A Methodology for Seismic Risk Analysis of Nuclear Power Plants

This methodology begins by quantifying the fragility of all key components and structures in the plant. By means of the logic encoded in the plant event trees and fault trees, the component fragilities are combined to form fragilities for the occurrence of plant damage states or release categories. Combining these, in turn, with the seismicity curves yields the frequencies of those states or releases. Uncertainty is explicitly included at each step of the process.     

Asthma and allergy as risk factors for suicidal behavior among young adults

An association between allergic disease, depression and suicidality has been reported. Objective: To explore the relationships between suicidality and asthma, allergy, internet addiction, stress, sleep quality, pain/discomfort, and depression, among emerging adults. Participants: 929 college students completed an online survey between October 2015 and April 2017. Methods: A cross-sectional study using multivariate analysis techniques was implemented. Results: Using structural equation modeling, we found that allergies and stress were directly related to pain/discomfort; pain/discomfort was associated to poor sleep, depression, and suicidality. Sleep quality was also affected by stress; while sleep, stress, pain/discomfort, and internet addiction were directly related to depression (all p < .05). Ultimately, four factors impacted suicidality: stress, pain/discomfort, depression, and, indirectly, sleep quality (all p < .05). Although allergy had some effects, these did not reach statistical significance (p < .09). Conclusion: Findings suggest that allergy might impact suicidality indirectly through increased pain/discomfort, poor sleep, and depression.     

The Legal System and Alzheimer’s Disease: Social Workers and Lawyers’ Perceptions and Experiences

The expected increase in the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) worldwide will be accompanied by an increase in the number of cases involving persons with AD brought up to the courts. This study examined the perceptions and experiences of social workers and lawyers regarding these cases. Three focus groups including social workers and lawyers (n = 26) were conducted. Two main themes were raised by the participants: (a) the role of social workers and lawyers in court cases regarding AD, and (b) the need for improving legal encounters involving persons with AD. Similarities and differences were found in both professionals’ interpretations of these shared themes. Results of this study emphasize the need for increasing the knowledge and interprofessional training provided to social workers and lawyers involved in legal cases dealing with issues involving persons with Alzheimer’s disease.     

A note on multivariate capability indices

In manufacturing industry, there is growing interest in quantitative measures of process variation under multivariate setting. This paper introduces a multivariate capability index and focuses its applications in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. This index incorporates both the process variation and the process deviation from target. Two existing multivariate indices are compared with the proposed index.     

Robustness of Inference for One-sample Problem with Correlated Observations

The inference about the population mean based on the standard t-test involves the assumption of normal population as well as independence of the observations. In this paper we examine the robustness of the inference in the presence of correlations among the observations. We consider the simplest correlation structure AR(1) and its impact on the t-test. A modification of the t-test suitable for this structure is suggested, and its effect on the inference is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation.     

Sleep Quality and Body Mass Index in College Students: The Role of Sleep Disturbances

Abstract

Objective: Obesity and its comorbidities have emerged as a leading public health concern. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sleep patterns, including duration and disturbances. Methods: A convenience sample of 515 college students completed an online survey consisting of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and self-reported height and weight to calculate BMI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using components of the PSQI as predictors of overweight (BMI ≥ 25). Results: One-third of the participants had BMI ≥ 25, and 51% were poor-quality sleepers (PSQI > 5). Controlling for age and sex, only sleep disturbances were associated with overweight (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [1.08, 2.57]). Conclusions: Sleep disturbances, rather than sleep duration, predicted overweight among young adults; this is consistent with the most recent evidence in the literature. These findings support expanding the scope of wellness programs to promote healthy sleep among students.     

Mediation across generations: A tri-generational perspective

The meaning of mediation across generations was examined qualitatively in 20 grandparent–parent–grandchild triads.Parental mediation was the most dominant type of intergenerational mediation. However, evidence was found also regarding grandparent's and grandchild's mediation.The role of the mother as a mediator was recognized and accepted by all generations, although it was not always accepted happily by the mothers. Our results showed that grandparent's mediation is present in intact families, but mostly in cases of family crisis. Finally, grandchild's mediation emerged especially when the bond between the grandparent and the parent was weak or problematic.Findings of this study provide a first insight in examining intergenerational mediation from a tri-generational approach.     

On a fisherian detour of the step-down procedure for manova

The well known step-down procedure for MANOVA given by J. Roy (1958) can be modified by combining the step-down tests using a B-optimal combination method such as Fisher's. The Fisherian detour of the stepwise MANOVA is shown to be asymptotically equivalent to the likelihood ratio test.     

Lay persons' emotional reactions toward an abused elderly person

This study examined lay persons' emotional reactions to abuse, with special attention to two types of disease: Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis. A total of 169 adults (mean age = 60) were interviewed face-to-face using a vignette methodology. Although the majority of the participants found the vignette to describe a situation of abuse, one-quarter did not consider it an abusive situation. The person described in the vignette elicited more positive than negative emotions, with a high percentage of participants expressing sympathy, desire to help, and concern. The various emotional reactions to abuse are associated with different correlates.     

Knowledge and correlates of osteoporosis: a comparison of Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Arab women

The present study examined levels and correlates of knowledge about osteoporosis among 176 Israeli-Jewish (mean age = 55) and 80 Israeli-Arab (mean age = 51) women. Levels of knowledge about the disease were low among all women, especially regarding some of the risk factors. Knowledge and awareness about the disease were especially deficient among Arab women. Younger age and lower education were the main vulnerability factors among Jewish women, and lower desire to seek information from the medical establishment, higher religiosity, and the lack of extended medical insurance among Arab women. Educational programs, geared to the needs and capabilities of the different ethnic populations, should be encouraged.