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Among the most efficient techniques for hydrogen desorption monitoring, thermal desorption mass spectrometry is a very sensitive one, but in certain cases can give rise to uptake misleading results due to residual hydrogen partial pressure background variations. In this work one develops a novel thermal desorption variant based on the effusive molecular beam technique that represents a significant improvement in the accurate determination of hydrogen mass absorbed on a solid sample. The enhancement in the signal-to-noise ratio for trace hydrogen is on the order of 20%, and no previous calibration with a chemical standard is required. The kinetic information obtained from the hydrogen desorption mass spectra (at a constant heating rate of 1 degrees C/min) accounts for the consistency of the technique.

It is clear that the quality of life of the individual is intertwined with that of his or her family. Therefore, health care professionals and other professionals who work with families facing terminal illness must (1) identify those factors that put the patient and the family at risk of suffering further disruption of psychosocial quality of life and (2) seek out whatever resources are necessary to help the patient and the family improve their quality of life. Families with young children are more dependent on external resources than are other families, and they place more strains on the spouse caregiver. If these resources are not available, parents are less able to handle crucial developmental family matters. Clinicians who are aware of this deficit are better able to recognize role performance problems and help families obtain the external resources. Secondly, families who have relied on ascribed roles before the parent fell ill are at greater risk of psychosocial dysfunction: they lack appropriate ways to deal with role reallocation in order to make the best use of their talents. Professionals who are sensitive to this can help families adapt to role changes. A third area that places families at risk is poor spousal communication. Good communication patterns appear to facilitate adjustment to both terminal illness and bereavement (4,6). Professionals trained in family and social therapy are equipped to help family members develop effective communication, which can in turn help them prioritize tasks, seek outside resources when needed, and negotiate role assignments.

Deviations from the age norms governing mate selection often provoke negative stereotypes regarding the participants. This article focuses on age heterogamous unions or so-called May-December marriages, involving an older person with a young spouse. The public often attributes pecuniary (gold digger) motives to the latter. Our research tests the widespread notion that the younger woman exchanges youth for status or money. Using data from the Panel on Income Dynamics, age homogamous and age heterogamous couples are compared in terms of each of the spouse's achieved and inherited status and the contribution these make to explained variance in family income. Analysis using hierarchical multiple regression revealed that, contrary to popular belief, the status of the older spouse does not make a more important contribution toward explained income. Indeed, in this study, the reverse was the case in that the wife's status contributed more toward explained income. The notion that age heterogamy in marriage represents a channel of upward mobility for young women married to older men needs systematic reexamination., (Copyright © 1987. Published by Elsevier Inc.)