The NMDA receptor GluN2C subunit controls cortical excitatoryinhibitory balance, neuronal oscillations and cognitive function

Despite strong evidence for NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction as an underlying factor for cognitive disorders, the precise roles of various NMDAR subtypes remains unknown. The GluN2Ccontaining NMDARs exhibit unique biophysical properties and expression pattern, and lower expression of GluN2C subunit has been reported in postmortem brains from schizophrenia patients. We found that loss of GluN2C subunit leads to a shift in cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance towards greater inhibition. Specifically, pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of GluN2C knockout mice have reduced mEPSC frequency and dendritic spine density and a contrasting higher frequency of mIPSCs. In addition a greater number of perisomatic GAD67 puncta was observed suggesting a potential increase in parvalbumin interneuron inputs. At a network level the GluN2C knockout mice were found to have a more robust increase in power of oscillations in response to NMDAR blocker MK- 801. Furthermore, GluN2C heterozygous and knockout mice exhibited abnormalities in cognition and sensorimotor gating. Our results demonstrate that loss of GluN2C subunit leads to cortical excitatoryinhibitory imbalance and abnormal neuronal oscillations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders

IJCM_108A: A Community Based Cross-sectional Study on prevalence of Low Social Support Status of the Geriatric Age group in a Rural population of South India.

Background: The elderly above 60 years of age constituted 10.5% of India’s population according to the United Nations Population Fund India Ageing Report 2023. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of low social support of the geriatric age group in a rural population of South India. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 elderly individuals including both genders in two villages of the field practice areas of the Rural Health Training Center of MAPIMS during the month of September & October 2023 with the use of the Multidimensional Scale Perceived Social Support questionnaire (MSPSS). Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were carried out using SPSS version 24 software. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 66.33 ± 8.02 years and the majority of the study participants were females (62%). Out of 200 study Participants, 110 (55%) elderly were found to have low social support, 71 (35.5%) had moderate social support and 19 (9.5%) had high social support. The result also showed that the farmers, Illiterates, people belonging to low socioeconomic status and those married were significantly having low social support. Conclusion: The study concluded the prevalence of low social support is high among the geriatric population and emphasizes the need to create awareness among the people regarding the provision of social support to the geriatric population

Dry Reforming of Methane Using a Swirl-Induced Plasma Discharge Reactor

This study reports the dry reforming of methane (DRM) using non-thermal plasma in a swirl-induced point-plane electrode discharge reactor to produce syngas. This reactor geometry facilitates better mixing of the reactant gases in the plasma region, thus increasing the residence time and conversion of the reactants. The effect of varying flow rates and compositions of CO2/CH4 (v%/v%) on conversion was studied. A high-voltage AC power input of 50 W and 70 W at a frequency of 19 kHz was provided. The voltage–current characteristics with respect to time were studied. The results show that with an increase in the flow rate of the gas mixture from 0.5 to 2 LPM the conversion of both CO2 and CH4 decreases, while an increase in the concentration of CO2 or CH4 (from 25 to 75%) increases the conversion of the respective reactant. The products, viz. syngas (CO and H2), C2 hydrocarbons, and solid carbon, were characterized and quantified. The maximum total conversion of 44% was obtained for a CO2:CH4 ratio of 25:75 (v%/v%) at a flow rate of 0.5 LPM. The solid carbon collected from the reactor walls was analyzed, and it was found to be 89.9% pure with traces of oxygen functionality. The increase in flow rate decreased the specific energy input, which eventually resulted in lowering the energy cost

The NMDA receptor GluN2C subunit controls cortical excitatoryinhibitory balance, neuronal oscillations and cognitive function

Despite strong evidence for NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction as an underlying factor for cognitive disorders, the precise roles of various NMDAR subtypes remains unknown. The GluN2Ccontaining NMDARs exhibit unique biophysical properties and expression pattern, and lower expression of GluN2C subunit has been reported in postmortem brains from schizophrenia patients. We found that loss of GluN2C subunit leads to a shift in cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance towards greater inhibition. Specifically, pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of GluN2C knockout mice have reduced mEPSC frequency and dendritic spine density and a contrasting higher frequency of mIPSCs. In addition a greater number of perisomatic GAD67 puncta was observed suggesting a potential increase in parvalbumin interneuron inputs. At a network level the GluN2C knockout mice were found to have a more robust increase in power of oscillations in response to NMDAR blocker MK- 801. Furthermore, GluN2C heterozygous and knockout mice exhibited abnormalities in cognition and sensorimotor gating. Our results demonstrate that loss of GluN2C subunit leads to cortical excitatoryinhibitory imbalance and abnormal neuronal oscillations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders