Universal Design of Luciferase Fusion Proteins for Epigenetic Modifications Detection Based on Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer.

Global hypomethylation and promoter hypermethylation of tumor-suppressor genes are the hallmarks of cancer. We previously reported a global DNA methylation level sensing system based on dual-color bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) using methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD)-fused firefly luciferase (Fluc) and unmethyl-CpG binding domain (CXXC)-fused Oplophorus luciferase (Oluc). Moreover, BRET-based hydroxymethylation and hemi-methylation level sensing systems have been developed using hydroxymethyl-CpG and hemi-methyl-CpG binding domain-fused Fluc. These studies suggest that target epigenetic modifications can be simultaneously quantified using target-modification-binding protein-fused luciferases. In this study, we focused on the SnoopTag (SnT)/SnoopCatcher (SnC) protein ligation system to establish a universal design for fusion protein construction for any combination. SnT spontaneously forms an isopeptide bond with SnC; therefore, any kind of fusion protein would be constructed by the SnT/SnC system. To establish the proof of concept, MBD-SnT, CXXC-SnT, and SnC-Oluc were prepared and ligated MBD-SnT or CXXC-SnT to SnC-Oluc. The ligation products of MBD-SnT-SnC-Oluc and CXXC-SnT-SnC-Oluc showed luciferase activity and specific binding activity to methyl-CpG and unmethyl-CpG, respectively. The BRET signal using MBD-SnT-SnC-Oluc and CXXC-SnT-SnC-Oluc increased the amount of methyl-CpG and unmethyl-CpG in genomic DNA, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the BRET signals; therefore, the global DNA methylation level was quantified using the BRET signals (R2 = 0.99, and R.S.D. <3.5%). These results indicate that the SnT/SnC protein ligation system can be utilized to construct target modification-binding protein-fused luciferases in any combination that detects target modifications in genomic DNA based on BRET.

Universal Design for Learning in Deaf Education Contexts: A Scoping Review.

The authors performed a scoping review using a five-stage methodological framework (Arksey & O'Malley, 2005; Levac et al., 2010) to map the nature and extent of the literature regarding universal design for learning (UDL) in deaf education contexts. UDL is a well-established framework that provides actionable recommendations for developing instruction. The review revealed that high-quality investigations of UDL in deaf education are limited; only three articles met criteria for inclusion, though excluded articles were also examined for themes. The analysis showed that despite global interest in studying UDL through a variety of methods, more research is needed that applies this framework explicitly throughout study design, analysis, and discussion rather than just within the framing. Given its inclusion in federal educational policy, it is critical that scholars and educators examine how UDL can support educators in the design and implementation of impactful instruction for deaf learners.

Using and improving the PHISICC paper-based tools in the health facility laboratories: Examples of Human Centered Design taking systems thinking into practice, in Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

Background: Health workers in low- and middle-income countries are increasingly demanded to collect more and more data to report them to higher levels of the health information system (HIS), in detriment of useful data for clinical and public health decision-making, potentially compromising the quality of their health care provison. In order to support health workers' decision-making, we engaged with partners in Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria in a research project to conceive, design, produce, implement and test paper-based health information tools: the PHISICC tools. Our aim was to understand the use of PHISICC tools by health workers and to improve them based on their feedback. Methods: The design Health Facility Laboratories (HF Labs) in Côte d'Ivoire and in Nigeria were set up after months of use of PHISICC tools. Activities were structured in three phases or 'sprints' of co-creative research. We used a transdisciplinary approach, including anthropology and Human Centered Design (HCD), observations, shadowing, structured interviews and co-creation. Results: Health workers appreciated the standardization of the tools across different health care areas, with a common visual language that optimized use. Several design issues were raised, in terms of formats and contents. They strongly appreciated how the PHISICC registers guided their clinical decision-making and how it facilitated tallying and counting for monthly reporting. However, adherence to new procedures was not universal. The co-creation sessions resulted in modifications to the PHISICC tools of out-patient care and postnatal care. Discussion: Although health systems and systemic thinking allowed the teams to embrace complexity, it was the HCD approach that actually produced a shift in researchers' mind-set: from HIS as data management tools to HIS as quality of care instruments. HCD allowed navigating the complexity of health systems interventions due to its capacity to operate change: it not only allowed us to understand how the PHISICC tools were used but also how to further improve them. In the absence of (or even with) an analytical health systems framework, HCD approaches can work in real-life situations for the ideation, testing and implementation of interventions to improve health systems and health status outcomes.

