Association between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and mesolimbic responses to rewards

10.1186/2040-2392-5-7Molecular Autism51

Electronic localization at mesoscopic length scales: different definitions of localization and contact effects in a heuristic DNA model

In this work we investigate the electronic transport along model DNA molecules using an effective tight-binding approach that includes the backbone on site energies. The localization length and participation number are examined as a function of system size, energy dependence, and the contact coupling between the leads and the DNA molecule. On one hand, the transition from an diffusive regime to a localized regime for short systems is identified, suggesting the necessity of a further length scale revealing the system borders sensibility. On the other hand, we show that the lenght localization and participation number, do not depended of system size and contact coupling in the thermodynamic limit. Finally we discuss possible length dependent origins for the large discrepancies among experimental results for the electronic transport in DNA sample

Effect of nesiritide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Background Nesiritide is approved in the United States for early relief of dyspnea in patients with acute heart failure. Previous meta-analyses have raised questions regarding renal toxicity and the mortality associated with this agent. Methods We randomly assigned 7141 patients who were hospitalized with acute heart failure to receive either nesiritide or placebo for 24 to 168 hours in addition to standard care. Coprimary end points were the change in dyspnea at 6 and 24 hours, as measured on a 7-point Likert scale, and the composite end point of rehospitalization for heart failure or death within 30 days. Results Patients randomly assigned to nesiritide, as compared with those assigned to placebo, more frequently reported markedly or moderately improved dyspnea at 6 hours (44.5% vs. 42.1%, P = 0.03) and 24 hours (68.2% vs. 66.1%, P = 0.007), but the prespecified level for significance (P≤0.005 for both assessments or P≤0.0025 for either) was not met. The rate of rehospitalization for heart failure or death from any cause within 30 days was 9.4% in the nesiritide group versus 10.1% in the placebo group (absolute difference, −0.7 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.1 to 0.7; P = 0.31). There were no significant differences in rates of death from any cause at 30 days (3.6% with nesiritide vs. 4.0% with placebo; absolute difference, −0.4 percentage points; 95% CI, −1.3 to 0.5) or rates of worsening renal function, defined by more than a 25% decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (31.4% vs. 29.5%; odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.21; P = 0.11). Conclusions Nesiritide was not associated with an increase or a decrease in the rate of death and rehospitalization and had a small, nonsignificant effect on dyspnea when used in combination with other therapies. It was not associated with a worsening of renal function, but it was associated with an increase in rates of hypotension. On the basis of these results, nesiritide cannot be recommended for routine use in the broad population of patients with acute heart failure. (Funded by Scios; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00475852.

Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study

A41 Use of SMS texts for facilitating access to online alcohol interventions: a feasibility study In: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 2017, 12(Suppl 1): A4

A Mössbauer spectroscopy and neutron diffraction study of magnetostrictive, melt-spun Fe-Ga alloy ribbons

Ribbons of Fe100−xGax (x=15, 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5) were prepared by rapid solidification from the melt. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and high resolution neutron diffraction have revealed that Fe1−xGax alloys with x=15 and 17.5 have the disordered bcc (A2) structure even after annealing, but the alloy with x=19.5 developed the short-range ordered D03 phase when annealed. The x=22.5 alloys showed mainly D03 phase with a fraction of bcc phase. A fraction of the bcc phase transformed into D03 phase and the long-range ordering of D03 phase was improved after annealing. 57Fe Mössbauer spectra showed no observable L12 phase in any samples even though less than 1% volume of L12 phases has been found in the annealed samples by neutron diffraction. The additional absorption at hyperfine field of 25 T in x=22.5 samples was regarded as a result of imperfect D03 structure, rather than L12 phase

Isolation of a non-phage-like lytic virus infecting \u3cem\u3eAureococcus anophagefferens\u3c/em\u3e

We have been working to characterize viruses that infect the HAB-forming pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth. Field samples were collected during brown-tide events in 2002 and tested for the presence of lytic agents. Here, we describe a recently isolated, lytic virus-like particle (VLP) that is morphologically similar to particles observed in thin sections of infected A. anophagefferens cells from natural samples. TEM and SEM have revealed VLPs consistent with the morphological characteristics of previously described Phycodnaviridae. Large icosahedral particles (∼140 nm) of similar shape and morphology dominate cell lysates and are accompanied by smaller phage-like particles and heterotrophic prokaryotes that appear to be incurable from our cultures. To determine which of these particles interacts with the Aureococcus cells, we preserved cultures during the early stage of infection so that SEM could be used to visualize those particles that attach to the surface of naïve cultures. SEM revealed that 63% of the large icosahedral-shaped particles attached to A. anophagefferens cells after only 30 min of exposure, while no significant frequency of attachment to the alga was observed for the phage-like particles. The results of these observations are in contrast to previous studies, where phage-like particles were reported to infect cells. When considered in conjunction with field observations, the results suggest that this newly isolated virus represents the dominant virus-morphotype associated with bloom collapse and termination