Neural progenitor cells from an adult patient with fragile X syndrome

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no adequate animal model to study the detailed molecular biochemistry of fragile X syndrome, the leading heritable form of mental impairment. In this study, we sought to establish the use of immature neural cells derived from adult tissues as a novel model of fragile X syndrome that could be used to more fully understand the pathology of this neurogenetic disease. METHODS: By modifying published methods for the harvest of neural progenitor cells from the post-mortem human brain, neural cells were successfully harvested and grown from post-mortem brain tissue of a 25-year-old adult male with fragile X syndrome, and from brain tissue of a patient with no neurological disease. RESULTS: The cultured fragile X cells displayed many of the characteristics of neural progenitor cells, including nestin and CD133 expression, as well as the biochemical hallmarks of fragile X syndrome, including CGG repeat expansion and a lack of FMRP expression. CONCLUSION: The successful production of neural cells from an individual with fragile X syndrome opens a new avenue for the scientific study of the molecular basis of this disorder, as well as an approach for studying the efficacy of new therapeutic agents

Atomic collisional data for neutral beam modeling in fusion plasmas

The injection of energetic neutral particles into the plasma of magnetic confinement fusion reactors is a widely-accepted method for heating such plasmas; various types of neutral beam are also used for diagnostic purposes. Accurate atomic data are required to properly model beam penetration into the plasma and to interpret photoemission spectra from both the beam particles themselves (e.g. beam emission spectroscopy) and from plasma impurities with which they interact (e.g. charge exchange recombination spectroscopy). This paper reviews and compares theoretical methods for calculating ionization, excitation and charge exchange cross sections applied to several important processes relevant to neutral hydrogen beams, including H + Be4+ and H + H+. In particular, a new cross section for the proton-impact ionization of H (1s) is recommended which is significantly larger than that previously accepted at fusion-relevant energies. Coefficients for an empirical fit function to this cross section and to that of the first excited states of H are provided and uncertainties estimated. The propagation of uncertainties in this cross section in modeling codes under JET-like conditions has been studied and the newly-recommended values determined to have a significant effect on the predicted beam attenuation. In addition to accurate calculations of collisional atomic data, the use of these data in codes modeling beam penetration and photoemission for fusion-relevant plasma density and temperature profiles is discussed. In particular, the discrepancies in the modeling of impurities are reported. The present paper originates from a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on the topic of fundamental atomic data for neutral beam modeling that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ran from 2017 to 2022; this project brought together ten research groups in the fields of fusion plasma modeling and collisional cross section calculations. Data calculated during the CRP is summarized in an appendix and is available online in the IAEA’s atomic database, CollisionDB

Fission fragment angular distribution in heavy ion induced fission

  We have calculated the fission fragment angular anisotropy for 16O + 232Th,12C + 236U , 11B + 237 Np , 14 N + 232 Th , 11B + 235U , 12C + 232Th systems with the saddle point statistical model and compared the fission fragment angular anisotropy for these systems. This comparison was done with two methods a) without neutron correction and b) with neutron correction. Also we studied normal and anomalous behavior of the fission fragment angular anisotropy. Finally, we have predicted the average emitted neutron from compound nuclei considering the best fit for each system

Interaction of Be4+ and Ground State Hydrogen Atom—Classical Treatment of the Collision

The interaction between Be4+ and hydrogen atom is studied using the three-body classical trajectory Monte Carlo method (CTMC) and the quasiclassical trajectory Monte Carlo method of Kirschbaum and Wilets (QTMC-KW). We present total cross sections for target ionization, target excitation, and charge exchange to the projectile bound states. Calculations are carried out in the projectile energy range between 10 and 1000 keV/au, relevant to the interest of fusion research when the target hydrogen atom is in the ground state. Our results are compared with previous theoretical results. We found that the classical treatment describes reasonably well the cross sections for various final channels. Moreover, we show that the calculations by the QTMC-KW model significantly improve the obtained cross sections

Predictors for patients understanding reason for hospitalization

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To examine predictors for understanding reason for hospitalization.</p><p>Methods</p><p>This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective, observational cohort study of patients 65 years or older admitted for acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, or pneumonia and discharged home.</p><p>Primary outcome was complete understanding of diagnosis, based on post-discharge patient interview. Predictors assessed were the following: jargon on discharge instructions, type of medical team, whether outpatient provider knew if the patient was admitted, and whether the patient reported more than one day notice before discharge.</p><p>Results</p><p>Among 377 patients, 59.8% of patients completely understood their diagnosis. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that outpatient provider being aware of admission and having more than a day notice prior to discharge were not associated with patient understanding diagnosis. Presence of jargon was not associated with increased likelihood of understanding in a multivariable analysis. Patients on housestaff and cardiology teams were more likely to understand diagnosis compared to non-teaching teams (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.30–4.61, p<0.01 and OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.92–7.63, p<0.01, respectively).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Non-teaching team patients were less likely to understand their diagnosis. Further investigation of how provider-patient interaction differs among teams may aid in development of tools to improve hospital to community transitions.</p></div

Baseline characteristics of the study cohort (n = 374).

<p>Baseline characteristics of the study cohort (n = 374).</p

Association of jargon and medical team with completely understanding diagnosis (n = 336).

<p>Association of jargon and medical team with completely understanding diagnosis (n = 336).</p