and ability to change templates are therefore very suited to a person who has Autism.What message would you send to other job seekers out there?When it comes to searching for a role, having the right resume definitely helps getting from the searching phase into actually landing a job.Related articlesWhy I put Immigrant on my resumeAvoiding Common Mistakes on Google ResumesThe secret science behind resumesThe role of recruitment in the market has entirely changed. Historically, staff would stay employed in an organization for 10+ years and this would form their life. In todays changing landscape, we have no choice but to move often and learn things along the way.My other advice to candidates seeking work is to apply for roles that resolve market gaps/opportunities as these are the most willing/open and offer the least comfort/challenge. Remember the STAR technique. Remember to be confident and if you make it to an interview, remember to ask the question Did I cover everything you wanted to learn today?I am now a Product Owner and over the last two months in the role, I have thought about almost every day. It opened up new ways of showcasing my professional experience and personality. And that brought happiness into my life.I would like to thank Robert for sharing his experience with us. It means a lot and we hope it will motivate many others to get started and upgrade to more human-centric and performance-based resumes.If youd like to contribute to Enhanced Lives series and share your achievements with others, send me a message. I look forward to hearing from you ??Now this Check out our resume examples section that got people hired at their dream jobs.

Resume Examples for Highschool Students Guide

Resume Examples for Highschool Students Guide Consequently, job seekers have to understand how to sell their abilities and qualifications with the assistance of their primary advertising document. A Resume writing group just doesnt inform you where to acquire a professional resume written but also any critical tips which you have been missing during your job interview to raise your odds of getting hired. Resume is a significant document stating your information essential for the job. It is imperative to draft an outstanding Education Resume that will enable you to receive a dream job. If you make a poor first impression, you are never going to get to assume portion in the work interview procedure. Simply get online and find some examples of resumes to the job which youre applying to acquire a clearer idea of the way the typical candidate appears like. First impressions matter, even if it has to do with resumes. At the start of nearly every interview, the interviewer will req uest that you walk them through your resume. Nevertheless, theres a difference and its helpful to understand when to compose a CV vs resume. Alternately, you can check the suitable illustration of CV for comprehensive comprehension of curriculum vitae. Whatever sample you decide on, make sure your CV is readable and gets attention from the recruiters at first. Your CV is a tool which you use to sell your abilities and abilities to prospective employers, your CV has to be the best it can because you just have one shot to produce an impression. Resume Examples for Highschool Students No Longer a Mystery Utilizing common small business terms like wheelhouse or go-to person has the ability to appear that the very best approach to receive your qualities across efficiently. In order to earn a favorable preliminary impression, your resume should be ideal. Today, for example, you will likely meet someone in case you havent already. So as to bring something unique to the table you are going to have to refer to other resume examples also. You probably realize that having an expert CV is always likely to provide you benefits. Resume writing can be a true undertaking for everyone, even if you have many years of experience in your work. How to compose a simple resume isnt a question people ought to be asking. Every word in your resume ought to have an objective. With the caveat that in the event that you are radically transforming your career, its more advisable that you use a functional resume than the combination resume. Regardless of what set and the number of skills you possess, it is very important to list them depending on the job youre applying for. Second, it is a great sense for your capacity to present your story in a concise and very clear way. To compose your resume in a powerful and objective tone, always write in the very first individual. Key Pieces of Resume Examples for Highschool Students Qualifications Required In America, when youre applyi ng for the job of an OPM investigator, the simple criterion you must satisfy is that you have to possess US citizenship. You can discover the great free resume from among literally hundreds and thousands of feasible ones. Theres an enormously fine pedigree you must stroll in order to come up with the most effective viable resume. Although your bills arent all that youre able to pay for with your cryptocurrency. What Is So Fascinating About Resume Examples for Highschool Students? Your resume structure can allow it to be simpler for them to look closely at whatever you would like to express. The majority of people do take assistance from resume templates, but a resume template alone cannot cause you to look to be a best candidate in the front of the HR manager. Define your resume with a suitable expert logo and decide on a bold and chic colour or template to be sure you really stick out. Looking up resume examples is a wonderful first step to comprehend the several formats an d styles in-depth. By writing an issue solving resume, youre showing a provider precisely what your value is, and you will greatly shorten the amount of your job search in the procedure. Without doubt, internet is an extensive reserve of information, reference materials and possibly even samples of resumes are provided by various web based platforms. Still, few appear to want to follow along with my recommendations for improving the standard of analysts in political risk. There are hundreds and hundreds of sample resumes on the net.

Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace Are You Doing It Right

Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace Are You Doing It Right Most people can text, tweet, and fire off emails practically in their sleep. In fact, one in four people spend more time socializing angeschlossen than in person.What does this mean for our in-person communication skills especially at work? Allen Webster, author of Applied Statistics for Business and Economics, says, Without communication and the team effort it permits, the successful completion of any important project can be jeopardized.Given the importance of interpersonal communication in the workplace and the rise of digital interactions its important to what kind of communicators your candidates are before you bring them aboard. Here are some personality types that all offices should keep an eye onThe Passive-Aggressive CommunicatorPassive-aggressiveness is easy to conceal and itsone of the most toxic personality traits in the workplace. Everyday Health provides a list ofpassive-aggressive personality traitsa fear of authoritative figuresa tendency to beat around the busha tendencyto blame others for unreasonable situationsa tendency to tell managers what they want to hear, rather the truthand a tendency to complain about easily handled tasks.A passive-aggressive worker can be dishonest because its easier to lie or fib than it is to say whats really on their mind. This could lead tomissed deadlinesimproperly finished assignmentsavoidance ofresponsibilityand withholdingof important information.While passive-aggressive communicators are tricky to spot right away, its not impossible to do. If, during an interview, acandidate comes off as sarcastic, leaks negative gossip, and/or repetitively teases people, these could be signs that the candidate is passive-aggressive and badeanstalt for the workplace.The Chatty CathyListening skills are important so important, in fact, that somecompanies provide listeni ng skills trainingto their employees.Listening skills are crucial for interpreting messages from coworkers, managers, and clients. When candidates dont stop to take a breath during the interview, take note this may be a sign that they can talk the talk, but they cant quite walk the walk the walk of listening, that is.Active listeners are valuable to offices. Mind Tools sayswe only remember 25-50 percent of what goes in and out of our ear canals. Those who dont listen actively mightskim over conversations and miss out on the important details that an avid listener would catch.The Aggressive OneSlow down there, buddy no need to raise your voice Aggressive communicators can sometimes be confused with assertive communicators. Here are some signs from writer Steve Adubato that yourcandidate might be an aggressive communicatorthey use a harsh, personal tonethey demonstrate poor listening skillsthey have a my way or the highway attitudethey frequently use accusatory speechand they strugg le to admit fault.Aggressive communicators are easy to spot because they are so forward and seemingly frustrated. Being in tune with candidates tone and body language can help recruiters recognize aggressive communicatorsand avoid them.Assertive TypesThough assertiveness iscommonly mistaken foraggression, assertive communicators are the type of candidate you wanton the team. Here are the characteristics of what an assertive communicator looks likethey aim to achieve certain goalsthey are driventhey speak in a direct, concise mannerand they use a strong, confident voice.Assertive communicators tend to promotecustomer satisfaction they aremore likely to pay attention to what customers have to say, to ask customers torepeat questions to ensure they understand customer desires,and to respectfully represent the company brand with pride.Assertive employees are beneficial to theirsurrounding coworkers and team members as well, because they are more likely to communicate with team members, take action on assignments, and provide solid contributions to meetings and projects.Being in tune with your interviewees and paying attention to their speech and body languagecan decrease the chances of recruiting a bad egg with poorcommunication skills. Doing so will save recruiters time and money.

