A study on a design guide for detached houses with home-elevators for aged and physically handicapped persons

The purpose of this paper is to extract the design guide of the detached houses with home-elevator for aged and physically handicapped persons, so, for 4 cases we investigated the composition of living spaces, living activities and dweller's evaluation. The main results are follows: (1) The aged and physically handicapped persons' room generally must be located at the 1st floor, but setting up the home-elevator house planning turns into more free. (2) Setting up the home-elevator, we can locate the aged and physically handicapped persons' room at the highest floor. In the case of town houses having few site areas, the highest floor has often good condition of the exposure to the sun and the view, so the aged and physically handicapped persons prefer the highest floor room. (3) In the aged and physically handicapped persons' houses, the corridor and the sanitary space get cold in winter, because those spaces are wide using the wheel chair and helping. So these houses need the floor heating. (4) In the aged and physically handicapped persons' houses, at the garage going in and out must be free without the difference in level, the space of the elevator hall must be secured fully turning the wheel chair, and at the garage the place of the outdoor wheel chair and the transfer space must be secured fully. (5) In the case of using home-elevator the noise is no problem. In opposition, the family members feel easy to hear the sound of home-elevator, because they can perceive the aged and physically handicapped persons' activities.     

Hypernatraemic dehydration in patients in a large hospital for the mentally handicapped.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the prevalence of hypernatraemic dehydration and to assess the hydration and nutritional state of patients in a large hospital for the mentally and physically handicapped; also to assess the efficacy of an intervention programme to reduce the prevalence of hypernatraemic dehydration in the hospital. DESIGN--Prospective study of patients admitted with hypernatraemic dehydration from a large hospital for mentally and physically handicapped patients (hospital A) to a district general hospital between 1986 and 1988. In 1986 the hydration and nutritional state of a random sample of patients from hospital A was compared with a random sample of patients from a small hospital for the physically and mentally handicapped (hospital B) and with control groups from the community. The hydration of the patients from hospital A examined in 1986 was reassessed in 1988. PATIENTS--12 Patients were admitted from hospital A to the district general hospital during 1986-8 (seven women, five men; age range 29-82). In 1986, 72 patients were randomly selected for the assessment of hydration and nutritional state from hospital A, 33 who required help with feeding and 39 who could feed independently. Fifty patients were similarly selected from hospital B, half of them requiring help with feeding. In 1988 the hydration state of 60 of the 72 patients from hospital was reassessed. Control values were taken from two published studies. INTERVENTIONS--In 1987 nursing staff in hospital A were asked to provide between 2.5 and 3.0 litres of fluid daily for all patients. The use of hypertonic enemas was discontinued, and the ratio of staff to patients was increased. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Serum concentrations of urea and electrolytes (hydration) and body mass index (nutritional state). RESULTS--Of the 10 patients admitted with hypernatraemic dehydration from hospital A to the district general hospital in 1986, four died of intercurrent infection. No patients were admitted from hospital B with hypernatraemic dehydration during the same time. In 1986 the hydration and nutritional state of patients in hospital A were inferior to those in patients from hospital B and control subjects from the community (serum urea concentrations were 6.1 (SD 1.8) mmol/l v 5.5 (1.9) and 5.6 (0.4) mmol/l, respectively) 50% (36/72) of patients in hospital A had a body mass index less than or equal to 20 compared with 34% (17/50) of patients from hospital B and 12% (1141/9434) of control subjects). After the initiation of the preventive programme only one patient was admitted with hypernatraemic dehydration in each of the years 1987 and 1988. The mean serum urea concentration of the 60 patients who were reassessed in 1988 fell significantly between 1986 and 1988 from 6.1 (SD 1.8) mmol/l to 5.7 (2.1) mmol/l, the value in a control group matched for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS--Hypernatraemic dehydration, subclinical underhydration, and undernutrition were common in a large hospital for the mentally and physically handicapped. The problem of hypernatraemic dehydration was successfully dealt with by the hospital management team. Similar problems may be encountered in hospitals for patients who are mentally and physically handicapped and mentally ill, including psychogeriatric units.     

