Electric Monopole Transition from the Superdeformed Band in

The electric monopole (E0) transition strength ρ^{2} for the transition connecting the third 0^{+} level, a "superdeformed" band head, to the "spherical" 0^{+} ground state in doubly magic ^{40}Ca is determined via e^{+}e^{-} pair-conversion spectroscopy. The measured value ρ^{2}(E0;0_{3}^{+}→0_{1}^{+})=2.3(5)×10^{-3} is the smallest ρ^{2}(E0;0^{+}→0^{+}) found in A<50 nuclei. In contrast, the E0 transition strength to the ground state observed from the second 0^{+} state, a band head of "normal" deformation, is an order of magnitude larger ρ^{2}(E0;0_{2}^{+}→0_{1}^{+})=25.9(16)×10^{-3}, which shows significant mixing between these two states. Large-scale shell-model (LSSM) calculations are performed to understand the microscopic structure of the excited states and the configuration mixing between them; experimental ρ^{2} values in ^{40}Ca and neighboring isotopes are well reproduced by the LSSM calculations. The unusually small ρ^{2}(E0;0_{3}^{+}→0_{1}^{+}) value is due to destructive interference in the mixing of shape-coexisting structures, which are based on several different multiparticle-multihole excitations. This observation goes beyond the usual treatment of E0 strengths, where two-state shape mixing cannot result in destructive interference.

Validation of a patient satisfaction questionnaire in primary health care.

BACKGROUND: Improvement in patient satisfaction with healthcare services can be evaluated by satisfaction questionnaires of high construct validity. OBJECTIVES: To establish the dimensions and construct validity of a 20-item patient satisfaction questionnaire to assess satisfaction with general practice services. SUBJECTS: In total, 1314 adult patients of both genders, who were users of healthcare services at the General Medicine Department of Health Centre Valjevo in Serbia for two consecutive years, were included in the study. METHODS: Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was employed to identify similarities and dissimilarities among items comprising the satisfaction questionnaire. Patient satisfaction dimensions were estimated by principal component analysis for categorical data (CATAPCA). RESULTS: The MDS model configuration derived two dimensions: (1) patient satisfaction with the timeliness of healthcare service provision; and (2) patient centredness related to doctors' and nurses' commitment towards their health. In the CATAPCA model, two dimensions of patient satisfaction were found: the first dimension patient satisfaction with medical staff and the second dimension was indicative of contextual patient dissatisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the applied patient satisfaction questionnaire has high validity and reliability. It also has high sensitivity for longitudinal measurements, as well as good discriminatory power in measuring the different levels of patient satisfaction.

A pilot examination of social context and everyday physical activity among adults receiving Community Mental Health Services.

OBJECTIVE: Community mental health center (CMHC) clients include a variety of people with moderate to severe mental illnesses who also report a number of physical health problems. Physical activity (PA) has been identified as one intervention to improve health among this population; however, little is known about the role of social context in PA. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of social context in everyday PA among CMHC clients. METHOD: Data were collected from CMHC clients in two cultures using accelerometery and experience sampling methods. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. RESULTS: Independence in housing nor culture was significantly associated with levels of PA. Being alone was significantly negatively related to PA level. CONCLUSION: Social isolation appears to be negatively related to PA at the level of everyday life. Physical activity interventions with this population should consider including social components as a part of PA.

Comparison of obesity among Chinese and U.S. Special Olympic athletes with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a health problem in China, but there are no reports on the obesity status of Chinese citizens with intellectual disabilities (ID). Research has shown that adults with ID have higher body mass index (BMI) than adults without ID, but this information is primarily based on populations residing in North American and European countries. The purpose of this study was to compare BMI and obesity status of Chinese and U.S. Special Olympic athletes with ID. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Height, weight, BMI and self-reported physical activity (SRPA) data from the Special Olympics 2006 U.S. National Games and 2007 Shanghai World Games databases were analyzed. Linear and logistic analyses were conducted for continuous data and dichotomous variables, respectively. Predictor variables were age, gender, country, SRPA, and obesity status according to country specific criteria. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The U.S. group had significantly higher BMI values than their Chinese counterparts. Age (p = 0.001) and country (p = <0.001) were the main predictors of BMI and obesity status, even when country-specific standards of obesity classifications were used. Holding all other factors constant, each unit increase of age was associated with increased odds for obesity by a factor of 1.04 and the odds of obesity occurring in U.S. athletes was 2.47 times greater than in Chinese athletes. CONCLUSION: Obesity is an emerging health problem for Chinese adults with ID. Participation in Special Olympics does not offset obesity in people with ID and other methods of intervention are needed to address obesity in this population segment. This is a global health concern that requires immediate attention.