From Death Notification Through the Funeral: Bereaved Parents’ Experiences and their Advice to Professionals

Parents who experience the sudden death of a child will interact with many professionals in the period immediately following the death notification through to the funeral. The way these professionals respond to the parents during this critical period may be perceived as helpful, and thus support them in beginning the process of managing the trauma and starting a healthy grieving process. It may also be perceived as unhelpful, though, and contribute to more prolonged and complicated grieving. This article identifies the interventions that a sample of 20 parents who had experienced the sudden death of a child found helpful with different aspects of grieving. Specific advice is given to police, nurses, doctors, coroners, social workers, crisis counselors, funeral directors, and chaplains or clergy

The sun always comes out after it rains: Exploring the experience of AIDS caregivers (Immune deficiency)

This research was designed to explore the growth of people who have cared for or about someone who has died of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related illnesses or complications related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease. It consists of a cross-sectional study of 176 bereaved caregivers of people with HIV disease, some of whom themselves are HIV-positive. Measures were selected to assess demographics, creativity, spirituality/religiosity, social support, depression, traumatic symptomatology and posttraumatic growth. A research model is tested which examines the relationship of psychosocial resources and stressors to the post-traumatic growth of the bereaved participants. In addition, seven caregivers participated in unstructured interviews in order to provide descriptive data with which to supplement the quantitative results. The results demonstrate that individuals scoring highest on measures of spirituality, reported the greatest positive changes after trauma. Support for the role of spirituality was found in all the statistical tests as well as in the structural equation model. The interview data further substantiated the importance of spirituality in the process of growth. The structural equation model and the interview data also demonstrated confirmation of the hypothesis that the carers with higher reported levels social support would demonstrate higher post-traumatic growth. The results further demonstrated that those individuals with higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms reported the most growth after the death of the care recipient; this result was the opposite of the hypothesized relationship. This study provides a portrait of bereaved HIV carers in Canada and the realities associated with that situation_ The findings confirm the literature that suggests that, in contrast to carers of people with other diseases, HIV caregivers are younger, more often male, not necessarily a family member and are often HIV-positive themselves. This portrait and the relationship of spirituality, social support and trauma to growth have implications for social workers in all practice areas. The importance of spirituality mirrors an emerging area of interest in social work. The knowledge of factors that can play a role in post-traumatic growth can contribute to the work of social workers and others at any level of intervention

A House Not of Our Choosing

This thesis explores our existence through the confinement of the human body. The exhibition of “A House Not of Our Choosing,” was presented at the Tipton Gallery, 126 Spring Street Johnson City, Tennessee, from March 1, 2013, to March 8, 2013. It will visually describe Cadell’s thoughts regarding the figure as a fragile vessel. The installation is designed to require the viewer to closely examine the work from multiple perspectives. The exhibition consists of sculpted paper, etched, painted, manipulated glass slides, and projection. Research discusses the work produced over a three-year period. Exploration and reflection in the areas of religion, history, philosophy and psychology contributed to the knowledge which inspired the exhibit

Designing and Implementing a Longitudinal Study of Children with Neurological, Genetic, or Metabolic Conditions: \u3cem\u3eCharting the Territory\u3c/em\u3e

Background: Children with progressive metabolic, neurological, or chromosomal conditions and their families anticipate an unknown lifespan, endure unstable and often painful symptoms, and cope with erratic emotional and spiritual crises as the condition progresses along an uncertain trajectory towards death. Much is known about the genetics and pathophysiology of these diseases, but very little has been documented about the trajectory of symptoms for children with these conditions or the associated experience of their families. A longitudinal study design will help to close this gap in knowledge. Methods/Design: Charting the Territory is a longitudinal descriptive, correlational study currently underway with children 0–19 years who are diagnosed with progressive neurological, metabolic, or chromosomal conditions and their families. The purpose of the study is to determine and document the clinical progression of the condition and the associated bio psychosocial spiritual experiences of these parents and siblings age 7–18 years. Approximately 300 families, both newly diagnosed children and those with established conditions, are being recruited in six Canadian cities. Children and their families are being followed for a minimum of 18 months, depending on when they enroll in the study. Family data collection will continue after the child’s death if the child dies during the study period. Data collection includes monthly parental assessment of the child’s symptoms; an annual functional assessment of the child; and completion of established instruments every 6 months by parents to assess family functioning, marital satisfaction, health status, anxiety, depression, stress, burden, grief, spirituality, and growth, and by siblings to assess coping and health. Impact of participation on parents is assessed after 1 year and at the end of the study. Chart reviews are conducted at enrollment and at the conclusion of the study or at the time of the child’s death. Discussion: Knowledge developed from this study will provide some of the first ever detailed descriptions of the clinical symptom trajectory of these non-curable progressive conditions and the bio-psychosocial spiritual aspects for families, from diagnosis through bereavement. Information about developing and implementing this study may be useful to other researchers who are interested in designing a longitudinal study

