Autism-friendly architecture from the outside in and the inside out: an explorative study based on autobiographies of autistic people

Researchers and designers each developed a particular vision on autism-friendly architecture. Because the basis of this vision is not always clear, questions arise about its meaning and value and about how it can be put to use. People with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum are central to these questions, yet risk to disappear from the picture. Refocusing the discourse about autism-friendly architecture on them was the aim of the explorative study reported here. Six autobiographies written by autistic (young) adults were analysed from two different viewpoints. First, concepts from design guidelines concerning autism-friendly architecture were confronted with fragments from these autobiographies. The second part of the analysis started from the autobiographies themselves. This analysis shows that concepts can be interpreted in multiple ways. They can reinforce but also counteract each other, thus asking for critical judgment. An open space is preferred by some autistic people because it affords having an overview, which increases predictability, and distancing oneself from others without being isolated. Others might like this space to be subdivided into several separate spaces, which affords a sense of structure or reduces sensory inputs present in one room. The six autobiographies provide a glimpse of autistic people’s world of experience. Analysing these is a first step in revealing what architecture can actually mean from their point of view. For them, the material environment has a prominent meaning that is, however, not always reducible to design guidelines. It offers them something to hold on to, relate to or structure their reality.     

Expression of the low-affinity p75 nerve growth factor receptor in the developing rat pituitary gland

We investigated, by means of in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled RNA probe, the expression of the low-affinity p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) in the developing pituitary primordium of the rat. In 13-day pc embryos, intense staining of p75 NGFR mRNA was present in the cytoplasm of all cells of Rathke's pouch. In day-17 pc embryos p75 NGFR expression was present primarily in the cells of the intermediate lobe. In the newborn rat pituitary only very weak staining was observed, predominantly in the intermediate lobe. In neural structures the staining at day 13 pc was comparable to that of day 17 pc. Since p75 expression is seen very early during pituitary development and declines during the time the expression of pituitary hormonal phenotypes are steadily increasing, we suggest that the p75 NGFR expression in Rathke's pouch may play a temporally defined role in the commitment rather than in the differentiation of the various pituitary cell types.     

Performance evaluation of indirect evaporative cooling using whole-building hygrothermal simulations

In an indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) installation the return air is cooled by adiabatic humidification. In an air/air heat exchanger this air cools down the supply air. This paper presents a simulation methodology focusing on the interaction between the thermal performance of an IEC system and the heat and moisture balance of the building where it is applied. The thermal effectiveness of an IEC system is first studied by measurements. It was found that the effectiveness is independent of the air inlet conditions. In the second part the influence of the ventilation rate, the indoor moisture production and the moisture buffering capacity on the thermal performance were evaluated using dynamic calculations with the multizone building simulation program TRNSYS. Increasing the indoor moisture production and lowering the ventilation rate both reduce the thermal performance of the system. Hygroscopic materials may ameliorate the applicability of IEC.     

Effect of amino acid level in the pig diet during growing and early finishing on growth response during the late finishing phase of lean meat type gilts

BACKGROUND: This experiment examined the influence of different amino acid levels during the growing and early finishing diet and the late finishing diet on growth performance and carcass quality of a lean meat type gilt. In a two by two factorial trial, 96 gilts were divided over four treatments. The two factors were (1) amino acid level in growing and early finishing and (2) amino acid level in late finishing. For the low amino acid diets we lowered the lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan levels by 20% and 30% in the growing and two finishing phases, respectively. RESULTS: Restricting amino acid levels in growing and early finishing led to a decreased growth rate but improved efficiency of amino acid use, which lasted into the subsequent phase. Pigs on a high amino acid diet in late finishing pigs were able to compensate to a large extent for amino acid restriction in growing and early finishing. Amino acid content in late finishing determined carcass quality. CONCLUSION: In the lean meat type gilts used in this experiment, restricting amino acid concentrations by 20% in the growing and 30% in the early finishing phase increased the growth rate and efficiency of growth in the subsequent late finishing phase. In order to obtain good carcass quality, it is crucial to provide the animals with a balanced diet during the late finishing phase. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assays of CFTR Function In Vitro,Ex Vivo and In Vivo

