137 research outputs found
High-molecular-weight polymers from dietary fiber drive aggregation of particulates in the murine small intestine
The lumen of the small intestine (SI) is filled with particulates: microbes, therapeutic particles, and food granules. The structure of this particulate suspension could impact uptake of drugs and nutrients and the function of microorganisms; however, little is understood about how this suspension is re-structured as it transits the gut. Here, we demonstrate that particles spontaneously aggregate in SI luminal fluid ex vivo. We find that mucins and immunoglobulins are not required for aggregation. Instead, aggregation can be controlled using polymers from dietary fiber in a manner that is qualitatively consistent with polymer-induced depletion interactions, which do not require specific chemical interactions. Furthermore, we find that aggregation is tunable; by feeding mice dietary fibers of different molecular weights, we can control aggregation in SI luminal fluid. This work suggests that the molecular weight and concentration of dietary polymers play an underappreciated role in shaping the physicochemical environment of the gut
High-molecular-weight polymers from dietary fiber drive aggregation of particulates in the murine small intestine
The lumen of the small intestine (SI) is filled with particulates: microbes, therapeutic particles, and food granules. The structure of this particulate suspension could impact uptake of drugs and nutrients and the function of microorganisms; however, little is understood about how this suspension is re-structured as it transits the gut. Here, we demonstrate that particles spontaneously aggregate in SI luminal fluid ex vivo. We find that mucins and immunoglobulins are not required for aggregation. Instead, aggregation can be controlled using polymers from dietary fiber in a manner that is qualitatively consistent with polymer-induced depletion interactions, which do not require specific chemical interactions. Furthermore, we find that aggregation is tunable; by feeding mice dietary fibers of different molecular weights, we can control aggregation in SI luminal fluid. This work suggests that the molecular weight and concentration of dietary polymers play an underappreciated role in shaping the physicochemical environment of the gut
Getting Acquainted with Kant
My question here concerns whether Kant claims that experience has
nonconceptual content, or whether, on his view, experience is
essentially conceptual. However there is a sense in which this debate
concerning the content of intuition is ill-conceived. Part of this has
to do with the terms in which the debate is set, and part to do with
confusion over the connection between Kant’s own views and contemporary
concerns in epistemology and the philosophy of mind. However, I think
much of the substance of the debate concerning Kant’s views on the
content of experience can be salvaged by reframing it in terms of a
debate about the dependence relations, if any, that exist between
different cognitive capacities. Below, in Section 2, I clarify the
notion of ‘content’ I take to be at stake in the interpretive debate.
Section 3 presents reasons for thinking that intuition cannot have
content in the relevant sense. I then argue, in Section 4, that the
debate be reframed in terms of dependence. We should distinguish between
Intellectualism, according to which all objective representation
(understood in a particular way) depends on acts of synthesis by the
intellect, and Sensibilism, according to which at least some forms of
objective representation are independent of any such acts (or the
capacity for such acts). Finally, in Section 5, I further elucidate the
cognitive role of intuition. I articulate a challenge which Kant
understands alethic modal considerations to present for achieving
cognition, and argue that a version of Sensibilism that construes
intuition as a form of acquaintance is better positioned to answer this
challenge than Intellectualism
Generalised Anxiety Disorder – A Twin Study of Genetic Architecture, Genome-Wide Association and Differential Gene Expression
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety-related diagnosis, affecting approximately 5% of the adult population. One characteristic of GAD is a high degree of anxiety sensitivity (AS), a personality trait which describes the fear of arousal-related sensations. Here we present a genome-wide association study of AS using a cohort of 730 MZ and DZ female twins. The GWAS showed a significant association for a variant within the RBFOX1 gene. A heritability analysis of the same cohort also confirmed a significant genetic component with h2 of 0.42. Additionally, a subset of the cohort (25 MZ twins discordant for AS) was studied for evidence of differential expression using RNA-seq data. Significant differential expression of two exons with the ITM2B gene within the discordant MZ subset was observed, a finding that was replicated in an independent cohort. While previous research has shown that anxiety has a high comorbidity with a variety of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, our analysis suggests a novel etiology specific to AS
Early Maladaptive Schemas Are Associated with Increased Suicidal Risk among Individuals with Schizophrenia
Early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) are a dysfunctional cognitive pattern that can result from maladaptive functioning during childhood. EMSs are broad patterns of memories, emotions, cognitions, and bodily sensations related to the self and others. The aims of this study were to evaluate EMSs among individuals with schizophrenia and to evaluate the relations of EMSs and clinical factors (e.g., depression, positive, and negative symptoms of psychosis) to suicidal risk (e.g., current suicidal ideation, lifetime suicide attempts). Eighty-two inpatients with schizophrenia completed the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Individuals with schizophrenia who had attempted suicide (relative to those who had not attempted suicide) had significantly higher EMSs, current suicidal ideation, and a family history of suicide attempts. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the emotional deprivation schema, positive symptoms, and depression were significantly associated with current suicidal ideation. In addition, emotional deprivation was significantly associated with lifetime suicide attempts. These findings suggest that the emotional deprivation schema, positive symptoms, and depression may be related to suicide in individuals with schizophrenia. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Cuticular hydrocarbons and the integration of myrmecophile rove beetles into ant colonies
[no abstract
Cuticular hydrocarbons and the integration of myrmecophile rove beetles into ant colonies
[no abstract
A MULTIVARIATE TWIN STUDY OF TRAIT MINDFULNESS, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, AND ANXIETY SENSITIVITY
Decentering constructs predict experience and tolerance of pain: evidence from a cold pressor study / Constructos relacionados con el descentramiento predicen la experiencia y la tolerancia al dolor: evidencia obtenida mediante la prueba del frío
Table 3 - source data 1
This zip archive contains the chromatography data that was used to calculate the values displayed in Table 3. “WT_LSI_raw_data.xlsx” contains the data for the wild-type lower small intestine, “KO_LSI_raw_data.xlsx” contains the data for the MUC2 knockout lower small intestine. In both the excel files, RI = refractive index, RALS = Right-angle light scattering, LALS = low-angle light scattering, DP = differential pressure (the viscometer). All values are measured in millivolts except for retention volume, which is measured in milliliters (mL).
The file “Table S2 – source data 1.OmnisecArchive” contains all this data, along with the data for the pullulan and dextran standard that were used to calibrate the instrument. This can be used in conjunction with Malvern OMNISEC v10.20 software to reproduce the calculations displayed in the table
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