Comparaison de mesures perceptives et automatiques de l'intelligibilité : application à de la parole simulant la presbyacousie

International audienceCet article présente une étude comparative entre mesures perceptives et mesures automatiques de l'intelligibilité de la parole sur de la parole dégradée par une simulation de la presbyacousie. L'objectif est de répondre à la question : peut-on se rapprocher d'une mesure perceptive humaine en utilisant un système de reconnaissance automatique de la parole ? Pour ce faire, un corpus de parole dégradée a été spécifiquement constitué puis utilisé pour des tests perceptifs et enfin soumis à un traitement automatique. De fortes corrélations entre les performances humaines et les scores de reconnaissance automatique sont observées

Automatic speech recognition predicts speech intelligibility and comprehension for listeners with simulated age-related hearing loss

Purpose: To assess speech processing for listeners with simulated age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and to investigate whether the observed performance can be replicated using an Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a system that will assist audiologists/hearing-aid dispensers in the fine-tuning of hearing aids. Method: Sixty young normal-hearing participants listened to speech materials mimicking the perceptual consequences of ARHL at different levels of severity. Two intelligibility tests (repetition of words and sentences) and one comprehension test (responding to oral commands by moving virtual objects) were administered. Several language models were developed and used by the ASR system in order to fit human performances. Results: Strong significant positive correlations were observed between human and ASR scores, with coefficients up to .99. However, the spectral smearing used to simulate losses in frequency selectivity caused larger declines in ASR performance than in human performance. Conclusion: Both intelligibility and comprehension scores for listeners with simulated ARHL are highly correlated with the performances of an ASR-based system. In the future, it needs to be determined if the ASR system is similarly successful in predicting speech processing in noise and by older people with ARHL

Uneven HAK/KUP/KT Protein Diversity Among Angiosperms: Species Distribution and Perspectives

HAK/KUP/KT K+ transporters have been widely associated with K+ transport across membranes in bacteria, fungi, and plants. Indeed some members of the plant HAK/KUP/KT family contribute to root K+ uptake, notably at low external concentrations. Besides such role in acquisition, several studies carried out in Arabidopsis have shown that other members are also involved in developmental processes. With the publication of new plant genomes, a growing interest on plant species other than Arabidopsis has become evident. In order to understand HAK/KUP/KT diversity in these new plant genomes, we discuss the evolutionary trends of 913 HAK/KUP/KT sequences identified in 46 genomes revealing five major groups with an uneven distribution among angiosperms, notably between dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous species. This information evidenced the richness of crop genomes in HAK/KUP/KT transporters and supports their study for unraveling novel physiological roles of such transporters in plants.This work was funded by grant AGL2012-33504 from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain. RR is recipient of an FPU predoctoral contract from Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Spain.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

Validation of an overall model describing the effect of three environmental factors on the apparent D-value of Bacillus cereus spores

International audienceSeveral factorial models extending the famous Bigelow model to describe the influence of the heating and recovery pH and aw conditions on bacterial heat resistance have been developed. These models can be associated in an overall multifactorial model describing the influences of heating and recovery conditions on D values. For Bacillus cereus strain ADQP 407 the mo D el parameters characterising the environmental factor influences (pH, Temperature, aw) were evaluated. Determination of bacterial heat resistance in cream chocolate have been realised to validate these parameter values and to evaluate the level of the influence of food texture or different compounds not taken account of in the model

Deciphering the genetic control of innate and adaptive immune responses in pig: a combined genetic and genomic study

Improving animal robustness and resistance to pathogens by adding health criteria in selection schemes is one of the challenging objectives of the next decade. In order to better understand the genetic control of immunity in French Large White pigs, we have launched a program combining genetic and genomic studies not focussing on any particular pathogen. Animals recorded for production traits were scored for a wide range of immunity parameters three weeks after vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: i) total white blood cells and lymphocyte counts and proportions of various leucocyte subsets including cells harbouring IgM, γδTCR, CD4/CD8, CD16/CD2 and CD16/CD172a/MHCII, ii) innate immune response parameters (phagocytosis and in vitro production of IL1B, IL6, IL8, TNF, IL12 and IFNαafter blood stimulation), iii) adaptive immune response parameters (lymphocyte proliferation, in vitro production of IL2, IL4, IL10 and IFNγ after blood stimulation, total IgG, IgA, IgM and specific IgG levels) and iv) two acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein and haploglobin). Across traits, heritability estimates reached 0.4 on average (se=0.1) and 42 of the 54 measured parameters showed moderate to high heritabilities (≥0.2), confirming that many parameters are under genetic control and could be included in selection protocols. Functional analyses revealed that the blood transcriptome is informative for part of the immunity traits and should provide relevant phenotypic information to better characterize some immunity traits

