A differential response to newt regeneration extract by C2C12 and primary mammalian muscle cells

Abstract Background Dedifferentiation, a process whereby differentiated cells lose their specialized characteristics and revert to a less differentiated state, plays a key role in the regeneration process in urodele amphibians such as the red spotted newt, Notophthalmus viridescens. Dedifferentiation of fully mature tissues is generally absent in mammalian cells. Previous studies have shown that mouse C2C12 multinucleated myotubes treated with extract derived from regenerating newt forelimbs can re-enter the cell cycle, fragment into mononucleated cells, and proliferate. However, this response has been difficult to replicate. Methods We isolated extract from early newt forelimb regenerates and assessed its effects on differentiation of proliferating primary and C2C12 myoblasts. We also treated fully differentiated primary and C2C12 myotube cultures with extract and assessed cell cycle re-entry and myotube fragmentation. Results We have confirmed the results obtained in C2C12 cells and expanded these studies to also examine the effects of newt regeneration extracts on primary muscle cells. Newt extract can block differentiation of both C2C12 and primary myoblasts. Once differentiation is induced, treatment with newt extract causes cell cycle re-entry and fragmentation of C2C12 myotubes. Downregulation of p21 and muscle-specific markers is also induced. Primary myotubes also fragment in response to extract treatment, and the fragmented cells remain viable for long periods of time in culture. However, unlike C2C12 cells, primary muscle cells do not re-enter the cell cycle in response to treatment with newt extracts. Conclusions Dedifferentiation of fully mature muscle occurs during regeneration in the newt forelimb to contribute cells to the regeneration process. Our study shows that extracts derived from regenerating newt forelimbs can induce dedifferentiation, cell cycle re-entry, and fragmentation of mouse C2C12 cells but can only induce fragmentation in primary muscle cells

Distinct roles for Ste20-like kinase SLK in muscle function and regeneration

Abstract Background Cell growth and terminal differentiation are controlled by complex signaling systems that regulate the tissue-specific expression of genes controlling cell fate and morphogenesis. We have previously reported that the Ste20-like kinase SLK is expressed in muscle tissue and is required for cell motility. However, the specific function of SLK in muscle tissue is still poorly understood. Methods To gain further insights into the role of SLK in differentiated muscles, we expressed a kinase-inactive SLK from the human skeletal muscle actin promoter. Transgenic muscles were surveyed for potential defects. Standard histological procedures and cardiotoxin-induced regeneration assays we used to investigate the role of SLK in myogenesis and muscle repair. Results High levels of kinase-inactive SLK in muscle tissue produced an overall decrease in SLK activity in muscle tissue, resulting in altered muscle organization, reduced litter sizes, and reduced breeding capacity. The transgenic mice did not show any differences in fiber-type distribution but displayed enhanced regeneration capacity in vivo and more robust differentiation in vitro. Conclusions Our results show that SLK activity is required for optimal muscle development in the embryo and muscle physiology in the adult. However, reduced kinase activity during muscle repair enhances regeneration and differentiation. Together, these results suggest complex and distinct roles for SLK in muscle development and function. </jats:sec

A proposal for the development of adaptive spoken interfaces to access the Web

Spoken dialog systems have been proposed as a solution to facilitate a more natural human–machine interaction. In this paper, we propose a framework to model the user׳s intention during the dialog and adapt the dialog model dynamically to the user needs and preferences, thus developing more efficient, adapted, and usable spoken dialog systems. Our framework employs statistical models based on neural networks that take into account the history of the dialog up to the current dialog state in order to predict the user׳s intention and the next system response. We describe our proposal and detail its application in the Let׳s Go spoken dialog system.Work partially supported by Projects MINECO TEC2012-37832- C02-01, CICYT TEC2011-28626-C02-02, CAM CONTEXTS (S2009/ TIC-1485

XIAP Protection of Photoreceptors in Animal Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa

BACKGROUND: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a blinding genetic disorder that is caused by the death of photoreceptors in the outer nuclear layer of the retina. To date, 39 different genetic loci have been associated with the disease, and 28 mutated genes have been identified. Despite the complexity of the underlying genetic basis for RP, the final common pathway is photoreceptor cell death via apoptosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, P23H and S334ter rhodopsin transgenic rat models of RP were used to test the neuroprotective effects of anti-apoptotic gene therapy. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) carrying the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) or green fluorescent protein (GFP) were delivered subretinally into the eye of transgenic rat pups. Histological and functional measures were used to assess neuroprotection. XIAP is known to block apoptosis by inhibiting the action of caspases-3, -7 and -9. The results show that XIAP gene therapy provides long-term neuroprotection of photoreceptors at both structural and functional levels. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our gene therapy strategy targets the apoptotic cascade, which is the final common pathway in all forms of retinitis pigmentosa. This strategy holds great promise for the treatment of RP, as it allows for the broad protection of photoreceptors, regardless of the initial disease causing mutation

Electronics Retail Store Atmospherics: A Consumer Type Comparison : A Quantitative Study of Consumer Types and Their Valuation of Sensory Cues

Background: Every fifth physical electronics store has been closed during the period between 2011 to 2017, and 30 % of all electronic products are now purchased online. As digitalization has affected both the number of physical stores negatively, but also loyalty towards firms among consumers, as price has become a more crucial role in decision making online, there is a need for physical stores to exploit the advantages that cannot be facilitated online to stay competitive. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to extend the understanding of how the valuation of sensory cues is related to consumer types in an electronics retail store context.Research Questions: To what extent are consumers in an electronics retail store utilitarian and hedonic in their needs and behavior? How do these consumers, in comparison to each other, value sensory cues in an electronics retail store environment?Methodology: The study uses a quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional research design and collects data through an online questionnaire. Findings: Consumers in an electronics retail store context tend to possess a higher degree of utilitarian traits and valued the importance of addressing the human senses significantly lower than consumers with a higher degree of hedonic traits. A significant difference between the groups is found for sight, sound and smell. Touch was found to be the most important sense for both groups. Managerial Implications: Contributes to knowledge managers could consider when relating the human senses to the strategic build-up of a store concept or the design of a retail environment.Further Research: Further research could investigate how the relationship, interplay and potential overload of stimuli affect consumers, either based on hedonic and utilitarian characteristics or other factors such as age and gender. Originality: To the best of the author’s knowledge, no other studies is researching the valuation of sensory cues in an electronics retail store environment from the consumers perspective. Keywords: Sensory Marketing, Consumer Types, Utilitarian, Hedonic, Atmospherics, Electronics Store, Retail Marketin

One step forward or one step backwards? : A survey about how consumers prioritize safety and ease of use in the choice of modern or traditional pay method

Syfte: Identifiera de olika betalningsmedlen för att finna samband mellan upplevelserna av deras säkerhet, enkelhet och hur dessa aspekter påverkar valet av betalningsmedel. Metod: Kvantitativ metod Teori: Litteratur, vetenskapliga artiklar och empiriska rapporter Empiri: En enkätundersökning gjordes för datainsamling Slutsats: Undersökningen bekräftar att både upplevelsen av säkerhet och enkelhet påverkar konsumenterna i valet av betalningsmedel. Vår undersökning visar att enkelhet ör den vanli-gaste och viktigaste orsaken för en konsument i valet av betalningsmedel. Undersökningen visar även att i olika ålderskategorier skiljer sig användandet av de olika betalningsmedlen åt och den visar även på olika värderingsgrunder vad gäller säkerhet och enkelhet mellan ålders-kategorierna för valet av betalningsmedel.Purpose: Identify the different payment methods to find a connection between the perceived safety, the ease of use and how those aspects affects the choice of pay method in a buying process. Method: Quantitative method Theory: Literature, scientific articles and empirical reports Empirical foundation: A survey was made to collect data Conclusion: The research confirms that both safety and ease of use affects consumers in the choice of pay method. Our research shows that the ease of use is the most common and im-portant reason for a consumer when choosing a pay method. The survey also shows that in different age categories the use of the various means of payment is different and also shows a difference in the valuation of qualities as safety and ease of use between age categories for the choice of payment

Newt Opportunities for Understanding the Dedifferentiation Process

Urodele amphibians, such as the newt Notophthalmus viridescens, have the unique ability to regenerate limbs, spinal cord, eye structures, and many vital organs through a process called epimorphic regeneration. Although the cellular basis of regeneration has been studied in detail, we know relatively little about the molecular controls of the process. This review provides an overview of forelimb regeneration in the newt, addressing what we know about cellular and molecular aspects. Particular focus is placed on the dedifferentiation process, which yields a population of embryonic-like pluripotent cells that will eventually reform the lost structure. This cellular plasticity seems to be the key to regenerative ability. We discuss the dedifferentiation process in newt forelimb regeneration and outline the various studies that have revealed that mammalian cells also have the ability to dedifferentiate if given the appropriate triggers

