5 research outputs found
Characterizing expression changes in noncoding RNAs during aging and heterochronic parabiosis across mouse tissues
Molecular mechanisms of organismal and cell aging remain incompletely
understood. We, therefore, generated a body-wide map of noncoding
RNA (ncRNA) expression in aging (16 organs at ten timepoints from 1 to
27 months) and rejuvenated mice. We found molecular aging trajectories
are largely tissue-specifc except for eight broadly deregulated microRNAs
(miRNAs). Their individual abundance mirrors their presence in circulating
plasma and extracellular vesicles (EVs) whereas tissue-specifc ncRNAs
were less present. For miR-29c-3p, we observe the largest correlation with
aging in solid organs, plasma and EVs. In mice rejuvenated by heterochronic
parabiosis, miR-29c-3p was the most prominent miRNA restored to similar
levels found in young liver. miR-29c-3p targets the extracellular matrix
and secretion pathways, known to be implicated in aging. We provide a
map of organism-wide expression of ncRNAs with aging and rejuvenation
and identify a set of broadly deregulated miRNAs, which may function as
systemic regulators of aging via plasma and EVs
The Human Cell Atlas White Paper
The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) will be made up of comprehensive reference maps of
all human cells - the fundamental units of life - as a basis for understanding
fundamental human biological processes and diagnosing, monitoring, and treating
disease. It will help scientists understand how genetic variants impact disease
risk, define drug toxicities, discover better therapies, and advance
regenerative medicine. A resource of such ambition and scale should be built in
stages, increasing in size, breadth, and resolution as technologies develop and
understanding deepens. We will therefore pursue Phase 1 as a suite of flagship
projects in key tissues, systems, and organs. We will bring together experts in
biology, medicine, genomics, technology development and computation (including
data analysis, software engineering, and visualization). We will also need
standardized experimental and computational methods that will allow us to
compare diverse cell and tissue types - and samples across human communities -
in consistent ways, ensuring that the resulting resource is truly global.
This document, the first version of the HCA White Paper, was written by
experts in the field with feedback and suggestions from the HCA community,
gathered during recent international meetings. The White Paper, released at the
close of this yearlong planning process, will be a living document that evolves
as the HCA community provides additional feedback, as technological and
computational advances are made, and as lessons are learned during the
construction of the atlas
Juicy Game Design: Understanding the Impact of Visual Embellishments on Player Experience
Visual embellishments (VEs) are design elements that support information already conveyed by other means. In games, this concept is known as juiciness, and refers to the provision of redundant feedback in situations where a single player action triggers multiple non-functional reactions. Academia and industry both view the concept as a means of improving player experience; however, empirical evidence to back the assumption is lacking. Here, we present findings from two studies: one initial study with 40 participants comparing the effects of visual embellishments in two research games, the Frogger-clone Cuber, and the FPS game Dungeon Descent, and a second study with 32 participants using the commercially available game Quake 3 Arena. Results show that visual embellishments contribute to the visual appeal of all games, but only affects aspects such as competence under specific circumstances. We discuss implications of our findings for the integration of visual embellishments and juiciness, and their relevance for game development