351 research outputs found
Decellularized skeletal muscles support the generation of in vitro neuromuscular tissue models
Decellularized skeletal muscle (dSkM) constructs have received much attention in recent years due to the versatility of their applications in vitro. In search of adequate in vitro models of the skeletal muscle tissue, the dSkM offers great advantages in terms of the preservation of native-tissue complexity, including three-dimensional organization, the presence of residual signaling molecules within the construct, and their myogenic and neurotrophic abilities. Here, we attempted to develop a 3D model of neuromuscular tissue. To do so, we repopulated rat dSkM with human primary myogenic cells along with murine fibroblasts and we coupled them with organotypic rat spinal cord samples. Such culture conditions not only maintained multiple cell type viability in a long-term experimental setup, but also resulted in functionally active construct capable of contraction. In addition, we have developed a customized culture system which enabled easy access, imaging, and analysis of in vitro engineered co-cultures. This work demonstrates the ability of dSkM to support the development of a contractile 3D in vitro model of neuromuscular tissue fit for long-term experimental evaluations
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Pre-existing invasive fungal infection is not a contraindication for allogeneic HSCT for patients with hematologic malignancies: a CIBMTR study.
Patients with prior invasive fungal infection (IFI) increasingly proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT). However, little is known about the impact of prior IFI on survival. Patients with pre-transplant IFI (cases; n=825) were compared with controls (n=10247). A subset analysis assessed outcomes in leukemia patients pre- and post 2001. Cases were older with lower performance status (KPS), more advanced disease, higher likelihood of AML and having received cord blood, reduced intensity conditioning, mold-active fungal prophylaxis and more recently transplanted. Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. were the most commonly identified pathogens. 68% of patients had primarily pulmonary involvement. Univariate and multivariable analysis demonstrated inferior PFS and overall survival (OS) for cases. At 2 years, cases had higher mortality and shorter PFS with significant increases in non-relapse mortality (NRM) but no difference in relapse. One year probability of post-HSCT IFI was 24% (cases) and 17% (control, P<0.001). The predominant cause of death was underlying malignancy; infectious death was higher in cases (13% vs 9%). In the subset analysis, patients transplanted before 2001 had increased NRM with inferior OS and PFS compared with later cases. Pre-transplant IFI is associated with lower PFS and OS after allogeneic HSCT but significant survivorship was observed. Consequently, pre-transplant IFI should not be a contraindication to allogeneic HSCT in otherwise suitable candidates. Documented pre-transplant IFI is associated with lower PFS and OS after allogeneic HSCT. However, mortality post transplant is more influenced by advanced disease status than previous IFI. Pre-transplant IFI does not appear to be a contraindication to allogeneic HSCT
A Pediatric Infectious Disease Perspective of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in Children.
Understanding the role that children play in the clinical burden and propagation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections is emerging. While the severe manifestations and acute clinical burden of COVID-19 has largely spared children compared to adults, understanding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostics, management, and prevention opportunities as well as the social and behavioral impacts on child health is vital. Foremost is clarifying the contribution of asymptomatic and mild infections to transmission within the household and community and the clinical and epidemiologic significance of uncommon severe post-infectious complications. Herein we summarize the current knowledge, identify useful resources, and outline research opportunities. Pediatric infectious disease clinicians have a unique opportunity to advocate for the inclusion of children in epidemiological, clinical, treatment and prevention studies to optimize their care, as well as to represent children in the development of guidance and policy during pandemic response
Reentrant AC magnetic susceptibility in Josephson-junction arrays: An alternative explanation for the paramagnetic Meissner effect
The paramagnetic Meissner effect (PME) measured in high granular
superconductors has been attributed to the presence of -junctions between
the grains. Here we present measurements of complex AC magnetic susceptibility
from two-dimensional arrays of conventional (non ) Nb/Al/AlOx/Nb Josephson
junctions. We measured the susceptibility as a function of the temperature ,
the AC amplitude of the excitation field, , and the external magnetic
field, . The experiments show a strong paramagnetic contribution from
the multi-junction loops, which manifests itself as a reentrant screening at
low temperature, for values of higher than 50 mOe. A highly simplified
model, based on a single loop containing four junction, accounts for this
paramagnetic contribution and the range of parameters in which it appears. This
model offers an alternative explanation of PME which does not involve
-junctions.Comment: PDF file, 6 two-columns pages, 9 figure
Decoherence, the measurement problem, and interpretations of quantum mechanics
Environment-induced decoherence and superselection have been a subject of
intensive research over the past two decades, yet their implications for the
foundational problems of quantum mechanics, most notably the quantum
measurement problem, have remained a matter of great controversy. This paper is
intended to clarify key features of the decoherence program, including its more
recent results, and to investigate their application and consequences in the
context of the main interpretive approaches of quantum mechanics.Comment: 41 pages. Final published versio
Realism and Objectivism in Quantum Mechanics
The present study attempts to provide a consistent and coherent account of
what the world could be like, given the conceptual framework and results of
contemporary quantum theory. It is suggested that standard quantum mechanics
can, and indeed should, be understood as a realist theory within its domain of
application. It is pointed out, however, that a viable realist interpretation
of quantum theory requires the abandonment or radical revision of the classical
conception of physical reality and its traditional philosophical
presuppositions. It is argued, in this direction, that the conceptualization of
the nature of reality, as arising out of our most basic physical theory, calls
for a kind of contextual realism. Within the domain of quantum mechanics,
knowledge of 'reality in itself', 'the real such as it truly is' independent of
the way it is contextualized, is impossible in principle. In this connection,
the meaning of objectivity in quantum mechanics is analyzed, whilst the
important question concerning the nature of quantum objects is explored.Comment: 20 pages. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:0811.3696, arXiv:quant-ph/0502099, arXiv:0904.2702, arXiv:0904.2859,
arXiv:0905.013
Review of recent experimental progresses in Foundations of Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Information obtained in Parametric Down Conversion Experiments at IENGF
We review some recent experimental progresses concerning Foundations of
Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Information obtained in Quantum Optics Laboratory
"Carlo Novero" at IENGF.
More in details, after a short presentation of our polarization entangled
photons source (based on precise superposition of two Type I PDC emission) and
of the results obtained with it, we describe an innovative double slit
experiment where two degenerate photons produced by PDC are sent each to a
specific slit. Beyond representing an interesting example of relation between
visibility of interference and "welcher weg" knowledge, this configuration has
been suggested for testing de Broglie-Bohm theory against Standard Quantum
Mechanics. Our results perfectly fit SQM results, but disagree with dBB
predictions.
Then, we discuss a recent experiment addressed to clarify the issue of which
wave-particle observables are really to be considered when discussing wave
particle duality. This experiments realises the Agarwal et al. theoretical
proposal, overcoming limitations of a former experiment.
Finally, we hint to the realization of a high-intensity
high-spectral-selected PDC source to be used for quantum information studies
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