The Educationally Handicapped Child—The Physician's Place in a Program to Overcome Learning Disability

Under California Assembly Bill 464, special classes may be provided by school districts for children designated as educationally handicapped. An educationally handicapped child is not mentally retarded or physically disabled. He may have neurological handicap or emotional disorder, but he must show impaired achievement in relation to his tested abilities.A physician may be asked to participate in the program, either as a specified member of the admissions committee of the school district or to provide a medical clearance for entrance of one of his own patients into the program.He does a thorough history and physical examination but adds special examination of attention, activity, coordination and attitudes.The educationally handicapped child is helped most by the physician who does not reject the idea of educational handicap even if the medical examination is negative; who treats his minor ills; who medicates, when it is indicated, for hyperactivity, distractibility or extreme anxiety; who cooperates with parents and school personnel.     

Disabled access to information technology — a protable adaptable,multipurpose device

The technology exists to allow severely physically disabled people to have a far more indepentdent lifestyle than many handicapped people enjoy today. To use an ever increasing range of sophisticated domestic equipment, without special modifications, an individually tailored control system and a universal accessing device are required. A portable multipurpose device allows multiply handicapped, non-speaking people a means of operating a variety of general-purpose or specialized pieces of electronic equipment at home and elsewhere, safely and independently. The device also provides a means of communication through the medium of computer-computer communication over telephone lines and will interface to a powered chair for independent mobility. Various features are provided which are not available from conventional environmental control systems. Through a specialized adjustable multipurpose switch system and a universal control device the handicapped person should be able to enjoy the independence afforded by the intelligent home of the future.     

Comparative research on substance abuse and self-perception among adolescents with physical handicap

The research on substance (alcohol, tobacco and drug) abuse and on self-perception was done by comparing a test group of physically disabled adolescents and a test group of non-disabled adolescents. The respondents of the experimental group were students of the only special high school for physically handicapped persons in Croatia, Zagreb. The respondents of the control group were the students of two regular high schools in the capital of Croatia. The instrument used in this research was a self-reported, anonymous questionnaire. The respondents completed the questionnaire in the classroom. The data analysis regarding alcohol abuse indicated that physically disabled adolescents drink more often and out of quite different motives than their non-disabled peers. Regarding the prevalence, frequency, quantity and motives for smoking, no statistically significant difference has been found between the tested groups. On the contrary, significant differences between handicapped and non-disabled adolescents were evident regarding drug abuse. Only one physically disabled examinee used a drug--marijuana, only a few times a year. On the other hand, almost one quarter of the non-disabled adolescents use at least one, five at the most, type of drug sometimes or often. The results on the self-perception scale show that adolescent with physical disabilities have a much more negative attitude toward themselves than non-disabled controls. Their self-esteem and self-confidence are seriously diminished. Described findings could have a mighty impact on ways of preventing substance abuse, and on ways of increasing self-esteem among disabled and non-disabled adolescents.     

46,XX/46,XX,r (2)(p25q37) mosaicism: clinical and cytogenetic studies.

A severely mentally retarded and physically handicapped girl is described who has 46,XX/46,XX,r(2)(p25q37) mosaicism. This is the first ring 2 chromosome to be described in Man. Studies of the behaviour of the ring showed that it was stable in diploid cells which had increased in frequency over a period of seven years, but unstable in tetraploid cells which were at a much higher frequency than in normal individuals. It is concluded that in some cases the phenotypic consequences of ring chromosome formation may be due more to their disturbing the regulation of cell division than to the loss of genetic material. Current models of ring chromosome behaviour do not account for the induction of tetraploidy.     

Tracking cod Gadus morhua L. in a Scottish sea loch

Equipment has been developed and used to follow the movements of free-swimming individual fish in the sea. A pulsed ultrasonic transmitter inserted into the stomach is tracked by measuring differences in the time of arrival of the acoustic pulses at an array of omnidirectional hydrophones. The method was used to plot the movements of cod in an enclosed sea-loch. After an initial phase of active movement the cod became less mobile and adopted a nocturnal cycle of activity.     

