First Measurement of the Q

We report on the first Q^{2}-dependent measurement of the beam-normal single spin asymmetry A_{n} in the elastic scattering of 570 MeV vertically polarized electrons off ^{12}C. We cover the Q^{2} range between 0.02 and 0.05 GeV^{2}/c^{2} and determine A_{n} at four different Q^{2} values. The experimental results are compared to a theoretical calculation that relates A_{n} to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange amplitude. The result emphasizes that the Q^{2} behavior of A_{n} given by the ratio of the Compton to charge form factors cannot be treated independently of the target nucleus.

Groundwater pollution and remediation options for multi-source contaminated aquifers (Bitterfeld/Wolfen, Germany).

Large-scale contaminated megasites like Bitterfeld/Wolfen in the eastern part of Germany are characterized by a regional pollution of soil, surface water and groundwater due to the long and varied history of the chemical industry on location. The pollutants in groundwater may spread to uncontaminated areas and endanger receptors like surface water and drinking water wells according to the site-specific hydrologic regime. In addition, the sheer extension of the contamination at megasites as well as the existence of large densely populated areas and land of high-reuse value prevent a simple risk management strategy of use restriction for the whole area. Since a complete clean-up of the groundwater on a megasite is neither economically feasible nor technically possible within a reasonable time-frame, a multi-approach remediation strategy is needed, taking into account the immediate risks for human health, ecosystem and so-called "protectable goods". Moreover, the contaminants at megasites typically represent a dangerous cocktail of multiple harmful substances stemming from a variety of sources, which may interact with each other and complicate the search for an appropriate remediation strategy. At the SAFIRA-project site in Bitterfeld approaches for in situ remediation of multiple contaminants in groundwater are being tested. Alternatives in local implementation strategies as well as consequences of long-term restrictions for megasites like Bitterfeld need an independent evaluation of the situation using a risk-based approach. For this reason, a GIS-based 3D model of the area including geology, contaminants, hydrogeology, land-use and protected areas has been built. The regional groundwater pollution is characterized by contamination profiles of all monitored substances. In the area of investigation, e.g. threefold and fourfold threshold levels of chlorinated methane, ethane and ethene as well as HCH-isomers, mono-, di- and tetrachlorobenzene, DDT-isomers and benzene are frequently detected in groundwater, that means in at least 60% of the wells that were sampled. High median values of more than 10 microg/l were calculated for cis/trans-1,2-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroethene and monochlorobenzene. In general, the regional distribution of contaminants reflect the different sources and pathways, and give first results from a regional point of view, depending on a land-use classification of specific areas.

Women's perceptions of their social roles after heart surgery and coronary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to describe the influence of physical health on social role perceptions, role performance, and role balance in women after heart surgery and coronary angioplasty. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was used. SETTING: The study was undertaken at a Midwestern community hospital. SAMPLE: The study considered 58 midlife and older women who had received heart surgery or coronary angioplasty. OUTCOME MEASURES: The following measures were used: Inventory of Adult Role Behavior, Role Discrepancy Measure, Role Balance Measure, and Salient Social Roles Measure. RESULTS: Women in poorer health had lower role performance and more negative role perceptions. In general, the balance of rewards and concerns in roles rated most important were not affected by health status. CONCLUSION: Dimensions of women's social roles are related to physical health after heart surgery and angioplasty. Knowledge about the effect of physical health on women's social role experiences is important information for clinicians who care for women with heart disease. If a woman can be helped to achieve better functional health to perform role and daily living tasks, she may feel more positive about her current and future health states.

Sense of coherence and illness appraisal in older women's quality of life.

The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study was to test a conceptual model of proposed relationships between physical health limitation, the sense of coherence, illness appraisal, and quality of life in a sample of 137 older women. The typical respondent was 76, widowed, with an income less than $12,000, and several health problems. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that physical health limitation, particularly symptom bother and functional health, had a significant negative influence on quality of life. However this effect was mediated by sense of coherence and illness appraisal. Regardless of the level of symptoms or functional health, women with higher sense of coherence and more positive illness appraisals had higher levels of quality of life. The findings support the proposed model and further our understandings regarding the protective role of personality resources in perceived quality of life in older women with chronic illnesses.

