Gestualité humaine et langues des signes : entre continuum et variations

International audienceIn this article we propose to take another look at the notion of gestural continuum developed by Kendon (1988) by exploring the bases connecting co-speech gestural language to both emerging and institutionalized signed languages (SL). First, we place gestural continuum back in perspective with a definition of pantomime including its historical dimension and its semiological specificities. We point out formal and functional distinctions between pantomime and the iconic structures of SL. Then we make a case for the irrelevance of including pantomime in the continuum. The second part of our article presents the way the main highly iconic structures (HIS) work in SL. We illustrate our remarks with examples from French, Brazilian and Mauritian sign languages. The analysis we propose demonstrates how these structures are organized compositionally and how they should be included in Kendon's continuum instead of pantomime. Finally we approach reflection on the continuum by the analysis of emerging SL developed by Deaf individuals interacting with an exclusively hearing environment. This analysis enables us to reinforce the existence of certain formal and functional points that human gestural language, highly iconic structures and SL have in common.Dans cet article, nous proposons de revisiter la notion de continuum gestuel développée par Kendon (1988) en explorant les fondements qui lient la gestuelle coverbale aux langues des signes, que celles-ci soient en cours d'émergence ou déjà institutionnalisées. Dans une première partie, le continuum gestuel est remis en perspective par une définition de la pantomime prenant en compte sa dimension historique et ses spécificités sémiologiques. Nous mettons en évidence les distinctions - formelle et fonctionnelle - entre la pantomime et les structures iconiques des langues des signes et argumentons par la suite sur l'absence de pertinence à inclure la pantomime dans le continuum. La deuxième partie de notre article présente le fonctionnement des principales structures de grande iconicité (SGI) des langues des signes. Nous illustrons notre propos par des exemples en langues des signes française, brésilienne et mauricienne. L'analyse proposée démontre comment ces structures s'organisent de façon compositionnelle et comment elles devraient être incluses dans le continuum de Kendon, en lieu et place de la pantomime. Enfin, la réflexion autour du continuum est abordée par l'analyse des LS émergentes développées par les individus sourds interagissant avec un environnement exclusivement entendant. Cette analyse permet de renforcer l'existence de certains points communs (formels et fonctionnels) entre gestualité humaine, structures de grande iconicité et langues des signes

La création gestuelle des individus sourds isolés

L’analyse linguistique des créations gestuelles mises en place par des individus sourds ne faisant pas partie d’une communauté sourde et vivant exclusivement en entourage entendant témoigne du fait que des êtres humains, privés d’un accès direct à un modèle linguistique établi, sont capables de construire, par eux-mêmes, un système de communication gestuel linguistiquement organisé. Celui-ci, basé sur le canal visuo-gestuel, semble satisfaire les fonctions centrales présentes dans le langage humain. Tout d’abord, nous dégagerons ici certains aspects structuraux présents dans un système langagier gestuel, illustrés par des exemples d’un corpus vidéo d’un locuteur sourd. Ensuite, nous tenterons d’élucider les facteurs internes (processus cognitifs) et externes (intégration sociale et influence du milieu) qui favorisent la construction de ces systèmes langagiers. Dans une perspective sémiogénétique, nous verrons que ces systèmes, placés dans une dynamique évolutive, seront à la base de la constitution des langues des signes standardisées. Nous terminons en discutant la notion de ‘création’ d’une langue en l’absence d’input linguistique.Isolated deaf people with no contact to conventional sign language are able to create, by themselves, elaborate systems of communication exhibiting language-like structures in order to communicate with their hearing environment. These systems, based on the visual-gestural canal seem to fulfill the central functions of human language. In the present study, we investigate some general principles of language creation. First of all, certain structural aspects of these systems are highlighted through a video database elaborated with an isolated deaf speaker. Further, internal (cognitive processes) and external (environmental) features of language creation are examined. From a semiogenetic viewpoint, these gestural systems can be seen as a starting point for conventional sign languages. Finally, creative mechanisms without input from a conventional language are discussed

EDIFICIO [Material gráfico]

Copia digital. Madrid : Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, 201

Collecte des langues des signes des sourds de Soure (Île de Marajó): un parcours méthodologique (2008/2013), les enjeux sociaux et politiques de la non reconnaissance des langues des signes émergentes pratiquées par ces sourds

Le présent article est le résultat d’une expérience de collecte des langues des signes (LS) pratiquées par les sourds de Soure/Île de Marajó-PA, entre les années de 2008 et 2013, selon l’approche linguistique des LS de l’Université Vincennes Saint Denis – Paris 8, où j’ai fait un stage postdoctoral sur la méthodologie de la collecte en LS. Dans une première étape, nous faisons un aperçu historique dont le parcours illustre la motivation sur notre choix thématique et comment nos observations empiriques ont évolués vers un travail plus structuré. Cette recherche vise ainsi exposer les acheminements méthodologiques de la collecte des LS des sourds de Soure, d’après un regard social et politique de cette communication gestuelle et visuelle intrinsèquement ancrée dans leur culture.MOTS CLÉ : Langues des signes émergentes. Méthodologie. Collecte. Culture