The use of telemetry to study light synchronization with feeding and gill ventilation rates in Salmo trutta

A technique is described whereby the electromyogram of the m. adductor mandibulae of brown trout is detected by implanted extracellular electrodes and used as the input signal for an ultrasonic transmitter attached externally to the fish. The periodic electrical activity of the muscle during ventilation is relayed by the transmitter using an analogue pulse system.
As the ventilatory electromyogram occurs in discrete rhythmic trains, it follows that alterations to this rhythm can be used to telemeter, instantaneously, single feeding events from a free swimming fish. Laboratory tests have shown that the feeding act is unequivocally distinct electromyographically from other manoeuvres such as 'coughing'.
Four adult brown trout have been equipped with this transmitter system and released in Airthrey Loch, Stirling. Using a tracking facility, feeding activity and ventilatory rhythms have been recorded for extended periods.
The results indicate the presence of three daily peaks of feeding activity, which is discussed in relation to changes in light levels. The telemetry records indicate that night feeding is a common occurrence in brown trout. In addition, ventilatory rates were found to be at or near resting levels.     

Vaccinations and the physically handicapped child.

The vaccination status of 98 physically handicapped children was examined to identify factors associated with an inadequate vaccination status. Of the 98 children, 57 had cerebral palsy, 14 had myelomeningocele, 3 had muscular dystrophy and 24 had myelomeningocele, 3 had muscular dystrophy and 24 had other motor disabilities. According to the available vaccination records, only 17 children had received all the recommended injections on schedule; 26 had missed at least one injection, and 3 of them had never been vaccinated. The overall rate of vaccination in our study group (63%) was lower than expected. The children with moderate to severe limitation of function due to cerebral palsy were significantly less likely (P less than 0.05) than those with less severe limitations to have received a basic series of vaccinations. Health departments must ensure that physically handicapped children receive the preventive health measures viewed normal and appropriate for other children.     

EMOTIONAL FACTORS IN PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

The staff of the Reiss-Davis Clinic for Child Guidance has been concerned with the emotional factors in physically handicapped or chronically ill children. It is felt by the staff that work with these children must include not only the known procedures to improve or correct their physical condition, but also efforts directed toward preventing or removing any evidence of emotional or psychological crippling.The symbolic or unconscious meaning of the disability is of great importance in this work. Attitudes of the parents may seriously interfere with the handicapped child''s ability to develop his maximum level of functioning and adjustment. Individual and group psychotherapy was found of value in helping these parents.     

Effects of capture and transmitter attachments on the swimming speed of large juvenile lemon sharks in the wild

The swimming speed of seven large juvenile lemon sharks Negaprion brevirostris following attachment of an external speed-sensing ultrasonic transmitter was significantly higher during the first 18 h after release compared to the average swimming speed obtained >48 h after release. The external speed-sensing transmitter can be used to monitor the voluntary swimming speed of large fishes in the field, but data during the first 24 h period should be excluded from analysis of natural speeds, at least from species similar in behaviour to N. brevirostris .     

Respite care on a children's ward.

In March 1984 a short term respite care facility for handicapped children was opened in a children''s ward catering primarily for acute medical and surgical problems. The facility was based on a four bedded room designed so that if beds became short in the main ward it could revert immediately to the care of acutely sick children. Three nurses were appointed specifically to staff the facility, the nursing budget for the rest of the ward being reduced proportionately. Conversions were funded by charities and some of the conversion work done by volunteers. The main users were totally dependent children aged under 5 with severe mental and physical handicaps. Parents found the service invaluable, and in addition to planned admissions it was usually possible to accept a child at short notice--for example, when some domestic crisis occurred. Only very rarely was admission impossible because of the needs of acutely ill children. A short term respite care facility not only helps parents cope and may provide beneficial experience for a handicapped child but is also a useful training ground for medical students and junior staff.     

An ultrasonic biotelemetry system for the continuous monitoring of tail-beat rate from free-swimming fish

A telemetry system for the continuous monitoring of tail beats, and hence swimming activity, from loch-dwelling brown trout, Salmo trutta L., is described. Tail beats are detected by electromyography and are transmitted using a specially-developed miniature ultrasonic transmitter. The output from the transmitter is relayed to a remote recording station using a radio-transponder buoy. Data analysed to date show that on average fish are active for only 9% of the time. Tail beat rates rarely exceeded 2.5 tail-beats per second (TB/s) corresponding to a velocity of 1 body length per second. The fish showed a 'preferred' tail-beat rate of 1.0–2.0 TB/s and consequently they rarely swam at speeds which would incur oxygen debt.     