Mechanisms of deficient interferon-gamma production in atopic diseases.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms responsible for an imbalanced cytokine response in atopic diseases are still not understood. While impaired interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production may be the result of a pathological T-cell/antigen-presenting cell (APC) interaction, evidence was provided that the T cell itself may have an intrinsic defect to produce IFN-gamma. OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether impaired IFN-gamma production by T cells from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) represents an intrinsic defect in producing IFN-gamma. METHODS: Effector T cells were generated from CD4+ CD45RA+-naive precursors from patients with AD and healthy control individuals by activation with anti-CD3+ anti-CD28 MoAbs. Following restimulation, IFN-gamma production was measured by ELISA and flow cytometry. RESULTS: IFN-gamma production by atopic T cells was decreased compared with healthy T cells. IL-12 present at priming or high doses of IL-2 during the culture period, even in the absence of IL-12, completely restored IFN-gamma production. Conversion of naive CD45RA+ to CD45R0+ effector cells did not differ between atopic and healthy donors' T cells. CONCLUSION: Impaired IFN-gamma production by T cells from atopic individuals is not the result of an intrinsic, genetically fixed, defect to produce sufficient amounts of IFN-gamma. The data provides evidence that correction of an impaired TH1 response in AD may be successful at the precursor T cell level.

IFN-gamma is only partially restored by co-stimulation with IL-12, IL-2, IL-15, IL-18 or engagement of CD28.

BACKGROUND: Although it is well established that T cells derived from patients with atopic diseases produce low levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate whether IFN-gamma production may be restored by co-stimulatory molecules known to increase IFN-gamma production in vitro. Further, to investigate whether deficient IFN-gamma production is associated with disease activity. METHODS: Purified peripheral T cells obtained from patients with severe atopic dermatitis (AD), individuals with a history but no symptoms of AD and healthy control subjects were activated with anti-CD3 MoAbs in the presence or absence of anti-CD28 MoAbs, interleukin (IL-) 12, IL-2, IL-15 or IL-18. IFN-gamma production was determined at the single cell level by flow cytometry, as well as by ELISA. RESULTS: Activated T cells from patients with severe AD produced less IFN-gamma than T cells from healthy control individuals. IL-12 or engagement of CD28 enhanced IFN-gamma production in both healthy and atopic T cells. However, absolute values of IFN-gamma were still different. IL-2, IL-15 and IL-18 did not restore IFN-gamma production. T cells from individuals with a history of AD produced more IFN-gamma than those from subjects with severe AD, but less than T cells from healthy individuals. Atopic T cells expressed regular levels of CD3, CD28 and Stat4, the main signal transducer and activator of transcription for IL-12. IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-beta production by T cells were not different between healthy and atopic individuals. CONCLUSION: IFN-gamma deficiency in atopic T cells is not due to a lack of responsiveness to CD28, IL-12, IL-2, IL-15 or IL-18. T cell-derived cytokines able to antagonize IFN-gamma do not contribute to decreased IFN-gamma production. The extent of IFN-gamma deficiency seems to be dependent on disease activity.

Health promotion in old age.

The empirical literature on health promotion in old age was reviewed. A developmental perspective was used to examine 42 studies: studies relating health behaviors to health outcomes, descriptive studies of health promotion in old age, studies of the outcomes of health promotion programs in old age, and studies of factors related to older adults' participation in health promotion activities. In general, elderly adults perceived health promotion activities as beneficial, engaged in health behaviors more frequently than younger adults, and participated in community-based and other health promotion programs. There is little definitive evidence that health promotion activities result in better health outcomes for older adults, however. Identifying appropriate outcomes related to health promotion in old age is a critical need.

Older women's lives through time.

This 6-year longitudinal study of 103 community-dwelling older women examined changes in physical and mental health and self conceptions and the relationships among self conceptions, physical health, and depression. Over time, physical health, personal growth, and purpose in life declined; depression increased; and positive relations and autonomy were stable. Regression analyses indicated declines in physical health rarely affected the self; increase in depression was related only to concurrent physical health; and prior depression did not predict subsequent physical health. Thus, positive self conceptions and physical health appear to be independent in elderly women, but declines in physical health are associated with depression.