Billions asks what you have to be willing to give up to get what you want

Billions asks what you have to be willing to give up to get what you wantBillions asks what you have to be willing to give up to get what you wantWhat does it profit a man, if he gains the world but loses his soul?This old proverb, spoken by Jesus Christ (or, according to college freshmen,Bob Marley), reflects on the idea of sacrifice and priorities.Its a question that philosophers, artists, and politicians have been asking for thousands of years? Is it worth getting what you want if you have to give up all of your morals and integrity in order to get it? And in the latest vorgang ofBillions, we learn that for Chuck, the answer is a resounding and emphatic Yes.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe aspiring State Attorney General finds himself backed against a wall in this episode, as he discovers that an article is set to be released that will reveal during his time asAttorney for Southern District of New York State, Chuck declined to prosecute Sugar Vape for marketing to kids despite being decidedly non-kid-friendly (unsurprisingly, the decision came due to the fact thatChucks dadis friendly with Sugar Vapes CEO). Chuck tries to kill the story but ultimately, it reaches the public and suddenly, he is facing a severely uphill battle in his upcoming election.So what does Chuck do? He meets with Axe and hemakes his enemy-turned-frenemy an offer he cant refuse Help Chuck get elected and he will have unlimited access to favors from the State Attorney General. Its a clear win for Axe and he quickly agrees. But when Chuck asks him what favor he wants, Axe coyly lets him know that hell collectwhen the war is over.Whatever this favor is, its going to be massive but for Chuck, the idea of backing down or giving up isnt even an option. To get what he wants, hes willing to hurt others but more importantly, at least in the morally corruptBillionsuniverse, hes willing to hurt himself.The ends always justifythe means and he will ruthlessly lie, cheat, steal, betray, and even humiliate himself in order to get where he is trying to go.So exactly how low is Chuck willing to go in order to ensure that he is the next State Attorney General? Just look at what he tells Axe during their meeting.I have traded pleasantries and handshakes with some truly disagreeable people and whatever it says about me as a person, Ill admit, Im willing to do it with a million more of them to achieve my ends, Chuck says with equal amounts of self-loathing and pride.Chuck sees the world as a game in which only two things matter survival and power. But will his blind pursuit of power ultimately cost him his survival instincts? Only time will tell but knowing how ruthless Axe can be, dont be surprised if whatever favor he ends up asking of Chuck will manage to break Chuck in spectacular fashion. And by the end of the season, Chuck may even find himself wondering if he should hav e spent less time trying to gain the world and more time trying to hold onto whatever semblance of a soul he has left.This article originally appeared on Fatherly.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Gut feeling The link between bacteria and brain function

Gut feeling The link between bacteria and brain functionGut feeling The link between bacteria and brain functionYesterday, Nature Microbiology added one more thing to the ever-growing list of correlative factors linked to clinical depression.The strength of the study survives on two bacterial genera, Coprococcus and Dialister, both said to be depleted in sufferers of depression, irrespective of the treatment theyre on. The idea that gut microbial metabolites bear the potential to impact brain functionality isnt a novel one in the biology community, but studies had hitherto mostly been conducted on animals. The findings, published on February 5th, are consistent with one enacted on an independent group comprised of 1,063 individuals.In our population-level study, we identified several groups of bacteria that co-varied with human depression and quality of life across populations, States Professor Raes, who also led the research that ushered these developments closer to some light.There is a wide range of gut bacteria that possess the ability to form neuroactive compounds. Depletion of the aforementioned Coprococcus and Dialister, (micro groups noted for their anti-inflammatory properties) occurred much more frequently in those with mood disorders.Neuer-inflammation has been independently linked to depression in the past, so even though official experimentation still needs to be done to confirm these findings, the road is promising.As previously stated by myself and those much more qualified, the psychiatric tools currently at our disposal are still ritterlichly clumsy. Too many of the methods used to treat psychosis come with potentially disastrous side effects (like surgingsuicidal ideations for one). A treatment method that attacks the silent killer with more tact and precision is desperately needed.I really think there is a future in this using cocktails of human-derived bacteria as treatment. Bugs as drugs, as they say, says Raes.Zeroing in on the exact link between the mind and the soma is already birthing inspiring results. The microbial community residing in our bodies have been found to be behind disorders such as dementia, Parkinsons and autism, though when neuroscientist Dr. John Cryan initially introduced the concept he was met with a fair share of incredulity.An experiment performed on mice soon after Dr. Cryans hypothesis presented tangible results just the slightest alteration of microbiome gave way to beneficial changes. The antibiotics administered killed off a majority of the gut bacteria found in the subjects thus reducing the protein clumps typically employed by dementia.