Transcriptome analysis of porcine PBMCs after in vitro stimulation by LPS or PMA/ionomycin using an expression array targeting the pig immune response

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Designing sustainable animal production systems that better balance productivity and resistance to disease is a major concern. In order to address questions related to immunity and resistance to disease in pig, it is necessary to increase knowledge on its immune system and to produce efficient tools dedicated to this species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A long-oligonucleotide-based chip referred to as SLA-RI/NRSP8-13K was produced by combining a generic set with a newly designed SLA-RI set that targets all annotated loci of the pig major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (SLA complex) in both orientations as well as immunity genes outside the SLA complex.</p> <p>The chip was used to study the immune response of pigs following stimulation of porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or a mixture of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin for 24 hours. Transcriptome analysis revealed that ten times more genes were differentially expressed after PMA/ionomycin stimulation than after LPS stimulation. LPS stimulation induced a general inflammation response with over-expression of SAA1, pro-inflammatory chemokines IL8, CCL2, CXCL5, CXCL3, CXCL2 and CCL8 as well as genes related to oxidative processes (SOD2) and calcium pathways (S100A9 and S100A12). PMA/ionomycin stimulation induced a stronger up-regulation of T cell activation than of B cell activation with dominance toward a Th1 response, including IL2, CD69 and TNFRSF9 (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 9) genes. In addition, a very intense repression of THBS1 (thrombospondin 1) was observed. Repression of MHC class I genes was observed after PMA/ionomycin stimulation despite an up-regulation of the gene cascade involved in peptide processing. Repression of MHC class II genes was observed after both stimulations. Our results provide preliminary data suggesting that antisense transcripts mapping to the SLA complex may have a role during immune response.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The SLA-RI/NRSP8-13K chip was found to accurately decipher two distinct immune response activations of PBMCs indicating that it constitutes a valuable tool to further study immunity and resistance to disease in pig. The transcriptome analysis revealed specific and common features of the immune responses depending on the stimulation agent that increase knowledge on pig immunity.</p

Vienne 38 - Cathédrale Saint-Maurice - Façade nord - Travées 5 à 13 -: Rhône-Alpes / Département de l'Isère (38)

Depuis avril 2008, plusieurs campagnes archéologiques ont été menées, à la demande de la Ville de Vienne, sur les façades nord de l’ancienne cathédrale Saint-Maurice. La cathédrale, qui domine les quartiers établis sur la rive gauche du Rhône, fut érigée en étapes successives comprises entre le XIIe et le XVIe siècle. Plusieurs auteurs se sont attachés à décrire cette évolution mais sans que celle-ci ne se fonde sur une étude archéologique fine des parements. Les données les mieux connues proviennent de la lecture des textes d’archive et de l’analyse stylistique de l’architecture et des chapiteaux. La restauration des façades septentrionales a été l’occasion pour la société Archeodunum de conduire une opération archéologique du bâti suivant les objectifs fixés dans le cahier des charges du SRA Rhône-Alpes.Cette intervention, répartie en quatre tranches, s’est déroulée suivant les travaux de restauration qui ont progressé de deux travées en deux travées depuis l’ouest. Les campagnes archéologiques ont débuté à partir de la travée 5. Pour chaque tranche l’examen a porté sur les murs gouttereaux de la nef et des chapelles mais aussi sur les arcs-boutants. Les données recueillies ont permis de circonscrire les restaurations réalisées par les architectes Charles-Auguste Questel et Eugène Senès, respectivement aux XIXe et XXe siècles. Mais surtout, les nombreux indices archéologiques, enregistrés entre les travées 5 et 13 nord, révèlent quatre états de construction réalisés en plusieurs phases de chantiers.On a pu ainsi cerner, les travaux du XIIIe siècle réalisés sous l’épiscopat de Jean de Bernin (1218-1266) a qui l’on doit la reconstruction de la cathédrale gothique en installant un chevet précédé de deux travées de chœur contre la nef du XIIe siècle. L’étude des travées du clair-étage a montré que leur construction au cours du XIVe siècle se poursuivait par à coup, sur la nef du XIIe siècle, indépendamment du chantier des chapelles qui progresse en ceinturant et en éventrant le mur du bas-côté nord de la nef romane entre ses contreforts.Au niveau du clair-étage, l’avancement des chantiers du XIVe siècle détruit au fur et à mesure la nef romane pour mettre en place le triforium au-dessus de ses grandes arcades et au revers de ses contreforts. Grâce à la mise en évidence des contreforts romans sur toute l’élévation du comble, nous avons acquis la certitude que l’ancienne nef s’élevait au moins 5 mètres au-dessus de l’appui du triforium du projet gothique. Nous serions même tentés d’envisager, au regard de ces indices, mais aussi du raffinement et de la quantité des ornements architecturaux sculptés, que la cathédrale des archevêques Pierre (1121-1125) ou Étienne 1er (1129-1145) était finie au moins jusqu’à la naissance des voûtes. Nous ne pouvons préciser si la voûte a été construite ou si une charpente l’a remplacée ; en tout cas les piles fasciculées ont été pensées à dessein et les organes d’épaulement bâtis jusqu’au toit.Nous avons acquis aussi la certitude que le triforium gothique était ouvert sur le comble par des arcades jumelées. Certes, ces ouvertures étaient indispensables puisque la circulation horizontale depuis le triforium était condamnée par une tour d’escalier et un contrefort. Mais au lieu de ménager de simples portes à l’arrière du triforium, le projet a été bien plus ambitieux, il a consisté à ouvrir entièrement le triforium sur le comble à la manière d’une grande tribune capable d’accueillir du monde. Ce comble ouvert était aussi un moyen de relier la tour d’escalier adossée au bas-côté aux tours du clair-étage. Toutes ces questions de circulation mériteraient d’être étudiées avec plus de précision