Μέθοδοι ανάλυσης και ψηφιακής επεξεργασίας για την βελτίωση σημάτων ομιλίας και μουσικής σε χώρους με αντήχηση

This thesis presents novel signal processing algorithms for speech and music dereverberation. The proposed algorithms focus on blind single-channel suppression of late reverberation however binaural and semi-blind methods have also been introduced Late reverberation is a particularly harmful distortion since it significantly decreases the perceived quality of the reverberant signals but also degrades the performance of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems and other speech and music processing algorithms. Hence the proposed deverberation methods can be either used as standalone enhancing techniques or implemented as preprocessing schemes prior to ASR or other applied systems. The main dereverberation method proposed here is a blind dereverberation technique based on perceptual reverberation modeling has been developed. This technique employs a computational auditory masking model and locates the signal regions where late reverberation is audible i.e. where it is unmasked from the clean signal components. Following a selective signal processing approach only such signal regions are further processed through sub-band gain filtering. The above technique has been evaluated for both speech and music signals and for a wide range of reverberation conditions. In all cases it was found to minimize the processing artifacts and to produce perceptually superior clean signal estimations than any other tested technique. Moreover extensive ASR tests have shown that it significantly improves the recognition performance especially in highly reverberant environments.Η διατριβή αποτελείται από εννιά κεφάλαια δυο παραρτήματα καθώς και την σχετική βιβλιογραφία. Είναι γραμμένη στα αγγλικά ενώ περιλαμβάνει και ελληνική περίληψη. Στην παρούσα διατριβή αναπτύσσονται μέθοδοι ψηφιακής επεξεργασίας σήματος για την αφαίρεση αντήχησης από σήματα ομιλίας και μουσικής. Οι προτεινόμενοι αλγόριθμοι καλύπτουν ε να μεγάλο εύρος εφαρμογών αρχικά εστιάζοντας στην τυφλή (blind) αφαίρεση για μονοκαναλικά σήματα. Στοχεύοντας σε πιο ειδικά σενάρια χρήσης προτείνονται επίσης αμφιωτικοί αλγόριθμοι άλλα και τεχνικές που προϋποθέτουν την πραγματοποίηση κάποιας ακουστικής μέτρησης. Οι αλγόριθμοι επικεντρώνουν στην αφαίρεση της καθυστερημένης αντήχησης που είναι ιδιαίτερα επιβλαβής για την ποιότητα σημάτων ομιλίας και μουσικής και μειώνει την καταληπτότητα της ομιλίας. Επίσης επειδή αλλοιώνει σημαντικά τα στατιστικά των σημάτων μειώνει σημαντικά την απόδοση συστημάτων αυτόματης αναγνώρισης ομιλίας καθώς και άλλων αλγορίθμων ψηφιακής επεξεργασίας ομιλίας και μουσικής. Έτσι οι προτεινόμενοι αλγόριθμοι μπορούν είτε να χρησιμοποιηθούν σαν αυτόνομες τεχνικές βελτίωσης της ποιότητας των ακουστικών σημάτων είτε να ενσωματωθούν σαν στάδια προ επεξεργασίας σε άλλες εφαρμογές. Η κυρία μέθοδος αφαίρεσης αντήχησης που προτείνεται στην διατριβή είναι βασισμένη στην αντιληπτική μοντελοποίηση και χρησιμοποιεί ένα σύγχρονο ψυχοακουστικό μοντέλο. Με βάση αυτό το μοντέλο γίνεται μια εκτίμηση των σημείων του σήματος που η αντήχηση είναι ακουστή δηλαδή που δεν επικαλύπτεται από το ισχυρότερο σε ένταση καθαρό από αντήχηση σήμα. Η συγκεκριμένη εκτίμηση οδηγεί σε μια επιλεκτική επεξεργασία σήματος οπού η αφαίρεση πραγματοποιείται σε αυτά και μονό τα σημεία μέσω πρωτοτύπων υβριδικών συναρτήσεων κέρδους που βασίζονται σε δείκτες αντικειμενικής και υποκειμενικής αλλοίωσης. Εκτεταμένα αντικειμενικά και υποκειμενικά πειράματα δείχνουν ότι η προτεινομένη τεχνική δίνει βέλτιστες ποιοτικά ανηχωικές εκτιμήσεις ανεξάρτητα από το μέγεθος του χώρου