Financing of archives

U načinu financiranja arhivske službe postoje velike razlike od zemlje do zemlje. Svaka od preko 150 zemalja članica Međunarodnog arhivskog vijeća ima svoje osobitosti, koje su posljedica tradicije i organizacije arhivske službe, razine razvoja i veličine arhivske službe, položaja arhiva prema tijelima uprave, pa i načina na koji se u upravi pojedine zemlje vodi računovodstvo. U nekim zemljama nacionalni arhivi su odgovorni samo za tijela državne uprave, često ne sva, u drugima je u njihovoj nadležnosti i ostalo javno arhivsko gradivo, a često i određene kategorije privatnoga arhivskog gradiva. Postoje i velike razlike u pogledu opsega upravnih poslova koje arhivi obavljaju i usluga korisnicima koje se od njih očekuju, uključujući i očekivanja samih državnih tijela. Sve to čini teškom, ako ne i nemogućom pouzdanu usporedbu i komparativnu analizu prihoda i rashoda arhivskih ustanova. No, bez obzira na sve te razlike, jedna je stvar jasna, a to je da niti jedna arhivska služba ne može djelovati bez nekog oblika subvencije iz proračuna. Veličina te subvencije se razlikuje, ovisno o organizaciji i nadležnostima arhivske službe i veličini prihoda koje arhiv ostvaruje vlastitom djelatnošću od usluga koje može naplatiti, ali općenito iznosi više od 90% ukupnih troškova arhiva. To znači da stabilnost financiranja arhiva ovisi o izdvajanju proračunskih sredstava za arhivsku djelatnost. U nekim zemljama postoji tendencija da se djelatnost arhiva u što većoj mjeri privatizira. U Novom Zelandu, na primjer, privatizacija je izvršena s takvom potankošću, da je sve što se moglo smjestiti u privatni sektor i privatizirano te više nije pod izravnom odgovornošću javnih institucija, kao zasebna financijska obveza proračuna. Međunarodna arhivska zajednica je, međutim, više nego suzdržana prema takvom modelu koji bi tijela državne uprave poticao, prvenstveno iz financijskih razloga, da brigu za svoje arhivsko gradivo povjere izravno privatnome kontraktoru, jer se smatra da bi ti dokumenti time bili izloženi većem riziku. Što se tiče prihoda koje arhivi ostvaruju vlastitom djelatnošću, oni pokrivaju razmjerno malen postotak rashoda arhiva i u pravilu se kreću od 1 do 3%. Gdje je taj postotak veći, radi se o posebnim izvorima, koji se ne mogu uzeti kao pravilo. Tako Nacionalni arhiv Škotske 19,5% svojih troškova pokriva vlastitim prihodima, ali je taj iznos umjetno napuhan, jer arhiv čuva nekompjutorizirani dio gradiva nacionalnog zemljižno-knjižnog ureda te ostvaruje nesrazmjerno velike prihode od fotokopiranja za odvjetnike, projektante i ostale koji potražuju informacije koje sadrži katastar. U Škotskoj, kao i u mnogim drugim zemljama, financijski propisi nalažu da se prihodi proračunski financiranih ustanova uplaćuju u proračun pa arhivi ne mogu raspolagati tim sredstvima i utrošiti ih za potrebe službe. Načelo po kojem svi prihodi što ih ostvare državne ustanove trebaju biti uplaćeni u državni proračun, iz kojeg se potom financiraju potrebe tih ustanova ima mnogo prednosti, ali se često loše odražava na učinkovitost i racionalnost u trošenju sredstava. Stvaranje vlastitih prihoda je nešto čemu arhivi u budućnosti trebaju posvetiti veliku pozornost iako se ne mogu osloniti prvenstveno na taj izvor. Tu se postavlja pitanje što se sve i koliko može naplatiti. Prihodi se najvećim dijelom ostvaruju od fotokopiranja i mikrofilmiranja, no postavlja se pitanje u kojoj mjeri se može naplatiti sama dostupnost (putem članskih iskaznica za korisnike ili na drugi način), korištenje obavijesnih pomagala, kataloga i indeksa, elektroničkih izvora informacija koje arhivi izrađuju, istraživačke usluge koje zaposlenici arhiva mogu pružiti korisnicima, usluge čuvanja i obrade gradiva, naročito privatnoga i sl. Imajući u vidu raznolikost koja vlada u organizaciji i nadležnostima pojedinih arhiva, pitanje je kako odrediti financijske uvjete za pojedinu vrstu i opseg usluga. Normiranje usluga je gotovo nemoguće zbog razlika u tradiciji, nadležnostima i organizaciji rada pojedinih arhivskih službi. Određene sličnosti mogu se nazrijeti u strukturi troškova arhiva na velikim rashodnim stavkama., kao što su osobni dohoci, administrativni i režijski troškovi. Uz manje razlike, najznačajniji su rashodi za osoblje koji iznose oko 55% svih sredstava kojima arhivi raspolažu. Drugu značajnu stavku čine režijski troškovi, no njih je nešto teže uspoređivati zbog razlika u računovodstvenim sustavima pojedinih zemalja, koji ponekad ne dopuštaju da se pouzdano identificiraju svi troškovi koji ovamo spadaju. Ima i drugih teškoća. Državni arhiv Škotske je sve donedavno morao državi plaćati zamašnu rentu za prostorije u kojima se nalazi, da bi mu onda država osigurala sredstva za pokrivanje tog iznosa, što je značajno utjecalo na strukturu troškova kako su računovodstveno iskazani. Kada se od toga odustalo, udio sredstava za osoblje je porastao sa 40% na oko 60% ukupnih troškova arhiva. Ove dvije zamašne stavke gotovo