Understanding Person-Environment Relationships as Criteria to Support the Operationalization of Universal Designing.

To reach a broader understanding of person-environment relationships as building blocks for universal design in research and practice, this paper combine and discuss three types of interaction between individuals and environments - instrumental, non-instrumental, and non-physical - and five constituent concepts, i.e. accessibility, usability, aesthetic experience, the experience of meaning and emotional experience. Theoretical frameworks/models for person-environment relationships are synthesized and combined based on a literature review and the author's previous experiences. The author proposes to classify accessibility and usability as instrumental person-environment interaction, aesthetic experience as non-instrumental interaction, and experience of meaning and emotional experience as non-physical interaction. At the same time, acknowledge the potential of the three types of interaction to embed cues and choices to accommodate the widest variety and number of people throughout their lifespans. This paper contributes to understanding person-environment relationships as criteria to support research strategies and the operationalization of universal designing.

State of Art and Perspectives of Universal Design: The Libyan Approach.

Through this paper, we have highlighted the importance of a Universal Design orientation within the architectural community in Libya; it attempts to shed light on some of the different initiatives, experiences, applications, and projects in the field of accessibility and Universal Design to provide a hospitable urban environment that can accommodate all segments of Libyan society. The paper discusses the difficulties of architectural integration and the need for comprehensive education, training, and proof of concept applications by reviewing some inspiring projects undertaken in Libya to encounter this issue. The paper concludes by looking forward to practicing the design orientation for all in Libya by discussing the opportunities available after the tremendous political and economic change in Libya post-2011 and the need for reconstruction programs that adopt the Universal Design doctrine on suspended and future urban projects, furthermore the need to establish a national strategy, and law binding commitment in this context.

'Frontrunners" Understanding of Universal Design in Architecture.

In Denmark, the building sector is in a state of transition towards Universal Design (UD). Thus, UD has not yet completely found its way into the practice of architects and their clients. Legislation about accessibility has dominated. This paper studies understandings of UD through a discourse analysis based on a survey among professionals with experience and interest in UD and professionals who were expected to keep their fingers on the pulse of the profession's development. The findings illustrate the existence of five discourses: 1) Social sustainability, 2) Re-instatement of humans as a focal point, 3) It is not just about ramps, 4) Equality, and 5) Giving a voice. Across the discourses there exists a genuine attempt to legitimise and mainstream UD into the architectural practice, focusing on multisensory and architectural quality in the design of spaces for human diversity in all scales.

Understanding the Quality of Life of Indian Elderly During COVID-19 Pandemic from Universal Design Perspective.

India is rapidly growing towards a demographic future where a significant proportion of the population is over 60 years and above. In the COVID-19 pandemic, the restrictions imposed to minimize the virus transmission have a detrimental effect on the Quality of Life (QoL) of the elderly, limiting their mobility and social interaction. As a result, social isolation and loneliness have become significant health issues. This study attempts to understand the QoL of Indian elderly during COVID-19 pandemic from universal design (UD) perspective. The objectives were: (a) Discuss the QoL of Indian elderly during COVID-19; (b) Identify the factors affecting QoL of elderly during pandemic; (c) Find the link between factors associated with QoL and UD philosophy. These objectives were achieved by desk-based literature review and a pilot study of Solanipuram, a typical urban neighborhood in Roorkee located in Northern India. Personal in-depth interview sessions with limited number of (n=20) participants aged 60 years and above; belonging to upper-middle income group, are conducted and analyzed using the inductive thematic technique. The previous research suggests that, to date, QoL has been described as well-being resulting from physical, functional, emotional, social, and environmental factors. Whereas, UD allows for the inclusion of the 'cultural' dimension into the discussions. Especially in a country with diversity like India, where elderly discusses the impact of physical distancing, limited mobility, and social interactions on their QoL during COVID-19. This study indicates that the application of UD philosophy in response to pandemic can promote well-being and enhance the QoL of elderly.

Making Research More Inclusive: Is Universal Design of Research the Answer?

