Oxidative Spin-Spray-Assembled Coordinative Multilayers as Platforms for Capacitive Films

The spin-spray-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique was used to prepare coordinative oxidative multilayers from Ce(IV), inorganic polyphosphate (PP), and graphene oxide (GO). The films consist of successive tetralayers and have a general structure (PP/Ce/GO/Ce)(n). Such oxidative multilayers have been shown to be a general platform for the electrodeless generation of conducting polymer and melanin-type films. Although the incorporation of GO enhances the film growth, the conventional dip LbL method is very time consuming. We show that the spin-spray method reduces the time required to grow thick multilayers by the order of magnitude and the film growth is linear from the beginning, which implies a stratified structure. We have deposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxothiophene), PEDOT, on the oxidative multilayers and studied these redox-active films as models for melanin-type capacitive layers for supercapacitors to be used in biodegradable electronics, both before and after the electrochemical reduction of GO to rGO. The amount of oxidant and PEDOT scales linearly with the film thickness, and the charge transfer kinetics is not mass transfer-limited, especially after the reduction of GO. The areal capacitance of the films grows linearly with the film thickness, reaching a value of ca. 1.6 mF cm(-2) with 20 tetralayers, and the specific volumetric (per film volume) and mass (per mass of PEDOT) capacitances are ca. 130 F cm(-3) and 65 F g(-1), respectively. 5,6-Dihydroxyindole can also be polymerized to a redox-active melanin-type film on these oxidative multilayers, with even higher areal capacitance values

A Pair of Dopamine Neurons Target the D1-Like Dopamine Receptor DopR in the Central Complex to Promote Ethanol-Stimulated Locomotion in Drosophila

Dopamine is a mediator of the stimulant properties of drugs of abuse, including ethanol, in mammals and in the fruit fly Drosophila. The neural substrates for the stimulant actions of ethanol in flies are not known. We show that a subset of dopamine neurons and their targets, through the action of the D1-like dopamine receptor DopR, promote locomotor activation in response to acute ethanol exposure. A bilateral pair of dopaminergic neurons in the fly brain mediates the enhanced locomotor activity induced by ethanol exposure, and promotes locomotion when directly activated. These neurons project to the central complex ellipsoid body, a structure implicated in regulating motor behaviors. Ellipsoid body neurons are required for ethanol-induced locomotor activity and they express DopR. Elimination of DopR blunts the locomotor activating effects of ethanol, and this behavior can be restored by selective expression of DopR in the ellipsoid body. These data tie the activity of defined dopamine neurons to D1-like DopR-expressing neurons to form a neural circuit that governs acute responding to ethanol

Dopamine D2 receptor polymorphisms and susceptibility to alcohol dependence in Indian males: a preliminary study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter involved in reward mechanism in the brain and thereby influences development and relapse of alcohol dependence. The dopamine D2 receptor (<it>DRD2</it>) gene on chromosome 11 (q22-q23) has been found to be associated with increased alcohol consumption through mechanisms involving incentive salience attributions and craving in alcoholic patients. Therefore, we investigated the association of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in <it>DRD2 </it>gene with alcohol dependence in the north Indian subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a retrospective analysis, genetic association of three polymorphisms from <it>DRD2 </it>gene with alcohol dependence was investigated using a case-control approach. Alcohol dependence was determined by DSM-IV criteria and a total of 90 alcoholics and 60 healthy unrelated age-matched control subjects were recruited. Odds ratio and confidence interval was calculated to determine risk conferred by a predisposing allele/genotype/haplotype. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to correlate various clinical parameters with genotypes, and to study pair-wise interactions between SNPs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study showed a significant association of -141C Ins allele and a trend of association of TaqI A1 allele of <it>DRD2 </it>with alcohol dependence. Haplotype with the predisposing -141C Ins and TaqI A1 alleles (-141C Ins-A-A1) seems to confer ≈ 2.5 times more risk to develop alcohol dependence.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study provides preliminary insight into genetic risk to alcohol dependence in Indian males. Two polymorphisms namely, -141C Ins/Del and TaqI A in <it>DRD2 </it>gene may have clinical implications among Indian alcoholic subjects.</p

SLC6A3 and body mass index in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To investigate the contribution of the dopamine transporter to dopaminergic reward-related behaviors and anthropometry, we evaluated associations between polymorphisms at the dopamine transporter gene(<it>SLC6A3</it>) and body mass index (BMI), among participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four polymorphisms (rs6350, rs6413429, rs6347 and the 3' variable number of tandem repeat (3' VNTR) polymorphism) at the <it>SLC6A3 </it>gene were genotyped in 2,364 participants selected from the screening arm of PLCO randomly within strata of sex, age and smoking history. Height and weight at ages 20 and 50 years and baseline were assessed by questionnaire. BMI was calculated and categorized as underweight, normal, overweight and obese (<18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25.0–29.9, or ≥ 30 kg/m², respectively). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of <it>SLC6A3 </it>genotypes and haplotypes were computed using conditional logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with individuals having a normal BMI, obese individuals at the time of the baseline study questionnaire were less likely to possess the <it>3' </it>VNTR variant allele with 9 copies of the repeated sequence in a dose-dependent model (** is referent; OR_*9= 0.80, OR₉₉= 0.47, p_trend= 0.005). Compared with individuals having a normal BMI at age 50, overweight individuals (A-C-G-* is referent; OR_A-C-G-9= 0.80, 95% CI 0.65–0.99, p = 0.04) and obese individuals (A-C-G-* is referent; OR_A-C-G-9= 0.70, 95% CI 0.49–0.99, p = 0.04) were less likely to possess the haplotype with the 3'variant allele (A-C-G-9).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results support a role of genetic variation at the dopamine transporter gene, <it>SLC6A3</it>, as a modifier of BMI.</p

The intricate diversity of human–nature relations : Evidence from Finland

Supporting sustainability requires understanding human–nature relations, which we approached as social constructions that can be studied through nature-related discourses. We examined human–nature relations in Finland by combining approaches from environmental social sciences and arts-based research into a mixed-methods design. A public online survey (n = 726) and post-performance audience interviews (n = 71) portrayed nature positively. Respondents’ ideas of nature ranged from natural scientific to philosophical; from dualistic to holistic; and from ecocentric to anthropocentric. A factor analysis revealed discourses focusing on wellbeing, conservation, ecoanxiety, pro-environmentalism, outdoor activity, and enjoying nature. Interviews added spiritual and over-generational aspects and revealed the importance of embodied experiences in nature relations. We identified dimensions that structure the relations, including human–nature positionality, engagement and contact with nature, and conception and thought. The emotional and experiential aspects, and nature-related practices, deserve further research. We demonstrate how a diversity of human–nature relations co-exists and co-evolves.peerReviewe