Assessing Social Connectedness Among Persons with Schizophrenia: Psychometric Evaluation of the Perceived Social Connectedness Scale.

The purpose of this study was a psychometric evaluation of the 4-item perceived social connectedness (PSC) scale. The study analyzed secondary data from a project that assessed physical, behavioral, and social health characteristics of adults with serious mental illness receiving integrated services at community mental health centers (CMHs). The current sample comprised those diagnosed with schizophrenia attending these CMHs (N = 146).

Examining spiritual support among African American and Caucasian Alzheimer's caregivers: A risk and resilience study.

Research shows African Americans at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to the Caucasian population, suggesting African American AD caregivers are rising in numbers at a greater rate than Caucasian counterparts. Over a decade ago, an article in Geriatric Nursing revealed spiritual well-being differences among these caregiver groups. The purpose of this study was a quasi-follow-up, utilizing a larger caregiver sample to test spiritual support as a moderator via a risk-and-resilience framework.

Activities of Daily Living Assessment among Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia: Psychometric Reevaluation of the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale.

The purpose of this study was to conduct psychometric reevaluation of the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale (BADL) among a population logistically difficult to observe beyond cross-sectional analysis: nursing home residents with advanced dementia (AD). Data from observation-based measures were collected by nursing home staff at two intervals within a three-month time frame among 43 residents identified with AD via medical records and nursing home staff. Three broad properties of BADL were examined: factor structure, reliability, and validity.

Support groups for Alzheimer's caregivers: Creating our own space in uncertain times.

Older men are often excluded from family caregiving research despite the steady increase in the number of husbands assuming primary caregiving roles. We explored perceptions of older, male caregivers' experiences with caring for a wife with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and examined what aspects of the support group were beneficial. Our qualitative research methods invited six caregivers ranging in age from 74 to 85 years to narratively construct their perspectives on caring for their wives with Alzheimer's Disease and benefits of participation in an all-male support group.

Gerontological Competencies among MSW Students: Evaluation of a Gerontology Specialization Program.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of a gerontology specialization program (GSP) within a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited master of social work (MSW) program. This study utilized a pretest/posttest design with a three-group comparison: group 1-GSP students; group 2-students from the group 1 program but not in GSP; and group 3-students at two external MSW programs with no GSPs. The overall sample comprised 220 advanced year students.

Montessori-Based Activities Among Persons with Late-Stage Dementia: Evaluation of Mental and Behavioral Health Outcomes.

Objectives: Literature regarding Montessori-based activities with older adults with dementia is fairly common with early stages of dementia. Conversely, research on said activities with individuals experiencing late-stage dementia is limited because of logistical difficulties in sampling and data collection. Given the need to understand risks and benefits of treatments for individuals with late-stage dementia, specifically regarding their mental and behavioral health, this study sought to evaluate the effects of a Montessori-based activity program implemented in a long-term care facility.

Nonlinear structure of the diffusing gas-metal interface in a thermonuclear plasma.

This Letter describes the theoretical structure of the plasma diffusion layer that develops from an initially sharp gas-metal interface. The layer dynamics under isothermal and isobaric conditions is considered so that only mass diffusion (mixing) processes can occur. The layer develops a distinctive structure with asymmetric and highly nonlinear features.

Burden among male Alzheimer's caregivers: effects of distinct coping strategies.

Focusing on the understudied, increasing population of male Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers, the purpose of this study was to identify their likelihood of utilizing 3 coping strategies (task focused, emotion focused, and avoidance focused) and to examine the effects of each coping strategy on caregiving burden. Data were collected from 138 male AD caregivers in southern United States, including geographically proportional representation of African Americans in the sample. Stepwise regression revealed effects of each coping strategy on caregiving burden, controlling for demographics.

Petawatt laser absorption bounded.

The interaction of petawatt (10(15) W) lasers with solid matter forms the basis for advanced scientific applications such as table-top particle accelerators, ultrafast imaging systems and laser fusion. Key metrics for these applications relate to absorption, yet conditions in this regime are so nonlinear that it is often impossible to know the fraction of absorbed light f, and even the range of f is unknown. Here using a relativistic Rankine-Hugoniot-like analysis, we show for the first time that f exhibits a theoretical maximum and minimum.

Plasma adiabatic lapse rate.

The plasma analog of an adiabatic lapse rate (or temperature variation with height) in atmospheric physics is obtained. A new source of plasma temperature gradient in a binary ion species mixture is found that is proportional to the concentration gradient ∇α and difference in average ionization states Z(2)-Z(1). Application to inertial-confinement-fusion implosions indicates a potentially strong effect in plastic (CH) ablators that is not modeled with mainline (single-fluid) simulations.

Psychometric evaluation of a proposed Alzheimer's aggression scale.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a popular measure of Alzheimer's disease (AD) memory and behavior problems and to determine whether its aggressive behavior items coalesced empirically as a subscale to form a psychometrically viable AD aggression measure for clinicians. Data from self-report questionnaires were examined from 419 informal AD caregivers in the southern United States. Principal axis factoring revealed a unidimensional solution with robust item loadings on the single factor.

Alzheimer's aggression: influences on caregiver coping and resilience.

