Painting with Bob:Assisted creativity for novices

Current digital painting tools are primarily targeted at professionals and are often overwhelmingly complex for use by novices. At the same time, simpler tools may not invoke the user creatively, or are limited to plain styles that lack visual sophistication. There are many people who are not art professionals, yet would like to partake in digital creative expression. Challenges and rewards for novices differ greatly from those for professionals. In this paper, we leverage existing works in Creativity and Creativity Support Tools (CST) to formulate design goals specifically for digital art creation tools for novices. We implemented these goals within a digital painting system, called Painting with Bob. We evaluate the efficacy of the design and our prototype with a user study, and we find that users are highly satisfied with the user experience, as well as the paintings created with our system

Baculovirus Infection Triggers a Shift from Amino Acid Starvation-Induced Autophagy to Apoptosis

Autophagy plays a central role in regulating important cellular functions such as cell survival during starvation and control of infectious pathogens. On the other hand, many pathogens have evolved mechanisms of inhibition of autophagy such as blockage of the formation of autophagosomes or the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Baculoviruses are important insect pathogens for pest control, and autophagy activity increases significantly during insect metamorphosis. However, it is not clear whether baculovirus infection has effects on the increased autophagy. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) infection on autophagy in SL-HP cell line from Spodoptera litura induced under amino acid deprivation. The results revealed that AcMNPV infection did not inhibit autophagy but triggered apoptosis under starvation pressure. In the early stage of infection under starvation, mitochondrial dysfunction was detected, suggesting the organelles might be involved in cell apoptosis. The semi-quantitative PCR assay revealed that the expression of both p35 and ie-1 genes of AcMNPV had no significant difference between the starved and unstarved SL-HP cells. The western blot analysis showed that no cleavage of endogenous Atg6 occurred during the process of apoptosis in SL-HP cells. These data demonstrated that some permissive insect cells may defend baculovirus infection via apoptosis under starvation and apoptosis is independent of the cleavage of Atg6 in SL-HP cells

'The terrible twos': Gaining control in the nursery?

'The terrible twos' are often described as a time of 'gaining control', usually thought of as adults asserting control over children, who learn to control themselves. However, toddlerhood is as much about children learning to take control for themselves. This paper is an attempt to detail something of the social geography in the toddler room of a Scottish nursery, considering both styles of adult control and the ways in which toddlers attempt to appropriate and reconfigure space and time for themselves. That is, the ways in which space and time are negotiated in the course of day-to-day nursery life

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure fl ux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defi ned as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (inmost higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium ) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the fi eld understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation it is imperative to delete or knock down more than one autophagy-related gene. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways so not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field

Expression profiles and possible functions of the ecdysone-related genes in the midgut stem cells of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) [İpekböceği, Bombyx mori L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) orta bağırsak kök hücrelerinde ekdizonla ilişkili genlerin ekspresyon profilleri ve olası rolleri]

2-s2.0-85104666470The insect midgut has remarkable similarities with the vertebrate intestine especially concerning controlling cell regulation by the stem cells. While the formation of the pupal midgut from stem cells is regulated by ecdysone, it is inhibited by juvenile hormone via suppression of ecdysone release. This study investigated the possible functions of ecdysone-related genes in the stem cells of Bombyx mori L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) during larval-pupal metamorphosis. The study was conducted in the Ege University silkworm culture laboratory and insect physiology research laboratory during the years between 2014-2018. Juvenile hormone analogue, fenoxycarb was applied to the fifth instar Bombyx larvae to delayed or inhibit the formation of the pupal midgut. Morphologic observations were performed by hematoxylin plus eosin staining; the proliferation rate of stem cells was analyzed by bromodeoxyuridine cell proliferation assay and expression patterns of ecdysone-related genes were detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Expression states of genes and developmental events of the midgut were differently affected by fenoxycarb treatment in an application time-dependent manner. According to results, genes were firstly classified based on their sensitivity of fenoxycarb, then grouped according to their expression profile in connection with morphological evaluations of stem cells. © 2021 Entomological Society of Turkey. All rights reserved.2004 BİL 010 Ege Üniversitesi Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu, TÜBITAK: 111T8801 This study was supported by The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (111T880) and the Research and Application Center of Science and Technology (2004 BİL 010) from Ege University. 2 Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 35100, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey * Corresponding author (Sorumlu yazar) e-mail: [email protected] Received (Alınış): 24.09.2020 Accepted (Kabul ediliş): 15.03.2021 Published Online (Çevrimiçi Yayın Tarihi): 03.04.2021We thank Dr. Ramazan Uranlı for his valuable assistance during the experiments. The research was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (111T880) and the Research and Application Center of Science and Technology (2004 BİL 010) from Ege University

Autophagic cell death features of periviseral fat body remodeling of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella during larval-pupal transformation

41st FEBS Congress on Molecular and Systems Biology for a Better Life -- SEP 03-08, 2016 -- Kusadasi, TURKEYWOS: 000383616900302FEB

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa with multiple entrapment neuropathies: A case report

PubMedID: 18322862Macrodystrophia lipomatosa is a rare nonhereditary congenital malformation that mainly affects mesenchymal structures. The pathology is associated with hypertrophic fibro-adipose tissues. One or more of the digits of the extremities are affected. This condition is previously described as macrodactyly, megalodactyly, or localized gigantism. This article describes a 48-year-old male patient who presented with the enlargement of unilateral (right) lower limb, especially of the first toe and tarsal tunnel syndrome. Although there is no clinically significant involvement of the upper extremities, bilateral cubital and unilateral carpal tunnel syndromes were also detected and macrodystrophia lipomatosa with multiple entrapment neuropathies was diagnosed in the patient. Copyright © 2008 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc

Proximal myopathy as an unusual presenting feature of celiac disease

PubMedID: 15349797A 37-year-old woman presented with back pain, diffuse musculoskeletal pain, and muscle weakness without marked gastrointestinal symptoms. She complained of difficulty in walking and bilateral hip pain for the preceding year. Clinical examination revealed proximal muscle weakness especially in the lower extremities and a waddling gait pattern. Laboratory parameters and radiographic findings revealed the diagnosis of osteomalacia. The etiology of osteomalacia was investigated and a diagnosis of celiac disease was established. As osteomalacia symptoms may be the only presenting feature of celiac disease, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with proximal muscle weakness and diffuse musculoskeletal pain. © Clinical Rheumatology 2005

Assessment of demographic and clinical characteristics on functional status and disability of patients with stroke

PubMedID: 27744465Objective: To determine the effects of demographic and clinical characteristics on mobility, disability, and activities of daily life of patients with stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional clinical study was performed in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine in Adana, Turkey, between February 2011 and December 2011. The study included 126 patients with stroke. The Brunnstrom recovery scale (BRS), functional ambulation classification scale (FACS), modified Barthel index (MBI), modified Rankin scale (MRS), and Rivermead mobility index (RMI) were used in the evaluation of the functional status of stroke patients. Correlations between each scale and parameters including age, etiology, and duration of hemiplegia were assessed. Results: The major etiology of stroke was found as ischemic (77%). Hypertension was a major risk factor in both genders (72% for males, 85% for females). Statistically significant differences were found between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients regarding the RMI, MBI, BRS, and the FACS (p<0.001). Age had a poor negative correlation with the FACS and RMI. Conclusion: It is suggested that age is an important risk factor for the development of stroke, but it has no strong effect on functional status and disability in patients with stroke. The BRS, FACS, MBI, MRS, and RMI scales can be used in stroke patients whether they are under or over 65 years old in order to evaluate functional status and disability. © 2016, Saudi Arabian Armed Forces Hospital. All rights reserved