Researchers typically declare in the methods section of scientific papers that the study included a representative sample. A closer look at the composition of participant groups, however, reveal that these samples are typically based on criteria such as age, educational background, and a binary gender division. Nothing is mentioned about other characteristics e.g., functional, or neurocognitive variations. Consequently, many "representative samples" do not really represent the whole population, but rather the majority. In this perspective paper, we argue that there is a need for more inclusive research considering the broad diversity of people. We discuss whether Universal Design of Research (UDR) is a purposeful approach. We go through the proposed definition of UDR and apply three topics as examples, namely participant characteristics, communication, and study design. The overall conclusion is that UDR might be purposeful for many studies but is not ethical or purposeful in all types of research. There is, however, a need for a more precise and comprehensive definition of UDR to comply with ethical requirements and to be purposeful for researchers. We therefore conclude by suggesting a revised definition.

Towards 3rd Generation Universal Design: Exploring Nonclusive Design.

In this paper, we identify and describe early signs of a shift towards 3rd generation UD, of which "nonclusive design" is an essential part. The paper explores the significance of such a shift using examples of the built and designed environment and of signage. Nonclusive design means design that resists categorisations of bodies/roles and that does not come with predefined or presupposed limits in terms of who it is meant for. We outline seven themes characterising the shift towards nonclusive design: 1) from included to undefined users, 2) from person to function, 3) from adaptism to variation, 4) from separation to convergence, 5) from reactive to proactive, 6) from unaware to aware, and 7) from explicit to tacit. Nonclusive design directs attention to context instead of the individual, focusing on possibilities, functions and facilities. It has a convergent character, highlighting variation and unity rather than separation. Nonclusive design presupposes awareness, knowledge and proactive development void of adaptism. It incorporates human variation without reiterating patterns of norm-deviation. We argue that the continued growth of UD demands, is part of, and contributes to a shift in culture, with nonclusive, intersectional thinking as a key future driver. In such a culture, 3rd generation UD can contribute as a common guiding mindset, as a source for innovation, as a way to listen for diversity in all its forms, and as a way to lead towards a sustainable society.

Accessible-to-All Cities. A Project of Networking Italian Experiences to Raise Awareness and Promote Universal Design.

In 2016 the Italian National Institute of Urban Planning (INU) launched the project Accessible-to-all Cities, aimed at fostering the creation of an inclusive environment for improving universal accessibility to places and services at both scales of the city and the territory, by networking accessibility good practices and stakeholders from all corners of the country. Since then, a community of public and private subjects gathered by INU has been established and growing, sharing experiences, problems and solutions. Through the organization of dozens of meetings, seminars, workshops, conference sessions and webinars, more than 200 experiences developed in Italy have been collected, including studies and research, public policies, projects and actions, both material and immaterial, concerning the overcoming of different kind of barriers: physical, sensory, perceptive, intellectual, cultural, social, economic, health and gender. On these bases, in 2019, the INU Accessible-to-all Cities Community launched an open web archive, an initiative that intends to contribute to increasing awareness and knowledge, as well as to facilitate the implementation and development of actions and policies, by leveraging the good practices widespread, but often little known, in Italy.

Universal Design in Exhibit.

Universal Design has become more prevalent in the general use of architectural design buT has rarely been applied to exhibits. This paper features two manuals developed for exhibit accessibility that incorporate several principles of Universal Design.

Universal Design in Housing in Australia: An Example of People Power.

This paper follows three previous ones which have reflected on the grass-roots campaign in Australia to mandate a basic access standard in all new housing. The original negotiations with government and the housing industry for this reform were at first disingenuous then reluctant despite human rights obligations. A tenacious campaign over two decades by user stakeholders, researchers, and principled housing providers finally convinced political leaders to mandate national access provisions for all new housing in the National Construction Code. The paper discusses what assisted and hampered this campaign. It then discusses why politicians eventually favoured the interests of ordinary people over the self-interests of the housing industry.

Systemic Approach to Universal Design of Urban Spaces - Case Study of Trbovlje, Slovenia.

The study consisted of examining universal design principles and applying selected interventions with the goal of solving accessibility issues in the settlement of Trbovlje. As a result of the investigative process and the layered spatial data concerning universal design theory, it was possible to propose the dynamics for the implementation of the design solutions. Deliberate selection of only specific universal design features as a pragmatic decision is what ensures the proposed solution's real-world application value. Subdividing a wholistic design into temporal phases secures a more feasible and pragmatic approach to reach the end goal while still preserving the full functionality of each individual phase immediately and thus its effectiveness. Such a systemic approach is proposed as a way of creating a more focused overview of the settlement, making a better design for the solution of specific issues, assessing these solutions, and implementing them in selected places. This approach and thinking present itself as a good method of granting universal accessibility that could be adopted as a mandatory part of any urban plan.

