The Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Examination is a relatively new brief cognitive screening measure developed for use with veterans. To date, there has been a paucity of research on its psychometric properties. Using a sample of 148 male veterans referred to a VA Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Clinic for evaluation, the SLUMS’ ability to discriminate between MCI versus other diagnoses or no diagnosis was compared to results from a more comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Approximately 51% of the sample was diagnosed with MCI, 16% with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), 17% did not meet criteria for a diagnosis, and 16% were given some other DSM-IV-TR diagnosis. The SLUMS demonstrated poor internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .57), but scores were significantly correlated with scores on every neuropsychological measure, except for Trails B. Diagnostic discriminability was comparable to that of the more time intensive neuropsychological battery for discriminating between MCI and no diagnosis, and MCI and MDD. In the current sample, a cutoff score of 25 was optimal for discriminating between MCI and no diagnosis, whereas a slightly lower cutoff score of 24 is recommended for discriminating between MCI and those with MDD. Diagnostic indicators were poor for the SLUMS and the battery when discriminating between MCI and a heterogeneous group of other disorders. Possible reasons for low reliability in such a screening measure in the context of convergent validity are discussed. It is concluded that the SLUMS may be a viable brief cognitive screening measure in such veteran populations, particularly when discriminating between MCI and MDD; however, additional studies should be completed to evaluate other forms of consistency, such as test-retest reliability.

No description available.

A hearing impairment is one of the three leading causes of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 600 million people around the world have a hearing impairment, which affects their communication abilities, causes them to feel isolated and depressed, and impacts their economic situation. Because a decrease in the ability to hear is associated with getting older and life expectancy is increasing, the number of hearing impaired individuals is expected to increase. Much of the current research on adults with a hearing impairment focusses on a disabling hearing impairment, which is a loss of at least 40 dB HL or worse in the better ear. The research on a mild hearing impairment is predominantly focussed on children, specifically on educational effects. The aims of this study were to identify demographic, audiometric and quality of life differences between adults with a mild hearing impairment who adopt hearing aids and those who choose not to adopt hearing aids, and to measure clinical outcomes for adults with a mild hearing impairment who adopt hearing aids. Two groups of clients with a mild hearing impairment were compared. One group consisted of hearing aid adopters whilst the other group consisted of non-adopters. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic variables, such as age, gender or working status, or objective audiometric variables. We found a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of subjective audiometric variables. Hearing aid adopters rated their hearing impairment worse than the non-adopters and were more inclined to change their current situation than the non-adopters. In addition, the adopters showed significant clinical improvement after wearing their hearing aids for an extended period of time.

Cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) can impact negatively on caregivers and is associated with carer distress and feelings of burden. To investigate this relationship we examined level of burden, coping strategies, depression, anxiety and potential positive aspects of caregiving in the caregivers of 104 PD patients. The PD patients were classified as either showing normal cognition (PD-N; n=57), with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI; n=31) or with dementia (PD-D; n=16). The key finding was that mean Zarit burden score increased between carers of PD-N (M=14.1, SD=12.0) through to PD-MCI (M=21.1, SD=9.86) and PD-D (M=27.8, SD=10.61); F (2,101) =9.96, p<0.001. Post hoc tests (Newman-Keuls) identified significantly higher Zarit burden scores in PD-D caregivers compared to both PD-N (p<.001) and PD-MCI patients (p<.05), but carers of PD-MCI patients also showed increased burden scores relative to those of PD-N patients (p<.05). The proportion of carers showing significant levels of burden (Zarit burden score ≥21) also increased as cognition declined (21% for PD-N; 58% for PD-MCI; and 81% for PD-D). Time spent providing care and problem-focused, emotion-focused and dysfunctional coping strategies also increased with worsening cognition. While caregiver use of problem-focused coping mediated the association between patient cognitive status and caregiver burden, we could not be confident about this relationship as the inverse model was also significant. Caregiver Zarit burden was independent of caregiver depression, anxiety and positive attributions of caregiving. The study highlights the impact of Parkinson’s disease on those providing care when the patients’ cognition is poor, including those with MCI. Caregiver well-being has important implications for nursing home placement and disease course.

Albertan coal has been used to produce extracts as precursor for production of anode coke. Coal extractability was studied using digestion with Tetralin in a 500 ml reactor. Different operating conditions were tried and optimum conditions were chosen for runs with coal-derived solvents. Extracts from runs with coal-derived solvents and their hydrotreated versions were distilled and heat treated to produce pitches as coke precursors. Coking experiments were performed using a molten salt bath furnace. Coal, solvents, pitches and cokes were characterized to study the effects of process chemistry on coke anisotropy. Coke anisotropy was studied using image analysis of polarized light optical micrographs and x-ray diffraction. Aromaticity of the pitch was found to be the key parameter controlling coke anisotropy. Solvent was found to be the most important factor contributing to pitch aromaticity. Heat treated products of high aromaticity yield the highest coke conversion and anisotropy. / Chemical Engineering

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, November, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-171)

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-106).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Hannover, Universiẗat, Diss., 2005.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-106)