Caractérisation de la protéine Cérès : à la frontière entre polarité épithéliale et contrôle énergétique

La polarité apico-basale des cellules épithéliales est essentielle aux fonctions des tissus épithéliaux. La protéine Yurt promeut l’identité de la membrane basolatérale et régule négativement l’activité de Crumbs par des mécanismes encore inconnus. Crumbs est un déterminant apical qui réprime la croissance tumorale et prévient la transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse (EMT). Nous avons identifié la protéine CG5964 (ALBATROSS chez l’humain) comme un nouvel interacteur physique de Yurt. L’objectif de ma maîtrise est de réaliser l’analyse fonctionnelle de cette protéine (renommée Cérès chez la drosophile), par des méthodes biochimiques et génétiques (génération d’un allèle mutant et d’une lignée de surexpression). Nos résultats suggèrent que la protéine Cérès n’est pas impliquée dans la polarité épithéliale mais plutôt dans le maintien de l’équilibre énergétique. Mon projet apportera les données de base sur la protéine de drosophile Cérès qui n’avait jamais été caractérisée. La compréhension du rôle fonctionnel de l’interaction entre Cérès et Yurt pourrait révéler de nouvelles fonctions de Yurt. Dans l’optique d’utiliser Yurt comme cible thérapeutique pour lutter contre le cancer, il est important de connaître les différents processus biologiques dans lesquels Yurt est impliquée

Phototraceur UV à micro-miroirs pour la réalisation de fonctions optiques integrées et diffractives

session Me2 " Instrumentation, Caractérisation et Capteurs " [Me2.3]National audienceLe sujet concerne la réalisation d'un phototraceur utilisant un écran à micro-miroirs (DMD : Digital Micro-mirror Device) fonctionnant dans l'UV entre 300 et 400 nm. Ce phototraceur permet la photo-inscription directe dans des polymères de fonctions optiques intégrées et/ou d'éléments diffractifs

'Like going into a chocolate shop, blindfolded': What do people with primary progressive aphasia want from speech and language therapy?

BACKGROUND: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) describes a group of language-led dementias. PPAs are complex, diverse and difficult to diagnose, and therefore conventional models of aphasia and dementia treatment do not meet their needs. The research evidence on intervention for PPA is developing, but to date there are only a few case studies exploring the experiences of people with PPA (PwPPA) themselves. AIMS: To explore the experiences and opinions of PwPPA and their communication partners (CPs) to understand how speech and language therapy (SLT) services can better meet their needs. METHODS & PROCEDURES: A qualitative research approach was used whereby PwPPA and their friends or family members were recruited to participate in focus groups, via advertisements in the Rare Dementia Support PPA group newsletters. Consenting participants were allocated to attend one of four focus groups hosted on an online video conferencing platform. Participants were asked about their communication difficulties, and how SLT could address these needs. All meetings were transcribed, and data were examined using reflexive thematic analysis. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Six PwPPA and 14 CPs representing all three PPA variants and mixed PPA participated in the focus groups. Four main themes were identified during the analysis of the focus group discussions: (1) CPs' burden, (2) adjusting to the diagnosis, (3) communication abilities and difficulties and (4) beyond language. A further 10 subthemes were identified. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: This study provides a greater understanding of the experiences and needs of PwPPA and their families in relation to SLT. This work underlines the importance of a person-centred approach that considers the broader needs of both the PwPPA and the people around them. This will enable service providers to deliver SLT that meets the needs of PwPPA and their families and will also inform future research in this field. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject We know that PwPPA can maintain or even make improvements in word retrieval and speech fluency with SLT exercises. There is also developing evidence of the benefits of interventions such as CP training, communication aid support and other functional interventions. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study provides an understanding of the experiences and opinions of people living with PPA and their families in relation to SLT. Results demonstrate that PwPPA and their families have to navigate a complex journey, identifying strategies to support communication but also the influence of personality and other cognitive symptoms. SLT was useful, but not always available. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This study will enable service providers to better plan, justify funding for and delivery of SLT that will meet the needs of PwPPA and their families. Most importantly this work underlines the importance of a person-centred approach, incorporating the broader needs of the person with PPA and those around them

Magnetically triggerable electroactive composites, method of making the magnetically triggerable electroactive composites, and method of using the magnetically triggerable electroactive composites

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for magnetically triggered electroactive composites, methods of making the magnetically triggered electroactive composites, methods of using the magnetically triggered electroactive composites, and the like

How Do Care Partners of People with Rare Dementia Use Language in Online Peer Support Groups? A Quantitative Text Analysis Study

We used quantitative text analysis to examine conversations in a series of online support groups attended by care partners of people living with rare dementias (PLWRD). We used transcripts of 14 sessions (>100,000 words) to explore patterns of communication in trained facilitators’ (n = 2) and participants’ (n = 11) speech and to investigate the impact of session agenda on language use. We investigated the features of their communication via Poisson regression and a clustering algorithm. We also compared their speech with a natural speech corpus. We found that differences to natural speech emerged, notably in emotional tone (d = −3.2, p < 0.001) and cognitive processes (d = 2.8, p < 0.001). We observed further differences between facilitators and participants and between sessions based on agenda. The clustering algorithm categorised participants’ contributions into three groups: sharing experience, self-reflection, and group processes. We discuss the findings in the context of Social Comparison Theory. We argue that dedicated online spaces have a positive impact on care partners in combatting isolation and stress via affiliation with peers. We then discuss the linguistic mechanisms by which social support was experienced in the group. The present paper has implications for any services seeking insight into how peer support is designed, delivered, and experienced by participants

CD36 plays an important role in the clearance of oxLDL and associated age-dependent sub-retinal deposits

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents the major cause of vision loss in industrialized nations. Laminar deposits in Bruch's membrane (BM) are among the first prominent histopathologic features, along with drusen formation, and have been found to contain oxidized lipids. Increases in concentrations of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) in plasma are observed with age and high fat high (HFHC) cholesterol diet. CD36 is the principal receptor implicated in uptake of oxLDL, and is expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We determined if CD36 participates in oxLDL uptake in RPE and correspondingly in clearance of sub-retinal deposits. Uptake of oxLDL by RPE in vitro and in vivo was CD36-dependent. CD36 deficiency in mice resulted in age-associated accumulation of oxLDL and sub-retinal BM thickening, despite fed a regular diet. Conversely, treatment of HFHC-fed ApoE null mice with a CD36 agonist, EP80317 (300 μg/kg/day), markedly diminished thickening of BM, and partially preserved (in part) photoreceptor function. In conclusion, our data uncover a new role for CD36 in the clearance of oxidized lipids from BM and in the prevention of age-dependent sub-retinal laminar deposits

‘Communication is difficult’: Speech, language and communication needs of people with young onset or rarer forms of non-language led dementia

BACKGROUND: People with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy and young onset Alzheimer's disease may experience language and communication difficulties. However, the role of speech and language interventions for people with these non-language led dementias has received little attention. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of people living with these conditions, and their families, regarding their language and communication difficulties and how speech and language therapy could address these needs. MATHODS: This study employed a qualitative design to explore the experiences of people living with or caring for somebody with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, posterior cortical atrophy or young onset Alzheimer's disease, and to understand their opinions about speech and language therapy. Participants were recruited from a support service connected to a dementia clinic to attend one of five focus group meetings. Videorecorded focus groups and interviews were transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data from people affected by each type of dementia. RESULTS: A total of 25 participants were recruited to the study, with representation across the different forms of non-language led dementias. The four main themes identified were: (1) communication difficulties as a key difficulty, (2) loss and loneliness, (3) speech and language therapy, and (4) the role of the caregiver. Sixteen subthemes were also identified which highlighted individual issues across disease types. DISCUSSION: Although all the forms of dementia studied here are not considered to be language-led, people with these conditions and/or their care partners identified speech, language and communication as common challenges. These communication difficulties were reported to have a negative impact on their social participation and mental health and participants felt speech and language interventions could help. There is a need for research exploring speech and language interventions developed for and with people with non-language led dementias and their care partners, to ensure they meet the needs of the people they are designed for