Reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by overexpression of the transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-Myc holds great promise for the development of personalized cell replacement therapies. In an attempt to minimize the risk of chromosomal disruption and to simplify reprogramming, several studies demonstrated that a reduced set of reprogramming factors is sufficient to generate iPSC. We recently showed that a reduction of reprogramming factors in murine cells not only reduces reprogramming efficiency but also may worsen subsequent differentiation. To prove whether this is also true for human cells, we compared the efficiency of neuronal differentiation of iPSC generated from fetal human neural stem cells with either one (OCT4; hiPSC1F-NSC) or two (OCT4, KLF4; hiPSC2F-NSC) reprogramming factors with iPSC produced from human fibroblasts using three (hiPSC3F-FIB) or four reprogramming factors (hiPSC4F-FIB). After four weeks of coculture with PA6 stromal cells, neuronal differentiation of hiPSC1F-NSC and hiPSC2F-NSC was as efficient as iPSC3F-FIB or iPSC4F-FIB. We conclude that a reduction of reprogramming factors in human cells does reduce reprogramming efficiency but does not alter subsequent differentiation into neural lineages. This is of importance for the development of future application of iPSC in cell replacement therapies.

Vocal tract morphology is an important factor in voice production. Its analysis has potential implications for educational matters as well as medical issues like voice therapy. The knowledge of the complex adjustments in the spatial geometry of the vocal tract during phonation is still limited. For a major part, this is due to difficulties in acquiring geometry data of the vocal tract in the process of voice production. In this study, a centerline-based segmentation method using active contours was introduced to extract the geometry data of the vocal tract obtained with MRI during sustained vowel phonation. The applied semiautomatic algorithm was found to be time- and interaction-efficient and allowed performing various three-dimensional measurements on the resulting model. The method is suitable for an improved detailed analysis of the vocal tract morphology during speech or singing which might give some insights into the underlying mechanical processes.

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No description available.

Amniotic membrane is applied to the diseased ocular surface to stimulate wound healing and tissue repair, because it releases supportive growth factors and cytokines. These effects fade within about a week after application, necessitating repeated application. Generally, amniotic membrane is fixed with sutures to the ocular surface, but surgical intervention at the inflamed or diseased site can be detrimental. Therefore, we have developed a system for the mounting of amniotic membrane between two rings for application to a diseased ocular surface without surgical intervention (sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation). With this system, AmnioClip, amniotic membrane can be applied like a large contact lens. First prototypes were tested in an experiment on oneself for wearing comfort. The final system was tested on 7 patients in a pilot study. A possible influence of the ring system on the biological effects of amniotic membrane was analyzed by histochemistry and by analyzing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF 2) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) from amniotic membranes before and after therapeutic application. The final product, AmnioClip, showed good tolerance and did not impair the biological effects of amniotic membrane. VEGF-A and PEDF mRNA was expressed in amniotic membrane after storage and mounting before transplantation, but was undetectable after a 7-day application period. Consequently, transplantation of amniotic membranes with AmnioClip provides a sutureless and hence improved therapeutic strategy for corneal surface disorders.

The dual role of glycolytic enzymes in cytosol-located metabolic processes and in cell surface-mediated functions with an influence on virulence is described for various micro-organisms. Cell wall-less bacteria of the class Mollicutes including the common human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae possess a reduced genome limiting the repertoire of virulence factors and metabolic pathways. After the initial contact of bacteria with cells of the respiratory epithelium via a specialized complex of adhesins and release of cell-damaging factors, surface-displayed glycolytic enzymes may facilitate the further interac-tion between host and microbe. In this study, we described detection of the four subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHA-D) among the cytosolic and membrane-associated proteins of M.pneumoniae. Subunits of PDH were cloned, expressed and purified to produce specific polyclonal guinea pig antisera. Using colony blotting, fractionation of total proteins and immunofluorescence experiments, the surface localization of PDHA-C was demonstrated. All pecombinant PDH subunits are able to bind to HeLa cells and human plasminogen. These interactions can be specifically blocked by the corresponding polyclon-al antisera. In addition, an influence of ionic interactions on PDHC-binding to plasminogen as well as of lysine residues on the association of PDHA-D with plasminogen was confirmed. The PDHB subunit was shown to activate plasminogen and the PDHB-plasminogen complex induces degradation of human fibrinogen. Hence, our data indicate that the surface-associated PDH subunits might play a role in the pathogenesis of M.pneumoniae infections by interaction with human plasminogen.

