Second-harmonic generation from subwavelength metal heterodimers.

We experimentally study the optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) from deep subwavelength gold-silver heterodimers, and silver-silver and gold-gold homodimers. Our results indicate a heterodimer SHG that is an order of magnitude more intense than that of the homodimers. In contrast, full-wave calculations that consider the surface and bulk contribution of individual particles, which is the conventional view on such processes, suggest that it is the silver-silver homodimer that should prevail. Based on the deep subwavelength dimension of our structure, we propose that the heterodimer nonlinearity results from a Coulomb interaction between lumped oscillating charges and not from the surface nonlinearity of each particle, as convention would have it. Our proposed model can explain the larger SHG emission observed in gold-silver heterodimers and reproduces its unique spectral lineshape.

Developing an index of adolescent deprivation for use in British Columbia, Canada.

A population-level adolescent health survey has been a reliable source of information about the health and well-being of 12-19-year-olds in Western Canada since its introduction in 1992. However, the survey has never accurately measured child poverty, partially due to the complex social and geographical make-up of the region. The current study sought to adapt a model for developing a child-centric index of material deprivation which had been successfully used in the UK. To develop the BC Youth Deprivation Index, 25 focus groups, including three youth-led groups, were held with 300 adolescents aged 12-19 in urban, semi-urban, rural, and remote communities in each of the province's five regions (North, Interior, Fraser, Vancouver Coastal, and Island). Participants in the focus groups created a 10-item index of the material items adolescents felt they needed in order to belong. The draft index was piloted with 297 BC adolescents aged 12-19. The index demonstrated good internal reliability and was correlated with measures of food insecurity and subjective well-being. The finalised index was completed by over 38,000 adolescents, and is available to policy makers and practitioners. The study outcomes support the value of meaningfully engaging young people in the process of measurement development.

A collective impact approach to supporting youth transitioning out of government care.

BACKGROUND: The issues faced by young people transitioning out of government care are complex, and improving outcomes requires the collaboration of multiple stakeholders (Lopez & Allen, 2007). OBJECTIVE, PARTICIPANTS, AND SETTING: In Vancouver, Western Canada, 60 agencies and 20 youth from government care are working in partnership using a collective impact approach to address the systemic issues and barriers to healthy development that youth from care experience. Collective impact is an approach to tackling complex social problems which requires collaboration across government, business, funders, charitable organizations, and community members to achieve significant and lasting social change (Hanleybrown et al., 2012). The Vancouver collective operates working groups (co-chaired by youth with care experience) that are addressing challenges in the areas of education, employment, housing, meaningful connections (e.g., sustainable family-type supports), health, wellness and culture. METHODS: A mixed-method evaluation has included quantitative and qualitative data, collected through outcomes, diaries, surveys, and focus groups, to measure process and outcomes. RESULTS: Findings help to inform the ongoing development and activities of the collective. Findings indicate the collective is making progress in meeting its goals. Partners continue to be engaged and committed to improving outcomes for youth transitioning out of care, and there are improvements in a number of key areas such as education, collaborative working, and youth engagement. CONCLUSION: A collective impact approach that includes youth's voices, and collaboration across multiple stakeholders, can increase the likelihood of improving outcomes for young people transitioning out of government care.

Health and Healthcare Service Use: The Experiences of Runaway Trans Adolescents Compared to their Peers.

This study is the first trans-inclusive exploration of the relation between running away from home, health, and access to healthcare and supportive figures as a function of gender among adolescents. Secondary data analysis of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey found that trans adolescents were 4.25 times as likely as males, and 3.0 times as likely as females, to have run away. Logistic regressions indicated that runaway adolescents of all genders had greater odds of reporting poor or fair overall health (OR: 2.9) and mental health (OR: 4.5), and of foregoing needed physical (OR: 4.8) and mental health care (OR: 4.5) compared to adolescents who had not run away. The relation between running away and health was exacerbated among trans adolescents. Trans and female youth were also less likely than males to report receiving helpful support. Findings highlight the importance of offering trans-affirming services and care to mitigate harms associated with running away from home.

Adolescent-parent attachment: Bonds that support healthy development.

Adolescence is characterized by significant neurological, cognitive and sociopsychological development. With the advance of adolescence, the amount of time spent with parents typically drops while time spent with peers increases considerably. Nonetheless, parents continue to play a key role in influencing their adolescent's development. Adolescent-parent attachment has profound effects on cognitive, social and emotional functioning. Secure attachment is associated with less engagement in high risk behaviours, fewer mental health problems, and enhanced social skills and coping strategies. The present article provides a brief synopsis of the changes that occur during adolescence and describes what attachment is, why it continues to be important and how it is transformed during adolescence. It summarizes major findings on the impact of attachment on adolescent adjustment and discusses strategies for supporting healthy adolescent-parent attachment.

Rumination on anger and sadness in adolescence: fueling of fury and deepening of despair.

We examined anger rumination and sadness rumination in clinic-referred adolescents (N = 121). Factor analysis indicated that items from analogous anger and sadness rumination measures loaded onto 2 factors tapping anger rumination and sadness rumination, respectively. Structural equation modeling confirmed unique relations between each form of rumination and specific emotional or behavioral problems. Anger and anger rumination were independent predictors of aggression, suggesting that both the affective component of anger (i.e., angry feelings) and the cognitive process (i.e., recurrent thoughts about anger) are important in predicting aggressive behavior. Girls reported higher levels of both forms of rumination compared to boys; however, no sex differences were found in the relations between either form of rumination and outcomes.