u potpunosti ograničavaju slobodu trošenja sredstava koju arhiv načelno može imati. Kada se podmire troškovi osoblja i režijski i administrativni troškovi, na čiju visinu arhiv ne može utjecati, ostane vrlo uzak manevarski prostor u kojemu arhiv može doista slobodno odlučiti u što će ulagati sredstva. Kod financiranja lokalnih arhiva javljaju se i drugi problemi, koji proizlaze iz odnosa države i lokalne samouprave i nedovoljno definiranih standarda za osnivanje i rad arhiva. U Škotskoj, na primjer, lokalna samouprava je negdje osnovala arhive, negdje ne, a ondje gdje arhivi postoje, ne raspolažu primjerenim brojem djelatnika i prostorom. Premda se očekivalo da lokalna samouprava osigura prikladno uređenje svojih arhiva, standardi za takvo uređenje nisu nikad specificirani, kao ni količina sredstava koja je za to potrebna. Iako ima određene ovlasti nad lokalnim arhivima, središnji arhiv ne može na ovo utjecati, niti nametati ikakve standarde. Za uspoređivanje i analizu troškova arhivske službe vrlo je važno razviti standarde koji omogućuju takve usporedbe. Svi arhivi rade neke kalkulacije, na primjer za cijenu izrade fotokopije ili mikrofilma ili za istraživanje za korisnika, no upitno je da li je struktura troškova koji su tu uračunati ista. Da li je, na primjer, u cijenu fotokopije uračunat trošak pronalaženja gradiva koje će se kopirati, otprema gradiva na kopiranje i ulaganje natrag u spremište, troškovi održavanja opreme, režijski troškovi i dr.? Da li naplaćujemo i dio troškova za zaštitu i izdatke za administrativno osoblje? Da li znamo koliko služba košta po korisniku i mislimo li uvijek na isto kada govorimo o korisniku? Tko je sve korisnik arhiva i kako izrađujemo statistiku korištenja, kako mjerimo vrijeme koje je utrošeno za pružanje usluge? Ovakve analize na prvi pogled ne moraju imati veze s financiranjem, ali su vrlo važne kada treba opravdati sredstva koja su utrošena za arhivsku službu, jer je tada važno imati jasnu predodžbu o cijeni, odnosno vrijednosti posla koji je arhiv obavio.The International Council on Archives brings together over 150 different countries, and when their national archivists meet and compare what there do, there seem to be as many different ways of running national archive services and managing their funding. Much of this variation derives from national traditions, from the general level of prosperity and development, from the size of the archive service, from the department of which it is a part, and although this is always less obvious, from the range of government activities for which the archive is in fact responsible. The same is true at a local Ievel, though here the matter is complicated by the extent to which the national archive service is itself responsible for regional or local archives. In many ways the interest in discussing this subject at an international meeting is precisely the extent to which the practices of one country differ from those of another, and therefore in examining what one country can learn from another. In the United Kingdom, all the national archive services are financed directly by government, in the case of England and Scotland through the equivalent of the Department of Justice, and in Northern Ireland through the Department of the Environment (though responsibility there will shortly pass to the Department of Culture). All three archive services are government agencies with a measure of independence. I shall examine the nature, the extent and the reality of this independence, at the same time I shall look at the ways in which a number of these activities are financed in other countries, and at the degree of autonomy that they enjoy. There is also the difficult question of the extent to which archives should be able to raise their own funding. In Europe it is generally considered that access should be free, though in some countries there is a cost attached to a reader\u27s ticket, and in at Ieast one other a charge on each researcher is an important part of a national archive\u27s revenue. It is generally accepted, however, that where value has been added, reprographically or electronically for example, a charge may reasonably be made. But where does this start, and should archive services have to depend on funding from such sources? Finally I shall give some thought to the benefit of the development of "standards" in this area, so that it is possible to compare one archive with another. Do we all mean precisely the same thing when we speak of a researcher? When we produce statistics for a number of items taken off the shelves for consultation, do we always collect statistics in the same way? When we cost a service, what elements are allowed for the service itself, for the administration that lies behind it, for accommodation, and perhaps even for the general preservation of the records? No firm answers will be offered, but I believe it will be helpful to raise these issues, and to open them up to discussion

