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Group homes sometimes face significant neighborhood opposition, and municipalities frequently use maximum occupancy laws to close down these homes. This study examined how the number of residents in Oxford House recovery homes impacted residents' outcomes. Larger homes (i.e., eight or more residents) may reduce the cost per person and offer more opportunities to exchange positive social support, thus, it was predicted that larger Oxford Houses would exhibit improved outcomes compared to smaller homes. Regression analyses using data from 643 residents from 154 U.S. Oxford Houses indicated that larger House size predicted less criminal and aggressive behavior; additionally, length of abstinence was a partial mediator in these relationships. These findings have been used in court cases to argue against closing down larger Oxford Houses. (Contains 1 footnote.)

Graphite sheets are commonly used in introductory physics laboratories to model electric potential patterns for systems such as dipoles and parallel plates. Usually, silvered ink pens are used to draw patterns on the sheets and appropriate voltages are then applied. Quantitative experiments are often done at the intermediate level. Students are often puzzled by the failure of the patterns to confirm to the theoretical figure in the manual that came with the kit. I discuss measuring difficulties and some of the common theoretical methods for analyzing edge effects on the sheets. [DOI: 10.1119/1.3212462]

The elastic properties, including elastic constants, bulk, and shear moduli, and anisotropic index of hexagonal MgxTi1-xB2 (0 ⩽ × ⩽ 1) are obtained using a first-principles density-functional-theory method. A difference in chemical bonding occurs between Ti-rich and Mg-rich diborides, leading to significantly different elastic properties: a small elastic anisotropy with relatively large bulk and shear moduli for Ti-rich diborides with x < 0.25, and a large elastic anisotropy and relatively small bulk and shear moduli for Mg-rich diborides with x > 0.25. The calculated results reveal a dominant role of the interplanar metal-metal bonds in predicting the extent of shear elastic anisotropy in MgxTi1-x~B2 (0 ⩽ × ⩽ 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues of "The Physics Teacher." "Monday Night Football: Physics Decides Controversial Call," which analyzed a videotaped football and its connection to physics; Teaching Measurement in the Introductory Physics Lab," which proposed tips when doing measurements in a laboratory; Revival of the column "Center of Gravity Demonstration," which originally appeared in the April 1977 issue of "The Physics Teacher."

It is important to examine social desirability when interpreting self-report data from substance abusers. Social desirability is the tendency to respond on surveys that make people appear more favorable to others; thus, a strong desire for social approval is related to minimized reports of substance use. In the present study, the relationship between social desirability and different types of social support was examined within 582 residents of communal-living recovery homes (i.e., Oxford Houses). Although effect sizes were small, results may suggest that participants reported social network variables in a socially desirable manner; this tendency towards self-deception even predicted misrepresentations of these constructs eight months later. In addition, self-reports of the substance use habits of friends and family were more prone to social desirability than the reporting of other social network characteristics. Overall, it is suggested that social desirability might be taken into account when examining substance abusers' self-reports of social support variables.

This study examined the setting/House-level characteristics of 160 self-governed, mutual-support substance abuse recovery homes (OHs) across the U.S. These dwellings were located in four different neighborhood types: upper/middle class (n = 23 Houses), urban working/lower class (n = 71 Houses), suburban upper/middle-class (n = 39 Houses), and suburban working/lower class (n = 27 Houses). Interior dwelling characteristics and amenities located within a 2-block radius were similar across the four neighborhood types. However, Houses in urban, working, and lower class neighborhoods reported more alcohol/drug intoxicated persons. Most importantly, despite the greater potential for environmental temptations and easier access for substances, none of the neighborhood factors including neighborhood socio-economic status significantly predicted relapse rates over a 12 month period.