THE IMPACT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE USE ON THE PARTICIPATION LEVELS AND LIVING ARRANGEMENT DECISIONS OF OLDER ADULTS

Using a nationally representative sample of older adults, this dissertation examines the use of assistive technology devices (ATDs) designed to aid with mobility and sensory functioning and to improve one’s capacity to perform activities of daily living. It measures the impact of ATDs on the participation levels and living arrangement decisions of those needing help. Although the use of these devices has been found to improve functionality, their effectiveness in relation to further outcomes has not been affirmed. The first essay considers whether an individual's ATD use has a positive impact on active participation in activities such as visiting family and friends, attending religious services, joining clubs, going out for enjoyment and volunteering. Another advantage of improved physical functioning would be the older individual's ability to remain in his or her home, as opposed to transferring to a residential care setting. Little research has examined the determinants of living in residential care, versus in the community, and none has examined the use of ATDs in this choice. The second essay considers correlations between living arrangements and the use of ATDs. Finally, the third essay considers whether using assistive devices is associated with a lower probability of living in a residential care environment, controlling for many other health, social and economic factors

Preparation and X-ray Structure of 2-Tetrahydroborato-2-berylla-<i>nido</i>-hexaborane(11) : Insertion of Beryllium into a Borane Cage

Reaction of beryllium borohydride with 1-chloropentaborane(9) results in insertion of a beryllium atom into the borane cage to give 8-tetrahydroborato-2-berylla-nido-hexaborane(11)

A ruthenium complex with 1,5-di- phenyl-3-thiocarbazone (dithizone) as monodentate ligands: bis(2,2'- bipyridyl-<i>&#x03BA</i>²N,N')bis(dithizonato-<i>&#x03BA</i>S)- ruthenium(II)

The title compound, [Ru(C13H11N4S)2(C15H8N2)2], has C2 symmetry, with bidentate 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands dictating a cis geometry around the RuII center. The monodentate S-bonded dithizone ligands are almost planar, except for one of the phenyl rings, which is twisted by 34.2 (4)&amp;#x00B0 from the N/N/C(S)/ N/N plane. The RuÐS bond length is 2.4140 (13) &amp;#x00C5, and the RuÐN bond lengths are 2.048 (4) and 2.074 (4) &amp;#x00C5

Gas-phase Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study of the Molecular Structure of Beryllium Borohydride, Be(BH₄)₂

Gas-phase and solution n.m.r. spectral studies of beryllium borohydride, Be(BH4)2, indicate that it contains magnetically equivalent BH4 groups which undergo rapid internal hydrogen exchange; previously postulated triangular boron-beryllium-boron molecular configurations are inconsistent with the n.m.r. data

A 3-Year longitudinal study of risk for bipolar spectrum psychopathology

Current clinical and epidemiological research provides support for a continuum of bipolar psychopathology: a bipolar spectrum that ranges from subthreshold characteristics to clinical disorders. The present research examined the predictive validity of the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) as a measure of bipolar spectrum psychopathology in a nonclinically ascertained sample of young adults at a 3-year follow-up assessment. Thus far, 100 of the original 145 participants have been re-interviewed for bipolar psychopathology, borderline and schizotypal personality disorder symptoms, substance use, treatment history, family history, and psychosocial functioning. At the original assessment, 15 of the 100 participants met criteria for a bipolar spectrum disorder. At the follow-up assessment, an additional 13 had developed bipolar spectrum disorders. A total of 26% of participants met criteria for bipolar spectrum disorders at the follow-up, including 10% with DSM-IV-TR disorders. The HPS predicted new cases and total number of cases of bipolar spectrum disorders, as well as total number of DSM-IV-TR bipolar disorders at the follow-up assessment. The HPS also predicted current hyperthymic temperament or history of hypomania, grandiose traits, impulsivity, substance use disorders, global impairment, and borderline and schizotypal traits. The majority of these effects were significant after removing participants with DSM-IV-TR bipolar disorders from the analyses, suggesting that the results were not driven by a subset of participants with clinical disorders. Contrary to hypotheses, impulsivity did not moderate the predictive validity of the HPS. Overall, these results offer further support for the bipolar spectrum construct and the predictive validity of the HPS as a measure of bipolar spectrum psychopathology

Structural Chemistry of Necessarily Distorted Bis(Bipyridine) Complexes. The Crystal Structure of the Trans-[Bis(2,2'-Bipyridine)Bis(Triphenul-Phosphine)Ruthenium(II)] and Trans-[Bis(4,4'-Dimethyl-2,2'-Bipyridine)Bis(Pyridine)Ruthenium(ii)] Cations

