Amsterdam: experience the first-ever walking movie
You can watch it over and over since it will be available for the next six months
A new study to determine the overlap between physiology and psychology
The municipal website of Porto informed at the start of this week that a new scientific study is about to take place in the academic sphere of the city. Called “Microbi-A”, it will have the aim of determining how the human gut bacteria influence people’s personality traits.
The research will be led by a team composed of experts from the Institute of Research and Innovation in Health and the Faculty of Dentistry - both of which are part of the University of Porto. Its duration will be four years.
The scientists are now recruiting participants to assess psychological parameters and provide samples for analysis of their microbiomes and associated metabolites and molecules. In recent years, the human microbiome has become an important target of study as an influencer on the balance between health and disease.
It is known that microorganisms that inhabit the human body are related to inflammatory conditions and chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, among many others. But, in addition to these already established relationships, new hypotheses are also emerging and inviting further exploration.
“Since individual differences in personality are associated with differences in brain function and since gut bacteria are able to communicate with the brain through the gut-brain bidirectional axis, the microbiome may be related to personality differences,” explained Carolina Costa, a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences of the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), whose doctoral thesis served as the origin of the project.
The scientific community has been associating the microbiome with mental health, reporting that the bacteria that inhabit the intestine have a relevant impact on the brain. Depression and anxiety are examples of mental health problems that appear to be related to an imbalance in the microbiome.
“The project aims to study the impact of the human microbiome on mental health and its interaction with personality characteristics, to understand how they are related and if their modulation by probiotics could be beneficial,” added Benedita Sampaio Maia, leader of the research team.
As France’s term of the rotating Presidency ends on 30 June, it is time for the second member of the trio to carry out the European agenda
Vasco Alves Cordeiro comes from the Azores archipelago of Portugal, and is thus the first CoR President from that country and from an outermost region
You can watch it over and over since it will be available for the next six months
It helps the former track their herds more efficiently, and the latter avoid getting into risky situations with the bovines
Abandoned fishing gear is one of the most dangerous threats to the marine environment, but also to divers and underwater heritage
The town of Makarska has recently launched a new mobile service, aiming to cut down on paper use and stimulate citizens to go contactless
It helps the former track their herds more efficiently, and the latter avoid getting into risky situations with the bovines
Brussels Region agreed and decided to go even further with restrictions
Breaking the rule could set you back some 30 euros
The Belgian city wants to encourage kids’ creativity and active participation
Breaking the rule could set you back some 30 euros
As part of a local tradition, the furniture will go to local elderly homes
These will be spread across 11 EU countries and will serve to support the EU Missions
The European Commission has accepted to develop the idea
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An interview with the President of the City of Athens Reception & Solidarity Centre