The decisive role of aesthetics in the creation of inclusive environments : A proposal for a scheme of design principles regarding disability adaptation of Spånga by with focus on the site’s aesthetic cultural values

Funktionsanpassningar av miljöer genomförs för att generera ett inkluderande och jämlikt samhälle. Ett generellt fokus på funktion respektive försummande av estetik vid funktionsanpassningar medför att miljöer utformade för olika typer av människor inte gestaltas med likvärdig estetisk omsorg, vilket resulterar i att funktionsanpassningens huvudsakliga syfte inte uppnås. Estetikens roll i skapandet av inkluderande miljöer med avseende på funktionsanpassning har undersökts genom semistrukturella djupintervjuer. Vidare undersöktes, med hjälp av metoden Research by design, hur funktionsanpassningen i kulturmiljön Spånga by kan utvecklas med avseende på estetik och platsens estetiska kulturvärden. Resultaten diskuterades utifrån teoretiska perspektiv gällande estetik och kulturmiljö för att belysa hur funktionsanpassningar utifrån ett synsätt som lägger större vikt vid estetik kan generera ett samhälle som i större grad är inkluderande och jämlikt. Resultatet av intervjuerna visade att estetiken, som ansågs spegla samhällets värderingar, utgör en avgörande faktor i skapandet av inkluderande miljöer och estetiskt ignorerande uppfattades som en exkluderande handling av människor med normbrytande funktionsvariationer. Undersökningen av funktionsanpassningen i Spånga by visade att ett estetiskt fokus förmedlar och förstärker platsens estetiska kulturvärden då funktionsanpassningarna utgör en del av kulturmiljön vilket minskade stigmatiseringen av dem. Dessa resultat har belyst estetikens avgörande betydelse vid funktionsanpassning och hoppas inspirera till framtida lösningar vid utformningar av funktionsanpassningar i kulturmiljöer i Stockholms stad.Disability adaptation of environments is done to create an inclusive and equal society. However, when designing environments for people of different characteristics, lower levels of aesthetic ambition is common in the design due to a general focus on functionality and a neglect of aesthetics. This means that the main purpose of functional adaptation is unachieved. Therefore, the role of aesthetics in the creation of inclusive environments regarding disability adaptation have been examined by semi-structural interviews. Furthermore, the method Research by design was used to investigate how the disability adaptation of the cultural heritage site Spånga by could be developed regarding aesthetics and the site’s cultural values. The results were discussed based on theoretical perspectives about aesthetics and cultural heritage, in order to illustrate how disability adaptation, based on a perspective with increased aesthetic weight, can generate a society that to a greater extent is inclusive and equal. The interview results showed that aesthetics, which was considered reflective of societal values, play a crucial role in the creation of inclusive environments, and aesthetic ignorance was perceived as an act of excluding people with norm-breaking characteristics. The analysis of the functional adaptation of Spånga by showed that that the aesthetic perspective acts to mediate and enhance the cultural heritage values. These results are evidence of the importance of aesthetics in disability adaptation and hope to inspire in the design of future adaptations in cultural heritage sites in the city of Stockholm

