Pieter Coussement

One step DNA assembly for combinatorial metabolic engineering.

The rapid and efficient assembly of multi-step metabolic pathways for generating microbial strains with desirable phenotypes is a critical procedure for metabolic engineering, and remains a significant challenge in synthetic biology. Although several DNA assembly methods have been developed and applied for metabolic pathway engineering, many of them are limited by their suitability for combinatorial pathway assembly. The introduction of transcriptional (promoters), translational (ribosome binding site (RBS)) and enzyme (mutant genes) variability to modulate pathway expression levels is essential for generating balanced metabolic pathways and maximizing the productivity of a strain. We report a novel, highly reliable and rapid single strand assembly (SSA) method for pathway engineering. The method was successfully optimized and applied to create constructs containing promoter, RBS and/or mutant enzyme libraries. To demonstrate its efficiency and reliability, the method was applied to fine-tune multi-gene pathways. Two promoter libraries were simultaneously introduced in front of two target genes, enabling orthogonal expression as demonstrated by principal component analysis. This shows that SSA will increase our ability to tune multi-gene pathways at all control levels for the biotechnological production of complex metabolites, achievable through the combinatorial modulation of transcription, translation and enzyme activity.

Interacting with the Music Paint Machine: Relating the constructs of flow experience and presence

In this paper we report on the results of an experiment on the experience of flow and presence while engaging with an interactive music system, the Music Paint Machine. This music system provides a game-like environment in which a musician can create a digital painting by playing an acoustic musical instrument, by moving the body in different directions, and by selecting colours using a pressure mat. The experiment aimed at getting a better insight into the possible relationship between flow experience and presence. Based on the definition of flow as a combination of the highest level of presence (presence-as-feeling) and a positive emotional state (Riva et al., 2004a), we hypothesized that presence has a predictive value for flow. Sixty-five musicians, both amateur and professional, participated in the experiment. Flow experience was measured with the Flow State Scale (Jackson and Eklund, 2004). Presence was measured with an in-house designed presence questionnaire. Results showed a significantly strong correlation between flow and presence. Moreover, the scores for presence significantly predicted the Flow State Scale, and explained a significant proportion of variance in the Flow State Scale. Furthermore, many significant associations were found between flow and presence variables, among which the most significant were the strong correlation (Spearmans rank) between the naturalness of using the system and the Flow State Scale and between the feeling of non-mediation and the Flow State Scale.

An embodied music cognition approach to multilevel interactive sonification

In this paper, a new conceptual framework and related implementation for interactive sonification is introduced. The conceptual framework consists of a combination of three components, namely, gestalt-based electroacoustic composition techniques (sound), user and body-centered spatial exploration (body), and corporeal mediation technology (tools), which are brought together within an existing paradigm of embodied music cognition. The implementation of the conceptual framework is based on an iterative process that involves the development of several use cases. Through this methodology, it is possible to investigate new approaches for structuring and to interactively explore multivariable data through sound.

Serine Integrase Recombinational Engineering (SIRE): A versatile toolbox for genome editing: SNOECK et al.

Chromosomal integration of biosynthetic pathways for the biotechnological production of high‐value chemicals is a necessity to develop industrial strains with a high long‐term stability and a low production variability. However, the introduction of multiple transcription units into the microbial genome remains a difficult task. Despite recent advances, current methodologies are either laborious or efficiencies highly fluctuate depending on the length and the type of the construct. Here we present serine integrase recombinational engineering (SIRE), a novel methodology which combines the ease of recombinase‐mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) with the selectivity of orthogonal att sites of the PhiC31 integrase. As a proof of concept, this toolbox is developed for Escherichia coli. Using SIRE we were able to introduce a 10.3 kb biosynthetic gene cluster on different locations throughout the genome with an efficiency of 100% for the integrating step and without the need for selection markers on the knock‐in cassette. Next to integrating large fragments, the option for multitargeting, for deleting operons, as well as for performing in vivo assemblies further expand and proof the versatility of the SIRE toolbox for E. coli. Finally, the serine integrase PhiC31 was also applied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a marker recovery tool, indicating the potential and portability of this toolbox.

Using Narrative Analysis to Map the Control Parameters of Enhanced Operatic Singing

Abstract The concepts of mediality and embodied music cognition are relevant theories to improve the efficiency of the design of technologically enhanced performance environments. This paper discusses (i) relevant theories that may be applicable for the analysis of gestures in professional operatic singing performances, and (ii) the resulting gestural mappings that might then be used for building a vocal augmentation tool. A methodology is presented integrating narrative analysis and iterative prototyping, based on gestural and performance data. Implementation of these theories should improve the efficiency and design of vocal augmentation in theatrical contexts; increasing generalizability, dramatic integration, and facilitating a more cohesive, contextualized performance. The present study demonstrates the potential application of the theories of mediality and embodied music cognition in the development of technological mediators, as well as possible dynamic mappings strategies based on gesture audio interaction and the physical realization of the performers musical goals.

E087 Sound Caterpillar – an interactive, musical auditory training game for hearing impaired children

Results: We find no significant differences between NH, HA and CI for timbre discrimination and see a clear development of timbre discrimination abilities with age regardless of the hearing impairment or aid. For melody discrimination we find a strong development in older NH-children, whereas this improvement is not established in HA and CI children. HA and CI children clearly focused much more on aspects of sound quality as a discrimination strategy, whereas NH-children relied on sound identification or association.