Genome-wide immunity studies in the rabbit: transcriptome variations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after in vitro stimulation by LPS or PMA-Ionomycin

BackgroundOur purpose was to obtain genome-wide expression data for the rabbit species on the responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after in vitro stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. This transcriptome profiling was carried out using microarrays enriched with immunity-related genes, and annotated with the most recent data available for the rabbit genome.ResultsThe LPS affected 15 to 20 times fewer genes than PMA-Ionomycin after both 4 hours (T4) and 24 hours (T24), of in vitro stimulation, in comparison with mock-stimulated PBMCs. LPS induced an inflammatory response as shown by a significant up-regulation of IL12A and CXCL11 at T4, followed by an increased transcription of IL6, IL1B, IL1A, IL36, IL37, TNF, and CCL4 at T24. Surprisingly, we could not find an up-regulation of IL8 either at T4 or at T24, and detected a down-regulation of DEFB1 and BPI at T24. A concerted up-regulation of SAA1, S100A12 and F3 was found upon stimulation by LPS.In contrast, PMA-Ionomycin induced a very early expression of Th1, Th2, Treg, and Th17 responses by PBMCs at T4. The Th1 response increased at T24 as shown by the increase of the transcription of IFNG and by contrast to other cytokines which significantly decreased from T4 to T24 (IL2, IL4, IL10, IL13, IL17A, CD69) by comparison to mock-stimulation. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF2) was by far the most over-expressed gene at both T4 and T24 by comparison to mock-stimulated cells, confirming a major impact of PMA-Ionomycin on cell growth and proliferation. A significant down-regulation of IL16 was observed at T4 and T24, in agreement with a role of IL16 in PBMC apoptosis.ConclusionsWe report new data on the responses of PBMCs to LPS and PMA-Ionomycin in the rabbit species, thus enlarging the set of mammalian species for which such reports exist. The availability of the rabbit genome assembly together with high throughput genomic tools should pave the way for more intense genomic studies for this species, which is known to be a very relevant biomedical model in immunology and physiology

Detection of t(11;14) using interphase molecular cytogenetics in mantle cell lymphoma and atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The chromosomal translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32) fuses the IGH and CCND1 genes and leads to cyclin D1 overexpression. This genetic abnormality is the hallmark of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), but is also found in some cases of atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), characterized by a poor outcome. For an unequivocal assessment of this specific chromosomal rearrangement on interphase cells, we developed a set of probes for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Northern blotting was performed for analysis of the cyclin D1 expression in 18 patients. Thirty-eight patients, with either a typical MCL leukemic phase (17 patients) or atypical CLL with an MCL-type immunophenotype, i.e., CD19+, CD5+, CD23(-/low), CD79b/sIgM(D)++, and FMC7+ (21 patients), were analyzed by dual-color interphase FISH. We selected an IGH-specific BAC probe (covering the JH and first constant regions) and a commercially available CCND1 probe. An IGH-CCND1 fusion was detected in 28 of the 38 patients (17 typical MCL and 11 cases with CLL). Cyclin D1 was not overexpressed in two patients with typical MCL and an IGH- CCND1 fusion. In view of the poor prognosis associated with MCL and t(11;14)- positive CLL, we conclude that this set of probes is a valuable and reliable tool for a rapid diagnosis of these entities