Parken vid den rödmålade stenen

Urbaniseringen i Sverige har varit kraftig de senaste 200 åren och tillväxten sker främst genom förtätning då det ses som en resurseffektiv och hållbar markanvändning. Förtätning bidrar dock till att grönområden utsätts för högre besökstryck vilket medför att dess potential att bidra med sociala, estetiska och ekologiska värden försämras. I västra Göteborg, längs med Göta älv, råder det brist på parker samtidigt som stadsdelarna förtätas. I området ligger Röda sten, ett tre hektar stort före detta industriområde. Platsen har en ruff karaktär och präglas starkt av naturområdet Sjöbergen och Göta älv samt Älvsborgsbron och Röda Sten Konsthall. Pågående klimatförändringar och ett ökat besökstryck ställer högre krav på dess utformning vilket medför att Röda sten behöver anpassas för att erbjuda sociala, estetiska och ekologiska värden även i framtiden. I arbetet utreds vilka sociala, estetiska och ekologiska värden som har potential att utvecklas och stärkas vid Röda sten samt hur platsen kan gestaltas för att utveckla och stärka dessa. Syftet är att vid Röda sten gestalta en mångfunktionell park som nyttjar och utvecklar platsens kulturella och naturliga förutsättningar. Gestaltningsprocessen vägleddes genom det designteoretiska ramverket Analys genom syntes som består av två delar. Del ett, syntesen, utgjorde den intuitiva gestaltningsprocessen där kunskapsluckor identifierades genom ett kontinuerligt skissarbete. Del två, analysen, syftade till att utreda de problem som uppstod under syntesen och motiverade förslagets olika lösningar. Analysen bestod av de tre delmetoderna platsanalys, dokumentöversikt och referensprojekt. Gestaltningen tog stöd i teorin Perceived Sensory Dimensions vilken vägledde gestaltningen gällande vilka upplevelsekvaliteter som prioriterades vid Röda sten samt motiverade hur dessa stärktes. Gestaltningsförslaget, Parken vid den rödmålade stenen, presenterar en sammanhållen och mångfunktionell park där historiska spår och samtida tillägg står sida vid sida. Parken består av sex delområden där varje område har sin egen unika karaktär som tillsammans skapar en spännande dynamik. Parken är en social plats som erbjuder en rik variation av upplevelser och aktiviteter. Ett starkt formspråk som tagit inspiration från Göta älvs relation med människa och landskap knyter ihop parken och genererar nya estetiska värden. Vegetation i samtliga skikt bidrar till ekologiska värden samtidigt som den bjuder besökarna på årstidsvariationer. Gestaltningsförslaget visar hur en park med upplevelsekvaliteterna Diverse, Social och Cultural kan ta form och därmed erbjuda en mångfunktionell park med starka sociala, estetiska och ekologiska värden. Resultatet illustrerar på så vis landskapsarkitekturens möjligheter att bevara, prioritera och utveckla stadens grönområden på bästa möjliga sätt.Sweden has in the last 200 years been strongly affected by urbanization, and the growth is mainly through densification as it is seen as a resource-efficient and sustainable land use. However, densification contributes to exposure of green areas due to increased extents of visitors, which deteriorates its potential to contribute with social, aesthetical, and ecological values. The western part of Gothenburg, along the river Göta älv, has a deficiency of parks. Meanwhile, the area is exposed to densification. Röda sten, a three-hectare large former industrial site, is located within the area. The site has a rough character and is strongly characterized by the green space Sjöbergen, the river, the bridge Älvsborgsbron and the art gallery Röda Sten Konsthall. Ongoing climate changes and increased visiting pressure place higher demands on its design, which means that Röda sten needs to be adapted to preserve its social, aesthetical, and ecological values. This thesis investigates what social, aesthetical, and ecological values have the potential to be developed and strengthened at Röda sten, and how the site can be designed in order to develop and strengthen these values. The aim is to design a multi-functional park at Röda sten that utilizes and develops the site's cultural and natural conditions. The design process was guided by the design theoretical framework Analysis through synthesis, consisting of two parts. Part one, the synthesis, consisted of the intuitive design process where knowledge gaps were identified through continuous sketching. Part two, the analysis, investigated the problems that arose during the synthesis and justified the proposal's design solutions. The analysis consisted of the sub-methods: site analysis, document study and reference projects. The design was supported by the theory Perceived Sensory Dimensions which aimed to guide the design regarding what perceived qualities were prioritized at Röda sten and justify how these were strengthened in the design. The design proposal, The Park by the red rock, presents a cohesive and multi-functional park where historical remnants and contemporary additions stand side by side. The park consists of six sub-areas that all have their own unique character, and together creates an exciting dynamic. The park is a social place that offers a rich variety of experiences and activities. A strong concept that takes inspiration from Göta älv’s relationship with human and landscape creates cohesion and generates new aesthetic values. Vegetation in all layers contributes to ecological values while offering visitors seasonal variations. The design proposal presents how a park with the perceived qualities Diverse, Social and Cultural can take shape and thus offer a multi-functional park with strong social, aesthetical, and ecological values. The result thereby illustrates the possibilities of landscape architecture to preserve, prioritize and develop the city's green areas in the best possible way

Дезинфекция воды плавательных бассейнов электролизным раствором гипохлорита натрия и электрохимически активированным раствором анолита нейтрального

БАССЕЙНЫ ПЛАВАТЕЛЬНЫЕВОДЫ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЕНАТРИЯ ГИПОХЛОРИ

Anxiety, depression and swallowing disorders in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Swallowing disturbances (SDs), anxiety and depression are commonly present in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. We hypothesized that there is an association between the presence of SDs and the PD affective state. Sixty nine PD patients were assessed for the presence of SDs by undergoing cognitive screening with the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), completing three inventories: a swallowing disturbance questionnaire (SDQ), the Spielberger manual for the trait anxiety and Beck depression inventories. All patients underwent clinical swallowing evaluations by a speech and language pathologist (SLP). Patients diagnosed with SDs were also assessed by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) performed by an ENT and SLP. Thirty eight patients experienced SDs, the other 31 did not. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were matched. Patients with SDs experienced increased anxiety and depression compared to patients without SDs. Comparisons between patients who scored in the two opposite ends of the anxiety and depression ranges demonstrated that the most anxious and depressed patients reported more swallowing difficulties (SDQ scores) compared with the least anxious and depressed ones. In addition, the most anxious patients had significantly increased disease severity and decreased MMSE scores compared with the least anxious patients. Disease severity was also increased in the most depressed patients compared with the least depressed ones. Advanced disease emerged as being associated with high anxiety levels and greater numbers of SDs. The contribution of anxiety or depression to the development or worsening of SDs and their role in treatment strategy warrant further investigation

