Photoperiodic time measurement is the ability of plants and animals to measure differences in day versus night length (photoperiod) and use that information to anticipate critical seasonal transformations, such as annual temperature cycles. This timekeeping phenomenon triggers adaptive responses in higher organisms, such as gonadal stimulation, flowering, and hibernation. Unexpectedly, we observed this capability in […]
Energy conservation associated with hibernation is maximized at the intersection of low body temperature (T(b)), long torpor bouts, and few interbout arousals. In the arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii), energy conservation during hibernation is best achieved at ambient temperatures (T(a)) around 0 °C; however, they spend the majority of hibernation at considerably lower T(a). Because […]
Bats stand out among mammalian species for their exceptional traits, including the capacity to navigate through flight and echolocation, conserve energy through torpor/hibernation, harbor a multitude of viruses, exhibit resistance to disease, survive harsh environmental conditions, and demonstrate exceptional longevity compared to other mammals of similar size. In vivo studies of bats are challenging for […]
The search for biomarkers for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is a growing area. Numerous investigations are exploring minimally invasive and cost-effective biomarkers, with the detection of phosphorylated Tau (pTau) protein emerging as one of the most promising fields. pTau is the main component of the paired helical filaments found in the brains of […]