Software libre de reconocimiento de billetes para personas en situación de discapacidad visual

Los sistemas de reconocimiento de billetes para asistencia a personas con discapacidad visual presentan un alto grado de complejidad debido a la gran variedad de situaciones por resolver. El sistema descripto en el presente proyecto puede distinguir las denominaciones de billetes argentinos en diferentes posiciones, escalas y incluso en forma parcial. Los objetivos son: desarrollar un programa de software capaz de identificar billetes argentinos, su denominación y comunicar por medios auditivos esa clasificación; mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad visual; favorecer a la integración de las personas con discapacidad visual a la sociedad; aportar a la sociedad nuevas herramientas que ayuden a la integración de sus individuos; impulsar el desarrollo de aplicaciones de software libre y colaborativas; generar una aplicación de software accesible desde los aspectos de diseño, costo, libertad de uso, adaptabilidad, mantenibilidad en el tiempo, reusabilidad, seguridad y precisión. Actualmente se cuenta con prototipos para el reconocimiento de billetes y funcionalidades básicas en diferentes plataformas.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Software libre de reconocimiento de billetes para personas en situación de discapacidad visual

Los sistemas de reconocimiento de billetes para asistencia a personas con discapacidad visual presentan un alto grado de complejidad debido a la gran variedad de situaciones por resolver. El sistema descripto en el presente proyecto puede distinguir las denominaciones de billetes argentinos en diferentes posiciones, escalas y incluso en forma parcial. Los objetivos son: desarrollar un programa de software capaz de identificar billetes argentinos, su denominación y comunicar por medios auditivos esa clasificación; mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad visual; favorecer a la integración de las personas con discapacidad visual a la sociedad; aportar a la sociedad nuevas herramientas que ayuden a la integración de sus individuos; impulsar el desarrollo de aplicaciones de software libre y colaborativas; generar una aplicación de software accesible desde los aspectos de diseño, costo, libertad de uso, adaptabilidad, mantenibilidad en el tiempo, reusabilidad, seguridad y precisión. Actualmente se cuenta con prototipos para el reconocimiento de billetes y funcionalidades básicas en diferentes plataformas.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Software libre de reconocimiento de billetes para personas en situación de discapacidad visual

Los sistemas de reconocimiento de billetes para asistencia a personas con discapacidad visual presentan un alto grado de complejidad debido a la gran variedad de situaciones por resolver. El sistema descripto en el presente proyecto puede distinguir las denominaciones de billetes argentinos en diferentes posiciones, escalas y incluso en forma parcial. Los objetivos son: desarrollar un programa de software capaz de identificar billetes argentinos, su denominación y comunicar por medios auditivos esa clasificación; mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad visual; favorecer a la integración de las personas con discapacidad visual a la sociedad; aportar a la sociedad nuevas herramientas que ayuden a la integración de sus individuos; impulsar el desarrollo de aplicaciones de software libre y colaborativas; generar una aplicación de software accesible desde los aspectos de diseño, costo, libertad de uso, adaptabilidad, mantenibilidad en el tiempo, reusabilidad, seguridad y precisión. Actualmente se cuenta con prototipos para el reconocimiento de billetes y funcionalidades básicas en diferentes plataformas.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Notulae to the Italian flora of algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens: 7

In this contribution, new data concerning algae, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the algae genus Chara, the bryophyte genera Cephalozia, Conardia, Conocephalum, Didymodon, Sphagnum, Tetraplodon, and Tortula, the fungal genera Endophyllum, Gymnosporangium, Microbotryum, Phragmidium, and Pluteus, and the lichen genera Candelariella, Cladonia, Flavoplaca, Lichenothelia, Peltigera, Placolecis, Rinodina, Scytinium, and Solenopsora

Integrating Palliative Care Into the Care of Neurocritically Ill Patients: A Report From the Improving Palliative Care in the ICU Project Advisory Board and the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

