Gut Microbes Linked to Autism-Like Symptoms in Mice - Slashdot
sciencehabit writes “Many physicians and parents report that their autistic children have unusually severe gastrointestinal problems, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea. These observations have led some researchers to speculate that an ailing gut contributes to the disorder in some cases, but …
Further evidence for the gut microbe theory of Autism…
bbz:
Because of Haiyan’s very recent devastation, please consider contributing to first-respondents efforts:
If you’re looking for someone missing in the Philippines, or if you have information about someone there, Google.org has launched the Typhoon Yolanda Person Finder. A Google crisis map has also been added to detail evacuation centers and areas designated for relief.
Charities and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world are responding to this disaster. Many are detailed below with how they’re providing aid and how you can help them make a difference.
Emergency support
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has deployed rescue and relief teams to evaluate the damage in the areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. You can donate to the Philippine Red Cross by selecting the Supertyphoon Yolanda campaign on their donation page. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Red Cross networks from around the world are supporting the Philippine Red Cross. Many have created specific funds for this disaster, including the American Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross and the British Red Cross.
The Salvation Army is on the ground serving storm survivors, primarily with food, water and shelter. Emergency Disaster Service teams have been providing help since the typhoon hit, but are challenged by the lack of accessible roads to transport goods and medical supplies. The non-profit has set up a designated fund for Haiyan relief efforts, which you can access here. You can also make a donation by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is working with local authorities, the Filipino Jewish community and their global partners to assist in providing for survivors’ immediate needs. You can support their efforts online or by phone at 1-212-687-6200.
CARE’s emergency response teams are coordinating with local partners in the Philippines to provide food, water, shelter and health care for those in need. Their teams in Vietnam are preparing for the potential need there as Typhoon Haiyan continues its devastation. You can support CARE’s efforts on their website, or by phone at 1-800-521-2273 within the United States or +1-404-681-2252 outside the U.S.
Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S., is on the ground helping with water purification, shelter materials and essential living supplies. You can donate to the organization’s efforts online or you can call 1-877-435-7277. You can also type in your phone number on the website and a representative will call you back to take your donation.
Convoy of Hope’s Global Disaster Response Team has shipping containers full of food and supplies on the way to the Philippines. The organization is preparing more supplies to be sent like canned goods, hygiene kits and water filtration units. You can visit Convoy of Hope’s website to donate funds to their efforts or call 1-417-823-8998.
Mercy Corps is preparing to deliver food, water, temporary shelter and other basic supplies to devastated areas throughout the Philippines. You can support the organization by donating through their website, PayPal, or by calling 1-888-747-7440.
Oxfam America aid teams are on the ground in northern Cebu, northern and eastern Samar and Leyte, in the Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines. They’re working to provide immediate access to water and sanitation materials. You can support this effort by donating online to their Typhoon Haiyan Relief and Recovery Fund, or by phone at 1-800-776-9326.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) emergency response team is working in Manila and in the province of Bohol to provide food, emergency relief and medical aid to those in need. They have launched an emergency appeal that you can support online or by phone at 1-800-424-2372.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has dispatched an emergency team to Manila and launched a $10 million appeal in order to ensure immediate needs like safe water, hygiene and sanitation are met. If you would like to contribute to their efforts, click here.
Operation Blessing International (OBI) has deployed disaster relief teams in multiple locations following the massive devastation from Typhoon Haiyan. The organization is providing clean water and food, emergency shelter materials and medical assistance. To help the charity’s mission, you can make a contribution on their website.
Food and water
The World Food Programme was already providing emergency food assistance in the Philippines following the October earthquake. With these emergency food stocks stretched thin, they’re now mobilizing additional supplies and are flying in 40 tons of fortified biscuits in the coming days. Additional food supplies are needed. You can help these efforts by donating online or by calling 1-202-747-0722 domestically or +39-06-65131 for international calls.
Samaritan’s Purse has sent disaster relief specialists, including water and nutrition experts, to the Philippines to deliver immediate aid. They have launched the Philippines Emergency Relief fund for this disaster, which you can support online or by phone at 1-828-262-1980.
