Male guppies grow larger brains in response to predator exposure
Male guppies exposed to predators in the wild or in captivity have heavier brains than those living in relatively predator-free conditions, according to new research published in the journal Functional Ecology.
Bright warning colours on poison dart frogs also act as camouflage
Poison dart frogs are well known for their deadly toxins and bright colours, which have made them a classic example of warning coloration.
The Dyeing Dart Frog, for example, is highly toxic and warns its predators with a bright yellow-and-black pattern.
Older men with higher levels of sex hormones could be less religious
The level of sex hormones such as testosterone in a man's body could influence his religiosity. A new study by Aniruddha Das of UU直播 in the Springer journal听Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology听adds to the growing body of evidence that religiosity is influenced not only by upbringing or psychological makeup, but that physiological factors could also play a role.
Canadians are aging well, but 鈥�
It's not every day that one receives a call from a researcher asking if they want to participate in a study on aging for the next 20 years of their lives. That's what 50,000 Canadians aged 45 to 85 have agreed to do in taking part of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), one of the largest and most comprehensive studies on the health and well-being of the country鈥檚 aging population.
The secret to longevity is in the microbiome and the gut
You are what you eat. Or so the saying goes. Science now tells us that we are what the bacteria living in our intestinal tract eat and this could have an influence on how well we age. Building on this, UU直播 scientists fed fruit flies with a combination of probiotics and an herbal supplement called Triphala that was able to prolong the flies鈥� longevity by 60 % and protect them against chronic diseases associated with aging.
Pain-induced changes in the brain鈥檚 opioid system may explain the limited effectiveness of opioid therapy in chronic pain
Pain-induced changes in the brain鈥檚 opioid receptor system may explain the limited effectiveness of opioid therapy in chronic pain and may play a role in the depression that often accompanies it, according to a study from the NIH鈥檚 Intramural Research Program and UU直播.
As harmful as dehydration?
We are all familiar with the drawbacks of dehydration, but we rarely hear about the harmful effects of overhydration. It is known that excess fluid accumulation can lead to dangerously low sodium levels in the blood or hyponatremia 鈥� a life-threatening condition that can result in brain swelling. Similarly, more is known about the mechanisms in the body that detect and drive thirst while little is known about how the brain detects a state of overhydration.
New approach to global-warming projections could make regional estimates more precise
A new method for projecting how the temperature will respond to human impacts supports the outlook for substantial global warming throughout this century 鈥� but also indicates that, in many regions, warming patterns are likely to vary significantly from those estimated by widely used computer models.
Climate change = a much greater diversity of species + a need to rethink conservation paradigms
A team of researchers believe that Quebec鈥檚 protected areas are poised to become biodiversity refuges of continental importance. They used ecological niche modeling to calculate potential changes in the presence of 529 species in about 1/3 of the protected areas in southern Quebec almost all of which were under 50 km2 in size.
Beyond Killing Tuberculosis
Historically, our view of host defense against infection was that we must eliminate pathogens to eradicate disease. However, this perspective has recently been challenged as scientists have taken a lesson from plant biologists about an ancient strategy involving the ability to 鈥渢olerate鈥� rather than 鈥渞esist鈥� infection to maintain health. This concept, referred to as 鈥渄isease tolerance鈥�, provides an opportunity to develop new strategies that mitigate the consequences of infection.
How heart tissue combines mechanical strength and electrical reliability
The human heart can be viewed as both a mechanical and an electrical device 鈥� one that contracts and pumps billions of times over an average lifespan. How does it manage to achieve this feat without lapsing into dangerous irregularities? 听 New research by UU直播 scientists finds that the answer lies in the particular geometry of the muscle fibres of the heart wall.
Hanadi Sleiman, C.J. Li awarded Killam Research Fellowships
UU直播 chemistry professors Hanadi Sleiman and Chao-Jun Li are among the six recipients of this year鈥檚 Killam Research Fellowships. The two-year fellowships, awarded to exceptional researchers working on groundbreaking projects of broad significance, are valued at $70,000 a year. 听 Prof.
The effect of night shifts: gene expression fails to adapt to new sleep patterns
Have you ever considered that working night shifts may, in the long run, have an impact on your health? A team of researchers from the UU直播 affiliated Douglas Mental Health University Institute (DMHUI) has discovered that genes regulating important biological processes are incapable of adapting to new sleeping and eating patterns and that most of them stay tuned to their daytime biological clock rhythms.
A new molecular target identified in depression
The discovery of a new mechanism involved in depression 鈥� and a way to target it with a drug as effective as classical antidepressants -- provides new understanding of this illness and could pave the way for treatments with fewer side effects.