Physical Disability and Motivation

Motivating the physically handicapped individual to assist in his own rehabilitation is a complex problem. Difficulties in motivation are often based on disturbances in body image, which in turn are related both to the premorbid personality and the handicap. Treatment must be directed at the body image as well as the physical disability. Emotional disturbance following body injury should be expected and its absence is abnormal. Adequate rehabilitation entails a consideration of the effect of the rehabilitation process on the disabled person. The patient''s basic abilities must be used to improve motivation. Rehabilitation procedures must focus on practical ways of coping with everyday life. Physical disability can mobilize underlying inferiority feelings and increase the need for dependency. Judicious use must be made of success and frustration in the rehabilitation program.     

Seating for the chairbound disabled person — A survey of seating equipment in the United Kingdom

The chairbound, handicapped person often requires a cushion to distribute the supportive forces over the largest area possible in order to reduce the risk of the development of a pressure sore. The paraplegic, or someone with a pelvic obliquity, may require a specially contoured cushion to redistribute seating pressures. Additionally, postural support can be provided by a relatively simple harness or by lateral support pads, either fitted as extras to standard wheelchairs or included as part of some wheelchair designs. The severely handicapped person may require padded inserts in his wheelchair or an intimately moulded seat which helps to control some spasms as well as to provide a functional, comfortable posture. Each of the commonly used methods of solving the seating problems of the chairbound person is discussed and different production processes used for the manufacture of personalized seats are presented.     

A chemiluminescent serotonin assay

A chemiluminescent serotonin assay is described, which is based on a reaction given by some indolic compounds in alkaline dimethyl sulfoxide (DMS). When coupled to a rapid serotonin extraction procedure the assay may be used for measuring the serotonin content of different brain areas, and the release of this transmitter.     

Long-distance of transmission of facial affect signals

This study examined the distance at which certain facial expression can transmit affect messages. A man and a woman assumed—facial expressions that were selected carefully to represent six affects. These expressions were shown in still photographs and in live portrayals to 49 observers who composed four groups which were 30, 35, 40, and 45 meters away from the stimuli. Photographs and live portrayals produced comparable results. Every observer was able to label the expressions accurately although accuracy declined as distance increased. Extrapolation from the data suggested that some messages may be sent far beyond the distances used in this study. These results raise important issues about the transmission of facial signals over distance and suggest that the face is a long-distance transmitter of affect signals.     

Power for neurological prostheses: A simple inductive R.F. link with improved performance

A variety of methods has been used or proposed to stabilize the amplitude of signals received by implanted neurological prostheses from external equipment via R.F. inductive links of uncertain geometry. These include: use of Zener diodes, operation at critical coupling, operation inside a Helmholz pair, recoding amplitude data into time intervals or pulse trains and automatic adjustment of transmitter power to compensate for fluctuations in coupling coefficient. Rather surprisingly, a pair of inductively-coupled series-resonant circuits is inherently insensitive to variations in coupling coefficient over a wide range (e.g. 0.03–1.0) if the transmitter coil is part of a self-oscillator. Exploitation of this insensitivity may, in some applications, render the use of special amplitude-fixing strategems unnecessary.     

An unexpected way forward: towards a more accurate and rigorous protein-protein binding affinity scoring function by eliminating terms from an already simple scoring function

A fundamental and unsolved problem in biophysical chemistry is the development of a computationally simple, physically intuitive, and generally applicable method for accurately predicting and physically explaining protein–protein binding affinities from protein–protein interaction (PPI) complex coordinates. Here, we propose that the simplification of a previously described six-term PPI scoring function to a four term function results in a simple expression of all physically and statistically meaningful terms that can be used to accurately predict and explain binding affinities for a well-defined subset of PPIs that are characterized by (1) crystallographic coordinates, (2) rigid-body association, (3) normal interface size, and hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, and (4) high quality experimental binding affinity measurements. We further propose that the four-term scoring function could be regarded as a core expression for future development into a more general PPI scoring function. Our work has clear implications for PPI modeling and structure-based drug design.