Oligodendrocyte Development and Regenerative Therapeutics in Multiple Sclerosis

International audienceMyelination by oligodendrocytes (OLs) is an important biological process essential for central nervous system (CNS) development and functions. Oligodendroglial lineage cells undergo several morphological and molecular changes at different stages of their lineage progression into myelinating OLs. The transition steps of the oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to myelinating oligodendrocytes are defined by a specific pattern of regulated gene expression, which is under the control of coordinated signaling pathways. Any abnormal development, loss or failure of oligodendrocytes to myelinate axons can lead to several neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is characterized by inflammation and demyelination, and current treatments target only the immune component of the disease, but have little impact on remyelination. Recently, several pharmacological compounds enhancing remyelination have been identified and some of them are in clinical trials. Here, we will review the current knowledge on oligodendrocyte differentiation, myelination and remyelination. We will focus on MS as a pathological condition, the most common chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS in young adults

Estimating the value of Swiss residential real estate

The testing of financial models depends heavily upon the quality of the data used to test these models. ROLL (1977), for instance, argues that the CAPM cannot be tested because of the lack of an appropriate market index. Constructing indices is a difficult task for all asset classes but is particularly troublesome in the case of real estate. Due to th

Estimating the Value of Swiss Residential Real Estate

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the value of Swiss residential real estate wealth using two alternative methods: the perpetual inventory method and the income capitalization method. We also use the insured value of all residential buildings and the amount of mortgages in order to substantiate our value estimate. On the basis of this estimate, we then examine the size of the overall Swiss investable wealth.

Long term prediction of nonlinear viscoelastic creep behaviour of elastomers: extended Schapery model

Herein we develop a creep test method for characterizing nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour of an elastomer through weak deformation. This approach is based on an expanded Schapery model. Short term creep tests at various stress levels were performed upon specimens composed of a synthetic elastomer. A method to predict the long term creep behaviour using short term creep tests is presented. Experimental results and theoretical predictions are compared

Gesture recognition for an exergame prototype

We will demonstrate a prototype exergame aimed at the serious domain of elderly fitness. The exergame incorporates straightforward means to gesture recognition, and utilises a Kinect camera to obtain 2.5D sensory data of the human user