Computer science reveals 4 secrets that will make you happy

Computer science reveals 4 secrets that will make you happyComputer science reveals 4 secrets that will make you happyWhere do yougo for most of your answers these days? Google. And its no surprise that Googles a companyfullof engineers. Engineers solve problems. Thats what they do.And computer software engineers have developed methods - algorithms - to solve some of the most insanely complex problems out there. So what if we turned that cold, clinical science toward the warmest and most human of problems?Turns out you can get some amazing solutions. No, you dont need to understand calculus and you dont need a mind that can bend spoons. Were going to make it simple to applyadvanced computer science to the big decisions in life and the everyday struggles that plague us all.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraOkay, time to update the software in your brain. Lets get to itHow To Mini mize Regret And MaximizeHappinessComputer scientists often use a framework called explore/exploit. Exploring is when you gather information and exploiting is when you put it to use.In life, exploration minimizes regret. Youget to try lots ofoptions. But exploitation maximizes happiness. Youdo what youknow will work, and get results youknowyoull like.Exploring is fun. We all like novelty. But if younever do anything with what youlearn, youdont get very far.And exploiting what youve learned can provide big returns. But too much of that and younever learn anything new, and cant solve problems youve never seen before. So youneed a bit of both. Which creates a problemHow do you strike the right balance?No need to do heavy math. But the key thing you want to think about here istime. How much time do you have to exploit the results of your exploration?FromAlgorithms to Live By The Computer Science of Human DecisionsWhen balancing favorite experiences and new ones, nothing matters as much a s the interval over which we plan to enjoy them.So if youve just moved to a new city, try a different restaurant every night for a while. If youre about to move out of a city, stick to your favorites. And you can applythis principle to many different areas of life from jobs to meeting new people.Explore/Exploitalso helps explain some of the seemingly crazy behavior of human beings because, to a degree, its programmed into us.Alison Gopnik, aleading researcher on children, explains this is why kidshave such short attention spans and do so many crazy things - they need to explore this new world of ours.And it also explains why older people can be so set in their ways. Theyve had a long time to explore. They know what makes them happy. So they stick to it - and more often than not, it works.FromAlgorithms to Live By The Computer Science of Human Decisionsexploration necessarily leads to being let down on most occasions. Shifting the bulk of ones attention to ones favorite things shou ld increase quality of life. And it seems like it does Carstensen has found that older people are generally more satisfied with their social networks, and often report levels of emotional well-being that are higher than those of younger adults.(To learn more tips on living an awesome life, check out my bookhere.)Alright, so the science of high tech can help you be happy. But can it help you get your act together?How To Organize Your OfficeComputer scientists would refer to this as a sorting problem. Thats what Google does - sorts of information.Trigger warning for neat freaks youre not going to like this. (And sloppy people - rejoice)Turns out that in manyareas of life, the time you spend searching beats constant attempts to sort. Keeping your books in that perfect order takes more time than having to do a little digging on the rare occasion when you need a specific one.So when it comes to organization, computer science says err on the side of messiness.FromAlgorithms to Live By T he Computer Science of Human DecisionsThe basic principle is this the effort expended on sorting materials is just a preemptive strike against the effort itll take to search through them later. What the precise balance should depend on the exact parameters of the situation, but thinking about sorting as valuable only to support future search tells us something surprising Err on the side of messiness. Sorting something that you will never search is a complete welcheste searching something you never sorted is merely inefficient.Okay, but with the things you use frequently, you need to be able to find them. No argument here. Whats the best way to organize that stuff?Well, believe it or not, computer science and Martha Stewart agree. (Add that to the list of sentences you never thought youd hear.)One of the guiding principles Martha recommends is to think about, When was the last time I wore it or used it? If its not often, get rid of it, or stuff it in the garage. Things you use freque ntly deserve priority.And computer systems almost all use caching - giving frequently used data a special area of memory that makes itmore accessible.So stuff that gets used a lot needs to be nearby and easy to locate. Whats a pretty good system to implement this principle? Its one you already use but probably beat yourself up about piles.Dont feel guilty when you pile stuff up on your desk that you use frequently. Computer science says thats a very efficient system.FromAlgorithms to Live By The Computer Science of Human Decisionsthe big pile of papers on your desk, far from being a guilt-inducing fester of chaos, is actually one of the most well-designed and efficient structures available. What might appear to others to be an unorganized mess is, in fact, a self-organizing mess. Tossing things back on the top of the pile is the very best you can do, shy of knowing the future.