Army Reservists Spouses\u27 Perceptions of Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Phenomenological Study

While it is commonly known that combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has profound, long-term effects on soldiers, its effects on spouses of affected soldiers are less understood. Some spouses who provide care for soldiers with PTSD develop symptoms that are similar in nature. These symptoms include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, isolation, hypervigilance, and a strong startle effect. This study explored the lived experiences of 8 spouses of Army Reservists who returned from deployment in either Iraq or Afghanistan with combat-related PTSD. This study used the couple adaptation to traumatic stress model to explore the couple\u27s response to traumatic stress. The study also includes a discussion of the history of PTSD, including changes in criteria with the revisions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), including the most recent change in the latest version (DSM 5). Although secondary traumatic stress is not recognized in the DSM 5, an increase in awareness may result in a better understanding of mental health needs within the military culture. The study consisted of 8 semi-structured interviews among 8 female spouses of Army Reserve soldiers, using Colaizzi\u27s method of data analysis. The results of this study identified psychological distress in all participants in connection with relationship changes, psychological distress, and lack of available mental health services. The results of this study may assist mental health professionals understand that the mental health needs of spouses of Reservists often differ from those of active duty spouses. This study may support social change by promoting the need for additional training for counselors who work with this population

Winter tears: a study in computer animation

This project is a study into the art and science of Animation. Specifically, this project focuses on the development of story and character through the use of Computer Animation. From beginning to end, this animation comprises work done completely by the author. The main goal of the project was to understand the development process of an animated short through concentration on Story Development, Character Creation, and Character Animation. In totality, the completed work comprises 10 months of individual labor that began in July 2001 and ended in April 2002. These 10 months of work have resulted in the creation of a 5 minute animated short entitled Winter Tears. The spirit of the work was devoted towards expanding, testing, and solidifying the skill of the author. What has followed this long process is the best work that the author has produced to date. The process of the project was a constant struggle of both work and discovery. In addition to the primary goals, secondary goals were included. The first of these goals was the learning of an industry standard computer animation package called AliasWaveFrontMaya and the second the creation of an animation piece to be used in a portfolio for job applications. What the author hopes will be seen is a true love of animation and a profound respect for the amount of work and detail required for any animated piece in any discipline

Integrated Optics: a Report on the 2nd OSA Topical Meeting

This report surveys the papers presented at the 2nd OSA Topical Meeting on Integrated Optics, which was held 21–24 January 1974 in New Orleans, La

Imaging indicator for ESD safety testing.

This report describes the development of a new detection method for electrostatic discharge (ESD) testing of explosives, using a single-lens reflex (SLR) digital camera and a 200-mm macro lens. This method has demonstrated several distinct advantages to other current ESD detection methods, including the creation of a permanent record, an enlarged image for real-time viewing as well as extended periods of review, and ability to combine with most other Go/No-Go sensors. This report includes details of the method, including camera settings and position, and results with wellcharacterized explosives PETN and RDX, and two ESD-sensitive aluminum powders

The Influence of NGO Strategies on the Sustainability of Biosand Water Filters in Cambodia

This essay evaluates the effectiveness of NGO strategies to promote program sustainability using a case study of two NGOs that install biosand water filters in Cambodia. While the ownership-focused strategy of cost-sharing is the most commonly used and studied, there is evidence to suggest that certain more neglected strategies can have a greater impact. Drawing from nine months of fieldwork, 457 household surveys and five semi-structured interviews with NGO management personnel, the programmatic details of each program are presented along with other factors that relate to the continued use of biosand filters. Through a mixed methods approach this study finds that labor-sharing and monitoring contribute to a significant 15 percentage point difference in biosand filter continued use between the two NGOs. Meanwhile, the influence of cost-sharing remains elusive. This essay argues that the pervasive sentiment that cost-sharing can effectively promote sustainable outcomes allows NGOs using this policy to have a false sense of sustainability. Consequently, other strategies such as labor-sharing and monitoring that have been found to promote more sustainable outcomes are often neglected. Failure to use evidence-based sustainability strategies results in more program failures and prevents the achievement of desired poverty alleviation outcomes