This study assessed impact of Alzheimer's patients' aggressive behavior (AD aggression) on caregiver coping strategies (task-, emotion-, and avoidance-focused) and caregiver resilience, and examined whether coping strategy moderated the AD aggression-caregiver resilience relationship. Informal caregivers across Louisiana (N = 419) completed surveys with measures of demographics, AD aggression, caregiver coping strategies, and caregiver resilience. Task-focused coping positively related to resilience.

Psychometric re-evaluation of the immunosuppressant therapy adherence scale among solid-organ transplant recipients.

Rationale: The objective of this study was to conduct a psychometric re-evaluation of the immunosuppressant therapy adherence scale (ITAS), a self-report measure of immunosuppressant therapy (IST) adherence targeted to solid-organ transplant recipients.

Methods: Mailed questionnaires were used to collect data from 141 transplant recipients. A factor analysis of the ITAS was conducted.

Aging and low back pain among exercise participants: a follow-up study with psychological adaptation factors.

This study is a follow-up to a study previously published in this journal that reported the moderating function of exercise exertion amid the relationship between age and low back pain (LBP) among consistent exercise participants. The current study analyzed factors of psychological adaptation as potential mediators within the age--LBP relationship. Measures of psychological adaptation included psychological vulnerability, avoidant coping, resilient coping, and perceived resilience.

Social support and immunosuppressant therapy adherence among adult renal transplant recipients.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between social support and immunosuppressant therapy adherence among adult renal transplant recipients.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey design was employed. Mailed questionnaires were used to collect data from 81 recipients, and included the Immunosuppressant Therapy Adherence Scale (ITAS and Modified Social Support Survey (MSSS-5).

Relativistic positron creation using ultraintense short pulse lasers.

We measure up to 2x10;{10} positrons per steradian ejected out the back of approximately mm thick gold targets when illuminated with short ( approximately 1 ps) ultraintense ( approximately 1x10;{20} W/cm;{2}) laser pulses. Positrons are produced predominately by the Bethe-Heitler process and have an effective temperature of 2-4 MeV, with the distribution peaking at 4-7 MeV. The angular distribution of the positrons is anisotropic.

High performance compact magnetic spectrometers for energetic ion and electron measurement in ultraintense short pulse laser solid interactions.

An ultraintense short pulse lasers incident on solid targets can generate relativistic electrons that then accelerate energetic protons and ions. These fast electrons and ions can effectively heat the solid target, beyond the region of direct laser interaction, and are important to realizing the fast ignition concept. To study these energetic ions and electrons produced from the laser-target interactions, we have developed a range of spectrometers that can cover a large energy range (from less than 0.

Perceived stress and resilience in Alzheimer's disease caregivers: testing moderation and mediation models of social support.

Objective: The study examined whether social support functioned as a protective, resilience factor among Alzheimer's disease (AD) caregivers. Moderation and mediation models were used to test social support amid stress and resilience.

Method: A cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data was conducted.

Private prayer among Alzheimer's caregivers: mediating burden and resiliency.

This study examined whether the coping method of private prayer served as a protective factor of resiliency among a sample (N = 304) of Alzheimer's caregivers. Participants in caregiver support groups completed questionnaires that assessed a number of constructs, including caregiving burden; prayer frequency; use of private prayer as a means of coping; and perceived resiliency. The sample averaged a moderate level of burden and a great extent of prayer usage.

Psychometric evaluation of the shortened resilience scale among Alzheimer's caregivers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the shortened Resilience Scale (15-item version RS15) among a sample of Alzheimer's caregivers. Self-reported data were collected from 229 participants at 2 Alzheimer's caregiver conferences. RS15 principal axis factoring indicated a single-dimensional solution with all items loaded.

Increasing aging content in social work curriculum: perceptions of key constituents.

This mixed methodology study examines the perceptions of key constituents regarding methods for effectively integrating aging content into the foundation curriculum of the BSW and MSW program at the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Students were asked to complete a survey to determine their perception of geriatric content that existed within the foundation coursework. Following an analysis of the survey results, eight semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with a purposeful sample of students, faculty, field instructors, social work alumni, older adults from the community, and representatives from aging agencies.

Direct experimental evidence of back-surface ion acceleration from laser-irradiated gold foils.

Au foils were irradiated with a 100-TW, 100-fs laser at intensities greater than 10(20) W/cm2 producing proton beams with a total yield of approximately 10(11) and maximum proton energy of >9 MeV. Removing contamination from the back surface of Au foils with an Ar-ion sputter gun reduced the total yield of accelerated protons to less than 1% of the yield observed without removing contamination. Removing contamination from the front surface (laser-interaction side) of the target had no observable effect on the proton beam.

Breadboard testing of a phase-conjugate engine with an interferometric wave-front sensor and a microelectromechanical systems-based spatial light modulator.

Laboratory breadboard results of a high-speed adaptive-optics system are presented. The wave-front sensor for the adaptive-optics system is based on a quadrature interferometer, which directly measures the turbulence-induced phase aberrations. The spatial light modulator used in the phase-conjugate engine was a microelectromechanical systems-based piston-only correction device with 1024 actuators.

Open- and closed-loop aberration correction by use of a quadrature interferometric wave-front sensor.

Experimental results are presented for an adaptive optics system based on a quadrature Twyman-Green interferometric wave-front sensor. The system uses a circularly polarized reference beam to form two interferograms with a pi/2 phase shift. The experiments conducted used Kolmogorov phase screens to simulate atmospheric phase distortions.