«Progetto di Vita¼ and Universal Design for Persons with Disabilities.

«Progetto di Vita¼ ("PdV" Life Project) represents the crucial element to design and build the Quality of Life of persons with disabilities, in coherence with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In Italy, Law no. 112/16 identifies in the PdV the principle around which to build a convergence of intents and interests for the realisation of the «Dopo di Noi¼ (After Us) that can take place «durante Noi¼ (during Us) through the construction of empowerment paths towards autonomy in a perspective of prevention, gradualness, emancipation and accompaniment to detachment. In order to experience autonomy «durante Noi¼, preparing for the «Dopo di Noi¼, the living space, the surrounding environment and the community of reference represent fundamental functional and/or spatial environments. The aim of this article is to map and analyse the good practices that have emerged from the concrete application of the Law through the activation of housing welfare projects that represent innovative forms of living built around the PdV approach.

Plans for the Removal of Architectural Barriers (PEBAs) from a UD Perspective. An Interdisciplinary Process in the Italian Region Friuli Venezia Giulia.

It is more than thirty years since the Italian Law introduced the Plans for the Removal of Architectural Barriers (PEBAs). However, their implementation by municipalities is still limited, and accessibility is often understood as the result of the elimination of single physical obstacles, rather than the development of interconnected systems of urban spaces and collective equipment that are usable and inclusive according to Universal Design (UD) criteria. Since 2018, the Italian Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region has started a collaboration with the Universities of Trieste and Udine, in order to bring UD at the core of the implementation of the Regional Law no. 10/2018. This Law introduced significant innovations: the disposal of regional funds to support local administrations when drafting PEBAs; the delivery of a software application to facilitate the drawing of these plans; the establishment of a reference center in charge of training, information and consultancy activities on accessibility at a regional level (CRIBA); the delivery of a regional observatory for mapping and continuous monitoring of accessibility conditions and the implementation of PEBAs. The paper presents: i) an overview of the interdisciplinary work carried out by the Universities with the Region and CRIBA; ii) a focus on Universities' research activities and the current state of the collaboration process; iii) reflections on further research and its operational outcomes.

The Level of Inclusiveness of Current 15-Minute City Models. A Qualitative Analysis on How Far City of Proximity Strategies and Design for All Are Merging.

This article seeks to analyze different city plans in terms of proximity and accessibility. A total of 6 highly-recognized pedestrian models were chosen to compare their inclusive micro-mobility measures, not only in international contexts (Paris, Melbourne or Portland); but also a closer look will be taken at Spain, as it has managed to present its own referents (Valladolid, Vitoria and Pontevedra). A qualitative approach study was undergone to assess the real extent of inclusive proximity criteria, triggering a more in-depth, critical analysis by recognizing implicit, non-explicit, inclusive micro-mobility measures. The findings show disconnections between accessibility and proximity policies, mainly regarding exclusion of explicit accessibility measures and pedestrian mobility comfortability.

Interpreting Inclusion for Sanitation Perspectives from India: A Contextual Approach to Universal Design.

Access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for all is fundamental for sustenance. Goal 6 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals urges that 'universal access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene' is fundamental as a response in the current post-COVID scenario. Despite Government of India's efforts through programs like Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission, there is a long way to go to integrate equity and inclusion in the sanitation facilities of the public realm. This paper is an attempt to understand the aspect of inclusion in sanitation systems of urban public spaces of India, limiting the study to Delhi and Noida, which are in the National Capital Region (NCR). The aim is to explore the contextual challenges of universal design in public sanitation and develop an understanding of what makes a public toilet inclusive in the urban Indian context. A field-based, mixed methods approach is followed which begins with a literature review of government policies & schemes and theoretical understanding of inclusion as well as the role of universal design as an approach to achieve inclusion. This is followed by on-ground studies involving ethnographic surveys, analysis of imagery and field observations. The results show an analysis of the inclusive aspects of sanitation under the thematic domains of public perception, usage preferences and issues in the public toilet experience. The sanitation facilities in urban public spaces are used by a diverse population and the results showcase a collection of the qualitative experiences of a varied set of user groups. The subjective challenges of inclusive sanitation are highlighted through the various stages and components of the entire sanitation system - the design & infrastructure, operations & maintenance, and behavioural patterns. This paper tries to raise new grounded questions to further explore the highlighted marginal distinctions between inclusion and accessibility in the urban public sanitation experience of India.

