Informatisation d'une forme graphique des Langues des Signes : application au système d'écriture SignWriting

Les recherches et les logiciels présentés dans cette étude s'adressent à une importante minorité au sein de notre société, à savoir la communauté des sourdes. De nombreuses recherches démontrent que les sourdes se heurtent à de grosses difficultés avec la langue vocale, ce qui explique pourquoi la plu- part d'entre eux préfère communiquer dans la langue des signes. Du point de vue des sciences de l'information, les LS constituent un groupe de minorités linguistiques peu représentées dans l'univers du numérique. Et, de fait, les sourds sont les sujets les plus touchés par la fracture numérique. Cette étude veut donc être une contribution pour tenter de resserrer cette fracture numérique qui pénalise les sourdes. Pour ce faire, nous nous sommes principalement concentrés sur l'informatisation de SignWriting, qui constitue l'un des systèmes les plus prometteurs pour écrire la LS.The studies and the software presented in this work are addressed to a relevant minority of our society, namely deaf people. Many studies demonstrate that, for several reasons, deaf people experience significant difficulties in exploiting a Vocal Language (VL English, Chinese, etc.). In fact, many of them prefer to communicate using Sign Language (SL). As computer scientists, we observed that SLs are currently a set of underrepresented linguistic minorities in the digital world. As a matter of fact, deaf people are among those individuals which are mostly affected by the digital divide. This work is our contribution towards leveling the digital divide affecting deaf people. In particular, we focused on the computer handling of SignWriting, which is one of the most promising systems devised to write SLs

Risorse per la produzione di forme scritte di Lingua dei Segni tramite un software centrato sull'utilizzatore (SWift)

ISI CITATION INDEX - WOS 00032392773138 - IDS BGR95International audienceThe SignWriting improved fast transcriber (SWift), presented in this paper, is an advanced editor for computer-aided writing and transcribing of any Sign Language (SL) using SignWriting (SW). The application is an editor which allows composing and saving desired signs using the SW elementary components, called “glyphs”. These make up a sort of alphabet, which does not depend on the national Sign Language and which codes the basic components of any sign. The user is guided through a fully-automated procedure, making the composition process fast and intuitive. SWift pursues the goal of helping to break down the "electronic barriers" that keep deaf people away from the web, and at the same time to support linguistic research about Sign Languages features. For this reason it has been designed with a special attention to deaf user needs, and to general usability issues. The editor has been developed in a modular way, so it can be integrated everywhere the use of SW as an alternative to written “verbal” language may be advisable.Le SignWriting improved fast transcriber (SWift), présenté dans cet article, est un éditeur avancé pour l'écriture et la transcription assistées par ordinateur de toute Langue des Signes (SL) en utilisant SignWriting (SW). L'application est un éditeur qui permet de composer et de sauvegarder les signes souhaités en utilisant les unités constitutives de SW, appelés "glyphes". Ils constituent une sorte d'alphabet, qui ne dépend pas de la Langue des Signes nationale et qui codifie les éléments de base de tout Signe. L'utilisateur est guidé par un procédé entièrement automatisé, ce qui rend le processus de composition rapide et intuitif. SWift poursuit l'objectif d'aider à briser les "barrières électroniques" qui empêchent les personnes sourdes d’accéder à la Toile, et en même temps de soutenir la recherche linguistique sur les caractéristiques des Langues des Signes. Pour cette raison, il a été conçu avec une attention particulière aux besoins des utilisateurs sourds, et à des questions générales de convivialité. L'éditeur a été développé de façon modulaire, de sorte qu'il peut être intégré partout où l'utilisation de SW comme alternative à la langue écrite "verbale" peut être souhaitable.Il "SignWriting improved fast transcriber" (SWift), presentato in questo articolo, è un avanzato editor di scrittura e trascrizione "computer-aided" mediante SignWriting (SW) per qualsiasi Lingua dei Segni (SL). L'applicazione è un editor che permette di comporre e salvare i segni desiderati utilizzando le componenti elementari di SW, chiamate "glifi". Queste costituiscono una sorta di alfabeto, che non dipende dalla Lingua dei Segni nazionale, che codifica gli elementi di base di qualsiasi segno. L'utente è guidato attraverso una procedura completamente automatica, rendendo così il processo di composizione veloce ed intuitivo. SWift persegue l'obiettivo di aiutare ad abbattere le "barriere elettroniche" che tengono le persone sorde lontane dal web, e allo stesso tempo di sostenere la ricerca linguistica sulle caratteristiche delle Lingue dei Segni. Per questo motivo è stato progettato con una particolare attenzione alle esigenze degli utenti sordi, ma anche in una ottica di usabilità generale. L'editor è stato sviluppato in modo modulare, quindi può essere integrato ovunque sia consigliabile l'uso di SW in alternativa alla lingua scritta "verbale"