OBJECTIVES: To describe unique features of neurocritical illness that are relevant to provision of high-quality palliative care; to discuss key prognostic aids and their limitations for neurocritical illnesses; to review challenges and strategies for establishing realistic goals of care for patients in the neuro-ICU; and to describe elements of best practice concerning symptom management, limitation of life support, and organ donation for the neurocritically ill. DATA SOURCES: A search of PubMed and MEDLINE was conducted from inception through January 2015 for all English-language articles using the term palliative care, supportive care, end-of-life care, withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy, limitation of life support, prognosis, or goals of care together with neurocritical care, neurointensive care, neurological, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, or brain injury. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: We reviewed the existing literature on delivery of palliative care in the neurointensive care unit setting, focusing on challenges and strategies for establishing realistic and appropriate goals of care, symptom management, organ donation, and other considerations related to use and limitation of life-sustaining therapies for neurocritically ill patients. Based on review of these articles and the experiences of our interdisciplinary/interprofessional expert advisory board, this report was prepared to guide critical care staff, palliative care specialists, and others who practice in this setting. CONCLUSIONS: Most neurocritically ill patients and their families face the sudden onset of devastating cognitive and functional changes that challenge clinicians to provide patient-centered palliative care within a complex and often uncertain prognostic environment. Application of palliative care principles concerning symptom relief, goal setting, and family emotional support will provide clinicians a framework to address decision making at a time of crisis that enhances patient/family autonomy and clinician professionalism

Notulae to the Italian flora of algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens: 6

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the bryophyte genera Barbula, Fissidens, Gymnostomum, Jungermannia, Riccia, and Scapania, the fungal genera Hyalopsora and Urocystis and the lichen genera Arthothelium, Chaenotheca, Lepraria, Lobaria, Miriquidica, Parmelia, Rinodina, Solenopsora, Thelopsis and Xanthoparmelia

Notulae to the Italian flora of algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens

In this contribution, new data concerning bryophytes, fungi, and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records and confirmations for the bryophyte genera Barbula, Fissidens, Gymnostomum, Jungermannia, Riccia, and Scapania, the fungal genera Hyalopsora and Urocystis and the lichen genera Arthothelium, Chaenotheca, Lepraria, Lobaria, Miriquidica, Parmelia, Rinodina, Solenopsora, Thelopsis and Xanthoparmelia

Integrating Palliative Care Into the PICU

ObjectiveThis review highlights benefits that patients, families and clinicians can expect to realize when palliative care is intentionally incorporated into the PICU.Data sourcesWe searched the MEDLINE database from inception to January 2014 for English-language articles using the terms "palliative care" or "end of life care" or "supportive care" and "pediatric intensive care." We also hand-searched reference lists and author files and relevant tools on the Center to Advance Palliative Care website.Study selectionTwo authors (physicians with experience in pediatric intensive care and palliative care) made final selections.Data extractionWe critically reviewed the existing data and tools to identify strategies for incorporating palliative care into the PICU.Data synthesisThe Improving Palliative Care in the ICU Advisory Board used data and experience to address key questions relating to: pain and symptom management, enhancing quality of life, communication and decision-making, length of stay, sites of care, and grief and bereavement.ConclusionsPalliative care should begin at the time of a potentially life-limiting diagnosis and continue throughout the disease trajectory, regardless of the expected outcome. Although the PICU is often used for short term postoperative stabilization, PICU clinicians also care for many chronically ill children with complex underlying conditions and others receiving intensive care for prolonged periods. Integrating palliative care delivery into the PICU is rapidly becoming the standard for high quality care of critically ill children. Interdisciplinary ICU staff can take advantage of the growing resources for continuing education in pediatric palliative care principles and interventions

Palliative care in the ICU: relief of pain, dyspnea, and thirst—A report from the IPAL-ICU Advisory Board

PurposePain, dyspnea, and thirst are three of the most prevalent, intense, and distressing symptoms of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. In this report, the interdisciplinary Advisory Board of the Improving Palliative Care in the ICU (IPAL-ICU) Project brings together expertise in both critical care and palliative care along with current information to address challenges in assessment and management.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive review of literature focusing on intensive care and palliative care research related to palliation of pain, dyspnea, and thirst.ResultsEvidence-based methods to assess pain are the enlarged 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for ICU patients able to self-report and the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool or Behavior Pain Scale for patients who cannot report symptoms verbally or non-verbally. The Respiratory Distress Observation Scale is the only known behavioral scale for assessment of dyspnea, and thirst is evaluated by patient self-report using an 0-10 NRS. Opioids remain the mainstay for pain management, and all available intravenous opioids, when titrated to similar pain intensity end points, are equally effective. Dyspnea is treated (with or without invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation) by optimizing the underlying etiological condition, patient positioning and, sometimes, supplemental oxygen. Several oral interventions are recommended to alleviate thirst. Systematized improvement efforts addressing symptom management and assessment can be implemented in ICUs.ConclusionsRelief of symptom distress is a key component of critical care for all ICU patients, regardless of condition or prognosis. Evidence-based approaches for assessment and treatment together with well-designed work systems can help ensure comfort and related favorable outcomes for the critically ill