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The biological mechanisms underlying long-term partner bonds in humans are unclear. The evolutionarily conserved neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is associated with the formation of partner bonds in some species via interactions with brain dopamine reward systems. However, whether it plays a similar role in humans has as yet not been established. Here, we report the results of a discovery and a replication study, each involving a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject, pharmaco-functional MRI experiment with 20 heterosexual pair-bonded male volunteers. In both experiments, intranasal OXT treatment (24 IU) made subjects perceive their female partner's face as more attractive compared with unfamiliar women but had no effect on the attractiveness of other familiar women. This enhanced positive partner bias was paralleled by an increased response to partner stimuli compared with unfamiliar women in brain reward regions including the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). In the left NAcc, OXT even augmented the neural response to the partner compared with a familiar woman, indicating that this finding is partner-bond specific rather than due to familiarity. Taken together, our results suggest that OXT could contribute to romantic bonds in men by enhancing their partner's attractiveness and reward value compared with other women.

By contrast, carbohydrate separation from high-molecular weight proteins can be comfortably achieved using stopped-flow dialysis. This technique is based on the selective diffusion of molecules or ions from one liquid (donor or sample solution) to another (acceptor solution) via a membrane. The driving force for the transfer is the concentration grathent across the membrane. The molecular separation thresholds are generally determined by the thickness and porosity of the membrane.

Separation of the contrast agents was carried out on a Metrosep A Supp 3 - 250/4.6 anión separation column, whereas analysis of the displaced Gd3* ions was conducted on a Nucleosil 5 SA - 125/4.0 cation separation column using a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid eluent. Since online coupling of the IC with the ICP-MS was hampered by the high organic content of the eluent that caused carbon deposits on the sampler and skimmer cones, the IC fractions (4.5 mL) in a first approach were mixed with concentrated nitric acid (2.5 mL) before entering the ICP-MS.

This article describes a straightforward ion chromatographic method that uses isocratic elution and pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) to sensitively determine water-soluble polyols and sugar alcohols as well as mono-, di- and oligosaccharides in essential and nonessential foodstuffs. While carbohydrate determination of most foodstuffs requires only minimal sample preparation such as dilution and filtration, samples with interfering matrices such as protein-containing dairy products have to be dialysed before injection. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Organic acids in produced water Produced water is water trapped in underground reservoir rocks that is brought to the surface along with the crude oil and gas. Besides dispersed oil droplets and significant amounts of inorganic ions, produced water contains dissolved organic acids, mainly stemming from the degradation of organic matter.