What Can WMAP Tell Us About The Very Early Universe? New Physics as an Explanation of Suppressed Large Scale Power and Running Spectral Index

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe microwave background data may be giving us clues about new physics at the transition from a ``stringy'' epoch of the universe to the standard Friedmann Robertson Walker description. Deviations on large angular scales of the data, as compared to theoretical expectations, as well as running of the spectral index of density perturbations, can be explained by new physics whose scale is set by the height of an inflationary potential. As examples of possible signatures for this new physics, we study the cosmic microwave background spectrum for two string inspired models: 1) modifications to the Friedmann equations and 2) velocity dependent potentials. The suppression of low ``l'' modes in the microwave background data arises due to the new physics. In addition, the spectral index is red (n<1) on small scales and blue (n>1) on large scales, in agreement with data.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, submitted for publication in Physical Review D, references added in this versio

Novel genetic loci associated with hippocampal volume

The hippocampal formation is a brain structure integrally involved in episodic memory, spatial navigation, cognition and stress responsiveness. Structural abnormalities in hippocampal volume and shape are found in several common neuropsychiatric disorders. To identify the genetic underpinnings of hippocampal structure here we perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 33,536 individuals and discover six independent loci significantly associated with hippocampal volume, four of them novel. Of the novel loci, three lie within genes (ASTN2, DPP4 and MAST4) and one is found 200 kb upstream of SHH. A hippocampal subfield analysis shows that a locus within the MSRB3 gene shows evidence of a localized effect along the dentate gyrus, subiculum, CA1 and fissure. Further, we show that genetic variants associated with decreased hippocampal volume are also associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (rg =-0.155). Our findings suggest novel biological pathways through which human genetic variation influences hippocampal volume and risk for neuropsychiatric illness

Phosphite bearing [(-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (ADT=Azadithiolate) moieties: a tool for the building of multimetallic [FeFe]-hydrogenase mimics

A new phosphite ligand having three [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (R= p-HOC6H4) moieties (2) has been prepared in good yield by the reaction of complex [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (R= p-HOC6H4) 1a with PCl3. Coordination of this phosphite to [PdCl2(MeCN)2] or [PtCl2(DMSO)2] forms heterometallic square planar complexes 5 (C84H48Cl2Fe12N6O42P2MS12) (M = Pt, Pd) in excellent yields. Three-legged piano stool complexes 6 (C52H39Cl2Fe6N3O21PMS6) (M = Rh, Ir) were obtained by the reaction of phosphite 2 with [MCl2Cp*]2 (M = Rh, Ir) in good yields. The formation of complexes 5 and 6 demonstrates the versatility of this new ligand for forming different heteropolymetallic complexes under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the open-chain derivatives [(μ-ADT)RFe2(CO)6] (R= HOCH2CH2, o-HOC6H4) (1b and 1c, respectively) form cyclic complexes 4 by spontaneous intramolecular CO substitution by the P atom in one of the three [FeFe] fragments. The electrocatalytic behavior of complexes 2 and 4 upon the addition of AcOH is similar to that of related [(μ-ADT)Fe2(CO)6] derivatives. The successive additions of AcOH cause an increase in the current intensity in the wave at about −1.80 V for heteropolymetallic complexes 5 and 6. However, the appearance of a new wave around −1.40 V in complexes 5 points to an acid-promoted side reaction in the electrochemical process.Fundación Ramón ArecesMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)Ministerio de Economía (España)Depto. de Química OrgánicaFac. de Ciencias QuímicasTRUEpubAPC financiada por la UC

Percepción de la población con respecto a medicamentos genéricos frente a los de marca en hospitales del Perú

El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la percepción de la población con respecto a medicamentos genéricos, frente a los medicamentos de marca, en hospita- les del Perú. Participaron del estudio 4.914 personas mayores de 18 años, de 13 ciudades del Perú; clasificándolas en Lima, grandes y pequeñas ciudades. Se exploraron características socioeconómicas, demográficas y de percepción de medicamentos genéricos, en comparación con los medicamentos de marca. Determinando las asociaciones para cada cruce de variables, se calcularon razones de prevalencias (RP) y sus intervalos del 95% de confianza (IC95%), usando regresiones de Poisson crudas y ajustadas con varianza robusta con Stata 14.0. De los 4.914 participantes, el 46,7% estaban de acuerdo con que los medicamentos genéricos son menos eficaces que los medicamentos de marca, el 49,3% ha recomendado o recomendaría a otras personas el uso de medica- mentos genéricos, además, el análisis multivariado encontró que las personas que tenían un ingreso económico menor a PEN 1.000 estaban predispuestas a recomendar un medicamento genérico (RP = 1,36; IC95%: 1,14-1,63). Los resultados ponen en manifiesto que la población peruana aún tiene conceptos equívocos y baja aceptación a los medicamentos genéricos. El presente estudio debería servir para desarrollar políticas de salud, que velen por el bajo costo y calidad a la hora de escoger un medicamento