Intervention Services for Autistic Adults: An ASDEU Study of Autistic Adults, Carers, and Professionals' Experiences

The Autism Spectrum Disorders in the European Union (ASDEU) survey investigated local services' use experiences of autistic adults, carers and professionals with interventions for autistic adults. The majority of the 697 participants experienced recommended considerations prior to deciding on intervention and during the intervention plan and implementation. Psychosocial interventions were the most commonly experienced interventions, while pharmacological interventions NOT recommended for core autistic symptoms were reported by fairly large proportions of participants. Family interventions were experienced slightly more commonly by carers than adults or professionals. Less than the 26% of autistic adult responders who had experienced challenging behaviors reported receiving an intervention to change them. These results provide insights for improving gaps in service provision of interventions among autistic adults.Peer reviewe

Autistic Adult Services Availability, Preferences, and User Experiences: Results From the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union Survey

There is very little knowledge regarding autistic adult services, practices, and delivery. The study objective was to improve understanding of current services and practices for autistic adults and opportunities for improvement as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union (ASDEU) project. Separate survey versions were created for autistic adults, carers of autistic adults, and professionals in adult services. 2,009 persons responded to the survey and 1,085 (54%) of them completed at least one of the services sections: 469 autistic adults (65% female; 55% 50% responded "don't know"). Five of seven residential services features recommended for autistic adults were experienced by <50% of adults. The knowledge of good local services models that work well for autistic adults was generally low across all services areas. The variation in services experiences and perceptions reported by autistic adults, carers, or professionals underscore the need to query all groups for a complete picture of community services availability and needs. The results showed areas for potential improvement in autistic adult services delivery in the EU to achieve recommended standards

Early behavioral markers for neurodevelopmental disorders in the first 3 years of life: An overview of systematic reviews

Being able to recognize red flags for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) is crucial to provide timely intervention programs. This work aims to support - within a scientific framework - the construction of an instrument capable to early detect all spectrum of NDD and explore all areas of development, detect failures in typical developmental pathways and point out atypical signs at all ages. This overview of reviews provides evidence for differences in children later diagnosed with NDD compared to typically developing peers such as delays in motor, language development and temperament in the first three years of age, repetitive/stereotyped behaviors, atypicalities/delays in play, object use, attention, visual, sensory processing and social engagement in the first and second year, and difficulties in feeding and sleeping in the first year. These behaviors must be carefully observed as potential red flags for NDD. However, data of the systematic reviews are not yet useful to develop an evidence-based clinical screening. It urges to increase efforts in producing systematic reviews on early behavioral markers for each NDD. Trial registration:CRD42019137731. (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=137731)

Effect of an Exercise Training Rehabilitation Programm in Mild COPD Patients

A key component in the management of COPD patients is pulmonary rehabilitation, the cornerstone of which is exercise training. Usually pulmonary rehabilitation is prescribed when significant symptoms and moderate-severe functional impairment appear. We aimed to test the effect of exercise training in a group of mild COPD patients (GOLD).We studied 8 pts (6M, 2F). Data expressed as mean(SE): age 62(2,2), FEV1/FVC 62,2%(5,2), FEV1 81,2% (1,6), post 2 FEV1 82%(0,9) recruited from our outpatients clinic. Exercise tolerance has been assessed by bicycle ergometry (10Watt/min increment) and dyspnoea score by MRC scale. After, participants began a 3 months exercise training domiciliary program: walking for 30 x 3 times/week at 70-80% of maximal heart rate achieved during exercise test .All patients were carefully instructed how to carry out the programm. RESULTS: all patients completed the programm, no significant change has been observed in respiratory function test, VO2max, Anaerobic Threshold. Maximal Work (Watt) pre 70,5(10), post 90(11,7)**, Maximal Respiratory Rate pre 22,5(1,1) post 25,2(1,46)**, Respiratory Rate isoWatt pre 22,5(1,1), post 19,8(2)**. VEmax isoWatt pre38,6(3,8), post 32,2(4)** MRC scale pre 2, post 1** IsoWatt= Maximal Work attained at the pre training test CONCLUSION The results show a significant effect of aerobic exercise training in improving functional capacity and reducing dyspnoea scale also in mild COPD patients with few symptoms. Implementation of exercise reconditioning should thereafter be considered as a part of preventive care for patients with mild COPD. **p <0,0

