Different physicochemical properties of entirely α-glucan-coated starch from various botanical sources.

Amylosucrase from Neisseria polysaccharea (NpAS) synthesizes α-1,4 glucan polymer from sucrose. In this study, we coated various botanical sources of raw starch with an α-glucan layer generated by NpAS to improve physicochemical properties. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that all surfaces of the starch granules were successfully coated via the NpAS reaction. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystallinity decreased and the crystal pattern changed to C-type as an amylose layer formed around the surface of the starch granules. Based on rapid viscosity and differential scanning calorimetry analyses, the gelatinization resistance of the α-glucan-coated starch increased owing to decreased viscosity and increased melting temperature. Therefore, the α-glucans coated the starches by enzymatic reactions of various botanical sources; these have applicability in the food and starch industries owing to various physicochemical properties such as enhanced thermostability. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01113-z.

Centering the family in their system: a framework to promote family-centered AAC services.

Families are the most significant communication partners for an individual with complex communication needs. Even though family-centered approaches are recommended to support augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services for an individual, it is difficult to establish a successful plan that fits each individual's family. A framework for practitioners is proposed to effectively obtain and understand information about a family's unique dynamics as part of service delivery to positively impact AAC device uptake and long-term use. The goal of using this model is to minimize the disruption to the family while maximizing the integration of the AAC system. This paper proposes and illustrates a framework to enrich AAC services through the integration of several theoretical models of family systems theory, family paradigms, and a procedure called the self-created genogram. This paper begins by reviewing ecological family systems theory and family systems to guide and provide a framework to support effective AAC implementation. The process of self-creating genograms is then introduced as a means to obtain a rich perspective on family characteristics and dynamics that is informed by the individual who uses AAC. All of this information allows professionals to provide relevant information and tailor options for the family. As a result, the family is able to make informed decisions about AAC intervention in a manner most consistent with how they typically operate. Finally, we apply this framework to a hypothetical case of a child with autism and complex communication needs across three timepoints (preschool, late elementary/early middle school, and high school/post-secondary transition) to demonstrate how this framework can be used in clinical practice.

Personalized AAC Intervention to Increase Participation and Communication for a Young Adult with Down Syndrome.

Many adults with Down syndrome (DS) experience difficulty with speech production, and intelligibility challenges and communication breakdowns are common. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention can provide important supports for persons with these complex communication needs, but must be customized to address the goals, strengths, and needs of the individual. This article provides a description of a personalized AAC intervention for a young adult with DS whose speech was frequently unintelligible. The AAC intervention made use of a video visual scene display (VSD) approach, and was investigated in two separate studies in two key community settings: An inclusive post-secondary education program (a single-case reversal ABAB design), and a community shopping activity (a non-experimental AB case study design). The participant demonstrated sharp increases in successful communication and participation in both settings following the introduction of the video VSD, and both the participant and key stakeholders viewed the intervention positively. The results provide preliminary evidence that personalized AAC intervention, including the use of a video VSD approach, can provide important supports for communication and participation in community settings for adults with DS and complex communication needs.

Using AAC video visual scene displays to increase participation and communication within a volunteer activity for adolescents with complex communication needs.

Volunteer activities can provide opportunities to learn new skills, build social networks, and contribute to enhanced self-esteem. Volunteering also provides a positive contribution to society, and an opportunity to participate in activities that may differ from those in paid employment. People with severe disabilities and complex communication needs, however, may face significant barriers in participating and communicating in volunteer activities. A multiple-probe-across-participants, single-case experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of videos with integrated visual scene displays (video VSDs). The video VSDs were presented using a tablet-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app, as an intervention to increase the percent of steps completed independently within a volunteer activity. Participants were four adolescents with autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome, all of whom had complex communication needs. Each participant met the mastery criterion for the activity - completion of the volunteer work activities and communication exchanges with co-volunteers - with the use of the video VSDs. The results provide preliminary evidence that video VSDs may be an effective assistive technology for individuals with severe disabilities and complex communication needs to increase participation in volunteer activities, both as an instructional support in learning new skills, and as an AAC technique to support interaction with others.