World Vision is responding in the Philippines by first providing emergency food and clean water. They will also work to create child-friendly spaces and help families rebuild from this disaster. They have launched a Philippines Disaster Response Fund that you can support online or by calling 1-888-511-6443.
Action Against Hunger is on the ground providing drinking water and survival kits containing buckets, soap and chlorine tablets. They’re also working to distribute sanitation equipment to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. They’re requesting assistance and you can help by donating online or by calling 1-877-777-1420.
Shelter
ShelterBox was already in the Philippines providing shelter after the 7.2 earthquake that hit Bohol on October 15. They are now expanding their operations to provide tents and essential equipment for families left homeless after Typhoon Haiyan. You can support their work in the Philippines either online or by calling 1-941-907-6036.
Habitat for Humanity is already providing help to 30,000 families with shelter repair kits to rebuild their damaged homes. You can support this work by donating from the Philippines to their Re-Build Philippines Fund or from the U.S. by contributing to their Disaster Response Fund. You can also make a donation by phone at 1-800-HABITAT.
Architecture for Humanity is mobilizing to assist with post-disaster reconstruction and the organization’s working with local architects to identify the most critical rebuilding needs. You can support their Super Typhoon Haiyan Response online, by calling 1-415-963-3511 or by texting REBUILD to 85944 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone.
Medical assistance
Americares has an emergency shipment on the way to the Philippines with enough medical aid for 20,000 survivors, including antibiotics, wound care supplies and pain relievers. You can support Americares with an online donation or by calling 1-800-486-4357.
International Medical Corps has pre-positioned medical supplies and their team is on the ground coordinating with their partners in the Philippines to distribute and provide medical aid. You can support their Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Response fund online or by calling 1-800-481-4462.
More than 1.5 tons of emergency medicine and medical supplies are en route to the Philippines from Direct Relief. The supplies include antibiotics, pain relievers, nutritional supplements, antifungal medications, wound dressings and chronic disease medicines. You can call in your donation by dialing 1-805-964-4767 or you can go online to support the organization.
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders (MSF) have emergency teams in Cebu city with an additional 50 people including medical personnel, logisticians and psychologists arriving in the Philippines in the next few days. They’ll bring tents, supplies of drugs, medical equipment and material to purify water, as well as essential plastic sheeting, cooking items and hygiene kits. Teams will monitor possible outbreaks of infectious diseases. An additional cargo is being prepared due to leave later this week from Bordeaux with an inflatable hospital and medical material. You can make your donation by calling 1-212- 763-5779 or online.
Helping children
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is helping children and their families in the Philippines receive shelter, clean water, nutrition and vaccines. Their emergency response can be supported online or by calling 1-800-367-5437. You can also donate directly to UNICEF in the Philippines here.
Save the Children is offering disaster relief support for children in the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam after Typhoon Haiyan. The charity has pre-positioned relief material kits for children and families, which will include toiletries, household cleaning items, temporary school tents and learning materials. You can support their Philippines Annual Monsoon and Typhoon Children in Emergency Fund online. You can also donate by phone at 1-800-728-3843.
Emergency response teams from ChildFund International prepositioned supplies, including emergency kits and tents, and made arrangements with local suppliers to access food and non-food relief supplies. The organization is also preparing to setup child- centered spaces where kids can feel safe. Donate to ChildFund online to help children cope and recover confidence after this disaster.
Teams from Plan are also on the ground responding to the needs of children and their families. Their priorities are vulnerable youngsters and communities in rural locations. You can support their appeal on their website.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/09/world/iyw-how-to-help-typhoon-haiyan/index.html
(via thebicker)
Black.rain.cloud: I need more training! (discussion of traumatized autistic child and strategies for helping)
I’ve become pretty confident in my ability to assist adolescent Autistic/Aspergers students with superb verbal skills and mild-to-negligible behavior issues.