The ubiquity of technology has mediated the means of receiving content through digital networks; users have complete control over receiving, shaping, and sharing information. In contrast to the inherent elasticity of these networks, physical pieces of communication often manifest through a closed and highly controlled process. However, the increased prominence of user-interaction with media provides an opportunity to evaluate the design process as it applies to the creation of physical objects. Throughout much of my work, I investigate the potential for unloosening the control of designed objects by inviting others into the design process. By considering the audience as active participants, rather than passive receivers of communication, the designer becomes a facilitator for communication. Through the design of frameworks, the designer relinquishes some control of form or content, allowing author and audience to coalesce.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Cette thèse est basée sur une étude des problèmes de reproductibilité rencontrés dans la recherche en traitement d'image. Nous avons conçu, créé et développé un journal scientifique, Image Processing On Line (IPOL), dans lequel les articles sont publiés avec une implémentation complète des algorithmes décrits, validée par les rapporteurs. Un service web de démonstration des algorithmes est joint aux articles, permettant de les tester sur données libres et de consulter l'historique des expériences précédentes. Nous proposons également une politique de droits d'auteur et licences, adaptée aux manuscrits et aux logiciels issus de la recherche, et des règles visant à guider les rapporteurs dans leur évaluation du logiciel. Le projet scientifique que constitue IPOL nous apparaît très bénéfique à la recherche en traitement d'image. L'examen détaillé des implémentations et les tests intensifs via le service web de démonstration ont permis de publier des articles de meilleure qualité. La fréquentation d'IPOL montre que ce journal est utile au-delà de la communauté de ses auteurs, qui sont globalement satisfaits de leur expérience et apprécient les avantages en terme de compréhension des algorithmes, de qualité des logiciels produits, de diffusion des travaux et d'opportunités de collaboration. Disposant de définitions claires des objets et méthodes, et d'implémentations validées, il devient possible de construire des chaînes complexes et fiables de traitement des images. / This thesis is based on a study of reproducibility issues in image processing research. We designed, created and developed a scientific journal, Image Processing On Line (IPOL), in which articles are published with a complete implementation of the algorithms described, validated by the rapporteurs. A demonstration web service is attached, allowing testing of the algorithms with freely submitted data and an archive of previous experiments. We also propose copyrights and license policy, suitable for manuscripts and research software software, and guidelines for the evaluation of software. The IPOL scientific project seems very beneficial to research in image processing. With the detailed examination of the implementations and extensive testing via the demonstration web service, we publish articles of better quality. IPOL usage shows that this journal is useful beyond the community of its authors, who are generally satisfied with their experience and appreciate the benefits in terms of understanding of the algorithms, quality of the software produced, and exposure of their works and opportunities for collaboration. With clear definitions of objects and methods, and validated implementations, complex image processing chains become possible.

This study explores how international and South African community psychology has studied HIV in the past twenty years, emphasising the methodological and theoretical aspects of research being produced. Concurrently, this study situates itself within an empowerment theory framework and has sought to comment upon marginalised groups and their presence in published community psychology-based HIV research. The research made use of data generated from a content analysis of selected journal articles from the South African Journal of Psychology, the American Journal of Community Psychology, the Journal of Community Psychology, and the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology over the period 1990-2009. The results reflect a dearth of community psychology research concerning HIV and a reliance on positivistic methodologies across contexts, as well as a predominant focus on epistemologies relating to risk and prevention. It was found that whilst interest in marginalised groups within community psychology based HIV research has increased particularly in the last decade, the voices of some of the most vulnerable groups remain relatively silent. It is understood that a move away from more traditional health psychology methods and understandings of HIV, to a more critical conceptualisation is imperative for the field of community psychology with regards to this prominent social problem.