Cystic fibrosis, a multi-organ genetic disease, is characterized by abnormal function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, a chloride channel at the apical membrane of several epithelia. In recent years, therapeutic strategies have been developed to correct the CFTR defect. To evaluate CFTR function at baseline for diagnosis, or the efficacy of CFTR-restoring therapy, reliable tests are needed to measure CFTR function, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. In vitro techniques either directly or indirectly measure ion fluxes; direct measurement of ion fluxes and quenching of fluorescence in cell-based assays, change in transmembrane voltage or current in patch clamp or Ussing chamber, swelling of CFTR-containing organoids by secondary water influx upon CFTR activation. Several cell or tissue types can be used. Ex vivo and in vivo assays similarly evaluate current (intestinal current measurement) and membrane potential differences (nasal potential difference), on tissues from individual patients. In the sweat test, the most frequently used in vivo evaluation of CFTR function, chloride concentration or stimulated sweat rate can be directly measured. Here, we will describe the currently available bio-assays for quantitative evaluation of CFTR function, their indications, advantages and disadvantages, and correlation with clinical outcome measures.     

Screening of selected Asian spices for anti obesity-related bioactivities

The potential health effects of 30 spices, commonly used for daily consumption, were submitted to bioactivity screening with several anti-obesity related bioassays: adenosine A1 receptor binding, cannabinoid CB1 receptor binding, TNF-α and 3T3-L1 adipocytes differentiation induction. Sesame seed and red chilli exhibited high binding activity to the adenosine A1 receptor and nutmeg, mace, black pepper and turmeric to the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, while piment and turmeric showed high inhibition of TNF-α accumulation. Black onion seed proved to be the only spice with high 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation induction activity. Several well known major compounds found in these active spices were tested with the respective bioassays but did not show activity. Thus, it appears that other minor compounds or the synergistic effects of different constituents are responsible for the observed activity.     

Encapsulation for preservation of functionality and targeted delivery of bioactive food components

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of food products containing bioactive components with a health promoting or disease preventing effect. Bioactive food components can be divided into bioactive molecules and bioactive living cells (probiotics). Both bioactive molecules and bioactive living cells may benefit from encapsulation since many report low survival of bioactivity due to adverse effects of (i) processing and storage in the products that serve as vehicles and due to (ii) deleterious circumstances during transport through the gastrointestinal tract. For probiotics, it may even be mandatory to apply protection by encapsulation as the survival of probiotics in traditional products such as in dairy foods and powdered formulas is low. Encapsulation promotes not only viability but more importantly also protects the functionality, and may facilitate targeted release in specific parts of the gut. Different encapsulation approaches qualify for protection of bioactive food components. The most commonly applied technologies are emulsification, coacervation, spray drying, spray cooling, freeze drying, fluid bed coating and extrusion technologies, but also more expensive techniques such as liposome encapsulation, and cyclodextrin encapsulation are used. When targeted release is desired in combination with adequate protection in the product, it is essential to realize which processes in the human gut can be applied to facilitate targeted release. The majority of systems that have been used in the past were either sensitive to mechanical stress, pH, or transport time variations in the gut. More recent systems take advantages of the different enzyme concentrations associated with variations in the composition of the microbiota in different parts of the gut. The latter system should receive more attention in the food industry as it allows for precise release of bioactive food components. The principle of targeted release by enzymatic activity of the microbiota is compatible with many carbohydrates that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS).     

Expert Bias and Partisanship: A Comparison Between Australia and the Netherlands.

Adversarial systems and court-centered systems approach the use of expert evidence very differently. This article focuses on the perspectives held by judges and other process participants on bias and partisanship in expert reporting in Australia and the Netherlands. It aims to provide insight into the origins of, and reasons for, bias and partisanship, focusing on psychological and psychiatric expertise. The first part of the article explains differences between adversarial and court-centered systems with respect to the involvement of experts. The second part examines judicial attitudes with respect to partisanship and bias and the way in which these issues are dealt with in the two systems. The article explores how these systems provide safeguards against partisanship by the experts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)