Effect of a postdischarge education class on coronary artery disease knowledge and self-reported health-promoting behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a single 2-hour postdischarge education class on knowledge and health-promoting behaviors of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. DESIGN: Descriptive, two-group, posttest survey. SETTING: Midwestern community hospital. SUBJECTS: One hundred fourteen patients who had experienced a cardiac catheterization, 53 patients who had attended a postdischarge coronary artery disease education class, and 61 patients who had not attended the class. OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge of coronary artery disease and coronary artery disease risk factor, and health-promoting behaviors. RESULTS: Those who attended the postdischarge class scored significantly higher on both knowledge and health-promoting behaviors. CONCLUSION: Patients who attended a single 2-hour postdischarge education class had significantly higher knowledge of coronary artery disease and coronary artery disease risk factors. Knowledge may better prepare people to increase health-promoting behaviors.

Mechanisms related to psychological well-being in older women with chronic illnesses: age and disease comparisons.

The influence of type of illness (breast cancer versus osteoarthritis) and age on physical health and functioning, self-system interpretive mechanisms, and women's psychological well-being were examined. Self-system interpretive mechanisms are considered mediators of the effects of physical health on psychological well-being and include social comparisons, social integration, and illness perceptions. Young-old (aged 60-74) and old-old (75 +) women, diagnosed with osteoarthritis (N = 102) or breast cancer (N = 86), who volunteered for the study were interviewed using structured self-report scales. Young-old and old-old women did not differ in terms of health status, interpretive mechanisms, or on three of five indices of psychological well-being. On the other hand, women with arthritis, regardless of age, reported more functional health problems, more symptoms, and perceived their illness as more severe, more chronic, and less controllable than women with breast cancer. Although women with arthritis and breast cancer differed significantly in terms of physical health, they did not differ on multiple measures of psychological well-being. For both groups, women who made more positive social comparisons and who had more extensive social networks had higher levels of psychological well-being, regardless of physical health problems.

Interventions for aged family members.

Is Mrs. B's family unusual? Is this a hypothetical situation made too dramatic? The answer is no, to both questions. This situation is real, the family is real, and a typical, elderly spouse was driven to feel helpless and out of control, experiencing what no person should ever go through, and needing to reevaluate and rethink her whole future. Hospitalization for a critical injury can disrupt even the most highly organized and functional family. Family-focused care may mitigate family stress by providing support based on the unique needs of each family. As Mrs. B's family illustrates, the family members may have suffered as much pain as the patient. They, too, deserve special attention and consideration. Their reactions are typical and manageable, and professionals who are interested in the welfare and functioning of the family must ensure that the family of the patient receives adequate and appropriate care, no matter what their age.

The self, health, and depression in elderly women.

A short-term, longitudinal, survey study was conducted to examine relationships among actual and ideal self conceptions, physical health, and depression in 149 community-dwelling elderly women. Two theoretical perspectives regarding the self were compared, women's self-development and lifespan developmental theory. As predicted by theories of women's development, relationships with other emerged as a salient aspect of the self in elderly women. Regression analyses indicated that actual and ideal self-conceptions were predicted by depression, but not generally by physical health status. Thus, physical health problems were not global in their effects on the various dimensions of the self in elderly women, but depression was.

Psychological adjustment in adults with cancer: the self as mediator.

The role of the self in adjustment to cancer has been noted but is not well understood. Research and theory on the self suggest that discrepancies between actual and ideal self-conceptions influence adjustment and mediate the effects of disease-related health problems on psychological well-being. This relationship was investigated in a cross-sectional study of 108 persons with cancer. Cancer patients who had more symptoms and worse functional health and perceived their cancer as a chronic rather than an acute disease had higher levels of self-discrepancies and poorer adjustment. Self-discrepancy was a significant mediator of the effects of perceived health status on purpose in life, positive relations with others, and depression.

Does social problem solving differ from other types of problem solving during the adult years?