Student is now pretty good at sniffing out when others are teasing him under the guise of “just being friendly” and is able to tell them…
I’m not a teacher, but I am a mum of two kids on the ASD rainbow. I can tell you from experience that ASD manifests itself in ways as unique as each child. Therefore, improvisational skills are a fantastic advantage.
Some things that may help in the overall strategies:
1) Get the class on your side. Books like All Cats Have Asperger’s can be an introduction to ASD and how some behaviors of Aspergic kids can be found in the fully autistic. Explain Autism and how it can make life a little harder for those who have it. Just like any disability, knowledge is key to preventing bullying or exclusion.
2) Confab with a helpful parent/guardian. Given that the kid in question is scared of adults, you may be dealing with someone at the ‘beat it out of them’ level of ignorance somewhere in the home scene. Tact is a great helper when dealing with people who don’t understand ASD.
3) Make a safe space. For my youngest, who had meltdowns in the early years, I suggested and achieved a “soft corner” where my little girl could de-stress. It included a bean-bag, a cuddly toy, and a faux-fur pillow. Your little autiste (my term) may need a toy cubby or a similar one-kid space. Make it clear that this is X’s safe space and anyone caught invading it without permission is headed for time-out.
4) Have sensory aids. Lots of autistic kids have trouble with loud noises. I personalized a set of ear muffs, which I loan to the school for the times when the world gets too loud. You may have to work with the child on your own if the family is unhelpful. You can do lots with stickers, beads and a hot glue gun.
5) Set up a reward system. Positive re-enforcement works marvelously. If your kid isn’t a reader, then pictograms work as well. Prizes can be anything from stickers and stamps to safe sensory activities.
6) Know the time limit. If an autiste can only handle tasks in five-minute windows, work with it instead of trying to convince oatmeal to flow uphill. Yes, it means re-framing the tasks you set out for the whole class, and I won’t pretend it isn’t a pain in the anatomy… but it will make class time less stressful in the long run.
7) Know the warning signs. This is one only familiarity can help you with, alas. ASD kids have what I like to think of as an escalating chain of de-stressing behaviors (eg. Verbal stimming) that you can use to gauge whether or not it’s time to intervene(use the three D’s - Delay, Derail, Distract). There’s a huge difference between I’m dealing with this habits and This is starting to not be OK habits.
This is an awful lot not about books. I know. But I do recommend you get a hold of Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian by John Elder Robinson. If only for the marvelous word Nypical.
Oh, and avoid any material from Autism Speaks. They don’t speak for autistes, they want to eliminate them.
On the three D’s:
Delay: delay the oncoming storm with encouraging words, or telling them they can try ‘one more time’ before going to something else. Never make them feel ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ that the disturbing thing is disturbing them.
Derail: derail the chain of causation with something attractive (VERY dependent on the child in the situation) as a reward for ‘doing so well’ at whatever. You can even use verbal stimming for this if you can.
Distract: distract them from the distress with a different (and attractive) activity/object. Improvisation is definitely your friend. I once prevented a meltdown by singing about being scared and then being ‘a brave little girl’. It caused my elder child a lot of embarrassment, but my little autiste did not have a meltdown and that counts as a success.
And above all else - learn everything you can, then share everything you can. Be fully prepared to dumb it down if you have to. And if someone insists on ignorance, ask them if their ignorant strategies would work on any other disability. Then ask them how Autism is not a disability.
Winning the fight against ignorance is often the biggest battle.
No, I WOULD NOT recommend JER’s “Be Different” for a kid who’s been shamed or terrified into this level of insecurity.
That book might as well have been called “Why It’s Super Important for Other People Not to Think You’re Weird.” I couldn’t even get through the first part of it, it was that shaming and gross, and I’m an adult who thinks I’m fairly secure with myself.
More likely he needs to just know that he’s safe and accepted. OP, that he seems to see you as a safe person is a good sign. Is there any way that when he gets upset, he can just come to you, no questions asked?
It’s also important that adults don’t make him feel cornered or trapped. As long as he’s not in imminent danger, there’s no reason he should be having to run away from adults, because they shouldn’t be giving chase. I concur with the need for a safe space.
