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The loss of inner ear hair cells causes permanent hearing and balance deficits in humans and other mammals, but nonmammals recover after supporting cells (SCs) divide and replace hair cells. The proliferative capacity of mammalian SCs declines as exceptionally thick circumferential F-actin bands develop at their adherens junctions. We hypothesized that the reinforced junctions were limiting regenerative responses of mammalian SCs by impeding changes in cell shape and epithelial tension. Using micropipette aspiration and atomic force microscopy, we measured mechanical properties of utricles from mice and chickens. Our data show that the epithelial surface of the mouse utricle stiffens significantly during postnatal maturation. This stiffening correlates with and is dependent on the postnatal accumulation of F-actin and the cross-linker Alpha-Actinin-4 at SC-SC junctions. In chicken utricles, where SCs lack junctional reinforcement, the epithelial surface remains compliant. There, SCs un ....
Virginia Tech COVID-19 testing operation demonstrates the power and versatility of academic labs augustafreepress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from augustafreepress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Since testing began, the Molecular Diagnostics Lab has analyzed samples from eight health districts across Southwest Virginia and more than 650 businesses, nursing homes, medical and dental offices, construction sites, and schools. This publication in Nature Communications provides an overview of the enormous dedication of the people, including Dr. Finkielstein and her colleagues, and the successful enterprise they have implemented in service of not only Virginia Tech, but also the entire community, said Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech s vice president of health sciences and technology, and an author of the paper. The partnership by Virginia Tech faculty, staff, students, and university leadership working closely with our health department leaders to meet the scientific, regulatory, legal, financial, and infrastructural needs to implement this program represents the Virginia Tech spirit of Ut Prosim at ....