Why stress makes some people more vulnerable to depression

One reason why social stress makes some people more vulnerable to depression than others could be due to deficiency of serotonin, a crucial brain chemical linked to the feeling of well-being and happiness, a study suggests.

"Our results are very exciting because they establish that low serotonin could be a contributing factor to the development of depression in response to psycho-social stress in a genetically defined animal model of serotonin deficiency," said senior author Marc Caron from Duke University's School of Medicine in the US.

Following exposure to stress, the serotonin-deficient mice also did not respond to a standard anti-depressant fluoxetine (Prozac), which works by boosting serotonin transmission between neighbouring neurons.

The new results may help explain why some people with depression seem unresponsive to treatment with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most common anti-depressant drugs on the market today.

In the new study, researchers used a transgenic mouse strain called Tph2KI that has only 20-40 percent of normal levels of serotonin in its brain. These mice harbour an extremely rare mutation that was first identified in a small group of people with major depression.

The researchers tested the responses of these mice to a type of psycho-social stress: social defeat stress.

The team stressed out mice by housing them each with an aggressive stranger mouse briefly every day for 7-10 days.

Later, the scientists examined whether the test mice would avoid interacting with an unfamiliar mouse - a depression-like behaviour.

A week of social stress was not sufficient for normal mice to show signs of depression, but the serotonin-deficient mice did.

Top 10 umpires who have officiated most matches in World Cup history

Late England umpire David Shepherd holds the record for umpiring in the most number of Cricket World Cup matches. Shepherd stood in 46 matches across 6 World Cups between 1983 and 2003 and also officiated in three successive World Cup finals in 1996,1999 and 2003.

Following him in second place is West Indian Steve Bucknor, who stood in 45 games.

Winner of five straight Umpire of the Year awards, Simon Taufel is fourth with his tally of 23 matches, which included the high-octane 2011 World Cup semi-final encounter between India and Pakistan. Srinivas Venkataraghavan stood in the same number of games as the Australian and also officiated in two semi-finals – 1996 and 1999.

Pakistan’s Aleem Dar also makes an appearance as does Australian Daryl Harper. Billy Bowden, Dickie Bird and Khizer Hyat round off the list, with each having officiated in 18 games apiece.

Here are the top 10 umpires who have officiated most matches at the Cricket World Cup:

Rank	Player	Country	Matches
1.	David Shepherd	England	46
2.	Steve Bucknor	West Indies	45
3.	Rudi Koertzen	South Africa	25
4.	Simon Taufel	Australia	23
5.	S Venkataraghavan	India	23
6.	Aleem Dar	Pakistan	22
7.	Daryl Harper	Australia	22
8.	Billy Bowden	New Zealand	18
9.	Dickie Bird	England	18
10.	Khizer Hayat	Pakistan	18

Aamir Khan : I was deeply affected and disappointed by AIB Roast

Over the past few weeks a lot has been said, heard, written and read about the AIB Knockout - Roast of Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. The audiences has been split with some appreciating the sardonic humour used in the show, while others condoning the show and its participants for their blatant use of scornful language. Aamir Khan shared his views about the show during a press interaction at an event. 

Commenting on the show, Aamir Khan firstly clarified that he had not watched the show to get into the details of it. "First off, I want to clarify that I haven't watched the show, I have only seen a couple of clips of the roast till now. I heard more about what the show was when Karan (Johar) and Arjun (Kapoor) told me about what transpired there along with a few dialogues. On hearing what they had to share, I must say that I was deeply affected and disappointed with it." Further clarifying that he was not against the freedom of speech being curtailed, Aamir Khan stated, "I am completely for freedom of speech, I have no issues with that. But we have to understand that we all have a certain responsibility." 

After setting the premise of his revert to the AIB Roast, Aamir Khan went on to elaborate how he felt about the show saying, "When I heard what was said, I felt that it was a very violent event, as violence is not just physical but also verbal and emotional. So when you insult someone and show it to the world, it is like showing everyone see how violent I can be, this is something that I don't like. But I am sure that there are a lot of young people who have liked the show and I believe that all of us have different opinions and we are allowed to have it. As for my views, I felt that the show was violent. And both Karan and Arjun being my friends, I told them that I didn't like it. Besides trying to impress people by using abusive language is pointless. I am no longer 14 year old who will hear abusive language and laugh. If you really want me to laugh then do so without hurting anyone. That is what I will enjoy."

Shahrukh Khan starrer FAN postponed

Being one of the most awaited movies of 2015, Fan has been garnering a lot of attention since its inception. Along with the obvious fact that it is a Shah Rukh Khan starrer, the film also marks the return of SRK - YRF collaboration after 2012 (Jab Tak Hai Jaan). However, the film which was supposedly the solo release, planning to cash in on the occasion of Independence Day with its August 14 release, has now been postponed.