Also, the motion of rocking is soothing to a lot of autistic people. See if, when he runs to you, he likes being rocked back and forth.
And this might be the job of someone other than you…but I hope someone’s trying to figure out what’s going on at home for him. (Some “therapies” that parents subject their kids to for 20-30 hours a week in addition to school can be very overwhelming and psychologically abusive.)
Sorry, I meant to say that JER’s book is an OK tool for teaching adults what ASD can be like “on the inside” from someone who’s experienced it. Plus ‘nypical’ is a pretty damn cool word that doesn’t carry the shaming implications present in 'normal’.
I agree with everything you’ve said here, chavisory. Safe environment first, above all things.
(via chavisory)
Help my best friend get out of medical debt
Some of you have seen me talk about my best friend Jess. She isn’t on Tumblr much anymore, but she’s a hilarious, incredibly bright, ambitious woman who also happens to be the strongest person I know.
Let me give you some background. Jess and I have been friends for more than 14 years. We assembled our own feminist army that we called the Viqueens.
We grew up together, we did everything together, we even went to prom together. She came to visit me in every gross dorm room I ever lived in, put up with my weird college friends, and fell in love with my cat even though she is NOT a cat person (and is actually quite allergic).
In 2010, those of you who have been following me for ages may remember that I took a hiatus from blogging. What I don’t think I made obvious at the time was that I really took a hiatus from life. I went through the worst period of depression I have ever had in my life. I did not move from my dorm room in three weeks. That’s no meals in the dining hall, no time outside, no attending classes. I laid in a dark room and cried for hours. I thought I would kill myself, I would positive that I would drop out of college.
Then Jess suggested that I come to visit her (she lived in Tennessee at the time) for spring break. I agreed, but my heart wasn’t in it. I was exhausted, despondent - I felt like every bone in my body was made of lead and I could barely breathe.
That week in Tennessee with Jess saved my life. I truly believe that our friendship healed me and brought me back from the edge, and I do not say that lightly.
My senior year of college, Jess’s husband at the time was deploying to Afghanistan. I suggested that she come live with me and Mr. E just outside Philadelphia, and she did! We had an amazing time as roomies, but towards the end of that, her husband divorced her, out of the blue, and cleaned out their bank account. She was literally penniless. And amazingly, she applied for and got her dream job working at a Montessori school just four days after that. She worked her ass off, commuted three hours a day for over a year when E and I moved out of the apartment and she moved in with her parents. She went to school while working full time, and just got certified to be a lead pre-schoolteacher.
The point of all this, in case you missed it, is that I love this woman like family and she is incredible.
Unfortunately, due to a minor health incident a few months ago, she is in tons of debt that has totally wiped out her savings. She is completely stressed out, and I really want to help.
So that’s why I’m asking you to help. Please, PLEASE give what you can. Signal boost this. I have a ton of amazing followers, so if just 1 in 8 of you give $1, it will help her immensely. Her birthday is in a few weeks, and I think the best surprise of all would be to take some of this pressure off of her.
I would not ask if this were not important to me. I know I’m incredibly privileged and lucky, which is why I’ve never done a personal donations drive like this before. But my friend is really in need of your help - please, please help if you can.
All my love and gratitude in advance,
Miss O
Signal boost
(Source: stfusexists-blog, via the-gay-is-over9000)
Good news, everyone!
I have a job.
A paying job.
I am now, officially, a journalist [talk about doing things backwards. Most writers start out as journos] for a soon-to-be-released online ladies’ magazine.
I have, over the past week, been working on some articles for it, usually two or three a day.
Today (Thursday) I was told I should be writing “pink and fluffy” pieces.
I must have earned a year off purgatory for not exploding at my best-beloved on a “do you even know me” rant.
I have never concerned myself with pink and fluffy. I consider pink and fluffy to be a waste of ink - or in this case, electrons. When the celebrity!news comes on I tune out, turn off, or walk away. When someone has a “fabulous” makeover, it’s my humble opinion that they usually wind up looking worse than when they started.