Cell distribution after intracoronary bone marrow stem cell delivery in damaged and undamaged myocardium: implications for clinical trials

International audienceABSTRACT : INTRODUCTION : Early randomized clinical trials of autologous bone marrow cardiac stem cell therapy have reported contradictory results highlighting the need for a better evaluation of protocol designs. This study was designed to quantify and compare whole body and heart cell distribution after intracoronary or peripheral intravenous injection of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells in a porcine acute myocardial infarction model with late reperfusion. METHODS : Myocardial infarction was induced using balloon inflation in the left coronary artery in domestic pigs. At seven days post-myocardial infarction, 1 x 10(8) autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells were labeled with fluorescent marker and/or 99mTc radiotracer, and delivered using intracoronary or peripheral intravenous injection (leg vein). RESULTS : Scintigraphic analyses and Upsilon-emission radioactivity counting of harvested organs showed a significant cell fraction retained within the heart after intracoronary injection (6 +/- 1.7% of injected radioactivity at 24 hours), whereas following peripheral intravenous cell injection, no cardiac homing was observed at 24 hours and cells were mainly detected within the lungs. Importantly, no difference was observed in the percentage of retained cells within the myocardium in the presence or absence of myocardial infarction. Histological evaluation did not show arterial occlusion in both animal groups and confirmed the presence of bone marrow mononuclear cells within the injected myocardium area. CONCLUSIONS : Intravenous bone marrow mononuclear cell injection was ineffective to target myocardium. Myocardial cell distribution following intracoronary injection did not depend on myocardial infarction presence, a factor that could be useful for cardiac cell therapy in patients with chronic heart failure of non-ischemic origin or with ischemic myocardium without myocardial infarction

Experimental Study of electron acceleration by plasma beat-waves with Nd lasers

International audienceWe have observed the acceleration of electrons by a beat-wave generated in a deuterium plasma by two Nd-YAG and Nd-YLF laser wavelengths. Electrons injected at an energy of 3.3 MeV are observed to be accelerated up to 4.7 MeV after the plasma. The energy gain is compatible with a peak electric field of the order of 1.2 GV/m. The experiment has been performed with different injection energies, from 2.5 to 3.3 MeV, with different plasma dimensions, and with different laser intensitie

Automatic grading of intervertebral disc degeneration in lumbar dog spines

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc degeneration is frequent in dogs and can be associated with symptoms and functional impairments. The degree of disc degeneration can be assessed on T2-weighted MRI scans using the Pfirrmann classification scheme, which was developed for the human spine. However, it could also be used to quantify the effectiveness of disc regeneration therapies. We developed and tested a deep learning tool able to automatically score the degree of disc degeneration in dog spines, starting from an existing model designed to process images of human patients. METHODS: MRI midsagittal scans of 5991 lumbar discs of dog patients were collected and manually evaluated with the Pfirrmann scheme and a modified scheme with transitional grades. A deep learning model was trained to classify the disc images based on the two schemes and tested by comparing its performance with the model processing human images. RESULTS: The determination of the Pfirrmann grade showed sensitivities higher than 83% for all degeneration grades, except for grade 5, which is rare in dog spines, and high specificities. In comparison, the correspondent human model had slightly higher sensitivities, on average 90% versus 85% for the canine model. The modified scheme with the fractional grades did not show significant advantages with respect to the original Pfirrmann grades. CONCLUSIONS: The novel tool was able to accurately and reliably score the severity of disc degeneration in dogs, although with a performance inferior than that of the human model. The tool has potential in the clinical management of disc degeneration in canine patients as well as in longitudinal studies evaluating regenerative therapies in dogs used as animal models of human disorders

Leaping the hurdles in developing regenerative treatments for the intervertebral disc from preclinical to clinical

Chronic back and neck pain is a prevalent disability, often caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Because current treatments for this condition are less than satisfactory, a great deal of effort is being applied to develop new solutions, including regenerative strategies. However, the path from initial promising idea to clinical use is frought with many hurdles to overcome. Many of the keys to success are not necessarily linked to science or innovation. Successful translation to clinic will also rely on planning and awareness of the hurdles. It will be essential to plan your entire path to clinic from the outset and to do this with a multidisciplinary team. Take advise early on regulatory aspects and focus on generating the proof required to satisfy regulatory approval. Scientific demonstration and societal benefits are important, but translation cannot occur without involving commercial parties, which are instrumental to support expensive clinical trials. This will only be possible when intellectual property can be protected sufficiently to support a business model. In this manner, commercial, societal, medical, and scientific partners can work together to ultimately improve patient health. Based on literature surveys and experiences of the co‐authors, this opinion paper presents this pathway, highlights the most prominent issues and hopefully will aid in your own transational endeavors