Bret E. Peterson

Method for adaptive training of listening and language comprehension using processed speech within an animated story

A method for adaptively training a subject, using auditory processing of phonemes within command sentences, to improve the subjects listening comprehension, grammatical parsing, and serial memory is provided. The method utilizes a number of training installments, each designed for testing a particular aspect of the subjects language skills, all tied together by a common story. More specifically, installments are provided that narrate a story, test the subjects listening comprehension to the narrated story, test the subjects ability to grammatically parse increasingly difficult sentence structures, and test the subjects ability to select and manipulate graphical objects in response to auditory commands. Speech processing is used for the narration, as well as for commands within each test to allow the subject to more easily distinguish between similar sounding phonemes. As the subject improves his/her ability to correctly respond to the tests, the amount of processing applied to the commands is reduced, ultimately to the level of normal speech.

Apparatus for enhancing phoneme differences according to acoustic processing profile for language learning impaired subject

An apparatus and method for screening an individuals ability to process acoustic events is provided. The invention provides sequences (or trials) of acoustically processed target and distractor phonemes to a subject for identification. The acoustic processing includes amplitude emphasis of selected frequency envelopes, stretching (in the time domain) of selected portions of phonemes, and phase adjustment of selection portions of phonemes relative to a base frequency. After a number of trials, the method of the present invention develops a profile for an individual that indicates whether the individuals ability to process acoustic events is within a normal range, and if not, what processing can provide the individual with optimal hearing. The individuals profile can then be used by a listening or processing device to particularly emphasize, stretch, or otherwise manipulate an audio stream to provide the individual with an optimal chance of distinguishing between similar acoustic events.

Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus ORF45 Mediates Transcriptional Activation of the HIV-1 Long Terminal Repeat via RSK2

ABSTRACT Robust activation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression occurs upon superinfection with Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), a common AIDS-associated pathogen. Though the mechanisms underlying this phenotype remain unknown, several KSHV-encoded factors have been reported to stimulate HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) activity. Here, we systematically evaluated the ability of KSHV tegument proteins to modulate the activation of an integrated HIV-1 LTR and revealed that the most potent individual activator is ORF45. ORF45 directs an increase in RNA polymerase II recruitment to the HIV-1 LTR, leading to enhanced transcriptional output. ORF45 is a robust activator of the p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (RSK), and we found that this activity is necessary but not sufficient to increase transcription from the LTR. Of the three widely expressed RSK isoforms, RSK2 appears to be selectively involved in LTR stimulation by both KSHV ORF45 and HIV-1 Tat. However, constitutively active RSK2 is unable to stimulate the LTR, suggesting that ORF45 may preferentially direct this kinase to a specific set of targets. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel transcriptional activation function for KSHV ORF45 and highlight the importance of RSK2 in shaping the transcriptional environment during infection. IMPORTANCE Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a prominent AIDS-associated pathogen. Previous studies have shown that infection of cells containing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with KSHV leads to potent stimulation of HIV-1 gene expression by activating the HIV-1 promoter, termed the long terminal repeat (LTR). Here, we compared the abilities of various KSHV proteins to activate gene expression from the HIV-1 LTR and found that KSHV ORF45 is the most potent activator. ORF45 is known to induce cell signaling through ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) and enhance protein translation. However, we revealed that the activation of a specific isoform of RSK by ORF45 also leads to increased mRNA synthesis from the LTR by the host RNA polymerase. Collectively, our findings provide new insight into the interviral interactions between KSHV and HIV that may ultimately impact disease.