Determinants of social participation of visually impaired older adults

PURPOSE: To assess determinants of social participation among visually impaired older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included visually impaired persons (>/=55 years; n = 173) who were referred to a low-vision rehabilitation center. Determinants (i.e., sociodemographic, physical, social and psychological factors, and personal values) of participation were identified in four domains of participation: (1) domestic life; (2) interpersonal interactions and relationships; (3) major life areas; and (4) community, social, and civic life. Study participants completed telephone interviews. RESULTS: Age, physical fitness, and helplessness were determinants of participation in domestic life. Social network size was associated with participation in major life areas. The personal value attached to participation (i.e., perceived importance) was a determinant of participation in interpersonal interactions and relationships, major life areas, and community, social and civic life. Vision-related characteristics (i.e., self-perceived vision and degree of visual impairment) were not associated with participation. CONCLUSIONS: Across the participation domains, perceived importance is a major determinant of social participation among visually impaired older adults. Physical health along with social and psychological status, also affect participation. Knowing how participation is determined can be used to develop rehabilitation interventions to enhance participation of visually impaired older adults

SH-waves in a medium containing a low-velocity layer

No abstract

De wereld van morgen : Internationale Informatica Olympiade en Science Fair

Van 26 juni tot 3 juli vond in Eindhoven de Internationale Informatica Olympiade (IOI'95) plaats. Deelnemers waren 213 getalenteerde leerlingen uit het voortgezet onderwijs uit 52 landen. Ter gelegenheid van de IOI werd een Science Fair georganiseerd waar bedrijven, universiteiten en hogescholen informatica toepassingen demonstreerden. Alle HAVO/VWO-leerlingen werden hiervoor uitgenodigd door een 'Wild van wetenschap'-krant. De Science Fair werd bezocht door ongeveer 22.000 mensen

Participation as an outcome measure in psychosocial oncology: content of cancer-specific health-related quality of life instruments

PURPOSE: To examine to what extent the concept and the domains of participation as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) are represented in general cancer-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments. METHODS: Using the ICF linking rules, two coders independently extracted the meaningful concepts of ten instruments and linked these to ICF codes. RESULTS: The proportion of concepts that could be linked to ICF codes ranged from 68 to 95%. Although all instruments contained concepts linked to Participation (Chapters d7-d9 of the classification of 'Activities and Participation'), the instruments covered only a small part of all available ICF codes. The proportion of ICF codes in the instruments that were participation related ranged from 3 to 35%. 'Major life areas' (d8) was the most frequently used Participation Chapter, with d850 'remunerative employment' as the most used ICF code. CONCLUSIONS: The number of participation-related ICF codes covered in the instruments is limited. General cancer-specific HRQOL instruments only assess social life of cancer patients to a limited degree. This study's information on the content of these instruments may guide researchers in selecting the appropriate instrument for a specific research purpose

An analysis of the falling film gas-liquid reactor

A mathematical model of the falling film reactor is developed to predict the conversion and temperature distribution in the reactor as a function of the gas and liquid flow rates, physical properties, the feed composition of the reactive gas and carrier gas and other parameters of the system. Transverse and axial temperature profiles are calculated for the laminar flow of the liquid phase with concurrent flow of a turbulent gas to establish the peak temperatures in the reactor as a function of the numerous parameters of the system. The reaction rate in the liquid film is considered to be controlled by the rate of transport of reactive gas from the turbulent gas mixture to the gas-liquid interface. The governing equations are solved by reformulating the problem in integral equation form employing Green's functions. The predicted reactor characteristics are shown to agree with large-scale reactor performance, and the effects of the most sensitive parameters are elucidated to provide a basis for reactor optimization. Numerical results are presented for realistic sulfonation reactor conditions