Universal Design and Assistive Technology in Communication and Information Technologies: Alternatives or Complements?

Universal design and assistive technology present advantages and disadvantages in accommodating the needs of people with disabilities. The best solution may be a combination of the two, using universal design wherever possible and commercially practical and using assistive technologies wherever it is necessary or provides sufficient additional advantage to the user. Three approaches are discussed for the individual who is unable to interact with their world: change the individual, provide them with tools they can use, or change the environment. Examples of each are illustrated using personal workstations and shared, public, and encountered systems. The final decision may rest on commercial practicality, and several new technologies are explored. Ultimately, we need to continue to move forward both on the universal design and the assistive technology fronts if we are to address the needs of people with disabilities and those who are aging.     

Auditory-perceptual analysis of voice in abused children and adolescents

IntroductionAbused children and adolescents are exposed to factors that can trigger vocal changes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the prevalence of vocal changes in abused children and adolescents, through auditory-perceptual analysis of voice and the study of the association between vocal changes, communication disorders, psychiatric disorders, and global functioning.MethodsThis was an observational and transversal study of 136 children and adolescents (mean age 10.2 years, 78 male) who were assessed by a multidisciplinary team specializing in abused populations. Speech evaluation was performed (involving the aspects of oral and written communication, as well as auditory-perceptual analysis of voice, through the GRBASI scale). Psychiatric diagnosis was performed in accordance with the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria and by applying the K-SADS; global functioning was evaluated by means of the C-GAS scale.ResultsThe prevalence of vocal change was 67.6%; of the patients with vocal changes, 92.3% had other communication disorders. Voice changes were associated with a loss of seven points in global functioning, and there was no association between vocal changes and psychiatric diagnosis.ConclusionThe prevalence of vocal change was greater than that observed in the general population, with significant associations with communication disorders and global functioning. The results demonstrate that the situations these children experience can intensify the triggering of abusive vocal behaviors and consequently, of vocal changes.     

Physical therapists’ perceptions and experiences about barriers and facilitators of therapeutic patient-centred relationships during outpatient rehabilitation: a qualitative study

Background

Over recent years there has been a paradigm shift towards a patient-centred biopsychosocial care model in physical therapy. This new paradigm features a growing interest in understanding the contextual factors that influence the patient's experience of disease, pain and recovery. This includes generalized consensus regarding the importance of establishing a therapeutic relationship that is centred on the patient.

A Path Analysis of Latino Parental,Teenager and Cultural Variables in Teenagers' Sexual Attitudes,Norms, Self-Efficacy,and Sexual Intentions

OBJECTIVE:

to test a theoretical model based on the Parent-Based Expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior examining relation between selected parental, teenager and cultural variables and Latino teenagers'' intentions to engage in sexual behavior.

METHOD:

a cross-sectional correlational design based on a secondary data analysis of 130 Latino parent and teenager dyads.

RESULTS:

regression and path analysis procedures were used to test seven hypotheses and the results demonstrated partial support for the model. Parent familism and knowledge about sex were significantly associated with parents'' attitudes toward sexual communication with their teenagers. Parent Latino acculturation was negatively associated with parents'' self-efficacy toward sexual communication with their teenagers and positevely associated with parents'' subjective norms toward sexual communication with their teenagers. Teenager knowledge about sex was significantly associated with higher levels of teenagers'' attitudes and subjective norms about sexual communication with parents. Only the predictor of teenagers'' attitudes toward having sex in the next 3 months was significantly associated with teenagers'' intentions to have sex in the next 3 months.

CONCLUSION:

the results of this study provide important information to guide future research that can inform development of interventions to prevent risky teenager sexual behavior among Latinos.     

Talking about end-of-life care: Perspectives of nursing home residents

The purpose of the paper is to describe how residents express preferences for end-of-life (EOL) care. For this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured interviews and completed conventional content analysis to describe how residents’ expressed their preferences for care at the end of life. Sixteen residents from four nursing homes (NH) in southeastern Pennsylvania participated in this study. Residents were on average 88 years old, primarily non White, and widowed. Three key domains emerged from the analyses: Preferences for Today, Anticipating the End of My Life, and Preferences for Final Days. Residents linked their everyday living and EOL preferences by using ‘if and then’ logic to convey anticipation and readiness related to EOL. These findings suggest new strategies to start discussions of EOL care preferences with NH residents.     

无烟型颈关节艾灸箱的应用与设计

艾灸箱由箱体、活动盖板、铁丝防护网、虑烟罩等部分组成。箱体为下部开口的中空体,箱体的上部有翻转的活动盖板,箱体前部侧壁上开有与人体颈部相对应的第一缺口,箱体后部的侧壁上开有与人体肩部相对应的第二缺口,箱体内中部装有水平的防护网,用来承托艾条和艾灰,虑烟罩包裹箱体,用于虑烟。此灸箱可对人体颈部施灸,艾灸效果好且舒适无烟。     

Anti‐high mobility group box 1 monoclonal antibody ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an established inflammatory mediator when released from cells. Recent studies have implicated extracellular HMGB1 in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether HMGB1 could be a therapeutic target for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this study, an anti‐HMGB1 monoclonal antibody was injected intraperitoneally into a mouse model of EAE. We also measured serum cytokines levels in EAE and anti‐HMGB1 monoclonal antibody‐treated EAE. As a result, intraperitoneal injection of an anti‐HMGB1 monoclonal antibody ameliorated the clinical and pathological severity of EAE and attenuated interleukin‐17 up‐regulation in serum. In conclusion, HMGB1 is involved in EAE pathogenesis and could trigger inflammation in the central nervous system. The novel aspect of this study is the demonstration that anti‐HMGB1 ameliorates EAE. HMGB1 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for multiple sclerosis.