Designing Hospitals Through the Lens of Universal Design. An Evaluation Tool to Enhance Inclusive Healthcare Facilities.

Various studies highlight a gap on reliable methods to measure the quality of projects and environments in terms of Universal Design (UD) and Design for All (DfA). In particular, healthcare facilities need decision support systems to improve the well-being of as many users as possible through a systematic approach. The present research proposes an evaluation tool to support designers and decision makers in the adoption of UD to develop healthcare facilities suitable for a wide range of users. Several methodologies have been adopted: an in-depth literature review on the current state of knowledge on UD evaluation, workshops and focus groups with both users and experts, and the analysis of four hospital case studies. The result was an evaluation framework built by using a Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA) methodology. The first version of the tool was applied to an American hospital and validated d in an Italian pilot case study. The research outlines a tool called Design for All A.U.D.I.T., able to evaluate Physical, Sensory-cognitive, and Social qualities based on a hierarchical framework with criteria and indicators based on UD and DfA. The framework evaluates the different areas of the hospital from outdoor to indoor spaces, allowing hospital administrators to act to improve the well-being of users according to the critical aspects of UD identified by the tool. The analysis provides a report of the facility status and design strategies to support designers for new projects or buildings renovations. The application shows that DfA A.U.D.I.T. can assess hospitals by examining both spatial qualities and DfA criteria. The tool could represent a decision support system in the national and international context, where many hospitals are not newly built. Further research will include application in different facilities and building typologies, aided by the flexible structure of the tool, which allows measurement of the environment's quality in terms of DfA and UD.

Developing Innovative Solutions for Universal Design in Healthcare and Other Sectors.

For over half a century, researchers have sought to better understand the needs of people with disabilities in the built environment, and for more than a quarter century, they have sought to understand the effectiveness of universal design (UD) on a wide range of people and populations. This research led to the creation of the innovative solutions for Universal Design (isUD) building certification program, which addresses knowledge gaps in the practitioner's field with UD criteria. The isUD focuses on commercial buildings but aims to expand to other sectors including healthcare and residential settings. The research and outcomes used in the development and evaluation of the isUD combined with lessons learned from implementation of the isUD program suggest a path forward to improve and expand the program. Several research studies have evaluated the effectiveness of UD standards. One study compared university residence halls, one of which was built using a draft version of UD standards using a guided tour and online surveys among other methods.[1] Another study used online surveys to compare a workplace built using the isUD with the former workspace.[2] Another study used in-person surveys to compare public right-of-way features pre- and post- design intervention.[3] Lastly, an innovative doctoral dissertation that proposes a new methodological tool to evaluate UD in healthcare settings [4-5] has been analyzed to inform the isUD's expansion into the healthcare sector. The results indicate there is value in using UD to address equal access to and use of facilities for people with and without disabilities, and people of diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Facilities built using UD standards and tools are more usable, comfortable, and satisfying for users. However, the results also indicate there is room for improvement to make the isUD tool more effective. These improvements will better enable expansion of the tool to be usable in settings with more specialized requirements. While UD is often effective at improving human performance, health and wellness, and social participation across some measures, and while tools that assist with UD implementation may further help achieve these outcomes, to gain widespread adoption across multiple sectors, such tools must be shown to be consistently effective in achieving UD outcomes across all measures. These improvements can help expand availability of UD to a wider, more diverse audience.

Towards eXtended Universal Design.

Even though eXtended Reality (XR) technology has been trialed in various projects in primary and secondary education, its lack of universal design hinders further adoption. In this paper, we present the results from focus group interviews with representatives from Norway's private and public sectors, in which we investigated their practical experiences and opinions about the accessibility and usability of XR technology in schools. We summarize practical opportunities and challenges related to the need for universal design of XR technology, both in general terms and in education specifically. Moreover, we compare the results to a previously conducted selective and weighted literature review. Five major future research needs to improve the universal design of XR technology emerge: The need to (1) increase co-creation, (2) identify and understand barriers, (3) develop solutions for said barriers, (4) advance standardization, and (5) develop evaluation methods and tools.