Purpose: This research explored the challenges of public transport use for individuals on the autism spectrum. It, subsequently, proposed a mobile application solution, coproduced by individuals on the autism spectrum, to facilitate public transport use.
Methods: We, first, conducted a review of the literature to highlight the challenges people on the autism spectrum face when utilizing public transport. We, then, designed a list of mobile application functionalities that address the identified problems. To validate these functionalities, 27 young autistic adults and 19 families of autistic individuals were employed. Finally, based on the findings, we designed a mobile application that helps facilitate public transport use for those on the autism spectrum.
Results: We found that the most prevalent concerns, in public transport use, amongst autistic individuals and their families are safety and spatial awareness. Specific problems include finding one's way to the bus stop, boarding the correct service and disembarking at the correct stop. Interestingly, anxiety about unexpected events was also a barrier. Sensory sensitivity, similarly, was found to be an obstacle.
Conclusions: This study defined the challenges of public transport use for autistic individuals and proposed a technological solution. The findings can also inform innovators, public transport providers and policymakers to improve public transport accessibility.Implications for rehabilitationPeople on the autism spectrum heavily rely on other individuals, namely family and friends, for their transportation needs. This dependence results in immobility for the autistic individuals and significant time and economical sacrifice for the person responsible for the transportation.Public transport, a cheap and widely available form of transportation, has not yet been clearly studied with individuals on the autism spectrum.We clearly define the challenges of using public transport and put forward a trip planner mobile application, coproduced by autistic individuals, that facilitate it.In the long term, this enhanced travel independence can lead to greater education and employment opportunities and an overall improved quality of life.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2019.1646818 | DOI Listing |
BMJ Glob Health
December 2024
Division of Water and Health, Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Background: In developing countries, due to improper management of domestic animals' exposures, under-five (U5) children have been affected by diarrhoea. However, there is no evidence that shows the presence of diarrhoea-causing pathogens in the faeces of U5 children and animals residing in the same houses in the Sidama region, Ethiopia.
Methods: A laboratory-based matched case-control study was conducted on children aged 6-48 months in the Sidama region of Ethiopia from February to June 2023.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350108, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Xuefu North Road 1St, Shangjie Town, Minhou Country, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350108, China. Electronic address:
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impact renal function, with albumin playing dominant role in their transport and accumulation. However, the mediating role of albumin in PFAS-induced renal impairment and the identification of sensitive populations remain uninvestigated.
Methods: This study included 9328 individuals from NHANES 1999-2018 with data on serum PFAS, creatinine, albumin, and covariates.
Dev Cell
December 2024
Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address:
Lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) within the wall of collecting lymphatic vessels exhibit tonic and autonomous phasic contractions, which drive active lymph transport to maintain tissue-fluid homeostasis and support immune surveillance. Damage to LMCs disrupts lymphatic function and is related to various diseases. Despite their importance, knowledge of the gene transcriptional signatures in LMCs and how they relate to lymphatic function in normal and disease contexts is largely missing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Transl Med
December 2024
Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang, China.
Background: Aberrant alternative splicing (AS) contributes to tumor progression. A crucial component of AS is cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 4 (CPSF4). It remains unclear whether CPSF4 plays a role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression through AS regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
December 2024
Department of Power Engineering and Transportation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Gleboka 28, 20-612, Lublin, Poland.
Engine oil is a valuable source of information on the technical condition of the drive unit. Under the influence of many factors, including operating conditions, time, high temperature, and various types of contamination, the oil gradually degrades, which can result in serious engine damage. The subject of the article focuses on an attempt to answer the questions of how engine failure affects the degradation of engine oil and whether we can use this knowledge to detect potential problems in public transport vehicles at an early stage.
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