A Stark-tuned, far-infrared laser for high frequency plasma diagnostics

A Stark-tuned optically pumped far-infrared methanol laser operating at 119 micrometers has been built. The laser is designed to operate at high power while exhibiting a well-separated Stark doublet. At a pump power of 65 Watts and electric field of 1 kV/cm the laser has delivered over 100 mW c.w. while exhibiting a frequency splitting of 34 MHz. These parameters indicate that this laser would be suitable for use in the present generation of modulated interferometers on large thermonuclear plasma devices. The achieved modulation frequency is more than an order of magnitude higher than could be achieved using standard techniques

A Stark-tuned, far-infrared laser for high frequency plasma diagnostics

A Stark-tuned optically pumped far-infrared methanol laser operating at 119 micrometers has been built. The laser is designed to operate at high power while exhibiting a well-separated Stark doublet. At a pump power of 65 Watts and electric field of 1 kV/cm the laser has delivered over 100 mW c.w. while exhibiting a frequency splitting of 34 MHz. These parameters indicate that this laser would be suitable for use in the present generation of modulated interferometers on large thermonuclear plasma devices. The achieved modulation frequency is more than an order of magnitude higher than could be achieved using standard techniques

Autistic Adult Health and Professional Perceptions of It: Evidence From the ASDEU Project

The Autism Spectrum Disorders in the European Union (ASDEU) survey investigated the knowledge and health service experiences of users and providers to generate new hypotheses and scientific investigations that would contribute to improvement in health care for autistic adults. An online survey designed for autistic adults, carers of autistic adults, and professionals in adult services was translated into 11 languages and distributed electronically by organizations and in-country adult service facilities in 2017; 522 autistic adults, 442 carers, and 113 professionals provided answers to the health questions. Professionals, the majority in non-medical services, appeared to be poorly informed about whether certain co-occurring conditions were more frequent in autistic adults than typical adults-especially some medical conditions, suicide attempts, accidents, and pain. A minority of autistic adults reported preventive health behaviors such as routine health check-ups. The majority of users and providers expressed the desire to make health care services more user-friendly for autistic adults. Among the three groups,Peer reviewe

Uso da alga Lithothamnium calcareum como fonte alternativa de cálcio nas rações de frangos de corte Use of algae Lithothamnium calcareum as alternative source of calcium in diets for broiler chickens

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o uso da alga Lithothamnium calcareum (Pallas) Areschoug nas rações para frangos de corte de 1 a 21 e 21 a 42 dias de idade, em substituição à fonte de cálcio tradicional (calcário calcítico). Para isso, foram utilizados 300 pintos machos, da linhagem Cobb®, que receberam rações contendo o calcário calcítico e a alga Lithothamnium calcareum (colhida de inteira e na forma de areia biodentrítica) como fontes de cálcio. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e cinco repetições de 20 aves cada. As variáveis analisadas foram: ganho de peso (g/ave), consumo de ração (g/ave) e conversão alimentar (g/g). No final do experimento foram avaliados os parâmetros ósseos: peso da tíbia (g), comprimento da tíbia (mm), diâmetro da tíbia (mm) e teor de cinzas na tíbia (%). Na fase inicial (1 a 21 dias) houve efeito (P<0,05) entre os tratamentos para o ganho de peso e conversão alimentar, sendo que o tratamento controle apresentou melhores resultados. Para a fase de crescimento (21 a 42 dias) e período total (1 a 42 dias) não houve efeito entre os tratamentos estudados. A utilização da alga Lithothamnium calcareum (independente da forma de colheita) em substituição à fonte de cálcio tradicional (calcário calcítico) pode ser recomendada para as rações de frangos de corte, sem prejudicar o desempenho zootécnico. Porém, deve-se levar em consideração a viabilidade econômica do uso dessa fonte alternativa nas rações.<br>The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of the algae Lithothamnium calcareum (Pallas) Areschoug in diets for broiler chickens from 1 to 21 and 21 to 42 days, to replace the traditional source of calcium (limestone). 300 male chicks from Cobb® strain, which received diets containing limestone and Lithothamnium calcareum algae (as a whole and as sand biodentritic) were used as sources of calcium. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and five replicates of 20 birds each. The variables analyzed were: weight gain (g / bird), feed intake (g / bird), feed per again (g / g). At the end of the experiment the bone parameters: weight of the tibia (g), tibia length (mm), diameter of the tibia (mm) and ash content in the tibia (%). Were evaluated in the initial phase (1 to 21 days) there was an effect (P <0.05) between treatments for weight gain and feed per again, and the control treatment showed better results. For the growing phase (21 to 42 days) and total period (1 to 42 days) there was no effect among the treatments studied. The use of the algae Lithothamnium calcareum (independently of the harvest) to replace the traditional source of calcium (limestone) can be recommended for diets of broilers without affecting the growth performance. However, one should take into consideration the economic feasibility of using this alternative source in the diets