Marginalized Bodies of Imagined Futurescapes : Ableism and Heteronormativity in Science Fiction

This article aims to contribute to an understanding of marginalized bodies in science fiction narratives by analyzing how physical disability and homosexuality/bisexuality have been depicted in popular science fiction film and television. Specifically, it analyzes what types of futures are evoked through the exclusion or inclusion of disability and homo/bisexuality. To investigate these futurescapes, in for example Star Trek and The Handmaid’s Tale, the paper uses film analysis guided by the theoretical approach of crip/queer temporality mainly in dialogue with disability/crip scholar Alison Kafer. Although narratives about the future in popular fiction occasionally imagines futures in which disability and homo/bisexuality exist the vast majority do not. This article argues that exclusion of characters with disabilities and homo/bisexual characters in imagined futures of science fiction perpetuate heteronormative and ableist normativity. It is important that fictional narratives of imagined futures do not limit portrayals to heterosexual and able-bodied people but, instead, take into account the ableist and heteronormative imaginaries that these narratives, and in extension contemporary society, are embedded in. Moreover, it is argued that in relation to notions of progression and social inclusion in imagined futurescapes portrayals of homo/bisexuality and disability has been used as narrative devices to emphasis “good” or “bad” futures. Furthermore, homo/bisexuality has increasingly been incorporated as a sign of social inclusion and progression while disability, partly due to the perseverance of a medical understanding of disability, instead is used as a sign of a failed future. However, the symbolic value ascribed to these bodies in stories are based on contemporary views and can thus change accordingly. To change the way the future is envisioned requires challenging how different types of bodies, desires, and notions of normativity are thought about. Sometimes imaginary futures can aid in rethinking and revaluating these taken-for-granted notions of normativity

Marginalized Bodies of Imagined Futurescapes : Ableism and Heteronormativity in Science Fiction

This article aims to contribute to an understanding of marginalized bodies in science fiction narratives by analyzing how physical disability and homosexuality/bisexuality have been depicted in popular science fiction film and television. Specifically, it analyzes what types of futures are evoked through the exclusion or inclusion of disability and homo/bisexuality. To investigate these futurescapes, in for example Star Trek and The Handmaid’s Tale, the paper uses film analysis guided by the theoretical approach of crip/queer temporality mainly in dialogue with disability/crip scholar Alison Kafer. Although narratives about the future in popular fiction occasionally imagines futures in which disability and homo/bisexuality exist the vast majority do not. This article argues that exclusion of characters with disabilities and homo/bisexual characters in imagined futures of science fiction perpetuate heteronormative and ableist normativity. It is important that fictional narratives of imagined futures do not limit portrayals to heterosexual and able-bodied people but, instead, take into account the ableist and heteronormative imaginaries that these narratives, and in extension contemporary society, are embedded in. Moreover, it is argued that in relation to notions of progression and social inclusion in imagined futurescapes portrayals of homo/bisexuality and disability has been used as narrative devices to emphasis “good” or “bad” futures. Furthermore, homo/bisexuality has increasingly been incorporated as a sign of social inclusion and progression while disability, partly due to the perseverance of a medical understanding of disability, instead is used as a sign of a failed future. However, the symbolic value ascribed to these bodies in stories are based on contemporary views and can thus change accordingly. To change the way the future is envisioned requires challenging how different types of bodies, desires, and notions of normativity are thought about. Sometimes imaginary futures can aid in rethinking and revaluating these taken-for-granted notions of normativity

The Impact of Using Measurements of Electrodermal Activity in the Assessment of Problematic Behaviour in Dementia

Background: A major and complex challenge when trying to support individuals with dementia is meeting the needs of those who experience changes in behaviour and mood. Aim: To explore how a sensor measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) impacts assistant nurses’ structured assessments of problematic behaviours amongst people with dementia and their choices of care interventions. Methods: Fourteen individuals with dementia wore a sensor that measured EDA. The information from the sensor was presented to assistant nurses during structured assessments of problematic behaviours. The evaluation process included scorings with the instrument NPI-NH (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version), the care interventions suggested by assistant nurses to decrease problematic behaviours, and the assistant nurses’ experiences obtained by focus group interviews. Results: The information from the sensor measuring EDA was perceived to make behavioural patterns more visual and clear, which enhanced assistant nurses’ understanding of time-related patterns of behaviours. In turn, this enhancement facilitated timely care interventions to prevent the patterns and decrease the levels of problematic behaviour. Conclusion: With the addition of information from the sensor, nursing staff could target causes and triggers in a better way, making care interventions more specific and directed towards certain times throughout the day to prevent patterns of problematic behaviours