One hundred thirteen individuals, ages 18-81, were presented with a test of social problem solving, a test of practical problem solving, the Twenty Questions task (a test of traditional problem solving), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale--Revised Vocabulary subtest (a measure of crystallized intelligence), and Raven's Progressive Matrices (a measure of fluid intelligence). The effects of age, sex, education, and intellectual abilities on problem-solving performance were examined. Social problem solving was positively related to higher education and higher Vocabulary scores, but it was not related to age. Social problem solving and practical problem solving were significantly related to each other and to scores on the Vocabulary subtest, whereas traditional problem solving was significantly related to scores on Raven's Progressive Matrices. These results suggest that different types of problem solving are differentially related to other intellectual abilities and to age.

Physical and mental health in later life: the self-system as mediator.

The purpose of this research was to investigate how the self-system mediates the relationship between physical health and mental health in elderly women. Three theoretical perspectives were examined: social integration (self in relationship to the social structure), social comparisons (self in relationship to others), and self-discrepancies (internal self-evaluations). Community-dwelling elderly women (N = 243) completed self-report instruments measuring the various self-assessments, physical health, and 3 mental health outcomes: psychological distress, well-being, and developmental outcomes. Social integration and social comparisons mediated the effects of physical health on all 3 outcomes.

The role of social comparisons processes in the psychological adaptation of elderly adults.

Social comparison processes were investigated as mechanisms by which elderly women maintain or enhance their psychological well-being in the face of health-related threats or loss. In Study 1, a measure of social comparisons was tested, and a preliminary model of the effects of health and social comparisons on depression was examined (N = 42). In Study 2, a separate sample of elderly women (N = 243) completed self-report measures concerning physical health, upward and downward social comparison processes, and positive and negative aspects of psychological adaptation. As predicted, worse physical health status was linked to more frequent social comparisons; however, more positive social comparisons were related to better mental health outcomes, even for women in poor health. In fact, the effects of social comparisons were strongest for women in the poorest health, resulting in psychological outcomes similar to women in good health. Thus, social comparisons appear to play a significant role in psychological well-being in old age. The findings also point to the importance of distinguishing between frequency and consequences of social comparison processes.

The relationship between physical health and psychological well-being in elderly women: a developmental perspective.

Little is known about the physical health and psychological well-being of very old women, although they are one of the fastest growing segments of the population. The relationships among physical health, psychological well-being, and age were investigated using a developmental perspective and a multidimensional approach to the assessment of psychological well-being. Two hundred and forty-three elderly women completed multiple self-report measures of physical health status and psychological well-being. Multiple regression analyses indicated that older age was related to lower levels of purpose in life, personal growth, and positive relationships. Poor health, regardless of age, was associated with more depression and anxiety and lower levels of positive relationships and autonomy. Implications for the nursing care of elderly women are discussed.

Physical and mental health relationships in the very old.

A descriptive, correlational study was conducted to examine the physical and mental health status of 80-year-olds. Thirty-seven community-dwelling adults, aged 80 and over, were interviewed about their physical health, psychological well-being, and demographic characteristics. Both descriptive and correlational data indicated that overall these older adults were positive about both their physical health and psychological well-being. However, depression emerged as a significant problem for 24% of the sample and was strongly related to physical health problems. Results are discussed in relation to both health needs and stereotypic beliefs about the very old.

The role of the self in adjustment to cancer in elderly women.

One way that people may adjust to illness is through a redefinition of the self, especially with respect to the relationship between ideal self and actual self. To investigate psychological adjustment in community-dwelling elderly women, women with cancer (n = 17) were compared to women with other health problems (n = 30) based on measures of psychological distress and well-being, actual self, ideal self, and the discrepancy between actual self and ideal self. Women with cancer scored no differently than other women on measures of psychological well-being, psychological distress, and actual self, but their ideal-self ratings were lower. The positive adjustment of women with cancer may be the result of their ability to lower their ideal-self expectations, thereby reducing self-discrepancies that can result in psychological distress.

How elderly women cope: concerns and strategies.

Forty-two elderly women were asked to describe the problems they faced with aging, and how they coped with both real-life and hypothetical problems in seven areas. Content analysis indicated that their spontaneously reported ongoing strategies were consistent with current theoretical formulations, the strategies differed by area of concern and for real-life versus hypothetical problems, and direct action strategies were related to lower levels of psychologic distress. These results have implications for nursing research and practice.