29 research outputs found
Phase Transition Induced Fission in Lipid Vesicles
In this work we demonstrate how the first order phase transition in giant
unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) can function as a trigger for membrane fission.
When driven through their gel-fluid phase transition GUVs exhibit budding or
pearl formation. These buds remain connected to the mother vesicle presumably
by a small neck. Cooling these vesicles from the fluid phase (T>Tm) through the
phase transition into the gel state (T<Tm), leads to complete rupture and
fission of the neck, while the mother vesicle remains intact. Pearling tubes
which formed upon heating break-up and decay into multiple individual vesicles
which then diffuse freely. Finally we demonstrate that mimicking the
intracellular bulk viscosity by increasing the bulk viscosity to 40cP does not
affect the overall fission process, but leads to a significant decrease in size
of the released vesicles
Differential gene expression analysis in blood of first episode psychosis patients
Background
Psychosis is a condition influenced by an interaction of environmental and genetic factors. Gene expression studies can capture these interactions; however, studies are usually performed in patients who are in remission. This study uses blood of first episode psychosis patients, in order to characterise deregulated pathways associated with psychosis symptom dimensions.
Methods
Peripheral blood from 149 healthy controls and 131 first episode psychosis patients was profiled using Illumina HT-12 microarrays. A case/control differential expression analysis was performed, followed by correlation of gene expression with positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores. Enrichment analyses were performed on the associated gene lists. We test for pathway differences between first episode psychosis patients who qualify for a Schizophrenia diagnosis against those who do not.
Results
A total of 978 genes were differentially expressed and enriched for pathways associated to immune function and the mitochondria. Using PANSS scores we found that positive symptom severity was correlated with immune function, while negative symptoms correlated with mitochondrial pathways.
Conclusions
Our results identified gene expression changes correlated with symptom severity and showed that key pathways are modulated by positive and negative symptom dimensions
Genome-wide association study of placental weight in 65,405 newborns and 113,620 parents reveals distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth
A well-functioning placenta is essential for fetal and maternal health throughout pregnancy. Using placental weight as a proxy for placental growth, we report genome-wide association analyses in the fetal (nâ=â65,405), maternal (nâ=â61,228) and paternal (nâ=â52,392) genomes, yielding 40 independent association signals. Twenty-six signals are classified as fetal, four maternal and three fetal and maternal. A maternal parent-of-origin effect is seen near KCNQ1. Genetic correlation and colocalization analyses reveal overlap with birth weight genetics, but 12 loci are classified as predominantly or only affecting placental weight, with connections to placental development and morphology, and transport of antibodies and amino acids. Mendelian randomization analyses indicate that fetal genetically mediated higher placental weight is causally associated with preeclampsia risk and shorter gestational duration. Moreover, these analyses support the role of fetal insulin in regulating placental weight, providing a key link between fetal and placental growth
Genome-wide association study of placental weight identifies distinct and shared genetic influences between placental and fetal growth
A well-functioning placenta is essential for fetal and maternal health throughout pregnancy. Using placental weight as a proxy for placental growth, we report genome-wide association analyses in the fetal (nâ=â65,405), maternal (nâ=â61,228) and paternal (nâ=â52,392) genomes, yielding 40 independent association signals. Twenty-six signals are classified as fetal, four maternal and three fetal and maternal. A maternal parent-of-origin effect is seen near KCNQ1. Genetic correlation and colocalization analyses reveal overlap with birth weight genetics, but 12 loci are classified as predominantly or only affecting placental weight, with connections to placental development and morphology, and transport of antibodies and amino acids. Mendelian randomization analyses indicate that fetal genetically mediated higher placental weight is causally associated with preeclampsia risk and shorter gestational duration. Moreover, these analyses support the role of fetal insulin in regulating placental weight, providing a key link between fetal and placental growth
Complete Budding and Asymmetric Division of Primitive Model Cells To Produce Daughter Vesicles with Different Interior and Membrane Compositions
Methodological issues for evaluation of alcohol and other drug effects: Examples from flight-simulator performance
Differential Impact According to Missionâs Operational Intensity on Psychoactive Substance Use: A Retrospective Cohort of French Male Army Service Members
Cognitive aging and flight performances in general aviation pilots
International audienceUnlike professional pilots who are limited by the FAA's age rule, no age limit is defined in general aviation. Our overall goal was to examine how age-related cognitive decline impacts piloting performance and weather-related decision-making. This study relied on three components: cognitive assessment (in particular executive functioning), pilot characteristics (age and flight experience), and flight performance. The results suggest that in comparison to chronological age, cognitive assessment is a better criterion to predict the flight performance, in particular because of the inter-individual variability of aging impact on cognitive abilities and the beneficial effect of flight experience