67 research outputs found
Parents\u27 Perspectives on Community Integration and Social Inclusion of Children with Autism
The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to examine parents\u27 perspectives on community integration and social inclusion of their elementary and middle school age children with autism and developmental cognitive disabilities. The information obtained addresses the research question: How can I as a teacher help parents with community integration and social inclusion of their children? The data was collected through four face-to-face interviews. All of the participants\u27 children have developmental disabilities of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as cognitive delays and communication disabilities. Four themes emerged from the data; (a) what is working, (b) what is challenging, (c) hopes and dreams, and (d) how to get there. The findings reflected that the participants\u27 belief that their children need to develop skills targeted to increase their success in social inclusion and integration into the community. The data fUrther indicated that community outings would be less stressful for the parents if there were more community awareness of autism and more tolerance of the behaviors associated with the disability. There is a great need for assistance for the parents while out in the community. These conclusions led to recommendations in the areas of establishing routines, increased autism awareness, and more assistance provided to the families
Primary synovial chondromatosis: an elemental investigation of a rare skeletal pathology
Background: Primary synovial chondromatosis (PSC) is a rare idiopathic pathology characterized by the formation of osseocartilaginous nodules within synovial joints, tendons, or bursae. The mineralization pattern of PSC nodules is poorly understood and has yet to be investigated using elemental analysis. Mapping this pattern could elucidate the progression of the disease.
Materials and methods: PSC nodules discovered during dissection of a formalin fixed donor were analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy paired with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to quantify calcium and phosphorus levels to distinguish mineralized components from cartilage, indicated by increased carbon and oxygen concentrations.
Results: Nine nodules with average dimensions 1.76cm x 1.25cm were identified in the semimembranosus bursa. SEM-EDS demonstrated increased calcium phosphate levels in nodular cores, while outer margins contained primarily carbon and oxygen. Quantification of these elements revealed nodular peripheries to contain 68.0% carbon, 30.2% oxygen, 0.8% calcium, and 1.0% phosphate, while cores were comprised of 38.1% carbon, 42.1% oxygen, 14.1% calcium, and 5.7% phosphate.
Conclusions: Nodules were found to have mineralized cores embedded within a cartilaginous matrix. This pattern suggests disease progression is facilitated by endochondral ossification, opening the potential for new therapeutic techniques
New Family of Robust 2D Topological Insulators in van der Waals Heterostructures
We predict a new family of robust two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators
in van der Waals heterostructures comprising graphene and chalcogenides BiTeX
(X=Cl, Br and I). The layered structures of both constituent materials produce
a naturally smooth interface that is conducive to proximity induced new
topological states. First principles calculations reveal intrinsic
topologically nontrivial bulk energy gaps as large as 70-80 meV, which can be
further enhanced up to 120 meV by compression. The strong spin-orbit coupling
in BiTeX has a significant influence on the graphene Dirac states, resulting in
the topologically nontrivial band structure, which is confirmed by calculated
nontrivial Z2 index and an explicit demonstration of metallic edge states. Such
heterostructures offer an unique Dirac transport system that combines the 2D
Dirac states from graphene and 1D Dirac edge states from the topological
insulator, and it offers new ideas for innovative device designs
Moire superlattice effects in graphene/boron-nitride van der Waals heterostructures
Van der Waals heterostructures of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride
feature a moir\'e superlattice for graphene's Dirac electrons. Here, we review
the effects generated by this superlattice, including a specific miniband
structure featuring gaps and secondary Dirac points, and a fractal spectrum of
magnetic minibands known as Hofstadter's butterfly.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figure
Spatio-Temporal Progression of Grey and White Matter Damage Following Contusion Injury in Rat Spinal Cord
Cellular mechanisms of secondary damage progression following spinal cord injury remain unclear. We have studied the extent of tissue damage from 15 min to 10 weeks after injury using morphological and biochemical estimates of lesion volume and surviving grey and white matter. This has been achieved by semi-quantitative immunocytochemical methods for a range of cellular markers, quantitative counts of white matter axonal profiles in semi-thin sections and semi-quantitative Western blot analysis, together with behavioural tests (BBB scores, ledged beam, random rung horizontal ladder and DigiGait™ analysis). We have developed a new computer-controlled electronic impactor based on a linear motor that allows specification of the precise nature, extent and timing of the impact. Initial (15 min) lesion volumes showed very low variance (1.92±0.23 mm3, mean±SD, n = 5). Although substantial tissue clearance continued for weeks after injury, loss of grey matter was rapid and complete by 24 hours, whereas loss of white matter extended up to one week. No change was found between one and 10 weeks after injury for almost all morphological and biochemical estimates of lesion size or behavioural methods. These results suggest that previously reported apparent ongoing injury progression is likely to be due, to a large extent, to clearance of tissue damaged by the primary impact rather than continuing cell death. The low variance of the impactor and the comprehensive assessment methods described in this paper provide an improved basis on which the effects of potential treatment regimes for spinal cord injury can be assessed
Van der Waals heterostructures
Research on graphene and other two-dimensional atomic crystals is intense and
likely to remain one of the hottest topics in condensed matter physics and
materials science for many years. Looking beyond this field, isolated atomic
planes can also be reassembled into designer heterostructures made layer by
layer in a precisely chosen sequence. The first - already remarkably complex -
such heterostructures (referred to as 'van der Waals') have recently been
fabricated and investigated revealing unusual properties and new phenomena.
Here we review this emerging research area and attempt to identify future
directions. With steady improvement in fabrication techniques, van der Waals
heterostructures promise a new gold rush, rather than a graphene aftershock
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