Development of a heat transfer coefficient for a single mist nozzle impinging on a heated thin sheet of Alloy 304 Stainless Steel using infrared thermography

A purpose built facility was designed, built and operated at the Advanced Thermal Hydraulic Research Laboratory, which is located at Oregon State University. This facility was used to heat a plate of Alloy 304 Stainless Steel to 800 °C and then cool the plate using a fine mist of water droplets. During the cooling process, the temperature of the plate was measured using an infrared camera. Using the experimental data an inverse calculation was performed to determine the heat transferred from the test plate. The experimental heat transfer data was used to develop a set of piecewise equations that describe the heat transfer from the test plate with a given flow rate over the four boiling regimes

Integrating Driving Simulator Experiment Data with Multi-Agent Connected Automated Vehicle Simulation (Ma-Cavs) Platform to Quantify Improved Capacity

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) at varying market penetrations will change traffic flow and highway performance. At AV market penetrations between 0% and 100%, human driven vehicles (HVs) will be interacting with AVs. However, little is known about how HVs interact with AVs. This study attempts to quantify HV headways when following an AV using driving simulator data and integrates that data into a multi-agent simulation to quantify new highway travel time and flow predictions at varying AV market penetrations. This study also collected biometric feedback data to quantify driver level of stress when presented with a hard-breaking AV and HV. The driving simulator experiment was successfully completed by 36 participants. The results of this study show that driver level of stress is 70% higher in hard break scenarios involving HVs versus AVs. Additionally, drivers over the age of 34.5 were found to give AVs 2% more headway than HVs, while younger drivers gave AVs 18% less headway than HVs. Thirty-six scenarios were tested in the multi-agent simulation using results from the driving simulator. Using the driving simulator results, average travel times were found to increase at most by 2.3%