Optimizing Sensory Loads Using a Sensory Processing Skills Therapy among Autistic Spectrum Disorder

IntroductionSensory integration therapy can improve language skills, attention, and social interactions in children with ASD. However, it is also important to note that research in this field is ongoing, and more studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of these therapies. The present study is aimed to identify the effects of occupational therapy-based sensory processing skill therapies in improving the autism severity and QoL among ASD children. MethodologyThe intervention was performed for 12 weeks, six sessions per week, each based on 60 minutes of duration. The treatment protocol comprised four sensory processing skills in which Each child was trained on every skill for 15 minutes, making a total of 60 minutes of duration for a single session. ResultsSignificant improvements in CARS, CGAS and PedsQL (p<0.001) were observed after 12-weeks of intervention. ConclusionSensory processing skills therapies are a practical treatment approach in optimizing sensory load among ASD children.   DOI: https: //doi. Org/10.59564/amrj/01.01/005

Exploration of Flora of District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The research work aim to explore the flora of Bannu and get information and report the ethnobotanical knowledge of prevalent medicinal flora of the districtBannu and the adjoining area of FR-Bannu area in 2013-15. As a whole about 400 plant species belonging to 271 genera 90 families were collected, and conserved in Herbarium of Botany Department U.S.T, Bannu.The plants were collected from different villages, and organized alphabetically after identication, along with their botanical, English, local and family names, explanations, part used, flowering period, chemicals constituents, methods of applications of their parts and medicinal importance. Most of the plants reported here were wild some were cultivated. While other were wild as well as cultivated plants withe medicinal values. Similarly large number of plants were used asfodder, fuel, wood for furniture and also as making of ropes. There were found plants with edible fruits e.g. Mangifera indica, Pyrus malus etc. Several plants were classified as ornamental flora while some were of use as fencing and hedging.Out of400 collected flora 60 plants were observed as vegetables i.e. Lycopersicon esculentum, Allium cepa, Allium sativa, Brassica, Chenopodium, Solanum, Cucurbita,Capsicum, Mentha, Cucumis and Amaranthus whilst some plants are classified as cereal crops i.e. wheat, maize, oat and rice. In this way whole of the flora are classified as in various groups. Wild species (73), 4.0% Cultivated plants (45), 5.38% Ornamental plants (9),Indicator species (47) from 36 families (4.10%), Food values species (50) from 22 families(4.02%),. 48 Economically important flora (5.2%),Weed flora 186 plant species (45%), Poisonous plants (87) 54 genera(4.73%), Vegetables (60) plants species from 47 genera belonging to 26 families (13.58%),laticiferous plants 10 from 04 families( 02%), herbs (75%), shrubs (15%) and tree (10%),Aquatic plants (13%). fodder and forage species (14.75%), Fuel (7.3%), Fences (7.02%), Veterinary medicines (5.3%), Roof making (2.13%), furniture making (4.82%), Honeybees species (5.11%), while(1.77%) species considered to be sacred by locals, toothbrushing species (1.77%), basket making species (1.18%), sweeper making species (1.18%), carpet making species (1.18%), condiments and spices (2.25%), cricket bat making species (1.18%), (1.18%) species used after mehindi, soil binder species (3.10%), green tea species (0.59%), dye making species (0.59%) and (0.59%) chewing gum species. Most of the plants belong to the following families Poaceae (45.349%) having 27 genera (10.588%) and 39 species (10.076%), followed by Asteraceae (33.721%) with 22 genera (8.627%) and 29 species (7.494%),Papilionaceae (33.721%) 15 genera (5.882%) 29 species (7.494%), Solanaceae (26.744%) 11 genera (4.314%) 23 species (5.943%) Brassicaceae (22.093%) 11 genera (4.314%) 19 species (4.910%), Euphorbiaceae (17.442%) 6 genera (2.353%) 15 species (3.876%), Polygonaceae (16.279%) 5 genera (1.961%) 14 species (3.618%),Amaranthaceae (1516.1%) 7 genera (2.745%) 13 (3.359%), Apiacea (13.953%) 12 genera (4.706%) 12 species (3.101%), Rosaceae (11.628%) 5 genera (1.961%) 10 species (2.584%), Boraginaceae (10.465%) 6 genera (2.353%) 9 species (2.326%), Cucurbitacae (10.465%) 6 genera (2.353%) 9 species (2.326%) , Cyperaceae (9.302%) 5 genera (1.961%) 8 species (2.067%), Malvaceae (9.302%) 6 genera (2.353%) 8 species (2.067%), Lamiaceae (8.140%) 6 genera (2.353%) 7 species (1.809%), Moraceae (8.140%) 3 genera (1.176%) 7 species (1.809%), Myrtaceae (6.977%) 6 genera (2.353%) 6 species (1.550%),Apocynaceae and Liliaceae (5.814%) 4 genera (1.569%) 5 species (1.292%), and Caryophyllaceae (5.814%) with 3 genera (1.176%) 5 species (1.292%). Other important families were Ranunculaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Plantaginaceae (5.814%) having 2 genera (0.784%) and 5 species (1.292%) each, Potamogetonaceae (5.814%) with 1 genus (0.392%) and 5 species (1.292%), Convolvulaceae (4.651%) 2 genera (0.784) 4 species (1.034%), Juncaceae (4.651%) 1 genus (0.392%) 4 species (1.034%), Verbenaceae (4.651%) 3 (1.176%) 4 species (1.034%), Nyctaginaceae and Gentianaceae (3.488%)with 3 genera (1.176%)and 3 species (0.775%) each, Mimosaceae and Zygophyllaceae (3.488%) Both having 2 genera (0.784%) 3 species (0.775%), Rhamnaceae (3.488%) and Rutaceae (3.488%) each one have 1 genus (0.392%) and 3 species (0.775%). Similarly Alismataceae,Caesalpiniaceae,Cupressaceae,Hydrocharitaceae,Papaveraceae and Scrophulariaceae (2.326%) contributed 2 Genera (0.784%) and2 species (0.517%) each, while Cactaceae,Equisetaceae,Fumariaceae, Salicaceae, Taxaceae and Typhaceae (2.326%) have 1 genus (0.392%) and 2 species (0.517%) each. The remaining families, Agavaceae, Aizoaceae, Amaryllidaceae Anacardiaceae, Araceae, Aristolochiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asphodelaceae, Aspidiaceae, Begoniaceae, Bignoniaceae, Cannabinaceae, Capparidaceae, Combretaceae, Crassulaceae, Cuscutaceae, Cycadaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Fagaceae, Iridaceae, Linaceae, Magnoliaceae, Meliaceae, Oleaceae, Orchidaceae, Orobanchaceae, Oxalidaceae, Piperaceae, Portulacaceae, Primulaceae, Punicaceae, Resedaceae, Rubiaceae,Salvadoraceae, Sapindaceae, Sterculiaceae, Tamaricaceae, Tiliaceae, Urticaceae, Vitaceaehaving family percentage (1.163%) with 1 genus(0.392%) and 1 species(0.258%) each.So for as the important genera contributing more species are concerned it was reported that 73 familieshave more than 2 genera with total contribution of201 species, for instance Euphorbiaceaeand Polygonaceaewere at the top withgenera likeEuphorbia and Polygonum respectively with 9 species (3.529%) having a percentage of (12.329%) in top 73 genera of district Bannu. Other important genera were Brassica with6 (8.219%)species (2.353),Lathyrus, Potamogeton, Solanum with 5 (6.850) having a percentage of 1.961 Amaranthus, Chenopodium, Jancus, Ranunculus, Prunus, Datura, having 4 (5.480) having a percentage of 1.569 Achyranthes, Carthamus, Heliotropium, Cyperus, Hibiscus, Ficcus, Morus, Astragalus, Melilotus, Medicago, Plantago,Lolium, Ziziphus, Rosa, Citrus andPhysalis with 3 (4.110) species each having a percentage of 1.176. while Alternanthera, Nerium, Calendula, Eclipta, Launaea, Sonchus, Taraxacum, Nonea, Neslia, Raphanus, Silene, Spergula, Opuntia, Ipomoea, Convolvulus, Citrullus, Cucurbita, Cucumis, Fimbristylis, Equisetum, Jatropha, Fumaria,Mentha, Ocimum, Allium, Acacia, Trifolium,Veronica, Alopecurus,Aristida,Avena,Echinochloa, Hordeum,Phragmites, Poa,Sorghum, Rumex, Salix, Cestrum,Nicotiana, Withania, Taxus, Typha, Vitex and Fagonia having 2species (2.740%) having a percentage of 0.784. While the remaining 13 famlies have one genus with single species each. The present study also deals with poisonous plants of the area, in which 87 poisonous spp of plants belonging to 54 genera were reported. Important genera reported were Brassica 6 species (11.11%), Lathyrus 5 spp(9.26%),Euphorbia and Astragalus were with 4 spp with 7.40%. Ranunculus, Jatropha, Solanum, Sorghum and Datura were with 3 spp (5.56%) while Taxus, Melilotus, Chenopodium, Amaranthus and Allium have 2 spp (3.70%) each. These 15 genera contribute 48 species (55.17 %) while the 39 genera has single species each and contribute 44.83% to the total poisonous flora of the research area. Other plants were Cannabis sativa, Datura stramonium L., D. metel L., Jatropha curcas, Taraxacum officinale, Taxus baccata L., and Xanthium strumarium. In the present study the genetic diversity of the species in relation to their stem, leaves, root, flower, inflorescence, calyx. Chaorlla, androcium, gynoecium, fruit and seed of the local flora of Bannu and FR Banuu were also studied, it was found that the most common color are grey, brown and milky. The researcher has also noticed great diversity in vegetative and reproductive characteristics of the local flora.