The cation trans-[Ru(bpy)2(PPh3)2]2+ and trans-[Ru(Me2bpy2)2(py)2]2+ both contain bipyridine ligands which are distorted because of the crowding of the two chelate units. The hexafluorophosphate salt of the first cation crystallizers in space group P21/n, with a = 11.630(1), b = 20.245(2), c = 11.299(1)Å, &amp;#x03B2 = 103.99(1)°, and Z = 2. R = 0.047 for 2396 observed reflections. The hexafluorophosphate salt of the second cation crystallizers in space group C2/m, with a = 18.392(2), b = 11.265(1), c = 13.383(1)Å, &amp;#x03B2 = 139.42(2)°, and Z = 2. R = 0.047 for 1403 observed reflections. The Ru of the first cation lies on an inversion center and the Ru of the second cation lies on a special position of 2/m symmetry. The distortions of a number of bipyridine complexes with the trans geometry are analyzed and found to fall into two categories, bowed or twisted. The two complexes of this report were found to have a bowed conformation

THE IMPACT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE USE ON THE PARTICIPATION LEVELS AND LIVING ARRANGEMENT DECISIONS OF OLDER ADULTS

Using a nationally representative sample of older adults, this dissertation examines the use of assistive technology devices (ATDs) designed to aid with mobility and sensory functioning and to improve one’s capacity to perform activities of daily living. It measures the impact of ATDs on the participation levels and living arrangement decisions of those needing help. Although the use of these devices has been found to improve functionality, their effectiveness in relation to further outcomes has not been affirmed. The first essay considers whether an individual's ATD use has a positive impact on active participation in activities such as visiting family and friends, attending religious services, joining clubs, going out for enjoyment and volunteering. Another advantage of improved physical functioning would be the older individual's ability to remain in his or her home, as opposed to transferring to a residential care setting. Little research has examined the determinants of living in residential care, versus in the community, and none has examined the use of ATDs in this choice. The second essay considers correlations between living arrangements and the use of ATDs. Finally, the third essay considers whether using assistive devices is associated with a lower probability of living in a residential care environment, controlling for many other health, social and economic factors

Preparation and X-ray crystal structure study of a polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complex containing a dehydrodithizone ligand

Coordination of 2,3-diphenyltetrazolium-5-thiolate (tet) to an Ru(trpy)(bpy)(OH2)2+ (trpy=2,2':6',2"-terpyridine; bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) centre resulted in the formation of [Ru(trpy)(bpy)(tet)](ClO4)2. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the tet ligand is bound through the sulfur atom to a somewhat distorted-octahedral ruthenium centre. The Ru–S bond distance is 2.393(2) Å, and the Ru–S–C bond angle is 115.1(2)°; the tet N-N bonded distances [1.306(10)Å 1.316(9)Å] are essentially equal. These data, as well as spectroscopic and electrochemical evidence, suggest that the tetrazolium ring exhibits delocalized, mesoionic character with some thiolate character on the sulfur atom

Acceleration of Ligand Exchange by Coordinated Nitrate in Polypyridyl Ruthenium Complexes

The rate of substitution of L by a chloride ion or acetonitrile in cis-[Ru(bpy)2 (L)(X)]+ (X = NO3; L = pyridine, acetonitrile ; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) in low polarity solvents, is greatly enhanced over the rates observed for complexes with X = Cl, NO2, CF3CO2 and p-CH3C6H4SO3. For X = NO3, rate constants and a mechanism for formation of the final product, cis-Ru(bpy)2Cl2 or cis-Ru(bpy)2(CH3CN)2]2+, are presented. The rate enhancement for the nitrato complex is attributed to its ability to act as a bidentate ligand

An evaluation program to measure the ability of students to apply principles of nutrition

"In the destiny of nations, the supreme importance of nutrition has been demonstrated."1 Great strides have been made in the last decade or two in our scientific knowledge of this relatively new science of nutrition. The illuminative and revealing statistics available on the draftees of World War Number One caused many agencies to coordinate their efforts and expand their programs in a campaign for better health through sound nutrition, Much of this concerted effort was very properly directed toward making better nutrition a reality for families in greatest need. Financial disability is rightfully recognized as one of the determining factors responsible for such shocking statistics, but vying for equal importance is ignorance of nutrition and a failure on the part of those educated in the science to apply what they know