A comprehensive investigation of change in self-reported resources of older adults

The focus of this study was on the mechanisms or resources that older individuals draw upon to adapt to the normative decrepitude of advanced age. To date, no studies have been found that systematically investigate the structural inter-relationships of the self-reported resources (i.e., social, economic, mental, physical, and functional) assessed by the Duke Older American Resources and Services (OARS) instrument among older adults. In particular, because the centenarian group typically struggles with increased hearing, vision, and functional health losses, social resources are especially salient for positive adaptation to these age-related losses. Because social resources has been specified as an exogenous predictor, as a mediator, and as a moderator in various studies, this study\u27s aims also focused on the unique role of social resources relative to other self-reported resources among 321 participants at Time 1 and 201 participants at both Time1 and at Time 2 in the first Georgia Centenarian Study (Poon, Clayton, Martin, Johnson, Courtenay, et al., 1992);The findings from this study contribute to both the applied and theoretical/empirical knowledge base of change in multidimensional resources utilized by older adults as they adapt to the normative declines of aging. First, using the popular Duke OARS (Fillenbaum, 1988) assessment tool, a measurement model including latent variables for Economic Resources, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Resources on two measurement occasions was specified and affirmed in a sample of sexagenarians, octogenarians, and centenarians. Second, the interrelationships between these five resource areas were examined over time, including investigation of mediation and moderation by Social Resources. For centenarians in this study, accelerated decline was particularly found for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and regardless of the level of Social Resources brought to bear on this difficulty, decline over time occurred. Future research may want to examine the interrelationships among these resources for centenarians in particular and pay special attention to the influence of social resources provided by caregivers

Sarcoma immunotherapy.

Much of our knowledge regarding cancer immunotherapy has been derived from sarcoma models. However, translation of preclinical findings to bedside success has been limited in this disease, though several intriguing clinical studies hint at the potential efficacy of this treatment modality. The rarity and heterogeneity of tumors of mesenchymal origin continues to be a challenge from a therapeutic standpoint. Nonetheless, sarcomas remain attractive targets for immunotherapy, as they can be characterized by specific epitopes, either from their mesenchymal origins or specific alterations in gene products. To date, standard vaccine trials have proven disappointing, likely due to mechanisms by which tumors equilibrate with and ultimately escape immune surveillance. More sophisticated approaches will likely require multimodal techniques, both by enhancing immunity, but also geared towards overcoming innate mechanisms of immunosuppression that favor tumorigenesis

What’s Love Got to Do With It?

This article was originally published by Family Science ReviewLooking back over the last 20 years of co-learning with my students in the university classroom, I see some things have radically changed while others have stayed fairly constant – both for them and for me. There is no question that each year students in my marriage and family class believe “love” is a necessary precursor to one of life’s major transitions, marriage. However, as they ponder their own life course, and as I have lived mine, what “love” is by definition and how it develops may be different for individuals sharing the same age or birth cohort, necessitating at least a “love primer” for a class on close relationships. Also, what the future holds regarding a lifetime of love has become increasingly salient, as it seems to be conventional wisdom today (albeit quite the conundrum) that marriage may well be a risk factor for love. This article outlines an assignment on the definition and development of love that continues to be rated very highly by students on anonymous, end-of-semester evaluations. In addition, I share some insights gleaned over the years as to how I introduce the topic and particularly how I try to help students glean pertinent information from the existing literature on love. It’s hoped readers will build upon this work and adapt it for their own classrooms

Promoting Student Learning About Premarital Predictors of Later Marital Success Through Formal Writing

This article was originally published by Family Science ReviewThis paper focuses on a revision of a semester-long formal writing assignment based on the first family life education content area (see NCFR), Families and Individuals in Societal Contexts, particularly courtship and marital choice. Many students were not completing this assignment that addresses an important developmental process: dating, courting, and choosing a life partner. Incorporating known pedagogical principles from the writing-to-learn literature, the assignment’s revision included developing four components required throughout the semester. The research-based principles behind the revision included interactive writing processes, meaning-making writing tasks, and clear writing expectations. Student completion rates of a majority of the four components, anonymous Individual Development and Educational Assessment (IDEA) qualitative comments, and anecdotal interactions with the instructor supported revision. The assignment, assessment, and grading rubrics are included for others to consider and to revise for their classroom use