Raltegravir Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentrations in HIV-1 Infection

Raltegravir is an HIV-1 integrase inhibitor currently used in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients resistant to other drug classes. In order to assess its central nervous system penetration, we measured raltegravir concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma in subjects receiving antiretroviral treatment regimens containing this drug.Raltegravir concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in 25 paired CSF and plasma samples from 16 HIV-1-infected individuals. The lower limit of quantitation was 2.0 ng/ml for CSF and 10 ng/ml for plasma.Twenty-four of the 25 CSF samples had detectable raltegravir concentrations with a median raltegravir concentration of 18.4 ng/ml (range, <2.0-126.0). The median plasma raltegravir concentration was 448 ng/ml (range, 37-5180). CSF raltegravir concentrations correlated with CSF:plasma albumin ratios and CSF albumin concentrations.Approximately 50% of the CSF specimens exceeded the IC(95) levels reported to inhibit HIV-1 strains without resistance to integrase inhibitors. In addition to contributing to control of systemic HIV-1 infection, raltegravir achieves local inhibitory concentrations in CSF in most, but not all, patients. Blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers likely restrict drug entry, while enhanced permeability of these barriers enhances drug entry

Cerebrospinal fluid markers before and after shunting in patients with secondary and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to explore biochemical changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) induced by shunt surgery and the relationship between these changes and clinical improvement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We measured clinical symptoms and analysed lumbar CSF for protein content, neurodegeneration and neurotransmission markers in patients with secondary (SNPH, n = 17) and idiopathic NPH (INPH, n = 18) before and 3 months after shunt surgery. Patients were divided into groups according to whether or not there was improvement in clinical symptoms after surgery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Preoperatively, the only pathological findings were elevated neurofilament protein (NFL), significantly more so in the SNPH patients than in the INPH patients, and elevated albumin content. Higher levels of NFL correlated with worse gait, balance, wakefulness and neuropsychological performance. Preoperatively, no differences were seen in any of the CSF biomarkers between patients that improved after surgery and those that did not improve. Postoperatively, a greater improvement in gait and balance performance correlated with a more pronounced reduction in NFL. Levels of albumin, albumin ratio, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide and ganglioside GD3 increased significantly after shunting in both groups. In addition, Gamma amino butyric acid increased significantly in SNPH and tau in INPH.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that a number of biochemical changes occur after shunt surgery, but there are no marked differences between the SNPH and INPH patients. The results indicate that NFL may be a marker that can predict a surgically reversible state in NPH.</p

Secondary insults following traumatic brain injury enhance complement activation in the human brain and release of the tissue damage marker S100B

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field.OBJECT: Complement activation has been suggested to play a role in the development of secondary injuries following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study was initiated in order to analyze complement activation in relation to the primary brain injury and to secondary insults, frequently occurring following TBI. METHODS: Twenty patients suffering from severe TBI (Glasgow coma score ≤ 8) were included in the study. The "membrane attack complex," C5b9, which is the cytolytic end product of the complement system was analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The degree of brain tissue damage was assessed using the release of S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) to the CSF and blood. The blood-brain barrier was assessed using the CSF/serum quotient of albumin (Q (A)). RESULTS: Following impact, initial peaks (0-48 h) of C5b9, S100B, and NSE with a concomitant loss of integrity of the blood-brain barrier were observed. Secondary insults at the intensive care unit were monitored. Severe secondary insults were paralleled by a more pronounced complement activation (C5b9 in CSF) as well as increased levels of S100B (measured in CSF), but not with NSE. CONCLUSION: This human study indicates that complement activation in the brain is triggered not only by the impact of trauma per se but also by the amount of secondary insults that frequently occur at the scene of accident as well as during treatment in the neurointensive care unit. Complement activation and in particular the end product C5b9 may in turn contribute to additional secondary brain injuries by its membrane destructive properties

A solid-phase enzyme-linked assay for vitamin B 12

A new solid-phase enzyme-linked competitive binding assay for vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin) is described. The assay is based on the competition between analyte B 12 molecules and a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-vitamin B 12 conjugate for a limited number of R-protein binding sites immobilized on sepharose particles. After appropriate incubation and washing steps, the enzyme activity bound to the solid-phase is inversely related to the concentration of B 12 in the sample. Under optimized conditions, the method can detect B 12 in the range of 3×10 −10 −1×10 −8 M (using 100 μ l sample) with high selectivity over other biological molecules.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41626/1/604_2005_Article_BF01197285.pd