Toward Low-Cost Highly Portable Tactile Displays with Shape Memory Alloys

This paper presents a new concept of low-cost, high-resolution, lightweight, compact and highly portable tactile display. The prototype consists of an array of 8 × 8 upward/downward independent moveable pins based on shape memory alloy (SMA) technology. Each tactile actuator consists of an antagonist arranged pair of miniature NiTi SMA helical springs capable of developing a 300 mN pull force at 1.5 Hz bandwidth by using simple forced-air convection. The proposed concept allows the development of 200 g weight tactile instruments of compact dimensions which can be easily carried by a visually disabled user. A detailed technical description of the SMA active element, tactile actuator and tactile display is presented and discussed. Preliminary perceptual results confirm the effectiveness of the display on information transmission

Tableaux accessibles dans les documents numériques THEMATIQUE -Informatique -Robotique -Imagerie

National audienceAccessibility of tables on websites for Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) is not optimal with screen readers which are not always effective for the recovery of visual information (2D). Actual Web/Multimedia technologies are not taking in account the difference of the visual perception with respect to the vocal perception which is linear. This paper analyses the difficulties for accessing to spatial information with the existing recommendations for the conception of accessible (for all) websites. Different solutions to facilitate accessible table creation are presented.L'accessibilité des tableaux sur les sites web pour les personnes présentant une incapacité visuelle (PPIV) n'est pas optimale avec les lecteurs d'écran qui ne sont pas toujours performants pour la restitution d'informations visuelles (2D). Les technologies web/multimédia actuelles ne prennent pas en compte le décalage de la perception visuelle par rapport à la perception vocale qui est linéaire. Ce papier analyse les difficultés d'accès à l'information spatiale avec les recommandations existantes pour la conception des sites web accessibles à tous. Différentes solutions pour faciliter la création des tableaux accessibles sont présentées

Immune and Genetic Signatures of Breast Carcinomas Triggering Anti-Yo-Associated Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Degeneration

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) with anti-Yo antibodies is a cancer-related autoimmune disease directed against neural antigens expressed by tumor cells. A putative trigger of the immune tolerance breakdown is genetic alteration of Yo antigens. We aimed to identify the tumors' genetic and immune specificities involved in Yo-PCD pathogenesis. METHODS: Using clinicopathologic data, immunofluorescence (IF) imaging, and whole-transcriptome analysis, 22 breast cancers (BCs) associated with Yo-PCD were characterized in terms of oncologic characteristics, genetic alteration of Yo antigens, differential gene expression profiles, and morphofunctional specificities of their in situ antitumor immunity by comparing them with matched control BCs. RESULTS: Yo-PCD BCs were invasive carcinoma of no special type, which early metastasized to lymph nodes. They overexpressed human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) but were hormone receptor negative. All Yo-PCD BCs carried at least 1 genetic alteration (variation or gain in copy number) on CDR2L, encoding the main Yo antigen that was found aberrantly overexpressed in Yo-PCD BCs. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes found 615 upregulated and 54 downregulated genes in Yo-PCD BCs compared with HER2-driven control BCs without PCD. Ontology enrichment analysis found significantly upregulated adaptive immune response pathways in Yo-PCD BCs. IF imaging confirmed an intense immune infiltration with an overwhelming predominance of immunoglobulin G-plasma cells. DISCUSSION: These data confirm the role of genetic alterations of Yo antigens in triggering the immune tolerance breakdown but also outline a specific biomolecular profile in Yo-PCD BCs, suggesting a cancer-specific pathogenesis

Inhibition of Chondrosarcoma Growth by mTOR Inhibitor in an In Vivo Syngeneic Rat Model

BACKGROUND: Chondrosarcomas are the second most frequent primary malignant type of bone tumor. No effective systemic treatment has been identified in advanced or adjuvant phases for chondrosarcoma. The aim of the present study was to determine the antitumor effects of doxorubicin and everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor on chondrosarcoma progression. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Doxorubin and/or everolimus were tested in vivo as single agent or in combination in the rat orthotopic Schwarm chondrosarcoma model, in macroscopic phase, as well as with microscopic residual disease. Response to everolimus and/or doxorubicin was evaluated using chondrosarcoma volume evolution (MRI). Histological response was evaluated with % of tumor necrosis, tumor proliferation index, metabolism quantification analysis between the treated and control groups. Statistical analyses were performed using chi square, Fishers exact test. Doxorubicin single agent has no effect of tumor growth as compared to no treatment; conversely, everolimus single agent significantly inhibited tumor progression in macroscopic tumors with no synergistic additive effect with doxorubicin. Everolimus inhibited chondrosarcoma proliferation as evaluated by Ki67 expression did not induce the apoptosis of tumor cells; everolimus reduced Glut1 and 4EBP1 expression. Importantly when given in rats with microscopic residual diseases, in a pseudo neoadjuvant setting, following R1 resection of the implanted tumor, everolimus significantly delayed or prevented tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: MTOR inhibitor everolimus blocks cell proliferation, Glut1 expression and HIF1a expression, and prevents in vivo chondrosarcoma tumor progression in both macroscopic and in adjuvant phase post R1 resection. Taken together, our preclinical data indicate that mTOR inhibitor may be effective as a single agent in treating chondrosarcoma patients. A clinical trial evaluating mTOr inhibitor as neo-adjuvant and adjuvant therapy in chondrosarcoma patients is being constructed

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

International audienc

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

International audienc

Tableaux accessibles dans les documents numériques THEMATIQUE -Informatique -Robotique -Imagerie

National audienceAccessibility of tables on websites for Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) is not optimal with screen readers which are not always effective for the recovery of visual information (2D). Actual Web/Multimedia technologies are not taking in account the difference of the visual perception with respect to the vocal perception which is linear. This paper analyses the difficulties for accessing to spatial information with the existing recommendations for the conception of accessible (for all) websites. Different solutions to facilitate accessible table creation are presented.L'accessibilité des tableaux sur les sites web pour les personnes présentant une incapacité visuelle (PPIV) n'est pas optimale avec les lecteurs d'écran qui ne sont pas toujours performants pour la restitution d'informations visuelles (2D). Les technologies web/multimédia actuelles ne prennent pas en compte le décalage de la perception visuelle par rapport à la perception vocale qui est linéaire. Ce papier analyse les difficultés d'accès à l'information spatiale avec les recommandations existantes pour la conception des sites web accessibles à tous. Différentes solutions pour faciliter la création des tableaux accessibles sont présentées

Towards a cognitive model of human mobility: an investigation of tactile perception for use in mobility device

This paper reports the results of the first three in a series of experiments on tactile perception which form part of a larger project on tactile perceptions and spatial representations and the design of tactile interfaces for mobility devices for blind, partially sighted and deafblind people. The results indicate the potential of tactile interfaces, including to support environmental exploration and mobility. The participants showed reasonably good ability to determine the direction of motion of an arrow, with best recognition rates in the up and right directions. They showed reasonably good ability to use a tactile interface to detect and avoid obstacles after a very short learning period and more limited ability to learn and remember an environmental representation using information from a tactile interface and walking through the environment without specific instructions