Sharing My Journey With My Students: Applied Assignments That First Changed MY Relationships

This article was originally published by Family Science ReviewParker Palmer (1998) said it well: “We did not merely find a subject to teach - the subject also found us” (p. 25). In this brief article, I want to share with others what my subject has taught my students and me. Over the past 20 years, three particular assignments or practicums, as I call them in class, have consistently earned high commendations from my undergraduate students, students whose academic majors vary across the campus from engineering and technology to liberal arts and sciences. These three assignments, focusing primarily on the family of origin, interpersonal communication, and forgiveness, are the applied backbone of the course, Family Relations, an upper-level undergraduate course

Service Learning and Civic Responsibility: Assessing Aggregate and Individual Level Change

This article was originally published by the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher EducationThis study sought to expand the extant literature regarding the effectiveness of a higher education service-learning project designed to increase students’ civic and socially responsive knowledge and intentions. A class with a semester long service-learning component was administered a pre- and post-test assessment using multi-item scales to determine if a student’s sense of civic responsibility would increase. Our hypothesis predicting overall mean or aggregate change in civic responsibility was not affirmed by the paired t-tests or analysis of covariance tests. However, using growth curve modeling, we investigated between-individual differences in within-individual change. The study’s results demonstrated that significant variation in individual differences between time one and time two did exist. Particularly noteworthy was the finding that previous service-learning experience, outside the classroom setting, predicted the level of civic attitudes and predicted the level and change of civic action

Successful Aging: A Psychosocial Resources Model for Very Old Adults

Objectives. Using data from the first two phases of the Georgia Centenarian Study, we proposed a latent factor structure for the Duke OARS domains: Economic Resources, Mental Health, Activities of Daily Living, Physical Health, and Social Resources. Methods. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on two waves of the Georgia Centenarian Study to test a latent variable measurement model of the five resources; nested model testing was employed to assess the final measurement model for equivalency of factor structure over time. Results. The specified measurement model fit the data well at Time 1. However, at Time 2, Social Resources only had one indicator load significantly and substantively. Supplemental analyses demonstrated that a model without Social Resources adequately fit the data. Factorial invariance over time was confirmed for the remaining four latent variables. Discussion. This study’s findings allow researchers and clinicians to reduce the number of OARS questions asked of participants. This has practical implications because increased difficulties with hearing, vision, and fatigue in older adults may require extended time or multiple interviewer sessions to complete the battery of OARS questions

Successful Aging: A Psychosocial Resources Model for Very Old Adults

Objectives.Using data from the first two phases of the Georgia Centenarian Study, we proposed a latent factor structure for the Duke OARS domains: Economic Resources, Mental Health, Activities of Daily Living, Physical Health, and Social Resources. Methods. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on two waves of the Georgia Centenarian Study to test a latent variable measurement model of the five resources; nested model testing was employed to assess the final measurement model for equivalency of factor structure over time. Results. The specified measurement model fit the data well at Time 1. However, at Time 2, Social Resources only had one indicator load significantly and substantively. Supplemental analyses demonstrated that a model without Social Resources adequately fit the data. Factorial invariance over time was confirmed for the remaining four latent variables. Discussion. This study’s findings allow researchers and clinicians to reduce the number of OARS questions asked of participants. This has practical implications because increased difficulties with hearing, vision, and fatigue in older adults may require extended time or multiple interviewer sessions to complete the battery of OARS questions

Numerical simulation of transom-stern waves

The flow field generated by a transom-stern hullform is a complex, broad-banded, three-dimensional phenomenon marked by a large breaking wave. This unsteady multiphase turbulent flow feature is difficult to study experimentally and simulate numerically. The results of a set of numerical simulations, which use the Numerical Flow Analysis (NFA) code, of the flow around the Model 5673 transom stern at speeds covering both wet- and dry-transom operating conditions are shown in the accompanying fluid dynamics video. The numerical predictions for wet-transom and dry-transom conditions are presented to demonstrate the current state of the art in the simulation of ship generated breaking waves. The interested reader is referred to Drazen et al. (2010) for a detailed and comprehensive comparison with experiments conducted at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD).Comment: Fluid Dynamics Video for 2010 APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Gallery of Fluid Motion include