Asperger's Syndrome And Fiction - Autistic Worlds And Those Who Build Them

Do tangible, testable links exist between the autistic spectrum and creativity? How would such links work from the perspective of an author with Asperger's Syndrome? To what degree would autism mould the author's work, and how would it affect writing technique and style compared to neurotypical (non autistic spectrum authors)? Do these links provide a tangible advantage? Can an Asperger's author successfully engage a non-Asperger's readership? Has Asperger's become fashionable in fiction and if so what are the benefits/consequences? Can an “extraterrestrial stranded without an orientation manual”1 communicate ideas in a meaningful way to non-autistics? Asperger's Syndrome is a form of high functioning autism where those affected express a range of social, behavioural and perceptual traits which have no actual bearing on their level of intelligence. As an author with Asperger's my intention is to examine the degree to which my autism affects my writing technique and style compared to neurotypical (non autistic) creatives. Asperger's sufferers lack empathy and social skills, therefore creating situations a reader can empathise with is challenging. To an Asperger's other people are 'aliens'. If the characters and scenarios in my work are coloured by my difference, then it may be the difference itself which provides the hook for the reader. To what extent do Asperger's authors need to 'pretend to be normal' in order to engage a neurotypical reader, or to make their work generally marketable? Is there an argument that they shouldn't even try? With increasing diagnosis and better understanding of the autistic spectrum, the Asperger's limited but intense range of interests and ability to focus without human distraction might link in to creative excellence that has an appeal far beyond the boundaries of the autistic spectrum. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether claims of autistic links to creativity are more than heresay. I examine alleged positive evidence for these links, and see how this evidence ties in with my experience both as an Asperger's and an author, with particular regard to my decisions in crafting my novel The Ghost Land

Glastir Monitoring & Evaluation Programme. First year annual report

The Welsh Government has commissioned a comprehensive new ecosystem monitoring and evaluation programme to monitor the effects of Glastir, its new land management scheme, and to monitor progress towards a range of international biodiversity and environmental targets. A random sample of 1 km squares stratified by landcover types will be used both to monitor change at a national level in the wider countryside and to provide a backdrop against which intervention measures are assessed using a second sample of 1 km squares located in areas eligible for enhanced payments for advanced interventions. Modelling in the first year has forecast change based on current understanding, whilst a rolling national monitoring programme based on an ecosystem approach will provide an evidence-base for on-going, adaptive development of the scheme by Welsh Government. To our knowledge, this will constitute the largest and most in-depth ecosystem monitoring and evaluation programme of any member state of the European Union

Moderate-intensity running causes intervertebral disc compression in young adults

BACKGROUND: Decreased intervertebral disc (IVD) volume can result in diminished load carrying capacity of the spinal region. Although moderate intensity running is generally advocated for apparently healthy adults, running causes a loss in stature that is thought to reflect IVD compression. The aim of this investigation was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify the influence of moderate-intensity treadmill running on IVD height and volume in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the vertebral column. METHODS: A clinic-based repeated measures design was used in eight healthy young asymptomatic adults. After preliminary measurements and familiarization (day 1), participants reported to the clinic on two further occasions. MRI scans and stature measurements were completed at baseline (day 2), preexercise (day 3), and after 30 min of moderate-intensity treadmill running (postexercise; day 3). Mean height and volume were derived for all thoracic and lumbar IVDs from digitized MRIs and stature was determined with a stadiometer. RESULTS: Moderate intensity running resulted in 6.3 ± 0.9% reduction in mean IVD height and 6.9 ± 1.0% reduction in calculated IVD volume. The day-to-day variation in mean IVD height and volume were 0.6 ± 0.6% and 0.4 ± 0.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to quantify the influence of moderate-intensity running on IVD height and volume. Changes in IVD height and volume were observed throughout the thoracic and lumbar vertebral regions. These findings suggest that future studies evaluating the influence of various loading activities and recovery techniques on IVD structure should consider thoracic as well as lumbar regions of the spine

Implementation of the Australasian Teletrial Model : lessons from practice

The Australasian Tele-trialModel (ATM) involves the use of telehealth technology to conduct clinical trials at satellite sites. Under the direction of state governments, led byQueenslandHealth (QH) and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA), a streamlined process for review, authorisation and conduct of the teletrials model has been developed. Some state governments and cancer centres around the country have developed new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to incorporate teletrials into routine practice. Queensland Health has undertaken reforms in governance and contract approval processes to facilitate its implementation in Queensland. Several pharmaceutical companies and trial groups have begun incorporating teletrials into trial protocols to enhance rural and regional access to trials, access to rare cancer trials even within a metropolitan setting and overall rate of recruitment. Several cancer centres around the country have begun embedding this model as part of their strategic and operational plans and several state departments of health have established steering committees to drive state-wide adoption. The National Mutual Acceptance (NMA) is currently coordinating the review and development of a standardised teletrials subcontract with the outcome that the teletrials subcontract will be adopted by Medicines Australia as a standard template to use with their suite of other standard clinical trial agreements. This supplement covers various aspects of the concept of the Australasian Tele-trial Model and its implementation, to share our experiences with those who would like to adopt this model as part of their routine practice and to encourage more uptake across the nation thus placing the patient at the centre of healthcare