Fan which will feature superstar Shah Rukh Khan in a double role is now looking for another release date. The reason for the delay is said to be the post production of the film that may take longer than expected since the film promises to feature never before seen VFX on the big screen. As of now, no other release date has been finalized and an announcement on the same is expected soon. Directed by Maneesh Sharma, Fan also stars Ileana D'Cruz and Vaani Kapoor. 

On the other hand, Shah Rukh Khan's another film Raees is all set to go on floor soon. While a lavish set for the same is being created in Mumbai's famous Film City, the superstar will soon start shooting for the same along with co-stars Mahira Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Valentine’s Day Special: What to not say on your first date

It’s not like you are faking it when you meet someone on a date for the first time, it’s just that you ought to know what works and not. Besides, you should behave in every way! We list out some topics that you shouldn’t dare to utter about:

Weight issues 

You are seeing each other for the first time and no matter how surprised or shocked you are, keep it calm! The weight or physique doesn’t give you the right to be impolite. Unless, yes, if the person was faking it with his/her picture especially in case of a blind date.

Over expressing

This can be different for different cases but no one likes you cheesy and over expressive. You shouldn’t ideally be saying ‘I love you’ right away. This is if you don’t know your date just as well. You may believe in ‘love at first site,’ but just give it a break. Your date might walk out on you, and you don’t want to shower them with rather lusty complements. This means you can’t blurt out thing on the lines of ‘you are fat!’ or ‘I want to kiss you.'

Random comparisons

These can be random and bizarre too. So you shouldn’t say, ‘you look like my mom’ or ‘oh my God, you smell like my ex!’ You’ll get a slap right across your face right then. Such conversations are beyond awkward and offensive (in a way), don’t touch them.

Personal talks

It’s really not cool if you’ve come with a questionnaire that you want to make use of, on your date. No questions about separated parents, divorce, money, earnings, properties and all of that. It’s just okay if you’ve shared a rapport since a while now, and it’s not the first time you are having a conversation about them. However, falling for your complete oppose has its own benefits too.

Sexist or racist conversations 

Whoever you are, however senior your designation, however high your status; none of it makes you complete if you think it’s okay to be sexist or pass racist comments. Your date is definitely not going anywhere if you cross the line. Not just for your first date but for the ones to follow as well, big no-no! Mind it!

Margot Robbie's pickpocket predicament

Margot Robbie accidentally felt up her assistant director while filming Focus.

The actress plays a pickpocket in the Will Smith crime-comedy, which meant she had to perfect the art of stealing.

She had training from the best, but still couldn't avoid an embarrassing moment while on set.

"I trained with Apollo Robbins, who is a pickpocket extraordinaire, and on day one, one of the ADs came into the room and Apollo was like, 'Steal his phone!'" she recalled to Empire magazine.

"I tried and suddenly the AD finds me with my hand in his back pocket; it was like I was grabbing his a**e! He avoided me like the plague after that, even after I'd explained. When he walked past me in the hallways he would put his back to the wall, worried that I was going to grab his a**e again. It was awful!"

The 24-year-old actress learned that pickpockets are "fearless" and asserts her character in the film is a very "ballsy" girl.

In her career, the blonde star hopes she shows some of that backbone. She certainly appeared bold in The Wolf of Wall Street, where she went fully nude in front of Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I was thinking, 'Oh no! My Italian teacher from school is going to see me naked. And my dentist, who I've known since I was a kid!'" she laughed.

It seems her bravery has paid off; Margot is nominated for the EE Rising Star BAFTA this year, alongside Jack O'Connell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley

AIB Roast Runs Into Trouble With Maharashtra Government

The Maharashtra government has decided to investigate if a roast of actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, held in Mumbai last month, was guilty of obscene language and content.

Maharashtra's Minister for Cultural Affairs Vinod Tawde termed the vulgarity of the show a crime.  "We will register an FIR against them as they appear to have performed without any performance license. Such vulgarity is a crime and based on facts which will emerge, the government will file a case against them," he said

The roast, the first of its kind in India, featured a panel of eight and 'Roastmaster' Karan Johar putting the Gunday actors through an expletive-laced hour-and-a-half of jokes about their on-screen and off-screen lives.

The  nearly 90-minute roast, was filmed in a Mumbai stadium with an audience of 4,000 last month. An edited version of the show was released on YouTube last week and has been watched more than eight million times so far.  

Audience A-listers included actors Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Sonakshi Sinha.  

AIB is a collective of comics Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi, Gursimran Khamba and Ashish Shakya who show their sketches on a YouTube channel.

In response to feedback on twitter last week about some of the jokes going way too far,  AIB co-founder Tanmay Bhat responded,  "All the roasts I've seen online have all been equal opportunity offending."

Rs.s40 lakhs were raised at the event which, Roastmaster Karan Johar announced, would go to charity.