Tetraethyl orthosilicate and acrylic acid forming robust carboxylic functionalities on plastic surfaces for biodiagnostics

Surface functionalisation and effects related to non-specific binding of the detection molecules are the key aspects to be considered for fluorescence-linked bioassays. Here, we present a deposition of polymeric structures with carboxylic acid functionalities by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. We report on characterisation and some unique properties of the film formed as a result of sequential, plasma assisted fragmentation and deposition from vapours of acrylic acid (AA) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). TEOS serves as an adhesion layer to the plastic substrate and also as a network building layer for further cross-linking with AA, the sequential plasma deposition resulting in a film of composition graded from inside to outside. The presence of silanols (Si-OH) can facilitate large uptake of water molecules and cause significant hydration of the layer, which in combination with high total negative charge lowers the non-specific binding of biomolecules. Furthermore, the specific combination of TEOS and AA significantly increased the proportion of carboxyl groups in the layer, above that found from deposition of AA alone. The availability and reactivity of the carboxyl functionalities for covalent attachment of specific bioreceptor molecules was confirmed by a total internal reflection ellipsometry technique in a reaction with amino terminated ssDNA. The combination of low non-specific binding and high specific binding amount gave a high signal/noise ratio. Ageing studies of the film showed long-term stability over 50 d. Carboxylic acid coatings have been deposited by PECVD onto cyclic olefin polymer substrates from an acrylic acid monomer. Carboxy properties are enhanced through the addition of TEOS as a base layer to the substrate, results are compared to coatings without this adhesion layer. A thorough analysis of the deposited surface and a comprehensive characterisation of the surface is investigated. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Использование симуляционных технологий при изучении клинических дисциплин в Витебском государственном медицинском университете

ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ МЕДИЦИНСКОЕКЛИНИЧЕСКИЕ ДИСЦИПЛИНЫСИМУЛЯЦИОННЫЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИСИМУЛЯЦИОННОЕ ОБУЧЕНИ

High efficiency amine functionalization of cycloolefin polymer surfaces for biodiagnostics

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics implementing microfluidic technology on single use disposable plastic chips has potential applications in personalized medicine, clinical diagnostics and global health. However, the challenges in commercializing POC devices must be addressed. Immobilization of biomolecules to plastic chips through appropriate surface functionalization is a key issue for the fabrication of new generation biomedical diagnostic devices. The most important requirements for a practicable surface functionalization process are speed, control and reliability. Plasma-based methods can meet these criteria. A single step, solventless, ecofriendly and high throughput nature of plasma processing makes them highly attractive. Here we demonstrate the efficient surface functionalization of a next-generation biosensor material, a chemically inert cycloolefin polymer (COP). The plasma formation of a surface-bound aminated siloxane network from mixed aminopropyltriethoxysilane and ethylenediamine precursors allowed us to form a well-adherent film with an exceptionally high degree of amine functionalization. We deduce that the siloxane was the critical component for radical insertion into the COP and for building a stable network to support the reactive amine functionalities. We present a full physical and chemical characterization of the films, including a detailed study of their swelling in water, using an array of surface analytical techniques: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray reflectivity, reflection infra-red spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorophore binding reactions. We demonstrate an original approach for qualitatively analyzing the distribution of amine functionalities by counting surface-bound functionalized silica nanoparticles in the AFM. The relative contributions from covalent (specific) and non-covalent (non-specific) reaction chemistry assessed using 3�-fluorescein-labeled ssDNA attachment showed that the non-specific binding could be reduced significantly according to the particular feed gas mixture used to prepare the coating. A reaction mechanism has been proposed for the deposition of amine functionalities on COP plastic and also for enhancing the amine functionalities that affect the non-specific binding significantly. © 2010 The Royal Society of Chemistry