Museum activities in dementia care: using visual analog scales to measure subjective wellbeing

Introduction: Previous research has shown that people with dementia and caregivers derive wellbeing-related benefits from viewing art in a group, and that facilitated museum object handling is effective in increasing subjective wellbeing for people with a range of health conditions. The present study quantitatively compared the impact of two museum-based activities and a social activity on the subjective wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: A quasi-experimental crossover design was used. People with early to middle stage dementia and caregivers (N = 66) participated in museum object handling, a refreshment break and art-viewing in small groups. Visual analogue scales were used to rate subjective wellbeing pre and post each activity. Results: Mixed-design ANOVAs indicated wellbeing significantly increased during the session, irrespective of the order in which the activities were presented. Wellbeing significantly increased from object-handling and art-viewing for those with dementia and caregivers across pooled orders, but did not in the social activity of a refreshment break. An end-of-intervention questionnaire indicated that experiences of the session were positive. Conclusion: Results provide a rationale for considering museum activities as part of a broader psychosocial, relational approach to dementia care and support the use of easy to administer visual analogue scales as a quantitative outcome measure. Further partnership working is also supported between museums and healthcare professionals in the development of non-clinical, community-based programmes for this population

An embedded interfacial network stabilizes inorganic CsPbI₃ perovskite thin films

The black perovskite phase of CsPbI(3) is promising for optoelectronic applications; however, it is unstable under ambient conditions, transforming within minutes into an optically inactive yellow phase, a fact that has so far prevented its widespread adoption. Here we use coarse photolithography to embed a PbI(2)-based interfacial microstructure into otherwise-unstable CsPbI(3) perovskite thin films and devices. Films fitted with a tessellating microgrid are rendered resistant to moisture-triggered decay and exhibit enhanced long-term stability of the black phase (beyond 2.5 years in a dry environment), due to increasing the phase transition energy barrier and limiting the spread of potential yellow phase formation to structurally isolated domains of the grid. This stabilizing effect is readily achieved at the device level, where unencapsulated CsPbI(3) perovskite photodetectors display ambient-stable operation. These findings provide insights into the nature of phase destabilization in emerging CsPbI(3) perovskite devices and demonstrate an effective stabilization procedure which is entirely orthogonal to existing approaches

Physically Active Leisure and the Transition to Retirement: The Value of Context

The purpose of this paper is to explore the everyday experiences of physically active leisure during the transition to retirement. Twenty-five adults aged 47–66 who were recently retired or nearing retirement blogged during three different two-week sessions over one year and participated in follow up focus groups. Data were analysed using initial, focused, and selective coding. Findings provided insights into participants’ experiences of physically active leisure in the context of their everyday lives. First, increased freedom in daily schedules led to both appreciation for spontaneity and a desire for structure. Second, participants experienced new constraints related to the loss of social networks and work-related physical activity. Finally, participants described physically active leisure as being connected to meaningful outcomes such as enjoying the outdoors, stress-relief, or socializing with family and friends. Physically active leisure was described as one health priority among many and one of several healthy leisure alternatives

Blogging into Retirement: Using Online Research Methods to Understand Leisure among Baby Boomers

Leisure scholars have argued that Internet research can be used to reach a broader audience, particularly as seniors use the Internet to have fun (e.g., playing games, sharing stories). In this paper, we explore the challenges and opportunities afforded by online qualitative data collection to study leisure among baby boomers who participated in a multi-author blog. We review insights gained regarding participants' positive and negative experiences with blogging as part of a research project, the process of negotiating the researchers' roles in terms of participating in and managing the blog, and strengths and limitations of the process in generating quality data (e.g., varying levels of engagement and reflection). Recommendations regarding online qualitative research with older adults are also discussed

CMOS receiver array with 100 channels on 1 mm(2) chip area based on self-calibrating self-regenerative sense-amplifiers operating at 200 Mbit/s/channel

Parallel optical interconnects may become the communication method of choice to achieve future high bandwidth data transfer between chips or MCM's. For this purpose, an integrated CMOS detector approach is favorable at the light-reception side, so Flip-chip of detectors is no longer required. In this paper we present an integrated differential CMOS detector layout which gives a flat frequency response of 0.1A/W with a -3dB bit rate over 450Mbit/s/ch (wavelength of 860nm) in standard 0.6 mu technology. The detector works following the Spatially Modulated Light detector (SML-detector) principle. Based on this SML-detector we fabricated a dense detector/receiver array consisting of 100 channels on one square mm Si area in 0.6 mu standard CMOS. The detector area is 50x50 mu(2). The detector signal is amplified and latched by a self-regenerative sense-amplifier, which is self-calibrating for increased array homogeneity and receiver yield. The power consumption per receiver channel is as low as 1.1mW and the received light power at 200Mbit/s is 25.1 mu W (at a BER<1e(-12)). Measured standard deviation on the output jitter is 96ps and the measured worst case channel to channel output delay variation is 200ps. Future CMOS technology will improve the maximum detector/receiver bit-rate as well as the attainable sensitivity.status: publishe

Mushroom microlenses: Optimized microlenses by reflow of multiple layers of photoresist

A novel type of photoresist microlenses is conceived. The characteristic of these lenses is their mushroom shape: the lens dome is located at a certain controllable distance from the substrate, and the curvature of the lens is larger than that of traditional truncated-sphere lenses. These mushroom microlenses are equilibrium-state, stable products of reflow that are obtained when starting from a multilayer photoresist stack. Integration on light-emitting diodes results in enhanced output efficiency and directivity: a vertical-to-surface emission enhancement of up to a factor of 8 has been achieved.status: publishe

Leisure innovation and the transition to retirement

Innovation theory posits that adopting new leisure activities contributes to well-being in later life. We explored the relevance of innovation theory among Canadian baby boomers transitioning to retirement. Using grounded theory and online qualitative methods, we recruited baby boomers who had recently retired or were planning to retire in the next five years. Twenty-five participants engaged in three two-week blogging sessions, followed by face-to-face focus groups/interview over about one year. Data, including blog posts from each session and focus group/interview transcripts, were analyzed using initial, focused, and theoretical coding. Two main themes, embracing retirement and pursuing new and former leisure, highlighted nuances of leisure and the transition to retirement as participants adjusted to increased free time along with shifting priorities and available resources. The findings supported innovation theory and suggested areas of refinement

Effect of mixing enthalpy on relaxed and strained growth of III-(VyV1-yII)-V-I compound alloys using molecular-beam epitaxy

The strict virtual crystal model has been shown to describe accurately the mixing enthalpy of III-V ternary alloys. We allocate the different components of this model to both subreactions, i.e., the reactions forming III-V-I and III-V-II, present in the molecular-beam epitaxial growth of III-(VVII)-V-I compound alloys, and derive thereof a model that describes accurately the composition obtained. A good correspondence with experimental growth data is obtained. We apply this model to both relaxed and strained layer growth and the evolution in the composition is given when a relaxed layer is grown on a substrate with a different lattice constant. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021- 8979(00)01901-0].status: publishe