correlation between endocrinological parameters and acne severity in adult women

Many studies demonstrate increased androgen levels and high prevalence of polycystic ovaries in women affected by acne. We evaluated the relationship between clinical features, ultrasonographic data on polycystic ovaries and hormonal parameters in 129 women w17 years of age with acne. Serum levels of androgens of ovarian and adrenal origin were measured. Menstrual cycle regularity, hirsutism, body mass index and ultrasonographic evaluation of ovaries were recorded. Raised levels of at least one androgen were evident in a majority of our patients. Only 19% of them had polycystic ovary syndrome. Hirsutism and acne severity correlated negatively with serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels ( pv0.05). No correlation between acne severity and hirsutism was found. In post-pubertal women, severity of acne seems to depend on peripheral hyperandrogenism, with a negative relationship between the acne severity and serum SHBG levels. We strongly recommend the evaluation of serum SHBG levels in women with acne in order to select patients who can have a better response to appropriate hormonal regimes. Key words: acne; polycystic ovary; ultrasound examination; sex hormone-binding globulin; sebocyte

Photodistributed telangiectasia following use of escitalopram.

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IL TRATTAMENTO DELLE DISLIPIDEMIE NELLA PREVENZIONE PRIMARIA DELLE MALATTIE CARDIOVASCOLARI: LE INDICAZIONI PER LA PRATICA CLINICA

Le dislipidemie rappresentano uno dei più importanti fattori causali della arteriosclerosi e delle sue complicanze d’organo, come l’infarto del miocardico, l’ictus e la vasculopatia periferica. Il loro appropriato trattamento rappresenta la base degli interventi di prevenzione primaria delle malattie cardiovascolari su base ischemica. In generale, per dislipidemia si intende una condizione clinica nella quale sono presenti alterazioni qualitative e/o quantitative dei lipidi e delle lipoproteine plasmatiche

Description of two measles outbreaks in the Lazio Region, Italy (2006-2007). Importance of pockets of low vaccine coverage in sustaining the infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the launch of the national plan for measles elimination, in Italy, immunization coverage remains suboptimal and outbreaks continue to occur. Two measles outbreaks, occurred in Lazio region during 2006-2007, were investigated to identify sources of infection, transmission routes, and assess operational implications for elimination of the disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were obtained from several sources, the routine infectious diseases surveillance system, field epidemiological investigations, and molecular genotyping of virus by the national reference laboratory.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall 449 cases were reported, sustained by two different stereotypes overlapping for few months. Serotype D4 was likely imported from Romania by a Roma/Sinti family and subsequently spread to the rest of the population. Serotype B3 was responsible for the second outbreak which started in a secondary school. Pockets of low vaccine coverage individuals (Roma/Sinti communities, high school students) facilitated the reintroduction of serotypes not endemic in Italy and facilitated the measles infection to spread.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Communities with low vaccine coverage represent a more serious public health threat than do sporadic susceptible individuals. The successful elimination of measles will require additional efforts to immunize low vaccine coverage population groups, including hard-to-reach individuals, adolescents, and young adults. An enhanced surveillance systems, which includes viral genotyping to document chains of transmission, is an essential tool for evaluating strategy to control and eliminate measles</p