I don’t do nail polish. I don’t wear makeup. I can’t even find a nice lipstick on the rare occasions that I go looking.
And as for clothes… I’m in specialty shops, every single time.
I’m just about at home with bath products, but that’s about IT as far as pink!fluffy is concerned.
I want to show my darling dearest that there are ladies out there - and especially mums - who would like a little less pink!fluffy and a little more addressing the real issues in this world.
So please reblog this with *your* mum/kid concerns. Whether or not you agree with me on the pink!fluffy side.
Titanpad help?
I’ve been trying to put my interfics on Titanpad, and I keep running into a problem.
My fics are too damn long.
I get up to one thousand (+/- 100) lines and the next paste in causes a weird glitch. I can’t see any subsequent lines even though the line count says they’re there. It’s just… white.
Anyone with expertise in Titanpad… please let me know if this is a common thing and if there’s a solution.
Would all my beta-readers please…
Send me their email address?
I have three stories that I reckon are finished, but every time I ask for volunteers, I get lots of ‘yes please’ and nowhere to send it to.
I ALREADY HAVE THREE STORIES FOR YOU.
Just send me your freaking email address?
I’ve been working on a cypher
It’s for a book. Honest.
Nothing nefarious going on here, no sir.
Now, given my limited brains on the subject, I thought the wise thing to do was encode something with my cypher and let the internet geniuses out there try and crack it.
So here’s the encoded text:
Raewadmzpeqhqzkudlmsaairmjqdlndafradjazjuexbagvarag'narjanlba'xbafrirqvaYvoregv'naqqrqvxngrqgbkrcebcbfvlbakngnyzranexerngrqrxjny*Abjjrnerratnwrqvantengfvivyjb'grfgvatjrkreknganlba'benavanlbafbxbafrirqnaqfbqrqvxngrq'xnaybatraqhe*Jrnezrgbantergongy|svyqbskngjb*Jrunixbzgbqrqvxngncbelbabigungsvyq'nmnsvanyerfgvatcynfsbkbmuhuvetnikreyvimkngknganlbazvgyvi*Vgvmnygbtrkresvgvatnaqcebcrkngjrlhqqbkvf*Ohg'vanynewrfraf'jrpnaabgqrqvxng||jrpnaabgxbafrxeng||jrxnaabgunyb||kvftebjaq*Kroenizra'yvivatnaqqrq'jubfgehtyquve'unixbafrxengrqvg'snnobibjcbecbjrgbnqbeqrgenxg*Krjreyqjvyyvgyabg'abeybaterzrzorjngjrfnvuve'ohgvgxnaarirsbetrgjngkrlqvquve*Vgvmsbehfguryvivat'enkre'gborqrqvxngrquvegbkrhasvavlrqjrexjvpkrvuhsbguveunikhfsnfbaboyvnqinafq*Vgvmenkresbhfgboruveqrqvxngrqgbkrterggnfxerzravatorsbehf||kngsebzkrfrbabeqqrqjrgnxvaxerfqqriblbagbkngpbmsbjvpkrltnikrynfgshyzrmhebsqriblba||kngjruveuvyvermbyikngkrfrqrqlnyabguniqvqvaira||kngkvfanlba'haqrTbq'lnyuninahorekbiserqbz||naqkngtbirezragbikrcrcy'ovkrcrcy'sbkrcrcy'lnyabgcrevlsebzkrrek*
What say you all? Crackable? Uncrackable?
Peace family! A mother is in search of her daughter right now. Please help her locate her child and signal boost.
Wishes for wellness and safe return in this signal boost.
(Source: dynastylnoire, via the-gay-is-over9000)
A call for volunteers
You’ve had some free samples of my writing [check the #story tag in my posts] and now I’m looking for Beta Readers because it’s just occurred to me that handing out stories for free before I try to sell them might just be a bad business plan.
So. Does anyone out there with sharp reading eyes wish to subject themselves to the alpha drafts of whatever the heck my warped mind concocts next?