(To learn how to stop being lazy and get more done, clickhere.)Alright, weve engineered happiness and organ ization. But what does computer science have to say about powering down your brain when its wasting too many cycles on worrying?How To Stop Overthinking ThingsYoure worrying about something.You need to make a decision. But youwant to consider more possibilities. You feel with enough time you can crack this.In computer modeling, they refer to the problem as overfitting. In trying to create the perfect model, they consider too many factors and end up making something that provides predictions that areworse, not better.FromAlgorithms to Live By The Computer Science of Human DecisionsSo one of the deepest truths of machine learning is that, in fact, its not always better to use a more complex model, one that takes a greater number of factors into account. And the issue is not just that the extra factors might offer diminishing returns- performing better than a simpler model, but not enough to justify the added complexity. Rather, they might make our predictions dramatically worse.More time thinking doesnt necessarily mean better results. Sometimes you get too far out in the weeds and just confuse yourself further. So whats the solution?Since underthinking and overthinking can both produce lousy results, boundaries are essential. When good information is scarce and you have a high degree of uncertainty, use early stopping.Set a time limit on how much youre going to think about a problem and when that expires, pull the trigger. Just make the best decision you can.FromAlgorithms to Live By The Computer Science of Human DecisionsIf you have high uncertainty and limited data, then do stop early by all means. If you dont have a clear read on how your work will be evaluated, and by whom, then its not worth the extra time to make it perfect with respect to your own (or anyone elses) idiosyncratic guess at what perfection might be. The greater the uncertainty, the bigger the gap between what you can measure and what matters, the more you should watch out for overfitting- that is, the more you should prefer simplicity, and the earlier you should stop. When youre truly in the dark, the best-laid plans will be the simplest.(To learn the five secrets to how mindfulness can make you happy, clickhere.)So you have the engineering solution to overthinking. But life isnt all in your head. How can thinking like a programmer lead to you finding an awesome distribution policy to live?How To LocateYour Dream HomeYou want the best. But you cant search forever. This problem appears in many, many areas of life. Sohow many options should you consider before choosing one?The problem is that the best doesnt usually have a label on it that you can trust. But computer scientists have thought abourthis one too its called an optimal stopping problem.So if youre looking for that perfect apartment, ask yourself how long youre willing to search. Now take 37% of that time to look at options (roughly a third - I said, Id make the math easy.) And forget every place you visite d- except the best one.Then keep looking. The first apartmentthat beats that best one you found in your initial scouting, take it. Science says this will deliver the best results, given the length of your search.FromAlgorithms to Live By The Computer Science of Human DecisionsIf you want the best odds of getting the best apartment, spend 37% of your apartment hunt (eleven days, if youve given yourself a month for the search) noncommittally exploring options. Leave the checkbook at home youre just calibrating. But after that point, be prepared to immediately commit- deposit and all- to the very first place you see that beats whatever youve already seen. This is not merely an intuitively satisfying compromise between looking and leaping. It is the provably optimal solution.(To learn the four rituals neuroscience says will make you happy, clickhere.)Okay, lets round this up - and learn how what computer science says is the optimal way to find your soulmateSum UpHeres how computer s cience can solve the most human of problemsMinimize regret and maximize happinessHow much time willyou have to exploit? If its a lot, spend more time exploring. If time is short, emphasize exploiting.Organizing your amtsstubeErr on the side of messiness. Searching often beats sorting. But cache the stuff you frequently use with piles. (Apologies to Martha Stewart.)Prevent overthinkingUse early stopping. Set a time limit for deciding and pull the trigger.Find your dream homeLooknoncommittally for 37% of your search time. Remember the best and grab the first place that tops that one. (Also works for finding parking spots.)So how do you find your soulmate? Once again, thats an optimal stopping problemHow many people (roughly) are you willing to date? Whats 37% of that number? Go out on that many dates, and politely tell those people, No, thanks. But remember the best of the bunch. Then keep dating until you meet someone better than that best one. And thats the person you want to focus on. ButOuch.Sounds kinda cold, callous and terribly unromantic, doesnt it? Youre probably right. Computer science cant solveallof ourhuman problems - and nor should we expect it to. I certainly dont.My college girlfriend didnt know it, but she was probably using the optimal stopping algorithm. I was one of the first guys she met on campus. And let me tell you, its no fun beingin the initial 37% that gets the No, thanks.ButIm guessing I was the best of her37%. Andits safe to say subsequentdating didnt reveal a better candidateSo she circled back. And that was the best thing for both of us. The truly optimal algorithm.Computer science has some pretty good solutions we can learn from. But sometimes the math doesnt work. Sometimes you need to go with your gut. Or with your heart.Join over 290,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people